Middle East

By David Amos SAN DIEGO–I wrote in a recent column about a personal family trip. But, as part of my musical career, I have had the privilege and pleasure to visit interesting places, countries in a state of social transition and major political and economic changes. Some of these places were most pleasant, and provided a […]

WASHINGTON, D.C (Press Release)– Following is the text of comments made Wednesday evening by U.S.  President Barack Obama, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, Egypt’s President Hosni Mubarak, and Jordan’s King Abdullah II to inaugurate the new round of peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Good evening, everyone. 

WASHINGTON, DC. (Press Release)– Following is a transcript of comments made by U.S. President Barack Obama and Israel’s Prime Ministr Binyamin Netanyahu following their meting on Wednesday, September 1,  at the White House. PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Hello, everybody.  Prime Minister Netanyahu and I just had a very productive discussion about our shared efforts to advance the

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–The 7 PM discussion on one of the major networks focused on what several commentators agreed were amateurish preparations for the Washington summit. The principals were still jockeying against one another, rather than acting as if the outline of an agreement had been hammered out in preliminary discussions. Americans seemed unsure about

  WASHINGTON, D.C  (Press Release)– The following statement was issued by White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs. “The United States condemns in the strongest possible terms the terrorist attack today perpetrated by Hamas in which four Israelis were killed in the southern West Bank. We express our condolences to the victims’ families and call for

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) — J Street President Jeremy Ben-Ami released the following statement ahead of this week’s launch of direct talks between the Israeli Government and the Palestinian Authority: “J Street welcomes the arrival of the respective delegations and leaders – including those of Israel and the Palestinian Authority – to Washington for the

By Bruce S. Ticker PHILADELPHIA–Low expectations, or no expectations, can only benefit the revived Middle East peace talks.   As Tevye in “Fiddler on the Roof” assesses his future son-in-law, Motel the tailor, we can characterize the Israeli and Arab leaders’ prospects thus: “They have absolutely nothing. On the other hand, things could never get

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)–The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) is urging the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to accede to international and U.S. pressure, for a continuation of the 10-month freeze on Jewish construction in Judea and Samaria which the Netanyahu government imposed in November 2009. The 10-month freeze, which is due to end

(Editor’s Note:  In the following letter, ‘Lone Soldier’ refers to soldiers who immigrate to Israel without their families, and who thus are without the support groups other soldiers enjoy in their off hours or on leave.) Editor, San Diego Jewish World I am writing to tell you about a very special organization in Israel, and

NEW YORK (Press Release)–The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) on Monday condemned comments made by Rabbi Ovadia Yosef as “offensive and incendiary,” cautioning that  his words “contribute to a potentially dangerous environment of intolerance and hatred.” In a speech on August 28, Rabbi Yosef, spiritual leader of the Shas Party in Israel, reportedly said, “Abu Mazen and

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — It is not auspicious. More than 80 percent of Palestinians and Israelis have expressed either opposition and/or pessimism with respect to the Obama peace process. (Palestinian Center for Public Opinion , Poll #172). Benyamin Netanyahu and Mahmoud Abbas have been dragged, kicking and screaming their preconditions while insisting they they

NEW YORK (Press Release)–The Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations has launched a national campaign on behalf of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, kidnapped by Hamas terrorists in 2006 and held incommunicado since. A central feature of the mobilization is a new web site, which will provide people across the United States, in Israel