By Jonathan Spyer HERZLIYA, Israel –A number of events in recent weeks cast light on the current intersecting lines of conflict in the Middle East. They reflect a region in flux, in which new bonds are being formed, and old ones torn asunder. But amid the confusion, a new topography is emerging. This was the […]
The shifting sands of Middle Eastern alliances Read More »
Middle EastBy Steve Kramer ALFE MENASHE, Israel –In an article published in April 2009, I wrote the following [with added comments]: “Iran couldn’t be more blatant in calling for Israel’s destruction. This it proclaims loud and clear, from many venues, including New York City, home of the United Nations. That Iran also wishes to destroy America
Iran’s nuclear program, then and now Read More »
Middle East, Steve Kramer
CHICAGO, Illinois (Press Release) — The Central Conference of American Rabbis will honor Rabbi David Ellenson, Ph.D., at the Crown Family Symposium on Rabbinic Leadership on Monday, March 31, 2014, as part of the 125th annual CCAR Convention, in Chicago. The CCAR is the representative organization of nearly 2,000 Reform rabbis, the world’s largest group
CCAR to honor HUC-JIR’s Rabbi David Ellenson Read More »
Jewish Religion, USASAN DIEGO (Press Release)-– Democratic Reps. Susan Davis and Scott Peters, along with members of San Diego’s medical research community joined together on Monday, March 17, to call on Congress to increase federal funding to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which funds critical medical research. Budget cuts threaten this research and San Diego’s economy.
Davis, Peters call for more health research funds Read More »
Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
By Ben Cohen/JNS.org It’s getting harder these days to survey the latest developments in the Middle East without feeling anxiety about the negative impact they will have on our own policy debate. I see a pattern—some may call it “Obama’s Law,” though I hesitate to do so—whereby the worse things get for Israel in a
‘Safe Hillel’ combats BDS drive on campuses Read More »
Middle East, USASurvey: Israelis see business booming in Negev (Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) More than 75 percent of Israelis believe that there have been positive changes for the Negev Desert region in terms of development, construction, and transportation in recent years, a new survey shows. According to the survey, 67 percent of respondents said homes in the
JNS news briefs: March 17, 2014 Read More »
International
LONDON (WJC) — US actress Scarlett Johansson has defended her decision to appear in advertisements for the Israeli company SodaStream, which operates a factory in the West Bank. Johansson, who stepped down as an ambassador of the charity Oxfam after the charity had criticized her choice to feature in the ads, said in an interview with
Johannson: Anti- SodaStream claims ‘easily debatable’ Read More »
Middle East
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)–U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry issued the following statement in announcing the appointment of Daniel Rubinstein, a career diplomat who is Jewish, as a special envoy for Syria: “Daniel Rubinstein will be an outstanding successor to Ambassador Robert Ford as the U.S. Special Envoy for Syria. “This position is as important
Kerry appoints Rubinstein as special envoy to Syria Read More »
Middle East, USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–One of the best known and most useful lines in the analysis of things political and military comes from Carl von Clausewitz, a Prussian General who died in 1831. His treatise On War contains the phrase that still guides realists, “War is the continuation of Politik by other means” Politik can be
The calculus of Middle Eastern retaliation Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By Anav Silverman JERUSALEM — Reuven Singer can often be seen wearing two very different uniforms that seem worlds apart. The 33-year-old father, who lives in Karnei Shomron in northwestern Samaria, dons his bullet-proof vest and carries his M16 to protect his community in an event of a terrorist attack, as a volunteer in
Settlement guard is also a clown therapist Read More »
Middle East
JERUSALEM (Press Release)–For two days last week (March 11 – 12), Jewish and Israeli community leaders, heads of major organizations, leading figures from academia and government officials past and present met quietly in Glen Cove, Long Island under the auspices of the Jewish People Policy Institute (JPPI) to discuss recent geopolitical developments in the Middle
Diaspora, Israeli Jews weigh Israeli democracy Read More »
Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–On the face of it, it’s reasonable to demand that, in a peace agreement, the Palestinians recognize Israel as a Jewish state. Because of the Palestinian mythology that the Jews have no right to this land, fueled occasionally by malevolent “scholarship,” it would make sense to ensure that in the future,
Is a Labor-Haredi deal brewing to challenge Netanyahu? Read More »
Middle East
BETHESDA, Maryland (Press Release) — Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi, president of RespectAbility, an advocacy group for people with disabilities, on Friday, March 14, praised the Jewish Council for Public Affairs for having “unanimously passed this resolution (see below) for the inclusion of people with disabilities.” “As you know, we have been fighting for equality for some
JCPA plank on disability wins plaudits Read More »
USAWASHINGTON, DC (Press Release) – The Senate passed bipartisan legislation introduced by Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) and Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO) to award Israeli President Shimon Peres with a Congressional Gold Medal. The bill passed the Senate unanimously and now awaits passage by the House of Representatives. If the bill is enacted, President Peres would
Senate adopts bill to award medal to Shimon Peres Read More »
Middle East, USA