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 EastThirty-three percent of Israelis approve of Binyamin Netanyahu”s service as Prime Minister, a new Panels Politics poll indicates, while 59% of Israelis disapprove of Mr. Netanyahu. According to the poll, published Sunday morning by Maariv, Prime Minister Netanyahu still retains leads over possible challengers to the premiership – but his Likud party would nevertheless likely
Lapid opens wide lead over Netanyahu in latest poll Read More »
Middle EastTel Aviv (dpa) – Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should not have shaken Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ hand at the funeral of Shimon Peres, Israel’s justice minister said on local radio Sunday. Ayelet Shaked, of the conservative Jewish Home party, told the station in an interview that she did not know what other action Netanyahu should
Netanyahu, Abbas face criticism after funeral for Israel’s Peres Read More »
Middle EastReform and Conservative congregations in the US have launched a campaign of protest against the government of Israel. The Reform and Conservative movements cited as reason for the effort the ritual bath (mikvaot) bill banning use of public facilities for conversions not performed by recognized authorities -which passed its second and third readings in the
Reform movement to protest Israel’s laws on mikvahs, Kotel Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle East, USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — The response to Shimon Peres’ death was not so much sadness as celebration of a long career at the highest reaches of Israeli politics.. Only a few outliers expressed pleasure at his passing. Some expressed sadness, but that was not the prominent response. He was an old man, and seemed likely
Peres mostly lauded — even in turbulent Mideast Read More »
International, Middle EastRepublican senators want to block transfer of money to the PA, until the PA can prove that it is not giving money to terrorists or their families. The suggested law was proposed on Wednesday, by Republican senators Lindsey Graham, Roy Blunt, and Dan Coats. The law is named after Taylor Force, an American student who
Republicans: No salaries for terrorists Read More »
Middle East, USAFormer President Shimon Peres confidentially revealed to the Jerusalem Post two years ago that he had intervened to stop Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu from bombing Iran. Steve Linde, formerly the editor-in-chief of the newspaper, revealed Peres”s comments in an article on Thursday. Linde said that Peres had dropped the bombshell in a meeting with Linde
Shimon Peres’s secret Read More »
Middle EastU.S. Secretary of State John Kerry warned on Thursday that Washington was “on the brink” of ending its talks with Russia on the Syrian conflict over the assault on Aleppo, AFP reported. “I think we are on the verge of suspending the discussion because, you know, it’s irrational in the context of the kind of
Kerry: We’re ‘on the brink’ of ending talks with Russia Read More »
International, Middle East, USA