NEW YORK (Press Release)–Following is a transcript of remarks made by President Barack Obama to the General Assembly of the United Nations on Thursday, Sept. 23: THE PRESIDENT: Mr. President, Mr. Secretary-General, my fellow delegates, ladies and gentlemen. It is a great honor to address this Assembly for the second time, nearly two years after my […]
Obama to U.N.: Israel's existence not a matter for debate Read More »
Middle EastBy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Obama administration has announced a $60 billion sale to Saudi Arabia, including include 84 F-15 fighter planes, 70 AH-64 Apache attack helicopters, 72 UH-60 Blackhawk utility helicopters, and 36 MH-6 Little Bird surveillance helicopters. The package also includes HARM anti-radar missiles, more precision-guided JDAM bombs, Hellfire air-to-ground missiles
Massive U.S. arms sales to Middle East Read More »
Middle EastBy Judy Lash Balint JERUSALEM–Last month when I was visiting Seattle, I had the opportunity to take part in a “hearing” of the Olympia Food Co-op whose board had voted to boycott Israeli products. The 15,000 Co-op membership had not been consulted and some of them were upset–not that they were pro-Israel, they were ticked
Israel boycott rejected by co-op in Port Townsend, Washington Read More »
Middle East, USANEW YORK (WJC)–Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has signaled that a renewal of settlement construction in the West Bank might not necessarily mean the end of the current peace talks with Israel. Abbas met on the sidelines of the UN summit in New York with American Jewish leaders for dinner. According to a transcript of
Abbas indicates flexibility on Jewish construction on West Bank Read More »
Middle EastLONDON (WJC)–The British intelligence service MI6 used bombs and covert tactics to try to thwart the settlement of Palestine by Jewish refugees in the aftermath of World War II, according to a new book by Keith Jeffery on the history of MI6 during the first part of the 20th century. Jeffery, a historian from Northern
Historian: British sabotaged Jewish refugee ships after World War II Read More »
Middle EastNEW YORK (WJC)–President Shimon Peres has told the UN Millennium Development Goals summit in New York that Israel was ready to enter peace talks with Syria “straight away”. He offered to share Israeli technological advances with other nations, including countries without diplomatic ties to Israel. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Lebanese President Michel Suleiman left
Peres calls for Syria talks; Iran and Lebanon boycott his U.N. speech Read More »
Middle EastWASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)–The Quartet of the United States, United Nations, European Union and Russia on Tuesday, Septe. 21, issued the following statement regarding the Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations: “The Quartet expressed its strong support for the resumption of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, which can resolve all final status issues within one year. The Quartet reaffirmed its full
Quartet pressures Israel to not resume construction in disputed areas Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–Sukkot begins on Wednesday evening. It may not amount to much in America, but it is a major event here. Religious Jews and some not so religious are building a sukkah (hut) in their yards or on their balconies, and the observant are acquiring an etrog (citrus with a bump), palm branch,
Construction freeze period will end during Sukkot Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastJERUSALEM (Press Release)–U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was interviewed in Jerusalem by Israel Channel 10 personality Yaakov Eilon on Sept. 16. The transcript of thier interview was just released. QUESTION: Madam Secretary, thank you very much for speaking with us at Channel 10. Welcome to Jerusalem. SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you. It’s wonderful to be back.
Clinton stands by her quote to defend Israel against Iran nuclear attack Read More »
Middle EastTEL AVIV (WJC)–Ehud Olmert, Israel’s former prime minister, has said in a speech that the Bush administration in the United States would have accepted 100,000 Palestinian refugees had Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas accepted his diplomatic overtures in 2008. In a speech at Tel Aviv’s Eretz Israel Museum, Olmert outlined the offer he made the Palestinians at
Olmert: Bush agreed to accept 100,000 Palestinian refugees Read More »
Middle EastJERUSALEM (Press Release)– The U.S. State Department released the following transcript of an interview of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton by Christiane Amanpour of ABC Television Network. It was conducted on September 16. QUESTION: Madam Secretary, thank you for joining us. SECRETARY CLINTON: It’s a pleasure. Thank you for being here in Jerusalem. QUESTION: How are
Clinton: Only so much the U.S. can do in Mideast Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — The pressure is building, both on Israel and the Palestinians. The immediate issue is the freeze on building in the settlements, set to expire in about a week. Various Palestinians have said, time and again, that they would cease the peace talks if there is construction of even one building
Looming expiration of building freeze a crisis for Mideast talks Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Judy Lash Balint JERUSALEM — I know most Jews call Yom Kippur by other names, but here in Jerusalem, it’s the Day of No Traffic Lights. There are no traffic lights because there’s no traffic on Yom Kippur in Jerusalem. The city just turns off the lights for 25 hours. Imagine—an entire country without
Jerusalem spends a day without traffic lights Read More »
Middle East, Travel and FoodBy Bruce S. Ticker PHILADELPHIA — “Everybody loses if there is no peace.” So stated Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu at the White House to herald the revival of peace talks. Too bad Israeli troops were not around to keep the peace the night before on the road to the West Bank settlement of Beit Hagal.
Commentary: A crucial settlement concern Read More »
Middle East