By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM –Not a typical weekend, but not all that unusual. This is a tense place, with frequent events that can provoke great drama. It began with a tragic accident. A heavy truck swerved on a rain slicked road north of Jerusalem, slammed into a bus carrying a group of four- to eight-year
Even traffic accidents grist for Palestinians’ anti-Israel hate mill Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
JERUSALEM (Press Release)– The oldest couple ever to make aliyah landed in Israel on Tuesday from Baltimore. Welcome to Israel, Phillip and Dorothy Grossman, ages 95 and 93. They are part of a Nefesh B’Nefesh group with more than 40 other new immigrants from North America. The Grossmans immediately headed for their new home in Jerusalem.
New olim are ages 95 and 93, married 71 years Read More »
Middle EastWASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) — The Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) expressed deep concern Tuesday over indications that the Obama administration is asking Israel to risk its security and survival to advance U.S. policy toward Iran, without providing assurances that the U.S. will protect Israel if the Iranian nuclear threat materializes. RJC Executive Director Matthew Brooks said:
RJC accuses President Obama of jeopardizing Israel’s security Read More »
Middle EastWASHINGTON, D.C. (SDJW)–U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Monday condemned the terrorist attacks on Israeli diplomats. During a news conference with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, Clinton said: “I want to say a word about the bombing of an Israeli diplomatic vehicle in India, the attempted attack on Israeli Embassy personnel in Georgia. Terrorism
Hillary Clinton condemns attacks on Israeli diplomats Read More »
Middle EastNEW YORK (Press Release)– Richard Stone, Chairman, and Malcolm Hoenlein, Executive Vice Chairman, of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, released the following statement about Monday’s terrorist attacks: The attacks today on the Israeli diplomatic missions in Georgia and India as well as the recent planned attacks in Thailand, Turkey and
By Noam Bedein SDEROT, Israel –On my recent visit to Canada, I was confronted by the growing strength and public acceptance of the Israel Apartheid Week (IAW) and came back to Israel with new friends who take a courageous stance for Israel – The First Nations communities. Background: From January 25th to 31st I traveled
Campaigning against the ‘Israel apartheid’ slur in Canada Read More »
Middle East
By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — Israel’s Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz may be right when he claims that the agreement signed on Sunday between his ministry and the labour federation resulting in somewhat improved conditions for contract workers, particularly in the unskilled sector, is due toIsrael’s robust economy. But there’s more to it. The four-day
Strikers and demonstrators win some economic relief in Israel Read More »
Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM –In 2002 Meir Dagan succeeded Efraim Halevy as the Head of the Mossad. He retired eight years later and – like virtually all Israeli public figures once they leave civil or military public service – he has taken to expressing strong opinions for all to hear and read on a
Ex-Mossad Chief Dagan a thorn in Netanyahu’s side Read More »
Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — Recently, Ruth Lapidot, retired professor of international law who had participated in formulating the 1979 peace agreement with Egypt, gave this year’s David Elazar Memorial Lecture under the auspices of the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs that the late professor Elazar founded. Her lucid and comprehensive presentation was reassuring.
Sinai now a focus for terrorist buildup Read More »
Middle East
By Bruce S. Ticker PHILADELPHIA — Who really broke the deal? Granted, Israel’s conditions for a peace settlement appear to be a sure deal-breaker. Israeli negotiators notified their Arab counterparts on Wednesday, Jan. 25, that as a guiding principle existing settlement blocs must become part of Israel in a two-state solution, The New York Times
No peace deal? Arabs, more than Israelis, are to blame Read More »
Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–I think of Ofer Eini, the Head ofIsrael’s Histadrut Labour Federation, as one of the most seasoned and balanced public figures inIsrael. I was, therefore, at first surprised by his recent display of seeming uncompromising militancy on behalf of employees of contractors to whom government and other work is often outsourced.
Two views of Ofer Eini and the general strike Read More »
Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–On the face of it, the latest agreement between Hamas and Fatah, signed in Qatar by Khaled Mashaal (who left Damascus presumably because of what’s going on in Syria and announced his impending retirement as the leader of Hamas) and Mahmoud Abbas (the President of the Palestinian Authority) could be a
Latest peace agreement between P.A. and Hamas worrisome for Israel Read More »
Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — Members of the Knesset are discovering America, Jewish America to be precise. Prompted by Jay Ruderman of the Ruderman Family Foundation a dozen or so Israeli parliamentarians came together recently to form the Israel-American Jewish Knesset Caucus. The visit was preceded by a comprehensive US visit by six MKs
Caucus formed to teach Knesset members about American Jews Read More »
Middle East
By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — Despite rumors to the contrary, Israel is a normal country at least as far as retail therapy is concerned. Shopping malls are popping up with ever-increasing frequency wherever one looks. They incorporate many advantages for both vendors and shoppers, and the ambience in them varies from quiet
Normal Arab-Jewish coexistence in Israel goes unreported by media Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Middle East