Middle East

John Kerry, secretary of state, blames Congress for not doing more to help fight ISIS

Secretary of State John F. Kerry said Sunday that Obama administration officials are doing “everything in our power” to fight terrorism, and blamed Congress for failing to support more troops on the ground. “[W]e are doing everything in our power to put additional pressure on them [the Islamic State], and I believe their days are […]

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Middle East, USA

Police: Bomber targeted Jerusalem light rail

Following the capture Sunday morning of a Palestinian Authority resident carrying a pack of explosive devices, Jerusalem District Police Commander Yoram HaLevy confirmed to reporters that the would-be bomber had targeted the Jerusalem light rail. The terrorist was intercepted be train security guards after arousing their suspicion. During questioning by the guards, the terrorist admitted

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Middle East

Matthew Fisher: The coup failed in Turkey because mutineers didn’t capture the king

The astonishing events that gripped Turkey and fascinated the world Friday night had not been expected. Turkey had been in turmoil and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was at the centre of every drama. But the main international focus lately has been on how the country was reeling from a string of terrorist bombings by the

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Middle East

Saudi Guardian System Restricts Women’s Lives: Report

The male guardianship system in Saudi Arabia is “the most significant impediment to realizing women’s rights in the country” and effectively renders adult women legal minors, according to a new report from Human Rights Watch. Despite some small steps that have been made by the Saudi government, restriction of movement outside the home affects women

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Middle East

J Street’s view of the two political platforms

By Jeremy Ben-Ami WASHINGTON, D.C. — Tomorrow (July 18), the Republican National Convention will kick off in Cleveland. The Democrats will start pouring into Philadelphia the week after. After almost a year of heated political maneuvering, we’re about to enter into the homestretch of 2016. In the lead-up to the conventions, the Democratic and Republican parties

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Middle East, USA

Failed coup in Turkey could allow Erdogan to tighten his grip on the troubled country

ISTANBUL — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has apparently put down a clumsy military coup, but the fallout, as he punishes those who challenged his government, will plunge Turkey’s domestic politics and its relations with the U.S. into new turmoil. A vital strategic ally to Washington, NATO member Turkey was generally calm Saturday, after a

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Middle East, USA

President Rivlin sends condolence letter to French president

President Reuven Rivlin this morning (Friday) sent a letter of condolence to President Francois Hollande of France following the mass casualty terrorist attack in Nice. President Rivlin wrote, “It is with pain and sorrow that I must once again write and express my deepest condolences, and those of all the Israeli people, following the horrific

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International, Middle East

‘Ivanka’s rabbi’ withdraws from Republican convention

Rabbi Haskel Lookstein, the rabbi who oversaw Ivanka Trump”s conversion to Judaism, has withdrawn from speaking at the Republican National Convention next week, JTA reported Friday. In a letter to members of his community, Lookstein wrote that he had accepted Ivanka Trump”s invitation to deliver an invocation at the convention “out of respect for her

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Jewish Religion, Middle East, USA

Ted Cruz to Obama after Nice attack: ‘Willful blindness is not a policy’

Sen. Ted Cruz issued a statement following Thursday terrorist attack in Nice, France, saying the Obama administration’s “willful blindness” of radical Islam is putting the country at risk. “Let us make no mistake about it: Europe is under siege,” the Texas Republican said. “We must redouble our attacks on the ISIS strongholds in Iraq and

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International, Middle East, USA

US, Russia consider first-ever coordination on Syrian airstrikes

Secretary of State John F. Kerry wrangled for hours with senior Russian officials in Moscow on Friday, discussing a plan that includes first-time coordination between the U.S. and Russia on airstrikes targeting militant groups operating in Syria. The fraught effort comes as the Obama administration becomes increasingly exasperated with the failure of Russia to cooperate

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International, Middle East, USA

IS the BDS movement winning?

By Steve Kramer ALFE MENASHE, Israel — The BDS movement is a matter of great concern for Israelis. It grew from the misnamed and UN-sponsored “World Conference against Racism,” held in Durban, South Africa in 2001. This NGO hatefest against Israel developed the strategy to use “soft power” against Israel, perhaps because numerous military actions

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Middle East, Steve Kramer