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.
Audio: Dr Colin Rubenstein discusses the Six Day War on 2GB
June 5, 2017
Dr Colin Rubenstein joined Michael McLaren on Sydney radio 2GB to look back on the Six Day War, 50 years on.
“Moderate” Rouhani wins Iranian election – but this likely means little for either Iranian foreign policy or internal reform
May 24, 2017 | Sharyn Mittelman
Iran held its presidential election on May 19, and President Hassan Rouhani defeated his main rival, conservative cleric Ebrahim Raisi, receiving 57% of the 40 million votes cast.
Post-referendum, Turkey’s Erdogan employs his new powers in ugly ways
May 11, 2017 | Shmuel Levin
In April, a contested referendum saw Turkey pass into law a new draft constitution that significantly increases the powers of its President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. (For more on how the referendum seems to have fundamentally transformed Turkey politically, see Amotz Asa-El in the latest AIR.) Now, one month later, Erdogan may be unleashing those powers.
The Age Gets Loew – a Fisking
May 11, 2017 | Gareth Narunsky
The Age newspaper (and the Sydney Morning Herald online) ran a “report” from anti-Zionist activist and author Antony Loewenstein on April 10 titled Ticking towards war: What will it take to change life in the Gaza Strip?
Anyone familiar with the self-described independent journalist’s prior writings on Israel and the conflict with the Palestinians would already know that his work is fraught with omissions, bias and errors. And unfortunately, so it goes on.
Seriously? Abbas claims Palestinians are “raising our youth, our children, our grandchildren on a culture of peace”
May 10, 2017 | Sharyn Mittelman
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas recently met with US President Donald Trump and said, “Mr. President, I affirm to you that we are raising our youth, our children, our grandchildren on a culture of peace.”
If only that was true, peace might appear a lot closer. It is well documented that in numerous cases the Palestinian Authority has actively promoted incitement against Jews and Israel by praising terrorists, as well as “jihad” and “martyrdom”, especially in messages directed at children.
Emmanuel Macron on Israel and France’s Jewish community
May 8, 2017 | Shmuel Levin
As Emmanuel Macron claimed victory in the French Presidential election this week, French Jewish community leaders expressed relief. As Joel Mergui, President of the Israelite Central Consistory of France, wrote: Macron’s win “constitutes a veritable relief for all our nation and for the Jewish community of France”.
Five stand-outs about Hamas’ new policy manifesto
May 5, 2017 | Ahron Shapiro
Hamas’ new policy document – which has been mischaracterised as replacing its founding charter – has been described as a softening of its position. But does it really reflect a change in Hamas’ attitude towards Israel or is it merely an attempt to improve its image abroad?
After threatening Australia last week, North Korea threatens Israel this week
May 2, 2017 | Shmuel Levin
After threatening Australia with a nuclear strike last week, North Korea has added yet another country to its target list – Israel.
Beyond the spin: Israel’s planned settlement
April 6, 2017 | Ahron Shapiro
While, ironically, both pro-settlement and anti-settlement groups have an interest in amplifying its significance, a rational fact-based analysis of Israel’s planned first new West Bank settlement in over 20 years would seem to suggest they’re almost literally making a mountain out of a molehill.
