News and Analysis

Paris — In an unprecedented speech by a French president to the umbrella organization of French Jewry, Nicolas Sarkozy pledged to boost the France-Israel relationship and play a major role in Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking. Fulfilling a promise he made almost a year ago, Sarkozy last Wednesday night became the first French president ever to speak at…

Ever since billionaire diamond and real estate magnate Lev Leviev began to raise his profile and personalize his brand with the opening of deluxe diamond shops in London in 2006 and here in 2007, the 51-year-old Uzbekistan-born tycoon has run into a sustained string of bad news and adverse publicity. Even a hagiographic profile in…

On February 19, 2008, Vanunu wrote: “The court hearing today Feb. 19, was again postponed, because of a small snow here. We are waiting for the next hearing date soon.” On July 2, 2007, an Israeli court sentenced Vanunu, to six more months in jail for violating a ban imposed on him in 2004, forbidding…

The recent proposal that Norway boycott Israeli goods has provoked passionate debate. In my view, a rational examination of this issue would pose two questions: 1) Do Israeli human rights violations warrant an economic boycott? and 2) Can such a boycott make a meaningful contribution toward ending these violations? I would argue that both these…

We live in a thunderously failed reality. … A state lacking justice cannot survive. … Even if the Arabs lower their heads and swallow their shame and anger for ever, it won’t work. A structure built on human callousness will inevitably collapse in on itself. Note this moment well: Zionism’s superstructure is already collapsing like…

1. SPSC commentary on Vanunu vote at Glasgow city Council2. Text of motion passed3. Jewish Chronicle report4. Jewish Telegraph report On Thursday 21 February 2008 Glasgow City councillors voted to support campaigns for the release of Mordechai Vanunu from Israel. The Council voted by a very large majority and the Vanunu baton passed from Glasgow…