Opposition groups to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary regime called for massive protests and unrest on February 11, 2010, the anniversary of the overthrow of the government of the Shah in 1979. The messages were disseminated via the web, on blogs and opposition group websites. The celebrations will conclude with a big political gathering in Azadi Square, […]
There is certainly no shortage of Israel-Palestine based lobbyists, think tanks, and non-profits in Washington D.C. The Center for American Progress’ Middle East Progress is adding to its portfolio by teaming with the Israel Policy Forum. The new partnership will leverage the expertise of IPF (established nearly two decades ago) with the resources of a […]
The Israeli military is known for being the best in the world at certain things- namely assassinations, espionage, and long-range covert operations. Add another to the list. The Israeli military sent mobile hospitals to aid relief efforts in Haiti. The military certainly has experience, as the government set up hospitals during recent wars including Operation […]
Speculation surrounds the prospects for Israeli-Palestinian negotiations to resume in the near future. Both sides have expressed their desire to jump-start high-level talks, although both parties still seem to find excuses for failing to meet. One perspective points out that negotiations would only improve the Israeli position and that the Palestinians have nothing to gain. […]
On Saturday January 16, 2010 the Security Council and Germany met to discuss economic sanctions on Iran. As of Saturday, the deadline to accept Russia’s proposal to enrich Iran’s Uranium in Russia had expired without an answer from Iran. In addition, the 2010 anti-proliferation conference is approaching and the U.S. would like sanctions in place […]
After my last comments about Yemen, it was necessary that I offer a clearer viewpoint as to why I believe, the recent announcement by the Pentagon and the White House of the plan to put forward millions of dollars in military aid and assistance to the Yemeni government to fight Al-qaeda. Al-qaeda in the Arabian […]
Al qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula could see the number of their members or brothers in cause jump from few hundred fighters to thousands in the next few months. The likely recruiter is our actions in Yemen. Sheik Aarif Sabri, a member of the Yemeni parliament announced in a press conference yesterday “One hundred-fifty religious […]
Freedom of the press is an integral facet to any democracy, including Israel’s. Moreover, shared values between Israel and the United States are anchored in the concept of open and free media, which plays an important facet in the people’s right to choose their leaders. Details are currently developing, but reports indicate that Israeli security […]
Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s recent three day visit to Ankara to meet with his Turkish counterpart symbolizes both the emergence of Hariri out from under the shadow of his father’s legacy, as well as Turkey’s emergence as a major diplomatic player in the Middle East. Rafik Hariri was a self-made billionaire with friends in […]
Next week, there’s a conference on Capitol Hill focused on U.S. relations in the Middle East one year into the Obama Administration. The event is sponsored by The Project on Middle East Democracy, the United States Institute of Peace, and Georgetown University’s Center for Democracy and Civil Society and will include a keynote from Sen. Robert Casey […]
Federal officials have developed a sophisticated knack for dodging questions they don’t want to answer. And the State Department is in no way different. The State Department’s response to the Israeli intention of building a barrier along the Egyptian border was quite simple. It read: “Israel has a right to defend itself and to monitor […]
The Palestinian Liberation Organization reached its heights under former Chairman Yasser Arafat, where the group obtained international legitimacy, became the leading party in the Palestinian Authority, and was regarded the only legitimate voice for the Palestinian people. Since the group’s ‘golden age,’ no other leader has managed to obtain the same level of support among […]
Turkey’s Jewish Community is 24,000 people strong, making it one of the biggest minority groups in Turkey. The Jews in Turkey are descendants of Sephardic Jews who settled there to escape the Spanish Inquisition. The community is some 500 years old. In recent years, numerous acts of anti-semitism such as the November 2003 truck bombs […]
How do you protest criticism of your country by a foreign leader? You summon his ambassador for talks and you offer him the smallest chair in the room. These were the actions of the Israeli Foreign Ministry following a press conference where the Turkish Prime Minister Mr. Recep Erdogan criticized Israel’s morality. Read full article […]
Alright, I couldn’t complete the alliterative headline. But, I got close. The year-long feud between Israel and Turkey spiked once more after months of quiet signalling potential repairs in the relationship. Speaking alongside Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan lambasted the Israeli government for violating Lebanese airspace and water. Earlier this year, Erdogan […]