More than a thousand Californians, including nearly 70 rabbis, today petitioned the California Legislative Jewish Caucus to oppose AB 101, a bill to make ethnic studies courses a high school graduation requirement. The California Assembly is likely to debate AB 101 next week. [AMCHA Initiative Press Release]
Advocates Petition Against California Ethnic Studies Bill Read More »
Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
Published by DPA Angry Lebanese crowds attacked buses and smashed the windows of cars carrying supporters of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Beirut on Thursday, decrying what they call a sham as international voting in Syria’s presidential election began. Vehicles loaded with Syrians, holding pictures of al-Assad and waving the Syrian flag, were seen heading
Mobs attack pro-al-Assad voters in Lebanon as overseas polling begins Read More »
Middle East
Published by Reuters By Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – The United States on Thursday defended its efforts to broker a ceasefire in renewed fighting between Israel and Palestinian militants after Washington found itself isolated at the United Nations over its opposition to any Security Council action. “We have not been silent,” U.S. Ambassador to
At U.N., U.S. defends its efforts to broker Mideast ceasefire Read More »
Middle East
The catchy slogan that is chanted so ardently by supposedly well-intentioned human beings in demonstrations being held around the world, ‘Palestine shall be free, from the river to the sea,’ is in effect a call for the destruction of Israel. And that, of course, is what the terrorist organization of Hamas wants to achieve. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]
‘River to the Sea’? That Means ‘Eradicate Israel’ Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Jewish History, Middle East
An unending intifada against the Jewish state has been the central mission of Hamas since its inception, and part of that war against Israel includes what Palestinians claim is their legal “right of return;” that is, the right of those Arabs who fled or were expelled from what became Israel to now return, en masse, to the Jewish state—together with all of the original refugee’s descendants, now numbering in the millions. [Richard L. Cravatts, Ph.D]
The ‘Right’ of Palestinian Return Is a Myth Read More »
Middle East, Richard L. Cravatts
Israelis Efraim Gordon and Yehuda Guetta learned too late that they were not safe whether waiting for a bus in the West Bank or visiting relatives in Baltimore. [Bruce S. Ticker]
Terror in Baltimore and the West Bank Read More »
Bruce Ticker, Middle East, USA
Israeli actress Gal Gadot tweeted about the current military crisis between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, “My heart breaks. My country is at war. I worry for my family, my friends. I worry for my people. This is a vicious cycle that has been going on for far too long. Israel deserves to live as a free and safe nation, Our neighbors deserve the same. I pray for the victims and their families, I pray for this unimaginable hostility to end, I pray for our leaders to find the solution so we could live side by side in peace. I pray for better days.” In response, Yair Netanyahu, son of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, criticized her for her comments. What did he say? [Mark D. Zimmerman]
Jewish Trivia Quiz: Gal Gadot Read More »
Mark D. Zimmerman, Middle East, Trivia, Humor & Satire
Published by Reuters By Matt Spetalnick, Steve Holland and Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON (Reuters) – With his muted response to the Gaza conflict, President Joe Biden is largely sticking to a time-worn U.S. playbook despite pressure from progressive Democrats for a tougher line toward Israel and from America’s allies for a more active role to end
Analysis: Biden sticks to Israel-Gaza playbook, irking progressives and allies Read More »
Middle East
Published by AFP Washington (AFP) – The United States on Tuesday sharply criticized Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for what it called “anti-Semitic” remarks amid his denunciations of Israel’s strikes in Gaza. “The United States strongly condemns President Erdogan’s recent anti-Semitic comments regarding the Jewish people and finds them reprehensible,” State Department spokesman Ned Price
US condemns Erdogan ‘anti-Semitic’ remarks Read More »
Middle East
Israel’s battle with Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Gaza exceeds one week. It may not end soon. The citizens of Israel most impacted by the daily rocket attacks (3300 and rising) are those who live in the “Gaza envelope,” very close to the Gaza borders, but towns across Israel have also been hit, some many times. Are Israelis physically exhausted, psychologically exhausted, and scared? Yes. Do they want Israel to sign a ceasefire today or tomorrow? No. What Israelis want is a different paradigm in their country, which will lead to a better, more peaceful relationship with the Gazan Arabs. [Steve Kramer]
Responding to the ‘Proportionality’ Argument Against Israel’s Actions in Gaza Read More »
Middle East, Steve Kramer, USA
I jumped into this book without reading the introduction and believed right through the end that I was reading a well-crafted, highly believable suspense novel. In fact, Daniel Levin had written a memoir about his efforts to find out what had happened to a young man who had disappeared in Syria. He didn’t know the young man, but as a favor to a friend, he had promised to make inquiries. [Donald H. Harrison]
‘Proof of Life,’ though a memoir, reads like a suspense novel Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Middle East
Associated Press (AP) CEO Gary Pruitt penned a complaint against Israel for destroying the office building in which the AP, and other foreign media outlets, were renting space. The building was owned and being used as an operations center by Palestinian Hamas. [Barry Shaw]
An Israeli Response to the Associated Press Read More »
Barry Shaw, Middle East
Lots of missiles coming from Gaza to Israel. Lots of damage in Gaza. And something close to civil war within Israel, with Arab mobs attacking Jews and their property in what had been peaceful settings with two communities; plus Jewish mobs doing the same to Arabs and their property.Overall, leaving aside the actions of the security forces in Gaza, it’s not too different from occasional bursts of racial violence in the US and some European cities. [Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D]
Wartime Chaos and Speculation Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
“From Africa to Zion” is a remarkable memoir that takes us from the author’s childhood in a rural Ethiopian village without electricity or running water through his perilous journey to a crowded, multi-ethnic refugee camp in the Sudan, where disease and crime were rampant, and onto his arrival to the modern world of Israel, in which his family were initially mystified by such conveniences as toilets and refrigerators. [Donald H. Harrison]
A Jewish Odyssey from Ethiopia to Israel and Back Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East