By Ira Sharkansky FREIBURG IM BREISGAU, Germany– I’m directing this column against my Internet friends and many others who think that Benyamin Netanyahu is an extremist, against Barack Obama who has told a number of people that Netanyahu is a pest, and against analysts who assert that Israel is a marginal issue in the American election.
Netanyahu’s accomplishments deserve some credit Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Yaakov Lappin WASHINGTON, D.C. –A small, mysterious unidentified drone quietly made its way into Israeli air space last week. Trailed by two F-16I Israeli fighter jets, the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flew across southern Israel, after intruding in from the Mediterranean Sea and passing Gaza, possibly in an attempt to blend in with
Hezbollah drone underscores Israel’s missile needs Read More »
Middle EastBy Stephen and Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. —Washington wants to avoid a confrontation with Iran, but faces two wild cards. First, Israel may find itself unable to forgo the use of force against Iran’s nuclear facilities. Second, the administration has reiterated that it, too, finds a nuclear-armed Iran “unacceptable,” and may have to take action
USS Ponce in serious danger in Persian Gulf Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana Bryen, Stephen D. BryenIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announces early elections, stresses advantages of speedy election cycle rather than lengthy process that could weigh on the economy. With snap elections, Netanyahu aims to prevent rival candidates from gaining ground, experts believe. By Shlomo Cesana and Mati Tuchfeld/JNS.org Now it’s official: Israel is going to the polls. Prime Minister
Netanyahu announces early elections in Israel Read More »
Middle East
By Isaac Yetiv , Ph.D. LA JOLLA, California — In a previous commentary, I wondered if the incredible accumulation of blunders in the bloody assault on the US Consulate in Benghazi, that killed four Americans including a US ambassador, was due to ineptitude or lies. The passage of time and the emerging evidence have
5 lessons from ‘Benghazi-gate’ Read More »
Middle EastBy Mati Tuchfeld/Israel Hayom/JNS.org With the backdrop of the possibility of early elections in Israel, unprecedented tension has been reported in the relationship between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak. Netanyahu on Oct. 3 accused Barak of “working to undermine” him and straying from official government policy, telling his close associates
Tension between Netanyahu and Barak Read More »
Middle EastBy Sherwin Pomerantz JERUSALEM –It is always amazing to me that the depth of the Arab world’s unhappiness with our presence in this part of the world makes it impossible for them to recognize the benefits that some Arab governments have received as a direct result of our being here. A case in point is
The Israel benefit Arab neighbors don’t talk about Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM –This is as close as you’ll see to a mea culpa. Perhaps I misblogged when I let my cynicism about things American get the better of me, and chided the incident in an Eilat hotel where an American went postal, grabbed a gun from a security guard, killed one, barricaded himself
Columnist admits rushing to judgment in Eilat shooting Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — In 2011, Mahmoud Abbas, head of the Palestinian Authority (PA), failed to win U.N. acceptance of Palestine as an independent state1. This year, he lowered the bar to upgraded status within the U.N. In the intervening year, Palestinian finances have collapsed, Palestinians have taken to the street to denounce
U.S. should cease its paramilitary aide to Palestinians Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana BryenBy Evelyn Gordon WASHINGTON, D.C. — Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas plans to seek UN recognition as a nonmember observer state this fall. His formal request to the UN General Assembly probably won’t be submitted until after the U.S. elections. But given how many parties may need to be lobbied, Washington should
The Iranian currency, the rial, is collapsing, and it is taking the Iranian economy with it. Iranian citizens are hungry for a normal life. But the Iranian regime doesn’t care—it will sacrifice anyone on the altar of the nuclear program, writes Boaz Bismuth. Boaz Bismuth/JNS.org At the start of this month, the Iranian currency—the rial—lost
Is the Persian Spring simmering? Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — My colleague Shlomo Avineri is one of Israel’s wisest. His academic fields are political philosophy, European and Zionist politics. He had a stint at the peak of policymaking as Director General of the Foreign Ministry, and is a frequent contributor to op-ed pages of Israeli and overseas newspapers. Most
Israel suffers Americans with money… and guns Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By Bruce Kesler ENCINITAS, California — It is a signal event when even some from the political left who has long sided with pro-Palestinian assertions wakes up and recognizes the horror that is Hamas. In 2005, Israel unilaterally removed its military and residents from Gaza, leaving behind the infrastructure and commercial ventures Israel and
Leftists take another look at Hamas Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansksy JERUSALEM–Thanks to an American cousin I am now up to date on the realities of American politics. If I had any doubts about the Saudi loyalties of that Kenyan-born Muslim in the White House, this clip from a Christian source, relying on the evidence produced by an Israeli Jew, settles all my
The skewed view of the Mideast from the Far Right Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East