International

Washington Post chooses wrong commentators on Middle East

By 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 […]

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Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USA

Obama's policies seen as 'childish' by some Israelis

By 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

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Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USA

Blended olive oil may promote Mideast peace

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

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Donald H. Harrison, Middle East, San Diego Calendar, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

McKeon calls for Hasan probe by House Armed Services Committee

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)—U.S. Rep. Howard P. “Buck” McKeon, the Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee, on Thursday  released the following statement regarding the decision by the Army’s III Corps Commander to charge Major Nidal Hasan with 13 initial specifications of premeditated murder following last week’s shooting rampage at Fort Hood: “The senseless shooting

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USA

Shonda file: Kosher slaughterhouse operator convicted on 86 counts of fraud

SIOUX FALLS, South Dakota (WJC)–A jury in the US state of South Dakota has convicted Sholom Rubashkin, the former owner of the leading Iowa-based kosher slaughterhouse AgriProcessors, of 86 out of 91 fraud charges. The decision means that Rubashkin, 50, will spend likely the rest of his life in prison as the combined sentences could

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USA

Norwegian university vetoes boycott of Israel academics

TRONDHEIM, 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

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Middle East

U.S., Britain accuse Iran of destabilizing Mideast with weapons shipments

UNITED 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

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Middle East, USA

Hezbollah has missiles capable of reaching Tel Aviv

JERUSALEM (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

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Middle East, USA

Brazil's President says dialogue with Iran could promote Mideast peace

BRASILIA (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

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Middle East

Gathering plans protest if Holocaust denier Irving comes to New York City

  NEW YORK (Press Release)–The notorious Holocaust denier and antisemite David Irving is to give a secretive lecture in New York City this weekend and Holocaust survivors are calling for peaceful protest against “this person of hate and his hateful ideas.” The American Gathering of Jewish Holocaust Survivors and Their Descendants, representing 80,000 families across the country,

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USA

Ahmadinejad expected this year by Chavez in Caracas

CARACAS (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.

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Middle East