Middle East

Czech Republic to open ‘diplomatic office’ in Jerusalem

The Czech Republic plans to boost the status of its mission in Jerusalem without moving its embassy, Prague announced on Wednesday.The Czech Foreign Ministry said the new office will be part of “efforts to further strengthen Czech-Israeli relations,” but emphasized that “this is not about opening a new embassy.”The diplomatic office is slated to be […]

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International, Middle East

Sometimes, we Jews can be oversensitive

Jews are now examining every Biden appointee with an eye towards rooting out anyone who is anti-Israel. The prickliest among us attack people if their views are simply different, as in those unhappy with the choice of Tony Blinken as Secretary of State because he supports a two-state solution (as does his boss), opposed sanctioning Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and spoke at the J Street conference. Of greater concern are appointees who appear genuinely anti-Israel. One who has already drawn attention is Reema Dodin, a Palestinian American appointed as Biden’s deputy director of the White House Office of Legislative Affairs. In 2002, she said that Palestinian “suicide bombers were the last resort of a desperate people” and was involved in protests calling on the California University system to divest from Israel. She also complained that Palestinians were portrayed as “villains in the media” when they were “suffering” and “oppressed.” [Mitchell Bard]

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Middle East, USA

Why Joe Biden’s Middle East and Israel policy is not Obama’s

President Obama viewed Israel as a colonial force, an outsider, occupying Arab-Muslim lands. And that perspective colored his foreign policy.That is not President-elect Biden’s perspective. He is not going to rush off to Cairo and make a big-splash speech. Israel and the Middle East will not be a top priority for action by a Biden

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Middle East, USA

Lebanon’s president expresses hope for Israel border talks

Lebanon’s president said Wednesday he wants maritime border talks with Israel to succeed and that disagreements during the last round of negotiations can be resolved based on international law.President Michel Aoun spoke during a meeting with John Desrocher, the US mediator for the negotiations, who was in Beirut for discussions with Lebanese leaders.The fourth round

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Middle East

Biden Could End the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Recently I had an opportunity to brief a group of European diplomats and journalists on a variety of conflicts, with a focus on the Middle East. During the Q&A I was asked which of the region’s conflicts Biden should tackle first. Without much hesitation I said the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, not only because it is over seven decades old, but because it is an increasingly intractable, explosive, and destabilizing situation, which reverberates throughout the Mideast, and several regional powers are exploiting it to serve their own national interests, which sadly contributes to its endurance. [Alon Ben-Meir, Ph.D]

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Alon Ben-Meir, International, Middle East, USA

Iran releases Jewish prisoner imprisoned for visiting Israeli family

The Islamic Republic of Iran has freed imprisoned Iranian Jew Mashallah Pesar Kohan, who was detained in 2017 for visiting his family members in Israel.George Haroonian, a prominent Iranian Jewish American, announced Sunday on social media that “Mashallah Pesar Kohan, a Jewish citizen, was released from prison in greater Tehran.”Karmel Melamed, an Iranian-American journalist and

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Middle East

Israel’s Gantz says will back bill to dissolve parliament

Israel’s Alternate Prime Minister Benny Gantz said on Tuesday his party will vote for an opposition bill to dissolve parliament, a move that could force a fourth election in under two years.Gantz’s centrist Blue and White party is currently the key partner in a precarious coalition led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud.That coalition,

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Middle East

Hamas Has Smuggled Cruise Missiles Aimed at Israel

A war of words broke out in Israel’s Knesset (Parliament) between Avigdor Lieberman, who heads the Yisrael Beiteinu (“Israel Our Home”) party and MK Member Shlomo Karai, from the leading Likud (“Unity”) party. At issue was the alleged leak of security information on new weapons in the hands of Hamas, the militant Islamic Palestinian nationalist movement that has run the Gaza strip since 2007. Lieberman himself is a former Minister of Defense, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Infrastructure Minister and Deputy Prime Minister. Lieberman claimed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister (and deputy prime minister) Benny Gantz were covering up information about precision cruise missiles and cluster bombs being produced by Hamas. [Stephen D. Bryen]

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Middle East, Stephen D. Bryen

Some Palestinians Taking Softer Line on Israel Relations

A recent poll by the Palestinian Center for Public Opinion shows strong sentiment against trusting Israel, but along with that various segments willing to cooperate.
• 38% would agree to returning relations with Israel to their former status, along with various reasons concerning their ability to work in Israel and other economic opportunities
• 40% would agree to the resumption of security coordination with Israel, which in fact has been agreed to by the Palestinian Authority.
• 43% would agree to the resumption of peace negotiations between the Palestinian Authority and Israel [Ira Sharkansky]

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Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USA

Exporting Racism: The Latest Slander Against Israel

In April, leadership at Tufts University outside Boston was embarrassed when  it was disclosed that Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), the toxic anti-Israel group with a sordid history of campus activism, had been given “The Collaboration Award” by the Office for Campus Life for the group’s role in exposing what they refer to as The Deadly Exchange—partnerships and cooperation between U.S. law enforcement and Israeli security forces. Tufts president Anthony Monaco immediately tried distancing the university from SJP’s award, saying that he “would be reviewing the awards process” to clarify why the divisive SJP—which promotes boycotts against Israel on the 200 or so campuses where it has chapters—should be hailed for collaborating at all, let alone winning an award.  [Richard L. Cravatts, Ph.D]

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Middle East, Richard L. Cravatts, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Jared Kushner to lead a delegation to Saudi Arabia, Qatar

WASHINGTON – A White House delegation, spearheaded by senior advisor to the president Jared Kushner, will travel to Saudi Arabia and Qatar this week, The Jerusalem Post has confirmed. Special Representative for International Negotiations Avi Berkowitz, Brian Hook and Adam Boehler are expected to join the trip as well.In Riyadh, they will meet with Crown

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Middle East, USA

Jewish Trivia Quiz: Diego Maradona, RIP

Renowned Argentinian football (soccer) star Diego Armando Maradona died of a heart attack last week at the age of 60. Maradona is generally considered one of the greatest soccer players of all time, and is particularly remembered for a goal he scored against England in the 1986 World Cup Quarterfinals that has been dubbed “The Hand of God” goal. He played in four World Cups, leading Argentina to victory over West Germany in 1986, and he was jointly awarded the FIFA Player of the 20th Century award along with Pele. What was Diego Maradona’s connection to Jews and/or Israel? [Mark D. Zimmerman]

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International, Mark D. Zimmerman, Middle East, Sports & Competitions

It’s about far more than Biden – analysis

Friday’s assassination of Iran’s top nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh led to predictable hand-wringing from Obama administration alumni and their cheerleaders who midwifed the Iranian nuclear deal in 2015.Former CIA head John Brenner was furious: “This was a criminal act & highly reckless,” he tweeted. “Such an act of state-sponsored terrorism would be a flagrant violation

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Middle East, USA

FM Ashkenazi asks Swiss to urge Palestinians to negotiate with Israel

Israel’s Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi asked his Swiss counterpart Ignazio Cassis to urge the Palestinian Authority to return to the negotiating table, when the two men met in Jerusalem on Sunday afternoon.“The decision of the Palestinian Authority to renew security and civil coordination with Israel is a step in the right direction,” Ashkenazi said. “But

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International, Middle East