By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — The much heralded reconciliation between Hamas (that has ruled Gaza since Israel’s withdrawal in 2005) and Fatah (that rules the West Bank) should be good news not only for Gazans, who live under terrible conditions which may now improve, but also for those who advocate a two-state solution of the
What Hamas – Fatah agreement could portend Read More »
Middle East, USAHundreds of people, including Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai, rallied at Jaffa’s Arab-Hebrew Theater Friday. The Arab-Hebrew Theater is facing a cut in the state subsidies it receives after it honored Dareen Tatour, an Israeli-Arab poet who was indicted in 2015 for incitement to violence and support of terrorism. “This is a theater that does
Tel Aviv Mayor supports theater that honored terrorists Read More »
Middle East, Theatre, Film & BroadcastIsrael on Friday decided to ease restrictions on Palestinians entering during the Jewish Sukkot holiday, which began Wednesday, the army said. On Tuesday, the army said crossings from the West Bank and Gaza into Israel would be closed to Palestinians for 11 days until midnight on October 14. But on Friday they decided those with
Israel to ease holiday restrictions for Palestinians Read More »
Middle EastOMAHA, Nebraska — Officials in a Nebraska school district have canceled scheduled talks at two high schools by a Palestinian Christian speaker due to concerns that Jewish students at one of the schools were being harassed ahead of her visit. Nora Carmi is a Palestinian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) activist from Jerusalem who’s holding
Omaha schools nix Palestinian talk amid concern Jewish students bullied Read More »
Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, USASaudi Arabia has signed a memorandum of understanding on the purchase of S-400 air defence systems from Russia’s state arms exporter. King Salman, the first sitting Saudi monarch to visit Russia, has led a delegation to Moscow that agreed joint investment deals worth several billion dollars. #SaudiArabia agrees deal for #Russia|n S400 missile defense systems
Saudi Arabia and Russia sign arms deal Read More »
International, Middle EastWASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)–AIPAC applauds the U.S. Senate for adopting the Hizballah International Financing Prevention Amendments Act of 2017 (S. 1595), which seeks to cut off the flow of resources to the terrorist group. This bipartisan legislation was introduced by Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH). This measure is particularly important in light
U.S. Senate moves against Hizballah Read More »
Middle East, USARussian President Vladimir Putin has held talks with the king of Saudi Arabia. Salman bin Abdulaziz is on an historic first visit to Russia by a monarch of the Gulf kingdom. “This is the first visit of the King of #SaudiArabia to #Russia in the history of our relations” – #Putin https://t.co/c6AEG0dTkO pic.twitter.com/Veqlhgpirv— Sputnik (@SputnikInt)
Saudi king makes historic visit to Russia Read More »
Middle East, USAWhen the Iranian pianist and composer, Amir Darabi, was accepted to Berklee College of Music this past summer, everything seemed to be going his way. He had already established himself as a piano prodigy in his home country, released a full-length debut album and performed in numerous prominent venues, including Tehran’s Roudaki Hall. He didn’t
An Iranian piano prodigy. A big dream. And an arduous visa process. Read More »
Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, USAUS President Donald Trump on Thursday insisted Iran has not acted in keeping with a deal to curb its nuclear program, days before he must decide on the future of the accord. “You will be hearing about Iran very shortly,” said Trump as he met military leaders to discuss the issue. Get The Times of
Trump meets military leaders on Iran, says announcement coming ‘shortly’ Read More »
Middle East, USAPresident Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu touted their cordial relationship during and after the president”s May trip to the Jewish state – a welcome change from the often frigid relations between Jerusalem and Washington during the eight years of the Obama administration. According to a report by Haaretz this week, however, behind
Trump: Netanyahu is ‘a bigger problem’ than Abbas Read More »
Middle East, USAIran”s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on Wednesday equated Kurdish independence with the establishment of a “new Israel” in the region. Speaking after a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Tehran and quoted by Reuters, Khamenei said the two countries should prevent Iraq”s Kurdistan region from declaring independence. “Turkey and Iran must take
Khamenei: America and Israel seek to create ‘new Israel’ Read More »
Middle East, USAA day after a 70-year-old Jewish man was found murdered in an Arab town in central Israel, questions remain regarding the nature of his murder and the details of the gruesome slaying. The victim, Reuven Shmerling, a long-time resident of Elkana in western Samaria, was found dead Wednesday afternoon in a factory he owns in
Was murder of elderly Jewish man in Arab town act of terrorism? Read More »
Middle EastBy Alon Ben-Meir NEW YORK — The concern that Iran will pursue the development of nuclear weapons once the current Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) deal expires in ten years is legitimate. But addressing these concerns cannot be achieved by nullifying the current agreement, which would only strengthen Iran’s resolve to acquire nuclear weapons. Instead,
Why U.S. should re-certify the Iran nuclear pact Read More »
Alon Ben-Meir, Middle East, USATurkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday again claimed there is a connection between the Israeli Mossad and the recently-held referendum by the Kurds in northern Iraq, claims which Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has already denied. Speaking at a joint news conference with his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani in Tehran, Erdogan said Wednesday, according to
Erdogan: Only Israel recognizes Kurdish referendum Read More »
Middle East