By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — At one time, a mantra of American politics was that politics stops at the water’s edge. Then there was Vietnam. Long before Vietnam there was considerable dispute about entering World War I. Irish immigrants were prominent among those not wanting to risk themselves for Great Britain. When the next […]
Neither for U.S., Israel does partisanship end at water’s edge Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM –What some seem to regard as bad news for Israel may, in fact, bode well for its future. I’m referring to the uproar in the country and abroad following the very public criticism by Yuval Diskin, the former head of internal security, when he spoke of the “messianic” scaremongering about
Three items of good news for Israel Read More »
Middle East
By Sandy Golden SAN DIEGO — Where else but in Israel can you find an entire wall made of Jerusalem stone, a replica of the Dead Sea Scrolls on permanent display, and information about Israel’s 2500-year history and also its modern rebirth and amazing achievements during the past 63 years? It’s hard to believe, but
Sequel to Israel festival planned at House of Israel Read More »
Middle East, San Diego CalendarBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — There’s talk of early elections in Israel. Though the government has still more than a year to go, it needs to replace the so-called Tal Law that de facto exempts the ultra-Orthodox (haredim) from military service and which some time ago the Supreme Court declared to be unconstitutional. This
Possibility of early elections in Israel prompts speculation Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — The continued variety of comments about Iran from the governing summit of Israel says something about this country and its society. The problem: one cannot be sure what it says. Last month, the former chief of Mossad spoke publicly on Amrican media. Meir Dagan has been described as “hard-charging” and
By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — The late Prime Minister Rabin is said to have been fond of a story about a Jew in some small East European town who was facing execution by the local squire. The Jew asked for a postponement for a year and promised that in that time he’d teach the
Inaction on Supreme Court ruling on settlements damages Israel Read More »
Middle East
By Rabbi Ben Kamin SAN DIEGO–I was born in a still-young Israel just a few years after its inception in 1948. My father and mother were there, however, as the British withdrew on May 14 of that year, lowering the Union Jack over the port of Haifa, and raising the stakes considerably for the 600,000
Thoughts of a Sabra on Israel’s Independence Day Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Israel’s settlement policy has returned to the headlines with a ministerial decision to convert three West Bank outposts (Rehalim, Bruchin, and Sansana) into legal settlements, and to find a solution for a neighborhood of Beit El that the Supreme Court has ruled to be illegally located on Palestinian land. Also
Expansion of Israeli settlements a response to Palestinian rejectionism Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastWASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)–Congresswoman Susan Davis (Democrat-San Diego) called for the United States to stand with Israel against the nuclear threat posed by Iran, in a floor speech observing Israel’s Independence Day. The text follows: I rise in strong support of the contribution of the State of Israel as it celebrates its 64th anniversary as
Congresswoman seeks steadfast U.S. support for Israel Read More »
Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — By all accounts, the most admirable feature of American Thanksgiving is that it’s being celebrated by all citizens. Irrespective of religious affiliation, skin colour or income, all Americans feel the need to give thanks for the country in which they live, even when they’re grossly disadvantaged in comparison to
Most Israelis celebrate Yom Ha’atzma’ut, but some pointedly refrain Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — For an American used to Memorial Day as a time for mega-store sales and picnics, the Israeli equivalent requires a significant reformatting of expectations. The official number of those who died while serving in one or another security function or as a result of terror is close to 23,000, with
Controversies surround Israel’s secular holidays Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–It’s always refreshing when serious people refuse to give up hope – as a growing number of “peaceniks” in Israel have done – about solving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The latest effort comes from three distinguished Israelis: a former admiral, a former peace negotiator and a businessman. I understand the article in
Authors urge unilateral steps by Israel to build peace Read More »
Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — Israel has something of an anti-European complex. That’s the impression readers of The Globe and Mail, Canada’s “national newspaper,” are likely to get from a report by its Jerusalem-based correspondent Patrick Martin. Writing about Israeli reactions to the incident that cost a colonel his job because, as Martin put
Israel’s love-hate relationships with Europe Read More »
Middle East
By Ira Sharkansky KIBBUTZ AMIAD, Israel–Our apartment in Jerusalem’s French Hill neighborhood is about 810 meters above sea level. We began our trip to the Galilee by driving to the tunnel under Mt Scopus, and then through the Judean Desert to the Jordan Valley. At the junction to the road north we were 300 meters below
Sightseeing through the Galilee Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East