By 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 CountyBy Evelyn Gordon The latest escalation along the Israel-Gaza border – which saw Palestinians fire more than 250 rockets at Israel since Wednesday after Israel, responding to days of only slightly less intensive rocket fire, assassinated a senior Hamas terrorist and destroyed most of Hamas’s long-range missiles on Wednesday – may yet be interrupted
How the Arab Spring emboldened Hamas Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Bibi isn’t what he sounds like. He is a fascinating mixture of the distasteful and admirable, a politician who remains on top of a contentious and highly competitive heap despite promising much more than he has delivered. What follows is not an endorsement, but an exploration of how his various
Bibi roars like lion yet is timid as a mouse Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Yaakov Lappin Israel is facing an unenviable challenge these days, to regain its deterrence in a chaotic neighborhood in which its enemies are feeling emboldened. As a direct result of the regional turmoil, Israel is dealing with the deterioration of security on two fronts simultaneously. In the south, the time bomb that is
Israel facing military challenges in Gaza and Golan Read More »
Middle EastBy Shoshana and Stephen Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. _- Most of the questions related to the Benghazi debacle are about the mechanics, both offensive and defensive. What did the White House know and when? What assets were available to the military? Did someone order a stand down, and if so, who? Why was “the video” blamed
Was there a Syrian arms connection to Stevens’ death? Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana Bryen, Stephen D. Bryen
By Rabbi Dow Marmur TORONTO — Though President Barack Obama will have many urgent challenges to contend with in his second term, it’s reasonable to assume that Israeli-Palestinian relations will be high on his agenda. During the election campaign he said he would visit Israel when “we’re actually moving something forward.” He seems to
Rabbi Melchior says some in Hamas ready for peace Read More »
Middle EastBy Evelyn Gordon As Syria’s civil war drags on, it is increasingly destabilizing its neighbors. First, hundreds of thousands of refugees poured over their borders; now, violence has as well. Turkey and Syria have repeatedly exchanged deadly cross-border fire; in Jordan, a soldier was killed in clashes with militants heading for Syria to join
Muslim rivalries — not Israel — main factor in Mideast turbulence Read More »
Middle East
By J. Zel Lurie DELRAY BEACH, Florida — J Street, the pro-Israel, pro-peace lobby in Washington and JStreetPAC endorsed 71 candidates for Congress and 70 were elected. J Street PAC raised a record 1.8 million dollars to help their candidates. “This is an incredible victory,” said Jeremy Ben-Ami, the founder and president of the organization.
J Street chalks up amazing victory percentage Read More »
Middle East, USA