Middle East

UN rights official slammed for urging economic sanctions on Israel

By Stuart Winer Israel’s ambassador criticized a United Nations human rights official Thursday for urging economic and travel sanctions against Israel to force a withdrawal from the West Bank. Danny Danon said the United Nations Human Rights Council had “lost its legitimacy,” after the comments by Canadian law professor Michael Lynk, who is the council’s […]

UN rights official slammed for urging economic sanctions on Israel Read More »

International, Middle East

Berkeley student newspaper apologizes for Alan Dershowitz cartoon decried as anti-Semitic

The University of California Berkeley student newspaper has apologized for an editorial cartoon of Harvard Law School professor Alan Dershowitz that had been denounced as anti-Semitic. “We have seen with sharp clarity the pain and anger caused by an editorial cartoon that ran online in our opinion section on Oct. 18, and we apologize for

Berkeley student newspaper apologizes for Alan Dershowitz cartoon decried as anti-Semitic Read More »

Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

‘Almost all Israeli students in Belgium are Mossad agents’

A Belgian academic said that nearly all Israeli students in Belgium are “Mossad Agents” at the screening of an Israeli movie at a film festival this week. Professor Marianne Blume was invited to speak at the screening of ‘This is my Land,’ a film directed by French-Israeli director Tamara Erde addressing the competing narratives of

‘Almost all Israeli students in Belgium are Mossad agents’ Read More »

International, Middle East

Another Canadian university rejects BDS

The University of Winnipeg Students” Association (UWSA) on Wednesday voted against a motion in favor of adopting the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement. Anti-Israel activists were unable to persuade a critical mass of University of Winnipeg students to support this initiative, thanks to students who organized the campaign opposing it. The move was

Another Canadian university rejects BDS Read More »

International, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education

PLO says Israel ‘annexation’ plan means end of two-state solution

Senior Palestinian official Hanan Ashrawi says Israeli plans to incorporate West Bank settlement blocs around Jerusalem into the city could kill hopes for an independent Palestinian state. A member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud party has said that draft legislation to form a “Greater Jerusalem” municipality would go to a ministerial committee on

PLO says Israel ‘annexation’ plan means end of two-state solution Read More »

Middle East

High Court again rules Tel Aviv mini-marts can open on Shabbat

By Tamar Pileggi The High Court of Justice on Thursday rejected a petition that would prevent Tel Aviv mini-markets from operating on Shabbat, infuriating ultra-Orthodox lawmakers who vowed to bypass the court with fresh Knesset legislation.. In her final ruling from the bench, outgoing Justice Miriam Naor underscored the need for religious pluralism in Israel.

High Court again rules Tel Aviv mini-marts can open on Shabbat Read More »

Middle East

Fatah continues campaign against Balfour Declaration

The Fatah movement headed by Mahmoud Abbas, who also serves as Palestinian Authority (PA) chairman, on Wednesday condemned British Prime Minister Theresa May, who announced her intention to officially mark the 100th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration. Munib al-Jar’ub, the Fatah official in charge of public diplomacy, said that May’s remarks express a bias toward

Fatah continues campaign against Balfour Declaration Read More »

International, Middle East

Poll: Overwhelming majority of Israelis oppose ‘Immunity Law’

A new poll commissioned by Channel 10 found that an overwhelming majority of Israelis oppose a controversial bill that would bar police investigations into a sitting prime minister. According to the poll, fully 71% of Jewish Israelis said that that they oppose the law while 19% said they supported it. Ten percent said that they

Poll: Overwhelming majority of Israelis oppose ‘Immunity Law’ Read More »

Middle East

Report: Haredi MKs to vote against ‘Greater Jerusalem’ bill

Haredi MKs from United Torah Judaism party are planning to vote against the “Greater Jerusalem” bill proposed by Minister Yisrael Katz (Likud), Kan reported Thursday. This coming Sunday, the Ministerial Committee for Legislation is set to vote on the “Greater Jerusalem” bill, potentially securing coalition support for the proposal. If passed by the committee, the

Report: Haredi MKs to vote against ‘Greater Jerusalem’ bill Read More »

Middle East

Greater Jerusalem bill to save Jewish majority faces first test

Nearly two decades after the first Netanyahu government abandoned plans to extend the municipal borders of Jerusalem to include Jewish towns in Judea and Samaria, a similar proposal is heading to a critical vote which could ensure its passage during the Knesset”s winter session. Dubbed the “Greater Jerusalem” law, the bill would annex several towns

Greater Jerusalem bill to save Jewish majority faces first test Read More »

Middle East

Jewish Agency snubs Netanyahu ahead of upcoming board meeting

By Raphael Ahren The Jewish Agency did not reach out to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of its upcoming conference in Jerusalem, neither asking him to address the delegates nor to meet privately with the organization’s top leadership, The Times of Israel has learned. The Jewish Agency’s snub highlights the bitterness of the ongoing dispute

Jewish Agency snubs Netanyahu ahead of upcoming board meeting Read More »

International, Middle East, USA

IDF reservists tell of their outreach to Arabs, Jews

  By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO –Of course, Israeli Reserve soldiers Ilan and Iyyar can talk about war.  Israelis grow up with the threat of it.  After high school, young men and women alike are conscripted into the Army, where they learn how to defend their country against external threats.  Iyyar, in fact, has

IDF reservists tell of their outreach to Arabs, Jews Read More »

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