Jewish Trivia Quiz: Diego Maradona, RIP

Renowned Argentinian football (soccer) star Diego Armando Maradona died of a heart attack last week at the age of 60. Maradona is generally considered one of the greatest soccer players of all time, and is particularly remembered for a goal he scored against England in the 1986 World Cup Quarterfinals that has been dubbed “The Hand of God” goal. He played in four World Cups, leading Argentina to victory over West Germany in 1986, and he was jointly awarded the FIFA Player of the 20th Century award along with Pele. What was Diego Maradona’s connection to Jews and/or Israel? [Mark D. Zimmerman]

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International, Mark D. Zimmerman, Middle East, Sports & Competitions

It’s about far more than Biden – analysis

Friday’s assassination of Iran’s top nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh led to predictable hand-wringing from Obama administration alumni and their cheerleaders who midwifed the Iranian nuclear deal in 2015.Former CIA head John Brenner was furious: “This was a criminal act & highly reckless,” he tweeted. “Such an act of state-sponsored terrorism would be a flagrant violation

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Middle East, USA

FM Ashkenazi asks Swiss to urge Palestinians to negotiate with Israel

Israel’s Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi asked his Swiss counterpart Ignazio Cassis to urge the Palestinian Authority to return to the negotiating table, when the two men met in Jerusalem on Sunday afternoon.“The decision of the Palestinian Authority to renew security and civil coordination with Israel is a step in the right direction,” Ashkenazi said. “But

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International, Middle East

Jewish Poets, Voices to Feature Salovey, Thall, Gottleib

Todd Salovey, Lorraine Thall and June Gottleib are the three local poets to be featured in Jewish Poets—Jewish Voices’ opening program of its  2020-21 season. The virtual event will be streamed on Zoom Tuesday evening, December 8 at 7 p.m. There is no cost for this Astor Judaica Library offering. [Eileen Wingad]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Eileen Wingard

Iran mulls response as it prepares to bury killed nuclear scientist

TEHRAN – Debate raged in Iran on Sunday over how and when to respond to a top nuclear scientist’s assassination, blamed on arch-foe Israel, as his body was honoured at Shiite shrines to prepare it for burial.Two days after Mohsen Fakhrizadeh died from wounds sustained in a firefight between his guards and unidentified gunmen near

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Middle East

Secret MbS, Netanyahu meeting ‘failed to reach normalisation agreement’: report

A secret meeting between Saudi’s crown prince and Israel’s premier in Neom was aimed at reaching a normalisation agreement but failed, the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday.Despite high hopes by Israel and the US, which brokered the Jewish state’s recent Abraham Accords agreements with Gulf countries, the plan fell through.Citing unnamed Saudi advisers and

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Middle East

Trump on Georgia Gov. Kemp: ‘I’m ashamed that I endorsed him’

ATLANTA — Mounting political strain between Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and Donald Trump reached a new phase on Sunday when the president said he was “ashamed” that he endorsed the fellow Republican in a tight race for governor in 2018.Trump’s remarks came during a Fox News interview on his false claims of rampant voter fraud

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USA

EUCOM or CENTCOM for Israel?

The United States is Israel’s ally of first choice. And Israel remains one of the few countries the US can rely on to defend itself by itself and in coordination with American interests. Today, Israel lies in EUCOM – the United States European Command – while some analysts suggest it belongs in CENTCOM – the Central Command, encompassing the Middle East and parts of Southwest and Central Asia. [Shoshana Bryen]

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International, Middle East, Shoshana Bryen, USA

Iran assassination could undercut Biden’s diplomatic options

Washington (AFP) – The assassination of a top Iranian nuclear scientist, which Tehran has blamed on Israel, risks not only sharpening tensions across the region but also severely complicating plans by US President-elect Joe Biden to resume dialogue with the Islamic republic, analysts said Saturday.Iran has accused arch-foe Israel of seeking to sow “chaos” by killing

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Middle East, USA

Trump says will not ‘change my mind’ on election fraud claims

Washington (AFP) – In the first TV interview since losing his re-election bid, President Donald Trump indicated Sunday that he will never concede to Joe Biden and abandon his conspiracy theory about mass ballot fraud.”It’s not like you’re gonna change my mind. My mind will not change in six months,” Trump told Fox News interviewer

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USA

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, partner test positive for COVID-19

The governor of Colorado and his partner have been infected with coronavirus.Jared Polis and his partner, Marlon Reis, both tested positive on Saturday.“(Saturday) evening, Governor Polis and First Gentleman Reis learned that they have tested positive for COVID-19,” reads a post on the governor’s official Facebook page. “They are both asymptomatic, feeling well and will

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USA