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
Tourism Minister Levin’s remarks on Reform assailed Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle East, USABy 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
Israel prepares for rocket war with Iran Read More »
Middle East, Steve KramerSuspended Arab Knesset member vows to keep visiting terrorists’ families (Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) Member of Knesset Basel Ghattas, one of three Knesset members from the Joint Arab List party who were recently suspended after visiting late Palestinian terrorists’ families, said he will not stop making such visits and referred to the deceased terrorists
Middle East Roundup: February 12, 2016 Read More »
Middle East
By Shalle’ McDonald/JNS.org BINGHAMTON, New York — Jonathan Nizar Elkhoury wants minority populations in Israel to speak up about what life is really like in the Jewish state. He wants the world to know that Israel is a safe haven for persecuted Middle East minorities. For Elkhoury, this isn’t just loose talk. He is gay,
Israeli, Arab, Christian and gay Read More »
Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Brit Shalom (Peace Treaty, 1925) is a landmark in the continuing activity of Jews talking among themselves about what kind of accommodation they should, and can reach, then with Arab and now with Palestinian neighbors. What has become characteristic is the prominence in Brit Shalom of Jews from Europe and
The long and futile history of M.E. peace plans Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastIsrael 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,
Middle East Roundup: February 11, 2016 Read More »
Middle EastBy 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
Silverman new AJC director of Muslim- Jewish relations Read More »
International, Middle East, USABy 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
German arts on exhibit in 50th year of Israel relations Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, International, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts(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
Sanders first Jew to win a presidential primary Read More »
Jewish History, Middle East, USAIsrael, 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 East