By Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel — There is a very simple answer to an apparent contradiction about evaluating the current “Arab revolt.” If we look at the situation as a whole, there are reasons to think that many events of the last two months have been positive. Clearly, the resurgence of active opposition in Iran […]
Three competing forces fuel Arab revolt Read More »
Middle EastBET SHEMESH, Israel (Press Release)– ‘United with Israel’, a grass-roots pro-Israel organization started by American Jewish families living in Israel, has become the fastest-growing pro-Israel Facebook page on the web. In less than 3 months it has experienced explosive, viral growth, increasing its fan base by over 100,000 people. Israel supporters from all over the world have been joining
United for Israel FB page attracts over 100,000 friends Read More »
Middle East
By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — Israel is exciting for many reasons. One of them is that at any given moment and in the most unlikely situations you can find the worst and the best strangely coexisting. The Bialik-Rogozin School in south Tel Aviv is an example. Because of the Oscar two American film makers
What will become of children of Bialik-Rogozin School? Read More »
Middle EastLONDON (Press Release)–Foreign Affairs Shadow Minister Stephen Twigg joined OneVoice on Monday for an event at the House of Commons to explore whether people power has been the missing element in delivering a two-state solution for Israelis and Palestinians. Parliamentarians and concerned citizens alike packed the Wilson Room, at Portcullis House, to firsthand witness the
‘One Voice’ activists urges Palestinians, Israelis to jointly demand peace Read More »
Middle EastBy Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel — As I have predicted, Amr Moussa, former Egyptian foreign minister and Arab League head, has declared his candidacy for president of Egypt. I’d bet he is the most likely to be elected, as a nationalist and “anti-Islamist” candidate. While very possibly the best alternative to the Muslim Brotherhood-backed Muhammad
Amr Moussa seeks election as Egypt’s President Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–Among the lessons we can tentatively parse from the current commotion in Muslim countries are possible clarifications about the murky overlap between international law and international politics. Notice the extreme lack of certainty, suitable for any discussion of international law and politics. Much more than domestic law in well ordered countries,
Middle East turmoil shows shortcomings of international law Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — When the Israeli political system – ironically based on the purest form of democracy of “one person one vote” – seems particularly perverse (which is often the case, alas), a new party emerges. The hope is that having one more option will help the confused electorate. In recent years,
Will Oz, Mitzna form new left of center party for Israel? Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM _- The best that Israeli policymakers can do in the context of what is happening in the region is to say little and to do virtually nothing. And the best that interested outsiders can do is to avoid dreaming that this is the time for Israel and Palestine to negotiate seriously
With Middle East in tumult, now is not the time to press Israelis and Palestiniana Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel — Once the revolution began, Egypt’s Christians knew precisely what to expect. It isn’t that the regime of Husni Mubarak protected them so well from Muslim wrath. On the contrary, it was reluctant to prosecute Muslims who attacked and killed or wounded Christians as well as damaged or destroyed churches.
Persecution of Christians Begins in ‘Democratic’ Egypt Read More »
Middle EastBy Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel — For those of us who have been trying to talk about Middle East dictators for a long time–I wrote my book on the subject, Modern Dictators, more than a quarter-century ago–it is amusing to see how people are lining up to be “horrified” by those evil repressive regimes. Some
Gosh! These people are dictators! Who knew? Read More »
Middle East, USABy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — Former Israel president Moshe Katzav is getting extensive pastoral care. He has been convicted of rape and related charges and is awaiting to be sentenced on March 8. To cheer him up, a number of prominent Israeli rabbis who belong to the so-called nationalist ultra-Orthodox stream (in contrast to
Rabbis’ defense of Katzav in reality a slap at women Read More »
Middle EastJERUSALEM (Press Release) — US Jewish leaders in Israel for the Conference of Presidents Mission joined local Israeli advocates, and government officials on a recent visit to the Mount of Olives Cemetery (Har Hazeitim) to inspect vandalism and other evidence of violence at the world’s most ancient Jewish cemetery. The International Committee for the Preservation of Har Hazeitim (ICPHH) and
Conference of Presidents spotlights vandalism at historic Jerusalem cemetery Read More »
Middle EastJERUSALEM (WJC)–Palestinian groups in east Jerusalem have announced a boycott of the US Consulate in the city in protest at the American veto of a UN Security Council resolution calling Israeli settlements “illegal”. Senior Fatah official Hatem Abdel Kader told the news agency AFP that the boycott would see the 28 Arab local councils in
Angry over U.N. veto, Arab Jerusalemites announce boycott of U.S. Consulate Read More »
Middle EastBEERSHEVA, Israel (WJC)–On Wednesday evening, at least two long-range Grad rockets landed in the southern Israeli city of Beersheva, one striking an apartment building. No one was killed in the attack. It was the first time the city – which is the main city in the Negev desert and 40 kilometers away from the Strip
Gaza missiles hits Beersheva Read More »
Middle East