Middle East

Obama pushes on behalf of Palestinians, and still they won’t make peace

By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. –The United States is offering Israel a variety of gifts and promises in exchange for a 90-day building freeze that includes eastern Jerusalem (according to a U.S. official, as reported by Ha’aretz) to induce the Palestinians to negotiate with Israel for the Palestinian state to which President Obama appears committed.   […]

Obama pushes on behalf of Palestinians, and still they won’t make peace Read More »

Middle East

ADL, other western organizations, fail to confront Islamism as modern propagator of anti-Semitism

By Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel — At a time when antisemitism is at the highest point in the West and the world generally since 1945, the battle against it faces a terrible obstacle. To a very large extent, the driving force of this hatred is revolutionary Islamism, whether it be in the form of attitudes

ADL, other western organizations, fail to confront Islamism as modern propagator of anti-Semitism Read More »

Middle East, USA

SHAS is a more moderate party than Westerners perceive

By Ira Sharkansky  JERUSALEM –Among the platitudes being promoted here and elsewhere is that the Sephardi ultra-Orthodox party SHAS is one of the extremist elements keeping the Netanyahu government from acting with good sense. The conventional line is that Israel must leave the West Bank to Palestine, in compliance with the views expressed by right

SHAS is a more moderate party than Westerners perceive Read More »

Ira Sharkansky, Middle East

Obama pushing peace treaty, whatever the consequences to Israel

By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — During the Bush administration, an envoy was sent to ask what it would take for Israel to feel secure if a Palestinian state was established without a peace treaty with Israel. He had incentives in his pocket. The Israelis turned him down because without a treaty that addressed Israel’s

Obama pushing peace treaty, whatever the consequences to Israel Read More »

Middle East, Shoshana Bryen

Is 90-day construction freeze agreement unraveling?

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–Let’s start with the bad news. For the good news, you’ll have to look elsewhere. A week ago things were looking pretty good. The prime minister reported that the Americans were offering, as an inducement for a 90-day construction freeze in the West Bank, 20 F-35 advanced military planes, free of charge,

Is 90-day construction freeze agreement unraveling? Read More »

Ira Sharkansky, Middle East

U.S. reportedly insists Israel include East Jerusalem in construction freeze

JERUSALEM (WJC)–As part of a planned 90-day settlement freeze, the United States is reportedly demanding that Israel refrain from construction not only in the West Bank but also in the eastern part of Jerusalem. Although Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is unlikely to win their support, ministers of the ultra-Orthodox Shas Party have said they would

U.S. reportedly insists Israel include East Jerusalem in construction freeze Read More »

Middle East

More financial aid to the Palestinians–what’s the rush?

By Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel — The U.S. government is rushing an additional $150 million to the Palestinian Authority (PA) so that it can have a balanced budget. Funny, the United States doesn’t have a balanced budget and the same government doesn’t think that’s a problem. Moreover, the PA doesn’t really tax its own people.

More financial aid to the Palestinians–what’s the rush? Read More »

Middle East, USA

U.S. welcomes Israel’s decision to withdraw from Lebanese village

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) — The United States State Department issued a news release on Wednesday welcoming an announcement by Israel’s Security Cabinet that it accepts in principle the proposal offered by the UNIFIL Force Commander, providing for the complete withdrawal of Israeli military forces from Lebanese territory in and around the village of Ghajar. “The

U.S. welcomes Israel’s decision to withdraw from Lebanese village Read More »

Middle East

Netanyahu meets with Christians United for Israel delegation

JERUSALEM (Press Release) – A delegation from Christians United for Israel (CUFI), including 27 leading pastors from across the United States, met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday. The meeting was part of a six-day trip to Israel, organized and led by CUFI, intended to raise the pastors’ awareness about the issues facing

Netanyahu meets with Christians United for Israel delegation Read More »

Middle East

Paucity of information on Netanyahu-Clinton agreement fuels rumors, confusion

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM– That seven hour meeting between Prime Minister Netanyahu and Secretary of State Clinton in Washington D.C. produced a lot of talk, but less by way of clear documents. There are questions about the promise of 20 advanced military planes, whether the Americans are clear about excluding Jerusalem from the 90-day settlement

Paucity of information on Netanyahu-Clinton agreement fuels rumors, confusion Read More »

Ira Sharkansky, Middle East

ZOA urges Israel to reject U.S.-sought construction freeze

NEW YORK (Press Release)–The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) is urging the Israeli government not to extend the 10-month freeze on Jewish construction in Judea and Samaria which ended on September 26.  The ZOA is urging Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to accede to international and U.S. pressure, now that the issue is being

ZOA urges Israel to reject U.S.-sought construction freeze Read More »

Middle East

ADL denounces Bnei Brak rabbis’ ‘biased’ opposition to African renters

JERUSALEM (Press Release)–The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) on Monday condemned the recent decrees by rabbis in Bnei Brak prohibiting residents from renting apartments to African migrants, calling them “biased pronouncements.” ADL’s Israel Office issued the following statement:   “We are deeply disturbed by the calls from rabbis in Bnei Brak to discriminate against migrants who have come to Israel

ADL denounces Bnei Brak rabbis’ ‘biased’ opposition to African renters Read More »

Middle East

Netanyahu Cabinet weighs 90-day West Bank settlement freeze

JERUSALEM (WJC)–The government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is weighing plans for a renewed halt of West Bank settlement building in exchange for a package of political and security guarantees by the United States. US President Barack Obama said this was “a signal that he is serious.” The proposed 90-day construction freeze would only

Netanyahu Cabinet weighs 90-day West Bank settlement freeze Read More »

Middle East