SAN DIEGO– Recently San Diego Jewish World posted two videos critical of the Obama administration’s stance toward Israel. The videos were particularly critical of the administration’s refusal to set “red lines” concerning Iran’s development of a nuclear weapon. Eran Mukamel of J Street, which describes itself as a pro-Israel, pro-peace organization, sent to us some
J Street offers videos on Iran, Palestinians Read More »
Middle East
By Gary Rotto SAN DIEGO — I often forget how much modern Hebrew language is influenced by the Torah. On Kol Nidre, Barbara Carr,one of the great Jewish educators in our community was talking about the scapegoat as part of her D’var Torah. And as she talked about the destination of the scapegoat – Azazael,
Gaza seems a hell on earth Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–We can learn something about Israel and Palestine from the speeches at the United Nations by the so-called President of Palestine and the Prime Minister of Israel.. One should note the “so-called” status of the Palestinian, insofar as his term expired in January 2009, and the Palestinians of Gaza recognize someone else
Netanyahu contrasts with Abbas at U.N. Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By James Colbert WASHINGTON, D.C. — In his address to the UN General Assembly on Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reminded the world that all attempts to persuade Iran to halt its progress toward developing a nuclear weapon have failed. He urged the world to impose a strict red line on Iran. “At this
The importance of a red line for Iran Read More »
Middle EastBy JNS.org NEW YORK—Faced with what he considers an existential threat to Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spelled things out for world leaders in simple terms at the United Nations General Assembly. Actually, he drew things out. Providing a cartoonish diagram of a bomb during his Sept. 27 address, Netanyahu drew a red line across
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Jacob Kamaras, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM– Every once in a while, certain themes return to Israel’s headlines. One of them appears in Ehud Barak’s recent call to withdraw settlements from the West Bank, which was the subject of my last couple of columns. Another is the hand-wringing cry against Jews who leave Israel. Yom Kippur is a season
Perspective needed on Jews who leave Israel Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Amnon Ben-Yehuda SAN DIEGO — Americans have an information gap on Israel. I keep up with events and news from Israel by logging in daily to the Hebrew version of the Israeli papers Ha’aretz and Yediott. Between the two I can read opinions by columnists ranging the political spectrum but with emphasis to the
U.S. readers have Israel information gap Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Among the more moderate responses to Ehud Barak’s proposal to withdraw some 30,000 Israelis from the West Bank (i.e, leaving aside those whose response was “absolutely crazy”), is the warning that planning must be better than in the case of the unilateral withdrawal from Gaza. For the sake of argument,
Palestinian society rejects 2-state solution Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Maxine Dovere/JNS.org NEW YORK—Danny Ayalon anticipates dramatic changes for Israel, the Middle East and Europe, giving a decade as his time frame. In an exclusive conversation with JNS.org on Sunday morning in New York, Israel’s deputy foreign minister said that, while it is unrealistic to expect any nation dependent on Arab oil to jeopardize
Ayalon predicts Israel will export energy, change global politics Read More »
Middle East
By Lloyd Levy LONDON–On this Yom Kippur, we are unfortunately reminded of the year 1973. Many of us of course having a vivid recollection of the events in that year, when Israel was ambushed at “ prayer” and only escaped by the skin of its teeth . Yet in many ways it is more reminiscent
Londoner’s view: U.S. abandoning its allies Read More »
Lloyd Levy, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–Ehud Barak is featured in the top of the front page headline of Monday’s Israel Hayom, “Barak’s Plan: Withdrawal, maybe one-sided, from Yehuda and Shomron” Inside are the details. It is time to make hard decisions about the West Bank in order to facilitate the creation of a Palestinian State if the
Barak’s withdrawal offer a publicity ploy? Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Maxine Dovere/JNS.org NEW YORK—In July 2012, the Israeli government announced its decision to allow the aliyah of the last remnants of the Ethiopian Jewish community. Each month, 250 Falash Mura (Ethiopian Christians of Jewish ancestry) will complete legal immigration until the entire community has been relocated to Israel. A new immigrant absorption center will be developed to
From Ethiopia to the Knesset: Shlomo Molla lives the dream Read More »
Middle East
By Isaac Yetiv, Ph.D SAN DIEGO — 1) The Speech: “Apologize and Appease” —In the Cairo speech of 2009 , newly-minted president Barack Obama summed up his new doctrine on the relationship between the United States and the Islamic world. After a warm greeting of essalamu ‘aleikom, he: .- Praised Islam as a religion of
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Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM– It’s been three years since Barack Obama’s Cairo speech, 11 years since 9-11 and the onset of efforts to reform Iraq and Afghanistan. If Americans and others still need to learn about the Middle East, they might focus on continuing riots over the Muhammad film (Innocence of Muslims), topped up by
Civilizations clash on many fronts Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East