Category Archives: Middle East politics

Friedman’s Lens and Sisyphean Mud

Posted on January 25, 2019 by Victor Rosenthal

Matti Friedman explains what should be obvious when he says that there is no Israeli-Palestinian conflict: There isn’t an Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the way that many outsiders seem to think, and this perception gap is worth spelling out. It has … Continue reading →

Posted in 'Peace' Process, Israel and Palestinian Arabs, Middle East politics | 2 Comments

Boycotting Israel, on the airwaves

Posted on November 18, 2018 by Victor Rosenthal

I have a confession to make: I’m a “ham.” Not a poor actor (although I’m that as well), but an amateur radio operator. I’ve been one since the age of 13, when I used my paper route earnings to buy … Continue reading →

Posted in Iran, Middle East politics | Comments Off on Boycotting Israel, on the airwaves

Puncturing the Palestinian Refugee Myth

Posted on September 28, 2018 by Victor Rosenthal

The World Bank says that the “economy” of the Gaza Strip is collapsing. This is or should be about as shocking as the discovery that there is gambling at Rick’s café. The word “economy,” which implies at least some productivity, … Continue reading →

Posted in Israel and Palestinian Arabs, Middle East politics, Terrorism, The UN | 3 Comments

Walking between the raindrops

Posted on September 24, 2018 by Victor Rosenthal

Last week, a Syrian-operated Russian antiaircraft system shot down a Russian plane while shooting at Israeli jets that had bombed a target in Syria. 15 Russians were on the plane, and none survived. That is really all I know about … Continue reading →

Posted in American politics, Middle East politics, US-Israel Relations, War | 2 Comments

The perverse and vicious Palestinian “refugee” weapon

Posted on July 20, 2018 by Victor Rosenthal

Suppose someone told you that they wanted to take a billion and a half dollars of American and European taxpayer money each year, and use it to raise an army. It would feed and house more than five million people, … Continue reading →

Posted in Israel and Palestinian Arabs, Middle East politics, Terrorism | 1 Comment

What drives anti-Israel politics?

Posted on June 29, 2018 by Victor Rosenthal

Erdoğan and his party obtained a solid victory in the election this week, guaranteeing that relations between Turkey and Israel will get even worse. This is because the Turkish president has a history of anti-Israel rhetoric and actions whenever he … Continue reading →

Posted in Europe and Israel, Israel and Palestinian Arabs, Jew Hatred, Middle East politics, US-Israel Relations | 2 Comments

The Five Pillars of Palestinism

Posted on May 13, 2018 by Victor Rosenthal

Ideas really do have power, especially when they are held by tens of millions of people. Religions, for example, are constellations of ideas, and religion has been the source of countless wars, great art, music, architecture, literature, political systems, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Israel and Palestinian Arabs, Middle East politics | 3 Comments

Our conflict as multiplayer 3-D chess

Posted on February 9, 2018 by Victor Rosenthal

The conflict between Israel and her enemies is both like and unlike the game of chess. In ordinary chess there are only two players, and their objectives are identical: to checkmate the opposing king. In the Jewish/Muslim conflict in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Middle East politics, War | Comments Off on Our conflict as multiplayer 3-D chess