An article appeared in the 13 August edition of the Lebanon-based Palestinian weekly, Al-Manar, stating that there is “serious thinking” among the Palestinians about obtaining biological weapons, according to a special dispatch by The Middle East Media Research Institute.
The last wave of coordinated suicide attacks by Hamas did not come in revenge for the killing of Hamas leader Mahmoud Abu Hanoud or the accidental death of five Palestinian children. These terrorist acts must be considered in the context of America’s war on terrorism,
The leader of the ANO, the infamous Palestinian terrorist Abu Nidal (Sabri al-Banna), died violently last week in Baghdad. But his death is not as extraordinary as the subsequent press conference given by Iraqi intelligence chief Taher Jalil Haboush. This press conference was the first
On February 20, 2003, the U.S. Department of Justice announced the indictment of eight leading members of Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). The indictment provides a wealth of detail about the close connection between PIJ and the Islamic Republic of Iran. Reprinted with permission from Policywatch
At first glance Hizballah, Iran and Syria seem to be a triangle coalition without any link to the fourth player, Iraq. Yet, in fact, much of their strategy during 2002 has been shaped by an “objective” alliance, to use a term dear to the Marxists-Leninists—an
The Sharon Government is about to make a strategic mistake. If the prisoner-exchange deal now being worked out comes to fruition, Hizballah will be strengthened politically, psychologically and, in the final analysis, strategically, too. From Ma’ariv (Internet Version) in Hebrew 29 Sep 03
There are good reasons for al-Qaida to attack Turkey and its interests, and at this stage it seems that the target and the modus operandi point to bin Ladin’s global Islamist network as the main suspect. The primary motivation for targeting Turkish sites is its
An odd blending of religion and politics, Hizballah was born as a movement amid the terrorism of the 1980s. By 2000, it had matured into a strategic, vital player in the Middle East, capable of influencing the region’s course for peace or war. This article
A recent World Social Forum gathering has addressed building stronger links between the antiglobalization movement and movements in the Arab and Muslim worlds. It also provided some indications that certain elements in the antiglobalization movement are prepared to work with Hizballah. Reprinted with permission from
Hizballah is an odd religious and political movement: it was born of terrorism in the 1980s, developed guerrilla warfare capabilities in the 1990s, and, by 2000, had matured into an important Middle East strategic player, capable of influencing the course of peace and war in
Shortly after the 9/11 attacks, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage characterized Hizballah as the “A-team” of terrorism, adding, “If Hizballah is the A-team, Iran is the team owner and Syria is the coach.” Nearly five years later, his remarks are coming true.
The plan to disarm Syrian chemical weapons is unrealistic, not least because they are the Assad regime’s doomsday weapon to preserve the survival of its own Alawite community. First published by Haaretz
El plan para desactivar las armas químicas sirias no es nada realista, entre otras cosas, porque son las armas “apocalípticas” del régimen de Assad para mantener la supervivencia de su propia comunidad alauita. First published by El Imparcial
In July 2012 Al-Jazeera published the results of “an investigation into the mysterious death of the late Palestinian leader [which] reveals that he may have been poisoned” with radioactive polonium 210. Al-Jazeera and Arafat’s widow Suha were behind the investigation. The scientific investigation was the
There is now a window of opportunity to exploit the organization’s weakness, Egypt’s goodwill and Tehran’s restraint to advance the peace negotiationsFirst published by the Jerusalem Report on November 18, 2013.
Dr. Ely Karmon interview on the Prospects of the Peace Negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians to the series “Five Questions – Five Answers” of the Israeli Office of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung For our interview series “Five Questions – Five Answers”, Dr. Ely Karmon, Senior Research
Syria has been declared the United States’ No. 1 security threat for 2014. With radical forces growing stronger, are drone strikes the solution? First published by Haaretz on Janury 8, 2014.
The symbiotic relationship between Hamas and salafi/ jihadi factions in Gaza will continue and probably expand on the background of their common interests to act against Israel. First published by The Jerusalem Pos on January 29, 2014.
A finales de enero de 2013, tres miembros de una célula salafista/yihadista que operaban cerca de Hebrón fueron asesinados en una operación militar. La célula estaba planeando ataques con armas de fuego y secuestros de soldados de las Fuerzas de Defensa de Israel (FDI), así
On February 3, 2014, Israeli media,citing senior Israeli officials,reportedenthusiastically that following negotiations in Israel between a senior Turkish delegation, headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Fridon Sinirlioglu, and National Security Adviser Yossi Cohen, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s special envoy Joseph Ciechanover and Foreign Ministry Director-General Nissim
While the world is particularly worried about the Ukrainian crisis and the possibility of the return of the Cold War, China suffered probably the most traumatic terrorist attack in its recent history. On March 1, 2014 at least 29 people were killed and more than
After a series of failed or foiled terror attempts against Israeli targets this year, Iran and Hezbollah finally staged a “successful” attack. The suicide bombing in Burgas, Bulgaria killed five Israeli tourists and a Bulgarian citizen, and wounded some 30 Israelis. First published by Haaretz
Contrary to claims by the Algeria kidnappers that their attack was launched in response to a French strike in Mali, it is likely that the group’s true motivation was to elevate the status of its leader among factions of Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb. First
Despite the wishful thinking of Israeli and Turkish pundits and politicians that a settlement of the Mavi Marmara affair would enable a renewed alliance between the two countries, this has little chance when anti-Israeli rhetoric serves to keep the current Turkish government in power and
During the last days major demonstrations took place across the West Bank in solidarity with Palestinian hunger-strikers and prisoners, with many Palestinian civilians wounded in the clashes with IDF forces. There are presently four Palestinian prisoners on long-term hunger strike and their plight have struck
Although acclaimed as a “socialist” leader, less known were the fascist influences on Chavez’s worldview and policy. In 1994, after ending his incarceration resulting from his failed 1992 military coup, Chavez visited Buenos Aires, where he met Argentine neo-fascist sociologist, the late Norberto Ceresole, a
The choice of a U.S. target indicates the Tsarnaevs had joined radicalized Muslims seeking global jihad, says counterterrorism expert Ely Karmon. First published by Haaretz
The Western governments, above all the U.K., have yet to realize that the impunity enjoyed by radical Islamist leaders to publish, organize and incite violence is the single greatest danger to their security. First published by Haaretz
Across East and West Africa, Iranian and Lebanese nationals have been arrested in connection with Hezbollah-related terrorist activities. What is Hezbollah and Iran – building in Africa, and why? First published by Haaretz
My colleague Jonathan Spyer has published a short and accurate evaluation about the recent strategic shifts in the region which will undoubtedly impact on all the local actors but also beyond the Middle East.
The Belfast “Peace Line Wall” is probably the closest example to the West Bank Security Barrier, in the sense that it separated two communities, the Catholics and the Protestants in Northern Ireland capital, fighting in a bloody conflict since 1969.
Following the cynical use of the Palestinian issue by Erdogan and the AKP in the flotilla fiasco, Turkey has officially become a player in this conflict. First published in the Jerusalem Post – 01/06/2010
This commentary deals with the strategic implications of the recent naval flotilla event and the continuing attempts of various groups to undermine Israel’s naval blockade. The Most recent attempt being the MV Rachel Corrie.
The author of this commentary suggests that we are witnessing the results of a deliberate decision by the Iranian leadership to provoke Israel into attacking Hezbollah. Such an attack would mean launching a war on Lebanon, and if Iran has its way, it would involve
This commentary draws parralels between the effect of dissident republican goups on the peace process in Ireland and Israel’s options when dealing with radical terrorist groups such as Hamas in an effort to form a peace settlement with the Palestinians.
The ideological/religious radicalization in the Sunni radical camp presages badly for the chances of challenging peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, which has no control of and practically no influence in Gaza, from where terrorist activity against Israel is again on the rising.
The “revolution” in Egypt is still only an uprising, but even so it can be considered a political and strategic earthquake. Israel sees with great apprehension the events developing in Tunisia, Egypt, Jordan, Yemen and beyond. Not that the Israeli leaders and people would not
The present military escalation in the conflict between Israel and the Hamas controlled Gaza Strip is not the most dangerous development in the prolonged Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The killing of Osama bin-Laden in Pakistan is an important, even if late, political and psychological success in the war on terrorism: for the American people, for the Western and other democracies in the world and for President Obama personally. The leaders and ideologists of
Against the background of the fall of the autocratic regimes in Tunisia and Egypt, the massive demonstrations in Yemen, Syria and Bahrain, the civil war in Libya and first civil disorders in Oman, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, there is growing apprehension in the West and
UN recognition of Palestine could have much broader global consequences with minorities worldwide encouraged by the cause. First Published by The Jerusalem Post
In my presentations of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict I often explain that this is not merely a national or ethnic conflict between two beleaguered peoples on this tiny historical territory so often tainted with blood, but one in which from its inception a multitude of international
Israel’s decision not to abide by the Turkish ultimatum about the need to apologize for the May 2010 Mavi Marmara flotilla incident brought the promised “Plan B” punishment: Turkey has decided to expel Israel’s ambassador to Ankara, downgrade its diplomatic ties to the lowest possible
In an article published in 1998 by the Middle East Quarterly, Dr. Ely Karmon described the patterns of Iranian terrorism and its ideological and strategic motivations since the beginning of the Khomeinist regime in 1979. His recommendation at that time was that the West must convince
Israel is extremely worried that Sinai could become the new platform for Palestinian terrorism from Gaza, possibly allied with al-Qaeda and Egyptian Salafist elements. Military strikes against terrorists in Egyptian territory, not sufficiently secured by its authorities, could seriously endanger the already sensitive relations with
In a June 2012 Jerusalem Post article titled “A devil’s advocate view of ‘new’ Mideast”, I stressed that one of the results of the so-called “Arab Spring” is the growing competition between Turkey and Iran for hegemony in the Middle East, on the one hand
Le Pen is betting on Sarkozy’s defeat on May 6th, followed by an implosion of his party, the Union for a Popular Movement (UMP). This will permit her party to run in the best conditions for the legislative elections this June, for what she terms
On May 2, 2012, Issues 8 and 9 of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula’s English-language jihadi magazine Inspire were posted, probably to balance the Obama’s administration’s celebrations of the killing of Osama bin Laden.
