Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan threatened by corruption scandal (JNS.org) Turkey’s Islamist Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is facing an increasing pressure on his rule amid a corruption scandal that has already forced three of his top ministers to resign. The corruption probe, revealed by prosecutors on Dec. 17, targeted the resigned minister’s sons with […]
JNS news briefs: December 26, 2013 Read More »
International
By Aryeh Savir JERUSALEM–Israel’s Knesset held a special session on Wednesday, Dec. 25, marking Jonathan Pollard’s 29th year of incarceration in an American prison after being convicted of espionage for Israel in 1987. The session was attended by a huge majority of house members from across the political spectrum, including Arab MK’s. Forty Knesset members
106 MK’s to Obama: Release Pollard Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM –Meyer Lansky and Jonathan Pollard are both significant for what they say about US-Israel relations. Lansky was a gangster, a good American, and a good Zionist. He worked his underworld connections in behalf of US efforts in World War II, the movement of refugees from Europe to Israel, and arms shipments
Pollard case perplexes Israelis and Americans Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Michael Ordman NETANYA, Israel — Last week we saw another suicidal attempt by so-called “academics” to sever themselves from the Jewish State. The real world, however, knows the true value of Israel’s life-enhancing innovations. Whilst the American Studies Association was voting itself into oblivion, Israel’s VBL Therapeutics announced the development of the first of
If they’re not hypocrites, here’s what ASA members will give up Read More »
USASderot inaugurates rocket-proof train station (JNS.org) A new train station in the southern Israeli city of Sderot was inaugurated on Tuesday in a festive ceremony attended by top government officials, Israel Hayom reported. By linking up to Israel’s national railway system, Sderot residents will be able to reach Tel Aviv in just under an hour.
JNS news briefs: December 25,2013 Read More »
InternationalNEW YORK (Press Release)– The Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations welcomed the many responses from presidents of leading universities and academic associations across the United States rejecting the call by the American Studies Association for a boycott of Israeli universities. Responding to a letter from Conference leaders, Robert G. Sugarman, Chairman, and
ASA boycott of Israel rejected by academia Read More »
USAPalestinian conflict talks extension requested by Israel (JNS.org) Israel has asked the U.S. to extend the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict negotiations by a year. If such an extension is not approved, Israel believes it is likely the talks will fail. Israel’s concern stems from U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry’s eagerness to get a framework agreement
JNS news briefs: December 24, 2013 Read More »
International
By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — Two seemingly unconnected current news items have revived the campaign in Israel on behalf of Jonathan Pollard who has now spent some 28 years in an American jail after being given a life sentence for spying for Israel. The first is the anticipated release of more Palestinian prisoners as
The Pollard-Palestinian prisoner nexus Read More »
Middle East
The International Jewish Labor Bund After 1945 by Charles Slucki; Rutgers University Press 2012 By Garry Fabian MELBOURNE, Australia – An academic based here, Charles Slucki, notes in his recent book that the Jewish Labor Bund was one of the major political forces in early 20th Century Eastern Europe. But the decades after the Second
After World War II, what became of the Bund? Read More »
International, Jewish HistoryBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM –We are now more busy than usual. Perhaps various groups of activists had been sidelined by the storm, which is still evident in piles of tree trash that block sidewalks. Whatever the cause for the pause, there were Saturday night demonstrations in behalf of legalized marijuana, or at least easier access
Multiple causes flavor Israel’s political stew Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastSaudi Arabia delegation meets with Netanyahu, report says (JNS.org) A Saudi Arabian delegation recently flew to Israel for meetings with high-ranking Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel Hayom reported, citing Iran’s Fars news agency. Fars reported that Saudi representatives also recently met with Israeli officials in Monaco. The Iranian report cited an “Israeli
JNS news briefs: December 23, 2013 Read More »
InternationalBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–Other than occasional reassuring hints by US Secretary of State John Kerry, the public is being kept in the dark about the state of negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. The chief Palestinian negotiator is quoted to have said that there hasn’t been direct contact between the two sides in recent
Could attempted violence mean peace is coming? Read More »
Middle EastBy Aryeh Savir BAT YAM, Israel — A terrorist attack was thwarted Sunday after a passenger found a suspicious package and alerted his bus driver. The driver of line no. 240, Michael Yuger, was told about a large black knapsack in the back of the bus. He immediately had all 15 passengers get off and
Bus bombing thwarted in Bat Yam Read More »
Middle East
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — Mimi Pollack, a friend and occasional writer for San Diego Jewish World, is an adjunct faculty member at Grossmont College in neighboring El Cajon. She teaches English as a Second Language, which is popularly abbreviated as “ESL.” Whenever I see that abbreviation,” I think of the word “easel,”
ESL students make excellent pen pals Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Mimi Pollack, Science, Medicine, & Education