The results of an investigation into the Palestinian prisoner’s death will likely generate unrest whether or not Israel is found responsible.
The results of an investigation into the Palestinian prisoner’s death will likely generate unrest whether or not Israel is found responsible.
Despite a 200-day hunger strike, Israel continues to deny Samer Issawi a trial.
To say the U.S. moved quickly to squash any expectation that the President’s visit to the Middle East might help resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict would be an understatement.
According to recent polls of Palestinians, frustration with the Israel-Palestinian conflict is at a high point; the two-state solution is steadily losing credibility in the eyes of the people; and ordinary citizens in the Holy Land are starting to wonder whether a settlement can be achieved without another round of bloodshed.
Speculation that President Obama might put significant effort into Israel-Palestine peace was fueled by his nominees for two key Cabinet posts: John Kerry for secretary of state and former Senator Chuck Hagel for secretary of defence. Since Obama’s re-election, however, there has been considerable debate in the U.S. media about whether he would re-engage in peace efforts between Israel and the Palestinians.
The vote exposed the Palestinian Authority’s failure to address the continuing statelessness of its people.
Fundamental differences exists between Hamas in Gaza in 2012 compared to 2008.
In the latest eight-day conflict, six Israelis were killed by Palestinian rocket fire. In Gaza, however, Israeli bombs killed 179 Palestinians—a substantial portion of whom were civilians, including several dozen women and children. One of them was Hitham’s oldest child, who was visiting relatives in Gaza.
The November 22 cease fire between Israeli and Hamas forces is a huge relief for the civilian population on both sides—the primary victims of the conflict. But the Obama administration’s unconscionable decision the previous week to block a ceasefire effort by the UN Security Council not only resulted in additional civilian deaths but also serves as an indication that, despite the president owing his re-election to the hard work of his progressive base, his foreign policy will continue to lean to the right.
Hasn’t the time come to admit that military solutions have run their course?