The NY Times came out today with yet another backwards analysis of the Middle East and what needs to be done. How has the West and the the Obama administration (and the NY Times is a fairly accurate representative of the administration) not yet learned that more often than not that the blind pursuit of [...]
Posts under ‘Middle East’
Two State Solution – Fatahland and Hamastan?
For years, the world seems to already have the answer to Israeli-Arab conflict. It’s called the “Two-State Solution.” Solution to what, however? What exactly will the formation of two states solve?
Allegedly, this is the answer to war – there will be peace. An honest belief that simply creating two states between the Mediterranean Sea and [...]
The Ethics of “The Ethicist”
As entertaining as the New York Times’ The Ethicist is, I find myself disagreeing with Randy Cohen’s conclusions rather often. I think the first question he answered in this week’s column is too complicated to be boiled down to a two paragraph response. However, that is not my real concern.
In writing about a parent’s dilemma [...]
Khaled Abu Toameh on “The Situation”
Michael Totten has long been required reading if one wants to keep up with international affairs, in my view. Recently he posted the transcript of a briefing with Khaled Abu Toameh. Of course, I don’t agree with Abu Toameh on everything, but his analysis is the best thing I’ve read in a while.
The West, either [...]
Martin HaMesaper
Those of you who grew up in Israel, might remember a children’s TV show, Yosef HaMespaer, starring a bald, heavyset man who sat on lots of pillows, Alladin style, and told fairytales. I actually don’t remember much of the show itself, but reading Jeffrey Goldberg’s interview with Martin Indyk, I felt like I was reading [...]
Things Never Really Change
The Realist summarizes Cast Lead, and I agree with much of what he said, including his conclusions about what needs to be done next. He says that the political situation needs to be stabilized before we know what will happen, of course – but unfortunately I do not see a real routing of Hamas happening [...]
What Now?
I’m still trying to figure out how enormous of a mistake was committed by entering into this “unilateral truce.” I’m afraid that in our neighborhood, where image sometimes matters more than the facts on the ground, the politicos may have undone any good the IDF worked so hard to achieve.
Apart from all of the lives [...]
Truce? What Truce?
Ynet reports: “Israel declares unilateral Gaza truce.” Wrong. A truce cannot be unilateral. A truce is agreed upon. This a capitulation, yet another mistake in a long line of errors, collectively known as Olmert’s policies.
Regardless of why this operation was initiated, or why now, Hamas is an enemy that doesn’t only need to be “hit [...]
Sharon on Gaza, 1989
Jeffrey Goldberg cites a particularly poignant passage.
What will we do once we withdraw from Gaza?…. What will we do when the Katyusha fire starts hitting Sderot, four miles from the Gaza district, and Ashkelon, nine miles from Gaza, and Kiryat Gat, fourteen miles from Gaza….Or what shall we do if the U.N. or multinational forces [...]
Changing Hamas?
Although I disagree with his conclusion regarding Fatah, Jeffrey Goldberg does a good job of explaining why Hamas’ position is intractable, why “Hamas cannot be cajoled into moderation.”
Normally I refrain from addressing anything Thomas Friedman says. His foolish theories, backed by his immature optimism, are rarely worthy of comment. His basic assumption is that everyone [...]
