Links: Ancient synagogue unearthed, Red Hot Chili Peppers and more

From Ian:

Ancient synagogue and mosaic unearthed in Galilee
Huqoq discovery dates back 1,500 years; artwork depicts biblical story of Samson

PMW PA Israel spreads drugs to destroy Palestinian society

"One day after Iranian Vice President Mohammad-Reza Rahimi was condemned internationally for saying that Jews and their Talmud are responsible for international drug trafficking, no less than five articles in the official PA daily cited different Palestinian Authority officials accusing Israel of having a policy to disseminate drugs among Palestinian youth."

MERIA Journal Volume 16 No2 June 2012
IS THE ISRAEL-PALESTINIAN PEACE PROCESS DEAD? By Barry Rubin

Western governments, experts, and journalists have long assumed that an Israel-Palestinian or comprehensive Arab-Israeli peace agreement ending the conflict was near at hand and easily achieved. In fact, the truth is the exact opposite. Indeed, there has not been any real “peace process” or real chance for a diplomatic solution since the Palestinian leadership rejected a deal in 2000. This article examines the factors that, on one hand, make the “peace process” deceased and, on the other hand, inhibit recognition of the fact that a formal Israel-Palestinian peace that ends the conflict is unlikely for many years to come.

FACTS ON THE GROUND: THE GROWING POWER OF HAMAS’S GAZA LEADERSHIP By Jonathan Spyer

This article will observe the process whereby Hamas has consolidated and maintained its rule in Gaza. It will argue that the gradual strengthening of the Gaza leadership within Hamas preceded the upheavals of 2011. The fallout from the events in Egypt and Syria, however, served to accelerate and accentuate the process whereby the Gaza leadership made gains at the expense of the external leadership.

AN ISRAELI “PLAN B” FOR A NUCLEAR IRAN By Ofer Israeli

Assuming that Iran does indeed obtain nuclear weapons and Israel doesn’t launch an attack on its facilities, what is Israel’s “plan B” to deal with the new situation? This article analyzes the issue.

Al Guardian’s sloppy, biased coverage of Yitzhak Shamir’s death
Guardian obit on Yitzhak Shamir reduces sum of former PM’s moral life to Palestinian litmus test
The Guardian changing history.

However, the Guardian is not alone. Interestingly, the Daily Telegraph - in an obituary published just over an hour before the original Guardian one – made exactly the same mistake:
“Born in Poland on October 15, 1915, Shamir emigrated to British-ruled Palestine in 1935 after his family perished in the Nazi Holocaust”.

Getting ready for Red Hot Tel Aviv VIDEO

Red Hot Chili Peppers play up their ‘excitement and thrill’ to be coming to Israel, birthplace of their original guitarist

Al Qaeda 'plot to blow up passenger jet' in run up to Olympics uncovered by security forces

“Al Qaeda intended to use a radicalised Norwegian Islamic convert to attack U.S. planes in the build-up to the London Games - which start in 26 days on July 27 - it is understood.”