By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — The horrific attack on a school in Pakistan by Taliban gunmen that killed 132 people, mainly children, returned that unhappy country to the news headlines for a few days. But only a few it’s gone again. It wasn’t supposed to be like that. In President Obama’s defining 2009 […]
U.S. reversals in Iraq, Afghanistan Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana Bryen, USABy Steve Kramer ALFE MENASHE, Israel — What’s a factoid? According to one definition, it’s a questionable or spurious (unverified, false, or fabricated) statement presented as a fact, but without supporting evidence. (Wikipedia) Factoids are what passes for knowledge among Westerners who vilify Israel and describe it as apartheid, neo-Nazi, warmongering, and more. Advocates for
Setting straight the factoid crowd Read More »
Middle East, Steve KramerIsrael arrests members of Islamic State-linked terror cell in Hebron (JNS.org) Israel security forces arrested three Arab men who were attempting to set up an Islamic State-linked terror cell in Hebron with plans of carrying out different attacks against Israeli civilians and soldiers. According to Israel’s Shin Bet security service, Ahmed Shahada, 22, admitted to
Daily Jewish news briefs: January 5, 2015 Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–Last week, while getting my nightly dose of a discussion program, I heard a political scientist talk about her research via Facebook and other meeting places on the Internet. She claimed that the number of Likes, and their changes over time, indicated the rise and fall of politicians. Maybe. Her presentation was
Internet changes form, not substance, of politics Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — I do view myself as a centrist in politics. Or perhaps more accurately, as an apolitical political scientist. I’ve never had a strong party identification, either during that half of my life when I voted in the US, or the latter half voting in Israel. I view politics as the
Mulling options in Israel’s upcoming election Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By Ezra Friedlander NEW YORK–The term “true friend “is used so often that it’s a cliché but when used in context with the late Mario Cuomo it’s totally appropriate. As we mourn the passing of Governor Cuomo, I find myself going down memory lane. Growing up, still as a yeshiva student, before I officially entered
Mario Cuomo, may his memory be for a blessing Read More »
USABy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–Israelis appear to like the Pope more than their Chief Rabbis. 50% of all Israelis (the highest figure in any non-Christian country) approve of the current leader of the Catholic Church and only 25% disapprove while 67% of Israelis are against the continued existence of the country’s chief rabbinate. The data
Growing disaproval for Israel’s chief rabbinate Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle EastCompiled by JNS.org Southern Israelis protest IDF decision to end security for Gaza-border communities (Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has decided to end its security presence along the communities adjacent to the Israel-Gaza border, sparking strong protests by the area’s residents. Following Operation Protective Edge, the IDF deployed hundreds of soldiers
Daily Jewish news briefs: January 2, 2015 Read More »
International, Middle East, USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Are the Palestinians our enemies, or maybe only our adversaries? They’ve been trying to topple us from the 1920s, but we’re still here, and doing a lot better than they are. Remember the UN declaration that Zionism is racism? It caught on with the international rabble, but didn’t make a
Comparing SHASniks and Palestinians Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, USA-Summary by JNS.org– Palestinian terrorist behind murder of 3 teens convicted (Israel Hayom/ Exclusive to JNS.org) Husam Qawasmeh, the Palestinian terrorist who planned kidnapping and murder of Israeli teens Gil-ad Shaer, Naftali Frenkel and Eyal Yifrach last June, was convicted in a military court on Wednesday on all charges against him. Qawasmeh admitted to planning
Daily Jewish News Briefs: January 1, 2015 Read More »
Middle East
NEW YORK (Press Release) –The American Jewish Committee (AJC) denounced Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’s application for International Criminal Court (ICC) membership as an unconscionable blow to the peace process. Abbas announced Wednesday, Dec. 31, at a Ramallah rally celebrating the 50th anniversary of his Fatah party that he had signed the Rome Statute, the ICC
P.A. seeks to join Int’l Criminal Court Read More »
International, Middle East, USA
NEW YORK (Press Release)–The U.S. Area Elections Committee chair has found that there is no basis for the request made by the ZOA to disqualify the Hatikvah progressive Zionist slate, established for the upcoming World Zionist Congress elections in the United States. Ironically, the ZOA is attempting to delegitimize the ideological heirs of those who
Hatikvah Slate calls ZOA charges ‘hysterical’ Read More »
Middle East, USAU.N. Security Council rejects Palestinian statehood resolution (JNS.org) The United Nations Security Council on Tuesday rejected a Palestinian resolution that called for an Israeli withdrawal from the West Bank by 2017 and the establishment of a Palestinian state with borders based on the pre-1967 lines. The United States and Australia voted against the measure,
JNS news briefs: December 31, 2014 Read More »
International, Middle EastCAIRO, Egypt (WJC) — Magda Haroun, the head of the tiny Jewish community of Egypt, described a court ruling banning the annual Abu Hasira festival as “unconstitutional.” The Alexandria Administrative Court on Monday banned the celebration of the Abu Hasira festival, saying it violated public order. “The Jews have not had any particular impact on the
Egyptian court nullifies Jewish festival Read More »
Middle East