By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — The dramatic forth and back of Barack Obama on Syria has provoked a great deal of commentary and speculation about what’s next. If words had power, their weight would have already pummeled Assad–or Obama–or both–into the dust. My own concerns are less with the unknown future, than with what the
What factors led to the Syria situation? Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By Aryeh Savir TEL AVIV –Early Tuesday morning, at about 3:30, a stolen truck driven by two Palestinians from Jenin and Qalkilia ran through the security checkpoint at the entrance to Ben Gurion Airport. Emergency procedures were immediately set in motion and security forces dispersed throughout the field. The truck continued its rampage through the
Truck intrusion stopped at Ben Gurion Airport Read More »
Middle EastDr. Michael Makovsky WASHINGTON, D.C.–The debate in the United States over policy toward Egypt has become mired in the principle of the democratic process. But the moral issues involved are complicated, and U.S. policy should be guided by our larger strategic interests across the Middle East. The Obama Administration’s approach toward Egypt in recent
Egyptian military is best ally for U.S. Read More »
Middle East
By Anav Silverman TEL AVIV –Against the backdrop of a red sun dipping into the Mediterranean, friends and family members gathered together to honor over 1,000 child terror victims at Tel Aviv’s Old Railway Station last Thursday, August 29. In what was a special gala event organized by OneFamily Fund, the evening included the launching
Child terror victims remembered in Tel Aviv exhibition Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Putting the President’s speech alongside the political science classic by Richard Neustadt, Presidential Power: The Politics of Leadership is the best demonstration yet that Barack Obama has demonstrated the power of the Peter Principle. He should never have moved beyond the Illinois state legislature, and certainly not beyond one term
Obama’s Syria speech weakens U.S. and its presidency Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastWASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) — Following is the text of President Obama’s remarks on Syria’s use of chemical weapons delivered in the White House Rose Garden on Saturday, August 31: THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon, everybody. Ten days ago, the world watched in horror as men, women and children were massacred in Syria in the worst
Obama asks Congress to decide on Syria strike Read More »
Middle East
By Lloyd Levy LONDON — By the time this article is published, the “West”may be at war with Syria. Or rather, the “West” minus the UK, whose Parliament members made very clear to the Government that they wanted nothing to do with military involvement in yet another Middle East country. In the UK, we are
Memories of Saddam’s ‘WMD’s’ affect UK’s Syria debate Read More »
Lloyd Levy, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — John Kerry’s speech was well tailored, to use a phrase that has become popular to describe the US attack on Syria still in the stages of planning or political buffering as I write this. He identified a number of countries that were supporting the US initiative, without mentioning Britain, Germany,
Parsing Kerry’s speech on Syria Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastEditor’s Note: U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry issued the following statement on Syria on Friday, August 30: President Obama has spent many days now consulting with Congress and talking with leaders around the world about the situation in Syria. And last night, the President asked all of us on his national security team to
Kerry says Syria’s chemical weapons use must not be tolerated Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM –This is the season when Israelis combine a wish for a good year along with their conventional greetings at work, on the street, or over the telephone. This year it is also an occasion for asking if there will be another war. The answer is almost certainly yes, with the next
Memo to America: Don’t make Mideast matters worse Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Arkady Mamaysky TARRYTOWN, N.Y.– Israeli-Palestinian negotiations have started once again. Hopefully, despite the many problems which must be resolved, they will end with better results than previous ones. One of the main problems is that of Palestinian refugees, as they are commonly called. To say it correctly, the people we now call refugees are
Some approaches to the Palestinian refugee problem Read More »
Arkady Mamaysky, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — As of this writing, the betting is that Obama will decide to strike Syria, as punishment for its use of chemical weapons. One can admire the President’s deliberate consideration of what appear to be all the bad options, even while ridiculing him for the bombast which he proclaimed against chemical
If U.S. retalliates, war may spread to Israel Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By Anav Silverman JERUSALEM — The sounds of Tibetan monks chanting, an Iranian playing the santoor, western African style music, Rastafarian and reggae beats, as well as some Israeli rock, among other musical genres could recently be heard pulsating from Jerusalem’s Tower of David in the Old City. The international and local rhythms made up
Jerusalem’s Sacred Music Festival unites faiths Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — An internet friend writes that settlements are at the heart of Israel’s sins, and its problems with world public opinion. My friend has been careful to distinguish the different places labeled settlements, but he also falls into the practice of lumping them all into one problem. In this, he accepts
Obama contributes to BDS with his talk of ‘settlements’ Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East