By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C.–The announcement by Secretary of Defense Hagel that the United States will “rethink all options” including arming Syrian rebel groups, was carefully hedged. “It doesn’t mean… you will” (choose any particular path). The statement however moves the U.S. closer to picking sides in a war with no good options and no […]
Sunni-Shia clash in Syria part of their global war Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana BryenBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Those who saw the promotional video, Israel: Seeing is Believing, might want to balance it with a BBC production, Israel: Facing the Future. It will take an hour of your time, but is worth it on several dimensions. It is as good as anything I’ve seen for displaying the variety
BBC portrait of Israel close to the mark Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–Not every day is as filled with such sharp contrasts as those of a recent 24 hours. One item is a video that came to my mailbox with the title, Israel: Seeing is Believing. It looks like something from the Ministry of Tourism, and would send me to the nearest airport if
The Israel of tourists and the one of soldiers Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By Anav Silverman YITZHAR, Israel — In the recent media coverage of Evyatar Borovsky’s murder, the 31-year-old father of five young children was described in several international reports as a “hardline settler.” Borovsky, who hailed from the community of Yitzhar, was on his way to a theater rehearsal when he was stabbed to death
Murdered Israeli settler was part of acting troupe Read More »
Middle East
IDF moves to close holes in security fence (JNS.org) The Israel Defense Forces and Israel Police increased their activity throughout the Lachish region on Thursday, following an Israel Hayom report on numerous breaches in Israel’s security fence in that area and a subsequent increase in Palestinian infiltrations and criminal activity there. The holes in the
JNS news briefs: May 3, 2013 Read More »
InternationalBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–A country’s politics is a product of big things and little things. The big things have been around for a long time, and are unlikely to go away soon. They include place (i.e., geography and its implications), the good or bad luck of having or lacking natural resources, and elements of culture
Big things, little things in U.S., Israel politics Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Aryeh Savir Much is said about life in Israel; the challenges are counted, the fear of the various regional threats are often talked about, the unique difficulties entailed with living in Israel are recounted time and again, yet a recently published poll by the Central Bureau of Statistics which tracked the social trends in
Poll finds Israelis are content with lives Read More »
Middle EastBuffet: Israel “a nation of entrepreneurs” (JNS.org) Dubbed the “start-up nation” for its culture of innovation and a book by Dan Senor and Saul Singer that used that term, Israel received praise along those lines this week from world-famous billionaire investor Warren Buffett, who on Wednesday completed his acquisition of Israel’s Iscar tool-making company. “Israel should
JNS news briefs: May 2, 2013 Read More »
International
By Ilene Lerner BOSTON — I remember going to New York years ago and seeing Six Degrees of Separation, a play based on the assumption that all of us are separated by just six degrees. If I ever doubted it, I don’t any longer! The Boston Marathon bombing has taught me how connected we all
Boston bombing diary: six degrees of separation? Read More »
USA40% of Palestinians favor suicide bombings (Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) Out of all the Muslim respondents in a global survey, Palestinian Muslims polled highest in favor of suicide bombings as a justifiable means “to defend Islam.” A new Pew Research Center survey of Muslims around the globe finds that most adherents of the world’s
JNS news briefs: May 1, 2013 Read More »
International
By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–Israel is currently greatly benefiting from not having a foreign minister. Avigdor Lieberman, who helped Prime Minister Netanyahu to do badly in the last general election by joining forces with him, is currently otherwise engaged as a defendant in a criminal case. Netanyahu seemingly bound to keep the job open for
Israel awash in speculation over foreign policy Read More »
Middle EastPalestinian terrorist kills father of five (JNS.org) A Palestinian terrorist killed a 31-year-old resident of Yitzhar on Tuesday morning at the Tapuach Junction in Samaria, Israel Hayom reported. The victim, named as father of five Evyatar Borovsky, was the first Israeli to be killed in a terror attack in Judea and Samaria since 2011. A
JNS news briefs: April 30, 2013 Read More »
InternationalWASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)– The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), an independent federal advisory body created by the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) to monitor religious freedom abuses abroad, on Tuesday, April 30, released its 2013 Annual Report. The Report highlights the status of religious freedom globally and identifies those governments that are the most egregious
U.S. commission names 8 religiously intolerant countries Read More »
USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM– There is a lot of tantalizing stuff buzzing around our ears and in front of our eyes, depending on whether we are hearing or reading what might be called the “news.” The problems are that some of the news may be disinformation coming from official sources, some comes from unreliable internet
Mideast mix: a peace initiative here, talk of war there Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East