By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–God isn’t mentioned in the Book of Esther, which will be read on Purim. Some say, however, that God is implied in the text. The story about the wicked Haman who wanted to destroy all Jews in the Kingdom of Persia has become topical in our time:Iran is, of course, ancient […]
Dealing with Haman’s Persia and Ahmadinejad’s Iran Read More »
Middle EastWASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)–Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, March 5, made the following remarks at the start of his meeting with US President Barack Obama: “The alliance between our two countries is deeply appreciated by me and by everyone in Israel. And I think that, as you said, when Americans look around the Middle
‘Israel must reserve the right to defend itself’ — Netanyahu Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM –The Internet is one of the greatest inventions of my lifetime, along with computers and the advances in medicine that have kept me able to benefit from them. Computers have freed me from having to type, correct by pencil, and then typing again or–later in my career–having someone type and repeating
The perils of relying on memory, internet, or TV clips Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM –Last week it was Natan Eshel, Prime Minister Netanyahu’s former chief of staff. This week it’s Uzi Arad, his former security adviser. Next week it’s likely to be a further probe into his financial dealings. Though it sounds like gossip, it may turn out to be of national significance and
Netanyahu distracted by disarray in the prime minister’s office Read More »
Middle EastWASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) — Following is the text of the speech delivered by President Shimon Peres of Israel at the America Israel Public Affairs Committee’s annual meeting: As The President of the State of Israel I came here first and foremost to say on behalf of my people: “Toda” “Thank You”. Thank
Shimon Peres: Peace is the first option, but if war comes Israel will prevail Read More »
Middle East
By Lloyd Levy EILAT, Israel — There is a serious mismatch between the enormous strength of Israel, and the situation painted by the Israeli establishment and the media. The establishment and media are always fretting and anxious about real or imagined threats to the people of Israel. For many years it has been the threat
Does the Israeli establishment cry ‘Wolf!’ too often? Read More »
Lloyd Levy, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM -Two items in recent days have put the issue of Israel, Iran, and the United States in clearer perspective.One comes from a former head of Israeli military intelligence, a man widely respected for his judgment, and not regarded as a hawk. The other comes from the New York Times journalist who
U.S. temporizing may prompt Israel to go it alone against Iran Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastJERUSALEM (Press Release) — Israelis recall the Second Intifada, which began in September 2000 and lasted half a decade, as a bleak period of terrorism and suicide bombings. Yet new research from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem finds that surprisingly, the terrorism had almost no impact on Israelis’ self-reported life satisfaction levels in surveys conducted at
Study finds terrorism does not demoralize the victim society Read More »
Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — Despite attempts by some politicians to compromise Israeli democracy, the Supreme Court, with its commitment to the rule of law and the rights of individuals and minorities, always made sure that they wouldn’t succeed. Those on the reactionary far Right have, therefore, often regarded the judges as thorns in
Criticism of Arab Justice for not singing Hatikvah an excuse for bigotry Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–This week the leaders of Israel gathered to honor the retirement of Chief Justice Dorit Beinisch, and the installation of her replacement, Justice Asher Grunis. The ceremony provided several insights into the nature of Israeli government and society. It touched the Holocaust as well as the rights of Israeli Arabs.
Changing of chief justice ceremony laden with symbolism Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Evelyn Gordon WASHINGTON, D.C. — Amid the din of debate over a possible Israeli strike on Iran, perhaps it is unsurprising that Israeli Intelligence Minister Dan Meridor’s press conference on February 20 attracted so little international attention. But in a world that claims to view an Israeli-Palestinian deal as a top priority, it should
Continued Egypt-Israel peace precondition for new treaties in Mideast Read More »
Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — I learnt the term that heads this page last Tuesday at a meeting in the Knesset. It was coined as a variant of the Hebrew for “money laundering” (halbanat hon) to read halbanat khok. The occasion was a meeting hosted by Zahava Galon, the leader of Meretz, to which
Efforts to preserve Migron called ‘law laundering’ Read More »
Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–To mark the latest heated exchanges about Jerusalem between the Chairman of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas and the Prime Minister of Israel Binyamin Netanyahu, I decided to make my first trip on the city’s new light railway (streetcar). It took me to the Arab villages – now Jerusalem suburbs –
Jerusalem railway strengthens Israel’s ‘united city’ claims Read More »
Middle East
By James Colbert WASHINGTON, D.C. — Israel, the United States, and Europe share grave concern over the Iranian theocracy’s politics and its serial use of violence in pursuit of its goals. The Islamic Republic formally declared war on the west and is the major state sponsor, funder, and trainer of terrorism, including plotting terror in
Israel, U.S. must find common ground on Iran’s nuclear threat Read More »
Middle East