By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM, Nov. 14– This is one of those times to wonder if ridicule or serious analysis is in order. The occasion is a combination of two moves by the Palestinian leadership. It is not even clear which of the two warrants ridicule or analysis, or if they are both just part of […]
Trying to understand Palestinians and Haredim Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Jennie Starr SAN DIEGO (Press Release)–With an abundance of energy, and instant engagement with her audience, Israeli children’s author Mirik Snir captivated the children and adults of the Tarbuton and Kef Li San Diego on Monday, November 11 in classes in the Carmel Valley neighborhood and afterwards in a Shaat Sipur (Storytime) that was
Mirik Snir, Israeli children's author, guest teaches in San Diego Read More »
Middle East, San Diego Calendar, USA
YEMIN ORDE, Israel (Press Release) — As part of a recent visit to Israel to address the Israeli Presidential Conference hosted by President Shimon Peres, US Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice spent an enlightening afternoon at Yemin Orde Youth Village near Haifa, home to at-risk and disadvantaged youth from around the world. Ambassador
U.S. Ambassador Rice extolls international school in Israel Read More »
Middle East, USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–The Washington Post has published two views, claiming to be contrasting expressions of Israeli and Palestinian despair for peace. http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/guestvoices/2009/11/israeli_despair_for_peace.html http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/guestvoices/2009/11/palestinian_despair_for_peace.html Neither is what the headlines claim. They are not expressions by Israelis or Palestinians, but by Americans or individuals affiliated with American institutions (Simon Wiesenthal Center, and the American Task
Washington Post chooses wrong commentators on Middle East Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USABy Ira Sharkansky Consider the United States, with President Barack Obama trying mightily to break the bonds of lethargy identified with his predecessor. An article in the New York Times describes his handicaps in Afghanistan. President Karzai is not cooperating with American goals of development and reform. Evidence is that Karzai stole the most
Obama's policies seen as 'childish' by some Israelis Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USA
By Donald H. Harrison LA JOLLA, California – One day, there will be a Palestinian Embassy in Israel and an Israeli Embassy in Palestine and Jerusalem residents will be able to walk from one to the other, novelist Amos Oz predicted Thursday evening, Nov. 12, at the San Diego Jewish Book Fair. Oz, author of
Amos Oz tells reasons for two-state solution Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Middle East, San Diego Calendar, USA
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO—Quite a bit of it is still hush-hush, but a proposed joint Palestinian-Israeli demonstration peace project to co-market a blended olive oil is evolving into a tri-national effort that also will involve mixing in some olive oil from neighboring Jordan. Oren Blonder, director of the Peres Peace Center’s agriculture, water
Blended olive oil may promote Mideast peace Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Middle East, San Diego Calendar, Science, Medicine, & Education, USATRONDHEIM, Norway (WJC)—The Board of the Norway’s second largest university in Trondheim, the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), has unanimously rejected a proposal to boycott Israeli academics. The boycott petition originated with a letter to the Board from 34 university professors and assistant professors, which said Israeli universities “have played a key role
Norwegian university vetoes boycott of Israel academics Read More »
Middle EastUNITED NATIONS, N.Y. (Press Release)–At a meeting of the UN Security Council in New York, the United States has accused Iran of violating a United Nations arms embargo imposed on it by secretly sending weapons to Syria in a cargo ship seized by Israel. Britain also expressed “very serious concern” at suggestions that Iran was
U.S., Britain accuse Iran of destabilizing Mideast with weapons shipments Read More »
Middle East, USAJERUSALEM (WJC)–The chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces, Gabi Ashkenazi, has told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Security Committee that Hezbollah now had rockets capable of reaching Israel’s largest cities. Ashkenazi’s warning came days after Israel’s navy seized a ship it said was carrying hundreds of tons of weapons destined for Hezbollah. The
Hezbollah has missiles capable of reaching Tel Aviv Read More »
Middle East, USABRASILIA (WJC)–Brazilian President Lula da Silva has rejected criticism over the upcoming state visit of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, saying all sides needed to be involved to achieve peace in the Middle East. ” One does not build the peace necessary in the Middle East if one doesn’t speak to all the political and religious
Brazil's President says dialogue with Iran could promote Mideast peace Read More »
Middle EastCARACAS (WJC)—Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez has said that he expected his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to visit Venezuela by the end of the year. Chávez made the announcement on his weekly television and radio broadcast “Aló Presidente” while flanked by Iran’s ambassador to Venezuela, Amad Sobani. The Venezuelan leader visited Ahmadinejad in Tehran in September.
Ahmadinejad expected this year by Chavez in Caracas Read More »
Middle EastWASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)–Following is the text of the speech Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered on Monday to the United Jewish Communities convention. My dear friends, leaders of the Jewish communities of North America, The history of the Jewish people has been marked by a paradox. We are at once both small and
By Arnold Flick LA JOLLA, California–In March this year, President Obama, while in Egypt, addressed the Muslim world. In speaking of Israel, he in essence described the founding of Israel as an event proceeding from the Holocaust. The Zionist community, both here and in Israel, has been very upset by this description and has responded
Which was more important to Jewish history—Holocaust or creation of Israel? Read More »
Middle East, USA