By J. Zel Lurie DELRAY BEACH, Florida–I am not diplomatic when I discuss Israel and Palestine with rightist American Jews who support the settlements. The facts that they pick up from rightist propaganda are usually totally wrong. Nothing I say penetrates their one-track minds. They don’t believe my facts even though I present chapter and […]
Correcting rightwing misinformation about Israel and Palestine Read More »
Middle East, USANEW YORK (WJC)—A meeting of senior diplomats of the Group of Six Nations in New York on Iran’s nuclear program has reportedly ended in failure after China sent only a lower-ranking delegate and vetoed an immediate round of new UN sanctions against Tehran. However, the diplomats of Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United
China vetoes new round of U.N. sanctions against Iran Read More »
USABAGHDAD–Iraqi authorities have asked the United States for the return of the historic Iraqi Jewish Archive after it was brought to the United States in the wake of the 2003 war. The ‘Canadian Press’ reports that Iraqi officials were planning to go to the US possibly next month to assess the materials found by American
Iraq seeks return from U.S. of Jewish archives Read More »
USAThe following opinion article by World Jewish Congress President Ronald S. Lauder was published by the leading Italian newspaper ‘Corriere della Sera’ on the eve of Pope Benedict’s visit to the Great Synagogue of Rome: By Ronald S. Lauder When a Catholic bishop visits the main synagogue in his diocese it is first and foremost
Lauder's advice to Pope before his visit to the Rome synagogue Read More »
Middle East, USAROME (WJC)—At his highly publicized visit to Rome’s Great Synagogue on Sunday, Pope Benedict XVI said the Vatican had “provided assistance” to Jews in a “hidden and discreet way” during the Holocaust, thus indirectly defending his predecessor Pius XII. While not citing him by name, Benedict XVI attempted to address concerns in the Jewish community
Pope Benedict XVI calls for healing of wounds between Jews and Catholics Read More »
Middle EastHAIFA (Press Release)–“Carry out all my demands or the entire country’s electricity will be cut off.” Is this another line from a suspense film, or is it a palpable threat made possible with a computer keyboard? “Today, there is a growing trend amongst hackers around the world to threaten national infrastructures for ransom,” says Dr.
Cyber-terrorism threat grows around the world Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–You have heard the story of the nail that was lost, that hampered the horse, lost the battle and the empire. In both countries that I follow there is danger of a lost nail. Where they impact is too early to know, but they are cause for worry, or maybe only amusement.
The nails that may cause the undoing of Netanyahu and Obama Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USABy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–Despite his occasional strong-man bluster, or perhaps because of it, there’s much to suggest that Binyamin Netanyahu – Bibi to friends and foes alike – is a weak Prime Minister. Two current issues in the news imply it. First, the Turkey fiasco reminds us again that Netanyahu isn’t really in charge
The Cabinet and marital influences shape Bibi's policy Read More »
Middle EastJERUSALEM (Press Release)– Shaare Zedek Medical Center announced that four of its senior medical personnel have been dispatched to Haiti as part of the Israeli Foreign Ministry’s search and rescue mission to the earthquake ravaged region. Dr. Ofer Merin, recently named Deputy Director General at Shaare Zedek and Director of the hospital’s Emergency Preparedness and Response
Shaare Zedek medical team in Haiti Read More »
Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–Israel’s precarious relations with its neighbours have forced it to be always prepared for war. Having had to fight several of them, its army has gained great experience in dealing with and preparing for emergencies. That’s why Israel has been able to respond so swiftly, and apparently so efficiently, to the
Israel brings hope and healing to Haiti Read More »
Middle EastWASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) – The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) on Friday completed cooperative training exercises in Morocco at the National Center for Nuclear Energy, Science and Technologies (CNESTEN) in Rabat. The four day effort included training in plume modeling, emergency operations center development and infrastructure, training and demonstration on specific radiation detection equipment,
U.S., Morocco conduct exercise to thwart nuclear disaster Read More »
USABy Danny Bloom [This commentary was originally written in 2002 and updated in early 2010.] CHIAYI CITY, Taiwan — In a magazine article a few years back, a British expatriate in New York by the name of John Derbyshire wrote that a lingering form of antisemitism is alive and well in the United States —
Goodbye to all that! — An American Jew's life in non-Christian Asia Read More »
USACOLUMBUS, Ohio (Press Release)–The Center for Child Welfare Policy of the North American Resource Center for Child Welfare (NARCCW) has announced the 2010 winners of the Pro Humanitate Literary Awards, North America’s premier literary awards for the field of child welfare. One book award and three article awards are conferred annually to authors from the
Book on child sexual abuse in Jewish community wins award Read More »
Amy Neustein, USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–For those who doubt that Israel is a normal country, the arrest of a messiah with who knows how many wives and children should establish its credentials. The most complete report I have seen in English appears in the Times of London. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article6988614.ece This puts us firmly in the league with the
For all its holy history, Jerusalem a city like many others Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USA