By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — There’s talk of early elections in Israel. Though the government has still more than a year to go, it needs to replace the so-called Tal Law that de facto exempts the ultra-Orthodox (haredim) from military service and which some time ago the Supreme Court declared to be unconstitutional. This […]
Possibility of early elections in Israel prompts speculation Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — The continued variety of comments about Iran from the governing summit of Israel says something about this country and its society. The problem: one cannot be sure what it says. Last month, the former chief of Mossad spoke publicly on Amrican media. Meir Dagan has been described as “hard-charging” and
By David Brin ENCINITAS, California — In a brief return to political matters… What won’t the candidates be discussing during this election season? Campaign finance, surveillance, patent reform…are among a few issues that candidates are sure to avoid. What else….? This mini-slide show shows just a few. In fact, the matters discussed at sciencedebate.org are
Health care debate toxic despite agreement Read More »
USABy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — The late Prime Minister Rabin is said to have been fond of a story about a Jew in some small East European town who was facing execution by the local squire. The Jew asked for a postponement for a year and promised that in that time he’d teach the
Inaction on Supreme Court ruling on settlements damages Israel Read More »
Middle East
By Rabbi Ben Kamin SAN DIEGO–I was born in a still-young Israel just a few years after its inception in 1948. My father and mother were there, however, as the British withdrew on May 14 of that year, lowering the Union Jack over the port of Haifa, and raising the stakes considerably for the 600,000
Thoughts of a Sabra on Israel’s Independence Day Read More »
Middle EastBy Daniel Halper WASHINGTON, D.C. –The Middle East has undergone systemic and radical change since the beginning of the so-called Arab Spring over a year ago. The leaders in Egypt and elsewhere are different-and in their place, well, there is not overwhelming evidence to suggest that the new guys are any friendlier to
America in search of a Middle Eastern policy Read More »
USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Israel’s settlement policy has returned to the headlines with a ministerial decision to convert three West Bank outposts (Rehalim, Bruchin, and Sansana) into legal settlements, and to find a solution for a neighborhood of Beit El that the Supreme Court has ruled to be illegally located on Palestinian land. Also
Expansion of Israeli settlements a response to Palestinian rejectionism Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Peter Huessy WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, missile defense is under attack. This is not a new thing, however. Opponents tried to eliminate funding for ballistic missile defense when Ronald Reagan was President, sneeringly calling it “Star Wars” to denote how foolish they thought the idea to be. Under President Bill Clinton, defenses against
The case for a solid missile defense Read More »
USAWASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)–Congresswoman Susan Davis (Democrat-San Diego) called for the United States to stand with Israel against the nuclear threat posed by Iran, in a floor speech observing Israel’s Independence Day. The text follows: I rise in strong support of the contribution of the State of Israel as it celebrates its 64th anniversary as
Congresswoman seeks steadfast U.S. support for Israel Read More »
Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — By all accounts, the most admirable feature of American Thanksgiving is that it’s being celebrated by all citizens. Irrespective of religious affiliation, skin colour or income, all Americans feel the need to give thanks for the country in which they live, even when they’re grossly disadvantaged in comparison to
Most Israelis celebrate Yom Ha’atzma’ut, but some pointedly refrain Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — For an American used to Memorial Day as a time for mega-store sales and picnics, the Israeli equivalent requires a significant reformatting of expectations. The official number of those who died while serving in one or another security function or as a result of terror is close to 23,000, with
Controversies surround Israel’s secular holidays Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — A small group gathered Sunday at nearby Arlington National Cemetery to commemorate the life and work of British Maj. Gen. Orde Wingate of blessed memory, who is interred there with the Americans with whom he was flying when his plane crashed in Burma in 1945. Israel and the Jewish
Orde Wingate’s doctrines still best for fighting insurgents Read More »
International, Shoshana BryenBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Reading news reports can be like reading tea leaves. The combination of different items may mean more than any one of them says explicitly. Yet it is more art than craft. Conclusions may be sounder than received from a seer, but are less than certain. Currently my computer screen is
U.S. reactions to North Korea inform Israel’s decisions about Iran Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, USABy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–It’s always refreshing when serious people refuse to give up hope – as a growing number of “peaceniks” in Israel have done – about solving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The latest effort comes from three distinguished Israelis: a former admiral, a former peace negotiator and a businessman. I understand the article in
Authors urge unilateral steps by Israel to build peace Read More »
Middle East