Gal Gadot cried the first time she saw ‘Wonder Woman 1984’. The 35-year-old actress was so transported by the film – in which she plays Diana Prince and her titular alter ego – that she didn’t even think about her own involvement. She told HELLO! magazine: “I can’t tell you about the moment in the […]
Gal Gadot cried watching Wonder Woman 1984 Read More »
Middle East, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
A top US envoy visited contested Western Sahara on Saturday, after Washington recognised Morocco’s sovereignty there in exchange for Rabat normalising ties with Israel. Western Sahara is a disputed and divided former Spanish colony, mostly under Morocco’s control, where tensions with the pro-independence Polisario Front have simmered since the 1970s. Last year Morocco joined the
US envoy visits Western Sahara after Morocco-Israel deal Read More »
International, Middle East, USA
Morocco’s prime minister has pushed back against critics, who have accused him of betraying the Palestinian cause by signing a normalisation agreement with the US and Israel on 22 December. During a meeting with his Justice and Development Party, PM Saad Eddine El Othmani said that he understands the criticism but rejects anyone who questions
BDS resolutions serve a dark purpose regardless of whether or not they are successfully voted on and acted on by the respective universities. By repeating the campaign’s calumnies, libels, and historical distortions against Israel, it is thought, a universal loathing of the state will gradually evolve, an objective clearly stated by the divestment effort’s proponents. Whether or not actual divestment takes place is of secondary concern; the repeated, unrelenting, often vitriolic condemnation of Israel and Zionism is the principal goal. [Richard L. Cravatts, Ph.D]
BDS Activists Happy Even If They Lose, So Long as Israel is Vilified Read More »
Middle East, Richard L. Cravatts, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA
The still-tentative agreement between Qatar and Saudi Arabia to reopen political relations and closed borders after four years is part of the Trump administration’s priority to reduce friction among its allies. The goal is to decrease the possibility that American forces will waste time and capability putting out smaller fires, thus leaving them in a better position to deal with broader issues: cybersecurity, improving readiness, boosting NATO, countering China and not participating in civil wars in the Middle East, Southwest Asia, and Africa. Out of Syria. Out of Afghanistan. Out of Somalia. Out of Iraq? [Shoshana Bryen]
Qatar and Saudi Arabia: A Gift of a Different Sort, Maybe Read More »
International, Middle East, Shoshana Bryen, USA
Following are streaming Jewish programs of academic and lay interest that may be accessed via the Internet. All times Are Pacific Standard Time. [Laurie Baron, Ph.D]
Streaming Jewish Programs (January 10-16, 2021) Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lawrence Baron, Lifestyles, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food, USA
The sight of a crowd of people ascending the steps Wednesday in front of the Capitol building and forcibly entering the American House of Representatives, as happened yesterday and was beamed live all around the world, must have sent shudders down the spine of every freedom-loving individual everywhere. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]
Attack on U.S. Capitol Causes Free World to Shudder Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, International, Middle East, USA
Jordan’s foreign minister called Wednesday for Arab states to be represented in future dialogue on the Iranian nuclear programme, days after Tehran moved to step up its uranium enrichment. Calling for “an end to tensions with Iran”, Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said Jordan “supports the launching of a dialogue with Iran on the nuclear issue
Jordan says wants dialogue with Iran to ‘end tensions’ Read More »
Middle East
After a long and heated debate on Wednesday night, the government approved the regulations for the country’s latest lockdown, which begins Thursday at midnight and ends two weeks later on January 21.The following are the lockdown rules:> Gatherings: Limited to five people inside and 10 people outside, except for at approved events such as weddings
Israel is locking down (again): Here’s what you need to know Read More »
Middle East
The former Israeli ambassador to Jordan Jacob Rosen published an extensive list of Jewish surnames in Cairo that disclosed a stunning number of Ashkenazi surnames.In an interview with The Jerusalem Post ,Rosen said “Jewish refugees from Russian pogroms settled in Egypt.” Rosen, who also served as a diplomat in Egypt, said there were about 40,000
Ex-Israeli envoy reveals large number of Ashkenazi Jews lived in Cairo Read More »
Middle East
The new chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee said Tuesday he would look to resume humanitarian aid to the Palestinians as part of a push by President-elect Joe Biden for a two-state solution. In an interview with AFP, Representative Gregory Meeks also supported the return of a diplomatic presence following outgoing President Donald Trump’s
New House foreign affairs chief eyes resuming US aid to Palestinians Read More »
Middle East, USA
Israel’s election is scheduled for March 23rd. And more than previous ones, it is spawning the announcement of several new parties, both to the right and the left of Bibi. They’re all united under the slogan of anyone but Bibi, but not yet united in any more tangible sense. [Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D]
New parties form to Bibi’s left and right Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
Sworn in today (Monday, Jan. 4) as the 3rd District San Diego County Supervisor, Terra Lawson-Remer laid out an ambitious agenda for herself that included “an evidence-based” campaign against COVID-19, extending a financial “lifeline” to small businesses and workers in San Diego County; implementing a climate action plan; promoting racial justice; fighting homelessness; developing affordable housing; protecting the coastline; guarding against pollution-promoting urban sprawl; lessening the threat of wildfires; providing care for seniors, children, adults with mental or behavioral issues; assisting immigrants; and supporting the arts. [Donald H. Harrison]
Lawson-Remer tells ambitious agenda as new County Supervisor Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Middle East, San Diego County, USA
The government in Beirut is an accomplice to Hezbollah’s terrorizing of an entire nation. The Shi’ite Party of God has used the barrel of a gun, the bomb and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to take over the entire country. Hezbollah’s malignant hand touches every facet of life in Lebanon—from the banking system to the courts—and it has left the nation’s infrastructure economy teetering on collapse, endangering everyone who lives and visits the country. [Nitsana Darshan-Leitner]
The terror hub that is Lebanon Read More »
Middle East