On the eve of Pope Francis’ historic visit to Egypt last month, Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi quietly ratified reforms giving him new powers to make top judicial appointments — a move that judges and rights groups say threatens the remaining independence of the courts. The amendments to the judicial authorities law allow the president […]
Ignoring pleas from Israeli ambassador, local leaders in Ireland’s capital vote to raise banner in protest of 50 years since Israel captured the West Bank By Michael Riordan The Palestinian flag, far right, flies over Dublin City Hall on May 9, 2017. (Twitter) DUBLIN — The Palestinian flag flew Tuesday over City Hall here, a
Palestinian flag flies over Dublin City Hall Read More »
International, Middle EastResponding to Erdogan comments on ‘Judaization’ of Israel’s capital, president says Israel will continue to ensure freedom of religion for all faiths By Marissa Newman and Raphael Ahren Reuven Rivlin at the Western Wall after winning the presidency, June 2014. (photo credit: Yonatan Sindel/Flash90) President Reuven Rivlin on Tuesday rebuked Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
In jab at Turkey, Rivlin says Jerusalem has Jewish majority since Ottoman rule Read More »
Middle EastAbbas says he is ready to meet with Netanyahu ‘to make peace’ (JNS.org) Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas said Tuesday he is ready to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as part of President Donald Trump’s renewed peace efforts. “We affirmed to [Trump] that we are ready to cooperate with him and meet
Middle East Roundup: May 9, 2017 Read More »
Middle EastIstanbul (dpa) – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday compared Israeli policies towards Palestinians as equivalent to the racist measures implemented under the apartheid regime in South Africa. He also cautioned the United States not to move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Such a move is “extremely wrong” and such talk should
Erdogan compares Israeli policy on Palestinians to apartheid Read More »
Middle EastPalestinian terrorist prisoner Barghouti caught secretly eating during hunger strike (JNS.org) Israeli Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan revealed Sunday that convicted Palestinian terrorist Marwan Barghouti, who has led a hunger strike in Israeli prisons, has been caught secretly eating. A video released by the Israel Prison Service (IPS) shows security camera recordings of Barghouti
Middle East Roundup: May 8, 2017 Read More »
Middle EastWithout naming Breaking the Silence, Frank-Walter Steinmeier says democracy can take a critical look at itself, autocrats cannot By Raphael Ahren German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier speaking in Jerusalem on May 7, 2017. (Dov Smith/Hebrew University) German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Sunday delivered a subtle but harsh rebuke to Prime Minister Netanyahu over the latter’s refusal
Aiming at Netanyahu, German president warns against blackballing groups Read More »
International, Middle EastBy electing Ismail Haniyeh to head its political bureau, the terror group wants to show it is moderating – without, of course, accepting Israel By Avi Issacharoff Senior Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh gestures to the crowd at a rally marking the 28th anniversary of Hamas’s founding, in Gaza City, December 14, 2015. (Emad Nassar/Flash90) Saturday’s
New leader, same old Hamas, with Gazans now firmly in control Read More »
Middle EastBy David Anderson, J.D. NEW YORK — For his inaugural trip abroad our President has picked an unpredictable but thematically consistent itinerary. He’ll be stopping at the Vatican, presumably without the whole kerfuffle of a state visit in Italy, then on to Israel and Saudi Arabia. The commonality is that they are three of the very
President Trump’s three global photo-ops Read More »
International, Middle East, USAArch-terrorist and mass-murderer Marwan Barghouti, who has led a hunger strike by jailed terrorists held in Israeli prisons, has been eating in secret while maintaining the pretenses of his own hunger strike, footage released Sunday reveals. Barghouti, who is believed to be responsible for the deaths of 26 people in suicide bombings and shooting attacks
Barghouti’s ‘hunger strike’ lies caught on film Read More »
Middle EastPresident Trump displayed severe signs of a balanced approach to Israel and Palestine on Wednesday. After hosting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in February, this week he met Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the White House. In a photo op brimming with good cheer, Trump gushed optimism about the prospects for peace: it’s “not as
Can Trump Tip the Middle East Balance? Read More »
Middle East, USAThe Nationality Law was approved at noon today (Sunday) by the Ministerial Committee on Legislation at the initiative of acting committee chairman, Tourism Minister Yariv Levin. The bill was initiated by MK Avi Dichter (Likud), but due to various disagreements, its advancement has been long stuck in committee. The proposal anchors the fact that the
Nationality Law approved in Ministerial Committee Read More »
Middle EastIn letter, 52 Congress members lament State Department’s policy of leaving out the country name when US citizens are born in Israel’s capital By Times of Israel staff An illustrative photo of the US consulate in Jerusalem. (CC BY-SA, Magister/Wikimedia) Dozens of US lawmakers wrote a letter to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson last week
US lawmakers urge recognition of Jerusalem births as in Israel Read More »
Middle East, USA69 Years Young By Michael Ordman NETANYA, Israel — Despite its phenomenal success, the Modern Jewish State is still in its relative infancy. Its prospects depend largely on whether the next generation of Israelis can emulate and build upon the achievements of its predecessors. Based on what our youngsters have accomplished during the last 12
Positively Israel ~ May 7, 2017 Read More »
Michael Ordman, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education