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Update: Durban II Ahmadinejad Speech
April 21, 2009 1 min. read

Feel free to compare reaction to the Ahmadinejad speech at Durban II courtesy of Haaretz and then Iranian television that apparently shows primarily the Iranian delegation reaction.

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if I were Hosni Mubarak …
April 21, 2009 3 min. read

FP’s Paul Collier writes a Pro and Con list as if he were an authoritarian leader (Egypt’s Mubarak was his inspiration). He evaluates the different avenues available to dictators whose power is subject to upheaval. Here’s a brief excerpt: Option 1: Turn over a new leaf and embrace good government Pros: This is probably what […]

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Update: Durban II Protests
April 20, 2009 1 min. read

Via the Associated Press. countries boycotting Durban II are: Australia Germany Canada Israel Italy Netherlands New Zealand Poland United States Countries who walked out after Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad attacked Israel are: Austria Belgium Britain Bulgaria Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Greece Hungary Ireland Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Portugal Romania Slovakia Slovenia Spain […]

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Update: Durban II Walkouts Begin
April 20, 2009 1 min. read

Delegates from multiple Western countries walked-out of the UN anti-racism Durban II conference in the midst of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s comments condemning Israel. Representatives from at least England, France, and Canada left the room.

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Durban II Conference Set for Launch
April 20, 2009 1 min. read

As the Durban II anti-racism conference kicks off on the eve of Holocaust Memorial Day, tensions already accelerated between Israel and some nations. Following a meeting between the Swiss president and Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Israeli government recalled its ambassador to Switzerland, citing the meeting with the Iranian holocaust denier as cause. The Swiss government […]

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Peace Plans Abound and Durban II No-Shows
April 19, 2009 3 min. read

The Palestinian Authority refuses to acknowledge Israel’s right to a Jewish state while Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu mandates the statement prior to the resumption of any peace process. Palestinian officials contend that the PLO already acknowledged Israel’s right to exist in the Declaration of Principles while Netanyahu refuses to support the Palestinians’ right to a state. […]

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Tensions with Egypt
April 17, 2009 7 min. read

Less than two months before the parliamentary elections and things seem relatively calm. Posturing and overt displays of force and support have been absent, as are incidents of confrontation and violence. There has been some engagement of the Lebanese Armed Forces with a drug cartel operating in the south, but that situation seems contained to […]

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Mitchell Meetings Focused on Two-State Solution
April 17, 2009 2 min. read

State Department Middle East Envoy George Mitchell met yesterday with Israeli and Palestinian officials in Jerusalem and the West Bank, reaffirming the U.S. position of the need for a two-state solution. Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman stated that the historical approach to the peace process only weakened Israel and led to wars. Instead, Lieberman proposed […]

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Time Before Entering a Bomb Shelter
April 16, 2009 1 min. read

This morning I found hanging from my door handle an informational note from the Home Front Command explaining to residents the amount of time they have between hearing an alarm signifying rocket fire to entering a bomb shelter.  In large letters the note reads (translated from the Hebrew where it rhymes), “To be on protected, […]

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Opportunity in Crisis – Israel/Palestine
April 16, 2009 2 min. read

“Opportunity in crisis” isn’t so much rhetoric in the first days of the Obama Administration. The financial meltdown that began in Wall Street and spread to America’s working class has knocked top-ranked financiers out of a comfortable context where risk was appropriately and indefinitely hedged. Most of middle class America is suffering and feeling the […]

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Fear of a Third Intifada
April 16, 2009 2 min. read

A group of Jewish activists intended today to enter the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, a site usually restricted to Arabs only with the exception of specific tourist times during the day. The second intifada began at the site following the arrival of future Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. In order to counter the arrival of Jewish activists, Palestinians organized […]

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Reservations on Pal. Election Document from Egypt
April 15, 2009 1 min. read

The Egyptian government drafted a new document outlining steps to achieving upcoming Palestinian elections, drawing criticisms from Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. His reservations stem from the lack of clarity in the document that the Ramallah-based Fatah administration remains the officially recognized government of the Palestinians, not the Gaza-based Hamas organization that took control in […]

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