By 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 East
By 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
By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — “Until the next round” is the headline in today’s Ha’aretz that describes the attempt at ceasefire between Hamas and Israel after these last days of intensive belligerence. As a result, the rockets raining on the Negev have been reduced, though not yet fully eliminated, and Israel has refrained from
No one assumes latest Israel-Gaza flareup will be the last Read More »
Middle EastBy Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel — Ali Gomaa, grand mufti of Egypt, writes in the New York Times: “Egypt’s religious tradition is anchored in a moderate, tolerant view of Islam. We believe that Islamic law guarantees freedom of conscience and expression (within the bounds of common decency) and equal rights for women. And as head
Grand Mufti claims Egypt’s Islam is moderate Read More »
Barry Shaw, Middle EastBy Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO, April 9 — Daniel Viflich, the 16-year-old boy who was injured Thursday, April 7, on the Israeli school bus that was hit by an anti-tank shell fired from the Gaza Strip, had been visiting his grandma at Kibbutz Ruhama and had gone on a ride with his grandma’s neighbor,
By Dov Hartuv KIBBUTZ NAHAL OZ — I am furious and frustrated. On Thursday afternoon (April 7) the yellow regional school bus drove in to the kibbutz and as usual discharged its load of boisterous school kids. The school day had ended and the Pesah holidays were on hand. The bus did an about turn
A grandfather’s cry of pain after school bus attack Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–I woke to the sound of the loud speaker at a nearby mosque calling my neighbors to prayer, then read of the IDF’s latest targeted assassinations in Gaza, the continued firing of mortars and rockets in our direction, and the success of the new anti-missile missiles to identify and destroy the heavy
Enemies and a ‘friend” who cross the line Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. –Last month, the IDF’s Trophy anti-tank missile defense system successfully completed evaluation at the U.S. Army Aberdeen Proving Ground. During six weeks of testing the system on the Stryker Armored Fighting Vehicle (AFV), the system successfully defended the vehicle against attacks by numerous missiles and rockets. A spokesman for Rafael
Israel makes gains in defense and intelligence, even as U.S. stumbles Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana BryenBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–The Holocaust figured prominently in the migrations from Europe to Palestine and then Israel that began in the 1930s and continued after the war. Along with migrations under pressure from Arab countries, the Holocaust molded a population built on distrust of others. The movement of another million people from the former Soviet
Holocaust’s effects traceable in Israel’s demographics Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel — Events in the Middle East have moved so quickly that one almost needs a daily scorecard to keep up. This article will try to give a basic picture of what has, and hasn’t, changed. Have Iran and revolutionary Islamists gained in recent months? Yes, since Islamism is advancing at the
U.S. loses ground to Iran in Middle East Read More »
Barry Shaw, Middle East, USABy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM-The late Abba Eban’s oft-quoted description of the Arabs as never missing an opportunity to miss an opportunity can also be applied to the government of Israel. The now public interaction between Richard Goldstone, who’s in the news again, and Israel’s Minister of the Interior Eli Yishai, who seems to want
Yishai squanders Israel’s Goldstone opportunity Read More »
Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — A cartoon in the April 5 issue of Ha’aretz anticipated the meeting the same day between President Peres and President Obama by seating them as equals on comfortable chairs in the Oval Office. Next to Peres stands a little boy who looks very much like Bibi Netanyahu. It’s a
Peres prepares the way for a new peace effort Read More »
Middle East