Book Review of Norman Finkelstein’s “Knowing too Much”
Norman Finkelstein released his newest book approximately a week ago and eagerly I ordered it and began reading it. I have been interested in Norman Finkelstein for about five years when I first became involved in the Israel-Palestine conflict and his books have been a beneficial tool in deciphering the conflict. Even at one point … Read more
Stay Away from the Arabs!
This is refreshing, right? About 10 days ago, a fish merchant in Jerusalem’s Mahane Yehuda outdoor market noticed a young man with sidelocks and a skullcap trying to determine which of the stalls employ Arabs. The merchant, Saleh, called the police, who detained the man for questioning on suspicion that he was planning a … Read more
Minor Thoughts on the Shalit Deal
Both of these moves signify minor, yet important shifts in Israeli policy, but does this mean anything? Does it show an Israeli government that is belatedly reacting to its own self-isolation? Or is there something bigger afoot?
1,000 Palestinian Prisoners Down, What’s Left?
The following factsheet gives an overview of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, even after the release of Shalit
Quartet’s New “Peace Initiative”
It is not surprising reading the news, after the Palestinian Authority’s bid at the United Nations, that the Quartet came out with a “new idea.” It is a nice mixture of the “same old garbage” with a tint of “we need to keep ourselves relevant.” The Quartet is this ad-hoc organization of the United States, … 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
