Israeli population analysis reveals higher voter turnout than initial reports (JNS.org) Voter turnout in the recent Israeli elections was initially reported at 68 percent, but that figure is actually 73 percent based on a deeper analysis of the country’s population, the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) think tank said Jan. 28. While the official […]
JNS news briefs: January 29, 2013 Read More »
InternationalBy Shlomo Cesana and Daniel Siryoti/JNS.org Israel is continuing to warn the world of the potentially devastating outcome if Syria’s chemical arsenal falls into the hands of rebels, or worse, Hezbollah, as Lebanese media outlets reported that the Lebanese terror group had already obtained some chemical weapons and long-range missiles. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu,
Report: Hezbollah helping Assad protect chemical weapon supply Read More »
Middle EastBy Alan Eisner WASHINGTON, D.C. – When I was 16, I fell in love – not with a girl but with Israel. That summer, my family and I visited for the first time, a three-week trip that left me entranced. On the last day, August 29, 1970, I wrote in my diary: “As soon as I
A disillusionment with Israel today Read More »
Middle EastExplosion at Iran’s underground nuclear site? (JNS.org) Conflicting reports have emerged over news of an explosion at Iran’s underground nuclear site at Fordow last week. The news website WND first reported the alleged blast, quoting a defected Iranian intelligence officer who claimed a massive explosion occurred at the facility at 11:30 a.m. on Jan. 21,
JNS news briefs: January 28, 2013 Read More »
Middle EastBy Isaac Yetiv , Ph. D. The rhetorical question in my last article has elicited many real questions from my readers who wanted to know what I meant by “ripe” in “Is American society ripe for Obama’s crowning?” I am glad to respond: No, I didn’t mean a coup d’etat with dissolution of Congress and
President Obama has usurped power Read More »
USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–Israel’s voters have done their job, and now can wait through a month or more while party politicians and media commentators fill the air with their talk of what is possible, what they want, and what they do not want. Depending on what is between one’s ears or in back of one’s
Election over, insiders’ electioneering begins Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel –The results of Israel’s general election were not as depressing as expected, although not as good as might have been hoped. Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu is still firmly in the saddle, but the composition of his coalition government may be radically different from the outgoing one. At this stage,
Are young and rich Lapid and Bennet agents of change? Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — Perhaps only Rabbi Meir Azari, the spiritual leader of Tel Aviv’s Reform Beit Daniel congregation, would describe Yair Lapid, the new powerhouse of Israeli politics, as a Reform Jew. That’s not how Lapid seems to see himself. In an article in the English Ha’aretz of January 24, he’s quoted
Lapid’s success should encourage Reform Jews Read More »
Middle EastWith 61 Knesset seats, Netanyahu-led bloc can form coalition without Lapid (JNS.org) Israeli Environmental Protection Minister Gilad Erdan (Likud) stressed Jan. 24 that with the right-wing bloc led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earning 61 of 120 Knesset seats—just more than half—in the recent election, the Likud Beytenu-led bloc does not need to incorporate
JNS news briefs: January 25, 2013 Read More »
InternationalBy Paul Greenberg LA JOLLA, California — Rabbi Gary Katz began the highly informative and well-received program, Breakfast With The Mob, that took place in the rehearsal room at the Lawrence Family JCC on Monday, January 21, with an hour-long power point presentation about Jewish gangsters, who operated what might literally be called “cut-throat businesses”
Rabbi tells history of Jewish mobsters Read More »
USABy Evelyn Gordon When the Palestinian Authority (PA) obtained UN recognition as a nonmember observer state in November, many Israelis feared the consequences for Israel: After all, PA President Mahmoud Abbas stated openly that he sought recognition primarily “to pursue claims against Israel” in international forums. Those fears may yet prove justified.
PA near financial collapse Read More »
Middle EastBy Rabbi Ben Kamin ENCINITAS, California — One can only welcome the Pentagon’s decision to tear down another fence barring female members of the Armed Forces from full participation in the security and defense of our nation. It’s not really about being more so in harm’s way—women have been wounded, maimed, or killed (300
Women long have been fighting for our nation Read More »
USABy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — Though the two ultra-Orthodox political parties, Shas and Yahadut Hatorah, held their own or did better in the Israeli elections earlier this week, their grip on key issues in the country may be loosening, not because they’ve embraced liberalism and moderation but as a result of the character of
Election may prompt religious reform Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — One should never say never, but it appears that the Palestinians have shut the door against the idea of a state. Too often they have done what Abba Eban placed in the handbook of political aphorisms, missing yet another opportunity to miss an opportunity. One can produce numerous explanations of
World increasingly fatigued by Palestinian intractability Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East