By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–Though I grew up in Sweden I never thought of its citizens as being particularly happy. In the 1940s and 50s we heard a lot about drunkenness and suicide but not much about life as bliss. Denmark, on the other hand struck us even then as a very happy place. […]
Gallup Poll shows Israel high on happiness index Read More »
Middle East
By Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel — Today Syria has entered its biggest internal crisis since 1970. The regime has come out to crush the insurrection. Either it will succeed by killing many people or the insurrection will build into a real potential revolution. And the Western states are doing…precisely zero. One Syrian expert friend responded:
The Big Historic Event Today: Syria’s Biggest Crisis in 40 Years Read More »
International, Middle East, USABy Ira Sharkansky SAN DIEGO — I’ll say it again. Coping is the name of the game. No solutions appear on the horizon, even when standing on a high place. Israeli policymakers concerned with “peace,” “borders,” or however you define that cluster of issues have to cope with Palestinians, Americans, and Western Europeans, as well
Israel practices the art of coping Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel — “Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Wednesday condemned violence in Syria and said the Syrian government must stop the arbitrary arrest, detention and torture of prisoners.” There’s a problem with that word “must.” See, you cannot have it both ways. You cannot help overthrow or move away from allies,
Obama administration is not taken seriously by Syria Read More »
International, Middle East, USABy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — By all accounts a large number of people and organizations in Israel are trying to draft the speech they believe Prime Minister Netanyahu ought to deliver before both Houses of Congress next month. The most recent effort comes from a group of left-wing intellectuals, among them many of the
Is ‘conflict management’ the best Israel and the Palestinians can do? Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — The Palestinians are betting the farm. Or–Muslim friends, forgive me– throwing a Hail Mary pass. They are doing everything they can to achieve world recognition of their state, with 1967 borders, a capitol in Jerusalem, and maybe something about refugees, without bothering to negotiate with Israel about what Palestinians might
By Lloyd Levy LONDON — With all the incessant media coverage about Israel , one easily loses sight of the broader picture. Yet I have been reading a respected annual publication called “the Military Balance.” Not necessarily everyone’s chosen reading material, but it throws a fascinating insight into the miracle that is today’s Israel. By
Israel’s military capability expands as Western Europe’s declines Read More »
Lloyd Levy, Middle EastSan Diego Jewish World staff report BEERSHEBA, Israel — Daniel Viflich, 16, whose misfortune it was to be innocently riding a school bus on Thursday, April 7, has died of the severe injuries he sustained after an anti-tank missile was fired at the bus from Gaza. Viflich died in the Soroka University Medical Center here,
Israeli teen victim of school bus rocketing dies Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — The analyst’s job is to make sense out of separate events that might be connected. If done well, it is better than a blind person trying to figure out what is that large, rough thing being felt. However it is done, there is a lack of certainty. It is best
Will U.N. endorse a government of terror? Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — Avigdor Lieberman says that he has been investigated by the authorities on and off since some 15 years ago WHEN he became the head of the Prime Minister’s Office during Netanyahu’s first tenure. But to date he has only been found guilty of beating up a little boy in
Israeli politics in the wake of Lieberman’s preliminary indictment Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Prior to 1948, Morocco had the largest Jewish population of North African countries. It was not one community, but several that differed in history, tradition, socio-economic traits, and language. One component traced its heritage to Jews expelled from Spain in the 15th century. Another may have been there since migrations
Ethnic politics in Israel: Moroccan and Russian Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel — How sadly ironic. A few years ago, the two previous U.S. presidents were trying to get Gulf Arab states to do more to foster an Arab-Israeli peace settlement and to stand up against Iran. They didn’t respond very much. Now they are ready for the battle and the current
Saudi Arabia, Gulf States: Iran Is Attacking Us Read More »
International, Middle East, USA
By Rabbi Ben Kamin SAN DIEGO — “How can you let your daughter move to Israel?” The question, along with disbelieving little gasps, has been put to me by a number of well-meaning friends and acquaintances in recent weeks. My second daughter, Debra, has been recruited from The New York Times to serve as breaking
“How can you let your daughter move to Israel?” Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM –“Until next time” is the theme heard from military officers and commentators wrapping up the weekend’s dust-up with Hamas and its allies/competitors in Gaza. That is also a summary history of Israel. There is no clear answer to the question, “How many wars?” insofar as some “operations” are hardly different from
What passes for ‘macho’ in the Middle East Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East