The UN has joined Arab NGOs in criticizing Hamas for closing the Erez crossing into Israel, The Associated Press reported Thursday. Hamas shut the Erez crossing on Sunday after blaming the Jewish state for killing senior Hamas terrorist Mazen Faqha in his home last Friday. On Monday, they reopened the crossing for people going into […]
UN criticizes Hamas over crossing closure Read More »
Middle EastFor the first time, the “torch of the Jewish people” at the upcoming Yom Haatzmaut (Israel Independence Day) ceremony will be lit by a Jew who is not an Israeli. The Diaspora Ministry, together with Minister Miri Regev, Chairman of the committee for symbols and ceremonies, has established an international campaign calling on Jews in
Who will light ‘the torch of the Jewish people’? Read More »
Middle East, USA“I was so nervous. I don’t remember anything from this talk.” That’s how the first openly transgender officer in the Israel Defense Forces, Lt. Shahar Erez, recalls the time three years ago when he was training to be an officer and told his company he was trans. “Back home I already identified as a male
The Israeli Defense Forces paid for this soldier’s sex reassignment Read More »
Middle EastIsrael’s security cabinet on Thursday approved the building of the first new settlement in the occupied West Bank in two decades, even as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu negotiates with Washington on a possible curb on settlement activity. The unanimous vote in favour of construction of the new settlement in an area called Emek Shilo came
Israel approves new settlement to replace Amona Read More »
Middle EastCanada knows something about generosity. The country has opened its doors to some 40,000 Syrian refugees since November 2015. In many cases, private citizens have stepped up to sponsor the newcomers, offering their time and money to the families for one year. But many of those newcomers have now entered the critical “month 13” of
Canadians reached out to Syrian refugees. Now they hesitate to let go. Read More »
International, Middle EastBy Alon Ben-Meir NEW YORK — As we approach the sixth year of Syria’s civil war, the whole international community remains completely inept and has failed to join together in the search for a solution that could end the horrifying slaughter of thousands of innocent civilians each month. Sadly (but for obvious reasons), each
The battle over Syria’s future Read More »
Alon Ben-Meir, International, Middle East, USABritish Jewry up in arms after Sayeeda Warsi says Israeli soldiers should be prosecuted just like those who join Islamic paramilitary groups By Jenni Frazer Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, center, at a ceremony commemorating 175 men from overseas who won Britain’s highest military honor, the Victoria Cross, for service in World War I, on 26 June
Muslim baroness decries ‘loophole’ that allows UK Jews to join IDF Read More »
International, Middle EastThe U.S. State Department has informed Congress that it will proceed with a $5 billion sale of fighter jets to Bahrain, waiving concerns about the Gulf state’s human rights record that had initially delayed the deal under the Obama administration. The decision, confirmed by officials with knowledge of the matter to The New York Times,
Tillerson Waives Rights Conditions for Bahrain Arm Sale Read More »
Middle East, USAEthics Committee seeks to block lawmakers’ flights abroad paid for by organizations deemed to be Holocaust-denying or anti-Israel By Times of Israel staff El Al plane at Ben-Gurion Airport 2012 (Serge Attal/Flash90) Lawmakers will no longer be allowed to accept funding for overseas trips by organizations that support the movement to boycott Israel, that deny
Knesset to ban MK trips funded by pro-BDS groups Read More »
Middle EastNetanyahu, Kahlon agree to strip new corporation of news division and create a separate entity for state-funded current affairs programming By Raoul Wootliff Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) and Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon attend the weekly cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem on January 22, 2017. (Alex Kolomoisky/Pool) Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
Deal on new public broadcaster ends coalition crisis Read More »
Middle East
CHURACHANDPUR, India (Press Release) – The Bnei Menashe community throughout the remote northeastern Indian state of Manipur today began preparing for Passover – including by baking matzah, the holiday’s traditional unleavened bread – at the Shavei Israel Hebrew Center in Churachandpur. “The experience of seeing the entire community kneading, rolling, and then baking the dough – all
By Steve Kramer ALFEI MENASHE, Israel — All the reports that I read about the dwindling support for Israel by liberal Jews, and other Westerners, stress one thing: ignorance on the part of those who have taken an adversarial stance towards Israel. Of course, readers of my articles are very well acquainted with the facts
Israel test for American readers Read More »
Middle East, Steve KramerMoshe Cohen charged with assault, causing serious harm and breach of trust, after he was videoed beating victim By Times of Israel staff A policeman was indicted on Thursday for allegedly assaulting an Arab truck driver and a number of others, in an apparently unprovoked attack a week ago that was captured on video. Moshe
Policeman filmed attacking Arab truck driver indicted Read More »
Middle EastBy Morton A. Klein NEW YORK — Truth is not a political position. Yet, some who disagree with the Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) wrongly label it and similar groups “right wing,” “ultra right,” or even “extreme.” Hurling such labels avoids fair, reasoned, fact-based debate on the issues, and instead attempts to delegitimize us. It
ZOA president: ‘We are not right- wing’ Read More »
Middle East