Director Joseph Cedar insists the character — though evocative of his uncle, whose cash-stuffed envelopes landed Olmert in prison — isn’t based on anyone in particular By Jessica Steinberg To Israelis, the premise of Josheph Sedar’s latest film might seem achingly familiar: It tells the story of a New York Jew who does exorbitant favors […]
In Israel, everyone knows Richard Gere’s ‘Norman’ Read More »
Middle East, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USAIt’s been a busy year for executioners—at least in the Middle East. On January 15, the kingdom of Bahrain shot and killed three men in its first executions since 2010. Ten days later, Kuwait led seven men to the gallows in its first state-sanctioned killings since 2013. Then, on March 4, Jordan hung 15 men
Arab Middle East Carrying Out Mass Executions Read More »
Middle EastWASHINGTON — The United States will host the first major meeting since 2014 of a 68-nation coalition formed to fight Islamic State, administration officials announced Thursday. The conference is set for March 22-23, and the U.S. contingent will be led by Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, in a rare high-profile role. The meeting will underscore
US to host 68-nation anti-Islamic State conference Read More »
International, Middle East, USAAt least 26 people were killed Wednesday night, and up to 67 were wounded by suicide bombers who blew themselves up at a wedding party in a village near the Iraqi city of Tikrit, local officials and medics said Thursday. No terror group has claimed responsibility for the attack in Hajjaj village, which is some
Suicide Bombers Kills 26 At Tikrit Wedding Read More »
Middle EastThe top Republican in the Senate said Thursday that Mexico won’t end up paying for President Trump’s border wall. “Uh, no,” Mitch McConnell said flatly, when asked at a briefing hosted by Politico. He also said that a wall all across the 1,950-mile border may not be needed, though he said he trusts Homeland Security
Mitch McConnell says Mexico won’t pay for wall Read More »
Middle East, USACOLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina House on Thursday overwhelmingly passed an anti-Semitism bill that pro-Palestinian student groups denounced last month as an effort to suppress criticism of Israel on the state’s college campuses. House members voted 103-3 in favor of state Rep. Alan Clemmons’ bill. The Horry Republican assured representatives that his proposal addresses
Anti-Semitism bill passes South Carolina House Read More »
Middle East, USAJoint List MKs give their blessing to volunteerism initiative that is not connected to the army or government, but puts local Arab councils in charge By Dov Lieber Joint (Arab) List MKs Ayman Odeh (left), Masud Ghnaim (center) and Jamal Zahalqsa (right) attend a conference on volunteerism in Kfar Qassem on March 4, 2017. (Courtesy)
In first, Arab Israeli leaders back national service programs Read More »
Middle EastDavid Friedman, Donald Trump, Ivanka Trump WASHINGTON – Attorney David Friedman was approved for a confirmation as the next U.S. ambassador to Israel Thursday morning by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in a 12-9 bipartisan vote. The approval sends President Donald Trump’s nomination to the full Senate where Friedman is expected to be confirmed with
Senate committee approves Israel ambassador nominee Read More »
Middle East, USABritish Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson warned Israel on a visit Wednesday that it had a stark choice to make in its dealings with the Palestinians: two states or an “apartheid system.” Britain’s top diplomat made the comments on a 24-hour stop to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Reuven Rivlin in Jerusalem, Israeli
Britain: Israel Must Choose Between Peace and Apartheid Read More »
International, Middle EastIn the West Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani was widely regarded as a reformer. For many Iranians, he was the disciple of Ayatollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic, and the one who took responsibility for its crimes. President of parliament since 1980, he was appointed commander-in-chief of the Iranian armies in 1988 by Khomeini,
Rafsanjani’s death strikes major blow for Iran’s reformers Read More »
Middle EastCINCINNATI, Ohio (Press Release) –Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) and the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center announce the formation of Xact Medical, a new company that will seek to commercialize the Fast Intelligent Needle Delivery (FIND) system. The FIND system uses robotics and ultrasound to guide and insert a needle into a patient’s body.
Robot needle will help find that vein Read More »
Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, USARussian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu will convene on Thursday to discuss the “current situation in the Middle East, particularly in light of joint efforts to combat international terrorism,” the Kremlin said on Monday. The Israeli-Palestinian peace process will also be on the agenda, according to the Kremlin. At the start
Expert: PM aims to block Hezbollah enclave in Syria Read More »
International, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — There is a tantalizing parallel between what the Jews did in the first century, and what the Palestinians did in the 20th century. We know of two violent confrontations between groups of Jews in ancient times. One led to the story of Hanukah, when Mattathias Maccabee killed a Jew who
Arabs have not yet had their Altalena Read More »
Jewish History, Middle EastA Jordanian soldier who murdered seven Israeli schoolgirls during a class trip in 1997 will be released after serving 20 years in prison, an official in Jordan’s government said on Tuesday, according to The Associated Press. Mohammed Momani, a spokesman for the government in Amman, said that terrorist Ahmed Daqamseh is to be freed next
Jordanian terrorist who killed schoolgirls to be released Read More »
Middle East