Archives for November, 2015

Bennett, Shaked call for military operation in West Bank

HaBayit HaYehudi's Naftali Bennett and Ayelet Shaked are hoping to score political points by calling for a wide-scale military operation in the West Bank despite security establishment assessments that a military response is not the answer to the current wave of attacks.

Pollard and Vanunu: A tale of two spies

While criticizing the restrictions the US has imposed on released spy Jonathan Pollard and attempting to legislate state allocations for him, Israeli politicians ignore their government's restrictions on nuclear spy Mordechai Vanunu.

A model depicting the first Jewish temple, which once stood underneath the compound housing the Dome of the Rock (seen centre, in background) and Al-Aqsa mosque, is seen in Jerusalem's Old City June 2, 2015. The compound is known to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary and to Jews as Temple Mount. Picture taken June 2, 2015. To match Special Report ISRAEL-JERUSALEM/DOME REUTERS/Ammar Awad
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Will the building of a Third Temple destroy the Jewish state?

Talking to Al-Monitor, Israeli author Yishai Sarid argues that the people creating a Third Temple atmosphere believe they are avant-garde, above the people, but as a secular Jew, Sarid counters this and brings the debate to life in his recent book, "The Third."

Despite budget approval, Netanyahu's coalition on shaky ground

Despite getting the 2016 state budget approved, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is preoccupied with plots and deals in order to guarantee his political survival.

Will Israel build offshore nuclear power plant?

While Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promotes the outline for the natural gas resource and benefits distribution, several experts promote the idea of offshore gas and civil nuclear energy plants.

Will Putin, Khamenei negotiate Assad's ouster?

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei praised Russian President Vladimir Putin as they reaffirmed their agreement that the United States is wrong to try to oust Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Sudan gets $2.2B for joining Saudi Arabia, Qatar in Yemen war

After providing financial support, Saudi Arabia is collecting on its IOU from Sudan, which now finds itself enmeshed in Yemen's civil war.

Peshmerga general: KRG political problems won't affect fight against IS

A Kurdish general calls for more ammunition, aid and NATO troops to join the peshmerga in the fight against the Islamic State in Iraqi Kurdistan.

Do Iranian hard-liners really want to stop foreign investment?

Despite criticism and warnings of "infiltration" in the aftermath of the nuclear deal, are Iranian hard-liners really opposed to foreign investment?

Why do some Turks approve of Islamic State terrorism?

Turkish football fans' disruption of moments of silence for victims of Islamic State attacks in Paris and in Turkey show support for IS and stem from the domestic and foreign policies of Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

A man stands in front of a building, which was damaged during the security operations and clashes between Turkish security forces and Kurdish militants, in Silvan, in the Kurdish-dominated southeastern Diyarbakir province, Turkey, November 15, 2015. A round-the-clock curfew ended in three districts of the town of Silvan after 12 days on Saturday. REUTERS/Sertac Kayar - RTS77Z6

How some southeast Turkey residents are struggling with mystery murders, urban warfare

Residents in the southeastern Turkish town of Silvan are angry with the state and the Kurdistan Workers Party for the destruction of their town.

Women were big losers in Turkey's elections

The number of women elected to parliament reached a new high in Turkey's June elections, but dropped in the Nov. 1 snap elections, especially in the victorious Justice and Development Party.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seen on monitors before the evening news bulletin at Channel 10's control room in Jerusalem November 18, 2015. Critics say Netanyahu, known as "Bibi," is hitting the wrong note when it comes to the media, weakening press freedom and holding sway over TV broadcasters in a country that bills itself as the Middle East's only true democracy. Picture taken November 18, 2015. To match Insight ISRAEL-NETANYAHU/MEDIA REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun - RTX1VG1F

How Israeli far right uses news as a tool of incitement

As Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemns Palestinian incitement, he should be careful about far right news sites depicting a false picture of the reality, damaging the already fragile relationship between Jews and Palestinians in Israel.

Will battle for Aleppo determine Syria’s fate?

Syrian government forces advance despite heavy resistance; Arab leadership missing in battle against Islamic State; Erdogan differs with United States and G-20 on next steps in Syria; Israel rethinks "Shiite axis."

A portrait of late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat hangs on a wall in the Yasser Arafat foundation in the West Bank city of Ramallah 21 November 2013. Arafat's body, wrapped in a Palestinian flag, was buried nine years ago, but conspiracy theories he was poisoned were never laid to rest, with accusations flying on all sides. Picture taken November 21, 2013. REUTERS/Mohamad Torokman (WEST BANK - Tags: POLITICS) - RTX15OWD

Hamas hands over Arafat’s house, minus some of its belongings

Hamas handed over the late President Arafat’s house to the Yasser Arafat Foundation, which some see as good step toward ending internal division, although some of the president’s belongings are missing.

A man looks at a school destroyed by an air strike as he flees his home in Sanaa April 28, 2015. REUTERS/Mohamed al-Sayaghi - RTX1AO4I

Surrounded by war, Yemen’s students suffer

As children pay the price of war in Yemen, there is an urgent need to quickly rebuild destroyed schools and find alternative safe havens for refugees.