My last article theorized about the timing and reasoning behind Turkey’s complete reversal of policy towards Israel. In it, I stated that severing its relationship with Israel was stage one of its race towards regional dominance. I predicted that stage two would likely be the strengthening of ties …
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that Turkey would be downgrading its diplomatic relations with Israel and cutting all military ties with the state. A few days after the announcement, he stated that there would also be an increase in Turkish ships patrolling the Eastern Mediterranean to ensure the …
Addressing his cabinet yesterday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin (Bibi) Netanyahu said that Israel does not want a war in Gaza. One of Netanyahu’s aides said, “There’s a sensitive situation in the Middle East, which is one big boiling pot; there’s the international arena; [and] there’s the Palestinian move in the …
Like most of the other uprisings going on in the Middle East and North Africa, Israel’s month long protests were started by the youth. One month ago, 26 year-old video-editor from Tel-Aviv, Daphni Leef, was informed that her rent was going to go up. Being a product of the 21st …
I have recently been fortunate to conduct several interviews with some very influential and interesting figures, the latest being with the former U.S. Ambassador to the Sultanate of Oman, David J. Dunford. Ambassador Dunford was appointed to Oman in 1992 and served until 1995. He has since retired to Tucson, …
A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of seeing author Joseph Braude speak in New York City. He was interesting and his perspective on the Middle East was unique, and I felt compelled to do an interview with him for my readers.
Just to provide some background, Joseph …
In a striking turn of events last week, Greece came to the rescue of Israel by curbing the highly anticipated “Freedom Flotilla II.” The contingency of 350 activists on 10 boats, mostly from the U.S. and Europe, was determined to break the Israeli blockade of Gaza. All boats were either …
One of the less publicized issues going on during Egypt’s rebuilding process is the trouble in the Sinai Peninsula. Since the revolution toppled the former autocratic government, lawlessness and chaos have taken hold of society. The nomadic Bedouin of the Sinai, who under Mubarak were controlled and coerced in to …
As it stands today, Israel’s government is a system of extreme proportional representation. There is hardly an ethnic minority or political group lacking representation. While at face value this may seem to be the fairest system, it is in fact a deeply flawed way of governance. The way it works …
Marc Stanley, the Chairman of the Jewish National Democratic Council, wrote an article in August 2008 lauding President Obama’s (then the Democratic candidate) trip to Israel as a “reaffirm[ation] [of] his commitment to Israel’s peace and security.” However, since he has taken office, President Obama has yet to …
There was a huge outcry over President Obama’s comments that future negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians should be based on the 1967 lines. While his comments were inappropriate and ill-timed, what he said was in no way an ultimatum or even definitive for that matter. Quite the opposite, he …
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas officially started his North American publicity campaign for statehood by publishing an editorial in yesterday’s New York Times. It was only a matter of time until something like this ran in a major American newspaper or magazine. While some of his arguments such as the pains of …
This year’s Palestinian Nakba Day, the holiday in which Palestinians mourn the creation of Israel, has been particularly active. Aside from the violence that has erupted in East Jerusalem and the West Bank, pro-Palestinian protestors from both Lebanon and Syria have confronted the Israeli northern border. A group of Palestinian …
As I stated in my last article, Egypt is trying to showcase its apparently rejuvenated power and strength by facilitating Palestinian reconciliation. I personally believe it is a PR move. However, if Egypt wants to prove its might is legitimate, it should find a way to return Gilad Schalit to …
A few days ago Egypt facilitated and hosted a meeting between Fatah and Hamas in Cairo. It was largely viewed as a public relations move to legitimize the Palestinian push for statehood through the United Nations, as well as boost Egyptian image. There is serious doubt about the sincerity of …
