WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) — U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry spoke with Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy on Tuesday, April 22, to inform him that he is certifying to Congress that Egypt is sustaining the strategic relationship with the United States – including by countering transnational threats such as terrorism and weapons proliferation – and […]
Kerry certifies Egypt as a good strategic partner Read More »
Middle East, USABy Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO—Anyone who has flown to Israel has experienced the tough, pointed questioning that Israeli security officers will ask tourists about why they are going to Israel, who they are going to see, what their business is, and so forth. The questioning is intense, blunt, and intended to screen out anyone
Israel and U.S. tussle over tourist visas Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Middle East, USAWASHINGTON, D.C. (SDJW)– U.S. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Monday, April 21, that the U.S.considers an “extreme step” the suggestion by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas that he might dissolve the Palestinian Authority in response to the lack of progress in the talks with Israel brokered by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry. “That type of
State Dept: Dissolving P.A. would be ‘extreme step’ Read More »
Middle East, USABy Ronn Torossian NEW YORK– Only a few miles away from Israel – in Syria – there is a civil war taking place which has killed at least 150,000 people and uprooted more than nine million others. There are reportedly 1 Million Syrian refugees living in Lebanon alone. Churches are being burnt – and people,
U.N’s Robert Serry exemplar of the world body’s bias Read More »
International, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Let’s call it what it is. The US has used its muscle to get Israelis and Palestinians to discussions that neither of them wanted. Both sides speak and deal with one another all the time. It’s part of living side by side, with pockets of one inside the other, and
Both sides pay lip service to Kerry’s peace process Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By Anav Silverman JERUSALEM– For the first time since the beginning of the Passover holiday, the Temple Mount was opened briefly to Jewish visitors and tourists on Sunday, April 20. The site had been closed last week on Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday because of violent Palestinian rioting. On Saturday night, April 19, five Arabs carrying tear
Rabbi Soloveichik evacuated from Temple Mount riot Read More »
Middle East
BEER-SHEVA, Israel (Press Release)– Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) has signed an $8.5 million agreement with the Israel National Cyber Bureau to develop CyberSpark, which includes a National Cyber Research Center adjacent to BGU’s campus. CyberSpark was conceived as an innovative research and development ecosystem of major multinational corporations, business incubators, BGU researchers, Israel Defense Force
IDF, Ben Gurion University team for cyber-security Read More »
Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education
By Moran Stern/JNS.org WASHINGTON, D.C. — As both Haredi political parties in Israel—United Torah Judaism and Shas—are currently in the opposition, the Jewish Home party is the only representative of religion in the governing coalition. To address its multifaceted objectives, the party engages in several fronts that often come into conflict with one another.
Jewish Home party has conflicting ideological goals Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Israeli politics is straining under the pressure of the US, and those led by the US to keep conversations with the Palestinians going, and the counter pressure from coalition members who are tired of the charade, and resist paying the price of prisoner releases. The potential for this conflict has
U.S. pressure for peace process vs. Israeli politics Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By Alex Traiman/JNS.org Millions of Christians will celebrate this Easter Sunday under threat throughout the Middle East. In recent years, Christians living in countries such as Syria, Egypt, and Iraq have suffered extreme persecution, with churches destroyed in violent acts of terror (sometimes during prayer services) and hundreds of thousands killed. Many other Christians have
Christians find friendship, respect in Israel Read More »
Middle East
CAIRO, Egypt (eturbonews) – Egypt’s tourism revenues dropped 43 percent in first quarter of 2014 compared to the same period the previous year to register $1.3 billion, reported Reuters Wednesday. The Ministry of Tourism was not immediately available to confirm the results. The decline is seen as a consequence of the Taba attack in February
Egypt tourism plummets following bus attack Read More »
Middle East, Travel and FoodBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — As we’re packing our bags for our summer sojourn in Toronto it brings to my mind Amos Oz’s confession that he loves Israel even when he can’t stand it; I discern similar mixed feelings in Ari Shavit’s, A Promised Land. Critics – “intellectuals” as described in a remarkable essay,
Loving Israel and being ready to criticize it Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–There’s another New York Times Op-Ed on Israel. This one praises Iran’s move away from theocracy and toward secularism, while describing Israel is moving in the opposite direction. It seems a bit premature to applaud any sign of reasonable activity from the mullah’s of Iran, I am even less certain that the authors (one Iranian
If this NYT Op-Ed on Israel were graded, it wouldn’t pass Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastUNITED NATIONS, N.Y. (Press Release) — Ambassador Samantha Power, the U.S. permanent representatitve to the United Nations, said on Wednesday, April 16, that the world must do more to stop mass killings and atrocities in Syria. At a Security Council briefing on the prevention and fight against genocide, she described as “devastating” crimes against
U.N. Amb. Power: World must stop Syrian murders Read More »
Middle East, USA