Middle East

Police claim substantial evidence in probe against Arab MK

Balad lawmaker Basel Ghattas, suspected of smuggling phones, SIM cards, to Palestinian security prisoners, decries ‘political witch-hunt’ against Arab community leaders By Times of Israel staff Joint Arab List member Basel Ghattas at his office at the Knesset in Jerusalem, on November 3, 2015. (Hadas Parush/Flash90) Israel Police said on Sunday that there is substantial […]

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Middle East

French-Israeli businessman under house arrest in Israel over Guinea mining scandal

Billionaire French-Israeli businessman Beny Steinmetz has been placed under house arrest in Israel in connection with allegations of corruption related to Guinea’s mining industry, a statement from his firm said Monday. Steinmetz, 60, will remain under house arrest until January 2. His BSG Resources (BSGR) mining company said in a statement earlier in the day

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International, Middle East

Skirt lengths, sexual misconduct charges roil Israel

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — It’s not all Arab terror, clashing demands of ultra-Orthodox and Reform Jews, concerns about what Obama might do in the coming month, Trump in the Oval Office, or barbaric Russians, Syrians, and other Muslims just over the northern border. There’s also been an explosion of concern about women’s legs, and

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Ira Sharkansky, Middle East

Nobel Peace Prize was Obama’s burden

By Barry Shaw NETANYA, Israel — Attempts to achieve peace through inaction are bound to fail. Just ask the people of Aleppo. Attempts to achieve peace through appeasement are bound to fail. Just ask Neville Chamberlain. Peace only comes from assertive action that destroys a rampaging enemy’s will to survive. Just ask Winston Churchill. World

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Barry Shaw, International, Middle East, USA

Swedish Foreign Minister tweets about trip to ‘Palestine’

Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom, who was refused meetings with Israeli ministers during her visit to the region, on Saturday tweeted about her visit to “Palestine”. “Returning from Palestine. Action is needed to save the two state solution. Settlements and demolitions thwart conditions and hope for peace,” tweeted Wallstrom, who visited Ramallah and met with

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International, Middle East

Oxfam head: Spat with Johansson over Sodastream was a mistake

The head of the Oxfam International confederation of charities admitted that the organization’s public spat with former celebrity ambassador Scarlett Johansson over her support of the Israeli company Sodastream was a mistake which cost the organization thousands of donors, the Guardian reported. Mark Goldring made the comments at a seminar which addressed the issue of

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Middle East, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

IDF general convicted of sex offenses in plea deal, won’t be jailed

After admitting new charges in front of accuser, but not rape, Ofek Buchris will be demoted to colonel By Times of Israel staff Ofek Buchris, the former IDF brigadier general accused of rape and other sexual crimes against subordinates, seen at the Jaffa military court on September 29, 2016. (Flash90) An IDF general was convicted

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Middle East

Palestinians warn Trump against relocating US embassy to Jerusalem

Ramallah/Tel Aviv (dpa) – The suggestion that the next US ambassador to Israel might relocate the embassy to Jerusalem roiled the region Friday as Israelis and Palestinians tried to assess the impact of such a specific, but weighty, change in US policy. Israel has long considered Jerusalem to be its capital. However, since the Palestinian

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Middle East, USA

Turkish Jewish author murdered in Istanbul

Beki İkala Erikli shot dead outside her apartment building; motive of killing unclear By Times of Israel staff Beki İkala Erikli (LinkedIn) A Turkish Jewish writer was murdered at her Istanbul home Thursday by an unknown shooter, local media reported. Beki İkala Erikli was shot at the entrance to her building in the Kabataş neighborhood

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Middle East

How many Jews are there in the world?

Sunday will begin the Week of Connection to Diaspora Jewry, a week dedicated to strengthening the ties between Israel and Jews in the diaspora in light of the various challenges and complications currently facing Jewry in Israel and abroad. According to the Diaspora Affairs Ministry’s statistics, there are currently 14.4 million Jews in the world,

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International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East, USA