Middle East

Romans urge Shalit release, celebrate works of Luzzati

A sign demanding freedom for Israeli prisoner Gilad Shalit and an exhibit of Jewish Italian artist Emanuel Luzzati are highlights this December in Rome _______________________________________________________ Story by Ulla Hadar, Photos by Rafi Hadar ROME–Climbing the last few steps from the Forum Romano I entered the Piazza in front of the Palazzo Senatorio. My eyes opened […]

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Middle East

Lawrence Family JCC dinner, lecture to mark Talmis' return visit to San Diego Jan. 11

LA JOLLA, California — Yoav Talmi, former conductor of the San Diego Symphony Orchestra, on Monday, Jan. 11, will discuss orchestras in Israel and the continuing controversy over whether they should play the music of composer  Richard Wagner, who was a Nazi sympathizer. Talmi currently is the permanent guest conductor of the Israel Chamber Orchestra,

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Eileen Wingard, Middle East, San Diego Calendar

Immigrants from North America helping to enrich Israel

JERUSALEM (Press Release)–The Jewish Agency for Israel has found a few interesting facts about those who have made aliyah to Israel recently: According to a study conducted by Deloitte Brightman Almagor Zohar (The Israeli branch of the Deloitte Touche network), the new Olim (immigrants) that came to Israel from North America between 2002 and 2008

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Middle East, USA

Torah cannot be ignored in analysis of Israeli motivations

By Rabbi Philip Graubart LA JOLLA, California–Why do Jews live in settlements on the other side of Israel’s supposed green line?  Recently, after yet another series of tension-filled discussions with the United States, Israel announced yet another settlement freeze.  This pattern of American-Israeli discussions, disagreements, threats, and then freezes and occasional subterfuge regarding the settlements

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Middle East, USA

RJC says Jewish voters have 'buyers' remorse' over Obama

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) — According to a Quinnipiac poll released Wednesday, Jewish support for President Obama has tumbled to 52%. In January, Obama’s approval rating among Jews was 83%; by September it had fallen to 64%, according to a Gallup poll. The Quinnipiac poll asked respondents whether they approved of President Obama’s handling of

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Middle East, USA

Taglit/Birthright Israel may change 20 SDSU student lives forever

Past SDSU Hillel group frolics at the Dead Sea during Taglit/ Birthright Israel trip. Photo courtesy SDSU Hillel _____________________________________________________ By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO –For 20 Jewish students at San Diego State University, there’s much to look forward to after finals, Chanukah and the New Year.   A free Taglit/ Birthright Israel trip to Israel,

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Donald H. Harrison, Middle East, USA

Neeman causes stir with apparent call to convert Israel to Torah law

JERUSALEM (WJC)–Israel’s Justice Minister Yaakov Neeman has caused a stir in the country after calling for Torah law to become binding in Israel. “Step by step we will bestow religious law upon the citizens of Israel and transform religious law into the binding law of the state.” Neeman, an observant Jew, told a conference of

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Middle East

Israel thanks Turkey for preventing Hezbollah attack on Israeli target in Turkey

JERUSALEM (WJC)–Turkish forces prevented a Hezbollah attack on an undisclosed Israeli target in Turkey, Deputy Foreign Minister Daniel Ayalon has said, adding that he had thanked Ankara for the successful operation and for its cooperation. According to the newspaper ‘Haaretz’, quoting Israeli defense sources, the attack was meant to avenge the killing of senior Hezbollah

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Middle East

All or nothing solutions are unrealistic in Middle East

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–Responses to my column on negotiations for a prisoner swap indicate it is time for comments about relations between Israelis and Palestinians. “The question I have is what has Israel done to make it completely out of the question for any enemy group to ever think of capturing an Israeli soldier again

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Ira Sharkansky, Middle East

ZOA lauds Rep. Sherman for pushing George Galloway investigation

NEW YORK — The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) applauds U.S. Congressman Brad Sherman (D-CA), Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade, for calling on Attorney General Eric Holder, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner Douglas Shulman to investigate the activities of George Galloway, a radical Israel-bashing

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Middle East, USA

ADL says EU's one sided resolution on Jerusalem undermines its credibility

NEW YORK (Press Release)–The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) on Tuesday criticized the conclusions on the Middle East Peace Process adopted by foreign ministers at the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union, calling them “deeply flawed, based on a distorted view of the current situation and counterproductive to moving the peace process forward.”

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Middle East

Jewish Federations of North America mulling new formula for overseas allotments

NEW YORK (Press Release)–The Jewish Federations of North America convened the JAFI-JDC Work group Monday to begin planning how to move toward reaching a new agreement on allocations for overseas needs with the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) and the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC). John Ruskay, Executive Vice President & CEO, UJA/Federation of

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Middle East