By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO–Israel Inside: How a Small Nation Makes a Big Difference, a documentary that will premiere Nov. 29 on a Florida public broadcasting station, is being submitted to various outlets, including KPBS here in San Diego, for possible airing in March. The concept behind it, according to producer Raphael Shore, is […]
Documentary seeks to ‘rebrand’ Israel Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Middle EastBy Joel A Moskowitz MD and Arlene S Moskowitz JD LA JOLLA, California– The son of Ariel Sharon was the opening attracton for the San Diego Jewish Book Fair at the Lawrence Family JCC. On a table to the left of the lecturn was a single lit candle fronting a photo of Ariel Sharon. Before
Ariel Sharon’s son says despite coma, his father is responsive Read More »
Jewish History, Middle East, San Diego CountyBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — headline in The Economist: “One side gets even lonelier . . . Binyamin Netanyahu gets brickbats from Palestinians and Israelis” http://www.economist.com/node/21536644 Visiting American relatives told us that their rabbi was saying “Israel is on a precipice,” and that members of the congregation must increase their political and economic support. Those
Situation normal: reasons for worry, reasons for celebration Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — So once again British hooligans managed to disrupt a concert given by Israeli musicians in London, this time one given by the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra at the Proms last September. This follows a similar interruption of a performance by the Jerusalem Quartet at the Wigmore Hall earlier in
The cacaphony of Palestinian violence Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Middle EastBy Daniel Halper WASHINGTON, D.C. — Earlier this week, the majority of member states of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) – whose self-stated mission is “to contribute to the building of peace, the eradication of poverty, sustainable development and intercultural dialogue through education, the sciences, culture, communication and information” – voted
Palestinians and the UNESCO Lesson Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Currently the most prominent discussion is whether to discuss the prospect of Israel attacking Iran’s nuclear facilities. On one side of this argument are extremists who think the public should be involved in a detailed debate about everything: the threat, the way Israel should meet it, perhaps leaving the timing
Israelis in full debate over Iran’s nuclear facilities Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — “If you want a friend in this town, buy a dog.” That was Harry Truman’s way of saying that politics is a matter of pursuing interests, not friends. Another expression meaning about the same thing: If “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” prevails in heaven,
Don’t look for ‘friends’ in Middle Eastern politics Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — Reading about a conference on genocide held in Frankfurt, Germany, in March 2011 which appeared in Second Generation Voices, a journal for and by the descendants of Holocaust survivors which is published in England, I found myself shaking my head in disbelief. Admittedly, the title of the conference
Palestinians: victims or persecutors? Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–Ilan Grapel is not Gilad Shalit. Grapel is an immigrant from the United States who served in the IDF, and was wounded during the Second Lebanese War of 2006. Egyptian authorities seized him in June of this year during the protests in Tahrir Square, and accused him of spying for Israel. Descriptions
Ilan Grapel no Gilad Shalit Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By J. Zel Lurie DELRAY BEACH, Florida — November 29, 1947 is the name of an important street in Jerusalem. In Hebrew it is called Kaf Tet November. It marks the date when the General Assembly of the United Nations voted by a two-thirds majority to partition the small state of Palestine into two smaller
Siege of Jerusalem 1947-48. A memoir. Read More »
Jewish History, Middle EastBy Yaakov Lappin WASHINGTON, D.C. –It is not often that scenes of joy wash over Israel and the Gaza Strip simultaneously. Israelis were celebrating the freedom of a soldier who was abducted five years ago while guarding his country’s borders. He was seized in an unprovoked cross-border raid and held by Hamas in violation of
Hamas a winner in Shalit deal, but so was Israel Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Amid the public news dealing with the grand issues of Muammar Qaddafi and Gilad Shalit, our personal weekend brought me to recall my various experiences with the Russians of Israel. It began at an Absorption Center outside of Jerusalem in the Summer of 1975. It was the tail end of
The assimilation of Russian Israelis Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Gabriel M. Scheinmann WASHINGTON, D.C. — This year, in a major breakthrough, Israeli Iron Dome batteries successfully intercepted scores of rockets and missiles fired from Gaza. Its 85% success rate has been a major deterrent of Gazan rocket fire and has propelled heated interest in the system by NATO countries and South Korea. These
Turkey balks at U.S.-led regional missile defense against Iran if Israel is involved Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — You’ve heard that a picture is worth a thousand words. You’ve seen the pictures of Muammar Qaddifi’s death. Given the comments of Barack Obama and the analysis that appeared in the New York Times, I’m not at that sure that enough American understand what they have seen. Recall George W.
Libyan dictator’s violent death depicts neighborhood in which Israel lives Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East