By Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel — Since predicting the future is hard, to say the least, it’s always interesting when one can clearly see a crisis looming months ahead of time. The usual pattern is for the impending problem to be ignored until the last minute, then it is suddenly discovered by journalists and policymakers with great […]
Palestinian drive in U.N. a blow to U.S. foreign policy Read More »
Middle East, USAWASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) Congressman Ted Poe (R-Texas), member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following statement criticizing the decision to officially hoist the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) flag outside its office in Washington, DC: “Why are we allowing the Palestinian flag to be raised in our nation’s capital? They haven’t done anything
Congressman questions flying of Palestinian flag in Washington D.C. Read More »
USA
By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal SAN DIEGO–Americans of all political persuasions are shocked and outraged by the attack on Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and those who joined her for a community meeting at a supermarket in Tucson, Arizona. Six innocent people were killed and thirteen wounded in an attack by a mentally disturbed individual at one of
If we want public officials to be accessible, we should also provide them protection Read More »
USA
By Dow Marmur JERUSALEM– If you can’t wait for Israel to get a different government, please think again. Whether or not your hope is legitimate, the evidence is that it won’t be realized. The most up-to-date poll published in Friday’s Ha’aretz suggests that had new elections been held now, the outcome would be more or less
Poll indicates Barak would be big loser in new Israeli election Read More »
Middle EastNEW YORK (Press Release)– Fatah Central Committee member and former PA foreign minister Nabil Shaath, is one of a number of senior PA figures who in recent days have frankly endorsed the “right” of Palestinians to use terrorism against Israel. In the PA-controlled mouthpiece, Al Hayat al-Jadida, Shaath falsely said, “Nineteen years of negotiations and
ZOA condemns Fatah’s continued support for violence against Israel Read More »
Middle EastWASHINGTON, D.C., (Press Release)— In response to troubling comments and subsequent apologies made this week by Alabama Governor Robert Bentley and U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen (TN), Rabbi David Saperstein, Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, issued the following statement: “In the last several days, troubling rhetoric has been used by both Gov.
Rabbi Saperstein criticizes rhetoric of Gov. Bentley and Rep. Cohen Read More »
USA
{Update of story below: By Barry Rubin Well, that’s more like it! The Canadian government orders the showing of a film on Iran’s nuclear program previously cancelled due to threats. The Canadian government even sent a diplomatic note to Tehran saying that Canada is a free country and that freedom of expression is a core value
Canada stands up to Iran on showing of film on Iran’s nuclear threat Read More »
International, Middle East
By Rabbi Ben Kamin SAN DIEGO 00 When the newly-inaugurated Alabama Governor Robert Bentley apologized Wednesday for his extraordinarily ill-advised and spiritually separatist comments made on Monday, it was hard to really believe him. Bentley declared that he didn’t mean to insult anyone. But, egregiously, he told a church crowd on Monday that people who
Alabama’s new governor manages to offend just minutes into his term Read More »
USA
By Judy Lash Balint JERUSALEM–Kassam missiles and mortar shells continue to fall on southern Israel. Earlier this week, there was a bombardment that caused minimal damage–the week before, three Thai workers were injured. Two days ago was the 6th yahrzeit of Ella Abukasis, a 17-year-old killed by a Kassam rocket in Sderot in 2005. In
Remembering one of Hamas’s victims on Tu B’Shevat Read More »
Middle EastTEL AVIV (WJC)–Sonia Peres, wife of Israel’s President Shimon Peres, died in Tel Aviv on Thursday morning at the age of 87. Sonia Gelman was born in Poland in 1923 and went to Palestine with her parents in 1927. There, she met her future husband at school. In 1942, she enlisted in the British Army,
Israel’s First Lady, Sonia Peres, dies at 87 Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — The IDF is the central icon of Israeli culture. It stands for security and dedication to nationhood, personal sacrifice, and morality. It often makes room for handicapped individuals who do not meet its physical demands, but wish to serve in order to affiliate with the popular ethos. Individuals who evade
Tarnishing icons in Israel Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastWASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) — Following the introduction of a United Nations Security Council resolution condemning Israeli settlement expansion, J Street released a new policy statement: J Street shares the growing global frustration at the lack of progress toward resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and at the Israeli government’s continued expansion of settlements beyond the Green Line.
J Street opposes U.S. veto of U.N. resolution on Israel settlements Read More »
Middle EastWASHINGTON, D.C. — The House of Representatives, under new Republican leadership, voted along party lines to repeal the Health Care law crafted by the last Congress, which was controlled by Democrats. But the repeal will have difficulty in the U.S. Senate, where Democrats still are in control. The repeal prompted criticism from Democrats and also
Health care controversy continues to rage following House vote for repeal Read More »
USA