Middle East

Arab protests over Israeli author forces cancellation of writers' conference

MARSEILLE, France (WJC)–A writers’ conference at a public university in southern France was canceled after some Arab participants refused to attend because of the presence of Israeli author Esther Orner. The meeting at the Université de Provence Aix/Marseille was intended to feature Mediterranean authors. “The story beneath all this – and it’s an enigma – is […]

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Middle East

Netanyahu, Lieberman jockey as direct talks with Palestinians loom

JERUSALEM (WJC)–Israel has no plans to extend the ten-month building freeze in Israeli settlements in the West Bank after September, the country’s Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said on Wednesday. He rejected any link between the moratorium and the start of direct Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. Lieberman told a joint news conference with Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel

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Middle East

Commentary: Mamas, keep your daughters off the barricades

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–One of the consequences of Israel’s demonization is the incidence of young people who participate in demonstrations against one or another of what they perceive as the abominations created by the oppressor of Palestine. Revolution and justice are powerful attractions, but they do not always appear together. Justice is elusive, and likely to be

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Ira Sharkansky, Middle East

Adventures in San Diego Jewish History, October 29, 1954, Part 1

Compiled by San Diego Jewish World staff Center Drives for $269,000: Jewish Community Organizes for Building Campaign Led by H. Wax Southwestern Jewish Press, October 29, 1954, Pages 1, 11 “To make a dream come true for you and yours,” the Jewish Community Center will launch a campaign on Nov. 15 for building funds to

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Adventures in SD History, Middle East

Commentary: U.S. continues to arm Israel's enemies in Lebanon, Palestinian Authority

By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — 1) The PLO flag is flying in Washington.  The administration downplayed the change – it is a “delegation” office not an Embassy.  The change implies “no enhancement in diplomatic status,” and does not provide “any diplomatic privileges or immunities,” said State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley.  It is about the same

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Middle East, USA

ADL finds U.S. averages more than 3 anti-Semitic acts per day

NEW YORK (Press Release)–The number of anti-Semitic incidents in the United States remained at a “sustained and troubling” level in 2009, according to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), which compiles annually a statistical audit of anti-Semitic assaults, vandalism and harassment. The 2009 ADL Audit of Anti-Semitic Incidents, released on Tuesday, July 27, counted a total of

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Middle East

Adventures in San Diego Jewish History, October 15, 1954, Part 3

Compiled by San Diego Jewish World staff Double Talk Southwestern Jewish Press, October 15, 1954, Page 6 By Janet & Susan Solof Elaine Shapery really shot the works with swimming, dinner and dancing at the Kona Kai celebrating her 16th birthday.  Among those shooting the guns of fun were Larry Prager, Ed Rosenthal, Martin Weiner,

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Adventures in SD History, Middle East

Commentary: Women of the Wall pioneering true egalitarianism in Judaism

By Rabbi Dow Marmur TORONTO–A scandalous aspect of virtually all religions has been their treatment of women. My own has shunned many excesses — stoning for alleged adultery, so-called honour killings or officially putting the ordination of women in the same category as pedophilia — but it nevertheless has a history of embarrassing discrimination. One

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Middle East

Jerusalem tourism waxes and wanes with international politics

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–More than two million overseas visitors arrived in Jerusalem during a recent year. The attractions are well maintained places linked to individuals and events featured in the Hebrew Bible and New Testament, and a functioning Old City enclosed by walls built in ancient times and last reconstructed in the 16th century. The

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Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USA

Oliver Stone declares media should put Hitler and Stalin 'in context'

LONDON (WJC)–American movie director Oliver Stone has alleged that Jewish control of the media was preventing an open debate about the Holocaust. Stone told the British newspaper ‘The Sunday Times’ that the Jewish lobby had been controlling Washington’s foreign policy for years. In the interview, Stone said public opinion in America was focused on the

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Middle East, USA

Israeli volleyballers lose to Serbia amid Turkish rioting

ANKARA (WJC)–An Israeli women’s volleyball team was assailed by protestors while playing against Serbia in the Turkish capital Ankara on Saturday. Rioters carrying Palestinian flags clashed with a large police force deployed at the event. The match was closed to the public because of security concerns. Authorities in Ankara imposed heavy security on the European

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Middle East