Israel Builds A Modern Highway and Finds an Ancient Village

Pablo Betzer, IAA District Archaeologist for Judah, with a coin from the Year Four of the Great Revolt. By Vladimir Niihin, courtesy of the Israel Antiquities Authority.

Highway expansions can result in traffic jams, and in Israel it can turn into archaeology as well. That’s what happened to a recent project, after an Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) inspector found pottery shards during the Highway 1 project, a discovery that has since led to the uncovering of an entire settlement from nearly 2,000 years ago.

An IAA press release said the discovery included a hoard of coins described as “rare.” It included bronze coins from the first Israeli revolt against the Romans in the First Century CE, which ultimately resulted in the destruction of the Second Temple. The announcement was timely, as the IAA unveiled the find on Tisha B’av—the saddest day on the Jewish calendar, which commemorates that Temple’s calamity, among other tragedies. … Continue Reading

Australian Officials Decry ‘Occupied’ Designation for East Jerusalem

Just days before the 47^th anniversary of Israel’s retaking of Biblical Jerusalem, key Australian government figures inched closer to admitting Israel has a legitimate claim to the city of King David. The Sydney Morning Herald reported that Aussie Attorney General George Brandis released a statement with support from Foreign Minister Julie Bishop that decried the way the eastern Jerusalem region is often described.

“’The description of East Jerusalem as ‘Occupied East Jerusalem’ is a term freighted with pejorative implications, which is neither appropriate nor useful,” said Brandis, who noted that the area is still up for negotiation between Israel and the Palestinians. While that’s not quite the way the Bible refers to Israel’s capital city, it’s closer than most. … Continue Reading

The Mideast Update Speaks with Jeremy Gimpel of ‘The Jewish Home’ Party – Part 2

Home in Ma'ale Adummim Settlement.

The 2013 Israeli elections are set to be held on January 22 and the party that has surprised the most is Habayit Hayehudi, or The Jewish Home in English. The Jewish Home has surged from an unimportant three seats in the current government to 13 or 14 seats according to most polls, enough to make them the third largest party in the next Knesset (parliament).

One of the candidates featured prominently in The Jewish Home’s advertising toward English-speaking Israelis is Jeremy Gimpel, who along with Ari Abramowitz runs TheLandofIsrael.com.

The Mideast Update spoke with Gimpel by phone on Sunday, January 13, to learn more about The Jewish Home party and its success.

Click the link below to listen to part two of excerpts of the interview, in which Gimpel contrasts The Jewish Home with other Israeli parties on the Right and shares more of his party’s vision for Israel: … Continue Reading

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The Mideast Update Speaks with Jeremy Gimpel of ‘The Jewish Home’ Party

Israeli Knesset Building. Illustrative. By Joshua Spurlock.

The 2013 Israeli elections are set to be held on January 22 and the party that has surprised the most is Habayit Hayehudi, or The Jewish Home in English. The Jewish Home has surged from an unimportant three seats in the current government to 13 or 14 seats according to most polls, enough to make them the third largest party in the next Knesset (parliament).

One of the candidates featured prominently in The Jewish Home’s advertising toward English-speaking Israelis is Jeremy Gimpel, who along with Ari Abramowitz runs TheLandofIsrael.com.

The Mideast Update spoke with Gimpel by phone on Sunday, January 13, to learn more about The Jewish Home party and its success.

Click the link below to listen to part one of excerpts of the interview, in which Gimpel explains the party’s strong-standing in the polls and their approach to the Palestinian situation:

… Continue Reading

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Q and A with Jeremy Gimpel of The Jewish Home Party – Part 1

With the 2013 Israeli elections just a little more than a week away, The Mideast Update spoke with Jeremy Gimpel, a candidate from The Jewish Home party—or Habayit Hayehudi in Hebrew. Here is part one of excerpts from the interview: … Continue Reading

Analysis: Understanding Israeli Elections, Part 2 – The Political Right

The current government of Israel is a coalition made primarily of center-right parties, most of whom look to return to the Knesset (parliament) in the upcoming elections. However, just because a lot of the parties will stay the same doesn’t mean the flavor of the next government—should the center-right win the most Knesset seats again—will remain unchanged. To get a better idea of who’s running, here’s a look at the parties on the right in Israeli politics. … Continue Reading