Arab-Israeli Conflict

2006-12-05T22:20:00.001-08:00

Please post your final blogs here. I am extending the deadline until Dec 7th.

2006-11-28T21:53:00.000-08:00

Simulation: Pro-Palestine Group

Please post your comments here. This posting is mandatory. In about a paragraph or two summarize the substance of the discussions and the conclusion. Also list the demands that the group came up with in order to preset to the quartet. Only one of the posting should have the list we do not want posting after posting listing the list.

2006-11-28T21:49:00.000-08:00

Simulation: Pro-Israel Group

Please post your comments here. This posting is mandatory. In about a paragraph or two summarize the substance of the discussions and the conclusion. Also list the demands that the group came up with in order to present to the quartet.

2006-11-28T21:38:00.000-08:00

Simulation: The Security Council Meeting

Please post your comments here. This posting is mandatory. In about a paragraph or two summarize the substance of the conference and the conclusion.

2006-11-26T13:55:00.000-08:00

Hopes for peace as Hamas agrees to truce

Agreement with Israel could lead to release of captured soldier, a new Palestinian government and an end to Gaza incursions

2006-11-16T22:29:00.000-08:00

Journalist from Jerusalem

If you have attended this event post your comments/reports here.

2006-11-13T18:19:00.000-08:00

Some Interesting Developments

New PM in Palestine

Do you think the new PM and the unity government will restore the peace plan on track?

2006-11-07T14:56:00.000-08:00

Interesting article in Haartez

"Thousands of Palestinian families spent their holidays far from their parents and children. According to data from the statistics department of the PA Ministry of Prisoners Affairs, last June about 10,100 Palestinian prisoners, including 335 minors and 104 women, were being held in Israeli incarceration facilities and prisons. Some 369 prisoners have been held for more than 12 years. In other words, they were imprisoned before the Oslo Accords and the establishment of the PA, and were not released after the Oslo Accords. Of these veteran prisoners, 45 have been held for more than 20 years, and seven of the 45 have been held for more than 25 years. Most of the prisoners - 55 percent - were never tried or convicted. They might actually be considered kidnapped. ... " Click to read the entire article.

Read this rather strange article --"Something Rotten in Israel". A friend more familiar with internal Israeli debates said that this conversation was growing:

2006-11-04T23:49:00.000-08:00

The Music of Struggle

Enjoy some Israeli and Palestinian music about the conflict. The first song is a Hebrew rap about Nasrallah and the second is a Palestinian hip hop about who is a terrorist. Isn't it amazing how they still find room for music in their hearts. This music video tries to present the Palestinian viewpoint through music. This video tries to link Israeli struggle with 9/11.

2006-11-04T09:21:00.000-08:00

Israeli troops fire on Women

Palestinian women described yesterday how they were shot and injured in the face and the legs by Israeli troops as they led a protest march into the scene of the biggest military incursion into Gaza in months. Read NY Times stories has pictures. Also Read the Guardian report by clicking here. Here is a video taken in August of this year [made by an Israeli group] which shows how Israeli troops sometimes deal with peaceful protesters. This protest is mixed with Palestinians and Israelis among the protesters and yet people were shot. Click to see.

History begins only after Palestinian terror! US defends the killing of the two women as "self defense". It is fascinating to see the US position, they give Israel the right to kill even women in defense of occupation. See State Department's statement. Once again no discussion of occupation.

Look how Israeli and Arab media report the current Isareli incursion into Gaza. Click here.

2006-10-31T22:25:00.000-08:00

Is Israel an Apartheid State?

A British View: World's Apart, please read both parts of the article, the second reports on the secret alliance between Israel and South Africa and nuclear proliferation.

An African American View: Israeli Apartheid: The Striking Parallels to South Africa

A Pro-Israeli View: Is Israel and Apartheid State?

Another Pro-Israeli View: Israel is not an Aparthied State this is a very interesting article because it actually refers to a statement by David Ben-Gurion in which he says that it is not his goal to establish a South Africa like situation in Palestine. It is fascinating that even Ben Gurion, as early as 1934 !, could imagine the possible comparison.

The view of a "Palestinian Jew": Apartheid Israel

Amnesty International's Report on Israel to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

2006-10-08T10:10:00.000-07:00

The Power of the Israeli Lobby?

There is a debate raging in the U.S. today about the power of the Israeli Lobby. This debate has been triggerred by an article written by two very distinguished professors from Harvard and Chicago University.

Here you can watch one of the debates by clicking here.

You can read the article and its critics here.

United States of Israel by Robert Fisk

2006-10-03T21:05:00.000-07:00

Read some of my latest stuff here:

Gibbon was right. Islam is present and thriving in Oxford

Iraq is there a Third Way

2006-10-03T21:00:00.000-07:00

Arabs Pressure Rice On U.S. Peace Efforts

The Bush administration's effort to foster a bloc of moderate Arab states to stand against growing militancy in the Middle East has come up against a brick wall, with several close U.S. allies bluntly telling Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Tuesday that they do not want to be pitted against other Arab governments and movements, according to senior Arab officials. To read the entire article click here.

This is an interesting Development. Discuss the article in the context of the conversation we had on the global implications of the Arab-Israeli conflict in class on 10/03. What do you think the U.S. wishes to do with the poodle club, GCC plus 2?

2006-10-01T07:55:00.000-07:00

Suicide Bombing

Dr. Robert Pape a prominent political scientist at Chicago University recently published a book, Dying to Win: The Strategic Logic of Suicide Terrorism (2005), in which he argues that it is not ideology or religion but occupation that motivates suicide terrorism. Click here to read an interview with him that discusses the main ideas of his book. You may also click here to read about the Tamil Tigers who invented and are leaders in the use of suicide bombing.

2006-09-26T14:15:00.000-07:00

Focus on Hamas

Seeing Hamas Through Different Lenses by Shibli Telhami

Hamas Victory good for all by Muqtedar Khan

See NY Times audio slide show and plain photo slide show on Hamas

Azzam Tamimi, Senior Hamas representative on Hamas and Hezbollah

Brief History and Profile of Hamas

2006-09-20T06:47:00.000-07:00

Israeli ambassador criticizes U.S. for granting Iran`s leader a visa

"I ask myself if the American administration didn't have an opportunity, even at the expense of violating its agreements with the UN, not to give an entrance visa to this man," Gillerman told Israel Radio."

It is interesting to see how Israel expects the U.S. to violate international agreements [violating international agreements is what makes one a rogue nation] in the interests of Israel. Click here to read the entire article and make observations about the various politicl dynamics at this weeks UN summit in New York

2006-09-16T00:24:00.000-07:00

US moves to scuttle Arab plan for international peace conference

The US is trying to block attempts by Arab countries to turn the UN Security Council into a key player in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict during the upcoming General Assembly opening next week. To read click here.

2006-09-15T22:30:00.000-07:00

George Soros, a Hungarian-born Jew who escaped the Holocaust by fleeing to London as a child, is one of the richest persons in the United States (with a fortune valued at $7.2 billion). He is a philanthropist who established the Open Society Institute, and a philosopher who has written 8 books. His latest commentary appeared in the Boston Globe. Read More and comment.

2006-09-08T21:46:00.001-07:00

How to bring Jews and Muslims together. Warning. This a a funny, sarcastic and a bit adultish criticism of religious bigotry. This is also a window to a group of people who self identify as "progressive Muslims". Click here to read.

2006-09-07T15:56:00.000-07:00

From The Abba Eban film we learned the important role that President Truman played in the creation of Israel. The presidential politics of the U.S. still remains central to Israeli politics. See the new blog at Haaretz and contrast it with the fact that in our class of 40 [120 votes] Gingrich did not get a single vote while here he is second only to Giuliani. Why do you think so? Click here to see the Haartez Blog: http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/rosnerPage.jhtml

2006-09-03T11:35:00.000-07:00

Criticize Israel and You are an anti-Semite!

Rosa Brooks wrote an interesting column in the Los Angeles Times on September 1st. Read the article and comment on what you think of her analysis that it is impossible to have an honest discussion about Israel in this country. While you are reading this remember I am not fishing this out from some archives from the past, this article was published after this course began. To read the article click here:

2006-08-29T09:04:00.000-07:00

ISRAEL AND THE PALESTINIANS

This is an important resource. You are welcome to refer it as often as needed. Browse the website and post your initial comments on the Arab-Israeli conflict. Click here.