Middle East

Natalie Portman is a fine actress, but …

First of two articles By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Lately, it seems as though Natalie Portman has transformed herself into a human lightning rod. She created a storm of controversy and gave the Palestinians in Gaza far more respectability than they deserved by canceling plans to receive a prestigious Genesis Award

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Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Middle East, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Diaspora criticism better than no engagement with Israel

By Kenneth Bob NEW YORK — As a student at the University of California at Berkeley in the post-Six Day War period, our Radical Jewish Union supported much of the left’s US domestic and foreign policy agenda. On the Israeli-Palestinian situation we diverged from both the New Left and the organized Jewish community, stating in our

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International, Middle East, USA

U.S. State Dept.: Iran lied about its N-program

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) — The United States State Department issued the following comment by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in response to Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech outlining ways in which he said Iran has lied about its nuclear program.  A transcript follows: SECRETARY POMPEO — For many years, the Iranian regime has

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Middle East, USA

Reactions to speech by Netanyahu on Iran

SAN DIEGO (SDJW) — Reactions to Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech on what he described as Iran’s nuclear deception were mixed within the Jewish community.  Following are statements from organizations within the community: AIPAC — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed startling new evidence today that Iran has been lying to the international community about

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Middle East, USA

Text of Netanyahu speech on Iran’s nuclear deception

JERUSALEM (Press Release) – In a televised address, Israel’s Prime Minister said his country had obtained dramatic proof that Iran has been lying to the world about both its nuclear program and its intentions.  Following is a transcript of Netanyahu’s speech, provided by his office. PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU:  Good evening. Tonight, we’re going to show

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International, Middle East, USA

Jewish trivia quiz: Verne Troyer

By Mark D. Zimmerman MELVILLE, New York — Actor Verne Troyer, best known for playing Mini-Me in the Austin Powers movies, died last week. In 2011, he visited Israel. Besides visiting the Western Wall, what else did Troyer do in Israel? A. Troyer, a Catholic, was in Israel to speak at the Youth Summit for Peace, sponsored by

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Mark D. Zimmerman, Middle East, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Trivia, Humor & Satire

A journalist’s life in David Feldman’s memoir

Irreverent Forever: True Tales From a Newspaperman’s Outrageously Rewarding Life by David Arledge Feldman; © 2018, Gray Castle Publishing, ISBN 9781987-713190; 226 pages plus appendix and acknowledgments. By Donald H. Harrison   SAN DIEGO – Journalist David Arledge Feldman inherited his father’s sense of humor, but not his Jewish religion.  For most of his life,

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Middle East, San Diego County, USA

For Brown Widow Spiders, sex leads to cannibalism

BEER-SHEVA, Israel (Press Release) — Male brown widow spiders seek to mate with older, less-fertile females who are 50 percent more likely to eat them after sex, according to Israeli researchers in a study published in the journal Animal Behaviour. Researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem and The Volcani

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Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education

IsraelFest offered plenty to do at Liberty Station

Story by Donald H. Harrison; Photos by Shor M. Masori SAN DIEGO – A trip to the IsraelFest on Sunday led to Camelot. In this case, Camelot was a well-behaved camel, wearing an intricately woven Middle Eastern blanket over his saddle. He posed regally for photographs and graciously tolerated strokes and pats from admiring humans. 

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Donald H. Harrison, Middle East, San Diego County, Shor M. Masori