Israel Hamas

Israel at 64: Farewell to Hysteria -- Welcome to Pragmatism

Carlo Strenger | Posted 04.25.2012

Carlo Strenger

First of all Mazaltov to us all: Israel is celebrating its 64th independence day. The festivities will make us forget for a day that, at 64, Israel's internal discourse is haunted by profound insecurities.

Open Letter to Hamas: You Are Responsible for Your People's Fate

Carlo Strenger | Posted 05.15.2012

Carlo Strenger

It is time for Hamas to realize that it holds the key to the future of its own people. Israelis will not move towards peace as long as Hamas, a central player and crucial part of Palestinian society will not endorse peace explicitly.

Israel Kills Militant Commander

AP | IBRAHIM BARZAK | Posted 05.09.2012

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — An Israeli airstrike in Gaza on Friday killed the commander of the militant group behind the abduction of Gilad Schalit,...

The Meaning of Muslim Brotherhood Pragmatism

Abraham H. Foxman | Posted 04.02.2012

Abraham H. Foxman

The goal would be to temper the Islamicization of society and to ensure a moderate, balanced set of laws that does not ignore Islam but provides spaces for true democratic norms and protections for free speech and minorities.

Hamas: Palestinian Parliament Speaker Arrested

AP | MOHAMMED DARAGHMEH | Posted 03.20.2012

RAMALLAH, West Bank — Hamas officials say the speaker of the Palestinian parliament has been arrested by Israeli soldiers. A Hamas official sai...

Israel Prepares Second Phase Of Landmark Prisoner Swap

Reuters | Posted 02.14.2012

* First phase of prisoner exchange completed in October * Prisoners to be released on Sunday JERUSALEM, Dec 15 (Reuters)...

Netanyahu and Hamas: A Love Story

Guy Ziv | Posted 02.05.2012

Guy Ziv

If Netanyahu's intransigence leads to the destruction of the Palestinian Authority, peace talks will be delayed for years to come. Perhaps this is what Netanyahu is aiming to achieve.

Official: Israel Plans Expansion Of Military Operations In Gaza

AP | IAN DEITCH | Posted 01.01.2012

JERUSALEM (AP) - Israel has authorized its military to take all necessary steps to stop rocket fire from Gaza, including a ground operation, an Israel...

Israel Closes Alleged Hamas Offices

AP | Posted 12.25.2011

JERUSALEM — Israeli police say they have raided and shut down a pair of offices in east Jerusalem that were allegedly used by the militant Pales...

Shalit Deal Questions Complex Regional Ties

AP | KARIN LAUB and IBRAHIM BARZAK | Posted 12.19.2011

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — The release of an Israeli soldier by Hamas as part of a prisoner exchange with Israel is reshaping complex regional ties...

Egypt and Israel: Within the Realm of Possibilities

Alon Ben-Meir | Posted 12.13.2011

Alon Ben-Meir

The peace treaty between Egypt and Israel remains a cornerstone for regional stability and it is in both countries best interests to ensure its sustainability.

Shalit Deal -- Egypt's Role

Dr. Josef Olmert | Posted 12.12.2011

Dr. Josef Olmert

Egypt's involvement in the Gilad Shalit deal shows that even in the new, post-Mubarak era, the rulers of Egypt do not abandon their moderate role in Middle East politics.

Israeli Radio: Deal Reached With Hamas To Free Gilad Shalit

AP | DAN PERRY and ARON HELLER | Posted 12.11.2011

JERUSALEM — In a much-anticipated prisoner exchange that could have broad implications, Israel and Hamas on Tuesday announced that an Israeli so...

Israeli Radio: Deal Reached With Hamas To Free Gilad Shalit

Posted 12.11.2011

JERUSALEM (AP) -- Israel Radio says deal reached with Hamas to free captured Israeli soldier....

Abbas Postpones Palestinian Local Elections For Third Time

AP | By MOHAMMED DARAGHMEH | Posted 10.22.2011

RAMALLAH, West Bank -- The Western-backed Palestinian president delayed local elections for a third time on Monday without setting a new date. Palest...

Rockets Hit Southern Israel

AP | IAN DEITCH | Posted 10.22.2011

JERUSALEM — Palestinian militants in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip launched rockets and mortar shells into southern Israel Monday, despite an unoff...

The Coming Showdown in Israel

Reza Aslan | Posted 10.19.2011

Reza Aslan

The stage is set for a showdown this weekend between two prevailing forces in Israeli society: one which advocates national security above all else, and one which believes a country that prides itself on being a prosperous democracy must meet its obligations to its weakest citizens.

Foreigners Aboard Gaza-Bound Ship Returning Home: Official

AP | Posted 09.19.2011

JERUSALEM -- An Israeli official says all 15 foreigners aboard an intercepted Gaza-bound ship will return home by the end of the day. Interior Minist...

The Israel and Hamas Untenable Status Quo

Alon Ben-Meir | Posted 09.17.2011

Alon Ben-Meir

Today, the focus on Gaza is on the economic situation, not on Hamas' rejection of Israel's right to exist or its refusal to release captured Israeli Corporal Gilad Shalit.

Gilad Shalit and the Five-Year Drought

Adam Chandler | Posted 09.05.2011

Adam Chandler

I registered surprise by how quietly the five-year anniversary of Gilad Shalit's abduction passed. It seems that those outraged -- and rightly so -- at the state of affairs in the Jewish State no longer have space for the causes that first seduced them into loving such a complicated country.

U.S. Diplomats Try To Renew Israeli-Palestinian Talks

AP | TIA GOLDENBERG | Posted 08.15.2011

JERUSALEM — Senior U.S. diplomats have returned to the Middle East for an unannounced visit to try to find a way to restart Israeli-Palestinian ...

Did Netanyahu Attempt to Score Partisan Points Against Obama in Washington?

Sigurd Neubauer | Posted 07.27.2011

Sigurd Neubauer

Conservative republicans may feel more sympathetic towards Netanyahu's leadership style, but it would be foolish to lose liberal Americans by playing up partisan differences by publicly undercutting Obama's call for direct negotiations with Abbas.

Israel: Your Last Chance Is Now

Patricia DeGennaro | Posted 07.18.2011

Patricia DeGennaro

Israel must take the initiative now. It is its last chance. If it does not it will be destined for one of two outcomes -- a one-state solution or no state.

Who Cares If Hamas Recognizes Israel?

MJ Rosenberg | Posted 07.11.2011

MJ Rosenberg

The media is full of conflicting reports about whether Hamas is ready to recognize Israel. But why does it matter so long as Hamas agrees to permanently end terror attacks against Israel?

Fatah-Hamas Reconciliation

Alon Ben-Meir | Posted 07.09.2011

Alon Ben-Meir

The reconciliation agreement between Fatah and Hamas -- should it withstand the test of time -- offers Israel and Hamas the opportunity to face what they have denied each other for nearly three decades.