Richard Silverstein

Richard Silverstein writes the Tikun Olam blog, which examines issues concerning Israeli national security, human rights, and threats to Israeli democracy.

US Building $100-Million Underground Bunker at Secret Israeli Missile Base

Walter Pincus reported in The Washington Post a few days ago that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has put out a request for proposals, seeking contractors with top-secret clearances to develop a $100-million underground military facility for the Israeli army. Here’s the project description: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plans to supervise construction … Continue reading “US Building $100-Million Underground Bunker at Secret Israeli Missile Base”

Panetta Warns of Cyber Pearl Harbor

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta made his first major speech about U.S. cyber-war policy to a business roundtable group this week. He invoked 9/11 and Pearl Harbor in warning of the danger of a cyber-attack on the U.S: [He] spoke in … stark language about potential military responses to cyber-attacks that threaten national security. The United … Continue reading “Panetta Warns of Cyber Pearl Harbor”

Bibi’s Secret War Plan

In the past few days, I received an Israeli briefing document outlining Israel’s war plans against Iran. The document was passed to me by a high-level Israeli source who received it from an IDF officer. My source, in fact, wrote to me that normally he would not leak this sort of document, but “These are … Continue reading “Bibi’s Secret War Plan”

US Counterterror Policy Brought to You by Our Sponsor, Israel

I’ve written several critical appraisals of Spies Against Armageddon, Yossi Melman’s trashy spy novel which passes for a sober account of the Mossad’s heroics. After reading Marcia Cohen’s review at Lobelog, I’ve discovered that there is at least one important segment worth examining. Melman recounts the story of the assassination of Abbas Musawi, at the … Continue reading “US Counterterror Policy Brought to You by Our Sponsor, Israel”

Did the Mossad Murder Arafat?

Al Jazeera published a report Wednesday based on an extensive scientific investigation of the 2004 death of Yasser Arafat. Though he was 75 years old when he died, many noted the marked deterioration in his appearance in his final weeks and speculated that he was poisoned or that he had AIDS. An Israeli journalist who … Continue reading “Did the Mossad Murder Arafat?”

Shin Bet Arrests Israeli Druze at Syrian Border, Slaps Gag on Media Reporting

UPDATED HERE (7/3/12) The Syrian news service, SANA, reported on June 29 that Israel’s Shin Bet security service arrested Dr. Eyad Jamil al-Jawhari, a resident of the Golan village of Majdal Shams. Jawhari is completing medical studies inside Syria and was returning home via the Golan border crossing when he was arrested. His family, who … Continue reading “Shin Bet Arrests Israeli Druze at Syrian Border, Slaps Gag on Media Reporting”

Obama’s October Surprise: Largest War Games in US-Israeli History

Israel’s daily Maariv reported yesterday that the long delayed war games between U.S. and Israeli forces will take place in October. It noted that some commentators are calling it a “dress rehearsal” for the aftermath of an Israeli attack on Iran. IDF sources quoted in the article called the exercises “of immense importance.” These will … Continue reading “Obama’s October Surprise: Largest War Games in US-Israeli History”

Ziad Jilani: a Kill Shot in Wadi Joz

It was a stiflingly hot Friday afternoon in East Jerusalem’s Wadi Joz neighborhood on June 11, 2010.  That’s where Ziad Jilani lived with his American-born wife, Moira, and his three young daughters.  He had some errands to run and as he left the house, he told his wife to get the girls ready because he … Continue reading “Ziad Jilani: a Kill Shot in Wadi Joz”