It's no surprise to anyone that Donald Trump lives in an alternate universe. In his universe, the reasons for the American Civil War were so 'manageable' that Andrew Jackson could've solved it...had he not died sixteen years before it began! In his universe, Frederick Douglass is doing a helluva job and getting lots of recognition for his good work...130 … [Read more...]
Bibi Offers Trump Envoy Platitudes About Palestinian Economic Betterment
Running through Israeli and, to an extent U.S. policy toward Palestine is a current which rejects political rights in favor of economic amelioration. The underlying sentiment is that Israel can avoid recognizing Palestinian rights, including statehood, if it improves the quality of life for Palestinians under Occupation. Supporters of this view repeatedly … [Read more...]
Israeli Teenager Dies After Gay Pride Attack
Earlier today, Shira Banki, a 16-year-old girl who was stabbed repeatedly by Yishai Shlissel at Jerusalem's Gay Pride parade, died of her wounds. She attended one of Israel's élite high schools affiliated with the Hebrew University. As such, her death strikes at the heart of Israel's élite. The entire nation mourns with her family, except perhaps the Haredi … [Read more...]
Germany Mediating Secret Hamas-Israel Talks, Supported by Qatar
Intelligence Online (IO) reported (paywall) last month that the visit of German foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier to both Israel and Gaza involved far more than the humanitarian agenda suggested in the media. IO writes that the German intelligence agency, BND, is conducting secret negotiations between the Israeli government and Hamas aimed at … [Read more...]