If there is one journalist whom it is consistently worth reading at Haaretz, it's Avi Issacharoff, who reports on the Palestinians. He speaks their language, he is well connected, and although we know his political preferences he never lets them interfere with the story he has to tell. In Friday's edition he tells about the efforts the Israelis are making to ensure a supply of food to the populace of Gaza, in spite of the attempts by Hamas forces to shut the crossings. Not a story you'll ever find in the Guardian.
Aluf Benn and Shmuel Rosner ask themselves why Olmert and Abbas seem to be deep into negotiations, and no-one seems to care. They suggest three explanations, all plausible:
1. After 15 years of talks that have led nowhere, no-one believes these will, either.
2. Both men are so weak politically that neither will be able to deliver (this is actually a variation on the previous one).
3. It's August, it's hot, people are on vacation, and no-one can be bothered.
But if the negotiations ever go anywhere, this will all seem mildly strange in retrospect, won't it?
Thank you for stopping by. Impressive resume, your books had good reviews on Amazon and I will keep an eye out for them.
ReplyDeleteIf, as I sometimes think, you are in Beirut, I rather doubt you'll find them in the local bookstores. :~)
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