Middle East

Jewish population increase outpacing that of Arabs in Israel

TEL 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.

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Middle East

Predictions of new intifada based on faulty assumptions

By 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

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Ira Sharkansky, Middle East

Erdogan seeks to drum up popular Egyptian anger against Israel

ALEPPO, 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

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Middle East

In praise of Shimon Peres

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

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Middle East

5 American students switch overseas studies from Cairo to Haifa

HAIFA, 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

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Middle East

NJDC criticizes Rand Paul’s latest call for ending aid to Israel

WASHINGTON, 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

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Middle East

Egyptian street versus Egyptian president puts Israel and U.S. in tough spots

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:

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Middle East, USA

With Egypt, Lebanon in turmoil, Israel preoccupied with own affairs

By 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

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Ira Sharkansky, Middle East