By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM– What should Israel do? Nothing is probably the best answer. However, pick your platitude Politics does not tolerate a vacuum Politics does not tolerate quiet The world is clamoring for a solution. Not exactly the world, but a collection of activists that includes Palestinians leading the chants Jews who feel uncomfortable […]
Should Israel leave well enough alone? Read More »
International, Ira Sharkansky, Middle EastIsrael and Australia sign new work visa deal (JNS.org) Israel and Australia signed an agreement on Wednesday that will allow young adults from both countries to get work visas from the other. The deal was part of a recent effort to secure work arrangements for young Israelis abroad, to prevent them from getting in legal
JNS news briefs: October 23, 2014 Read More »
Travel and Food
NEW YORK (Press Release)– The American Jewish Committee (AJC) supports the conversion bill introduced by MK Elazar Stern of the Hatnua Party, headed by Justice Minister Tzipi Livni. Hatnua has pledged to press the measure, which already passed its first reading in the Knesset, even though it does not enjoy Cabinet support. “Loosening the Chief
AJC lauds Israeli bill to liberalize conversions Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle East, USA
By Erin Philips SAN DIEGO – Karen Schuster remembers when her son, Ari Friedman, now 23, told her he was moving to Israel to become a combat medic with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). It was 2012, and he was a student at UC Irvine, where he had been a leader among the Jewish
Lone Soldiers’ mom alternates between pride and worry Read More »
Middle East, USATEL AVIV (Press Release)— Sixteen Eritrean refugees in Israel have completed a medical interpreting course created by Prof. Galia Sabar of Tel Aviv University’s African Studies Department. Eight of the asylum-seeking graduates have already joined the Israeli health system as medical translators. “Language barriers are acute between Eritrean asylum seekers and medical personnel in Israel,
Eritrean refugees taught to be medical translators Read More »
Middle East, Science, Medicine, & EducationBy Richard L. Cravatts, PhD BOSTON–As yet more evidence that academics are regularly able to engage in what George Orwell sardonically referred to as “doublethink,” “the power of holding two contradictory beliefs in one’s mind simultaneously, and accepting both of them,” this month 40 professors of Jewish studies published a denunciation of a study that
Willful blindness to academic anti-Semitism Read More »
Middle East, Richard L. Cravatts, Science, Medicine, & Education, USANEW YORK (Press Release)—American Jewish World Service (AJWS) is funding grassroots groups in Liberia that are responding to the Ebola outbreak through public health campaigns that rely on trusted non-medical community leaders to spread the word about preventing infection. AJWS is currently supporting 10 community-based organizations in Liberia that are deploying networks of religious leaders, women’s
AJWS spreads Ebola prevention information in Liberia Read More »
International, Science, Medicine, & Education, USACAIRO (Press Release)–An American Jewish Committee (AJC) delegation, after three days of high-level consultations, urged accelerated steps to normalize strategic relations between the United States and Egypt. “Egypt has been, and remains, an essential ally in the global fight against terror and extremism,” said Jason Isaacson, AJC Associate Executive Director for Policy. U.S. military aid
AJC: U.S. should restore Egypt’s military aid Read More »
Middle East, USA
JERUSALEM (TNA) — A Palestinian drove a car into a crowd waiting for the Jerusalem light rail at the Givat HaTachmoshet (Ammunition Hill) station on Wednesday, Oct. 22. An infant died following the incident and 7 people were injured: 3 in serious condition, and 4 with light to moderate injuries.. The driver attempted to escape by foot, and
Palestinian kills baby, injures 7 at bus stop Read More »
Middle EastNEW YORK (WJC)–The World Jewish Congress announced its support for a change in United States law that presently allows certain presumed Nazi war criminals who were granted US citizenship by making false statements to immigration authorities to keep their social security entitlements in case they voluntarily leave the country. As reported by the ‘Associated Press’
WJC: Don’t pay Social Security to Nazi war criminals Read More »
Jewish History, USA
COPENHAGEN, Denmark (WJC) — A poll showing 74 percent support for banning male circumcision comes as parliament prepares for a new round of political discussion on religious circumcision of boys. Nearly three fourths of Danes are in favor of banning the practice, a new poll has revealed, with just one out of ten respondents saying
Danes consider outlawing brit milah Read More »
International, Jewish Religion
By Tzvi Zucker JERUSALEM (TNA)– Bus 143 was stoned near Pisgat Ze’ev, in Jerusalem at 7:45 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 22. The 143 bus line runs from Kochav Yaakov to the Central Bus Station in Jerusalem. There were no injuries, though the bus was damaged. Later in the afternoon, five Palestinian teenagers were arrested for throwing
Stones, firebombs disrupting life in Israel Read More »
Middle EastYa’alon calls Turkey a Hamas headquarters (Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) In a meeting with U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel at the Pentagon on Tuesday, Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon criticized Turkey for the support it provides to Hamas. “Turkey is playing a cynical game,” Ya’alon told Hagel. “Hamas is supported by Turkey and Qatar. Hamas
JNS news briefs: October 22, 2014 Read More »
InternationalTEL AVIV (Press Release) — Climate change predictions for the Middle East, like other arid regions of the world, are alarming. In an area known for its water scarcity, rainfall is expected to decrease even further in the near future, spelling disaster for the functioning of unique ecosystems — hotspots of biodiversity and rich genetic fodder
Plants in Med climate zone adapt to climate change Read More »
Middle East, The World We Share