April 30, 2009

Kennedy visits the Middle East: 1948

In 1948 Robert F. Kennedy visited the Middle East and wrote these articles for The Boston Post: 1, 2, 3, 4.

April 28, 2009

Egypt: Iran's New Target

Tehran sees Egypt as rival.

April 27, 2009

61 years

Despite the threats and challenges to its existence, as Israel approaches its 61st birthday it has much to celebrate, writes columnist David Brumer.

April 26, 2009

Is Oslo dead?

Rabbi Donniel Hartman argues that Israel must not renounce the idea of two states for two peoples, even if its realization is not possible in the foreseeable future.

April 23, 2009

Statelessness has its rewards

Robert Kaplan asks: do Palestinians really want a state.

Mutual non-recognition

Peace impossible without Israeli/Palestinian mutual recognition.

April 21, 2009

Jews of Yemen

About 7,000 Jews live in Arab countries, down from more than 750,000 before Israel was created in 1948. Growing intimidation and violence are pushing the 300 Jews left in Yemen to flee.

April 20, 2009

Different Camps in Middle East

Egypt accuses Hizbullah of spying.

April 17, 2009

Insights on Gaza

This is a video of Michael Oren's talk on Gaza at Georgetown University. The full 90-minute talk is worthwhile, but if you don't have time, skip to the last half hour of questions, which cover the critical issues.

A loud and promised land

A traffic accident in Tel Aviv leads to this discerning commentary on Israeli character.

April 15, 2009

Last Jew in Afghanistan

Today there are more than 10,000 Afghan Jews in Israel. Zablon Simantov, a Jewish resident of Kabul, explains why he remains in Afghanistan despite his increasing solitude. Video.

High school, high-tech

Israel's high-tech industry is in a deep slump, but high school robotics is booming. Young Arab students, ultra-Orthodox Jews and Ethiopian Jewish refugees are building robots.

April 13, 2009

Give Bibi a chance

Skeptics are warning that Benjamin Netanyahu will isolate Israel internationally and refuse to engage in good-faith negotiations with the Palestinians and Israel's other neighbours. But a longtime supporter of the Israeli peace movement believes that the new Prime Minister will be a partner for peace and should be given the opportunity to prove himself.

April 10, 2009

Ethics debate

The Gaza war has widened the gap between Israel's self-image and how it is perceived abroad. There is a deepened sense in Israel that the state is being held to impossible standards. But the war has Israeli critics too.

April 5, 2009

Can poor countries be democratic?

Book review: Author Paul Collier argues that in countries lacking the rule of law and a functioning economy, elections don't bring democracy. Although War, Guns and Votes isn't specifically about the Middle East, the theory has implications for most Middle Eastern countries and, in particular, the Palestinian Authority.

April 4, 2009

Women in uniform

Women set to graduate from the Palestinian military academy.