By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM –Israeli media are quoting comments made by Mahmoud Abbas, that the Palestinians will not give up any of their principles in dealing with the Israelis. Among the items he considers cardinal are refugees, the 1967 borders, and the presence of Israeli civilian or military personnel in Palestine. Pressure on those issues, […]
Abbas tells Palestinians he won't give up their principles Read More »
Middle EastJERUSALEM–Lots of countries do something nutty. That’s a practice that does not make sense, but has the support of entrenched politicians and much of the public as “the way things are done.” In Germany it is superhighways without speed limits. In the United States it is easy access to firearms. In Britain it is the
Summer Time debate is another of Israel's peculiarities Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By Rabbi Ben Kamin SAN DIEGO — The cover of the current issue of TIME Magazine offers the absurd title, “Why Israel Doesn’t Care About Peace.” The story itself, written by Karl Vick, is built on the premise that with “observing two and half years without a single suicide bombing on their territory, with the
Time has absurd notion that Israelis don’t care about peace Read More »
Middle EastWASHINGTON, D.C. — Following is a transcript of a joint interview on Friday of U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton by Amira Hanania Rishmawi of Palestine TV and Udi Segal of Israel Channel 2: QUESTION: Madam Secretary, Shalom, and thank you for this unique opportunity with my colleague, Amira Hanania. QUESTION: Thank you very much, Your
A joint interview of Hillary Clinton by Israeli and Palestinian journalists Read More »
Middle EastBy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C.– The current Washington “peace talks” have less chance of producing either a Palestinian state or legitimacy and security for Israel than even their previous editions. Mahmoud Abbas isn’t Arafat. Hamas rules Gaza with an iron fist with political support from Turkey and weapons from Iran. Hamas and Iran are willing to mix
What a fly on the wall might have heard during Mideast talks Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana BryenBy Judy Lash Balint JERUSALEM–One of the great things about living in Israel is how easy it is to really “feel” any upcoming holiday. Just take a walk through the shuk and the stacks of honey jars, piles of perfectly ripe pomegranates and barrels of shiny Golan apples all make it easy to anticipate the
Poetry abounds in Jerusalem as Rosh Hashanah approaches Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle East, Travel and FoodBy David Amos SAN DIEGO–I wrote in a recent column about a personal family trip. But, as part of my musical career, I have had the privilege and pleasure to visit interesting places, countries in a state of social transition and major political and economic changes. Some of these places were most pleasant, and provided a
When the conductor is, er, mis-conducted Read More »
Middle EastWASHINGTON, D.C (Press Release)– Following is the text of comments made Wednesday evening by U.S. President Barack Obama, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, Egypt’s President Hosni Mubarak, and Jordan’s King Abdullah II to inaugurate the new round of peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. PRESIDENT OBAMA: Good evening, everyone.
Comments by Obama, Netanyahu, Mubarak, Abdullah and Abbas at start of peace talks Read More »
Middle East
By Isaac Yetiv, Ph.D LA JOLLA, California– My “Open Letter to Fareed Zakaria” has elicited many pertinent comments and questions. Rather than respond individually, I thought it better to tackle them in the aggregate and to publish this comprehensive response. The “Mosque Affair” has assumed national, even international, proportions. Since my “open letter,” more information
The proposed Muslim community center may be fanatics’ Trojan horse Read More »
Middle EastWASHINGTON, DC. (Press Release)– Following is a transcript of comments made by U.S. President Barack Obama and Israel’s Prime Ministr Binyamin Netanyahu following their meting on Wednesday, September 1, at the White House. PRESIDENT OBAMA: Hello, everybody. Prime Minister Netanyahu and I just had a very productive discussion about our shared efforts to advance the
Obama: U.S. will 'push back' against Hamas terrorists Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–The 7 PM discussion on one of the major networks focused on what several commentators agreed were amateurish preparations for the Washington summit. The principals were still jockeying against one another, rather than acting as if the outline of an agreement had been hammered out in preliminary discussions. Americans seemed unsure about
U.S. policy on Israel, Palestinians may prove as troublesome at that toward Iraq Read More »
Middle EastWASHINGTON, D.C (Press Release)– The following statement was issued by White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs. “The United States condemns in the strongest possible terms the terrorist attack today perpetrated by Hamas in which four Israelis were killed in the southern West Bank. We express our condolences to the victims’ families and call for
White House, Jewish groups condemn Hamas murder of 4 Israelis Read More »
Middle EastWASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) — J Street President Jeremy Ben-Ami released the following statement ahead of this week’s launch of direct talks between the Israeli Government and the Palestinian Authority: “J Street welcomes the arrival of the respective delegations and leaders – including those of Israel and the Palestinian Authority – to Washington for the
J Street's Ben Ami urges Israelis, Palestinians to avoid unilateral actions Read More »
Middle EastBy Bruce S. Ticker PHILADELPHIA–Low expectations, or no expectations, can only benefit the revived Middle East peace talks. As Tevye in “Fiddler on the Roof” assesses his future son-in-law, Motel the tailor, we can characterize the Israeli and Arab leaders’ prospects thus: “They have absolutely nothing. On the other hand, things could never get
There are alternatives to the 'two-state' solution Read More »
Middle East