International

U.S. service organizations to tour Israel, study Masa program

NEW YORK (Press Release)–Representatives from leading American service organizations, including Teach for America, Peace Corps, City Year, and other organizations will travel to Israel in next week to explore volunteering opportunities offered through Masa Israel Journey.  With young adults’ growing interest in international volunteer opportunities, Masa Israel, a joint project of the Government of Israel […]

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Middle East

With Egyptian Foreign Minister at her side, Clinton continues to criticize Israel

WASHINGTON, D.C (Press Release)– U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton conducted a joint press conference on Wednesday, Nov. 10, with Egypt’s Foreign Minister Aboul Gheit.  It was the second with an Arab official in the same day.  Earlier she and Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad held a news conference via television hookup. As she had

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Middle East

New congressman’s appointment of radio commentator to staff riles Jewish Democrats

WASHINGTON, DC (Press Release) – The National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC) on Wednesday  condemned Republican Congressman-elect Allen West’s (R-FL) decision to appoint talk radio host Joyce Kaufman as his Chief of Staff. NJDC President and CEO David A. Harris said upon hearing of Kaufman’s appointment: “Congressman-elect Allen West’s constituents – but especially his Jewish constituents – should

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USA

Clinton announces $150 million grant to the Palestinian Authority; criticizes Israel’s plans for new construction in East Jerusalem

WASHINGTON, D.C.  (Press Release)– U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced a program of financial aid to the Palestinian Authority in a joint news conference with Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad via his television hook-up from Ramallah.  Here is a text: MR. CROWLEY: Good morning and welcome to the Department of State. We have a

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Middle East

Why the P.A. has no interest in the current ‘peace talks’

By Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel — Here are two developments that are important indicators about the Israel-Palestinian situation. First, the current Palestinian Authority (PA) strategy is to stall and avoid negotiations because making a deal with Israel requires giving concessions to get to a compromise peace. The leadership wants to make no concessions, both because

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Middle East

California Insurance Commissioner sues for right to require Iran divestments by insurance companies

SACRAMENTO (Press Release)–California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner on Tuesday, Nov. 9,  announced that he is filing a lawsuit challenging a California Office of Administrative Law (OAL) determination, issued last month at the behest of the insurance industry, that the Commissioner’s efforts to stop insurers from investing in Iran constituted an “underground regulation.” The Commissioner’s lawsuit contests

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USA

Jay Feinberg, bone marrow foundation founder, named Jewish Community Hero

NEW ORLEANS (Press Release)— The Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) on Tuesday awarded Jay Feinberg, from Boca Raton, Florida, the 2010 Jewish Community Hero Award.  The award marked the culmination of the second annual Jewish Community Heroes contest, in which more than 300,000 votes were cast online to recognize the selflessness and courage of those

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USA

New York Times headline overplays Jerusalem construction story

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM –Again Israel was front and center on the web site of the New York Times, along with a picture and a headline: “Israel Plans 1,000 Housing Units in East Jerusalem.”　 Read the article. The content is more modest by far than the headline or the prominent placement. It reports that the area

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Ira Sharkansky, Middle East

ZOA: Palestine-Israel lease-back plan a ‘non-starter’

NEW YORK (Press Release)–The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) has criticized reported plans being pushed by the Obama Administration for the creation of a Palestinian state on all of Judea and Samaria with parts of eastern Jerusalem and the strategically vital Jordan Valley to be “leased” by Israel from it. Media reports are discussing a

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Middle East

J Street ‘profoundly disappointed’ by new construction in East Jerusalem

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)–J Street President Jeremy Ben-Ami on Monday, Nov. 8,  released the following statement upon the Israeli Government’s announcement of the construction of 1,300 new apartments in East Jerusalem: “J Street is profoundly disappointed that the Israeli government has chosen this moment to announce yet another large round of construction in East Jerusalem.

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Middle East

Life on the boundary of a Jewish neighborhood and an Arab one

 By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–Living alongside the Arab neighborhood of Issawiya has its moments. Items from the weekend’s news: Israelis accompanying an Australian tourist made a wrong turn into the neighborhood, and narrowly escaped a lynching. In another incident, neighborhood folks stoned an ambulance that entered the area to tend a resident who had been injured

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Ira Sharkansky, Middle East

Attack on Baghdad Church part of pattern of Muslim hostility towards Christians

By Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel — Christians in Iraq have been, and not for the first time, deliberately targeted in a major terrorist attack. Indeed, from Indonesia to Pakistan to Iraq, from the Gaza Strip to Egypt to Sudan to Nigeria, Christians are being assaulted, intimidated, and murdered by militant Muslims. Yet virtually never do

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Middle East