By Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel — As I have predicted, Amr Moussa, former Egyptian foreign minister and Arab League head, has declared his candidacy for president of Egypt. I’d bet he is the most likely to be elected, as a nationalist and “anti-Islamist” candidate. While very possibly the best alternative to the Muslim Brotherhood-backed Muhammad […]
Amr Moussa seeks election as Egypt’s President Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–Among the lessons we can tentatively parse from the current commotion in Muslim countries are possible clarifications about the murky overlap between international law and international politics. Notice the extreme lack of certainty, suitable for any discussion of international law and politics. Much more than domestic law in well ordered countries,
Middle East turmoil shows shortcomings of international law Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — When the Israeli political system – ironically based on the purest form of democracy of “one person one vote” – seems particularly perverse (which is often the case, alas), a new party emerges. The hope is that having one more option will help the confused electorate. In recent years,
Will Oz, Mitzna form new left of center party for Israel? Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM _- The best that Israeli policymakers can do in the context of what is happening in the region is to say little and to do virtually nothing. And the best that interested outsiders can do is to avoid dreaming that this is the time for Israel and Palestine to negotiate seriously
With Middle East in tumult, now is not the time to press Israelis and Palestiniana Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel — Once the revolution began, Egypt’s Christians knew precisely what to expect. It isn’t that the regime of Husni Mubarak protected them so well from Muslim wrath. On the contrary, it was reluctant to prosecute Muslims who attacked and killed or wounded Christians as well as damaged or destroyed churches.
Persecution of Christians Begins in ‘Democratic’ Egypt Read More »
Middle EastBy Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel — For those of us who have been trying to talk about Middle East dictators for a long time–I wrote my book on the subject, Modern Dictators, more than a quarter-century ago–it is amusing to see how people are lining up to be “horrified” by those evil repressive regimes. Some
Gosh! These people are dictators! Who knew? Read More »
Middle East, USANEW YORK (Press Release)–The Jewish Agency for Israel HAS announced the election of James S. Tisch, President and CEO of the Loews Corporation, as the next Chairman of its prestigious Board of Governors. Tisch is slated to replace Richard Pearlstone, who has served as Board of Governors Chairman since 2007. The Board of Governors is the
Tisch named board chairman of Jewish Agency for Israel Read More »
USABy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — Former Israel president Moshe Katzav is getting extensive pastoral care. He has been convicted of rape and related charges and is awaiting to be sentenced on March 8. To cheer him up, a number of prominent Israeli rabbis who belong to the so-called nationalist ultra-Orthodox stream (in contrast to
Rabbis’ defense of Katzav in reality a slap at women Read More »
Middle EastJERUSALEM (Press Release) — US Jewish leaders in Israel for the Conference of Presidents Mission joined local Israeli advocates, and government officials on a recent visit to the Mount of Olives Cemetery (Har Hazeitim) to inspect vandalism and other evidence of violence at the world’s most ancient Jewish cemetery. The International Committee for the Preservation of Har Hazeitim (ICPHH) and
Conference of Presidents spotlights vandalism at historic Jerusalem cemetery Read More »
Middle EastJERUSALEM (WJC)–Palestinian groups in east Jerusalem have announced a boycott of the US Consulate in the city in protest at the American veto of a UN Security Council resolution calling Israeli settlements “illegal”. Senior Fatah official Hatem Abdel Kader told the news agency AFP that the boycott would see the 28 Arab local councils in
Angry over U.N. veto, Arab Jerusalemites announce boycott of U.S. Consulate Read More »
Middle EastBEERSHEVA, Israel (WJC)–On Wednesday evening, at least two long-range Grad rockets landed in the southern Israeli city of Beersheva, one striking an apartment building. No one was killed in the attack. It was the first time the city – which is the main city in the Negev desert and 40 kilometers away from the Strip
Gaza missiles hits Beersheva Read More »
Middle EastNEW YORK (Press Release)– A record 40,108 eligible Jewish young adults in North America applied to participate in a Taglit-Birthright Israel trip this summer. Registration for the trip, which closed Tuesday morning (Feb. 22) after only seven days, represents both the highest number of applicants from North America and the shortest registration period for summer trips.
Record numbers of North Americans apply for Birthright trips to Israel Read More »
USAJERUSALEM (Press Release) — A new Holocaust era restitution project was announced by the Jewish Agency for Israel on Wednesday to identify the victims whose assets were confiscated by the Nazis. An initiative of the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI), with the support of the Government of Israel, Holocaust Era Asset Restitution Taskforce – Project HEART — aims
New effort announced to aid Holocaust families to recover property Read More »
Middle EastWASHINGTON, D.C (Press Release)–The joint U.S.-Israel Arrow Weapon System successfully intercepted a ballistic target missile during a flight test conducted Tuesday. This test is part of the Arrow System Improvement Program (ASIP) and was conducted jointly by the Israel Missile Defense Organization and the U.S. Missile Defense Agency at the U.S. Naval Air Warfare Center,
U.S. reports successful test of U.S.-Israel Arrow anti ballistic missile Read More »
Middle East