By shipping arms and providing military experts to Central American governments, Israel is repaying an historic debt to these nations for the role they played in the UN in promoting Israeli statehood in the wake of the Second World War. Yet, whereas the debt is owed to liberal Central American regimes, it is being repaid to military dictatorships and to rightist opposition forces like the Nicaraguan Contra rebels
In 2004, 20% of the Israeli population consists of people who immigrated from the former Soviet Union. 1.3 million Russian Jews live in Israel today. Of these, 800,000 have come to Israel over the last 10 years, after the fall of the Berlin Wall & the breakdown of communism. For a number of Russian Jews, meeting the realities in their new society in "the promised land" has become a harsh experience. Many Russian Jews feel that they have been left on the sidelines, notably by orthodox Israeli Jews who do not recognize them as "proper" Jews. Simultaneously, quite a few of the Russian Jews are critical to what they perceive as a Labour party softness on the Palestinians. All in all, these experiences have led to a concentration of Russian-born Jews on the Israeli political, but nonclerical, Right. 17 References. Adapted from the source document.
The chief objective of the Iraq War has been branded as US control of the Middle East. Rising oil imports, stronger pro-Israeli interests & the demise of a Soviet rival power have resulted in a US Middle East policy more based on force than on diplomacy. Both for the US & Israel important interests are at stake. The reconstruction of Iraq's large oil industry is likely to influence the world oil market for decades. For Israel an alliance of Iraq & Syria might be critical. Israel does not have the resources to control its strategic environment, & any Israeli use of force requires US support. Thus the US occupation of Iraq & any plans to invade Iran dampen pressure on Israel to find a negotiated settlement with the Palestinians, Lebanon & Syria, while a US withdrawal from Iraq would increase pressure. While it might be in the US interest to weaken the Arab states & their control over oil, a fragmentation could be in Israel's interest. The draft Iraqi oil law suffers from a lack of clarity that might compromise the government's bargaining position. Iraq can rebuild its oil industry through service contracts that eventually might be paid in oil. Many large, proven fields with a low geological risk preclude any need to explore for new prospects or grant equity shares in fields already indicated, or to enter into long-term oil contracts as long as the war lasts. The US occupant has, however, a pressing need to kick-start the Iraqi oil industry. Finally, the article discusses prospects for US policy on the Middle East in the years to come. References. Adapted from the source document.
In this personal essay, Egil Fossum describes how his perspectives, along with the perspectives of many others like him, have developed over the course of many years into a situation of hopelessness & despair for the Palestinian people. Fossum begins with the generally positive impression he held of Israel from early childhood & tells how his exposure to various other Middle Eastern perspectives began to shift his attitude to challenge his original assumptions. Though extensive travel throughout the Middle East, Fossum develops a view that re-assesses the impact of Israeli political action on the Palestinian people. Perhaps more importantly, he comes to gain an understanding of how Western media has helped shape a somewhat distorted view of the Palestinian struggle. Fossum explores these issues from the standpoint of his personal experience & poses the question of how a defeated people might ever be able to navigate through the complex political terrain that presently stands before them. C Brunski
The article presents an outline of Syrian domestic & foreign policy after the ascendancy of Bashar al-Assad to power last summer, following the death of his father, Hafiz al-Assad. It emphasizes the continuity that has marked Syrian politics despite expectations that Bashar al-Assad's presidency would lead to a more reform-oriented & moderate Syrian regime. The article focuses on the challenges facing Bashar al-Assad at home & abroad. It discusses Bashar al-Assad's consolidation of power & the half-hearted reform process in Syria. A larger emphasis, however, is put on the challenges stemming from abroad, notably the growing challenge to Syria's presence in Lebanon & the tensions with Israel. 28 References. Adapted from the source document.
