The five most important countries of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) from the standpoint of military power and economic clout are the Arab states Egypt and Saudi Arabia and the non-Arab states Israel, Turkey and Iran. Three of those countries … [Read more...] about Egypt’s, Iran’s and Turkey’s Transformation*
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Weekly Briefing, September 21-27, 2014
Cuba’s Anti-Israel, Pro-Palestinian Activities - Rachel Ehrenfeld - The recent launch of two colognes, “Ernesto” and “Hugo” (named after Ernesto “Che” Guevara and Hugo Chavez), may bring much needed foreign currency to Havana, while helping to remind … [Read more...] about Weekly Briefing, September 21-27, 2014
Open Conflict in Washington
The conflict in Washington between the pro-Israel Congress and the anti-Israel Administration of Barack Obama just entered a new and enhanced phase. The Republican-controlled House of Representatives passed a resolution condemning the wave of … [Read more...] about Open Conflict in Washington
Jihadists – Using Children
Sunni and Shiite jihadists have never shied away from using children as fighters (martyrs) Recall Iran's use of tens of thousands of children to clear the Iraqi mines during the war in the early 1980s. More recently, reports on similar … [Read more...] about Jihadists – Using Children
Verification Requirements For Nuclear Agreement With Iran*
Nuclear Verification Capabilities: Independent Task Force Of Federation Of American Scientists. Introduction The preamble of the Joint Plan of Action (JPA)1 announced in November 2013 by Iran and the P5+12 states that the goal of the negotiations … [Read more...] about Verification Requirements For Nuclear Agreement With Iran*
Weekly Briefing – September 14-20, 2014
Immoral Equivalent - Daphne Netanyahu - There is a reason that criminal law – not just in Israel but the world over – does not define a criminal offense solely by the damage it caused. Judging the morality or immorality of war according to the number … [Read more...] about Weekly Briefing – September 14-20, 2014
The Muslim Brotherhood: Is Wagdi Ghoneim, the New Qaradawi Waiting in the Wings?
Yusuf Qaradawi, the octogenarian and putative senior cleric of the international Muslim Brotherhood (Ikhwan al-Muslimun), has reached an age where he is not now expected to play a significant role in what has become a cloudy Ikhwan future. Among … [Read more...] about The Muslim Brotherhood: Is Wagdi Ghoneim, the New Qaradawi Waiting in the Wings?
The Middle East ‘Black Revolution’
In the Fall of 2010, liberals in many Middle Eastern countries wanted a ”Color Revolution,” like other countries had in the previous decade. Yet, in the Fall of 2014, the dominant color that splashes all over is black. The black color of the growing … [Read more...] about The Middle East ‘Black Revolution’
Qatar, cold shoulders for Kerry, and a mysterious offer*
Recent developments in the region hold out both promise and threats for Israel. A trio of new developments are worthy of notice and all affect Israel directly or indirectly: As a first result of the Saudi crackdown on Qatar, a dozen major … [Read more...] about Qatar, cold shoulders for Kerry, and a mysterious offer*
The Presence of Evil
Perhaps the most horrendous aspect of the ghastly decapitation of innocents by the ISIL jihadists is that it is a part of their successful appeal to a growing part of the Muslim world. Apparently the media-astute leaders of the movement understand … [Read more...] about The Presence of Evil