Can You Handle The Truth?: Poll Shows The Shocking Reality of Arab Public Opinion
written by: Barry Rubin
Aug 20, 2010

This is one of those stories about the Middle East that is totally amazing but not the least bit surprising. What, you ask, do I mean? From the standpoint of the way the region is portrayed in the West this information is incredible but if you understand the area it is exactly what you'd expect.
...more

UN and the Palestinian State
written by: Ruba Zinati
Aug 04, 2010

In November 29^th, 1947 the General Assembly adopted the UN resolution 181 (II), with opposition of every Middle Eastern country represented in the UN. This resolution was drafted and adopted after the Mandatory Power of Palestine, requested a General Assembly in a special session ...more

Palestinian summer camp for "young leaders" named after terrorist Dalal Mughrabi
written by: Itamar Marcus and Barbara Crook
Jul 30, 2010

A summer camp in Bethlehem is the latest institution in the Palestinian Authority to be named after the leader of the worst terror attack in Israel's history.

According to the official PA daily newspaper, the new camp is named after Dalal Mughrabi, who led a 1978 bus hijacking in which 37 ...more

Losing the Scent in South Lebanon
written by: Jonathan Spyer
Jul 29, 2010

Last week, the IDF released evidence of Hizbullah stockpiling of weaponry in populated civilian areas of southern Lebanon. The IDF material showed an aerial map of the Shi'ite town of El Khiam. The map showed details of a developed military infrastructure woven into the fabric of the town's civilian ...more

Why Israel Shouldn't Attack Iranian Nuclear Installations--Unless It Has to Do So
written by: Barry Rubin
Jul 28, 2010

An Israeli attack on Iranian nuclear installations for the purpose of trying to stop Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons at all would be a mistake. Instead, Israel should plan--and indeed is planning--for a multi-layer campaign of airstrikes, missile defenses, and other measures in the event of Iran ...more

PA President Abbas: "Hamas is part of the Palestinian people."
written by: Manuela Paraipan
Jul 26, 2010

As proximity talks are about to end between the Palestinians and Israel, Mahmoud Abbas comments in Bucharest on the current convoluted situation

On July 13, I caught up with President Mahmoud Abbas in a villa in Bucharest where he was staying at the invitation of ...more

Containing Iran Requires Getting Smart, Tough, and Serious
written by: Barry Rubin
Jul 12, 2010

Note: This is an updated and revised version of my article in the July-August issue of Foreign Affairs.

It should be too obvious to have to say so but unfortunately some people don't get it: dealing with a nuclear-armed Iran is an extraordinarily important task in which the lives ...more

Iran moves radar to Syria: US official
Jul 07, 2010

Iran has moved radar to Syria that could provide early-warning against a possible surprise Israeli air attack against Tehran's nuclear sites, a US defense official said on Friday.

The radar transfer was first reported in the Wall Street Journal on Thursday and prompted the State Department ...more

Gaza Flotilla: What Message Does the West Send to the Arab and Muslim World?
written by: Ruba Zinati
Jun 30, 2010

Looking at the political scene for both the Palestinians and the Israelis, one would find it very much similar and at the same time very much different. The similarity between them lies in the fact that both, the government of Hamas and that of the coalition government of ...more

An 11th-hour opportunity
written by: Mahmoud Abbas
Jun 16, 2010

RAMALLAH - Negotiations between Palestinians and Israelis have resumed after a year and a half of a stalemate that began after Israel launched its devastating military assault against the Gaza Strip in December 2008.

The resumption of negotiations came as a result of concerted and persistent ...more

What Motivates Israeli Policy and Actions
written by: Barry Rubin
Jun 15, 2010

I use the opportunity of being interviewed to discuss current developments.

Vice-President Joe Biden has visited Cairo. Do you think his summit with President Husni Mubarak could be useful for solving the Gaza crisis? Is Egypt a strong voice inside Palestinian world?

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Interviewing Hamas in Lebanon
written by: Manuela Paraipan
Jun 07, 2010

Ousama Hamdan used to be the go-between between Hamas and Iran, but for years has been the Hamas leader in Lebanon. He talks about problems with the peace process in the Middle East, and the challenges of political partnerships

Introduction

At the ...more

Obama Administration Embraces Russia As "Helpful"; Moscow Stabs U.S. in Back
written by: Barry Rubin
May 27, 2010

If America's Middle East position collapses in the forest will anyone hear it? The answer is either: apparently no, or just barely. As I've predicted Russia is coming back into the region and it is going to play a very bad role. Moscow is linking up with the emerging Islamist alliance of Iran, Syria, Hamas, and Hizballah.

Americans Know That Israel is Their Ally
written by: Judith Apter Klinghoffer
May 12, 2010

In a recent interview New York Senator Chuck Schumer noted that ...more

Omar Karami: "Arabs and Muslims feel the U.S. administration is not an honest power broker"
written by: Manuela Paraipan
May 10, 2010

- Interview with Omar Karami, a former Prime Minister of Lebanon, conducted by Manuela Paraipan, WSN Editor Broader Middle East -

Listen to the Two Best Arab Journalists Warning What A Nuclear-Armed Iran Means
written by: Barry Rubin
Apr 28, 2010

The two Arab journalists I most respect have written of the fear in Arabic-speaking countries about Iran's having nuclear weapons. They explain persuasively why a U.S. containment policy of reassuring Arab states and Israel against direct nuclear attack is totally inadequate.
Listen to what ...more

Would a Palestinian State Solve America's Middle-East Problems?
written by: Daniel Zucker
Apr 22, 2010

Given the current view espoused in much of the media that the Palestinian-Israeli squabble is the root of all or much of America's poor image in the Arab world, we might want to examine whether creating a Palestinian state-in whichever form of borders-would indeed solve the problems that ...more

The Status of Jerusalem
written by: Antonia Dimou
Apr 20, 2010

The Israeli government of PM Netanyahu appeared recently in the Israeli and the Arab press willing to resume peace negotiations with the Palestinians and ready to discuss the core issues of the conflict, including the status of Jerusalem.

It is true that the status of Jerusalem is at the ...more

Has the Obama Administration, Against U.S. Interests, Declared Diplomatic War on Israel?
written by: Barry Rubin
Apr 01, 2010

Has the Obama Administration, against U.S. interests, declared diplomatic war on Israel?

Up to now my view has been that the U.S. government didn't want a crisis but merely sought to get indirect negotiations going between Israel and Palestinians in order to look good.

Even ...more

Israel needs reconciliation with the Palestinians or will lose the battle for its existence
written by: Dr. Hubertus Hoffmann
Mar 18, 2010

Israel is at a crossroads.

Do they lose one friend after another - including the U.S. and many European countries - or start a new way of thinking, a new double strategy of power and reconciliation.

Israel is in danger.

It has existed only for 60 years; the Crusaders lasted ...more

Biden Responds to OneVoice Israel
Mar 15, 2010

With the country watching, OneVoice Israel gives voice to the moderate majority

New York, March 11, 2010-OneVoice Israel staff and youth leaders urged hundreds of people attending United States Vice President Joe Biden's speech at Tel Aviv University on Thursday ...more

When It Comes to Analyzing the Middle East, We Live in an Age of Idiocy
written by: Barry Rubin
Mar 04, 2010

After more than 30 years of watching people write dumb things about the Middle East, I believe that in the last month I've seen more nonsense than at any previous time. The problem arises from ignorance, lack of understanding of the region by those presented as experts; plus arrogance, treating the ...more

Israel and the Globalization of NATO
written by: Dumitru Chican
Feb 25, 2010

At the beginning of 2010 the North Atlantic Treaty Organization intensified its efforts so that the 28 member countries and its numerous partners spread on the five continents enhance their participation to the campaign deployed in Afghanistan. The Israeli journal "Jerusalem Post" wrote on 13 January ...more

The Point of No Return: Clearly the Obama Administration Won't Ever Do Anything Serious Against Iran's Nuclear Program
written by: Barry Rubin
Jan 29, 2010

We must now face an extremely unpleasant truth: Even giving the Obama administration every possible break regarding its Iran policy, it is now clear that the U.S. government isn't going to take strong action on the nuclear weapons issue.

Note that I didn't even say "effective" action, ...more

For Israel, Good Prospects in 2010
written by: Barry Rubin
Jan 05, 2010

In contrast to my rather gloomy assessment of the Obama Administration's prospects in the Middle East, Israel's prospects look rather good. This is granted, of course, that the chances for any formal peace (note the word "formal") with the Arab states or the Palestinians are close to zero. In addition ...more

Iran - Israel: Peace or War?
written by: Marjan Hajnal
Dec 28, 2009

The International Institute for Middle-East and Balkan Studies (IFIMES) in Ljubljana, Slovenia, regularly analyses events in the Middle East and the Balkans. Marjan Hajnal, M. Sc., member of the IFIMES International Institute, presents ...more

The Palestinians Tell the World Their Strategy: Why Make Peace with Israel When We Can Get Everything from You Instead
written by: Barry Rubin
Dec 23, 2009

If you want to understand what's really going on in the alleged Israel-Palestinian peace process-beyond the babble that progress is being made, it's all Israel's fault, and everyone is working hard on it-here's what you need to know.

For the present, the Palestinian leadership isn't ...more

Prime Minister Netanyahu Calls for Peace Talks
Nov 23, 2009

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, at a forum in Jerusalem on Sunday (Nov. 15), called for immediate negotiations with the Palestinian Authority. The 6th annual Saban Forum, held under the auspices of the Brookings Institution, is an opportunity for U.S. and Israeli policymakers to discuss ...more