By Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — Of all the comments and spins that I’ve heard and read after the last Obama-Netanyahu meeting in the White House and Netanyahu’s speech at the AIPAC rally (or was it a conference?), the one that made most sense to me came from Matthew Kalman, the new editor-in-chief of the Jerusalem
Speculation concerning three different U.S.-Israel-Iran scenarios Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM– Avigdor Lieberman is one of the more interesting creatures of Israeli politics. He came to fame as a Netanyahu protege and Director General of the Prime Minister’s Office during part of Benyamin Netanyahu’s first term as Prime Minister (1996-99). Later he went out on his own to create the political party
Avigdor Lieberman a pariah to some, hero to others Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastWASHINGTON, D.C. — Following is the text of the speech Israel’s Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu delivered to delegates of the America Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) on Monday: I want to thank you for this wonderful reception. With applause that could be heard as far away as Jerusalem. That’s Jerusalem, the eternal united capital of
Text of Netanyahu’s AIPAC speech on the threat of Iran Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Prime Minister Netanyahu’s speech to AIPAC speaks for itself. Almost. There is enough there for several interpretations ranging to 180 degrees difference one from the other. http://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahus-speech-at-aipac-full-text/ There is praise for Barack Obama. On the other hand, the speech begins with a Holocaust story, of a small boy (Yossi Peled)
Parsing Netanyahu’s speech: did he throw down a gauntlet? Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy 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 East