USA

150 reasons to say ‘No’ to a Palestinian state

Over 150 rockets were fired at Israeli civilian targets by the Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorists from Gaza within hours after the November 12 targeted air strike assassination of Baha Abu al-Ata, a top commander of Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine (PIJ). Coming just over two weeks after the U.S. successfully targeted ISIS terrorist leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi to be captured or killed there is a simple question to ask here: What would the U.S. decide to do if after al-Baghdadi killed himself his terrorist soldiers fired 150 rockets as U.S. civilian targets? Would the U.S. then decide to negotiate with ISIS over how large their independent state would be, where its borders would be, and where its capital would be located? [Moshe Phillips]

150 reasons to say ‘No’ to a Palestinian state Read More »

Middle East, USA

AJC honors Japan’s PM Abe

The American Jewish Committee (AJC) honored Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Tuesday with its Light Unto the Nations Award. It is the global Jewish advocacy organization’s highest honor bestowed on world leaders who exhibit leadership in the defense of democratic values and friendship with the Jewish people. [American Jewish Committee news release]

AJC honors Japan’s PM Abe Read More »

International, Middle East, USA

EU court mandates labeling of Israeli products

The Court of Justice of the European Union issued a decision Tuesday that Israeli-made products from East Jerusalem and other disputed Israeli territories be labeled with the designation “colonies israéliennes” (“Israeli colony or settlement”). The controversial regulation was driven by foreign policy concerns, and contributes in no demonstrable way to food safety or consumer protection. The Lawfare Project and Cabinet Briard initiated legal action in 2017 on behalf of Israeli winemaker Psâgot, challenging the regulation before France’s administrative supreme court (Conseil d’État), which asked for guidance from the CJEU. [Lawfare Project press release]

EU court mandates labeling of Israeli products Read More »

Business & Finance, International, Middle East, USA

ADL calls for legal action against hate crimes

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) on Tuesday called on lawmakers and law enforcement authorities to take action to address the deeply disturbing climate of hate in the United States after newly released FBI data showed that Jews and Jewish institutions were the overwhelming target of religion-based hate crimes last year – as they have been every year since 1991. [Anti-Defamation League press release]

ADL calls for legal action against hate crimes Read More »

USA

Tzipi Livni remains optimistic about Mideast peace

The former foreign minister said that it was during the Second Lebanon War that she realized that there could be no military solution to Israel’s troubles with its neighbors, only a political one.  She said when the terrorist group Hezbollah attacked settlements in the north of Israel, she was urged by then U.S. Secretary of State Condeleezza Rice to prevent her country’s military forces from destroying the duly constituted Lebanese government while retaliating against Hezbollah. [Donald H. Harrison]

Tzipi Livni remains optimistic about Mideast peace Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Middle East, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Veterans come in all shapes, colors, walks of life

There are many heroes walking among us, unassuming barbers, plumbers, doctors, doormen, who may not have stormed the beaches of Normandy, but who have served the causes of freedom and democracy in in Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Kuwait, and Afghanistan here in the United States and Canada, proudly wearing the uniform of our armed forces. It is they whom we
honor on Veterans Day. [Rabbi Irving Elson, Capt. USN ret.]

Veterans come in all shapes, colors, walks of life Read More »

USA

Fordham’s proper effort to exclude SJP from its campus

In 2016, one university, Fordham University in New York, cognizant of SJP’s history of poisoning dialogue on campuses and promoting a campaign of libels, defamation, and lies against Israel and Jewish students, reversed the decision of the student government to allow SJP to become a recognized student organization and decided that SJP, based on its sorry record at other universities, had no place at Fordham. [Richard L. Cravatts, PhD]

Fordham’s proper effort to exclude SJP from its campus Read More »

Middle East, Richard L. Cravatts, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Feinstein endorses Gloria; FPPC fines him

Other items in this column include: * Capacity crowd seen for Tzipi Livni * Two Jewish fraternities among 14 suspended at SDSU * Political bytes * Coming our way By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — Assemblyman Todd Gloria (D-San Diego) has been endorsed by U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein in his bid to succeed termed-out Kevin Faulconer

Feinstein endorses Gloria; FPPC fines him Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, Middle East, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Trump-Erdogan meeting an exercise in cynicism

President Trump’s inviting of Turkey’s President Erdogan to Washington comes at a peculiar time when the House of Representatives is pursuing the impeachment inquiry against Trump and when Erdogan is preoccupied with his invasion of Syria and the growing frustration of the Turkish public with his ruthless domestic and adventurous foreign policy. The question is, what message will Erdogan’s visit send to both the US’ friends and foes? [Alon Ben-Meir, PhD]

Trump-Erdogan meeting an exercise in cynicism Read More »

Alon Ben-Meir, Middle East, USA

Poway names a street for Lori Lynn Gilbert-Kaye

– The Poway City Council voted unanimously to “robust applause” on Tuesday to rename Eva Drive in the northern portion of the city as Lori Lynn Lane, in memory of the Chabad of Poway congregant who was murdered in an attack on the synagogue by a gunman. Lori Lynn Gilbert-Kaye’s “life was exemplary and I hope it (the renamed street) causes someone to learn a little bit more about her, and how kind she was, how compassionate she was, how generous she was, and how selfless she was,” commented Mayor Steve Vaus, who sits on the five-member City Council. [Donald H. Harrison]

Poway names a street for Lori Lynn Gilbert-Kaye Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County, USA