Israel urges Passover travelers to avoid Turkey, crowded places in Europe (Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) Ahead of the Passover holiday, with more than 1 million Israelis preparing to jet off for vacations abroad, the Counterterrorism Bureau in the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office updated its semiannual travel warnings to include 34 countries and 10 regions. Given […]
Middle East Roundup: April 13, 2016 Read More »
Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM –Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is the leader of Israel’s Likud party. Currently, Heinz-Christian Strache, the head of Austria’s notoriously anti-Muslim and anti-Semitic Freedom Party, is visiting Israel as the invited guest of Likud. The prime minister is also the acting foreign minister. That ministry strongly objects to Strache’s visit and
Austrian Freedom Party head’s visit disgraces Israel Read More »
International, Middle East
Story by Donald H. Harrison; photos by Shor Masori SAN DIEGO — Stav Shaffir, a member of the Zionist Union party, said Tuesday evening that too many financial transactions authorized by Israel’s ruling government coalition are hidden from the public, and would not withstand scrutiny if light were shined upon them. Among the most notable examples, she
MK Shaffir: Israel secretly diverts money to West Bank Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Ken Stone, Middle East, San Diego County, Shor M. MasoriOpposition leader Isaac Herzog on Tuesday said he will cooperate with any police investigation into his election financing irregularities in an effort to bring a probe to a close “as soon as possible.” The Zionist Union leader was responding to reports on Monday night that police were seeking to question him under caution on graft
Herzog to cooperate with probe into finances Read More »
Middle East
A Palestinian Arab author condemned anti-Semitism last month, Palestinian Media Watch reports Tuesday – defying, on Palestinian Authority (PA) official television, the constant undercurrent of hatred against Jews the PA instills in its national consciousness. “The world is trying to split us apart,” author Ounallah Abu Safieh stated in a March 14 interview. In his
Palestinian novelist denounces anti- Semitism Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Middle East
Egypt informed Israel in advance of its intention to transfer the sovereignty over two islands in the Gulf of Aqaba to Saudi Arabia, Haaretz reported Monday night. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi had ceded the Sanafir and Tiran islands, off the coast of Eilat, to Saudi Arabia. The two islands provide Israel’s only access to
Israel informed in advance of Egypt- Saudi island pact Read More »
Middle EastDefense Minister Moshe Ya’alon will not be leaving Likud despite threats and incitement against him, he stated to the press Tuesday evening. “There are among us kippah-wearers [i.e. national-religious Jews – ed.], some not – but there certainly are many who have wished evil upon us,” Ya’alon began. “We nevertheless will continue to lead the
Ya’alon vows not to leave Likud, step down Read More »
Middle EastDemocratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton emphasized her pro-Israel credentials during an interview Saturday with the New York Daily News, looking to capitalize on recent missteps by rival Bernie Sanders, whose faux pas on the 2014 Gaza war has alienated some Jewish backers. Clinton sat down with the paper”s editorial board for an extended interview which was
Hillary takes hard line against BDS, touts pro-Israel policies Read More »
Middle East, USABy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — A source of unhappiness, perhaps the greatest of them all, is unrealistic expectations. That’s true in most, if not all, walks of life, including Aliyah (immigration to Israel). One can always blame external circumstances but the real reason has often to do with one’s attitude. The best adjusted immigrants, or
Why some olim can’t adjust to life in Israel Read More »
Middle EastIron Dome, meet Drone Dome: Israel’s Rafael unveils new defense system (JNS.org) Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems this week unveiled its newest development, the Drone Dome defense system, design to intercept enemy unmanned aerial vehicles. Rafael is also the developer of the Israeli military’s highly successful Iron Dome missile defense system. The Drone
Middle East Roundup: April 12, 2016 Read More »
Middle East
Yousuf Abd Al-Karim Al-Zinkawi, a writer for the Kuwaiti-based Al-Seyassah newspaper has called for Arab and Muslim countries to “immediately recognize Israel,” telling them to drop monikers used to maintain the pretense of non-recognition such as “the Zionist entity.” Al-Zinkawi, a frequent critic of religious intolerance within the Arab world, dedicated his column on Saturday
Kuwaiti writer tells Arab world: Recognize Israel Read More »
Middle EastA former Iraqi diplomat arrived in Israel on Sunday for a visit that is set to include meetings with members of Knesset, Jews of Iraqi descent and religious leaders from the three Abrahamic faiths. Hamad al-Sharifi arrived as a guest of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ynet reported. Tours of the Western Wall, the
Former Iraqi diplomat in Israel on Foreign Ministry visit Read More »
Middle EastDemocratic front-runner Hillary Clinton on Sunday took a differing stance on Israel to fellow presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders, saying that the Jewish state was entitled to protect itself against Gaza’s terror group ruler, Hamas. “Hamas provokes Israel. They often pretend to have people in civilian garb acting as though they are civilians who are Hamas
Clinton: Hamas provokes Israel’s retaliation Read More »
Middle East, USAJordanian preacher questioned over Temple Mount incitement (JNS.org) Israeli police officers from the Jerusalem District last Friday briefly detained Jordanian Sheikh Muhammad Salim for questioning after the Muslim preacher made inciting remarks during a sermon he delivered at the Al-Aqsa mosque on the Temple Mount. A crowd of worshipers gathered at the scene to protest
Middle East Roundup: April 11, 2016 Read More »
Middle East