Middle East Politics.Net » conflict http://middleeastpolitics.net Facts, News, Trends, Analysis Tue, 12 Jan 2010 20:56:32 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Middle East Peace Through Jerusalem or Tehran? http://middleeastpolitics.net/2009/01/16/middle-east-peace-through-jerusalem-or-teheran/ http://middleeastpolitics.net/2009/01/16/middle-east-peace-through-jerusalem-or-teheran/#comments Fri, 16 Jan 2009 23:00:15 +0000 davidhulme http://middleeastpolitics.net/?p=4026 Ethan Bronner is Jerusalem bureau chief for the The Times. Here he reviews a new collection of scholarly essays on how to resolve the ME’s various critical problems. The authors, who work in two ME think tanks deal in “nuance and realism, despite small lapses.” The two policy research groups also have close relations to the incoming Obama administration. The road to peace may lie not so much through Jerusalem, but through Tehran.

David Hulme

]]> http://middleeastpolitics.net/2009/01/16/middle-east-peace-through-jerusalem-or-teheran/feed/ 0 EU: Friend or Foe? http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/10/15/eu-friend-or-foe/ http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/10/15/eu-friend-or-foe/#comments Thu, 16 Oct 2008 06:06:55 +0000 cicek http://middleeastpolitics.net/?p=1364 The European Union has always been an issue of big debate within Turkey. Many have argued that it is a necessity for the country to be able to join in order for development. Others have argued that the European Union has been acting more like a religious union and less like a regional union. Recently, a well known and respected author, Yasar Kemal, announced that he is against Turkey joining the EU. Kemal’s opinions have resurrected the debates concerning the EU and analysis of the issue.

Turkey’s attempt at accession to the European Union has been going on for a long period of time. The EU has put many conditions, acting more like obstacles, on this process. For example, they have told the Turkish government to banish the death penalty. What they forgot is that the death penalty has not been active for a long time. But Turkey has done so. The EU has told the Turkish government that there were human rights violations in the country.  Of course, there is injustice in Turkey, but where in the world is a perfectly just government. Another condition, and the most funny one in my opinion, would be the Cyprus issue. This issue will under no circumstances resolve in a manner that the EU would appreciate. There is no possible way that Cyprus will be given away. This is maybe a harsh stance, but it is the stance the the Turkish government will adopt.

Yasar Kemal brings up a valid point saying that Turkey does not need to be a part of the EU in order to develop. He also comes to a controversial conclusion when saying that he does not believe that the EU makes contributions to world peace. What Turkey needs are good leaders, good bureaucracy, and that is not something that will happen overnight.

Aylin Cicek

]]> http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/10/15/eu-friend-or-foe/feed/ 0 Landmark Litigation Challenges Israeli Land Takeover http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/10/06/landmark-litigation-challenges-israeli-land-takeover/ http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/10/06/landmark-litigation-challenges-israeli-land-takeover/#comments Tue, 07 Oct 2008 00:08:46 +0000 yerxa http://middleeastpolitics.net/?p=1238 The Jerusalem Post has reported that five Palestinians, with the help of human rights lawyer Michael Sfard, are suing the State of Israel over their failure to act on illegal land takeovers. The lawsuit will focus on the outpost of Migron, established in 1999 and subsequently expanded to include permanent settlements in 2003. The lawsuit is to target the State of Israel for “betraying its legal and moral obligations and refraining from protecting the plaintiffs and their property and, instead, is helping the thieves by its actions and lack of action.”

This is an interesting story to follow, because the five Palestinian plaintiffs have put the Israeli government’s back against the wall. Sfard has publicly stated that the Israeli government

had confirmed that the land upon which the Migron housing was built was recorded in the land registry as Palestinian-owned land; that the outpost was illegal; that the government had issued demolition orders on all the building; that no one was authorized to build Migron; and that the only question at issue was when to evacuate it.

At the same time, reports show that the government supplied over 4 million dollars to build the Migron settlement. Settlers at the outpost have stated that they do not intend to leave, and the outpost’s legality is based upon government investment. The Israeli government will be forced to decide whether to back their citizens or uphold the plaintiffs’ rights.

Gavin Yerxa

]]> http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/10/06/landmark-litigation-challenges-israeli-land-takeover/feed/ 0 Intelligence Bureau Warns of Homegrown Palestinian Terrorism http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/10/01/intelligence-bureau-warns-of-homegrown-palestinian-terrorism/ http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/10/01/intelligence-bureau-warns-of-homegrown-palestinian-terrorism/#comments Wed, 01 Oct 2008 13:38:54 +0000 yerxa http://middleeastpolitics.net/?p=1092 The Middle East Times notes that the Israeli intelligence agency “Shin Bet has traditionally been an advocate of tough deterrence and punitive measures against Palestinians carrying out attacks.”  But a new development could mark a radical shift in the Israeli military approach. Shin Bet has warned that tough tactics against Palestinians are increasing agitation rather than preventing it. The report issued by the agency also cautioned that terrorist attacks are increasingly coming from Palestinians within Israel. “In the past, terrorists from East Jerusalem acted mainly as support units for attacks, usually under instruction by outside networks in the Gaza Strip and West Bank.”

The fact that terrorist attacks are increasingly coming from inside Israel can be taken as a sign that the separation barrier is proving somewhat successful, but this is a double-edged sword. The wall is clearly frustrating Palestinians within Israel, which is increasing the potential for violence.

Gavin Yerxa

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