Middle East

At final Hanukkah party, Obama extols religious freedom, ignores elephant in room

Five weeks before Trump assumes power, president tells American Jews: ‘We look forward to working with you on the other side’ By Eric Cortellessa Mika Almog, granddaughter of the late former Israeli president Shimon Peres, lights a menorah candle as Rabbi Rachel Isaacs says a blessing during a Hanukkah reception in The East Room at […]

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Jewish Religion, Middle East, USA

In first, Israeli company convicted of bribing foreign official

NIP Global fined by Tel Aviv court for paying ministry director general in Lesotho to advance business interests By Times of Israel staff Maseru, the capital of Lesotho. An Israeli company was convicted for bribing a government official of the African country. (CC BY, OER Africa, Flickr) An Israeli company was found guilty on Thursday

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International, Middle East

Tillerson nomination curbs some Israeli ardor for Trump

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — There is no better example of political dynamics than the election of the political outsider with an unrestrained set of tongue and hands, Donald Trump. What’s next? is the great question bothering and/or tantalizing Americans and all who depend on them to greater or lesser measure. Uncertainty is a close

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Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USA

A travel case filled with love for Israel

By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – As the widow of billionaire Carnival Cruise Lines founder Ted Arison, Lin Arison has had the chance to travel wherever she wants to around the world.  The Carnival Corporation owns not only Carnival Cruise Lines, but such other cruise lines as Princess Cruises, Cunard Lines, Holland-America, Seabourn Cruises,

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Middle East, Travel and Food

Netanyahu meets Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday was welcomed at the presidential palace in Astana by an honor guard and the national anthems of both countries. Netanyahu then held a private meeting with Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, followed by an expanded meeting. This is the first visit to Kazakhstan by an Israeli Prime Minister. The

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International, Middle East

Deputy mayor: Moving US embassy to Jerusalem embarrasses Israel

Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem Ofer Berkovitch turned to Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Moshe Kachlon, saying the Israeli government should move the offices it maintains in Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, before President-elect Donald Trump moves the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Israel’s capital city. Berkovitch, who also serves as chairman of

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Middle East, USA

Hamas official says group is now ‘leading’ missile-maker in Arab world

Member of terror group’s political bureau boasts of military capabilities, praises leadership under which he claims ‘nobody has died of hunger or anything’ By Times of Israel staff Hamas political bureau member Fathi Hammad speaks to Al-Aqsa TV, December 8, 2016. (Screenshot/MEMRI) A senior Hamas official said that the terror group has built a so-called

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Middle East

Married couple to go head-to-head in international Bible contest

The academic pair, who hit it off over their mutual love of Tanach, will each represent their home countries of Canada and the US in the upcoming Jerusalem-based competition By Cathryn J. Prince NEW YORK — This married couple is most definitely not on the same team and they couldn’t be happier. On December 28,

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International, Middle East

Why Are These Muslim States Hosting Benjamin Netanyahu?

Your browser does not support the video tag. Netanyahu Eyes Economic Boost Through Israel-Turkey Deal Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday embarked on a landmark visit to two Muslim-majority nations, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. It is historically significant as no Israeli leader has traveled to the former Soviet Republics of Central Asia in the 25

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International, Middle East

President Aliyev: Jewish community important factor in Azerbaijan-Israel relations

Jewish community is a very active part of Azerbaijani society and they contribute a lot to the development of the country, said Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev at the one on one meeting with the visiting Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu. “It is a very important factor in our bilateral relations,” Ilham Aliyev told Netanyahu. Benjamin Netanyahu,

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International, Middle East

Racist Violence and Déjà Vu in Greece

The situation on the Greek eastern Aegean islands housing the so-called refugee “hotspots” has taken a dangerous turn, with racially motivated attacks on the rise. The European Union needs to act to head off a full-blown surge in anti-refugee rhetoric and violence. In the latest major incident, in late November, suspected far-right extremists—allegedly with links

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International, Middle East