Jacky Hugi

Jacky Hugi is the Arab affairs analyst of Israeli army radio Galie-Zahal, a columnist for the business newspaper Globes and the former Arab Affairs correspondent for Maariv. He is the author of Arabian Nights.Com (2011), a nonfiction introduction for Israeli readers to contemporary social, cultural and political discourse in the Arab world, and winner of the 2007 media award of the London Next Century Foundation and the 2008 B'nai B'rith award for journalism of Jewish communities in the Arab world. He is based in Tel Aviv and holds a master's degree in Middle Eastern and African history from Tel Aviv University. On Twitter: @JackyHugi

Iraq | Mar 31, 2017

One man's quest to save the Jewish Iraqi language

Oded Amit, who was born in Baghdad and eventually fled to Israel, has taken it upon himself to teach Israelis of Iraqi immigrants the language of their ancestors in order to preserve it.

Torah scrolls are exhibited at the Babylonian Jewry Heritage Center in Or Yehuda, near Tel Aviv, in this October 19, 2006 picture. World Jewish groups began a global campaign on Sunday calling for recognition of Jews from Arab countries as refugees in the Middle East conflict. REUTERS/Gil Cohen Magen (ISRAEL) - RTR1IKQX

Israel | Dec 29, 2015

Reading the Quran in Hebrew

The recently published fifth translation of the Quran into Hebrew is also the first one executed by a Muslim believer.

Palestine | Oct 6, 2015

Does Israel really need Abbas to condemn terror acts?

While it is indeed appropriate to expect President Mahmoud Abbas to condemn recent terror acts against Israelis as a humanitarian gesture, Israel’s expectations show that we have our priorities all wrong.

Egypt | Sep 30, 2015

Death of Egyptian author who drove across Israel leaves void in Israeli-Egyptian relations

The Egyptian satirist Ali Salem was more than just a true friend to a number of Israelis — he was the apostle of a warm peace.

Egypt | Aug 13, 2015

Egypt and Israel: A lover and his mistress

Like a lover and his mistress, Egypt and Israel intimately collaborate on the security front, but their relations do not extend much beyond this.

Egyptian air force planes trace a heart during the inauguration ceremony of the new Suez Canal, in Ismailia, Egypt, August 6, 2015. Egypt staged a show of international support on Thursday as it inaugurated a major extension of the Suez Canal which President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi hopes will power an economic turnaround in the Arab world's most populous country. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY - RTX1NCFA

Israel | Jul 1, 2015

Israel should back Assad

Based on past experience and years of calm borders with Syria, Israel must abandon whatever ties it develops with Syrian rebels and work with its Western allies to stabilize President Bashar al-Assad's regime.

An Israeli soldier rides a tank on the Israeli side of the border fence between Syria and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, near Majdal Shams, June 16, 2015. Israel's president expressed his concern to the United States last week about the fate of the Druze minority in Syria, saying around 500,000 of them were under threat from Islamist militants in an area near the Israeli border. REUTERS/Baz Ratner - RTX1GRYM

Saudi Arabia | May 26, 2015

Israel's realpolitik embraces regional extremes

Israeli President Reuven Rivlin warmly eulogized the late Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, perpetuating Israel's approach to its neighbors that is based on common interest and alliances, not moral standards.

Israel's President Reuven Rivlin (rear) walks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (front) before a group photo with ministers of the new Israeli government, in Jerusalem May 19, 2015. REUTERS/Nir Elias TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY - RTX1DMGX

Palestine | Apr 28, 2015

Meshaal blocked major attack on Israel

Head of Hamas' Political Bureau Khaled Meshaal in July prevented a mega tunnel attack of infiltration and hostage abduction, planned by the military branch, fearing an unprecedented Israeli military reaction.

Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal speaks during an interview with Reuters in Doha October 16, 2014. Meshaal on Thursday called on Muslims to defend the al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem, saying Israel was trying to seize the site, revered in Islam and Judaism and focus of a Palestinian uprising in 2000. REUTERS/Fadi Al-Assaad (QATAR - Tags: POLITICS RELIGION) - RTR4AH1B

Saudi Arabia | Mar 31, 2015

Why did Israel side with Saudi Arabia on Yemen?

Rather than celebrating Saudi Arabia’s attack on Yemen, Israel should feel aversion toward it, since the destabilization of any Arab state can only lead to more and more terrorism and ultimately impacts Israel.

Saudi King Salman attends the opening meeting of the Arab Summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, in the South Sinai governorate, south of Cairo, March 28, 2015. Arab League heads of state are holding a two-day summit to discuss a range of conflicts in the region, including Yemen and Libya, as well as the threat posed by Islamic State militants. REUTERS/Stringer - RTR4V96H

Israel | Feb 26, 2015

Why did Israel decide to support Syrian rebels?

After four years of fighting in Syria, Israel no longer seems neutral, and though the Israeli security establishment won't discuss it with the public, signs actually indicate that Israel has chosen to support the Sunni rebels.