Prof. Robert Aumann Applies Game Theory to the "Middle Eastern Games"
Labels: middle east, politics, science
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Shared information and research notes from and for Tarek Hoteit in the fields of social sciences.
Sunday, February 07, 2010
Al Jazeera - Iran cuts ties with British Museum
"Iran has cut links with the British Museum over its failure to lend the Islamic Republic an ancient Persian treasure, according to Iranian media.Iran's Cultural Heritage Organization said in October it had set a two-month deadline for the British Museum to allow the public display in Iran of the so-called Cyrus Cylinder, linked to the Persian ruler's 6th century BC conquest of Babylon.
But Hamid Baqaie, the head of Iran's state Cultural Heritage Organization, said the museum failed to meet the deadline.
"
The Cyrus Cylinder dates back to 539 BC, described by some as the world's first charter of human rights [AP]
read complete article : Al Jazeera English - Middle East - Iran cuts ties with British Museum
Labels: politics
Wednesday, February 03, 2010
The YouTube Interview with President Obama
Labels: politics, united states
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Legal Maxims in American and Islamic Criminal Law
Howard Zinn: A Young Peoples History of the United States
"
On May 13, 2009, Howard Zinn hosted a special reading of the newly released, updated and illustrated "A Young Peoples History of the United States" that highlights the words of Americas youngest rebels, dissenters and visionaries, from our past--and present. "
Labels: politics, united states
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Noam Chomsky joined by Robert Fisk
Robert Fisk : Obama will be worse than Bush
Labels: politics
Sunday, January 03, 2010
Women are Entitled to Equal Decision-Making Roles | Human Rights Watch
"Women's participation in national politics, at 18 percent of elected national legislatures globally, is pretty dismal. Some countries have made impressive progress, including Sweden and Rwanda, where women constitute more than 40 percent of the national parliaments. The Middle East and North Africa region has the lowest rates in the world though, with less than 10 percent of elected parliamentarians being women. ."read complete article : Women are Entitled to Equal Decision-Making Roles | Human Rights Watch
Labels: arab, middle east, politics, society
Saturday, January 02, 2010
Nasser's Decision-Making in the 1967 Middle East Crisis: A Rational-Choice Explanation -- Mor 28 (4): 359 -- Journal of Peace Research
"Nasser's behavior in the 1967 Middle East crisis has been variously explained in terms of decision-making deficiencies, personality-related pathologies, and uncontrolled escalation. This paper argues that such accounts are unsatisfactory. They are biased by their use of backward induction, which infers from Nasser's ultimate failure an inevitability to the escalation of the crisis. This inference puts a premium on the evaluation of decisions, rather than on their explanation. It is also inconsistent with Nasser's actual behavior toward the end of the crisis, which strongly suggests an attempt at deescalation. The paper offers an alternative, rational-choice explanation of the crisis. It argues that when the focus of inquiry is shifted from Nasser's failure to his objectives and perception of the strategic context, the crisis decisions of the Egyptian leader can be shown to have been consistent with strategic rationality. Moreover, Nasser's failure was the result not of personality or cognitive deficiencies but rather of Israel's failure to communicate the threshold beyond which she would be compelled to attack. This conclusion underscores the importance of signaling limits to an opponent's escalation so as to facilitate the opponent's learning in crisis.read complete article : Nasser's Decision-Making in the 1967 Middle East Crisis: A Rational-Choice Explanation -- Mor 28 (4): 359 -- Journal of Peace ResearchJournal of Peace Research, Vol. 28, No. 4, 359-375 (1991)
DOI: 10.1177/0022343391028004003"
Labels: politics
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Trade and Thy Neighbor's War - Mahvash Saeed,Q. (2009)
"This paper examines the spatial dispersion effects of regional conflicts, defined as internal or external armed conflicts in contiguous states, on international trade. Our empirical findings-based on different measures of conflict constructed using alternate definitions of contiguity and conflict-reveal a significant collateral damage in terms of foregone trade as a result of spillovers from conflict in neighboring countries. The magnitude of this negative externality is somewhat larger for international conflicts than intrastate warfare, but about one-third of conflict in the host economies. Further, the impact is persistent-on average, it takes bilateral trade three years to recover from the end of intrastate conflicts in neighboring states, and five years from international conflicts. These findings are robust to alternate definitions of conflict, estimation methods, and specifications, and underscore the importance of taking into account spillover effects when estimating the economic costs of warfare."read complete article : Trade and Thy Neighbor's War
Labels: politics
YouTube - US congressmen fighting for Gaza - 29 Dec 09
“ A year after Israel's war on Gaza, the territory is still struggling to rebuild.
In the weeks after the offensive, politicians from around the world visited the Strip and made promises to help.
But it appears many of those pledges have not been delivered.
Al Jazeera's Todd Baer caught up with two US Democratic congressmen whose efforts to lift the Israeli blockade on Gaza are being met with stiff resistance.” - Aljazeera
Labels: arab, middle east, politics, united states
Friday, December 25, 2009
Kemmelmeier (2009) - Personality and Individual Differences : Authoritarianism and its relationship with intuitive-experiential cognitive style and heuristic processing
"Two studies examined the relationship between authoritarianism, cognitive style and heuristic processing. Focusing on Epstein’s (2003) cognitive-experiential self-theory, Study 1 shows that authoritarianism is related to Epstein’s dimension of faith in intuition, but not need for cognition, even when controlling for individual differences in need for structure. Study 2 confirms that authoritarianism is related to greater heuristic processing. The discussion suggests ways in which individual differences in cognitive style and heuristic processing may account for established effects of authoritarianism."read complete article : ScienceDirect - Personality and Individual Differences : Authoritarianism and its relationship with intuitive-experiential cognitive style and heuristic processing
Thursday, December 17, 2009
When Will It Be Our Time? - Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi
December 17, 2009
OP-ED CONTRIBUTOR
"RAMALLAH, WEST BANK — I have lived my entire adult life under occupation, with Israelis holding ultimate control over my movement and daily life.
When young Israeli police officers force me to sit on the cold ground and soldiers beat me during a peaceful protest, I smolder. No human being should be compelled to sit on the ground while exercising rights taken for granted throughout the West.
It is with deepening concern that I recognize the Obama administration is not yet capable of standing up to Israel and the pro-Israel lobby. Our dream of freedom is being crushed under the weight of immovable and constantly expanding Israeli settlements.
Days ago, the State Department spokesman, Ian Kelly, managed only to term such illegal building “dismaying.” The Israeli foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman, stands up and walks out on the U.S. envoy, George Mitchell, every time the American envoy mentions East Jerusalem.
And Javier Solana, just prior to completing his stint as European Union foreign policy chief, claimed Palestinian moves toward statehood “have to be done with time, with calm, in an appropriate moment.” He adds: “I don’t think today is the moment to talk about that.”
When, precisely, is a good time for Palestinian freedom? I call on Mr. Solana’s replacement, Catherine Ashton, to take concrete actions to press for Palestinian freedom rather than postpone it.
If Israel insists on hewing to antiquated notions of determining the date of another people’s freedom then it is incumbent on Palestinians to organize ourselves and highlight the moral repugnance of such an outlook.
Through decades of occupation and dispossession, 90 percent of the Palestinian struggle has been nonviolent, with the vast majority of Palestinians supporting this method of struggle. Today, growing numbers of Palestinians are participating in organized nonviolent resistance.
In the face of European and American inaction, it is crucial that we continue to revive our culture of collective activism by vigorously and nonviolently resisting Israel’s domination over us.
These are actions that every man, woman and child can take. The nonviolent movement is being built in the villages of Jayyous, Bilin and Naalin where Israel’s segregation wall threatens to erase productive village life.
President Obama, perhaps unwittingly, encouraged this effort when he called for Palestinian nonviolence in his Cairo speech. “Palestinians,” he said, “must abandon violence. … For centuries, black people in America suffered…the humiliation of segregation. But it was not violence that won full and equal rights. It was a peaceful and determined insistence upon the ideals at the center of America’s founding.”
Yet without public American complaint, the Israeli military has killed and injured many nonviolent Palestinians during Obama’s 10 months in office, most notably Bassem Abu Rahme who was killed in April by an Israeli high-velocity teargas canister. American citizen Tristan Anderson was critically injured by the Israeli Army in March by a similar projectile and remains in a deep coma. Both men were protesting illegal Israeli land seizures and Israel’s wall. Hundreds more are unknown to the outside world.
A new generation of Palestinian leaders is attempting to speak to the world in the language of a nonviolent campaign of boycott, divestment and sanctions, precisely as Martin Luther King Jr. and thousands of African-Americans did with the Montgomery bus boycott in the mid-1950s.
We are equally right to use the tactic to advance our rights. The same world that rejects all use of Palestinian violence, even clear self-defense, surely ought not begrudge us the nonviolence employed by men such as King and Gandhi.
Western lethargy means the clock may run out on the two-state solution. If so, the fault will rest with the failure to halt Israeli settlement activity. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s declaration that settlement construction will continue in East Jerusalem, with government buildings in the West Bank and on thousands of West Bank housing units already under development makes a mockery of the term “freeze.”
We Palestinians are completely accustomed to — and unwilling to accept — such caveats from Mr. Netanyahu.
The demise of the two-state solution will only lead to a new struggle for equal rights, within one state. Israel, which tragically favors supremacy rather than integration with its Palestinian neighbors, will have brought the new struggle on itself by relentlessly pushing the settlement enterprise. No one can say it was not warned.
Eventually, we will be free in our own country, either within the two-state solution or in a new integrated state.
There comes a time when people cannot take injustice any more, and this time has come to Palestine."
Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi is secretary general of the Palestinian National Initiative and a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council.
Labels: arab, middle east, politics
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Egyptian Chronicles: Why Does Israel Want Our Shit !!??
"The minister of irrigation and water resources Mahmoud Allam stated from couple of days that Egypt has declined a generous offer from Israel : They want to import our wastewater !!!!!!!!!!!!!!read complete article : Egyptian Chronicles: Why Does Israel Want Our Shit !!??Yes Israel wanted to import our waste water and we refused its generous offer. Of course many people will be puzzled and wonder “ Why does Israel want our shit ??”
Well actually it does not want our shit only but all our wastewater and they want it for irrigation as 70% of of Israel's irrigated agriculture is based on highly purified wastewater according to Wikipedia. It is not a secret that Israel wanted before the Nile Water and as a country it has its water problems that can lead in to a war in the region of its own. Of course I am guessing , already I do not know what they will do with our wastewater for real as it is huge quantity of wastewater for sure !! I do not know why Israel wants to import our wastewater and in Jordan is much nearer to it.
This shows us how we are having huge gift from God called the Nile we do not know how to use it well and we are wasting it. "
Labels: middle east, politics
Sunday, December 13, 2009
YouTube - ENVOYÉ SPÉCIAL - israel humiliation au liban (2006) (French)
Wednesday, December 09, 2009
Left and Right: What Neuroscience Reveals about Politics
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Report: Huge - and widening - socioeconomic gap between Jews and Arabs in Israel - Blog Post
read complete article : Report: Huge - and widening - socioeconomic gap between Jews and Arabs in Israel - Blog Post"In short, the situation is not good - and it's getting worse. Out of the five elements the 2008 Sikkuy report checks, in four - housing, health services, welfare services and employment - the gap between Arab and Jews has widened. In education there has been a slight improvement, but it was more due to a decline in the Jews' achievements.
…
Just to give an impression of the dangerous slop we are on, here are a few proposals and declarations made by cabinet ministers in the few months the Netanyahu government has been in power:
- The minister of transportation, Israel Katz (Likud), is promoting an initiative according to which all Arab names on road signs will be replaced with Jewish ones.
- The minister for Tourism, Stas Misezhnikov (Israel Beytenu), demanded that the pope cancel meeting with the Arab mayor of Sakhnin on his visit to Israel.
- The Housing Minister Ariel Atias (Shas) called to stop Arab "spreading" in Wadi Ara, a region densely populated by Israeli-Arabs. he is currently pushing a plan for a city for orthodox Jews in the area.
- The Education Minister Gidon Saar (Likud) ordered that Arabs won't be allowed to teach the term Nakba, referring to their national disaster of 1948.
- The minister of the Police, Yitzhak Aharonowitz, has told an undercover agent he "looks dirty like a real Arabush" (a Hebrew slang word that carries a cultural meaning very similar, or even worse, than "nigger" in the US).
- The Finance Minister, Yuval Shtainitz, declared that one of Israel's problems is that Arab women "don't want to work".
- and finally, Israel's Foreign Minister, Avigdor Liberman - a man who disgraces not only the state, but the entire Jewish people - promotes plans for striping Palestinians of their Israeli citizenship or from the rights is gives them.
By its actions, the Israeli government is currently doing more than any of Israel's enemies to bring life to the claim that Zionism inevitably leads to racism."
Labels: middle east, politics, society
CIA goes hiring in heart of Arab America | U.S. | Reuters
"In dire need of agents fluent in Arabic, the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency has made an unusual public show of its recruiting effort in Dearborn -- a city of 100,000 with the densest Arab population in the United States.read complete article : CIA goes hiring in heart of Arab America | U.S. | ReutersThe agency has bought full-page ads in Arabic-language newspapers and it is rolling out TV ads aimed at luring Arab-Americans and Iranian-Americans to spycraft.
But despite a weak economy and high unemployment, the CIA will find it hard to hire here, residents say. Many see U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East as misguided and anger over the perceived mistreatment of Arab-Americans runs deep.
It won't be easy to win hearts and minds here, they say."
Labels: arab, politics, united states
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Zimbabwe's failing economy blamed for rise in child abuse - Aljazeera
"Zimbabwe's failing economy, along with the high number of parents dying from HIV-Aids, are being blamed for an alarming rise in child sexual abuse. It is so prevalent, one clinic has treated close to 30,000 children in just four years. And its feared that is not even close to the true number of cases. Al Jazeera's Haru Mutasa reports from Harare. "
Monday, November 23, 2009
World Poverty Map - Creating a World Without Poverty - Esquire
"Say you're a world leader and you want your country's economy to prosper. According to this Clark Medal winner from MIT, there's a simple solution: start with free elections."
http://www.esquire.com/cm/esquire/images/Q1/world-poverty-map-GDP-per-capita-esquire.jpg
read complete article : World Poverty Map - Creating a World Without Poverty - Esquire
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Reuters AlertNet - Israeli planes strike targets in Gaza
"GAZA, Nov 22 (Reuters) - Israeli planes carried out air strikes against targets in the Gaza Strip on Sunday, injuring seven Palestinians, Palestinian medical workers said.read complete article : Reuters AlertNet - Israeli planes strike targets in GazaAn army spokesman said the strikes, which occurred after a rocket fired from the Hamas-run enclave landed in Israel, had targeted two factories in the central and northern Gaza used to make weapons and a smuggling tunnel under the border with Egypt.
Palestinian witnesses and medical workers said the targets included a metal foundry in the central Gaza Strip, a caravan in the north and smuggling tunnels in the south."
Labels: middle east, politics
YouTube Family Guy Palestinian alarm clock
Labels: art, middle east, politics
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Pew Forum: Modest Rise in Concern About Islamic Extremism
read complete article : Pew Forum: Modest Rise in Concern About Islamic Extremism"The public continues to express concern about the rise of Islamic extremism in the United States and abroad, but a survey taken shortly after the deadly Nov. 5 shootings at the Fort Hood Army base shows only a modest increase in these concerns since 2007.
Just more than half (52%) of Americans say they are very concerned about the possible rise of Islamic extremism in the United States. That is up from 46% in April 2007. The percentage that says they are somewhat worried dropped slightly from 32% in 2007 to 27%. There has been no significant change in the small percentages who say they are not too worried or not worried at all about the possible rise of Islamic extremism in the United States."
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Arab Autocracy - NYTimes.com
"by RAMI G. KHOURIread complete article : Op-Ed Contributor - Arab Autocracy - NYTimes.comBEIRUT — The 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall passed very quietly in the Arab world, because the meaning of the wall’s fall — the transition from total state control to human freedom — also bypassed the Arab world. "
Labels: middle east, politics
Time For Obama To Talk With Al-Jazeera - CBS News
"President Obama should follow the lead of all four of the Bush administrations' U.S. Ambassadors to the United Nations and speak directly to these millions of Arab households by sitting down for an on-the-record interview with al-Jazeera Television.read complete article : Time For Obama To Talk With Al-Jazeera - CBS News
Although the most popular Arab network has had its share of bias problems, President Obama is missing an important and easy opportunity to change the hearts and minds of the majority of the Arab world. The Pentagon and the Senate Armed Services Committee have issued reports recently urging better global strategic communications. And the Department of State is constantly looking for ways to counter the propaganda put forth by militants in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Additionally, millions of tax payer dollars are being spent to counter such rumors. But the best way and the cheapest way to speak directly to the people most affected is being ignored."
Labels: middle east, politics, united states
Friday, November 13, 2009
Noam Chomsky interviewed by Siamak Dehghanpour
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Labels: politics
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
CNN: Middle East - collapse of communism
"Rashid Khalidi (Columbia University) talks about about how the Middle East changed after the fall of the Wall."read complete article : Video - Breaking News Videos from CNN.com
Labels: politics
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Charlie Rose - Michael Moore
Michael Moore on his film about capitalism.
Labels: politics
A World of Trouble | Book review | Books | The Observer
"The disappointing records of 10 US presidents in Middle East affairs are put under the spotlight"read complete article : A World of Trouble | Book review | Books | The Observer
Labels: middle east, politics
Saturday, September 26, 2009
The U.S. With Less God - Freakonomics Blog - NYTimes.com
"A Trinity College survey predicts a quarter of Americans will identify as nonreligious in 20 years (as opposed to the 15 percent who do so now). Dan Gilgoff, in his U.S. News column, predicts what that might to do American politics. Think “culture-war battles” and antireligious Democrats. (HT: Andrew Sullivan)"read complete article : The U.S. With Less God - Freakonomics Blog - NYTimes.com
Labels: politics, religion, united states
Friday, September 11, 2009
Muslim Immigrants Least Likely to Report Discrimination Compared to Other Immigrant Groups | Public Agenda
"NEW YORK –Despite fears that Muslims in the United States may be unfairly targeted or harassed because fears about terrorism, a new survey by Public Agenda finds Muslim immigrants are less likely than other immigrant populations to say there's discrimination against immigrants in the United States, no more likely to encounter it personally, and overwhelmingly more likely to say the United States will be their permanent home."read complete article : Muslim Immigrants Least Likely to Report Discrimination Compared to Other Immigrant Groups | Public Agenda
Labels: politics, religion, united states
Sunday, September 06, 2009
Charlie Rose - Hosni Mubarak, President of Egypt (interview)
interview on August 18, 2009 with Hosni Mubarak, President of Egypt
Labels: middle east, politics
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Einstein, Franklin, and the Role of Creativity in Today`s World (UChannel)
" Walter Isaacson, President and CEO, Aspen Institute; biographer (Benjamin Franklin: An American Life and Einstein: His Life and His Universe) " UChannel on YouTube
Friday, August 21, 2009
Thursday, July 16, 2009
AP: Palestinians suspend Al-Jazeera in West Bank
“RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) — The Palestinian government shut down the West Bank operations of the Arabic satellite channel Al-Jazeera on Wednesday, a day after a guest on the station accused the Palestinian president of involvement in Yasser Arafat's death.
For the feisty news station — the Arab world's most popular — the closure represents the latest clash with a Middle Eastern government. Israel often criticizes it, Iraq has expelled it and Saudi Arabia only let it resume work recently after a long ban.
…”
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ilbhZDN6qp-yUcyVBZEP_3TjjSFAD99F33O80
Labels: middle east, politics
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Voting as a Rational Choice: Why and How People Vote To Improve the Well-Being of Others --
Edlin et al. (2007) writes:
"For voters with `social' preferences, the expected utility of voting is approximately independent of the size of the electorate, suggesting that rational voter turnouts can be substantial even in large elections. Less important elections are predicted to have lower turnout, but a feedback mechanism keeps turnout at a reasonable level under a wide range of conditions. The main contributions of this paper are: (1) to show how, for an individual with both selfish and social preferences, the social preferences will dominate and make it rational for a typical person to vote even in large elections; (2) to show that rational socially motivated voting has a feedback mechanism that stabilizes turnout at reasonable levels (e.g., 50% of the electorate); (3) to link the rational social-utility model of voter turnout with survey findings on socially motivated vote choice." Full Journal Article
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
albawaba.com ::Assad - Most popular Arab leader
albawaba.com middle east news information::Assad - Most popular Arab leader writes:
"An American public opinion poll held in six Arab states indicated that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is the most popular Arab leader. The poll, conducted by Maryland University in cooperation with Al-Zughbi International Foundation for Polls, showed that al-Assad has got most votes among Arab leaders. The poll included a sample taken in six Arab countries, namely Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zaid Al Nhayan came second, and Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Secretary General of Lebanon's Hizbullah came third. As for international figures, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez came first, and President Bashar al-Assad came second, SANA reported."
Labels: arab, middle east, politics
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Twitter on the Barricades - Six Lessons Learned - NYTimes.com
from NYTimes article
“Skeptics note that only a small number of people used Twitter to organize protests in Iran and that other means — individual text messaging, old-fashioned word of mouth and Farsi-language Web sites — were more influential. But Twitter did prove to be a crucial tool in the cat-and-mouse game between the opposition and the government over enlisting world opinion. As the Iranian government restricts journalists’ access to events, the protesters have used Twitter’s agile communication system to direct the public and journalists alike to video, photographs and written material related to the protests.”
Labels: politics, technology
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
C-SPAN | Pres. Carter on Lessons Learned from 1979 Energy Crisis
C-SPAN | Capitol Hill, The White House and National Politics writes:
"Pres. Carter on Lessons Learned from 1979 Energy Crisis Today Pres. Jimmy Carter offered an historical perspective on the impact of energy issues on national security before a Senate Foreign Relations Cmte. hearing. During his time in office, the Iranian Revolution resulted in an oil shortage and high gasoline prices that increased tensions between the two nations."
Labels: politics, united states
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Saudi Arabia mulls allowing women to vote: report | Special Coverage | Reuters
Saudi Arabia mulls allowing women to vote: report | Special Coverage | Reuters writes:
"RIYADH (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia is considering allowing women to vote in municipal elections this year but they would still be barred from running for office, a senior government official was quoted as saying on Sunday."
Labels: arab, middle east, politics
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
NYT: Unesco Puts World's Major Work
http://mobile.nytimes.com/article;jsessionid=328A85E20C876A205F7E1D361539857F.w5?a=357191&f=24
_______________
Regards,
Tarek Hoteit
+1 (469) 619-5577
http://tarek.hoteit.org
_______________
Regards,
Tarek Hoteit
+1 (469) 619-5577
http://tarek.hoteit.org
Labels: politics
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Muslim Publics Oppose Al Qaeda's Terrorism, But Agree With Its Goal of Driving US Forces Out - World Public Opinion
Muslim Publics Oppose Al Qaeda's Terrorism, But Agree With Its Goal of Driving US Forces Out - World Public Opinion writes:
"A study of public opinion in predominantly Muslim countries reveals that very large majorities continue to renounce the use of attacks on civilians as a means of pursuing political goals. At the same time large majorities agree with al Qaeda's goal of pushing the United States to remove its military forces from all Muslim countries and substantial numbers, in some cases majorities, approve of attacks on US troops in Muslim countries."
Labels: politics
A 'Clash of Civilizations' or an Opportunity for Meaningful Community Dialogue? | Public Agenda
A 'Clash of Civilizations' or an Opportunity for Meaningful Community Dialogue? | Public Agenda writes:
"NEW YORK, NY– At a time of rising intolerance and growing cultural and religious discord, 20,000 Dialogues, a nationwide grassroots project using films about Muslims to promote dialogue and understanding, and Public Agenda, a nonprofit opinion research and civic engagement organization, have partnered on a joint initiative called “Many Religions, One Community: Lessons from Islamic Spain for Today’s World.” The initiative will offer the documentary film, Cities of Light: The Rise and Fall of Islamic Spain, and an accompanying dialogue toolkit and website to help civic and religious organizations across the country host community dialogues about the past, present and future of interfaith relations.Endorsed by the World Economic Forum Top 100 Religious Leaders as a centerpiece for grassroots dialogues and recently broadcast on PBS, the film Cities of Light tells a story of vital importance for our contemporary world about the achievements and ultimate failures of a centuries-long period when Muslims, Christians, and Jews coexisted and built a society that lit the Dark Ages. The dialogue toolkit, developed using Public Agenda’s proven “Citizen Choicework” methodology for community dialogue, offers three contrasting views of the lessons that can be drawn from this historical period and its implications for religious pluralism today. "
Monday, February 23, 2009
» The Washington Institute in Arabic Middle East Strategy at Harvard
» The Washington Institute in Arabic Middle East Strategy at Harvard writes:
"From David Schenker
As everyone who follows the Middle East knows, in recent years there’s been a veritable explosion of Arabic language news sources on the region. The proliferation of satellite news channels, blogs, and websites offers Middle Easterners and outside scholars a lot of choices.
Traditionally, The Washington Institute for Near East Policy has been focused on providing timely information and analysis for U.S. policymakers. Recognizing the importance of the Middle East audience, however, in early January, the Institute rolled out its new Arabic language website, here.
The site features translations of the analysis of Institute scholars, including articles from its Policywatch series and op-eds from U.S. newspapers. Translations of archived materiel will be added over time."
Sunday, February 22, 2009
'Waltz with Bashir' -Israeli movie over its invasion of Beirut ‘82
'Waltz with Bashir' pulses with electrifying images | Freep.com | Detroit Free Press writes:
“Ari Folman, who wrote and directed the film, focuses on the 1982 killing of hundreds of Palestinians in West Beirut's Sabra and Shatila refugee camps. The three-day killing spree by Israel's Lebanese allies was a reprisal for the assassination of popular Lebanese President Bashir Gemayel. The attacks against civilians, conducted under the nose of the Israeli military, shocked the conscience of the nation and led to a government shakeup in Tel Aviv.”
Labels: middle east, politics
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
» Middle East seen from Freedom House Middle East Strategy at Harvard
Freedom in the World survey:
“Israel was the only country in the region to enjoy a status of Free, although as the occupying power in the Palestinian territories, Israel is largely responsible for the Not Free status of the areas under its control.”
» Middle East seen from Freedom House Middle East Strategy at Harvard writes:
Freedom House has just released its Freedom in the World survey for 2009, rating the level of political rights and civil liberties worldwide. Freedom House divides countries into three categories: free, partly free, and not free. In its “Map of Freedom” (download here), free countries are shown in green; partly free in yellow; and not free in blue. Here is the Middle East portion from the 2009 map.
"
Labels: middle east, politics
Sunday, February 08, 2009
BBC - Panorama - The Panorama Middle East Archives: Divisions
BBC - Panorama - The Panorama Middle East Archives: Divisions writes: 
"Panorama has been on the ground covering events in the Middle East for the last six turbulent decades. Below is a brief history of events in the region as told through the Panorama archive.
Click on the links below to learn more and watch a Panorama archive clip.
Labels: middle east, politics
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
The Whole World Is Rioting as the Economic Crisis Worsens -- Why Aren't We? | Corporate Accountability and WorkPlace | AlterNet
The Whole World Is Rioting as the Economic Crisis Worsens -- Why Aren't We? | Corporate Accountability and WorkPlace | AlterNet writes:
"Americans are rightfully angry about the economic decline, but with a few small exceptions, quietly so. Why? It depends on whom you ask."
Labels: politics, united states
Thursday, January 29, 2009
AP Mobile News story - Turkish PM admonishes Israel president over Gaza
This is the first true emotional support by a government leader who by the way is not Arab but Muslim standing against the Israelis. Arab disgraceful leaders learn for God's sake. Learn!
Headlines:
http://m.apnews.com/ap/db_8559/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=rXRD9VH1
from BBC:
Recep Tayyip Erdogan clashed with Shimon Peres, whose voice had risen as he made an impassioned defence of Israel's actions, jabbing his finger.
Mr Erdogan said Mr Peres had spoken so loudly to conceal his "guilt".
He accused the moderator of not allowing him to speak and said he did not think he would return to Davos.
The Turkish PM stressed later that he had left the debate not because of his disagreements with Mr Peres but because he had been given much less time to speak than the Israeli leader.
Turkey is one of the few Muslim countries to have dealings with Israel, but relations have been under strain since the Islamist-rooted AK Party was elected to power in 2002.
Regards,
Tarek Hoteit
http://tarek.hoteit.org
Labels: politics
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
The White House - Blog Post - President to Muslim World: "Americans are not your enemy"
The White House - Blog Post - President to Muslim World: "Americans are not your enemy" writes: 
"In his first interview with an Arab television station, President Barack Obama offered a bold change to America's relations with the Muslim world."My job is to communicate to the American people that the Muslim world is filled with extraordinary people who simply want to live their lives and see their children live better lives," President Obama told Al Arabiya. "My job to the Muslim world is to communicate that the Americans are not your enemy.""
part I
part II
Labels: middle east, politics
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
The Origins of Global Jihad: Explaining the Arab Mobilization to 1980s Afghanistan - Harvard - Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
The Origins of Global Jihad: Explaining the Arab Mobilization to 1980s Afghanistan - Harvard - Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs writes:
"Summary: The Arab involvement in Afghanistan was the result of two main factors: the entrepreneurship of the Palestinian preacher Abdallah Azzam and the rise of a "soft pan-Islamism" promoted since the mid-1970s by non-violent international Islamic organizations such as the Muslim World League."
..
This policy memo is based on Thomas Hegghammer's ISP brownbag presentation, "The Origins of Global Jihad: Explaining the ArabMobilization to 1980s Afghanistan," on January 22, 2009.
Labels: politics
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Time Running Out For A Two-State Solution?, 60 Minutes: Growing Number Of Israelis, Palestinians Say Two-State Solution Is No Longer Possible - CBS News
from CBS News:
“(CBS) Getting a peace deal in the Middle East is such a priority to President Obama that his first foreign calls on his first day in office were to Arab and Israeli leaders. And on day two, the president made former Senator George Mitchell his special envoy for Middle East peace. Mr. Obama wants to shore up the ceasefire in Gaza, but a lasting peace really depends on the West Bank where Palestinians had hoped to create their state. The problem is, even before Israel invaded Gaza, a growing number of Israelis and Palestinians had concluded that peace between them was no longer possible, that history had passed it by. For peace to have a chance, Israel would have to withdraw from the West Bank, which would then become the Palestinian state.
It’s known as the "two-state" solution. But, while negotiations have been going on for 15 years, hundreds of thousands of Jewish settlers have moved in to occupy the West Bank. Palestinians say they can't have a state with Israeli settlers all over it, which the settlers say is precisely the idea.”
Labels: media, middle east, politics
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
WhiteHouse.gov blog
EOP - Blog Post - Change has come to WhiteHouse.gov:
"Welcome to the new WhiteHouse.gov. I'm Macon Phillips, the Director of New Media for the White House and one of the people who will be contributing to the blog.
A short time ago, Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th president of the United States and his new administration officially came to life. One of the first changes is the White House's new website, which will serve as a place for the President and his administration to connect with the rest of the nation and the world.
Millions of Americans have powered President Obama's journey to the White House, many taking advantage of the internet to play a role in shaping our country's future. WhiteHouse.gov is just the beginning of the new administration's efforts to expand and deepen this online engagement."
Labels: politics, united states
Monday, January 19, 2009
Peter Schiff says Federal Reserve is "not inherently evil"
"Peter Schiff is asked about the Federal Reserve and Bilderberg Group by a caller to his radio talk show"
what is the Bilderberg Group? from Wikipedia:
“The Bilderberg Group, Bilderberg conference, or Bilderberg Club is an unofficial annual invitation-only conference of around 130 guests, most of whom are persons of influence in the fields of politics, business and banking.
The elite group meets annually at luxury hotels or resorts throughout the world — normally in Europe, and once every four years in the United States or Canada. It has an office in Leiden in the Netherlands.[1] The 2008 conference took place in Chantilly, Virginia.”
“Informal and private networks like Bilderberg have helped to oil the wheels of global politics and globalisation for the past half a century. In the eyes of critics they have undermined democracy, but their supporters believe they are crucial to modern democracy's success. And so long as business and politics remain mutually dependent, they will continue to thrive.”
Labels: finance, politics, united states
Letterman's Top 10 George Bush moments
thanks to The Big Picture blog
Labels: media, politics, united states
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Jerusalem 2050: The Project: About Jerusalem 2050
Jerusalem 2050: The Project: About Jerusalem 2050
Jerusalem 2050 is a unique visionary and problem-solving project jointly sponsored by MIT's Department of Urban Studies & Planning and the Center for International Studies. By bringing together Palestinian and Israeli scholars, activists, business leaders, youth, and others, it seeks to understand what it would take to make Jerusalem, a city also known as Al Quds, claimed by two nations and central to three religions, a place of diversity and peace in which contending ideas and citizenries can co-exist in benign, yet creative, ways.
Labels: middle east, politics
Elijah Jordan Turner - Chomsky Condemns U.S. and Israel | Sabbah’s Blog
Elijah Jordan Turner - Chomsky Condemns U.S. and Israel | Sabbah’s Blog
At a talk last night about the current situation in Gaza, Professor of Linguistics Noam A. Chomsky came down hard on Israel for its frequent violence against Palestinian civilians and chastised the United States for enabling the Jewish state to carry out these actions with impunity. He also used the opportunity to touch upon broader issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The talk, which took place at Sloan's Wong Auditorium, was part of the Center of International Studies' Starr Forum lecture series
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“It’s not that Israel doesn’t want peace”, said Chomsky. “Of course, it wants peace. Everyone wants peace. Even Hitler wanted peace.”
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“Supporters of Israel are in reality supporters of its moral degeneration,” he said.
Video of the lecture should be posted online at http://web.mit.edu/cis/starr.html
Labels: middle east, politics
Emotion vs. Intellect - Letter - NYTimes.com
Emotion vs. Intellect - Letter - NYTimes.com : "
Ben Stein astutely observes that highly intelligent advisers in past administrations often did not have the foresight to make sound policy decisions in unusually tough situations (“Ordinary People vs. Extraordinary Problems,” Everybody’s Business, Jan. 11). He also wonders whether the team of President-elect Barack Obama will similarly fail.
In so doing, he touches on an issue that psychologists have grappled with: the importance of emotional versus intellectual ability. The true gift of Franklin D. Roosevelt was his ability to grasp the fear of the American people and inspire them to endure as he experimented with different economic programs.
Let us hope that the very intelligent people in the Obama administration can similarly understand the emotional components of this crisis.
Richard E. Fischer, Ph.D.
Manhattan, Jan. 12
The writer is a clinical psychologist."
Labels: politics, united states
Saturday, January 17, 2009
The Middle East Blog - TIME.com » Blog Archive Enough Outrage Over Gaza? «
The Middle East Blog - TIME.com » Blog Archive Enough Outrage Over Gaza? « : "Is the world reacting with sufficient outrage and urgency to the horrendous humanitarian toll in Gaza? When, in just 20 days, the Palestinian people have lost more than 1,000 dead-- in per capita terms the equivalent of 30,000 American lives, 10 times the number who died on 9/11?"
Labels: middle east, politics
UK Jewish MP: Israel acting like Nazis in Gaza
from the YouTube link :
"Israel was born out of Jewish Terrorism" Tzipi Livnis Father was a Terrorist" Astonishing claims in the Hous of Parliamnet. SIR Gerald Kaufman, the veteran Labour MP, yesterday compared the actions of Israeli troops in Gaza to the Nazis who forced his family to flee Poland.
During a Commons debate on the fighting in Gaza, he urged the government to impose an arms embargo on Israel.
Sir Gerald, who was brought up as an orthodox Jew and Zionist, said: "My grandmother was ill in bed when the Nazis came to her home town a German soldier shot her dead in her bed.
"My grandmother did not die to provide cover for Israeli soldiers murdering Palestinian grandmothers in Gaza. The present Israeli government ruthlessly and cynically exploits the continuing guilt from gentiles over the slaughter of Jews in the Holocaust as justification for their murder of Palestinians."
He said the claim that many of the Palestinian victims were militants "was the reply of the Nazi" and added: "I suppose the Jews fighting for their lives in the Warsaw ghetto could have been dismissed as militants."
He accused the Israeli government of seeking "conquest" and added: "
They are not simply war criminals, they are fools."
Labels: middle east, politics
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
BBC NEWS | Technology | Gaza crisis spills onto the web
BBC NEWS | Technology | Gaza crisis spills onto the web : "A propaganda war is being waged on the internet between supporters of the Israeli and Palestinian sides in the current conflict in the Gaza Strip."
Activists have turned to defacing websites, taking over computers, and shutting down Facebook groups.
US Military sites, Nato, and an Israeli Bank have all been targeted.
…
On 7 January, pro-Palestinian hackers defaced several high-profile websites, including a US Army website, and the Nato Parliamentary Assembly's website.
…
Israeli Arab and pro-Palestinian sites have also been targeted. Last year, hackers defaced three websites, replacing pages with the Israeli flag and the symbol of the banned far-right group Kach.
Labels: politics, technology
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Video: George Galloway - London, 8 Jan 2009 (video)
Who killed Mr. Lebanon?: The hunt for Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri's assassins - Robert Fisk, The Independent
Who killed Mr Lebanon?: The hunt for Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri's assassins - Robert Fisk, Commentators - The Independent : "In 2005, a 1,700kg bomb ripped through the heart of Beirut, taking with it Lebanon's former premier, Rafiq Hariri. His alleged assassins are due in court in The Hague early this year. But will a trial with potentially explosive implications for the entire Middle East ever be allowed to go ahead?"
Near the old civil-war front line in the centre of Beirut stands a large digital clock with blood-red numbers. It has almost reached the neat, round figure of 1,500 and represents the days since Rafiq Hariri was murdered. You still hear people in Lebanon asking for "haqiqa" – "the truth"; my driver Abed even has a slim, black sticker tied to the mirror of our car with the word in Arabic script. The trouble is that as that figure on the digital clock goes on climbing, a lot of Lebanese are beginning to doubt they will ever know who murdered the billionaire and former prime minister – along with 21 others – on the Beirut Corniche on 14 February 2005.
Queen Rania: what's happening in Gaza is a crisis of human dignity
"Queen Rania speaks about the tragedy unfolding in the Gaza strip since the Israeli offensive began last week. Hundreds of people have been killed, including unarmed civilians, women and children."
one student of Jewish origin who studied in Jordan responds to Queen Rania's video:
Labels: middle east, politics, society
Israel and Palestine History (Charts of Comparison)
Labels: politics
Ali G - Iran vs. Iraq
Ali G talks to James Baker about Iran and Iraq
Labels: politics
Saturday, January 10, 2009
The Daily Star - Politics - Arab silence on Gaza is shameful
The Daily Star - Politics - Arab silence on Gaza is shameful : "The terrible carnage inflicted upon a starving people caged in the dark is too much to bear for anyone with eyes to see and a heart that beats. This unfolding crime against humanity must be stopped else we should merely throw up our hands in despair and submit to the principle of "might is right." As a human being, I am disgusted by the inaction of the so-called international community. For, indeed, our laws, conventions, treaties and international bodies are seemingly powerless in the face of Israel's inhumane aggression."
will those Arab leaders preferring to play the blame game rather than stand shoulder to shoulder with helpless victims cheer when President Mahmoud Abbas rides into Gaza atop an Israeli tank? Do we even deserve to equate ourselves with such heroes as Omar ibn Khattab, Khalid Ibn al-Waleed, Tariq Ibn-Zeyiad, Al-Moutassem Bellah, Salah al-Din or those brave souls who lost their lives in 1948, 1967 and 1973 defending Arab lands and honor? They must be turning in their graves. We cannot hope to demand respect if we don't respect ourselves and our history
Labels: middle east, politics
Thursday, January 08, 2009
Dear Kitty. Some blog :: Turkish government rehabilitates poet Nazim Hikmet :: January :: 2009
Dear Kitty. Some blog :: Turkish government rehabilitates poet Nazim Hikmet :: January :: 2009 : "Turkish government rehabilitates poet Nazim Hikmet"
“This song is a loose translation, by Jeanette Turner, of the anti-war poem Kız ÇocuÄŸu (The Little Girl) by Turkey’s most important modern poet, Nazim Hikmet (1901-63), who was persecuted and imprisoned for his outspoken Marxist views.
The story is told by the ghost of a seven-year-old girl, who died when the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima ten years earlier.
It was recorded by Pete Seeger in 1962, using the tune of “The Great Silkie”, and this is the version used in later recordings.
Probably the best-known performance is by The Byrds on their album “Fifth Dimension” (1966). It has also been recorded by This Mortal Coil on their album Blood (1991) and recently by Bruce Springsteen. “
Tfooo
Labels: middle east, politics
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
Foreign Affairs - America's Edge - Anne-Marie Slaughter
Foreign Affairs - America's Edge - Anne-Marie Slaughter: "The United States' unique ability to capitalize on connectivity will make the twenty-first century an American century."
We live in a networked world. War is networked: the power of terrorists and the militaries that would defeat them depend on small, mobile groups of warriors connected to one another and to intelligence, communications, and support networks. Diplomacy is networked: managing international crises -- from SARS to climate change -- requires mobilizing international networks of public and private actors. Business is networked: every CEO advice manual published in the past decade has focused on the shift from the vertical world of hierarchy to the horizontal world of networks. Media are networked: online blogs and other forms of participatory media depend on contributions from readers to create a vast, networked conversation. Society is networked: the world of MySpace is creating a global world of "OurSpace," linking hundreds of millions of individuals across continents. Even religion is networked: as the pastor Rick Warren has argued, "The only thing big enough to solve the problems of spiritual emptiness, selfish leadership, poverty, disease, and ignorance is the network of millions of churches all around the world."
Labels: politics, united states
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
Rev. Samuel Rodriguez: Hamas, Hezbollah and Al-Qaeda: 21st Century Nazis - On Faith at washingtonpost.com
Reverend Samuel Rodrigues, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, writes in a post "Hamas, Hezbollah and Al-Qaeda: 21st Century Nazis - On Faith at washingtonpost.com, "Hamas, Hezbollah and Al-Qaeda are not political extensions of an ethno ideology contextualized within the framework of a religious narrative. These groups represent nothing more and nothing less than an unbridled commitment to murder, destruction and terrorism. Accordingly, the prophets and ministers of this hybrid religious/political cult preach from the canon of fear and chaos, vociferously advocating the message of religious totalitarianism. ......
then he writes...
His full post is available here. Such words are really troublesome because it encourages hate between religions and also show a complete bias by a man of faith. I could not help but comment on his post and wrote the following:
This belief system adheres to a strategic plan addressing four specific tactics:"
1. The Destruction of Israel
2. The Death and destruction of all non believers including Christians, Jews, Hindus and all others
3. The exploitation of women and children as tools of terror, from human shields to suicide bombers.
4. The manipulation of media in order to justify and brand behavior, victimization."
then he writes...
"At the end of the day, let us understand that Islamic religious totalitarianism is the 21st Century version of Hitler's National Socialism. What do we do with evil? Negotiate compromise, surrender or confront? The answer will determine not only the fate of Israel, but the fate of world peace for years to come."
His full post is available here. Such words are really troublesome because it encourages hate between religions and also show a complete bias by a man of faith. I could not help but comment on his post and wrote the following:
It is really disappointing to read such a biased posting from a notable figure like Samuel Rodriguez, who either deliberately or accidentally missed some key historical facts. The first occupier to the Middle East lands is Israel. They were the first to occupy the Palestinian homeland, constantly terrorizing the Palestinian people just as they are doing today and just as they did in Lebanon as well. Why the Israelis are not considered terrorists or murderers for Mr. Rodriguez? Who wants peace, Mr Rodriguez? Is it Israel? They never accepted the offer for peace that was initiated by Saudi Arabia - not once but twice. Israel never wants peace, because it is not to their advantage as the occupier. Why would they? Then you mention poverty when you said "let us simultaneously take the lead on the war on poverty. We can be both Pro Israel and Pro the Palestinian People." Who has no food nor shelter nor schools, Mr Rodriguez? Israeli people, or is the Gazan people who are suffering one of the worst humanitarian crisis by Red Cross own reports. As for your question "What do we do with evil? Negotiate compromise, surrender or confront?" You are a man of faith, but I am not but I know one thing: you should be spreading peace and not hate; you should be spreading truth and not fabricated or biased messages. Many less educated people will believe every word you say, and that is unfortunate but true. But at least, be wise and intellectual in your writing when you post an article about good and evil in a respected newspaper such as the Washington Post.
Labels: middle east, politics, religion
Sunday, January 04, 2009
Jewish comments on a Jewish blog post, "To all you "embarrased" Jews
Jeremy Cardash, an Israeli right-wing blogger, addresses the Jewish community on his blog, "Israeli Stories: To all you "embarrassed Jews", by saying
I am not interested in any of his political views when we are witnessing over 500 Palestinian people, many of them civilians, being killed by the Israeli attacks on Gaza, but what is more important is the comments of readers to his blog. It shows some interesting perspectives that range from extreme to moderate political thinking. It reveals how Jewish and sometimes non-Jewish but Israeli-supporters think. I pasted the text as is and remove some because of space. However, entire comments are published at the bottom of this hyperlink
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It's easy to criticize Israel from afar, it's easy to be drawn in by the ludicrous, political correctness, western liberalism and, in many cases, a sense of extreme embarrassment forced on and often embraced by Jews in the Diaspora. It's easy to shout and scream and criticize, worrying what your non-Jewish neighbors or colleagues may think, becoming the ultimate apologists. It's easy to scream from your comfortable pseudo-Jewish ivory towers. What seems to be harder is for you to muster some sense of loyalty and support for your own people (Jews) and your own country ( Israel). (Just a reminder.) And there aren't enough righteous gentiles to save us all.
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"So now that Israel, after months and months of restraint and in the wake of thousands of rockets, has finally returned to Gaza to deal with Hamas, you say that you are 'embarrassed' by Israel's actions?
You'll tell me I am insecure in my beliefs, that I am ultra right-wing, and that I am blinded by fanaticism. You'll tell me that you know what the problem is and what should be done.
I am not ultra right-wing, just a realist who takes the facts and history into consideration. This is not a simplistic view but a carefully considered opinion. This is not based on a persecution complex but a simple historical formula. They want us out. The President of Iran wants our total destruction. Hamas, Hizbullah, Islamic Jihad, Al Qaida are all vying for the opportunity to drive us into the sea. Many other Arab countries would love to see us gone. That's a fact."
I am not interested in any of his political views when we are witnessing over 500 Palestinian people, many of them civilians, being killed by the Israeli attacks on Gaza, but what is more important is the comments of readers to his blog. It shows some interesting perspectives that range from extreme to moderate political thinking. It reveals how Jewish and sometimes non-Jewish but Israeli-supporters think. I pasted the text as is and remove some because of space. However, entire comments are published at the bottom of this hyperlink
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4 | drdan, canada, Wednesday Dec 31, 2008
I am a Diaspora Jew. I am also an Israeli. My identity has not been stolen - and I will not be lectured to about the myopia of the Middle East by someone who represents his right-wingery as "realism". Here's another dose of reality. We (if I can use "we" from "over here", sitting on the fence or whatever...) are the regional superpower. Hamas has neither the power nor the ability to destroy Israel. Hamas can make the lives of *some* Israelis utterly miserable... while others continue on with their day, working, going to school, sitting in cafes. So who's persecuting who?
5 | Marsha Katz Johns Creek, GA USA, Wednesday Dec 31, 2008
I felt my prayers were answered with Israel's stand. My distress comes from our giving up Land G-d gave us along with wrenching Jews from their homes and the loss of Jewish life. The Arab world will never allow peace so we must defend ourselves forever. No fence here. I'm an American Jew born the same year Israel became a State. I'm proud of my Judaism and Israel. They are my heart and my soul. We will never turn our backs. I am sorry you feel we are not with you... I am; we are.
6 | Siegel, Palm Beach Co., FL USA, Wednesday Dec 31, 2008
First, I'm greatful for my fellow American John in Lakeland for holding fast to the same original beliefs on which our country, USA, was founded and recognizing the same rights in other "Free" countries such as Israel. Jeremy Cardash...you are not alone!! It makes me sick to my stomach when I come across the "Embarrassed Jew" unable to stand out from the shadow of generations of our religious oppression. There are those of us jews whose fathers were not raised and did not raise their sons as "Momma's Boys" but as true men ready to stand up and fight for who they are as Jews and Americans.
7 | LIBBIE, Wednesday Dec 31, 2008
I BELIEVE ISREAL DOES HAVE THE RIGHT TO DEFEND ITSELF AND BELIEVE THE BIBLE IS GODS WORD AND HIS WORD SAYS I WILL CURSE THEM WHO CURSE YOU(ISREAL) AND BLESS THOSE WHO BLESS YOU.
8 | Proud of Israel, Thursday Jan 01, 2009
What's the overiding vision at JPost? Tie Israel to Judea and Samaria and keep the millions of people who live in these lands apart, with no rights to Israeli citizenship, and no responsibility on the part of the state to look after the welfare of those whose borders Tsahal controls. That can't work. The idea of ethnic cleansing I'll grant has worked in the past for different peoples and states, but what has -never- worked for anybody is to seek to occupy hundreds of thousands (in Israel's case millions) of people and at the same time keep them apart and unintegrated and pacified too.
9 | Proud of Israel, Thursday Jan 01, 2009
{....} There are indeed many reasons to be proud of Israel. The overall excellent healthcare system (that was not built on oil wealth and is provided to all citizens) is one of them. The fact that there is a cultural Jewish home in a state that stretches from the Hula to Eilat and that this place is truly beautiful with dynamic people and towns is in and of itself a source for pride. While it might be a thrill for some to settle Judea and Samaria (or tacitly support those who do) that Zionist vision which places Israel on all the lands of the Bible will have to be left for the time of Moshiach.
16 | AARON BENEZRA, SYRACUSE, NY, USA, Thursday Jan 01, 2009
RE#4 - DRDAN - "WHO'S PERSECUTING WHO?" Do you mean to suggest that Israel is persecuting Hamas? You must be blind! Go to Sderot and live there for a while! See how your nerves hold up from day to day, wondering if 15 seconds is time enough for you to run into a shelter to avoid the Qassam rocket that, like a lottery ticket, you may just win! Better yet, enter your own negotiations with Hamas; perhaps you are the reasonable one to whom Hamas will also be reasonable and acknowledge Israel's right to exist and all that is meant by that including the safe, healthy freedom of Gilad Shalit!
17 | Joe, New York, Thursday Jan 01, 2009
To Post #4 "drdan, canada": I'm trying to understand you're post. You say "Hamas can make the lives of *some* Israelis utterly miserable..." are you trying to say they do????? Are you just stating their capability's?????? We all know they've launched thousands of rockets into Israel which have killed MANY innocent men women and children! What do you want Israel to do, tell the the suffering orphans and widows that we're sorry but there's nothing we could do because Hamas doesn't have the capability's to whip us ALL off the map???? Explain!!! I'm just trying to understand.
18 | Gábor Fränkl Budapest, Hungary, Thursday Jan 01, 2009
Dear Author, Although I am a diaspora Jew, I perfectly understand the gist (and the desperation) of your post. I fully agree. I am convinced this description applies to the great majority of the Jews "outside" whose only source of information is the one-sided, seriously biased, and anti-semitic media. Well done! The majority of Jewish youth in my native Hungary for example has indeed NO identity - I am acutely aware of this problem, if this can be called a problem any longer. They have no identity and no spine unfortunately. Fränkl Gábor
19 | Gábor Fränkl, Thursday Jan 01, 2009
Oh and if I failed to appreciate enough I do now: THIS ARTICLE WAS TO THE POINT AND SIMPLY BRILLIANT! (But one thing is clear: those whom this justified outburst REALLY pertains to are those Jews, who live in societies, which are challenged by the swelling number of Muslim (and other) immigrants primarily in the West. This does NOT apply to those diaspora Jews whom are NOT targeted by the "Israel-thing", and they are mostly in post-communist Central-Eastern Europe. One thing you overlook: Jews in Poland, Hungary, Slovakia,the Czech Republic are incomperably much secure than those in W Europe!
20 | Jeff, Thursday Jan 01, 2009
Not all Diaspora Jews are what you accuse us of. I happen to agree with you and many others do too. By the same token, it appears that Israel has a significant number of its own citizenry that should read your article. The difference being, they are there, and that makes it even more difficult to understand.
21 | David Jerusalem/Philadephia, Thursday Jan 01, 2009
Jeremy Cardash, Phenomenal article, as an American Jew that moved to Israel and Joined the army I appreciate your view on Some of the Diaspora Jews, as well as your conviction and steadfast belief in Israel's need to defend itself. The world needs to start asking the Arab world why these people are so destructive? Why instead of using their money and resources to create a stable life for their people, they use them for terror and violence? Why the Arab Nations do not care for the Palestinians but rather use their plight as a tool for propoganda against Israel and the Western World?
22 | Tim, Ottawa, Canada, Thursday Jan 01, 2009
Mr. Cardash - I am merely a secular Protestant but your article provides the kind of hard truth that would aspire others to want to be Jewish. Good job on your article and please know that one doesn't have to be Jewish to love and support Israel and its people. I know - I do. I promote it wherever I go. Israel has many things I wish were transportable to the society in which I live - proving we can all learn from each other.
23 | Peter Bochner, Wayland, Mass., Thursday Jan 01, 2009
In the past week the Boston Globe has printed several letters from hand-wringing Jews expressing the sentiment "I'm so ashamed to be Jewish because of what Israel is doing to the poor inhabitants of Gaza instead of negotiating with the people's elected party of Hamas." They use the Globe's letters column as a podium to proclaim their liberal lunacy and express solidarity with terrorists. It makes me furious. Thank you Jeremy for writing this and G-d bless and protect the Israeli troops.
24 | concerned former democrat. USA, Thursday Jan 01, 2009
Great article. I am not Jewish but I support Israel. Those that are naive don't see this as the latest installment of the Crusades with steady encroachment of Islamist Jihadists throughout Europe,Asia,Africa and America. This is a time for Christians and Jews to unite...out of self preservation. I am praying for Israel and refuse to drink the politically popular Muslim Koolaide. Muslim extremists have made their intentions clear. This is a war on the West and it is that simple. Israel has the right and duty to defend herself.
25 | Alan, Japan, Thursday Jan 01, 2009
{...} The only winners in the conflict are the media. Neither the Israelis nor the Palestinians can win and it seems that both sides have came to terms with the situation. If neither side is willing to move and both sides are willing to kill then large numbers of dead bodies and a tidal wave of hatred will inevitably ensue. To the West, Israel is a useful thorn in the side of Islam. A thorn which changed dimension when OPEC raised the price of oil and Islam redeveloped a little clout. If Israelis/Muslims cannot stop killing each other, other countries think 'better there than here' & life goes on.
45 | David, Friday Jan 02, 2009
I am sick and tired of the need to be liked at the expense of survival. Jews need to be unashamed about survival for the world cares little about Jewish blood. Israeli or otherwise. When Moses was in the Sinai, the Hebrews wandered through the desert until the generations that sinned died out, then they entered, so the bible states. Today Hamas and PLO entitities created a brainwashed generation to hate and a generation of Arabs have been raised educated to hate the very existence of Jews in Israel. A ponzi scheme of sorts supported with new hate filled recruits., FIGHT TO SURVIVE
46 | Frank Johnson--Watertown NY, Friday Jan 02, 2009
As an American Protestant I continue to be amazed by Jewish Americans who seem to feel that Israelies are the occupiers, the aggressors, and the evil doers. These people have been blinded by listening to left wing college(many Arab Palestinian) professors who continue to spout anti-Jewish propaganda in Middle Eastern Departments Studies departments at American univiersities funded by Arab Nations. They have been brain-washed by the media to feel that Jewish people should feel guilty about having a country of their own. Enough, many Americans like myself support you and wish you the best.
47 | Jay, Friday Jan 02, 2009
this is a worldwide problem of "2 sidedness" western societies always feel that there are 2 sides to a story and that you have to show both of them, once this happens you allow for an understanding of "the other side" which in this case was already hijacked by terrorists named Hamas. sometimes there is really only 1 side, i mean 1 side of truth and peace. I dont think anyone could argue that Osama Bin Laden has a point? and is justified? . so how can you argue that Hamas has a valid point to attack israeli children? there is no justification for Terrorism. they are blinded by 2 sidedness
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51 | Jay L USA, Friday Jan 02, 2009
Jermey Cardash...There are a few Jews who are "lefty" way out there..but here in the USA most, in fact, support Israel wholeheartedly. I understand your concern about these "embarrased" (self hating) Jews. But we Jews couldnt have survived 4000 years of pogroms without a real religious or cultural strong desire to remain Jews! I don't like the Chomsky's of this world either...but you in Israel have your "lefty" jerks too. And as for this new attack on Gaza ..Im all for it. I dont know what in heck your Israelis were waiting for...were you "embarrased"! Go get em..Jeremey!
52 | LaevusManus, Australia, Friday Jan 02, 2009
This is clearly right wing dribble.
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64 | Paulo Costa, Friday Jan 02, 2009
Take ordinary Palestians into account The problem with Israeli policy towards the Palestinians is that you only see your enemies, you never think of the ordinary Palestinian that could try to live a normal live only if he/she was nor hindered by lack of jobs, no free movement no acceptance of democratic elections by outsiders... Yes, you should be embarrassed of making living in gaza and West bank like living in Hell, like living in a Jewish ghetto of the past.. Why do not you try to reach for the ordinary palestinian and treat him like a human being? Hamas would have much less support
65 | D.S. N.Y., Friday Jan 02, 2009
Please know that many of us Diaspora Jews support Israel 100%.At least 100%of the people with whom I grew up, in the Modern Orthodox Jewish Community on the South Shore of Long Island, N.Y. We know the historical truth, and the present reality. I am on Israel's side , period. Im Eshkachech Yerushaliyam, Tishkach Yemini. And for Yossie, to where are you going to run when the next Hitler, Ye'mach Sh'emo, comes to slaughter us all?Are you hiding in some Yeshiva in Israel shirking your army duty and leaving that to some "Chiloni?" Thank you and G-d bless you to our righteous Gentile Friends.
66 | Manny, Chicago, Friday Jan 02, 2009
Mr. Cardash, I fully agree with your analysis. I am an Israeli living in the US, and I am surprised to find so many American Jews thinking the way you describe. They have no compassion for their brothers, but a lot of it for Palestinians, Iraqis, Darfur, Bosnia, etc. If Israel is destroyed, they will cry crocodile tears, and blame Israel for it. These Jews are maybe Jews by birth, but they have nothing Jewish in their soul. They will disappear in one generation or two. This is the curse of the Galut.
67 | Jeff - New York CIty, Friday Jan 02, 2009
Excellent piece. To the Author: there are "diaspora" Jews that live in Israel as well as in the Diaspora. Look at Haaretz, the Universities, etc. As for the Khazar canard, I would simply point out that whereas some of the Khazars certainly did join the other Jews of Eastern Europe, the idea that this East Asian group of Huns became the nation of Ashkenaic Jews is absurd culturally, historically and genetically. Conspiracy theories are fun, but they mostly act to conceal other agendas. In this case, one of delegitimization of the Jewish People.
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71 | Don, Charolette, NC, USA, Friday Jan 02, 2009
I'm a Christian from the so called Bible Belt. G-d is fulfilling his promise to Israel. I expect the Temple to be built soon and for Israel to control all the land G-d gave you. As for me, I wish I could be with the ground troops when they enter Gaza. I am proud of you Israel and I suport you. Shalom Aleichem
72 | Saskian - USA, Friday Jan 02, 2009
Mr. Cardash, your article was fabulous - your thinking could and should be applied right here in the USA. I am an evangelical Christian - understand that evangelicals in the USA support Israel - we have always supported you. We thank the Lord you exist. I have to laugh at some of the responses that say "most Israeli immigrants are from - " - they are from somewhere else because the Jews were dispersed and they are the children, great grandchildren, etc., of the people that were dispersed - their grandfathers couldn't come back because they were killed but they are coming back.
73 | Coltrane Walker USA, Friday Jan 02, 2009
If I were you I would not want to hear some US gentile say what I am going to say, which is: your essay precludes peace. In the midst of bombings, wars with Hizbullah & Hamas, the Iranian & syrian threats, Fatah's incompetence, etc I +totally+ agree with you about self-hatred, temporizing and anything other than total single-minded unity being suicidal, esp b/c I'm sitting here in the US with no bombs and lots of media propoganda. Probably b/c of this, I pray and believe peace will come for you someday --- and the pacificsm you deride will be as essential then as militarism is now...
74 | Paul, Rochester NY USA, Friday Jan 02, 2009
Nice article, and very true. I am a mostly liberal American Jew. If the Palestinians were my peaceful poor neighbors, I would want to help them. Once they use lethal force in my direction, then I want to stop them. I no longer care about their poverty. The only moral response to the use of lethal force against us is to stop the aggressors any way possible. The terrorist organizations are causing the suffering of the Palestinians, not Israel.
75 | Dan, Friday Jan 02, 2009
This would be a stronger article if it was written from Hebron. It makes for stirring prose to claim people are either for or against "us," but that begs the question of exactly what "us" represents: the settlers? the occupation? We are all against the rocket violence, which seems in 2009 to now be systemic- how did we get here, from a simpler world 60 years ago? Something you must understand is that building a world view and approach based on positioning an entire religion, all the people, as your enemies, at all times, and all their secular governments, has led to failure. You own Gaza.
76 | Rob, Israel, Friday Jan 02, 2009
And thankyou Adam and thankyou Shlomi! I have known Adam and Shlomi for more than 12 years. As a good friend of their mother, I've watched these boys grow up. Great boys, kind hearts. Anyone would be proud to know them. Now Adam is 19 and Shlomi 20. Anyone in Israel immediately knows what this means. Adam is sitting on the border with Gaza,, Shlomi is still at his base. We, that know them, are nervous. These beautiful jewish boys are sitting in the cold, holding their guns and protecting us, our way of life, our existence. Thankyou a million times.