By Alon Ben-Meir NEW YORK — The egregious violation of freedom of the press in Turkey has reached a mammoth proportion that places Turkey among the most oppressive nations for journalists. It is sadder than sad that the US and the EU, who champion free press as one of the main pillars of democracy, have
Time to dismiss Turkey from NATO? Read More »
Alon Ben-Meir, International, Middle East, USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — One of Israeli’s prime time evening news programs ran a series on what it called the Palestinian middle class. It featured glitzy hotels, shopping malls, and restaurants in Ramallah and other West Bank cities, interviews with managers and patrons, details of West Bankers, Israeli Arabs, and overseas tourists sharing in
Israel’s rising Arab class Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Stuart Winer An unsuspecting tourist from Romania made history on Tuesday by becoming tourist number 3 million to arrive in Israel this year, receiving a surprise package including a private tour by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Ioana Isac, 31, together with her partner, Mihai Georgescu, arrived on a Wizz Air flight from Bucharest in
Historic visitor number 3 million gets private Jerusalem tour from Netanyahu Read More »
International, Middle EastBy TOI staff After accusing a senior television executive of sexual harassment earlier this week, veteran Haaretz journalist Neri Livneh has now claimed sexual misconduct by a fabled news anchor. Livneh told Kan Bet Radio (formerly Israel Radio) that Haim Yavin propositioned her during a work meeting in the 1980s, promising her an enticing job
Journalist accuses famed news anchor Haim Yavin of sexual misconduct Read More »
Middle EastIranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasimi denies Iran’s alleged connection to al-Qaida, and calls the claim an “empty media whirlwind” by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency. Officials said such claims are a “shameless” attempt to falsify 9/11 records by the CIA. Qasimi’s statement followed the recent release by the CIA of documents that were seized
Iranian Officials Deny Alleged Ties to al-Qaida Read More »
Middle East, USABy TOI staff In a letter to Britain’s The Times, three prominent Jewish writers accused Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour Party of “widespread” anti-Semitism disguised as criticism of Israel and its policies. Award-winning novelist Howard Jacobson and historians and authors Simon Sebag Montefiore and Simon Schama wrote in Monday’s letter (paywall) that they were “troubled by the
3 prominent Jewish UK authors slam Corbyn’s Labour for anti-Semitism Read More »
International, Middle EastBy TOI staff The ruling Likud party and a key coalition partner are fighting over the government’s decision to shift some NIS 2 billion (some $570 million) from the Jewish National Fund to state coffers. In a cabinet vote Tuesday morning, ministers gave their okay to advancing legislation that would force JNF to transfer 80
Battle over Jewish National Fund money pits Likud against Jewish Home Read More »
Middle EastNested under a dome with geometric arabesque patterns and appearing to float on water, the Louvre Abu Dhabi is now home to Matisse, Mondrian — and George Washington. The abstract expressionism of Jackson Pollock and Mark Rothko hangs a few steps away from Henri Matisse, Vincent van Gogh and a portrait of George Washington in
Matisse meets George Washington at Louvre Abu Dhabi Read More »
Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual ArtsA minister in Britain”s Conservative government will not be fired for unauthorized meetings with senior Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, but was compelled to issue an apology Monday. Priti Patel, the Secretary of State for International Development in Theresa May”s Conservative government and a member of the party”s “Thatcherite” wing met with senior
British minister apologizes for meeting with Netanyahu Read More »
International, Middle EastArabs hurled rocks at an Israeli bus passing by an Arab village built along Route 60 in Samaria this morning, 0404 reported. The bus was reportedly passing by the school in the Arab village of Luban Ash-Sharqiya near the Jewish community of Maale Levona when it was hit by rocks. Hatzalah of Judea and Samaria
Israeli bus attacked by Arab stone-throwers in Samaria Read More »
Middle EastBy Alexander Fulbright Two confidants of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were released from police custody late Sunday night after some 15 hours of questioning in the investigation into suspected corruption in the purchase of naval vessels from a German shipbuilder. While police did not reveal the identities of the two, multiple reports named one of
Netanyahu associates released after marathon grilling in sub case Read More »
Middle EastPrime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu returned to Israel Monday following a trip to the UK marking the 100th anniversary since the Balfour Declaration proclaiming Great Britain”s support for the establishment of a Jewish national home in the historic Land of Israel. Following his return to Israel, Netanyahu addressed the recent revelation that the IDF recovered the
‘Gaza won’t get terrorists’ bodies back for free’ Read More »
Middle EastMichael Boyden Israel is holding the bodies of five Palestinians, who were killed in an underground tunnel that they were building in order to infiltrate our villages and kibbutzim for the purpose of murdering and taking hostage innocent, unarmed men, women and children living close to the Gaza Strip. Most of us would not shed
OpEd: Don’t behave like barbarians Read More »
Middle EastBy Sue Surkes A major Jewish donor to Israel is believed to be among the shareholders in an anonymous company that last year purchased several acres of former Greek Patriarchate land in the Jerusalem neighborhoods of Givat Oranim and Old Katamon. The well-known hedge fund manager and property developer Michael Steinhardt is said to be
Jewish investors believed to be behind Greek Patriarchate land buys Read More »
International, Middle East