Middle East

HAIFA (Press Release)–After more than 45 hours, fires continue to sweep across northern Israel in the deadliest blaze in the country’s history. Over 8,000 acres have already burned in the Carmel Mountains near Haifa, Israel’s third-largest city. The death toll has climbed to 43 and is expected to rise, with several people listed in critical

By Steven Morris SAN DIEGO — As you may have heard, a forest fire is raging in the north of Israel that is being called the worst in the country’s history. The fire, centered in the Carmel Forest outside Haifa, has already killed more than 40 people, burned buildings and forced the evacuation of thousands of

HAIFA (Press Release)–The mood is not optimistic after more than 35 hours battling what is the worst fire in Israel’s history, reports Hezy Levi, a Haifa region fire fighter who is on the scene. “We are working around the clock,” said Levi, “and are receiving help from Greece, Cyprus, Russia, Britain and Turkey, but we

(As of Friday morning San Diego time) Fire kills more than 40; international effort mobilized HAIFA (Press Release)–A fire on the Carmel Mountain near the city of Haifa,, in northern Israel, has killed at least 40 people – among them students, prison guards and firemen who were racing to evacuate the Damon prison. When a

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)–President Obama hosted a second-nigh Hanukkah reception on Thursday, Dec. 2,  at the White House, where he made he following remarks:   THE PRESIDENT:  Oh, this is a good looking group right here.  (Laughter.)  Good evening, everybody. AUDIENCE:  Good evening. THE PRESIDENT:  Welcome to the White House.  I want to thank all of you for joining

JERUSALEM (Press Release) — The worst fire in Israel’s history is raging across Haifa and the Carmel Forest. Lives have already been lost, and many more are in danger as Israel’s Fire and Rescue Services and JNF-KKL foresters battle the blaze. As all forests in Israel are urban forests and abut either large cities or small

 By Morton A. Klein and Daniel Mandel  NEW YORK — It’s a constant refrain that, if Israel would only give more land and concessions to the Palestinians, peace would arrive. If only that were true. But the Arab war on Israel has nothing to do with borders; with Jews building homes in the West Bank

  NEW YORK (Press Release) — In cooperation with The Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) and the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism, the Association of Reform Zionists of America (ARZA) has established the Carmel Fire-Israel Emergency Fund to help Israel battle the worst fire in the country’s history. Funds will be distributed via the Israeli Reform

HAIFA (Press Release)–Due to a fire in the Carmel mountains, the University of Haifa announced on Thursday that it is evacuating the campus. That said, it is important to clarify that there is no immediate danger at the campus, but after consultation with the police and firefighter authorities, a management decision was taken to avoid unnecessary

By Audrey Jacobs and Michael Lurie SAN DIEGO —  As they light the candles for Hannukah, the Jewish festival of lights, Jews recall the central message of this happy festival – renewing their faith as a free people in their homeland, the land of Israel. Hannukah commemorates the events of over 2,100 years ago, when the

RAMALLAH (WJC)–The Palestinian Authority (PA) has removed a controversial report claiming that the Western Wall in Jerusalem is not holy to Jews from its official website. The paper by a senior PA official had sparked world-wide criticism and was condemned as incorrect and provocative, including by the US government. The five-page ‘study’ was authored by