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 […]
IDF general convicted of sex offenses in plea deal, won’t be jailed Read More »
Middle EastBy Steve Kramer ALFE MENASHE, Israel — Question from a reader: “I have been reading quite a bit about the Amona situation and have to admit at being somewhat confused. Is the ‘outpost’ proven to be illegal? Doesn’t most of the international community consider Israel’s presence in Judea and Samaria to be illegal, regardless of
Evaluating the legal status of Judea and Samaria Read More »
Middle East, Steve KramerRamallah/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
Palestinians warn Trump against relocating US embassy to Jerusalem Read More »
Middle East, USABeki 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
Turkish Jewish author murdered in Istanbul Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Middle EastSunday 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,
How many Jews are there in the world? Read More »
International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East, USARamallah/Tel Aviv (dpa) – A leading figure in the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) on Friday warned against the relocation of the US embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The warning came after David Friedman, recently picked as future ambassador to Israel by US president-elect Donald Trump, said he expected to be based in
Palestinians warn Trump against relocating US embassy to Jerusalem Read More »
Middle East, USAIran”s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said on Wednesday that Israel could be destroyed within 25 years through a united “Palestinian struggle”, PressTV reports. Speaking during a meeting with the head of the Islamic Jihad terrorist group, Ramadan Abdullah Shalah, Khamenei praised the Palestinians” motivations and added, “The only way to liberate the holy city
Khamenei: The Zionist regime won’t exist in 25 years Read More »
Middle East, USAGaza (dpa) – The Palestinian Islamist militant movement Hamas will be able to make another prisoner swap deal with Israel, a senior Hamas leader said Friday. Four Israeli soldiers have been missing since the 50-day Israeli military offensive in the Gaza Strip in 2014. The comments by Mahmoud al-Zahar, made during a rally in Rafah
Hamas leader mentions possibility of prisoner swap with Israel Read More »
Middle EastBy Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — Several years ago I read The Pianist of Willesden Lane written by Mona Golabek about the experiences of her mother, Lisa Jura, first in Vienna and then in London. She had been sent there at the age of fourteen in the framework of the Kindertransport, the undertaking that
In praise of Mona Golabek, author and performer Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Jewish History, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual ArtsWASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday said he plans to nominate as ambassador to Israel his lawyer, a hard-liner on the Middle East who has voiced opposition to decades of U.S. policy in the region. David Friedman, who served as one of Trump’s main advisers on Israel during the campaign, vowed to perform as
Trump picks David Friedman for Israel ambassadorship Read More »
Middle East, USAFor two days and two nights in December, the Israelis and their American friends in Washington, D.C., convened among the carolers and Christmas trees at a luxury hotel near the White House. It was supposed to be Haim Saban’s political bar mitzvah, the ultimate celebration of his president-making powers. In 2016, the billionaire emerged as
Will Donald Trump Be Good for Israel? Read More »
Middle East, USANEW YORK (Press Release) — The American Jewish Committee (AJC) is horrified by the wanton destruction of Aleppo, Syria’s third largest city, by the Bashar al-Assad regime, Russia and Iran. “For more than five-and-a-half years, Syrian President Assad has waged a ruthless war against his own people, leaving well over 500,000 dead, millions displaced within
AJC condemns massacres by Syria, Iran and Russia Read More »
Middle East, USAThe prosecution for the Haifa district submitted an indictment and request for arrest to the district court against an 18-year-old and youth from the Arab town of Umm al-Fahm near Haifa for setting a fire near the Jewish community of Mei Ami in that area during the recent wave of fires throughout Israel. The indictment
Arab arsonists indicted for fire near Haifa Read More »
Middle EastKnesset speaker and lawmakers from both sides of the aisle say Nissan Slomiansky should step down; Jewish Home MK denies allegations By Raoul Wootliff Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein (L) and committee chairman Nissan Slomiansky attend a Constitution, Law, and Justice, Committee meeting, February 23, 2016. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90) In a rare move, Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein
Calls grow for MK to resign over sexual harassment claims Read More »
Middle East