Iraq has declared victory over ISIL militants. Three years after the group calling itself Islamic State overran about a third of Iraqi territory, the government says the last of ISIL fighters have been driven from the country. Haider al-Abadi, the Iraqi Prime Minister, said in a televised address: “Honourable Iraqis: your land has been completely […]
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Middle EastThe head of the Arab League has called US President Donald Trump’s decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital “dangerous and unacceptable” and a “flagrant attack on a political solution” to the Israeli- Palestinian conflict. The statement by Ahmed Aboul-Gheit, secretary-general of the regional organisation, came at the start of an emergency meeting of foreign
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Middle East, USASheikh Ramadan Elsabagh WASHINGTON – Following President Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, a Texas-based Islamic cleric has posted a recorded prayer on his Facebook page calling for Israel’s destruction, along with “their allies, and those who assist them and those who allowed them into the abodes of the Muslims.” While Sheikh Ramadan Elsabagh
Texas imam calls for Israel’s destruction – in Arabic Read More »
Middle East, USAUS President Donald Trump did not invite leaders of the Reform movement or J Street officials to the White House Hanukkah party, CBS News reported. J Street, a leftist advocacy group, in August blasted Trump as being “ignorant” after he refused to endorse a two-state solution. On Tuesday, a day before the much-anticipated statement by
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Middle East, USAIsrael”s Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon addressed a special session of the Security Council convened to discuss US President Donald Trump”s announcement on Jerusalem. Israel Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon thanked President Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley by saying that “we are grateful to
Second Temple coin at the UN Security Council Read More »
International, Middle EastJewish Home Chairman and Education Minister Naftali Bennett on Saturday evening told Channel 2’s “Meet the Israeli Press” program that he intends to run for prime minister when Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is done serving in the role. “I think that this government is a good nationalist government,” Bennett said. “It’s a government led
Jewish Home leader: I will run for prime minister Read More »
Middle EastBy Donald H. Harrison LA JOLLA, California – The paradox of the border between Israel and Jordan is that, on the one hand, the cold peace between the two countries has resulted in some laudable cooperative projects. On the other hand, the political situation in the Middle East is such that too much attention given
The paradox at the Israel- Jordan border Read More »
Middle East, San Diego CountyAl-Azhar’s Grand Imam Ahmed al-Tayeb cancelled a meeting with US Vice President Mike Pence after President Donald Trump’s move to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, Al-Azhar said Friday. In a statement, Al-Azhar, Egypt’s highest Sunni institution, said Tayeb had reversed his previous decision to meet Pence, who is due to travel to Egypt
Grand imam of Egypt’s Al-Azhar cancels meeting with US VP Read More »
Middle East, USABy Maha Nassar, Assistant Professor in the School of Middle Eastern and North African Studies, University of Arizona. When President Donald Trump on Dec. 5 recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, he not only effectively endorsed Israel’s annexation of East Jerusalem, which Palestinians have also long claimed as their own – he also radically
What will Trump’s declaration on Jerusalem mean to Palestinians? Read More »
Middle East, USAWorld leaders rallied Friday behind Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri, seeking to re-legitimize him on the international stage days after he rescinded what had been a shock resignation from office last month. The five permanent U.N. Security Council nations – Britain, China, France, Russia and the U.S. – voiced support for Mr. Hariri at a
Saad Hariri, Lebanon PM, back in power as U.S. and others rally against Hezbollah Read More »
Middle EastGil Troy The Union for Reform Judaism is holding its Biennial in Boston this week. I know nothing about their governance procedures, but hope they pass — by acclamation — a resolution supporting President Donald Trump’s move recognizing “Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.” The resolution should affirm: Such a resolution, even if accompanied by
Is Reform Judaism forgetting its Zionism? Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle East, USAOn a ridge above a shallow valley in southernmost Lebanon, Lt. Alejandro Colado Corzo looks out across the troublesome border that he is supposed to monitor. “Everything behind that little hill is Israel,” says the Spanish UN peacekeeper during a brief stop on an armed patrol. “We will wait and see if we can watch
Keeping the peace on the Israel-Lebanon border Read More »
Middle EastThe anger and frustration in the Arab world, sparked by Washington’s controversial policy shift on Jerusalem’s status as the capital of Israel, could be a boon for Iranian-backed efforts to undermine the Jewish state and foment international support for Palestine. Tehran along with Lebanese proxy Hezbollah and Hamas, the Palestinian terror group backed by Iran,
Hardliners look to leverage Trump shift on Jerusalem to Iran’s advantage Read More »
Middle East, USAHundreds of Muslims attended Friday prayers in front of the White House to protest President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Responding to the call of American Muslim organizations, worshippers laid out their prayer mats at a park in front of the president’s residence. Wearing traditional Palestinian keffiyeh scarves or
Muslims pray outside White House to protest Trump Jerusalem move Read More »
Middle East, USA