By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — It is hard to imagine a better show than two heads of state, both fluent, and capable of pushing the buttons that bring forth waves of applause. Barack Obama and Benyamin Netanyahu know how to do it. The immediate commentary in Israel was either partisan or skeptical. Party colleagues […]
Mixed reviews for ‘Mr. Netanyahu Goes to Washington’ Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastWASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)–President Barack Obama spoke on Monday to the America-Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). The White House later released the text of his speech as delivered: THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. Thank you very much. (Applause.) Good morning. Thank you. Thank you so much. Please, have a seat. Thank you. What a remarkable, remarkable
Obama reassures AIPAC on U.S. support for Israel Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — We’re in the midst of a competitive talkathon. Barack has spoken twice, once to clarify things after Bibi spoke out against his first speech. Bibi has spoken to AIPAC and his bigger one will be to Congress. What came through Israel Radio’s coverage of the AIPAC speech was less intense
Israel, U.S., now negotiating in public Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By Isaac Yetiv, Ph.D LA JOLLA, California — In his speech “to the Arab World,” delivered at the State Department (5-19-11), President Obama said that the boundaries between Israel and the future Palestinian state should be based “on the 1967 lines with agreed land swaps by both sides.” This shift of policy has stunned Israel
Call for ’67 boundaries wrong in so many ways Read More »
Middle East
By Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel — There is a small detail at the end of Obama’s big Middle East speech that everyone has overlooked up until now but which shows how inept this administration is at understanding the Israel-Palestinian issue and why it continually makes Israel mistrustful. In doing his balancing act on Israeli and
A mistake in Obama’s speech betraying his bias Read More »
Middle East, USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–The Germans call it in zwischen zwei Welten: between two worlds. The image of participating in both, without being an intimate of either came to me as I pondered Barack Obama’s speech on the Middle East and North Africa, Bibi’s response, and the post-speech meeting between them. There will be other speeches
American-Israeli sees both points of view Read More »
Middle East
By Rabbi Dow Marmur TORONTO, Canada–As hard as I try, I can’t really get out of the ghetto. This means that I evaluate world events according to the criterion, “Is it good or bad for the Jews?” But the present situation in the Middle East doesn’t seem to lend itself to it. That’s why I
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Middle East
By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. –Most of the aggravated commentary about President Obama’s digression from the stirring winds of change in the Arab world into the details of Palestinian statehood have to do with the 1949 Armistice Line, or 1967 line – the western line of Palestine – and whether the President changed U.S. policy.
Obama’s ’67 formula hurts Jordan as well as Israel Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana Bryen
By Rabbi Ben Kamin SAN DIEGO — As a child living in Israel, I used to look out onto the horizon from my grandmother’s simple porch. I vividly remember the dusty little village of Kfar-Saba, some fifteen miles east of Tel Aviv, nestled against a thick patch of orange groves and in the shadow of
Obama trying to get Mideast past visceral hatreds Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–Responses are all over the map to Barack Obama’s highly touted speech on the Middle East and North Africa. Take your pick: from indifference to despair, excitement and anger. There was enough in it for everyone. The mention of 1967 borders brought one of Benyamin Netanyahu’s instant responses, described as “icy” by
Obama’s speech sounded like it was written by committee Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, USA
By Gary Rotto SAN DIEGO — President Obama’s speech is the most recent in a series of events that change the landscape of the Middle East. The Arab Spring, the killing of Osama bin Laden and the accord between Fatah and Hamas all have come in a matter of weeks. More changes in the Middle
Obama speech may have advanced Mideast peace; Dennis Ross can help Read More »
Middle EastBy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — Most of the media focus of the President’s speech appears to be on his belief that Israel should shrink to the 1967 borders – with minimal land swaps – and should make that deal even before discussing the status of Jerusalem (the capital of the Jewish people and never
Egypt part of Obama’s speech may be worse than Israel part Read More »
USABy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — As the Arab Spring slides into summer, with all its emerging difficulties, President Obama plans to address the region. What can he say in the middle of a process that surely will have starts and stops, forward motion and regression? How can he help in the name of the
Obama should invoke Jefferson in his Mideast speech Read More »
Shoshana Bryen, USA
By Bruce Kesler ENCINITAS, California–My tailor grandfather taught me the difference between being a Jew and being honored. When I was a little boy, holding my grandfather’s hand as we exited the synagogue, all the well-dressed people were walking around a disheveled, crying man at the bottom of the steps. My grandfather immediately went up
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USA