By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM– Jews have been arguing among themselves since before they were called Jews, or had decided what Judaism was supposed to be. Jews make their arguments the subject of comedy. Anti-Semites take them as one more reason to hate the Jews. Remember that Abraham left home. We can assume that he had […]
Israeli politicians battle over drafting the Haredim Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. –Last week, before meeting with Israeli President Shimon Peres, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry pronounced Israel’s prosperity an impediment to “peace” with the Palestinians. “I think there is an opportunity [for peace], but for many reasons it’s not on the tips of everyone’s tongue. People in Israel aren’t waking
Building up P.A. won’t make it more amenable to peace Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana Bryen
Hezbollah involvement heats up Syrian civil war (JNS.org) The civil war in Syria continued to spill over into Lebanon on Tuesday, with three Lebanese soldiers shot dead by gunmen on the porous border between the two countries. According to reports in Lebanon, the unidentified gunmen crossed into Lebanon from Syria in a jeep and opened
JNS news briefs: May 29, 2013 Read More »
International
By Rabbi Ben Kamin ENCINITAS, California — John Fitzgerald Kennedy was born on May 29, 1917, as American “doughboys” were being deployed to Europe in the closing frames of World War I. His gilded childhood and adolescence were shaped by his family-bred athleticism, the fervent paternalism of his father, Joseph P. Kennedy (the deeply-flawed US
Thoughts of JFK on his 96th birthday Read More »
USABy Morton A. Klein and Dr. Daniel Mandel NEW YORK — On September 1, 2000, only a couple of days into the Palestinian violence against Jews that erupted at Yasser Arafat’s behest across the West Bank and Gaza, a 12-year-old Palestinian boy, Muhammad al-Dura, was reportedly killed by Israel during a clash with Palestinian armed
The real meaning of the Muhammad al-Dura findings Read More »
Middle EastIsrael warns Russia over shipment of advanced missiles to Syria (JNS.org) Israel has sent a warning to Russia over the transfer of advanced S-300 anti-aircraft missiles to Syria, threatening to strike the shipments if necessary. Israel fears that the weapons could be a regional game changer, especially if its falls into the hands of terrorist
JNS news briefs: May 28, 2013 Read More »
InternationalBy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — The United States, Canada, Israel, the Netherlands, and Bahrain designate Hezb’allah a terrorist organization; Britain and Australia outlaw only Hezb’allah’s “terrorist wing” but permit its “political wing” to organize and raise money (only for political activity, of course). A motion by Britain will put the British/Australian formula on the
Hezb’allah: The terrorist organization Europe tries to ignore Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana BryenBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–It is unwise to invest too seriously as a consumer of political rhetoric. Politicians lie. They must, in order to serve diverse constituencies. Party platforms are designed to up the enthusiasm of those already committed. “Singing to the choir” pretty much summarizes what goes in election campaigns, with parties appealing to their
World should examine apartheid in Muslim states Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastIsrael reportedly hit by rocket from Lebanon (JNS.org) While tensions in the region remained high due to the Syrian civil war, residents of Metula in northern Israel said they heard a blast late Sunday night that reportedly came from a rocket fired from Lebanon. The rocket was launched at Israel from the area of Marjayoun,
JNS news briefs: May 27, 2013 Read More »
International
By Elana Kaminka KATHMANDU, Nepal — There’s something about Kathmandu that sounds exotic. Maybe it’s the proximity to the top of the world (Mt. Everest), or maybe it’s just that the name rhymes with Timbuktu. Either way, it’s certainly the last place you would expect to find a group of 25 twenty-somethings sitting on cushions
Leichtag scholarships for ‘gemilut chassadim’ in Nepal Read More »
InternationalBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–Will President Obama’s speech at the National Defense University this week rank with his speech in Cairo that called for freedom, liberty, and democracy, or George W. Bush’s speeches that promised democracy in Iraq and later declared victory? Bluster or wisdom? is an appropriate question to ask of an American president, fated to
When coping is a wisdom mechanism Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — At first blush, it might have sounded like praise, but it wasn’t. Before meeting with Israeli President Shimon Peres, Secretary of State John Kerry pronounced Israel’s prosperity an impediment to “peace” with the Palestinians. “I think there is an opportunity [for peace], but for many reasons it’s not on
Is Israel, in Kerry’s view, too prosperous? Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana BryenBill protecting IDF from slander passes first Knesset reading (JNS.org) People and groups who slander the Israel Defense Forces may find themselves facing lawsuits, according to an amendment to Israel’s libel law that passed a preliminary reading in the Knesset on Wednesday. MK Yoni Chetboun (Habayit Hayehudi) initiated the bill in response to the film
JNS news briefs: May 23, 2013 Read More »
InternationalBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Israelis have no monopoly of feeling threatened. Residents of Greece, Spain, and a few other developed countries–including some from the USA–have trouble paying their bills, or looking forward to work and a vacation. Israel’s economy is in pretty good shape. Not for all Israelis, but for most. Being Jews, many
When violence seems always nearby Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East