The Syrian Conundrum
March 4, 2014
In the wake of the complete failure of the Geneva 2 talks in late February to make any progress toward an agreement that would end the Syrian civil war, journalists, columnists and academic experts have been exploring what foreign policy options now exist to try and change that ugly situation there. This Update incorporates some of their thoughts and advice.
Another area where Israel is a world leader – Animal Rights
February 28, 2014 | Sharyn Mittelman
It may surprise many to know that Israel is actually a world leader in animal rights law and this important issue continues to be championed by Israeli politicians on all sides of politics. Israel implemented the Animal Welfare Law 20 years ago, and last January passed a revolutionary prohibition against importing animal-tested cosmetics, toiletries and detergents. Israel has also banned the production of Foie Gras (force feeding geese), and is on track to be the first country in the world to ban the sale of Foie Gras. In addition, the Knesset is currently debating legislating against recreational hunting and the sale of fur clothing.
In a poor sign for a two state solution, Palestinians refuse to pay for utilities services
February 27, 2014 | Michael Thurin
AIJAC senior policy analyst Ahron Shapiro previously reported on Dec. 4 on the electricity and fuel crises in Gaza. Now a recent development is highlighting continuing difficulties in delivering utilities to Palestinians.
The Jerusalem District Electricity Company’s (JDEC) has proposed to raise the price of electricity across the West Bank in response to the Palestinian Authority’s refusal to repay millions of shekels of debt.
Four Corners producer gets it wrong again on antisemitic comments
February 26, 2014 | Daniel Meyerowitz-Katz
On Saturday, the Weekend Australian ran an op-ed by Julie Nathan from the Executive Council of Australian Jewry. Nathan’s piece concerned vicious anti-Jewish bigotry which has appeared on the Facebook page of ABC’s Four Corners in the discussions surrounding the ‘Stone Cold Justice’ episode by the Australian’s Middle East Correspondent John Lyons. … Nathan detailed a number of comments on the page which were overtly and indisputably antisemitic …
In response, the Executive Producer of Four Corners, Sue Spencer, wrote into the Australian on Monday to say just how offended she had been — not by the racist material published on her page, but by Nathan’s article exposing it. … Given that Spencer chose to categorically deny any lax moderating on behalf of the ABC, it would perhaps have occurred to her to make sure that the comments which Nathan mentioned were no longer on the Facebook page. Not so, it appears. …
Red Hot Injustice
February 25, 2014 | Jamie Hyams and Ahron Shapiro
The ABC’s Four Corners, together with the Australian newspaper’s Middle East correspondent John Lyons, produced a story, “Stone Cold Justice” about the alleged Israeli mistreatment of Palestinian minors it arrests in the West Bank. Their basic thesis is that Israel has a new policy of arresting Palestinian children in the West Bank in the middle of the night, then torturing them to create a culture of fear and to gather information to use against Palestinian non-violent resistance. This is categorically untrue.
Elements of the current Israeli-Palestinian peace process
February 21, 2014
This Update features three enlightening pieces on important elements of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process currently being mediated by US Secretary of State John Kerry. Kerry is currently trying to get both sides to sign up, albeit with reservations, to a US-written “Framework agreement” that would broadly outline the principles of peace before the current round of talks expire in early April – Israeli analyst Shlomo Brom discusses more of the detail here.
Proven performance – PA system of incentives for terrorism shown to work
February 19, 2014 | Ahron Shapiro
In my blog post from December 10, I attempted to shine a spotlight on the financial benefits showered upon Palestinians convicted of attacking Israelis – including monthly stipends while in prison and high-paying jobs upon release. I pointed out that essentially, the Palestinian Authority (PA) was encouraging and incentivising Palestinians to commit acts of terrorism. Now, here’s a case that exemplifies it.
Intelligence and the Iranian nuclear program
February 14, 2014
With nuclear talks between Iran and the “P5+1” (US, UK, France, Russia, China and Germany) set to resume next week, and Iran provocatively testing ballistic missiles in the meantime, this Update deals with verification concerns that are likely to plague the current 6-month interim nuclear deal and any final agreement eventually reached.
When a journalist becomes a storyteller
February 13, 2014 | Ahron Shapiro
In an extended version of a viewpoint that originally appeared in the Australian Jewish News, AIJAC Policy Analyst Ahron Shapiro slams the ABC‘s latest Four Corners episode, “Stone Cold Justice”. In the essay, Shapiro suggests Middle East correspondent John Lyons may have sacrificed basic principles of ethical journalism in order to create an unsubstantiated documentary script that fit a particular world view.
Media Week – Amateur hour
February 13, 2014 | Allon Lee
Attempting to maximise its audience, the appallingly one-sided collaboration between the Australian newspaper’s Middle East correspondent John Lyons and ABC TV “Four Corners” program (Feb. 10) claiming to expose the scandal of Israel’s treatment of Palestinian minors enjoyed generous advanced promotion.
