Would Israel Agree to Divide Jerusalem?
Ali Ghraib at Think Progress (and reposted at LobeLog) has argued that Netanyahu has turned indecisive about whether the Israeli Prime Minister would agree to divide Jerusalem in a final status deal with the Palestinians. Netanyahu appeared on Charlie Rose two days ago and hinted that the final status of Jerusalem is negotiable: NETANYAHU: I want Jerusalem … Read more
Why Has the Egyptian Revolution Stalled?
In addition to the regular reading list, I am offering a pretty good selection on Egypt. I am crazy behind this week and have not really had time to comment on all I want to, including many issues that are covered in these readings. Unsurprisingly, the main constant through all of these pieces is the … Read more
Saudi Women Can Vote, but Not Drive to the Polls
“We refuse to marginalize the role of women in Saudi society in every field of work.” Those were the words of King Abdullah after the Saudi monarch made the historic decision to allow women the right to vote and serve on the Shoura Council, his advisory body. The decision is certainly a big one, but … Read more
The End of the PA, Oslo and the Two State Dream
Well this bill doesn’t have that many implications, right? Danny Danon is offering a bill to the Knesset (Israel’s Parliament) that would support the official annexation of the West Bank and the complete break of ties between Israel and the PA. Nice: JERUSALEM (JTA) – The Knesset will vote on a bill calling for full Israeli annexation … Read more
The JDL in the West Bank
A while back a report came out describing the willingness of several pro-Israel groups in France to travel to the West Bank in order to ‘protect’ illegal Israeli settlements from Palestinians attacks. And the French chapter of the Jewish Defense League did not disappoint: Referring to the current “mission” to Israel and the West Bank, the … Read more
Reactions to Netanyahu and Abbas
I returned home today (I know, I missed Abbas and Netanyahu speak – I’ll get on that) to an email from the Institute for Middle East Understanding offering the following reactions to the speeches, Enjoy: Diana Buttu, former PLO legal advisor and negotiator, current Fellow at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard’s … Read more
Obama’s Campaign Speech at the UN
My reactions to Obama’s speech at the UN went as follows: Obama said nothing relevant and used the UN as a platform for a reelection speech The part of the speech on Israel/Palestine should solidify Obama’s Israel credentials Obama moved from a man calling for peace (last year at the UN) to one concerned only … Read more
Is Obama the Most Pro-Israel President Ever?
Yesterday, I linked to the site of Amir Mizroch who called President Obama’s UN speech “the most pro-Israel speech [he thinks] anyone has heard at that world forum for a very long time.” Of course, this stands in stark contrast to the various folk who are trying to paint Obama as an Israel-hater. If there was … Read more
Obama’s UN Speech, Part II
Some more reactions from Obama’s speech at the UN earlier today. I wrote earlier that the speech was little more than a campaign speech that hit all the right notes for the domestic audience, but missed tremendously with the international audience (who were in front of Obama. At the UN.) Amir Mizroch watched the speech … Read more
