By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Two dramatic events, or maybe not so dramatic. Commentators see possibilities, while the rest of us will wait and see what comes next, if anything. One has optimists hopping. The other is sobering, but may portend significant responses. The event seen as a sign of hope was a presentation made […]
Good news in Ramallah, bad news in Sinai Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) — The Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) on Wednesday, Feb. 19, responded to the announcement that President Obama has appointed Robert Malley to serve as a senior director of the National Security Council, a powerful post inside the White House. RJC Executive Director Matt Brooks stated: “We are profoundly disappointed to see Robert
RJC finds Malley appointment ‘deeply troubling’ Read More »
Middle EastSeries on NJ synagogue’s ties to poverty-stricken Kentucky town earns journalism prize (JNS.org) New Jersey Jewish News (NJJN) staff writer Johanna Ginsberg was announced as the winner of an annual award named after a distinguished Jewish journalist for her two-week series of stories on the relationship between the members of Congregation B’nai Israel in Milburn,
JNS news briefs: February 19, 2014 Read More »
InternationalJERUSALEM (Press Release)–Israeli Ministers Avigdor Liberman, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Tzipy Livni, Minister of Justice and Dr. Yuval Steinitz, Minister of Intelligence and Strategic Affairs, as well as Opposition Leader Yitzhak Herzog and Mayor of Jerusalem Nir Barkat addressed leaders of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations in briefings Tuesday, Feb. 18,
Jewish leaders weigh education, peace negotiations Read More »
Middle East
JERUSALEM (Press Release) – The Knesset’s Committee for Aliyah, Absorption and Diaspora, headed by MK Yoel Razvozov visited Nefesh B’Nefesh offices on Tuesday morning, Feb. 18. The committee toured the various departments of the organization and was able to experience the organization’s activities to encourage and increase Aliyah from North America firsthand. Various options to
Knesset members tour Nefesh B’Nefesh offices Read More »
Middle East
By Anav Silverman JERUSALEM (TNA) –The five Palestinian suspects arrested in connection with the rock attack that left three-year-old Adele Biton from the Yakir community in critical condition nearly one year ago, heard from Adele’s mother during their trial last Thursday, February 13. In March 2013, three-year-old Adele Biton was critically injured following a Palestinian
Mother tells of tot’s coma following rock-throwing Read More »
Middle East
JERUSALEM (WJC) – Delegates at the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress General Assembly in Jerusalem on Tuesday, Feb. 18, elected the British-Austrian businessman Julius Meinl, 54, as the organization’s new president. Meinl succeeds Vadim Shulman, who did not stand for re-election. The assembly confirmed Josef Zissels of Ukraine as chairman of the General Council and Mikhail Chlenov
Meinl elected president of Euro-Asian Jewish Congress Read More »
InternationalBoycotters of Israel are ‘classical anti-Semites in modern garb,’ Netanyahu says (JNS.org) Boycotters of Israel are “classical anti-Semites in modern garb,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told a delegation of leaders visiting Jerusalem with the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations on Monday. “I think the most eerie thing, the most disgraceful thing,
JNS news briefs: February 18, 2014 Read More »
International
By Aryeh Savir JERUSALEM (TNA)– The remnants of a rural town that was lived in for approximately two centuries during the Second Temple Period were uncovered near the ‘Burma Road’, on the main route to Jerusalem. In June 2013, Israel Natural Gas Lines began construction of the 35km-long project, which runs from the coast
Hasmonean-era village site found by gas company Read More »
Middle East
NEW YORK (Press Release) — AJC lauded Peruvian President Ollanta Humala’s visit to Israel this week. “Peru has raised the bar for South American relations with Israel,” said Dina Siegel Vann, director of AJC’s Latino and Latin American Institute (LLAI). “We remember that Peru supported Israel’s bid for statehood in 1947,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
AJC lauds Peru for warm relations with Israel Read More »
InternationalFive killed as explosion topples building in northern Israeli city of Acre (JNS.org) Five people were killed, including an 8-year-old boy, and 12 others were wounded in the early hours of Monday morning when an explosion caused a three-story residential building in the northern Israeli city of Acre to collapse, Israel Hayom reported. While it
JNS news briefs: February 17, 2014 Read More »
InternationalBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — A sizable majority of American Jews support Israel. With respect to those who do and don’t, one of the stronger explanations is affiliation with a temple or synagogue. Affiliated Jews are more likely to support Israel, and the Orthodox stand out as more supportive than those in other congregations. No
Waves of immigration changed Israeli ideology Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM– Chapter 16 of the memoir, Once Upon a Country, by the distinguished Palestinian public intellectual, spokesman, activist, philosopher and current president of Al Quds University Sari Nusseibeh is called, “Annex Us!” It tells how he rattled Israelis and confused Palestinians by proposing that Israel annex the West Bank and Gaza.
Alternative to two-state solution won’t benefit Israel Read More »
Middle EastJERUSALEM–The President of the EU Parliament, Martin Schulz, came to Israel and addressed the Knesset in what was mostly a ceremonial occasion to demonstrate his credentials as a friend of Israel and an opponent of boycotts. But one poorly crafted sentence brought forth an uproar. It didn’t help that he was speaking in German. There
Schulz’s water comment a diplomatic gaffe Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East