Israel, California institute sign biotech deal with emphasis on stem cell research (Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) Israeli Science, Technology and Space Minister Ofir Akunis on Tuesday signed the first agreement of its kind between his ministry and the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) in the field of biotechnology, with an emphasis on stem cell […]
Middle East Roundup: February 10, 2016 Read More »
Middle EastDeal in the works for Israel to return bodies of eastern Jerusalem terrorists (JNS.org) Senior Palestinian sources confirmed Monday that a deal is being negotiated to return the bodies of eastern Jerusalem terrorists killed in recent months to their families for burial. Israel, which currently holds the remains of 10 Palestinian terrorists, has conditioned
Middle East Roundup: February 9, 2016 Read More »
Middle East
By Judy Lash Balint JERUSALEM — I’ve been reluctant to admit it to all but a handful of close friends, but after a lifetime of pretty regular Shabbat morning shul-going I’ve now substituted long walks through Jerusalem’s almost deserted streets and parks as my preferred Shabbat spiritual sustenance. Years of erratic prayer experiences in modern
A Shabbat morning stroll through Jerusalem Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — A New York Times review of a recent book about Obama’s “blackness” pretty much sums up what we’ve known since he came on the stage a decade ago. He isn’t all that black. He’s no Jesse Jackson. He’s a non-threatening African American, moreso than Americans whose ancestors came centuries ago, insofar
Obama and U.S., Israel minorities Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USABy Bruce S. Ticker PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania — Ban Ki-moon is a curious kind of messenger. He writes in The New York Times, “No one can deny that the everyday reality of occupation provokes anger and despair, which are major drivers of violence and extremism and undermine any hope of a negotiated two-state solution.” It may
Memo to Ban Ki-moon: How about a workable idea? Read More »
International, Middle EastNetanyahu: new U.S.-Israel security aid deal may not be reached under Obama (JNS.org) Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Israeli government ministers at Sunday’s cabinet meeting that talks with the United States on a new 10-year memorandum of understanding on security assistance are ongoing, but that a deal may not be reached until after President Barack
Middle East Roundup: February 8, 2016 Read More »
Middle EastBy Mark D. Zimmerman MELVILLE, New York — What role did the Israeli company Wix play in this year’s Super Bowl? A. Wix is the parent company of Sabra, which produces the hummus which has been the National Football League’s official dip since 2013. Sabra hummus was sold throughout Levi’s stadium, and was featured in an ad
Jewish trivia quiz: Super Bowl 50 Read More »
Mark D. Zimmerman, Middle East, Sports & Competitions, Trivia, Humor & SatireBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — History is a mess. It’s filled with bad acts, feeding anger and demands for revenge, as well as lots of myths, half-truths, and just plain lies. Napoleon provided his share, as well as the line that history was myth that people believed. Jews have been creators and victims. There aren’t
Middle East history a jumble of fact and myth Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Jewish History, Middle EastBy Barry Shaw NETANYA, Israel — When people of sound minds display clear signs of deviation from reality it demands of us to examine the symptom and expose the defect. For quite some time, Israelis and others that have clear-eyed views of the world have been increasingly troubled by leading influence and opinion makers who
Western media aids Arab terror Read More »
Barry Shaw, Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — The decision by the Israeli government to create a parallel praying area at the Western Wall for egalitarian – largely Reform and Conservative – worshippers by extending the existing facility at the southern end has generated (a) enthusiasm from potential beneficiaries, (b) indifference from those who aren’t awed by the
Haredim excoriate non- Orthodox after decision on Wall Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Those inclined to think that Israel is singled out for the nuttiness of criticisms directed against it might consider the presidential election campaign underway in the United States, as well as the bending and twisting by Europeans in the face of Muslim refugees on the way from the east and south.
Politics has magnetic effect on nutty critics Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastArab Knesset members under fire for meeting with terrorists’ families (Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein said Thursday that they plan to file personal complaints with the Knesset’s Ethics Committee against Arab MKs Hanin Zoabi, Jamal Zahalka, and Basel Ghattas, who met with the families of
Middle East Roundup: February 5, 2016 Read More »
Middle East
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – Two black South African students who traveled to Israel to learn if South African BDS advocates were telling the truth about “apartheid” in the Jewish state say the apartheid charge is bogus. Furthermore, said Miyelani Pinini, former president of the Student Representative Council at the University of Cape
South Africans dispute ‘Apartheid’ charge against Israel Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Middle East, USA
RAMALLAH, Palestinian Authority (Press Release) — U.S. Ambassador Daniel Sepulveda, deputy assistant secretary and U.S. coordinator for International Communications and Information Policy, on Thursday, Feb. 4, hailed an agreement between Israel and the Palestinian Authority for the provision of 3G mobile phone services within the latter’s territory. Following is a transcript of his remarks delivered at
U.S. ambassador hails 3G service in P.A. Read More »
Middle East, USA