By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–The primary purpose of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s demand that the Palestinians recognize Israel as a Jewish state is probably to make sure that, after they get their state, they cease to make claims on Israel, as their present ideology may prompt them to do. At a symposium held last Monday in […]
How should Israel respond to influx of African refugees? Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–There is a Russian invasion or movement into Crimea, with threatening declarations from Kiev and Moscow, and more widespread mobilizations on both sides. Assessments are complicated by the penisula’s history, a majority of its population that is Russian ethnically and linguistically, some degree of autonomy for what is called the Autonomous Republic
Ukraine crisis leaves Jews feeling vulnerable Read More »
International, Ira Sharkansky
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) — State Department Spokesman Jen Psaki issued the following statement Monday, March 3, on the situation in Syria: “The United States deplores continued threats against Christians and other minorities in Syria, who are increasingly targeted by extremists. Last week in Raqqa, the Islamic State of Syria and the Levant (ISIL) announced it
U.S. deplores threats against Syria’s minorities Read More »
Middle East, USA
WASHINGTON, D.C — U.S. President Barack Obama and Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met at the White House on Monday, March 3, to discuss a wide range of topics including the civil war in Syria, the efforts to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon, turmoil in Egypt, and the ongoing U.S.-brokered discussions between Israel
Obama, Netanyahu discuss range of Mideast issues Read More »
Middle East, USADocumentary on recently deceased Holocaust survivor Alice Herz-Sommer wins Oscar (JNS.org) A documentary on Alice Herz-Sommer, who died last week at 110 and was at the time the world’s oldest Holocaust survivor, won an Oscar for Best Short Documentary at the Academy Awards on Sunday evening. Born in Prague in 1903, Herz-Sommer was an accomplished
JNS news briefs: March 3, 2014 Read More »
InternationalBy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. –President Obama has long made clear his distaste for fighting wars — his or anyone else’s. He has followed through on his belief in diplomacy not necessarily moored to military power, and on his priority issues within the military related to social and group identity issues. Now in his sixth
U.S. gets no respect in world affairs Read More »
Shoshana Bryen, USA
By Aryeh Savir JERUSALEM – After experiencing a record breaking snow storm in December and an extremely dry winter after that, Israel is now experiencing more unusual weather – a sand and dust storm from the Sahara has descended on the country, creating a grimy and eerie atmosphere. Such storms are not uncommon for this
Sand and dust blanket Israel Read More »
Middle East
By Anav Silverman JERUSALEM–Among the hundreds of thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews that gathered to protest the government’s proposed military draft law yesterday, there were countless women and children. Police estimated that about half a million Haredim gathered on Sunday afternoon at the nation’s capital, with 2,000 busses bringing in demonstrators from outside, in a united
Haredi women express their views on draft Read More »
Middle East
Editor’s Note: Following is a response to “Muslims, Jews See the World Differently,” a column by Professor Ira Sharkansky that ran on San Diego Jewish World on February 24, 2014: By Jacob Bender PHILADELPHIA — The essence of xenophobia is to extend to an entire group the actions of the few. Based upon the financial
Muslims, Jews not a case of “us versus them” Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — Last December, Jerusalem was under siege because of the snowstorm; today Sunday, March 2, it’s under siege because of the half-a-million or more ultra-Orthodox haredim due to come out to demonstrate against the proposed conscription law that would not only compel their young men to serve in the army
Mass Haredi protest expected in Jerusalem Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Guess what? There is another proposal for solving Israel’s problem with the Palestinians. Michael Oren, recently Israeli Ambassador to the US, has proposed that Israel recognize the impossibility of reaching a deal with the Palestinians, define its borders, withdraw from the rest of the West Bank, and hope for the
Oren the latest with an impractical idea Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
NEW YORK (Press Release)– In celebration of Black History month and to commemorate the legacy of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the State of Israel, the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York and the Jewish National Fund honored Dr. Clarence B. Jones, co-author of Dr. King’s famous ‘I Have a Dream’ Speech, and Reverend
Israel, Harlem Baptists celebrate MLK’s legacy Read More »
International
NEW YORK (Press Release)–The Interfaith Coalition on Mosques (ICOM) on Friday, Feb. 28, filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit supporting a Muslim congregation in Bridgewater, New Jersey whose mosque construction was unlawfully blocked by a town ordinance. ICOM was formed by the Anti-Defamation League in 2010 to
ADL intercedes in behalf of mosque Read More »
USABy Steve Kramer ALFE MENASHE, Israel — I’ve written several times about America’s shrinking international stature. President Obama is leading the charge in this direction, which is a product of the growing energy independence of North America and the growing inclination of Americans to withdraw from troublesome situations far from home. Obviously, this “pivot,” to
America’s Mideast reversal pays Russia dividends Read More »
International, Steve Kramer