International

A guide to the trials of Israel’s prime minister

The most serious case concerns Case 4000. This is the case in which Bibi is charged with a media bribery scheme with the owners of Bezek and Walla communications and media companies. In this case, the owners, Shaul Elovitch and his wife, Iris, are also co-defendants with a separate legal team. The charges claim that Walla gave Bibi favorable coverage in exchange for him making government policies favoring Elovitch’s Bezek company to the value of around 1.8 billion shekels. [Barry Shaw]

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Barry Shaw, Middle East

San Diegan Carla Berg performs in concert Sunday

In the video above, Carla Sitton Berg and her daughter Liora Sitton Berg of San Diego perform a mother-daughter duet urging us “Don’t Dream It’s Over.”  Carla, wife of  Geoffrey Berg, a board officer of Soille San Diego Hebrew Day School, will be among artists presenting a free online concert Sunday at 3 p.m for which you can register via this website. The concert is co-sponsored by Music on the Inside (MOTI) and Balanced Guitar (BG) “through their shared belief in community and the powerful role of music, especially now.” [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Israel scours globe for coronavirus protective equipment but P.A., Hamas reject such aid

As nations scrambled to obtain desperately needed medical equipment, Israel quietly coordinated a massive 150 medical cargo flights operation, involving El Al and Israel’s fabled Mossad intelligence agency, to scour the globe for much needed drugs, ventilators, protective clothing, and test kits. Huge El Al Dreamliners were converted into cargo planes as part of Israel’s emergency measures. Israir Airlines also sent planes to the Far East including to Shenzhen for medical supplies, and to bring stranded Israelis back from Vietnam. [Barry Shaw]

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Barry Shaw, International, Middle East

StandWithUs celebrates 19th anniversary of its founding

StandWithUs celebrated the 19th anniversary of its founding on Thursday with an international webcast that showcased its growth and successes helping students on college campuses, high schools and middle schools learn about Israel and defend against anti-Semitic attacks. The program was emceed by comedian Elon Gold and also featured the singing of “Hatikvah,” Israel’s National Anthem, by Rabbi/ Cantor Alison Wissot of Temple Judea of Tarzana, California, and a popular, optimistic Hebrew song by Israeli singer David Broza on the theme of “things will get better.” [Our Shtetl San Diego County column by Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Erdogan’s dictatorship endangers NATO, Middle East, and Balkans

Turkey is a country that has unlimited potential, vast human and natural resources, and cultural riches that could rival any developed country in just about every walk of life. But Turkey’s President Erdogan has squandered it all by putting his self-interest and blind ambition before the country. His legacy will be of one who lost his way and left a shattered country in his wake. If he examines his legacy, he will find nothing but a traumatized citizenry, international condemnation, and shame. He has committed gross human rights violations, betrayed Turkey’s friends and allies, sullied Islam to promote his wicked agenda, engaged in costly foreign adventures, expended a fortune to buy influence in foreign lands, befriended adversaries of NATO, and never ceased his incessant hunger for power. [Alon Ben-Meir]

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Alon Ben-Meir, International, Middle East

Netanyahu in the dock

Now that Israel finally has a government, a centrist unity government at that, Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu will finally face trial in Jerusalem District Court, where he is accused of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust. The trial, which was delayed by repeated elections and the coronavirus, will begin on Sunday, May 24. The investigation of  Netanyahu began in 2016. [Steve Kramer]

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Middle East, Steve Kramer, USA

Poetry: Endless Night

Editor’s Note: Maile Faust, a junior at Francis Parker School, wrote this poem inspired by Elie Wiesel’s “Night,’ during her freshman year.  Her family is of mixed Jewish-Christian ancestry. Maile has seven years of ballet and 8 years of Free Style Martial Arts, in which she has earned a black belt.  An honors and advanced placement student at Francis Parker, she intends to pursue a  college degree in mechanical engineering.

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education

30 leaders gather for an interfaith Iftar

“Iftar” is the break-the-fast meal at sunset each night during the Muslim month of Ramadan.  Ordinarily, participants–often including welcomed non-Muslims–will eat a prodigious meal together and share family stories and high points.  On Thursday, two organizations teamed up to host a different kind of Iftar that brought together celebrants from around the world and from several different religions. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East, The World We Share, USA

Republicans’ domestic record hurts Israel’s cause

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spent the hours leading to the Sabbath last Friday by having Israel’s back while getting his inspector general off his back. Israel’s reputation has long been impaired in part by the concept of intersectionality, and what happened Friday exemplifies how resentment of President Trump can undermine support for Israel. [Bruce S. Ticker]

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Bruce Ticker, Middle East, USA

If you cut me, I bleed American

The administrations [of Hebrew day schools] wanted the students to understand what it was to be an American, what the sacrifice of our Soldiers was all about and how Jewish Soldiers honorably served their Nation.  They took great pride in knowing that we as Jewish-Americans served and continuing to serve, bleed, and die for our Nation.  To this day, an Orthodox Hebrew day school in Rockland County displays at their entrance a six feet by five feet Iraq battle flag from the 101st Airborne Division that I sent them in 2003.  They display it so that all their students, staff and faculty will not forget the sacrifice of our Jewish Soldiers to their Nation. {Rabbi Carlos Huerta]

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Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East, USA

EMET founder calls on Biden to rebuke anti-Semitism in Democratic party

By Sarah Stern EMET Founder and President WASHINGTON, D.C — In quoting Former Vice President Joe Biden’s remarks on a call with donors, EMET shared that Biden stated, “Criticism of Israel’s policies is not anti-Semitism. But too often that criticism morphs into anti-Semitism.” He further stated, “We have to condemn anti-Semitism (on the left) And

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Middle East, USA

Hanging out with hubby at home in Israel

In Israel we are just beginning to feel the easing of the strict lockdown rules. At the recent very low-key Independence Day celebrations one of the individuals honoured with lighting one of the twelve flames which traditionally mark the opening of the day’s events declared how much she missed being able to see, hug and kiss her grandchildren. That must have triggered something in the national psyche, as not long afterwards the Prime Minister announced – as part of the easing of restrictions – that grandchildren will henceforth be able to visit their grandparents, though still keeping a safe distance. I doubt that any other national leader has included that particular facet of family life in their official announcements about relaxing coronavirus restrictions. Well done, popular entertainer Tzippi Shavit! [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]

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Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Middle East

Netanyahu trial to make history, possibly tumult

Next Sunday, Binyamin Netanyahu is about to make history, but not of the kind for which he wants to be remembered. The court just ordered him to appear in person at the opening of his trial on three charges of breach of trust, accepting bribes and fraud. This will be the first time in the history of the State of Israel that a prime minister will be in the dock while in office. [Rabbi Dow Marmur]

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Middle East