The "Abbas Unbound" Edition

Noah Efron, Allison Kaplan Sommer, and Don Futterman discuss three topics of incomparable importance and end with an anecdote about something in Israel that made them smile this week. 

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In furorem, veritas?, or Abbas Unbound
Palestinian Authority President let loose twice last week in long angry speeches, claiming that Israel is the result of Western colonialist machinations and is "unconnected to Jews." What do we learn, if anything, from these remarks? What impact ought they have on how we go forward to see peaceful and secure relations between Israelis and Palestinians?

 

Speaking frankly
As Israel announces a plan to deport most of the (estimated) 42,000 refugees (mostly) from Eritrea, an NGO decides to found the "Anne Frank Home Sanctuary Movement," aiming to persuade Israelis to open their homes to refugees hiding from police. When (if ever) is it right to use Anne Frank (and all she stands for) as a moral exemplar and object lesson in contemporary political debates.

 

Amazon and the Jewish Question
Amid news that retail leviathan Amazon.com may build a "logistics center" in Israel, there were those who responded with fear and worry. Does Amazon's incipient presence in Israel signal the sad destruction of our local economy or the happy enthronement of low, low prices?

 

Music: Gil Ron Shama (in honor of his new record, Café Jalal):

Dream

Leyla (feat. Mosh Ben Ari)

Asmar (feat. Lubna Salama) 

Prophet (feat. Hayra Arby & Amir Shahsar)