By Yaakov Lappin Israel celebrated its sixty-fifth year of independence this week, an event that saw millions of citizens head outdoors to hold picnics, barbeques, and parties. As the flags, ceremonies, and fireworks washed over the land, defense chiefs delivered annual speeches, in which they signaled to the nation that while things appeared to be […]
The Mideast calculus of a ‘small’ terror attack Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM –Wednesday morning’s news was of two rockets that fell in the outskirts of Eilat. There was no significant damage, but the reminder was clear about the unsettled nature of the Sinai, and the lack of Egyptian control. At the same time, rockets also landed across the border in the Jordanian city
Troubles in Eilat, Golan…and Boston Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastNEW YORK (Press Release) — The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) has noted the recent overwhelming call in the Jordanian parliament for the release from prison of Musa Mustafa Daqamseh, the Jordanian soldier who in 1997 went on a rampage and murdered seven Israeli schoolgirls. The Jordanian parliament’s lower house, which has 120 legislators, produced an
ZOA: Call for Daqamseh’s release underscores Arab extremism Read More »
Middle EastBy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — If countries were people and Israel was an American, it would begin to collect Social Security in nine months. It would be eligible for a reverse mortgage and only a few years from mandatory withdrawals from its 401k. We’d be talking retirement and watching the grass and the grandchildren
Israel at 65; young, not at all retiring Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana BryenBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — Pretense seems to be an important factor in Israeli-Palestinian relations. It’s particularly acute in and around the issue of Jerusalem. Thus many Israeli politicians and their supporters never tire of speaking of the city as “Israel’s united and eternal capital” thereby implying that no peace deal will persuade Israelis to
Baird-Livni meeting in E. Jerusalem fuels Palestinian anger Read More »
Middle EastBy Aryeh Savir JERUSALEM –The Central Bureau of Statistics, in its traditional Yom Ha’atzmaut statistical report about the citizens of Israel, stated that Israel has now 8.018 million residents, almost ten times more the 806,000 citizens in its establishment. The Jewish population stands at 6.042 million (75.3% of the entire population). Israel’s Arab citizens constitute
Israel’s population now 8.018 million Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — A hundred meters from these fingers is a border between civilizations. To the east of that border is the “village,” “suburb,” or “neighborhood” of Isaweea. With more than 20,000 residents, the label “village” is misleading, but that’s the term many use. “Suburb” suggests something outside of Jerusalem, but it is
In Israel, it’s us and them and them Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Evelyn Gordon This past February, the New York Times reported on a love affair gone sour. For months, Algeria had courted an Islamist warlord in Mali. The Algerians knew, as the Times put it, that he was “the leader of one of the militant Islamist groups holding northern Mali captive,” but they thought he
Events prove danger of cozying up to terrorists Read More »
Middle East(Editor’s Note: Tazpit News Agency, which says it tries to bring news to the non-Israeli public that other media often do not cover, here presents two stories of persistence in the face of tragedy. In one the family of a young man killed when Palestinians stoned his car win a court victory. In the other, an
Two stories of persistence following tragedy Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–You may have come upon headlines describing recent talks between American Secretary of State John Kerry, the Israelis and Palestinians as “very constructive,” with Kerry upbeat about the prospects of continued progress. Ha’aretz is not on the same wave. The lead article in Thursday’s Internet edition begins with, “Israel rejects Kerry’s gestures
Israel reportedly rejects Kerry’s pressure for peace gestures Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Tikva Jacob TEL AVIV — Recently, the Jerusalem Post released a translation of an interview with Gilad Shalit in which he described the details of his kidnap and imprisonment. The writer, Ben Caspit, prefaced the once-captive soldier’s words, saying that, “[Gilad] knew that there was no military glory in what had happened there, on
Should Gilad Shalit be called a ‘hero’? Read More »
Middle EastBy J. Zel Lurie DELRAY BEACH, Florida — At the current events session in my retirement home a neighbor said: “Obama did something amazing. He brought Arab Turkey and Jewish Israel together in peace. Simply amazing. Why can’t he repeat it between Israel and the Palestinians.” Confusing Turks with Arabs is a common error. The
Peace can be win-win or lose-lose Read More »
Middle EastEditor’s Note: Following are the transcripts of U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry’s joint appearance with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and his comments at a solo press conference following that meeting. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry: SECRETARY KERRY: I want to thank Prime Minister Netanyahu for, first of
U.S., Israel fashioning economic plan for West Bank Read More »
Middle EastBy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. –A maxim in the United States Army is, “Don’t tell a soldier to do something; tell him what you want done.” President Roosevelt didn’t tell General Eisenhower to cross the English Channel; he told him to obtain the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany. A counterexample can be found in the
U.S. policy in Syria totally confused Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana Bryen