By Steve Kramer KFAR SABA, Israel — President Joe Biden’s recent visit here in Israel was hardly extraordinary. President Richard Nixon visited in 1974, the first American sitting president to do so. That was the year after the Yom Kippur War, when Nixon overruled his Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and made sure Israel was […]
Presidential Visit to Israel is Hardly Extraordinary Read More »
Middle East, Opinion, Steve Kramer, USA
By Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D JERUSALEM — He’s 79, eligible for residence in our retirement village. But still active. A resident of Delaware, and a U.S. senator then vice president since 1973. Israeli politicians are claiming that he’s visited Israel more times than any other president, but that may reflect little more than his long service
Joe Biden and His Visit to Israel Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, Opinion, USA
A highlight of the proceedings was a ten-minute video, Jews in Medicine: A Legacy of Healing and Hope, much of it based on the book written by Dr. Ron Eisenberg, Jews inMedicine: Contributions to Health and Healing Through the Ages (Urim Publications, 2019). [Eileen Wingard]
Genesis Prize Ceremony Relied on Work of Doctor/ Author Ron Eisenberg Read More »
Eileen Wingard, Jewish History, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education
Before he meets with Palestinian Authority (PA) strongman Mahmoud Abbas on Friday, Biden should be aware that Abbas has already rejected the notion of “normalization” of relations between the PA, Israel and the Arab States, nixing the principle of accepting the State of Israel, i.e., nixing a solution ending in two states. [Shoshana Bryen]
Biden Will Find Abbas Opposed to Two-State Solution’s Requirements Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana Bryen
If this was a formal trial under America’s legal standards, a fair and reasonable jury would likely reach a verdict of not guilty. Jurors could not be certain if an Israeli soldier shot her and, beyond that, if an Israeli soldier intentionally targeted her. [Bruce S. Ticker]
Media, As Usual, Presumes Israel Guilty in Abu Akleh Death Read More »
Bruce Ticker, Middle Eastapid’s first words were his call for national unity. That hardly fits the image of a divided Israel, but it may work. The election is several months away, on November 1st, and that’s a long time in politics. Meanwhile, there’s been testimony about Netanyahu receiving and demanding gifts, especially cigars and champagne, worth hundreds of thousands of shekels. Despite that, there’s a poll published by Ma’ariv, showing Bibi with 61 seats in the Knesset for him and his allies. [Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D]
Lapid new PM, Netanyahu First in Poll as Biden Visit Approaches Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USA
The government created the Building Construction Index to protect all parties’ interests. When someone purchases an apartment in a project under construction, the unpaid portion of the price becomes linked to the BCI. Parenthetically, buyers who are risk averse can often accelerate their payment schedule and prepay the lion’s share of the purchase price, thus limiting their inflation risk. [Gedaliah Borvick].
Inflation Index Adds to Cost of Buying Homes in Israel Read More »
Business & Finance, Gedaliah Borvick, Middle East
Members of the Jewish community who have served on the Port Commission since its creation in 1962 were Harvey Furgatch (appointed 1969), Milton “Mickey” Fredman (1970), Ben Cohen (1977) and Louis Wolfsheimer (1979), all of whom had passed away prior to my undertaking this book, and Robert Penner (1988), Lynn Schenk (1990), Stephen Cushman (1998) and Laurie Black (2007), all of whom I had the opportunity to interview. All these Jewish Port Commissioners represented the City of San Diego, except for Penner and Cohen, who were appointed by Chula Vista and Coronado respectively. [Donald H. Harrison]
Four Jews Who Served as Port Commissioners Tell of Their Tenures Read More »
Business & Finance, California, Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Middle East, San Diego County, Travel and Food, USA
By Mike Wagenheim (JNS) Broadcasting the Summer Olympic Games is a massive operation, with more than 7,000 personnel covering 28 sports utilizing 1,000-plus cameras, taking the games global. For the first time, the so-called Jewish Olympics will be broadcast around the world from July 12-26 with slightly more humble resources, though still requiring a herculean
This Year’s Maccabiah Games Are Going Live … Read More »
International, Middle East, Sports & Competitions, USA
Published by Reuters JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz held a rare meeting in the West Bank in an effort to calm tensions and coordinate security measures days before U.S. President Joe Biden’s first visit to the region. Gantz said on Twitter that Thursday’s meeting in Ramallah
Palestinian Authority President, Israeli Defense Minister Meet Before Biden Visit Read More »
Middle East
SAN DIEGO (Press Release) — American Friends of the Hebrew University (AFHU) has appointed Justin Pressman as Executive Director of its Western Region, which encompasses Southern California and the Southwestern states. In his new position, Pressman will develop regional strategic campaign plans, as well as implement and evaluate major giving campaigns in support of the
By Shoshana Bryen (JNS) Journalist Shireen Abu Akleh died covering an Israeli counter-terror operation on the West Bank. That this was a tragedy is the only thing clear about her death. Various media outlets—some reasonably unbiased and some not—mounted “investigations.” Private companies, including a Dutch-based consortium, did their own. Politicians with an ax to grind
The Bullet That Killed Abu Akleh Read More »
Middle East, Opinion, Shoshana Bryen, USA
(JNS) Israel and Turkey on Thursday initialed a civil aviation agreement as part of a broader deal to broaden bilateral ties. The aviation agreement would be the first of its kind to be signed since 1951, and would allow Israeli airlines to resume flights to Turkey. Israeli Transportation Minister Merav Michaeli expressed her thanks to
Israel, Turkey Move Forward on Civil Aviation Agreement Read More »
Middle East
By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — What kind of people do we want as our leaders? Is it unreasonable to expect the individuals who govern our country and determine our fate, at least to some extent, to be honest, righteous and upstanding? The sad reality seems to be that decent, honest individuals are not
Integrity? Who Needs Integrity? Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, International, Middle East, Opinion, USA