TEHRAN (WJC)–The head of Iran’s soccer federation was forced to issue a public apology and a member of his staff resigned after the federation mistakenly sent a New Year’s greeting to its counterpart in Israel. “It was a big mistake sending an e-mail to Israel’s football federation,” Ali Kaffashian, president of the Iran Football Federation, […]
JERUSALEM (WJC)–Jewish immigration to Israel increased in 2009 by 17 percent compared to the previous year, the first rise in a decade. According to figures released by the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) – the government body in charge of immigration – 16,244 people made aliya in 2009, whereas 13,869 had moved to Israel in
16,244 olim in 2009 was first increase in aliyah in a decade Read More »
Middle EastSDEROT, Israel (WJC)–Residents of southern Israel and the town of Sderot have held a March of Freedom to mark the first anniversary of Operation Cast Lead in the Gaza Strip. Organizers of the rally expressed hope that the new decade would be one of “hope, security and peace”. Students attending the annual congress of the
Israeli children launch balloons with peace messages for children of Gaza Read More »
Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–Professor David Shulman of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, commenting on the by now almost notorious Goldstone report – and sort-of agreeing with much of it – writes nostalgically in the December 17 issue of The New York Review of Books: I remember a time when charges of war crimes
If left-wing Israelis should answer to a higher law, how about right-wing rabbis? Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–This is the season for projecting a continuation of what has been. Some of you have accused me of cynicism. Some have called me a realist. No one should be surprised by what follows. Overseas observers will report on Israel’s military exercises in preparation for an attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities.
An Israeli columnist's 2010 predictions Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel–“You must read this,” a friend said, thrusting some typed pages into my hand. They contained the text of a speech given by Elena Bonner, the Jewish widow of former Soviet dissident Andrei Sakharov, at the Freedom Forum held in Oslo, Norway, in May 2009. I read the typescript with
Elena Bonner tells Norwegians about their double standard Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Middle East, USAWASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)–Following is the text of a “dear colleague” letter National Intelligence Agency director Dennis Blair sent to members of the intelligence community in the wake of the attempted Christmas bombing of an airliner by a Nigerian man believed to be an al-Qaeda-linked terrorist: It has been an especially challenging week for the
National Intelligence Director Blair vows agencies will 'close the gap' Read More »
USAWASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) — In the wake of the recent attempted attack on Detroit-bound Northwest Airlines flight 253, several elected officials have renewed their politicized claims that closing the prison at Guantánamo would be dangerous and premature. The Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) urges the President to reject the use of this incident as fodder to
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)–Following is the transcript of President Barack Obama’s regular Saturday morning radio address dealing this week with his administration’s efforts to fight terrorism: THE PRESIDENT: It has now been more than a week since the attempted act of terrorism aboard that flight to Detroit on Christmas Day. On Thursday, I received the
Obama stresses Yemen's importance in fight against al Qaeda Read More »
USABy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM—Perhaps Prime Minister Netanyahu’s stress on the Iranian threat may not only reflect the grim reality of Israel being in the firing line but also a ploy to avoid dealing with the Palestinian issue by arguing that Iran is a more urgent and immediate problem and must be dealt with before
Soft-pedalling external opposition to Iran to help the internal opposition Read More »
Middle EastWASHINGTON, D.C (Press Release)- House Republican Leader John Boehner of Ohion on Wednesday issued the following statement on the attempted airline terrorist attack as well as the Obama Administration’s response: “The terrorist plot to bring down Northwest Airlines Flight 253 exposed a near-catastrophic failure at every level of our government. News reports suggest our government
Republicans want U.S. to treat terrorists as war makers not individual criminals Read More »
USAWASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) – U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (Democrat, California), chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, on Wednesday sent a letter to President Obama urging the Administration to strengthen U.S. counterterrorism policies in the wake of the December 25 attack. Following is the text of the letter sent by Chairman Feinstein
Feinstein seeks revision of terrorist watchlist rules Read More »
USABy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — Before leaving town, the House and Senate agreed to a 60-day extension of provisions of the Patriot Act set to expire at the end of the year. When they return they will take up the separate House and Senate versions of the bill that would reauthorize the full
Congress should examine both Patriot Act and Interpol privileges Read More »
Shoshana Bryen, USABy Bruce S. Ticker PHILADELPHIA–Where’s a J Street when you really need one? For a very long time, I could not voice differences over Israeli policies without being shouted down by hard line advocates for Israel. It was very difficult to defend Israeli policies. The military undertook operations that seemed excessive and settlements were
The word for J Street: irrelevance Read More »
Middle East