Tag: palestine

Israel Walls Itself In

JERUSALEM – As Israel continues to build walls and fences along virtually each of its borders, analysts say the country’s isolationist policies and unwillingness to deal with the Palestinians and other Arab neighbors through anything other than forceful means spells disaster. "On the one hand we’re walling the Palestinians in but on the other hand if … Continue reading “Israel Walls Itself In”

Deconstructing A Peace to End All Peace

In A Peace to End All Peace, David Fromkin’s subject is the Middle East immediately before, during, and after World War I. Central to Fromkin’s 567-page survey is the British and French division of the Arabic-speaking provinces of the Ottoman Empire. Paris and London carved up the region, which the Turks had ruled for 400 … Continue reading “Deconstructing A Peace to End All Peace“

The Mystery of Arafat’s Death

We may never know with complete certainty whether the still unexplained health crisis that suddenly did in Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat was due to natural or unnatural causes. But the recent discovery of polonium on Arafat’s clothing, added to a considerable body of circumstantial evidence, has increased an already widespread suspicion that Israel was involved … Continue reading “The Mystery of Arafat’s Death”

Poisoning Arafat

For me, there was no surprise. From the very first day, I was convinced that Yasser Arafat had been poisoned by Ariel Sharon. I even wrote about it several times. It was a simple logical conclusion. First, a thorough medical examination in the French military hospital where he died did not find any cause for … Continue reading “Poisoning Arafat”

Who Killed Yasser Arafat?

Yasser Arafat died on November 11, 2004, of a mysterious ailment. His enemies spread the rumor he had AIDS: David Frum, with typical classiness, claimed he had contracted AIDS as a consequence of having sex with his bodyguards. Now, however, it has been revealed Arafat was poisoned: the cause of his death was exposure to … Continue reading “Who Killed Yasser Arafat?”

Perpetual Peace

Last year I gave the Israeli artist Amir Nave an old Hebrew copy of Immanuel Kant’s Perpetual Peace, which I teach every so often in my Introduction to Political Theory class. He took the book, flipped through it, ripped out the title page, turned it upside down, signed it, and returned it to me. Nave, … Continue reading “Perpetual Peace”

A Bird’s-Eye View

On May 15, the anniversary of the founding of the State of Israel, its Arab citizens observed a day of mourning for the victims of the Nakba (“catastrophe”) — the mass exodus of half the Palestinian people from the territory that became Israel. Like every year, this aroused much fury. Tel Aviv University allowed Arab … Continue reading “A Bird’s-Eye View”

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”

European Airlines Silence Palestine Protest

JERUSALEM — As 60 percent of the international activists set to land at Ben Gurion airport Sunday had their plane tickets cancelled, organizers of the "Welcome to Palestine" fly-in campaign condemned what they say is European complicity in Israel’s illegal restrictions on their right to travel freely. "It’s a sign of capitulation and obedience to … Continue reading “European Airlines Silence Palestine Protest”

A Palestinian Mandela

Marwan Barghouti has spoken up. After a long silence, he has sent a message from prison. In Israeli ears, this message does not sound pleasant. But for Palestinians, and for Arabs in general, it makes sense. His message may well become the new program of the Palestinian liberation movement. I first met Marwan in the … Continue reading “A Palestinian Mandela”