Israel’s gas deal at risk?
April 1, 2016 | Sharyn Mittelman
Israel’s gas finds in the East Mediterranean could set the stage for the Jewish State to become a regional energy powerhouse, creating new strategic and economic opportunities. However, following an Israeli Supreme Court ruling, that potential appears at risk.
The Mosul Dam: Iraq’s forgotten crisis
March 18, 2016 | Glen Falkenstein
In late February the US Embassy in Baghdad released a statement warning that the Mosul Dam is at a ‘a serious and unprecedented risk of catastrophic failure with little warning.’ The Embassy confirmed that such an event would represent an unprecedented humanitarian and strategic crisis for Iraq.
Media Week – “Neutral” stance comes up Trumps/Biffo by Richo
March 10, 2016 | Allon Lee
American Palestinian commentator Ray Hanania told ABC News Radio (March 3) that American Muslims should back Republican presidential aspirant Donald Trump and ignore his call to ban Muslims from entering the country because “on the issue of negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians…he said he would be neutral.”
Politics Getting in the Way of Environmental Efforts and Progress for Peace
March 8, 2016 | Glen Falkenstein
The US Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro, in an interview to the Times of Israel last week, highlighted the necessity of Israelis and Palestinians working together on pressing environmental issues, including solar energy, clean air and water, even if complete reconciliation isn’t around the corner.
Some Arab opinion leaders re-think their approach to Israel – but others cling to “anti-normalisation”
March 6, 2016 | Or Avi Guy
The events of the so-called “Arab Spring”, the chaos that ensued and the wars raging in Syria and Iraq, have highlighted to the world some of the structural and deeply-embedded governance deficiencies in Arab countries, and the related problems of under-development. It appears that some voices within the Arab world itself, especially Sunni states, are changing their tune when it comes to Israel.
Media Week – Labor’s travel travails
February 19, 2016 | Allon Lee
The Australian newspaper gave excellent coverage to critics of pro-Palestinian activists pushing the NSW ALP conference to ban party officials from travelling to Israel on sponsored trips, or impose conditions requiring they spend equal time in Palestinian areas.
Israel struggles to land the Leviathan
February 17, 2016 | Or Avi Guy
Five years ago a massive offshore reserve of natural gas – appropriately named Leviathan – was discovered approximately 170 km. off the Israeli coast, approximately 4.5 km. underwater. Since then, attempts to tap into the gas field have stalled, as new challenges emerged at each step of the way.
Growing Aussie and Asian investment in the Israeli start-up scene
February 12, 2016 | Sharyn Mittelman
Israel is widely considered an international leader in entrepreneurship, technology and innovation, and it is said to have the highest density of start-ups per capita. Now Aussie and Asian businesses and investors increasingly want to be part of the Israeli start up action, as seen by the many recent announcements of new business partnerships with Israeli companies.
What 1961 can teach us about 2016
January 19, 2016 | Ahron Shapiro
It’s particularly worthwhile from time to time, in an effort to better understand the core issues in the conflict, to revisit key source materials and policy statements during the period after the 1948 War of Independence and before the Six Day War of 1967 – before the IDF controlled even a centimetre of land in the “occupied territories”.
Of these, then-Foreign Minister Golda Meir’s address to the Special Political Committee of the United Nations General Assembly on December 15, 1961 is surely a standout. Coming just 13 years after the creation of the state, Meir’s address serves as a crucial policy statement during this period in Israel’s early history.
Speaking Violence, Hearing Silence
September 27, 2015 | Ari Wenig
The hypocricy is almost breathtaking: pleading to the international media for an end to violence at the risk of “an intifada that we don’t want”, whilst simultaneously inciting Palestinians to do “everything in [their] power” to stop the Jews “defiling [the Al-Aqsa] with their filthy feet”, assuring them that “martyrs will be rewarded… by Allah”. The speaker was President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, and the bulk of the international media and political community responded with indifference.
