By Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel –Here’s an old joke that applies to the contemporary Middle East. The Lone Ranger was a Western lawman who chased bad guys with his friend, a Native American named Tonto. One day, they were surrounded by dozens of Native American warriors. The Lone Ranger turned to Tonto and said, “Don’t […]
BROOKLYN, NY (Press Release)– United States District Judge Dora L. Irizarry on Wednesday, Dec. 15, sentenced Abdul Kadir to life in prison for conspiring to attack John F. Kennedy International Airport in Queens, New York, by exploding fuel tanks and the fuel pipeline under the airport. Kadir and his coconspirators believed their attack would cause
Man who tried to blow up JFK Airport sentenced to life in prison Read More »
USASAN FRANCISCO (Press Release)–The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has held that the City Council of Santa Cruz was wrong to eject a spectator who, in protest of not being allowed to speak, gave the Council a silent raised-arm Nazi salute. Wrote the presiding judge in an opinion: “…unlike der Führer, government officials
JERUSALEM (WJC)–Israel’s Foreign Ministry wants to ensure that Jews who were forced to flee Arab countries after 1948 are included in international discussions about the refugee issue, Deputy Foreign Minister Daniel Ayalon has told the ‘Jerusalem Post’. He called it “vitally important to return this issue to the international agenda. It is a matter of
Israel reminds international community there were many Jewish refugees from Arab lands Read More »
Middle EastWASHINGTON, D.C (WJC)–The US House of Representatives has unanimously adopted a non-binding resolution opposing any unilateral declaration of a Palestinian state. The resolution was introduced by Howard Berman, the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee. It is critical of Palestinian efforts to push the international community to recognize a state and states that “true and
Unanimous U.S. House vote opposes unilateral Palestinian statehood Read More »
Middle EastWASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)– With Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego) leading the debate, the House of Representatives voted on Wednesday, Dec. 15, to end the ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy. In effect for almost 18 years, the policy prohibited gay men and women from serving openly in the military. The vote comes after the Department of
Davis, Religious Action Center hail House repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ Read More »
USA
HAIFA (Press Release)–Class 2010 of the Israel Prison Service’s commander’s course arrived at the University of Haifa, Monday (December 13), and took in an aerial view of the Carmel Park from its Eshkol Tower observatory, a week after the enormous fire on the Carmel caused the death of 37 of their friends on the bus
Israel Prison Service commanders view Carmel embers Read More »
Middle EastWASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) – Congressman Barney Frank on Tuesday, Dec. 14, released the following statement regarding the announcement by Majority Leader Steny Hoyer that the House will consider a stand-alone bill to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” “I am extremely pleased that the House Democratic leadership is continuing to do everything possible to enact the repeal
Frank explains legislative strategy in ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ battle Read More »
USAATLANTA (Press Release) – The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Georgia filed a lawsuit today on behalf of a Muslim woman who was told she could not enter a municipal courtroom unless she removed her religious headgear and was jailed for contempt of court when she protested. In December 2008, Lisa Valentine attempted
ACLU sues in behalf of Muslim woman required to remove scarf Read More »
USA
By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–It seems that expressions of commitment to a lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinians that politicians on both sides are currently mouthing in front of TV cameras are intended for foreign consumption; unlike some hopefuls abroad, locals aren’t fooled by them. Now when US envoy George Mitchell is again in
As for the Israelis and Palestinians, the status is quo Read More »
Middle East
By Rabbi Ben Kamin SAN DIEGO — Regardless of the eventual political outcome, and assuming that an Iranian nuclear missile doesn’t vaporize the Holy City and the millions of Jews, Muslims, and Christians who inhabit it and the greater biblical land—we Jews will mention the city several times in our weekly Sabbath prayers that begin
Jerusalem, no matter what, is eternally Jewish Read More »
Middle EastWASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)–Secretary of State Hillary Clinton issued the following statement in reaction to the death of Special Envoy Richard Holbrooke: “Tonight America has lost one of its fiercest champions and most dedicated public servants. Richard Holbrooke served the country he loved for nearly half a century, representing the United States in far-flung war-zones
Special Envoy Richard Holbrooke succumbs to heart attack Read More »
USA
By Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel — No serious thinker has done more harm to the Jewish people than Friedrich Nietzsche, whose writings were an important inspiration for Adolph Hitler and Nazism. Yet far from being an antisemite, Nietzsche was one of the most pro-Jewish German writers of his time. How can this paradox be
Nietzsche was a philo-Semite, notwithstanding Nazis’ admiration for him Read More »
International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion
By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — According to White House tapes reported in The New York Times, Secretary of State Henry Kissinger told President Nixon, “The emigration of Jews from the Soviet Union is not an objective of American foreign policy…And if they put Jews into gas chambers in the Soviet Union, it is not an
The immorality of Kissinger-style ‘realpolitik’ Read More »
USA