World increasingly fatigued by Palestinian intractability

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — One should never say never, but it appears that the Palestinians have shut the door against the idea of a state. Too often they have done what Abba Eban placed in the handbook of political aphorisms, missing yet another opportunity to miss an opportunity. One can produce numerous explanations of […]

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Ira Sharkansky, Middle East

JNS news briefs: January 24, 2013

 PA vows to prosecute Israel in International Criminal Court over E1 construction (JNS.org) Equipped with the eligibility to join the International Criminal Court (ICC) following its status upgrade at the United Nations last November, the Palestinian Authority (PA) on Wednesday said it would prosecute Israel in that court if the Jewish state proceeds with construction

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International

How movies remake history

By Rabbi Ben Kamin ENCINITAS, California — As the film Lincoln nets twelve Oscar nominations, it’s time to examine Hollywood’s growing power in our national political life—and its celluloid skewing of history. From Congressional hearings over Zero Dark Thirty to President Obama’s private screening of 1600 Penn to politicians calling for Obama to be a

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Travel and Food

Selections from three Jewish poets

By Eileen Wingard LA JOLLA, California — “Jewish Poets—Jewish Voices” hosted an exciting array of poets Saturday evening, Jan. 19, at the Astor Judaica Library. The three featured poets, Rabbi Patti Haskell, Ysmael Escudero Tisnado II and Joni Gurstein, attracted an audience of 40 listeners. Below are two examples from each of the talented presenters.  Ysmael writes

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Eileen Wingard

‘No’ to Palestinians among trends in Israel election

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM –Thirty four parties were officially in the running. Polls indicated that 11 were certain of winning enough votes to enter the Knesset, two others were close to the minimum required, and four of the others attracted my attention as curiosities.   It will be another day before the ballots of Israelis

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Ira Sharkansky, Middle East

JNS news briefs: January 23, 2013

  U.S. officials praise Israeli democracy (JNS.org) Reacting to news of Israel’s election results, American officials praised Israeli democracy and promised to work with the new government, the Jerusalem Post reported.  In a tweet, U.S. Ambassador Dan Shapiro congratulated Israelis on a successful election day.  “Mazal tov to the Israeli people on their just completed elections! Always inspiring

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International

Netanyahu triumphs in election

  (JNS.org) JERUSALEM — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud-Beytenu list won 31 Knesset mandates, followed by Yesh Atid at 19, exit polls broadcast by Israel’s three leading television stations showed on Tuesday night. Final results will be published by the Central Elections Commission Wednesday. At 22:17 Israeli time, Netanyahu declared victory with a message on his

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Middle East