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 EastJERUSALEM (Press Release)–U.S. university student leaders traveling in Israel with AJC’s Project Interchange got the surprise of their lives today when U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry dropped by a briefing being conducted by State Department Spokesperson Jen Psaki. Psaki conducted a wide-ranging, in-depth briefing for the AJC Project Interchange student delegation on the ongoing
Kerry gives surprise briefing to U.S. students in Israel Read More »
Middle EastBy Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — The general Israeli public is on the whole soft-hearted and empathetic towards those in need. The scenes we see on TV almost nightly of Syrian refugees pouring across the borders into Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey, sheltering from the snow or sweltering in the heat inside the flimsy tents
By Arab standards, I’m a refugee and so are my children Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Middle EastBy Steve Kramer ALFE MENASHE, Israel — It’s not just the Arabs, Iran, the United Nations and the EU which present Israel with problems. There are internal ones as well. I’m not talking about a lack of democracy or sidelining of minorities or the shrinking middle class. Israel is one of the most vibrant democracies
Why other Israelis think haredim are chutzapadik Read More »
Middle East, Steve KramerJERUSALEM (Press Release) — U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry met with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the latter’s office on Thursday, Jan. 2. Here is a transcript, as provided by the U.S. State Department, of their comments to the media: PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU: Welcome back to Jerusalem, John. I want to use this
Netanyahu blasts P.A.’s lionizing of terrorists Read More »
Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM– If you believe that the Messiah has to be Jewish and if you accept patrilineal descent as a valid criterion for Jewish status, John Kerry may be your man. His paternal grandmother was Ida Lowe and her husband Frederick Kohn. Both were born Jewish but converted to Christianity. Kohn became
Kerry visit is provoking unusual optimism Read More »
Middle East