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Allison Kaplan Sommer
In Israel, U.S. Elections Are Distant, Yet Close
Although John McCain's visit to the Holy Land this week isn't making the front pages of the Israeli media, writes Allison Kaplan Sommer, Israelis know the 2008 election will certainly affect them.
A Bloody Night in Jerusalem
For the first time in four years, a terrorist has carried out a large-scale attack in Israel's capital -- spraying the library of a prestigious religious boarding school with bullets, killing at least 8, reports Allison Kaplan Sommer.
‘I Am Not a Muslim’: Obama Woos the Jews
Barack Obama laid it on the line to Israel's most popular newspaper -- Yediot Aharonot -- Wednesday: "I am not a Muslim and I never have been. I never studied at a Madrassa and I have never sworn on the Koran. I am committed to Christianity." Allison Kaplan Sommer looks at Obama's recent crusade to allay the concerns of American Jews worried about Israel's position in an Obama administration.
Exploding the Peace in Dimona
PJM Tel Aviv: Israelis are reeling after Monday's suicide attack in downtown Dimona -- the first terrorist bombing inside Israel's borders in more than a year. The bombing claimed only one life -- thanks to the quick reflexes of Kobi Mor, a police officer whose heroic actions prevented a larger disaster, writes Allison Kaplan Sommer.
Mr. Bush Goes to Jerusalem – and Ramallah, and Bethlehem
There was little enthusiasm on the streets as President Bush toured Israel and the Palestinian Authority touting his plans for peace. But hope sprang eternal for the U.S. leader, who predicted a treaty by the end of the year, after which "the state of Palestine will emerge," writes PJM Tel Aviv editor Allison Kaplan Sommer. [UPDATED]
Peace Fatigue: Israelis Watch Annapolis and Yawn
Israelis had a hard time getting excited about Annapolis. They'd seen it all before, been through too much and been let down too many times to work up much enthusiasm, writes PJM Tel Aviv editor Allison Kaplan Sommer.
Twelve Years Later, Rabin’s Assassination Still An Open Wound
As they commemorate a national tragedy, many Israelis still wonder whether their political fate might have been different if Yitzhak Rabin had lived, says PJM Tel Aviv editor Allison Kaplan Sommer.
Mamma Mia! What Bad Journalism!
Anyone familiar with the British tabloids expects splashy dubiously truthful headlines. But when stories come dressed up in distinguished black-and-white broadsheet with a venerable name like The Times of London, slightly higher standards are expected. Which is why the headline was shocking -- Tel Aviv gets ready to silence Mamma Mia! In response to the controversial proposed British academic boycott of Israel, the Times told the world, those angry Israelis are avoiding everything British -- including musical theater. That would be very disturbing - if it were true. By Allison Kaplan Sommer, PJM Tel Aviv Editor
Are You Ready For the Summer?
Israelis may spend their vacation at the beach or at war. Nobody knows for certain. Except maybe Hamas, Hezbollah, and their bosses in Iran.
By Allison Kaplan Sommer, PJM Tel Aviv Editor
Sitting Ducks in Sderot
An Israeli student crouches under his desk as he attempts to safely study for his Bible exam after a Kassam rocket hit his high school.
By Allison Kaplan Sommer, PJM Tel Aviv editor
Folks who live in the city of Sderot in southern Israel know full well that they are being used as pawns in a deadly game of chicken by Hamas. They don't like it one bit.
The General Vanishes
The story behind the disappearance of Iranian general Ali Reza Asgari is finally told. Or is it?
UPDATE: Since this article was published yesterday, two developments have taken place.
1) Documentation blog referred to in this article has been hacked at Blogspot. Hacked URL is HERE. Page with documents still readable is HERE.
2) Indirectly related, Iran arrests top Iranian blogger:
"Mehdi Boutorabi, the CEO of Persian Blog, a service company for Iranian bloggers, was arrested Sunday in his Tehran office, reports said Monday. Persian Blog was founded in 2001 by three students who two years later, during a crackdown by authorities on bloggers which led to many arrests, sold it to Boutorabi, a young entrepreneur close to Iran's reformist movement.... Officially, Boutorabi was arrested over the disappearance of former Pasdaran general, Alireza Asghari, though the connection between the two is unclear and has not been explained by authorities yet."by Allison Kaplan Sommer, PJM Editor, Tel Aviv
I Got My Nuclear Reactor Through the New York Times:
We knew Iran was brash about its nuclear program, but would it really go as far as to run an advertisement in a paper wholly owned by the New York Times seeking bids from companies to execute its plan to build two new nuclear reactors?
Apparently.
(Click here for a bigger image)
by Allison Kaplan Sommer, PJM Tel Aviv editor
Extreme Temple Mount Makeover
by Allison Kaplan Sommer, PJM Editor, Tel Aviv
Just before riots broke out protesting the rebuilding of a ramp to the Mugrabi gate at the al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, an Israeli Knesset member had an original idea -- web-cam the project.
Slouching Towards Another Mideast Summit
Don't Get Your Hopes Up For the Three-Way
By Allison Kaplan Sommer, PJM Editor, Tel Aviv
If the three-way summit for a Mideast peace deal announced by Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice actually materializes, it will be a toss-up as to which of the three parties shows up at the meeting in worse shape.
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