Foreign Policy Blogs

Israel

Missile Test; More Gaza Visitors

With Iran still advancing its nuclear program, the Israeli government tested its ballistic missile interceptor, the Arrow 2. The recent test coupled the rocket with a new radar system and should successfully intercept an Iranian missile, according to the military after testing the system with a dummy missile fired from an Israeli aircraft. Another group of […]

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Palestinian Economy Crucial for Peace

In an interview with Middle East Progress, Robert Drumheller, vice president of structured finance for the Overseas Private Investment Corporation that works with the Palestinians, discusses the importance of a viable economy for the success of the peace process. Many analysts contend that many issues, such as the right of return, would no longer be relevant […]

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Israel-Palestinian Relations Post Intifada

A new INSS publication describes Israel-Palestinian relations with the backdrop of the two intifadas. Notably, the author concludes the following: “One essential condition to settling the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the willingness of both the Israeli and Palestinian leaderships to accept ideological, political, and territorial compromise. A second essential condition is the acceptance by both the […]

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Pal. Film Festival in R.I.

For those in and around Providence, Rhode Island, the Avon Cinema will host a Palestinian Film Festival April 9-15.  The event will include films from approximately the last 5 years, including original works as well as documentaries.

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Prepare the Welcome Mat

President Barack Obama intends on visiting Israel this summer to meet with members of the new Israeli government along with officials of the Palestinian Authority. The announcement comes as Obama reiterated his support for a two state solution in a speech before the Turkish Parliament yesterday. According to reports, he does not oppose the inclusion […]

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Lieberman to Reevaluate Oslo

Controversial Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman called for the “reconsideration” of the Oslo Accords, days after his installation ceremony when he made dismissive comments regarding the Annapolis summit. Meanwhile, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas urged Israel to promptly accept a two-state solution. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad continues to increase rhetoric on Middle Eastern Peace, this time lauding […]

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UN Appointments; Talks, Talks, and Talks.

The United Nations named yesterday the new chairman of the Commission on Population and Development as well as the head of an investigation into allegations stemming from Israel’s recent Gaza Strip operation. Danny Cameron, Israel’s deputy ambassador to the UN, will chair the Commission on Population and Development even though many Arab nations opposed the […]

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Fatah-Hamas Talks Stall, New Date Set

Fatah-Hamas Talks Stall, New Date Set

Hamas and Fatah agreed to resume reconciliation talks in Cairo at the end of the month, with a tentative date scheduled for April 26. The latest round of negotiations stalled yesterday due to disagreements between the two parties regarding a variety of issues, with some officials even calling the talks ‘unproductive.’

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Still Lieberman…

Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman continues to dominate the headlines due to both his controversial comments as well as an ongoing investigation into his dealings that could result in fraud and money laundering convictions. Pro-peace American Jewish think tank Jstreet released a scathing video accusing Lieberman of racism and encouraging communities to protest the appointment. The […]

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Possibility of Iran Strike; Assad Rhetoric Intensifies

Two headlines from today: ‘Israel unlikely to attack Iran this year’  AND ‘US general: Israel might choose strike Iran.’ Moral of the story: even the Pentagon has no idea. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates does not believe that Israel will launch an attack, a notion that reveals his disagreement with the generals. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad heightened his […]

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All Lieberman, All the Time

With the installation of the new government in Israel, one statesmen appears to be getting all the attention, and its not Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. The appointment of Yisrael Beiteinu Chairman Avigdor Lieberman to Foreign Minister led to international criticisms and domestic concern that one of the most polarizing local political figures would become the […]

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Op-eds on Israeli Elections, Gaza Allegations

Legendary Middle East historian Bernard Lewis penned an oped today in the Wall Street Journal  describes the inadequacies of the Israeli electoral process. Lewis commends the democracy as, in and of itself, an accomplishment due to the failures of this type of system in the rest of the region. However, he still encourages electoral reform. He […]

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State Dept. Seeks UN Human Rights Council Seat

The State Department intends on pursuing a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council, an inter-governmental working group dedicated to human rights. Notably, the council often criticizes Israel for human rights violations, thereby drawing critiques from pro-Israel advocates. House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Howard Berman released the following statement, noting his interest in altering the […]

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Bibi Interview on Day One

New Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu spoke with The Atlantic on his first day in office, declaring the need for the United States to prevent a nuclear Iran. Netanyahu did not reject President Barack Obama’s attempts to use diplomacy with Iran, instead focusing on the eventual outcome of a nuclear-free Iran as the only important […]

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Democracy Questionable for PA

The latest op-ed from left-wing journalist Amira Hass describes the need to dismiss democracy in the West Bank and Gaza Strip in order to secure the future of the peace process. She claims that the Palestinian Authority must first establish a sovereign state, accomplished partially by a strong government not weakened by small or extreme […]

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