Emanuele Ottolenghi is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the author of Iran: the Looming Crisis (Profile Books: 2010)
Not-so-revolutionary Rouhani
Hassan Rouhani, Iran’s president, and his new administration want to save the Islamic Revolution, not reform it
- 2 April 2014
The Rouhani delusion
Thanks to sanctions, the West was winning the race against a nuclear Iran. There is a good chance now that Iran will be the victor due to our own incompetence and naivety
- 29 December 2013
No deal with Iran
The United States and other powers appear resigned to conceding, in the final stage of a future agreement with Iran, that Tehran has a right to enrich uranium. They're wrong to be
- 9 December 2013
Netanyahu, Syria and the Spanish Civil War
As the UN and the US cosy up to Iran and allow Assad to stay in power, Israel’s leader will go his own way to save his country
- 7 November 2013
Hamlet of the White House
Obama found it easier to perform the role of critical intellectual than commander-in-chief. All the regional MidEast players sense his weakness and confusion
- 25 September 2013
Overrated: Hassan Rouhani
Iran's new president is seen by many as a moderate. In fact he is an unrepentant hardliner
- 8 September 2013
Underrated: Benjamin Netanyahu
Israel's 'hawkish' prime minister is a wise pragmatist with a deft touch amid regional chaos
- 4 September 2013
What are Western vital interests in the Middle East?
Western governments should seek to clearly define their interests; understand how best to promote them; and balance them with a long-term commitment to democratisation
- 20 August 2013
Is Jemima Khan using relativism to defend polygamy?
Ms Khan has found a way to justify polygamy in the name of multicultural integration and, bizarrely, the right of women to equal protection under the law
- 24 April 2013
Palestine's strangely stubborn state of mind
Half a century of lost battles taught mightier powers to change their mindset – think of Germany after two world wars. The Palestinians never seem to learn
- 8 December 2012
Wake up call for Swedish social democrats: Julian Assange is friendly with dictators!
The Left's judgement of Assange, from the start of the Wikileaks saga, has been far too lenient
- 23 August 2012
Why crunch time is coming for Israel and Iran
Those who claim Israel will take its biggest gamble since its independence in an operation that could at best gain time and at worst leave Israel as an isolated and weakened country, might be right after all
- 21 August 2012
Of masterstrokes and apoplectic strokes
Netanyahu has strengthened his hand significantly but not for the reasons spouted by the left
- 9 May 2012
Iran’s march for "martyrs" to Jerusalem
Participants in the Global March to Jerusalem approach Israel's borders today and, in the process, become weapons in Iran's foreign policy arsenal
- 30 March 2012
Austerity for Europe – increased EU aid for the Palestinians
The EU is set to blunder into a new funding fiasco for the Palestinians. Why should the European taxpayer be asked to throw yet more money at a hopeless cause?
- 27 November 2011
Latest on the blog
- NY Democrat pleads with Republican not to share document proposing confiscation of guns
- Sunday Times blood libel cartoon, on Holocaust Memorial Day no less
- Oregon woman raped after police refuse to send out response unit
- Palestinian jailed for Facebook like
- 'Muslim Patrol' vigilantes attempt to control London streets
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