JERUSALEM (WJC)–Israel’s Cabinet has approved a plan to bring about 8,000 more Falash Mura – Ethiopians of Jewish ancestry – to Israel over the next four years. The Cabinet’s approval follows an agreement reached by aid groups that once these 8,000 Ethiopians are brought to Israel mass immigration from there would come to an end. […]
Israel’s Cabinet approves immigration for 8,000 Falash Mura Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–Prime Minister Netanyahu has recommended that his government accept an American offer to provide advanced military planes worth $3billion without payment, and to support Israel’s position in the United Nations, in exchange for a 90-day extension of the building freeze that will not apply to neighborhoods of Jerusalem. The deal is attractive not
U.S. may provide planes, U.N. support to Israel in return for brief construction freeze Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel — Six years ago, on November 11, 2004, Yasir Arafat died. On that occasion, former President Bill Clinton explained why he wouldn’t attend Arafat’s funeral: “I regret that in 2000 he missed the opportunity to bring [Palestine] into being….” Not Israel, but Arafat did so. Today, the Arafat era’s lessons
Six years after his death, Arafat’s legacy one of terror, stubbornness, greed Read More »
International, Middle East, USAWASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) The National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) released a statement decrying the immense infusion of anonymous cash into the 2010 elections and calling for passage of the DISCLOSE Act as a step toward transparency in campaign funding. NCJW’s Board of Directors on Friday, Nov. 12, released the following statement: “The 2010 election season
By Bruce S. Ticker PHILADELPHIA –The day after news broke that a Catholic archbishop suggested that Judaism has been displaced, Abe Foxman fired off a letter to Cardinal-elect Kurt Koch, the newly appointed president of Vatican’s Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews. Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League, wrote on Oct. 25: “We
Reacting to anti-Semitism in the white and black communities Read More »
USABy Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel–I have been asked by some very brave Iranian bloggers to answer their questions, which they translate into Persian here and here and make available within Iran. I am told there is a good response from their readers. Here are two of my responses. Question: Why doesn’t Israel and Israelis protest
What some Iranian bloggers want to know about Israel Read More »
Middle EastSHIKMIM, Israel (WJC) – Former prime minister Ariel Sharon, who has been in a coma for nearly five years, has been brought to his farm in the Negev for the first time since his massive strokes in January 2006. A large police force was involved in the drive down to Sharon’s Shikmim (Sycamore) Ranch. The 82-year-old was
Homecoming for comatose Ariel Sharon Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–There was a seven-hour meeting between Prime Minister Netanyahu and Secretary of State Clinton. It closed with mutual declarations of commitment to a peace process, fuzzy definitions of what was agreed, and no assignment of blame for the impasse to one side or another. The New York Times reported that
Only a bland statement emerges from 7-hour Netanyahu-Clinton meeting Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastWASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)–Here is the text of a joint statement made by Israel’s Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton following their meeting in Washington, D.C. on Thursday, Nov. 11: “Prime Minister Netanyahu and Secretary Clinton had a good discussion today, with a friendly and productive exchange of views on
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)– Congressman Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) on Wednesday, Nov. 10, condemned a group of conspirators for defrauding a Holocaust fund and commended the FBI for uncovering the crime. The Memphis Congressman has a long history of working to ensure fairness for Holocaust survivors and chaired a hearing this past September on the Holocaust Insurance
By Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel — This is getting to be a pretty common kind of story. The mayor of Frankfurt invites a Jewish intellectual whose family left Germany in 1932 to speak on the anniversary of Kristallnacht. The problem is that this man, Alfred Grosser, is a ferocious critic of Israel. Grosser claims
Jewish and crave worldwide applause? Simply bash Israel Read More »
International, Middle EastNEW YORK (Press Release)–Representatives from leading American service organizations, including Teach for America, Peace Corps, City Year, and other organizations will travel to Israel in next week to explore volunteering opportunities offered through Masa Israel Journey. With young adults’ growing interest in international volunteer opportunities, Masa Israel, a joint project of the Government of Israel
U.S. service organizations to tour Israel, study Masa program Read More »
Middle EastWASHINGTON, D.C (Press Release)– U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton conducted a joint press conference on Wednesday, Nov. 10, with Egypt’s Foreign Minister Aboul Gheit. It was the second with an Arab official in the same day. Earlier she and Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad held a news conference via television hookup. As she had
With Egyptian Foreign Minister at her side, Clinton continues to criticize Israel Read More »
Middle EastWASHINGTON, DC (Press Release) – The National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC) on Wednesday condemned Republican Congressman-elect Allen West’s (R-FL) decision to appoint talk radio host Joyce Kaufman as his Chief of Staff. NJDC President and CEO David A. Harris said upon hearing of Kaufman’s appointment: “Congressman-elect Allen West’s constituents – but especially his Jewish constituents – should
New congressman’s appointment of radio commentator to staff riles Jewish Democrats Read More »
USA