President Trump’s threat to cut-off aid to the Palestinians if their leaders don’t agree to peace talks is a brilliant move — a hardline negotiating tactic that will have a powerful effect on the Palestinians. In the parlance of those of us who understand nothing about the intricacies of diplomacy, such a move is called…
Tag: International
[Commentary] English Tossers Put on a Crude Show, Revealing Not an Ounce of Common Sense or Dignity
If you want to realize just how far we’ve come in the brave new world where almost the slightest show of misogyny or offensive man-woman interaction can lead to a civil rights violation, then go to England. A charity is closing after revelations of sexual harassment at a fundraising event recently held in London. The…
The U.S. and Pakistan: Time for a Divorce?
by Lawrence A. Franklin “The amount of pain that Pakistan has inflicted upon the United States in the last 12 years is unprecedented.” — Amrullah Saleh, Afghanistan’s former spy chief. Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence agency continues to sponsor, equip, and train several terrorist organizations that directly target American troops in Afghanistan, as well as regional allies of…
ISIS Sets its Sights on Gaza
by Bassam Tawil ISIS is making it clear that it now has its eyes set on the Gaza Strip. By calling on Palestinians to rebel against Hamas, ISIS is hoping to facilitate its mission of infiltrating the Gaza Strip. Ongoing attempts by ISIS to infiltrate the Palestinian area should worry not only Palestinians, but Israel and…
Reflection on Poverty and Ruin
When my great grandparents were living in Russia in the 1860s and walking around with bare feet on mud streets and defecating in holes in their back yard and praying to be left alone by Cossacks who ransacked their town and slaughtered Jews from time to time, and fighting disease and Russian ignorance and vulgarity…
Putin and Trump: A Pair as a Full House
I am interested in all things Russian. I love Russian literature, Russian art, Russian history, Russian politics, Russia’s failed socialist, Communist experience. I love all of it. Russia and Russians don’t scare me, but them, I’m not a Democrat. Neither am I a Republican for Republicans fear Russians out of an inability to let go…
Newsflash: Jerusalem Not on Fire!
by Bassam Tawil “More journalists than protesters…” — Björn Stritzel, German journalist. Protests against Israel and the US are not uncommon on the streets of Ramallah, Hebron and Bethlehem. But for the “war correspondents,” there is nothing more exciting than standing behind burning tires and stone throwers and reporting from the heart of the “clashes.” Such…
[ANALYSIS] US Recognizes Jerusalem as Capital of Israel: “Recognition of Reality”
Calling it a recognition of reality, the United States has announced it now officially considers Jerusalem the capital of Israel. This is not so much a historic happening as it is a long overdue correction of history. Jerusalem as the capital of Israel recognizes finally and forever, the utter and complete liberation of Jerusalem from…
Tawil: Palestinians vs. Trump: The Battle Begins
by Bassam Tawil Although the full details of the proposed plan have yet to be made public, the Palestinians have already made up their mind: Whatever comes from Trump and his Jewish team is against the interests of the Palestinians. The Palestinians’ rhetorical attacks on the Trump administration are designed to prepare the ground for their…
Here’s to the “Experts” — Terrorism’s Great Whitewashers
by Bruce Bawer Never mind that the holy books of Islam quite clearly spell out the doctrine of jihad and the heavenly rewards that await jihadist martyrs. No, according to MSNBC “terrorism expert” Malcolm Nance, Manhattan attacker Sayfullo Saipov’s butchery was “anti-Islamic.” According to Nance’s theory, every Islamic terrorist in our time somehow overlooked the real…