By Aryeh Savir After eight years of a comatose state and after deterioration in his health this past month, Former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon finally passed away on Shabbat, January 11th, 2014, at the age of 85. Hi adopted son, Roni Schayak made the announcement. Ariel Sharon, also known as Arik, was born as Ariel Scheinermann, (February 26th 1928). […]
After 8 years in a coma, Ariel Sharon dies Read More »
Middle East
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) — Americans for Peace Now (APN) joins its Israeli sister organization, Israel’s Peace Now movement, in strongly criticizing the government of Israel’s issuing new tenders for 1,877 new housing units in settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. APN’s President and CEO Debra DeLee said: “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and
Peace Now denounces new Israeli housing starts Read More »
Middle EastBy Aryeh Savir Renewed talk of territory exchanges between Israel and a future Palestinian state as part of a peace agreement, a proposition championed by Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, has left many Arabs who have Israeli citizenship worried about losing their status as citizens of Israel. According to the Israeli daily Ma’ariv, Israel has proposed to the
Israeli Arabs want their towns to remain in Israel Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM –One can expect historians to quarrel as to which overseas activities of the American administration were most damaging. To be sure, some are widely viewed as successes. The reconstructions of Europe and Japan are most prominent. Israelis appreciate American support. Currently, however, it is more timely to think about the negatives
How will history rate Obama’s Middle East policy? Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By Aryeh Savir The year 2013 saw a marked increase in the involvement of foreigners in the fighting against the Syrian regime, this according to a report compiled by the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center (ITIC). Most join Al-Qaeda and global jihad-affiliated organizations, gain military experience, and undergo radicalization and Jihadization, which they
Syria’s civil war a training ground for terrorists Read More »
Middle East
NEW YORK (Press Release)– AJC, in a press release dated January 8, said the organization was “dismayed by the destruction of more than 50,000 books in an arson attack on a major Christian library in Tripoli, Lebanon. Al-Saeh library was targeted by a mob after a pamphlet insulting the Prophet Mohammed was allegedly found in
AJC: Book burning in Lebanon could lead to worse Read More »
Middle East
By Judy Lash Balint/JNS.org JERUSALEM—It’s 9:30 a.m. on a sunny Monday morning in the Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem’s Old City. Two large groups of revelers almost collide in the alley leading to the main square. Both groups are accompanied by a clarinetist and a drummer belting out traditional “simcha” tunes, and in the middle
Putting more ‘mitzvah’ into that bar mitzvah Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle East
By Aryeh Savir Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, one of Israel’s most staunch supporters, is to visit Israel on January 19th. Israelis, who are moved by his support especially when viewing it against the prevalent anti-Israel sentiments usually voiced by world leaders, have found a unique way to thank him for his outstanding support. Citing
Appreciative Israelis ready for Canadian PM’s visit Read More »
Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–Less than 20 000 Jews came on aliyah last year, mostly from Europe and the United States. Some 70 000 illegal immigrants are said to be currently in Israel, mostly from Africa. Whereas the Jewish Agency for Israel through its various affiliates is making valiant efforts to bring more Jews to
Refugees in Israel present moral dilemma Read More »
Middle EastBy Anav Silverman EILAT, Israel — In January 1996, a Muslim baby born in northern Jordan was given the name Yitzhak Rabin. The mother and father, who were supporters of peace with Israel, had wanted to honor the slain Israeli leader’s role in the Israeli-Jordanian peace treaty with King Hussein of Jordan in 1994. It
Jordanian named for Yitzhak Rabin wants to serve in IDF Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — A dog and pony show is a performance by politicians, inspired by what happens in a circus. It involves actors speaking predictable lines, talking past one another rather than responding to one another, and finishing the performance with no expectation of anything beyond polite applause. That’s what it looked like
The Netanyahu and Kerry dog and pony show Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Aryeh Savir JERUSALEM — The Cabinet, during its weekly meeting yesterday (Jan. 5), discussed the harsh incitement, the culture of hatred and Antisemitism orchestrated by the Palestinian Authority. Intelligence Affairs Minister Dr. Yuval Steinitz and the Director General of his ministry, Brig.-Gen. (ret.) Yossi Kuperwasser, presented the annual “Palestinian Incitement Index.” The report includes
Israeli Cabinet ponders PA’s increased antiSemitism Read More »
Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — In a TV clip showing the exchange between the new European Union envoy in Israel and President Shimon Peres when the envoy presented his letters of credential, the president described Israel as an island in a turbulent sea and added something to the effect that the inhabitants must defend
Shimon Peres’ ‘Island and the Sea’ metaphor Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Some Israeli and American realities, from the perspective of various media– First, are three items from a recent edition of Ha’aretz. One of the lead items in the Hebrew language internet edition told of plans to build a 9-story yeshiva for newly religious Jews in the problematic neighborhood of Sheikh
How 3 newspapers report on Mideast Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East