Is Peace Really Achievable?

The Israeli and Palestinian negotiating teams have finally arrived in Washington and already held their first meetings in the process of direct peace talks. Newspaper reports are filled with stories about how little Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas had to say to each other during the official dinner held [...]

Playing Military Politics

It was hoped that the announcement of the appointment of Major General Yoav Galant as the 20th chief of general staff of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) would bring an end to the “Galantgate” scandal. This episode involved the release of a PR document into the public domain which, it turns out, is a forgery. [...]

The BBC Has Not Suddenly Become Pro-Israel

Israel’s relationship with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has been tenuous to say the least. The BBC has been accused in the past by Israel and Israelis of adopting an anti-Israel stand at every opportunity. This attitude, it seems, is a simple extension of the view adopted by the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office which [...]

When Israeli Youth Grow Up

Israeli youth generally have a bad name amongst their peers around the world for being undisciplined, for not showing respect to others and for generally lacking manners. This results from the laissez-faire manner in which Israeli society allows them to grow up. Children in Israel seem to be allowed to do almost as they please [...]

The Tree That Almost Started a War

Events on the northern border of Israel last week have demonstrated just how fragile the ceasefire with Lebanon really is. This, in turn, mirrors the fragility of the relationships that exist around the Middle East, not only between Israel and the Arab countries that surround her, but also between the Arab countries themselves. This fragility [...]

Israeli Air Disaster in Romania

It has been a tough week for the Israeli Air Force (IAF), and for the State of Israel in general. We have finally buried six of our brightest and most talented young men who were killed during a helicopter crash in Romania during an air training exercise there. The exercise turned into a full search [...]

6 Israeli Air Force Servicemen Missing After Copter Crash in Romania

Six Israeli Air Force (IAF) personnel and one Romanian serviceman were reported missing on Monday afternoon after an Israeli helicopter crashed in the Romanian mountains in bad weather.  The helicopter was flying at low altitude while taking part in “Blue Sky 2010″, a joint Israeli and Romanian aviation exercise which was due to last 11 [...]

Not Learning the Lessons of Tisha B’Av

Tisha B’Av (the ninth day of the Hebrew month of Av), which we marked last week, is one of only two full fast days in the Jewish calendar. The other is Yom Kippur, Judaism’s holiest day. This gives some indication of the level of importance attached to Tisha B’Av. At the most simplistic level, the [...]

UN Appoints Team to Probe Gaza Flotilla Raid

The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHCR) today announced the three names who will comprise the team to investigate Israel’s recent raid on the Gaza flotilla. The UN announcement stated that the fact-finding team will comprise three independent experts, namely Sir Desmond de Silva (Britain), Karl Hudson-Phillips (Trinidad and Tobago) and Mary Shanthi Dairiam (Malaysia). [...]

Lebanon to Complain to UN over Israeli Spying

The Lebanese government plans to file a complaint with the UN Security Council after it claims to have uncovered an extensive Israeli spy ring. The complaint will focus on an alleged clandestine Israeli involvement in state-owned cellular phone company Alfa. Two technical employees of the company have been arrested in the last month on suspicion [...]