Rubin Reports: What To Do About Syria?

Posted on: February 15th, 2012

With the Obama Administration leading from behind and stressing the need for a UN consensus to do anything, it is now stuck with a passive stance on the Syrian civil war.

After New Delhi Bombings, Fears Of Escalating Attacks

Posted on: February 15th, 2012

WASHINGTON – Israeli leaders blamed Iran for two assassination attempts late Sunday and early Monday – in Tbilisi, Georgia, and in New Delhi, India. The bomb in Tbilisi was disabled before it could be activated, and the attack in India wounded the wife of an Israeli diplomat and her driver.

Iran-Syria Axis Strengthens as Isolation Grows

Posted on: February 15th, 2012

The intensified cooperation between Iran and Syria reflects their understanding that Iran's nuclear ambitions and the unrest in Syria are linked: Western nations' arming of the Syrian Opposition would cause a serious rift with Russia and China at a time when their consensus is crucial to constraining Iran's nuclear program.

Antisemitism in the Media: The Tip of the Iceberg?

Posted on: February 14th, 2012

Are the media actually interested in helping the Palestinians, or really just in bashing Israel? The media's overkill fixation on bashing Israel hurts not only Jews and any chances for peace, but also Palestinians.

Beware of the Phased Plan!

Posted on: February 14th, 2012

Last week’s meeting between Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal highlighted their common strategic goal, despite their bitter rivalry in recent years: The PLO’s Phased Plan aimed at the establishment of a Palestinian state in all of what was 'Palestine' within the Ottoman/British Mandate borders.

Jordan’s King Abdullah Needs to Wake Up – Fast

Posted on: February 13th, 2012

Jordan has recently witnessed weekly demonstrations calling for far-reaching reforms and an end to financial corruption. King Abdullah did not take the protests seriously at first, but is now desperate to restore calm and order; going as far as ordering the arrest of some of his most trusted officials.

2

Syria, Russia: It All Looks Different From Out There

Posted on: February 13th, 2012

Robert Mackey at New York Times’ The Lede has a Friday post entitled “Crisis in Syria Looks Very Different on Satellite Channels Owned by Russia and Iran.” Well, no kidding.  It’s nice to see NYT catching up with the rest of the infosphere.  But it’s not just in Russian and Iranian media that the crisis [...]

Kedar: Egypt’s Question of Sovereignty

Posted on: February 12th, 2012

Egypt's prosecution of pro-democracy NGOs reflects unresolved suspicions and hostilities towards the West and democracy.

‘The lady doth protest too much, methinks.’

Posted on: February 9th, 2012

A war of words has erupted between Turkish prime minister Tayyip Erdogan and American Novelist Paul Auster. Auster seemed to hit a nerve, suggesting that his allegations might be true.

Syrian Homework for Hillary

Posted on: February 8th, 2012

The “Syrian people” is a composite of Sunni Muslims, Alawites, Kurds, Druze, Turkmens and Circassians.

Galileo and the Likud

Posted on: February 7th, 2012

PM Netanyahu's recent opposition to two Knesset bills underscores a worrying drift in Israeli political culture from the most basic democratic governing principles like separation of powers, and checks and balances.

When the Moderates are Radicals

Posted on: February 6th, 2012

The Islamists are not “moderate” and many of the alleged moderates are not moderate. Hence, the hope for moderation and real democracy is limited by the small numbers of those who hold them.

Rambam Hospital Doctors Save Gaza Girl with Congenital Heart Defect

Posted on: February 5th, 2012

Rambam Medical Center Public Affairs Director David Ratner describes how the life of a young Palestinian girl was saved by the hospital.

Jewish Press Exclusive: Likud Elections Exposed

Posted on: February 3rd, 2012

An official ballot member and secretary for the Likud primary gives a first-hand account of the controversy surrounding the election.

Second Thoughts About The Mosque Fire In Tuba-Zangariya

Posted on: February 2nd, 2012

Conventional wisdom states that the January 14th mosque fire in Tuba-Zangariya was perpetrated by vindictive Jewish vandals, but upon closer inspection, such a claim seems dubious at best.

Preempt Iran — At All Costs!

Posted on: February 1st, 2012

A discussion about the cost of a pre-emptive strike on Iran's nuclear facilities that reflects skepticism and acquiesces to a nuclear-armed Iran ignores precedents, plays into Iran's hands, and threatens Israel's existence.

2

The AP’s Gonzo Journalism

Posted on: February 1st, 2012

There is a place for what Hunter Thompson called “Gonzo journalism,” but it isn’t a wire service news report, where the ancient Five Ws are still appropriate.

Israel Ranked 2nd Most Educated Country in the World

Posted on: February 1st, 2012

Results were derived from OECD report, Education at a Glance 2011.

1

Jewish Democrats Malign Newt Gingrich

Posted on: January 31st, 2012

The National Jewish Democratic Council website blasted Gingrich last week for opposition "to the values of the vast majority of American Jews,” when in fact Gingrich's position are highly consistent with "Jewish values".

1

The Wannsee Legacy: Lessons for Genocide Prevention

Posted on: January 31st, 2012

Let me please start with Fanny Englard, an active survivor of the Holocaust and a friend of mine. She grew up in Germany/Cologne and lives now south of Tel Aviv. Fanny wrote in a letter: “As a twenty-year-old, on 8 May 1945 I was liberated from hell and tried to find my family, but without [...]