By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Some of my American friends are unhappy. They are telling me to stick with Israel. That I no longer understand the US. Some go further. They ask to be dropped from my list, and/or demand that I give up my American citizenship. I’ll defend myself with a counter charge of
Should an ex-pat criticize the United States? Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — The week of Israel’s 68th anniversary, NATO invited Israel and three other countries to “establish diplomatic missions to NATO headquarters.” This is not NATO membership, something to which Israel does not aspire, but recognition that Israel has something to offer the Atlantic Alliance. Prime Minister Netanyahu said, “The
The advantages Israel brings to NATO Read More »
International, Middle East, Shoshana BryenSouthern Gaza is in a total electricity blackout, and even the Palestinian Authority news outlet Maan admits it’s not Israel’s fault. Though reports of electricity shortages in Gaza are generally accompanied by unjustified finger-pointing at Israel for the situation, today’s report by Maan barely mentioned Israel at all. Instead, it implied – though did not
Egypt disconnects last southern Gaza power line Read More »
Middle EastRamallah (dpa) – The Palestinians want to push ahead with multi-lateral talks on the Middle East conflict despite Israel’s objections, Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah said Monday. France has been pushing to host international talks, a first round of which is scheduled for May 30, but Israel has raised objections. Israel fears foreign dictates. “We
Palestinians want to push ahead with international talks Read More »
Middle EastYesh Atid party chairman Yair Lapid promised to “work very hard” to be the “next Prime Minister” Monday, at the annual Anti-Defamation League convention in Washington, D.C. “This is the time for Israel to move forward, and we [will] offer the public a detailed plan which will propel Israel back on the right track,” Lapid
Lapid: Working hard to become Israel’s next P.M. Read More »
Middle EastTel Aviv (dpa) – Almost five decades after the 1967 Arab-Israeli war, Israel is set to begin clearing mines at one of the holiest sites in Christianity. The clearing project at the site New Testament baptism site on the shore of the Jordan River is scheduled to begin toward the end of 2016, the Israeli
Israel begins clearing mines from Christian holy site Read More »
Jewish History, Middle East*/]]> */]]> */]]> An earthquake rumbled in the Red Sea early Monday morning, shaking buildings in the Sinai peninsula and as far north as Israel’s southern tip. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage in Israel from the temblor, which struck at about 4:45 a.m. Monday morning. According to the US Geological Survey
5.0- magnitude earthquake shakes southern Israel Read More »
Middle EastUNESCO, the UN”s cultural body, on Sunday strongly condemned the “Second International Holocaust Cartoon Contest”, which opened in Tehran over the weekend. The contest features, among others, entries deriding Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and his government’s Middle East policies. But the organizers of the exhibition have denied that it is meant to deny the Holocaust,
UNESCO condemns Iran’s Holocaust cartoon contest Read More »
International, Jewish History, Middle East
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – As luck would have it, our backstage tour of the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego’s Balboa Park came the day before the opening of Camp David, a play by Lawrence Wright which premiered in Washington D.C. and now has its second opening here, at one of America’s
As one play opens, Old Globe prepares for 2 more Read More »
Middle East, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food, USARoman treasure discovered in cargo of sunken ancient ship off Israel’s coast (JNS.org) The Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) announced Monday that two divers discovered the cargo of an ancient Roman merchant ship off the coast of Caesarea, Israel, during the recent Passover holiday. The ship sank during late Roman period 1,600 years ago. Divers
Middle East Roundup: May 16, 2016 Read More »
Middle EastBy Barry Shaw NETANYA, Israel — The Israeli Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), of which I am a proud member and the Senior Associate for Public Diplomacy, is dedicated to presenting hard facts to politicians, diplomats, journalists, think tanks and the general public on issues relating to Israel and its dispute with the Arab world
West foolishly ignores charters of P.A., Hamas Read More »
Barry Shaw, Middle East
By Steve Kramer ALFE MENASHE, IsraelPassover is probably the most celebrated holiday in Israel, with many families vacationing all over Israel. Less than a week later Israelis commemorate Yom Hashoah, the day to remember the victims and heroes of the Holocaust, many of whom live in Israel. A week later, we commemorate the victims of
Two vacation tours in Israel Read More »
Middle East, Steve Kramer, Travel and FoodTel Aviv (dpa) – French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault made a personal appeal to Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Sunday to reconsider taking part in international peace talks on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. But Netanyahu, unmoved by the entreaty, said Israel remains opposed to the French initiative to hold an international conference in the
French minister unable to sway Israel on peace talks Read More »
International, Middle East
Photo essay by Shor M. Masori SAN DIEGO–Israel Fest, held Sunday, May 15, on the athletic field of San Diego Jewish Academy, featured fun for children, a welcome from a state senator, singing and dancing on the festival stage, and numerous booths dispensing informational materials and Jewish items for sale. The Jewish Federation of San Diego
Israel Fest 2016 in photos Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Middle East, San Diego County, Shor M. Masori