By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Richard Falk is again in the headlines. The professor emeritus of political science, after a long career at Princeton, now the Special Rapporteur to the UN Human Rights Council on Occupied Palestinian Territories, has called for a boycott of companies that do business with Israeli settlements in the West Bank […]
Falk’s approach to Israel-Palestine utterly one-sided Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel –How we got onto the topic of education about the Holocaust I don’t quite know, but in a recent conversation with some friends I happened to say that I didn’t think it appropriate or beneficial for Israeli high-school students to go on school trips to Poland to visit concentration
Should Israeli kids skip concentration camp visits? Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Middle East
On September 13, inFOCUS editor Matthew RJ Brodsky interviewed Senator Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut. Over the course of his four terms in the U.S. Senate, Senator Lieberman became known as one of Congress’ most influential voices on security issues. He has been at the forefront of efforts to increase American investment in defense and transform
Lieberman wants Islamist extremism to be identified Read More »
Middle EastBy David P. Goldman WASHINGTON, D.C. — Syria’s two million Kurds have become a wild card in the country’s crisis, after the Assad regime encouraged Kurdish autonomy as a ploy against its Sunni opposition in the ongoing civil war. The importance of the small Syrian Kurdish zone extends far beyond its possible role as a
Syria’s withdrawal from Kurdish areas worries Turkey Read More »
Middle East
By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — It’s a pity that gentiles don’t study Talmud. While there are a number of arguments in the Talmud that are pedantic and unexciting, the study of this ancient rabbinic work teaches people how to critically examine a text. During the second debate, President Obama called the
Transcripts tell story of White House and Benghazi Read More »
Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Middle East
By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. –There are two reasons for the U.S. to seek the demise of Bashar Assad’s regime — for what it would mean to Syria and for what it would mean to Iran. The first is insufficient reason for the U.S. to involve itself directly. The second raises the elephant-in-the-room question: “Would
In Obama’s chess game, Israel, Syria and Turkey just pawns Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana BryenBy Evelyn Gordon WASHINGTON, D.C. — One of the most disturbing of many disturbing developments in the Middle East recently is the growing fear among America’s traditional Arab allies that Washington’s support can no longer be relied on. Whether this fear has any valid basis is irrelevant. Last month, for instance, Reuters reported on
Arab allies doubt U.S. steadfastness Read More »
Middle EastBy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — Western Iran-watchers have been pleased these past few weeks to see evidence that international sanctions against the Islamic Republic appear to have precipitated the collapse of local currency and demonstrations in the marketplace. The EU added a new sanctions package last week. Finally, they seem to be saying, we’re
Sanctions don’t hurt Iran’s decision makers Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana BryenBy Jacob Kamaras/JNS.org The largest-ever joint defense exercise between the United States and Israel kicked off on Sunday and is lasting for three weeks in the Jewish state. Austere Challenge 12 (AC12), an air and missle defense training exercise, will involve 3,500 U.S. military members and another 1,000 from the Israel Defense Forces, according to
U.S., Israel in joint missile defense exercise Read More »
Jacob Kamaras, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — The rawness of democratic politics does not appear in the most thrilling run-up to the final voting, but in the maneuvering at the early stages. Americans see it in presidential primaries, and even lower on the political food chain in jostling for nominations for governor, senator, House of Representatives, and even lower
Israel’s feisty political brew Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel –A Facebook message that appeared on my computer screen caused me so much shock and dismay that I committed a mortal Facebook sin: I told the person who had put the message up what I thought of him by using insulting language. I regret that reaction. I regret my
In defense of ‘Haaretz’ and ethical behavior Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Middle EastBy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. –A wave of anti-Jewish violence has taken place in France and Sweden over the past few weeks. The difference in government response is notable, and yet there is something similarly disquieting about their actions. The Swedish government alternately denies the problem, blames the Jews and blames Israel — it recently
Anti-Israelism a mask for anti-Semitism in Sweden, France Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana BryenBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–Current politics in the two countries I know best suggest that crowd mentalities are more prevalent than mass enlightenment. Israelis wanting change are attracted by two out-of-office political veterans with criminal records. A poll headlined in Ha’aretz indicates that an as yet uncreated centrist party with Ehud Olmert among its leading names
Herd instincts at work in politics of U.S., Israel Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy JNS.org and Gideon Allon/Israel Hayom Monday marked the official start of a short election season in Israel, with the country’s Knesset legislative body enabling an early election in three months by voting to disband on the first day of its winter session. As has been the norm lately throughout the Jewish state, the
Iran center stage in Israeli elections Read More »
Middle East