The Chinese admire the Jews for their five thousand years of history, ability to withstand persecution in scattered minority communities, and their work ethic. But most importantly there is a widespread belief that the Jews have cornered the market for making money, and the Chinese want to get their share. Bookstores across China are filled with publications purporting to teach Chinese the cultural habits behind famous Jewish fortunes, or how Jewish child-rearing can produce diligent, money-making young adults.

The killing of Osama bin Laden last month highlighted the fight that is underway over the direction of Islam in Pakistan and the rest of the Islamic world. Militant Islamists who share views commonly associated with bin Laden, and who represent a small minority of Muslims, are attempting to impose their puritanical version of Islam on the moderate Muslim majority. In Pakistan, this has led to an increase in violence against Sufis.

On June 17, 2011, King Mohammed VI of Morocco announced a series of proposed amendments to the country’s constitution. The Moroccan constitutional reforms are significant and unprecedented in the Arab world, as King Mohammed VI is clearly attempting to get in front of the demands for change sweeping the Middle East. Ambassador Edward M. Gabriel – the United States Ambassador to the Kingdom of Morocco from November 1997 to March 2001 – discussed the constitutional reforms with Foreign Policy Digest.

On January 25, 2011, popular demonstrations calling for reform began in Cairo’s Tahrir Square. From January 28 to February 11, hundreds of thousands of Egyptian citizens – determined, resilient and unified – remained in Tahrir, eventually forcing Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak from power. Since then, Egypt’s Supreme Council of the Armed Forces has governed the country ahead of anticipated parliamentary and presidential elections in September and November 2011, respectively.