Middle East

Employee guide warns of overbearing Israelis

‘You may feel an Israeli is attacking you’ in voice, facial expressions and body language, Israeli-founded international gambling firm tells staff By Times of Israel staff Illustrative image of a businesswoman threatening her colleague. (iStock by Getty Images) Israelis are direct, aggressive and unapologetic, according to a tech company’s instruction manual training staff for good […]

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Middle East

Ivanka: A fitting successor to Queen Esther?

By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Someone in my synagogue asked me an interesting question about Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner: What kind of Halakhic dispensation was given to them to drive on the Sabbath to the Inauguration of the President? The same question came up recently when the Trump entourage

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Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Middle East, USA

Adversaries throw dubious charges against Israel, hoping something perhaps will stick

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM –We live well despite the nonsense the comes from those who think of themselves as the worthies of the world, as well as our neighbors, and occasional waves of violence. It’s the Jewish condition, carried over along with the strength of Israel and its capacity to protect us from the worst

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Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USA

Liberman seems to confirm Trump leaked Israeli intel

In radio interview, defense minister says ‘repairs’ were made after US president divulged info to Russian officials By Judah Ari Gross Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman attends a Defense and Foreign Affairs Committee meeting at the Knesset on March 6, 2017. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90) Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman said Wednesday that Israel made changes to its intelligence-sharing

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Middle East, USA

Why did a Russian Orthodox family restore a Siberian Jewish cemetery?

After memorializing the Jews who once lived just north of the Mongolian border, the Chernykh family is brought to Israel by Toronto Jews as token of thanks By Renee Ghert-Zand On an evening in early May, Russian grandmother Taisya Chernykh and her family collapsed into chairs in the lobby of their Jerusalem hotel after long

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International, Jewish History, Middle East

Fighting terrorism regardless of the source

By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump, speaking in Riyadh, named Iran as a source of terrorism and destruction in the Middle East.  At the same time, he politely but firmly demanded that the Sunni Arab establishment take responsibility for its role in the spread of jihadist ideology and jihadist terror. Wahabi ideological purity backed

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International, Middle East, USA

Rouhani urges US to drop ‘hostile’ policies towards Iran

Iran’s re-elected President Hassan Rouhani gestures during a press conference in Tehran, capital of Iran, on May 22, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua] TEHRAN – Iran’s re-elected President Hassan Rouhani said Monday that United States should drop its “hostile” policies towards the Islamic republic. In the past, “Iran and the United States have experienced bends and turns in

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Middle East, USA

Trump the deal maker leaves Israel with no sign that a deal is in the making

JERUSALEM — President Donald Trump wrapped up a two-day visit to Israel and the West Bank on Tuesday without evidence of progress toward renewing talks between Israel and the Palestinians. While the president reiterated his desire to broker a peace deal, his visit produced no announcement on steps toward renewing negotiations. In public remarks in

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Middle East, USA

Texts of President Trump’s speeches in Israel, P.A.

  1-Welcome ceremony with Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem (May 22) PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU:  President Trump, Donald, Sara and I are absolutely delighted to welcome you and Melania to the Prime Minister’s residence in Jerusalem, the eternal capital of the Jewish people, the united capital of the Jewish state. We’ve known each other for

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International, Middle East, USA

Reactions, sidebars to Trump’s Israel visit

AIPAC commends Trump’s statements on U.S. – Israel relationship WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) — AIPAC commends President Donald J. Trump’s historic visit to Israel, which reflects the deep and enduring relationship between the two critical allies. We appreciate that the president went to the Jewish state as part of his first foreign trip in office—and

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Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Bennett’s mid-handshake message to Trump: Recognize Jerusalem

Education Minister Naftali Bennett (Jewish Home) may be meeting one-on-one with President Trump during his two-day trip to Israel, but he found a way to get his message across personally to the president nevertheless. Shortly after landing in Ben Gurion Airport Monday afternoon, President Trump shook hands with members of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu”s cabinet.

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Middle East, USA