Middle East

A Feeling of Progress in Israel

The national budget passed its first parliamentary reading without undue fuss and bother. It includes increases in the allocations for the health and education ministries, enabling the services provided to certain segments of the population to be extended. Admittedly, there are still many areas in which the services provided to the less fortunate could and should be improved, especially housing and welfare, but this still signifies a positive change, both in attitude and in action. In foreign policy, too, relations with other countries seem to be going in the right direction, with invitations extended to our Foreign Minister by the Arab Emirates as well as Morocco, Egypt and the U.S.A [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]

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Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Middle East

Palestinian prisoners escape from maximum security Israeli jail

Published by DPA Six convicted Palestinian prisoners escaped from an Israeli prison late on Sunday. The Israeli military, along with the country’s Shin Bet domestic intelligence agency and police, are now searching for the escapees, the military tweeted on Monday. The prisoners escaped through a tunnel from the Gilboa maximum security prison in the north

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Middle East

Surveying Israeli Developments on the Cusp of the New Year

The country proceeds, also more or less well. Lots of arguments and demonstrations. Major hospitals were on a Sabbath schedule, turning away some patients, claiming that the Finance Ministry hadn’t come through with the money promised. Now that seems to have been solved, with yet another promise from the Finance Ministry. And we’re waiting on the passage of a national budget. We’ve not had one for some three years, and this government will expire if one is not passed in a month or so. With a Knesset majority of one vote, it is dependent on full cooperation. That empowers each Knesset Member to have considerable leverage, to get what he/she wants, or to vote no, abstain, or be conveniently absent from the voting. So far, the Knesset has passed a budget with one vote. Now it’s waiting for two more votes. [Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D]

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Ira Sharkansky, Middle East

Palestinianism and the New Antisemitism

A recent survey conducted by Alums for Campus Fairness, “A Growing Threat: Antisemitism on College Campuses,” asked some 500 Jewish-affiliated college students and recent alumni what their perceptions were regarding campus antisemitism. The findings of the survey were troubling, given that: “Nearly 100% of respondents said antisemitism is/was a problem on their campus,” “95% of respondents identified antisemitism as a problem on U.S. college campuses, with three out of four describing it as a ‘very serious problem,’” almost “half of current students say antisemitism is getting worse on their campus,” and “69% of students and grads say they have avoided certain places, events, or situations at school because they are Jewish.” [Richard L. Cravatts, Ph.D]

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Middle East, Richard L. Cravatts, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Good News from Israel (September 5, 2021)

In the September 5, 2011 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
–Israeli oral treatment can protect against all Covid variants.
–An Israeli low-cost health company is coming to the USA.
–An Israeli hi-tech company only employs autistic individuals.
–Free hi-tech industry training for new English-speaking Israeli immigrants.
–With Israeli technology you can star in a movie trailer.
–Israeli swimmers won six gold medals at the Tokyo Paralympics.
–A tree grown from a 2,000-year-old seed produced a bumper crop of dates. [Michael Ordman]

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Business & Finance, International, Jewish Religion, Michael Ordman, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education, Sports & Competitions, The World We Share, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food, USA