Middle East

Commentary: As peace talks loom, Arab rejectionists fire their missiles

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–It is not easy to make peace in this region.  Currently those who aspire to a breakthrough depend on Mahmoud Abbas and Benyamin Netanyahu. Neither of them inspires a great deal of confidence, given their histories. Moreover, both are politicians, dependent on pressures and constraints from local and wider constituencies. As we

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Ira Sharkansky, Middle East

Kassam missiles destroy three rooms of hydrotherapy center in Sha'ar Hanegev

By Alon Schuster Mayor, Sha’ar Hanegev SHA’AR HANEGEV, Israel — A rocket exploded Saturday night, July 31, on the roof of our Hydro Therapy Center. The center is situated in the educational campus, where the schools and Sapir Collage are located. Fortunately, children with special needs were not in the facilitiy that they use to train their

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Middle East

A short history of anti-Semitism and its modern equivalent

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–Anti-Semitism is ancient, although the term itself appears only from the 19th century onward. By the latter part of the 20th century, Arabs were ridiculing the charge that they were anti-Semites, on the grounds that they are Semites. Tendentious claims aside, no less a reference than the Oxford English Dictionary defines anti-Semitism

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Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USA

Completion of Torah Scroll in Old City prompts celebration

  By Judy Lash Balint   JERUSALEM–The Sephardic Educational Center in Jerusalem’s Old City celebrated the completion of a new Torah scroll Wednesday night, July 28, in a lively celebration of Jews from around the world. A scribe dips his quill pen into special ink and puts the finishing touches to a new Torah scroll before

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Jewish Religion, Middle East, USA

France upgrades relations with Palestinian Authority

PARIS (WJC)–France and the Palestinian Authority are formally upgrading their diplomatic relations. Until now, the Palestinians have been represented by a ‘delegation’ in France headed by a ‘general delegate’. In future, the General Delegation of Palestine in Paris will be called the Palestinian Mission to France and be led by an ambassador-head of mission, French

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Middle East

Adventures in San Diego Jewish History, October 29, 1954, Part 2

Compiled by San Diego Jewish World staff     Brandeis Women To Meet For Dessert Nov. 1 Southwestern Jewish Press, October 29, 1954, Page 4 The first semi-annual Membership Meeting of the San Diego Chapter of the National Women’s Committee of Brandeis University will be held Monday, November 1, at the home of Mrs. William

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Adventures in SD History, Middle East

Kirk wants U.S. to deny gasoline deliveries to Iran

NORTHBROOK, Illinois (Press Release) – Congressman and Illinois Senate candidate Mark Kirk on Wednesday, July 28, launched a national online petition drive urging the President to seal off gasoline deliveries to Iran by enforcing a recently enacted Iran sanctions bill. “A nuclear-armed Iran would destabilize the Middle East, weaken America’s national security and pose an existential danger to

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Middle East, USA

Arab protests over Israeli author forces cancellation of writers' conference

MARSEILLE, France (WJC)–A writers’ conference at a public university in southern France was canceled after some Arab participants refused to attend because of the presence of Israeli author Esther Orner. The meeting at the Université de Provence Aix/Marseille was intended to feature Mediterranean authors. “The story beneath all this – and it’s an enigma – is

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Middle East

Netanyahu, Lieberman jockey as direct talks with Palestinians loom

JERUSALEM (WJC)–Israel has no plans to extend the ten-month building freeze in Israeli settlements in the West Bank after September, the country’s Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said on Wednesday. He rejected any link between the moratorium and the start of direct Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. Lieberman told a joint news conference with Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel

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Middle East

Commentary: Mamas, keep your daughters off the barricades

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–One of the consequences of Israel’s demonization is the incidence of young people who participate in demonstrations against one or another of what they perceive as the abominations created by the oppressor of Palestine. Revolution and justice are powerful attractions, but they do not always appear together. Justice is elusive, and likely to be

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Ira Sharkansky, Middle East

Adventures in San Diego Jewish History, October 29, 1954, Part 1

Compiled by San Diego Jewish World staff Center Drives for $269,000: Jewish Community Organizes for Building Campaign Led by H. Wax Southwestern Jewish Press, October 29, 1954, Pages 1, 11 “To make a dream come true for you and yours,” the Jewish Community Center will launch a campaign on Nov. 15 for building funds to

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Adventures in SD History, Middle East