International

In first since 1973, Israeli minister in ‘private’ visit to Cuba

Culture Minister Miri Regev has traveled to Cuba for a “private family vacation,” her office said Tuesday, marking the first time that a cabinet member has visited the country since it broke diplomatic ties with Israel in 1973. The visit, first reported by the Haaretz newspaper, was not organized through the Foreign Ministry and will […]

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International, Middle East

Netanyahu rejects Palestinian reconciliation unless Hamas disarms

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday Israel would reject any reconciliation deal between the two leading Palestinian factions unless the Iran-backed Islamist movement Hamas disarmed. “We are not prepared to accept bogus reconciliations in which the Palestinian side apparently reconciles at the expense of our existence,” Netanyahu said in a statement. “Whoever wants to

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Middle East

Jewish art collector’s heirs praise deal to recover painting seized in WWII

GENEVA — The Geneva lawyer for the heirs of a Jewish woman whose art collection was seized by France’s pro-Nazi regime in World War II said they are “absolutely delighted” about a hard-won deal to recover from a Swiss town a 19th-century painting by English master John Constable. Marc-Andre Renold said Monday that heirs of

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International, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts

Thirsty Sea of Galilee sinking toward lowest level ever recorded

Days before tens of thousands of Israelis descend on the Sea of Galilee for the Sukkot holiday, the Water Authority warned that the freshwater lake is at dangerously low levels and expected to reach “the lowest level ever recorded.” Northern Israel is experiencing one of the worst droughts in 100 years, leaving the country’s water

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Middle East

Evangelina Elizondo Dead At 88: Legendary Actress Passes Away

Evangelina Elizondo has passed away at the age of 88. The legendary actress was confirmed dead by the actors guild in Mexico, ANDI. “The directorial board on behalf of ANDI feel the loss of Evangelina Elizondo,” they wrote in a tweet. Elizondo is credited as the voiceover in Spanish for “Cinderella.” She also starred in

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International, Obituaries & memorials, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Tom Petty legendary Heartbreakers singer dies at 66

ANALYSIS/OPINION: Tom Petty turned Jim Ladd, L.A.’s “Free Form Radio” kingpin, into a folk hero with “The Last DJ,” his 2002 album with The Heartbreakers whose central themes of the corporatization of radio, the loss of artistic freedom and money winning out over creativity dovetailed with love songs and tentative optimism. One of the great

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Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Obituaries & memorials, USA

Tel Aviv city hall lights up in red, white and blue in solidarity with US

Tel Aviv’s city hall lit up in red, white and blue on Monday, in solidarity with the United States after a gunman killed at least 58 people and injured over 515 more in the worst mass shooting in the country’s history. The facade of the building displayed an American flag and an Israeli flag, toggling

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Middle East, USA

In first, two women appointed as Mossad division heads

Marking a first for Israel’s national intelligence agency, the Mossad has revealed that two women were recently appointed division heads, the highest position reached by women in the secretive government body. With the identities of the two withheld from publication for security reasons, Yedioth Aharonoth reported Sunday that “S” was appointed to the role of

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Middle East

Coming soon-US to ease Visa requirements for Israelis

Israel and the United States are in negotiations to establish a joint fingerprint database, which will be a significant step forward in granting blanket visa exemptions for Israelis wishing to enter the United States. According to Channel 2, a meeting was held Monday between the Justice Ministry, the Foreign Ministry, and the Prime Minister’s Office

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Middle East, USA

Swiss lawmaker quits after comparing pigs to Auschwitz victims

A Swiss lawmaker resigned after comparing the transportation of pigs for farming to the transportation of prisoners to Auschwitz. “The (Nazi) deportees had only a slight chance to survive. As for the pigs, they are condemned to certain death,” Swiss Green Party lawmaker Jonas Fricker said on Thursday during a debate in the National Council,

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International, Jewish Religion