https://pjmedia.com/author/allisonkaplansommerandlisagoldman/feed/PJ Media is a leading news site covering culture, politics, faith, homeland security, and more. Our reporters and columnists provide original, in-depth analysis from a variety of perspectives.en-usThu, 11 Jun 2026 22:48:50 -0400<![CDATA[As Israelis looked back on a day of unprecedented and worrisome unrest, the question on the national mind was whether the vaunted military and intelligence apparatus had been caught with its pants down &#8212; utterly unprepared for protests and accompanying mass infiltrations on multiple borders.]]>Sun, 15 May 2011 14:32:05 -0400<![CDATA[Allison Kaplan Sommer]]>https://pjmedia.com/allisonkaplansommerandlisagoldman/2011/05/15/nakba-day-incidents-worry-israelis-and-embarrass-the-idf-n11442<![CDATA[For many weeks, it seemed as if Israel was successful at staying out of the turmoil rocking the Middle East. First Tunisia, then Egypt, Bahrain, Libya, Syria, and Jordan: as anti-regime demonstrations caught fire across the Middle East, Israel&#8217;s supporters were able to argue convincingly for the first time in decades that the presence of the Jewish state is not necessarily the source of all instability in the region.]]>Thu, 31 Mar 2011 00:00:33 -0400<![CDATA[Allison Kaplan Sommer]]>https://pjmedia.com/allisonkaplansommerandlisagoldman/2011/03/31/can-israels-iron-dome-blunt-hamas-rockets-n11669<![CDATA[The turnout at its inaugural rally wasn&#8217;t great &#8212; only 100 activists showed up &#8212; but Israelis displaying piles of tea bags and &#8220;Say No to Obama&#8221; signs were still an unusual and interesting sight.]]>Thu, 04 Nov 2010 00:00:57 -0400<![CDATA[Allison Kaplan Sommer]]>https://pjmedia.com/allisonkaplansommerandlisagoldman/2010/11/04/israelis-try-to-start-their-own-tea-party-n12445<![CDATA[It was difficult for Israelis to get excited about the pictures of President Obama flanked by Middle East leaders at the White House last week in the opening hoopla of the direct peace talks. Regular television programming in Israel was suspended, and instead of soap operas or afternoon game shows on Israeli television, blanket coverage of the smiles, handshakes, speeches, and numerous photo opportunities took over the airwaves. But to the viewer &#8212; and the onscreen commentators &#8212; the events seemed just as staged and artificial as the usual television fare.]]>Mon, 06 Sep 2010 00:00:57 -0400<![CDATA[Allison Kaplan Sommer]]>https://pjmedia.com/allisonkaplansommerandlisagoldman/2010/09/06/will-the-real-bibi-netanyahu-please-stand-up-n12841<![CDATA[The city of Eilat on the Red Sea is Israel’s answer to Miami Beach; it’s the place where families come for a week of sun, sand, surf, and relaxation. Despite its close proximity to both Jordan and Egypt, Eilat is normally a peaceful and sunny resort town. But early Monday morning, the August vacationers who packed the city’s numerous hotels received a rude awakening &#8212; literally.]]>Tue, 03 Aug 2010 00:00:23 -0400<![CDATA[Allison Kaplan Sommer]]>https://pjmedia.com/allisonkaplansommerandlisagoldman/2010/08/03/missile-attacks-rock-red-sea-resorts-n13008<![CDATA[[Scroll down for updates throughout the day.]]]>Mon, 31 May 2010 05:41:25 -0400<![CDATA[Allison Kaplan Sommer]]>https://pjmedia.com/allisonkaplansommerandlisagoldman/2010/05/31/rough-seas-for-israel-after-gaza-flotilla-intercepted-n13489<![CDATA[He should have known better. Danny Ayalon, Israel&#8217;s deputy foreign minister, wasn&#8217;t some young clueless local politician in over his head. One would assume that the savvy insider with an impressive resume, including a stint as Israel&#8217;s ambassador to the United States, would have a clear grasp of the rules of diplomacy.]]>Tue, 19 Jan 2010 07:55:53 -0500<![CDATA[Allison Kaplan Sommer]]>https://pjmedia.com/allisonkaplansommerandlisagoldman/2010/01/19/tiny-chair-diplomacy-harms-israel-turkey-relations-n14696<![CDATA[A Middle Eastern country is building a massive thick steel wall as a barrier between themselves and a Palestinian regime. The country is being condemned for its actions across the Arab world, denounced by Islamist figures like Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, and facing angry demonstrations at its embassies around the world.]]>Sun, 10 Jan 2010 00:00:10 -0500<![CDATA[Allison Kaplan Sommer]]>https://pjmedia.com/allisonkaplansommerandlisagoldman/2010/01/10/egypts-steel-wall-an-attempt-to-placate-the-u-s-n14780<![CDATA[For eight years, travelers in the United States getting ready to head to the airport have had to think hard about their footwear. Knowing that we&#8217;ll be forced to remove our shoes to go through the X-ray machines, we make sure that they are an easily removed pair &#8212; and that socks have been recently washed to prevent embarrassment. In warm weather, the ordeal can&#8217;t be prevented by a clever choice to wear open sandals that expose the feet, as the TSA employees are under strict orders to closely examine even the strappiest shoes.]]>Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:03:10 -0500<![CDATA[Allison Kaplan Sommer]]>https://pjmedia.com/allisonkaplansommerandlisagoldman/2010/01/01/what-can-israel-teach-the-u-s-about-airport-security-n14854<![CDATA[The headlines may trumpet &#8220;truce&#8221; and &#8220;ceasefire&#8221; but Israelis interpret the current quiet on the Gaza border as the calm before an inevitable storm.]]>Thu, 19 Jun 2008 10:05:09 -0400<![CDATA[Allison Kaplan Sommer]]>https://pjmedia.com/allisonkaplansommerandlisagoldman/2008/06/19/israel-hamas-ceasefire-fated-to-cease-n19362