Ira Sharkansky is professor emeritus of political science and public administration at Hebrew University.
His books, which are available on Amazon, include:
By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — BDS and other anti-Israel movements on western campuses and elsewhere are clearly at odds with what is happening here. We shouldn’t be surprised. Americans and others operate by their own norms, with limited—if any—connection with the realities of Palestinian politics. Those enamored of a Palestinian state might consider the condition of […]
Palestine: a house divided against itself Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — The holidays have not finished. They haven’t even begun. However, school is on, as of September 2, families are back from vacation, and the noise is underway to deal with a number of pending issues. News from police and prosecutors is that Sara and Yair Netanyahu are under suspicion for
Israeli politicians, law enforcers shaking off lethargy Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — One of our big mysteries is Donald Trump. Latest news is a report by his former lawyer that Trump ordered payment of silence money to two babes during the 2016 campaign. And assertions that he fathered a child with a cleaning women at his New York residence. For us, hints
Watching politicians in U.S. and Israel Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — A three state solution? It appears that the split between Gaza and the West Bank is serious. There’s a line of culture between us and them that keeps us from knowing what’s occurring. We do know that the Fatah of Mahmoud Abbas is out of touch with the Hamas that
A three- state solution? Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — For some time, now, the IDF has refrained from anything massive with respect to Gaza, in light of efforts to bring about an agreement. Egypt seems to be doing the hard work, with an involvement of a UN representative, Qatar, the European Union, and perhaps Turkey. Gazans have come close to,
Egypt, others close to brokering Israel/ Gaza deal Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — It’s mid-summer. Lots of people are on vacation. There are several issues bothering us, but perhaps none of them capable of changing things in any drastic way. As the Knesset was getting ready to shut itself down for about two months, it enacted two measures that have continued to cause
Nationality, surrogacy issues punctuate Israel’s summer Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Should we worry about the future? Of course. But how far into the future? We should certainly complete the obligations we have committed to for today. And maybe next week. Beyond that, however, something unforeseen may get in the way. In matters of politics and public policy, it’s much more complex.
What him worry? Not so much about Trump or Bibi Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Who can we trust in the complexities of political issues? Politicians? Commentators? None of the above? For those Americans and Israelis reading this column, the examples of Donald Trump and Benyamin Netanyahu may be setting new standards at the bottom of whatever can be called trust. Trump claimed to have reached
Leaders over simplify issues; others ignore them Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — There’s more than a million Russian-speaking Israelis, taking account of those born here minus those who have left for what seemed greener pastures. And certainly when taking account of those who came before the collapse of the Soviet Union. It’s a misnomer to call them Russians. Russian speakers is the
Russian Jews, American Jews in Israel Read More »
International, Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — I am a political scientist biased in favor of politics. I see it as the essence of civilization. One of the hallmarks is the line attributed to Winston Churchill, that jaw jaw is better than war war. Verbal dispute is better than violence. And a corollary is that dispute followed
Politicians may bluster, but bureaucrats decide Read More »
International, Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — The 250,000 Syrians heading toward the borders of Jordan and Israel are a small part of what’s been happening in the Middle East for several decades. It isn’t the equivalent of the population movements that occurred as the result of WW II and the end of colonialism that came along
Syrian fighting near Golan worrisome, but not overly Read More »
International, Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — We’re currently in a tizzy of political maneuvering. It comes against the mounting evidence of criminal wrongdoing by the Prime Minister and the likelihood of an eventual indictment, as well as an uptick in tensions both south and north. Bibi’s been in office as long as any previous PM, and
With the law probing Bibi, other politicos maneuver Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — The strongest country in the Middle East is in a squeeze. On the southern border, Hamas is using a bunch of excitable kids to send up homemade kites and cheap balloons, with small explosives and burning bottles of gasoline attached. The prevailing wind brings them over Israeli fields, parks, and towns.
Israel is being squeezed from the north and south Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Ira Shakansky JERUSALEM — Somewhere on our list of problems are the Poles. Also Hungarians and other European nationalists, concerned mostly about Muslim refugees but also expressing some of their historic enmity for us. The most recent excitement has focused on a law enacted by the Polish parliament, which initially threatened criminal action against
Ranking Poles, other Europeans on their anti- Semitism Read More »
International, Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USA