Encouraging the young

Dalal Mughrabi led the worst terrorist attack on civilians in the history of Israel. In the last two years Palestinians have named a computer centre, two high schools for girls, two summer camps and a soccer championship after her. Robert Fulford comments.

From Lake Winnipeg to the Sea of Galilee

Manitoba has joined forces with Israel to explore the best way of managing water resources.

"Occupied" or "disputed"?

In an essay in the Wall Street Journal, Danny Ayalon writes that the land generally described as the "occupied territories" should  more accurately be called the "disputed territories". Moshe Yaroni, writing in Zeek, finds the distinction unimportant; "occupied" or "disputed", Israel's political obligations in the terrritories remain the same.

The myth of Israel's illegal settlements

David M. Phillips, a professor at Northeastern University School of Law reviews the legal status of Israel's settlements in the West Bank and comes to the conclusion that widely-held opinions that they are illegal are incorrect.

Not ready to be friends

It is assumed that the Palestian Authority would be in favour of grassroots efforts to create connections between Jews and Palestinians because, unlike Hamas, the PA participates in the peace process. But according to journalist Khaled Abu Toameh, the "moderate" and pro-peace PA in fact blocks attempts to normalize relations between Jews and Palestinian Arabs.

Legal settlement

One can argue that Israel's establishing towns in the disputed territories after 1967 obstructs diplomacy, but one cannot accurately declare the settlements illegal. Eric Rozenman reviews their international legal status.

West Bank settlements and international law

The conviction that Jewish settlements in the West Bank are illegal is now so commonly accepted, it hardly seems as though the matter is even open for discussion. Still, professor of law David M. Phillips asks "On what points of law does the case against Israel stand?"

West Bank boom

Shops and restaurants in Hebron are full and villas comparable in size to those on the Cote d'Azur have sprung up on the hills around the city. In Ramallah luxury car dealerships and health clubs are to be seen. Tom Gross, for the Wall Street Journal, filed this report on the Palestinian economy.

Is "anti-Israel" the same as "pro-Palestinian"?

Journalist Khaled Abu Toameh argues that there are many ways to help Palestinians, but attending "Israel Apartheid Week" isn't one of them.

Deceptive quiet

U.N. Security Council Resolution 1559 called for the disbanding and disarming of all Lebanese and non-Lebanese militias. That's not happening. Hezbollah, Israel says, has more than restored its arsenal to the levels of before the war in 2006.

Welcome to Canada

A Saudi Arabian-born Syrian citizen who is qualified as a flight instructor was stopped at the Canadian border. In his possession: $880,000 in gold coins and cash (which he failed to declare), a Hezbollah ring, a Palestinian scarf and DVDs related to the 9/11 tragedy.  (Update: The original article from the National Post concerning this is no longer on line.  A link to a later article from the Globe and Mail is here.)

Muslims fighting for Israel

Maher is Muslim and he was a soldier with the Israeli army for three years. Rachid Sekkai from the BBC's Arabic Service talks to Muslims serving in the Israel Defense Forces and hears about the conflicts they face, at home and on duty, and the pride that military service sometimes brings them. (Podcast)

Grover in the Holy Land

A ‘Sesame Street’ character is attempting to get preschoolers in Israel hooked on the message of Israeli-Arab coexistence.

Hebron, then and now

Hebron Jews are relentlessly vilified as fanatics who illegally occupy someone else's land. Until 1929, Jews had lived in Hebron for three millennia. Jerold S. Auerbach relates this modern story of Jewish exile and return.

A responsible bystander

As part of his world tour Leonard Cohen wanted to perform for both Jews and Palestinians.