By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — Like most – if not all – of my friends, I was disappointed by the outcome of Israel’s recent general election. Perhaps I was not quite as disappointed as some of them, as I had been expecting a result along the lines of what actually transpired. I still […]
Status quo voters will have themselves to blame Read More »
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Middle EastBy Michael Ordman NETANYA, Israel — Jewish tradition connects the five books of Moses (the Torah) with water. For a healthy life, our sages say that you cannot go three days without either. Recently there have been many news stories from Israel on the theme of water – all focusing on the Israeli priority of
Positively Israel ~ March 25, 2015 Read More »
Michael Ordman, Middle EastIsraeli court sentences Hamas terrorist to 15½ years in prison (Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) Israel’s Beersheba District Court on Tuesday sentenced 24-year-old Muhammad Abu Draz, an operative of Hamas’s Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades, to 15½ years in prison after convicting him of membership in a terrorist organization, conspiracy to commit an act of terror, attempted murder,
Jewish news briefs: March 25, 2015 Read More »
Middle East, USAWASHINGTON, D.C. — White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough laid out President Obama’s positions on a two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinians, and the negotiations between the P5+1 countries and Iran, during an address to J Street, which is meeting in convention in the nation’s capital. Following is a transcript of those portions
What White House staff chief told J Street Read More »
Middle East, USA
By Anav Silverman TEL AVIV (Tazpit) — With one week to go before Passover, 110 new Ukrainian immigrants landed in Israel on Tuesday morning, March 24. The majority of newcomers are refugees who fled the fighting zones in the eastern part of the Ukraine including the husband of a woman killed by a direct rock
110 olim from Ukraine arrive for Passover Read More »
International, Middle EastWASHINGTON, DC (Press Release)—Congressman Peter Roskam (R-Illinois), co-chair of the House Republican Israel Caucus, and Congresswoman Grace Meng (D-New York), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East, urged House appropriators to increase funding for joint U.S.-Israel missile defense systems including Iron Dome, Arrow, Arrow 3, and David’s Sling. In a
Bipartisan call for more Israel defense spending Read More »
Middle East, USA
WASHINGTON, D.C. (WJC) — The leadership of the World Jewish Congress (WJC) met in Washington, DC for its annual Executive Committee meeting to discuss the growing threats to Jewish communities and the surge in anti-Semitism. At a special reception on Monday night, US Vice President Joe Biden commended WJC President Ronald S. Lauder for his
Biden: Speak up against anti- Semitism Read More »
Middle East, USATed Cruz, announcing presidential run, vows to support Israel ‘unapologetically’ (JNS.org) U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), upon announcing that he will run for president, said he would support Israel “unapologetically.” “Instead of a president who boycotts Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, imagine a president who stands unapologetically with the nation of Israel,” Cruz told an audience
Jewish news briefs: March 24, 2015 Read More »
Middle East, USABy Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–Those of us naïve enough to believe that politicians mean what they say, especially during election campaigns, have had our eyes opened. Two statements that Prime Minister Netanyahu made on the eve of the elections that shocked many of us at the time turned out to be untrue: his warning that
Netanyahu says what is expedient Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — The Huffington Post received a lot of coverage for its interview with President Barack Obama. It covered a good deal of territory, but what’s in its headline are the President’s judgments about Benyamin Netanyahu and Israel. Insofar as this is the President who preached democracy and equality in Cairo,
Comparing democracy in Israel and the U.S. Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USABy Anav Silverman JERUSALEM (Tazpit) –Throughout late February and March, Israeli Apartheid Week took place across 200 cities around the world, from the UK and South Africa to Canada and the USA. Anti-Israel events have been held on university campuses and academic institutions, with the official aim, according to the organizers’ website, to build Boycott,
Some Arab- Israeli facts BDS organizers won’t tell you Read More »
Middle East, USAIsraeli-issued Passover travel warnings include Egypt and Turkey (JNS.org) In its biannual report for Israeli tourists, the Counterterrorism Bureau at the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office on Sunday warned that after Islamist terror attacks in Belgium, Canada, Australia, Denmark, and France over the past year, there is a possibility of further jihadist attacks against Israeli and
Jewish news briefs: March 23, 2015 Read More »
International, Middle East, USAWASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) — AIPAC has praised the bipartisan group of 367 members of the House who sent a letter to President Obama underscoring key conditions for a nuclear agreement with Iran. The letter was initiated by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-California) and Ranking Democrat Eliot Engel (D-New York). The letter
367 House members sign letter on Iran Read More »
Middle East, USA
NEW YORK (Press Release) — The American Jewish Committee (AJC) is saddened by the death of Lee Kuan Yew, who served as Prime Minister of Singapore from 1959 to 1990. He was 91 years old. Lee led Singapore’s separation from Malaysia and independence in 1965. He oversaw the country’s transformation from a fairly underdeveloped colonial outpost
Lee Kuan Yew’s death saddens AJC Read More »
International, Middle East, USA