By Peter Huessy In the decade since the attacks of 9/11, the United States and its allies have portrayed terrorism as primarily al Qaeda-centric. This, in turn, has led, logically, to a search for the origin of the terrorism aimed at us. Thus, after 9/11, many American analysts wondered, “Why do they hate
Al Qaeda only one element of worldwide terrorism Read More »
Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — Israel’s largest political block (the unholy alliance between Netanyahu’s Likud and Lieberman’s Yisrael Beiteinu) appears to believe what voters abroad have known for a long time: women can make a difference to the outcome of elections. That’s why it’s accusing its serious rival on the right, Naftali Bennet’s Habayit Heyehudi
What role will women play in Israel’s election? Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — The election is boring, but the formation of the next government may be more exciting. Voters are shifting a bit between parties, mostly on account of two new parties in the center and a newly energized party on the right. What is boring is that the major blocs made up
Israel’s election math Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. –Author Lela Gilbert, a Christian who lived for years in Israel, spoke for many of Israel’s supporters when she said she finds the international community’s attacks on the Jewish State “puzzling, especially when atrocities are taking place every day in Syria” and elsewhere in the Middle East. In an interview
World stands silently by in face of Islamist outrages Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana BryenBy David P. Goldman “The country is on the verge of bankruptcy,” Egyptian opposition leader and Nobel Laureate Mohamed ElBaradei told the newspaper al-Arabiya Dec. 23. Unable to reduce subsidies that account for most of a budget deficit that now exceeds 14 percent of GDP, and unwilling to raises taxes, it seems
Is Egypt teetering on bankruptcy? Read More »
Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — It didn’t come as a surprise to those who’ve faith in Israel’s Supreme Court as the guarantor of Israel’s democracy, but it came as an expected shock to its right-wing detractors: last Sunday the Supreme Court overruled the decision taken earlier this month by the political Central Elections Committee
Israeli Supreme Court lets controversial MK run for reelection Read More »
Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — The received wisdom in Israel’s right-wing circles and among their supporters abroad is that, if Israel could only get its hasbarah (information/propaganda) right, the world would understand that what the Government of Israel under Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is doing is morally beyond criticism and politically justified. Many of
Policies, not the p-r, cause Israel’s problems Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM– Even in the best of times, voting is something of a crap shoot for citizens who wish to influence what their government does. Candidates speak in general terms in order to appeal as widely as possible and to give themselves room to maneuver in the face of conditions bound to change.
Israeli voter’s task complicated by coalition politics Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Alan Eisner WASHINGTON, D.C. – There’s an old Israeli song by Matti Caspi, sung memorably by Yehudit Ravitz, that sums up exactly my view of the upcoming Israeli election: “You took my hand in your hand and said to me, ‘Let’s go down to the garden.’ You took my hand in your hand and said
An outsider’s perspective on Israel’s elections Read More »
Middle EastBy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C — Colonial powers – France, Britain, Belgium and Russia, in particular – believed there was no substitute for their own armies and officials to ensure that their colonies stayed in line. Instead of colonial occupation forces, the U.S. takes its money, arms, training and agenda abroad. It is a specifically
U.S. money, arms do not prompt ‘moderation’ in Mideast Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana BryenBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — For those who enjoy the cut and thrust of electoral politics, this is the season to unlimber your Hebrew dictionaries and connect with the web page of Israeli media (www.iba.org.il) There are no less than three simultaneous performances of the cardinal principle, “Do unto others,” along with the lucious taste
Wrestling Israeli politicians find themselves on bottom Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy 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 East