tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76896798974538288272012-01-31T05:27:19.281-08:00Istanbul-New York-Tel AvivNamed after the three cities I live in, this blog will focus on Israeli, Palestinian, and Turkish politics and social issues. In addition, I will periodically cover other topics related to the Middle East.Istanbul-Tel Aviv-New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04042479851595915698noreply@blogger.comBlogger771100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689679897453828827.post-33986669219118807702011-12-11T22:06:00.000-08:002011-12-11T22:14:55.986-08:00Free Razan, Free all Political Prisoners; Stop the Killing! Assad Step Down!
December 12, 2011
In Razan's words, The Regime does not fear the prisoners but rather those of you who don't forget them...
Since I wrote my first blog last March on the Syrian uprising, , Now it is Syrias Turn, where I commented that the demonstrations and Daraa and Latakia marked “the beginning of the end,” more than 4000 Syrian protestors have been killed. Sadly, Assad did not disappointIstanbul-Tel Aviv-New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04042479851595915698noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689679897453828827.post-30573105038644737002011-11-03T14:34:00.000-07:002011-11-03T14:34:27.199-07:00A Call to Free Zarakolu, Ersanli, and all other Peace Loving CitizensNovember 3, 2011
With clashes between the Turkish Armed Forces and the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK) on the rise and an earthquake in Van, which is one of the major cities in the volatile southeast, I sat down numerous times to write a blog focusing on the events. However, out of personal reasons, I opted to remain silent. In my past blogs I have written on the Kurdish question and my thoughts Istanbul-Tel Aviv-New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04042479851595915698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689679897453828827.post-55522589861793960612011-10-16T17:04:00.000-07:002011-10-16T18:39:51.798-07:00Gilad, On his Way Home at Last!October 15, 2011
I have a lot to say about the recent Hamas-Israeli agreement bringing the exchange of over 1000 Palestinian prisoners for one Israeli, Gilad Shalit. However, I will wait until after Shalit arrives home, which will hopefully happen this Tuesday. Over the last five years the seemingly quiet and soft spoken soldier, was subjected to the one of the worse types of psychological (andIstanbul-Tel Aviv-New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04042479851595915698noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689679897453828827.post-76451083711852045822011-10-10T22:49:00.000-07:002011-10-10T22:49:21.102-07:00Occupywallstreet and the American Predicament
The other night, I ventured out of Brooklyn to come eye to eye with the Occupy Wall Street protest. As someone who thrives on protests, I have always been a bit skeptical when it comes to protests which take place in the United States. My visit to Occupy Wall street strengthened these convictions.
Preparing for the next day
It is not that I do not support them; the opposite holds true. Istanbul-Tel Aviv-New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04042479851595915698noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689679897453828827.post-83047157567747952702011-09-21T14:51:00.000-07:002011-09-21T14:51:41.927-07:00Palestine Now! The UN vote and Some Personal Thoughts
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mso-footer-marginIstanbul-Tel Aviv-New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04042479851595915698noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689679897453828827.post-16879481996591562732011-09-06T14:03:00.000-07:002011-09-06T14:05:57.921-07:00Saving Turkish-Israeli Ties: Sideline Netanyahu and Lieberman
The Israeli government’s incompetence in solving the ongoing crisis with Turkey should be ample proof that it is time for this government to pack up and go home. While this is not likely to happen, sadly it seems that Foreign Minister Lieberman once again has gotten it his way. The damage he has caused is reaching the point of no return, and has been shockingly sanctioned by Israeli Prime Istanbul-Tel Aviv-New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04042479851595915698noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689679897453828827.post-83849852273499262932011-09-04T13:38:00.001-07:002011-09-04T13:41:00.673-07:00An Early September UpdateDear all,
After almost 14 months in Istanbul and Tel Aviv, I have arrived back to New York to continue teaching, after being away due to my research. Like always, I am excited to be back at Brooklyn College and to be teaching such a diverse and interesting group of students. Coming back to teach Middle eastern history after the Arab uprisings, the worsening of Israeli-Turkish ties, the Istanbul-Tel Aviv-New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04042479851595915698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689679897453828827.post-90211795234395461432011-08-15T09:45:00.000-07:002011-08-15T10:15:30.570-07:00The Day the Bars Died; Bring Beyoglu back to the People!
Bustling Social Center, Now Empty
It started a few weeks back। One night Istanbul’s municipality workers came and started to pull chairs out from under the customers on the sidewalk bars of the Asmali Mescit neighborhood। Then they gathered the chairs and tables and started packing them up and loading them on a truck and shipped them away and impounded, or for the ones that had a license theyIstanbul-Tel Aviv-New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04042479851595915698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689679897453828827.post-13770105929097051392011-08-08T12:47:00.000-07:002011-08-08T13:18:26.379-07:00Waking to a New Reality in Israel (and perhaps for Palestine?)During the last year I have spent in Turkey and Israel, I have happily watched from the side as the Arab countries one by one started to break away from their oppressive regimes. Where I was not able to join these demonstrations, during my year away from the classroom I was proud to take part in numerous demonstrations both in Israel and Turkey. While I am citizen of Israel and not one of TurkeyIstanbul-Tel Aviv-New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04042479851595915698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689679897453828827.post-77393452651268850292011-08-08T12:41:00.000-07:002011-08-08T12:44:38.703-07:00Zaman focuses on my Haaretz Article (Turkish)Here is a link to an article which translates almost in enterity m article which was published in Haaretz, which was entitled 'The Region's Only Democracy?" on 5 August 2011. Comments are welcomed!
Istanbul-Tel Aviv-New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04042479851595915698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689679897453828827.post-3366322063216023542011-08-05T01:14:00.000-07:002011-08-05T01:16:13.771-07:00The region’s only real democracy? - Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel NewsThe region’s only real democracy? - Haaretz Daily Newspaper Israel NewsHere is a link to my article which was published in Haaretz, on August 5, 2011. Comments are welcomed...Istanbul-Tel Aviv-New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04042479851595915698noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689679897453828827.post-75121443263345198172011-07-15T11:01:00.000-07:002011-07-15T14:20:41.411-07:00A Sad Reminder about the Kurdish QuestionAs someone who has lived with the Palestinian-Israeli conflict for over the last two decades of my life, I was sad and frustrated when hearing about the 13 soldiers killed in eastern Turkey yesterday. Like a ritual I am too far familiar with, I waited until the morning to read the names of the fallen soldiers, to hear their stories, to find out who they were; to find out who the people in the Istanbul-Tel Aviv-New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04042479851595915698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689679897453828827.post-24839662926422300252011-07-11T06:19:00.001-07:002011-07-12T01:48:30.362-07:00A March for Palestine and the Deterioration of Israeli DemocracyThis upcoming Friday, July 15, the weekly Sheikh Jarrah solidarity protest group is planning a massive protest to support the establishment (and UN recognition) of a Palestinian state this upcoming September. With the Israeli right-wing government once again attempting to legalize anti-democratic laws, this protest cannot come at a better time. The planned protest follows similar protests of Istanbul-Tel Aviv-New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04042479851595915698noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689679897453828827.post-87785928757863201902011-07-06T13:05:00.000-07:002011-07-06T13:36:03.403-07:00Turkey and Israel: Bridging the Gaps and Moving Forward?<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE HE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]>Istanbul-Tel Aviv-New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04042479851595915698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689679897453828827.post-71676958779548203902011-06-28T02:20:00.000-07:002011-06-28T03:07:07.940-07:00Istanbul Pride 2011<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE HE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]>Istanbul-Tel Aviv-New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04042479851595915698noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689679897453828827.post-27661592820263227842011-06-27T13:21:00.001-07:002011-06-28T00:46:29.185-07:00BDP Protest PhotosHere is a link to photographs I shot during a protest in Taksim supporting Hatip Dicle, <!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE HE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]>Istanbul-Tel Aviv-New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04042479851595915698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689679897453828827.post-52225954690600500552011-06-24T12:04:00.000-07:002011-06-24T12:11:08.443-07:00My Haaretz article translated to TurkishHere is a link to the Turkish version of my Haaretz article, which appeared on 21 June 2011 in the newspaper, Radikal. I am currently working on an upcoming blog peice; hopefully, it will be finished in a few days. Until then...best wishes to all from Istanbul.LouisIstanbul-Tel Aviv-New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04042479851595915698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689679897453828827.post-24072366260192792342011-06-16T22:38:00.000-07:002011-06-16T22:46:23.243-07:00If Erdogan wants to be a leader - Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel NewsIf Erdogan wants to be a leader - Haaretz Daily Newspaper Israel NewsHere is a link of my article which appeared in Haaretz on 17 June 2011, somewhat of a regional post-election analysis.Istanbul-Tel Aviv-New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04042479851595915698noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689679897453828827.post-65069097839936655372011-06-13T08:53:00.000-07:002011-06-13T09:22:30.609-07:00Understanding Turkey’s Election Results<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE HE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]>Istanbul-Tel Aviv-New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04042479851595915698noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689679897453828827.post-91488762608600107542011-06-12T14:58:00.000-07:002011-06-12T15:01:59.804-07:00A Quick Note about the Turkish Election Results (to be followed by a detailed analysis tomorrow)June 12, 2011This evening I spent at some friends watching the election results. For the a third time, the ruling AK party has proven its ability to sweep up the votes, this year receiving an astounding 49.9 percent of the overall vote. For my American friends this might seem like a slim victory. However, for a parliamentary system this is indeed impressive. However, in the detailed analysis IIstanbul-Tel Aviv-New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04042479851595915698noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689679897453828827.post-74879195342319136072011-06-05T07:37:00.000-07:002011-06-05T07:47:34.094-07:00An Update and One week to go to Turkish electionsFirst, I wanted to share with my readers that I have not written for a few weeks aince I am on a week vaction abroad and because I was quite busy preparing two lectures: one was a seminar at Sabanci University’s History Seminar Series, where I presented entitled: “Palestinianism” during the Young Turk Period. This was basically a review of what will be the second chapter of my upcoming book, Istanbul-Tel Aviv-New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04042479851595915698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689679897453828827.post-53408751062119444552011-05-16T07:42:00.000-07:002011-05-16T09:17:26.725-07:00“Don’t Touch My Internet” A (Festive) Day of Protest in IstanbulMay 16, 2011Yesterday I took part in a massive demonstration against the Turkish government’s past/future censorship of the internet. The protest “don’t touch my Internet” took part throughout Turkey; however, only in Istanbul did it attract large numbers. The crowd of tens of thousands certainly was one of the biggest demonstrations I have seen on Istiklal Caddesi (the pedestrian avenue in the Istanbul-Tel Aviv-New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04042479851595915698noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689679897453828827.post-38461290254157231582011-05-08T06:21:00.000-07:002011-05-08T07:29:18.808-07:00Towards a New Beginning: Fatah-Hamas ReconciliationMay 8, 2011 Last week, the PLO and the Hamas has seized the moment of change in the Middle East to reach a new agreement ending over 4 years of a divided Palestinian camp. It appears with President Mubarak, a once staunch opponent of Hamas, no longer in the picture, the President of the Palestinian authority and the leader of Fatah, Mahmud Abbas realized that the time had come to work towards Istanbul-Tel Aviv-New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04042479851595915698noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689679897453828827.post-67790036315241627132011-05-03T03:16:00.000-07:002011-05-03T04:20:43.257-07:00Another May Day for Worker’s Rights: Tel Aviv and IstanbulLong Live May Day, the International Workers' Day!Tel Aviv:This year I was especially lucky to be able to participate in two May Day marches. In Israel, commemoration of the worker’s holiday was moved up by two days since this year Yom Ha Shoah (Holocaust Memorial Day) fell on the eve of the May 1. About three thousand protestors marched from Lavinski Park to Meir Park. The significance of it Istanbul-Tel Aviv-New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04042479851595915698noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689679897453828827.post-857954551042851342011-04-23T05:51:00.000-07:002011-04-23T07:41:57.847-07:00The Syrian Uprising: A Day of Blood and RageApril 23, 2011Less than a month ago, I submitted a blog entry entitled, “Now it is Syria’s Turn: The uprising on its Way?” Clearly, we can say now that yes it is here and the Assad regime has showed no signs of mercy. Since the pro-democracy protests first broke out over a month ago, over 300 people have been killed. Yesterday alone over 100 protestors were killed, and if the images emerging fromIstanbul-Tel Aviv-New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04042479851595915698noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689679897453828827.post-28376532644356631592011-04-19T08:07:00.000-07:002011-04-19T08:57:42.709-07:00The Upcoming Elections: Erdoğan’s Legacy Put to Test*Under the leadership of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Turkey has transformed into multicultural and dynamic country. Even though Erdoğan and his AK party are religious conservatives, the Prime Minister ensured the Turkish public that his agenda was to create a free and vibrant Turkey and convinced them that he held no “secret-agenda” to turn the country into a radical “Islamic” state. InIstanbul-Tel Aviv-New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04042479851595915698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689679897453828827.post-38275231871457473422011-04-06T13:43:00.000-07:002011-04-07T03:33:12.112-07:00The Anger and Frustration: the Death of Juliano Mer-KhamisApril 6, 2011Writing about Juliano’s death almost seems unreal. Is he really dead, was he really killed by a masked gunman outside of the Freedom Theater in the Jenin Refugee camp, could a Palestinian really have killed him? Sadly, yes. Juliano Mer-Khamis, only hours ago was buried in the soil, which gave birth to him and now has taken him away. It is still hard to believe that a man, the humanIstanbul-Tel Aviv-New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04042479851595915698noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689679897453828827.post-27975626250945912962011-03-29T04:17:00.000-07:002011-03-29T04:26:10.600-07:00Now it is Syria’s Turn: The uprising on its Way?While many analysts thought Syria’s Bashar Assad’s regime would remain safe and sound amidst the wave of Arabs turning their countries on their head, it seems that they were wrong. During the last two weeks, protesters in the cities of Daraa and Latakia have taken to the streets, and Syria has once again showed to what extent it will go to silence opposition, opening fire and killing at least Istanbul-Tel Aviv-New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04042479851595915698noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689679897453828827.post-20714870156025009862011-03-20T15:20:00.000-07:002011-03-20T15:57:29.023-07:00The Libyan Crisis, Remembering Kurdish Halabja, and Bahrain.Evening, 19 March 2011*While the decision by the UN to impose a “no-fly zone” seems to have been necessary to protect the pro-democratic forces, the recent western assault on Libya needs to be treated with the utmost caution. With the support of the Arab countries and the backing of the UN, French, British, Italian and American forces have started the first step to stop Qaddafi’s war against the Istanbul-Tel Aviv-New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04042479851595915698noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689679897453828827.post-18654448272092180852011-03-14T13:39:00.000-07:002011-03-14T14:03:52.372-07:00How a Knife challenged a Tsunami and the Banality of ViolenceMarch, 14, 2011Last Friday, with the first photos coming in from earth-quake/Tsunami stricken Japan, so many remained dumbfounded by the force of nature. An earthquake that reached nine points on the Richter scale was followed by a massive wave reaching more than six kilometers inland, wiping out whole cities. The next morning Israelis (who do not keep Shabbat) turned their television on and Istanbul-Tel Aviv-New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04042479851595915698noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689679897453828827.post-9016136659626013312011-02-27T10:38:00.001-08:002011-02-27T11:06:28.714-08:00Erdoğan: Time to return the Qaddafi International Human Right’s Prize<!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE HE <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]>Istanbul-Tel Aviv-New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04042479851595915698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689679897453828827.post-71439419425075091062011-02-21T14:27:00.000-08:002011-02-21T15:04:57.260-08:00A Day of Solidarity with Hebron and Sheikh Jarrah (Part Two) On our way back to Jerusalem, I waited anxiously for the demonstration at Sheikh Jarrah. Over the last year (or so), I have been following their struggle on facebook and in the press. My main reason however to go to the Sheikh Jarrah demonstration was that during my last two months, after years of only briefly visiting Jerusalem, I have had a chance to come in touch once again with the city Istanbul-Tel Aviv-New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04042479851595915698noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689679897453828827.post-85348594371641884532011-02-20T07:30:00.000-08:002011-02-20T07:30:28.825-08:00Istanbul-New York-Tel Aviv: A Day of Solidarity with Hebron and Sheikh JarrahIstanbul-New York-Tel Aviv: A Day of Solidarity with Hebron and Sheikh Jarrah: "February 19, 2011 Yesterday, I took part in a day of solidarity with the Israeli/Palestinian activist group Solidariut Sheikh Jarrah, whi..."Istanbul-Tel Aviv-New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04042479851595915698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689679897453828827.post-76475913770332495032011-02-19T13:03:00.001-08:002011-02-19T15:21:03.369-08:00A Day of Solidarity with Hebron and Sheikh JarrahFebruary 19, 2011Yesterday, I took part in a day of solidarity with the Israeli/Palestinian activist group Solidariut Sheikh Jarrah, which included a educational tour of Hebron, followed by their weekly demonstration in Sheikh Jarrah, one of the Palestinian neighborhoods of Jerusalem, which has been subjected to a systematic transfer of its Palestinian residents.Travelling to Hebron was Istanbul-Tel Aviv-New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04042479851595915698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689679897453828827.post-35985940057048108032011-02-14T01:18:00.001-08:002011-02-14T01:21:42.087-08:00Goodbye Mubarak and a New Day for EgpytFebruary 14, 2011 So many of the Arab countries following the age of colonialism, fell victim to endless years of military regimes which has prevented progress and development, promoted endless corruption, and clearly set limits on their citizens’ creativity and potential to contribute to their own societies and the world at large. This especially was the case with Egypt. Since the late 1880’s, Istanbul-Tel Aviv-New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04042479851595915698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689679897453828827.post-15198094493364498802011-02-10T14:11:00.000-08:002011-02-10T14:23:49.918-08:00Testing the Flood Waters of the Nile: Mubarak’s Latest AttemptToday, after arriving home, I did not turn the television right away. After days of watching daily coverage of the protest in Egypt, I decided to give it a break after a week of relative silence in Egypt. Further, after spending the last week in the archives reading documents related to the 1908 Young Turk revolution, I thought I might come home and spend a few more hours in that revolution. Istanbul-Tel Aviv-New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04042479851595915698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689679897453828827.post-28061903218599873792011-02-06T11:23:00.001-08:002011-02-06T11:30:22.860-08:00One more Day in Tahrir Square and the Meaning of VictoryFebruary 6, 2011Few would have imagined that the struggle would go on for so long. Even in my last blog, I stated that victory was near. Well the fact is it is near, especially for those waiting for thirty years! As another day passes, we continue to see a strong opposition, and cracks in the Egyptian government. Everyone however is right to ask how long can this go on? And, what does victory Istanbul-Tel Aviv-New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04042479851595915698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689679897453828827.post-52509313707776771632011-02-04T08:31:00.001-08:002011-02-04T08:56:45.406-08:00The Sweetness of Victory: A New Egypt?February 4, 2010At the moment, as I am writing this, one almost does not need more proof; the pro-democracy protestors' victory is closer than ever, with millions of Egyptians from all of walks of life gathering throughout Cairo and Alexandria in a festive atmosphere calling in unison “Down with Mubarak!” Clearly, the “Day of Departure” has brought the victory so close that from Tahrir Square Istanbul-Tel Aviv-New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04042479851595915698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689679897453828827.post-19469698894845291032011-02-03T02:52:00.000-08:002011-02-03T03:03:48.126-08:00Mubarak’s Last Stand?: A Pathetic AttemptIf President Hosni Mubarak wanted to impress the world by showing that among the millions of people protesting his regime there are also a fervent pro-Mubarak group, he radically failed. The pro-Mubarak groups seen on television have broken all the rules by raiding the opposition camp and beating and injuring thousands as a scare tactic to break up the masses. Sadly, we can see that these Istanbul-Tel Aviv-New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04042479851595915698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689679897453828827.post-70799809575824225292011-01-30T05:41:00.000-08:002011-01-30T06:04:25.372-08:00Some thoughts on the Egyptian Intifada and the end of MubarakJanuary 30, 2011With Egypt falling into complete chaos during the last few days as a result of a massive popular arising against President Hosni Mubarak the atmosphere is quite tense. The current uprising, if successful, will certainly reserve a name alongside the key uprisings in Egypt’s modern history such as the Urabi revolt of 1882, the Dinshaway incidents of 1906, the 1919 revolution for Istanbul-Tel Aviv-New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04042479851595915698noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689679897453828827.post-69724756195141828222011-01-27T13:37:00.000-08:002011-01-27T13:52:19.656-08:00The Turkel Report on the Mavi Marmara and the Valley of the WolvesAfter over seven months since the Israeli raid on the Mavi Marmara, when nine Turkish protestors were killed after battling with Israel soldiers who forcefully boarded the ship, the event once again has taken the headlines in Israel and Turkey, and even in Europe. First of all, earlier in the week the Israeli government investigative commission headed by retired Israeli Supreme court judge Y. Istanbul-Tel Aviv-New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04042479851595915698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689679897453828827.post-54656851874528674162011-01-19T03:09:00.000-08:002011-01-19T03:48:12.380-08:00A Demonstration for Democracy and Ehud Barak's Secret OperationThe demonstration last Saturday night to save Israeli democracy from the latest moves in the Knesset to investigate leftist organizations and from the likes of anti-democratic leaders such as Avigidor Liebermann was a huge success. During the last few years, I have participated in quite a few mass demonstrations (the Gaza War, the second Lebanon war, among others) and what made this one Istanbul-Tel Aviv-New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04042479851595915698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689679897453828827.post-54718912295515299842011-01-12T02:08:00.000-08:002011-01-12T02:25:05.049-08:00An Attempt to Silence the Israeli Left Well, after over a month of not submitting an entry here it is….Happily, I am back in Israel for four months working in the archives and making progress on my book. My academic year is progressing nicely, had an amazing time in Istanbul, and will be back in May. Then in September I will be back to the classrooms in New York! I also would like to wish all aIstanbul-Tel Aviv-New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04042479851595915698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689679897453828827.post-15774772555949231032010-11-30T08:29:00.000-08:002010-11-30T08:53:24.390-08:00Dear Readers,Please see the link below. It is an article of mine which was published in the Turkish language newspaper Today's Zaman.Here is a short excerpt:"Few would deny that Erdoğan has a great amount of political capital with the Palestinian Hamas in Gaza. If he were to work behind the scenes to secure the release of the Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, he Istanbul-Tel Aviv-New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04042479851595915698noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689679897453828827.post-37050844353597913352010-11-29T02:25:00.001-08:002010-11-29T02:27:22.174-08:00Some Intial thoughts on Wikileaks....November 29, 2010Yesterday an historian’s worst nightmare or greatest fantasy came true. The deluge of state documents released by Wikileaks has begun to gush over the dam’s walls. No longer will we have to wait thirty, fifty, or hundred years to read them. We now have instant satisfaction. In fact, the excitement is widespread; I do not think one topic has united so many of my facebook friendsIstanbul-Tel Aviv-New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04042479851595915698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689679897453828827.post-81416742751593646572010-11-05T03:14:00.000-07:002010-11-05T03:21:22.271-07:00Missing Yitzhak Rabin: 15 years since His AssassinationNovember 5, 2010 This week marks the fifteenth anniversary of the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin. Israel has changed a great deal since then and I cannot help long for those times. The first years of Oslo were filled with excitement, optimism, and overall change. There clearly was an alternative to war and there was partner to speak with. In fact, the partner had always been there. I am not Istanbul-Tel Aviv-New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04042479851595915698noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689679897453828827.post-23722576748988756152010-10-21T05:29:00.000-07:002010-10-21T06:01:00.699-07:00A Mavi Marmara (Gaza Flotilla) UpdateOctober 21, 2010A Mavi Marmara UpdateToday’s Haaretz has reported that information found on computers which were confiscated during the Mavi Marmara raid “indicates that the flotilla’s organizers received assistance from the highest levels of the Turkish government, including Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Edogan and other senior government officials.” This claim was denied by Turkish officials but Istanbul-Tel Aviv-New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04042479851595915698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689679897453828827.post-32364287346272826042010-10-11T04:13:00.000-07:002010-10-11T04:22:26.666-07:00Good News for Turkey: Towards the end of the Headscarf BanOct 11, 2010Every student of my modern Turkey class is shocked when they learn that in Turkish universities and in the government sector, the Islamic headscarf is banned and if a woman chooses to wear one she is barred from university classrooms and from working as a public servant. The irony is obvious: Turkey is a country where the [non-monolithic] Muslim population makes up about 99% of the Istanbul-Tel Aviv-New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04042479851595915698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689679897453828827.post-51824853394443056682010-10-03T07:25:00.000-07:002010-10-03T07:27:40.987-07:00October 3, 2010Death of a Transgender Sex-WorkerLast week, a beautiful soul was taken when Irem’s life was cut short after a man fatally stabbed her 12 times. Unfortunately, in Turkey, violence against transgender women has become somewhat the norm. This year alone, almost 20 such prostitutes have been murdered in cold blood, sometimes by their customers and other times they are targeted on theIstanbul-Tel Aviv-New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04042479851595915698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689679897453828827.post-60957528577362496932010-09-22T03:47:00.000-07:002010-09-22T03:52:16.406-07:00The Referendum and FIBA Basketball ChampionshipSeptember 21, 2010Well, at last I am back in Turkey and quite ready after the long summer to sit down and write. I came back two days after the referendum and already on the plane I was able to catch Tuesday’s morning Turkish papers covered with news, with some of them having a full page advertisement of Prime Minister Erdogan personally thanking the electorate for overwhelmingly voting “Yes” toIstanbul-Tel Aviv-New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04042479851595915698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689679897453828827.post-59335924222756256262010-09-08T09:54:00.000-07:002010-09-08T10:06:33.869-07:00The Upcoming Referendum and the Peace NegotiationsSeptember 8, 2010Dear Readers,This summer has gone by fast and now it is almost finally over. Unfortunately, I have not been able to submit a blog during the last month; not only due to family obligations which has taken me on a four-week trip with my daughter to Istanbul, New York, California, and as of tomorrow Minnesota. But also due to a really hot Istanbul summer where it was quite difficultIstanbul-Tel Aviv-New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04042479851595915698noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689679897453828827.post-44352924927659362872010-07-30T08:14:00.000-07:002010-07-30T08:15:23.772-07:00Berivan is Free at LastJuly 30, 2010After almost a month I am back writing my blog with a special update and some good news. The girl Berivan, who was sentenced to over seven years for throwing rocks at Turkish police has been set free due to a softening of terror laws. Since covering the incident in one of my previous blog entries I have been following her plight and was obviously thrilled to hear of release.I am Istanbul-Tel Aviv-New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04042479851595915698noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689679897453828827.post-42120820481636262242010-07-02T07:36:00.001-07:002010-07-02T07:51:45.304-07:00One Demonstration Two Prides Two Cities: PART TWO: IstanbulPART TWO: IstanbulAlmost three weeks after the Mavi Marmara incident, I returned to Turkey. For a moment I thought I might use my American passport to enter. Who knows, with the relations how they were I was afraid one side –either Israel or Turkey- might opt out for a radical measure and suspend relations between the two countries. In that case, I might have to exit and reenter on my AmericanIstanbul-Tel Aviv-New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04042479851595915698noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689679897453828827.post-57109944031698506042010-06-29T01:59:00.000-07:002010-06-29T02:15:02.347-07:00One Demonstration Two Prides Two Cities: Tel Aviv Istanbul (Part One: Tel Aviv)PART ONE: Tel Aviv (See Photo links at end of post)From my former posts and the news most people can pretty much figure out that I was caught in a whirlwind of events. Unfortunately, like so many people in the Middle East daily events which we see on the nightly news have a way of influencing our daily and personal lives. From my pasts posts also some of you will also remember that I made a Istanbul-Tel Aviv-New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04042479851595915698noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689679897453828827.post-6667803337072593652010-06-10T03:46:00.000-07:002010-06-10T03:54:38.824-07:00Getting the Word Out: Attempts to Show the “Other Side,” in the aftermath of the Gaza FlotillaFrom the moment I heard about the incident last week, I decided to work to show each side (Israeli and Turkish) the “other side.” When interviewed in Istanbul by the Emmanuel Rozen for Israel’s Second channel, I was skeptical of what the media wanted. Well it turned out that I, along with another Israeli friend, were “cut” from the show. Clearly, it was not the narrative he wanted to hear. We Istanbul-Tel Aviv-New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04042479851595915698noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689679897453828827.post-1276407288764756912010-06-04T10:15:00.000-07:002010-06-05T14:25:56.377-07:00Divided between Turkey and Israel: the Days following the Gaza Flotilla IncidentDuring the last few days I have been emotionally bombarded by the wave of reactions to the Gaza Flotilla Incident. My facebook page seemed to reflect my multiple personalities of living in three cities: Istanbul, Tel Aviv, and New York. One facebook friend placed a Israeli flag, with the star being replaced with a swastika, while another Turkish friend called to condemn all expression of Istanbul-Tel Aviv-New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04042479851595915698noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689679897453828827.post-76148148465719981132010-06-01T03:43:00.001-07:002010-06-01T03:55:52.984-07:00The Gaza Flotilla: the making of a Greek TragedyWhile I will be elaborating more on the Israeli attack on the Gaza Flotilla, today I will offer some limited thoughts. First and foremost, and most sadly, the outcome of foreign ships trying to break the Israeli blockade itself would not have reaped such a tragedy. However, once coupled with the Turkish contingent it was clear that both sides were in for a showdown. For me, the weekend was Istanbul-Tel Aviv-New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04042479851595915698noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689679897453828827.post-89368246318467619142010-05-20T11:06:00.000-07:002010-05-20T11:10:52.623-07:00The End of a school year, back to Istanbul, the CHP, and blocking ChomskyThe month of May is always a stormy season in academia: exams to grade and papers to read, the usual wishing the students on their way, with some taking the big/little step of graduation. For me, the end of May also has come to mean packing bags and heading back home to Istanbul and Tel Aviv. This year, however, is a bit different. I will be heading back for 14 months, and start to tackle the Istanbul-Tel Aviv-New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04042479851595915698noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689679897453828827.post-18169863618201201312010-04-17T11:46:00.001-07:002010-04-17T11:50:56.953-07:00Israel’s Sixty Second Independence DayWhen I first immigrated to Israel in 1988, I celebrated the 40 anniversary of the State. I was living in an immigrant home and would soon be joining the army. During those years, many of us really believed that peace was possible. Together with others in the political left, we fought for a country that would free themselves from occupying a whole people and demanded that Israel recognize the Istanbul-Tel Aviv-New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04042479851595915698noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689679897453828827.post-86948835303384613102010-03-22T09:12:00.000-07:002010-03-22T17:58:11.470-07:00Home to Israelis and Palestinians: Jerusalem, a Shared CityThrough his “slick” politics, Benjamin Netanyahu is doing more to ensure that Jerusalem will become the shared capital of Israel and Palestine than his “leftist” predecessors. I should make it clear that I made the transition to accepting the fate of Jerusalem years ago, while a student at Haifa University. Back then, in 1992, we, a group of Jews and Palestinians, declared this in unison. HoweverIstanbul-Tel Aviv-New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04042479851595915698noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689679897453828827.post-74427471286281472082010-03-07T21:21:00.001-08:002010-03-07T21:25:31.127-08:00Lest We Speak: the AKP and Freedom of ExpressionIn October 2009, when Israel protested a Turkish television, Turkey’s foreign minister, Ahmet Davutoğlu, stated the following, “there is no censorship in Turkey.”; if this was only the case. Jumping up to late February 2010, Prime Minister Erdoğan criticized Turkey’s columnists as negatively influencing the Turkish economy and called on the editors of the Turkish press basically to censure theirIstanbul-Tel Aviv-New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04042479851595915698noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689679897453828827.post-24527285682388526592010-02-22T22:31:00.001-08:002010-02-22T22:33:37.755-08:00One Year Later after the Israeli Elections: Yes, it is that Bad.One year has passed since the Israeli elections, when Benjamin Netanyahu so swiftly took the Knesset from the hands of Tzipi Livni, and it is safe to say that the present government has failed radically on a few fronts: Gilad Shalit, the peace process, and perhaps most of all, allowing Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon to continue to serve. Until now, I have not written much about the Israeli Istanbul-Tel Aviv-New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04042479851595915698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689679897453828827.post-75566342572781737632010-02-08T08:53:00.000-08:002010-02-09T09:03:31.737-08:00Turkey’s Forgotten Children: The Story of a 15-year old Girl named BerivanOften it is easier to ignore a situation than to write about it. Today’s entry is especially disturbing since it is about children who have become entangled in a political struggle, and as a result, have ended up with hefty prison terms. Further, outside of human rights organizations, it seems as most people, including Turkish citizens themselves, are unaware of the huge injustice which is takingIstanbul-Tel Aviv-New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04042479851595915698noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689679897453828827.post-36037665289019879962010-01-26T05:35:00.001-08:002010-01-26T06:06:22.109-08:00The Polarizing Sledge Hammer...In the first blog entry for the New Year, when I addressed the unsolved problems of 2009, which would continue to plague Turkey in 2010, I wrote the following:“…the AKP’s blatant insistence at trying to break the extrajudicial powers of the Turkish army under the context of the “Ergenekon Affair” is quite worrying to say the least. The arresting and trials of numerous secular and army officials Istanbul-Tel Aviv-New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04042479851595915698noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689679897453828827.post-41357393319379033972010-01-06T02:03:00.001-08:002010-01-06T02:10:39.384-08:002010…More of the Same?For me it seemed like 2009 never ended. In fact, in terms of Turkey, Israel, and Palestine, we have seen more of the same. There were no major breakthroughs on all fronts, just a continuing bleakness which very well might continue through 2010. Immediately, before writing this, I read bits and pieces of my yearly horoscope thinking to myself that it would be great if I could look into the stars Istanbul-Tel Aviv-New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04042479851595915698noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689679897453828827.post-42258969862547796452009-11-01T23:03:00.000-08:002009-11-02T06:40:35.172-08:00A Turn Towards the Future which Will Preserve the PastSummer 2009Part three of the summer series:Following my trip to Canakkale (part two of summer series), I was invited with a group of friends to travel to the northeast of Turkey, beginning in Kars and ending in Trabzon. Disembarking from the plane in Kars, on the lone tarmac, I first realized the beautiful and the never-ending blue sky and the green steppe, with hills rolling off into the Istanbul-Tel Aviv-New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04042479851595915698noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689679897453828827.post-79017733544500578242009-10-21T20:36:00.000-07:002009-10-21T21:58:35.400-07:00Turkey: The Ball is in Your CourtTurkey: the Ball is in Your CourtAs an Israeli living in Turkey off-and-on for a decade, I have seen relations between the two countries quickly deteriorate during the last year. Groups hostile to Israel have always existed and anti-Semitic conspiracy theories during the last few years have become somewhat of a norm. However, following last year’s war between Israel and Hamas, the two countries Istanbul-Tel Aviv-New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04042479851595915698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689679897453828827.post-27754563683111614932009-10-04T21:05:00.000-07:002009-10-04T21:41:58.287-07:00Summer 2009 Part TwoPart Two of the Summer SeriesThe First Trip: CanakkaleMoving beyond Istanbul, is similar to moving beyond New York, and in some senses Tel Aviv. The urban bubble which I have chosen to close myself in –at least for now- is hard to exit. I find myself stuck within clear cut borders unable to exit. Since being in New York for example, I never venture beyond a few neighborhoods in Brooklyn and Istanbul-Tel Aviv-New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04042479851595915698noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689679897453828827.post-34397304552751914092009-09-06T23:03:00.000-07:002009-09-06T23:07:14.177-07:00Summer 2009 Part ISummer 2009August 24, 2009 (submitted September 5, 2009)Dear Istanbul-Tel Aviv-New York Blog readers:After a long summer break and an even longer time since I submitted a new piece, I have returned to my laptop. Now that the summer has almost come to an end, I sit here in Pangalti, Istanbul, and ponder over what made this summer different than the others. In 11 days, I will return to Brooklyn Istanbul-Tel Aviv-New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04042479851595915698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689679897453828827.post-90820081375317181092009-04-09T10:27:00.000-07:002009-04-09T10:37:16.890-07:00One out of Four (Netanyahu’s Government): A Political TravestyLast week, after over six weeks of wheeling and dealing, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu finally presented his government to the Israeli parliament and its people. Yes, the 32nd Knesset has received its new list of ministers and including the Prime Minister there are 30 of them; essentially meaning one out of every four Knesset members are now a minister. The phenomenon of the IsraeliIstanbul-Tel Aviv-New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04042479851595915698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689679897453828827.post-70783199740158535962009-03-29T23:52:00.000-07:002009-03-29T23:59:00.971-07:00A Non-Victorious Victory: the AK Party’s Reality CheckYesterday, local elections were held in Turkey and there certainly were a few surprises, showing Prime Minister Erdogan that his popularity has its limits. Certainly, the religiously conservative ruling AK party (AKP) has seen its greatest challenge since coming to power in the national elections of 2002. In comparison to the local election of 2004, when they received 42% of the vote, and to Istanbul-Tel Aviv-New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04042479851595915698noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689679897453828827.post-62618738476935989062009-03-21T15:31:00.000-07:002009-03-21T15:42:12.410-07:00Internal-Exile and the Gaza CampaignThe truth is I am happy that I started this blog after Israel’s recent Gaza invasion. When the invasion started I was beginning to come to terms with the fact that after 8 months on leave from my work in New York, I only had one more month left in Israel to enjoy. I arrived in Tel Aviv in July after a month in Turkey, and decided that I would spend the six months not being an activist or Istanbul-Tel Aviv-New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04042479851595915698noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689679897453828827.post-8381487827983203052009-03-11T09:10:00.000-07:002009-03-11T09:12:52.081-07:00Turkey and the Warmth of the SpringPerhaps, winter has taken its toll and we are all waiting for the spring to come. In Turkey, spring is always the period when things start to warm up. This spring will likely include the regular events, such as renewed clashes between the Turkish Armed Forces and the PKK, the tension which comes with the spring holiday of Newruz, and Istanbul’s urban clashes on May 1.Every spring as the snow Istanbul-Tel Aviv-New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04042479851595915698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689679897453828827.post-38239558088615950262009-02-28T23:41:00.001-08:002009-02-28T23:42:11.545-08:00Livni Sets the Bar: Anything less than a Two-State Solution is UnacceptableTwo weeks ago, when I submitted my post on the Israeli elections, I called for the formation of a unity government. Together the Likud and Kadima could have offered the Israeli electorate for the first time in years a strong government which represented the majority of the state’s electorate. With Shimon Peres calling on Benjamin Netanyahu to form a government just a little over a week ago, it Istanbul-Tel Aviv-New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04042479851595915698noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689679897453828827.post-78355395596043954062009-02-19T14:05:00.001-08:002009-02-19T14:06:57.278-08:00Some Post-Davos Thoughts on Israel and TurkeyFor those who have only sufficed in watching Erdogan lose his temper and storm off the stage at the Davos conference, I highly recommend watching Erdogan and Peres’ speeches in their entirety. Both demonstrate a high level of discourse and address important points. Perhaps, the fiasco could have been derailed if moderator David Ignatius would not have been so rigid and allowed the Turkish PrimeIstanbul-Tel Aviv-New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04042479851595915698noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689679897453828827.post-36971963029778752222009-02-12T08:13:00.000-08:002009-02-12T08:41:16.593-08:00Bibi and Tzipi: Listen to the Electorate!With no clear winner in the elections, both Benjamin Netanyahu and Tzipi Livni need to rise above their egos (and parties) and to accept the fact that they hold the key to a center-right national unity government, which could bring one of the most stable governments Israel has seen in decades. This is not a stretch of the imagination; it is common sense.Benjamin Netanyahu needs to understand thatIstanbul-Tel Aviv-New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04042479851595915698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7689679897453828827.post-1473763141729464862009-02-08T22:20:00.001-08:002009-02-08T22:20:50.238-08:00Istanbul-New York-Tel Aviv:After leaving the US when I was 18 years old, I have yet to stay in one place for more than a few years, with most of my time being divided between Israel, Turkey, and the US (thus the name Istanbul-New York-Tel Aviv). In addition, I have visited Egypt and Jordan numerous times, and was also lucky to have visited Oman. My education was similarly divided between IsraelIstanbul-Tel Aviv-New Yorkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04042479851595915698noreply@blogger.com1