Nobel Prize in Chemistry delivers painful reminder of Israel’s recent brain drain

On October 9, 2013, three men were awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, two of whom were Israeli. In fact, Arieh Warshel and Michael Levitt are the fifth and sixth Israelis to attain this honor within the past decade, an achievement of impossible statistical…

Idan Raichel Performs at UCLA

On October 10, the Idan Raichel Project performed a sold-out concert at UCLA’s Royce Hall. It was sponsored by the Center for the Art of Performance at UCLA, the Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for Israel Studies, UCLA Asia Institute,…

Israel’s new Finance Minister Yair Lapid: no qualifications, no experience

When searching for candidates to fill an available employment opportunity, a firm will invariably include, in bold print, a section entitled “Qualifications” within the job description. The purpose of this vital and ever-powerful section is, above all, a time-saving one…

Toward a more humble Middle East policy: a post-uprising update from Dr. Robert Malley

May 20, 2013 — When told by the student introducing the event that he would be expected to offer his thoughts on the aftermath of the Arab Spring, Dr. Robert Malley retorted that the events to which she referred were…

Fatah outraged over soccer match between young Israeli Jews and Palestinians

Once again, Fatah, the Palestinian political party led by Mahmoud Abbas, has shown that peaceful intentions are not on its agenda. The Jerusalem Post reports that “Mifalot, an organization seeking to promote peaceful coexistence through sports” organized a soccer tournament…

Arming Syrian rebels could threaten Israel’s security

As the death toll continues to climb in Syria’s bloody, two-year-old civil war, concerns over Israel’s security mount as well, over the various embargoes against supplying arms to the rebel forces. As the European Union and other countries are considering…

Israel’s dilemma: how to deal with illegal immigrants

On Sunday, it was reported that more than 300 of Israel’s Saharonim Detention Center detainees refused to return to their individual cells in protest, saying that they are being held illegally, against their will, and that they vehemently demand their…

Prospects for a post-Ahmadinejad Iran: new president, fewer distractions

The 11th Iranian presidential elections, scheduled for June 14, are fast approaching, and as election day draws near, many prospective presidential candidates (they must be approved by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei before they can run) are publicly distancing themselves from…

Silicon Wadi: Israel’s economic future

Chances are, you have heard of Silicon Valley. Often mistakenly attributed to successful entrepreneur Ralph Vaerst, the term “Silicon Valley” refers to a large swath of Bay Area land replete with both large and small technology firms — the growth…

The “Gaza Doctor” Abuelaish: Feminism Will Deliver Peace to the Middle East

As a part of Kehillat Israel’s (a Reconstructionist Congregation in Los Angeles) “Week of Civil Discourse,” put on by the Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for Israel Studies at UCLA, Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish was invited to speak in Broad Hall…