Steve Kramer grew up in Atlantic City, graduated from Johns Hopkins in 1967, adopted the hippie lifestyle until 1973, then joined the family business for 15 years. Steve moved to Israel from Margate, NJ in 1991 with his family. He has written more than 1100 articles about Israel and Jews since making Aliyah. Steve and his wife Michal live in Kfar Saba.
By Steve Kramer KFAR SAVA, Israel –I write articles like this one because popular columnists such as Peter Beinart have the reach and the power to misinform many readers. In a recent article on the traditionally leftist and Jewish Forward site, Beinart has again revealed himself as one who gets it all backwards. His pedigree […]
The Forward’s Peter Beinart’s backwards thinking Read More »
Middle East, Steve Kramer, USA
Story and photos by Steve Kramer EFRAT, Israel — Just minutes away from Jerusalem lies Gush Etzion (Etzion Bloc), nestled in the Hebron hills. It is certainly part of the Land of Israel, but it’s not run according to Israeli civil law. Instead, like the rest of Judea and Samaria, Israeli military law governs. Today
All Around Gush Etzion Read More »
Jewish History, Middle East, Steve KramerBy Steve Kramer KFAR SAVA, Israel — I recently attended the first day of a two day ‘Law & War’ conference in Jerusalem held by Shurat HaDin, a terrific organization that fights Israel’s battles by legal means, using court systems around the world to go on the offensive against Israel’s enemies. Its motto: “Bankrupting Terrorism
Using the law to fight for Israel Read More »
International, Middle East, Steve Kramer, USABy Steve Kramer KFAR SAVA, Israel — The Jerusalem Post has reported that ten progressive Jewish groups sent a letter calling on the US House of Representatives leadership to vote on House Resolution 326, which supports the two-state solution. The resolution, which was introduced in April, is cosponsored by 132 House Democrats. The resolution
‘Two- state solution’ an impractical dream Read More »
Middle East, Steve KramerBy Steve Kramer KFAR SAVA, Israel — Lately, I’ve been watching some TV shows about Israel’s intelligence and anti-terrorism efforts. This was prompted by the wild popularity of the Israeli series, Fauda, watched by both Israeli Jews and Arabs (and probably Palestinian Arabs too). The realistic, non-stop, brutal efforts of the Mista’arvim unit of the
Museums, TV shows, enhance Mossad’s reputation Read More »
Middle East, Steve Kramer
By Steve Kramer KFAR SAVA, Israel — Just 71 years ago, Israel declared its independence based on several factors: *God promised the Land of Israel to the Jews in the Bible – echoed in the Christian Bible and even (gasp!) in the Koran. *Three ancient Jewish kingdoms in Israel are part of archaeological and historical
An Independence Day tour of Israel Read More »
Jewish History, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Steve Kramer, Travel and FoodBy Steve Kramer KFAR SAVA, Israel — “The term anti-Semitism was coined in 1879 by the German agitator [and Jew hater] Wilhelm Marr to designate the anti-Jewish campaigns under way in central Europe at that time. Although the term now has wide currency, it is a misnomer, since it implies a discrimination against all Semites.
The four sources of Jew hatred Read More »
International, Jewish History, Middle East, Steve Kramer, USABy Steve Kramer KFAR SAVA, Israel —Too many American Jews are ignorant about what’s really going on in Israel. They think they are better equipped to determine Israel’s fate than Israelis are. I know where that comes from: “fake news” about Israel from the mass media. The majority of U.S. liberal Jews truly believe that
OpEd: America’s major media is biased against Israel Read More »
Middle East, Steve Kramer, USABy Steve Kramer KFAR SAVA, Israel — A few of my readers recently asked me to explain the difference between “Palestinians” living inside and outside of Israel’s borders. Who are the “Palestinians” anyway? First, see below: “Palestine” does not exist today as a nation-state, but at multiple times in history, including the present, it has
A brief history of ‘Palestine’ Read More »
Middle East, Steve KramerBy Steve Kramer KFAR SAVA, Israel — Long before the mid-7th century CE Muslim/Arab Conquest of the eastern Mediterranean coast, known as the Levant, the Jews inhabited the area known today as the Golan Heights. Modern-day Ramat ha Golan (Golan Heights or the Golan) is the western section of the Biblical region of Bashan, dating
Capsule history of the Golan Heights Read More »
Middle East, Steve Kramer, USABy Steve Kramer KFAR SAVA, Israel –I’ve just finished watching the Netflix hit, Fauda, on my iPhone. This gritty Israeli series has Hebrew and Arab dialogue with English subtitles. Fauda is a realistic portrayal of the intelligence services’ activities in Israeli and Arab towns to prevent terror attacks or to apprehend or “liquidate” terrorists. Fauda’s pace
Are Democrats going way of British Labour? Read More »
International, Middle East, Steve Kramer, USABy Steve Kramer KFAR SAVA, Israel — On April 9, the citizens of Israel will return to the polls nearly four years after the previous election. Voting for the 22th Knesset in Israel’s short, 71-year history, Israelis hope that the new government will last the full four year term, which the current one, unlike most
An Israeli election primer Read More »
Middle East, Steve KramerBy Steve Kramer KFAR SAVA, Israel — Politically speaking, do you consider yourself a liberal, a progressive, a conservative, a libertarian, left wing, right wing, none of the above? Regardless, are you a supporter of Israel? If so, do you support or “follow” one organization or another that is involved with Israel, whether it be
Op-Ed: Some ‘pro’- Israel groups aren’t Read More »
Middle East, Steve Kramer, USA
By Steve Kramer MT. ARBEL, Israel — I joined the ESRA (English Speaking Residents Association) hike to Mt. Arbel, one of Israel’s most beautiful treks. We began at Moshav Migdal, near Lake Kinneret, popularly known as the Sea of Galilee. We first walked about one mile to the start of the Arbel ascent. Once on
Sightseeing: A hike up Israel’s Mt. Arbel Read More »
Middle East, Sports & Competitions, Steve Kramer, Travel and Food