By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — North Korea’s nuclear test has cast a shadow over Barack Obama’s visit to Israel. Speculation was that a key item on the agenda would be Obama’s pressure that Israel forget about its own attack on Iran. We’re hearing that Israel might have been planning such a thing in the […]
North Korean nuclear test shows how little can be done about Iran Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Beth Kissileff/JNS.org On Yom Kippur, Sept. 26, 2012, Sami Rahamim was with his father Reuven at Beth El Synagogue in St. Louis Park, Minn. On Feb. 4, 2013, 17-year-old Sami opened a roundtable discussion at the Minneapolis Police Department Special Operations Center meeting with President Barack Obama. In between? Reuven Rahamim was shot the
Jewish teen turns tragedy into advocacy, shares a roundtable with the president Read More »
USANetanyahu to American Jewish leaders: Iran getting closer to crossing nuclear line (JNS.org) The Iranians are getting ever closer to developing nuclear weapons, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Jewish American leaders on Monday in Jerusalem. “I drew a line at the UN last time I was there,” Netanyahu told leaders from the Conference of Presidents
JNS news briefs: February 12, 2013 Read More »
InternationalBy Gabriel Scheinmann WASHINGTON, D.C. — Depending on what one believes, a week-and-a-half ago Israeli fighter jets struck either an arms convoy in Lebanon, the Assad regime’s nerve center for biological and chemical weapons research in Damascus, or an Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) headquarters, in an attempt to contain the spillover from the Syrian
Israel becoming more proactive in Middle East Read More »
Middle EastBy Alan Elsner WASHINGTON, D.C. — Israel may be one of the United States’ closest allies but a review of State of the Union speeches for the past 20 years finds that more often than not the issue of Middle East peace and/or Israel have not been mentioned at all. What stands out from this
State of Union messages often ignore Israel Read More »
Middle EastBy Isaac Yetiv, Ph.D. LA JOLLA, California — I often ask myself how can a president with this record on economy and national security get reelected. The legitimate enthusiasm of good people witnessing a Black person become president of the US can provide an explanation for the first election in 2008. The second one should
A brief against the Obama administration’s direction Read More »
USABy Sean Savage (JNS.org)As a presidential candidate in Iran, Dr. Hooshang Amirahmadi believes the Islamic Republic should prioritize allaying its tension with Israel and the United States—not the kind of approach the world has been accustomed to seeing lately from a country whose leaders repeatedly vow to wipe the Jewish state off the map.
Iranian presidential candidate wants better U.S., Israel relations Read More »
Middle EastPope Benedict announces resignation (JNS.org) In a stunning announcement, Pope Benedict XVI said that he is resigning as pontiff on Feb. 28 after eight years at the helm of the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics, citing “advanced age” (he is 85) and deteriorating strength,CNN reported. Amid the announcement, Jewish leaders were quick to praise the Pope
JNS news briefs: February 11, 2013 Read More »
InternationalBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — Last Sunday evening my wife and I went to Teddy Stadium, the main sports arena in Jerusalem, not to play soccer or even watch the game, but to demonstrate. The reason was the outrageous racism of some fans of the local soccer team Betar. A significant number of
Anti-Muslim bigotry infects Israeli soccer Read More »
Middle EastBy Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — Anyone who is at all familiar with the procedure customary in the various Houses of Representatives around the civilized world knows that these are governed by rules and regulations that are often very old, their roots lost in tradition. For instance, the Speaker of England’s parliament (the House of
Installation of new Knesset a sentimental occasion Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — In all the blather from politicians and media personalities following Israel’s indecisive election, it is possible to see two ideas that might provide a map to the country’s future. One is the equalizing of the burdens between the Haredim and the rest of us. Prominent in the explanation of Yair
Israel’s fluid post-election coalition prospects Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastIsraeli Chief Rabbinate tackles quandary of pastry fillings (JNS.org) Members of the Israeli Chief Rabbinate’s Kashrut Division called a meeting this week to discuss the problematic and potentially misleading shapes of an Israeli bakery staple, the puff pastry that is stuffed with various cheeses, meat or vegetable fillings, Israel Hayom reported. One such pastry, about
JNS news briefs: February 8, 2013 Read More »
InternationalBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — How important is Sara Netanyahu? She is prominent in the realm of politics as theater, presented by the media as a public spectacle. She is a frequent subject of the cartoonist for Ha’aretz, who depicts her like a creature that would remove the certificate of kashrut from Israel’s
Sara Netanyahu, the media figure Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Alan Elsner WASHINGTON, D.C– President Obama’s decision to visit the Middle East this spring has focused new attention on how hard he intends to work and how much time and political capital he might expend on trying to bring about peace between Israelis and Palestinians. Obama will certainly receive a warm welcome both in
Obama’s Mideast Choice: To Engage or not to Engage Read More »
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