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Joel B. Pollak

Joel B. Pollak

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Palestinians: Bibi Declared War at AIPAC

Palestinians: Bibi Declared War at AIPAC

The Palestinian Authority said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) on Tuesday amounted to a unilateral declaration that talks were over.  Nabil Shaath told Agence France-Presse that Netanyahu’s remarks were “an

The One Thing Obama's Done Right on Ukraine

The One Thing Obama's Done Right on Ukraine

There is so much to criticize in the Obama administration’s response to Russia’s intervention in the Ukraine, from the wishy-washy appeals to the “international community,” to the ridiculous complaint that Vladimir Putin is playing by “19th century” rules. Even when

At AIPAC, Menendez Breaks with Obama on Iran

At AIPAC, Menendez Breaks with Obama on Iran

Senate Foreign Relations Committee chair Bob Menendez (D-NJ) addressed the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) Policy Conference on Tuesday morning and took a dramatically different stance than that which Secretary of State John Kerry outlined on Monday. He pushed

Pro-Israel SEIU Leader Addresses AIPAC

Pro-Israel SEIU Leader Addresses AIPAC

During Friday’s final plenary session at the Policy Conference of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), thousands of pro-Israel activists were addressed by Olga Miranda, president of Local 87 of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). In the course

Obama, Kerry, and 'The Right Side of History'

President Barack Obama declared on Monday that Russian president Vladimir Putin was on “the wrong side of history.” Secretary of State John Kerry had complained on Sunday: “You just don’t in the 21st century behave in 19th century fashion.” Both

Three Basic Flaws in Kerry's AIPAC Speech

John Kerry’s speech at AIPAC struck me as sincere–and that, I think, makes it as a success. He came across as being genuinely concerned for Israel’s security. Yet his speech also revealed that the administration’s diplomatic efforts are still based

Pro-Israel Student 1, BDS Activists 0

Joshua Nass, a senior at Brandeis University, has scored a victory over the anti-Israel “Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions” (BDS) movement, which tried to use his image to burnish their propaganda during “Israel Apartheid Week.” Nass had appeared on the Fox Business

Netanyahu Tells Obama: Pressure the Palestinians Instead

Netanyahu Tells Obama: Pressure the Palestinians Instead

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stood firm against pressure from President Barack Obama in his opening remarks at their White House meeting today. According to reports from the briefing room, Netanyahu said: “Israel has been doing its part in the

The Central Fallacy of the Pro-Israel Left

I attended a presentation today at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) Policy Conference by, among others, Ari Shavit, a senior correspondent for Israel’s left-wing daily, Ha’aretz. Shavit made a number of interesting points about the peace process, including

J Street: Rebels Without a Cause–Or a Clue

Jeremy Ben-Ami, the president and founder of J Street, has an op-ed in Politico today calling upon AIPAC to “get with the peace program.” It’s not clear exactly what he wants AIPAC to do, though. AIPAC has supported the peace

Obama Prepares for Showdown with Israel's Netanyahu

Obama Prepares for Showdown with Israel's Netanyahu

Though Russia’s Vladimir Putin has violated Ukrainian sovereignty and the laws of war, though his government has lied brazenly to American officials and flouted the norms of the international community, President Barack Obama has reserved his ire for Israeli Prime

Glick to Obama: 'You're Not Scaring Us'

Glick to Obama: 'You're Not Scaring Us'

Caroline Glick, Jerusalem Post columnist and author of the forthcoming The Israeli Solution: A One-State Plan for Peace in the Middle East, reacted swiftly Sunday evening to President Barack Obama’s suggestion that he would warn Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday

Obama to Warn Netanyahu: Time is Running out for Israel

Obama to Warn Netanyahu: Time is Running out for Israel

Jeffrey Goldberg has released an interview he conducted with President Barack Obama last Thursday, during which the president outlined his message to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whom he will meet on Monday. Obama will warn Netanyahu that he is

Obama Sends Lew to AIPAC to Deliver the Bad News

Secretary of the Treasury Jack Lew did his best to spin the Obama administration’s stance on Israel at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) Policy Conference on Sunday night. The audience knew they were being treated like mushrooms: kept

Anti-Obama Street Art Hits Oscars: 'Oczars'

Anti-Obama Street Art Hits Oscars: 'Oczars'

A rogue street artist has ambushed the 86th Academy Awards with a slew of street art posters poking fun at President Barack Obama and the Oscars. The posters, of unknown origin, feature the Oscar statue with Vladimir Lenin’s head and

Kerry Complains Putin Plays by '19th Century' Rules

Kerry Complains Putin Plays by '19th Century' Rules

Secretary of State John Kerry complained on Sunday’s edition of NBC News’ Meet the Press that Vladimir Putin was playing by “19th century” rules, not 21st century norms, in his invasion of the Ukranian region of Crimea.  Insisting that “President Putin

Democrat Senator Chris Coons Blames Obama for Ukraine

Democrat Senator Chris Coons Blames Obama for Ukraine

Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE) told an audience of thousands of pro-Israel activists on Sunday morning that Russian President Vladimir Putin had been encouraged to invade the Crimea region of Ukraine partly because of the Obama administration’s weakness in responding to