Palestinian Authority’s Mahmoud Abbas hosts terrorists’ families at his office (Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas met Wednesday in his office with the relatives of 11 terrorists killed while carrying out attacks against Israelis in recent weeks. Thirty-one Israelis have been killed and 302 have been wounded in the wave of […]
Middle East Roundup: February 4, 2016 Read More »
Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–One of the many debates in contemporary Israel is whether it’s to be a Jewish state or a state for all its citizens. Those who advocate the former usually also want Israel to be Jewish according to Halacha, Jewish law as understood by Orthodoxy (often of the extreme variety) to which
Israeli pluralists reach out to Arabs Read More »
Middle EastIsrael Police seeks to bolster presence in Arab sector (Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) The Israel Police is seeking to bolster its presence in the Jewish state’s Arab sector by enlisting 1,350 additional policemen and setting up 10 new police stations nationwide, Israel Hayom reported Tuesday. The cost of the plan, which is part of an
Middle East Roundup: February 3, 2016 Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–At first thought, the French proposal to convene a peace conference between Israel and the Palestine Authority, with a commitment to recognize a Palestinian State no matter what, sounds like an awesome threat. France is something to think about. It’s not a Muslim country like those that long ago recognized Palestine. Those
French plan to recognize Palestine no reason for panic Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – Those who believe that continuing wars with Arabs and a series of disgraced Israeli politicians have snuffed out Israeli idealism haven’t yet visited Hannaton, a kibbutz in the Galilee whose leaders believe that, by example, they can help to build a multi-cultural, egalitarian, Jewish society living in friendship
Building an egalitarian society in Israel Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & EducationU.S. busts Hezbollah terror group’s drug, money laundering scheme (JNS.org) The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) announced Monday that an international operation has led to the arrests of members of a Hezbollah terror cell in Europe involved in drug trafficking and money laundering. According to the DEA, the Lebanese terrorist group uses the money it
Middle East Roundup: February 2, 2016 Read More »
Middle East
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — Fifth graders at the Benjamin Franklin STEAM Magnet Elementary School on Monday, Feb. 1, helped to explain to the news media how a low-tech Israeli invention will help their school conserve rainwater, and may prove to be an important tool in California’s fight against periodic droughts. STEAM is
Israeli rain barrel system on trial at 3 schools Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, Middle East, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USAIsrael to allow non-Orthodox prayer at Western Wall (JNS.org) In a historic decision on Sunday, the Israeli cabinet has voted to allow non-Orthodox Jewish prayer in an area especially designated for the purpose at the Western Wall in Jerusalem. The new plan was approved by 15 government ministers, with five voting against. According to the
Middle East Roundup: February 1, 2016 Read More »
Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — The recent Israel cabinet decision to provide a site next to the existing Western Wall that would allow non-Orthodox Jews to hold egalitarian services outside the jurisdiction of the Orthodox rabbinate is unquestionably a political victory for the Reform and Conservative movements in Israel and respectful recognition of
A political victory for non- Orthodox Judaism Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–I’ve received yet another learned essay arguing that Israel has to acknowledge the failure of the Oslo Accords, and move on. That is a tiresome mantra, with different versions from the right and left. Each manages to find enough to blame in what the Palestinians have done (the right) or what Israel
In response to Israel’s ‘oy gevalt’ crowd Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Steve Kramer ALFE MENASHE, Israel — Iran’s President Rouhani was feted in Italy on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, of all days. (It’s sickening how many Europeans don’t even mention Jews when speechifying on the Holocaust.) Classic, “erotic” artwork in Rouhani’s line of sight was hidden, wine was eschewed at banquets, and Rouhani was invited
A political tour of the Middle East Read More »
Middle East, Steve KramerBy Joe Spier CALGARY, Alberta, Canada — Long before Teddy Kollek became mayor of Jerusalem, he was a gunrunner for the Yishuv, the Jewish community of pre-State Israel. When it became clear that the British would withdraw from Palestine and a war between the Jews and Arabs over Israel’s independence was inevitable, the Jews would need
Frank Sinatra: Friend of Israel, foe of anti- Semites Read More »
Jewish History, Middle East, USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Life isn’t all politics. Some things are in the hands of Nature, the Almighty, or however you want to call it. Insofar as there is nothing more boring than someone else’s weather, feel free to stop at this point. With no hard feelings. That being said, Jerusalem’s weather, along with
Want something moderate in J’lem? Try the weather Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, The World We Share
SAN DIEGO (Press Release) — Itamar Harari has been appointed as Director of Community Initiatives to oversee many initiatives of the Jewish Federation of San Diego, including the development of partnerships and collaborations. Harari was raised in Sha’ar HaNegev, which is San Diego’s sister city in Israel. He served as an elite paratrooper in the Israel Defense
Sha’ar HaNegev native fills S.D. Jewish Fed’n post Read More »
Middle East, San Diego County