By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — The birth of the new government of Israel was slow and painful. The result is anything but a strong and healthy baby. Its razor-thin majority (61 out of 120 Knesset seats) is divided among five coalition parties. By all accounts, most of the major protagonists can’t stand each other and
Kahlon remains moderates’ greatest hope Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — The Ethiopians have had their few days in the spotlight. Now it’s back to politics. Frustration is the likely theme of Ethiopian activists and politicians.. The argument about the Ethiopians remains between those who accuse Israel of a racist failure, and those who assert that the country took the initiative to
Shakiest of coalitions unlikely to bring much change Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastU.S.-Led Forces Killed Syrian Civilians, Rights Groups Say: Airstrikes on village controlled by Islamic State kills more than 60 civilians, say two human-rights groups (Wall Street Journal 5/1/15) Obama Apologizes After Drone Kills American and Italian Held by Al Qaeda (New York Times 4/23/15) By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — This is not a
U.S. excuses its civilian casualties, but not Israel’s Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana Bryen, USAReports attribute airstrikes in Sudan to Israel (Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) Foreign warplanes struck a number of targets in the Khartoum area in central Sudan overnight Tuesday, the London-based news outlet al-Araby al-Jadeed reported. Several Arab media outlets attributed the airstrikes to Israel, which did not comment on the reports. The Israeli military has reportedly
Jewish news briefs, May 6, 2015 Read More »
International, Middle East, USAFormer IDF chief defends military’s values, says next round of violence ‘will be worse’ (JNS.org) The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spares no effort to defend democracy and moral values, former IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz said Monday at an event hosted by the Shurat Hadin-Israel Law Center civil rights organization in Jerusalem.
Jewish news briefs: May 5, 2015 Read More »
International, Middle EastBy Zack Pyzer JERUSALEM — The Jewish Agency for Israel said in a new report that immigration to Israel (Aliyah) from Western Europe in the first quarter of 2015 was unchanged from the same period last year. However, the statistics revealed that a large increase in the number of immigrants (olim) arriving from Eastern Europe,
Anti- Semitism drives Western European aliyah Read More »
International, Middle EastBy Dorothea Shefer-Vanson JERUSALEM–Whether by coincidence or design (probably the latter), Jerusalem’s YMCA building is currently showing an exhibition of exquisite Armenian ceramic work produced by one of the many workshops situated in the Old City. No mention is made of the slaughter of over a million Armenians by the Ottoman Empire exactly one hundred
In Israel, admiration, sympathy for Armenians Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–The onset of protests by Ethiopian Jews Israel may have something to do with suggestions coming out of Baltimore, or they may reflect their own dynamic. It’s one of the questions that are impossible to answer about the social realities and politics of this issue. From the beginning, what has grown over
Ethiopian Israeli protests have many causes Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Mark D. Zimmerman MELVILLE, New York — What is the Jewish connection to this year’s Kentucky Derby? Choose your answer. A. The winning horse, American Pharaoh, is owned by Ahmed Zayat, a Coptic Christian from Egypt. Zayat, the CEO of the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation in the 1980’s, was responsible for negotiating with Israel’s Energy
Jewish Trivia: Kentucky Derby Read More »
Jewish Religion, Mark D. Zimmerman, Middle East, Sports & Competitions, USAAvigdor Lieberman resigns as Israeli foreign minister, won’t join Netanyahu coalition (JNS.org) Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman announced that his Yisrael Beiteinu party will not be joining Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s governing coalition, and that he is resigning as foreign minister. “We have come to a unanimous decision that it would not be right for
Jewish news briefs: May 4, 2015 Read More »
International, Middle East, USABy Zack Pyzer JERUSALEM –On June 3rd, senior Israeli officials will hold two events in memory of a trio of teenagers who were abducted and murdered last summer by Hamas terrorists. Unity Day and the Jerusalem Unity Prize, organizers say, will promote tolerance and cooperation among different sectors of the Jewish people in Israel and in
Unity day, prize established in memory of 3 teens Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — How important is Judaism for the Jews? We’ve long confused social science by being both an ethnic group (or tribe) and a religion. Among us are members of the tribe who deny religion, and converts to the religion who may have to wait a generation or two before being fully accepted
Ethnicity? Religion? Judaism is that — and more Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Jewish Religion, Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — It’s possible that, for the first time in many years, there’s a credible alternative to Binyamin Netanyahu. No, it’s not Isaac Herzog, the leader of the Opposition. Though he did well in the last elections and is, by all accounts, a competent and decent man, he lacks that special quality
Kahlon well- positioned to succeed Netanyahu Read More »
Middle EastBy Steve Kramer ALFE MENASHE, Israel — Israel just celebrated its 67th birthday, according to the Hebrew calendar. What’s the prognosis for our nation and its people? By one announcement, Israelis are thriving. That report is the World Happiness Report, a measure of happiness published by the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network. Which countries are
Israel high on world happiness list Read More »
Middle East, Steve Kramer