By Isaac Yetiv, Ph.D. LA JOLLA, California — This time, Hamas launched 1,500 rockets that killed six Jews and injured many more, and Israel retaliated. And, as usual, this deadly exchange of fire ended with a “ceasefire,” mediated by some do-gooders, that allows the terrorists to replenish their arsenals with more advanced longer- ranged missiles, […]
Gaza cease fire made no military sense Read More »
Middle East
By Rabbi Ben Kamin ENCINITAS, California — A.B. Yehoshua, the renowned Israeli novelist, playwright, and thinker, fiercely independent and deeply rooted in the marrow of Jerusalem, wrote an article Monday for the Op-ed page of Ha’aretz. He declared that the time has come for Israel to talk with Hamas—something whispered about by many people on
Novelist Yehoshua says Israel should negotiate with Hamas Read More »
Middle EastJerusalem mayor: No city regulated by the U.S. president (JNS.org) Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat expressed support on Monday for the Israeli government’s plan to build 3,000 additional housing units in the E1 section between Jerusalem and Maaleh Adumim, Israel Hayom reported. The decision came as a response to the recent upgrade of Palestinian status at
JNS news briefs: December 4, 2012 Read More »
InternationalHarvard students receive club invitations excluding Jews, welcoming ‘coloreds’ (JNS.org) Harvard University students received flyers from a supposed “Harvard’s Newest Final Club” explicitly stating that Jews should not apply but “coloreds” are welcome to do so. The flyer invited students to an introductory club event, listing three virtues: “inclusion,” with the footnote of “Jews need not
JNS news briefs: December 3, 2012 Read More »
InternationalBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Thomas Mann’s Buddenbrooks is a classic story of a family that opens with a great celebration of wealth and success and proceeds to its downfall. From what we are hearing from reliable sources, that is the model likely to develop after Mahmoud Abbas’ celebrations for achieving Palestinian statehood from the
As P.A. celebrates ‘statehood,’ its assets dwindle Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Scarcely a day after the UN General Assembly voted to name Palestine a state, and Israeli officials said they would not mete out a punishment for their neighbor’s chutzpah, the punishment came. The government approved construction of 3,000 housing units in East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and made reference to
What are Israel’s motives in announcing E-1 construction? Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel –Twenty-four years ago, almost to the day, in 1988, I stood in a large hall in Algeria and saw Yasir Arafat declare the independence of a Palestinian state. And that was forty-one years, almost to the day, after the UN offered a Palestinian state in 1947. Twelve years ago Israel
The real meaning of Palestine’s ‘statehood’ Read More »
Middle EastBy Rabbi Ben Kamin ENCINITAS, California — A biblical story tells of a prophet-for-hire name Balaam. The professional seer was engaged by a regional king, Balak, who was anxious about the approaching Israelite nation that had been freed from Egypt. Balaam was paid a sizable amount of silver and engaged to climb up, observe the
Here’s some observation material for Palestine Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–Politics is a trait of advanced civilization. It allows dispute on the way to voting or some other way of deciding. Politics aspires to nonviolent resolutions of disagreements about who should be a leader, or what should be public policy. Politics is not always pretty or admirable. Sometimes it reaches a level
Coping is a required skill in Middle Eastern politics Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastIsrael slams Abbas for ‘poisonous, hate-driven’ UN speech (Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) Hours after Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas addressed the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday, garnering overwhelming support for his bid to gain nonmember observer state status, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shot back, saying Abbas’s remarks were “not the words of
JNS news briefs: November 30, 2012 Read More »
International
By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C –Before a radio interview this week, the host sent a list of questions that might arise. The answer to an extraordinary number of them was, “Because they could.” Because bad actors were reasonably sure no one (read: United States) would protest and even more sure no one would stop them.
Israel applies logic to Middle East options Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana BryenBy Rabbi Ben Kamin ENCINITAS, California — The tumultuous events of the Middle East may continue to reverberate from the insecurity and tribal impulses of men addicted with power and politics. But on the ground, and too often in the earth, remain the persons who actually settle these spiraling bursts of biblical conflict and apocalyptic
Let us preserve the children of the Middle East Read More »
Middle EastNetanyahu: Peace through negotiations, not ‘declarations at the UN’ (JNS.org) Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that the Palestinian bid for United Nations recognition “will not change a thing, and certainly won’t hasten the establishment of a Palestinian state.” “Israel’s hand is perpetually extended toward peace, but no Palestinian state will exist without recognition
JNS news briefs: November 29, 2012 Read More »
InternationalBy David P. Goldman WASHINGTON, D.C. — How should we understand the apparently erratic behavior of Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi? In September, he seemed an unreliable ally, if an ally at all, after his tardy and diffident response to mob attacks on America’s Cairo embassy. Morsi rose sharply in Western esteem after the
Egypt’s financial crisis may have prompted Morsi’s power grab Read More »
Middle East