Middle East

  ‘Difficult to overstate’ American Jewry’s importance to Israel, Netanyahu says (JNS.org) It is “difficult to overstate the importance of the American Jewish people to the State of Israel,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday at an event in the Israeli Knesset that honored U.S. Jewry’s 100 years of contributions to Israel. “American Jewry’s contribution

Netanyahu and Lieberman sign deal to expand Israeli governing coalition (Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) A deal to bring Avigdor Lieberman’s Yisrael Beiteinu party into Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s governing coalition was signed Wednesday. Lieberman and fellow Yisrael Beiteinu Member of Knesset Sofa Landver are set to be sworn in as government ministers May 30—Lieberman

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu revealed that he has discovered his Lithuanian Jewish ancestry is not fully Ashkenazic, but actually at least partially hails from the Sephardic Jewry of Spain in tracing back through the years of exile from Israel. The surprising revelation was unveiled by the Prime Minister during an event launching a new wing

An annual pilgrimage to Africa’s oldest synagogue got under way Wednesday in Tunisia where security forces were deployed heavily to ward off potential jihadist attacks. Small groups of visitors began arriving in the searing heat at the Ghriba synagogue on the island of Djerba in southern Tunisia for the Lag BaOmer festival. Organizers expect up

Tel Aviv (dpa) – Hardline former foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman, who became Israel’s defence minister Wednesday, is known for his harsh tongue, which has secured him the nickname “the bulldozer.” The 57-year-old is known for making what critics call extremist, belligerent and populist statements, but which supporters hail as politically incorrect and iconoclastic, but straight-forward.

By Steve Kramer ALFE MENASHE, Israel — I’ve lately come to realize that when I mention “pinkwashing,” most friends of mine in Israel and the US aren’t familiar with the term. Pinkwashing is an accusation against Israel for using its strong pro-gay rights record to distract from its “oppression of Palestinians.” Adherents of pink washing