Commentaries

Commentary on the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, which brought into stark focus the dangers of terrorism emanating from Pakistan. First published by the Indian Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses.

This commentary discusses the contriversial issues of efficacy of counterrorism policy vs. the need to uphold liberal democratic rights and values in democracies. With the increasing trends of radicalization and terrorist attacks perpetrated from within Muslim communities in the West, there is a present need

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.

Almost a decade after the beginning of operation “Enduring Freedom” (2001 – 2010), President Hamid Karzai and its Western backers have increasingly signaled their hope for a negotiated end to the war with the Taliban and its allies.

This commentary delves into the highly-debated issue of the legality and jurisprudence of sanctioned interrogation methodsand its effects on successful counter-terrorism policy.

The government in Bosnia is currently situated between a rock and a hard place. On the one hand, the US and Western European countries demand the cooperation in the global war on terror, while on the other hand, the authorities and the public have a

For centuries, outsiders have defined the critical turning points of destiny across South Asia, and this does not appear to have changed. There is an evident collapse of leadership across much of the region, and an incapacity to capitalize even on the tremendous gains that

The 2 May 2010 attempted detonation of a car bomb in New York City, United States, should be considered as another near miss incident on the United States’ terror radar. What remains a pivotal edge which authorities have against terrorist groups is the public support,

While the next few days will no doubt produce more questions than answers surrounding the attempted car bombing in Times Square, one thing is certain: the public awareness campaign created by the NYPD and MTA known as “See Something-Say Something” is working. Written by Mr.

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

In the aftermath of the events of the Gaza flotilla, world leaders seem to prefer lies about Israel more than the truth about Iran.

Hamas wishes to continue its naval Jihad with the help of its financiers and affiliates in Turkey. The basic Israeli assumption that a greater flow of goods and supplies via checkpoints in Gaza would diminish Hamas motivation to continue its naval aid operations seems to have been wrong.

The recent Gaza flotilla efforts are vivid examples of the working alliance between Islamists and leftists in Europe that emerged out of anti-Israel demonstrations after the start of the second Intifada in October 2000. There is no other conflict in the world which would have motivated Islamist and leftist

The Gadhafi Development Foundation, organizers of the Amal (“hope”) ship, which set sail with humanitarian aid for the Hamas government in Gaza, was involved in humanitarian activities proven as back channel assistance to terror organizations. A closer look at the Libyan ransom payments to release

While the anti-Shia elements in Balochistan are in a position to indulge in sporadic acts of terrorism, they are not yet in a position to organise a sustained insurgency, which could endanger the Iranian position in the province.

In order to evaluate the alleged humanitarian crisis in Gaza, it’s useful to compare the present situation under the Israeli blockade with what happened more than a decade ago in Iraq under the UN’s Oil-for-Food Program.

We should not be misled by the official Israeli and Palestinian spokesmen – Nobody involved in the renewed direct negotiations is really interested in holding them.

Alongside military strategies and intelligence efforts it is possible today, by means of social networks, to carry on a dialogue with potential terrorists, before they have given up their human values, and perhaps even prevent them from joining ranks with the devil.First published by the

In late September 2010, the United States issued a travel advisory for its citizens warning against travel to European cities. This occurred in the backdrop of a high terror alert across European countries of France, Spain, Germany and the United Kingdom; all countries are known

China, whose relations with Turkey went through a period of tension last year following the Turkish condemnation of the atrocities allegedly perpetrated by the Chinese on the Uighurs in Chinese-controlled Xinjiang in July , has undertaken measures to repair the relations and seek Turkey’s support

Fears regarding Islamic extremism in Bosnia-Herzegovina have emerged following a recent series of attacks, provocations and activities of Bosnian Wahabbis. This situation illustrates the growing tension between the moderate majority and the vocal extremist minority among Bosnian Muslims, the largest of the fragmented country’s three main ethnic groups.

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.

2010 was a mixed year for Al Qaeda and its associates in terror. They continued to succeed in causing death and destruction in countries where they are based—-whether in the Af-Pak region, Yemen, Somalia or North Africa— but faced one failure after another in their

Prof. Erroll G. Southers is currently visiting Israel and serving as a Visiting Fellow at the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism (ICT). He was the first Presidential nominee for Assistant Secretary of the TSA, Governor Schwarzenegger’s Deputy Director in the California Office of Homeland Security and

Just like 30 years ago in Iran, the Americans believe they are promoting the values of democracy in Egypt by turning their backs on their allies. First published in NRG-Maariv on January 31,2011 – click here to see the commentary on the NRG website.

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 popular uprisings in Northern Africa and the Middle East carry a very strong message. They are showing us, professionals involved in the field of counter-terrorism, and our politicians the best way forward in our struggle against political violence. The message is that the best

As developments unfold in the Arab World, first and foremost in Egypt and Tunisia, there is one profound conclusion missing in most of the news reports and expert opinions analysing the political, social and/or historical reasons for and consequences of the events; the popular revolts

After weeks of targeted operations in March, rocket and mortar attacks on Israel by  Hamas in the Gaza strip have nearly ceased. This is, in the main, a direct result of Israel targeting terrorists and their infrastructure and very little to do with traveling down the diplomatic

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

The fallout from the killing of Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad allows for a closer look at US-Pakistani relations, which has been deteriorating for some time. First published by INSCT on Security – link to initial publication.

The reaction of US policymakers to the killing of Osama bin Laden in a compound not too far from the Pakistani capital and within a stone throw from Pakistan’s military academy has pushed US-Pakistani relations to their lowest point in years.

Monday’s terror strike on the Mehran naval base must come as a rude wake up call to Pakistan’s military establishment. It is evident that the ISI-trained and LeT/Taliban-supported terrorist groups are now completely out of Pakistani control and the decision makers in that country must

US policymakers must realize that anti-Americanism in Pakistan is caused by US action (drone attacks and breaches to Pakistani sovereignty), US rhetoric (castigating Pakistan as a failed state and accusing its leaders of incompetency and/or collusion) and US arrogance (US decides what Pakistan needs). First

UN recognition of Palestine could have much broader global consequences with minorities worldwide encouraged by the cause. First Published by The Jerusalem Post

Indonesia has asked in recent years to be more involved in Middle Eastern affairs by playing the role of mediator and peacemaker.

Norway massacre is likely to prompt global change in bid to curb independent terrorists. The commentary was first published in Ynetnews.

The appalling and tragic events in Norway on Friday have served as an horrific reminder that Europe’s far right is capable of producing terrorists, who are just as willing to kill in large numbers as any jihadi terrorist group. First published in the CST Blog

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

The wave of uprisings in the Arab world, which began when the wick of popular revolutions was ignited in Tunisia in January 2011, has challenged Al-Qaeda’s strategy advocating the waging of an armed and violent campaign for bringing down the Muslim governments. By Moshe Covo

The assassination of the mayor of Kandahar Ghulam Haider Hamidi on July 27, which the Taliban has claimed responsibility for is the third assassination of a senior Afghan politician in as many weeks, which seems to indicate a shift in the Taliban’s military strategy. There

In July 2010, the UN General Assembly established UNWomen – the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. The decision to establish a single UN body dealing with gender stemmed from a realization that the campaign towards gender equality and women’s

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