Middle East

Arson, vandalism, RJC video ramp up tensions in Jewish community

Jewish community tensions are being ramped up with news of an arson fire at the Chabad House at the University of Delaware, vandalism at a Reform synagogue in Kenosha, and a video from the Republican Jewish Coalition purporting that Democrats are turning their back on Jews and Israel and are coddling anti-Semites. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

‘Progressive’ Democrats engage in regressive anti-Semitism

Depending on one’s viewpoint, it could all make sense. Supposedly, Jews oppress Palestinians in Israel’s territories, so they must be part of white supremacy in America. Supposedly, all Jews are wealthy, so they must be oppressing people of color. For sure, anti-Zionism is not anti-Semitism. And now, supposedly,  we Jews want a race war. These are conclusions we can draw from the latest barrage in the ongoing war on Jews in America. [Bruce S. Ticker]

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Bruce Ticker, Middle East, USA

Plant trees, reduce poverty, slow climate change

Countries like Morocco, which are highly susceptible to long periods of drought, are welcoming reforestation efforts to improve agriculture. In partnership with civil society, the Moroccan government will plant 800,000 trees across the country by 2024. Like Morocco, many are turning to agroforestry, or tree-farming, as an eco-friendly solution to climate issues. Globally, at least 650 million hectares of land (13.3% of total farming land) are used for agroforestry systems. [Jacqueline Skalski-Fouts]

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International, Middle East, The World We Share

Karen Parry new Hillel of San Diego executive director

Karen Parry, a Jewish community professional who grew up and held her earliest positions in San Diego County, will return to her native city from Seattle to become the executive director of Hillel of San Diego. [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Middle East, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Museum pretends to be an airport terminal

The Museum of the Jewish People has temporarily transformed itself into an “airport terminal” so children and families can “travel” the world both in-person and virtually despite ongoing air travel limited due to COVID-19 safety concerns. There’s even a “Museum Airlines” to help visitors’ imaginations take flight.   [Press Release0

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International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East, Travel and Food, USA

Stopping Iran, the world’s foremost terrorism sponsor

The US has now twice failed to trigger a “snapback” mechanism in the UN Security Council to reimpose sanctions against Iran. Indonesia’s UN Ambassador Dian Triansyah Djani dismissed the move that could have ended the 2015 Iranian deal, under his authority as president of the Council for the month of August. He said, “There is no consensus in the council and thus the president is not in the position to take further action. [Steve Kramer]

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Middle East, Steve Kramer, USA

Animals enact biblical moment at Ein Gedi gorge

It was my habit to stop at a corner along the trail, in the spreading shade of a tropical Moringa tree, and to recite the story of a fateful meeting between David and Saul (2 Samuel 26), here on the very location where it took place. It couldn’t be more authentic.
If the tour leader had a good voice, not a tiresome mumble, I would find the designated chapter in his travelers’ bible, thrust it in his hand and request him to read it to his flock. (Ithamar Perath)

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Jewish Religion, Middle East, The World We Share, Travel and Food

Netanyahu’s political successes and current trials

All politics may require complexity in its leaders. How else to put together the various forces necessary to keep an alliance together? And for someone who has served a complex society for more than eleven years, the complexity is likely to spill over into what some would describe as unreliability. Bibi may have been made for it. Considerable time and higher education in the US; three marriages; an earlier period when he changed his name to Benjamin Ben Nitai . Little if any relationship with an older daughter by one of his earlier wives. Skilled in the two languages most important for an Israeli leader. And with a father, wife, and elder son very much on the outside of what would be expected of a national leader. [Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D]

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Ira Sharkansky, Middle East

The coming Israeli-Arab alliance

The peace agreement between Israel and the UAE lays the foundation for a future Israeli-Arab alliance, which has been quietly developing behind the scenes over the past several years. I believe that over a relatively short period of time, such an alliance will emerge, eventually including nine Arab States: the UAE, Bahrain, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, and at a later date, Kuwait, Qatar, and the Palestinians, creating a crescent of land extending from the Gulf to the Mediterranean. Such a new alliance will more than likely also include Sudan, Morocco, and other Arab states, and will decisively change the geostrategic dynamic in the Middle East. [Alon Ben-Meir, Ph.D]

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Alon Ben-Meir, Middle East, USA

MSNBC’s Ali Velshi’s reporting biased against Israel

When Ali Velshi speaks, change the channel. Better yet, MSNBC could arrange it so that Velshi can only speak at a street corner.Saturday morning, at 9:45, I experienced an absurd, surreal display of Velshi’s creepy concept of broadcast journalism. If Velshi lived in Russia, he would fit in well writing for Pravda. He offended Jews and other supporters of Israel. Velshi strung together a string of facts and brazen lies while neglecting to supply relevant context on a news program he hosted to conjure up a not-so-creative Israel-bash-a-thon. [Bruce S. Ticker]

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Bruce Ticker, Middle East, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

UAE a success for Bibi, but COVID-19 still a problem

It’s been a tough week to judge, and to summarize.The key event occurred Thursday, with the announcement of a formal agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates. It came on condition that Israel shelve the plan to annex territories within the West Bank. Also, the UAE indicated that its Embassy would not be in Jerusalem, at least until there was some arrangement between Israel and the Palestinians. [Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D]

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Ira Sharkansky, Middle East

Lebanese memories prompted by Beirut explosion

George Salameh, owner of the Alforon Restaurant on El Cajon Boulevard near 59th Street, remembers living within the area near the port of  Beirut that was leveled by the terrible blast on August 4  that killed at least 177 people and wounded or injured 6,000 more, leaving as many as 150,000 people homeless, and causing property damage estimated between $10 billion and $15 billion. [Our Shtetl San Diego County by Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Middle East, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, Travel and Food, USA