The Sound Of Silence

Posted on: January 26th, 2012

Given its context, the recent declaration of the mufti of Jerusalem that it is Muslim destiny to destroy the Jewish people cannot be dismissed as the primitive rant of a crackpot cleric.

What Were They Thinking?

Posted on: January 19th, 2012

We were dismayed by a press release the other day from the World Jewish Congress describing a meeting WJC leaders had with PA President Mahmoud Abbas in London.

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Postponing Those Joint Maneuvers: A Very Big Deal

Posted on: January 19th, 2012

No one in the know is talking about the reason(s) for the abrupt postponement of the of those much ballyhooed joint U.S.-Israel military maneuvers that had been scheduled for this spring.

The Truth About Magen David Adom

Posted on: January 11th, 2012

Back in September 2011, in an editorial titled "Magen David Adom: No Time to Blink," we expressed our dismay over reports in several Israeli newspapers that Israel's national ambulance service – its version of the American Red Cross – was in the process of removing the display of the Magen David symbol on its ambulances operating over the Green Line as a sop to the International Red Cross and the Palestinian Red Crescent, which are averse to the display of the Jewish symbol there.

President Obama Makes His Move

Posted on: January 11th, 2012

We do not mean to denigrate the impressive military support and cooperation the Obama administration has directed toward Israel.

Iran Divestment

Posted on: January 11th, 2012

We applaud the passage by the New York State Legislature of the Iran Divestment Act of 2012.

An Obscenity In Jerusalem

Posted on: January 4th, 2012

We thought the outrageous incident involving an eight-year-old child being spat on by a haredi man because he didn't think she was modestly dressed was about as over the top as one could get.

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More Bluster From Tehran

Posted on: January 4th, 2012

It is hard to make much sense out of the recent military threats Iran has been aiming at the West and the U.S. in particular.

The Muslim Boycott Of The Mayor’s Breakfast

Posted on: January 4th, 2012

It would appear that New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's vocal support for the Ground Zero mosque – not only did he come out in favor of it, he labeled opponents as un-American – is coming back to haunt him. Some leaders of New York's Muslim community apparently believe he will bend over backward to accommodate their concerns, however wrongheaded.

The Violence In Beit Shemesh

Posted on: December 29th, 2011

In one respect, the current, very public, controversy over gender separation in Israel is a no-brainer.

Ron Paul, Israel, And The Other GOP Candidates

Posted on: December 29th, 2011

It was only two weeks ago that, except for Congressman Ron Paul, the aspirants for the Republican presidential nomination were falling all over themselves in expressing undying support for Israel and its right to choose how it would pursue its own destiny.

Temporary Respite?

Posted on: December 29th, 2011

Many of us are actually quite satisfied that U.S. efforts at securing a peace treaty between Israel and the Palestinians seem to have been put on hold these past few months.

Where The Republicans And The President Differ

Posted on: December 21st, 2011

With many analysts suggesting that the 2012 presidential election could turn on Jewish votes in various key states, especially Florida, both President Obama and the Republicans running for their party’s nomination (with the exception of Ron Paul) are making efforts to demonstrate their bona fides regarding Israel.

Primary Elections Controversy

Posted on: December 21st, 2011

Federal law now ensures that overseas military personnel and other citizens have the right to request, receive and return absentee ballots for federal elections on a timely basis. In particular, states are required to get absentee ballots out to those qualifying at least 45 days before the Nov. 6 general election next year.

Culture Wars: From The Maccabees To Matisyahu’s Beard

Posted on: December 21st, 2011

For Jews, assimilating out is easy – but the real challenge is to assimilate in, to process 3,500 years of Jewish history, knowledge, and texts, and to somehow find a way to be modern, creative, and free yet still in line with Jewish tradition.

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Gingrich, Romney, And History’s Uncomfortable Truths

Posted on: December 14th, 2011

Newt Gingrich, the former speaker of the House of Representatives who has pulled ahead of Mitt Romney in recent polls in the race for the Republican presidential nomination, created a firestorm late last week with his comments about the Palestinians.

Clinton And Panetta Put Israel In The Cross Hairs

Posted on: December 7th, 2011

Both Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta raised some eyebrows last week in their addresses at the Saban Forum in Washington.

Dear American Jews

Posted on: December 6th, 2011

I wish to apologize in the name of the State of Israel. We have heard that our ad campaign encouraging ex-pat Israelis to come home has offended many of you. That was certainly not the intent, and if it did offend, we are sorry.

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Denying Israel’s Biblical And Historical Roots

Posted on: November 30th, 2011

There appears to be a newly energized effort underway to delegitimize any identification of the modern state of Israel with biblical Israel. This sort of thing has been around for a while but it was usually engaged in by Arab nations and hardcore  critics of Israel. Thus it was disappointing, but not surprising, that in [...]

Israel’s Economic Sanctions

Posted on: November 30th, 2011

Israel will soon decide whether to resume turning over the taxes and custom fees it collects on commercial traffic into and out of the West Bank on behalf of the PA as required by the Oslo Accords. The Netanyahu government, as a means of expressing opposition to the PA’s recent attempts at winning United Nations [...]