By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — While we hear daily of terrorist attacks against Jews not only in the West Bank settlements and Jerusalem, and not only if they’re in uniform, but also against citizens going about their daily business in the center of the country; while international bodies pass all kinds of resolutions against Israel;
Despite what you may hear, Israel is a happy place Read More »
Middle EastBy Gary Rotto SAN DIEGO — Benny Gantz is an Israeli general. When you look at him and you listen to him you have the same reaction. There’s a certain confidence, a polite swagger as he establishes himself behind the podium as the keynote speaker at the Federation Men’s event. There’s that baritone voice with enough
An Israeli general and an American audience Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–The people who brought the world the story of David and Bathsheba are still at it. As we must be, having perpetuated ourselves for 3,000 years. Israeli media are concerned with hanky panky at high places. The police has become known as one large love nest, especially for aging and overweight senior
Charges of sexual misdeeds roil Israeli politics Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Kenneth Bandler NEW YORK — The American Jewish Committee (AJC) is calling on the U.S. Government to end the practice in the armed forces of denying security clearances for Jews who have family in Israel. The disturbing practice was brought to light again in a Wall Street Journal column this week. The practice is
AJC Report: U.S. security clearances; Iran Read More »
International, Middle East, USABy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C.– The announcement of the restoration of Israel-Turkish relations should be seen in the context of Turkey having nowhere else to go. Turkey’s relations with Israel have been strained, to put it mildly, since 2010 when, through a non-profit organization, Turkey funded the 2010 Gaza Flotilla aimed at breaking the Israeli-Egyptian
Turkey, with few friends, needed Israel Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana BryenNew Dolphin-class submarine leaves Germany for Israel (Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) The INS Rahav, the fifth in a planned fleet of six Israeli submarines, on Thursday left the shipyard in Kiel, Germany, and is scheduled to arrive in Israel in January. The submarine is carrying some 50 crew members, including a senior Israeli Navy officer.
Middle East Roundup: December 18, 2015 Read More »
Middle EastBy Rabbi Ben Kamin OCEANSIDE, California — God willing, I’m traveling to Israel for two weeks in January, to visit the combined resting places of my parents for the first time and to rejoice with my daughter Debra’s pregnancy (it’s twin girls!). It’s a bittersweet and healing journey of memory, life, and renewal at a particularly
Thoughts of family on a return to Israel Read More »
Middle EastBy Shalle’ McDonald/JNS.org When the government of Sweden recognized a Palestinian state in 2014 and significantly increased foreign aid to the Palestinian Authority (PA), it was unclear to what extent Swedish-Israeli relations might become further strained. Swedish leaders’ recent rhetoric on Israel seems to have provided the answer—and the picture is increasingly grim. Shortly after
The grim state of Sweden’s relations with Israel Read More »
International, Middle EastKuwait Airways nixes NY-London route to avoid catering to Israelis (Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) Kuwait Airways has closed its New York-London route in the aftermath of a U.S. Transportation Department demand that the airline stop illegally discriminating against Israelis through its policy of refusing to sell them tickets, USA Today reported Tuesday. The Transportation Department
Middle East Roundup: December 17, 2015 Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Should we be whimsical or cynical? Let’s see if we can answer that question before proceeding with our day. Tuesday’s news featured a new poll showing that two-thirds of Palestinians support the current violence, and think it’ll improve their chances to achieve national goals. And Mahmoud Abbas, the sitting President
Arabs want Abbas to resign, violence to continue Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBDS supporter refuses to have his Hillary Clinton book translated into Hebrew (JNS.org) An Israeli publisher seeking to purchase the rights to a book about Hillary Clinton’s presidential race was denied due to the author’s support of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, Israel Hayom reported. The New York-based publishing house Or Books had
Middle East Roundup: December 16, 2015 Read More »
Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — A cartoon in Wednesday’s Ha’aretz shows President Reuven Rivlin and his wife at JFK International Airport waiting for a flight back home. He says to her: “Perhaps we should stay here a little longer.” It’s a comment on the wave of hatred with which the president has been greeted
Rivlin under attack by Israel’s right wing Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — I don’t know how many upticks in violence have occurred during the 40 years I’ve lived in Jerusalem. My first experience came a couple of days after my arrival. Friday was a day off from Hebrew lessons, and I went downtown for some shopping. It was years before the era
Living through another round of Arab violence Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastCaptured incitement dolls to be sent to Israeli missions (JNS.org) A recently confiscated shipment of about 4,000 dolls with mock rocks in their hands will be used to highlight Palestinian incitement against Israel, Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely announced Monday. The Palestinian Authority-bound dolls were seized at the Haifa Port following an inspection of several
Middle East Roundup: December 15, 2015 Read More »
Middle East