UPDATE: Based on reporting in JTA and a statement of support for Prof. Halperin from Jewish Studies faculty, I wrote below that the UW has withdrawn Prof. Halperin’s endowed chair and dismantled its Israel Studies program. After I published this post, the UW released a statement offering a comprehensive response, which revealed either that the […]
Israel’s Political Dysfunction Could Lead to Iran Disaster
The circus that is Israeli politics continues, with Netanyahu hosting a cabinet meeting at which he forced a vote to approve his hand-picked Likud lackey to be new justice minister. He did so despite a coalition agreement clearly specifying the minister must be appointed by his coalition partner, Benny Gantz. Attorney General Avihai Mandelblit also […]
Al-Bagdhadi: We Killed the Man, But Not the Movement
Originally, I conceived this post as a critique of Trump’s withdrawal from Syria, which is itself part of an overall U.S. ‘pivot’ away from the Middle East that has gathered momentum over the past decade or more. But yesterday’s announcement of the murder of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi offered an even more direct and specific way […]
Trump “Locked and Loaded” for Iran Attack on Saudi Arabia’s Behalf
Saudi Arabia oil supply was attacked. There is reason to believe that we know the culprit, are locked and loaded depending on verification, but are waiting to hear from the Kingdom as to who they believe was the cause of this attack, and under what terms we would proceed! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September […]