By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–We’ve heard time and again that the Internet and its social sites are changing the nature of politics. People seeking change post their ideas, observations, and schemes without editorial monitoring, including the barbarians who use videos of beheadings to expand recruitment. Currently we are seeing that Facebook postings are tripping an aspiring […]
Spinning the news, Israeli style Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
JERUSALEM–Israel’s fifth president, Yitzhak Navon, died on Friday, Nov. 6, at the age of 94. He served as Israel’s president from 1978 to 1983. In New York, The World Jewish Congress issued a statement: “We extend our condolences to Yitzhak Navon’s widow, and to his children and grandchildren. His life story reflects the history of the
Yitzhak Navon, Israel’s fifth president Read More »
Middle East, Obituaries & memorialsBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–It’s impossible to believe that Prime Minister Netanyahu didn’t know the views of Dr. Ran Baratz before nominating him as his next spokesman. Baratz lives in a settlement and has for a long time been publishing very right-wing views. It seems that Netanyahu may want Obama to know when they meet
Little expected from Obama- Netanyahu meeting Read More »
Middle East, USABy Steve Kramer ALFE MENASHE, Israel — Many Americans will be outraged that Israel is requesting a large increase in its annual military aid from the United States. As it stands, Israel is the largest recipient of American aid funding. Why should it currently receive $3+ billion, let alone $5 billion? First, there is
U.S. benefits from its military aid to Israel Read More »
Middle East, Steve KramerBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Being the Chosen People has its downside as well as upside. The benefit may be the self-confidence produced for a people who have chronically have been targets of discrimination, exile, or worse. The problems appear in its contribution to anti-Semitism among those who sneer at the concept, as well as
Israeli divisions make governing all the more difficult Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastRookie Israeli soldier thwarts 2 terrorist attacks in 2 weeks (Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) An IDF corporal identified as Cpl. T. who has only been serving for eight months has successfully prevented two Palestinian terrorist attacks in less than two weeks—one on Thursday evening, when he shot and killed a terrorist who tried to stab
Middle East Roundup: November 6, 2015 Read More »
Middle EastBy Rabbi Ben Kamin OCEANSIDE, California — We don’t know yet if ISIS—or one of the other jihadist groups—mercilessly destroyed that Russian plane over the Sinai desert and took 224 innocent lives. What we do know is that the Sinai, the biblical wilds that yielded us the Ten Commandments and the world’s original freedom march, was once
Sinai, once a bit of heaven, now a hell Read More »
Middle East2 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 East