By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–Let’s start with the bad news. For the good news, you’ll have to look elsewhere. A week ago things were looking pretty good. The prime minister reported that the Americans were offering, as an inducement for a 90-day construction freeze in the West Bank, 20 F-35 advanced military planes, free of charge, […]
Is 90-day construction freeze agreement unraveling? Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastJERUSALEM (WJC)–As part of a planned 90-day settlement freeze, the United States is reportedly demanding that Israel refrain from construction not only in the West Bank but also in the eastern part of Jerusalem. Although Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is unlikely to win their support, ministers of the ultra-Orthodox Shas Party have said they would
U.S. reportedly insists Israel include East Jerusalem in construction freeze Read More »
Middle East
By Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel — The U.S. government is rushing an additional $150 million to the Palestinian Authority (PA) so that it can have a balanced budget. Funny, the United States doesn’t have a balanced budget and the same government doesn’t think that’s a problem. Moreover, the PA doesn’t really tax its own people.
More financial aid to the Palestinians–what’s the rush? Read More »
Middle East, USAWASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) — The United States State Department issued a news release on Wednesday welcoming an announcement by Israel’s Security Cabinet that it accepts in principle the proposal offered by the UNIFIL Force Commander, providing for the complete withdrawal of Israeli military forces from Lebanese territory in and around the village of Ghajar. “The
U.S. welcomes Israel’s decision to withdraw from Lebanese village Read More »
Middle EastJERUSALEM (Press Release) – A delegation from Christians United for Israel (CUFI), including 27 leading pastors from across the United States, met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday. The meeting was part of a six-day trip to Israel, organized and led by CUFI, intended to raise the pastors’ awareness about the issues facing
Netanyahu meets with Christians United for Israel delegation Read More »
Middle East
By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)–Last week we wrote about the United States casting its ballot in the election for Security Council seats without advocating or encouraging others to join us. We wondered whether the United States now sees itself as only one of 192 member countries, no different than say, Guinea Bissau, Nepal
The lies that corporations and governments tell us Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM– That seven hour meeting between Prime Minister Netanyahu and Secretary of State Clinton in Washington D.C. produced a lot of talk, but less by way of clear documents. There are questions about the promise of 20 advanced military planes, whether the Americans are clear about excluding Jerusalem from the 90-day settlement
Paucity of information on Netanyahu-Clinton agreement fuels rumors, confusion Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastNEW YORK (Press Release)–The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) is urging the Israeli government not to extend the 10-month freeze on Jewish construction in Judea and Samaria which ended on September 26. The ZOA is urging Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to accede to international and U.S. pressure, now that the issue is being
ZOA urges Israel to reject U.S.-sought construction freeze Read More »
Middle EastJERUSALEM (Press Release)–The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) on Monday condemned the recent decrees by rabbis in Bnei Brak prohibiting residents from renting apartments to African migrants, calling them “biased pronouncements.” ADL’s Israel Office issued the following statement: “We are deeply disturbed by the calls from rabbis in Bnei Brak to discriminate against migrants who have come to Israel
ADL denounces Bnei Brak rabbis’ ‘biased’ opposition to African renters Read More »
Middle EastJERUSALEM (WJC)–The government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is weighing plans for a renewed halt of West Bank settlement building in exchange for a package of political and security guarantees by the United States. US President Barack Obama said this was “a signal that he is serious.” The proposed 90-day construction freeze would only
Netanyahu Cabinet weighs 90-day West Bank settlement freeze Read More »
Middle EastJERUSALEM (WJC)–Israel’s Cabinet has approved a plan to bring about 8,000 more Falash Mura – Ethiopians of Jewish ancestry – to Israel over the next four years. The Cabinet’s approval follows an agreement reached by aid groups that once these 8,000 Ethiopians are brought to Israel mass immigration from there would come to an end.
Israel’s Cabinet approves immigration for 8,000 Falash Mura Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–Prime Minister Netanyahu has recommended that his government accept an American offer to provide advanced military planes worth $3billion without payment, and to support Israel’s position in the United Nations, in exchange for a 90-day extension of the building freeze that will not apply to neighborhoods of Jerusalem. The deal is attractive not
U.S. may provide planes, U.N. support to Israel in return for brief construction freeze Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel — Six years ago, on November 11, 2004, Yasir Arafat died. On that occasion, former President Bill Clinton explained why he wouldn’t attend Arafat’s funeral: “I regret that in 2000 he missed the opportunity to bring [Palestine] into being….” Not Israel, but Arafat did so. Today, the Arafat era’s lessons
Six years after his death, Arafat’s legacy one of terror, stubbornness, greed Read More »
International, Middle East, USABy Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel–I have been asked by some very brave Iranian bloggers to answer their questions, which they translate into Persian here and here and make available within Iran. I am told there is a good response from their readers. Here are two of my responses. Question: Why doesn’t Israel and Israelis protest
What some Iranian bloggers want to know about Israel Read More »
Middle East