Middle East

Two IDF reservists tell of morality in combat

By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — Two IDF reservists, touring Southern California as guests of the pro-Israel advocacy group StandWithUS, described to several audiences the precautions the Israeli military takes to avoid civilian casualties in Gaza and other areas of combat operations. At the same time, Edan and Gilad (their last names withheld by […]

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Donald H. Harrison, Middle East, San Diego County, USA

Middle East Roundup: February 15, 2016

Israel maintains ‘discreet’ ties with many Arab states, Netanyahu says (JNS.org) Major Arab countries “are changing their view of Israel,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told a visiting Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations leadership delegation in Jerusalem on Sunday. “They don’t see Israel anymore as their enemy, but they see Israel as their

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International, Middle East

Tourism Minister Levin’s remarks on Reform assailed

NEW YORK  — The American Jewish Committee (AJC)  fully shares the outrage of the Reform movement in response to the disparaging remarks made by Israeli Tourism Minister Yariv Levin. The controversy erupted after Levin declared that “Reform Jews in the U.S. are a dying world.” “His words are both offensive and off-base,” said AJC Chief

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Jewish Religion, Middle East, USA

Israel prepares for rocket war with Iran

By Steve Kramer ALFE MENASHE, Israel — Iran, according to the United Nations Security Council resolution (7/20/15) endorsing the Iran nuclear deal, is “called upon” to refrain, for up to eight years, from working on ballistic missiles which are designed to deliver nuclear weapons. Existing sanctions imposed on Iran’s missile program were NOT ended. But

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Middle East, Steve Kramer

Middle East Roundup: February 11, 2016

Israel Police names first Muslim deputy commissioner (Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) Israeli Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan plans to establish new division within the Israel Police to promote law enforcement in Israel’s Arab sector and recruit Arabs to serve in the police force. Jamal Hakroush, currently an assistant police commissioner, will head the new division,

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Middle East

Silverman new AJC director of Muslim- Jewish relations

By Kenneth Bandler NEW YORK — Robert J. Silverman has been named U.S. Director of Muslim-Jewish Relations for AJC (American Jewish Committee), the global Jewish advocacy organization. The new position represents a major expansion of existing AJC programmatic activities aimed at deepening Muslim-Jewish understanding and engaging in constructive, cooperative interactions. Groundbreaking initiatives in interreligious relations, across

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International, Middle East, USA

German arts on exhibit in 50th year of Israel relations

By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson JERUSALEM — To mark both the fiftieth anniversary of the opening of the Israel Museum and fifty years of German-Israeli diplomatic relations, the  Museum is currently presenting an exhibition of masterworks from the Neue Nationalgalerie in Berlin. The exhibition, entitled ‘Twilight over Berlin’ and showing works from the period between 1905 and 1945, provides

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Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, International, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts

Sanders first Jew to win a presidential primary

  (JNS.org) Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on Tuesday convincingly won the Democratic presidential race’s New Hampshire’s primary over opponent Hillary Clinton, 60-38.3 percent, becoming the first Jewish candidate to ever win a presidential primary. Clinton, the former secretary of state and first lady, had narrowly defeated Sanders in the Iowa caucus earlier this month. Business

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Jewish History, Middle East, USA