Peter Beinart Targets 'The Crisis of Zionism' Peter Beinart, the author of "The Crisis of Zionism," spoke with Al-Monitor's Barbara Slavin, warning that Israel is “sleepwalking to a one-state solution." He suggests slowing settlement expansion through a boycott of products from Jewish settlements in the West Bank and the funding of Jewish education for American Jews. Israel
Mideast Arms Race Tops Agenda Of US and Israeli Military Chiefs The new US and Israeli military chiefs met for the first time on American turf earlier this month in the continuing process of taking each other’s measure and seeking common ground on Iran, Syria and a new Middle East arms race triggered by the Arab Spring and fear of Iran, Richard Sisk reports. Regional
The Quest for a 'Land for Peace' Gilad Halpern explores Israel's continued exploitation of the Holocaust for political ends. This rhetoric keeps Israel focused on the past, he writes, and prevents the achievement of Zionism's original intent: to create a Jewish state living in peace with its neighbors. Focusing on Iran and away from domestic issues will not serve Israel's future as a democracy. Originals
Israelis Fear Blame For US-Iran War Experts warn that it may soon be too late to prevent a nuclear Iran, necessitating an American military intervention for which Israel may bear the blame, reports Barbara Slavin from the J-Street convention. A prolonged conflict could both weaken the Israeli-US alliance and be detrimental to US interests. Originals
Hamas' Mission Is Evolving As Sands Shift in Mideast “We will not be part in a war between Iran and Israel,” came the startling announcement from Hamas, the organization whose objective is to liberate all of historic Palestine via armed struggle. Is this the result of the collapse of the Syria-Iran-Hezbollah-Hamas partnership, or of the Syrian revolt? Maybe both, writes Isam al Khafaji. Palestine
Atlantic's Goldberg Discusses Israel vs. Iran; Boycott Idea Al-Monitor correspondent Barbara Slavin interviews Atlantic writer Jeffrey Goldberg, who has become a major figure in the debate over whether and when Israel might attack Iran’s nuclear facilities. Goldberg recently became embroiled in a Twitter duel with blogger Peter Beinart over the wisdom of boycotting products from Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Israel
A Moment of OpportunityFor Engaging Iran? The drumbeat for war over Iran's nuclear activities has grown fainter in recent weeks. This easing of tensions, while perhaps temporary, could provide a rare opportunity to imagine a change in the US-Iran relationship, write Barry Blechman and Ellen Laipson of the Stimson Center. Israel
Time Frame ShiftsOn Iran War Threat Chances for a US or Israeli strike on Iran are minimal before US presidential elections but increase early next year, said a panel of advisors to the Atlantic Council. Efforts at negotiation with Iran may yet show progress in limiting uranium enrichment. Al-Monitor's Barbara Slavin reports. Iran
Momentum ShiftsAgainst Iran War US President Obama has chosen to abandon out-hawking the hawks to outsmarting them, says Trita Parsi for al-Monitor. The Obama administration draws the line at nuclear weapons production rather than enrichment, a clearer, more enforceable definition that has the force of international law behind it — and avoids the need for military action in the near future. Iran
Dubai-based site tracks what Journalists do on twitter Presspass, a new web site founded in Dubai by David Haddad and Valencio Cardoso, aims to help small businesses and citizen journalists solve the riddle of getting their messages out in the media, while bypassing high priced public relations outfits. Al-Monitor’s Ben Gilbert interviews the founders. United Arab Emirates
Subtle Signs Obama Diplomacy May Work on Iran Al Monitor Washington correspondent Barbara Slavin cites numerous developments inside and outside Iran that suggest new possibilities for negotiations over Iran's nuclear program--and a general decline in tensions between the U.S. and Iran. Iran
The Votes That Will Really Count In Egypt’s Presidential Election As Egyptians prepare for presidential elections, H.A. Hellyer writes that the question of who will win may depend on who gets the crucial backing of the military and the Muslim Brotherhood. Egypt
Hagel Praises Obama on Syria; Chides GOP on Iran The co-Chair of Obama's Intelligence Advisory Board and former Senator talks to Al Monitor Washington correspondent Barbara Slavin about scenarios that could prod Israel to act on Iran, the GOP candidates' obsession with threats to bomb Iran, Assad’s inevitable fall and Obama's plans on Mideast peace. Syria
Ahmadinejad Offer Could Be Key To West's Diplomacy With Iran When the US and its allies resume negotiations with Iran in the coming weeks, they should quickly put Iran to the test by accepting an offer by Iranian President Mahmood Ahmadinejad to obtain highly enriched uranium from the West for Iran’s nuclear medical research in return for Iran halting its own enrichment program at the 20% level. Iran
Exclusive: New Human Rights Report Released on Iran As the nuclear crisis with Iran deepens, the United Nations Wednesday issued a detailed new report that accuses Iran of responsibility for grave human rights abuses including the highest per capita rate of executions in the world. Iran
Bibi Bows to Reality Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appears to have concluded that Barack Obama will be re-elected in November and that Israel would jeopardize its ties with his administration if it attacks Iran before then. Israel
