By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–Prime Minister Netanyahu isn’t specific and doesn’t exactly endorse the upbeat news that comes from Cairo, and perhaps also from Washington, that speaks not only of the imminent resumption of peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians but also the possibility of a deal within a couple of years. But he doesn’t […]
Can there be Middle East peace without real leadership? Read More »
Middle East, USA
By Eileen Wingard LA JOLLA, California–When word got out that Israeli conductor Yoav Talmi and his wife Er’ella would be visiting San Diego for a few days during the second week of January, JCC Program Director Jackie G’mach invited the internationally acclaimed maestro to speak at the Lawrence Family JCC under the auspices of
Talmis' visit to San Diego prompts special JCC programming Read More »
Eileen Wingard, Middle East, San Diego Calendar, USAALEXANDRIA, Egypt (WJC) — Several hundred Israeli Jews have come to Egypt for an annual pilgrimage to the tomb of a 19th-century rabbi in the Nile Delta. Last year, Egypt had denied the pilgrims entry because the anniversary coincided with Israel’s offensive in the Gaza Strip. In past years, Cairo limited the number of pilgrims visiting
Israeli pilgrims flock to Rabbi Abuhatzeira's burial site in Egypt Read More »
Middle EastRA’ANANA, Israel (WJC) — Family and friends of former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s have marked the fourth anniversary of his massive stroke. Sharon, 81, has never regained consciousness from the stroke he suffered on 4 January 2006 and has since remained in a coma. He lives in a long-term care facility in Ra’anana. Family
Sharon family observes fourth anniversary of his coma Read More »
Middle EastJERUSALEM (WJC)–Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed cautious optimism that peace talks with the Palestinians could soon resume. “In recent weeks, I have had the impression there is a certain change in atmosphere. I hope that a maturation that would enable the negotiating process to move forward has occurred…We are serious in our intention to
Netanyahu says peace talks with Palestinians may resume soon Read More »
Middle EastLONDON (WJC)–Israeli officers invited to come to London by the British Army were unable to depart last week after UK authorities could not guarantee that they would not be arrested, according to Israeli newspaper ‘Yediot Aharonot’. The paper reports that the Israeli Foreign Ministry approached the British government in order to ensure that the officers
Israeli officers cancel London trip for fear of Palestinian motivated arrest warrants Read More »
Middle EastROME (WJC)–Italian researchers have accused Israel of contaminating land in the Gaza Strip through bombing. The New Weapons Committee, an Italian group of researchers, said it had studied Israel’s use of ammunition and concluded that the population of the Gaza Strip was “in danger.” The group of scientists based the claim on soil analysis of
New blood libel? Italians say Israeli bombs contaminate Gaza Read More »
Middle EastTEHRAN (WJC)–Iranian authorities have arrested several foreign nationals during the anti-government protests last week in which at least eight people were killed, Intelligence Minister Heydar Moslehi said in Tehran on Monday. “Some of the detainees are foreign nationals pursuing propaganda and psychological warfare,” he claimed on state television, without specifying their nationalities. Iranian police are
Iran reports arrest of foreigners in connection with demonstrations Read More »
Middle East, USANEW YORK (Press Release)–The Obama administration now believes that Iran is secretly running a nuclear weapons program, according to a ‘New York Times’ report, and Washington wants to press the UN Security Council to impose new sanctions on Tehran. The White House wants to focus the new sanctions on the Revolutionary Guard, which is believed
TEHRAN (WJC)–The head of Iran’s soccer federation was forced to issue a public apology and a member of his staff resigned after the federation mistakenly sent a New Year’s greeting to its counterpart in Israel. “It was a big mistake sending an e-mail to Israel’s football federation,” Ali Kaffashian, president of the Iran Football Federation,
JERUSALEM (WJC)–Jewish immigration to Israel increased in 2009 by 17 percent compared to the previous year, the first rise in a decade. According to figures released by the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) – the government body in charge of immigration – 16,244 people made aliya in 2009, whereas 13,869 had moved to Israel in
16,244 olim in 2009 was first increase in aliyah in a decade Read More »
Middle EastSDEROT, Israel (WJC)–Residents of southern Israel and the town of Sderot have held a March of Freedom to mark the first anniversary of Operation Cast Lead in the Gaza Strip. Organizers of the rally expressed hope that the new decade would be one of “hope, security and peace”. Students attending the annual congress of the
Israeli children launch balloons with peace messages for children of Gaza Read More »
Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–Professor David Shulman of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, commenting on the by now almost notorious Goldstone report – and sort-of agreeing with much of it – writes nostalgically in the December 17 issue of The New York Review of Books: I remember a time when charges of war crimes
If left-wing Israelis should answer to a higher law, how about right-wing rabbis? Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–This is the season for projecting a continuation of what has been. Some of you have accused me of cynicism. Some have called me a realist. No one should be surprised by what follows. Overseas observers will report on Israel’s military exercises in preparation for an attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities.
An Israeli columnist's 2010 predictions Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East