By Rabbi Ben Kamin ENCINITAS, California– There may be some kind of national spirit in India, or in China, or possibly in Finland. No one should really judge. The Germans have their technology, the French their superiority, and the Italians their wine. But the former ceded their hearts to a psychotic jingoism that ignited both […]
Yes, Mr. Putin, America is exceptional Read More »
USAGerman Chancellor Angela Merkel: Support for Israeli security part of national ethos (JNS.org) German Chancellor Angela Merkel announced one week before her country’s upcoming federal elections that “Germany’s support for Israel’s security is part of our national ethos, our raison d’etre.” Although Merkel acknowledged that she has often made critical comments about construction in Judea,
JNS news briefs: September 16, 2013 Read More »
InternationalJERUSALEM (Press Release) — Here is a text of a joint appearance on Sunday by Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry: PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU: Mr. Secretary, John, a pleasure to welcome you again in Jerusalem. I very much appreciate the fact that you’re here today. You’ve got a lot
Kerry, Netanyahu tell importance of Syria chemical pact Read More »
Middle EastBy Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — A white card with black lettering fell out of a book as I took it down from its shelf. This turned out to be an invitation sent in 1963 to members of the Society for Jewish Study and the B’nai Brith Leo Baeck (London) Lodges to attend a
Insights into Israel-UK relations from Society for Jewish Study Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — There has been a new development in the difficult history of French Hill and Isaweea. A trench has been dug, and its dirt piled in the field separating the neighborhoods, alongside a French Hill street that abuts the field, and has suffered more than its share of the difficulties. We
On the border between French Hill and Isaweea Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastObama’s handling of Syria means he won’t successfully deal with Iran, Israelis say in poll (JNS.org) In a new Israel Hayom poll, a majority of Israeli Jews—66.7 percent—characterized U.S. President Barack Obama’s handling of the Syria crisis as “not successful.” Meanwhile, 65.3 percent said that given Obama’s conduct regarding Syria, he would not be able
JNS news briefs: September 13, 2013 Read More »
International
By Isaac Yetiv , Ph.D. LA JOLLA, California — Let me say at the outset that I am one of the 71% who are strongly opposed to a military action against Syria, and that I have expressed my opinion to the White House and to my elected representatives in the Congress (House and Senate). The president’s handling
Putin saved face for the amateur Obama Read More »
International, Middle East, USASyria response ‘will be clearly heard in Iran,’ Netanyahu says (JNS.org) While a U.S. congressional vote on military action is on hold in light of the Obama Administration’s consideration of a Russian proposal to transfer Syria’s chemical weapons to international supervision, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that the response on Syria “will be
JNS news briefs: September 12, 2013 Read More »
International
By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C — A flurry of diplomatic activity has overtaken the Senate debate on the use of force by the United States against Syria as punishment for/deterrence against the use of chemical weapons. The world awaits the next meeting, the next announcement, the next slip-of-the-tongue, or the first bomb. The interregnum is
Saddam’s Iraq is a lesson for U.S.-Syrian relations Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana BryenBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Another lesson in public policy comes from what appears to the arrangement with respect to Syria’s chemical weapons. It isn’t a done deal. Yet it may be, in its imperfect way. There are many details to be settled, even before the stage of implementation. Then the hard part, i.e., actually
Disposal of Syria’s chemical weapons not a done deal Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastRussia to build second nuclear plant for Iran, deliver S-300 anti-aircraft system (Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) Russia will supply Iran with a modified version of the vaunted S-300 anti-aircraft system and will build a new nuclear reactor for the Ayatollah’s regime, the Russian daily newspaper Kommersant reported Wednesday. The report comes on the heels of
JNS news briefs: September 11, 2013 Read More »
InternationalRussia’s Syria chemical weapons plan draws skepticism from Israel (JNS.org) Israeli officials reacted with skepticism to the plan proposed by Russia on Monday to transfer Syria’s chemical weapons to international supervision. Army Radio reported that Israeli leaders believe the proposed deal by Russia, Syria’s ally, should be approached with caution because it may be a
JNS news briefs: September 10, 2013 Read More »
InternationalBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–One of the great miracles of politics is the silence of Israeli ministers and Members of Knesset with respect what is occurring, and might occur, as a result of our northern neighbor being attacked, or not attacked by the United States. Generally, Israeli politicians are like those elsewhere. Maybe more so. Certainly
The quiet before the storm, or the compromise? Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Obama and supporters of an American strike on Syria have characterized negative American public opinion as “war-weariness.” They are trying to overcome it with exhortations about America’s special responsibility, or America’s credibility, or the president’s credibility, or the terribleness of the fighting there. The public isn’t buying it,
Americans not war-weary, but are ‘war-wary’ Read More »
Shoshana Bryen, USA