By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM– It’s not easy being an Israeli. It is even harder being an Israeli policymaker, especially at the top with responsibility for things domestic and foreign. Last week the problems were local, in the form of thousands of Israelis of Ethipian origin, one unhappy Israeli of Iraqi origin, and lots of angry Israeli Arabs, […]
Tension escalates between Israel and U.S. over Iran Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California –As we give pause to the memory of Martin Luther King and his profound ethical message concerning the evils of racial intolerance, it behooves us to ask ourselves: Have we, as a religious community, fully embraced the principles that cost this great man his life? Most American
Chabad should end its discrimination against Ethiopian Jews Read More »
Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Middle East
By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–If you’re an optimist you may decide to interpret the comings and goings of the US and Israeli generals as yet another way to intimidate Iran and prevent it from manufacturing nuclear arms. If, on the other hand, you’re a pessimist, you may conclude that the frequent contacts between Israeli and
Confusion and speculation about whether war with Iran is coming Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Last week was was another occasion when Israel’s ethnic issues escaped from the closet to arouse one crowd and numerous commentators. The crowd was more than two thousand Ethiopians who demonstrated against discrimination in the town of Kiryat Malachi. The principal charge was that landlords refused to rent
Charting ethnic divides in Israel Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By Rabbi Ben Kamin SAN DIEGO — He discovered something within himself to elevate his hard, quick journey (some say it was his deep love of ideas) and his uncommon vision. In truth, Martin Luther King, Jr. (born Mike King) lived a short, brutal life, filled with prison stays, bouts of depression, fear, and threats.
Martin Luther King Jr’s eventful life was all too short Read More »
USA
By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C — The Washington Post ran several articles and columns this week about the emergence of once-secret U.S.-Taliban talks designed to pave the way for an American exit from Afghanistan. Writers have likened them to the talks that preceded our exit from Vietnam. Maybe, but there is another cautionary tale
By James Colbert WASHINGTON, D.C. — We should not be too surprised that Iran continues to defy international calls to open its nuclear program to greater scrutiny and transparency. Even as the toughest U.S. sanctions yet were enacted, and Europe was considering a ban on Iranian oil imports, the militant theocracy threatened to close the
U.S. must do more than talk tough on Iran sanctions Read More »
USAPosted January 12, 2012 By Samara Greenberg WASHINGTON, D.C. –Here are some news stories from around the world attracting attention in the nation’s capital. Egypt U.S. Deputy Secretary of State William Burns on Wednesday met with the head of the Muslim Brotherhood’s political party, the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), in the highest-level talks that
Jewish Policy Center’s world news and commentary Read More »
InternationalBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–The good news:Israelis like all other countries and its Jewish citizens are like all other nations. Thanks to our sovereignty, we Jews have been able to excel in ways that weren’t possible before – and may not have been possible in the diaspora today, had there been no Israel. The bad
Some segments of Israeli society are clearly racist Read More »
Middle East
By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM –We see the Shuafat refugee camp from the route that we walk around French Hill a couple of times each day. We don’t see tents or low rise mud brick dwellings, but high rise concrete and stone apartment houses that look pretty much like those on this side of the
‘Refugee camps’ aren’t always as Westerners imagine Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastWASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)– Shoshana Bryen, former Senior Director for Security Policy at the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs (JINSA), has joined the Jewish Policy Center as Senior Director. She will focus on national security and defense issues, while expanding the JPC’s influence among policymakers and in government. “Shoshana has more than 30 years
Columnist Shoshana Bryen joins Jewish Policy Center Read More »
USABy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM –Prime Minister Netanyahu’s sympathies for the Republican Party are no secret, but the news of the massive $5 million donation by Sheldon Adelson to the campaign of Newt Gingrich for the Republican nomination invites speculations about the close link between Gingrich and Netanyahu, and its implications for the future ofIsrael.
Sheldon Adelson building Netanyahu-Gingrich alliance Read More »
Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — The attack on an Israeli army base in the West Bank last month came as a shock to Israelis, not only because security was breached but because it was Jewish settlers, not Palestinian terrorists, who breached it. The army is responsible for all security in the West Bank. Soldiers are
West Bank settlers who invaded Israeli Army base among ‘enemies within’ Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Once again Prime Minister Netanyahu demonstrated his skills as a magician. In the morning, his ministers expressed wall to wall opposition to giving up four percent of their budgets for the sake of free pre-school education from the age of three. The government meeting was nastier than usual, with
Pre-School ‘guarantee’ adopted by Israeli Cabinet; Yair Lapid gathers momentum Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East