The two faces of Abbas
May 13, 2016 | Ari Wenig
With negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA) seemingly at a stand-still, an analysis suggests there are not two parties to the conflict, but three – Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu, and two versions of PA President Mahmoud Abbas: the version experienced by the Arab world, and the one witnessed by the West.
French PM Valls repudiates offensive UNESCO resolution on Jerusalem
May 13, 2016 | Allon Lee
Following up on our blog post last week about our disappointment with French Prime Minister Manuel Valls – who has a sterling record on fighting antisemitism, yet presided over France recently backing a vile UNESCO resolution on Jerusalem which effectively denied any Jewish connection to any of the Jewish holy sites in Jerusalem including the Western Wall and Temple Mount – we are happy to report that Mr. Valls has now strongly distanced himself from that vote.
68 Years Young
May 12, 2016 | Sharyn Mittelman
This year Israel celebrates its 68th birthday – with much to be proud of. Israel’s existence is the realisation of the self-determination of the Jewish people in their ancient homeland. Israel has provided a safe-haven for Jews fleeing antisemitism, including for Jewish survivors of the Holocaust, and those fleeing the repression of the Soviet Union, famine in Ethiopia, and expulsion and exclusion in Arab lands.
Zarif’s charm offensive continues – with a deceptive defence of the regime’s Holocaust Denial
May 3, 2016 | Sharyn Mittelman
Zarif’s public relations campaign is in full swing, as seen from his interview with Robin Wright of the New Yorker on April 25. The New Yorker interview highlights Zarif’s excuses and cover-ups for Iranian terrorism and Holocaust Denial. He also suggests the nuclear deal is fraying, blaming the US for the reluctance of Western banks to do business with Iran, while ignoring Iran’s poor banking regulations.
An Australian Premier’s Trip: The Israeli Perspective
April 14, 2016 | Gareth Narunsky
NSW Premier Mike Baird’s trip to Israel last week – the first by a sitting state premier – generated much media interest here at home. Here’s how media in Israel reported on the visit:
Palestinian Authority Officials and Official Media Respond to Belgian Atrocities by Blaming Israel
April 8, 2016 | Glen Falkenstein
“The kind of violence we saw yesterday, the failure to condemn it, the rhetoric that incites that violence, the retribution that it generates, has to stop… This cannot become an accepted modus operandi.”
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.
