By Alan Elsner WASHINGTON, D.C – Now that some time has gone by since President Obama delivered his historic speech to the Israeli people, we can look back and reassess some of the messages he intended to convey In the immediate aftermath, there was some debate on how to interpret the address. Was it a “win” […]
Obama’s Israeli speech in retrospect: a moral call to action Read More »
Middle EastEditor’s Note: U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has been traveling in Israel. Here are the texts of his remarks prior to a meeting with Israel’s President Shimon Peres, and Kerry’s comments to State Department employees at the U.S. Consulate in Jerusalem: Secretary Kerry’s comments with President Shimon Peres: Well, Mr. President, thank you very,
Kerry: Obama not bluffing about Iran Read More »
Middle EastMargaret Thatcher ‘untouched by anti-Semitism’ (JNS.org) Margaret Thatcher, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, died at the age of 87 after suffering a stroke Monday. Thatcher represented the Conservative Party and in 1987 famously said, “There is no such thing as society.” The “Iron Lady,” as she was nicknamed, also forged close relations with Britain’s
JNS news briefs: April 8, 2013 Read More »
InternationalBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — While the United States, not least the State Department, is trying to deal with the crisis caused by the renewed belligerence of North Korea, the US Secretary of State John Kerry is again in the Middle East in his continued effort to help bring peace to the region by
Bennett says Jordan best home for Palestinian state Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Yet another Holocaust Memorial Day is upon us, and no surprise that it is competing in the media with yet another rumble concerned with the elusive peace process that some hope may establish Israel beyond the fear of another Holocaust. Actual survivors are said to be dying at the rate
Are Survivors more deserving than other old folks? Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Alan Elsner Pro-Israel advocates are coming to realize that we have a growing problem in reaching out to progressives and liberals in the United States. Polling data has for some time revealed a growing gap between the support for Israel among Republicans and among Democrats. Although overall support for Israel among Americans remains
Palestinians are core issue for U.S. progressives Read More »
Middle EastBy Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — The world is in tumoil. But is it any more so than usual? Perhaps yes. Young Jung Kim Un is threatening to use nuclear weapons against someone, maybe the US, possibly South Korea, or even Japan, or any of the countries of South-East Asia (which constitute the world’s
Something familiar about all these world troubles Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Middle EastBy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C– Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas has agreed to “suspend unilateral action” against Israel for some indefinite period of time. It is, his spokesman says, to “give a sufficient chance for [US Secretary of State John] Kerry’s efforts to succeed.” By this, Abbas apparently means he will not make any additional
Abbas stirring up hate to stay in power Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana BryenBy Peter Huessy The United States is engaging in a major debate over the appropriate size of the Defense Department. At its heart are two issues. First, should we continue to reduce our military spending by roughly $947 billion over the next decade, as was agreed to in the Budget Control Act of 2011? Second,
Drastic defense cuts will undermine diplomacy Read More »
USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — The news reminds me of a Kingston Trio ballad that begins with They’re rioting in Africa, They’re starving in Spain. There’s hurricanes in Florida, And Texas needs rain The whole world is festering With unhappy souls. Take your pick for what is most festering this week: The North Korean threat
Troubles, troubles everywhere–but it could be worse Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastReported compromise permits women to say Kaddish at Kotel (JNS.org) A compromise agreement has reportedly been reached to allow women to say the Kaddish mourners’ prayer at the Western Wall, although they will still be barred from brandishing traditionally male external religious symbols such as prayer shawls. Western Wall Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz said he had
JNS news briefs: April 5, 2013 Read More »
InternationalNorway’s FM angered over PA terrorism pay (JNS.org) Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide expressed anger at the Palestinian Authority during his visit to Israel on Wednesday, following the discovery that the PA was using Norwegian and British aid money to pay the salaries of convicted Palestinian terrorists serving time in Israeli jails, Israel Hayom
JNS news briefs: April 4, 2013 Read More »
InternationalBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–Not much is new under the Middle Eastern sun. One or another of the Gazan gangs began shooting rockets toward Israel about the time of the visit to Israel and Palestine (not the Gazan portion) of Barack Obama. So far, there are more reports of injury and damage from rockets that didn’t
In these times, it’s well to remember Ecclesiastes Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Rabbi Ben Kamin ENICNINTAS, California — On April 3, 1968, 45 years ago, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. preached the fear of death out of himself. Most people recall the oration as “The Mountaintop” speech; it came less than 24 hours before King’s assassination outside Room 306 at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis. It rained
MLK made ‘Mountaintop’ speech 45 years ago today Read More »
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