USA

Commentary: Palestinians, Israelis ever so slowly being pushed by U.S. into direct talks

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM– Israel and Palestine may be inching, crawling, or sidestepping toward direct, face to face negotiations.  We have heard this before. It is a long and contorted road even to the beginning of talks. Neither side appears to be enthusiastic. They are being pushed by the pathetically naive, led by the champion […]

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Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USA

Open letter to Fareed Zakaria concerning the ‘Ground Zero Mosque’

Dear Mr Zakaria: As an assiduous viewer of your Sunday TV show  (CNN/GPS), which I have always enjoyed for your judicious commentaries, the choice of your experts, and your well-prepared and deeply-probing questions, I have earned the right to express my disappointment. The case in point is your position on the  controversial decision to build a mosque

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Middle East, USA

Commentary: U.S. Senate election in Pennsylvania becoming a Middle East referendum

By Bruce S. Ticker PHILADELPHIA –A dual loyalty test approaches that Jews in Pennsylvania do not need.   Old conservative hands William Kristol and Gary Bauer are being abrasive…er, gracious…enough to spend time reminding us that we could be choosing between policies that will better America and those that imperil the security of Israel. How

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Middle East, USA

Clinton condemns Iran's sentencing of Baha'is

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)–The following statement was issued on Thursday by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton: “The United States is deeply concerned with the Iranian government’s continued persecution of Baha’is and other religious minority communities in Iran. “This week, seven Baha’i leaders, who were incarcerated and held for nearly two years without due process,

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USA

ADL seeks world mobilization to help imprisoned Baha'i in Iran

NEW YORK (Press Release) — The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) on Wednesday urged the international community to call for the release of seven Baha’i community leaders sentenced to 20 years in prison by an Iranian court. The seven are accused of security violations, espionage and other crimes. Baha’i leaders and human rights activists say the charges are

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USA

Iran and Syria say they'll help Lebanon against Israel

DAMASCUS (WJC)–Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki  has met with Syrian President Bashar Assad here to discuss “the regional security threats posed by the Zionist regime” [Israel]. Referring to the deadly border skirmish last week, both men declared that they would support Lebanon against Israel’s “aggression”. Mottaki described Israel as “the source of insecurity and threat”

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USA

Adventures in San Diego Jewish History, December 10, 1954, Part 4

Compiled by San Diego Jewish World staff Beware the Demagogue Southwestern Jewish Press, December 12, 1954, Page 7 It is not easy to be calm and objective about the course of events in the McCarthy affair. The Jews are familiar with the pattern of demagoguery.  Centuries of persecution have taught them not to treat lightly

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Middle East, USA

Commentary: Welcome action by Congress reexamining aid to Lebanese Armed Forces

By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Monday,  in the wake of the killing of an IDF officer inside Israel by Lebanese Armed Forces personnel, Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY) announced that Congress would block the disbursement of $100 million in U.S. military aid to Lebanon.  Lowey chairs the House Appropriations Subcommittee that authorizes such funds.  Similarly,

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Middle East, Shoshana Bryen, USA

Cantor seeks suspension of U.S. aid to Lebanese Armed Forces

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)– House Republican Whip Eric Cantor  on Monday issued the following statement regarding Lebanon and the Lebanese Armed Forces’ (LAF) relationship with Hezbollah: “Since 2006, America has provided the Lebanese army with $720 million in aid. This includes stocks of M16 rifles, missile launchers, grenade launchers and night-vision devices. The purpose of the assistance was

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Middle East, USA

Report: U.S. to sell 84 F-15s to Saudi Arabia in $30 billion deal

WASHINGTON, D.C. (WJC) — The United States government is set to sell Saudi Arabia 84 Boeing F-15 fighter jets worth US$ 30 billion over a ten-year period, despite Israeli “reservations” to the deal, the ‘Wall Street Journal’ reports. However, the package would not include on-board targeting systems as advanced as those used in US or

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Middle East, USA