'Your papers, please' must never be heard in America
Independent voices from the TWT Communities
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Monday abruptly announced he was quitting politics, injecting new turmoil into the Israeli political system weeks ahead of general elections.
Former Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir, who clung throughout his life to the belief that Israel should hang on to territory and never trust an Arab regime, has died. He was 96 years old.
Michael Rosenbaum, an award-winning CBS News producer who served as Tel Aviv bureau chief during the first Palestinian uprising against Israel, has died. He was 64.
Palestinian officials say that they will resume their effort to gain U.N. membership, and that they could launch a nonviolent third intifada because they see no chance of reaching a peace deal with the current Israeli government.
Faced with terrorist attacks (and conventional military attacks) by its Palestinian and Arab state neighbors since the earliest days of its existence, Israel has had to develop exceptionally effective counterterrorism capabilities to protect its citizens on all fronts, making it one of the world's most innovative and toughest counterterrorism "powers."
Former Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin may be remembered fondly by some of the Israeli people for his military exploits, but his accomplishments as prime minister and a negotiator were less noteworthy ("Ultimate price for peace," Oct. 22, Geopolitics)
In 1968, Michael Oren met a man who inspired the 13-year-old Jew from upstate New York to devote his life to Israel.
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel and Syria unexpectedly announced today the resumption of peace talks after an eight-year break, saying they have been speaking indirectly through Turkish mediators "in order to achieve the goal of comprehensive peace."
TEL AVIV — Israeli President Shimon Peres took his oath of office yesterday with a promise to use the largely ceremonial position as a bully pulpit to advance the Middle East peace process.
He quoted Yitzhak Rabin, who used to say, "You make peace with your enemies, not your friends."
