WASHINGTON — The Trump administration announced new rules Wednesday to make it tougher for U.S. businesses to work in Cuba and for Americans to travel to the island. The restrictions are aimed at enacting what President Donald Trump in June described as plans to reverse the Obama administration’s diplomatic opening with the communist-ruled island. Effective […]
A general strike on Wednesday called by pro-independence campaigners in Catalonia continued on into the night. Hundreds of strikers gathered in Barcelona’s main railway station to protest against the imprisonment of politicians, chanting the name of ex-leader Carles Puigdemont. “The reason we are blocking the trains is so that they know we are here and
Catalan students blockade Barcelona’s main train station Read More »
InternationalBy Cathryn J. Prince NEW YORK — For Matthew Bielski his saba and savta (grandfather and grandmother) were nothing short of modern day Maccabees. As the grandson of Jewish partisans Sonia and Zus Bielski, Mattthew Bielski, 33, frequently heard stories about surviving frigid winters deep in the Nalibaki forest, in northwestern Belarus. He also heard
Grandson of famous Jewish WWII partisans makes resistance meaningful today Read More »
International, Jewish History, USARacial minorities and LGBTQ candidates picked up historic wins in races across the country Tuesday. They included two openly transgender politicians, African-Americans who prevailed in several mayoral races and the first Sikh mayor in New Jersey. — A transgender woman, Latinas and an Asian-American win in Virginia Danica Roem became the first openly transgender person
Tuesday’s elections brought a slate of diverse candidates into office Read More »
USAWASHINGTON — The Tuesday night rout of Republican candidates up and down the ballot has triggered alarm bells in Republican circles that a deteriorating political environment could set in motion a Democratic wave in the 2018 midterm elections. The most dramatic results unfolded in Virginia, where Democrats swept up victories in the governor’s race and
Republicans suddenly fear disastrous 2018 Read More »
USABy Raphael Ahren American lawmakers on Wednesday discussed the possibility of moving the American Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, some three weeks before US President Donald Trump will have to decided on whether to postpone the action for another six months. The two-hour discussion took place in the House Oversight Subcommittee for National Security,
As deadline nears, US lawmakers hear case for moving embassy to Jerusalem Read More »
Middle East, USAThe question of whether Germany owes Poland war reparations — an issue recently revived by Warsaw — is a complex entanglement of historical, ethical, diplomatic and economic factors. Here are the key elements. – Loss and destruction – Nazi Germany attacked Poland on September 1, 1939, marking the beginning of World War II, which did
Poland revives debate over German war reparations Read More »
International, Middle EastBy TOI staff and Jessica Steinberg After staging a sassy performance in Tel Aviv for his Israeli fans on Tuesday night, Boy George on Wednesday pushed back against online criticism by Israel boycott activists, rejecting comparisons between the Jewish state and South Africa in the apartheid era. “So George are you saying you would have
After Tel Aviv concert, Boy George says Israel ‘in my heart’ Read More »
Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual ArtsThe Knesset Finance Committee on Wednesday evening approved for its second and third readings the JNF Law, which would oblige the Jewish National Fund (JNF) to transfer annual sums of money to state coffers to fund national infrastructure projects. The law states that the JNF has two options: The first would be to transfer to
‘JNF Law’ softened thanks to MK Smotrich Read More »
Middle EastAn Arab resident of Hevron was arrested Wednesday morning, after he was caught attempting to smuggle a knife into the Tomb of the Patriarchs. The city of Hevron, a frequent target of Arab terrorists, is divided between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, with some 20% of the city in sector H2 under direct Israeli control,
Hevron man caught with knife – in his sock Read More »
Middle EastFrance’s Court of Appeal ordered the expulsion of the controversial comedian Dieudonné M’bala M’bala from Paris’ Main d’Or theatre on Wednesday, as requested by its owners in a long-running judicial struggle. The decision upholds a lower court’s judgment from September 2015, and can be implemented with immediate effect. During the trial, SCI Passage d’Or, the
Controversial comedian Dieudonné M’bala M’bala expelled from Paris theatre Read More »
InternationalHundreds of students, supporters, and relatives of the late Rabbi Meir Kahane gathered in the Heichal David event hall in Jerusalem Tuesday night to mark the 27th anniversary of the assassination of the former Knesset Member and Jewish activist. Born in Brooklyn in 1932, Rabbi Kahane founded the Jewish Defense League in 1968 to confront
Followers mark 27 years since Rabbi Meir Kahane’s assassination Read More »
Middle EastBy Eric Cortellessa WASHINGTON — The US House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday heard testimony about increased anti-Semitism on US college campuses, as lawmakers mulled advancing a 2016 bill that would require the Department of Education to adopt the State Department’s working definition of anti-Semitism. The Anti-Semitism Awareness Act (ASAA) would require federally funded education programs
Congress hears testimony on expanding definition of anti-Semitism Read More »
Middle EastDaniel Markind Three weeks ago, Professor Alan Dershowitz gave a speech at the University of California-Berkeley in which he laid out the liberal case for Israel. Shortly thereafter, a cartoon appeared in the student newspaper, the Daily Californian, that depicted Professor Dershowitz with spider-like features smiling as he sticks his head through a cardboard cutout.
OpEd: Just say no! Read More »
Middle East, USA