By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — Many of us well remember the campaign to bring back Gilad Shalit from Hamas captivity in Gaza. His family and friends mounted an international campaign that put great pressure on the Government of Israel. In the end Gilad was exchanged for some 1100 Palestinian prisoners including those “with blood on […]
The moral questions of two new captives in Gaza Read More »
Middle EastBy Rabbi Ben Kamin ENCINITAS, California — There was a fateful night in 1974, when the odious “Stars and Bars” flew aloft in the thick mugginess of the Southern night above a godless old Baptist church that didn’t have a prayer. I sang with my college’s men’s glee club, mostly classic vocals and many freedom
The church that provoked visitors to take a stand Read More »
USAIsrael won’t release terrorists in return for Israelis held in Gaza, official says (JNS.org) Israel has “no intention of releasing terrorists in exchange for the two citizens who entered Gaza,” an Israeli security official said Thursday after a gag order was lifted to reveal that two Israelis have been held by the Hamas terrorist group
Jewish news briefs; July 10, 2015 Read More »
International, Middle East, USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–We couldn’t desire better lessons on the nature of the politics than we obtain from the simultaneous and competitive appearances of the Bibi and Barack twins at the heads of their governments. They are similar if not identical in their style, skills, limitations, and their reception by their own, one another’s, and
Bibi and Barack are political twins Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USA
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – Like many Israelis, Asaf Hanuka and Boaz Lavie served in the IDF, meeting each other on the staff of an Army newspaper. Hanuka had learned to draw by copying comic books sent to him by relatives in Santa Monica, California. Lavie had studied screen writing at a special
Israeli author, artist soak up Comic-Con Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Middle East, San Diego County, USABy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. –The president — Commander in Chief of the U.S. Armed Forces — does not have to be a military man. Or maybe should not be a military man; a civilian perspective on issues of war is essential. But that being so, the civilian CinC should be wary of inventing military doctrine. President
Obama’s ‘better idea’ insults the military Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana Bryen, USAHamas holding two Israelis hostage in Gaza since last September (JNS.org) The Palestinian terrorist group Hamas has been holding two Israeli citizens in Gaza captive for the last 10 months, one whose identity was revealed Thursday upon the lifting of a gag order by the Ashkelon Magistrate’s Court. An Israeli man of Ethiopian descent, 28-year-old
Jewish news briefs: July 9, 2015 Read More »
International, Middle East, USABy Anav Silverman JERUSALEM (Tazpit) — An Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reserves company has recently been designated to exclusively provide humanitarian care and medical assistance to Palestinians. The particular company is comprised of medics, nurses and doctors who are trained to provide quality medical care and are able to function like a civilian hospital staff
Special IDF unit will focus on Arab medical needs Read More »
Middle East, Science, Medicine, & EducationAn Improbable Friendship by Anthony David. © 2015 Arcade Publishing, ISBN 978-1-62872-568-1; 312 pages. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – The subtitle for this work describes it as a story of “the remarkable lives of Israeli Ruth Dayan and Palestinian Raymonda Tawil and Their Forty-Year Peace Mission.” I found it a very difficult book
‘An Improbable Friendship’ a hit piece against Israel Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — The de-facto minister of religions in Israel has delivered himself of yet another canard against Reform Judaism. Nothing better is to be expected of him and the Shas party he represents. But we’ve every reason to expect more of the prime minister than the standard announcement that the minister’s views
Netanyahu should discipline religion minister Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — We should pity them, as well as oppose their wildest demands. Those claiming to speak for them (the terms “leader” or “leadership” are too grandiose for their history) have brought them to blind alleys. Demanding too much (it would not be an exaggeration to say “demanding everything,” or “everything imaginable”)
What have P.A., Gaza leaderships wrought Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastIDF officer: Hamas is ‘deterred’ and unable to rebuild terror tunnels (JNS.org) Israel’s Operation Protective Edge in the Gaza Strip last summer has “left Hamas deterred and restrained, and has created potential calm for years to come,” a senior Israel Defense Forces Southern Command officer said Tuesday, Israel Hayom reported. The officer, referring to Operation
Jewish news briefs: July 8, 2015 Read More »
International, Middle East, USA
By Max Samarov LOS ANGELES — I’ve spent the last three years witnessing and helping defeat Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaigns on campuses across North America, so I am rarely surprised by the depravity of anti-Israel activists. But BDS doesn’t limit itself to campuses, so this year I’ve had the distinct misfortune of witnessing it
How BDS advocates fooled two Christian churches Read More »
Middle East, USABy Steve Kramer ALFE MENASHE, Israel — My readers know that as an expatriate American I am primarily concerned with how any prospective president views the Jewish state. There are many candidates running for the US presidency from both parties, all of whom have opinions about Israel and its relationship with America. Below is a
No strong Israel defenders among Dem W.H. hopefuls Read More »
Middle East, Steve Kramer, USA