When it comes to the latest Arab peace initiative, two questions are circulating in Washington: Why Qatar? And why now? The three answers: Because Qatar is rich; it is scared; and why not? Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabr Al Thani, the Qatari prime minister and foreign minister, in recent weeks has driven the revivification of the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative, moderating it slightly to hew closer to the outlines touted by the Obama administration since 2011. The updated version, outlined by Hamad in remarks to …More

Two rockets were fired at Eilat this morning, causing sirens to ring out in the resort city and the local airport to shut down. The missiles reportedly came from Sinai, a stark change from recent attacks from Gaza, and landed in open fields. There are no reported injuries. “A short while ago two rockets were launched from Sinai and hit open areas in the city of Eilat,” the IDF said. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is in England for Margaret Thatcher’s funeral, held late night security …More

Frolicking with her fiance in the cool waters of the Suez Canal, Lilian Abada would never have imagined she was about to experience the first of a string of events that would ultimately lead her to flee her native Egypt for Israel with only one suitcase. When Abada and her future husband, Nisso, emerged from the water that day in 1956, a security agent was waiting for them. The two teenagers were arrested for spying for Israel and interrogated for days. They were released and then rearrested, along with hundreds …More

Avigdor Lieberman has provided yet another example as to why he is unfit to be Israel’s Foreign Minister. According to the Times of Israel, an online Israeli newspaper, Foreign Minister Lieberman on Monday suggested that Israel’s five principle embassies in Europe publish full-page advertisements in Europe’s major newspapers with the goal of disparaging Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. Thankfully, senior Foreign Ministry officials nixed the request. It is true that Mahmoud Abbas is …More

With Egypt Prime Minister Hisham Qandil’s visit to Gaza overnight, the world focused in on how Israel’s southern neighbor might participate in the current conflict. Under past leader Hosni Mubarak, Israel was assured a certain level of solidarity during flare-ups in Gaza. But since Mubarak’s ousting during last year’s Arab Spring, Israel and Egypt have shared much frostier relations. New President Mohamed Morsi has done little to ensure the relationship holds, leading some to theorize …More

A cancellation of High Holy Day services in Alexandria has some calling it “the end of Jewish life in Egypt.” The comment was made by Livana Ramez, president of an Egypt-Israeli group, after Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services at the Eliahou Hanabi Synagogue were cancelled Monday. It is the first time since the temple’s refurbishment in 1836 that the days will not be observed. The synagogue was originally built in 1354, making it one of the world’s oldest working temples. The services …More

Egypt’s Defense Minister reportedly told his Israeli counterpart that Egypt is committed to its peace accord with Israel. The call between by Egypt’s Abdel Fattah el-Sissi and Israel’s Ehud Barak was initiated by el-Sissi, according to Al-Hayat, a London-based newspaper. The conversation between the two defense ministers is the highest-level direct contact between the neighboring countries since a popular revolution in Egypt saw the overthrow of longtime leader Hosni Mubarak and the subsequent …More

Rob Lattin is Jspace News' Foreign Affairs Correspondent. In addition to covering foreign affairs for Jspace, Rob is a blogger on Israeli and Middle Eastern foreign policy for the Foreign Policy Association, as well as a freelance writer. He can be reached by email at rob@jspacecorp.com. On Thursday, Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman re-emphasized his belief that the Palestinian Authority should hold general elections, and continued his criticism of Mahmoud Abbas by telling Israel Radio, “Abu Mazen …More

Egypt’s new president, Mohamed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood, is apparently planning to visit the United States in September. AFP reports: "Egypt's President Mohamed Morsi, the country's first civilian and Islamist head of state, will visit the United States on September 23, state media reported on Wednesday." "The official MENA news agency quoted Morsi's spokesman Yassir Ali as saying the president will attend a United Nations General Assembly session in New York and then head to Washington to meet …More

Rob Lattin is Jspace News' Foreign Affairs Correspondent. In addition to covering foreign affairs for Jspace, Rob is a blogger on Israeli and Middle Eastern foreign policy for the Foreign Policy Association, as well as a freelance writer. He can be reached by email at rob@jspacecorp.com. Over the last week, Egyptian-Israeli relations have grown increasingly uncomfortable. As Eric Trager, a US expert on Egyptian affairs at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, stated, “Egypt’s ‘full …More

An Egyptian airstrike early this morning killed 20 terrorists, thought to be involved in Sunday’s attack that saw 15 Egyptian officers dead. The operation in Sinai today was officiated by Egypt, but reports state Israel was consulted and gave the okay prior to the initiative, in line with regulations from the 1979 Egypt-Israel peace treaty. The strike came after Tuesday night clashes between insurgents and security forces at several checkpoints in the region. The move was a tentative sign of cooperation …More

UPDATE: A spokesman for President Morsi now denies the legitimacy of this letter. Peres' office has declined comment. Newly elected Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi sent his first official correspondence to the Jewish state today, in a letter addressed to Israeli President Shimon Peres. Morsi penned the letter in thanks to a Ramadan message Peres sent at the start of the holy Muslim holiday. In the write up, Morsi stated, “It was with deep thanks that I received your congratulation on the advent of the …More