Secretary of State Mike Pompeo confirmed on Tuesday that the United States planned to sell top-of-the-line F-35 fighter jets to the United Arab Emirates as part of a $23.37 billion package.The State Department sent a formal notice to Congress on the sale of the stealth precision planes, long sought by the Gulf Arab ally which […]
Pompeo confirms US sale of F-35 jets to UAE Read More »
Middle East, USA
Saeb Erekat, a veteran peace negotiator and prominent international spokesman for the Palestinians for more than three decades, died on Tuesday, weeks after being infected by the coronavirus. He was 65.The American-educated Erekat was involved in nearly every round of peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians going back to the landmark Madrid conference in
Saeb Erekat, spokesman and negotiator for the Palestinians, dies at 65 Read More »
Middle East
Why are American Jewish organizations silent about Congressional anti-Semitism and anti-Israel slander?
Why is it that the ZOA is the only Jewish organization in America that initiated instant condemnation of Ilhan Omar’s latest anti-Semitic drumbeat against Israel. The new set of Omar’s lies, tweeted after the US election, included the blood libel that Israel is ethnically cleansing the Palestinians, accusing the Jewish State of “leaving an entire community homeless in direct violation of international law.” [Barry Shaw]
Israeli Observer Worries about Ilhan Omar Read More »
Barry Shaw, Middle East, USA
In the aftermath of the US election, much has been said about the future of the US-Israel relationship, the state of civil discourse in the United States, Trump’s refusal to concede and a host of other issues. But all of this is taking away from perhaps the highlight of this election – the remarkable achievement
It’s time for a female president in Israel Read More »
Middle East
The refusal of the top man to accept the decision of the voters may have its parallel here in Israel. Bibi, like Trump, wants to hold on to his power. Among other reasons, to protect himself from the judicial process. Bibi’s style is far more polished than Trump’s But he’s a liar. He accepted the suspension of any annexation of the West Bank, and the sale of advanced planes and other military equipment to the UAE in dealings with the United States, but he acted in both cases as those were temporary matters agreed to by others, without a role for himself. [Ira Sharkansky]
Trump’s defeat means dicey times for U.S., Israel Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USA
Bahraini Jews marked on Monday the 82nd anniversary of Kristallnacht, also known as the Night of Broken Glass, for the first time since the Arab nation normalised ties with Israel last month.The disused synagogue in Manama – the only one in the kingdom, which is home to some 50 Bahraini Jews – was illuminated at
Bahraini Jews mark Kristallnacht Read More »
International, Jewish History, Middle East
The first flight carrying Israeli tourists to the United Arab Emirates landed on Sunday in the city-state of Dubai, the latest sign of the normalisation deal reached between the two nations.FlyDubai flight No. FZ8194 landed at Dubai International Airport just after 5:40pm, bringing the tourists to the skyscraper-studded city after a nearly three-hour trip.The low-cost
First direct tourist flight from Israel to UAE touches down in Dubai Read More »
Middle East, Travel and Food
Sooner or later, many schools will learn of an alumna who made it big. For example, Patrick Henry High School in San Diego boasts as one of its graduates the actress Annette Bening. Westmount High School in Westmount, Quebec, claims U.S. Vice President-elect Kamala Harris as a 1981 graduate. And Soille San Diego Hebrew Day School now can brag about Tova Winick, Class of 2013. Okay, Tova isn’t a household name yet, but there has been quite a buzz about her ever since she was pictured in late October in the uniform of an officer of the Israel Defense Forces giving a briefing on the workings of the Iron Dome missile defense system to U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper accompanied by Israel’s Defense Minister Benny Gantz. [Donald H. Harrison]
Hebrew Day alumna Tova Winick briefs 2 Defense Ministers Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Middle East
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday congratulated Joe Biden, the projected winner of the US presidential election, on his victory, as well as Kamala Harris, projected to serve as the first woman vice president in US history.Abbas said he hoped Biden’s election would improve “Palestinian-American relations and achieve freedom, independence, justice and dignity for our
Palestinian president congratulates Biden Read More »
Middle East, USA
US President-elect Joe Biden reflects the orthodoxy of the “two-state solution” to the Israeli-Palestinian dispute. He is a committed, enthusiastic proponent of this idea as a way forward in the Middle East.There is a competing political paradigm – “racial-justice politics” – that has gained, if not dominance, at the very least great influence with liberal
Israel needs to watch out for Joe Biden’s UN ambassador pick – opinion Read More »
Middle East, USA
Saudi Arabia’s king and its powerful crown prince Sunday congratulated Joe Biden on winning the US presidential election, state media said, a day after TV networks declared him the victor.King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sent congratulatory messages to US president-elect Biden and vice-president-elect Kamala Harris, the official Saudi Press Agency reported.It added
Mohammed bin Salman congratulates Biden over US election Read More »
Middle East, USA
NETANYA, Israel — In the 8th Nov 20 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
Israel begins human trials of Israeli Covid-19 vaccine.
A new Israeli breath test detects Covid-19 carriers even without symptoms.
An Israeli groundbreaking way to produce X-rays.
An Israeli app prevents drivers from texting while driving.
Twice-daily low-cost flights between Tel Aviv and Dubai.
Israeli maritime technology is protecting most of the world’s ships.
A new museum of Jewish history is being built in Jerusalem. [Michael Ordman]
Good News from Israel (Nov. 8, 2020) Read More »
Business & Finance, International, Jewish Religion, Michael Ordman, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, Sports & Competitions
Much remains uncertain in Tuesday’s election in the US, but for Israel, one thing is clear: It still has many friends in Congress from both parties.Leaders throughout Israel’s history have turned to Congress for support and for leverage when facing obstacles in promoting Israeli interests via the president. No prime minister has used that strategy
Bipartisan support for Israel is still alive despite ‘squad’ reelection Read More »
Middle East, USA
Twenty-five years ago this week, on Nov. 4, 1995, a right-wing extremist squeezed the trigger of a Beretta pistol and twice shot Israel’s prime minister, a war general turned practitioner of peace who had signed the 1993 Oslo Accords and Israel’s peace treaty with Jordan in 1994.Yigal Amir’s name lives in infamy. Yitzhak Rabin’s name
Editorial: Rabin’s children Read More »
Middle East