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Sunday, August 17, 2008 Palestine & Israel: One state and binational state 'solutions' are fraudsLately it has become the fashion to threaten that if Israel does not agree to Palestinian peace terms, a one-state solution or a binational state will be the only solutions, or to put these solutions forward as the best solutions. [more] by Moderator @ August 17, 2008: 03:43 AM CST [Link] [1 Comment] Monday, August 11, 2008 Israel & the Palestinians - No peace progress, whose fault?The prognosis for the peace process that was supposedly revived by the Annapolis conference was not rosy. At the time, we asked, Annapolis Summit - history or bluff? In retrospect it seems we may conclude that Annapolis was both, and is now part of the history of bluff that is the Middle East peace process. [more] by Moderator @ August 11, 2008: 11:35 PM CST [Link] [No Comments] Monday, July 14, 2008 No attack on Iran in sight - yetIf you believe the usual pundits, either Israel or the United States, or both, are about to attack Iran to stop its nuclear development program. The reasons that are given are variously that president Bush doesn't want to leave the problem for his successor, or that Israel is alarmed over its intelligence data, that show that Iran is actively developing nuclear weapons and will have the bomb real soon, contrary to US intelligence reports, or that Israel is afraid that a new US administration will be less sympathetic. Additional arguments are that a "red line" will be reached when Russia installs the fuel rods in the Bushehr reactor, or when and if Russia delivers the advanced S-300 air-defense system that Iran would like to acquire. [more] by Moderator @ July 14, 2008: 05:08 PM CST [Link] [2 comments] Sunday, July 13, 2008 Will Iran Finally Blink?
In a bid to end its 5 year nuclear standoff with the international community, Iran's so-called "constructive and creative" response on July 4 has come on the back of hints and rumors suggesting that it might also be willing to honor a 'six week' moratorium on new centrifuge deployments and uranium enrichment in return for a moratorium on new sanctions. Although such suggestions fall clearly short of halting current centrifuge activities and enrichment, they are, nevertheless, being interpreted as a positive sign which might possibly lead to a process of conclusive discussions with the '5+1' countries. by Moderator @ July 13, 2008: 04:04 PM CST [Link] [1 Comment] Not Everything is conflictThe preoccupation with Jewish-Arab relations, whether in the framework of professional work or part of daily life, brings us directly or indirectly to confront the conflict and the politics of the conflict. In my many meetings with activists in the practical sphere and in Arab Jewish dialogue, it seems that always, consciously or unconsciously, we relate to every area of life only from the perspective of how they relate to the conflict and to relation between the majority and the minority. This attitude has become axiomatic. [more] by Moderator @ July 13, 2008: 02:47 PM CST [Link] [No Comments] Friday, July 4, 2008 Gaza: how peace is lulled to eternal sleepThe good news is that there is quiet in Gaza and Sderot and the Western Negev. Everyone is glad that the Qassam rockets have more or less stopped falling in Israel, and Israeli incursions into Gaza have stopped as well.
The bad news is that Shimon Peres, who for over a decade symbolized the hope of peace for moderate Israelis, doesn't believe a peace agreement is possible, as he was reported to have said in a private conversation. When Peres of the peace prize and the peace foundation, Peres the eternal optimist, the proponent of the New Middle East, stops believing in peace, those who hope for peace must be truly worried. Just when things seem to be looking up, Peres turns gloomy. How can this be? by Moderator @ July 4, 2008: 04:37 PM CST [Link] [No Comments] Sunday, June 29, 2008 Democracy in the Middle EastDemocracy in the Middle East, says the conventional American wisdom, will promote peace and freedom. Despite failures in Iraq and elsewhere, this policy seems to still have quite a following and is still the basis of officially declared American policy. [more] by Moderator @ June 29, 2008: 06:46 PM CST [Link] [1 Comment] Sunday, June 22, 2008 Is US Middle East policy hopeless?
Please bear with me while I present the following bits of wisdom: "The United States can be most effective when it pools and leverages resources with the many with whom it shares objectives in the region." No, the above are not part of a joke email entitled "Corporate Bullshit Bingo," though the now faded "leverage" cliche is there.
by Moderator @ June 22, 2008: 01:56 AM CST [Link] [2 comments]
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Contact in the Middle East is thriving. Negotiations, in one form or another, are underway on five fronts: between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, Israel and Hamas, Fatah and Hamas, Israel and Syria, and Israel and Hezbollah. In each case, hope must be tempered by caution: complexities abound and considerable obstacles lie in the way of success.
by Moderator @ June 18, 2008: 02:07 PM CST [Link] [No Comments]
Last night I had the strangest dream, I never dreamed before;
For all of us who are used to Middle East wars and war scares, bellicose statements and intractable conflicts, some of the recent headlines seem like a euphoric vision resulting from an exceptionally beneficent psychedelic drug. At least, they are very strange. Suddenly, it appears as though there is agreement and harmony on almost every front, between the most ferocious enemies. If it is all coming together, it is really wonderful, isn't it? [more]
by Moderator @ June 18, 2008: 01:56 PM CST [Link] [3 comments]
Thursday, June 12, 2008
To inhabitants of the Middle East, the oddity of American Middle East policy is perhaps exceeded only by the even odder nature of commentary about the Middle East, and the fantastic gyrations and contortions of candidates for the U.S. Presidency on the subject of the Middle East. [more]
by Moderator @ June 12, 2008: 01:08 PM CST [Link] [No Comments]
Saturday, May 31, 2008
The revolting victory of the Hezbollah in Lebanon is being delivered in installments. The first was the takeover of Beirut by armed force. This was followed by the army "compromise" that gave Hezbollah what it wanted so it could withdraw its soldiers and allow them, and all other wishful-thinking Lebanese, to pretend that they were not using force to get their way. This was followed by the Qatar agreement that put the stamp of approval on the "compromise," and additionally gave the Hezbollah veto power over any government action, as well as setting up the next elections so that Hezbollah supporters would have a certain majority. The latest humiliation to date was the glowing approval of the shameful agreement was given by the UN Security council. [more]
by Moderator @ May 31, 2008: 04:05 PM CST [Link] [3 comments]
The recent announcement from Israel and Syria that they are engaged in negotiations for a comprehensive peace treaty through Ankara took some by surprise. However, in retrospect perhaps there was no reason for the surprise. Syria seeks to regain the Golan Heights captured by Israel in the 1967 war and it also wants to re--establish a relationship with Washington. In its view, the best hope of reestablishing full ties with the US would be through talks with Israel. Economic reasons also motivate Damascus; this relates to the fact that the Syrian economy, unlike its GCC counterparts, is sluggish and needs significant amounts of foreign currency to kickstart the local economy. However Syria understands that no international investor would make a large investment into a country not at peace with its neighbours. In addition, there are other domestic constraints compelling Damascus towards a peace settlement with Israel. Political repression combined with poor economic prospects results in the minority Alawite regime facing the brunt of popular anger. One form of this popular anger is the emergence of radical Islam. According to Syrian Vice President Farouk Shara, radical Islam constitutes a threat to Syria and a peace deal with Israel is the only way to halt it. Presumably this would necessitate greater security cooperation between Israel and Syria on this issue.
by Moderator @ May 31, 2008: 03:18 PM CST [Link] [No Comments]
Thursday, May 22, 2008
The dramatic announcement of indirect, Turkish-mediated peace talks between Israel and Syria has been greeted by a wave of skepticism. A majority of Israelis are convinced it is just "spin" to distract attention from Israel PM Ehud Olmert's legal problems, a view reinforced by the Israeli right. On the left, Akiva Eldar hints that it may be a device to sabotage Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. Amos Harel points out that the deal cannot work without US support and foreign aid for Syria, and the US appears cool to the initiative. The same opinion is given here as well, and an AP story notes that the US has been more or less exuberant about the disastrous Lebanon compromise (see Springtime for Nasrallah), but lukewarm about the announcement of talks between Syria and Israel. [more]
by Moderator @ May 22, 2008: 04:37 PM CST [Link] [2 comments]
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
The news from Doha is that the long Lebanese impasse is finally over. Aided by the good offices of the ostensibly pro-Western Qatar government, the Hezbollah has seemingly scored a knockout blow over its Lebanese opponents. Qatar mediated a "compromise" that apparently gives Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah, Syria and Iran everything they wanted, and puts an end to Lebanese independence in all but name. The crucial issue, which pro-government forces had supported during the many months of the Hezbollah siege, was the question of granting Hezbollah and its allies over 1/3 of the 30 cabinet members in the government. This provides them with veto power, and will probably make it possible to stop the international tribunal that was to try the murderers of Rafiq Hariri. [more]
by Moderator @ May 21, 2008: 04:06 PM CST [Link] [No Comments]
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Watching the events in Lebanon from a safe distance provides a frustrating sense of deja vu. It happened in 1938 in Czechoslovakia, but that was before my time. It happened in Hungary again in 1956, and in Czechoslovakia again in 1968, and in Iran in 1979, and now it is happening in Lebanon. A people is being crushed, and the world looks on helpless. Never mind that nobody cares about the Lebanese people. Foreign relations and foreign policy are never really based on humanitarian sentiments and affection. That is just bumf to be written in speeches and schoolbooks. But it is shocking that nobody seems to care that Lebanon has taken one more step on the road it began to travel with the foundation of Hezbollah: the road to becoming an Islamic Republic. The Lebanese government itself, and those who should care about Lebanon, did not seem to have the sense to stop playing with the fire of Hezbollah when it was still possible to do so.
by Moderator @ May 10, 2008: 12:23 PM CST [Link] [1 Comment]
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
We all agree - every person should have the right to a decent job, good housing, health care and education. Every person should also be the responsibility of some nation state, whether or not that state represents the national feelings they hold in their heart of hearts. There are ethnic Greeks and Jews and Sudanese with American or French or British citizenship, and they are permitted to feel any way they wish about about it. These are fundamental rights, aren't they? [more]
by Moderator @ May 7, 2008: 06:10 PM CST [Link] [2 comments]
A great mystery surrounds the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. These negotiations are supposed to give hope to supporters of peace, and particularly to Palestinian moderates, who need to show some accomplishments in the face of extremism represented by Hamas supporters. [more]
by Moderator @ May 7, 2008: 01:35 PM CST [Link] [1 Comment]
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Pushing the World's Battle against Racism
Planning is underway for next year's Durban Review Conference -- the follow-up to the United Nations World Conference Against Racism (WCAR) held in Durban in August/September 2001. The Preparatory Committee ended a two-week meeting in Geneva last week after much negotiating behind the scenes, but with little to show in public. It failed to agree on the venue, length and date for the Durban Review Conference.
by Moderator @ May 6, 2008: 10:41 AM CST [Link] [No Comments]
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