Monthly Archives: March 2011

Feeding the Crocodiles

Posted on March 8, 2011 by jonathanspyer

Haaretz-12/03/2005 The internal peace of the democracies of western Europe is no longer assured. It is threatened by the growing presence, and growing confidence, of the organizations, activists and spokesmen of radical Islam. This is a phenomenon rarely remarked upon … Continue reading →

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A Scourge in ‘Londonistan’

Posted on March 8, 2011 by jonathanspyer

Haaretz-15/07/2005 The responses of senior British officials following the London bombings last week are highly revealing. They contain within them clues to a decades-long failure of political judgment. This failure allowed the forces which produced the bombing to grow and … Continue reading →

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Re-engaging with Reality

Posted on March 7, 2011 by jonathanspyer

Haaretz-20/09/2005 Two key processes currently taking place in the Middle East Israel’s disengagement and the sharp scaling-down of Western hopes for a remade, democratic Iraq ­ reflect the durability of existing patterns of regional political behavior. Middle East politics remains … Continue reading →

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Radical Islam – with Sovereignty

Posted on March 7, 2011 by jonathanspyer

Haaretz-27/01/2006 British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw last week hurried to dispel any sense of imminent crisis in the nuclear stand-off with Iran. “I don’t think we should rush our fences here,” Straw told an audience in London, before going on … Continue reading →

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Create your own Hamas

Posted on March 7, 2011 by jonathanspyer

The Guardian-08/04/2006 The phenomenon of a small ideological political movement adapting itself to the demands of the international system out of a sense of necessity is one well known to students of international politics. Typically, a sense of concern for … Continue reading →

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Hizballah’s Push for Power

Posted on March 7, 2011 by jonathanspyer

The Guardian- 16/11/2006 Earlier this month, Hizballah General-Secretary Hassan Nasrallah issued an ultimatum to the Lebanese government of Fuad Siniora. Either, Nasrallah declared, his movement and its allies are granted a one-third blocking veto in the Lebanese Cabinet, or Hizballah … Continue reading →

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Old-Think Rides Again

Posted on March 7, 2011 by jonathanspyer

Haaretz-27/11/2006 The curtain is now descending on United States and allied hopes that a democratic, stable Iraq might yet emerge from the 2003 invasion of that country. As the endgame is played out, one may glimpse the contours of the … Continue reading →

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Don’t Expect Peace Soon

Posted on March 7, 2011 by jonathanspyer

The Guardian- 08/12/2006 Don’t expect peace soon: Hostile forces have to be defeated before any meaningful Middle East talks can take place. Internal politics and wider regional strategy largely explain the sudden re-emergence of talk about conflict resolution between Israelis … Continue reading →

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The Anti-Israel Lobby

Posted on March 7, 2011 by jonathanspyer

Haaretz-07/02/2007 This week saw the launching of the Independent Jewish Voices initiative by a group of prominent left-of-center Jews in the U.K. The initiative intends, according to its founding statement, to “promote the expression of alternative Jewish voices.” Its sponsors … Continue reading →

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Hamas and the Rebirth of Illusion

Posted on March 7, 2011 by jonathanspyer

Haaretz-27/05/2005 A process of rethinking is currently taking place in British and American foreign policy establishments regarding Hamas. The movement’s ability to command high levels of popular support is giving credence to formerly fringe opinions that have long advocated rapprochement … Continue reading →

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