Israel continues to try to provide humanitarian aid to Gaza, Hamas blocks it
July 17, 2014 | Sharyn Mittelman
Hamas’ disregard for the suffering of civilians can also be seen in its recent orders to deprive Gazans of Israeli humanitarian assistance. On Tuesday, Hamas closed the Erez border crossing into Israel, which stranded a group of around 20 Palestinians planning to travel to Israel for medical treatment. Despite the current conflict, Israeli hospitals continue to regularly provide medical care to patients from Gaza and the West Bank.
Hamas and the Ceasefire Failure/Proportionality and Gaza
July 17, 2014
With Hamas having rejected an Egyptian ceasefire deal on Tuesday (the full text of the proposal is here), even after Israel unilaterally ceased fire for several hours (some excellent coverage from Gaza of how Gazans felt about the ceasefire is here) this Update explores what Hamas is trying to achieve via its continued rejection of an end to the fighting. Plus, it also discusses the legally incorrect and counter-productive nature of the focus of so many in the media on the “disproportion” in this conflict between Israeli and Palestinian casualties.
Israel-Hamas hostilities prompt surge of antisemitic incidents
July 16, 2014 | Robert Ellenhorn
As has been the case in the past – amid hostilities between Israel and her enemies, attacks on Jews around the world have proliferated. Both physical attacks and blatantly antisemitic rhetoric at rallies and on social media have been evident – despite the routine claims by Israel’s critics that they are targeting Israel and its policies, not Jews.
Machinations over a Gaza ceasefire
July 15, 2014 | Sharyn Mittelman
As the fighting between Israel and Gaza continues into the seventh day, a ceasefire proposal brokered by Egypt is on the table and has been supported by both the US and Arab League. Israel has accepted the cease-fire proposal, but the proposal has been rejected by the armed wing of Hamas.
Al-Jazeera documentary scapegoats Israel for Egypt’s problems
July 11, 2014 | Ahron Shapiro
Egypt has a domestic gas shortage, even though it continues to sit on decades worth of proven reserves. Industry analysts, as well as some of the world’s top business publications, have made clear that the reason for this shortage has absolutely nothing to do with Israel, which only imported Egyptian gas through a pipeline over a period of about three years, in quantities that amounted to an infinitesimally small fraction of all Egyptian gas exports. Moreover, rather than being the source of Egypt’s gas problem, Israel is today part of its solution, and is now coming to Egypt’s aid to help ease its production shortfall and meet Cairo’s contractual obligations to its trading partners.
In light of these facts, al-Jazeera has plumbed new depths of its historic bias against Israel with its release, with much fanfare, of a documentary on June 9, “Egypt’s Lost Power”, that blamed Israel for “ripping off the Egyptian people” through the purchase of low-priced Egyptian gas, further implying that this sale was responsible for creating Egypt’s gas shortage. It also aired the allegation that Israel is now opportunistically seeking to profit from the crisis and using it as a “tool to screw” and subjugate the Egyptian people.
Netanyahu’s regional analysis
July 11, 2014 | Or Avi Guy
In the midst of the tragic events of recent weeks in Israel, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu spoke at a conference held by the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) on June 29. In his speech he outlined the challenges Israel faces in a region overcome by instability and turmoil.
Israel’s options for stopping Hamas’ rockets
July 11, 2014
Today’s Update looks at Israel’s military and strategic options as “Operation Protective Edge” enters a fifth day. With Israeli air strikes targeting Hamas’ command and terror infrastructure in Gaza, rockets are still being fired deep into Israeli territory – including reports some fell close to Israel’s nuclear reactor at Dimona. There are also reports that rockets have been fired into northern Israel from Lebanon.
Israel and Japan sign historic R&D agreement
July 10, 2014 | Gabrielle Debinski
Japan’s Minister for Economy, Trade and Industry, Toshimitsu Motegi, touched down in Israel on Sunday for an official visit, heading a delegation of senior members of his ministry as well as leading Japanese business people. The trip, which came about through an invitation from Prime Minister Netanyahu in the wake of his recent visit to Japan in May, is expected to further strengthen economic cooperation between the two countries.
AIJAC statement on Gaza escalation
July 9, 2014 | Colin Rubenstein
AIJAC stands with Israel today, as the country endures intense rocket, mortar and missile attack from the Gaza Strip.
Hamas ramps up attacks as Israel launches “Operation Protective Edge”
July 9, 2014 | Robert Ellenhorn
Over 225 rockets and missiles have been fired into Israel from the Gaza Strip since Monday night. Red alert sirens sounded throughout the country as rockets reached as far north as Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and even Hadera- which is around 110 kilometres from Gaza. Israel’s Iron Dome defence system shot down approximately 40 of these rockets.
