JERUSALEM (WJC)–In a surprise move, Israel’s Defense Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Ehud Barak, 68, has left the Labor Party, which he had led until now, and has formed his own faction in the Knesset, the nation’s parliament. Four of the 17 Labor members in the Knesset, including three other ministers, will join Barak in
Barak leaves Labor, forms Independent party Read More »
Middle EastJERUSALEM — One reason why I didn’t go to Tel Aviv on Saturday night to attend the rally in support of Israeli democracy was because I attended the celebration of 25th anniversary of the founding of Kol Haneshama, our congregation in Jerusalem. Kol Haneshama was born in the home of its spiritual leader Rabbi Levi Weiman-Kelman
An unexpected lesson from Kol Haneshama Read More »
Middle East
By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO–Wednesday night Judy, Margalit, and I watched The Secret Life of Bees. The movie, produced in 2008, is based on the book by the same name by Sue Monk Kidd. The story takes place in Southern Carolina in 1964 in the midst of racial turmoil. The Civil Rights Act had
Remembering the Exodus and the American Civil Rights struggle Read More »
International, Jewish History, Middle East, USA
By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM –The only reason that takes me to the shrine of the Western Wall is the company of tourists and the occasional Bar/Bat Mitzvah. Unlike some Jews who profess piety, the place doesn’t move me to prayer. In fact, the ostensibly religious hustlers who exploit it for blatantly irreligious, even discriminatory,
Thoughts on seeing a grandson sworn into the IDF at the Kotel Read More »
Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–You don’t have to have inside information or be blessed with special analytical talents to realize that there’re currently systematic efforts in Israel to make any division of Jerusalem in a future peace deal increasingly impossible. The fact that this is happening nominally outside government control – e.g., through legal purchase
The battle for Jerusalem is being fought by real estate investors Read More »
Middle East
By Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel –You might find interesting some details from the Israel Security Agency report on 2010. –Iran smuggled about 1,000 mortar shells and hundreds of rockets through Sudan and Sinai into the Gaza Strip in 2010. –The most significant new weapon for Hamas is the Kornet anti-tank rocket, the best in the
Israel’s Security Agency is upbeat in annual report Read More »
Middle EastBy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — The “World Security Network” newsletter carried the following bit of an interview reportedly with Hamas leader Ousama Hamdan about Gilad Shalit. Hamdan: There was what everyone calls the pre-final offer, and the Israelis accepted a suggestion from the Germans, and we also thought it is a good one, just
Beware when journalists express outrage Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana BryenBy Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel — U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s remark about how the Arizona shooting is just like September 11 is such a superb example of everything wrong with Western policy toward the Middle East. Let’s summarize the issue by coining a phrase which sounds a bit Zen but has a very practical meaning:
Hillary Clinton betrays a misunderstanding of Muslim audiences Read More »
Middle East, USAJERUSALEM (WJC)–A leaked report has revealed that that the 25 European Union missions in Jerusalem and Ramallah are urging Brussels to treat East Jerusalem as the future capital of a Palestinian state. The report also calls for an EU presence at the demolitions of Palestinian homes, and intervention when peaceful protesters face arrest. The confidential
EU document calls for intervention in Jerusalem against Israelis Read More »
Middle East
By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — The city of Rawabi has not made it to conventional atlases or a prominent mention in international media, but it is shaping up as a point of tension between Israel and the Palestine Authority. Last evening it was the center piece in a discussion on prime time television. The guest
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (Press Release)–U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in an interview with Taher Barake of Al Arabiya said Israelis and Palestinians want the same thing, but can’t find a way to trust each other. Here is a transcript of that interview: QUESTION: (In Arabic.) We are honored, Madam Secretary, to have you
NEW YORK (Press Release)– In response to the Knesset’s decision last week to form a parliamentary committee investigating Israeli groups critical of the Israel Defense Forces, Rabbi Eric Yoffie, President of the Union for Reform Judaism, and Rabbi David Saperstein, Director of the Religious Action Center for Reform Judaism issued the following statement: “We
Union for Reform Judaism says Knesset investigatory panels undermine Israel’s democracy Read More »
Middle EastBy Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel –When one crazed or ideologically obsessed gunman named Jared Loughner starts shooting in Arizona, people condemn him and start bemoaning the state of their society. How about a place with ten million people like that who are treated as heroes? America this week is awash in a huge and passionate debate
SDEROT, Israel — In this city close to the Gaza Strip — and surrounded by the kibbutzim and moshav of Sha’ar Hanegev, the partnership region to the Jewish Federation of San Diego County– tensions are running high in anticipation of more rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip. This video was provided by Israel News Video
Video report: Southern Israel tense over firing of rockets from Gaza Read More »
Middle East