Russia and the Middle East: Policy Challenges
By INSS Friday, May 24, 2013
This study surveys Russia’s foreign policy objectives, focusing on its relations with its neighbors and its interests in the Middle East. Russia has been eager to regain at least some of the regional stature enjoyed by the Soviet Union, and has sought to foster ties with different elements across the entire political spectrum, from Israel to moderate Sunni states to the radical axis. Russia’s steadfast support of the Syrian regime is one example of Russia’s drive to use the region to enhance its own strategic situation – vis-à-vis the West, former Soviet Union states, the Middle East, and radical Islam.
Thank you Hafez al-AssadBy Caroline Glick Friday, May 24, 2013
The threats emanating from Syria have become downright frightening. For the past several days, Home Front Defense Minister Gilad Erdan has been warning repeatedly that it is certain that Israeli population centers will be hit by Syrian ballistic missiles and that we have to be prepared for the worst-case scenarios, including Scud missile-launched chemical weapons attacks on Israel’s metropolitan centers.
Political-Strategic Dimensions to Israel’s Natural Gas DebateBy INSS Thursday, May 23, 2013
In October 2011, the Israeli government appointed a committee headed by Water and Energy Ministry director general Shaul Tzemach to examine the government’s policy on natural gas. The government is supposed to adopt the committee’s recommendations, which were published in April 2012, immediately upon completion of the budget deliberations.
Hizbollah’s Struggle for Domestic Survival: Lebanese Discourse on the Social NetworksBy INSS Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Hizbollah’s increasingly apparent involvement in the bloodshed in Syria has hurt the organization’s legitimacy and popularity within Lebanon. The developments and discourse in the Lebanese social media in recent months indicate the depth of the crises that Hizbollah now faces. The terms “civil war,” “confrontation,” “political vacuum” and “sectarian struggle” pepper the online discourse frequently, implying that Lebanon is on a trajectory towards internal strife.
Syria, Russia, and the S-300: Military and Technical Background
By INSS Monday, May 20, 2013
Concern that Russia intends to provide Syria with advanced S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems was one of the reasons for Prime Minister Netanyahu’s visit to Russia last week.
“The Devil We Know” RevisitedBy INSS Sunday, May 19, 2013
On May 17, 2013, The Times of London quoted “Israeli intelligence sources” who argued that “an intact, but weakened, Assad regime would be preferable for the country and for the whole troubled region.” The paper went on to quote “a senior Israeli intelligence officer” in the north of the country: “Better the devil we know than the demons we can only imagine if Syria falls into chaos and the extremists from across the Arab world gain a foothold there.” We do not know who the Israeli sources were, but the Times story provides a window into the deliberations and disagreements within Israel’s national security establishment as to the country’s priorities with regard to Syria.
Palestine - Turning Unreality Into RealityBy David Singer Sunday, May 19, 2013
A TV show - “The President” - now being aired on Maan TV - a popular independent Palestinian radio station - presents an opportunity for the election-starved Palestinian Arabs to have their say on what they would do on a variety of subjects if they were elected as the President of Palestine.
Prime Minister Netanyahu’s Visit to RussiaBy INSS Friday, May 17, 2013
Shortly after his return from China, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu flew to Russia for a hastily arranged visit with President Vladimir Putin. The catalyst for the visit was the significant increase in activity around the Syrian issue, including the attacks against Syrian targets attributed to Israel, high level visits to Russia by leading international figures, and Russia’s announcement of its intention to supply Syria with S-300 missiles.
Boycott
By Guest Column Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Dear Professor Stephen Hawking,
I heard this morning on the radio that you decided to cancel your attendance in Israel’s president conference, and joined the academic boycott against Israel. You could not chose a more appropriate date then May eighth, the day Nazi Germany surrendered in 1945 and the day I joined the occupation army of Israel in 1985, to speak out loud and clear against occupation and oppression.
Palestine - Hawking Needs To Do More TalkingBy David Singer Monday, May 13, 2013
The decision by eminent physicist Stephen Hawking to not attend the Presidential Conference organised by Israel’s President - Shimon Peres - has aroused dismay by his Israeli hosts and applause from the Palestinian academic community.
After the Damascus Attack: Ten Points to ConsiderBy INSS Sunday, May 12, 2013
One week has passed since the attacks near Damascus, which according to American sources destroyed advanced Fateh-110 surface-to-surface missiles making their way from Iran to Hizbollah in Lebanon. Now that the dust has settled and it seems as if the strike was contained – there was no immediate response either from Syria or Hizbollah – one can point to some initial conclusions. At the same time, it is entirely possible that we are in the midst of a greater crisis, both in terms of a belated reprisal and especially in terms of the probability that more red lines will be crossed and that further attacks could lead to an escalation on the northern border. This essay assumes, as reported in foreign sources, that the Damascus attack was carried out by Israel.
NGOs vs. those who serve IsraelBy Caroline Glick Friday, May 10, 2013
In 2010, Cpl. Eleanor Joseph became the first female Arab combat soldier in the IDF. Joseph, a Christian Arab told Ma’ariv that her good luck charm is a drawing of the Star of David with the caption: “I have no other land, even when my ground is burning.” Her commander drew it for her.
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