By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — An Internet friend sent me a YouTube showing a scene from the TV drama, The Newsroom. It has characters claiming that America is the greatest country on earth. Then the star of the show sets them straight with comparative data that reveal something much different. Among the items he cites […]
Why Israel must be cautious in its alliances Read More »
International, Middle East, USANEW YORK (WJC)–The World Jewish Congress-United States (WJC-US) on Thursday expressed its deep dismay concerning the decision by the Second US Circuit Court of Appeals in New York to dismiss a $655.5 million terrorism judgement against the Palestinian Authority (PA), calling it a strong setback to the efforts to hold the PA liable for attacks
Judge dismisses terror damage suit against P.A. Read More »
Middle East, USAHANGZHAO, China — President Barack Obama’s emissaries spent much of Sunday talking with Russian officials here about how to quell the violence in Syria, but the president all but shrugged his shoulders when asked about the prospects of a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin. “Given the previous failures of cessations of hostilities to hold,
Obama struggles to make a deal with Russia on Syria Read More »
International, Middle East, USABy Joel H Cohen NEW YORK –Despite the very mixed reviews of his recent visit with Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto in Mexico City, Donald Trump has accepted an invitation to go to Israel to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and address the Knesset. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has not yet responded
‘Just Kidding:’ A Trump visit to Israel Read More »
Middle East, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USADozens of women from the “Women of the Wall” organization, which aims to challenge the religious status quo in Israel and gain a foothold for the Reform and Conservative movements at the Western Wall plaza, arrived this morning at the holy site, on the beginning of the Hebrew month of Elul. The women arrived equipped
‘Women of the Wall’ convenes shofar ceremony at Western Wall Read More »
Middle EastAgriculture Minister Uri Ariel (Jewish Home) spoke with journalists Sunday morning ahead of the government”s weekly meeting, fielding questions regarding the ongoing coalition crisis over infrastructure work done for the public transportation system on Shabbat. Two weeks ago, revelations that the Transportation Ministry was conducting infrastructure work for the Israeli rail system on the Jewish
‘Why not just build at night, instead of on Shabbat?’ Read More »
Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM –The intricacies of the latest dispute around Israel’s railways may be of little interest to those not directly affected, but the political ramifications are extremely relevant to us all. Ostensibly, in an effort not to disrupt railway traffic during the working week, Israel Katz, Israel’s minister of transport, authorized essential
Could Shabbat fracas eventually derail Netanyahu? Read More »
Middle EastJerusalem-Israel is to host a working group of the International Criminal Court as it weighs whether to probe alleged war crimes in the 2014 Gaza war, an Israeli official said Friday. The group’s arrival “shortly” will be unprecedented, he told Agence France Presse on condition of anonymity, saying the visit was intended to show the
Israel Readies to Host ICC Delegation on Gaza War Mission Read More »
International, Middle EastBy Barry Shaw NETANYA, Israel — If you want to study the weakness of American foreign policy under the Obama-Clinton-Kerry Administration, just look at the Turkish-Kurdish-Syrian triangle. America’s formal position is that it opposes the Assad regime, that it looks on Turkey as a close ally, and that it arms the Kurds in their fight
U.S. should support the Kurds Read More »
Barry Shaw, Middle East, USABy Steve Kramer ALFE MENASHE, Israel –The United Nations, European Union, and the United States continue to be fixated on the Two State Solution (TSS) as the be-all and end-all of the never-ending conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Arabs. In fact, many still incorrectly believe that, were “peace” to break out between the two
Thinking outside the two- state box Read More »
Middle East, Steve KramerSeveral years ago, before the onset of the Arab Spring, the eminent historian Bernard Lewis suggested that Israel’s future in the Middle East was more secure than many assumed. In measurable ways, the nearer Arab and Muslim states were sinking into ever deeper political, social and economic dysfunction and despair, while Israel, for all its
Can Israel become a maritime power? Read More »
Middle EastInbar Tabib was born in Israel to a Yemenite/Persian family. Her father was disabled as a young child, and both her parents served as role models for coping with challenges. When she was 5, her family relocated to Chicago, where she spent the rest of her childhood. Although Inbar grew up in a traditional home
Yemenite Singer Inbar Tabib comes full circle Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, USAThe Supreme Court has issued a destruction order for ten buildings in the small town of Netiv Ha’avot, in Gush Etzion, overriding the policy of the state. Similarly the judges ordered the destruction of seven buildings which the state had already slated for eviction. In order to allow the residents to prepare, demolition orders will
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Middle EastOpponents of the Iranian nuclear deal blasted the Obama administration on Thursday for misleading the American public, the Jewish Insider reported. The condemnations came after reports emerged that Iran was secretly allowed to evade certain restrictions in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) so that it could begin receiving sanctions relief. According to the
Obama accused of ‘misleading the public’ over Iran deal Read More »
Middle East, USA