By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–The commotion, fighting, and death roiling through Arab countries is likely to produce several kinds of consequences. At the most extreme, it cannot be pleasant to be a Libyan or Syrian, wondering who will suffer from immediate attack or subsequent persecution. Who knows what kind of government will follow the upsets in […]
Arab turmoil reflected in Israeli debate Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — No one should claim that Barack Obama is a foreign policy sophisticate. His Nobel Peace Prize will keep historians busy speculating for generations. We might forgive his pledges to close Guantanamo and focus the American commitment in Afghanistan as electoral fluff, but Guantanamo is still active as his campaign for
Obama may have Nobel Prize but in foreign policy he needs help Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, USA
By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Obama administration says it may look for “targeted sanctions” on Junior Assad’s Syria, and “condemns” the violence there, but – hey, look guys, it isn’t Libya, for Pete’s sake. Asked the difference, White House spokesman Jay Carney said, “We had a Gaddafi regime that was moving against its
Why does U.S. act in Libya but not Syria? Read More »
International, Shoshana Bryen
By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — The festival of Maimouna was brought to Israel by the Jews from Morocco. There’re several theories about its origin, none of which is convincing. But that hasn’t stopped it from becoming a national event in the country, celebrated by Jews from many different backgrounds. It starts the same evening as Pesach
Maimuna: A holiday for reaching across the ethnic divide Read More »
Middle East
By Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel — There’s a bit of a mystery regarding Syria. First, who is the opposition? Second, what will happen? Having been the first to warn about the threat and power of Islamists in Egypt, I think that’s earned me some credibility to say that Syria may well be a different case.
Syria’s revolution may hold more promise than Egypt’s Read More »
International, Middle East, USABy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–Though I grew up in Sweden I never thought of its citizens as being particularly happy. In the 1940s and 50s we heard a lot about drunkenness and suicide but not much about life as bliss. Denmark, on the other hand struck us even then as a very happy place.
Gallup Poll shows Israel high on happiness index Read More »
Middle EastBy Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel — Today Syria has entered its biggest internal crisis since 1970. The regime has come out to crush the insurrection. Either it will succeed by killing many people or the insurrection will build into a real potential revolution. And the Western states are doing…precisely zero. One Syrian expert friend responded:
The Big Historic Event Today: Syria’s Biggest Crisis in 40 Years Read More »
International, Middle East, USABy Ira Sharkansky SAN DIEGO — I’ll say it again. Coping is the name of the game. No solutions appear on the horizon, even when standing on a high place. Israeli policymakers concerned with “peace,” “borders,” or however you define that cluster of issues have to cope with Palestinians, Americans, and Western Europeans, as well
Israel practices the art of coping Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — Pastor Terry Jones is planning a rally at a Detroit-area mosque and a jury is deciding whether he has to post a bond to cover extra security local officials are planning to provide for the demonstrators. Jones doesn’t want to pay – he asked for no extra security and
Yes, Terry Jones is intolerant; by no means, the most intolerant Read More »
Shoshana Bryen, USABy Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel — “Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Wednesday condemned violence in Syria and said the Syrian government must stop the arbitrary arrest, detention and torture of prisoners.” There’s a problem with that word “must.” See, you cannot have it both ways. You cannot help overthrow or move away from allies,
Obama administration is not taken seriously by Syria Read More »
International, Middle East, USABy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — By all accounts a large number of people and organizations in Israel are trying to draft the speech they believe Prime Minister Netanyahu ought to deliver before both Houses of Congress next month. The most recent effort comes from a group of left-wing intellectuals, among them many of the
Is ‘conflict management’ the best Israel and the Palestinians can do? Read More »
Middle EastBy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — Who would have thought that we would find ourselves agreeing with the Saudi approach to events in the Middle East, while thinking our own government needs a “reset”? National Security Council Advisor Tom Donilon visited Saudi Arabia and Saudi King Abdullah brought three of his advisors to the meeting:
Saudi policy for Middle East far more realistic than U.S.’s Read More »
International, Shoshana BryenBy Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel — There’s some controversy about President Barack Obama’s Passover message. The key passage is this: “The story of Passover…instructs each generation to remember its past, while appreciating the beauty of freedom and the responsibility it entails. This year that ancient instruction is reflected in the daily headlines as we see
President Obama’s Passover problem Read More »
Jewish Religion, USAWashington, DC (Press Release)– Congressman Brad Sherman, the Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Trade, reintroduced the Stop Iran’s Nuclear Weapons Program Act late last week. Sherman’s new bill would tighten economic and diplomatic pressure on Iran and its remaining business partners. Congressman Ed Royce is the lead Republican
Bill would prohibit U.S. foreign subsidiaries from trading with Iran Read More »
International