With more than 1,000 days of a savage war that has left 800 of its citizens dead and 5,000 wounded, Israel still confronts the tough options that it traditionally has faced vis–vis its bellicose Palestinian neighbors. They are so difficult — and some so extreme — as to render them almost nonoptions. Consider: Transfer: This would … Seguir leyendo Israel’s fragile future – 11/07/03 →

The Israeli Right received a tremendous blow this week. On Sunday, a Likud-led right-wing government formally adopted the road map, the latest diplomatic initiative to restart Palestinian-Israeli dialogue. The national camp in Israel sees it as a deeply flawed document — concocted by Arabists in Europe, the United Nations and the U.S. Department of State … Seguir leyendo Likud makes a historic U-turn – 30/05/03 →

«The use of a nuclear bomb in Israel will leave nothing on the ground.» Hashemi Rafsanjani, former president of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Long ago Israel placed Iran as its No. 1 national-security strategic threat. The five leading intelligence services (those of the United States, the United Kingdom, Israel, France and Germany) have warned … Seguir leyendo Understanding Iran’s nuclear threat – 30/05/03 →

What do Palestinian Mahmoud Abbas, American David Duke and British David Irving have in common? They all are Holocaust deniers. In what do they differ? In that just one of them, the Palestinian, was made a prime minister. Only in the Middle East can such a thing possibly happen. Imagine the scandal, were Duke to … Seguir leyendo Four steps to become the Palestinian Sadat – 09/05/03 →

Geneva – With the war in Iraq ending in American victory, French President Jacques Chirac swallowed his pride and phoned President Bush this week, after two months of cold detachment. Washington termed the exchange as «business as usual» and Paris as «very good.» After months of moving heaven and earth to keep the butcher of … Seguir leyendo Chirac-Hussein a dangerous liaison – 18/04/03 →

In December 1969 the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 2535 B, which for the first time used the word «Palestinians» in U.N. resolutions. Until then they had been called «Arab refugees.» That resolution referred to the «inalienable rights of the Palestinians» and their right to «self-determination.» Subsequently, the U.N. reaffirmed this «right» in many … Seguir leyendo U.N. panel too distracted by Palestinians – 28/03/03 →

Today, International Women’s Day, will be observed as part of the 47th session of the Commission on the Status of Women, which opened this week at the United Nations headquarters in New York. The CSW is focusing on women’s human rights and the elimination of all forms of violence against women and girls. In the … Seguir leyendo Stop violence against women – 07/03/03 →

Follow the demographic trend in the Middle East, and you will realize that the region is in big trouble. In the year 1000, the region’s population was about 30 million, and it remained stable until 1800. Between 1800 and 1900, it grew by 75 percent, reaching 58 million. During the 20th Century, it grew by … Seguir leyendo Will the Arab Montesquieu ever emerge? – 14/02/03 →

Next Tuesday the Israelis will elect a new prime minister, or, more accurately, an old primer minister. If polls are to be believed, and barring dramatic events during the weekend, in all likelihood, Ariel Sharon will be reelected as primer minister of Israel. If readers are then left wondering what’s the purpose of this national … Seguir leyendo Between a rock and a hard place – 24/01/03 →

Something did not go as expected at the latest «International Quds Day» in Iran. Introduced in 1979 by the Ayatollah Khomeini in solidarity with the Palestinian people and against Israel, the event has been held yearly on the last Friday of Ramadan. It has traditionally been a festival of anti-Zionist diatribe and pro-Palestinian fervor. Not … Seguir leyendo Brave Iranian students – 03/01/03 →