International

French plan to recognize Palestine no reason for panic

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–At first thought, the French proposal to convene a peace conference between Israel and the Palestine Authority, with a commitment to recognize a Palestinian State no matter what, sounds like an awesome threat. France is something to think about. It’s not a Muslim country like those that long ago recognized Palestine. Those […]

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Ira Sharkansky, Middle East

Building an egalitarian society in Israel

By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – Those who believe that continuing wars with Arabs and a series of disgraced Israeli politicians have snuffed out Israeli idealism haven’t yet visited Hannaton, a kibbutz in the Galilee whose leaders believe that, by example, they can help to build a multi-cultural, egalitarian, Jewish society living in friendship

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Donald H. Harrison, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education

Israeli rain barrel system on trial at 3 schools

By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — Fifth graders at the Benjamin Franklin STEAM Magnet Elementary School on Monday, Feb. 1, helped to explain to the news media how a low-tech Israeli invention will help their school conserve rainwater, and may prove to be an important tool in California’s fight against periodic droughts. STEAM is

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Donald H. Harrison, Middle East, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

A political victory for non- Orthodox Judaism

By Rabbi Dow Marmur   JERUSALEM — The recent Israel cabinet decision to provide a site next to the existing Western Wall that would allow non-Orthodox Jews to hold egalitarian services outside the jurisdiction of the Orthodox rabbinate is unquestionably a political victory for the Reform and Conservative movements in Israel and respectful recognition of

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Jewish Religion, Middle East

Frank Sinatra: Friend of Israel, foe of anti- Semites

By Joe Spier CALGARY, Alberta, Canada — Long before Teddy Kollek became mayor of Jerusalem, he was a gunrunner for the Yishuv, the Jewish community of pre-State Israel. When it became clear that the British would withdraw from Palestine and a war between the Jews and Arabs over Israel’s independence was inevitable, the Jews would need

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Jewish History, Middle East, USA

Want something moderate in J’lem? Try the weather

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Life isn’t all politics. Some things are in the hands of Nature, the Almighty, or however you want to call it. Insofar as there is nothing more boring than someone else’s weather, feel free to stop at this point. With no hard feelings. That being said, Jerusalem’s weather, along with

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Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, The World We Share

Sha’ar HaNegev native fills S.D. Jewish Fed’n post

SAN DIEGO (Press Release) — Itamar Harari has been appointed as Director of Community Initiatives to oversee many initiatives of the Jewish Federation of San Diego, including the development of partnerships and collaborations. Harari was raised in Sha’ar HaNegev, which is San Diego’s sister city in Israel. He served as an elite paratrooper in the Israel Defense

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Middle East, San Diego County

Middle East Roundup: January 29, 2016

U.S. says its policy on Israeli settlement product labeling hasn’t changed (Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) U.S. policy on labeling Israeli settlement products has not changed, the State Department said Thursday. Last week, the U.S. reissued guidelines on the labeling requirements for products manufactured in Judea and Samaria. The guidelines, which have been in effect since

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Middle East