International

On Israel-Palestine, Trump might end up another George W. Bush

Seeking to seal ‘ultimate deal,’ new president is not rushing to dramatic changes. He doesn’t mind Israel building in settlements blocs, but could soon push for two-state solution By Raphael Ahren Donald Trump’s grandiose pre-election promises notwithstanding, the new president is starting to make it fairly clear that he will neither quickly move the US

On Israel-Palestine, Trump might end up another George W. Bush Read More »

Middle East, USA

Donald Trump Didn’t Really Want To Win, Says Howard Stern

Donald Trump’s rise to the presidency of the United States might’ve been nothing more than a stunt to get a bigger contract on “The Apprentice,” according to his close friend Howard Stern. The president never actually wanted to win the election, and instead, was hoping there was still a chance his opponent will take over,

Donald Trump Didn’t Really Want To Win, Says Howard Stern Read More »

Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Chuck Grassley, Dianne Feinstein introduce legislation to kill controversial investor visa program

Sens. Charles E. Grassley and Dianne Feinstein announced Friday they have introduced legislation to kill a controversial investor visa program that critics have derided as a backdoor way for wealthy foreigners to essentially buy a pathway to U.S. citizenship. “I was hoping that it would not come to this point, but absent serious efforts to

Chuck Grassley, Dianne Feinstein introduce legislation to kill controversial investor visa program Read More »

International, USA

Ukraine fighting surges; more civilian deaths reported

Moscow (dpa) – Fighting between the Ukrainian military and Russian-backed rebels in eastern Ukraine has intensified amid reports Friday of shelling in dozens of civilian areas. The flare-up in the simmering three-year-old conflict coincided with Ukraine assuming the month-long presidency of the United Nations Security Council. The Ukrainian military reported another six soldiers dead on

Ukraine fighting surges; more civilian deaths reported Read More »

International

Betsy DeVos: Senate advances nomination for education secretary

President Trump’s out-of-the-box pick to lead the Education Department survived another hurdle, overcoming an attempted Democratic filibuster in a rare pre-dawn vote Friday. A final vote is slated for Monday. Democrats have made Betsy DeVos, the pick, one of their chief targets as they try to score a scalp from among Mr. Trump’s Cabinet nominees,

Betsy DeVos: Senate advances nomination for education secretary Read More »

Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Stranger whom we welcome should be friendly

By Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort  CARLSBAD, California — We are in the midst of the story of the Exodus of our people, the Jewish people, from Egyptian servitude. This part of our collective history is rich in lessons that apply to our lives today. Many people mistakenly believe that the Torah is filled with ancient wisdom

Stranger whom we welcome should be friendly Read More »

International, Jewish Religion, Middle East, USA, Yeruchem Eilfort-Rabbi

Who are the refugees Australia doesn’t want?

The Manus Island regional processing facility, where Australia sends illegal immigrants. (Photo: Australia Department of Immigration and Citizenship) By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — It is hard to complain about Australia — democratic, sunny, cheerful, and oh, those koalas and kangaroos. On a more serious note, Australia is a welcome ally, participating in military operations around

Who are the refugees Australia doesn’t want? Read More »

International, Middle East, Shoshana Bryen, USA

Israel to US: Settlement expansion is not the problem

Blaming Palestinians for stalled negotiations, deputy FM says government ‘elected to act on Jewish People’s right to build in all parts of our land’ By Times of Israel staff Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right, and Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely attend a Likud faction meeting at the Knesset, December 21, 2015. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90) Responding to

Israel to US: Settlement expansion is not the problem Read More »

Middle East, USA

Steny Hoyer on Donald Trump: ‘Who knows’ whether more calls will be necessary to apologize

Rep. Steny H. Hoyer, who spoke recently with the Australian ambassador to the U.S., said Friday he’s not sure how many more of those calls he’ll have to make to apologize to an ally for something from the White House. “I thought it was extraordinarily unfortunate, apparently, that the conversation between Prime Minister [Malcolm] Turnbull

Steny Hoyer on Donald Trump: ‘Who knows’ whether more calls will be necessary to apologize Read More »

International, USA

Rex Tillerson’s Former Company Is Already Winning Out Under Trump

Former ExxonMobil Corp. Chief Executive Rex Tillerson was sworn in only Wednesday, and already Congress is moving to benefit the new secretary of state’s former—and only—place of work by shredding two major oil industry regulations. Early Friday morning, the Republican-led Senate voted 52 to 47 on a House resolution scrapping a Securities and Exchange Commission

Rex Tillerson’s Former Company Is Already Winning Out Under Trump Read More »

International, USA

Netanyahu’s new settlement? ‘Abandoned’ Amona evictees aren’t holding out hope

Residents of the evacuated West Bank outpost are not taking government promises for granted: ‘This fight is not over,’ they say, ‘We’ve just moved to the next stage’ By Raoul Wootliff OFRA – A 35-minute walk up the hill, the final protesters were being forcibly removed by border police from the synagogue of the Amona

Netanyahu’s new settlement? ‘Abandoned’ Amona evictees aren’t holding out hope Read More »

Middle East