Ira Sharkansky

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — We are seeing, once again, the problems in dealing with amorphous organizations that are not states, but have the means to make others miserable. The classic conception of a state is a body that possesses a monopoly of force, and controls what happens in its name and within its borders. […]

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM –We’re at a junction, as complex as any where two or three major highways come together, with too many signs to be anything other than confusing, On Tuesday, Aug. 19,  we were still in a limping forward cease fire, with confusing signals from Palestinians and Israelis about their willingness to accept

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Two recent articles emerge from IDF’s operating in Gaza, and concern the tensions between Israel and other western democracies, most notably the United States. An item in the Wall Street Journal comes with the provocative headline, “Gaza Crisis: Israel Outflanks the White House on Strategy.” Could it possibly mean that

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — The New York Times Israel correspondent, Jodi Rudoren, is dreaming along with Hamas of a seaport in Gaza. One can imagine that Thomas Friedman, Roger Cohen, and a few others from that otherwise distinguished newspaper are nodding in agreement. The editors gave the article considerable space with a large picture.

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — As I look around me this mid-August morning in 2014 I see a number of crap shoots, or games of chance. We can argue what historical events they reflect. Among the candidates are the establishment of Israel in 1948, the Arab Spring that began toward the end of 2010 with

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM –There are limits of what military might can accomplish. It’s a lesson well known to Americans as well as Israelis. Israel can kill a million Gazans, but if there are a few thousand Muslim fanatics among those left it won’t matter. Fanatics elsewhere will do what they can to provide them

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Jews have been coping with uncertainty at least since those conversations between Moses and the Almighty concerning what should be done about getting the people out of Egypt. (See Exodus 3 ff) While the story of the Exodus may be mythic, there is no doubt about the ancient lineage of

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Is it possible to defeat terror? This question has come to the fore yet again, after being up and down on our agenda who knows how many times in recent years. 9-11 is an icon in American history. Israelis’ memories are clogged with many instances, none of which have been

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Only the cynics are happy. Friday morning, August 2, everyone was claiming credit for the cease fire. John Kerry and Ban-Ki Moon were claiming primary authorship, and generous to note the contributions of Egypt, Turkey, and Qatar. The Palestinians of Gaza and Israelis were touting their accomplishments, and being equally

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Lots of questions Why Hamas attacked in the first place? Why it continues to attack, especially from within the time frame of the cease fire that it requested? Why has the US sided with the most radical of the Muslim governments? Why has the Israeli government dithered about escalating beyond

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — For some time on Saturday, July 26, and Sunday, July 27, it was not clear if there was a cease fire. A cease fire for humanitarian purposes (i.e., getting the bodies out of destroyed buildings) held, but then when Israel agreed to an extension Hamas did not. Several rockets and

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM– What’s next?  More of the same? Or some kind of cease fire that holds? We may be winding down. Hamas and its allies are firing fewer missiles. They may be pacing themselves toward the end of their supply. While there have been a few suicide bombers directed against Israeli soldiers, there