Now What? How Israel Should Respond to Palestinian Unity

By Sophie Taylor In light of the recent upheaval in the Middle East, Moment’s Niv Elis spoke to 16 experts on what the changes mean for Israel and how it should move forward in light of those changes. While the range of thinkers expounded upon many different scenarios, none could predict what happened next; today, the opposing Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas met in Cairo and proclaimed a unity deal, complicating peace efforts for Israel and the United States. Here are what a few of the thinkers in our roundup have had to say about the newest development: Aaron David Miller, who argued in Moment that Israel lacks a coherent strategy in the face of dramatic change, writes in Business Week:  "This peace at home will guarantee greater political conflict with both Israel and the U.S. and, if Palestinians...

Continue reading

Hamas on Offensive in Gaza

By Jeremy Gillick As the Israeli election enters its final stretch (polls close at 10 P.M. Israel time), with Kadima leader Tzipi Livni surprisingly ahead in preliminary exit polls, Hamas continues its brutal crackdown on Fatah in the Gaza Strip. According to a report issued today by Amnesty International, since Israel's attack on Gaza began in late December, "Hamas forces and militias in the Gaza Strip have engaged in a campaign of abductions, deliberate and unlawful killings, torture and death threats against those they accuse of “collaborating” with Israel, as well as opponents and critics." Amnesty claims that over twenty men have been killed by Hamas--both "collaborators" and members of Fatah--and "scores of others have been shot in the legs, kneecapped or inflicted with other injuries intended to cause permanent disability, subjected to severe beatings which...

Continue reading