Ancient church and farmhouse unearthed outside Tel Aviv (JNS.org) Israeli archaeologists have unearthed an impressive 1,500-year-old Byzantine Church and a 2,700-year-old farmhouse in the Israeli town of Rosh Ha-‘Ayin, which lies just east of Tel Aviv, during construction of a new housing development. “The large farmhouse was preserved to a height of more than two […]
Middle East Roundup: December 30, 2015 Read More »
Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — Another bad news/good news story dominates the Israeli media. The bad news: last Tuesday Israel’s Supreme Court sentenced the former prime minister of Israel Ehud Olmert to 18 months imprisonment for taking bribes. The sentence was reduced from the six years imposed by a lower court. The fact that
The good news, bad news of Olmert’s jail term Read More »
Middle EastWorld Sailing to investigate Malaysia’s denial of Israeli visas (JNS.org) The Malaysian Organizing Authority of the Youth Sailing World Championship is under investigation after two Israeli windsurfers and their coach did not receive visas in time to compete at the Youth Sailing World Championships in Langkawi, Malaysia. “World Sailing is committed to ensuring participation in
Middle East Roundup: December 29, 2015 Read More »
Middle EastEditor’s Note: The following is a transcript of Barry Shaw’s address to the Haifa University Conference on “Rethinking the Challenges of Israel’s PR.” By Barry Shaw HAIFA, Israel — A warning! I don’t come from an academic, media or political background. My grounding is in business. I tend to see things in stark black and white
Changes necessary in Israel’s advocacy Read More »
Barry Shaw, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — A video showing young and religious Israeli men–along with at least one enthusiastic old man–dancing at a wedding and celebrating the killing of an Arab family has gone viral. You can see it here. It’s not “dancing” of the ballroom kind familiar in the better circles of the West,
Extremist Jews celebrate Arab family’s murder Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastSAN DIEGO (Press Release)–Congregation Beth Israel, San Diego’s oldest and largest Jewish congregation, participated in a “Lanterns for Peace” project designed to join Religious School students with Israeli and Palestinian communities in an act of peace and solidarity. Approximately 400 students in the Lee and Frank Goldberg Family Religious School created lanterns with messages of
Israel, Gaza, S.D. teens float lanterns for peace Read More »
Middle East, San Diego County, USABy Robert Singer NEW YORK (WJC) — The question of whether the West should take in Middle Eastern refugees is becoming irrelevant. Shutting the borders would be immoral. It would also be impossible. The real issue then is how to absorb these refugees, share the burden equitably and above all, avoid the mistakes of the
Radical Islamists, not refugees, are the West’s enemies Read More »
International, Middle East, USAIsraeli defense firm awarded $70 million contract to supply fighter jets (JNS.org) Elbit Systems, an Israeli defense firm, on Monday announced it was awarded a $70 million contract to supply advanced electronic earfare (EW) systems that will be installed on various Israeli Air Force fighter jets over the next five years. The Directorate of Production
Middle East Roundup: December 28, 2015 Read More »
Middle EastBy Ori Nir WASHINGTON, D.C. – Americans for Peace Now (APN) is alarmed and appalled by the Israeli Cabinet’s approval on Sunday, Dec. 27, of a bill aimed at intimidating and silencing progressive Israeli non-profit organizations such as our sister-organization Peace Now (Shalom Achshav), Israel’s preeminent peace movement. The bill, introduced by Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked
APN protests Israel’s bill on lobbying Read More »
Middle EastBy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — I write in response to explicit and implicit questions about why I vacillate between hope and pessimism. Answer: I see no contradiction between deeming it a privilege to live in Israel and being critical of much that goes on here, not least in the realm of politics. Hope isn’t the
An Israeli between hope and pessimism Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–Jews remain an easy target. BDS is the best example. Its leadership is Palestinian, but its appeal is wider. It’s attained the support of students and faculty members at supposedly distinguished universities, as well as assorted labor groups and a motley collection of individuals. There is no lack of opposition to the
A response to the BDS movement Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USABy Steve Kramer ALFE MENASHE, Israel –Yesterday, I heard Mottle Wolfe say on his daily podcast (rebmottle.com, itunes, etc.): “Jewish lives matter.” Of course, all lives matter, but when it comes to Jews, especially Israelis, Jewish lives seem to matter less. Speaking to the Swedish TT news agency, Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said of the
A refresher course in Israeli history Read More »
Middle East, Steve KramerBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–Where we are is at a place that some would call an anomaly. Palestine is not a country, a state, or even a fully recognized component of Israel or anything else. However, it operates somewhat like a component or dependency (another term that is slippery) of Israel. Israel lets tens of thousands
Despite rhetoric, Israel and P.A. prefer status quo Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastIsrael sends Merry Christmas wishes (JNS.org) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave a video address on Christmas Eve wishing Christians in Israel and worldwide, a Merry Christmas. “From Jerusalem, I wish Israel’s Christian community and Christians everywhere a very joyous Christmas and a Happy New Year.” Netanyahu went on to express pride in Israel’s singular support
Middle East Roundup: December 24, 2015 Read More »
Middle East