By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–Comments by Benyamin Netanyahu and Yair Garbuz, said to be the “racism” of right and left, remind us that Israelis, like the voters of numerous other countries, bring their family backgrounds with them to the polls. Ethnicity, religiosity, and social class explain a good deal of recent voting, but not all of […]
How Israelis divided their votes Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By Anav Silverman JERUSALEM — Israel’s President Reuven Rivlin appointed outgoing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with the responsibility of forming the 34th government of Israel on Wednesday evening, March 25. At a special ceremony at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem, the President signed the official letter of appointment in his office with Prime Minister Netanyahu.
Rivlin to Netanyahu: Repair relations with U.S. Read More »
Middle East, USAWASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)–During a joint appearance at the White House with Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani on Tuesday, March 24, President Obama was questioned by a reporter about the deteriorating U.S.-Israel relationship. Here is a transcript of that exchange, released on Wednesday, March 25, by the White House. Q Thank you, Mr. President. You’ve made
Obama: No Palestinian state overnight Read More »
Middle East, USABy Dan Bloom CHIAYI CITY, Taiwan — After this website published a news article headlined “A Tale of Two Holocaust Survivors” on March 17, Tomi Reichental, who was one of the two men mentioned in the story and who is 80, contacted me by email from his home in Ireland and said he would like
Shoah survivors with parallel stories plan meeting Read More »
International, Jewish History, USABy Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — Like most – if not all – of my friends, I was disappointed by the outcome of Israel’s recent general election. Perhaps I was not quite as disappointed as some of them, as I had been expecting a result along the lines of what actually transpired. I still
Status quo voters will have themselves to blame Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Middle EastBy Michael Ordman NETANYA, Israel — Jewish tradition connects the five books of Moses (the Torah) with water. For a healthy life, our sages say that you cannot go three days without either. Recently there have been many news stories from Israel on the theme of water – all focusing on the Israeli priority of
Positively Israel ~ March 25, 2015 Read More »
Michael Ordman, Middle EastIsraeli court sentences Hamas terrorist to 15½ years in prison (Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) Israel’s Beersheba District Court on Tuesday sentenced 24-year-old Muhammad Abu Draz, an operative of Hamas’s Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades, to 15½ years in prison after convicting him of membership in a terrorist organization, conspiracy to commit an act of terror, attempted murder,
Jewish news briefs: March 25, 2015 Read More »
Middle East, USAWASHINGTON, D.C. — White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough laid out President Obama’s positions on a two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinians, and the negotiations between the P5+1 countries and Iran, during an address to J Street, which is meeting in convention in the nation’s capital. Following is a transcript of those portions
What White House staff chief told J Street Read More »
Middle East, USA
By Anav Silverman TEL AVIV (Tazpit) — With one week to go before Passover, 110 new Ukrainian immigrants landed in Israel on Tuesday morning, March 24. The majority of newcomers are refugees who fled the fighting zones in the eastern part of the Ukraine including the husband of a woman killed by a direct rock
110 olim from Ukraine arrive for Passover Read More »
International, Middle EastWASHINGTON, DC (Press Release)—Congressman Peter Roskam (R-Illinois), co-chair of the House Republican Israel Caucus, and Congresswoman Grace Meng (D-New York), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East, urged House appropriators to increase funding for joint U.S.-Israel missile defense systems including Iron Dome, Arrow, Arrow 3, and David’s Sling. In a
Bipartisan call for more Israel defense spending Read More »
Middle East, USA
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) – The United States has sued a former attorney and certified public accountant to bar him from promoting and implementing tax fraud schemes and preparing tax returns for others, the Justice Department announced on Monday, March 23. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California,
Justice Department sues San Diego tax preparer Read More »
USA
WASHINGTON, D.C. (WJC) — The leadership of the World Jewish Congress (WJC) met in Washington, DC for its annual Executive Committee meeting to discuss the growing threats to Jewish communities and the surge in anti-Semitism. At a special reception on Monday night, US Vice President Joe Biden commended WJC President Ronald S. Lauder for his
Biden: Speak up against anti- Semitism Read More »
Middle East, USATed Cruz, announcing presidential run, vows to support Israel ‘unapologetically’ (JNS.org) U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), upon announcing that he will run for president, said he would support Israel “unapologetically.” “Instead of a president who boycotts Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, imagine a president who stands unapologetically with the nation of Israel,” Cruz told an audience
Jewish news briefs: March 24, 2015 Read More »
Middle East, USABy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–Those of us naïve enough to believe that politicians mean what they say, especially during election campaigns, have had our eyes opened. Two statements that Prime Minister Netanyahu made on the eve of the elections that shocked many of us at the time turned out to be untrue: his warning that
Netanyahu says what is expedient Read More »
Middle East