BU Now » Palestinian

Israeli flotilla raid condemned

Dick Taffe — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 22:49:11 +0000

After the UN Security Council condemned Israel’s open-seas raid on a flotilla headed with humanitarian aid to Gaza, Israel says the 600-plus activists it arrested are being freed and expelled from the country. Law Professor Robert Sloane, an authority on international law, says Israel violated a very basic customary norm of international law: the freedom of the high seas.

“Had Israel waited for the vessels to enter Israeli waters, or at least what’s known as the ‘contiguous zone,’ then it arguably could have seized the vessels to enforce its blockade and prevent what it might characterize as smuggling in violation of Israeli law.”

Contact Robert Sloane, 617-358-4633, rdsloane@bu.edu

Obama cool to Netanyahu

Dick Taffe — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 15:21:19 +0000

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu got a cool reception from the Obama White House, as a dispute over new housing settlements in East Jerusalem continues to roil U.S.-Israeli relations. International Relations Professor Augustus Richard Norton, a Middle-East authority, says in his blog that Netanyahu operates within an ideology that basically rejects a two-state solution with the Palestinians and more Israelis are getting uncomfortable with that attitude.

“Notwithstanding Netanyahu’s embrace by some congresspeople, one of the promising developments since the Biden slap has been evidence of growing unease in Israel about Netanyahu’s leadership. A wise U.S. President will not do anything to reduce the doubts.”

Contact Augustus Richard Norton, 617-353-7808, arn@bu.edu

Israel says no to Gaza inquiry

Dick Taffe — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 19:37:57 +0000

Israel has dismissed the UN fact-finding mission’s recommendation that the Israeli government launch an independent investigation into “serious violations” of international law during last year’s war in Gaza. Journalism Professor Bob Zelnick, a former ABC News Middle East correspondent and author of “Israeli Unilateralism: Beyond Gaza,” says the UN report authored by South African jurist Richard Goldstone misses the mark.

“The Goldstone report is yet another example of how the UN’s anti-Israel bias has deprived it of any meaningful role in the peace process.”

Contact Bob Zelnick, 617-353-5007, bzelnick@bu.edu

Bibi backs two-state, with caveats

Dick Taffe — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 15:24:45 +0000

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has finally accepted the goal of a Palestinian state, but with so many caveats that the Palestinians may not want to talk about it. College of Communication journalism Professor Robert Zelnick, a former ABC News Middle East correspondent, can discuss the possible impact of this latest move.

Contact Robert Zelnick, 617-353-5007, bzelnick@bu.edu

U.S.-Israel settlements rift widens

Dick Taffe — Fri, 29 May 2009 13:42:40 +0000

President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton are pressing Israel to freeze the building of settlements on Israel’s West Bank. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu insists any freeze would only be part of an end-game peace solution with the Palestinian government. College of Communication journalism Professor Robert Zelnick, a former ABC News Middle East correspondent and author of “Israeli Unilateralism: Beyond Gaza” can put the stalemate into context.

Contact Robert Zelnick, 617-353-5007, bzelnick@bu.edu

Netanyahu promises peace effort

Dick Taffe — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 18:45:37 +0000

Journalism Professor Robert Zelnick, author of “Israeli Unilateralism: Beyond Gaza“ and former ABC News correspondent, says that the Israeli Labor Party joining the coalition with Israeli PM-designate Benjamin Netanyahu’s party means Netanyahu has an opportunity to make peace with the Palestinians.

“The accord with Labor gives Netanyahu some flexibility to deal with both U.S. peacemaker George Mitchell and Palestinian negotiators without his government cracking apart.

“And, should he move in the direction of compromise and peace, he could counter opposition from right-wing members of his coalition by making Tsipi Livni and her Kadima opposition an offer they can’t refuse to come back to the coalition, even as the right-wing factions depart.

“At the very least, Netanyahu appears ready to talk business with the Obama team, if not the Palestinians.”

Contact Robert Zelnick, 617-353-5007, bzelnick@bu.edu

Build on Bush’s Middle East Progress

Dick Taffe — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 15:32:13 +0000

Journalism Professor Robert Zelnick, former ABC News correspondent, a Hoover Institute fellow, and author of “Israeli Unilateralism: Beyond Gaza,” says Obama should build on Bush’s Middle East progress. With Secretary of State Clinton in the region, Zelnick suggests in the Christian Science Monitor how this can be done.

“If (U.S. special envoys George Mitchell and Dennis Ross) can learn from Bush’s mistake and embrace the positive aspects that came from his administrration, they could save themselves many redundant steps on the road to peace. If full-dress negotiations do produce accord, the key would then be ‘shelving’ agreement until the Palestinian Authority reestablishes sufficient control to implement it.”