By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Some years ago, Ehud Barak said that if he had been born a Palestinian, he would probably have become a freedom fighter. It was a rare hint of personal warmth in a man described by colleagues as one of the coldest fishes in Israeli politics. Barak’s military career featured a […]
Israeli centrists buffeted by Israeli rightists and Palestinians Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastWASHINGTON, DC (Press Release) – Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY), who has been a steadfast supporter of Israel and a Middle East peace that’s based on the state’s full recognition by its neighbors, has written to President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton asking that they stop U.S. aid to the Palestinian Authority for as
End U.S. aid to Palestinian Authority — McCarthy Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — The word is that Barack Obama is about to lay on the table an updated plan for Israel and Palestine. According to one of Israel’s most widely read newspapers, the President will deliver a “speech of greater closeness” to Muslims.Will this be another learning experience for the American president at
Obama may further tip toward Palestinians in upcoming Mideast plan Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By Rabbi Ben Kamin SAN DIEGO–Israel is celebrating its 63rd Day of Independence according to the Hebrew calendar; the secular date of the UN-sanctioned declaration of a Jewish state was May 14, 1948. Just three years after the death camps of Europe were liberated by the Allies, Israel became—and remains—the greatest response to genocide in
Oil and anti-Semitism do mix Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–During a week when Israel is celebrating its 63rd birthday, it is appropriate to take another look at its accomplishments and the receptions given them. Israel is among the most successful of the 100 or so countries that came on the scene as the result of World War II and the collapse of
World, U.S. judiciary, hold Jews to different standards Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel — In the wake of bloody Muslim attacks on Egyptian Christians the New York Times informs us: “By lifting the heavy hand of the Mubarak police state, the revolution unleashed long-suppressed sectarian animosities that have burst out with increasing ferocity….” No kidding! Did you think a single Egyptian Christian didn’t know this in
Muslim attacks on Coptic churches were forseeable Read More »
Middle EastBy Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel — I merely transcribe the lead paragraph inSaturday’s (May 7) Washington Post: “Syrian troops used heavy machine guns and artillery to quell anti-government demonstrations in the key city of Homs on Friday in a sharp escalation of their crackdown against regime opponents, as tens of thousands of Syrians again defied
U.S. should pull plug on Syrian regime now Read More »
Middle East, USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu returned from visits with British Prime Minister David Cameron and French President Nicolas Sarcozy, and claimed victory for his diplomatic mission. He said that both heads of governments had assured him that Hamas must recognize Israel before Palestine becomes a state. Reports from France and Britain are different.
Netanyahu lobbies Europeans to maintain status quo on Palestine Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By Judy Lash Balint JERUSALEM–In a country of 7 million people, there’s barely anyone not touched in some direct way by one of Israel’s wars or the terror attacks that have plagued Israeli citizens since before the founding of the State. This year’s statistics indicate that 22,867 men and women have been killed defending the
So many, many to remember on Yom Hazikaron Read More »
Middle East
By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Washington Post editorialized that in response to the Hamas-Fatah “reconciliation,” the Obama administration “will need a new strategy. Its first priority should be to prevent a renewal of Israeli-Palestinian bloodshed after two years of relative calm. That will mean insisting that West Bank Palestinian security forces continue to
Palestinian reconciliation is harbinger of more extremism Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana Bryen
By Dov Hartuv KIBBUTZ NAHAL OZ, Israel — This coming week will be one of emotional extremes. It was purposely decided that The Day of Remembrance and Independence Day would be celebrated “back to back”. In the early days of the State there wasn’t a family that was not somehow involved with the losses of
Emotions run high on days of Remembrance and Independence Read More »
Middle EastWASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) – U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, commented on the signing of an agreement between Fatah, Hamas, and other Palestinian groups. Statement by Ros-Lehtinen: “Let’s face reality: assistance to the Palestinian Authority will end up benefiting Hamas. Any nation that continues to fund the PA will
U.S. House Foreign Affairs chair: Cut off aid to Palestinian authority Read More »
Middle EastDOROTHY: “I thought you said she was dead.” GLINDA: “That was her sister–the Wicked Witch of the East. This is the Wicked Witch of the West. And she’s worse than the other one was.” –“The Wizard of Oz” By Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel — It’s astounding that Hamas, Fatah al-Aqsa Brigades, and the Egyptian Muslim
By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — Yes, we’re glad he’s gone. But the war of the 21st Century remains a war against terrorists and the states that harbor and support them. The demise of no single man solves the problem of terrorism or of intolerant and radical Islamic fundamentalism. Most of the credit goes to
Palestinian split on Bin Laden instructive Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana Bryen