Despite the US proudly launching peace talks with Palestinian and Israeli leaders just a month ago, no resolution could be reached before the end of Israel’s freeze on West Bank settlement construction. What will Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas do now?
Israel
UN condemns Israel for flotilla attack
Israel’s military “betrayed an unacceptable level of brutality” and violated human rights in its attack on the Gaza flotilla in May, declared a UN panel set up to investigate the controversy.
Still no peace in sight for Israel-Palestine
Only a fortnight remains of Israel’s settlement freeze, but despite days of intense peace talks brokered by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, no resolution was reached.
Letter from...: Tel Aviv: I feel safer here than in Melbourne
Despite the presence of guns, Tel Aviv feels peaceful, like most cosmopolitan cities although some reminders of danger exist — bags are searched before entering shopping centres and train stations, writes Ben Iaquinto.
Will Israel bomb Iran?
The idea of a nuclear Iran has both the US and Israel freaking out and an Israeli attack against Iran is becoming a genuine possibility. Jeffery Goldberg speculates how it would unfold.
Gaza flotilla: bad intelligence but no-one to blame
The first official probe into May’s gaza flotilla disaster - conducted by the not entirely objective Israel Defense Force - has criticised the Israeli navy but stopped short of pointing the finger at any specific individual.
Video of the Day: Israeli soldiers put on their guns and dancing shoes
Israeli soldiers out on patrol through the streets of Hebron busted out a choreographed dance to a US pop hit, just after hearing the Muslim call to prayer. The group are now facing disciplinary action.
Should the US support Israel?
Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu is set to visit the White House this week. But the facts show that supporting Israel just increases Arab terrorist attacks on the US, writes Thaddeus Russell.
IDF lawyer: the problem isn’t with international law, it’s fighting terrorism
In light of the recent Gaza flotilla disaster, the Goldstone report and ongoing global attempts to hold Israeli officials to account for alleged war crimes, this seminar on terror and laws of war was well timed.
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: The Afghanistan quagmire
Crikey readers weigh in on the war in Afghanistan: should we stay or should we go? And Kevin Rudd, Australia’s first PM to have been born an Australian citizen.
Israel in the dock — but what do Israelis think?
Despite the country’s “siege mentality” image, a few days in Tel-Aviv and Jerusalem shows that many people are sensitive to what the world thinks. Simon Roughneen reports from Tel-Aviv.
Blockade ease won’t save destroyed economy
While the lifting of the Gaza blockade is welcomed, the mood in Gaza is still bitter and frustrated. The economy is a mess and the Hamas government want sanctions need to be lifted completely.
Israel lifts Gaza blockade
Israel PM Binyamin Netanyahu has eased the Gaza blockade, announcing that all civilian products are now allowed and only weapons and arms manufacturing products will be banned. But will the actions match the words?
Turks hack Israeli Facebook accounts over Gaza blockade incident
Individual Facebook users have become targets of political hacking — presumably by two Turkish hackers — over the Gaza blockade incident.
Gaza: cake now allowed, freedom still banned
Israel has thrown a few scraps to Gaza in the form of cookies, soft drink and potato chips, with junk food now permitted through the Gaza blockade. But is this just a distraction from the flotilla attack?
Israel: now a liability for the US?
America’s strong ties to Israel are about stabilising the Middle East area and the US isn’t about to give up that relationship, even following the flotilla attack. But Israel is now longer an asset to the US.
Why Israel’s lefties are waving their Israeli flags high
This week young Israelis — a mix of gay, straight, students and non-political types — united to defend Israel being slandered by the rest of the world. Ethan Perlson explains.
Henning Mankell: My Gaza flotilla diary
Author Henning Mankell was on board the Gaza-bound flotilla attacked by Israel last week. He tells his story of the raid and then how he was captured and deported out of Israel.
Mavi Marmari photos faked by Israel? Probably not
Word is spreading that photos allegedly showing weapons seized aboard the Gaza aid convoy ship Mavi Marmari have been faked by Israel, taken years ago. But the conspiracy doesn’t have legs.
Rundle: Israel will bugger up again soon
Guy Rundle gives his take on the changing nature of Israel. Will the Egypt-Gaza border now remain open as a result of the Gaza flottila attack? If so, then the flotilla has won.
Gaza attack: Israel’s Vietnam
This Second Gaza War — the flotilla attack is an act of war — may be far more costly to Israel than the first. This is a war with the people of Gaza and Israel has to admit it, says Israeli Bradley Burston.
Israel’s PR war on ‘hate boat’
“This wasn’t a Love Boat,” Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu says in the face of growing condemnation of the deadly commando raid on the flotilla of activists. This is a PR campaign being waged on Facebook and Twitter.
Netanyahu: “This was no love boat”
Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu has come out in defence [video]of the deadly flotilla attack, saying that Israel had to defend Gaza from weapons smuggling. The UN Security Council is now investigating.
Crikey Says: Context is everything when it comes to Gaza flotilla
It’s easy, and predictable, to dismiss the entire Israeli response to the Gaze flotilla attack as spin. But nothing is clear cut.
