By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Currently Israeli politicians are wrapping themselves around a high intensity bit of meaninglessness, which is also dangerous, about the country’s self definition of being a Jewish state. The issue was settled 60 years ago when the founders left dangling in the Declaration of Independence the wonderful sounding ideals of being […]
‘Jewish state’ bill likely to go nowhere Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
SAN DIEGO (Press Release)— Peter Beinart, a former editor of the New Republic and currentlyh a columnist for Haaretz, will discuss his insights into recent developments in Israel and the region, the Israel-Diaspora relationship and the changing dynamics around Israel on college campuses at 7 p.m. Monday, December 15th at at Congregation Beth Israel, 9001 Towne Center Drive,
Columnist Beinart to discuss Israel here Dec. 15 Read More »
Middle East, San Diego Calendar, USABy Anav Silverman BEER-SHEVA, Israel– According to a Ben Gurion University of the Negev research group, American football players for the first time have been found to have brain damage from mild “unreported” concussions. Published in the current issue of the American Medical Association’s JAMA Neurology, the Ben Gurion study could improve decision making about when an athlete
BGU: 2 kinds of football- caused brain trauma Read More »
Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, Sports & CompetitionsBy Tzvi Zucker JERUSALEM (Tazpit) — Fierce debate, both inside Israel and abroad, has been raging over a piece of legislation that would become a Basic Law. This legislation, dubbed “the Nationality Bill”, would enshrine in law the definition of Israel as a state of the Jewish people. Basic Laws are the building blocks of
Nationality bill shakes Israel’s ruling coalition Read More »
Jewish History, Middle EastDefense Secretary Chuck Hagel, source of past controversy on Israel, to resign (JNS.org) U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, a past source of controversy due to his statements about Israel, will resign. The New York Times, citing senior U.S. officials, reported Monday that President Barack Obama decided to push for Hagel’s resignation “as a recognition
JNS news briefs: November 24, 2014 Read More »
Middle East, USANEW YORK (Press Release) — The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) on Sunday, Nov. 23, expressed outrage at a Turkish governor’s threats to turn a century-old synagogue into a museum — as punishment, he says, for Israel’s alleged actions against Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque. Dursun Sahin, governor of the province of Edirne, said he was turning the 107-year old Buyuk
ADL denounces Turkish governor’s threats against shul Read More »
Middle East, USA
By Tzvi Zucker JERUSALEM (Tazpit) — Archaeological excavations in Netiv Haasarah have uncovered a Persian era military installation. Netiv Haasarah is a town in the “Gaza envelope” with a population of about 700. The dig, being headed by Dr. Yael Abadi Rice, found a fortified town and a military tower, from approximately 2,100 years ago.
Ruins of fortified town of 2100 BCE found near Gaza Read More »
Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education
By Tzvi Zucker JERUSALEM (Tazpit) — Sheikh Samir Aasi, Imam of the main mosque in the city of Akko, openly condemned the massacre that took place last week in a Har Nof synagogue. This terror attack was perpetuated by two Palestinian men, who entered during morning prayers and shot worshipers dead as well as stabbed
Acid thrown on car of Imam who promotes peace Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–The more we know about politics, the less we should try to explain anything, or propose how to solve problems that have proven to be insoluble. What limits us is the great variety of influences on what happens next. That makes politics and policymaking a crap shoot. It’s not only the economy,
Progress comes in increments, not grand schemes Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastWASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) –Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee and State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee, Congressman Harold Rogers (R-KY), Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, and Kay Granger (R-TX), Chairwoman of the State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee, on Thursday, Nov. 20, wrote Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to urge decisive
Key Congress members to Abbas: End incitement Read More »
Middle East, USAShipment of knives and fireworks seized en route to eastern Jerusalem (Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) A massive shipment of weapons bound for the Beit Hanina neighborhood of eastern Jerusalem was intercepted by Israeli authorities on Thursday at the Ashdod port. The recipients of the cargo, sent from China, claimed they were receiving a shipment of
JNS news briefs: November 21, 2014 Read More »
Middle East, USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — The killing by two brothers of four Jews praying at a synagogue in an ultra-Orthodox neighborhood of Jerusalem–as well as a Druze police officer who came to their defense–has brought forth wide condemnation. But it has been mixed with support for the carnage. A Palestinian member of the Jordanian parliament
How can Israel deter Arab violence and terror? Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastEILAT, Israel (WJC) –Robert Singer, chief executive officer of the World Jewish Congress, praised the work of the International Association of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists in international organizations, in particular the United Nations. Addressing an IAJLJ convention in Eilat, Singer said: “There is a strange tendency – even in the West – to apply different
WJC: Important to engage with United Nations Read More »
International, Middle East
JERUSALEM (WJC) — Israeli politicians on Thursday, Nov. 20, lambasted the mayor of the southern city of Ashkelon for ordering a halt of construction on bomb shelters in city kindergartens in order to keep Arab workers off the sites. Prime Minister Netanyahu and other senior Israeli politicians criticizing Mayor Itamar Shimoni’s announcement on Facebook that
Ashkelon’s Arab workers ban decried by Israeli officials Read More »
Middle East