International

Israel foreign ministry summons Philippine envoy over UNHRC vote

Published by Philippine Star Pia Lee-Brago (The Philippine Star) – June 1, 2021 – 12:00am MANILA, Philippines — The Israeli Foreign Ministry summoned the Philippines’ ambassador to Tel Aviv to clarify the country’s vote at the United Nations Human Rights Council favoring an investigation into alleged Israeli war crimes and actions in the Gaza Strip […]

Israel foreign ministry summons Philippine envoy over UNHRC vote Read More »

Middle East

Indigenous groups call for Canada to identify graves after remains of 215 children found

Published by Reuters By Anna Mehler Paperny TORONTO (Reuters) – Indigenous groups in Canada are calling for a nationwide search for mass graves at residential school sites after the discovery of the remains of 215 children at one former school last week shocked the country. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Monday that searching for

Indigenous groups call for Canada to identify graves after remains of 215 children found Read More »

International

Newark honors city’s first 3 Black firefighters, all veterans, as trailblazers

Published by NJ.com David Lee Bolden didn’t beat around the bush when asked why he wanted to become a Newark firefighter 65 years ago. “I needed the job,” said Bolden, 92, matter-of-factly. “And also, to help the city.” He kept it modest. But on Friday, Bolden and two others were recognized by city officials as

Newark honors city’s first 3 Black firefighters, all veterans, as trailblazers Read More »

USA

After 100 years remembering, last survivors mark race massacre in Tulsa

Published by Reuters By Makini Brice TULSA, Okla. (Reuters) – Lessie Benningfield Randle, 106, can still remember a house engulfed in flames and the bodies stacked in truckbeds, one hundred years later. “I was quite a little kid but I remember running and the soldiers were coming in,” Randle said in an interview with Reuters

After 100 years remembering, last survivors mark race massacre in Tulsa Read More »

USA

Netanyahu challenger: Still obstacles to new Israeli government

Published by DPA Opposition leader Yair Lapid still sees numerous obstacles on his way towards forming a new government in Israel. “Maybe that’s a good thing because we’ll have to overcome them together,” Lapid said at a meeting of the parliamentary faction of his Yesh Atid (Future) party on Monday, according to a spokesman. “That’s

Netanyahu challenger: Still obstacles to new Israeli government Read More »

Middle East

Palestinians call for Abbas to be removed from office

Published by Al-Araby Palestinian academics, activists and political factions have called for the removal from office of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, citing his cancelling of the Palestinian elections and a perceived failure to support the people Gaza during the recent Israeli attacks. “The recent intifada of Jerusalem has revealed the resounding incompetence of the

Palestinians call for Abbas to be removed from office Read More »

Middle East

Good News from Israel (May 30, 2021)

Highlights of Good News from Israel for the May 30, 2011 edition include:
–Israeli wound treatment uses patients’ own blood to save their lives.
–Israeli-invented pill camera to be given to 11,000 UK patients.
–Media reports of Israel’s civil war are fake news.
–Israeli technology is out of this world.
–20 Israeli companies have partnered to make Israel’s roads safer.
–Almost every week there’s a new Israeli billion-dollar company.
–Israelis smash swimming and singing records at Euro events.
–Birthright has resumed free Israel tours for American Jews.
[Michael Ordman]

Good News from Israel (May 30, 2021) Read More »

Business & Finance, International, Jewish History, Michael Ordman, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Science, Medicine, & Education, Sports & Competitions, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food, USA

Mideast Ceasefire May Be Holding, But Israel Is Still Under Attack

The Middle East is a part of the world drenched in sadness, pain and violence. Yossi Klein Halevi, senior fellow at the Hartman Institute in Jerusalem, once said that in Israel the trauma is layered like an archaeological dig, where each level of destruction is piled one on top of the other, with no space between them. Since 2000 it has been one long war; a new kind of warfare called “asymmetrical war.” Asymmetrical warfare attempts to erase two basic features of war: the front and the uniform. It has no defined place and is waged by unidentified murderers. The goal is to create, in the words of the Israeli moral philosopher, Moshe Halbertal, “a war of all, against all, and everywhere.” Everyone is a potential enemy and nowhere is safe. And one of the results of this kind of warfare is more fatalities in Gaza than in Israel. [Rabbi Michael Berk]

Mideast Ceasefire May Be Holding, But Israel Is Still Under Attack Read More »

Middle East

Goodbye Columbus, Schweitzer, and Lindbergh

For many years, performing any of Richard Wagner’s orchestral works was verboten in Israel.  Wagner was a virulent antisemite and Hitler’s favorite composer.  In a country that had taken in so many victims of the Holocaust, performing any of Wagner’s works would have been like pouring  burning oil onto an open flesh wound. [Donald H. Harrison]

Goodbye Columbus, Schweitzer, and Lindbergh Read More »

Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Netanyahu, Blinken Paper Over Differences During Jerusalem Meeting

After their meeting in Jerusalem on Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made what were supposed to be “soft” public statements. The politely worded remarks deliberately slid past serious policy differences, but those differences cannot and should not be hidden. Moreover, they should form the basis of conversation between the two allies in the future. [Shoshana Bryen]

Netanyahu, Blinken Paper Over Differences During Jerusalem Meeting Read More »

Middle East, Shoshana Bryen, USA

U.S. Justice Breyer touts compromise, democracy, adherence to precedent

Published by Reuters By Andrew Chung (Reuters) – Justice Stephen Breyer on Friday spoke of the need for the U.S. Supreme Court to respect its own precedents, talked up democracy and touted bipartisan collaboration in Congress as he addressed school students amid speculation about his possible retirement. Breyer, at 82 the nine-member court’s oldest justice,

U.S. Justice Breyer touts compromise, democracy, adherence to precedent Read More »

USA