When Stephanie Sipzner began thinking about immigrating to Israel, the New Jersey pediatrician had plenty of questions about working as a doctor in a new country. Sipzner worried about adapting to a new language and medical culture. The Teaneck resident also was wary of the bureaucratic difficulty of transferring… Read more »
Israel
‘Golden’ Israeli hospital is among world’s top 10
In March, Newsweek recognized Sheba Medical Center at Tel HaShomer, near Tel Aviv — the largest and most comprehensive hospital in Israel and the Middle East — as one of the 10 best hospitals across the globe. Sheba Medical Center “is a leader in medical science and biotechnical innovation,… Read more »
Israel bombs Hamas military post in Gaza in response to mortar fire
JERUSALEM (JTA) — The Israeli army bombed a Hamas military post in Gaza on Tuesday in response to mortar fire from the coastal strip on southern Israel earlier in the day. Four mortars were fired at Israel: Three landed inside Gaza and a fourth in an open area inside… Read more »
As U.S.-Iran tensions escalate, Jews are warned they could be targeted
WASHINGTON (JTA) – In 1992, Israel killed Abbas al-Musawi, a founder of the Hezbollah terrorist group in Lebanon, in a dramatic helicopter attack. Iran, Hezbollah’s primary funder, threatened to retaliate – talk that was somewhat expected for a country that routinely calls for the destruction of Israel. But two… Read more »
Netanyahu briefs rival Gantz on security issues, signaling Israel could take military action on Syrian border
JERUSALEM (JTA) — In a rare occurrence, the head of the main opposition party in Israel was briefed on recent violence that has Israel and the security establishment on edge. In the past, such courtesy briefings were a signal that Israel could be contemplating military action. Benny Gantz, who… Read more »
Israel airstrike in Iraq is 1st in 4 decades
(JTA) — Israel has carried out an airstrike on a weapons depot in Iraq that officials said was being used by Iran to move weapons to Syria, the New York Times reported. The attack, which happened last month and is believed to be the first Israeli bombing in Iraq… Read more »
Nadler criticizes Tlaib and Omar for sharing controversial cartoon
NEW YORK (JTA) — Rep. Jerry Nadler criticized fellow Democrats Reps. Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib for sharing a cartoon that shows President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu covering their mouths. Omar, D-Minn., and Tlaib, D-Mich., were criticized for sharing it last week because the cartoonist Carlos… Read more »
Israeli girl, 17, killed in West Bank terrorist attack
(JTA) — A 17-year-old Israeli girl was killed and her father and brother were severely wounded in a bomb attack at a nature reserve in the West Bank. Rina Shnerb of Lod, her father Eitan, a rabbi, and her brother Dvir, 19, were hiking at the Ein Bubin spring… Read more »
Trump doubles down on ‘disloyalty’ comments, saying that all Democratic voters — not just Jews — are against Israel
(JTA) — President Donald Trump clarified who voters — Jewish or otherwise — are being disloyal to when they vote for Democrats. “If you vote for a Democrat, you’re being disloyal to Jewish people, and you’re being very disloyal to Israel,” Trump said Wednesday as he left the White… Read more »
Temple Emanu-El summer Israel trip was a first for everyone
Temple Emanu-El’s Jewish heritage tour of Israel this summer was Rabbi Batsheva Appel’s first turn at tour leading. “It was wonderful to be back in Israel and to lead a trip for the first time,” she says. Joining her on the June 20-July 1 journey were Marcy Tigerman, Janet… Read more »
21 Israeli lawmakers say 2-state solution is ‘far more dangerous to Israel’ than boycott movement
JERUSALEM (JTA) — Twenty-one right-wing Israeli lawmakers rebuffed a House bill that endorsed a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict while rejecting efforts to boycott the Jewish state. In a letter addressed to U.S. Reps. Brad Schneider, Lee Zeldin, Jerry Nadler and Ann Wagner, the co-sponsors of the bill… Read more »
Israel’s ambassador denies Trump pressure was behind decision to ban Tlaib and Omar
(JTA) — Israel’s ambassador to the United States said the decision to ban Reps. Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar from entering the country had nothing to do with President Donald Trump. In a conference call with Jewish groups Thursday afternoon, Ron Dermer said reports implying that Israel had caved… Read more »
Ilhan Omar likens Israel banning her to Trump’s travel ban
(JTA) — Rep. Ilhan Omar likened Israel’s decision to deny entry to her and Rep. Rashida Tlaib to President Donald Trump’s Muslim ban. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., tweeted that the decision is “a sign of weakness.” In a statement Thursday, the Minnesota Democrat called Israel’s decision “an affront.” “Trump’s… Read more »
Israel has been barring lawmakers of friendly nations for years (just not from the US)
(JTA) — When Israel announced that it would deny entry to Reps. Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, the decision struck many as an unprecedented step. But Israel has blocked multiple lawmakers from coming in recent years. The difference this time is that it’s lawmakers from the United States who are… Read more »
Israel confirms it is banning Tlaib and Omar from entering country
(JTA) — Israel’s deputy foreign minister confirmed that Reps. Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar will not be allowed to enter the country. “We won’t allow those who deny our right to exist in this world to enter Israel. In principle this is a very justified decision,” Tzipi Hotovely told… Read more »
Palestinian and Israeli discovered a shared past when they met as Washington interns
WASHINGTON (JTA) — In its 10 years of placing young Palestinian and Israeli leaders with Congress members, no lawmaker asked New Story Leadership for one of each — until Jamie Raskin did. This summer, Eran Nissan and Mohammed Ahmad have been interning in the office of the Maryland Democrat,… Read more »
Palestinian gunman crosses Gaza border and injures 3 Israeli soldiers
JERUSALEM (JTA) — A Palestinian gunman who crossed the border from southern Gaza into Israel shot and injured three Israeli soldiers. The gunman was killed by other soldiers in the area in the early Thursday morning incident, according to the Israel Defense Forces. The IDF said it also fired… Read more »
Former Peruvian president denied bail in corruption case because officials fear he would flee to Israel
SAN FRANCISCO (J. The Jewish News of Northern California via JTA) — A former Peruvian president living in the Bay Area and facing bribery charges in his home country has been denied bail by a federal judge in San Francisco out of fear he would flee — to Israel.… Read more »
3 participants share what they learned on J Street’s first alternative to Birthright trip
(JTA) – Editor’s Note: In March, the the liberal Israel policy group J Street announced that it would be creating a 10-day free trip to Israel, designed to provide students with both Israeli and Palestinian perspectives on the conflict. Many interpreted the announcement as a move to compete with… Read more »
As Russia cracks down on dissent, Netanyahu campaign ads feature Putin
JERUSALEM (JTA) — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud Party has launched a new ad campaign featuring Russian President Vladimir Putin, coinciding with one of the Kremlin’s largest crackdowns on political dissent in years. Large multi-story banners featuring Netanyahu with Putin, as well as others featuring President Donald Trump and… Read more »