More post-Annapolis assessments
December 4, 2007 | AIJAC staff
This Update contains some additional assessments of what last week’s Annapolis conference accomplished from a variety of commentators with differing points of view.
Political Crisis in Lebanon/ The case for “Jihadism”
November 30, 2007 | AIJAC staff
As readers may be aware, Lebanon has had no president since last week. The term of the last president, pro-Syrian Emile Lahoud, ended on Nov. 23. However, no successor has been elected because of a stand-off between the pro-Syrian opposition, led by Hezbollah, and the anti-Syrian government, led by PM Fouad Sinora and Saad Hariri, son of assassinated former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri.
Yet More pre-Annapolis Analysis
November 27, 2007 | AIJAC staff
This Update features additional discussion of the significance and prospects of the Annapolis conference, due to begin tonight, Australian time. In a triumph for American diplomacy, it looks like the conference will feature significant participation from Arab states, including both Saudi Arabia and Syria.
Iraqi Good News / Iran’s Anti-Democracy
November 20, 2007 | AIJAC staff
This Update leads with two pieces on the positive trends and statistics in the military conflict in Iraq.
Israel as a Jewish State/ More on the IAEA and Iran
November 16, 2007 | AIJAC staff
This Update leads with two reactions to Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat’s declaration, which we noted yesterday, that the Palestinians will never recognise Israel as a Jewish state.
Iran, the IAEA and the Bomb
November 9, 2007 | AIJAC staff
This Update is devoted to the Iranian nuclear issue, and the debate sparked in recent weeks by International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) head Mohamed elBaradei, who has been making statements opposing both sanctions and force as a response to the Iranian nuclear stand-off, saying there is no evidence Iran is planning to make weapons, and anyway, it would take them three to eight years.
Musharraf’s New Coup in Pakistan
November 7, 2007 | AIJAC staff
As readers are probably aware, Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf on the weekend promulgated a State of Emergency, and began a series of moves to control and muzzle the judiciary, political opponents, and the media in Pakistan.
Annapolis Blues/ Lebanon’s Political Crisis
November 2, 2007 | AIJAC staff
This Update focuses again on the meeting on Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking planned for Annapolis sometime soon.
Iraq’s Hopeful Numbers
November 1, 2007 | AIJAC staff
The casualty figures from Iraq, both military and civilian, over the last couple of months have shown a major improvement – involving an overall decline of more than 50% and in Baghdad, over 80%.
The latest sanctions on Iran
October 31, 2007 | AIJAC staff
As readers will be aware, the US government instituted some new unilateral sanctions against Iran last week, directed against the elite al-Quds Brigade of the Revolutionary Guards, and against certain financial institutions dealing with them. This Update analyses the likely and intended effects of these sanctions.