By 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 East
By 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
By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — A wise Marine of our acquaintance wrote in response to the last JINSA Report: More episodic US policy! Is the survival of Qadaffi’s regime a strategic objective? Do we have a discrete concept for Libyan sovereignty that is aligned with any significant Libyan domestic political forces? Is our strategic
King’s hearings on terrorism important and necessary Read More »
USABy Roz Rothstein and Roberta Seid LOS ANGELES –The boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) campaign against the state of Israel is nothing new. Prejudice, isolation and punishment of Jews, an earlier form of BDS has recurred over the past 2,000 years. In Europe and the Middle East, Jewish people were isolated, demonized, and
BDS campaign an example of old-fashioned hatred of Jews Read More »
USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–You’ve heard that Jews control the media. An exaggeration. Influence, maybe. Jews are out of proportion in positions of management and as media personalities. But there are different kinds of Jews. International conspiracy linked to Zionism? Not with J-Street, Peace Now, AIPAC, the settlers, and who knows how many other organizations competing
What’s that old saw about ‘no news’ being … ? Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM– Critics of Israel say sometimes that it’s a democratic state for just over 80% of the population. The country’s 1.3 million Arab citizens don’t feel that they’re treated equally and their Jewish supporters agree. Here are three of the many reasons. Resources: Arab municipalities in Israel get substantially less of public
Some reasons for Arab dissatisfaction in Israel Read More »
Middle EastWASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)— The Jewish Federations of North America – the largest Jewish philanthropy collective in the world – released the following statements Thursday to congratulate Daniel Shapiro on his recommendation for appointment as the next Ambassador to Israel. Kathy E. Manning, Chair of the Board of Trustees of The Jewish Federations of North America:
Jewish Federations hail Shapiro’s nomination as ambassador to Israel Read More »
Middle EastNEW YORK (WJC) — The World Jewish Congress in association with the Jewish Labor Committee (JLC), has ben hosting a series of gatherings that has brought together Ofer Eini, Chairman of the Histadrut (Israel’s Labor Federation) and American union leaders in order to reaffirm Israel’s strong and longstanding relationship with the American Labor movement and to discuss
Histadrut chief meets with American labor leaders Read More »
USA