Israel
Why Trump’s recognition of the Golan Heights as Israeli territory matters
By Dina Badie — March 27, 2019
(The Conversation) — Trump’s move is a symbolic, rather than legal, gesture, but it could lend legitimacy to a move by Israel that has long been seen as violating international law.
Call it AIPAC-phobia
By Jeffrey Salkin — March 26, 2019
(RNS) — The season of irrational fears: of AIPAC, and of the Democratic Party. Let's cut it out.
Pompeo: All faiths will have ‘something to say’ on forthcoming peace plan
By Emily McFarlan Miller — March 19, 2019
(RNS) — The U.S. secretary of state’s remarks came Monday (March 18) during a controversial phone briefing as he was leaving for a five-day trip to Beirut, Jerusalem and Kuwait City.
Rabbis express concern about excesses of Purim celebrations
By Michele Chabin — March 19, 2019
JERUSALEM (RNS) — For many Jews, the holiday of Purim has become too commercialized, and alcohol, according to one rabbi, 'has become the star of the holiday.'
In Tel Aviv, Jews join with Muslims in vigil mourning New Zealand dead
By Jonathan Harounoff — March 18, 2019
TEL AVIV (RNS) — Dozens gathered outside the New Zealand embassy in Tel Aviv Sunday night for a somber candlelight vigil to commemorate the victims of Friday's (March 15) mass shootings at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Israeli rabbinate under fire for pushing for DNA tests
By Bob Smietana — March 14, 2019
JERUSALEM (RNS) — A rabbinical court has asked some immigrants to Israel to prove they are genetically Jewish before they can be married, a standard some say violates Judaism’s own definitions of Jewishness.
Ikea faces class-action lawsuit in Israel for male-only catalog
By Bob Smietana — March 8, 2019
JERUSALEM (RNS) — Religious modesty and the marginalization of women have long been flashpoints in Israel, where many Haredi rabbis have deemed it unholy to portray women’s images in everything from newspapers and government notices to billboards and bus ads.
Anti-Semitism versus legitimate criticism of the state of Israel
By Mae Elise Cannon — March 7, 2019
(RNS) — While we seek and advocate for justice for Palestinians, we must also acknowledge the rootedness of anti-Semitism in Christian history, and its remnants in some of today’s Christian rhetoric.
What my father would have said about Ilhan Omar
By Jeffrey Salkin — March 7, 2019
"Fool me once," my late father said, "shame on you. Fool me twice -- shame on me." Attention, Rep. Omar.
Dissent among Dems postpones action on anti-Semitism measure
By Laurie Kellman — March 7, 2019
WASHINGTON (AP) — House Democrats on Wednesday postponed indefinitely a vote on a resolution condemning anti-Semitism after a contentious meeting in which some new members confronted leaders over their push to rebuke Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota.
Omar’s Israel remarks expose Democrats’ simmering divisions
By Laurie Kellman — March 6, 2019
WASHINGTON (AP) — Provocative comments from Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota have thrust the Democrats into an uncomfortable debate over Israel policy.
Bibi just made life much harder for Diaspora Jews
By Jeffrey Salkin — February 21, 2019
American Jewish organizations must denounce the importation of hatred into the Israeli government. Loudly.
Women wearing tefillin cause a stir in Jerusalem
By Michele Chabin — February 15, 2019
JERUSALEM (RNS) – Women of the Wall is part of an annual campaign spearheaded by American Conservative Jews to encourage women, as well as men, to wear phylacteries during prayer.
Rep. Omar apologizes for tweets on AIPAC’s influence
By Laurie Kellman — February 11, 2019
WASHINGTON (RNS) — Speaker Nancy Pelosi's public rebuke of a freshman representative who helped deliver the Democratic House majority was the latest exposure of an increasingly tense split among Democrats over U.S.-Israeli policy.
Some dare call it anti-Semitism
By Jeffrey Salkin — February 11, 2019
(RNS) — If American Jews perceive that the Democratic Party is moving into anti-Israel positions, they will be faced with a major quandary.
