By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — Where is the connection between the vicious murder of two parents and three of their five children in Itamar last weekend and the Peter King hearing? Some time after 9-11, someone in America coined the term “Sudden Jihad Syndrome” to account for people – Muslims – who “went berserk” […]
On preventing terrorism–on land and at sea Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana Bryen
By Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel — People ask me what the United States should be doing toward the upheavals in the Middle East. Here’s a short, quick list of themes: 1. Understanding that there are some people who want real democracy and others who don’t, U.S. policy should be focused on battling the latter, especially
Some Mideast tips for U.S. policymakers Read More »
Middle East, USABy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–“Mourning for the victims has barely begun, but the government has already managed to discredit their memory.” So writes Bernard Avishai, the Canadian born Israeli political commentator and consultant who spends much time in the United States. He’s referring to the ways in which the Government of Israel has exploited the
Ending ‘occupation’ won’t end hatred, terror Read More »
Middle EastBy Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel — I just don’t get it. The more degrees from famous universities U.S. leaders have, the less they seem to know, especially about history. Consider this in light of their inability to understand that not only al-Qaida but also Syria, Hamas, Hizballah, the Muslim Brotherhood, and the AKP government in
U.S. policy makers should apply Cold War lessons to Middle East Read More »
International, Middle East, USA
By Rabbi Ben Kamin SAN DIEGO–One is torn and in anguish between rage and passion: The cold-blooded, brutish slaying with knives of the Fogel family, including parents, small children and an infant, in the Jewish community of Itamar on the West Bank boils up torrid feelings of antipathy and regret—why did I ever feel compassion
Carson to teach MLK’s non-violence to Palestinians Read More »
Middle EastLOS ANGELES (Press Release)– StandWithUs is horrified and grief-stricken by the savage murder of five members of the Fogel family. Palestinian terrorists slipped into the house while the family slept, stabbed the parents, slashed the throat of 11-year-old Yoav, knifed 3-year-old Elad in the heart, and slit the throat of their three-month-old baby, Hadas. The
StandWithUs says U.S. should require P.A. to end anti-Israel incitement Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–A spurt of angry speech and activity that leaves little behind, or a spark of change in direction? After the Sabbath killing of five members of the Fogel family in the settlement Itamar: Israeli politicians across the spectrum from right to left expressed revulsion and rage. The Prime Minister, in a public
The ripple effects of political murders Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel — I listened again to President Barack Obama’s main speech on Egypt back during the revolution and two phrases caught my ear. They were both intended, perhaps, as bland rhetoric yet they carry an awesome amount of meaning. The first was this: “Suppressing ideas never make them go away.” At
Listening anew to President Obama’s Cairo speech Read More »
Middle East, USA
By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–Terrorist attacks are unpredictable, but in Israel they tend to happen especially whenever there’re signs of movements toward peace with the Palestinians. Though there’s no evidence as yet that the attack last Friday night on the Jewish settlement of Itamar near Nablus in the West Bank, which took the lives of
Murders in Itamar fuel extremism on both sides Read More »
Middle EastLOS ANGELES (Press Release)–The Israel advocacy group, StandWithUs, is urging schools, campuses, synagogues, community organizations, and individuals to celebrate Israel by designating March 30 as the day to buy up Israeli goods at local stores. The date was chosen because the anti-Israel boycott campaign has planned a global boycott of Israeli products for the
BIG (Buy Israel Goods) campaign set for March 30 Read More »
USABy Barry Rubin LOS ANGELES–As we consider the lessons of the dramatic upheavals in Arabic-speaking countries one of the main ones is this: the overriding obsession with the Arab-Israeli conflict, Israel-Palestinian conflict, and Israel as the supposed cause of all regional problems has repeatedly blinded people to the realities of the region. The “normal” issues
Arab revolts show domestic affairs, rather than Israel, top their concerns Read More »
Middle East, USAWASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)–U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton issues the following statement on Saturday: “I was shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the brutal murder of an Israeli family early Saturday morning in the West Bank. The United States condemns this appalling attack in the strongest possible terms. To kill three innocent
Clinton denounces murders of West Bank Israeli family Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — A short while ago I posted a column about the lack of media attention to Israel. A few hours later five members of a family in a Jewish settlement, including a two month old infant, were slaughtered on the Sabbath. The earthquake in Japan and the possibility of radioactive clouds
Slaughter of settler family makes achievement of Mideast peace more unlikely Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Barry Rubin LOS ANGELES — It’s now official. The Egyptian presidential election will pit Amr Moussa against Muhammad ElBaradei. It’s hard to see a third candidate emerging with a real chance of being elected. Come to think of it, thinking that ElBaradei has a chance of winning is alsohard to believe. In May 2007,
Amr Moussa: Meet Egypt’s Next President? Read More »
Middle East