WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)–The Congressional Research Service has issued a 10-page report on Israel’s recent offshore natural gas discoveries and their positive impact on Israel’ economy.
Natural gas discoveries strengthen Israel’s economy, lessen energy dependence Read More »
Middle EastTEL AVIV (WJC)–A new demographic study says that Israel’s Jewish population now stands at over 6.1 million and predicts that this growth trend would continue in the coming years. According to the survey by the end of 2010 the Jewish population in Israel totaled 6,122,000. At the same time, the country’s Arab population was 1,573,000.
Jewish population increase outpacing that of Arabs in Israel Read More »
Middle East
By Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel — Those who don’t know history are doomed to repeat it. And those who don’t know history also smugly say things that have more holes than substance. Recently, someone responding to an article of mine said it’s a pity I couldn’t share the world’s joy at the uprising in Egypt.
Obama backing Egyptian who favors abrogating treaty with Israel Read More »
Middle East, USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–Major events in Lebanon,Tunis and Egypt, along with lesser noises from Yemen and Jordan have excited the Israeli and international peace camps to insist on greater efforts by Israel, the United States and others. If not, Israel will pay a heavy price in inevitable violence, and the rest of the world will
Predictions of new intifada based on faulty assumptions Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastALEPPO, Syria (Press Release)–Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that “Israel must under no circumstance interfere” in what is happening in Egypt. He told the Turkish newspaper ‘Hürriyet’ that the US and Greece should intervene to stop Israel should it be “inclined to meddle in Egypt in a last-ditch effort to try and
Erdogan seeks to drum up popular Egyptian anger against Israel Read More »
Middle East
By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — Shimon Peres has held prominent positions in Israeli politics in general and (especially early in his career) in the defense establishment in particular since the inception of the state, even though the electorate has never liked him. Until the Knesset finally chose him to be Israel’s current president, he could
In praise of Shimon Peres Read More »
Middle EastJERUSALEM (WJC) — Israeli police say they have arrested four men in the theft of Jewish religious items worth more than US$ 1 million from a synagogue in the Italian city of Milan. Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said on Monday the four Israeli men in their twenties had been arrested over the weekend, after smuggling
Israel arrests, charges 4 in thefts from Milan synagogue Read More »
Middle EastBy Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel — From Canada to the United Kingdom and far beyond, Muslim Brotherhood representatives are taking advantage of widespread sympathy and naivete to tell Westerners precisely what they want to hear (also known as lying). And overwhelmingly, the media seems to be accepting this version. Here is a group that every
The new, phony, fuzzy-speak of the Muslim Brotherhood Read More »
Middle EastHAIFA, Israel (Press Release) — Five American students from Elon University in South Carolina who had just arrived in Cairo on an international student exchange program, escaped the riots in Egypt to safety at the University of Haifa. “Until just a few days ago, I never thought I’d find myself in Israel. Now I am happy to
5 American students switch overseas studies from Cairo to Haifa Read More »
Middle EastBy Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel — There are people–many in the media and academia–who literally go bananas if anyone criticizes President Barack Obama. They maintain that he is doing just a great job as if this is beyond any of rational discussion. And yet what has happened in the Middle East in the
Obama has bungled and bungled in the Middle East Read More »
Middle East, USABy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–It shouldn’t come as a surprise that I’m totally unqualified to assess the merits of General Yoav Galant, whose appointment as the next chief of staff of the IDF has just been revoked, and those of General Benny Gantz who’ll now get the job. And it may very well be that,
Netanyahu’s IDF choice a well-deserved rebuke to Barak Read More »
Middle EastWASHINGTON, DC (Press Release)- National Jewish Democratic Council President and CEO David A. Harris on Friday denounced Senator Rand Paul’s (R-KY) second public call for ending American assistance to Israel. Harris said: “The National Jewish Democratic Council stands categorically opposed to Senator Rand Paul’s most recent call to end American assistance to Israel. This is the second
NJDC criticizes Rand Paul’s latest call for ending aid to Israel Read More »
Middle East
By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO — Last Shabbat several congregants told me that they had expected me to speak about the unrest in Egypt during services. I did not because I believed it would be belaboring the obvious. However, since my rabbinic wisdom is being widely solicited, I will instead belabor the obvious here:
Egyptian street versus Egyptian president puts Israel and U.S. in tough spots Read More »
Middle East, USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–You’ve had a rest from me while we have been enjoying the sights and tastes of southern France. But the world has been busy. First there was a release of hitherto secret details from al-Jazeera on Israeli-Palestinian discussions, then the publication of Ehud Olmert’s memoirs, and then the spread of upsets to
With Egypt, Lebanon in turmoil, Israel preoccupied with own affairs Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East