By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — Not all Zionist pioneers came to Eretz Yisrael to till the soil as a way of building a new society where Jews would be like all other nations. There were those who came in the belief that only in the Land of Israel could Judaism be renewed. It was
Zionist dream of renovating Judaism unrealized Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle EastBy Kenneth Bandler NEW YORK — A nine-person leadership delegation of the American Jewish Committee (AJC) has concluded a two-day visit to Greece’s capital during which the mayor of Athens, Giorgos Kaminis, pledged to fight anti-Semitism. The group, led by AJC President Stanley Bergman and CEO David Harris, was joined by leaders of the Central Board
Athens mayor signs pledge against anti- Semitism Read More »
International, Middle EastBy Steve Kramer HERZLIYA, Israel –I recently attended an excellent lecture by Dr. Mordechai Kedar on the history of Jerusalem, presented by “The Jewish Narrative” Thursday English Lecture series in Herzliya. In many ways this lecture was similar to another I had attended several years ago by Emeritus Professor Moshe Sharon of Hebrew University. Both
Religious doctrine shapes contest for Jerusalem Read More »
Middle East, Steve KramerBy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. –The American public tends to see military action as binary: all in or not in at all. Mostly we’re not in — as befits a country that is not aggressive or acquisitive. But if we’re in it, win it. In this age of transnational enemies and vacuums of governance, however,
Russia has clear policy objectives in Mideast Read More »
International, Middle East, Shoshana BryenIsrael brings complaint against Time magazine (Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) Israel’s Government Press Office went public with a complaint against Time Magazine Thursday, five months after the magazine published an article referring to a terrorist as a “graphic designer … killed by Israeli security forces,” with no mention of the people he murdered and injured.
Middle East Roundup: March 18, 2016 Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — We should think about the implications of what we do. Bad things may come from good intentions. On the other hand, predicting the future with anything close to certainty should have limited appeal. There are lots of variables, factors, and phenomena that interact with what we do. All those things
Putin, Saudi Arabia, U.S. elections changing Mideast Read More »
International, Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USABy Tammi Rossman-Benjamin SANTA CRUZ, California — As a vote looms on how to address the alarming rash of anti-Semitism at the University of California (UC), AMCHA Initiative today released letters from dozens of Jewish and education advocacy groups, nearly 750 UC faculty and UC alumni and state and federal legislators calling for UC to recognize
Drive to outlaw anti- Zionism on UC campuses Read More »
Middle East, USABy John Kerry WASHINGTON, D.C. — In 2014, the terrorist group Daesh began to seize territory in Syria and Iraq, overrunning major cities and committing atrocities. The United States responded quickly by denouncing these horrific acts and – more importantly – taking coordinated actions to counter them. In September of that year, President Obama mobilized
Kerry: U.S. will pursue genocide charges against Daesh Read More »
Middle East, USABy Jeremy Ben-Ami WASHINGTON, D.C. — J Street has not endorsed a candidate for President in the three Presidential elections since our founding in 2008, and we do not intend to change that policy in 2016. However, the statements made and actions taken by Donald Trump are so deeply at odds with our values and our
J Street: Trump unfit to be President Read More »
Middle East, USARivlin tells Putin that Israel is concerned about Syrian border (JNS.org) Israeli President Reuven Rivlin met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Wednesday where the Israeli leader urged Putin to not let Iran and Hezbollah gain a stronger foothold along the Syrian border with Israel. In a joint press conference ahead of their
Middle East Roundup: March 17, 2016 Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Occasional expressions of concern for our safety come from overseas. Their primary worries are about Palestinians or Arabs. As I began writing this, a weatherman friend who lives in the West Bank warned me about the approach of high winds. “Stay away from swaying trees” was his message. Life is
Violence aside, life in Israel is very good Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastDeputy FM reveals secret ties between Israel and Indonesia (JNS.org) Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely revealed during a Knesset debate over the recent denial of Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi entry to Ramallah that Israel has unofficial secret ties with Indonesia. According to Hotovely, Israel has had “continuous contact” with Indonesia, the Jerusalem Post
Middle East Roundup: March 16, 2016 Read More »
Middle East
By Yoni Peres NEVEH ESHKOL, Israel – Am Sameach, meaning “Happy People,” is a non-profit organization that was begun 10 years ago in Tel Aviv. Here in this regional council, near Israel’s border with Gaza, Am Sameach representatives help to lift Holocaust survivors and other residents from the depression and fear caused by the
Comedy cheers lonely Holocaust survivors Read More »
Middle East, Theatre, Film & BroadcastBy Richard L. Cravatts, PhD BOSTON, Massachusetts — “My style of deal-making is quite simple and straightforward,” wrote Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in his 1987 book, Trump: The Art of the Deal. “I aim very high, and then I just keep pushing and pushing and pushing to get what I’m after.” How Mr. Trump’s
Why Trump’s ‘neutrality’ in Mideast won’t work Read More »
Middle East, Richard L. Cravatts, USA