Pres.-elect Hassan Rouhani gave his first speech in that capacity and it was, like his own election, a stunner. Stunningly moderate. Compared to the past eight years it was like standing in a blazing desert as a monsoon rain washed overhead. The new leader hit all the right notes and offered Iranians an upbeat and positive message. Given the dreariness … [Read more...]
Archives for June 2013
Syria: Nation and Region in Crisis
Tonight, Rita Zawaideh and I spoke to about 60 people tonight about the Syria crisis. Rita returned yesterday from one of her many trips to Jordan helping Syrian refugees. She reported on her humanitarian efforts and the extent of the suffering experienced by the 1.5-million Syrians who've fled the country. This is the talk I gave: Right from the … [Read more...]
Holocaust Song Depicts Destruction of Eastern European Jewry–and Nakba
You read that right. Thanks to a new Facebook Friend, Sophie Champagnon, I heard this poignant rendition of the Mordechai Gebirtig lament for the destruction of Eastern European Jewry, Unzer Shtetel Brent ("Our Shtetl is Burning"--1938). It is poignant not because of the power or musicality of the performance, but because of the way in which Shapira turned … [Read more...]
Mossad Kidnaps Gazan in Sinai
UPDATE: The leader of Hamas' caucus in the Palestinian Legislative Council, Khalil al-Hayya, gave an interview to a Gaza journalist published at Al-Monitor. In it, he acknowledged Mossad's kidnapping of Wael Abu Rida: According to security information available to us, all sides concerned with Egyptian affairs are present in the Sinai, especially Israel — … [Read more...]