Middle East

Police open probe into Breaking the Silence official after confession

Investigation comes after justice minister asks for investigation of Dean Issacharoff, taped describing how he beat an unarmed Palestinian protester By Jacob Magid Screen capture from video in which Breaking the Silence spokesman Dean Issacharoff described how he beat a passive Palestinian protester in Hebron, filmed at a rally in April, 2017. (YouTube/hakolhayehudi) Police opened […]

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Middle East

Will Qatar agree to Arab countries’ new list of demands? Unlikely

BEIRUT — Four Arab countries locked in a blockade of Qatar since June 5 have issued a list of 13 demands posted online by Doha-based Al-Jazeera that the Persian Gulf nation is unlikely to accept: 1) Scale back diplomatic ties with Iran; close Iranian diplomatic missions in Qatar; expel members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard; cut

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Middle East

Abbas said enraged by Kushner meet, refuses to cut any prisoner salaries

Ramallah reportedly accuses US delegation of being mouthpiece for Israeli government, rebuffs watered-down demand to stop paying 600 terrorists By Times of Israel staff US presidential adviser Jared Kushner meets with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah on June 21, 2017 (PA press office) A meeting between Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and senior

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Middle East, USA

Reading into State Department readouts

By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — Following high-level meetings with foreign leaders, the U.S. State Department issues a “readout,” an official statement to cover and characterize the event. This week, Jared Kushner, assistant to the president, and Jason Greenblatt, special representative for international negotiations, met with Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud

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Middle East, Shoshana Bryen, USA

France’s Macron Endorses Russia, Assad Against ISIS

The recently elected French president said Wednesday he is looking to drastically change his country’s course on Syria and will no longer seek the removal of the war-torn country’s leader. The move comes as tensions between the U.S. and Russia escalate over Syria’s future. In an interview with eight European newspapers, French President Emmanuel Macron

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International, Middle East

Iraqi General: Bombing of Mosul’s Grand Mosque a ‘Historical Crime’

Islamic State fighters on Wednesday blew up Mosul’s Grand Mosque of al-Nuri, one of Iraq’s most important architectural and religious landmarks, as security forces closed in on the historic site, according to Iraqi and U.S. commanders. They dismissed claims by IS propagandists accusing coalition warplanes of destroying the mosque where jihadist leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi

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Middle East

Kushner in Middle East

With no previous diplomatic experience, Jared Kushner has been talking peace in the Middle East. US President Donald Trump’s special adviser, who also happens to be his son-in-law, met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a friend of his father, in Jerusalem. Ok, I’m confused now. Is Jared Kushner the Secretary of State? If not,

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Middle East, USA

In landmark ruling, El Al ordered to end policy of asking women to move seats

Holocaust survivor Renee Rabinowitz wins suit against Israel’s national carrier over flight attendants’ request she change place after ultra-Orthodox man refused to sit beside her By Raoul Wootliff Passengers observes the runway from a window at Israel’s Ben-Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv, April 21, 2013. (Flash90) Israel’s national carrier El Al must no longer

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Middle East, Travel and Food, USA

Noisy argument endemic to Israeli, U.S. democracies

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Democracy is a noisy business. Neither Israelis nor Americans need to be reminded. The commotions surrounding Donald Trump and Benyamin Netanyahu have a history, one longer than the other reflecting Bibi’s span at the top of government, and the noise focused on both seems to be ascending. Will they end

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Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USA

In a shake-up, Saudi king names son Mohammed bin Salman new crown prince

BEIRUT — Saudi Arabia’s King Salman on Wednesday appointed his 31-year-old son, Mohammed bin Salman, as crown prince, replacing the country’s counter-terrorism czar with the young activist leader at a time when the kingdom is struggling with low oil prices, a diplomatic crisis in Qatar, war in Yemen and a battle with Iran for regional

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Middle East