Israel Turns 60, for Better or Worse

Making News

Hezbollah Says Lebanon's Government Has 'Declared War' ()

Fierce gun battles erupted today in Beirut, Lebanon, after the western-backed government shut down the telecommunications network run by Hezbollah. Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah’s leader, called that a "declaration of war…for the benefit of America and Israel." Nicholas Blanford is based in Beirut for the Christian Science Monitor.

Guests:

• Nicholas Blanford: Beirut Correspondent, Christian Science Monitor

Main Topic

Israel at 60: A Confident Past, an Uncertain Future ()

George Bush, Tony Blair and Mikhail Gorbechev are among the international dignitaries who will be in Jerusalem next week to mark Israel's 60th anniversary. The landmark event has produced both a joyous celebration of extraordinary progress and somber reflection on what's to come. A tiny country has become a haven for Jews, a world capital of culture and technology and a nuclear power. But it's surrounded by hostile neighbors, internationally criticized for treatment of the Palestinians and beset by uncertainty about its future identity. With an Arab population that's growing fast, can Israel be both democratic and Jewish?  What are the prospects for a "two-state solution?"

Guests:

• Akiva Eldar: Political Columnist, Ha'aretz
• Bret Stephens: Foreign Affairs Columnist, Wall Street Journal
• Bernard Avishai: blogger, BernardAvishai.com
• Ghada Karmi: Fellow, Exeter University's Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies

Links:

• Eldar's 'Lords of the Land'
• Stephens' article on Israel's 60-year test
• Avishai's 'The Hebrew Republic'
• Karmi's 'Maried to Another Man'
• NY Times on inquiry into Israeli PM Olmert and American philanthropist Morris Talansky
• NY Post on Olmert and Talansky

Reporter's Notebook

Looking Back on Mission Accomplished ()

He grew up in one of America’s poorest counties. He retired as the highest ranking Hispanic officer in the US Army. Ricardo Sanchez took over as commander of coalition forces in June, 2003, a month after President Bush had declared, "Mission Accomplished." Now, the three-star general has published Wiser in Battle, in which he accuses the highest officials in the Bush Administration of "gross incompetence and dereliction of duty." The book's dust jacket reports high praise from retired Generals Wesley Clark and Barry McCaffrey.

Guests:

• Ricardo Sanchez: former Commander, Coalition Forces in Iraq