By J. Zel Lurie DELRAY BEACH, Florida — Dennis Ross, who brought the Israelis and Palestinians together for the first time at Madrid twenty years ago, has resigned as the senior adviser to President Obama on the Middle East and Iran. “The peace process is what he cares most about,” commented Aaron David Miller. […]
Peace process is ‘Closed for the Season’ Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Two proposals endorsed by a Knesset committee would be a reason for side-splitting laughter, if their authors were not speaking so proudly of their accomplishments. One proposal, authored by one of the lesser lights in the Likud delegation, would ban foreign governments or international organizations, such as the UN, from donating
Knesset backbenchers seek to limit foreign contributions to NGOs Read More »
Middle EastWASHINGTON, D.C. (JINSA) — Happy Veterans Day 2011 to all the men and women who serve and have served in the Armed Forces of the United States of America. Today, Nov. 11, Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki made a plea for jobs in the pages of the Wall Street Journal. Hardly
Time for employers to step up for the veterans Read More »
USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–Once again the story of Moshe Katsav has taken a large share of Israeli media. Thursday, Nov. 10, was the occasion for the Supreme Court to reject his appeals against a verdict of guilty for two instances of rape and several counts of sexual harassment, and to affirm the lower court’s sentence
Court confirms guilt of Israel’s ex-president Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Daniel Halper WASHINGTON, D.C. — Where is Jerusalem located? What seems like a simple matter of geography is actually a thorny diplomatic issue, one the U.S. State Department has aggressively avoided answering on official U.S. forms since the early 1990s. On passports and birth certificates, Americans born in Jerusalem are prohibited from adding “Israel”
U.S. declines to identify Jerusalem as part of Israel–not even on passports Read More »
Middle East
By Rabbi Ben Kamin SAN DIEGO — This weekend, while most Americans are continuing to shake their heads over the terminally drooping economy, the decidedly uninspiring race for the Republican presidential nomination, and the hard-to-discern frenzy about the Eurozone, something is happening in Memphis, Tennessee, that is worthy of our attention. The National Civil Rights
Civil Rights Museum in Memphis celebrates its 20th anniversary Read More »
USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Widely reported was this conversation at the G-20 summit in Cannes, not meant to be heard but for a slip-up of the great men close to an open microphone. Nicolas Sarkozy, “I cannot bear Netanyahu, he’s a liar.” Barack Obama, “You may be sick of him, but me, I have
If no one believes Netanyahu’s credibility, who’ll heed his advice on Iran threat? Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By Bruce Kesler ENCINITAS, California — I recently had lunch and a stroll along the ocean with a new friend, Jonathan Spyer. We struck it off immediately when he said the only organization he ever joined which he promised to obey was the Israel Defense Force. This mirrored my experience in joining the US Marine
Middle East analyst predicts a crumbling Iran Read More »
International
By Joel Moskowitz, M.D. LA JOLLA, California — John Stahl, knowing that I write for the San Diego Jewish World, asked if I would help him communicate his thinking on several issues of importance to the Jewish community. I posed several questions to him and the piece that follows are his responses. According to the
John Stahl, congressional hopeful, tells Mideast views Read More »
Jewish History, Middle EastBy Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO–Israel Inside: How a Small Nation Makes a Big Difference, a documentary that will premiere Nov. 29 on a Florida public broadcasting station, is being submitted to various outlets, including KPBS here in San Diego, for possible airing in March. The concept behind it, according to producer Raphael Shore, is
Documentary seeks to ‘rebrand’ Israel Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Middle East
By Lloyd Levy LONDON– Europe is being convulsed by the most remarkable and unwelcome events. The elected legitimate Prime Ministers of both Greece and Italy have been forced to resign. They have been forced out effectively by diktat from the Germans, with France hanging on to the German coat tails in an attempt to retain some
Commentary: Germany successful in third effort to take over Europe Read More »
International, Lloyd LevyBy Rabbi Ben Kamin SAN DIEGO–When the local director for a homeless rescue agency called on me to participate in yesterday’s interfaith vigil, I was glad to accept. Then I felt embarrassment while learning in the communications that sixty-one homeless persons had died on the streets of San Diego since the last annual vigil and
61: The number of homeless deaths in San Diego Read More »
USABy Joel A Moskowitz MD and Arlene S Moskowitz JD LA JOLLA, California– The son of Ariel Sharon was the opening attracton for the San Diego Jewish Book Fair at the Lawrence Family JCC. On a table to the left of the lecturn was a single lit candle fronting a photo of Ariel Sharon. Before
Ariel Sharon’s son says despite coma, his father is responsive Read More »
Jewish History, Middle East, San Diego CountyBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — headline in The Economist: “One side gets even lonelier . . . Binyamin Netanyahu gets brickbats from Palestinians and Israelis” http://www.economist.com/node/21536644 Visiting American relatives told us that their rabbi was saying “Israel is on a precipice,” and that members of the congregation must increase their political and economic support. Those
Situation normal: reasons for worry, reasons for celebration Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East