Steve Kramer grew up in Atlantic City, graduated from Johns Hopkins in 1967, adopted the hippie lifestyle until 1973, then joined the family business for 15 years. Steve moved to Israel from Margate, NJ in 1991 with his family. He has written more than 1100 articles about Israel and Jews since making Aliyah. Steve and his wife Michal live in Kfar Saba.
By Steve Kramer KFAR SABA, Israel — Judaism vs. democracy in the State of Israel, is a subject that many American Jews have been arguing for decades. I don’t get it. Could a country that has had five elections in less than four years, in which 71% of eligible voters cast ballots, be anything other […]
Judaism vs. Capitulation Read More »
Israel, Opinion, Steve KramerEnvoy Hochstein, in the tradition of American negotiators in Israel’s sphere, has proposed that it accept 100% of Lebanon’s demands in the Eastern Mediterranean, with some minor concessions to Israel. In any event, Hezbollah rejects the entire agreement, adding additional requirements. Acting Prime Minister Lapid had immediately commented favorably on the proposed deal, although the opposition vehemently disagrees. (Steve Kramer]
US Fumbles Israel’s Marine Border Negotiations with Lebanon Read More »
Israel, Middle East, Steve Kramer, USA
By Steve Kramer KFAR SABA, Israel — I received a pre-publication copy for review of A Banker’s Journey: How Edmond J. Safra Built a Global Financial Empire, by Daniel Gross, from the publisher’s representative. It’s a fascinating look at both Sephardic Jews and the banking industry. “Rather than a biography of a single man this
The Syrian-Born Jew Who Built a Banking Empire Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Business & Finance, Middle East, Steve Kramer, USAWe returned home to heavy campaigning to elect a new government on November 1, the fifth such election in three years. From my viewpoint, it looks like it may be another stalemate, with Bibi Netanyahu, leader of the conservative Likud (the most popular party) failing to form a majority coalition. The current “caretaker” prime minister, Yair Lapid, who heads the leftist Yesh Atid (the second most popular party) has been increasing his clout by performing his interim duties fairly well. {Steve Kramer]
Elizabeth R Led Her State; Who Will Lead Israel’s Government? Read More »
International, Israel, Steve KramerAnyone paying attention knows that Iran negotiates circles around its interlocutors. The Iranians needn’t have much skill to accomplish that! Iran follows the same playbook time after time, lying through its teeth, procrastinating, taking “breaks,” while ceaselessly increasing its stockpile of enriched uranium. Contemptuously, Iran continues to foment terror on its own and via its proxies, especially Hezbollah in Lebanon, insisting that it will destroy the Big and Little Satans (the US and Israel respectively). Yet, the West insists on begging and bribing Iran: “Let’s make a deal.” [Steve Kramer]
Iran’s Coming Windfall Read More »
Israel, Opinion, Steve Kramer, USA
By Steve Kramer KFAR SABA, Israel — Michal and I had planned an overnight in Jerusalem with friends from New York. With the predictable hot weather (90 degrees and sunny everyday) of the metro Tel Aviv area, a sojourn in Jerusalem is always a summer treat. Jerusalem’s altitude is about 3,000 ft, so the
An Overnight in Jerusalem Read More »
Israel, Middle East, Steve Kramer, Travel and Food
By Steve Kramer KFAR SABA, Israel — Colleges began offering “majors” and “minors” in sustainability in the first decade of the 21st century. Sustainability is taught as a multi-disciplinary program to approach complex problems, usually environmental. With that knowledge, it can offer various career possibilities. One of our son Saul’s best friends, Yonathan, majored in
Sustainability in Israel Read More »
Middle East, Opinion, Science, Medicine, & Education, Steve Kramer, Travel and FoodBy Steve Kramer KFAR SABA, Israel — The following is my summary of an excellent lecture by Haviv Rettig Gur, a well-known journalist for The Times of Israel. Gur’s lecture brings something new to the Arab-Israeli conundrum. It’s a wake-up call for Palestinian Arabs, explaining that their belief that Zionism is the ultimate reason for
The Palestinian Arabs’ False Impression of Zionism Read More »
Middle East, Opinion, Steve KramerBy Steve Kramer KFAR SABA, Israel — President Joe Biden’s recent visit here in Israel was hardly extraordinary. President Richard Nixon visited in 1974, the first American sitting president to do so. That was the year after the Yom Kippur War, when Nixon overruled his Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and made sure Israel was
Presidential Visit to Israel is Hardly Extraordinary Read More »
Middle East, Opinion, Steve Kramer, USABy Steve Kramer KFAR SABA, Israel — The Palestinian Arabs resent the fact that the Saudis and other Gulf Arabs are becoming much closer with Israel, while only paying lip service to the “Palestinian cause.” Hence the Palestinian terrorists are continuing their fomenting of terror attacks against Israelis in an attempt to gain the West’s
Poor Little ‘Palestine’ Read More »
Middle East, Opinion, Steve Kramer, USA
By Steve Kramer KFAR SABA, Israel — Michal and I recently enjoyed a day trip organized by ESRA, the English Speaking Residents Association. ESRA provides numerous social activities for Israelis who are comfortable speaking English while funding diverse charitable projects for all Israelis. While not my usual hike with ESRA, this tour, nicely coordinated by
Touring Israeli Historical Places With ESRA Read More »
Middle East, Steve Kramer, Travel and FoodIsrael’s significance as a Middle Eastern powerhouse has reached new levels with the help of two seminal events: the discovery of natural gas in Eastern Mediterranean waters and the success of the Abraham Accords between Israel and some Muslim Arab neighbors. Before, Israel was knocking on the door of the Arab and European countries; now, many of those countries have opened the door or soon will. Israel has what they want. (Steve Kramer)
Natural Gas Adds to Israel’s International Acceptance Read More »
Business & Finance, International, Middle East, Steve Kramer, USABy Steve Kramer KFAR SABA, Israel — On May 18, The Jerusalem Post published an editorial entitled “Israel cannot abandon the two state solution.” The subtitle of the editorial is: It is time for Israel to strengthen its ties with moderate Palestinians [actually, Palestinian Arabs] and keep cooperating with pragmatic Israeli-Arabs. Unfortunately there are few
Forget the Two State Solution Already! Read More »
Middle East, Opinion, Steve Kramer
By Steve Kramer KFAR SABA, Israel — Israel recently commemorated its 74th year of independence, preceded by the memorial day for military and terrorist casualties. To celebrate Israel’s birthday, which follows Passover by two weeks, we visited a number of places around our small country. All of these jaunts were a half-day or more, with
Traveling Around Israel in the Run-Up to Israel’s Independence Day Read More »
Middle East, Opinion, Steve Kramer, Travel and Food