Palestine

This guest article is written by contributor Andrew C. Katen, a freelance foreign affairs writer and geopolitical analyst.

The Israeli incursion in Gaza reflects growing uncertainty among Middle Eastern regimes regarding the futures of their political parties, and may also represent an escalation in the battle for control of the region by outside powers. Media [...]

  The US is now the only Western nation inhibiting the UN Security Council from delivering a unilateral call for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza. The British have bowed to public opinion, however Washington refuses to bend. If you peruse the US media, you will see the one sided reporting of the issue that [...]

The Israeli ground offensive is now well underway, Hezbollah despite the rhetoric and threats of retaliation has not responded, and Hamas is left to its own devices in the Gaza. It raises the question of what is the future of Hamas? Various Israeli representatives, including the Israeli Ambassador to the UN, have gone a [...]

  Israel is facing mounting pressure from many in regards to its incursion into the Gaza. Jordan, Fatah, Turkey and Egypt have all upped the level of rhetoric and outrage at the ground attacks and the increasing number of civilians wounded or killed. But Israel faces a more heady cocktail of diplomatic intervention and posturing [...]

  Israel appears to be following the US approach to Iraq in its escapade in the Gaza. They are in their equivalent of the ’shock and awe’ phase, adding a  unique Israeli intelligence twist. They have sent in the air attacks, and seem bent to follow with a ground invasion as the US did in Iraq. Israel has [...]

Despite reports of open sewage running through streets in the Gaza creating fear of a cholera outbreak, no power, little food and hospitals without medicine resembling slaughter houses according to local reports, Israel insists there is no humanitarian crisis in the Gaza. Of course, with Israel denying the international press access, they have control [...]

Israel has made a serious error in policy that may well cost them heavily in the years to come. It is a case of arrogance before a fall.  With its attacks on the Gaza, Israel may have well put its cause back 20 years, and inadvertently pushed Iran  towards Arab superpower status. Prior to the [...]

Anger is growing against Egypt and Jordan perceived by many in the Arab world to be tacitly supporting  Israel’s attack on the Gaza. Egypt has refused to open the border to allow Palestinians to leave Gaza, met with the Israeli Foreign Minister a day before the attacks, and has blamed Hamas for the violence. [...]

We have been reporting on how Iran may well direct the Arab reaction to the Israeli attacks on the Gaza, and now it appears Syria and Iran are together orchestrating the response. Both Iran and Syria are actively involved in dialog and supplying Hezbollah. Israel needs to be keeping at least one eye on [...]

We have reported before that Israel began the Gaza campaign with confused objectives, and it has no idea how to end the exercise unless someone else tells it to. This fact is finally now being recognized by Israeli intelligence. This is leading Israel to fumble its actions. Should they send in  ground troops? They don’t really [...]

  According to Turkish sources Hezbollah has said it will attack Israel from Southern Lebanon if ground troops are sent into the Gaza. Israel must be wary of this development given their experiences in the 2006 war against Hezbollah. If Hezbollah does get drawn into the fighting, this could well see Israel at the center [...]

The US war in Iraq has subtly, but crucially, shifted the balance of power in the Middle East. The ramifications are still playing out, can be seen at work in the Israeli attacks on the Gaza, and may be the single most important policy bungle that costs the West in the coming years. President Bush was, always and [...]

  In a move that shows some hardening of views among even the most moderate Arab nations, Dubai , a nation known for party excesses, has cancelled all New Year celebrations. This to show a ’somber mood’ in reaction to the Israeli attacks on the Gaza. Associated Press has the story:
“Tourist hot spot Dubai has [...]

If you have the stomach to  reach out into the ‘blogosphere’ and sample some of the extremism being voiced on both sides of the Gaza attacks, an interesting phenomena is at work. The pro-Israel bloggers are so consistent in their messaging that it wouldn’t be a huge leap of logic to assume they are [...]

Israel commenced the Gaza attacks with an unclear agenda, and has absolutely no idea what the military end game will be to cease the conflict. There is a vast amount of rhetoric from the Israeli government, and frankly some ludicrous statements. Prime Minister Olmert  said, “The Gaza offensive has begun and will not end…. [...]