Middle East

Obama administration blasts Israeli housing plans

Hours after Israel”s Civil Administration gave approval to 463 housing units in Samaria, the Obama administration issued a firm rebuke, condemning the move and warning that Israel risked undermining “the prospects for a two-state solution”. Speaking to reporters Wednesday evening, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest expressed the administration”s “concern” for the Israeli government”s green-lighting

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International, Middle East

UN blasts Israel over demolition of terrorist murderer’s home

Israel must halt the “punitive demolition” of terrorists” homes in Judea and Samaria, the United Nations said on Tuesday, and end its “illegal” policy of permitting Jews to build in eastern Jerusalem. Nikolay Mladenov, the UN”s Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, blasted what he called “legal acrobatics” on the part of the

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International, Middle East

Ethiopian-Israelis seek apology, resignation of police chief

Ethiopian-Israeli lawmaker Avraham Neguise on Wednesday called for Israel Police Commissioner Roni Alsheich to publicly apologize for saying it was “natural” for police to be more suspicious of Ethiopian Israelis than of other citizens, amid growing calls for the police chief to resign. Alsheich drew widespread condemnation for his comments, which were interpreted as racist.

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Middle East

In much of the Middle East, it’s getting more dangerous to be gay

Just after it became known in June that the attacker of Orlando’s Pulse nightclub had pledged allegiance to ISIS, Egypt’s foreign ministry immediately moved to condemn the attack on a US gay bar. “Egypt stands next to the American people in these difficult times, offering sincere condolences to the families of the victims and wishing

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Middle East

California Legislature approves anti-BDS bill

SACRAMENTO (Press Release)–The California Legislature passed a bill to ensure that the state and its range of public agencies will not contract with businesses engaging in discriminatory boycotts against minority groups, including businesses that undermine California’s relationship with Israel. The State Assembly overwhelmingly passed AB 2844, the California Combating BDS Act, with a 69-1 vote, concurring

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Middle East, USA

Former minister calls politicians hypocrites for praising Ben-Eliezer

Marking a departure from the stream of praise heaped upon former defense minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer who died on Sunday, former minister Yossi Beilin criticized the newly deceased politician — and accused those who didn’t follow suit of being guilty of “hypocrisy,” in interviews on Sunday night and Monday morning. As news came out that the

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Middle East

Khamenei: Our enemies will face a harsh response if they attack

Iran”s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on Sunday warned his country”s “enemies” that they will face Iran’s harsh response if they dare to launch a military attack against the country. “The enemy should understand that if it makes any aggression, it will be hit hard and our defense will also include response,” Khamenei said in

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Middle East, USA

Lapid takes Sweden to task for skewed moral stance

The head of the “Yesh Atid” party, MK Yair Lapid, attended a pro-Israel rally today (Sunday) together with hundreds of supporters of Israel, members of the Swedish Parliament, students and representatives of the Jewish community in Stockholm, Sweden. The rally took place in the wake of a surge in anti-Semitic statements over the past few

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International, Middle East

Middle East Roundup: August 29, 2016

  Veteran Israeli politician Binyamin Ben-Eliezer ‘Fuad’ dies (JNS.org) Veteran Israeli politician Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, known in Israel as “Fuad,” died on Sunday from renal failure complications. Ben-Eliezer was a longtime Labor Party MK who has held several important defense and government positions. Born in Iraq, he immigrated to Israel in 1950 at age 14. He

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Middle East

Richard Allen’s pro-Israel guerrilla media campaign

By Edwin Black Richard Allen is not a careful, polished Jewish communal leader with a seasoned staff operating from a mid-town Manhattan office, ensconced behind a stylized logo, fortified by tax-exempt donations and burnished advisors. Allen is a private businessman. He wields his entire “organization” from a computer in his office and, not infrequently, from

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Edwin Black, Middle East, USA