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Hello, I'm Shai Mahalil.

You're listening to rewriting the revolution.

We're looking at the Arab Spring through the eyes of prominent writers,

those who lived through the revolutions in their countries and chronicled their events.

More than two years after demonstrations swept through the Middle East,

we're asking how much has really changed for the masses

who rose up against their leaders.

We want to know whether people's hopes have been fulfilled or faded

with the challenges of democracy and change.

Mass demonstrations first took hold in Tunisia at the end of 2010.

After a young unemployed man that's Mohammed Boazizi,

set fire to himself when officials stopped him selling vegetables on the street.

His action started a revolt as young people flooded onto the streets,

demanding change.

And what began in Tunisia spread across the Arab world.

The Tunisian President, Sinhal Abedin Ben Ali,

has been ousted from power after a month of protests over living conditions.

In a televised address, the Prime Minister, Muhammad Ghanushi,

said he was now assuming power.

...