Middle East

The battle for Jerusalem is being fought by real estate investors

By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–You don’t have to have inside information or be blessed with special analytical talents to realize that there’re currently systematic efforts in Israel to make any division of Jerusalem in a future peace deal increasingly impossible. The fact that this is happening nominally outside government control – e.g., through legal purchase […]

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Middle East

Hillary Clinton betrays a misunderstanding of Muslim audiences

By Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel — U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s remark about how the Arizona shooting is just like September 11 is such a superb example of everything wrong with Western policy toward the Middle East. Let’s summarize the issue by coining a phrase which sounds a bit Zen but has a very practical meaning:

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Middle East, USA

EU document calls for intervention in Jerusalem against Israelis

JERUSALEM (WJC)–A leaked report has revealed that that  the 25 European Union missions in Jerusalem and Ramallah are urging Brussels to treat East Jerusalem as the future capital of a Palestinian state. The report also calls for an EU presence at the demolitions of Palestinian homes, and intervention when peaceful protesters face arrest. The confidential

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Middle East

Palestinian entrepreneur seeking new road angers Israelis with refusal to use West Bank Jewish goods

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — The city of Rawabi has not made it to conventional atlases or a prominent mention in international media, but it is shaping up as a point of tension between Israel and the Palestine Authority. Last evening it was the center piece in a discussion on prime time television. The guest

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Ira Sharkansky, Middle East

Clinton: Israelis and Palestinians want the same things, but can’t find way to trust each other

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (Press Release)–U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in an interview with Taher Barake of Al Arabiya said Israelis and Palestinians want the same thing, but can’t find a way to trust each other.  Here is a transcript of that interview: QUESTION: (In Arabic.) We are honored, Madam Secretary, to have you

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Middle East

Union for Reform Judaism says Knesset investigatory panels undermine Israel’s democracy

NEW YORK (Press Release)– In response to the Knesset’s decision last week to form a parliamentary committee investigating Israeli groups critical of the Israel Defense Forces, Rabbi Eric Yoffie, President of the Union for Reform Judaism, and Rabbi David Saperstein, Director of the Religious Action Center for Reform Judaism issued the following statement:   “We

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Middle East

If hate speech led to Arizona shootings, imagine how much greater its effect in the Middle East

By Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel –When one crazed or ideologically obsessed gunman named Jared Loughner  starts shooting in Arizona, people condemn him and start bemoaning the state of their society. How about a place with ten million people like that who are treated as heroes? America this week is awash in a huge and passionate debate

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Middle East, USA

Video report: Southern Israel tense over firing of rockets from Gaza

SDEROT, Israel — In this city close to the Gaza Strip — and surrounded by the kibbutzim and moshav of Sha’ar Hanegev, the partnership region to the Jewish Federation of San Diego County– tensions are running high in anticipation of more rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip.   This video was  provided by Israel News Video

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Middle East

Sarid: Meir Kahane breathes through Avigdor Lieberman’s mouth

By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — Yossi Sarid is a former leader of the left-wing Meretz party. When he was in government he was Israel’s minister of education. Today he’s one of the sharpest and wittiest columnists in Ha’aretz. Meir Kahane was an American Orthodox rabbi who came to Israel to spread fascism. He was assassinated

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Middle East

ZOA applauds formation of Knesset investigative committee

NEW YORK (Press Release)–The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) supports the Israeli government’s formation of a Knesset committee to investigate the funding of Israeli groups that condemn the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and assist foreign campaigns seeking to delegitimize and demonize Israel. The parliamentary committee will be charged with determining if the groups in question

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Middle East

J Street condemns demolition of Shepherd Hotel in East Jerusalem

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) — J Street President Jeremy Ben-Ami released the following statement in response to the demolition of the Shepherd’s Hotel in East Jerusalem, aimed at clearing land for the construction of new Jewish housing in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood: “The demolition of the Shepherd’s Hotel in East Jerusalem is a deeply provocative action,

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Middle East

Israel to spend $100 million over three years for Birthright/Taglit

JERUSALEM (Press Release)– Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that the Government of Israel approved $100 million in funding for Taglit-Birthright Israel over the next three years, speaking Thursday (Jan. 6) to three thousand young adults at the winter Mega Event in Jerusalem. The goal of the funding increase is to enable Taglit-Birthright Israel to bring

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Middle East