2 Arab educators in eastern Jerusalem fired over incitement against IDF (Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) A principal and a teacher at an Arab elementary school in eastern Jerusalem were fired this week for allegedly inciting and encouraging violence against Israeli soldiers. Israeli Education Minister Naftali Bennett, who has summoned the pair for a hearing, said […]
Middle East Roundup: November 5, 2015 Read More »
Middle EastBy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — It could have been a coincidence. A Russian airbus with 224 people, mainly tourists, flying from Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt to St. Petersburg, Russia could simply have come apart in midair, killing all aboard. It would have been one heck of a coincidence, though, considering the players who would
Sunni extremists may have downed Russian airbus Read More »
International, Middle East, Shoshana BryenIsrael reportedly seeking to acquire stealth version of F-15 jet (Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) Within the framework of talks over a “compensation package” of military aid the U.S. is set to offer Israel in the wake of the Iran nuclear deal, Israel has reportedly asked to receive the stealth version of the F-15 fighter
Middle East Roundup: November 4, 2015 Read More »
Middle EastBy Barry Shaw NETANYA, Israel — We are angry. We are angry at the incitement and the violence perpetrated by all factions of the Palestinians against us. We are angry at the lies that we are destroying their mosque while they are burning down our Jewish holy shrines. We are angry at the international condemnation
Why Israelis are fed up and angry Read More »
Barry Shaw, Middle EastKnesset approves minimum jail sentences for rock-throwing (JNS.org) In a vote of 51-17, the Israeli Knesset on Monday approved a bill designed to toughen penalties for rock-throwing. The bill, designed as a temporary provision in its current format, passed its second and third reading on Monday, finalizing it into law. Its temporary nature, however, will
Middle East Roundup: November 3, 2015 Read More »
Middle EastBy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s visit to Moscow last month appears born of the confidence that no one would depose him in his absence. It completes Vladimir Putin’s cycle of Middle Eastern visitors: Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, plus Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey, a NATO partner; Deputy Crown Prince
Decoding Russia’s end game in Syria Read More »
International, Middle East, Shoshana BryenBy Lloyd Levy LONDON, England — Having just returned from a few weeks in Eilat, I have to say that the town’s distance from the rest of Israel does tend to give a sense of security from the current terror wave. It is an appalling situation when a random person can just stab you in the
Separation of Jews and Arabs not possible nor desirable Read More »
Lloyd Levy, Middle EastProposed Israeli bill requires NGOs to disclose foreign funding sources (JNS.org) Israeli Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked is sponsoring a new bill that would force nongovernmental organizations to disclose foreign funding sources if they make up more than half their budgets. Shaked said Sunday that the proposed bill “follows publications and data indicating that a
Middle East Roundup: November 2, 2015 Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — While there is seldom a let-up in calls from the State Department, White House, or the New York Times that Israel must do more to solve the problem of the Palestinians, there is much less noise about the mess just over the US border with Mexico. There is considerable argument
Mexico, Palestine provide challenges for U.S., Israel Read More »
International, Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Recent headlines have featured calls by an IDF General and the US Secretary of State, saying that Israel and Palestine must begin a political process in order to deal with a cycle of violence otherwise likely to get worse and last for a long time. Some in their chorus express a
Are agreements possible with fantasy world residents? Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Toby Klein Greenwald EFRAT, Israel — A bi-partisan group of congressmen recently (the week of Oct. 11-18) had the opportunity to go places and meet people that are not usually on the agenda of American diplomats or politicians who come to Israel. Scott Garrett R-NJ, Jim Jordan R-OH, Raoul Labrador R-ID, Alan Lowenthal D-CA, and
What five U.S. Congress members saw in Israel Read More »
Middle East, Toby Klein Greenwald, USAMost Israelis miss Yitzhak Rabin but can’t justify Oslo Accords, poll says (JNS.org) While most Israelis miss former prime minister Yitzhak Rabin, who was assassinated 20 years ago for political reasons, an even larger proportion do not believe the 1993 Oslo Accords—for which Rabin was the foremost champion—were justified. A new Israel Hayom poll on
Middle East Roundup: October 30, 2015 Read More »
Middle EastWhat is going on between Arabs and Israelis? By Michael Ordman NETANYA, Israel — With the on-going murderous attacks by some Arabs on Jews, you may be surprised to discover that there are still many recent examples of co-existence and cooperation between Jews and Arabs both inside and outside of Israel. Israel continually demonstrates that
Positively Israel ~ October 29, 2015 Read More »
Michael Ordman, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Among the themes apparent in the responses to my columns are the following. With a little effort, it’s possible to find a solution for the misery of the Palestinians and their failure to agree on the details of two states. Israel should try harder. Several of my correspondents have offered their
Letter writers have five typical themes about Israel Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East