By David Amos SAN DIEGO — The second half of October, just a month ago, turned out to be very special. From the 19th to the 23rd, I was invited to conduct the London Philharmonic in the city’s Abbey Road Studios. The following week takes only one word: Israel. Here are the details of both destinations.
Recording in England, resting in Israel Read More »
International, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual ArtsAvis refuses to rent car over businessman’s Israeli identity (JNS.org) The Avis car rental agency refused to provide an Israeli businessman with a rental vehicle because of his Israeli identity, the New York Observer reported Sunday. Dov Bergwerk, a senior executive at Israeli pharmaceutical giant Teva, said that on Friday he and his wife
Middle East Roundup: Nov. 23, 2015 Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–The masses respond to heroes. No surprise that politicians participate in the celebration. Either it’s because they, too, believe, or they see the gain or loss of votes if they go along with, ignore, or express doubts to the crowd. It goes back to the gods of the Greeks and other pagans,
In U.S. Pollard is a traitor; in Israel he’s a hero Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USA
By Dane Chapin SAN DIEGO — Following is a speech we wish President Obama had given on Nov. 14, the day after the Paris massacre: Last night, 129 people were savagely and summarily executed on the streets of Paris. Hundreds more were injured, many will be maimed for life. Before I discuss how the United States of
The speech he wishes Obama gave Read More »
International, Middle East, USABy Laurie Baron MARGATE, New Jersey — Foreign observers have been surprised by the ferocity of the French government’s response to the terrorist attack on Paris. ISIS should have anticipated this is what would happen if it threatened the French while they were eating and drinking at cafes, attending concerts, or watching soccer. After all,
Humoring the headlines: Nov. 21, 2015 Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–This Middle East is new. It’s much different from a decade ago, and even more so when compared to years earlier. It may not look like the dream and slogans made popular by Shimon Peres and Barack Obama. They can quarrel who owns the label. Both have urged economic, social, and political
It’s not Shimon’s nor Barack’s ‘New Middle East’ Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Kenneth Bandler NEW YORK — The American Jewish Committee (AJC) denounced the American Anthropological Association (AAA) for supporting a boycott of Israeli academic institutions. The boycott resolution was adopted by a vote of 1,040 to 136 at the group’s annual meeting in Denver. “The AAA’s mission is ‘advancing knowledge and solving human problems,’”
AJC denounces boycotts, proposals to register Muslims Read More »
Middle East, USAJonathan Pollard released after 30 years in prison (JNS.org) After spending 30 years in a U.S. federal prison, American-Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard was freed on parole Friday, one day ahead of schedule to allow him to observe Shabbat. “The people of Israel welcome the release of Jonathan Pollard,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said
Middle East Report: November 20, 2015 Read More »
Middle East, USABy Eric George Tauber SAN DIEGO — Is there another city in the world that draws as much controversy as Jerusalem? I-max film director Daniel Ferguson spent five years making Jerusalem and “nothing came easily.” The first challenge was to get their mixed crew of Israelis, Palestinians and Jordanians to work through their distrust of one another
‘Jerusalem’ explores holy sites of 3 religions Read More »
Eric George Tauber, Middle East, Theatre, Film & BroadcastPalestinian terrorist kills 2 Israelis during afternoon prayers in Tel Aviv (JNS.org) A Palestinian terrorist killed two Israeli Jews in a stabbing attack during afternoon prayers (mincha) on Thursday in Tel Aviv, Israeli media reported. The Shin Bet identified the attacker as a 36-year-old Palestinian from the village of Dura, near Hebron. The prayer service
Middle East Roundup: November 19, 2015 Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Just as a plane had left the gate at the Baltimore Airport for a flight to Chicago, one passenger saw a “Middle Eastern looking” woman looking at a video that appeared to be associated with the Islamic State. The alert passenger told an attendant, the plane returned to the gate,
People often jump to wrong conclusions during crises Read More »
International, Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USABy Rabbi Ben Kamin OCEANSIDE, California — The war against terror is not about semantics We are all struggling to create some mental headroom for this new wave of terror that has come to us now from the hallowed streets of Paris. The unwelcome knowledge of it, hurling through media and cyber space, affects our basic
This is a real war, not one of semantics Read More »
Middle East, USABy Kenneth Bandler NEW YORK — Diplomats, elected officials, interfaith and intergroup partners, and American Jewish Committee (AJC) leaders gathered at AJC headquarters Wednesday evening, Nov. 18, to pay tribute to the victims of last Friday’s ISIS terror attacks in Paris, to express solidarity with France, to recommit to the shared values of democracy and freedom, and to
Diplomats pay tribute to French terror victims Read More »
International, Middle East, USABy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — Secretary of State Kerry said of Friday’s terror attack in Paris, “These are heinous, evil, vile acts. Those of us who can must do everything in our power to fight back against what can only be considered an assault on our common humanity.” President Obama used the phrase “common
No ‘common humanity’ with ISIS Read More »
International, Middle East, Shoshana Bryen, USA