By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — The United Nations General Assembly has declared 2014 as the year of solidarity with the Palestinian people. Is this just another bit of UN blather, one of 21 resolutions passed so far against Israel this year, while only 4 resolutions condemned activities in all the other countries of the world? […]
Brace yourself for another anti-Israel year at U.N. Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–There are lots of tantalizing questions, that in their nature leave us without answers. Chief among those bothering Israelis concern our status. The existential question–asked time and again In various formulations–amounts to • How much power do we really have? • What can we get away with? • To what extent are
Israel’s options limited by world’s interdependence Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By Noam Bedein SDEROT, Israel -This November, southern Israel marks one year since the IDF’s Operation Pillar of Defense in the Gaza Strip. It has been the quietest year in quite awhile, with “only” 79 rockets and missiles fired at southern Israeli communities. This is the fourth cease-fire between Israel and Hamas in the
Rockets from Gaza demonstrate perils of Mideast ‘peace’ Read More »
Middle East
By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Obama administration is entitled to be furious with Israel. Although the U.S. got bragging rights for its (one-sided-not-in-our-favor) deal with Iran, Prime Minister Netanyahu remains determined publicly to say what the President wants to hide: Iran’s nuclear program could not be negotiated away, rolled back significantly or
U.S. has abandoned its principles in Iran N-Deal Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana BryenBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–The best feature of the Iran deal–and maybe its only good feature–is that there is a deal, showing that the Iranians are willing to deal. The weakest points from an Israeli perspective are the Iranians, the US administration, and the UN agency charged with inspection, none of which are particularly trustworthy. Some
Iran deal has Israel on edge Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastNEW YORK – Israeli President Shimon Peres on Monday, Nov. 25, awarded The State of Israel’s Presidential Medal of Distinction to Nobel Laureate and esteemed author and activist, Elie Wiesel. The medal, which is the highest civilian honor in the State of Israel, is bestowed by the President onto individuals who have made an outstanding
Peres awards Medal of Distinction to Wiesel Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — This is not the time for anything close to a complete assessment of the agreement with Iran. Commentators can find points where Israel’s insistence might have shaped the final deal, but so far the tendency of Israeli officials and party leaders–not all of them right of center–is to complain that
Lieberman wants Israel to make new friends Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Steve Kramer Eyal Zisser is Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and the Yona and Dina Ettinger Chair of Contemporary Middle Eastern History at Tel Aviv University (TAU). Professor Zisser recently spoke to the English Speaking Friends of TAU at their monthly lecture on the present situation in the Middle East, particularly in Syria.
U.S. image in decline throughout Middle East Read More »
Middle East, Steve KramerBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Change may occur, but as mother used to say when I wanted something beyond the possible, “Don’t hold your breath.” Prominent in what does not appear to be changing are the gaps between Iran, Israel, and the more powerful of western countries. On the eve of meetings in Geneva that
Haven’t we heard this news before? Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–Israel appears to be losing big time on the two issues topping its international agenda. Predictions are that the greater powers will reach an agreement with Iran that the Prime Minister has said time and again will be very bad, worse than no agreement, and making no meaningful contribution to ending Iran’s
Israel on defensive on Palestine and Iran Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–Those who doubt that Israel is a normal country–along with everything that makes it abnormal–only have had to look and listen to the Hebrew media over the most recent few days. The bulk of the print and noise has not concerned Iran or Palestine, but a famous singer, his middle age relatives
Israel has a sex scandal and a new political one Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–The latest incident of violence to reach the headlines, which is not to say that it is the latest incident, involved the murder of a young soldier not yet finished with basic training, while on a bus returning from sick leave, . The even younger lad who stabbed him numerous times before
The many causes of sectarian violence Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By Aryeh Savir JERUSALEM — A new record for tourism in Israel was set this month as 339,000 tourists entered into Israel during October 2013, a 12% increase in comparison with last year’s numbers; 551,000 in total visited Israel during September and October, an increase of 3%. Tourism Minister Dr, Uzi Landau stated that: “Tourists
Israeli tourism sets October record Read More »
Middle EastABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (Press Release)–U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, meeting news media on Monday, tried to calm concerns in the region over the talks with Iran over its nuclear program. Following is a transcript provided by the U.S. State Department: FOREIGN MINISTER ABDALLAH: (Via interpreter) Good morning. May peace be upon you.
Kerry tries to calm allies fears about Iran pact Read More »
Middle East