Former Obama administration National Economic Council Director Larry Summers has mixed feelings about his portrayal in the blockbuster Social Network, although he is staying fairly mum on the economic situation in Israel. Summers spoke today at the Herzliya Conference outside Tel Aviv, and the FPA Israel blog caught up with him at a press gaggle […]
I was interviewed this week by the International Business Times on the demographic threat to Israel. I argue that the demographic threat is not urgent, so long as the West Bank is not annexed to Israel. Instead, the gaps in the welfare system will only get worse because of increased ultra-orthodox birth rates, therefore reform […]
The Arab wave of discontent is sweeping the Middle East and did not miss the Palestinians, although the government is choosing stability over permitting democratic assembly, at least for now. Earlier this week, both the Palestinian Authority and Hamas dispersed demonstrations in favor of Egyptian reforms. Mass demonstrations against Hamas are also expected on Friday, […]
Popular IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenzi’s term is not being extended, and Defense Minister Ehud Barak picked Yoav Galant as the new top military officer, although that plan was scrapped yesterday after the Israeli attorney general found that Galant used his stature to grab land. In his stead, General Yair Naveh was selected on an […]
As demonstrations continue in the Arab world, the anti-Israel and anti-Semitic rhetoric is emerging. What began as demonstrations based on anger against the government is transforming into calls for war on Israel, demonstrations against the West and attacks on Jews. While radical Islamists did not launch these demonstrations, radicals are most certainly using the opportunity […]
The demonstrations in Egypt began as a referendum on the poor economic conditions and have slowly morphed into calls for democratization, but the underlying sentiments of the Egyptian people and strong support for the radical Muslim Brotherhood continue to shine through the rhetoric. In several news articles today, Israel and the United States were injected […]
As the Egyptians continue demonstrating against the government of President Hosni Mubarak, there have been three outcomes posited, although only one of those results would be advantageous for security in the Middle East and Israel’s future. The pro-democracy movement takes hold: the protests began as an economic referendum on the Mubarak government, with pro-democracy activists now leveraging […]
The Lebanese government is on the verge of collapse, as Hezbollah pulled out of the Hariri-led coalition and is poised to become a faction in the ruling party, potentially putting Israel at risk for increased terror activity in the north. However, in Tunisia-inspired protests, the Egyptian people are now up in arms against President Hosni […]
This is part two of my exclusive interview with Ilan Mizrahi, the former deputy chief of the Mossad and former head of the Israeli National Security Council under former PM Ehud Olmert. Mizrahi discussed his advice to Olmert on the urgency of establishing peace with Syria, Olmert’s original intent to order a Gaza-like pullout from […]
Last week, I sat down for a two hour exclusive interview with Ilan Mizrahi, the former deputy chief of the Mossad and former head of the Israeli National Security Council under former PM Ehud Olmert. Mizrahi opined on a wide range of issues, including the Iranian nuclear threat, the Stuxnet computer worm, Israeli assassinations in […]
Former Labor party leader Amir Peretz intends on joining the centrist Kadima party, according to reports. The left-wing Labor party, currently headed by embattled Defense Minsiter Ehud Barak, has been rife with internal strife and could continue crumbling unless the party finds its voice and reclaims grassroots support, especially as the politics of the Israeli […]
President Obama has extended a national emergency in effect for 15 years due to continued threat of terror attacks that could thwart the Middle East peace process. The extension of this national emergency exemplifies several points: the peace process is integral to U.S. interests, mandating that the White House declare an emergency due to efforts […]
The decision by the Hezbollah bloc in the Lebanese parliament to depart the coalition could spell either disaster or serendipity for Israel, as fears of a 2011 war that could devastate Tel Aviv are at the forefront of security fears. An upcoming Hariri government-backed tribunal is expected to indict top Hezbollah members in the death of former […]
The Israeli mentality of aggressive, yet sweet, is most certianly refined. Israeli humor, on the other hand, needs a lot of work. The Israeli version of Saturday Night Live, called Eretz Nehederet (Wonderful Country), recently released a clip that is actually humorous and fully encapsulates the Israeli mentality of having no peace partner, the declining […]
There is really only one fitting word to describe Israel in 2010 – “stam.” When Israelis have buyer’s remorse and know they shouldn’t have invested in that useless gadget, they say “stam.” When Israelis see a soccer player kick the ball out of bounds instead of toward the net, they say “stam.” When Israelis see […]