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Palestine After Fayyad: The Choice Between Cooperation and Conflict
Why did Salam Fayyad recently resign as Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority? Nathan Thrall explores the factors that led to his departure, including the challenges of holding a position widely backed by Western powers but only weakly supported by Palestinians
Israeli Apology to Turkey Big First Step But Not Sea Change
After several years of mutual silence, Turkey and Israel are talking to each other again. However, this latest rapprochement owes more to US diplomatic efforts than a genuine desire by Ankara and Tel Aviv to reset diplomatic relations
Israel is in the process of watching a peace treaty unravel. I don't mean the one with Egypt, but the one with Syria. No, I'm not crazy. Since Henry Kissinger's shuttle diplomacy in 1974, the Israelis have had a de facto peace agreement of sorts with the al Assad family
Settlements Still Blocking Middle East Peace Agreement
Obama's visit to Israel was a great success, but don't expect peace between Israelis and Palestinians anytime soon. So now we may have more cordial relations. But settlements continue to be the main thing blocking any Palestinian peace deal
With Bus Segregation Israeli Apartheid Becomes More Blatant
Israel's continued disregard for Palestinians is yet again highlighted in its latest segregation of the region's bus system—modern day apartheid at its finest. Especially problematic is the fact that the bus system is a public service
Iranian Nuclear Program World's 'Greatest Challenge'
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak says Iran's nuclear program is the biggest challenge facing Israel, the Middle East and the world, and that 'all options' remain open to addressing possible atomic weapons development
United States and Israel Push The Boundaries of International Law
International law progresses through violations. We invented targeted assassination and we had to push it. At first there were protrusions that made it hard to insert into the legal molds. Now, it is in the center of the bounds of legitimacy
Jerusalem Residents Rejoice: 'Let it Snow, Let it Snow'
Residents of the Holy City woke up to a blanket of white as some six inches of snow fell overnight, the largest snowfall since 1992. Schools were cancelled, businesses closed and joyful children rejoiced
Israeli MP Proposes Paying Palestinians $500,000 Each to Leave West Bank
An Israeli parliamentarian has proposed paying each Arab $500,000 to leave Israeli-occupied West Bank using defense funds
Bibi has Iran In His Sights, But First He has an Election to Win
A re-elected Netanyahu will find himself face to face with a re-elected President Obama, back on their familiar sparring ground of Iran, the issue that has chilled relations over the past year. He intends Iran to be the defining issue of his premiership
Nuclear Deal with Iran Possible If Bad Habits Change
Over the next two years President Obama will have to make a fateful decision on whether to go to war with Iran over its nuclear programme or push the world to accept a deal that is unlikely to satisfy the Israelis
Cease-Fire and the New Regional Dynamic
The proliferation of players in the Israeli-Hamas cease-fire negotiations highlight the major shift in the regional strategic environment since the fall of former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak
Cease-Fire Announced in Israel - Gaza Conflict
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr announced a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas during a news conference in Cairo
Gaza Conflict Reverberates in the West Bank and Jordan
The West Bank has been calm in recent years, but significant protests have been taking place across the eastern Palestinian territory. These developments have implications in Jordan, where the regime of King Abdullah II is also struggling with political unrest
Iran's Ahmadinejad Cannot Deny His Own Words
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has downplayed his previous statements, but a quick look at Iran's government media leaves little doubt about the true nature of the Iranian regime
Tension Grows Between Israel and US Over Whether or When To Attack
The question has morphed from 'Should Israel attack Iran to try to stop its nuclear program?' to 'When will Israel attack Iran to try to stop its nuclear program?'
Jewish Refugees Re-emerge as Issue for Israel-Palestinian Peace
A conference in Jerusalem has launched an element new to the mix of public battle: the rights of 850,000 Jewish refugees forced from Arab countries between 1948 and 1951
Israel faces a crisis stemming from unraveling regional strategies, a lack of confidence and a political system incapable of unity
In 'The Gatekeepers,' filmmaker Dror Moreh has come up with a profoundly humane political documentary for a different, smarter, humane way forward in the Middle East. This may not be the movie Israel's right wing would've commissioned. For anyone else it's an eye-opener
Israel's First-Timers Position for Their 'Moments' in New Government
The second phase of the Israeli election ritual is underway with the president's mandate to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to form a government
Israel Vows to Build in West Bank Site After Evicting Protesters
Police and soldiers moved into a Palestinian tent camp just outside Jerusalem, evacuating about 100 squatters
Every Day Brings New Drama in the Middle East
The UN vote on Palestine was a most amazing event. Only nine of 193 nations voted against the motion. What made this so striking is that most prognosticators had guessed that, after the Gaza conflict, Palestinians would muster less sympathy
What Exacly Would Israel Like to Do with Its Palestinian Population?
What exactly is it that Israel intends to do with the Palestinians now in the territories that it has just opened for home construction for Jewish settlers, thereby extending its policy of occupying and annexing what are legally Palestinian lands?
Groundhog Day: Middle East Version
In the film 'Groundhog Day,' Bill Murray wakes up each morning and relives the previous day. A similar scenario is playing out in the Middle East between Israel and her enemies
The strategic environment during the 2008-2009 Operation Cast Lead was vastly different from the one Israel faces in today's Operation Pillar of Defense. To understand the evolution in regional dynamics, we must return to 2006
Israel's Netanyahu Continues to Burn Bridges
Obama and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have never been friendly. But then Netanyahu openly supported Mitt Romney for president, the first time an Israeli prime minister has so publicly taken sides
East Jerusalem Families Demand Improvement of Schools
A new report by two Israeli organizations found a shortage of over 1,100 classrooms in east Jerusalem. The report also found 24,000 students are not enrolled in any educational framework at all
African Migrants and the Israeli Apartheid Debate
Located in southern Tel Aviv, Hatikva was the site of the worst race riots since Israel's founding. Egged on by Likud Party politicians, local Jewish residents brutally assaulted migrants and looted their stores
Syria's Stockpile of Chemical Weapons is Making Israel Nervous
The Israelis are again worried about chemical weapons. This time, it is chemical weapons that the international community believes Syria possesses
Israel's Mass-Coalition Fails to Sustain as Last-in Becomes First-Out
Shaul Mofaz, chairman of the centrist Kadima party, abruptly pulled out of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's governing coalition
Palestinians Hope to Tell Their Story Through the Oscars
'5 Broken Cameras' is one of five candidates for the Oscar in the Best Documentary Feature category this year. Palestinians hope this Oscar-nominated documentary depicting a non-violent struggle against Israel will succeed in telling their story
Argentina-Iran Deal Makes a Mockery of Justice
Argentina has crossed a line by making a deal with Iran to jointly investigate a 1994 terrorist attack against the AMIA Jewish community center, which according to Argentine prosecutors and Interpol was masterminded by top Iranian officials
Hamas Leaders Keep Low Profile in West Bank
Don't try to find anyone to go on the record as being a Hamas member in Ramallah. While recent polls show the faction became more popular throughout the West Bank of late, Hamas members lay low to avoid arrest
To The Brink Again for Israel and Gaza
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Syrian President Bashar Al Assad have an important thing in common: When a part of the populations under their control rise up against them, they do not negotiate or compromise
Contemporary T-ball war works out like this: A far weaker Gaza sends a shower of missiles into Israel, hiding its launchers among civilians to ensure collateral damage and favorable propaganda during Israeli retaliation
Netanyahu Foolish to Take Sides in American Election
Benjamin Netanyahu is so eager to see Mitt Romney elected president that he's making a fool of himself
Arab World Greets Israeli Elections with a Yawn
Arab newspapers barely mentioned Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's decision to go to early elections, some nine months ahead of schedule
War and Bluff: Iran, Israel and the United States
Speeches, rhetoric and emotions aside, intensifying psychological pressure on Iran is more likely than war
Netanyahu Has Little to Fear From Kadima's Desertion
Shaul Mofaz, leader of the Israeli political party Kadima, offered his rationale for leaving the Knesset majority they'd made possible when they joined Netanyahu's Likud-led coalition
Iran Sanctions: War by Other Means
Now that the talks with Iran on its nuclear program appear to be on the ropes, are we on the road to war? In a sense, we are already at war with Iran
The Palestinian Authority's Legitimacy Problem
The Palestinian Authority has total control over neither its own funds nor its security forces
Israel: Defense Budget vs Social Justice
One of the major results of the social justice protests in Israel in the last year has been a renewed debate about the budgetary priorities of the state
Israeli Governement Shaken By Social Protesters Focus on Military Service
Israel's government is shaken by public demands for equal army service including Israeli Arabs and 'ultra-religious'
Palestinian Businessmen Searching for New Markets
From furniture to cosmetics to food, dozens of Palestinian companies are seeking new markets in Jordan. Palestinian companies were in Amman for the first-ever exhibition in Jordan
Hamas Demolishes Abu Amra Houses in Gaza
Hamas police forces brought in bulldozers to begin demolishing houses belonging to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, forcibly evicting the families authorities said were squatting on government land
Putin's Visit and Israeli-Russian Relations
The interesting thing about Israel and Russia is that while they seem to be operating in the same areas of interest and their agendas seem disconnected, their interests are not always opposed
Archaeology and the Israel-Palestine Conflict
Despite the seismic changes occurring throughout the Middle East, the Israel-Palestine conflict seems frozen in amber. The politicization of archaeology by both sides merely reinforces the status quo
Bipartisan Assault on Middle East Peace
Democrats joined Republicans in passing a new bill that makes peace between Israel and its Arab neighbors all the more difficult
U.S. Sides With Israel's Nukes Over Iran's Lack Thereof
Trying to defend a state with illegal nuclear weapons over one with none is a recipe for disaster
U.S. and Israeli officials have declared that a nuclear-armed Iran is a uniquely terrifying prospect, even an existential threat. In fact, by creating a more durable balance of military power in the Middle East, a nuclear Iran would yield more stability, not less
Azerbaijan: Israel's Reluctant Friend
This article examines the political and economic ties between Israel and Azerbaijan and the discussion of Israeli plans to attack Iran from Azerbaijan
Supporting MEK a Lose-Lose Proposition for Israel
Israel has squandered its cherished state-sponsor-of-terrorism card on a bad bet
Israel is Swamped with Singles
Israelis are known for their gregarious behavior and love nothing more than spending time with their group of close friends. It's a trait that is wreaking havoc among the quickly mushrooming singles population
Remembering Israel's West Bank Offensive
Israeli acts of aggression continue to enjoy broad bipartisan support in Congress, even from so-called 'progressive heroes'
Ancient Tomb Meets Modern Courtroom
American-born farmer finds ancient tomb of rabbinical sage in his backyard and is now on trial for damaging antiquities
Egypt is Focus of Israeli Security Worries
From Israel's perspective, the Middle East isn't so dangerous these days -- the Palestinians are quiet, Syria is in turmoil, Iran faces sanctions. But trouble in Cairo looms
Israel's Defense Establishment: Overmanned?
In Israel, young women are drafted as recruits, but higher up, it's just about men only
Israel's New Strategic Environment
Israel is now entering its third strategic environment due to the rise of Iran as a regional power and the need to build international coalitions to contain it
Palestinians Ban Sale of Israeli Produce
Palestinian authorities say they aim to ban Israeli potatoes and other produce in a move aimed at protecting Palestinian growers. They deny polticis is playing a role
On Galilee's Shores a Big Stink
Restaurant in Jesus-era town of Capernaum is accused of dumping sewage into the lake
School Debate Shows Deep Divisions in Israel
A fight in Israel over a new university is a perfect metaphor illustrating the nation's deep divisions -- a fault line that further isolates Israel and presents a continuing danger to the world
Attack on Iran Would be a Mistake
Despite extraordinary pressure, President Obama stood up to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and refused to be dragged into still another war -- this one against Iran
If America Won't Lead Against Iran, It Should Get Out of the Way
These days, there is a growing sense -- both within the Washington Beltway and beyond -- that Israel could soon strike Iran to prevent it from going nuclear
Graffiti declaring 'Death to Christianity' had been cleaned up and Israeli government officials visited with apologies and expressions of concern. But for the Christian community in Israel, the environment remains inhospitable
A small shipment of household furniture from the Gaza Strip could point the way to a new source of jobs and economic growth in the Palestinian Territory
Terror Targets with Teflon Coating
A study took surveys conducted during the height of the Second Palestinian Intifada to see whether people's sense of 'life satisfaction' was affected by the violence
Jobless Rate Falls, But Economists Refrain from Cheering
Israel's unemployment rate dropped to a preliminary 5 percent, capping a steady decline of two-and-a-half years to its lowest rates since the late 1980s, but even the government's Central Bureau of Statistics was quick to discount the importance of the figure
Israel's Tax-Deductible Occupation
New Israeli legislation limits and taxes contributions to organizations opposed to the occupation
In Islamic Stronghold Christianity Carries On
Christians are a tiny and dwindling minority throughout the Holy Land, which comprises Israel, the West Bank and Gaza. But Christians say they are free to practice their faith
The Catastrophic Consequences of a Nuclear Iran
Can anyone reasonably expect a newly-nuclear leadership in Tehran to be reliably rational?
Are Israelis Less Willing to Make Sacrifices?
Chief of Israel social and economic reform panel says his countrymen are less willing to make peronal sacrifices for national security because they feel alienated and distressed
Israel Faces Chill Wind from Europe, Central Banker Warns
Bank of Israel Governor Stanley Fischer warns Europe's debt crisis will hurt Israel's economy but says budgetary restraint by the governrment can help mitigate the impact.
If ever there was a time when 'see, I told you so' was warranted, it is now as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reports that Iran is close to developing a nuclear weapon
As The World Turns and The Centrifuges Whirl in Iran
Gosh, what a surprise: According to the United Nations, Iran seems to be at work on developing a nuclear weapon. I am shocked -- shocked. Goodness, what target do you think the mullahs and their nutcase president, the all too imitable Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, might have in mind?
In Quest For Cool, Tel Aviv Taps Tech
A new unit of Mayor Ron Huldai's office, Tel Aviv Global City, wants to add a new element to the city's nightlife -- start-up entrepreneurs working all hours writing business plans and computer code. The goal is to turn itself into the high tech center not just of Israel but all of Europe in 10 years' time
Israel's Shrinking Middle Class
Israel's middle class is shrinking even as the economy is thriving and unemployment is at its lowest in decades
Israel: Joining Start-Up Nation
Living and working on the edges of Israel's Start-Up Nation, Palestinian and Israeli Arab high tech entrepreneurs are trying their hand getting companies aloft by leveraging their closeness to Israel's technology juggernaut and the low cost of Palestinian engineers
Intel Builds High-Tech Empire in Israel
U.S. chipmaker Intel is Israel's biggest private sector employer and top exporter
United States and Israel Need to Agree on Strike Against Iran
Israel does not habitually forewarn its adversaries of impending attacks. Current Israeli threats to strike Iranian nuclear facilities are thus aimed not at Tehran, but at Washington
Israeli Attack on Iran Could Become a Religious War
It looks like there will be coalition military action over Iran's nuke program. However, if Israel attacks or participates, it can also become a religious war
United States Should Discourage Israel From Striking Iran
The United States should discourage Israel's leaders from attacking Iran at this time
U.S. Will Do 'Everything' to Stop Iran
As Iran and Israel traded barbs over a dual bombing plot -- including suspected 'magnet bomb' attacks against Israeli diplomats in New Delhi and Tbilisi -- U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta warned Tehran about its nuclear ambitions and support for terrorist organizations
Yuli Edelstein acts as private tour guide to a busload of foreign journalists. His message on a recent tour of the Jewish communities in the northern West Bank is that life here is very different
Is there a new Hamas in the making, one ready to put down its arms and live in peace with Israel? Or is it the same old Islamist movement putting on the airs of moderation as it abandons its old friends Syria and Iran and makes new ones in Egypt, Turkey and Qatar?
In Race to Moon Israel Thinks Small
The Israel non-profit Space IL hopes to win Google's global lunar competition with micro-technology and teen volunteers
Israel: Air Force Reorganizes Air Defenses to Meet Missile Threat
Israel has begun a major overhaul of its air defenses, which have been rushed to the field with newly designed anti-rocket batteries backed up by an integrated central control center
Palestinians Evoke '60s Freedom Riders in Bus Protest
Palestinian activists board an Israeli bus in attempt to mimic America's 1960s-era civil rights protestors
Squeezed By Israel, Palestinians Aim to Collect More Taxes
Palestinian Authority Prime Minster Salam Fayyad is determined to wean his government off reliance on foreign assistance and tax transfer from Israel and one way he aims to do that is by collecting more taxes from Palestinians
Herod Started The Temple But Great-Grandson Finished the Job
Archaeologists have uncovered what they say is evidence that the massive retaining wall of the ancient Temple Mount wasn't even started until at least 20 years after Herod died in 4 B.C.. The new findings challenge the perception that the enormous edifice, the largest construction endeavor in the ancient Holy Land, had been solely the work of the ancient king
Gilad Shalit's Release Emboldens Netanyahu's Iran Mandate
Israel's President Bibi Netanyahu and his defense minister Ehud Barak are more determined to attack Iran than ever
Two-State Solution is Only Solution in the Middle East
How could Israel think that the life of one captive soldier, Gilad Shalit, is worth releasing over 1,000 Palestinian prisoners with the blood of innocents on their hands?
A Silver Lining for Palestine?
Frustrated by the failure of international players -- and the United States in particular -- to act as neutral and effective arbiters, the Palestinian Authority recently put in motion a plan to unilaterally declare statehood
Water Being Used to Coerce Bedouin Villagers
Despite the fact that they are citizens, they are not entitled to the same level of rights as other citizens of Israel. Why? Because they are living in unrecognized villages
The policy of containment, it should be remembered, proved itself both wise and prudent for nearly half a century after World War II
Netanyahu Fails to Convince Israelis on Iran Threat
Polls show tepid support among the Israeli public for a solo attack on Iran despite Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's campaign
Threat of U.S. Strike is Vital to Deterring Iran
The credible threat of military force is essential to achieving the U.S. objective of preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons capability
United States and Israel Should Push for Regime Change in Iran
Washington should not discourage Jerusalem from attacking Iran unless the consideration that 'all options are on the table' also includes internal regime change
Israel Debates Iran Nuclear Strike
Just as the belligerent rhetoric goes up a notch, there also has emerged increasing signs of divisions within Israel's strategic community on exactly when and how to deal with Iran's nuclear challenge
If Israel or the United States starts a disastrous war with Iran, it will be because someone thought it was a good idea
'Holy Wars, 3000 Years of Battles in the Holy Land' illuminates those major battles that shaped this part of the world for three millennia
'Bad Wind' Blowing Through Israel
Now that a far right-wing government has governed Israel for almost three years, settlers feel emboldened so that Jewish extremists are wreaking havoc and mayhem
Rights Groups Express Worry Over Democracy
An NGO's report cites setbacks in Israeli legislation, police behavior over the past year as hurting the Israel's human rights profile
'Unity And Non-Violence' Requisites For Palestinian Statehood
Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad Interview -- 'Without doctrine of non-violence, too many missing ingredients' for statehood
Gospel Trail Puts Tourists on Path of Jesus
A newly developed trial in Israel's north meanders through a scenic, site-rich route from Nazareth to the Sea of Galilee that Jesus himself may have walked
Berisha Nurtures Albanian-Israeli Ties
Though the main focus of his trip was on business and investments, Prime Minister Sali Berisha also gave Israel support on the Palestinian issue
Sinai Bedouin Join Al-Qaeda Out of Bitterness, Not Ideology
Economic and social grievances at heart of surge in violence in the Egyptian-ruled Sinai Peninsula
Why Does America Defend the Weak and Small?
Only the United States seems to have an affinity for protecting tiny, vulnerable countries. Israelis, anti-communist Chinese, Kurds, Greeks and Armenians have a few things in common. They have relatively small populations, aggressive neighbors, few strong allies, many expatriates and refugees in the United States, and a tragic history of persecution and genocide
Where Pilgrims Once Trod, Sewage Flows
Neglected and treated as the city's dirty backyard and a polluted dump, the Kidron Valley is conceived to become a green pilgrim path
Dead Sea's 7 Wonders Bid Spurs Politics and Patriotism
The Dead Sea has become the object of flag-waving patriotism, political point-scoring and potential profits as the people and governments of the two countries and a third country in the making lobby for their shared patrimony to be declared one of nature's seven wonders
Iranian War Fever-Pitch Debate Blasted Wide Open
The debate over attacking Iran's nuclear installations that had been simmering behind the closed doors of the Israeli defense establishment has cracked wide open with ministers and experts pushing the pros and cons in the media
A Shift in Israel-Hamas Relations?
The exchange of kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit for more than one thousand Palestinian prisoners, many of them convicted terrorists, may indicate a shift in Hamas' position, says former U.S. ambassador to Israel Martin S. Indyk
The Problem Is Palestinian Rejectionism
Nearly two decades of peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians have failed miserably. The key reason for this failure is the Palestinians' refusal to recognize Israel as a Jewish state
Israelis and Palestinians Deploy New Technology in Fighting
The flare-up in fighting between Israel and Palestinian militants was as much a showcase for military technology as it was a forceful statement of the two sides' political agenda
United States Law Enforcement Chiefs to Israel
U.S law enforcement officials learn counter terrorism techniques from Israel and told the key was sharing intelligence
Senator Landrieu: Don't Cut Aid to Israel
Louisiana Senator Mary Landrieu says the U.S. shouldn't cut aid to Israel and offers her state's help for the country's nascent energy industry
New Projects to Ease Gaza Housing Crisis
In response to a growing housing crisis in the Gaza Strip in the occupied Palestinian territory, several new building projects have been initiated by the Hamas-led government, and thousands of families have begun purchasing properties in new communities
UNESCO Vote to Admit Palestinian Authority Stirs Tempest
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) voted to admit Palestine to full membership, adding heft to the Palestinian Authority's bid for membership to the United Nations and triggering a possible substantial loss of funds for the UN agency
U.S. Congress: Standard Bearer for Israeli Expansion
Representative Joe Walsh and 30 co-sponsors issued a resolution supporting Israeli annexation of the West Bank.
Israel Accepts Quartet Proposal to Resume Peace Talks
Israel has welcomed a proposal by international mediators to resume peace talks with the Palestinians 'immediately and without preconditions'
Blocking Palestinian Statehood
In 2010 President Obama sounded hopeful that by the following year there would be 'an agreement that will lead to a new member of the United Nations -- an independent, sovereign state of Palestine.' Sure enough, in September 2011, the Palestinians asked the UN Security Council to recognize a state of Palestine -- but Obama ordered the U.S. delegate to veto the request. What gives?
Israeli Parliamentarians Call for Annexation of West Bank
The Land of Israel caucus is urging the Israeli government to respond to the Palestinian Authority's bid for statehood by formally annexing all Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
The Occupation That Time Forgot
On my many drives from West Bank city to West Bank city, from Ramallah to Jenin, Abu Dis to Jericho, Bethlehem to Hebron, I'd play a little game: Could I travel for an entire minute without seeing physical evidence of the occupation?
Azerbaijan Faces Difficult Choice Between Turkey and Israel
Policymakers in Azerbaijan are facing a dilemma: can an enemy of a friend be a friend? Specifically, can Baku maintain cordial relations with both Turkey and Israel at the same time?
Israeli - Palestinian Conflict: The Prisoner Swap
The prisoner exchange between Israel and Hamas reflects the power of occupation and the power of changing circumstances
Hamas Gains From Prisoner Swap Likely to Fade
Islamic movement scores points with prisoner exchange with Israel, but public will forget, analysts say
Arab Spring, Israeli Isolation
With the Arab uprisings gradually reconfiguring the regional political landscape, Israel is finding itself increasingly isolated. For at least a decade, Israel has identified Iran as its main strategic nemesis, but the Arab spring has rekindled simmering tensions between Israel on one hand, and Arab states as well as Turkey on the other
Concerns Over Palestinian Children in Israeli Custody
While there have been emotional scenes after the release of 477 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails, concerns are being raised about the plight of 164 Palestinian children from the West Bank in Israeli custody
Mossad Gets Dragged Into Latest British Political Scandal
British media have speculated that the man behind the fall of their minister of defense was in cahoots with Israel's famed intelligence agency, Mossad, perhaps unwittingly, as the perfect spy
Bittersweet Reunion of Righteous Gentiles
While Israel's Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial has recognized and honored thousands of these bright lights who risked their lives during the darkness of the Second World War, it is a little known fact that some 130 of these Gentile rescuers chose to move to Israel since then
As the greatest beneficiary of the Arab Spring, Turkey is going head to head with both Syria and Israel
For Israeli Tycoons: New Strings Attached
Israel's tycoons face a future of fewer possibilities as the government takes its first step toward limiting their freedom of action
A new exhibit at the Bloomfield Science Museum in Jerusalem not only puts Israeli innovations on display but attempts to discover just how Israeli scientists are able to come up with so many high tech inventions
Israeli Settlers: Never Shy About Taking Law Into Own Hands
Israeli Knesset Member Ben-Ari has announced a call to action for Israeli settlers to confront anticipated demonstrations in support of the Palestinian bid for statehood
Israel's Truths and Omissions on Vote for Palestine State
So what's wrong with the United Nations voting for creation of a Palestinian state, I asked Israel's Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon in a recent interview
How to Save Israel and the United States from Themselves
Most Americans would likely agree that the main shock delivered to Americans and the American government by the 9/11 attacks was that of vulnerability. Another such shock is impending. It is the national vulnerability that will be revealed this month by the American veto of a Palestinian demand for full United Nations membership
Israel - Turkey Tensions Here to Stay
Israel has little prospect of restoring its once-close ties to Turkey anytime in the near future and will likely find itself under pressure from Ankara in Egypt and in the Mediterranean
Even Non-Violent Palestinian Intifada Seems Unlikely Now
Despite a history of popular mobilization and sophisticated grassroots activism supported by social media, Palestinians appear less likely than ever to engage in a major protest, violent or peaceful, whether it is out of confusion, fatigue or a willingness to give Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas time to achieve his statehood dream, analysts say
Jewish Extremists Burn Mosque in Israel
Suspected Jewish extremists burned down a mosque in northern Israel sparking a brief rioting by Arab-Israelis, who protested against the arson attack
Israeli 'Price Tag' Vandals Mark Up Violence
The escalation in 'price tag' attacks on Arab targets and even on the property of the Israeli establishment is a sign of a sense of growing alienation among the Jewish extremist fringe
Art Comes to Jerusalem Open Market
The bustling Mahane Yehuda Market, or shuk, is a well-known Jerusalem landmark. People travel from far and wide to buy vegetables, meat and fish, spices and treats. More recently, chic cafes and boutiques have sprung up. And now there's a project called Tabula Rasa to transform the rundown surrounding streets with urban artwork
Cyprus: Waters Roil in Eastern Mediterranean
Once the preserve of fishing boats and yachts, in the space of just a few weeks the serene waters of the Eastern Mediterranean have become a field of contention. As Greek Cyprus begins exploiting its potentially vast gas and oil reserves, Turkey asserts its growing role as a regional power, and a worried Israel is pushing back
The United States has effectively relinquished its role as the key negotiator of Middle East peace as the Palestinians, ignoring President Barack Obama's entreaties, announced their decision to pursue UN membership and be recognized as an independent state
As Palestinians head to the United Nations, President Obama faces one of the most excruciating dilemmas of his presidency, a predicament partly of his own making
Palestinian Leader: Obama Wrong to Take Israel's Side
Palestinian Ambassador Maen Areikat called on the Obama administration to stop coddling Israel and vote for United Nations recognition of Palestine, or at least abstain from voting in the U.N. Security Council
A triple diplomatic challenge to Israel from Turkey, Palestine and Egypt both reflects the region's political transformation and reveals the key flaw in Israel's attitude to its neighbors
Saudis to United States: You're Sleeping on the Couch Tonight
Former Saudi intelligence chief Prince Turki al-Faisal warned the U.S. that its recalcitrance over the Palestinian Authority's bid for statehood will force Saudi Arabia to reconsider its ties with Washington
Turkey's Neo-Ottoman Foreign Policy
Whereas Turkey's foreign policy mantra used to be 'no problems with the neighbors,' Turkey now seems to want to become the chief bully in the eastern Mediterranean, escalating tensions between the NATO member and Israel, a key US ally
