Watch Out for those Islamic Jihadist Pirates

Posted: Tue, 04/14/2009 - 00:00 | Political Insider

Tuesday, April 14th, 2009

James Besser in Washington

Poll: Is the Israeli public tired of Netanyahu after 12 hours?

Posted: Tue, 03/31/2009 - 00:00 | Political Insider

Tuesday, March 31st, 2009

James Besser in Washington

This has to be one of the most jarring headlines in recent memory.

“54% of public dissatisfied with new government,” the online version of Ha’aretz blared in its Wednesday morning edition (read the story here).

Bashing J Street

Posted: Mon, 03/30/2009 - 00:00 | Political Insider

Monday, March 30th, 2009

James Besser in Washington

What is about J Street, the pro-peace process lobby and political action committee, that has the leaders of major Jewish groups in such a snit?

I’ve had calls from three of them in the past two weeks, complaining about the new kid on the pro-Israel block; even some liberal Jewish leaders are joining the anti-J Street chorus.

Tough Sell: Pitching Netanyahu and Lieberman in Washington

Posted: Fri, 03/27/2009 - 00:00 | Political Insider

Friday, March 27th, 2009

James Besser in Washington

Pro-Israel groups are in PR high gear, trying to spin the incoming Israel government as not a problem for a peace process -minded Obama administration.

“Waiting for Armageddon,” Israel and the Jews

Posted: Thu, 03/26/2009 - 00:00 | Political Insider

Thursday, March 26th, 2009

James Besser in Washington

Reading Gary Rosenblatt’s interesting column about the film Waiting for Armageddon, I was struck by how much we don’t know about the beliefs and motives of the evangelical Christians who ardently support Israel.

Obama Meets the press, calls for “persistence” in the Middle East

Posted: Wed, 03/25/2009 - 00:00 | Political Insider

Wednesday, March 25th, 2009

James Besser in Washington

There was plenty of Mideast news this week, starting with the dramatic decision by Labor Party leader Ehud Barak (this Barak v. Barack business is going to hard on journalists who trust their spell checkers) to join a new government led by Likud’s Benjamin Netanyahu. But you’d never know it by listening to President Barack Obama’s prime-time press conference last night.