By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM –The road to hell may be paved with good intentions, but shallowness is also part of the mix. This is one of those columns that is sure to provoke responses that I have become anti-American and too narrowly fixated on Israeli perspectives. I’ll deny the first charge and admit to being primarily […]
Americans’ foreign policy mistakes accelerate during campaign season Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, USABy Daniel Halper WASHINGTON, D.C. — Despite the Kremlin’s best effort, an Internet video emerged the other week of Russian strongman Vladimir Putin being booed by a full arena of fans at the end of a mixed martial arts fight in Moscow’s Olympic Stadium. “Putin’s spin-doctors came up with a variety of explanations of the
Putin’s popularity wanes but his power does not Read More »
InternationalWASHINGTON, D.C (JINSA)–Too long neglected, the Pacific region will soon be getting its due. As U.S. forces are withdrawing from Afghanistan and have already departed Iraq, it is to the strategically important Pacific that American attention will be directed. And not a moment too soon. Friends and allies in the region have spent the better
U.S. refocusing on the Pacific in wake of China’s military build-up Read More »
InternationalBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–He’s now # 1418989 in the Maasiyahu Prison, near Ramla. This is a minimum security facility, which houses white collar and other convicts not judged to be a danger to society. And within this prison, Moshe Katsav has been assigned to the unit for religious prisoners. To some, this may be the
Unrepentant ex-president begins prison sentence for sex crimes Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM –Those wanting to understand what is happening in Europe can learn something from the chapters in those dusty American history books that deal with the Articles of Confederation. For reasons I’ll get to, the lessons are limited, but still worth considering. Like Europe today, the states under the Articles
Politics of European Union similar to U.S. under Articles of Confederation Read More »
International, Ira Sharkansky
By Bruce Kesler ENCINITAS, California — Does David Klein, a math professor at California State University, have the bright to use the university’s web server, the url (http://www.csun.edu/~vcmth00m/boycott.html ) being the university’s, to post a hate page against Israel and Jews? The webpage says, “Israel is the most racist state in the world at this time,”
Anti-Israel professor misuses CSUN website Read More »
USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Now that Americans and Israelis may have finished arguing about the campaign to bring emigrants back home, they are in full tilt about comments made by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. At a “closed” but thoroughly leaked meeting of Israeli and Americans concerned with public affairs, she expressed deep concern
Hillary’s criticism of Israeli democracy wide of the mark Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — The story of those “return to Israel” advertisements has come to an end. It didn’t take long for the Prime Minister to get the message, and order them withdrawn. Not only had they insulted American Jews. They also insulted Christmas. One has to work to find insults in the video
Prime Minister pulls anti-emigration commercials Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Evelyn Gordon WASHINGTON, D.C.–The media chatter that erupted in October about the possibility of Israel attacking Iran’s nuclear facilities sparked an immediate reaction: Both in Israel and abroad, opponents argued against such a strike, warning of various dire consequences. Certainly, Israel would prefer not to attack Iran: It would rather see Tehran’s nuclear program
If attacking Iran’s nuclear facilities is Israel’s only option… Read More »
Middle EastBy Bruce Kesler ENCINITAS, California –The old “gentlemen’s agreement” worked sub rosa to discriminate against Jews and preserve the homogeneity of neighborhoods or work places. General indifference permitted this. The new “gentlemen’s agreement” works similarly on many campuses to preserve the homogeneity of leftist and pro-Palestinian thought, again permitted by indifferent administrators. As many of
Pro-Israel groups organize to combat Palestinians, leftists on campus Read More »
USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Emigration from Israel is one of those issues that erupts every so many years to excite the fearful. Americans might think about abortion, prayer in the schools, gun control, or the placement of a Christmas tree and Hanukkah menorah on a public place. What is common to them all is
Israel’s immigration ministry hurts Americans’ feelings with ill-conceived ad campaign Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–A cartoon image in Ha’aretz shows animals walking two-by-two to Noah’s ark, while men and women are separated in the IDF, reflecting one of the issues in the headlines. There is a wave of extremism in Judaism parallel to those in Islam and Christianity. With us, it does not take the form
Israel less a melting pot than a buffet Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Maj. Gen. Larry Taylor, USMCR (ret.) “A nation that does not prepare for all forms of war should then renounce the use of war in national policy. A people that does not prepare to fight should then be morally prepared to surrender.” – T.R. Fehrenbach, in his classic study of the Korean War, This
Is the U.S. encouraging potential enemies? Read More »
USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–There has been another explosion in Iran. This one in the city of Isfahan, home to spectacular Muslim architecture, and industrial facilities linked to the country’s nuclear program. There are no reports that the explosion damaged the mosques or madrases. Among the Iranian reports are that it occurred at a gas station.
Nuclear sabotage in Iran preferable to all-out war Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East