From Iranian-controlled portions of Iraq to Lebanon, people are marching; women are tearing off their hijabs, while dancing to the sound of western music with their male friends. Iranian corruption and brutality have alienated the entire Muslim world in those countries. They demand a change. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]
Iranian demonstrators must be supported Read More »
International, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Middle East, USA
In the past, philanthropists Ernest and Evelyn Rady donated $60 million and $120 million to Children’s Hospital, which renamed itself as Rady Children’s Hospital. Now, the married philanthropists have offered to outdo themselves. They promised to match $200 million in donations from other people in an effort to create a $400 million Rady Reimagine Fund to chart and implement the pediatric hospital’s growth. [Donald H. Harrison]
$200m offered in match for Rady Children’s Hospital Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Business & Finance, Donald H. Harrison, International, Middle East, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food
Even though it is battered and bruised, Israeli democracy is alive. Its institutions – even those under attack by this government, such as the media, the police, the entire justice system – are holding their ground and doing their jobs. [Daniel Sokatch]
Netanyahu indictment: A win for democracy Read More »
Middle East
The long-anticipated indictment of Prime Minister Netanyahu has finally come to pass today (Thursday, Nov. 21). For three years, Netanyahu spared no effort to scuttle three criminal cases against him, but failed. These charges and their implications have now become rather clear. They have occupied Netanyahu’s thinking as to how to save himself and maintain his position as Prime Minister. They have impacted Israel’s policies, in particular toward the Palestinians, and without a doubt the charges have adversely impacted Netanyahu’s efforts to form a government following the last two elections. [Alon Ben-Meir, PhD]
The political cost Netanyahu inflicted on Israel Read More »
Alon Ben-Meir, Middle East
There’s, therefore, a case for dropping charges against him on the understanding that, having just celebrated his 70th birthday, it’s time for him to retire and make money on the American lecture circuit. His friend Professor Alan Dershowitz, the distinguished jurist famous for having defended dubious characters in the United States, has argued that, from a legal point of view, Netanyahu hasn’t done anything wrong, implying that the prime minister’s contention that the police and the judiciary are after him may be justified. [Rabbi Dow Marmur]
Drop Netanyahu prosecution if he resigns Read More »
Middle East
Senators Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts were among Democratic presidential candidates to chime in, and both predictably misrepresented the situation after a cease-fire was declared. [Bruce S. Ticker]
Sanders, Warren misrepresent Gaza situation Read More »
Bruce Ticker, Middle East, USAIt’s taken a long time, but finally the US has recognized the obvious fact that Jewish communities everywhere in Israel do not violate international law. The Washington Post, which is one of many media outlets that is unfriendly to Israel, verified this fact in its reporting of Secretary of State Pompeo’s pronouncement on November 18, 2019. To wit: “… the Trump administration had determined that Israel’s West Bank settlements do not violate international law.” [Steve Kramer]
Flash: Israel is Jewish – duh! Read More »
Middle East, Steve Kramer, USA
In reversing the Obama administration’s shameful acceding to the UN Security Council’s 2016 resolution that Israeli settlements in Judea and Samaria were illegal under international law, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo finally stated what was obvious to many legal scholars and others who have assessed the facts on the ground; namely, as Pompeo put it, “The establishment of Israeli civilian settlements in the West Bank is not per se inconsistent with international law.” [Richard L. Cravatts, PhD]
Reversing Obama’s Israel policy based on solid law Read More »
Middle East, Richard L. Cravatts, USA
The California Democratic Party, at its recent convention, passed over some of the Jewish Democrats running for offices in the San Diego County area in favor of better-known candidates. [Donald H. Harrison]
California Democrats pass over local Jewish candidates Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Middle East, Travel and Food
While Israelis are struggling to form a government as the result of a virtual tie between Blue and White and Likud, Americans for Peace Now has weighed in with a pamphlet that asks what politicians can do to move things forward. But in reality, the perspective of the pamphlet seems out of date, and dreams of what on the ground seems unreasonable. [Ira Sharkansky, PhD]
Americans for Peace Now proposals unrealistic Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USAThe Trump administration has reversed former President Barack Obama’s antagonistic policy toward Israeli settlements in the area known by some as the West Bank and to others as Judea and Samaria. [Donald H. Harrison]
Trump reverses U.S. position on Israeli settlements Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Middle East, USA
Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) report that its recent San Diego fundraiser attracted 650 contributors, who honored Sydney and Denise Selati of San Diego, and met five IDF soldiers who, according to security protocols, were identified by their first names or initials only. [Donald H. Harrison]
FIDF gala showcased IDF diversity Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East, San Diego County
Since December 2017, a sort of “rolling rebellion” has been occurring across Iran. It is bigger, deeper and stronger than the Green Revolution of 2009 and taking place in great measure outside Tehran, where the population is more diverse. There have been strikes of truckers, bazaar shopkeepers, teachers, farmers, and students. See #WhiteWednesday on Twitter to watch brave Iranian women go into the streets and take off their head coverings. Sometimes they dance. Sometimes their husbands, fathers, and brothers go with them. Sometimes they are arrested and sometimes they go to jail. Unfortunately, it took the suicide of a young woman facing seven years in prison for attending a soccer match to get the attention of the Western press. [Shoshana Bryen]
Imperial Iran faces troubles at home and abroad Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana Bryen
I first met 18-year-old Michal Sharon in the Seacrest Village dining room as she was hopping from table to table cheerfully introducing herself. She was fresh out of high school in Israel and chose to delay her required service in the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) to spend one year in San Diego as an emissary in a new-to-San Diego program. [Cantor Sheldon Foster Merel]
Israel rabbi, student visit Seacrest Village residents Read More »
Cantor Sheldon Foster Merel, z"l, Middle East, San Diego County