Israel’s military said Saturday that it has struck two Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip in response to rocket fire toward the Jewish state, as the worst flare-up of violence since the 2014 war entered a fourth day. The military said sirens wailed in southern Israel early Saturday warning of an incoming rocket. One landed
Gaza, Israel Border Violence Enters 4th Day Read More »
Middle EastRepresentatives of the Samarian community of Amona responded on Saturday night to a report in the Haaretz newspaper of a deal to evacuate their homes in exchange for the green-lighting of a new town. According to the Haaretz report, the Defense Ministry and Amana organization – which promotes Jewish settlement of Judea and Samaria –
Amona residents reject evacuation deal Read More »
Middle EastThe Middle East Quartet, made up of the US, EU, UN, and Russia, is scheduled to release a major policy report later in coming weeks, and senior diplomats involved in its drafting have indicated that the US is taking a far harder line on Israel than in the past. The report, which is likely to
Report: US planning to take tougher line against Israel Read More »
Middle East, USAThe community of Amona, home to some 40 families, is scheduled to be demolished later this year. But according to a report by Haaretz, the state is planning to construct a new town nearby roughly three times the size. Amona, which was built on land purchased from Palestinian Authority Arabs, has been deemed illegal by
Defense Ministry to replace Amona with Samaria town Read More »
Middle East
After not visiting Israel for nine years, Hany Baransi, the owner of the Nazareth Restaurant and Deli in Columbus, Ohio, needed to be home in Haifa surrounded by family who would understand what he’s been going through lately — terrorism. On February 11, Baransi’s popular restaurant was attacked by a machete-wielding assailant. The attacker, 30-year-old
Arab restaurant owner fights for Israel Read More »
Middle East, USAVenezuela’s ambassador to the United Nations on Friday compared Israel to the Nazi regime, asking whether the Jewish state planned to “wage a final solution” against the Palestinians. In a speech to an informal meeting of the Security Council at the UN headquarters in New York on “protection” for Palestinian civilians, Rafael Ramirez said: “What
Venezuela’s UN envoy compares Israel to Nazis Read More »
International, Middle EastA senior United Nations official Saturday brushed aside an invitation from Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to a lecture on Jewish history, in response to a leading UN agency branding Judaism’s holiest site as a Muslim one. Netanyahu said Friday he would host the lecture in response to a recent resolution of the UN’s cultural
UN official spurns Netanyahu history offer Read More »
International, Middle EastJewish lawyer David Friedman defended his decision to advise Donald Trump on Israel in a savage op-ed Friday, after fellow Jew Peter Beinart accused him and Trump exploiting Jewish interests for political capital. Beinart leveled the harsh criticism in an op-ed for the left-leaning Israeli paper Haaretz, saying Friedman was lending Trump legitimacy among Jews
Trump adviser answers critic in Israeli op-ed Read More »
Middle East, USAPrime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu announced on Friday that he would host a Jewish history lecture for UN officials, in the wake of the recent UNESCO decision divorcing the Temple Mount from the Jewish people and treating it only as a Muslim site. “Two weeks ago, I was shocked to hear that UNESCO adopted a decision
Netanyahu to host Jewish history lecture for UN officials Read More »
International, Middle East
Amiya Taga, an Ethiopian-Israeli midfielder for the Maccabi Netanya soccer team, was fined NIS 750 ($198) for “misconduct” after wearing a protest shirt during the playing of the national anthem before a match. His shirt read: “How long, Avera Mengistu,” on one side and “We are all Yosef Salamsa” on the other, according to a
Soccer player fined for wearing protest shirt Read More »
Middle East, Sports & CompetitionsBy Rabbi Ben Kamin OCEANSIDE, California — When my younger daughter Debra was born, I was present (as I had been for her sister Sari). I distinctly recall her emerging from her mother’s womb like a moonrise. Now, 33 years later, Debra has given birth to twin girls and the stars are all lined up in
Grandpa exults, reflects on arrival of twin Israelis Read More »
Middle EastThe day I arrived in Egypt in April, President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi had just given two Red Sea islands, Tiran and Sanafir, to King Salman of Saudi Arabia, who was visiting Cairo to announce billions of dollars in aid and investment. The islands are in the Gulf of Aqaba, where both Israel and Jordan maintain ports,
Discontent under Egypt’s military rule Read More »
Middle EastHamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said on Friday that his Islamist terror movement is not seeking war with Israel, but will not tolerate its troops entering Gaza. “We are not calling for a new war, but we will not under any circumstance accept these incursions,” he said in a prayer sermon in Gaza, which has repeatedly
Hamas: We’re not looking for war Read More »
Middle EastWASHINGTON, D.C. — In a rare joint appearance of Israeli and Saudi Arabian officials, the kingdom’s Prince Turki al-Faisal and IDF Maj. Gen. (ret.) Yaakov Amidror shared a stage Thursday night in Washington, debating ways to advance a two-state solution between Israelis and Palestinians, while also expressing common concerns over the Iranian nuclear deal and
Saudi prince, ex- Netanyahu adviser spar over peace Read More »
Middle East, USA