Posts About Israel
No Peace Without Courage and a Better Plan
The Annapolis Peace Process was dead at birth. The cause of death is a hasty and illogical desire to decouple from the past.
Don't Get Media Attention, Get Results
Tony Blair has left behind a series of unfinished political initiatives in the UK. Many Britons believe that he was a prime minister in love with media attention rather than serious substantive policies. His record on Iraq will be his biggest obstacle as envoy. He will need to overcome a resume of attention-grabbing tactics and focus on real strategy.
Some Delicate Diplomacy, Please
America plays diplomacy like it plays sports. It's too bad American sports don't end in a tie. Instead, they end in "sudden death". Always having an absolute winner is dangerous.
Marshall Plan for Palestine
Blair should push for a Marshall Plan for the Palestinian Authority, to demonstrate to the Palestinian people that the Quartet's efforts will improve their lives. Hamas and other radical groups have used Islamic charity funds to win impoverished hearts and minds through economics. Western funds must be tapped to provide a real alternative.
Elected Islamists Can Be Tamed
For most Arabs, the Bush administration's boycott of the Palestinian government is the epitome of hypocracy. The U.S. pushed for democracy in the Middle East, and got it. The more the West shuns democratically elected Arab leaders, the more the Arab people believe it's because of Islam. These leaders should be engaged instead.
Prophetic Middle East Poetry
Somalia/UAE - By delving into the Arab literary wisdom one stumbles on the prophetic manner in which Arab and Muslim poets and philosophers through history have predicted the present situation with precision.
Syria Holds the Key to Peace
Somalia/United Arab Emirates - In the Arab psyche, every defeat is converted into a victory. Hezbollah is already seen as victorious, having achieved what regular Arab armies could not in more than fifty years of war with Israel....
A New Era of Realpolitik?
United Arab Emirates/Somalia - The Israeli-Hezbollah war has polarized Arab opinion in an unprecedented way. It may have a far reaching impact on other volatile parts of the Muslim world and further complicate the already strained relations between the West and Islam, especially if the West fails to accurately read the situation and respond properly to the changing political landscape in the Middle East.
Israel Must Adapt To Survive
The state of Israel as it is now will not exist in 100 years. But if it changes, it will happily celebrate its 100th birthday.
Israel's IPR Irony
It's ironic that Israel is on the worst-offender list of those stealing American creative talent.
Step Up Your Mideast Game, America
If the U.S. wants to be a referee between Israel and Palestine, it needs to step up its game.
The Annapolis Summit
Palestinians’ Power Lies in Rejection
Palestinians can’t afford not to attend, but worry they’ll be blamed again for failure if they do.
Israel Lobby Makes America Blind
The U.S. is finally realizing that a Palestinian state is good for America. If it weren’t for the Israel lobby, America might have realized that a long time ago - and avoided much Middle East misery.
Visit Checkpoints, Occupied Lands
I think the first thing that Blair as envoy should do is to travel throughout the occupied Palestinian territories and meet with ordinary people. He should visit the only crossing point out of the West Bank and realize the enormity of restrictions imposed on the movement of people and goods. He'll need to know this if he wants to succeed.
Richard Gere Attracts Israelis & Palestinians
Richard Gere came to visit the Middle East a few years ago and attracted more attention than most politicians. He was also careful to say that he was coming to listen, rather than to make statements. Mr. Gere listened to everyone, from Hamas supporters to Jewish settlers, and in turn all sides flocked to see him.
South Africa's Perspective
While the world press has widely reported the controversy surrounding South Africa's invitation to the Palestinian prime minister, it has failed to publish in full what the South African intelligence minister said defending the decision. I am reprinting it below. The idea that this is a reward to terrorism avoids dealing with the underlying issue.
Do Not Throw Stones at Iran
Amman, Jordan - My favorite proverb at these times is "if your house is made of glass, don't throw stones at your neighbors." This applies to nuclear power in Iran.
Israel is a Liability for U.S.
Ramallah, Palestine/Amman, Jordan - Americans are beginning to realize that their blind support for Israel hurts them far more than it helps.
U.S., Israel, & Moderate Islam Gains
Ramallah, Palestine/Amman, Jordan - Mr. Bush has come closer to earth and Israel's Prime Minister publically offered a Palestinian state, improving the position of both.
For Iran and Israel, Use the Same Yardstick
Amman, Jordan - I don't accept the logic of this question. Iran's pursuit of nuclear energy is as much her right as that of any other country in the region. Only if two conditions are met would I support a boycott on Iran....
Israel Cannot Isolate Itself
Amman, Jordan - Many in the Arab region believe that Hezbollah's Hassan Nasrallah demonstrates political integrity and a willingness to fight for his issues. The end of this conflict will strengthen their beliefs....
A New Balance of Terror?
Amman, Jordan - There is no doubt that the war on Lebanon will make the Middle East and the world much more dangerous. On the day of the ceasefire, which will one day come, Israel will find itself where they began the moment their soldiers were captured....
When Thom Connects Tehran to Tel Aviv; After a Joint
The night before my birthday, I was in Tel Aviv. I had just discovered the coolest bar in Tel Aviv (Okay, one of the coolest) on Lilinblum, called The Gallery, a couple days before. They were so open and nice and we immediately became friends, with Bozi and Amir, the managers and even some regular costumers. And all this was after I told them everything about my background as an Iranian and my TehrAviv project: to connect the two people of Iran and Israel through unconventional cultural exchanges and joint projects. Let me give you an example: How about getting...
Israel, Taiwan Face Similar Threats
If only the Taiwanese lobby in the U.S. was as successful as its Jewish counterpart.
The Value of a Palestinian Life: Zero
The world, and the Annapolis so-called peace process, places zero value on Palestinian lives.
Israel's Think-Tank Lobby
An informal lobby of pro-Israeli think-tanks has tremendous unacknowledged influence on American policy, but that doesn’t mean that Israel runs America.
Female Arab Novelists Defy Repression
"The Lemon Tree: An Arab, a Jew, and the Heart of the Middle East" is a great piece of literary non-fiction about a Palestinian and an Israeli whose two families take refuge in the same house. Readers can learn a lot from these human stories behind the conflict, as well as from the female Arab novelists who risk so much to tell theirs.
Tragedy of Self-Destruction
What we are witnessing is a tragic power struggle between two Palestinian movements wrestling for control over two occupied territories of Palestine. It is a surreal situation as neither Fatah nor Hamas has real control or authority in either the West Bank or the Gaza Strip -- Israel can still invade. Hamas's military takeover is self-destruction.
Mandela Was Once a Terrorist
Palestinians do not get to choose Israel's leaders, nor should Israel impose its choice of government upon the Palestinian people. Violence or not, Haniyeh is a representative of those people. Sanctioning the violence unleashed by established powers while condemning the acts taken by the oppressed will not resolve the root causes.
End Unconditional Support for Israel
Doha, Qatar - If Congress doesn't do this, the U.S. will face new generations of young Arabs who see America as party to a crime against them.
If Leave, Regional War and "Shiastan"
Four years ago, George W. Bush opened Pandora’s Box. And now there is no realistic way to put the lid back on. The Iraq war was a mistake, but leaving now would be far more costly than staying. There would certainly be regional war.
Hezbollah, Syria and Iran Will Emerge Stronger
New Delhi, India - Sand shifts fast in the Middle East so discussing the region's future isn't easy. But the increasing strength of Hezbollah and importance of Syria are safe bets....
Look Beyond Failed Formulas
New Delhi, India - My first suggestion is do not travel without a destination. At the moment, the U.S. Secretary of State's journeys are more in the spirit of Marco Polo or Ibn Batuta: We shall find what we can when we reach....
Climbing Up Snakes and Ladders
New Delhi, India -- The problem before our - brave? foolish? foolhardy? - mediator is the impasse: one man's terrorist is another man's Prime Minister....
Iranian "Hot Air" Doesn't Equal Power
New Delhi--The problem with this proposition lies in the "if." In fact, there is no possibility that Iran will become the pre-eminent power in the Middle East in the foreseeable future....
UNIFIL: A Short to Medium Term Solution
Cairo, Egypt - To begin answering this question, it would be a good idea to review the terms of the ceasefire and the extended mandate for UNIFIL under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, August 2006....
Symmetrical Balance And Intransigence
Egypt - U.S. policy has weakened its alliances with democratic and moderate Arab regimes in the Middle East. The U.S. is completely ignoring their concerns, and most importantly U.S. pro-Israeli bias is compromising Arab defensive strategic policies....
Don't Put them in Harm's Way
Cairo, Egypt -- Unless Tony Blair and the European leaders are contemplating sending a military force comparable to the one that the UN sent into Korea at the outbreak of the Korean War in 1950 with several full scale divisions with supporting equipment and air power, then such military forces would be definitively sent into harms way....
In a Fragile Situation, Engage Hamas
This Middle East crisis is different from many before. Israel's decision to engage Lebanon's fragile state and carry out strikes deep within the country is serious. A good first step to defusing what could otherwise be a climactic showdown between regional powers is to talk to the Palestinian leadership, Hamas.
Hezbollah's Coup d'Etat
Beirut, Lebanon - There is real danger today that Hezbollah will inherit Lebanon after the war. If it does, an uncontainable civil war will probably ensue....
Wastes Sometimes Work
Tokyo, Japan -- Mr. Shimon Peres, Israeli Deputy Prime Minister, told our colleague in Tel Aviv on Tuesday that he didn't think any UN force would work to disarm Hezbollah. He may be right, but there is no viable alternative. So let's waste money on another unworkable mission....
Let's Face the (Economic) Reality
Israel is an economic giant. The Palestinians are desperately weak. Hamas leaders should play their one real card: Recognition of Israel. Israelis can give in return plenty of things that will definitely benefit Palestinian people....
Israel Must Accept Status Quo
All sides should accept the status quo today and move forward.
The Ease of Misunderstanding
People hate and kill each other because they simply do not understand each other, and remaining afraid and distant is much easier than making the effort necessary to empathize.
Wrapping Up or Giving Up?
Budapest, Hungary -- The Isaeli government should forget the wounds of the past. It should grant as many demands of the Palestinians as it can, and offer a six-month ceasefire....
Hamas Now Has to Answer for Itself
By Zaki Chehab On the brink of civil war, alarm bells ricocheted through the tiny and beleaguered Gaza Strip. Last Thursday, senior Hamas leader Dr. Nazar Rayyan announced that his immediate ambitions were to hold Friday prayers at the beach-side Palestinian Authority headquarters of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas -- and convert the city’s Fatah-run Palestinian police headquarters into a Grand Mosque. This provocative statement awakened latent fears that Gaza was about to become a mini Taliban-style Islamic state, something Hamas founder Sheikh Ahmed Yassin was critical of when I interviewed him in the presence of his then adviser, Ismail Hanieh,...
Arab and Jewish Americans see Eye-to-Eye, says Poll
By Debra DeLee and James Zogby Washington, DC - We were a little anxious when we decided to jointly poll Jewish and Arab Americans on Middle East peace this year. Not that we haven’t done it before. Similar surveys that we commissioned three times in the past six years have shown that American Jews and Arabs largely see eye-to-eye on the importance of efforts to achieve peace between Israel and its neighbors and on the vital role that the U.S. must play to promote such efforts....
Palestinian Camps -- Frontiers of Dreams and Fears
By Rima Fawaz The brutal murder of Lebanese soldiers by Fateh el-Islam factions near the Nahr-el Bared camp three days ago is not only an attack on Lebanese sovereignty, it is an assault on the hopes and aspirations of a young Palestinian generation desperate to live in dignity and respect on Lebanese soil....
Arab-Israeli Conflict: Bandages Help
Israel and Palestine should stop holding out for a comprehensive solution. Their people need practical steps -- prisoner exchange, withdrawal in West Bank.
Regional Powers Cannot Achieve Victory
Paris, France - The war is making the world more dangerous because no protagonist will achieve any of its goals. Moreover, each might be tempted, at worst, to extend the war or at best to achieve a temporary peace agreement in order to prepare for future battles....
Shortsighted Strategies
Paris, France -- The problem is that none of the present actors in the Middle East have a coherent, long-term and positive strategy for achieving peace. Determination to use or resist violence is a motto, not a political program....
Avoiding Square One
Paris, France -- Any mediation should concentrate on an immediate cease-fire and the release of all prisoners from both sides. But to avoid a return to square one, an agreement has to be struck on the key issues: the recognition of Israel by Hamas and the acceptance of the results of democratic elections in Palestine by Israel....
Will Israel Survive to 100?
Israel celebrated its 60th birthday last week. Will it survive to celebrate its 100th?...
Israel Lobby Too Powerful?
Does the Israel lobby have too much influence over U.S. decisions? NEW FEATURE: David Responds Fareed Responds on the Discussion...
The Mecca Accords
The Mecca Accords. Panelist Daoud Kuttab from Palestine and Yossi Melman from Israel discuss peace after The Mecca Accords....
PostGlobal Bloggers
M. J. Akbar, New Delhi, India Mubashar Jawed Akbar is a leading Indian journalist and author. He's the founder and editor-in-chief of The Asian Age, a daily multi-edition Indian newspaper with a global perspective and editor-in-chief of The Deccan Chronicle, a news daily based in Hyderabad. He has written books including Blood Brothers, Nehru: The Making of India, Kashmir: Behind the Vale, Riot After Riot, The Shade of Swords, and India: The Siege Within. Kyoko Altman, Hong Kong, China Kyoko Altman is a writer based in Hong Kong. She has worked as a correspondent and anchor for CNN and...
Political, Not Nuclear, Power Play
This dispute isn't about nuclear power - it's about political power, and whether America and Israel can stop Iran from becoming a counterweight to their influence in the Middle East.
The Annapolis Summit
Annapolis: A Diplomatic Suicide Squeeze
Annapolis won’t succeed because no leader is strong or daring enough to make a bold move.
Repent for Past Sins, Start Afresh
Blair should consider the lessons of his successful peace-making efforts in Northern Ireland and the failures of the Quartet's efforts to date in the Middle East, and re-launch a peace-making effort that includes all the principal parties in the talks. If Blair does convert to Catholicism, he should also remember the church's dictate on repentance.
Fatah Failed Repeatedly; Hamas Wasn’t There
It is not fair to make a direct comparison between Hamas and Fatah in today's circumstances. Fatah has held power for nearly 40 years in the Palestinian community, and Hamas has shared power for just over a year under an international boycott and an Israeli siege. We don't know what Hamas can or might do if it exercises power under normal conditions.
Everybody’s Doing It –- Except Israel
A negotiated settlement ended South African apartheid, as did former enemies talking to each other finally end the decades of bloodshed in Northern Ireland with a unity government this week. It is not realistic to have one standard of conflict resolution for the whole world, and another just for Israel.
Find -- Or Create -- Another Arafat
The images baffle the imagination: armed gunmen storming government offices, tearing down portraits of Arafat, invading President Abbas’s office (and bedroom), and executing members of Fatah. I can accept this mistake from Fatah, which has been corrupt for years. Hamas is more to blame for what is happening in Palestine today.
Historical Facts and the Current War
Damascus, Syria -- A common argument heard in the Middle East, advocated by many Israelis, is that Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and Hezbollah must disarm and join the political process in Lebanon and Palestine. They argue that all of the Jewish military groups that operated in the 1940s were forced to disarm after the creation of Israel in 1948 and were incorporated into the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). Prime Minister David Ben Gurion did not tolerate that armed groups exist within Israel, effectively becoming a "state within a state."...
The Real War and Prospects for Peace
Damascus, Syria -- Anybody in the Arab world who believes that Hezbollah will win this war, liberate the Sheba Farms or destroy Israel is simply nurturing a fantasy. I am amazed at the number of people who argue that "miracles can happen, because God is on our side!" God has nothing to do with this war. Had God been involved in the Middle East, then so much bloodshed would have been avoided over the past 100 years. And if God was involved in the Middle East, then he definitely was not on our side of the conflict since 1948. I...
Lebanon Rising from the Ashes -- Again!
Damascus, Syria -- The world is divided on Nasrallah. Did he miscalculate and drag Lebanon into a senseless war? Or has he prepared a strong Iran-backed army that he plans on unveiling today? Regardless of the outcome, patriotism was the objective.
Hamas's "Olive Branch and Freedom Fighter's Gun"
Damascus, Syria -- The late Yasser Arafat changed his image from that of a freedom fighter to a man of peace. He had enough war medals to do so. Hamas was on the verge of repeating what Arafat did, but the latest standoff in Gaza removed the opportunity. The only solution to the crisis is to recognize and empower Hamas so that it can repeat what Arafat did: carry an "olive branch and freedom fighter's gun," not out of conviction, but out of helplessness. Don't let the olive branch fall from their hand....
In Israel, No Change for Change’s Sake
Israelis want change, but they also want experience, even if that means choosing someone who only recently was widely considered a failed leader.
The Annapolis Summit
Israel Pins Hopes on Arab Attitude
Contrary to expectations, it’s the Arabs who have the power to move the process forward – or not.
Israel Lobby Not Powerful Enough
From the point of view of the peace process and of American interests, the U.S. should be more “pro-Israel,” not less.
An Israeli Perspective on Partition
In truth, a "successful" partition in 1947 would not have ended the conflict.
Confront Real Obstacle: Genocidal Jihad
The first thing Tony Blair should do is rethink the whole concept of a "Mideast envoy." What the job needs most now is not a mediator but a truth-teller. The struggle for peace is no longer between Israelis and Palestinians. It is against the jihadi axis (Hamas, Hezbollah, al Qaeda, Syria and Iran) that wants to block peace at all cost.
Asking Nicely Won't Stop Jihad
The sad thing about the countries that are undermining the international diplomatic embargo against Hamas is that they are harming the cause they claim to be trying to advance -- the cause of peace. Hamas is not interested in ending the violence, they even steal Mickey Mouse to inculcate a culture of war in Palestinian children.
Recognize Self-Defense
Jerusalem, Israel - As much as we in Israel distrust the UN, which at times seems oddly dedicated to supporting our enemies, we wish that you will be successful at reforming this critical institution.
Stiffer Sanctions for Iran
Jerusalem, Israel - I predict some high level Israeli officials will change posts or resign and that sanctions against Iran will tighten significantly.
If Israel Falls, the West Follows
Jerusalem, Israel - A radical Islamic front is making a bid to expand its brand of theocratic rule throughout the Muslim world, and it doesn't stop there.
Israel's Rumsfeld Takes Heat
Jerusalem, Israel - Topic A here is whether the Defense Minister Amir Peretz will resign or be forced out like Rumsfeld was in the U.S. Topic B: Shelling in Sderot. Topic C: Confronting Iran.
Torture, Unlike Terror, Can Be Justified
Jerusalem, Israel - Torture is the flip side of terrorism. Some justify terrorism for the right cause, others say its always unacceptable. Similarly, some support torture under certain circumstances, others are always opposed. But there is a profound difference in these debates: While torture may be used to prevent terrorism, terrorism is never a tool to prevent torture....
The "Jewish Tribe," Reconciling With Modernity
Jerusalem, Israel - I believe that tribal and modern values can be reconciled, though probably not without compromising both to some degree. Though I have lived only in modern societies, as a Jew I feel that when we refer to each other as "members of the tribe" we are not completely joking....
To Beat Terror, Defeat Iran
Jerusalem, Israel - Five ounces (150 milliliters) of nitroglycerine, a liquid explosive, can bring down an airplane. This does not mean it is impossible to secure an airplane but it does mean it is impossible to secure wide open, target-rich, democratic societies from suicide bombers solely with defensive measures....
Defeating Hezbollah Gives Lebanon a Second Chance
Jerusalem, Israel - Michael Young gets at the key point: who will gain the upper hand among Lebanon's Shiites? Will it be the nationalists who hate what Hezbollah has done to their country or Hezbollah itself? I can see why Michael is pessimistic but two factors could turn the tables....
Stick to Basics: Arab-Israeli Coexistence
Given his role in taking Britain into war in Iraq and Afghanistan, it will be a tough job for Tony Blair to play the role of a peacemaker in the Middle East. However, he should lose no time trying to mediate the current factional fighting between Hamas and Fatah. He can't do this himself, and will need to get the Arab states more involved.
Victory for Hamas, But At What Cost
What Palestinian state can we expect now that Hamas and Fatah have gone their separate ways? Hamas cannot go on controlling Gaza without paying fealty to the cause of a Palestinian state -- for all Palestinians. It is time for Jordan, Egypt and Syria to more actively engage Hamas, to urge restraint upon the extremists.
Hezbollah: the Mideast Vietcong
Seoul, South Korea - Israel's destruction of Lebanon has created a second Palestine. Now the militants have a new symbol to unite behind and moderates will be pushed out....
West's Lack of Urgency in Mideast Shameful
The U.S. friendship with Israel must include criticizing those Israeli actions that are patently wrong, those that endanger not only others’, but its own, security.
Aid Embargo Props Up Radicals
It is perhaps now an opportune moment for the international community to lift the aid embargo it imposed on the Palestinian Authority after Hamas came to power in elections last year. The embargo only hurts and alienates the Palestinian people, not their leaders, and strengthens hard-line elements in Hamas.
Don't Impose Sanctions, Talk First
Johannesburg, South Africa - At this stage United Nations sanctions against Iran would be an ineffective strategy. Without first talking with the regime, imposing sanctions would only strengthen the hand of Iran hardliners....
Immediate Ceasefire Without Terms Needed
Johannesburg, South Africa - U.S. Secretary of State Rice should have pushed for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire rather than insisting on complex terms. She should have demanded an international military force be sent in immediately to create a "sterile zone" in southern Lebanon....
Prisoner Swap Integral
Johannesburg, South Africa -- A prisoner swap between Israel and Palestine is now an integral part of any solution to the current escalating crisis in the Middle East. If necessary, all the parties must agree to a neutral mediator to facilitate the swap. Any further strikes by Israel are likely only to raise further tensions and unleash yet more reprisals from those in Palestine and in the surrounding areas....
South Africa's Compromise Offers a Guide
Johannesburg, South Africa -- My visit to the Middle East felt like being transported back in time to the despair and daily mass funerals in the bloody years of early 1990s apartheid South Africa. A few weeks ago, in the dust, sweltering heat and tense air of Ramallah and Jerusalem, I saw the same tiredness, despair and despondency -- among both Palestinians and Israelis....
Israel Will Thrive, Flaws and All
Why ask this question? The same could be asked of most Middle Eastern countries.
Forget Annapolis: Nine Steps to Peace
It was easy to forecast Annapolis’s failure from the start. Here’s my nine-point plan for getting Mideast peace back on track.
Assassination Is A Two-Edged Sword
Assassinating terrorist leaders often backfires and strengthens their cause. Just ask Israel.
Report Could Derail Mideast Peace Process
Today’s report on the Israel-Lebanon war will sound the death knell for Olmert and Middle East peace.
Equality’s Last Gasp in Israel
The ideals of equality on which Israel was built are giving way to vicious capitalism. That’s the biggest story of 2007.
Hopeful for Bethlehem
I drove to Bethlehem today full of hope, but found none of the vibrancy of thirty years ago. But I don’t think it has to be this way.
Annapolis, Like Leaders, Weak and Insincere
The recipe for resolution has been on the table for decades. But as long as leaders are weak and uncommitted, we’ll continue to have non-events like Annapolis.
The Annapolis Summit
Israel on Annapolis: Bleak on All Sides
High expectations have dwindled to defeatism – just like every time before.
Too Many Visions, Too Little Will
Since the modern birth of the state of Israel, two major ideas defined in two sharp phrases have dominated the discourse surrounding the Arab-Israeli conflict: one state or two. Many are to blame for their failure: Israelis, Arabs, the international community. Even Arafat lacked the will to end the struggle, and left behind no legacy.
Lose-Lose Situation, Start Cutting Deals
In Iraq, the U.S. faces a choice between bad and worse. It would be a mistake to stay for long, but leaving could devastate the region's delicate political composition. To stabilize the situation, the U.S. needs the help of Syria and Iran. There's no alternative to talking.
Let the World Worry
Tel Aviv, Israel - On April 2, 1963, Shimon Peres, then director general of the Defense Ministry, marched through the White House corridors. He was accompanied by Meyer Feldman, the adviser to President John F. Kennedy on Jewish affairs....
Iran Cannot Dominate
Tel Aviv, Israel - Iran is trying to create a "Shiite Crescent" but Sunnites will prevent Iranian hegemony.
Proof of West Bank Theft
Tel Aviv, Israel - The Israeli colonizing movement in the occupied West Bank is practically thievery, wrapped in false "security" arguments.
Sex Scandal Rattles Israel
Tel Aviv, Israel - The Most Important Story of last week, and probably of the coming weeks as well, is the police investigation against the president of the state, Moshe Katsav. He stands accused of rape and sexual harassment of female subordinates.
This War Will Bring Safety
Tel Aviv, Israel - Yes. Israel must and will be a safer place once this war and the crisis are over and resolved with a durable ceasefire and tangible security arrangements in place. The Western world will be safer....
Pulse of Israel Tonight
Tel Aviv, Israel -- Except for the areas in northern Israel, which are within the range of Hezbollah missiles so residents are in shelters, life in the rest of the country is as usual. Tonight, for example, I will go to a theater in Tel Aviv. People are worried, of course. The stock exchange took a plunge of nearly 5% (mostly because foreign investors withdrew money from Israeli banks while the U.S. dollar went up -- making it probably the only place on earth). People's concerns focus on the future. What will happen next? How can escalation be prevented?...
Vicious Circle of Violence
Tel Aviv, Israel -- Ehud Olmert is an experienced politician, but an inexperienced Prime Minister. His defense Minister, Amir Peretz, a skillful trade unionist, is even more of an amateur in security matters. The combination of the two proved to be a recipe for disaster.
