By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Thomas Mann’s Buddenbrooks is a classic story of a family that opens with a great celebration of wealth and success and proceeds to its downfall. From what we are hearing from reliable sources, that is the model likely to develop after Mahmoud Abbas’ celebrations for achieving Palestinian statehood from the […]
As P.A. celebrates ‘statehood,’ its assets dwindle Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Scarcely a day after the UN General Assembly voted to name Palestine a state, and Israeli officials said they would not mete out a punishment for their neighbor’s chutzpah, the punishment came. The government approved construction of 3,000 housing units in East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and made reference to
What are Israel’s motives in announcing E-1 construction? Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel –Twenty-four years ago, almost to the day, in 1988, I stood in a large hall in Algeria and saw Yasir Arafat declare the independence of a Palestinian state. And that was forty-one years, almost to the day, after the UN offered a Palestinian state in 1947. Twelve years ago Israel
The real meaning of Palestine’s ‘statehood’ Read More »
Middle East
By Rabbi Ben Kamin ENCINITAS, California — A biblical story tells of a prophet-for-hire name Balaam. The professional seer was engaged by a regional king, Balak, who was anxious about the approaching Israelite nation that had been freed from Egypt. Balaam was paid a sizable amount of silver and engaged to climb up, observe the
Here’s some observation material for Palestine Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–Politics is a trait of advanced civilization. It allows dispute on the way to voting or some other way of deciding. Politics aspires to nonviolent resolutions of disagreements about who should be a leader, or what should be public policy. Politics is not always pretty or admirable. Sometimes it reaches a level
Coping is a required skill in Middle Eastern politics Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C –Before a radio interview this week, the host sent a list of questions that might arise. The answer to an extraordinary number of them was, “Because they could.” Because bad actors were reasonably sure no one (read: United States) would protest and even more sure no one would stop them.
Israel applies logic to Middle East options Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana BryenBy Rabbi Ben Kamin ENCINITAS, California — The tumultuous events of the Middle East may continue to reverberate from the insecurity and tribal impulses of men addicted with power and politics. But on the ground, and too often in the earth, remain the persons who actually settle these spiraling bursts of biblical conflict and apocalyptic
Let us preserve the children of the Middle East Read More »
Middle EastBy David P. Goldman WASHINGTON, D.C. — How should we understand the apparently erratic behavior of Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi? In September, he seemed an unreliable ally, if an ally at all, after his tardy and diffident response to mob attacks on America’s Cairo embassy. Morsi rose sharply in Western esteem after the
Egypt’s financial crisis may have prompted Morsi’s power grab Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Palestine is poised to receive recognition as a state by the United Nations General Assembly. Someone has labeled this as its arrival to the level of a “virtual state” without membership in the United Nations or recognition as a state by the two governments most important, i.e., Israel and the
What will U.N. recognition mean for Palestine…. and Israel? Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–Wars begin with a bang. They may not end with sudden quiet. Sudden quiet is most unlikely when one of the sides is not the disciplined army of a state, but a collection of organizations and gangs, competing with one another, with members intense to show their heroic loyalty to a cause.
A quieter Gaza was best practical result for Israel Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Israel is currently in the verbally explosive situation of a political campaign that began hours, or perhaps minutes, after the end of a week-long military operation. Politicians, media personalities, and just released reservists are all over the map in their expressions. It is not difficult to chart them according to
Noise of war replaced by cacaphony of politics Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By Bruce Kesler ENCINITAS, California — There are apparently sharp differences among commentators on the Gaza ceasefire. Regardless, the Gaza thanksgiving lesson is that Israel and its supporters have far more to be thankful for, and hopeful for, than does Israel’s enemies. On the one hand are those who say that Israel accomplished its
Gaza outcome worthy of Thanksgiving Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALELM — Who won? It’s too early to be certain. Recent hours have been without attacks on Israel or Israel attacking. Beyond caution about the violence, it is also not easy to ponder the variety of commentary, much of it hyperbolic. With all the reservations that are appropriate, the following points are worthy
As with most compromises, ceasefire brought no clear victors Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Strenghten Hamas and come close to destroying it. That, as best as a close outsider can determine, is what Israel is trying to accomplish with its bombardments and its negotiations. The problems in analysis and accomplishment should be clear. I’m making these guesses in Jerusalem, within site of the barrier
Destroying Hamas, yet keeping it in power Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East