By 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
By Aryeh Savir As Typhoon Haiyan continues to plow through Asia, leaving in its wake massive destruction and scores of wounded and dead two Israeli rescues have taken off for the Philippines. The preliminary teams have been tasked with assessing the situation on the ground and deciding what are the necessities in preparation for
Israeli team to aid typhoon victims in Philippines Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Israelis and Americans are going through a couple of bad patches with Barack Obama. The two issues are as different as they could be, but are united in reinforcing distrust of duplicity at the top. Americans’ problems are currently focusing on the limping roll out of what is linked directly
Tension between Obama and Netanyahu high Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By Lloyd Levy LONDON–The foreign policy of the Obama Administration must surely be the most disreputable since the alliance of Stalin and Hitler. Never before can a world power have alienated so many friends around the world, so quickly, and so deliberately. Hosni Mubarak, the ex-President of Egypt, a man who was a loyal ally
Commentary: Obama alienating U.S. allies Read More »
Lloyd Levy, Middle EastBy Steve Kramer Delegitimization efforts against Israel continue to be a major problem. Alone among the democracies, Israel’s sovereignty is singled out and questioned. Ian Lustick’s front page, above-the-fold NY Times Sunday Review article (September 15) is a particularly nasty example. Lustick, a political science professor at Penn, has made a career out of bashing
How EU and UN undermine Israel Read More »
Middle East, Steve Kramer
By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson Naomi Tsur, who was born in England and moved to Israel in 1966 to study Classics and Archaeology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, has had a varied career, ranging from coin curator in Israel’s Antiquities Authority to co-authoring a Hebrew-English/English-Hebrew dictionary and heading the Society for the Protection of Nature in
Naomi Tsur to push for green tourism Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Middle East
By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — Secretary of State John Kerry’s visit to Egypt was a blatant fence-mender. He said the Egyptian interim coalition’s democratic roadmap was “being carried out to the best of our conceptions,” and added that the aid suspension was not to be seen as “punishment” for what the U.S. administration previously
Russia limits its Arab options with support for Shi’ite regimes Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana BryenBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–Twice a year at about this time, Israelis hear about the murder 18 years ago of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. It happens twice, like some other occasions, due to the the country’s juggling of two calendars, secular and Hebrew. Like JFK, Yitzhak Rabin has grown in stature with an improved personality since
How the Israeli landscape has change since Rabin Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastTEL AVIV (Press Release)– On the 18th anniversary of Yitzhak Rabin’s assassination, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry paid tribute to him at the square where his life was taken. Here, provided by the U.S. State Department, is a transcript of the remarks made on that occasion: SECRETARY KERRY: It’s a great privilege for me
Kerry pays homage to Yitzhak Rabin’s memory Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Here we are, with at least 2,000 years of animosity from outsiders, along with quarrelsome Jews. Some believe with great intensity that God gave us everything between an Egyptian river and far to the east. Some believe that the Jews of Palestine then Israel have been responsible for their problems
Netanyahu and Israel have learned to cope Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East