(March 9, 2011) By Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel — Not everyone in the opposition movements in Arab countries are Islamists, of course, but at least outside of Tunisia, where they are also present, they are the most powerful organized force. Here’s an excerpt from the Friday, March 4 sermon of Sheik Isa Qassim, considered the […]
News Watch on the Middle East Read More »
Middle EastWASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) — A new report by the Congressional Research Service on Israel reviews major issues in Israel’s foreign policy, including its existential fear of Iran’s nuclear buildup, relations with neighborhing Arab countries, and issues in U.S.-Israel bilateral relations. Although there are few surprises, the report by analyst Casey L. Addis is
Congressional Research Service issues new report on Israel Read More »
Middle East
By Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel — He jests at scars who never felt the wound, wrote Shakespeare, and it is an appropriate sentiment to point out that while Western observers ridicule the fear of an Islamist Egypt, a lot of Arab writers are very worried. In fact, here are three articles that display such concerns.
In Egypt doubts emerge; in the PA there’s more cynicism Read More »
Middle East
By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–“Build, Bibi, build!” That’s the heading of an advertisement that has appeared here. It’s issued by Likud and sponsored by its strong settlement lobby. The ad shows pictures of eight party members in the current government who have spoken in favour of settlements expansion in the West Bank. In addition, there’s also
Netanyahu may hope Arabs will provide him a face-saver on settlements Read More »
Middle EastBy Ron Pundak TEL AVIV (Press Release)–Last Wednesday I returned home and thought to myself, we’ve had an interesting day today at the Peres Center. Yes, it wasn’t necessarily the most representative of days, but it wasn’t really that different from other days. And yes, it doesn’t necessarily reflect the situation in which we live, but
Another day at the peace office Read More »
Middle East
By Rabbi Ben Kamin SAN DIEGO — The astonishing events taking place in Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, Bahrain, even in the Palestinian territories are being watched by Israel with grave interest. So far, the imprint of these seismic outbursts and initial changes seem not to be as sectarian-driven as they are simply the yearnings of many
Israel should abolish antiquated Chief Rabbinate Read More »
Middle EastBy Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel — President Barack Obama told Democratic Party contributors in Miami: “When you look at what’s happening…in the Middle East, it is a manifestation of new technologies, the winds of freedom that are blowing through countries that have not felt those winds in decades, a whole new generation that says I want
U.S. needs to focus on what IS Middle East reality, not what SHOULD BE Read More »
Middle East, USABy Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel — In a moment, I’ll present you with what might be the most frightening paragraph in the modern history of U.S. Middle East policy. But first, here’s one that’s among the most deplorable. It’s from a Washington Post article: “The Obama administration is preparing for the prospect that Islamist governments
Obama administration encouraging Islamist takeovers in Middle East Read More »
Middle East, USABy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM—1714. That’s the number of days On Saturday, March 5, that Gilad Shalit, the kidnapped IDF soldier, has been in Hamas captivity and there’s no sign that his release is imminent or, for that matter, that he’s still alive. For all the precise intelligence that Israel is reported to have in
Gilad Shalit, a pawn in a deadly chess game between Israel and Hamas Read More »
Middle EastNEW YORK (Press Release)–The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) has called upon Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to end the de facto freeze that has applied to Jewish construction in Judea, Samaria and eastern Jerusalem since the end of the official 10-month freeze last September. The existence of this unofficial freeze has been widely suspected
ZOA calls for end to construction freeze in Jerusalem, West Bank Read More »
Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–Ehud Barak isn’t a good politician. He almost admitted it in a lengthy television interview last Thursday. It’s difficult to imagine that history will ever forgive him for his role in breaking up the Labor Party that he was elected to lead. But when he justifies his continued presence in the
Barak can whisper ‘peace’ into Netanyahu’s ear Read More »
Middle East
By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — Every so often we do this – last time was March 27, 2006. In 1979, JINSA published a “quick reference guide” to the capabilities Israel brings to U.S.-Israel security cooperation. We review it periodically, revise it slightly and republish it when some people – including occasional Congressmen – seem
Israel’s dozen strategic qualities Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana BryenBy Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel — This is of gigantic importance (see if anyone else covers it). MEMRI has pointed out the opening of a Muslim Brotherhood campaign to replace Egypt’s current clerical hierarchy with its own people. If that happens…you can imagine. Once Islamists are in place making the “official” decisions on what constitutes
Muslim Brotherhood’s New Campaign: Seize Control of Egypt’s Islamic Institutions Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–It’s happened again. Within a day of the Prime Minister Netanyahu talking about pursuing a temporary solution for Israel and Palestine, the leader of the Palestine Authority has rejected the idea. So much for negotiations. The history of rejection goes back a long way, with a prominent landmark being the Khartoum Declaration
Palestinians once again reject negotiations Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East