By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM– It’s not easy being an Israeli. It is even harder being an Israeli policymaker, especially at the top with responsibility for things domestic and foreign. Last week the problems were local, in the form of thousands of Israelis of Ethipian origin, one unhappy Israeli of Iraqi origin, and lots of angry Israeli Arabs, […]
Tension escalates between Israel and U.S. over Iran Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California –As we give pause to the memory of Martin Luther King and his profound ethical message concerning the evils of racial intolerance, it behooves us to ask ourselves: Have we, as a religious community, fully embraced the principles that cost this great man his life? Most American
Chabad should end its discrimination against Ethiopian Jews Read More »
Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Middle East
By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–If you’re an optimist you may decide to interpret the comings and goings of the US and Israeli generals as yet another way to intimidate Iran and prevent it from manufacturing nuclear arms. If, on the other hand, you’re a pessimist, you may conclude that the frequent contacts between Israeli and
Confusion and speculation about whether war with Iran is coming Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Last week was was another occasion when Israel’s ethnic issues escaped from the closet to arouse one crowd and numerous commentators. The crowd was more than two thousand Ethiopians who demonstrated against discrimination in the town of Kiryat Malachi. The principal charge was that landlords refused to rent
Charting ethnic divides in Israel Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–The good news:Israelis like all other countries and its Jewish citizens are like all other nations. Thanks to our sovereignty, we Jews have been able to excel in ways that weren’t possible before – and may not have been possible in the diaspora today, had there been no Israel. The bad
Some segments of Israeli society are clearly racist Read More »
Middle East
By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM –We see the Shuafat refugee camp from the route that we walk around French Hill a couple of times each day. We don’t see tents or low rise mud brick dwellings, but high rise concrete and stone apartment houses that look pretty much like those on this side of the
‘Refugee camps’ aren’t always as Westerners imagine Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM –Prime Minister Netanyahu’s sympathies for the Republican Party are no secret, but the news of the massive $5 million donation by Sheldon Adelson to the campaign of Newt Gingrich for the Republican nomination invites speculations about the close link between Gingrich and Netanyahu, and its implications for the future ofIsrael.
Sheldon Adelson building Netanyahu-Gingrich alliance Read More »
Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — The attack on an Israeli army base in the West Bank last month came as a shock to Israelis, not only because security was breached but because it was Jewish settlers, not Palestinian terrorists, who breached it. The army is responsible for all security in the West Bank. Soldiers are
West Bank settlers who invaded Israeli Army base among ‘enemies within’ Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Once again Prime Minister Netanyahu demonstrated his skills as a magician. In the morning, his ministers expressed wall to wall opposition to giving up four percent of their budgets for the sake of free pre-school education from the age of three. The government meeting was nastier than usual, with
Pre-School ‘guarantee’ adopted by Israeli Cabinet; Yair Lapid gathers momentum Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Several of the items in today’s news are not of the world shaking variety that will provoke unrest in the Middle East, Washington, or even among the American Jewish community, but each contributes their increment to understanding this country. First is the proposal of the Prime Minister to move
Never a dull moment: Israel debates schools, courts and burials Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Israeli and Palestinian officials have met for the first time in months, exchanged documents, and plan to meet again. The meeting came after prolonged pressure from the “Quartet” of US, European Union, UN, and Russia. The location in Amman shows Jordanian interest. We have nothing more than unsubstantiated
Do insincere ‘peace talks’ do more harm than good? Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — Israel’s Minister of Justice Ya’akov Ne’eman (Yankele to Prime Minister Netanyahu, we’re told) is said to have described Israel’s quality newspaper Ha’aretz as Der Sturmer, the notorious anti-Jewish publication in Nazi Germany. (To call Jewish foes Nazis has become a despicable habit among Israelis, including public figures). Ha’aretz has
Israel in row over judicial selection process Read More »
Middle EastBy Evelyn Gordon WASHINGTON, D.C. — The ongoing chaos in both Egypt and Syria offers few certainties. But one fact is already clear: The military opportunities Israel wasted in recent years won’t come again, and those missed opportunities will likely cost it dearly. In December 2008, Israel went to war with Hamas in Gaza. But
The Cost of Missing a Military Opportunity Read More »
Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — While former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak was being carried on a stretcher into court in Cairo, King Abdullah of Jordan was hosting Israeli and Palestinian representatives in Amman about the possibility of resuming peace talks after more than a year’s break. Neither side is holding out any hope, but
Parties talking Middle East peace don’t really want it Read More »
Middle East