By 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 EastBy Daniel Sokatch NEW YORK — Like so many of you, I remember exactly where I was that November day when I heard the news. I got two phone calls, one after the other, from a friend. The first: “Rabin’s been shot.” The second, minutes later: “He’s dead.” I had returned to the US to
New Israel Fund CEO recalls Rabin murder Read More »
Middle EastIberia Airlines pilot announces: ‘we will be landing soon in Palestine’ (Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) Iberia Airlines Flight 3316 from Madrid was approaching Ben-Gurion International Airport on Wednesday afternoon when passengers were shocked to hear the captain says in Spanish, “Dear passengers, we will be landing soon in Palestine.” In his subsequent announcement in English,
Middle East Roundup: October 29, 2015 Read More »
Middle EastArab MK violates Temple Mount visitation ban, PM says move inflames tension (Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) Arab Member of Knesset Basel Ghattas (Joint Arab List) decided to visit the Temple Mount on Wednesday, violating a ban on visitation for Israeli lawmakers and declaring that “neither [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu nor the powers of the occupation
Middle East Roundup: October 28, 2015 Read More »
Middle EastBy J. Zel Lurie DELRAY BEACH, Florida — The quarter million Palestinians in the current boundaries of East Jerusalem cannot vote in the national elections, because they are not the citizens of the state of Israel. They are permanent residents of Jerusalem who have the right to vote in the Jerusalem municipal elections. The majority
Votes, not knives, answer to Jerusalem Arabs’ problems Read More »
Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–Prime Minister Yitzchak Rabin was murdered twenty years ago not by a fanatical Palestinian foe but by an ostensibly pious and patriotic Jew. Though it’s not possible to speculate about what Israel would be today had Rabin stayed alive, it is possible to suggest that the murderer, Yigal Amir, changed the
Israelis remember Rabin, but forget what he stood for Read More »
Middle East