The Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem rejected on Wednesday evening the criticism of the State Department in Washington over Israel”s approval of construction of homes on government-owned land in Shilo for residents who will be evicted from the community of Amona. “The 98 housing units approved in Shilo are not “new settlements”. The units will be […]
Israel rejects State Department criticism Read More »
Middle East, USAClose to 150 Iranian lawmakers this week signed a bill to significantly reduce the number of people the Islamic Republic executes on drug trafficking charges, but the reform is already facing stiff opposition. Iran continues to be among the countries that execute the highest number of their own citizens. Tehran put at least 977 people
Iranian lawmakers introduce bill to cut down on executions Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — It isn’t easy summarizing the relationships between Jews and Arabs in Israel, or extending that to Israeli Jews and Palestinians of the West Bank and Gaza. Animosity is more apparent than accommodation in most summaries of Israeli and Palestinian history. Yet accommodation has been more apparent than bloodshed. There has been
Keeping Arab – Israeli tensions in perspective Read More »
Middle East, USAIsraeli tanks fired on Hamas targets in the northern Gaza Strip on Wednesday in response to a rocket that landed in southern Israel earlier in the day, the army said. According to Palestinian reports, the IDF tanks struck sites in Beit Hanoun, on the northeastern corner of the coastal enclave. The army would not immediately
IDF hits targets in northern Gaza in response to rocket strike Read More »
Middle EastBritain’s heir to the throne, Prince Charles of Wales, quietly visited his grandmother’s grave at a Jerusalem convent on Friday following his attendance at the funeral of former president Shimon Peres. Charles stopped at the Mount of Olives’ Church of Mary Magdalene before heading back to the UK, where his paternal grandmother Princess Alice of
Prince Charles secretly visited grandmother’s grave while in Jerusalem Read More »
International, Middle EastJewish billionaire Ronald Lauder, who has been considered for many years to be a personal friend of Prime Minister Netanyahu, was taken for police questioning after he participated in Peres’ funeral, Channel 2 reported. The Israeli police requested that Lauder testify against the Netanyahu family. According to the report, Lauder, who is the president of
Jewish billionaire detained to testify against Netanyahu Read More »
Middle East, USAWhen I heard Canadian-Iranian professor Homa Hoodfar was released from the notorious Evin prison and left Iran safely after months of incarceration, I was relieved, as I have a sense of what she went through. In 1981, my political dissent and human rights activities landed me in Iranian prison for 11 years – six of
A bomb blast killed at least 20 people at a Kurdish wedding in the northeast Syrian city of Hasaka, mostly controlled by Kurdish forces who liberated areas of the city from the Islamic State militant group (ISIS) earlier this year. A monitoring group, a Kurdish militia and Syrian state media offered differing accounts of the
Syria: Bomb at Kurdish Wedding Kills 20 in Hasakah City Read More »
Middle EastBy Steve Kramer ALFE MENASHE, Israel –I recently received this question from Jim, a loyal reader: Have you any idea how many “Palestinians” live in refugee camps? I read a particularly disturbing article from a generally accurate source that states, “Palestinians in exile have mostly lived for generations in refugee camps.” That statement sounds like
What about those refugee camps? Read More »
Middle East, Steve KramerSome of the world’s top female chess players may boycott the 2017 Women’s World Championships, to be held in Iran, after being told they would need to cover their heads during the tournament. The World Chess Federation (FIDE) has now come under criticism for agreeing to Iran’s strict clothing requirements for women. US Women’s Champion
Women threaten Iran chess contest boycott over need to cover up Read More »
International, Middle East, Sports & Competitions, USAStates that refuse to help resettle Syrian refugees are guilty of illegal discrimination, a federal appeals court ruled Monday, delivering a judicial rebuke to GOP vice presidential nominee Mike Pence, who as Indiana’s governor had tried to halt Syrian resettlement. Judge Richard Posner, writing for the three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for
Court rules states have to accept Syrian refugees Read More »
Middle East, USAOmri Balit IDF Spokesperson’s Unit My name is Omri Balit and I was born in the USA. My parents grew up in Israel and moved to the states before I was born because of my father”s work. I was born in New York but I grew up in Los Angeles. As a teen, I took
Apples, honey, and fatigues Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle EastPresident Barack Obama on Sunday wished the Jewish people a Shana Tova (Happy New Year) on the occasion of Rosh Hashanah, for the final time as President of the United States. “For me personally, my last Rosh Hashanah in the White House is a chance to reflect on the great privilege I”ve had as president
Shana Tova from President Obama Read More »
Middle East, USAIran on Saturday rejected German Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel’s demand that it recognize Israel in order to normalize relations with Germany. A spokesman for Iran’s Foreign Ministry who was quoted by Press TV made clear that the Islamic Republic would “never” recognize Israel as a precondition for normalizing ties with Germany. “Ties between Iran and
Iran rejects Germany’s demand on Israel Read More »
International, Middle East