Steve Kramer grew up in Atlantic City, graduated from Johns Hopkins in 1967, adopted the hippie lifestyle until 1973, then joined the family business for 15 years. Steve moved to Israel from Margate, NJ in 1991 with his family. He has written more than 1100 articles about Israel and Jews since making Aliyah. Steve and his wife Michal live in Kfar Saba.
By Steve Kramer ALFE MENASHE, Israel — What’s a factoid? According to one definition, it’s a questionable or spurious (unverified, false, or fabricated) statement presented as a fact, but without supporting evidence. (Wikipedia) Factoids are what passes for knowledge among Westerners who vilify Israel and describe it as apartheid, neo-Nazi, warmongering, and more. Advocates for […]
Setting straight the factoid crowd Read More »
Middle East, Steve KramerBy Steve Kramer ALFE MENASHE, Israel –What is Palestinianism? According to journalist Ben Cohen, anti-Semitism has become less a political phenomenon, and more a social movement, with what he calls “Palestinianism” as its key ideology: “Palestinian Arabs have assumed the status of iconic, transcendental victims, as the Jews did for a brief period after World
Analyzing Europe’s Middle East bias Read More »
International, Middle East, Steve KramerBy Steve Kramer ALFE MENASHE, Israel — Speaking at the Washington-based Brookings Institution’s Saban Forum on December 7, Secretary of State John Kerry intoned that because the 1-state solution is “not viable” to preserve Israel’s status as a Jewish, democratic state, there is only the 2-state solution. This is the mantra that the United States
Alternatives to the 2-State solution Read More »
Middle East, Steve KramerBy Steve Kramer ALFE MENASHE, Israel — France, which fancies itself an exemplar of European statesmanship and strategic thinking, has told Israel that France’s unilateral recognition of Palestine’s statehood is what’s best for Israel’s development and security. But the practical result of France and other European states coddling the Palestinian Arabs is that the Arabs
France, other EU states, hinder Mideast peace Read More »
International, Middle East, Steve KramerBy Steve Kramer ALFE MENASHE, Israel — Israel’s cabinet is embroiled over the proposed nationality bill that would raise the Jewish, democratic ethos, mentioned in Israel’s Declaration of Independence, into a Basic Law, which is Israel’s version of a constitution. Not only are many Israelis, and especially Arabs, fearful that their status will be downgraded, others
The importance of Israel being ‘Jewish’ Read More »
Middle East, Steve KramerBy Steve Kramer ALFE MENASHE, Israel — Once again, the Obama administration has become disturbed about Jews building homes, neglecting to pressure Palestinian leaders to stop incitement against Jews and terror attacks on Israelis. The offense: permits were approved to construct less than 100 homes in a Jewish area of Jerusalem which happens to be beyond the
Issue not land, it’s Islamist hatred of Jews Read More »
Middle East, Steve KramerBy Steve Kramer ALFE MENASHE, Israel –Before our very eyes, the U.S. is shifting alliances in the Middle East. For decades, American foreign policy in the region was anchored by relationships with Israel, Egypt, the UAE (United Arab Emirates), and Saudi Arabia. That has changed under the Obama administration. Since the president’s first foreign speech
Under Obama, U.S. has pivoted to Iran Read More »
Middle East, Steve Kramer, USABy Steve Kramer ALFE MENASHE, Israel — On Monday, October 13, the British Parliament overwhelmingly passed a non-binding resolution to give diplomatic recognition to a Palestinian state. The New York Times reported that, “The vote was a symbolic but potent indication of how public opinion has shifted since the breakdown of American-sponsored peace negotiations and
Britain, Sweden pile on Israel Read More »
Middle East, Steve Kramer, USABy Steve Kramer ALFE MENASHE, Israel –Most American supporters of Israel believe that the US government has high regard for Israel and that it considers the Jewish State a valued ally and friend. And why might that be? Israel is the only true democracy in the Middle East. Israel shares “Judeo-Christian values” with America. Israel
Why America’s support for Israel can waver Read More »
Middle East, Steve KramerBy Steve Kramer ALFE MENASHE, Israel — The White House has just lowered its standards regarding civilian casualties during warfare. Yahoo News headline, reporter Michael Isikoff (Sept. 30) “White House exempts Syria airstrikes from tight standards on civilian deaths amid reports of women and children killed in U.S. air offensive, official says the ‘near certainty’
Western critics of Israel schooled in hypocrisy Read More »
Steve KramerBy Steve Kramer ALFE MENASHE, Israel –In August we attended a lecture in Ra’anana by Richard Kemp, sponsored by the excellent Standwithus organization, which is dedicated to informing the public about Israel and to combating the extremism and anti-Semitism that often distorts the issues. For those of you who aren’t familiar with Col. Kemp, he is a
British colonel denounces lies about Israel Read More »
Middle East, Steve KramerBy Steve Kramer JERUSALEM — I had last visited the Temple Mount in 1982, on a synagogue-sponsored trip from New Jersey. My memories of that visit are hazy, but Michal and I got another chance just before Operation Protective Edge in Gaza. We joined a Tel Aviv University-sponsored trip, guided by archeologist/historian Dr. Stephen Rosenberg, whose
Touring holy places of three religions Read More »
Jewish History, Middle East, Steve KramerBy Steve Kramer ALFE MENASHE, Israel –One of my readers asked for help in answering friends who have been “awakened” to anti-Zionism by Antony Lerman, who recently wrote, “The End of Liberal Zionism” (8/22/14) in The NY Times Sunday Review. Lerman writes on the subjects of anti-Semitism, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, multiculturalism, and the place of
Answering a liberal Jewish critic of Israel Read More »
Middle East, Steve Kramer, USABy Steve Kramer ALFE MENASHE, Israel –On August 19 Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu said, “In the stormy Middle East, one needs a combination of strength and patience. The IDF has considerable strength and the Eternal People has proven that it does not fear a long road. It could yet take time and one must be
Israel should have continued the fight Read More »
Middle East, Steve Kramer