JERUSALEM (WJC)–A municipal committee has approved a plan to fundamentally change the layout of the Western Wall plaza in Jerusalem’s Old City. An underground plaza and tunnel would replace the existing main entrance at the Dung Gate. The ancient Roman highway that begins at the entrance near the Old City’s Silwan neighborhood, which leads to […]
Changes envisioned for Kotel plaza Read More »
Middle EastBy Rabbi Ben Kamin SAN DIEGO–The brilliant columnist for The Jerusalem Post, Caroline Glick, recently lamented the lack of civil rights pertaining to Jews when it comes to the Middle East. She was referring to the built-in onus imposed on the building of settlement communities in Judea-Samaria (the West Bank) and the self-righteousness of other
Europeans, U.S. treat Israel with a decided lack of civility Read More »
Middle EastWASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)– The U.S. State Department issued a condemnation of the burning of a mosque in Hebron by Israeli settlements, in a written response Tuesday to a question from a reporter. Question: What is our reaction to the burning of a mosque and copies of the Quran in Hebron by Israeli settlers?
U.S. State Department condemns mosque and Koran burning on West Bank Read More »
Middle EastNEW YORK (Press Release)– In an effort to make North American Jews more aware of the wide range of opportunities that the strong Israeli job market has to offer new immigrants to Israel, Nefesh B’Nefesh and the Jewish Agency for Israel are conducting career-focused Aliyah Fairs in four major cities across North America. The events
Need a job? Israeli companies are hiring! Read More »
Middle EastJERUSALEM (Press Release) –The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) on Monday, Oct. 4, condemned the torching of a West Bank mosque in the village of Beit Fajar. According to reports, the mosque was set aflame, and anti-Arab and anti-Muslim graffiti was found on the walls. The incident followed at least two other acts of vandalism on mosques
Torching of West Bank mosque condemned by ADL Read More »
Middle East
By Bruce Kesler and Rabbi David Frank ENCINITAS, California — Sometimes we’re lucky to have friends with whom we can have civil conversations, even when we disagree. Fewer times, we’re even more fortunate to have a friend whose learning and temperance wakens new thinking in ourself. Such a friend earns the right to be listened
Criticism of Israel is fine, delegitimization is not Read More »
Middle EastWASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) — Secretary of Education Arne Duncan has reported to Congressman Brad Sherman about the progress that the Department of Education is making on the issue of whether Title VI of the Civil Rights Act protects Jewish students from anti-Semitism on campus. “I’m extremely encouraged as a result of my conversation with Secretary Duncan,”
By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson JERUSALEM–As a child in London in the 1950s I enjoyed listening to the radio on the days that I managed to persuade my mother that I was too ill to go to school. Somewhere between ‘Whistle While you Work’ and ‘Mrs. Dale’s Diary’ was a programme where someone with a German accent
Bird Watching in Jerusalem Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Middle EastSAN DIEGO (Press Release) – A former head of Israel’s Mossad security service, Maj. Gen. Danny Yatom, will be the featured speaker at a Friends of the Israel Defense Forces kosher dinner on Saturday, Oct. 30, at La Jolla Hilton Torrey Pines, 10950 North Torrey Pines Road. A reception will begin at 7:15 p.m. with dinner
Danny Yatom, a former Mossad chief, to address Friends of IDF in San Diego Oct. 30 Read More »
Middle East
By Isaac Yetiv, PhD LA JOLLA, California–Albert Einstein defined insanity as “doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” The century-old Arab-Israeli conflict provides a vivid and tragic illustration of this observation. In the last 60 years, a dozen U.S. presidents,Democrats and Republicans, and more than a dozen of Israeli Prime
Settling refugee issue is paramount in Mideast Read More »
Middle East
By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — The story in Washington is that President Obama, eager to have Israel extend the “settlement freeze” for another two months, i.e., until after the November election, sent Prime Minister Netanyahu a letter offering Israel a heavy list of inducements, including U.S. agreement to: Support the presence of the IDF
U.S. denies a ‘letter’ was sent Israel on settlement freeze guarantees Read More »
Middle EastENCINITAS, California (Press Release)– The Agency for Jewish Education announces a new 10-week class on the history of the Mid-East conflict beginning on October 13th. Led by J.J. Surbeck, this course will provide students with new tools for understanding and critiquing texts and events as the conflict continues to unfold. “Beyond Borders: Understanding the Arab-Israeli Conflict”
AJE offers course on Middle East conflict Read More »
Middle EastBy Bruce S. Ticker PHILADELPHIA — Editors at Time Magazine may be unfairly accused of anti-Semitism, but they are reckless with their semantics. As experienced journalists, they should understand that misleading language can be dangerous. The magazine’s Sept. 13 cover headline – “Why Israel Doesn’t Care About Peace” – brought its editors condemnation from supporters
Maybe not 'anti-Semitic,' perhaps Time is 'anti-semantic' Read More »
Middle East
By Morton A. Klein NEW YORK –Under relentless pressure by the Obama administration, Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu agreed, last November, to a one-sided one-time, 10-month Jewish construction freeze on the six percent of the West Bank where Jews live. Since the Oslo accords were signed in 1993, Israel hasn’t built a single new settlement and
Ending settlement freeze teaches Palestinians they can't get something for nothing Read More »
Middle East