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.”
Implications of the UK election for the British Jewish community
June 16, 2017 | Gareth Narunsky
The recent British election was a disaster for incumbent Prime Minister Theresa May and her Conservative Party.
BDS versus Wonder Woman
June 16, 2017 | Ross Beroff
DC’s newest superhero movie, “Wonder Woman” has grossed over $440 million worldwide, received rave reviews and has broken barriers as the most successful comic book film with a female lead, and the largest ever budget for a female director.
However, not everyone can experience the film; it has so far been banned in Tunisia and Lebanon, along with efforts to ban the film in Jordan.
Israeli counter-terror expertise currently in demand
June 14, 2017 | Shmuel Levin
Following the recent spate of terrorist attacks in Europe, including in Manchester and London, and other recent attacks in Paris, Stockholm and Berlin, Israeli counter-terrorism expertise appears to be in unprecedented demand.
New Hamas tunnels raise questions about UNRWA
June 14, 2017 | Ross Beroff
On June 9, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) announced that on June 1, it had discovered a tunnel built by Hamas under some of its schools located in Gaza. Specifically the tunnel was found under the Maghazi Elementary Boys A&B School and the Maghazi Preparatory Boys School, both located in a compound containing additional schools.
Is the international community finally catching on regarding Palestinian incitement?
June 9, 2017 | Shmuel Levin
Israeli officials have long argued that the Palestinian Authority should be held accountable for its incitement to violence against Israelis. It seems that now, finally, the international community may be starting to catch on.
Gulf splits with Qatar: What this means for the region – and for the love affair Australia’s ABC and SBS have with Al-Jazeera
June 8, 2017 | Sharyn Mittelman
In a dramatic move, on June 5 Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Libya, Yemen and the Maldives announced they were all severing diplomatic relations with Qatar over its support for terrorist groups including the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas, as well as for its close ties to Iran, with which it co-owns the largest natural gas field in the world.
