JERUSALEM (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
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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
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Middle East
By Anav Silverman EFRAT, Israel — On a day where snow still covers the Judean hills, a Jewish doctor from Efrat drives into the neighboring Palestinian village called Wadi Nis. He is greeted by the local Palestinian villagers with smiles and warm hellos. “There’s the doctor,” says one Palestinian woman to another as Dr. Yitzchak
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Middle East
By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — As the P5+1 nuclear negotiation with Iran was taking shape, Secretary of State John Kerry was irritated by the discomfort shown by Congress, Israel and the Gulf States of both Iran and of the Administration’s decision making process. “We are not blind and I don’t think we’re stupid,” he
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Middle East, Shoshana Bryen
By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM– While some Arab Christians in Israel are about to form a political party with a platform that specifically includes commitment to service in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), a sizeable group of Hasidic gurus in Israel are planning a trip to the United States to lobby against their
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Middle East
By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Was Jesus a Palestinian? That is the latest historical claim of Mahmoud Abbas. The status of Abbas is its own problem, due to his term as President of the Palestine.National Authority having run out in January, 2009, and there being no subsequent election. His claim about Jesus is even
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Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — It’s generally assumed that Palestinian leaders have a vested interest in derailing the peace talks with Israel, because any agreement that would pragmatically accept a two-state solution would destroy their cherished myth about if not driving the Jews into the sea then at least wrecking their state. The increase
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Middle East
By Aryeh Savir Two Katyusha rockets were fired at Northern Israel Sunday morning, Dec. 29. The rockets fell in the hills near Kiryat Shmonah. Fires broke out as a result of the explosions. Another two rockets fell in Lebanese territory. No damage or injuries were reported. IDF guns retaliated by firing several shells at
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Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — Electoral reform has been on the agenda in Israel for a very long time. People abroad, even more than in Israel, argue that the two-party system of the United States, or at least fewer political parties like in Canada or the UK, would make it easier to govern. Though
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Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–There are lessons to be learned from recent politicking about gays and lesbians, and the Kerry peace process. It’s all about smoke and mirrors, or what you see isn’t there, and is meant to satisfy by deceiving. First on gays and lesbians. There is a Future, Yair Lapid’s new party with a
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Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — The 2,000-year-old Jobar Synagogue in Damascus is said to be the site where the prophet Elijah concealed himself from persecution and anointed his successor, Elisha. It was a UNESCO World Heritage Site until last March when someone appeared to have blown it up. The Syrian government and the rebels
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Middle East, Shoshana BryenBy Aryeh Savir JERUSALEM–Israel’s Knesset held a special session on Wednesday, Dec. 25, marking Jonathan Pollard’s 29th year of incarceration in an American prison after being convicted of espionage for Israel in 1987. The session was attended by a huge majority of house members from across the political spectrum, including Arab MK’s. Forty Knesset members
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Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM –Meyer Lansky and Jonathan Pollard are both significant for what they say about US-Israel relations. Lansky was a gangster, a good American, and a good Zionist. He worked his underworld connections in behalf of US efforts in World War II, the movement of refugees from Europe to Israel, and arms shipments
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Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — Two seemingly unconnected current news items have revived the campaign in Israel on behalf of Jonathan Pollard who has now spent some 28 years in an American jail after being given a life sentence for spying for Israel. The first is the anticipated release of more Palestinian prisoners as
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Middle East