The demand that Jerusalem be sundered into parts is unwise, and unfair both to Jewish history and to Israel’s fine stewardship of the city. It is an obstacle to peace, not something that helps bring peace now. It is not the Zivotofsky petition that “jeopardizes the vital interests of Israel” but Peace Now’s demand that Jerusalem be divided.

By ignoring Israel’s concessions for peace while treating the Palestinians like a spoiled child, the world is pushing off the chances for peace.

The upset victory yesterday of Republican Bob Turner in New York’s Ninth District is a watershed moment that signals that Obama can be denied a second term.

Ungrateful Bob Gates
So, Robert Gates is peeved with Israel. And why not? American defense and foreign policy leaders have done so well in handling the Middle East over the past …

Obama just commanded Israel to facilitate a 1967-borders-state for the Palestinians including Hamas – without an end-of-conflict situation for Israel.

Strategic fatigue, ideological indolence and policy confusion mark current American Middle East policy.

Should Israel embark on a new diplomatic initiative? Is Israeli-Palestinian peace within reach? Democracy or dictatorship in the Arab world: Which is safer? Does the Obama Administration know what it’s doing? Snippets from this year’s Herzliya Conference on the Balance of Israel’s National Security, which ended yesterday.

The October 2010 news bulletin of the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies has a fascinating and sobering roundtable discussion with professors Gilboa, Inbar, Rynhold, Singer and Steinberg on the future of US-Israel relations, beyond the current round of peace diplomacy. It also has articles on Israeli responses to the threat of nuclear terrorism, IDF reforms post Lebanon and Gaza wars, 20 new BESA Center publications, and more. Edited by yours truly. Read excerpts here and online at www.besacenter.org

The widely held presumption that splitting Jerusalem will lead to prosperity for the city and to peace for Jews and Arabs is an egregious error. Partitioning Jerusalem will destroy the city. It will die, in every way – culturally, religiously, economically and more. And it will turn into a Belfast-style battlefield.

The pious spiritual claptrap that characterized J Street’s first policy conference in Washington was both a conceit and a cover for an agenda which seeks to create American pressure on Israel. It certainly did not fool the American Muslim leaders who spoke at the conference. They know and appreciate exactly what J Street is up to.