By 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 BryenBy Alan Elsner WASHINGTON, D.C – Now that some time has gone by since President Obama delivered his historic speech to the Israeli people, we can look back and reassess some of the messages he intended to convey In the immediate aftermath, there was some debate on how to interpret the address. Was it a “win”
Obama’s Israeli speech in retrospect: a moral call to action Read More »
Middle EastEditor’s Note: U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has been traveling in Israel. Here are the texts of his remarks prior to a meeting with Israel’s President Shimon Peres, and Kerry’s comments to State Department employees at the U.S. Consulate in Jerusalem: Secretary Kerry’s comments with President Shimon Peres: Well, Mr. President, thank you very,
Kerry: Obama not bluffing about Iran Read More »
Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — While the United States, not least the State Department, is trying to deal with the crisis caused by the renewed belligerence of North Korea, the US Secretary of State John Kerry is again in the Middle East in his continued effort to help bring peace to the region by
Bennett says Jordan best home for Palestinian state Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Yet another Holocaust Memorial Day is upon us, and no surprise that it is competing in the media with yet another rumble concerned with the elusive peace process that some hope may establish Israel beyond the fear of another Holocaust. Actual survivors are said to be dying at the rate
Are Survivors more deserving than other old folks? Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Alan Elsner Pro-Israel advocates are coming to realize that we have a growing problem in reaching out to progressives and liberals in the United States. Polling data has for some time revealed a growing gap between the support for Israel among Republicans and among Democrats. Although overall support for Israel among Americans remains
Palestinians are core issue for U.S. progressives Read More »
Middle EastBy Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — The world is in tumoil. But is it any more so than usual? Perhaps yes. Young Jung Kim Un is threatening to use nuclear weapons against someone, maybe the US, possibly South Korea, or even Japan, or any of the countries of South-East Asia (which constitute the world’s
Something familiar about all these world troubles Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Middle EastBy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C– Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas has agreed to “suspend unilateral action” against Israel for some indefinite period of time. It is, his spokesman says, to “give a sufficient chance for [US Secretary of State John] Kerry’s efforts to succeed.” By this, Abbas apparently means he will not make any additional
Abbas stirring up hate to stay in power Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana BryenBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — The news reminds me of a Kingston Trio ballad that begins with They’re rioting in Africa, They’re starving in Spain. There’s hurricanes in Florida, And Texas needs rain The whole world is festering With unhappy souls. Take your pick for what is most festering this week: The North Korean threat
Troubles, troubles everywhere–but it could be worse Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–Not much is new under the Middle Eastern sun. One or another of the Gazan gangs began shooting rockets toward Israel about the time of the visit to Israel and Palestine (not the Gazan portion) of Barack Obama. So far, there are more reports of injury and damage from rockets that didn’t
In these times, it’s well to remember Ecclesiastes Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Gabriel Scheinmann Nicknamed “Operation Desert Schmooze” by one journalist, President Obama’s visit to Israel, Jordan, and Ramallah last month marked the White House’s effort to reboot its relationship with the Netanyahu government after both leaders secured their reelections. In his last trip to the region nearly four years ago, the president literally flew over
U.S. Mideast policy has shifted more toward Israel Read More »
Middle East