Middle East

Middle East Roundup: April 20, 2016

  Israel invests billions in multi-layered Gaza terror tunnel barrier (JNS.org) The Israeli defense establishment is expected to finish installing a sophisticated anti-tunnel barrier along the Israel-Gaza border within two years, Israel Hayom reported Wednesday. The project, dubbed “Hourglass,” is estimated to cost billions of shekels. The barrier’s blueprints are the product of cross-platform development […]

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Middle East

This is no way to foster civility at York University

Recent developments at York University have exposed the administration’s failure to address a real and growing sense of alienation among its Jewish students. This raises the question of how universities can best fulfil their responsibility to preserve free speech and maintain a civil environment for all their students when contentious subjects arise. In a free

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International, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education

Israel need not normalize relations with Turkey

By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. – Turkish sources assert that Turkish-Israeli governmental relations are about to come out of the deep freeze. But this is a reflection of Turkey’s regional unpopularity and glides over Turkish demands for Israel to end the blockade of Gaza. To meet Turkey’s condition, Israel would have to abandon the security

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Middle East, Shoshana Bryen

SWU choice of venue prompts controversy

By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – Swirling beneath the planned May 4 appearance of Pastor Dumisani Washington, a leading African-American advocate for the State of Israel is controversy over the relationship between the Jewish community and the Christians who seek to convert us.  Washington’s appearance, sponsored by the pro-Israel organization StandWithUs, is scheduled May 4

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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Middle East, San Diego Calendar, USA

Middle East Roundup: April 19, 2016

Netanyahu orders halt of cement shipments to Gaza after tunnel discovery (JNS.org) Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday ordered a halt to Gaza-bound cement shipments, following the discovery of a Hamas terror tunnel under the Israel-Gaza border. Israel had allowed cement to enter Gaza as part of the rehabilitation efforts there following Operation Protective Edge

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Middle East

Putin tells Abbas he backs Israel – PA peace efforts

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday met with Palestinian Authority (PA) chairman Mahmoud Abbas, and told him Russia would support his efforts aimed at facilitating the Middle East peace process, the Russian TASS news agency reports. “I know that you are making strenuous efforts to facilitate the settlement process, and, of course, we will support

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International, Middle East

Cruz backs Netanyahu on Golan Heights

Texas Senator and Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz on Monday expressed support for Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu”s call to recognize Israel”s sovereignty over the Golan Heights. “The government of Israel reiterated the reality that the Golan Heights are part of Israel”s sovereign territory,” Cruz said in a statement, adding, “Given the presence of hostile terrorist

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Middle East, USA

World community pushes back over the Golan

By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — Recent events have dramatic and often troubling implications for Israel. For example: (1 The soldier charged with manslaughter for killing an already “neutralized” terrorist and the resulting manifestations of ultra-nationalism and indeed racism by his many uncritical supporters. (2) The destruction of a Hamas tunnel on the Israeli side of

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International, Middle East

Sanders’ campaign or UNESCO, which is more offensive?

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — It is difficult to determine what is most offensive: The Jewish candidate for President condemning Israel’s actions, exaggerating by a multiple of five the deaths in Gaza during the military operation in 2014 without anything like an appropriate weighing of chronic attacks on Israel from Gaza; his emissary to Jews

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International, Middle East, USA

What John Kerry told J Street

Editor’s Note: The following excerpt of U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry’s speech to J Street on April 18 was taken from a transcript provided by the U.S. State Department. By John Kerry WASHINGTON (Press Release) — I think J Street has long embraced the absolute necessity of pursuing justice, the urgency of pursuing peace, and

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Middle East, USA