Former Netanyahu advisor Lerman discusses Israel’s true settlement strategy
August 15, 2017 | Ahron Shapiro
To what extent are Israel’s West Bank settlements obstacles to peace? If Israel is truly prepared to evacuate settlements for peace, why does some construction continue and why haven’t unauthorised outposts been evacuated?
These were the underlying ideas behind an insightful query about settlements posed to Eran Lerman, former Deputy for Foreign Policy and International Affairs at Israel’s National Security Council during a question and answer session at the Australian Institute of International Affairs in Melbourne on August 10.
What’s happening in the Qatar Crisis – and what is Israel’s perspective?
August 12, 2017 | Shmuel Levin
Israeli officials have generally stayed out of the fray since the crisis began. One exception is comments from Israel’s Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman in early June that the crisis “opens many opportunities for cooperation in the war against terror” and that “the State of Israel is more than open to such cooperation.”.
Colin Rubenstein’s complete response to the Guardian’s queries about claims by John Lyons
August 1, 2017
On Saturday, the Guardian Australia published an article by Amanda Meade highlighting claims against AIJAC made by Australian reporter John Lyons in his new book, Balcony over Jerusalem, and including responses from AIJAC’s Colin Rubenstein to some of his claims. For the sake of clarity and accuracy, we include below exactly what Ms. Meade asked AIJAC last Friday, and Colin Rubenstein’s reply to her in full…
Amidst concern over North Korea’s ICBM launch, Iranian missile shows Iran heading the same way
July 31, 2017 | Sharyn Mittelman
The spotlight has justifiably been on North Korea for conducting another test on July 28 of an ICBM (Intercontinental Ballistic Missile) which could reach Australia or most of the US West Coast. However a day earlier Iran also tested a missile, which received less attention, but which is equally concerning.
Israeli PM calls UNESCO Hebron resolution “delusional”
July 11, 2017 | Sharyn Mittelman
The United Nations Educational, Scientific, Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is at it again, this time passing two anti-Israel resolutions last week.
The first resolution was not new and it continued a UNESCO tradition of denying Israeli claims to the Old City of Jerusalem. The second resolution was new in that it listed the old city of Hebron including the Cave of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs as an endangered world heritage site.
The resolutions are being seen as attempts to undermine the Jewish peoples’ connection to their most holy sites – the Old City of Jerusalem containing the Western Wall and Temple Mount, and Cave of Patriarchs and Matriarchs – which is believed to be the resting place of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and their wives.
Amb. Dennis Ross: Premature Palestinian state recognition should be discouraged
July 7, 2017 | Ahron Shapiro
At an exclusive AIJAC press briefing in Melbourne, Anti-Defamation Commission guest and veteran former US Middle East peace envoy and Ambassador Dennis Ross spoke out against calls for the immediate recognition of a Palestinian state, saying such gestures place ‘symbols over substance’ and makes peacemaking harder.
Ten years of Hamas rule in Gaza: Some facts everyone should know
July 4, 2017 | Ross Beroff
This month marks the 10-year anniversary of the terrorist organisation, Hamas wresting control of Gaza from the Palestinian Authority. Since then the small strip has been disproportionately in the news, not least for the three wars with Israel that Hamas has provoked.
Audio: Dennis Ross discusses the Middle East on ABC radio
July 4, 2017
AIJAC guest and former US Middle East envoy Dennis Ross was a guest on Jon Faine’s “Conversation Hour” on ABC Radio 774 Melbourne. The audio excerpts feature wide-ranging discussion of Middle East issues.
Indian PM set to make history by visiting Israel
June 30, 2017 | Sharyn Mittelman
Next week India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi will make history as the first ever sitting Indian prime minister to visit Israel. The visit marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of full diplomatic relations between Israel and India.
West Bank building drops, but media spins it into surge
June 28, 2017 | Ahron Shapiro
In December 2014, I blogged about how the latest Israeli construction statistics in the West Bank at that time had been distorted in the news, revealing how clear data showing a drop in construction had been spun into a story claiming a “surge” based on a misleading interpretation of the data.
Now, it has happened again.
Israel courts new ties with Greece and Cyprus at Summit
June 19, 2017 | Ross Beroff
On June 15, trilateral talks concluded between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades and Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras. On the meetings, Netanyahu remarked, “there’s a simple fact about Cyprus, Greece and Israel that brings us very close together. We’re all democracies, real democracies.”
