Beehive: Middle East Social Media

Beehive is a product of the Doron Halpern Middle East Network Analysis Desk (MENAD), which studies noteworthy trends on Arab, Turkish, and Iranian social media. Beehive positions these trends within a broader context and provides an up-to-date perspective on issues that are being actively discussed by the people of the region. Advanced tools allow the Center's researchers to focus only on discussions that are significant in terms of their duration as well as the number of participants. Between March 2019 - April 2020 Beehive was published only in Hebrew.

178 items

page 5 of 18

“Mashhad is the Shi‘i Thailand”: Discourse about Sex Tourism on Iranian Networks

Date

October 4, 2018

Raz Zimmt discusses the phenomenon of flourishing sex tourism in Mashhad in eastern Iran, which is presented as evidence of the worsening economic and social problems in the Islamic Republic, but which also has led users to publicly oppose the institution of temporary marriage.

“Prison for Advice”: The Arrest of Sheikh Safar al-Hawali by the Saudi Regime, as Seen on Social Networks

Date

August 2, 2018

Michael Barak reviews the discourse surrounding the arrest of a Saudi cleric, Sheikh Safar al-Hawali, in the wake of an electronic book he published, which contains advice reflecting his opposition to the domestic and foreign policy of the Saudi regime.

Responses to the Prophet Muhammad Cartoon Competition

Date

August 2, 2018

Ariel Koch analyzes the social media controversy that followed the Dutch Party for Freedom's declaration of a planned Prophet Muhammad caricature contest to be held in the parliament building.

"The Victor"

Date

August 2, 2018

Hay Eytan Cohen Yanarocak discusses the social media discourse surrounding the well-publicized arrest of the leader of a Turkish sect, which appears to have been timed to distract public attention from the enactment of controversial presidential decrees.

Drugs, Shi‘a, and the Struggle for Southern Syria

Date

June 25, 2018

Moran Levanoni analyzes the question of whether the Syrian regime, partially in cooperation with Hezbollah, is involved in narcotics trafficking in rebel-controlled southern Syria, as an element of its overall campaign against the rebels.

Bad Karma: Censorship vs. Freedom of Expression in Egypt in the Age of Social Networking

Date

June 25, 2018

Limor Lavie investigates the tension in Egypt between freedom of expression and limits imposed by government censors, as seen in the debate over a controversial movie directed by Khaled Youssef and regulatory laws currently being considered by the Egyptian Parliament.

“The Poor of Your City First”: Online Campaign against Iranian Aid to Residents of Gaza

Date

June 25, 2018

Raz Zimmt reviews the campaign against the Imam Khomeini Relief Foundation, which allegedly transfers aid money to needy people in Gaza instead of relieving the distress of Iranian citizens.