Shemuel Meir

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Ehud Barak, Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi, and Air Force commander Ido Nehoshtanas inspect an F-15, August 11, 2009. (Edo Israel/Flash90)

The attack on Iran that wasn’t: Ehud Barak’s autobiography

As Israel’s defense minister, Ehud Barak was determined to carry out a military strike against Iran’s nuclear program. His book provides the tools to examine the limitations of the U.S.-Israeli relationship and the considerations Israeli leaders put into the decision to go to war. By Shemuel Meir “My Country, My Life: Fighting for Israel, Searching…

By +972 Magazine January 17, 2019

The ‘Magic Wand’ missile interceptor (Israeli Defense Ministry)

Iranian missile launch shows Israeli deterrence is working

There was a lot of spin in the coverage of Iran’s missile strikes on ISIS in Syria last week. We can learn more from what Israel’s leadership didn’t say than what it did. By Shemuel Meir An extraordinary strategic event took place last week in the Middle East, when Iran launched surface-to-surface missiles against targets…

By +972 Magazine June 28, 2017

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry delivers remarks on Middle East peace, Washington, DC, December 28, 2016. (State Dept Photo)

The real impact of UN Resolution 2334 has yet to come

The heart of the UN Security Council resolution condemning Israeli settlements is territorial, picking up where 242 left off almost 50 years ago. It will also likely serve as the framework for this month’s Paris Peace Conference. By Shemuel Meir UN Security Council resolution 2334 caught Prime Minister Netanyahu off guard. Out of the clear…

By +972 Magazine January 9, 2017

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U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry speaks to then Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Oren, Tel Aviv, April 9, 2013. (State Dept photo)

Why Michael Oren’s diplomatic plan doesn’t hold water

The esteemed historian, former Israeli ambassador to the U.S. and CNN commentator is now back in Israel running for public office, and he has a plan. The problem is it doesn’t align with the facts. By Shemuel Meir It turns out that “spin” isn’t exclusively in the Israel’s prime minister’s domain. Michael Oren, Israel’s former…

By +972 Magazine January 14, 2015

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry sits sits with his fellow P5+1 foreign ministers -- as well as EU High Representative Catherine Ashton and Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, far right -- at the UN Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, after the group concluded negotiations about Iran's nuclear capabilities on November 24, 2013. (State Dept. photo)

Iranian nuclear talks: Not what Israel wants you to believe

How are the Iranian nuclear talks really going? The answer is: very well, thanks for asking. By Shemuel Meir Contrary to what some in Israel would have you believe, the Iranian nuclear talks are not stalled and are proceeding full steam ahead. Between official meetings in Vienna, the technical talks are continuing – and those talks…

By +972 Magazine March 28, 2014