Views and positions expressed here are those of the writer, and do not necessarily represent NJN's views and policy positions. |
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Gaza: Trump's show, not Israel's show Q. At last week’s Davos conclave, we witnessed a group of billionaires from Trump’s Board of Peace declaring the beginning of phase II of Trump’s Gaza peace plan in grandiose fashion. Realistic? A. I was reminded of an appearance I made at a ‘Davos in the Middle East’ conference a few years ago at a Dead Sea resort in Jordan. I was on a panel with senior ministers and commentators from the region and beyond, discussing some very problematic aspects of the region’s many conflicts and crises, in Davos-style soundbites. My turn to talk would come last. As I listened to those speaking before me, I was struck by what seemed to be a bizarre and totally unrealistic note of artificial optimism. I resolved to set things straight with a dose of realism: grim facts, grim assessments. No one reacted; no one commented. My panel’s session ended and the conference room emptied out. As we walked out, a prominent Israeli industrialist took me aside. “Yossi,” he said. “Don’t spoil the show. The idea at these Davos conferences is to radiate optimism that nourishes an investment climate. It’s all about business. No room for realism.” |
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Yossi Alpher is an independent security analyst. He is the former director of the Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies at Tel Aviv University, a former senior official with the Mossad, and a former IDF intelligence officer. |
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Views and positions expressed here are those of the writer, and do not necessarily represent NJN's views and policy positions. |
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Legislative Round-Up, January 23, 2026 ————————— 1. Bills & Resolutions (TO DENATURALIZE PEOPLE WHO STAND WITH PALESTINIAN LIVES/RIGHTS) HR 7156 [bill text]: Introduced 1/20/26 by Emmer (R-MN) and 42 Republican cosponsors, the “Stop Citizenship Abuse and Misrepresentation (SCAM) Act,” aka, “To expand and clarify the grounds for civil denaturalization proceedings for individuals who have defrauded a governmental program, joined a terrorist organization, or committed certain criminal offenses.” Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. NOTE: On 1/19/25, Sen. Schmidt (R-MO) issued a press release announcing the introduction of the same bill in the Senate (it has not actually been introduced yet – stay tuned). |
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