By Anav Silverman JERUSALEM (Tazpit) — The largest oil and gas conference in the world, known as the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) was held this week and 14 Israeli companies were present during the three-day event (May 4-7) in Houston, Texas. Founded in 1969, OTC serves as a major platform for the development of hydrocarbon […]
Israel trade delegation at Texas oil meeting Read More »
Middle East, USAU.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes bill giving Congress oversight of Iran deal (JNS.org) The U.S. Senate on Thursday overwhelmingly passed the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015, which would give Congress a 30-day period to review a final nuclear deal between Iran and world powers, in a 98-1 vote. The only senator to vote against
Jewish news briefs: May 8, 2015 Read More »
International, Middle East, USAWASHINGTON, DC (Press Release) – Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-New York), the Ranking Member on the House Appropriations Committee, released the following statement on the formation of the new Israeli government: “I congratulate Prime Minister Netanyahu on his successful formation of a new coalition. I look forward to working with the new Israeli government to advance our
Lowey looks forward to working with Netanyahu Read More »
Middle East, USA
By Anav Silverman JERUSALEM (Tazpit) — Israeli film legend, Aryeh Elias passed away at age 94 on Thursday, May 7. The veteran stage, television and movie actor, who was born in Kurdistan in 1921, was the first Jew to be accepted to the drama faculty in Baghdad’s Academy of Fine Arts in Iraq in 1941.
Aryeh Elias (1921 – 2015) Read More »
Middle East‘Syria will win,’ Assad declares to audience of thousands (Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) Debunking rumors that he had been murdered by his bodyguards, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad gave a public address before an audience of thousands in Damascus on Wednesday, declaring that “Syria will win” the country’s civil war. Speaking at a graduation ceremony in
Jewish news briefs: May 7, 2015 Read More »
International, Middle East, USABy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — The birth of the new government of Israel was slow and painful. The result is anything but a strong and healthy baby. Its razor-thin majority (61 out of 120 Knesset seats) is divided among five coalition parties. By all accounts, most of the major protagonists can’t stand each other and
Kahlon remains moderates’ greatest hope Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — The Ethiopians have had their few days in the spotlight. Now it’s back to politics. Frustration is the likely theme of Ethiopian activists and politicians.. The argument about the Ethiopians remains between those who accuse Israel of a racist failure, and those who assert that the country took the initiative to
Shakiest of coalitions unlikely to bring much change Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastU.S.-Led Forces Killed Syrian Civilians, Rights Groups Say: Airstrikes on village controlled by Islamic State kills more than 60 civilians, say two human-rights groups (Wall Street Journal 5/1/15) Obama Apologizes After Drone Kills American and Italian Held by Al Qaeda (New York Times 4/23/15) By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — This is not a
U.S. excuses its civilian casualties, but not Israel’s Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana Bryen, USAReports attribute airstrikes in Sudan to Israel (Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) Foreign warplanes struck a number of targets in the Khartoum area in central Sudan overnight Tuesday, the London-based news outlet al-Araby al-Jadeed reported. Several Arab media outlets attributed the airstrikes to Israel, which did not comment on the reports. The Israeli military has reportedly
Jewish news briefs, May 6, 2015 Read More »
International, Middle East, USAFormer IDF chief defends military’s values, says next round of violence ‘will be worse’ (JNS.org) The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spares no effort to defend democracy and moral values, former IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz said Monday at an event hosted by the Shurat Hadin-Israel Law Center civil rights organization in Jerusalem.
Jewish news briefs: May 5, 2015 Read More »
International, Middle EastBy Zack Pyzer JERUSALEM — The Jewish Agency for Israel said in a new report that immigration to Israel (Aliyah) from Western Europe in the first quarter of 2015 was unchanged from the same period last year. However, the statistics revealed that a large increase in the number of immigrants (olim) arriving from Eastern Europe,
Anti- Semitism drives Western European aliyah Read More »
International, Middle EastBy Dorothea Shefer-Vanson JERUSALEM–Whether by coincidence or design (probably the latter), Jerusalem’s YMCA building is currently showing an exhibition of exquisite Armenian ceramic work produced by one of the many workshops situated in the Old City. No mention is made of the slaughter of over a million Armenians by the Ottoman Empire exactly one hundred
In Israel, admiration, sympathy for Armenians Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–The onset of protests by Ethiopian Jews Israel may have something to do with suggestions coming out of Baltimore, or they may reflect their own dynamic. It’s one of the questions that are impossible to answer about the social realities and politics of this issue. From the beginning, what has grown over
Ethiopian Israeli protests have many causes Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastBy Mark D. Zimmerman MELVILLE, New York — What is the Jewish connection to this year’s Kentucky Derby? Choose your answer. A. The winning horse, American Pharaoh, is owned by Ahmed Zayat, a Coptic Christian from Egypt. Zayat, the CEO of the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation in the 1980’s, was responsible for negotiating with Israel’s Energy
Jewish Trivia: Kentucky Derby Read More »
Jewish Religion, Mark D. Zimmerman, Middle East, Sports & Competitions, USA