By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — Here’re more indications that the greatest danger to the future of the Jewish people, and thus to Judaism, may come from within. What follows are hints of the ominous evidence I gleaned on the first of a two-day conference in Jerusalem under the title, “New Understandings of Gender, Love […]
Demographics point to a Haredi majority among Israeli Jews Read More »
Middle EastBy Evelyn Gordon If there were a prize for the Arab country that has done most to promote Arab-Israeli peace recently, I’d seriously consider nominating Saudi Arabia. Admittedly, that’s a counterintuitive choice: Riyadh doesn’t even recognize Israel and shows no signs of doing so anytime soon; moreover, it finances the spread of extremist
Glimmer of recognition of Israel’s problems in Saudi papers Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Twice in recent days I’ve run afoul of American parochialism. You’ve already read more than enough about my encounter with gun control enthusiasts. The second is with Reform and Conservative Jews, brought about by an article in the New York Times that bemoans the inability of Reform and Conservative women
Non-Orthodox Jews should not expect U.S. customs in Israel Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM –What many feared and others hoped for may be about to happen: the Obama administration in its second term will be much tougher on the Netanyahu government than it was in the first four years. The appointment of John Kerry as the next US Secretary of State and the anticipated
Will Kerry put more pressure on Israel to negotiate? Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Thirty-four parties are running in Israel’s election, but there are fewer real contenders. Prominent are Likud a bit to the right of center, and Labor a bit to the left of center. There are parties further to the right and the left, each for their true believers, plus two ultra-Orthodox
See the candidates stumble in Israeli elections Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–Despite the clouds formed by the sharpening election campaign, a new star can be clearly discerned on Israel’s political firmament. His name is Naftali Bennet, the new leader of the nationalist (modern) Orthodox party, Habayit Hayehudi (the Jewish home) that can trace its origins to the once moderate National Religious Party.
The rising stardom of Naftali Bennet Read More »
Middle EastBy Yaakov Lappin Israel’s weeklong air campaign against Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Gaza last month helped establish a successful anti-rocket/missile combat doctrine, which was well-designed for that particular conflict, but which will not be applicable against Hezbollah. Despite the triumphalist cries and unceasing flow of belligerent threats coming out of Gaza, Hamas’ leadership is
Israel would not use Gaza strategy against Lebanon Read More »
Middle EastBy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — There are many points of disagreement between Fatah and Hamas; so many that they fought an ugly civil war in 2007, leaving Hamas in control of Gaza and Fatah in control of the West Bank. It is a mistake, however, to conclude from their often violent enmity, that Fatah,
Hamas and Fatah have same goal: Israel’s elimination Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana BryenBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM –At the end of an all-day symposium in Jerusalem today under the cumbersome title, “Changing in Israeli Public Opinion on Critical Regional Issues on the Diplomatic Agenda,” panelists were asked to identify a single piece of advice they’d give to the next Prime Minister of Israel (who almost certainly will
If you had one piece of advice for Israel’s next P.M…. Read More »
Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — It’s difficult not to see the authorization of the erection of another 1500 homes for Jews in East Jerusalem as a provocation, largely in response to the United Nations acknowledgement of the Palestinian Authority as (almost) a state, even if it seems to irritate even friendly governments, including the
Peace with Palestinians possible, but neither side may want it Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — How extreme is Avigdor Lieberman? Compared to what? No doubt that Avigdor Lieberman has an image problem with the worthies of the West. He goes beyond the politically correct assertions that the terrorism is not Islam by speaking explicitly about Arab violence, and he throws the charge of
When it comes to violence, US far more extreme than Israel Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — Even the day after the terrible tragedy in the school in Connecticut, the Israeli papers found space on their front pages for Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman’s resignation. Though the prosecution has dropped against him all the serious charges that have been on the books for many years, it intends
The indictee who would be tsar Read More »
Middle EastBy Isaac Yetiv, Ph.D. LA JOLLA, California– Early in the 1950’s , in a speech in Haifa , David Hacohen , the Israeli representative at the U.N., astonished the public when he said, “Don’t expect the United Nations to be a Court of Justice; it is an organization guided by the competing interests of the nations,
Palestine vote another example of U.N.’s dysfunctionality Read More »
International, Middle East(JNS.org) One day after sounding a defiant note, Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said Friday that he would resign following his indictment on fraud and breach of trust for allegedly promoting a diplomat who provided him with sensitive information about the police investigation against him. Thursday’s indictment of the foreign minister, announced by Israeli Attorney-General Yehuda
Israel’s F.M. Lieberman resigns under indictment Read More »
Middle East