Washington, DC (Press Release) – Leaders from The Jewish Federations of North America weighed in Wednesday on the ongoing budget and debt ceiling negotiations and urged the Senate Democratic Steering Committee in a special meeting to protect programs that support vulnerable U.S. populations and the Jewish community at large. Many critical programs are under threat […]
Senators receive budget advice from Jewish Federations Read More »
USABEERSHEVA, Israel (Press Release)– A new study conducted by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev reveals that a vast majority (81 percent) of Israelis support joining the European Union (EU) and more involvement with European organizations. “The results also show that there is widespread misperception about the Israeli public’s real attitudes toward the EU,” explains BGU’s
Poll finds Israelis support joining EU Read More »
Middle EastWASHINGTON, DC- (Press Release) –The National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC) congratulates Janice Hahn on her successful bid to represent California’s 36th Congressional district. In the special election held today, Hahn defeated her Tea Party-backed Republican opponent, Craig Huey, and dealt a blow to the hopes of Republican leaders who had hoped to send another extremist
NJDC hails Janice Hahn’s win in special congressional election Read More »
USASAN DIEGO – The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), Americans for Peace Now (APN) and Amnesty International (AI) all have issued statements criticizing Israel’s Knesset for passing a law that assesses penalties against those backing boycotts of Israel. The statements of the three organizations follow: * Anti Defamation League The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has expressed concern about
ADL, APN, AI criticize Israel’s new anti-boycott law Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM –The Knesset passed a law against those who would promote a boycott on Israel or its settlements. The anti-boycott movement began as an action against performers who refused to appear in the cultural center of Ariel, one of the large towns located over the 1967 borders. The Knesset vote
New Israeli law would penalize those who support boycott of Israel Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — It is common to assign responsibility to Israel, or more narrowly the present government, or even more narrowly to Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu for the failure of the Israel-Palestine peace process. I’d prefer to put more responsibility on the nature of Palestinian institutions, and the international arrangements that
Some reasons for Palestinians torpedoing peace chances Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastWASHINGTON, D.C (Press Release)– Following are remarks by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at the swearing-in ceremony for Dan Shapiro as the new American ambassador to Israel. SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you all very much. It is such a pleasure to welcome you here to the Benjamin Franklin Room for this very happy and
Ambassador has preference for SPAM and Diet Mountain Dew Read More »
Middle East
By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal JERUSALEM — Having visited Jerusalem so many times, I did not think I would have anything new to share with you this week. But Israel is full of surprises. In the Holy City I saw something I have never seen before: Israeli pedestrians obeying the walk-don’t walk signals.Until now pedestrians crossed
Rabbi shares impressions of his latest Jerusalem visit Read More »
David Ogul, Middle East[Note: AFP reports that a French yacht carrying 12 pro-Palestinian activists hoping to run the Israeli blockade on Gaza was on Thursday blocked in Crete by the Greek coast guard when it stopped to refuel.] By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — The United Nations is preparing to release its report on the 2010 Gaza flotilla
Turkey and Israel ponder U.N. report on 2010 Flotilla Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana BryenWASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) – In an effort to combat the growing threat of radicalization in U.S. prisons, Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA) and Rep. Peter King (R-NY) today asked the U.S. Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to remove inflammatory written, audio and video materials produced by the “Nation of Islam” and Louis Farrakhan in BOP facilities
Congressmen seek removal of anti-Semitic, anti-American NOI material from prisons Read More »
USA
By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. –With extraordinary economic problems and its public in a very bad mood, the Government of Greece seemed an unlikely hero in the saga of the Hamas-organized flotillas. But Greece is, indeed, the hero. While several countries – including the United States – denounced the idea of boats breaking legal Israeli-Egyptian
Greece plays hero’s role in flotilla drama Read More »
Middle East
By Donald H. Harrison POWAY, California – As the aroma of kosher hot dogs and hamburgers wafted from the barbecues on the parking lot of Ner Tamid Synagogue in the early evening of July 4th, Rabbi Nadav Caine and congregational president Mitchell Freedman, each in turn, contemplated how American ideals reflect those articulated in Jewish
Marking July 4th with Jewish and alternative histories Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County, USA
By Dov Hartuv KIBBUTZ NAHAL OZ, Israel — At the beginning of the twentieth century the whole of Europe was in a state of flux. New ideas and new ideals were making themselves felt and the youth were bent on changing the old and ringing in the new. All doctrines and philosophies were the rage
First ‘hippies’ were kibbutzniks of early 20th century Read More »
Middle East
By Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel — Years of waiting–though leaks have been plentiful–have just about ended with the word from the international tribunal that four Hizballah officials, including the group’s deputy military commander Mustafa Badreddine were involved in killing Lebanon’s former prime minister Rafiq Hariri in February 2005. Yet Hizballah is now the leading force
Lebanese tribunal may set off new round of civil strife Read More »
Middle East