By David A. Harris WASHINGTON, D.C. — The upcoming visit of United States President Barack Obama to Israel has taken on a life of its own. Perhaps because the American leader did not travel to the Jewish state in his first term, even while visiting several nearby countries, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, or […]
What to expect from the President’s visit to Israel Read More »
Middle EastBy Ron Torossian NEW YORK — As CEO of a PR firm, we often brief clients prior to major communications endeavors, and with President Obama embarking upon his much-awaited Israel trip which is sure to attract major attention, wanted to offer ten tips to ensure his trip to Israeli is a success: 1: It is
Some trip tips for President Obama Read More »
Middle EastBy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — Israel has a government, Mr. President. That’s something to remember when you arrive there next week. Israel has a government, elected by its people in a free, fair, open and democratic election. Multiple parties representing widely divergent points of view met a wildly diverse electorate through free media and
President Obama and the new Israeli government Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana BryenBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM– After a traumatic crisis in a group, it’s not unusual to send in counselors to help the survivors heal. The new government of Israel will need a strong team of such experts, for it’s difficult to imagine how the prime minister will conduct business in the presence of the Terrible Two
Counseling needed for many Israeli politicians? Read More »
Middle EastBy James Colbert WASHINGTON, D.C. — Next week, President Obama will make his first visit to Israel as president. The bonds that exist between Jerusalem and Washington are built upon mutual strategic interests and a solid foundation of shared cultural and political values. At the same time, both countries face common threats where cooperation and
Hoped-for outcomes from Obama’s Israel trip Read More »
Middle EastWASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) – Reps. Susan Davis (D-CA), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) and Peter Roskam (R-IL) led a bipartisan effort to aid Israel in improving and enhancing its missile defense system. A bipartisan coalition of 63 members of Congress introduced the Iron Dome Act of 2013 to authorize the President to provide assistance for the procurement, maintenance,
Davis introduces Iron Dome continuing authorization act Read More »
Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — There seems to be little excitement about Israel’s next government to be sworn in next week after protracted and convoluted coalition negotiations. Though the smoke from its chimney isn’t very white, there’s relief that we won’t have to go to elections again. The public is said to be tired
Settlers in, religious parties out in new government Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Politics is not for nice people. Sure, there are required smiles, and even hugs for those current with the fashions. Hand shakes and back slaps have been around for a long time. But the demonstrations of warmth are not likely to be genuine. The work is too hard, and most
Politics is a nasty business Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — Training Syrian rebels to conquer the Golan Heights and shoot down Israeli aircraft? No, they don’t say it quite like that. But after years of hypocrisy, the Obama administration has admitted that while it declined to arm Syrian rebels directly for fear that weapons would end up in the
Is U.S. aiding Syrian rebel plans to fight Israel? Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana BryenBy Dorothea Shefer-Vanson GIVAT CHAYIM IHUD, Israel — The Theresienstadt Memorial Museum is situated in Israel’s verdant Jezreel Valley, in premises attached to this kibbutz. Once or twice a year I receive the museum newsletter, continuing the subscription taken out by my late father. For many years it appeared in stencil form on plain
Theresienstadt memory kept alive on Israeli kibbutz Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — As I begin to write this column the latest news is that coalition negotiations are stuck on the highly nonprincipled issue of which party will get to name the Ministers of Education and Interior. That may be solved by the time I’ve done my final editing and clicked on Send.
Revolt of the Likud youngsters troubles Bibi Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Nervous Jews are worrying if Barack Obama is intent on forcing Israel into a peace process. Leaving aside the issue that being nervous is a chronic condition of being Jewish, an appropriate response to Obama and all the others who think that Israel is not doing enough to make peace
Comparing Israel’s peace-making with other nations’ Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Money is not everything, but it buys most of the things that are. Values are also important in politics, but the important ones have something to do with money. For that reason, whoever controls the purse is somewhere near the top of the heap. In the United States system of
Lapid considered as probable finance minister Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C.–Shared values and democratic systems count for a lot in the political world — and they can advance military cooperation — but national security interests can evolve without them. No one would mistake Saudi Arabia or Bahrain for a country that shares American values, yet the U.S. Central Command works closely
U.S. reduces Israel to a military client, not a partner Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana Bryen