International

Netanyahu warns against ‘business as usual’ with Iran in comments ‘aimed at Biden’

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday said it would be a mistake “to go back to business as usual with Iran,” signalling Israeli resistance to an expected push by President-elect Joe Biden to revive the international nuclear deal with Iran. Netanyahu spoke at a press conference with Robert O’Brien, President Donald Trump’s national security

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Middle East, USA

Good News from Israel (Dec. 13, 2020)

In the 13th Dec 20 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
• A new Israeli stem cell treatment can halt and reverse MS.
• Israel has received its first deliveries of coronavirus vaccines.
• An Israeli-Ethiopian immigrant has won a scholarship to Oxford University.
• Over 130 Israeli hi-tech companies have been exhibiting in Dubai.
• New investment in Israeli startups is at record levels.
• An Israeli has won the NASCAR European championship for the 3rd time.
• Morocco and Israel are to establish diplomatic relations. [Very Good News Israel via San Diego Jewish World]
 

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

How Hanukkah Is Regarded in Israel

We just received a note from a dear friend and longtime reader. She wrote: I know you once told me Hanukkah is a minor holiday in Israel but, so, just in case you feel like lighting a menorah, enjoy!  Wishing you as much joy as is possible at this moment in time.  Stay well and safe. My reply:  For sure we’re lighting candles and celebrating the holiday. I’ll clarify my previous comment: Minor doesn’t mean Hanukkah isn’t celebrated here. It’s minor only in the sense that the story of the Maccabees isn’t mentioned in the Bible. Here it isn’t among the most holy holidays. Presents are exchanged mostly around Rosh Hashanah or Passover, not so much during this holiday. Fried foods, such as doughnuts and potato pancakes (latkes) are a big thing. Hanukkah “gelt” (money) is often the gift of choice, along with chocolate “coins” and plain or fancy dreidels for games. … [Steve Kramer]

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Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East, Steve Kramer

The Personal Power of History

In the early 1970s while teaching at the University of Rhodesia (Zimbabwe since independence in 1980), I interviewed African labor and farmer union leaders while researching the 1948 General Strike and the African Farmers Union. The interviews were in English, Shona, and Sindebele. I hired two undergraduate history majors to assist me with the African languages and cross-cultural social protocols. One of them, Misheck Sibanda completed a Ph.D. in History at Birmingham University and returned to Zimbabwe, served as the Chief Cabinet Secretary to President Robert Mugabe and Emmerson Mnangagwa, and recently retired after 17 years of service. The second student, Kevin Gumbo, became a teacher. [Oliver B. Pollak]

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International, Oliver Pollak, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Ohio Rep. Marcia Fudge To Join Biden White House As HUD Secretary

President-elect Joe Biden tapped Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio) to lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Fudge is a member of the House Agriculture Committee and had previously been campaigning to become the first black female Agriculture secretary. She would be the second black woman to serve as HUD secretary. She told Politico last month that

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USA

Breaking norms, Jared Kushner scores late-term wins for Israel

Washington (AFP) – The United Arab Emirates is getting top-of-the-line fighter jets. Morocco is winning recognition for decades-old territorial claims. And Sudan is coming off the US terrorism blacklist. The Arab nations are suddenly achieving long-sought goals after agreeing to normalize ties with Israel, in a last-minute triumph for the unorthodox diplomacy of outgoing President

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Middle East, USA

Emirati, Bahraini ambassadors to US light Hanukkah third candle together

The Emirati and Bahraini Ambassadors to the US lit Hanukkah candles together on Saturday night, celebrating the third day of holiday, N12 reported.On Saturday night, the Israeli Embassy in Washington held a virtual candle lighting with the UAE Ambassador to the US Yousef Al Otaiba and Bahraini Ambassador to the US Abdulla Al Khalifa, who

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Jewish Religion, Middle East, USA

Kuwaiti school fires expat teacher after including Israel in assignment

An expat teacher in Kuwait was fired after she gave her class a map of the Middle East that included Israel. The teacher, who worked for the private American Creative Academy, gave her fifth grade students a homework assignment asking them to identify different countries of the Middle East – including Israel. Initially, students and

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Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education

OpEd: Palestinians Are Victims of ‘Cancel Culture’

The following article by James J. Zogby, president of the Arab-American Institute, is here presented so that our predominantly Jewish and pro-Israel readership, including the editor and contributors to San Diego Jewish World itself,  may be exposed to the argument made by Palestinian advocates.  While we anticipate that many of our readers will disagree with

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Middle East, USA

US adopts map of Morocco that includes Western Sahara

The United States adopted Saturday a “new official” map of Morocco that includes the disputed territory of Western Sahara, the ambassador to Rabat said. “This map is a tangible representation of President Trump’s bold proclamation two days ago – recognising Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara,” Ambassador David Fischer said according to a statement seen by

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Middle East, USA

US approves Pfizer vaccine as millions of doses begin shipping

Washington (AFP) – The US green-lit the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine late Friday, paving the way for millions of vulnerable people to receive their shots in the world’s hardest-hit country. President Donald Trump immediately released a video on Twitter, where he hailed the news as a “medical miracle” and said the first immunizations would take place

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USA

Moroccan Foreign Minister praises normalisation in Israeli TV interview amid criticism at home

Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita has praised his country’s decision to normalise relations with Israel in an interview with the state-run Israeli TV channel Kan-11 on Friday. Bourita said that Morocco’s King Mohammed VI had decided to establish diplomatic relations with Israel because he viewed relations with Jewish people generally, and Israel in particular, to

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Middle East