IsraCast.Com

The Helicopter Tragedy

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

On the evening of February 4th, 1997, Israelis found themselves anxiously glued to news flashes on television and radio, after two Israeli Defense Force helicopters collided high above Sha'ar-Yeshuv in the North of Israel.

Israel to Soon Strike Iran?

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

No one should have any doubt about Israel launching a military strike to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. That was the message loud and clear from Israeli civilian and military decision-makers who addressed the annual Herzliya Conference on Feb.2nd. Meanwhile in Washington, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta was quoted as saying there is 'a strong likelihood' that Israel will strike Iran as early as April. In addition, Israel has also disclosed that Iran has been working on an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of reaching the U.S.

Sha'arei Tzedek Hospital - Gates of justice

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Sha'arei Tzedek Medical Center, or SZMC, is a major research hospital located in the Beit VeGan neighborhood cross from Mount Herzl of Jerusalem. The Hebrew name means "gates of justice".

Avraham Ravitz (1934-2009)

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Avraham Ravitz, an influential ultra-Orthodox Jewish lawmaker who served in Israel's parliament for 20 years, died Monday in Jerusalem. The 75-year-old Ravitz suffered from a heart condition and had been hospitalized since early January.

Preposterous Pundits & Israel

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

From their vantage point thousands of miles away, foreign pundits love nothing better than preaching to Israel on how to cope with the Iranian nuclear threat. Recently, Roger Cohen of the New York Times and Andrew Adler formerly of the Atlantic Jewish Times Weekly took diametrically opposed positions, but both were preposterous in their own right. They centered on U.S. President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. Meanwhile, back in in Israel, Maj. Gen.(Ret.) Amos Yadlin, the former commander of the IDF intelligence branch, who actually knows the facts, discussed the current reality that analyst David Essing compared to the fantasizing of Adler and Cohen.

Yaakov Dori (1899-1973)

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Yaakov Dori was Chief of Staff of the Haganah and was later appointed the first Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

Iran & 'Global Nuclear Jungle'

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Gen. Amir Eshel, the commander of the IDF Planning Branch has presented a spell- binding look at the current and future threats to Israel. In a lecture entitled ' Planning for the Unknown - Israel's Ever Changing Strategic Reality', he outlined the challenges he has to face in the wake of the 'Arab Spring'. Speaking at the Institute for Contemporary Affairs in Jerusalem, Gen. Eshel stressed that Iran was at the top of his priority list. Analyst David Essing sums up the major points made by the commander who has responsibility for the IDF's force build-up.

Barack Obama - A John Wayne or Woody Allen?

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

What can be said about the Wall Street Journal article that the Obama administration has warned Israel against a military strike on Iran 'over U.S. objections' and has stepped up security for U.S. facilities in the region? It reflects shifting assessments by Jerusalem and Washington on Iran's going nuclear, with the stress on 'shifting'. Analyst David Essing notes the WSJ has also reported that the EU and Japan were now getting cold feet over an Iranian oil embargo.

Israel to Grant Refuge to Syria's Alewites

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

While Syrian President Bashar Assad was talking of his certain victory in Damascus, IDF Chief Of Staff Benny Gantz was predicting his inevitable fall. In a briefing to the Knesset Foreign Affairs & Defense Committee, Lt.Gen. Gantz also disclosed that he is preparing to grant refuge on the Golan Heights to Assad's Alewite supporters. David Essing sums up some other key assessments of Israel's high command for the new year.

Lieberman: 'Russia is No Switzerland'

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Israel's For Minister Avigdor Lieberman, notorious for his tough talk, pulled no punches when he briefed the Knesset's Foreign Affairs & Defense Committee in Jerusalem. Lieberman commented on Russia's controversial election, new Palestinian peace contacts, Iran, Jordan and Turkey. Although Lieberman's diplomatic discourse dealt with the numerous problems, the Foreign Minister rejected any notion that Israel was facing diplomatic isolation on his watch.

EU Oil Embargo & Iran

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Has the European Union decided to call Iran's bluff? That is the implication of an EU diplomat's dramatic disclosure: 'The principle of an oil embargo is agreed, it is not being debated any more'. The EU's foreign ministers are slated to vote for the embargo at their next meeting in Brussels on January 30th. Analyst David Essing is of the view the EU leak is aimed at exerting further pressure on Iran to halt its nuclear weapons program before a possible military confrontation in the Straits of Hormuz.

Massive US Arms Sales to Gulf States

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Why have the huge American arms sales to Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states gone almost unnoticed by Israel? For the simple reason that Washington is apparently in the midst of building a new doctrine of containment - what Secretary of State Hillary Clinton once called a 'defense umbrella' to meet the Iranian nuclear threat.

The Weizmann-Feisal Agreement

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Within the framework of the Paris Peace Conference, a political accord was signed on January 3, 1919, by Dr. Chaim Weizmann in the name of the Zionist Organization and by the Emir Feisal, son of the Sherif of Mecca.

Ben-Gurion's Crackdown on Yeshiva Students

Mon, 02 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The lawlessness of some charedim ultra-orthodox Jews in Israel is not new. Over forty-eight years ago former Prime Minister David Ben Gurion sent a letter to the incumbent Levi Eshkol with proposals for coping with the lawlessness of some yeshiva students. In presenting a translation of that letter, analyst David Essing is of the view that it applies no less today, perhaps even more, than it did then.

Israel, Turkey & Armenian Dilemma

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Israel's government and her Parliament are at odds over whether the Jewish state should officially recognize Turkey's responsibility for the massacre of some one and a half million Armenians in 1915. In spite of appeals by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, the Knesset's Education Committee discussed the issue but stopped short of voting on recognition. IsraCast analyst David Essing is of the view that with the Iranian nuclear crisis coming to a head in 2012, it is crucial that Israel will not cause any further deterioration in the already strained relations with Turkey.