By 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 EastBy Bill Smearcheck, JINSA Policy Associate The performance of the revolutionary Iron Dome system in the ongoing defense of Israel from Hamas rocket attacks, dubbed Operation Pillar of Defense, has been so extraordinary as to be considered by all but the most hardline critics to have proven the efficacy of missile defense. By November
Iron Dome proving itself in Israel-Gaza warfare Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM –We’re somewhere in the middle of the intermediate level of warfare routines well known to Israelis. We have been through Stage one: occasional violence directed at random against Israeli targets, civilians or soldiers Stage two: increased incidence of that violence Stage three: Break in the Israeli tolerance of inconvenience and occasional
What are the stages of a Mideast war? Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By Lloyd Levy LONDON –Gaza- again ! As the latest Gaza campaign unfolds, it is worth underlining some points that are not going to be mentioned in the anti Israel press in UK. If Gaza is so “isolated” as some would have us believe , how is it that they can get thousands
Answering fallacious arguments of Gaza crisis Read More »
Lloyd Levy, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–Listening to Israeli radio and television provides an advanced education in the military and political possibilities being considered in the midst of an operation. Invasion on the ground, more air strikes, increasing probability of civilian casualties as the IAF goes beyond the easy targets and into the neighborhoods where munitions are stored
No real peace–or ceasefire–likely with fragmented Palestinians Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Jeremy Ben-Ami WASHINGTON, D.C. — As we watch with anguish the ongoing escalation between Israel and militants in Gaza, we find ourselves on familiar ground. With rockets flying and bombs falling, our hearts and prayers go out to all impacted by this latest violence. Those who grieve the loss of loved ones. Those suffering
J Street: Ground war won’t solve anything Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Wednesday was time for another trip to the Galilee. Weather forecast was good. There would be some warm and dry days after early winter rain, and the expectation was for more days of quiet from the south and not much to worry about–for us–from Syria. We had a good drive,
When the news is impossible to tune out Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastSAN DIEGO –A Jewish community rally in support of Israel during the current Gaza crisis has been scheduled for 1 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 18, at the Nobel Athletic Field & Recreation Center, 8810 Judicial Drive. A growing list of speakers include U.S. Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego); Michael Sonduck, interim president of the Jewish Federation
Jews rally locally and nationally to aid Israel Read More »
Middle East, San Diego County