JERUSALEM (AP) — As Israel’s new government takes shape, the country’s powerful ultra-Orthodox Jewish political parties seem poised to find themselves in unfamiliar territory — the parliamentary opposition — instead of their traditional seats around the Cabinet table. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s two new potential partners pledge to end a system in which the ultra-Orthodox have used political clout to … Read More
JERUSALEM (AP) — It’s the crown jewel of Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat’s ambitious grand plan to promote his ancient city: a scenic, world-class marathon winding through historic hills and religious sites. But like many things in Jerusalem, even Friday’s marathon has become fraught with politics, a magnet for opposing claims by Israelis and Palestinians. The Palestinians have called for a … Read More
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s Academy Award-nominated documentary “The Gatekeepers” has won rave reviews for the candid soul-searching of its chief protagonists — the six living former directors of the country’s shadowy domestic spy agency — and their somewhat surprising conclusion: That force has its limits and Israel must ultimately take advantage of its military superiority to seek peace. It’s no … Read More
JERUSALEM (AP) — When Joseph Ratzinger became pope in 2005, many in Israel wondered whether the German-born Cardinal with the Nazi past would prove a worthy successor to the popular Pope John Paul II, whose pluralistic path helped sooth centuries of fraught relations between Jews and Christians. Eight years later, following his surprise resignation Monday, Israeli leaders lauded Pope Benedict … Read More
JERUSALEM (AP) — Under heavy security, a Muslim football player whose signing with a Jerusalem club sparked a violent uprising by a hardcore group of racist fans made his much anticipated debut Sunday to a rousing ovation. Hundreds of police deployed around Beitar Jerusalem’s stadium, two days after a suspicious fire believed to be set by angry fans destroyed the … Read More
JERUSALEM (AP) — When Stella Knobel’s family fled World War II Poland in 1939, the only thing the 7-year-old girl could take with her was her teddy bear. For the next six years, the stuffed animal never left her side as the family wandered through the Soviet Union, to Iran and finally the Holy Land. “He was like family. He … Read More
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s hardline prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has emerged as the country’s top politician with a cautious approach to peace making, saying Israel can never let down its guard if it wants to survive in a hostile region. This conservative style, which has often enraged even his closest allies abroad, was expected to propel Netanyahu to re-election in … Read More
JERUSALEM (AP) — In a chic auditorium typically reserved for late-night concerts, Israel’s next generation of high-tech entrepreneurs are gathered. Though their vocation is modern, their appearance and lifestyle are distinctly traditional and they are seated separately — men to the left, woman to the right. It’s a first for Israel, a high-tech conference designed specifically for haredim, or ultra-Orthodox … Read More
JERUSALEM—Just seven years after quitting her job as a high-profile media commentator, the leader of Israel’s Labor Party appears to be on track to become head of the country’s second-largest parliamentary faction and the leading voice against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. And if Netanyahu’s coalition somehow falls short of a majority in next week’s election, Shelly Yachimovich would likely wind … Read More
JERUSALEM (AP) — Shiver me timbers! Israel’s newest political party has more than a platform — it’s got a plank. The Israel Pirate Party is one of 34 lists competing in the country’s Jan. 22 parliamentary election. While only a dozen or so have a realistic chance of getting elected, many Israelis fed up with existential issues like the conflict … Read More
RAANANA, Israel (AP) — The charismatic new leader of Israel‘s Jewish religious right is siphoning a large chunk of votes from the prime minister’s party, according to polls ahead of Jan. 22 elections, and if the trend continues, the high-tech millionaire and former commando could emerge as a powerful voice opposing Palestinian statehood. Though Naftali Bennett, the 40-year-old son of American immigrants, is a classic … Read More
JERUSALEM (AP) — The black-and-white photos show masses of people yearning for independence, celebrating a vote recognizing a state in Palestine. It was a day that generations of pupils would be taught to remember with reverence: Nov. 29. The jubilant revelers were Jews, the year was 1947, and the vote was held in the United Nations General Assembly. The Palestinians … Read More
JERUSALEM — Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak abruptly quit politics Monday, potentially robbing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of a key ally who enabled his hard-line government to present a moderate face to the world. Netanyahu’s party picked a young, more hawkish list of candidates in its primary election on Monday. Barring another comeback by the mercurial former general, Barak’s departure … Read More
SDEROT, Israel (AP) — In this southern Israeli town, which has lived for nearly 13 years under the constant threat of rocket attacks from Gaza, there is little joy over a new cease-fire between Israel and Gaza’s Hamas rulers: Schools remain closed, traffic is sparse and hope is hard to find. The working-class residents of Sderot have seen previous lulls … Read More
JERUSALEM (AP) —Throughout his long political career, Israel’s prime minister has earned a reputation as a tough talker. An ardent hawk who wrote a book about how to defeat terrorism, Benjamin Netanyahu has previously threatened to attack Iran, topple Gaza’s Hamas leaders and strike hard at Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon. But only now, after seven years in power, he has … Read More