By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — Even the day after the terrible tragedy in the school in Connecticut, the Israeli papers found space on their front pages for Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman’s resignation. Though the prosecution has dropped against him all the serious charges that have been on the books for many years, it intends […]
The indictee who would be tsar Read More »
Middle EastBy Isaac Yetiv, Ph.D. LA JOLLA, California– Early in the 1950’s , in a speech in Haifa , David Hacohen , the Israeli representative at the U.N., astonished the public when he said, “Don’t expect the United Nations to be a Court of Justice; it is an organization guided by the competing interests of the nations,
Palestine vote another example of U.N.’s dysfunctionality Read More »
International, Middle EastBy Gary Rotto SAN DIEGO —The shootings in Connecticut hit me hard. Just the thought of a gunman coming into a school and shooting children was too much for me. I thought of the times when my daughter was younger and attended San Diego Jewish Academy that she would tell me of a Code Red,
Perhaps we should register body armor Read More »
USA(JNS.org) One day after sounding a defiant note, Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said Friday that he would resign following his indictment on fraud and breach of trust for allegedly promoting a diplomat who provided him with sensitive information about the police investigation against him. Thursday’s indictment of the foreign minister, announced by Israeli Attorney-General Yehuda
Israel’s F.M. Lieberman resigns under indictment Read More »
Middle EastBy Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel –As election time in Israel draws near (the date set is 22nd January 2013), the plethora of parties and personalities vying for the Israeli voter’s attention is becoming ever more frenetic. On the one side is the massive combined weight of two right-wing parties, led by Avigdor Lieberman and
No option may be the best choice in Israeli election Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Middle EastResignation would be premature, says Lieberman (JNS.org) Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman sounded a defiant note on Thursday after Attorney-General Yehuda Weinstein announced he would indict him for fraud and breach of trust. The indictment in question refers to the foreign minister’s role in allegedly promoting a diplomat who provided him with sensitive information about
JNS news briefs: December 14, 2012 Read More »
InternationalBy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C — The Obama administration is sending mixed signals again: their words point one way; their actions, another. The White House stated its opposition to the Palestinian Authority (PA) bid for non-member state status in the UN, but declined to mobilize its and Israel’s traditional allies. It also appears the administration
U.S. covertly supported Palestinian statehood Read More »
Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — It took me less than 24 hours after returning to Israel to start worrying that there may be no political party I could vote for in next month’s general election. Though more than thirty (!) parties will be running candidates, there’s really not that much choice, because many are
Candidates everywhere and not one to support Read More »
Middle EastIsraeli-Palestinian tension escalates in Hebron (JNS.org) Fresh riots broke out in the flashpoint city of Hebron on Thursday as a Palestinian youth shot and killed by Israeli Border Police on Wednesday was buried, Israel Hayom reported. Dozens of Palestinians hurled rocks and firebombs at IDF troops, who responded with crowd dispersal munitions. The Palestinians report
JNS news briefs: December 13, 2012 Read More »
InternationalBy Evelyn Gordon How effectively Israel’s recent Gaza operation will deter Palestinian rocket fire remains to be seen. Israelis are skeptical: One poll found that a whopping 88 percent think the truce will not last long. Even Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu doesn’t sound too confident: Visiting an airbase shortly after the cease-fire took effect,
‘Pillar of Defense’ sent strong message to Iran Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — As a confirmed incrementalist, I’m not a great fan of the conventional occasions for summing up, asking where we are, and where we are going. As an Israeli plugged in to international networks, the obvious times for such stuff come as we approach January 1, or א’ בתשרי , i.e.,
2012 was a year of incremental change Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastReport: Israel monitoring Iran from Eritrea (Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) Israel is operating an intelligence gathering base in the East African nation of Eritrea to monitor Iran’s activities in the Red Sea, the Stratfor Global Intelligence company revealed Tuesday. The company says it uses a unique, intelligence-based approach to gathering information via open-source monitoring and
JNS news briefs: December 12, 2012 Read More »
InternationalFatah-Hamas collaboration on the rise after Abbas authorizes celebration (JNS.org) Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is allowing Hamas to hold a festival in commemoration of its 25th anniversary, showing a clearer willingness by Fatah to collaborate with Hamas, Israel National News reported, citing the Bethlehem-based Ma’an news agency. The festival will take place in the city of
JNS news briefs: December 10, 2012 Read More »
InternationalBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM –Choosing among 34 political parties is much simpler than it may first appear. The first step is deciding who you are, and what is important to you. The second step is to avoid wasting time thinking about 20 or so parties beyond the edge of reality. It is easiest for the
Deciding how to vote in a multi-party election Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East