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 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 KramerBy Steve Kramer ALFE MENASHE, Israel (Press Release)–“No more talking, shoot,” says Nachman Shai, a former IDF general who is currently a dovish Member of Knesset. A respected Ph.D. in political science and communications, Shai was the IDF spokesman during the Gulf War of 1991. In a similar vein, Amos Oz, the famous, dovish Israeli
A two- question test for Israel’s critics Read More »
Middle East, Steve KramerBy Steve Kramer ALFE MENASHE, Israel — I began my previous article with the statement that “Operation Protective Edge appears to be winding down… .” So I’m not completely surprised that the three-day ceasefire was just one of several that Hamas has used to regroup without fear of Israeli interference. The situation Prime Minister Bibi
Ceasefires play into Hamas’s hands Read More »
Middle East, Steve KramerBy Steve Kramer ALFE MENASHE, Israel — Now that Operation Protective Edge appears to be winding down, Secretary of State Kerry again feels the need to reach a “bigger, broader approach to a two-state solution.” One would think that the United States, Israel’s closest ally and the supposed leading Western power, would have learned
‘Two-state’ solution less likely after Gaza War Read More »
Middle East, Steve KramerBy Steve Kramer ALPHE MENASHE, Israel — We hear a lot about “disproportionate force” these days, aimed chiefly at Israel’s incursion into Gaza as part of its Operation Protective Edge. Various world luminaries have explained how Israel is running roughshod over the “poor Palestinians”: “U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon leveled his strongest criticism yet of Israel’s
Civilian casualties? Blame Hamas Read More »
Middle East, Steve KramerBy Steve Kramer ALFE MENASHE, Israel — Here’s what I would tell the United Nations: Esteemed Delegates of the United Nations, I have come to address you today as a stand-in for Prime Minister Netanyahu, who is constrained by political correctness and the code of diplomacy from saying much of what needs to be said. You
What I would tell the United Nations Read More »
International, Middle East, Steve KramerBy Steve Kramer ALFE MENASHE, Israel — Nicholas Kristof is a Pulitzer Prize-winning American journalist and author, who has written op-ed columns for The New York Times since 2001. Kristof generally highlights human rights abuse and social injustice. His article of July 19, “Who’s Right and Wrong in the Middle East” is not his
Pulitzer Prize winner gets it wrong — again Read More »
Middle East, Steve KramerBy Steve Kramer ALFE MENASHE, Israel — A misleading article in the The New York Times on July 13 spurred me to report about Israel’s latest mini-war in Gaza. I’ve hesitated writing because Michal and I have fortunately been spared being under threat of a missile, or even hearing a siren from a nearby town,
Mainstream U.S media often gets Mideast wrong Read More »
Middle East, Steve Kramer
By Steve Kramer ALFE MENASHE, Israel –On my recent visit to America, good friends asked me to explain why Israel continues to build settlements, “when peace is so close.” Fundamental to understanding why Israel continues to build homes in “settlements,” (communities located beyond the 1949 Armistice Line), is this reality: there will be no peace
Why Jews settle beyond the Green Line Read More »
Middle East, Steve KramerBy Steve Kramer ALFE MENASHE, Israel– There is no doubt that Israel’s best friend is America. Without American support in the United Nations Security Council, binding resolutions against Israel would be much easier to pass. Without American aid, Israel’s military strength would be diminished. Without the backing of American citizens and America-based businesses, perhaps Israel
U.S. is Israel’s friend, but what about Barack Obama? Read More »
Middle East, Steve Kramer, USA
By Steve Kramer ZICHRON YAACOV, Israel — It was on a beautiful spring day that our hiking group set off from a spot adjacent to a “winter pond,” a low-lying area which becomes a pond only during the (hopefully) rainy winter, drying up soon after winter ends. We were near Israel’s Mediterranean coast, not
Hiking in the Carmel Hills Read More »
Middle East, Steve Kramer, Travel and FoodBy Steve Kramer ALFE MENASHE, Israel –In a recent speech to a Jewish audience, Secretary of State John Kerry reiterated, “We are running out of time [for the 2-state peace solution]. We are running out of possibilities.” How many times have we heard this tired refrain? I disagree with Kerry (and others) and continue to
Post- Kerry, Israel should stay the course Read More »
Middle East, Steve Kramer