International

U.S. rhetoric warms toward Iran, chills toward Israel

By Donald H. Harrison The death of the mother of Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani, the onset of the Iranian New Year, and the approaching deadline for the conclusion of the P5+1 negotiations over Iran’s nucelar aspirations, have prompted President Barack Obama, Secretary of State John Kerry, and the State Department to issue several expressions of […]

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Donald H. Harrison, Middle East, USA

Jewish groups welcome Netanyahu support for 2 states

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) — Jewish groups on Thursday, March 19, welcomed Israel’s Prime Mininster Benjamin Netanyahu’s clarification that he still desires a two-state solution with the Palestinians, although he considers circumstances very difficult for achieving this outcome. Here are the comments from the Jewish groups: American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC): “Today, Israeli Prime

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Middle East, USA

Engel to Obama: Do not ignore Congress on Iran

WASHINGTON, DC (Press Release)—Representative Eliot L. Engel, the leading Democrat on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, on Thursday, March 19, delivered the following statement at a Committee hearing on the Iran nuclear negotiations: “Thank you, very much, Mr. Chairman. Thank you for calling this very important and timely hearing. “Mr. Deputy Secretary, Mr. Under Secretary:

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Middle East, USA

Coalition building: the scramble for ‘tiks’

By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — The president hasn’t yet consulted with the leaders of the political parties, but the country is already speculating about who will get what tik (Hebrew for “portfolio”). Because Netanyahu needs the smaller parties on the political right (Bennett’s pro-settler Habayit Hayehudi; Lieberman’s “Russian” Yisrael Beiteinu; Kahlon’s right-of-centre newcomer Kulanu; the

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Middle East

UK increases spending to protect Jewish sites

NEW YORK (Press Release)– The World Jewish Congress (WJC) on Thursday, March 19, welcomed an announcement by British Prime Minister David Cameron to increase spending to better protect Jewish institutions in the UK against potential terror attacks. “The measures Mr. Cameron proposed are exemplary, and will no doubt make a difference,” said WJC President Ronald S.

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International, Middle East

UC urged to strengthen anti- Semitism definition

SAN FRANCISCO (Press Release) – Following a rash of antisemitic incidents at the University of California (UC), 23 education and Jewish advocacy groups on Thursday, March 19, urged the UC President and Regents to adopt the U.S. State Department definition of antisemitism, which states that antisemitism may manifest itself with regard to the state of Israel. The

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Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Rhodes scholars to tour Israel

JERUSALEM (Press Release) — Despite recent anti-Israel incidents on several university campuses, a delegation of Rhodes Scholars from South Africa and the United States is currently in Israel with Project Interchange, an educational institute of AJC (American Jewish Committee). The Rhodes Scholars, the 12th delegation of its kind by Project Interchange, will participate in a week-long

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International, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Jewish news briefs: March 19, 2015

Number of Israeli ministers expected to rise in next government (Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) Despite the decisive victory by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party in the March 17 Israeli election, the negotiations to build the Jewish state’s next coalition government could take up the entire 42-day time period allotted by Israeli law. In his

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International, Jewish Religion, Middle East, USA

Justice Ginsburg, Rabbi Holzblatt offer seder reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) –American Jewish World Service has distributed a Passover reading emphasizing the accomplishments of women in the Exodus story. “We are grateful to Justice Ginsburg and Rabbi Holzblatt for offering a powerful feminist reading for Passover, which highlights the leadership of women in the liberation of the ancient Israelites from slavery in Egypt,”

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Jewish Religion, USA

U.S. admonishes Israel over rhetoric

By Donald H. Harrison The White House and the U.S. State Department on Wednesday, March 18, both voiced their displeasure with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party’s  call to Jewish Israelis on Israel’s election day, March 17, to counter that country’s Arab vote, and additionally with Netanyahu’s pre-election announcement that he no longer supported creation of an

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Donald H. Harrison, Middle East, USA