Middle East

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–Israel is a nuisance, and its Prime Minister the nuisance in chief, known for pompous talks at the United Nations, lecturing to the President of the United States about what is appropriate for both their countries, and reminding the world of Iranian perfidy while virtually all others are praising the openness of

By Ira Sharkansky The US economy and Gaza may sound like distinct issues, except that they are both high on my worry list. Two newspaper articles make the crucial points, even though one deals exclusively with the US economy and the other with Gaza, and neither mentions the other. One, in the Washington Post, puts

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Somewhere in the American side of my brain is a memory of hearing that America is safe only when Congress is on vacation. The feeling may not be appropriate this week, when Members of Congress are trying  to do something along with the White House to loosen their collective hands

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — It should be no surprise that we are hearing another round of Israeli oy gevalt about Jews who leave the Promised Land, and thereby endanger the Zionist dream. The subject erupts every so often, currently provoked by yet another former Israeli who has won a Nobel Prize, at least partly

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — The police had estimated that half a million would participate in the funeral procession of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef. When it was over, the police estimate was that 800,000 jammed the streets alongside the yeshiva where the ceremonies began as well as along and near the route of the funeral procession.

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–Palestine is not yet a state, except in its own propaganda and the proclamations of enthusiasts. If born, with or without the agreement of Israel, it may be a failed state from the get go. Signs are that it won’t be able to support itself economically, especially if those who choose themselves

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM –Politicians lie, do not tell all the truth, or exaggerate. One of the first lessons that a child in a politically alert family may learn is not to believe campaign promises. Years later that child may learn that politicians have to stretch the truth, or hide their intentions, in order to

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — We are at one of those junctions in policymaking–and maybe at a larger place in history–when officials and commentators are filling the inner offices and the media with their predictions about what is going to happen. Some of you may think I am talking about the financial hang-ups between Barack