WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)–U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry issued the following statement in announcing the appointment of Daniel Rubinstein, a career diplomat who is Jewish, as a special envoy for Syria: “Daniel Rubinstein will be an outstanding successor to Ambassador Robert Ford as the U.S. Special Envoy for Syria. “This position is as important
Kerry appoints Rubinstein as special envoy to Syria Read More »
Middle East, USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–One of the best known and most useful lines in the analysis of things political and military comes from Carl von Clausewitz, a Prussian General who died in 1831. His treatise On War contains the phrase that still guides realists, “War is the continuation of Politik by other means” Politik can be
The calculus of Middle Eastern retaliation Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By Anav Silverman JERUSALEM — Reuven Singer can often be seen wearing two very different uniforms that seem worlds apart. The 33-year-old father, who lives in Karnei Shomron in northwestern Samaria, dons his bullet-proof vest and carries his M16 to protect his community in an event of a terrorist attack, as a volunteer in
Settlement guard is also a clown therapist Read More »
Middle East
JERUSALEM (Press Release)–For two days last week (March 11 – 12), Jewish and Israeli community leaders, heads of major organizations, leading figures from academia and government officials past and present met quietly in Glen Cove, Long Island under the auspices of the Jewish People Policy Institute (JPPI) to discuss recent geopolitical developments in the Middle
Diaspora, Israeli Jews weigh Israeli democracy Read More »
Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–On the face of it, it’s reasonable to demand that, in a peace agreement, the Palestinians recognize Israel as a Jewish state. Because of the Palestinian mythology that the Jews have no right to this land, fueled occasionally by malevolent “scholarship,” it would make sense to ensure that in the future,
Is a Labor-Haredi deal brewing to challenge Netanyahu? Read More »
Middle EastWASHINGTON, DC (Press Release) – The Senate passed bipartisan legislation introduced by Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) and Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO) to award Israeli President Shimon Peres with a Congressional Gold Medal. The bill passed the Senate unanimously and now awaits passage by the House of Representatives. If the bill is enacted, President Peres would
Senate adopts bill to award medal to Shimon Peres Read More »
Middle East, USABy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — As Israelis in the southern part of the country have taken to shelters and safe rooms under a barrage of more than 60 (and counting) rockets from the Gaza Strip, and as the Israeli General Staff considers a response, it is worth a look at the just-released EU Heads
EU’s report on Gaza gets a few things right Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana BryenBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–Let’s admit the unpleasant reality. Israel is a pariah in the Middle East and a nuisance for the West. The status of pariah is most apparent in the response of ranking Jordanians, as well as the mobs on its streets, to the killing of a young (30-something) Jordanian lower court judge during
Israel carries burden of being unpopular Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By Dmitriy Shapiro/JNS.org/Washington Jewish Week While meeting in Geneva for its annual spring session from March 3-28, the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) will be deciding on a replacement for Richard Falk, the body’s special rapporteur on Palestinian human rights who has a history of anti-Israel bias. U.N. watchdog groups, the United States, and
UNHRC to pick Richard Falk’s replacement Read More »
Middle East
ATLANTA, Georgia (Press Release) – In his first public appearance since joining the U.S. peace process team, David Makovsky spoke at the JCPA Plenum last weekabout the need for a two-state solution and the prospects for peace. The Plenum is the annual conference for Jewish community leaders and representatives from 125 Jewish Community Relations councils
Makovsky outlines Mideast peace benefits to JCPA Read More »
Middle East, USA
By Aryeh Savir JERUSALEM (TNA) — The Israel Air Force (IAF) announced Thursday afternoon that its aircraft attacked seven terror sites in the southern Gaza Strip. “Since yesterday we have seen a substantial deterioration in the safety of the residents in southern Israel,” IDF Spokesman Lt. Col. Peter Lerner said. ”We have responded and will continue
Israel responds to second day of Gaza rockets Read More »
Middle EastBy Aryeh Savir JERUSALEM – Israel police and Shabak announced they have arrested Aziz Musah Salam Awisat, a resident of the Jabl Mukaber neighborhood in Jerusalem, on charges that he sabotaged gas lines in buildings in several attempts to cause mass explosions. Awisat, allegedly affiliated with Hamas, is 49 and a father of six. Authorities
Israeli Police arrest Arab man on charges of sabotage Read More »
Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–Before the end of this week, the Knesset will have passed three important bills: (1) raising the number of votes before a party can gain seats from 2% to 3.15% and other changes in the composition of future governments; (2) obligating ultra-Orthodox men to serve in the army instead of allowing
Boycotted Knesset to pass 3 bills 67-0 Read More »
Middle East
NEW YORK (Press Release) –The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) on Tuesday, March 11, praised Norwegian Cruise Line for its “courageous and responsible” decision to cancel all port calls to Tunisia following the Tunisian government’s refusal to allow Israeli passport holders to disembark from the Norwegian Jade cruise ship. “We applaud the courageous and responsible decision of
ADL praises NCL for dropping Tunisia calls Read More »
Middle East