Reading from the holidays

I have been quite absent from blogging during the holiday period - first many hours of hard work and later lazy days with the family has kept me away from the computer lately. But I have been collecting links to share and have some photos to show you later also.

So these come from December mainly.

Sadly, research in shows that violent conflict is on the rise... a grim reminder of our responsibility for the future.

But most of my links are as usual on the Middle East.

First some BBC reporting on the US military in Iraq. Early in December, Swedish radio also reported on how the Iraqi middle class to some extent are returning to Baghdad - probably mostly because they have trouble supporting life in exile.

Here is Swedish Expressens page on Iraq, with blogs and special features. One particularly haunting story from Expressen on women in Iraq. Anna Dahlberg here writes on the responsibility of Iraqis for their country's future.

Also from the BBC, this time on Arab media. Aftonbladet interviews Egyptian feminist Nawal el-Saadawi here.

Svenska Dagbladet reports on the treatment of bloggers in Egypt and their contribution to breaking taboos on freedom of expression. BBC reports on the situation for bloggers in Saudiarabia.

BBC has a resume of 2007 in Iran. LA Times also writes on Iran here, trying to investigate the circles of power ruling the country.

Here, the Israeli ambassador in stockholm gives his view of the region post-Annapolis.

Away from direct news developments in the region I suggest this for reading:

Swedish author Anita Goldman writes here in Aftonbladet on coexistence and conciliation.

Svenska Dagbladet has a series of articles on religious beliefs - so here is one on being Jewish in Sweden and one on being a modern muslim in Sweden. I really recommend both for reading - real food for thought!

Outside the direct Middle East-region:
Aftonbladet here writes an editorial comment on the Bhutto family tragedy... Svenska Dagbladet also had a useful comment on developments in Pakistan.

And finally a BBC forecast for Turkey in 2008.