David Singer

State Of Palestine and Islamic State Highlight International Double Standards

UNESCO, the United Nations and just this week - the Vatican - have recognised that the "State of Palestine" exists--despite the fact that it lacks all four basic requirements laid down in Article 1 of the Montevideo Convention 1933:

"The state as a person of international law should possess the following qualifications: a ) a permanent population; b ) a defined territory; c ) government; and d) capacity to enter into relations with the other states."

Palestine - European Union Risks "Jew-hater" Label

The European Union (EU) runs the risk of being labelled "Jew-hater" - should it proceed with its plans requiring supermarkets and other retailers to label products made by Jews in Judea and Samaria (West Bank) differently from those made by Jews in Israel. No matter what spin the EU uses to justify any such discriminatory labelling--the EU will be seen to be actively supporting the 2005 Boycott Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign against Israel--whose manifesto states:

BDS--Sinister Hoax With Genocidal Objective

The Boycott Divestment and Sanctions campaign (BDS) instituted in 2005 by "Palestinian civil Society" against Israel and its civil society continues to attract people from all around the world--including Jews and Israeli Arabs - who support the campaign without realising its genocidal objective.

Beating the BDS Jew-haters

Recently, a group of 52 Harvard students - of all backgrounds and faiths - visited Israel for 10 days during the Harvard Israel Trek 2015 Sometimes the impact of such a trip cannot be expressed in prose - but can only be captured in poetry.

Russia Demands American Capitulation To Help Eradicate Islamic State

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has called on America to end its attempt to remove Syria’s President Assad from power in return for Russia’s co-operation to militarily confront Islamic State. Lavrov reportedly told Bloomberg on 2 June 2015 :

Palestine - Netanyahu Goes For Gold In Shoot-Off With Obama

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's appointment of former United Nations ambassador Dore Gold to head up Israel's Foreign Ministry - ensures that Israel will be confronting President Obama as he continues attempting to deviate from the commitments made to Israel by his predecessor President Bush in a letter dated 14 April to former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon (Bush Commitments).

Palestine - Pope Forfeits Spiritual And Moral Authority

Pope Francis has suffered a serious blow to his spiritual and moral authority following the Vatican's recognition of the "State of Palestine" in a new treaty announced on 13 May. The Vatican's latest slippery slide into political and legal chaos represents a clear breach of clause 11(2) of the 1993 Fundamental Agreement Between The Holy See And The State Of Israel which provides:

Europe Rapidly Becoming Fertile Recruiting Field For Islamic State

Islamic State now has the potential to break out of Syria and Iraq and into the heart of Europe without a shot being fired in anger by the Europeans to repel Islamic State's stated aims of re-establishing the Caliphate and with it the supremacy of Islam world-wide. This previously dismissed possibility has become an emerging reality with the record flow of hundreds of thousands of Moslems into Europe by boat in 2014 - seeking asylum as their homes and lives in Syria, Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan,Yemen and Lebanon have been reduced to rubble by ongoing and continuing conflict over the past four years.

Carter causes consternation with election call for Palestinian Arabs

Former US president Jimmy Carter has created a stir with his call for Palestinian Arabs to hold elections to end the internecine struggle between Hamas and the PLO in Judea and Samaria (the West Bank) and Gaza.

Palestine – Sharon’s Ghost Returns To Haunt Obama

Michael Oren – one of seven members of the recently formed Kulanu party elected to Israel’s new Parliament – seems destined to play a pivotal role in torpedoing President Obama’s proposals for a two-state solution aimed at resolving the 100 years old Arab-Jewish conflict. Agreement has reportedly been reached between Israel’s Prime Minister elect Benjamin Netanyahu and Kulanu chairman Moshe Kahlon for Kahlon to be appointed Finance Minister. Fellow Kulanu members - Yoav Galant and Eli Alalouf - will serve respectively as Housing Minister and Environmental Protection Minister.

Islamic State Morphing Into Global Gehenna

Growing support for - and pledges of allegiance to - Islamic State by diverse Islamic terrorist groups world-wide are now creating horrific humanitarian problems for Christian communities in many countries -- some far removed from the Middle East.

Nuclear Knockout Not Nearly Nailed

President Obama seems to have been unduly optimistic in triumphantly proclaiming the success of the P5+1 talks with Iran in Lausanne.

Palestine -- Obama Admits Defeat On Renewed Negotiations For Two-State Solution

President Obama has finally admitted the death of any renewed negotiations for a two-state solution between Israel and the PLO for the next several years - telling the media on 24 March:

Palestine: Words Matter - But Their Meaning Matters More

"Words matter" - White House press secretary Josh Earnest told reporters this week.

Israel Teeters On Cusp Of Security Suicide

Economic issues have been identified as the top issue in the forthcoming Israeli elections to be held on 17 March - with security issues trailing far behind.

Netanyahu Puts Behaviour Change By Iran On Negotiating Agenda

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu – addressing the American Congress - has made behaviour change by Iran an essential pre-requisite to the successful conclusion of negotiations between Iran and the P5+1 – France, Germany, United Kingdom, China, Russia and the United States.

Netanyahu Flies Into Washington On A Wing And A Prayer

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's trip to Washington this week is going ahead despite unsuccessful attempts from far and wide to shoot him down in flames before he was even airborne.

Islamic State: Egypt wakes up--when will America and Russia?

Whilst the American--led coalition continues its largely ineffectual air strikes in Iraq and Syria--Islamic State has spread its barbaric tentacles into Libya with alarming rapidity. Islamic State has claimed responsibility for:

European Union Causes Peace Process And Quartet Meltdown

Revelations that the European Union (EU) has been acting illegally in funding and facilitating the construction of more than 400 unauthorised buildings in areas in the West Bank (Judea and Samaria) under exclusive Israeli control--signals the end of:

United Nations Security Council Abandons Humanity

In a supposed show of unity by the world powers against Islamic State - the United Nations Security Council is reportedly preparing to adopt a legally binding resolution intended to choke the terrorist group’s ability to trade in oil, antiquities and hostages.