All evil can be separated into one of two categories: goals and tactics. An evil goal might be excessive power, excessive wealth, etc. An evil tactic might be violence, torture, etc. (Some would argue that the morality of the tactic is in large part defined by the goal–hence the phrase “the ends [...]

There is an extremely interesting article in today’s New York Times, discussing the problems and challenges associated with Israel’s Arab minority. Twenty percent of Israel’s population is non-Jewish Arab, and this large minority has long been a problem for a state that has tried to cultivate a Jewish identity. Western media tends to [...]

One of Obama’s first comments that really made me start leaning his direction was his statement that if he had “actionable intelligence” that pinpointed the location of Osama bin Laden within Pakistan, that he would attack even without permission from the Pakistani government. He was roundly criticized for that remark by other Democrats and [...]

Bush, Olmert, and Abbas have promised an Israeli-Palestine Peace Treaty in 2008.  It’s good to see the President finally taking an interest in the issue.  The thing is, I can’t decide if an agreement at these negotiations would be the best thing to happen to the peace process in a long time, or the worst.
The [...]

Here’s what I don’t understand. The press keeps talking about a looming humanitarian crisis in the Gaza strip if Israel doesn’t allow food in, or Palestinians out.
But Gaza isn’t landlocked. It’s long and thin, and has a nice stretch of border along the Mediterranean Sea. Why can’t aid workers bring food and [...]

In a New York Times op-ed, Tom Segev, author and columnist for the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, argues that the Israeli occupation of the West Bank was a mistake.  Moreover, he notes that Israeli analysts of the time thought that it would be a mistake.
Leading Israeli policy planners had determined six months before the Six-Day War [...]

I’m encouraged to hear that the Palestinians have brokered a peace deal amongst themselves to stop infighting between Fatah and Hamas. But then I came across this section of the Reuters story:
“Abbas advisor Nabil Amr said, however, that he feared the deal might not be enough to end sanctions, which Palestinians say were partly to [...]

“I personally will not head any government that recognizes Israel,”
— Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh
And this is why [...]

I wish someone would tell the Bush Administration that whining doesn’t make good foreign policy. The latest incident, once again, has to do with the French. The Bush Administration had hoped that France would send a couple thousand peacekeeping troops to Lebanon to enforce the ceasefire. Instead, they pledged 200, which immediately [...]

Invariably, the first thing that happens after a cease-fire or peace treaty takes effect is that both sides run home and declare victory. After all, most of the time there is no clear winner or loser– these things are open to interpretation. And you’d always rather be the first one to interpret the [...]