August 12, 2012

‎In-depth‎

Egypt, Israel and Sinai: The need for triangular co-operation

The terrorist attack on Egyptian and Israeli troops illustrates the need for co-operation between the two countries, as well as Gaza’s rulers Hamas, argues the Economist. 

The three governments also need to agree on new economic arrangements. For the past five years, the joint Israeli-Egyptian blockade of Gaza that fostered smuggling through the tunnels has hugely benefited people in Sinai who are beyond the law—of any country. Opening the borders to legal traffic and trade should lessen the power of jihadists and smugglers in Sinai and Gaza, and thus strengthen the arm of the governments in Cairo and Jerusalem.

Can Romney break the Democrats’ lock on the Jewish vote?

The Republican candidate believes that there are enough Jewish voters disillusioned with Obama’s stance on Israel to make a difference in key states, writes Dan Schnur in the Los Angeles Times.

Many U.S. Jews were troubled by Obama’s early insistence on a settlement freeze. They also took umbrage at his use of the emotionally charged term “occupation” in reference to the Israeli military presence in Palestinian territory in a seminal speech in Cairo during his first months in office. The ongoing coolness between Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not helped matters, nor has the administration’s emphasis on diplomacy over military engagement when it comes to Iran’s nuclear facilities. It was these issues that Mitt Romney felt opened a small but important window of opportunity that made it worth his going to Israel at the end of July.

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