By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — Israeli jets struck something Tuesday night; Wednesday’s guessing game was, “What was it?” First reports from Western news services said the Israeli Air Force hit a convoy of weapons moving west from Syria toward, or even in Lebanon. A Lebanese army source said nothing was hit there and a […]
Is Iran trying to shift the focus of Syria’s war? Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana BryenBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–The Crusades that we read about in the books had, as their declared aim, liberation of the Holy Land, and especially the holy places in and near Jerusalem. The Jews had a part as victims. Christian hordes massacred them, most notably the communities along the Rhine, on their way to dealing with
It’s not PC to say so, but it’s a ‘crusade’ Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy David P. Goldman Synopsis: While it is relatively easy to find the right rhetoric for disengagement from Egypt, the fact of the matter is that the Obama administration has put all of its eggs in Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi’s basket. If the authority of the Morsi government were to fail, American planners
Egypt’s economy crumbles, population wants bread Read More »
Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM –I suspect that one reason why Israel is so preoccupied with Yair Lapid is because he seems to be the only real winner in last week’s elections. A few others did hold their own, but many more lost heavily. Here’s a list. Binyamin Netanyahu, though still the likely prime minister,
The losers in Israel’s elections Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–For some time the pundits have been predicting the downfall of the Assad regime. In what may be a significant addition, is one from the Prime Minister of Russia. till now one of Assad’s principal sources of support. Dmitry Medvedev has said that Assad’s support is weakening daily. That is not
Syrian regime continues to weaken Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Shlomo Cesana and Daniel Siryoti/JNS.org Israel is continuing to warn the world of the potentially devastating outcome if Syria’s chemical arsenal falls into the hands of rebels, or worse, Hezbollah, as Lebanese media outlets reported that the Lebanese terror group had already obtained some chemical weapons and long-range missiles. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu,
Report: Hezbollah helping Assad protect chemical weapon supply Read More »
Middle EastBy Alan Eisner WASHINGTON, D.C. – When I was 16, I fell in love – not with a girl but with Israel. That summer, my family and I visited for the first time, a three-week trip that left me entranced. On the last day, August 29, 1970, I wrote in my diary: “As soon as I
A disillusionment with Israel today Read More »
Middle EastExplosion at Iran’s underground nuclear site? (JNS.org) Conflicting reports have emerged over news of an explosion at Iran’s underground nuclear site at Fordow last week. The news website WND first reported the alleged blast, quoting a defected Iranian intelligence officer who claimed a massive explosion occurred at the facility at 11:30 a.m. on Jan. 21,
JNS news briefs: January 28, 2013 Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–Israel’s voters have done their job, and now can wait through a month or more while party politicians and media commentators fill the air with their talk of what is possible, what they want, and what they do not want. Depending on what is between one’s ears or in back of one’s
Election over, insiders’ electioneering begins Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel –The results of Israel’s general election were not as depressing as expected, although not as good as might have been hoped. Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu is still firmly in the saddle, but the composition of his coalition government may be radically different from the outgoing one. At this stage,
Are young and rich Lapid and Bennet agents of change? Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — Perhaps only Rabbi Meir Azari, the spiritual leader of Tel Aviv’s Reform Beit Daniel congregation, would describe Yair Lapid, the new powerhouse of Israeli politics, as a Reform Jew. That’s not how Lapid seems to see himself. In an article in the English Ha’aretz of January 24, he’s quoted
Lapid’s success should encourage Reform Jews Read More »
Middle EastBy Evelyn Gordon When the Palestinian Authority (PA) obtained UN recognition as a nonmember observer state in November, many Israelis feared the consequences for Israel: After all, PA President Mahmoud Abbas stated openly that he sought recognition primarily “to pursue claims against Israel” in international forums. Those fears may yet prove justified.
PA near financial collapse Read More »
Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — Though the two ultra-Orthodox political parties, Shas and Yahadut Hatorah, held their own or did better in the Israeli elections earlier this week, their grip on key issues in the country may be loosening, not because they’ve embraced liberalism and moderation but as a result of the character of
Election may prompt religious reform Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — One should never say never, but it appears that the Palestinians have shut the door against the idea of a state. Too often they have done what Abba Eban placed in the handbook of political aphorisms, missing yet another opportunity to miss an opportunity. One can produce numerous explanations of
World increasingly fatigued by Palestinian intractability Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East