News and Views

The Ramses Railway Station in Cairo, 1998.

Photo: Heidi Levine

As you can see from my CV I spent the years 1994 to 1999 working as the Middle East correspondent of the Danish newspaper The Berlingske Tidende.

Sadly the atmosphere has got even more hostile and confused since I left with claims and counterclaims flying through the media.

If you happen to be interested in The Middle East and are trying to chase the elusive truth, let me throw in my two cents worth and give a bit of very personal advise for people seeking information in English on the Web.

Rule number one is to be very critical of your sources. Every site on the Web is there for a reason - know that reason before you make up your mind about the credibility, and visit as many sites as possible.

If you are in a hurry go for the good old BBC - they are not perfect but they are among the very best for a quick overall view.

Iraq

First of all: Regarding the country that everybody is talking about these days, don't miss Idleworm.

For news apart from the BBC try the well known TV-station al-Jazeera, and the American radio network PBS.

For maps and some general background try The National Geographic, and The Virtual Tourist.

There are many other websites worth looking at. Often they go down without notice but I keep them on the list in case they show up again. You may want to try:

The Iraqi National Congress - one of the main political groups.

The Iraq Foundation - an NGO founded by Iraqi expatriates.

The Iraqi Forum for Democracy - another NGO.

Electronic Iraq is an anti-war site.

Bodycount - sad put very much on topic.

UNMOVIC - The Weapons Inspectors - and IAEA - The International Atomic Energy Agency used to be important players.

Iraqwatch also deals with weapons of mass destruction.

The British Royal United Services Institute has a special section on Iraq.

For Secretary of State Colin Powell's point of view look at Saddam Hussein's Iraq.

Iraqi Tourist Board. No, I'm serious: I do advise you to wait for more peaceful days but if you ever get the chance, go there. It is one of the most interesting places I have visited in my life.

And the official view from Baghdad used to be on the site of the Iraqi Mission to the U.N.

If you are looking for more try the collection of links at The Journalist's Toolbox, and Future of Iraq Portal.

Israel

Whatever your feelings about the State of Israel are be assured that democracy in the Western sense of the word works better there than in the neighbouring countries.

There are two daily newspapers with websites in English, The Jerusalem Post, and Ha'aretz, plus the web-only IsraelInsider.

Also note the highly recommendable news magazine The Jerusalem Report.

If you want the official point of view drop by the Israeli Foreign Ministry. They have an excellent collection of links plus a seemingly endless supply of official documents. Or try the official Israel Government Gateway.

A more critical attitude is supplied by Israeli Democracy Institute.

Even more criticism you can get from the human rights organisation B'Tselem.

If you are looking for a general, commercial portal try the I-guide.

For more relaxed moments I like the official photo collection. The Israelis have done a tremendous job of documenting the history of their country.