Egyptian women struggle to fight sexual harassment

Published on February 28, 2013

Despite its calls for democracy, freedom of speech and revolution against traditional Egyptian society, the current anti-government demonstrations have witnessed one negative phenomenon – an increase in harassment of women.

Q&A: “Of course the Israelis are a pain in the neck; that’s because they are a democracy”

By Shmuel Rosner
Published on February 7, 2013

An outsider’s viewpoint on the Sandy Hook shooting

By Noga Gur-Arieh
Published on December 18, 2012

What happened to Rabin’s memorial day?

By Noga Gur-Arieh
Published on October 29, 2012

Protests Spring

By Noga Gur-Arieh
Published on July 4, 2012

Egyptian Democracy Now!

By Steve Greenberg
Published on June 27, 2012

Clinton says no going back on democracy in Egypt

Published on June 14, 2012

The United States expects Egypt's military authorities to fully transfer power to a democratically elected civilian government as planned, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Thursday.

The Arabpreneurs

By Rob Eshman
Published on May 15, 2012

Last week, I wrote about innovative ideas for addressing poverty and the class divide in America.

Letters to the Editor: Hollywood, Israel, Democracy, survivors

Published on February 22, 2012

I read with interest the cover story “Zionism and the Three-Picture Deal” (Feb. 3). After decades of efforts to engage prominent Hollywood Jewish celebrities and executives for Israel, it is satisfying to feel that the leaders in the industry are becoming more responsive and positive.

Itamar Rose - Women’s segregation / Banish darkness

By Shmuel Rosner
Published on December 30, 2011

Right-wing legislation democracy debate in Israel

Published on December 16, 2011

Legislation promoted by right-wing lawmakers in Israel is raising concern that democratic values are under threat in a country that has long billed itself the only democracy in the Middle East.

Spreading the myth of “Israel’s theocracy”

By Shmuel Rosner
Published on December 14, 2011

Egypt’s Islamists claim most seats in run-off vote

Published on December 7, 2011

Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood said on Wednesday it won most seats in a first-round parliamentary vote, with early tallies suggesting liberals had backed some of its candidates to block hardline Salafis.

Opinion: Israel's Supreme Court is danger to democracy

Published on December 2, 2011

Listen to the defenders of Israel’s system for selecting judges for the supreme court and you might think democracy is coming to an end. They are strongly opposed to a legislative initiative that would change the process to one reflective of the US

Egypt Islamists expect gains in post-Mubarak poll

Published on November 29, 2011

Egyptians voted on Tuesday in a parliamentary election that Islamists hope will sweep them closer to power, even though the army generals who took over from President Hosni Mubarak have yet to step aside.

Egypt votes in first post-Mubarak election

Published on November 28, 2011

Egyptians voted on Monday in their first election since a popular revolt ousted Hosni Mubarak, amid fears the generals who replaced the deposed leader would try to cling on to power.

Egypt vote tests troubled political transition

Published on November 27, 2011

Egyptians vote on Monday in the first big test of a transition born in popular revolutionary euphoria that soured into distrust of the generals who replaced their master, Hosni Mubarak.

The Muslim world is out of control

Published on October 28, 2011

The Muslim world is out of control. And that’s a good thing.

Star Choreographer Hofesh Shechter Discusses His “Political Mother”

By Naomi Pfefferman
Published on October 18, 2011

Opinion: Democratizing capital in Israel: Head stands in Israel

Published on August 25, 2011

In Shai Agnon’s short story, “Peace Everlasting,” the following process unfolds in the Land:

Anti-boycott law: Bibi’s new Democracy

By Steve Greenberg
Published on July 19, 2011

Editorial cartoon

Jewish groups join voices against boycott law

Published on July 14, 2011

More major U.S. Jewish groups spoke out against Israel's anti-boycott law.

Yaroslavsky observes Nigeria’s democratic process

By Bill Boyarsky
Published on April 26, 2011

Zev Yaroslavsky’s latest nation-building assignment wasn’t easy. Dispatched to Nigeria as part of an international corps of election observers, he checked on polling places during elections this month in a nation better known for ethnic violence and corruption than orderly changes in government.

Courage in Cairo: Reflecting on Jewish martyrs and heroes

Published on February 15, 2011

Putting politics and Israel aside, the most impressive part of the events in Cairo was the fearlessness and courage of the protesting Egyptians. We asked Rabbi Jill Jacobs to offer perspective on placing life in harm’s way. What should we be prepared to die for?Tell us what you think at con- nect@jinsider.com.

PA Cabinet dissolved, Fayyad to form new government

Published on February 14, 2011

Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad dissolved his Cabinet and will form a new government.

Mubarak leaves Cairo as protests continue

Published on February 11, 2011

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak reportedly is leaving Cairo, but who is in control remains unclear.

Egypt moves to limit presidential terms as protests reach 16th day

Published on February 9, 2011

A judiciary committee formed to review Egypt's constitution has agreed to amend six articles, state media reported on Wednesday, as anti-government protests continued for the 16th straight day.

What’s at stake in Egypt

Published on February 8, 2011

There is such a huge flow of news here in Cairo these days that Salah Abdullah, an Egyptian carpenter in his 30s, says he is not able to keep track of everything.

Egypt and the universal rights of women

Published on February 8, 2011

In 1799, the French artist Vivant Denon, accompanying a team of scientists traveling to Egypt with Napoleon (who excused his invasion with the logic that he was bringing democracy to the Arabs) was touring some ancient sites along the upper Nile when he came across an 8-year-old girl in severe pain. Writing in his journal, Denon noted that “a cut, inflicted with equal brutality and cruelty, has deprived her of the means of satisfying the most pressing want, and occasioned the most horrible convulsions.” Denon was referring, of course, to female genital mutilation. The Frenchman quickly pulled out a knife and performed a counter-operation, by which he “was able to save the life of this unfortunate little creature.”

‘Day of Departure’ in Egypt: Demonstrators call on Mubarak to leave [VIDEO]

Published on February 4, 2011

Tens of thousands of Egyptians prayed in Cairo's Liberation Square on Friday for an immediate end to President Hosni Mubarak's 30-year rule, hoping a million more would join them in what they called the "Day of Departure."

Stop and smell the roses in Pakistan

Published on August 20, 2008

As an Egyptian whose country's military dictators are either taken by God or an assassin's bullet, I envy the Pakistani people's ability to now use the term, "former president."

VIDEO: History will be made in Beijing

Published on August 9, 2008

Director Oren Kaplan offers this 60-second 'commercial' for the 2008 Beijing Olympics

Defending Identity

By Rob Eshman
Published on July 16, 2008

Natan Sharansky's previous book, "The Case for Democracy," changed the world. It inspired a generation of U.S. policymakers and influenced President George
W. Bush in his decision to go to war against Saddam Hussein. So when Sharansky's second book, "Defending Identity," came out this month, I thought I'd better read it, quick

Organize now against oppression in Burma

By Dan Adler
Published on May 1, 2008

The U.S. Campaign for Burma puts together an internet and television campaign, with the hope that their messages will reach not only millions of Americans but also the rank-and-file soldiers in Burma, who may not even realize how closely the world is looking at the atrocities many of them are carrying out.

AUDIO: Iranian American Jews —Jimmy Delshad, former Mayor of Beverly Hills

By Karmel Melamed
Published on March 14, 2008

AUDIO: Iranian American Jews -- Jimmy Delshad, former Mayor of Beverly Hills

In Tunisia, Jews enjoy stability, but not democracy

By Larry Luxner
Published on January 24, 2008

In many ways Tunisia is unique in the Arab world. Tunisia's president promotes education and protects Tunisian Jews from the chaos and religious extremism enveloping much of North Africa. Tunisia has also played a very constructive and positive role in the Middle East peace process. However, stability in Tunisia -- for its Jews and for the country as a whole -- has come at the expense of democratic rights.

World Jewry should have no veto on Jerusalem’s fate

By Alan Dershowitz
Published on January 24, 2008

While every Jew in the world (along with every other person) certainly has the right to express an opinion about how the Jerusalem issue should be resolved, the State of Israel alone should make that important decision, since it involves the security of the state and its people.

Ms. magazine’s ad rejection elicits strong response

By Sue Fishkoff
Published on January 17, 2008

The American Jewish Congress (AJCongress) is ramping up its protest against Ms. magazine's rejection of its pro-Israel advertisement. In a campaign launched Sunday, AJCongress urged people to write, call or e-mail the prominent feminist publication to "register your complaint at their anti-Israel bias."

Malibu conference on Europe sees threats in ‘multiculturalism’

By Tom Tugend
Published on June 21, 2007

The scholars, journalists and concerned citizens were there for a conference whose title could hardly be weightier or more ominous: "The Collapse of Europe, the Rise of Islam, and the Consequences for the United States."

Golan’s Druse live with hope and anxiety

By Uriel Heilman
Published on September 28, 2006

Despite renewed international pressure on Israel and Syria to restart peace talks, people are not very excited by the prospects.

At Risk

By Rob Eshman
Published on August 24, 2006

I've thought way too much about terror this week. As I sat down to write this, I tried to do a rough accounting. What's a clever unit of measure for moments spent obsessing about terror? An osama? No, that gives the cretin too much credit. A chertoff? Better. A chertoff is a full cycle of terror-think.

We Will Not Capitulate or Be Trampled Upon

By Ben Caspit
Published on August 10, 2006

Ben Caspit proposes the text for a speech by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert that would explain to the world exactly what Israel is fighting for.

Gay Marriage Ban Could Alienate Jews

By Ron Kampeas
Published on June 8, 2006

Proponents of gay marriage were "pursuing a deliberate plan of litigation and political pressure which will not only redefine marriage, but will follow from that to threaten the first freedom enshrined in the First Amendment -- religious liberty," said Nathan Diament, the director of the Washington office of the Orthodox Union.

Tortured Logic

By Robin Podolsky
Published on March 23, 2006

In 1470, five corpses were found in the charnel of a church in Endingen on the Rhine. Eight years earlier, a Jewish man named Elias had sheltered a family of five beggars in his home during the Passover/Easter season. Assuming that Endingen's Jews had murdered the family in order to use their blood for ritual purposes, the governor ordered that Elias and his brothers, Eberlin and Mercklin, be arrested and interrogated.

Reading Venezuela’s Enigmatic President

By Julie Drucker
Published on March 16, 2006

"There is no anti-Semitism in Venezuela, we don't know what that is," declared Bernardo Alvarez, the Venezuelan ambassador to the United States, in his recent two-day trip to Los Angeles to discuss his country's Bolivarian Revolution and the changing political landscape of Latin America.

Opportunities Exist in Hamas Victory

By Bushra M. Jawabri
Published on February 23, 2006

The Palestinian people spoke their mind and many around the world were shocked. Now, after we have all had a chance to take a deep breath, it is time to evaluate the new reality.

U.S. Must Refocus Democracy Building

By Julia Fromholz
Published on February 23, 2006

The past few weeks have seen massive voter turnouts at two free, fair and largely peaceful elections. Yet neither election led to an inspiring outcome. Only muted hopefulness greeted Haiti's election, while the results of the Palestinian elections were outright alarming.

Mideast’s New Reality

By M.J. Rosenberg
Published on February 2, 2006

It's not often that Mel Weiss is heard complimenting President Bush. But after hearing the President's response to the victory of Hamas in last week's Palestinian elections, that's just what Weiss did.

Violent Crime Rises in Israeli Society

By Gil Sedan
Published on January 5, 2006

"We talk a lot about the symptoms for this phenomenon but not enough about the causes of violence," said Gideon Fishman, head of Haifa University's Minerva Center for the Study of Youth. "If we do not explore the causes, nothing will help -- neither more policemen nor more punitive measures."

Divestment Bad for Israelis, Palestinians

By Rev. Mark D. Stuart
Published on September 1, 2005

In the past year, several mainline American church bodies have favored divesting their assets from companies doing business with Israel. As an
Anglican priest, I find this very disturbing, especially so when my own American branch of Anglicanism (The Episcopal Church) has considered a similar course. I have discussed this with my friend, Rabbi John Rosove of Temple Israel Hollywood, which is near my parish of St. Thomas the Apostle. Our discussion motivated me to write to the appropriate national committees of my church to protest any possible divestment.

Israel Is Smaller in Size But Stronger in Spirit

By Uri Dromi
Published on August 4, 2005

The withdrawal from Gaza, scheduled to begin in mid-August, is one of the most important events in the history of the State of Israel. It will determine whether Israel can continue to be a Jewish and democratic state.

Israel Feeling Strains of Democracy

By Leonard Fein
Published on March 10, 2005

When it suits us, we refer to Israel as "the only democracy in the Middle East." When it suits us, we refer to Israel as "the Jewish state" or "the state of the Jewish people." And now and then, we describe Israel as "a Jewish democratic state."

Iraq Election May Mark Start of Change

By Robert Kagan
Published on March 10, 2005

The day after the elections in Iraq, the London Independent commented that "in the long term, it is possible that yesterday's elections in Iraq may be seen as marking the start of a great change across the whole region."

Assad Faces Trouble on All Fronts

By Gil Sedan
Published on March 3, 2005

Syrian President Bashar Assad is confused and worried. The heat is on, and it's not clear he can take it.

Israel points a menacing finger at Syria for hosting terrorists, accusing it of enabling last Friday's deadly terrorist attack in Tel Aviv, which has been blamed on the Damascus-based Islamic Jihad.

Assad has said he wants to renew peace talks with Israel, but at the same time he wants to please his backyard radicals. In addition, anti-Syrian sentiment in Lebanon is sizzling; the United States and France are pressing Syria to withdraw from Lebanon; the United States is growing impatient with Syria's tolerance of Palestinian and Iraqi terrorists; Assad wants to appease the United States without losing his face with Arab hardliners; and Syria's longtime ally, Egypt, is toying with "democracy," while Assad's own internal reforms are stuck.

So which way can he go?

East of Western— a Kosher Cornucopia

By Ron Kampeas
Published on February 24, 2005

President Bush is declaring his hope for a Palestinian state loud and clear, and no wonder -- it's almost the price of entry to the alliance with Europe that he urgently wants to revive.

Bush Touts Palestine in Europe

By Ron Kampeas
Published on February 24, 2005

President Bush is declaring his hope for a Palestinian state loud and clear, and no wonder -- it's almost the price of entry to the alliance with Europe that he urgently wants to revive.

Jewish GOPs Descend on D.C.

By David Finnigan
Published on January 27, 2005

Southern California Jewish Republicans saw history up close at President Bush's inauguration, attending not only his swearing-in but numerous social events including a pre-inauguration dinner for the president where a local Chabad rabbi lit the candles.

U.S. Faces Tough Policy Challenges

By James D. Besser
Published on January 14, 2005

With Sunday's elections, the Bush administration got something it demanded from the Palestinians: the beginnings of a democracy. Whether that produces a real, functional democracy remains to be seen -- and as that drama plays out, the administration faces some tough decisions and some big policy snares.

U.S. Wavering on Mideast Democracy

By James D. Besser
Published on December 9, 2004

Last week, President Bush said it plainer than ever before: Palestinian democracy, not just an end to terrorism, is the essential precondition for any new U.S. peace efforts in the region.

Briefs

Published on December 2, 2004

Briefs