Mosaic: World News From The Middle East

As Egypt's government continues to pursue a $4.8 billion loan from the IMF, Egyptian people's concerns about the elimination of subsidies on bread and fuel continue to rise. Professor Nezar Al Sayyad, Chair of the Center for Middle Eastern Studies discussed the implications of the IMF loan for Egypt's struggling economy.

As the conflict in Syria continues to escalate, it is increasingly spilling over into neighboring countries. Lebanese villagers near the border with Syria have formed armed militia groups to patrol the outskirts of their areas. They claim their villages are being attacked and residents kidnapped or killed. Meanwhile, elements from the Free Syrian Army threatened to attack Hezbollah sites in Lebanon, saying it is in response to the group sending fighters to join Syrian regime forces.

Bassem Youssef, the Egyptian political satirist and host of popular television show al-Bernameg (modeled on Jon Stewart's The Daily Show), is best known for poking fun at Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood. But the joke was taken too far on March 31, when he was arrested following a number of complaints from private citizens, accusing him of insulting the President and Islam on his show. Dina Ibrahim, Broadcasting Professor at San Francisco State University talks about Bassem's career, aspirations and recent legal troubles.

Egyptians are protesting the government's plans to implement a new subsidy system that will subsidize bread rather than the flour used to make it. Many bakers worry they won't be paid enough, while Egypt's poor fear the subsidized bread, which for many can be the difference between life and death, may disappear.

Many groups of the Free Syrian Army include foreign fighters who came to Syria under the banner of Jihad. This report from BBC Arabic showed video recordings of confrontations and exchanged insults and ridicule between members of Abu al-Fadl al-Abbas Brigade, a Shiite group fighting to protect holy shrines, and the Sunni al-Nusra Front. Meanwhile, Syrian regime forces remain in control of the center of the capital Damascus, but the battle for the the capital is intensifying and the nature of it remains unclear.

Fifteen students were killed and a number of others injured, some critically, after mortar shells fell on the college of architecture at Damascus University. At Damascus International Airport, the Free Syrian Army targeted an Iranian cargo military plane allegedly carrying weapons, causing it to explode as it was landing. Meanwhile, Turkey denied deporting Syrian refugees after clashes erupted yesterday at the Suleiman Shah camp, claiming instead that 50 to 60 of the residents returned to Syria "voluntarily."

Syrian refugees at the Suleiman Shah relief camp in the city of Akcakale near the Turkish border, clashed with military police after a protest against poor living conditions in the camp descended into violence. Police fired tear gas and water cannon to disperse the crowds. Residents say the protest began after a faulty electrical outlet set a tent on fire, while a Turkish camp official said the residents were angered when 200 Syrians were turned away from the already overcrowded camp. Reuters reports.

Many Egyptians are uniting against President Mohamed Morsi's economic policies as his government pursues a $4.8 billion loan from the IMF. In order to qualify for the loan, the IMF has imposed strict rules, including an end to subsidies for many essentials such as food and fuel. Opponents feel these measures will make life more difficult for ordinary people already struggling in Egypt's weak economy, and that ultimately the loan will only add to the country's debt. Reuters reports.

After 30 years of conflict, the imprisoned head of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), Abdallah Ocalan, yesterday issued a statement calling for a ceasefire with Turkey and the withdrawal of PKK fighters from Turkey to northern Iraq. Nicole Watts, Professor of Political Science at San Francisco State University and an expert on Kurdish affairs, explains why Turkey could be willing, now more than ever, to make peace with the PKK.

Ten years after the US invasion of Iraq, Al Jazeera reports on conditions in two adjacent neighborhoods in Baghdad. While residents in one believe conditions are better now than they were under the US occupation, those living in the other say the sectarianism that grew under US military rule remains a severe problem.

As President Obama prepares for his trip to Israel, the West Bank, and Jordan, Mosaic interviews Columbia University's Rashid Khalidi, the Edward Said Professor of Arab Studies. While Iran will likely be near the top of the agenda during talks between Netanyahu and Obama, Professor Khalidi believes there is little realistic chance of Israel taking military action.

As President Obama prepares for his trip to Israel, the West Bank, and Jordan, Mosaic interviews Columbia University's Rashid Khalidi, the Edward Said Professor of Arab Studies. The discussion focused on US-Israel relations and the fundamental changes that need to take place to advance the Middle East peace process.

Tens years after the US invasion of Iraq, On TV reports that stability is nowhere to be found. Targeted bombings and sectarian violence are leading Iraqis to protest against the policies of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's government in growing numbers.

France and the UK are pushing to supply arms to Syrian opposition fighters, and have requested that European Union talks on lifting the arms embargo currently imposed on rebel groups be brought forward. French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said France intends to arm opposition forces in Syria regardless of the EU's decision. The moves were condemned by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, while the Syrian government described it as a blatant violation of international law.

Israel has finally formed a coalition government, 51 days after its general election. Joining Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud-Yisrael Beitenu party are Yesh Atid, Jewish Home, and Tzipi Livni's Hatnuah party, but the orthodox parties are notable absentees. IBA reports on the political developments.