Middle East

Trump Backs One Palestinian Faction and Then Another

It all spells out a truism that should surprise nobody: Trump is too dangerous to trust to decide the Middle East’s fate or direct the implementation of his program. Millions of Americans can attest to Trump’s abuse of power and his habit of contradicting himself on a wide range of issues. [Bruce S. Ticker]

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Bruce Ticker, Israel, Middle East, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

OpEd: Praise for Trump’s Role Ending Gaza Fighting; Criticism for His Domestic Policies

We watched with interest as President Trump addressed the Knesset, and cringed at his self-aggrandizing remarks. Only Donald Trump could make this joyous and historic moment about himself; his hyperbolic claims of forging a regional peace that has evaded civilization for hundreds or thousands of years are patently false. The ceasefire agreement reached between Israel and Hamas is historic and important, though it is also tenuous and incomplete. [Halie Soifer]

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International, Israel, Jewish History, Middle East, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Jewish Trivia Quiz: Nobel Peace Prize

President Carter and First Lady Rosalynn Carter walked into the office at Carter’s Camp David cabin, followed by Begin and Sadat. There was an awkward moment as the two Middle East leaders had to decide who would enter next. How did Rosalynn Carter later describe how this scene played out? [Mark D. Zimmerman]

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Israel, Jewish History, Mark D. Zimmerman, Middle East, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA

Documentary: Israel’s Polarization Led to Massacre by Gazans on 10/7

Venezuelan documentary film maker Jonatan Jakubowicz made the 108-minute Soul of a Nation with a decided point of view. He had witnessed the transformation of Venezuela from a democracy to an authoritarian state in league with narco-terrorists.  The Jewish Jakubowicz feared that polarization in Israel similarly might lead to that country’s dissolution. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Antisemitism, Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, Jewish History, Middle East, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Couple Underwrites Scholarships for Financially Challenged Jewish San Diegans

“I think that people who don’t give in some way or another of their time or of their funds are missing a big part of life,” Rubenstein, a real estate investor and retired ophthalmologist reflected during an interview Monday at the JFS headquarters on Balboa Avenue. “They’re missing satisfaction and enjoying other people’s success.” [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Lifestyles, Middle East, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Shor M. Masori, Staff and Bylined Contributors

American Jewish Committee Celebrates Abraham Accords’ 5th Anniversary

Five years ago, on September 15, 2020, President Trump convened leaders from Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and the Kingdom of Bahrain to sign the Abraham Accords—a historic agreement rooted in mutual understanding, coexistence, and the pursuit of peace in the Middle East. By year’s end, the Kingdom of Morocco had also joined the Accords. [Press Release]

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International, Israel, Jewish History, Middle East, Press Release, USA

Children’s Book Omits Key Details in Story of Interreligious Harmony

Tilly’s Jewish family hosts an Iraqi Muslim family for a week while the community readies an apartment for the refugee family to occupy. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Middle East, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA

OpEd: Global Roundup of Recent Displays of Antisemitism

The end of the summer was dominated by allegations of ‘genocide’ and ‘famine’ thrown against Israel and its supporters. These collapse under even causal examination, but have been coupled with relentless campaigns, particular on the far right, to legitimize antisemitism. [Press Release]

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Antisemitism, International, Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East, Opinion, Press Release, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

‘The Boomer Archaeologist’ is UCSD Prof. Thomas Levy’s Very Readable Personal Memoir and Scientific Findings

Illustrated by Lily Almeida, this paperback chronicles Levy’s remarkable five-decade career as a Levantine archaeologist, weaving a rich narrative that blends autobiography with groundbreaking discoveries in the ancient Near East. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]

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Antisemitism, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Israel, Jewish History, Lifestyles, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Middle East, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Technology, Travel and Food, USA

Sephardic and Mizrachi Jews Have Stronger Connection to Israel Compared to Ashkenazi Jews

The research, directed by Dr. Mijal Bitton and based at the NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Research, includes recommendations for community leaders, educators, and researchers to better include Sephardic Jews in the community. The myriad specific recommendations in the report are informed by five new recommended frameworks to approach diversity work in the Jewish community. [Press Release]

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International, Israel, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Middle East, Press Release, USA

AJC: Macron’s Recognition of Palestine Removes Hamas’ Incentive for a Ceasefire

Three months ago, the President declared that France might recognize a Palestinian state — but only under certain conditions: the release of the hostages still held in Gaza and the disarmament of Hamas. Today, those conditions have not been met. [Press Release]

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International, Israel, Middle East, Opinion, Press Release

UC San Diego Conference Explores the Exodus Through Multiple Perspectives

“Whether we approach this story as believers or skeptics, as historians or theologians, as archaeologists or from other fields of science,” he continued, “we encounter fundamental questions about freedom, community and hope that remain as urgent today as they were over 3,000 years ago.” [Mika Elizabeth Ono]

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Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Jewish Federation’s Summary of Israeli Wartime Developments

This week, we mourn the devastating violence against Druze civilians in Syria and stand in solidarity with our Israeli Druze brothers and sisters as they respond with courage and heartbreak. The escalation along the Israeli-Syrian border underscores the deep interconnection of our communities and the urgency of global attention. [Press Release]

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Israel, Jewish Religion, Middle East, Press Release, San Diego County