December 3, 2012

 In-depth

The New Middle East’s New Problems

The battle between Sunni and Shia Muslims has superceded the Israel-Palestine conflict, writes Joschka Fischer for Project Syndicate. 

From Israel’s viewpoint, the rise to power of Sunni political Islam throughout the region over the past two years will lead to an ambivalent outcome. While the weakening and rollback of Iran serves Israeli strategic interests, Israel will have to reckon with Sunni Islamist power everywhere in its vicinity, leading directly to a strengthening of Hamas.

 

Israel’s Settlements and the Europeans

Jonathan Tobin of Commentary Magazine dismisses claims that the settlements are the cause fof European support for the Palestinian bid at the UN. 

…if the Europeans believe that the 1967 lines with land swaps is the formula for peace, it’s hard to understand why they are upset with Israel building in places that everyone knows they would keep under such a plan. After all, does anyone who is actually interested in peace–as opposed to those who think every Jewish home anywhere in the country is an illegal settlement–actually think Israel will abandon 40-year-old Jerusalem neighborhoods or the suburbs that are close to the green line? Far from the Israelis pushing the limits in their quest for settlements, it is the Europeans who are redefining the terms of peace. 

Daily Digest

• Times of Israel: Shin Bet agents shoot and kill ax-wielding Palestinian attacker
• Haaretz: British official: U.K. may suspend trade agreements, recall ambassador over Israel settlement expansion
• Jerusalem Post: Iran establishes cyber HQ as shadow war continues
• Ynet: Ban: Israeli settler bid a 'fatal blow' to peace
• New York Times: Collaboration in Gaza Leads to Grisly Fate
• Washington Post: Thousands attend anti-Nazi rally in Hungary to protest lawmaker’s call to screen Jews
• Wall Street Journal: U.S. steps up spying operations on Iran's nuclear reactor

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