DOCSLIB.ORG

Israel Report

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

To provide greater exposure to primary Israeli news sources and opinions in order to become better informed on the issues, and to gain a better understanding of the wide range of perspectives that exist in Israeli society and politics. Issue 1003 • April 22, 2016 • Erev Pesach 5776 ISRAEL PUTS BILLIONS INTO MULTI-LAYER GAZA TUNNEL BARRIER The decision came following instructions with the government, as well as a (Israel Hayom 4/20/16) security evaluation, the IDF Spokesperson's Unit said. The closure will be The defense establishment is expected to finish installing a state of the art lifted on April 24, "in line with a [security] evaluation," the IDF added. counter-tunnel barrier along the Israel-Gaza Strip border within two years, Meanwhile, Israel's security establishment has raised its level of alert in Israel Hayom learned on Tuesday. preparation for a feared rise in terrorist attacks during the Passover holiday, The project, dubbed "Hourglass," is estimated at billions of shekels, and which starts on Friday evening. according to one defense official, its development enjoys unlimited funds. According to estimates, the various gatherings of crowds during the holiday The barrier's blueprints are the product of cross-platform development present targets that are more available and "valuable" for terrorists. involving top Military Intelligence, Engineering Corps, and Shin Bet security Therefore, IDF forces in the West Bank and police in Jerusalem will be agency officers, civilian engineering and infrastructure contractors, and bolstered during the period. tunnel construction experts. "We must make sure that the gatherings do not become targets for terror The project's premise follows a pessimistic security scenario, suggesting the attacks," The Jerusalem Post's sister publication Ma'ariv quoted a security recently discovered terror tunnel under the Gaza border was just one in an source as saying. "The weather is better, there are more people traveling, extensive grid of underground passageways. and more people outside." The planned barrier has been described as "multi-tiered" defenses, which "We are prepared for a significant escalation during the holiday period," the strive to meet a wide variety of threats above and underground. It security source added. "We have had a relative calm streak, but we are incorporates innovative measures, including sensor technology to detect preparing for an escalation to break out - and the timing is [during] the underground excavation, and unique engineering technology. The barrier will holiday period." also feature a state-of-the-art fence, complete with sensors, observation Security forces this year will be dispatched to warn travelers against balloons, see-shoot systems, and intelligence gathering measures, as well as accidental entrance into Area A of the West Bank. an underground wall. In addition, Route 10 which runs along Israel's border with Egypt, the The Sentry-Tech "see-shoot" system, produced by Rafael Advanced Defense northern Gaza Strip and the Sayerim junction in the South will remain closed Systems, is a remote controlled sensors and weapons system, already depending on the situation during Passover. deployed along the Israel-Egypt border. Meanwhile on Thursday, Channel 2 reported that Israel’s army chief told The military has also deployed a series of sophisticated detection systems, government ministers on Thursday that the Palestinian Authority has boosted some of which are experimental, along the volatile Gaza border. The systems its efforts to combat terrorism aimed at Israeli soldiers and civilians. join the heavy machinery used by combat engineering forces routinely IDF Lt.-Gen. Gadi Eisenkot briefed the security cabinet on Thursday, telling deployed in the area, who are tasked with clearing the border fence of ministers that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas had ordered explosives planted by terrorists. his forces to clamp down on anti-Israel incitement on social media. HAMAS MEMBERS ARRESTED IN JERUSALEM BUS BOMBING CASE Israel Report is a Student Publication of (YNet 4/21/16) The Jerusalem Police released a statement Thursday, saying, “Through Daniel Zolty, Editor-in-Chief Yonatan Kurz, Moshe Davis, Yosef Segal and Eli Levine, Editors intensive intelligence and field activity, the Shin Bet, the Israel Police, and the We are proud to be distributed by these institutions, though they do not necessarily support or condone IDF arrested a number of suspects about a day after the attack on the any of the material published: Jerusalem bus – Hamas suspects from the Bethlehem area – who are Anshei Chesed Cong., Boynton Beach, FL Hillel at California State University - Long Beach Bergen County High School of Jewish Studies Hillel at Columbia University suspected of being involved in planning the attack and executing it. Their Boca Raton Synagogue, FL Hillel at Johns Hopkins University questioning is in progress, and their identities are classified.” It was also Carmel School, Hong Kong Hillel at Yale University Chabad of Oak Park, CA Hillel High School, Deal NJ officially confirmed that the person who was killed in the attack, which also Cong. Agudath Achim, Bradley Beach, NJ Jewish Center of Teaneck, NJ wounded 20, is the terrorist who committed it. Cong. Ahavas Achim, Highland Park, NJ Kehillas Bais Yehudah Tzvi, Cedarhurst, NY Cong. Ahavath Achim, Fairfield, CT Kemp Mill Synagogue, Silver Spring, MD The official statement also said that “it has been cleared for publication that Cong. Anshe Shalom, Jamaica Estates, NY Mizrachi Shul, Johannesburg, SA the critically wounded man from the attack, who died at the Shaare Zedek Cong. Beth Aaron, Teaneck, NJ North Shore Hebrew Academy HS, NY Cong. Beth Shalom, Monroe Twp, NJ Suburban Torah Center, Livingston, NJ hospital, is the terrorist who perpetrated the attack on the Egged line 12 bus.” Cong. Bnai Yeshurun, Teaneck, NJ The Learning Shul, Columbia, SC “The terrorist, Abd al-Hamid Abu Srur, (who was) about 19 years old, (was a) Cong. Ohr Torah, Edison, NJ Woodsburgh, NY Minyan resident of Beit Jala and affiliated with the Hamas movement, was, as stated, Cong. Rinat Yisrael, Teaneck, NJ Young Israel Bet Tefilah of Aberdeen, NJ Cong. Shomrei Torah, Fair Lawn, NJ Young Israel of Brookline, MA critically wounded during the perpetration of the attack and died of his Cong. Sons of Israel, Allentown, PA Young Israel of East Brunswick, NJ wounds (on Wednesday) at the hospital. The attack wounded 20 civilians, Cong. Zichron Mordechai, Teaneck, NJ Young Israel of Fort Lee, NJ Cong. Zichron R. M. Feinstein, Brooklyn, NY Young Israel of Hancock Park, CA one of them severely, seven moderately, and the others lightly.” Delray Orthodox Synagogue, Delray Beach, FL Young Israel of Holliswood, NY East Denver Orthodox Synagogue, CO Young Israel of Houston, TX Flatbush Park Jewish Center, Mill Basin, NY Young Israel of New Hyde Park, NY IDF IMPOSES GENERAL CLOSURE ON WEST BANK AHEAD OF Harvard University Library Young Israel of North Woodmere, NY PASSOVER (JPost 4/21/16) Hebrew Academy of Long Beach, NY Young Israel of New Rochelle, NY Hillel at Baruch College Young Israel of Sharon, MA The IDF imposed a general closure on the West Bank and shut down Gaza Hillel at Brandeis University YI Shomrai Emunah, Silver Spring, MD border crossings on Thursday night. The closure will continue throughout the We encourage our readers to subscribe to our sources on the internet. For more information or to Passover period, the military announced on Thursday. subscribe by e-mail, reach us at [email protected] 2 'ISRAEL GIVES JORDAN AND EGYPT INTEL AID IN ANTI-ISIS FIGHT' National Security Archive on Thursday, shedding light on Israel’s attempts to (Israel Hayom 4/21/16) hide one of its best-kept secrets to this day: details on its nuclear program. Israel provides Jordan and Egypt with intelligence assistance in their fight The Americans ultimately believed the Israelis were providing “untruthful against the Islamic State group, a senior Israeli military officer said on cover” about intentions to build a bomb. Wednesday. Egypt made peace with Israel in 1979, followed by Jordan in The documents include papers from the White House, the State Department, 1994. They are the only Arab countries to have peace treaties with Israel, a the Atomic Energy Commission and U.S. intelligence agencies. The editors matter unpopular with many Egyptians and Jordanians and which generally are Avner Cohen, a professor at the Middlebury Institute of International keeps their governments quiet about their ties with Israel. Studies at Monterey, and William Burr, the head of nuclear affairs Deputy IDF Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Yair Golan said in a press briefing on documentation at the National Security Archive, which is based at George Wednesday that the two countries were working with Israel as they try to beat Washington University in the capital. back Islamic State. One document provides the minutes of a meeting between U.S. President "Egypt fights the Islamic State in the Sinai Peninsula," Golan said. "Jordan is John F. Kennedy and Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion on May 30, 1961, at terrified by the presence of the Islamic State in Jordan's cities and towns. the Waldorf Astoria in New York. And we try to work with them in order to contribute to their security." Cohen and Burr call that meeting a “nuclear conference” – Israel’s nuclear The help, said Golan, came "mainly by providing our intelligence, and you do program greatly concerned Kennedy. When he met his predecessor Dwight know that while fighting all sorts of insurgency, intelligence is the most D. Eisenhower before the changeover of January 20, 1961, he was quick to important element in the whole system." ask which countries Ike believed were determined to obtain nuclear Despite deeming this military cooperation as unprecedented, Golan weapons. cautioned: "I wouldn't describe that as some sort of reconciliation between Secretary of State Christian Herter replied: “India and Israel,” before the people.
Recommended publications
  • Download File

    Download File

    Columbia University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Human Rights Studies Master of Arts Program Silencing “Breaking the Silence”: The Israeli government’s agenda respecting human rights NGOs activism since 2009 Ido Dembin Thesis Adviser: Prof. Yinon Cohen Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts 12 September, 2018 Abstract This research examines a key aspect in the deterioration of Israeli democracy between 2009-2018. Mainly, it looks at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Right-wing governments utilization of legislative procedure to limit the right to free speech. The aspects of the right to free speech discussed here pertain to dissenting and critical activism against these government’s policies. The suppression of said right is manifested in the marginalization, delegitimization and ultimately silencing of its expression in Human Rights NGOs activism. To demonstrate this, the research presents a case study of one such NGO – “Breaking the Silence” – and the legal and political actions designed to cause its eventual ousting from mainstream Israeli discourse. The research focuses on the importance and uniqueness of this NGO, as well as the ways in which the government perceives and acts against it. First, it analyzes the NGO’s history, modus operandi and goals, emphasizing the uniqueness that makes it a particularly fascinating case. Then, it researches the government’s specific interest in crippling and limiting its influence. Finally, it highlights the government’s toolbox and utilization thereof against it. By shining a light on this case, the research seeks to show the process of watering down of a fundamental right within Israeli democracy – which is instrumental to understanding the state’s risk of decline towards illiberal democracy.
  • 4.Employment Education Hebrew Arnona Culture and Leisure

    4.Employment Education Hebrew Arnona Culture and Leisure

    Did you know? Jerusalem has... STARTUPS OVER OPERATING IN THE CITY OVER SITES AND 500 SYNAGOGUES 1200 39 MUSEUMS ALTITUDE OF 630M CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS COMMUNITY 51 AND ARTS CENTERS 27 MANAGERS ( ) Aliyah2Jerusalem ( ) Aliyah2Jerusalem JERUSALEM IS ISRAEL’S STUDENTS LARGEST CITY 126,000 DUNAM Graphic design by OVER 40,000 STUDYING IN THE CITY 50,000 VOLUNTEERS Illustration by www.rinatgilboa.com • Learning centers are available throughout the city at the local Provide assistance for olim to help facilitate a smooth absorption facilities. The centers offer enrichment and study and successful integration into Jerusalem. programs for school age children. • Jerusalem offers a large selection of public and private schools Pre - Aliyah Services 2 within a broad religious spectrum. Also available are a broad range of learning methods offered by specialized schools. Assistance in registration for municipal educational frameworks. Special in Jerusalem! Assistance in finding residence, and organizing community needs. • Tuition subsidies for Olim who come to study in higher education and 16 Community Absorption Coordinators fit certain criteria. Work as a part of the community administrations throughout the • Jerusalem is home to more than 30 institutions of higher education city; these coordinators offer services in educational, cultural, sports, that are recognized by the Student Authority of the Ministry of administrative and social needs for Olim at the various community Immigration & Absorption. Among these schools is Hebrew University – centers.
  • Learning to Extract International Relations from Political Context

    Learning to Extract International Relations from Political Context

    Learning to Extract International Relations from Political Context Brendan O’Connor Brandon M. Stewart Noah A. Smith School of Computer Science Department of Government School of Computer Science Carnegie Mellon University Harvard University Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA Cambridge, MA 02139, USA Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Abstract model of the relationship between a pair of polit- ical actors imposes a prior distribution over types We describe a new probabilistic model of linguistic events. Our probabilistic model in- for extracting events between major polit- fers latent frames, each a distribution over textual ical actors from news corpora. Our un- expressions of a kind of event, as well as a repre- supervised model brings together famil- sentation of the relationship between each political iar components in natural language pro- actor pair at each point in time. We use syntactic cessing (like parsers and topic models) preprocessing and a logistic normal topic model, with contextual political information— including latent temporal smoothing on the politi- temporal and dyad dependence—to in- cal context prior. fer latent event classes. We quantita- tively evaluate the model’s performance We apply the model in a series of compar- on political science benchmarks: recover- isons to benchmark datasets in political science. ing expert-assigned event class valences, First, we compare the automatically learned verb and detecting real-world conflict. We also classes to a pre-existing ontology and hand-crafted 1 conduct a small case study based on our verb patterns from TABARI, an open-source and model’s inferences.
  • Hamas Type of Organization

    Hamas Type of Organization

    Hamas Name: Hamas Type of Organization: Political religious social service provider terrorist violent Ideologies and Affiliations: Islamist jihadist Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated group pan-Islamist Qutbist Sunni Place of Origin: Gaza Strip Year of Origin: 1987 Founder(s): Ahmed Yassin, Mahmoud Zahar, Hassan Yousef, Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi, Mohammed Hassan Shama’a, Abdul Fattah Hassan Dukhan, Ibrahim Fares Al-Yazouri, Salah Shahada (Founder of the Qassam Brigades), Issa Al-Nashar Places of Operation: Gaza Strip, West Bank, Israel, Qatar, Egypt, Lebanon, Iran Overview Also Known As: Harakat al-Muqawana al-Islamiya (Islamic Resistance Movement); Al-Tiar Al-Islami (The Islamic Stream); Al-Athja Al-Islami (The Islamic Trend)1 Executive Summary Hamas is an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood [1] that emerged in the Gaza Strip in the late 1980s, during the first Palestinian intifada (uprising) against Israel. The group’s ideology blends Islamism and Palestinian nationalism and seeks the destruction of Israel and the creation of an Islamic state between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River.Since 2017, Hamas claims to have severed its ties to the Brotherhood. The group also receives financial and military support from Iran. Qatar has also provided significant funding for the group. Hamas uses its provision of social services to build support amongst grassroots Palestinians, helping it to win the 2006 Palestinian legislative elections. However, the group’s engagement in politics and welfare has not tempered its commitment to terrorism. Hamas’s preferred methods include suicide bombings, rocket and mortar attacks, shootings, and kidnappings. Hamas as a whole or its armed faction have been labeled terrorist organizations by the United States, Israel, the United Kingdom, the European Union, New Zealand, Australia, and Japan.
  • Suicide Terrorists in the Current Conflict

    Suicide Terrorists in the Current Conflict

    Israeli Security Agency [logo] Suicide Terrorists in the Current Conflict September 2000 - September 2007 L_C089061 Table of Contents: Foreword...........................................................................................................................1 Suicide Terrorists - Personal Characteristics................................................................2 Suicide Terrorists Over 7 Years of Conflict - Geographical Data...............................3 Suicide Attacks since the Beginning of the Conflict.....................................................5 L_C089062 Israeli Security Agency [logo] Suicide Terrorists in the Current Conflict Foreword Since September 2000, the State of Israel has been in a violent and ongoing conflict with the Palestinians, in which the Palestinian side, including its various organizations, has carried out attacks against Israeli citizens and residents. During this period, over 27,000 attacks against Israeli citizens and residents have been recorded, and over 1000 Israeli citizens and residents have lost their lives in these attacks. Out of these, 155 (May 2007) attacks were suicide bombings, carried out against Israeli targets by 178 (August 2007) suicide terrorists (male and female). (It should be noted that from 1993 up to the beginning of the conflict in September 2000, 38 suicide bombings were carried out by 43 suicide terrorists). Despite the fact that suicide bombings constitute 0.6% of all attacks carried out against Israel since the beginning of the conflict, the number of fatalities in these attacks is around half of the total number of fatalities, making suicide bombings the most deadly attacks. From the beginning of the conflict up to August 2007, there have been 549 fatalities and 3717 casualties as a result of 155 suicide bombings. Over the years, suicide bombing terrorism has become the Palestinians’ leading weapon, while initially bearing an ideological nature in claiming legitimate opposition to the occupation.
  • Compulsory Military Service As a Social Integrator

    Compulsory Military Service As a Social Integrator

    https://securityandefence.pl/ Compulsory military service as a social integrator Ronen Itsik [email protected] https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2452-9430 Adam Mickiewicz University, ul. Wieniawskiego 1, 61-712 Poznan, Poland Abstract Compulsory military service has become very rare over the last 30 years, in the western world. In the past, most countries con- sidered military service as a socialisation platform, given the fact that most of the population was recruited and military units were a "meeting point" for different cultures – because of that the service then was functional as a social integrator. The current research studied changes in social attitude during compulsory military service in Israel, where the society is considered to be es- sentially divided around ethnical and national issues. This study is based on an analysis of the attitudes of 3200 internet ques- tionnaire participants via social networks in Israel, followed by a U-test of the collected data. Half of the participants were high-school students (average age 17) and half of them discharged soldiers (average age 23). Analysis of the results reveals sig- nificant evidence: discharged soldiers tend to be more tolerant then high-school students with regard to other cultures and eth- nic origins. A discharged IDF soldier is less afraid of security threats and considers budget prioritisation towards social welfare to be more important than security challenges. These findings show that compulsory military service can still be effective as a so- cial integrator, even in the post-modern world where countries are dealing with migration issues and ethno-national tensions. Keywords: social integration, defence belief, security threat, post-modern army Article info Received: 30 April 2020 Revised: 20 June 2020 Accepted: 26 June 2020 Available online: 4 September 2020 DOI: http://doi.org/10.35467/sdq/124710 © 2020 R.
  • The Struggle for Hegemony in Jerusalem Secular and Ultra-Orthodox Urban Politics

    The Struggle for Hegemony in Jerusalem Secular and Ultra-Orthodox Urban Politics

    THE FLOERSHEIMER INSTITUTE FOR POLICY STUDIES The Struggle for Hegemony in Jerusalem Secular and Ultra-Orthodox Urban Politics Shlomo Hasson Jerusalem, October 2002 Translator: Yoram Navon Principal Editor: Shunamith Carin Preparation for Print: Ruth Lerner Printed by: Ahva Press, Ltd. ISSN 0792-6251 Publication No. 4/12e © 2002, The Floersheimer Institute for Policy Studies, Ltd. 9A Diskin Street, Jerusalem 96440 Israel Tel. 972-2-5666243; Fax. 972-2-5666252 [email protected] www.fips.org.il 2 About the Author Shlomo Hasson - Professor of Geography at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and deputy director of The Floersheimer Institute for Policy Studies. About the Research This book reviews the struggle for hegemony in Jerusalem between secular and ultra-orthodox (haredi) Jews. It examines the democratic deficit in urban politics formed by the rise of the haredi minority to power, and proposes ways to rectify this deficit. The study addresses the following questions: What are the characteristics of the urban democratic deficit? How did the haredi minority become a leading political force in the city? What are the implications of the democratic deficit from the perspective of the various cultural groups? What can be done in view of the fact that the non-haredi population is not only under-represented but also feels threatened and prejudiced by urban politics initiated by the city council? About the Floersheimer Institute for Policy Studies In recent years the importance of policy-oriented research has been increasingly acknowledged. Dr. Stephen H. Floersheimer initiated the establishment of a research institute that would concentrate on studies of long- range policy issues.
  • The Upper Kidron Valley

    The Upper Kidron Valley

    Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies Founded by the Charles H. Revson Foundation The Upper Kidron Valley Conservation and Development in the Visual Basin of the Old City of Jerusalem Editor: Israel Kimhi Jerusalem 2010 Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies – Study No. 398 The Upper Kidron Valley Conservation and Development in the Visual Basin of the Old City of Jerusalem Editor: Israel Kimhi This publication was made possible thanks to the assistance of the Richard and Rhoda Goldman Fund, San Francisco. 7KHFRQWHQWRIWKLVGRFXPHQWUHÀHFWVWKHDXWKRUV¶RSLQLRQRQO\ Photographs: Maya Choshen, Israel Kimhi, and Flash 90 Linguistic editing (Hebrew): Shlomo Arad Production and printing: Hamutal Appel Pagination and design: Esti Boehm Translation: Sagir International Translations Ltd. © 2010, The Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies Hay Elyachar House 20 Radak St., Jerusalem 92186 http://www.jiis.org E-mail: [email protected] Research Team Israel Kimhi – head of the team and editor of the report Eran Avni – infrastructures, public participation, tourism sites Amir Eidelman – geology Yair Assaf-Shapira – research, mapping, and geographical information systems Malka Greenberg-Raanan – physical planning, development of construction Maya Choshen – population and society Mike Turner – physical planning, development of construction, visual analysis, future development trends Muhamad Nakhal ±UHVLGHQWSDUWLFLSDWLRQKLVWRU\SUR¿OHRIWKH$UDEQHLJKERU- hoods Michal Korach – population and society Israel Kimhi – recommendations for future development, land uses, transport, planning Amnon Ramon – history, religions, sites for conservation Acknowledgments The research team thanks the residents of the Upper Kidron Valley and the Visual Basin of the Old City, and their representatives, for cooperating with the researchers during the course of the study and for their willingness to meet frequently with the team.
  • December 31, 1976

    December 31, 1976

    -- R.I. JEWISH HISTORICAL ASSOC. 130 SESSIONS ST. PROVIDENCE , RI 0 2906 Church Reiects PLO Moves To Become Acceptable To The US By JOSEPH POLAKOFF the Near East, the Syrian-Saudi WASHINGTON (JTA): Idaho's Arabian-Egyptian "unity" of Arab Senator Frank Church, the most "moderates" towards negotiations senior Democrat on the Senate for Israel's withdrawal from oc­ Tl-'E v''hY ENGLISH JEN!Srl NEEKLY ,,.._, R I ANO SCU~'"iEAS: 'IASS F~reign Relations Committee after cupied territories. chairman John Sparkman of On human rights in international Alabama, is wary of the flood of affairs and Soviet emigration, VOLUME LIX, NUMBER 42 FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1976 20¢ PER COPY statements and activities related to Church found the Soviet Union had the Arab-Israeli conflict and will " solemnly promised" in the not comment on them yet except on Helsinki accords of August, 1975 to one major matter. On the Palestine adhere to the right of emigration Liberation Organization's efforts to which, he said, "surely include Rus­ become acceptable to the United sian Jews" but• "the evidence is that States, he is firmly negative. "I have rather than opening doors, the Rus­ always said the Palestine question sian government has tended to pull has to be settled in a peace them closely shut." "The United conference," Church said in an States should give emphasis and interview with the JT A "Who publicity to the failure of the should represent the Palestinian Russians to adhere to the Helsinki people is a very sensitive matter. agreement and should endeavor to Terroris t groups arc hardly get other governments to do the qualified to pose as governments, in same," he said.
  • Statistical Text Analysis for Social Science

    Statistical Text Analysis for Social Science

    Statistical Text Analysis for Social Science Brendan T. O’Connor August 2014 CMU-ML-14-101 Statistical Text Analysis for Social Science Brendan T. O’Connor August 2014 CMU-ML-14-101 Machine Learning Department School of Computer Science Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, PA, USA Thesis Committee: Noah A. Smith, chair Tom Mitchell Cosma Shalizi Gary King, Harvard University Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy This work was supported by NSF CAREER IIS0644225, NSF CAREER IIS1054319, NSF grant IIS1211277, NSF grant IIS1251131, DARPA grant N10AP20042, IARPA contract D12PC00347, an Alfred P. Sloan grant, Mi- crosoft’s support for Machine Learning graduate students, Google’s support of the Worldly Knowledge project at Carnegie Mellon University, the Berkman Faculty Development Fund at Carnegie Mellon University, the Center for Applied Research in Technology at the Tepper School of Business, computing resources from the Open Source Data Cloud (Grossman et al. (2012), sponsored by the Open Cloud Consortium, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, the NSF, and the University of Chicago) and computing resources from the Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center. Keywords: computational social science, natural language processing, text mining, quantitative text analysis, machine learning, probabilistic graphical models, Bayesian statistics, exploratory data analysis, social media, opinion polling, sociolinguistics, event data, international relations. 2 Abstract What can text corpora tell us about society? How can automatic text analysis algorithms efficiently and reliably analyze the social processes revealed in language production? This work develops statistical text analyses of dynamic social and news media datasets to ex- tract indicators of underlying social phenomena, and to reveal how social factors guide linguistic production.
  • The London School of Economics and Political Science

    The London School of Economics and Political Science

    The London School of Economics and Political Science Conceptualising Suicide Bombings and Rethinking International Relations Theory: The Case of Hamas, 1987-2006 Rashmi Singh A thesis submitted to the Department of International Relations of the London School of Economics for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, London, July 2008 UMI Number: U615475 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. Dissertation Publishing UMI U615475 Published by ProQuest LLC 2014. Copyright in the Dissertation held by the Author. Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. ProQuest LLC 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 ■ rc s g e s F g ^ l \ 12 ^ 0 % im 'zoT - Battles “They'll wake up in the morning And they will fight. That which you saw last night was my dream The other will answer: no, it was my dream They will gently retrieve two pistols From the sides of the same pillow And at the same moment They will fire” - Salvos of Mercy From a selection of poems by Ibrahim Nasrallah Translated by Ibrahim Muhawi Declaration I certify that the thesis I have presented for examination for the MPhil/PhD degree of the London School of Economics and Political Science is solely my own work other than where I have clearly indicated that it is the work of others (in which case the extent of any work carried out jointly by me and any other person is clearly identified in it).
  • The Lesson of the Holocaust

    The Lesson of the Holocaust

    The lesson of the Holocaust Today Israel commemorates the Holocaust. Since yesterday, Israeli social media has been filled with attacks, as, on the eve of Holocaust Remembrance Day, President Reuven Rivlin and IDF deputy chief of Staff, Yair Golan each in his own way called on Israelis to do some serious soul searching. The public unfortunately has gotten used to seeing Rivlin in the line of fire. But public and social media attacks on Golan were so outrageous that Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon (Likud) said they were part of a broader populist campaign against the IDF. The main criticism of Golan was that his comparison of present-day Israel and 1930s Germany is unacceptable. Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked (Jewish Home) said his remarks “attest mainly to a lack of understanding, ignorance, and a cheapening of the Holocaust. On such a day, I wouldn’t even want to quote what he said.” Her party chair, Education Minister Naftali Bennett said “God forbid, our troops are likened to Nazis, with a kosher stamp from on high.” Avi Dabush (Meretz) responded in a powerful post drawing from theJewish tradition. Dabush referred back to the most famous phrase in the Passover Hagada, “In every generation, each person must regard himself or herself as if he or she had come out of Egypt.” He writes, “In every generation, each person must not compare?” The mighty ocean of Judaism provides me with many moral compasses… How does Judaism handle a trauma? Whether it is the Egyptian enslavement, or the destruction of the First and Second Temples? Jewish tradition always tries to learn lessons from traumas.