By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–There is not much of local importance in the news. Monday night’s prime time headlined the tragedy of a young Israeli traveler in the wrong place at the wrong time in Christchurch, someone yelling “Free Palestine” and “Apartheid” who was hustled from the room where Foreign Minister Lieberman was about to address […]
Catching up on reading on a slow news day Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel –This is a fascinating and revealing scoop by the Muqata blog. A member of Israel’s parliament attacked President Barack Obama in the nastiest terms: “After the exposure of lies from the US, we must say frankly to Obama: You no longer scare us and you can go to hell. “Obama
Arab Knesset member denounces Obama; NPR’s manipulation of news discussions Read More »
Middle East, USA
By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–One of the most influential members of the Government of Israel is never to be seen around the cabinet table, yet what he thinks and says is of great importance to the decisions. His name is Barack Obama. Prime Minister Netanyahu, anxious to keep his coalition together, often finds himself between
Obama generally exercises a positive influence on Israel Read More »
Middle EastRAMALLAH, Palestine Authority (WJC)–Palestinian Prime Minister Salam al-Fayyad has said he wants to include Hamas members in his new government in order to heal the rift between the rival factions. Fayyad said his plan would permit Hamas to retain security control of the Gaza Strip while receiving certain posts in a reformed Cabinet. The Palestine
Hamas snubs Fatah bid for reconciliation Read More »
Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–The heading of a recent article by the British journalist Brendan O’Neill is significant: “Palestine an obsession of the radical West, not Arabs” (www.theaustralian.com.au). He draws our attention to the fact that during the demonstrations in Egypt and elsewhere there were very few pro-Palestinian slogans: “Instead, this revolt was about Egyptian
Rather than help Palestinians, some Western liberals derive pleasure from pitying them Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–Israel is never far from the world’s headlines, but it is enjoying something of a breather. Muslims from Mauritania and Morocco to Pakistan are dealing with issues more pressing than their conventional assertions about Palestine. Palestinians have troubles that, arguably, are greater than Israel. Gazans have a regime that is serious about Islamic law,
Israel relatively peaceful oasis in roiled Middle East Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–I’m on the mailing list of an American-born Jerusalemite whose blog seems to be dedicated to bashing US President Obama. I stopped reading it regularly a long time ago but I made an exception today in the hope that, after the United States veto of the proposed Palestinian anti-settlement resolution in
U.N. veto hailed and damned by Israelis who made up minds ahead of time Read More »
Middle EastNEW YORK (Press Release)– Susan Rice, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, explained her casting a veto in the Security Council on Friday on a resolution promoted by the Palestinian Authority to condemn Israel’s settlements in the territories. She spoke with reporters via a conference telephone call. OPERATOR: Welcome, and thank you for standing by.
Susan Rice explains U.S. veto of resolution on settlements Read More »
Middle EastNEW YORK (Press Release)– The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) on Friday expressed appreciation to the United States for vetoing the “fundamentally flawed” U.N. Security Council resolution on Israeli settlements and for making clear to the Palestinian Authority that the only route to peace is through direct negotiations with Israel. Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director, issued
U.S. veto of U.N. resolution on settlements wins plaudits Read More »
Middle East
By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. –On Thursday, we considered the difference between what Palestinian Authority leadership may have told American and Israeli “peace” negotiators and what they assuredly are telling their constituents. The disconnect means the Palestinian people are not being prepared for any sort of operative peace with a legitimate, sovereign state of Israel.
Egyptians, Palestinians hated leaders, but loved their lies about Israel Read More »
Middle EastBy Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel — Let history show that neither the New York Times nor the Washington Post reported on the return of the world’s single most important Islamic cleric to Cairo to begin what he hopes to be the transformation of Egypt into a revolutionary anti-American state. Yusuf al-Qaradawi spoke to a giant
Qaradawi begins quest to transform Egypt to Islamist state Read More »
Middle EastWASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)–As the drama intensified at the U.N. Security Council over whether enemies of Israel could persuade the United States to join in a resolution condemning settlements in Palestinian territories, members of Congress weighed in with press releases. Among them: Eliot L. Elliot (D-New York)–“It is absolutely outrageous that the U.N. Security Council
Pending Israel vote at U.N. prompts statements from members of Congress Read More »
Middle EastBy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)–In the wake of the Egyptian revolution, pundit Tom Friedman fears Israel will not take this opportunity to strike a deal with the Palestinians. “If Israelis tell themselves that Egypt’s unrest proves why Israel cannot make peace with the Palestinian Authority, then they will be talking themselves into becoming
Palestinians try to repair image in light of leaks, Egypt’s revolution Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Benyamin Netanyahu has come in for some shrill criticism from locals and outsiders. Their most recent brief is to reiterate doubt about his sincerity with respect to the peace process with the Palestinians, and his reluctance to cheer what they see as the democratic tide of protest against Hosni Mubarak. Thursday’s
Likud–on matters of policy and propriety–seems to have advantage in Israeli politics Read More »
Middle East