Published by The Bangkok Post TEHRAN: One of Iran’s largest naval ships sank Wednesday after catching fire off a strategic port near the head of the Gulf, the navy said. The British-built fleet replenishment vessel Kharg, which measured more than 200 metres (more than 650 feet) long, caught fire on Tuesday off the port of […]
Iran navy ship sinks after fire in Gulf of Oman Read More »
Middle East
The world has just marked the 80th anniversary of the Farhud, the Arab–Nazi pogrom against Jews in Baghdad and Basra on June 1-2, 1941. The term Arab–Nazi is completely correct, not because these Arabs were merely fascist in mind and deed, but because they actually identified with Germany’s Nazi Party. Some of the rioters wore swastikas; more than a few actually marched in the Nuremberg torchlight parades. Farhud means “violent dispossession.” [Edwin Black]
80 Years Later, Could the Farhud Happen Again? Read More »
Edwin Black, International, Middle East
Isaac Herzog, former Minister, Chairman of the Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition, was elected by the Knesset (parliament) to serve as Israel’s 11th President. Herzog currently serves as the Chairman of the Executive of The Jewish Agency for Israel. Herzog was elected with the support of 87 out of the 120 Members of Knesset and his tenure will begin on July 9th. [News Release from office of Isaac Herzog]
Isaac Herzog Elected as Israel’s 11th President Read More »
Jewish History, Middle East
By Ruth Maston SAN DIEGO — Shalom, I’ve got some good news, and some urgent news. The good news is that the House of Israel, along with the other International Cottages in Balboa Park, is set to re-open on July 4th. We’ve waited a long time for this and can’t wait to swing back into
An Open Letter from the House of Israel Read More »
Middle East, San Diego County
Published by Philippine Star Pia Lee-Brago (The Philippine Star) – June 1, 2021 – 12:00am MANILA, Philippines — The Israeli Foreign Ministry summoned the Philippines’ ambassador to Tel Aviv to clarify the country’s vote at the United Nations Human Rights Council favoring an investigation into alleged Israeli war crimes and actions in the Gaza Strip
Israel foreign ministry summons Philippine envoy over UNHRC vote Read More »
Middle East
Published by DPA Opposition leader Yair Lapid still sees numerous obstacles on his way towards forming a new government in Israel. “Maybe that’s a good thing because we’ll have to overcome them together,” Lapid said at a meeting of the parliamentary faction of his Yesh Atid (Future) party on Monday, according to a spokesman. “That’s
Netanyahu challenger: Still obstacles to new Israeli government Read More »
Middle East
Published by Al-Araby Palestinian academics, activists and political factions have called for the removal from office of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, citing his cancelling of the Palestinian elections and a perceived failure to support the people Gaza during the recent Israeli attacks. “The recent intifada of Jerusalem has revealed the resounding incompetence of the
Palestinians call for Abbas to be removed from office Read More »
Middle East
Yair Lapid strongly opposed the Iran nuclear deal when it was first announced in November 2013. How did then Israeli Finance Minister Yair Lapid describe the proposed nuclear deal with Iran at that time? [Mark D. Zimmerman]
Jewish Trivia Quiz: Yair Lapid Read More »
Mark D. Zimmerman, Middle East, Trivia, Humor & Satire
Yair Lapid has a few days left in his mandate. Possibilities exist, commentators bet against him a few days ago. Now not so sure.. Naftali Bennett has decided against Netanyahu, and Bibi has responded with a vicious attack. It isn’t done until it’s done, but now it looks like the end of Bibi. [Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D]
Even Without Bibi, Israeli Politics Will Be Muddled Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
Highlights of Good News from Israel for the May 30, 2011 edition include:
–Israeli wound treatment uses patients’ own blood to save their lives.
–Israeli-invented pill camera to be given to 11,000 UK patients.
–Media reports of Israel’s civil war are fake news.
–Israeli technology is out of this world.
–20 Israeli companies have partnered to make Israel’s roads safer.
–Almost every week there’s a new Israeli billion-dollar company.
–Israelis smash swimming and singing records at Euro events.
–Birthright has resumed free Israel tours for American Jews.
[Michael Ordman]
Good News from Israel (May 30, 2021) Read More »
Business & Finance, International, Jewish History, Michael Ordman, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Science, Medicine, & Education, Sports & Competitions, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food, USA
The Middle East is a part of the world drenched in sadness, pain and violence. Yossi Klein Halevi, senior fellow at the Hartman Institute in Jerusalem, once said that in Israel the trauma is layered like an archaeological dig, where each level of destruction is piled one on top of the other, with no space between them. Since 2000 it has been one long war; a new kind of warfare called “asymmetrical war.” Asymmetrical warfare attempts to erase two basic features of war: the front and the uniform. It has no defined place and is waged by unidentified murderers. The goal is to create, in the words of the Israeli moral philosopher, Moshe Halbertal, “a war of all, against all, and everywhere.” Everyone is a potential enemy and nowhere is safe. And one of the results of this kind of warfare is more fatalities in Gaza than in Israel. [Rabbi Michael Berk]
Mideast Ceasefire May Be Holding, But Israel Is Still Under Attack Read More »
Middle East
After their meeting in Jerusalem on Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made what were supposed to be “soft” public statements. The politely worded remarks deliberately slid past serious policy differences, but those differences cannot and should not be hidden. Moreover, they should form the basis of conversation between the two allies in the future. [Shoshana Bryen]
Netanyahu, Blinken Paper Over Differences During Jerusalem Meeting Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana Bryen, USA
Published by DPA Dubai’s Crossroads of Civilizations Museum has opened what curators say is the Arabian Peninsula’s first-ever exhibition on the Holocaust, set to become a permanent fixture of the museum, focussing on the history of regional cultures. “It is very important to us that we focus on educating people about the tragedies of the
Dubai opens first Holocaust exhibition on Arabian Peninsula Read More »
International, Jewish History, Middle East
As part of our JWB Jewish Chaplains Council® National Jewish Community Observance of Memorial Day, on Thursday, we were honored to visit the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Nathan Bruckenthal, while the ship was in port in New York City. The USCGC Nathan Bruckenthal is named for the first Jewish Coast Guardsman killed in combat since the Vietnam War. Petty Officer Bruckenthal, described to us by the ship’s captain as “a nice Jewish kid from Long Island,” served his country as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was killed during a successful attempt to thwart a seaborne IED (improvised explosive device) attack on a major installation in the Arabian Gulf. He sacrificed himself to protect others [Rabbi Irving A. Elson and Doron Krakow]
A Memorial Day Weekend Tale of Two Jewish American Military Heroes Read More »
Jewish History, Middle East, Obituaries & memorials, USA