By Stephen Kramer In Part 1, our trip north to Galilee with friends, enjoying a wonderful hike through a stream near Lake Kinneret. Our destination was Safed (Zefat), one of Judaism’s four holy cities. Bet Hameiri (Hameiri House), a fascinating recreation of local history, concentrating on Safed during the 19-20th centuries. Entered via one of
Sightseeing in the Galilee, Part II Read More »
Middle East, Steve KramerBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Israel attracts and repels. While some see it as the incarnation of their greatest aspirations, some of those are frustrated and even angered by its failures. Others begin with the most severe accusations. They include anti-Semites who see the Jewish state as the Protocols live. Many come with high hopes
The curse and blessing of being the Jewish nation Read More »
Middle EastGENEVA (Press Release)– UN Watch on Sunday issued the following statement on Israel’s decision to return to the UN Human Rights Council — a 47-nation body that in two weeks will welcome back China, Cuba, Russia and Saudi Arabia as members — in time for a scheduled review of the Jewish state’s record this Tuesday. ISRAEL-ONLY AGENDA “Now
Despite bashing, Israel to return to UN Human Rights Council Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — There is a worrisome paragraph in a New York Times article, which is otherwise encouraging in indicating that the Obama administration is learning its limits in the Middle East: “But other goals appear to have been dictated as much as by personnel as by policy. After vigorous debate, the group
Middle East talks give Kerry something to do Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Steve Kramer SAFED, Israel — When school is out during the summer, Israel’s vacation spots are crowded and expensive, especially on the weekends. We managed to find the perfect weekend, between the first few days of the new school year and Rosh Hashana, the new year holiday. We located a reasonably priced boutique
Sightseeing in the Galilee Read More »
Middle East, Steve KramerBy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. –Not saying that it will happen — not even that it might. But if you don’t watch the confluence of events in Syria, you’ll miss the possibility that it could. Now that Washington is finished with last summer’s Elizabeth O’Bagy kerfuffle over the percentage of the Syrian opposition comprising jihadist militias,
The diminishing fortunes of the Free Syrian Army Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana BryenBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–Those of you still cheering the Obama-Kerry foreign policy have a new and even more dramatic reason to applaud. They have succeeded in creating an alliance that might solve all the problems of the Middle East: between Israel, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia. It may not be what was intended, but amateurs occasionally
Israel, Egypt, Saudi Arabia in silent alliance vs. U.S. Iran policy Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Arkady Mamaysky TARRYTOWN, N.Y. — The war in Iraq is over. After all of the American sacrifices, and despite the hope for a peaceful and democratic Iraq, sectarian killing of innocent people has become a frequent and sadly familiar issue in the news. Recent history presents the following lesson: When a dictatorship falls, different
A case for separation Read More »
Arkady Mamaysky, International, Middle East, USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–If you are not yawning now, you will if you reach the end of this column. The topic is the local authorities of Israel, and the recent election, which in almost all of the cases said to be controversial by excited media personalities turnout was low and incumbents returned to office.
Local Israeli elections are yawners Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Steve Kramer JERUSALEM — Jerusalem is the unique capital of the Jewish state. Palestinian demands to proclaim Jerusalem their capital, entirely or partly, are spurious. I believe that the only reason that Palestinians insist on this is to delegitimize Jewish rights to our 3,000 year old capital and our country. My argument: the Palestinians
Challenging Arab myths about Jerusalem Read More »
Middle East, Steve KramerBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–Years ago, Grandma told me, for the nth time, that God helps them who help themselves. It’s a message she should have directed to the Palestinians, as well as to her lazy grandson. Once more, the Palestinians are blaming others for their problems, while their most obvious roads to progress remain unused.
Arab rejectionism leads to dimunition of their political clout Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Aryeh Savir After months of indecision and several scandals, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Yair Lapid decided today (20 Oct.) to appoint Dr. Karnit Flug as Governor of the Bank of Israel. Prime Minister Netanyahu and Finance Minister Lapid said, “We have been impressed by Dr. Flug’s performance as Acting Governor in
Flug appointed as Bank of Israel governor Read More »
Middle EastBy Aryeh Savir US Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro visited last Thursday (Oct. 17th) the terror tunnel uncovered by the IDF. He was taken on a tour of the tunnel network by Brig. Gen. Mickey Edelstein, Commander of the Gaza Division. “Even though I have seen the photos of the tunnel in the papers, the
U.S. Ambassador tours captured Gaza terror tunnel Read More »
Middle EastBy 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
The West’s willful ignorance about Middle East realities Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East