Pew Poll: Muslim populated countries concerned about Islamist extremism
July 3, 2014 | Sharyn Mittelman
A new survey by the Pew Research Center found that concern about Islamic extremism is high among countries with substantial Muslim populations, especially in the Middle East. The poll also found that publics hold very negative opinions of extremist groups al-Qaeda, Hamas and Hezbollah.
After the kidnappings and murder
July 3, 2014
Today’s Update looks at developments since the burial of Israeli teens Eyal Yifrach, Gil-ad Shaar, and Naftali Fraenkel, amid conflicting reports that Muhammed Abu Khudair, a 16-year-old Palestinian from east Jerusalem might have been murdered in an act of revenge (although other reports suggest criminal, not racist, motives). The murder has been roundly condemned overseas and in Israel, including by PM Benjamin Netanyahu. AIJAC’s statement of condemnation can be seen here. In Jerusalem, 1,000 people demonstrated against anti-Arab incitement, while hundreds of right-wing Jews and Arabs have rioted in Jerusalem.
UN report confirms Iranian arms smuggling
July 2, 2014 | Robert Ellenhorn
Back in March, Israeli Special Forces succeeded in intercepting a ship in the Red Sea, which Israel claimed was transporting Iranian supplied weapons bound for Gaza. Israeli commandos boarded and took control of the “Klos-C” merchant ship about 1500 kilometres from Israel’s border in the Red Sea. The ship was believed to have had an intended destination of Port Sudan. Dozens of missiles and other arms were found hidden amongst the cargo. The ship was subsequently towed to Eilat for a full inspection.
Hamas’ undeniable terror trail
July 1, 2014 | Ahron Shapiro
The discovery of the bodies of the three Israeli teenagers kidnapped and murdered by Hamas terrorists last night in Israel brought to a heartbreaking close the IDF’s exhaustive search which began on June 13, some seven hours after they were taken while trying to make their way home from Gush Etzion by hitchhiking.
Some of the media’s coverage of the kidnappings has been sceptical about Israel’s claim that Hamas was responsible for the attack, however, a closer look at Hamas’ own statements and actions shows that it is Hamas’ denials that should be looked at sceptically.
Hamas seeks to inflame tension on two fronts
July 1, 2014 | Gabrielle Debinski
The manhunt for the three Israeli youths missing since June 12 drew to a close last night as three bodies were found in an open field outside Hebron. The search for the abducted youths in the West Bank over the past two-and-a-half weeks has coincided with a dramatic escalation of tensions in Gaza, as terrorist groups in the Strip have stepped-up attacks on southern Israel. While Hamas has not claimed responsibility for the kidnapping and killing of the three teens; Eyal Yifrach, Gil-ad Shaer and Naftali Frankel, Prime Minister Netanyahu has stressed that Israel is certain that Hamas is responsible.
Exposing the Palestinian sub-culture of hate and incitement
July 1, 2014
Today’s Update looks at the destructive sub-culture in Palestinian society that legitimises hate for Israel and its people, and results in such all-too-familiar scenarios as the sickening kidnapping and murder of Israeli teenage boys, Eyal Yifrach, Gil-ad Shaar, and Naftali Fraenkel. The trio who went missing 18 days ago, are believed to have been merely trying to hitchhike from the West Bank back to Israel and were abducted and murdered by Hamas members. Their deaths followed months of intense incitement by Hamas for Israelis to be abducted.
Gaza’s Fuel Woes
June 30, 2014 | Robert Ellenhorn
In the midst of an ongoing fuel crisis in March, Qatar agreed to donate the funds necessary to supply Gaza with fuel for three months. The Qatari fuel donation, valued around US$32 million which was part of wider Qatari support of Hamas ran out last week. The end of Qatari donated fuel- delivered by Israel through the Kerem Shalom crossing- spurred the closure of Gaza’s only power plant, leaving Gaza’s residents without sufficient electricity and subject to long periods of blackouts.
Iran and the Iraq Crisis
June 27, 2014
The subject of this Update is the Iranian role in the crisis in Iraq – and the suggestions being made that the US and its allies share a common interest with Iran in protecting the Baghdad government from the attacks of the Sunni Islamist groups ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria), which has succeeded in overrunning so much of the country.
Sensationalising ‘settlement announcements’
June 25, 2014 | Ahron Shapiro
In my blog post from June 2, I showed how construction in Israel’s West Bank settlements had slowed, but that the media had failed to report it.
This month, two pieces of commentary by former Bush Administration deputy national security advisor Elliott Abrams – who was the official in charge of monitoring Israel’s settlement policies – reinforced some of the very same points I made.
The reality of Hamas-Fatah “unity”
June 23, 2014 | Gabrielle Debinski
It has become clear over recent days that the crisis created by the kidnapping of three Israeli teens is severely straining the Fatah-Hamas unity pact, signed in April, and implemented via a new “technocratic cabinet” earlier this month. A senior Fatah official was quoted as saying that if Hamas was responsible for the kidnapping, the unity deal will be “void”. Meanwhile, Hamas and Fatah have been trading barbs about whether the Palestinian security forces should be helping find the missing teens.
