There has been a chorus of criticism–and ridicule–surrounding President Barack Obama’s response to Russia’s impending annexation of Crimea. Having failed, after several long telephone conversations, to deter Russian President Vladimir Putin, President Obama is now responding with sanctions against seven–seven–individuals
Asian-American leaders succeeded Monday in stopping an effort in the California legislature to overturn Proposition 209, which banned the use of race in admissions at state universities after its passage in 1996. Meanwhile, Latinos were set to become the state’s
In the spirit of March Madness, I’ve filled out my own NCAA men’s basketball tournament bracket. However, I don’t follow college basketball much, and I can’t pretend to know enough about the teams to make any neat predictions. So I’ve
Dr. Tracy Weitz, the sociologist whose research provided the basis for California’s new law permitting non-physicians to perform first-trimester abortions, has left the state to join the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation in Omaha, NE as the director of its domestic
President Barack Obama met with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Monday, telling the press at a joint conference that Abbas is “somebody who has consistently renounced violence.” Yet while he himself has not carried out violent acts, Abbas built
“We are entering into our renewed relationship with our eyes open,” said Secretary of State Hillary Clinton five years ago, before presenting Russia’s foreign minister with the infamous bright red “reset” button. Russia has pushed the “reset” button all right,
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is set to meet U.S. President Barack Obama at the White House today, amidst low expectations for an Israeli-Palestinian peace process that has stalled despite strenuous U.S. efforts. Abbas arrives having rejected major American proposals, including
On March 23, one percent of the flow of the Colorado River will be released into Mexico, to flow into the river delta and the Gulf of California as part of an experiment in environmental restoration over several months. The
A 4.7-magnitude earthquake hit west Los Angeles this morning shortly before 6:30 a.m., waking the city up with a start and rocking vehicles back and forth during the morning commute. No significant damage was reported. A 4.7 magnitude earthquake occurred
Malaysian investigators reported on Monday local time that they believed the missing Malaysia Airlines flight 370 flew low, at roughly 5000 feet, to avoid radar in at least three countries after it made its fateful detour. The investigators, cited by
As the possibility–however remote–grows that Malaysia Airlines flight 370 may have been hijacked and taken to a hidden location, Israeli authorities are preparing for the possibility that the hijackers might attempt to use the Boeing 777 to mount an attack.
The Times of Israel has just posted a story by Debra Kamin based on an interview with Isaac Yeffet, who was head of global security for Israel’s flagship airline, El Al, that suggests Iran was involved with the disappearance of Malaysian
In a referendum widely denounced as rigged, and closely watched by Russian soldiers and “self-defense” forces, residents of the Crimea voted overwhelmingly to join the Russian Federation on Sunday, with exit polls putting the result at 93%, according to the
On Purim, Jews read the Megillah, or the Book of Esther. It is customary to make noise every time the name of the villain, Haman, is read, to drown him out. Children use noisemakers called graggers, and adults boo and
In 2012, the Jewish holiday of Purim fell on March 8, exactly one week after Andrew Breitbart had died. I did not have time to go to synagogue the night before to hear the recitation of the Megillah, the Book
California’s Republican Party is meeting for its statewide convention this weekend, and is attempting to regroup after years in the political wilderness. Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who returned to Stanford University after eight years in the George W.
Last week, Israel’s right-wing parties condemned U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry’s remark that it would be a “mistake” to pursue Palestinian recognition of Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state, breaking promises by the Obama administration. On Saturday,
Apropos of the Ukraine, which has already been invaded by Russian forces and seems to be in store for more, it must certainly have occurred to WhatsApp co-founder Jan Koum, as he signed his recent $19 billion deal with Facebook,
Israeli diplomat Arthur Lenk has penned a lengthy rant at the Times of Israel about why he, and his fellow diplomats, are refusing to work. Yes, that’s right–much of Israel’s diplomatic corps has walked off the job in the midst of
On Thursday, I wrote about how the Obama administration had denied military aid to Ukraine, as Russian troops continue their buildup in Crimea and threaten to invade the eastern part of the country. But the story is far worse: we
On Thursday, Secretary of State John Kerry told Congress that it would be a “mistake” to insist that Palestinians recognize Israel as a Jewish state as a condition of a peace agreement. That statement was a complete reversal of recent
Reuters reported Friday that military data suggests Malaysia Airlines flight 370, which has been missing for a week, may have been flown off course deliberately, turning westward on a trajectory towards the Middle East or Europe rather than its scheduled
Forget conspiracy theories that Israel killed Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat in 2004. The PA’s current president, Mahmoud Abbas, has his own theory: it was Arafat’s own security chief, Mohammed Dahlan, who is now trying to challenge Abbas for the
The Wall Street Journal reports that the U.S. has declined to provide military aid to Ukraine. Judging from his testimony today before the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Secretary of State John Kerry believes that any military response at all means “nuclear
Secretary of State John Kerry told the House of Representatives today that it would be a “mistake” to insist–as Israel has done–that the Palestinians recognize Israel as a Jewish state. Not only was his statement a total appeasement of Palestinian
