By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — It’s been almost 40 years since I moved from the US to Israel. I still write about the country where I was born, had my formal education, and spent about one-third of my professional career. Internet friends, some of them not so friendly, attack me from both left and right, […]
Obama is learning but still is no expert on Middle East Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy J. Zel Lurie DELRAY BEACH, Florida — Chautauqua is a remarkable, unique institution. Lying on the shore of 18-mile-long Lake Chautauqua between the cities of Buffalo and Erie, it is not easy to get to, but I have managed to spend a few weeks there every summer. Elsewhere in the summer months, one can
Who is responsible for Jewish settlements? Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Politics is not an arena for participants or observers who insist on clear decisions. It requires judging the quality of grays, rather than the clarity of black or white, or demanding one’s concept of the good. The condition reflects the complexities of interests and perspectives. Shifting alliances are more likely
Many gray areas in domestic politics and foreign policy Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM –It is too early to comment with any certainty about the policy of the United States, or any other country with respect to Syria’s chemical weapons or its civil war. There are likely to be twists and turns before us heavy thinkers can pass on to other topics. Nonetheless, there are
Obama’s waffling may in fact be sign of maturity Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — Jewish organizational support for President Obama’s temporary determination to enforce international norms and his own red line on Syrian use of chemical weapons brought out the nasty legions. DavidDuke.com and Blacklistednews.com, among others, were vociferous in their condemnation of Jewish “warmongering.” Even Jewish media outlets — TabletMagazine, The Forward
Germany is poison gas supplier to the Mideast Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana BryenBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–SThere has been a flurry of items coming to my in-box describing the latest under the heading of anti-Semitism. It is, alas, a very long story, going back at least to the beginning of the Common Era. For those who aren’t familiar with Jewish ways of recording the dates of the goyim,
The politics of anti-Semitism Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — From an Israeli perspective, it won’t be possible to judge the Obama-Putin (or the Putin-Obama) deal on Syria until we see what happens with Iran’s nuclear program. (A pessimistic view is that we won’t be able to judge until we see how Israel and Iran deal with each other’s nuclear
Two views of Obama among Israelis Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastJERUSALEM (Press Release) — Here is a text of a joint appearance on Sunday by Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry: PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU: Mr. Secretary, John, a pleasure to welcome you again in Jerusalem. I very much appreciate the fact that you’re here today. You’ve got a lot
Kerry, Netanyahu tell importance of Syria chemical pact Read More »
Middle EastBy Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — A white card with black lettering fell out of a book as I took it down from its shelf. This turned out to be an invitation sent in 1963 to members of the Society for Jewish Study and the B’nai Brith Leo Baeck (London) Lodges to attend a
Insights into Israel-UK relations from Society for Jewish Study Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — There has been a new development in the difficult history of French Hill and Isaweea. A trench has been dug, and its dirt piled in the field separating the neighborhoods, alongside a French Hill street that abuts the field, and has suffered more than its share of the difficulties. We
On the border between French Hill and Isaweea Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By Isaac Yetiv , Ph.D. LA JOLLA, California — Let me say at the outset that I am one of the 71% who are strongly opposed to a military action against Syria, and that I have expressed my opinion to the White House and to my elected representatives in the Congress (House and Senate). The president’s handling
Putin saved face for the amateur Obama Read More »
International, Middle East, USA
By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C — A flurry of diplomatic activity has overtaken the Senate debate on the use of force by the United States against Syria as punishment for/deterrence against the use of chemical weapons. The world awaits the next meeting, the next announcement, the next slip-of-the-tongue, or the first bomb. The interregnum is
Saddam’s Iraq is a lesson for U.S.-Syrian relations Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana BryenBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Another lesson in public policy comes from what appears to the arrangement with respect to Syria’s chemical weapons. It isn’t a done deal. Yet it may be, in its imperfect way. There are many details to be settled, even before the stage of implementation. Then the hard part, i.e., actually
Disposal of Syria’s chemical weapons not a done deal Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–One of the great miracles of politics is the silence of Israeli ministers and Members of Knesset with respect what is occurring, and might occur, as a result of our northern neighbor being attacked, or not attacked by the United States. Generally, Israeli politicians are like those elsewhere. Maybe more so. Certainly
The quiet before the storm, or the compromise? Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East