Iraq: Basra and Beyond
April 8, 2008 | AIJAC staff
This Update features two articles on the aftermath of the Iraqi army’s recent battles with the Iranian-backed Shi’ite extremist Mahdi Army, led by cleric Moqtada al-Sadr.
Hamas Rhetoric and Ideology/ The Refugee Question
April 4, 2008 | AIJAC staff
Today’s Update offers up two pieces exploring aspects of the ideology and rhetoric of Islamist extremists, particularly Hamas. First up, the New York Times offered a good long (and overdue) piece on Hamas’ incitement to anti-Jewish hatred and various forms of violence from Gaza.
The Damascus Arab Summit/ Durban II
April 2, 2008 | AIJAC staff
This Update features two articles on the Arab League Summit held in Damascus on the weekend, which saw most Arab heads of state refuse to attend in protest over Syrian misbehaviour in Lebanon and coziness with Iran.
Counter-Terrorism/ The Arab Summit
March 28, 2008 | AIJAC staff
This Update features a couple of interesting recent pieces on fighting al-Qaeda-style Islamist terrorism and also previews the upcoming Arab League summit to be hosted by Syria.
Iraq – Five Years On
March 27, 2008 | AIJAC staff
Today’s Update features some examples from the many retrospectives that have been appearing in the international media in recognition of the fifth anniversary of the beginning of the war in Iraq.
Managing the reality of Gaza
March 20, 2008 | AIJAC staff
This Update focuses again on the situation in Gaza, and especially on Israeli options for managing it, as well as the original responsibility for the admittedly very difficult situation of Gazans. First up, the always insightful Professor Barry Rubin looks again at Israel’s various options for dealing with the violence coming out of Gaza. Rubin argues that there are no good solutions, only plans to manage the problem.
Iran’s Parliamentary Election/ Iraq and Al-Qaeda
March 19, 2008 | AIJAC staff
This Update opens with a good backgrounder and summary on the Iranian parliamentary elections, held last Friday. Prepared by the British/Israel Communications and Research Institute (BICOM), the backgrounder makes it clear that these elections must be seen in the context of the Iranian political system, where the parliament has very limited power and the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamanei, predominates.
Iran and Israel / Iran and Iraq
March 14, 2008 | AIJAC staff
This Update leads with an important new piece by the top Israeli writer Yossi Klein Halevi, in which he points out that the current Israeli conflict with Palestinian terror groups, and standoff with Hezbollah in Lebanon, can rightly be seen as a limited war with Iran.
Iran Sanctions re-visited/ Massacre in Jerusalem
March 7, 2008 | AIJAC staff
This Update leads with two pieces on the latest round of UN sanctions on Iran, passed on Monday.
First up, Zalmay Khalilzad, the US Ambassador to the UN, explains what the new UN resolution is intended to achieve, and the evidence on which it is based.
Gaza and Annapolis
March 6, 2008 | AIJAC staff
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is back in the Middle East trying to get the Israel-PA talks, begun at Annapolis in November, restarted after the recent clashes in and around Gaza. This Update look at how the Gaza problem is hampering prospects in this area.
