PARIS — Centuries after the Spanish Inquisition led to the forced conversion of Jews to Catholicism, an ultra-orthodox rabbinical court in Israel has issued a religious ruling that recognizes descendants from the insular island of Majorca as Jews. The opinion focused narrowly on the Majorcan community of about 20,000 people […]
TODAY, as American, European, Russian and United Nations officials meet in Washington to discuss the future of the Middle East peace process, Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, remains adamant that a peace deal premised on returning to Israel’s pre-1967 borders poses an unacceptable risk to its security. He is right: […]
JERUSALEM: Israel approved Sunday a proposed map for the Jewish State’s maritime borders with Lebanon different from Lebanon’s proposed map and will submit it to the U.N. for an opinion. Israel’s maps lays out maritime borders that conflict significantly with those proposed by Lebanon in its own submission to the […]
BEIRUT: Lebanon said Sunday it would file a complaint with the United Nations against Israel, after the Jewish state approved a map of its proposed maritime borders, which Lebanon is calling an aggression and an infringement on its right to an exclusive economic zone. “For sure we will [file a […]
A poll showing the strengthening of the “rightist-haredim” bloc was published here last weekend. According to the poll, under any circumstances we shall see the Likud leader elected for prime minister, and he would be able to choose a centrist or rightist coalition without having to contend with a hostile […]
by Nadia Hijab It was never about aid. Freedom Flotilla II is, like its assaulted predecessor of a year ago, a political act. The passengers came together in shared determination to challenge Israel’s five-year siege of Gaza and to exercise their right to travel through international waters to Palestinian shores […]
Deputy foreign minister says assistance proves Israel is not alone; “no country would allow a violation of its sovereignty”; 124 pro-Palestinian activists refused entry at B-G Airport, awaiting deportation. Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon thanked European countries on Saturday for helping to limit the number of pro-Palestinian activists arriving at […]
Stepping into the gardens of the Shrine of Bab is like entering a hallucination. They rise in steps all the way up the mountainside above Haifa’s downtown, and at the midway point, at mid-morning, the clear light off the Mediterranean combines with the precise efforts of 150 gardeners to achieve […]
By AIJAZ ZAKA SYED | ARAB NEWS Justice for the Libyans is welcome. What about the victims of war crimes in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan though? Serves him right. That was my instant reaction to the International Criminal Court’s warrant for Muammar Qaddafi. The whole country has been on fire […]
Biblical criticism has been around for centuries, and those who choose to believe have ignored it until now. Between pogroms, disputations, Inquisitions – and now, computers – it’s hard to be a Jew, or a believing one, at least. The latest challenge actually comes from right here in Israel – […]
A computer program developed by an Israeli expert has given new hints as to the creation of the old and the new testament and their authors. The software analyses stile and choice of words in order to differentiate the various authors of the texts. This means that it is made […]
“I didn’t think I would ever stop”, Abu Salah tells the circle. “After 14 years of buying and selling, hashish, heroin and cocaine, I had lost control of my life. I had no job. I would never speak to my family.” His story, and the clinic we are sitting in, […]
“We strongly stress that we campaign for a just peace and for the freedom and security of both the Palestinian and the Israeli people” Bethlehem – PNN – As nearly 600 international activists from all walks of life gear up for Friday’s “Welcome to Palestine” campaign, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin […]
Athens – PNN – The ten ships of Freedom Flotilla Two, as a result of diplomatic arm-twisting and sabotage have faced a variety of setbacks as they attempt to break the Israeli siege on Gaza. Currently seven ships are held in Greek Ports, two are sabotaged and not seaworthy and […]
In 2007, New York City-based David Kaufman named Tel Aviv, your disembarkation point in Israel by air, the “Mediterranean’s New Capital of Cool”, testament to its growing popularity in a country with an amazing number of attractions considering it’s only the size of Wales. The city has nine districts, the […]
Israel’s threat to deny visitor’s entry to Palestine is as disturbing as it is shocking. Our protest will be a civil society tsunami Palestinians have globally touted an array of rights that Israel systematically denies. There is the right of return, the right of freedom of movement, the right to […]
Report on implementation of 1979 Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women says Israel lacks gender equality in matters of marriage and family relationships. By Gili Cohen There is no meaningful equality in Israel between men and women when it comes to matters relating to marriage […]
By Taylor Luck AMMAN – Jordan’s natural gas supplies from Egypt were cut late Sunday in what marked the third act of sabotage on the Arab Gas Pipeline this year. more here
Ynet-Gesher survey shows 77% of seculars, 57% of traditional Jews support law enforcement authorities’ decision to detain rabbi for incitement, while 94% of haredim and 80% of religious Jews say it was wrong The majority of the public believes Israel’s law enforcement authorities did the right thing when they arrested […]