Israeli officials: Syria will not be used as Iranian base to attack Israel (Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu clarified Tuesday after landing in New York City ahead of his address to the United Nations that he will not allow Syria to be used as a base for Iranian attacks against Israel. […]
Middle East Roundup: September 30, 2015 Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Two questions have long intrigued me as a student of politics. One has occupied us on several occasions; it concerns the explanation of Israel’s democracy. Another concerns the working of another democracy, and the failure of America’s largest religious group to do better than it has in presidential politics. Neither is
Anomalies of Israeli, American politics Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Tensions, competition, or dust-up–call it what you will–between Russia and the US presents a fascinating subject for analysis. No doubt, the US is stronger by far economically and militarily. It was left standing at the end of the Cold War, while the Soviet Union disappeared. Now Russia is a fragment–albeit a
Russia in Middle East may deter Iran, Hezbollah Read More »
International, Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — More than a million Jews left Russia and its Soviet empire after the latter collapsed. Most of them settled in Israel and, together with all of us, are now facing the prospect of forces of the aspiring new version of that empire under Vladimir Putin being stationed on Israel’s borders.
Israel’s new neighbors in Syria Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–The present tension concerned with Syria, Cold warriors Vladimir and Barack against one another, with Bibi somewhere in the middle, brings back our memories of Jewish history, going back to when it began. We are not the only minority having to cope with more powerful others. In this neighborhood alone, the Druze,
Israel must maneuver between super powers Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastPope renews appeal for Mideast Christians (JNS.org) Pope Francis renewed his call for the international community to do more to stop the persecution of Christians and other minorities in the Middle East and Africa during his address to world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly in New York City on Friday. “I must renew
Middle East Roundup: September 25, 2015 Read More »
Middle EastBy Rabbi Ben Kamin ENCINITAS, California — Some of us grew up in an era (now vacuum-sealed by the vitriolic American political culture) when you could disagree with a president on this or that issue but still honor his character and disposition. I like President Obama. His articulate and reflective persona, his intelligence and wryness,
Why this rabbi admires President Obama Read More »
Middle East, USABy Barry Shaw NETANYA, Israel — Bassam Eid is a Palestinian human rights activist. He created Palestinian Human Rights Monitoring Group that focuses on human rights abuses by and corruption in the Palestinian Authority. No other ‘human rights’ organizations focus on citizen abuses at the hands of Palestinian leadership both in Ramallah and Gaza. He
Palestinian NGO head opposes BDS Read More »
Barry Shaw, Middle EastYom Kippur provides no respite from Iranian rhetoric against Israel (JNS.org) Wednesday’s observance of Yom Kippur, the holiest day on the Jewish calendar, provided no respite in the routine rhetoric against Israel from Iranian leaders. “We will certainly destroy Israel,” said Maj. Gen. Ataollah Salehi, commander-in-chief of the Iranian Army, this week during a parade
Middle East Roundup: September 24, 2015 Read More »
International, Middle East, USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–A meeting of potentially great importance occurred between Vladimir Putin and Benyamin Netanyahu, together with the head of the IDF, the chief of military intelligence, and their Russian counterparts. It came on the news of Russia providing substantial military assistance to the forces of Bashar al Assad, and the concern that Israeli
Russia, Israel maneuver in Syrian civil war Read More »
International, Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
Let There Be Water by Seth M. Siegel; St. Martin’s Press; © 2015; ISBN: 978-1-250-07395; 337 pages including appendices, notes, bibliography and index, $27.99 By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – Most of Israel has an arid climate, and there is a paucity of water in the rivers that flow from the mountains in the
‘Let There Be Water’ relates how Israel got it Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Middle EastBy Steve Kramer ALFE MENASHE, Israel — Under the auspices of The Zionist Council in Israel – Anglo Division, Michal and I and friends joined a group headed for Jerusalem for the Selichot prayers at the Kotel – the Western Wall. These are traditional penitential poems and prayers which are said in the period leading up
An Israeli takes a tour of Jerusalem Read More »
Middle East, Steve KramerYom Kippur War vets: IDF is better prepared now (Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) Forty-two years after the 1973 Yom Kippur War, only a handful of officers who served then remain in the Israel Defense Forces. Several of them gathered on the anniversary of the war to speak about their difficult experiences decades ago. Legendary
Middle East Roundup: September 22, 2015 Read More »
International, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — According to Jewish tradition, the period between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur is the opportunity for soul searching and a new beginning, i.e., Atonement. The Almighty is said to decide each person’s fate for the coming year on Rosh Hashana, and to sign the final decision on Yom Kippur. The
Diversity, unity both said to be strengths of Judaism Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Jewish Religion, Middle East