Middle East

Academic Freedom vs. Hurting Some Feelings

In what has become an increasingly frequent and troubling occurrence on campuses, a McGill University emeritus professor of anthropology, Philip C. Salzman, is under fire by pretentious, virtue-signaling students who wish to hear only viewpoints that conform with their own and who, in attempting to shield others from ideas that might make them uncomfortable, want to suppress the ideas of their ideological opponents. [Richard L. Cravatts, Ph.D]

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International, Middle East, Richard L. Cravatts, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Israeli-Palestinian Confederation: Why and How

After 72 years of conflict, it is time for Israel and the Palestinians to realize that while a two-state solution remains the most viable option, there are irreversible realities on the ground that can be addressed only jointly in the context of a confederation. The contours of such a confederation are dictated by these realities, the resolution of which requires both sides to fully and permanently collaborate on many levels. The question is, why must Israel and the Palestinians reconcile these realities as a prerequisite to reaching a peace agreement, and how should they go about it to maintain the integrity and independence of their respective states? [Alon Ben-Meir, Ph.D]

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Alon Ben-Meir, Middle East, USA

‘Thank you, Mossad’: Israeli flag spotted in Iranian capital following scientist assassination

Iranians were left shocked this week after videos surfaced online showing an Israeli flag and a thank you message to the country’s spy agency on the streets of Tehran, following the killing of a top nuclear scientist, allegedly by Israel. The Israeli flag was raised on a pedestrian bridge in the Tehranpars neighbourhood of the

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Middle East

Roald Dahl’s Family Apologizes For Author’s Antisemitic Comments

The family of Roald Dahl has apologized for the author’s antisemitism, which hurt his reputation during his lifetime and continues to taint interpretations of his work after his death, through a statement on the website that was recently discovered and publicized but has been up for an indefinite amount of time. “The Dahl family and

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History, Middle East, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Whatever happened to Israel’s Labor party?

Remember the greats of Israeli politics. David Ben-Gurion, Golda Meir, Yitzhak Rabin, Shimon Peres? And the Labor Party, dominating politics from 1948 to 1977?Golda Meir won 49 seats in the election of 1969, and Yitzhak Rabin got 44 seats in the election of 1992. Then a decline, till now it’s three seats, aligned with Meretz. And the polls show 0 seats, as Amir Peretz can’t get it above the minimum to get any. Peretz is running for the Presidency, competing with the singer Yorham Gaon, a former politician Yehuda Glick, Yitzhak Herzog, and who knows how many others seeking to take over after Reuven Rivlin’s term expires. [Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D]

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Ira Sharkansky, Middle East

Technion Celebrates Viterbi and Ziv

HAIFA, Israel  (Press Release) –A brilliant engineer who left his mark on cellular phone technology, satellite imagery, and DNA analysis. A talented entrepreneur who launched a multinational corporation. A devoted professor who developed one of the most important mathematical concepts of the 21st century. Any one of these accomplishments would be outstanding and laudable in

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Middle East, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education

Senior Palestinian official Hanan Ashrawi resigns from PLO committee ‘over resumption of Israel ties’

A leading Palestinian official has resigned from the Palestinian Liberation Organisation’s Executive Committee in protest at Ramallah’s decision to resume security coordination with Israel, sources have told The New Arab’s Arabic- service. Dr Hanan Ashrawi, a veteran legislator who has taken part in negotiations with Israel, submitted her resignation from the PLO’s executive committee to

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Middle East

Convert’s nightmarish three-year quest for citizenship continues

An Orthodox convert with a criminal past in Baltimore’s drug gangs who turned his life around, married in Israel, and applied for citizenship under the Law of Return two and a half years ago, continues to face a nightmarish bureaucratic struggle in his effort to settle in the Jewish state.Despite being a committed member of

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Middle East, USA

Good News from Israel (Dec. 6, 2020)

In the 6th Dec 20 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
Israel’s top hospitals all use Israeli AI technology to analyze CT-scans.
Israelis are helping Honduras hurricane victims and Italian coronavirus patients.
New Israeli vegan milk is regular milk without the cows.
A satellite build by students from Israel’s newest university is now in orbit.
Citizens of Arab states will soon be drinking Israeli-produced water from the air.
Israelis won international gold medals in gymnastics, windsurfing and taekwondo.
Hundreds of new Ethiopian citizens have arrived in Israel.
Two 100-year-old Israelis prove that age is not a barrier in the Jewish State
[Michael Ordman]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Business & Finance, International, Michael Ordman, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Science, Medicine, & Education, Sports & Competitions, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food, USA

Anti-Netanyahu protester, Facebook Israel CEO’s father hit by car, dies

The father of Facebook Israel’s CEO and an active protester against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was killed after being struck by a car Saturday during an anti-Netanyahu protest at the entrance of Savyon, Israeli media reported.The 82-year-old Dror Sofer, who is the father of Facebook Israel CEO Adi Sofer Thani, was taken to Sheba Medical

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Middle East

SPME Opposes Hiring of Valentina Azarova at University of Toronto

Scholars for Peace in the Middle East (SPME), representing over 50,000 academics worldwide, is deeply concerned about the hiring process and potential hire of Dr. Valentina Azarova to lead the Faculty of Law’s International Human Rights Program (IHRP). We believe there is ample evidence that should question her ability to lead the IHRP. [SPME Press Release0

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International, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Jen Campbell wins a short-term rental victory

Ahead of the December 10th meeting that will determine whether San Diego City Councilmember Jennifer Campbell or Councilmember Monica Montgomery Steppe will become the next City Council President, Campbell scored a victory at the City Planning Commission, winning unanimous approval for her compromise plan to cut by 50 percent the number of short-term rental units in the city and to charge a license fee for those that remain. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, International, Middle East, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA