By David Bedein JERUSALEM — In February 1977, after four years of activity, the US based organization Breira held its first and only national conference in Washington, DC. I was witness to the event, which convened only one month after Jimmy Carter was sworn in as the US President. The Israel Labor Party was then […]
Being an agent for change different than being a government agent for change Read More »
USA
By Joel A Moskowitz, M D LA JOLLA, California– Survivors, trauma, psychological effects, memories, depressive disorder, OCD (obsessive compulsive), bitterness, deniers, and more recently PTSD (a term which is much overused) and rarely victory” These words have been associated with victims of the Holocaust. On assignment recently to cover the Seacrest Village gala for San
Survivor Lou Dunst gives eloquent testimony to triumph of human spirit Read More »
International, Jewish HistoryBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — So far it’s a mini-escalation in the south. As I begin this, some 60 rockets or mortars have been sent toward Israel in the last couple of days, several Israelis have been injured, one seriously. Twelve Gazans have been killed, including some ranking members of a fringe group sometimes allied
Is Gaza-Negev flurry a harbinger of more violence to come? Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By J. Zel Lurie DELRAY BEACH, Florida — I received a letter from a young Israeli who says she met me in Israel two years ago. I have no memory of her, which is a sign of old age. The key paragraphs in her long letter are as follows: “I am an Israeli but like
Words of comfort for a frightened Israeli woman Read More »
Middle EastBy Matthew RJ Brodsky WASHINGTON, D.C. — Iran’s steady march towards building a nuclear weapon dominated the 2012 American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s (AIPAC) policy convention in Washington, DC. It also was the focus of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s meeting with President Obama on Monday afternoon, March 5. A day earlier, Obama declared at the
Regarding Iran, did Obama and Netanyahu agree on red lines? Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Mark Twain could return to describe the United States efforts in the Middle East. Democracy in Iraq, a remaking of Afghanistan, the establishment of a peaceful Palestine alongside Israel are only three of Washington’s efforts that have not gone well, despite considerable investment of high-ranking officials’ time, money, and the
U.S. policy setbacks evident across the Middle East Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, USAWASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) – Congressman Brad Sherman (D – CA), the Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade, on Thursday, March 8, introduced new legislation, the Iran Financial Sanctions Improvement Act, with several new provisions to tighten international financial pressure on Iran’s banking sector. The bill is cosponsored by
Legislation introduced to cripple inter-bank transfers to and from Iran Read More »
USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–Among the responses to Prime Minister Netanyahu’s appearance at the recent AIPAC convention are assertions that Israelis must be aware of the costs of an attack on Iran. They come from the the Foreign Minister of France, various unnamed sources said to be high in the American administration, plus a growing list
Pondering possible worldwide consequences of an attack on Iran Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — Here are some comments that Israel’s Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu perhaps should have added in his talk with U.S. President Barack Obama earlier this week: “Mr. President, you live in a big country: wide and long with friendly neighbors and oceans. The distance of your journey from Honolulu to
Some words to Obama that Netanyahu might have added Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana Bryen
By Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — Of all the comments and spins that I’ve heard and read after the last Obama-Netanyahu meeting in the White House and Netanyahu’s speech at the AIPAC rally (or was it a conference?), the one that made most sense to me came from Matthew Kalman, the new editor-in-chief of the Jerusalem
Speculation concerning three different U.S.-Israel-Iran scenarios Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM– Avigdor Lieberman is one of the more interesting creatures of Israeli politics. He came to fame as a Netanyahu protege and Director General of the Prime Minister’s Office during part of Benyamin Netanyahu’s first term as Prime Minister (1996-99). Later he went out on his own to create the political party
Avigdor Lieberman a pariah to some, hero to others Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastWASHINGTON, D.C. — Following is the text of the speech Israel’s Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu delivered to delegates of the America Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) on Monday: I want to thank you for this wonderful reception. With applause that could be heard as far away as Jerusalem. That’s Jerusalem, the eternal united capital of
Text of Netanyahu’s AIPAC speech on the threat of Iran Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Prime Minister Netanyahu’s speech to AIPAC speaks for itself. Almost. There is enough there for several interpretations ranging to 180 degrees difference one from the other. http://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahus-speech-at-aipac-full-text/ There is praise for Barack Obama. On the other hand, the speech begins with a Holocaust story, of a small boy (Yossi Peled)
Parsing Netanyahu’s speech: did he throw down a gauntlet? Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–God isn’t mentioned in the Book of Esther, which will be read on Purim. Some say, however, that God is implied in the text. The story about the wicked Haman who wanted to destroy all Jews in the Kingdom of Persia has become topical in our time:Iran is, of course, ancient
Dealing with Haman’s Persia and Ahmadinejad’s Iran Read More »
Middle East