By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. –A new tactic in the war against Israel is “delegitimization,” the effort to say that Israel is different from, and less than, other countries. It is, for example, the only member of the United Nations that has to insist upon its “right to exist.” And what other countries do as […]
U.N. envoy puts onus on Israel, not Hamas, in rocket attacks from Gaza Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–The shooting of Representative Gabrielle Giffords and the collateral killing of Judge John Roll and several others has generated a great deal of commentary. Much of it deals with the capacity of incendiary political rhetoric to trigger violence from those who are on the fringes of sanity or utterly unhinged. Israelis are
Israelis focus on Giffords’ Jewishness, compare Tucson rampage to Rabin assassination Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastWASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)–The following statement was issued by the State Department for Secretary of State Hillary Clinton: “We are very concerned about the initiation of demolition of the Shepherd’s Hotel in East Jerusalem. This disturbing development undermines peace efforts to achieve the two state-solution. In particular, this move contradicts the logic of a reasonable
Clinton criticizes Israel for Shepherd Hotel demolition Read More »
Middle East
By Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel — Amazing. The New York Times has a long piece about how Turkey is becoming an important factor in Iraq. Fair enough. But it includes the following paragraph: “A surprising feature of Turkey’s success is the image it has managed to project in Iraq. On the road from Erbil to
Turkish action series ‘Valley of the Wolves’ is anti-American, anti-Semitic Read More »
Middle East, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–Sorting out claim and reality is often at the center of the puzzle that an observer of politics must ponder. The puzzle may be especially severe when contending parties or governments are dealing with sensitive issues touched by religion and nationalism. Welcome to this tiny portion of the Middle East. In case
Is anyone–on either side–serious about the peace process? Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — The same day as the Knesset decided to investigate left-leaning NGOs, an important conference took place in Jerusalem on democracy in Israel. Its formal purpose was to honour Yaron Ezrahi, like many of his colleagues and students who participated, a distinguished Israeli political scientist with an international reputation and
Is Israel forfeiting its right to call itself a democracy? Read More »
Middle EastBy Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel — PART ONE: Using animals as intelligence agents As the proud owner of three cats (or vice-versa as it often seems), I have not yet deployed them for intelligence use. However, to read various Middle Eastern newspapers, you would think that Israel is the world leader in having animal espionage
Some light-hearted tips for Arab propagandists Read More »
Middle East
By Rabbi Ben Kamin SAN DIEGO –In Gaza, a group of young people who really “get it” have expressed their guttural frustration with life as they know it—caught, ensnared, and deprived of hope by the labyrinth of political interest from all sides that have wiped out their youth. These brave and freedom-starved youngsters have as
Gaza youth speak out against Israel … and Hamas Read More »
Middle EastBy Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel –A new Wikileaks document is being spun by some media to imply something critical about Israel’s policy in the Gaza Strip. In fact, the secret cable shows the exact opposite. It also shows that what I’ve been writing on the subject was 100 percent accurate. The U.S. State Department cable
Wikileaks document shows Israel’s wisdom in dealing with Gaza Read More »
Middle EastWASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) — J Street President Jeremy Ben-Ami released the following statement, criticizing the Knesset’s recent approval of a commission of inquiry into Israeli non-governmental organizations focused on issues of human rights and civil society: “J Street strongly objects to the Knesset’s approval of a commission of inquiry into Israeli human rights and
J Street protests Israel Knesset’s commission of inquiry Read More »
Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–The West is tilting to the political right. The US Congress, the governing coalition in the UK, the domination of the Conservative prime minister in Canada as well as the political constellations in many European countries all point in the same direction. Israel is no exception. Even the centrist Kadima party
Lieberman’s investigation of NGO funding sources smacks of McCarthyism Read More »
Middle East(Editor’s Note: San Diego Jewish World columnist Ira Sharkansky also has written a column refuting the Palestinian-spawned atrocity story mentioned below) By Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel — What happens when the New York Times publishes, with no investigation, an atrocity story about Israel that is not only false but ridiculously so, based on the most obvious
Western media fail to verify atrocity stories from the Palestinians Read More »
Barry Shaw, Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastHAIFA, Israel (Press Release)–An impressive crowd of leading Israeli business executives attended the University of Haifa’s Business Leaders Forum annual gala event on Tuesday, Jan. 4, at which Israeli businessman and industrialist Dov Lautman, founder of Delta Galil Industries, received the University of Haifa’s Business Leaders Forum award. The award was given in recognition of
Lautman: Education gap more worrysome for Israel than Iran threat Read More »
Middle EastBEER-SHEVA, Israel (Press Release)– The 161st Flight School graduation ceremony took place last week in which the new Israeli Air Force pilots earned their ‘wings’ and a bachelor’s degree from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU). The IAF Flight School is widely considered to be the most prestigious and challenging path in the Israel Defense
Another Israeli Air Force cadet class graduates from Ben-Gurion University Read More »
Middle East