By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — Much of the Palestinian-Israeli Oslo “peace process” mythology is grounded in the idea that if “the Palestinians” were treated as a single, responsible partner, they would behave like one. If “the Palestinians” got enough foreign aid, they would spend it to alleviate the poverty of their people. If “the […]
Hamas sentences a Fatah bombmaker Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana BryenPalestinian exodus from Syria feared (JNS.org) The recent fighting in Damascus has led to fears of a mass Palestinian exodus from Syria to neighboring Lebanon and Jordan, generating concern amongst officials in those countries. Palestinian officials say more than 90 percent of the 180,000 Palestinians they call refugees in the Yarmouk camp near Damascus have
JNS news briefs: January 14, 2013 Read More »
InternationalBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — One of the most interesting young thinkers in Israel today is Dr Micha Goodman. His books (in Hebrew) on Maimonides’ Guide for the Perplexed and, recently, on Yehuda Halevi’s Kuzari – the two most important Jewish philosophic works of the Middle Ages, perhaps of all time – are still
Universalist or particularist? That’s the debate in Israel Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Israel’s election is a bit more than a week away. Some pundits are sure it will produce more of the same, while others are either pleased or fearful about changes they anticipate. Most certain is that Netanyahu will continue as Prime Minister, and most likely with his core of support being
As election nears, likelihood of change recedes Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastFARMINGTON HILLS, Michigan –As Humanistic Jews, our hearts are broken as we grapple with the loss of 26 lives at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. For more than a decade, we have been witness to mass shootings with no relief. Across the United States, in schools, theaters, and malls, from Virginia Tech, to
Humanistic Jews to boycott retailers selling assault weapons Read More »
USAPhilanthropist Steinhardt to auction huge Jewish history and art collection (JNS.org) Sotheby’s auction house in New York City plans to sell an enormous art and culture collection assembled by Jewish philanthropist and former Wall Street money manager Michael Steinhardt. Five hundred pieces, including textiles, manuscripts and paintings, will be put on sale in April and
JNS news briefs: January 11, 2013 Read More »
International
By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — Hats off to the weather forecasters! Last week they said that a perfect storm was coming, and this week it did. Sunday was still fairly reasonable, chilly but not too bad. One could still get out and about here in the Jerusalem area with relative ease, and function
Storm filled the lake–and everything else Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Middle EastBy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — The United States is about to get new secretaries of state and defense and a new director of Central Intelligence. It is devoutly to be hoped that they will not travel in the well-worn grooves of the Israel-Palestinian “peace process.” The “two-state solution,” beloved of the United States and
The shifting patterns of Palestinian politics Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana BryenBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — The rare occurrence of snow in Israel, including Jerusalem, after days of heavy rain that has even hit the Negev is a hot item here, not only among meteorologists but among pundits in unrelated fields. The weather and its impact has been the main news story on all the
Snow in Jerusalem compared to hurricane in U.S. Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM –Israel is more than intense argument about political candidates, religion, security, and all the other important issues subject to dispute by Jews who are Talmudic in their style even if they are not religious. Occasionally, it is like other countries, and fascinated with the weather. Over the most recent five days,
Jerusalem snow edges elections in broadcasts Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastHagel-chaired think tank predicts Iran will be ‘natural partner’ for U.S. (JNS.org) The Atlantic Council, a think tank chaired by defense secretary nominee Chuck Hagel which last month published a column titled “Israel’s Apartheid Policy,” during the same month predicted that Iran “should be viewed as a potential natural partner” for the U.S. The
JNS news briefs: January 10, 2013 Read More »
InternationalEditor’s Note: The following article is reprinted with permission from Ha’aretz. By Abraham H. Foxman It is looking more and more certain that former Nebraska Senator Chuck Hagel is going to be the next American Secretary of Defense. President Obama has officially announced his intention to nominate Mr. Hagel. Considering precedent, whereby very few nominated
ADL chief has mixed feelings about Hagel Read More »
USABy Evelyn Gordon In an interview with The Jerusalem Post last month, Czech Ambassador to Israel Tomas Pojar was asked to comment on recent remarks by Israel’s then-foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman, who compared European countries’ oft-proclaimed commitment to Israel’s security to their commitments to Czechoslovakia in the 1930s. Pojar replied, correctly, that the parallel
Why Israelis disbelieve international guarantees Read More »
Middle EastPoll: 50 percent of Israelis say U.S. pressure should not sway Israel (Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) Half of the Israeli Jewish public concurs that Israel should follow current government policy even at the price of a confrontation with the U.S. administration, a new poll published Tuesday revealed. Additionally, according to the Israel Democracy Institute
JNS news briefs: January 9, 2013 Read More »
International