Israel Sends Rescue Teams to Mexico after Quake

Groups of Israelis decided to spend their New Year’s holiday traveling to Mexico—but it wasn’t for a vacation. Search and rescue teams from the Israeli military and the iAID organization went to assist Mexico in recovering from last week’s devastating earthquake—and chose to help out during last week’s Rosh HaShannah …

Israel—An Ancient King of Making Glass

Centuries before the Land of Israel was a hub for the high-tech industry, the region was among the world leaders in another profession involving science, skill, and specialized knowledge: glass making. The Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) announced in a press release on Monday that they have discovered 1,600-year-old kilns used …

Netanyahu Slams Iranian Aggression; Tehran Threatens Nuclear Response to Deal Collapse

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday had a litany of accusations to share about Iranian misdeeds in the Middle East, from religious persecution to attempting a regional takeover. Earlier that same day, Iran reminded everyone of their ultimate threat by openly warning they would halt additional nuclear inspections if …

Israel Joins US in Leaving UNESCO, Netanyahu Says UN Body ‘Platform for anti-Semitic Decisions’

The Americans withdrew their full member status at the United Nations cultural body in part due to an anti-Israel bias, so it’s not surprising that the Israelis have joined the United States in leaving the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Last week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu …

Recent Articles:

Hamas Building Lebanon Base, as Israel Foiling Hundreds of Terror Attacks

September 10, 2017 Peace and Conflict

Palestinian terrorism is an ongoing threat. Illustrative banner of gunmen and Dome of the Rock. By Joshua Spurlock

Iran is helping Hamas expand its reach—to Lebanon. That’s the intel from the head of the Shin Bet security service Nadav Argaman, who said on Sunday the Gaza-ruling Hamas is building a secondary base in the national home of fellow Iranian proxy Hezbollah. The Times of Israel reported that Argaman also said Hamas “continues to deepen its strategic ties” to the Iranian “Shiite axis”, referring to the Islamic sect espoused by the theocratic Iranian dictatorship and its ally Hezbollah.

Three years after the last war with Israel, Hamas is under strategic stress as they seek to balance keeping their civilians at home in Gaza content with efforts to re-arm for another conflict with Israel—one in which Argaman says Hamas is “ready.” But even as Hamas may be ready for a fight, Israel isn’t just prepared to continue their war with terror. They’ve been preventing attacks all year from terrorists—hundreds of them, in fact.

Israeli Prime Minister’s Office spokesman Ofir Gendelman posted to his Twitter feed on Sunday that Argaman said that “since Jan. 2017, we have foiled over 200 Palestinian terrorist attacks, including suicide bombings, shootings & kidnappings.” … Continue Reading

Poll Shows Almost 1-in-3 Jews Considered Leaving UK Due to Anti-Semitism

August 20, 2017 Special Feature

British Flag. Illustrative. By Joshua Spurlock

First the good news: In each of the last two years, anti-Semitism has dropped among British adults from the previous year according to a poll published by the Campaign Against Anti-Semitism (CAA). But the bad news is that 32%—nearly one-third—of Jews polled in 2107 said they considered leaving the United Kingdom in the last two years due to anti-Semitism. The CAA highlighted safety as well as failures by the British government and justice system as key concerns for Jews in the country.

“Overall, rising anti-Semitic crime, the failure of the authorities to take firm action against anti-Semites, and anti-Semitism in politics, have had a severe detrimental effect on British Jews’ sense of security,” said the CAA’s Anti-Semitism Barometer 2017 report. “…Since 2014, anti-Semitic hate crime has risen by 45%, with each year seeing record-breaking levels, but enforcement has remained lackluster.”

Just 21% of the Jews polled believed that the authorities were appropriately addressing anti-Semitism. And it’s getting worse. … Continue Reading

President Assad Boasts of ‘Foiling’ Western Plots against Syria

August 20, 2017 Peace and Conflict

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is feeling good. Assad (right) shakes hands with former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (left). Illustrative. Photo Courtesy of UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe.

Embattled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is feeling confident these days—at least publicly—as he boasted on Sunday that his country “managed to foil the Western project” in that country’s civil war. Assad was further quoted by the official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) as claiming in a speech there was a West-driven “media and psychological war” against Syria that intended to affect their war with terrorism or “push us towards fear and hesitation.” He indicated that defining the conflict as a “civil war” is part of that Western plot.

The dictatorial Syrian regime has long claimed that their enemies in the civil war aren’t legitimate rebels seeking freedom for Syrians but terrorists. While some terror groups, such as ISIS, have eventually sought a foothold in Syria, reports have indicated that the Syrian regime has attacked their own civilians to put down the rebellion. Hundreds of thousands have died in the conflict, which originated with peaceful protests as part of the broader Arab Spring revolutions.

Despite his bravado, Assad said that the supposed battle with the West is not over. However, while Assad is claiming progress toward victory over the West, the United States is publicly saying they don’t want to rule Syria. … Continue Reading

Netanyahu Prepped to Talk Syria with Putin in Russia This Week

August 20, 2017 News

Russian President Vladimir Putin. Illustrative. Photo courtesy of the office of the President of Russia.

With Israel reportedly in the skies over Syria striking weapons bound for terrorists and Russia in the same skies defending the Syrian regime in that country’s civil war, coordination has been key to avoid tragic wartime mistakes. And that’s not the only reason why the top leaders of Israel and Russia will be meeting this week. According to a report from The Times of Israel, the American-Russian mediated Syrian ceasefire is of particular concern to Israel.

The reason for that concern? Iran. The report noted that Israel is alarmed that Iran is seeking to establish a physical base in Syria. The Times of Israel said that such a situation would help enable Iran to develop a contiguous corridor from Iran to Lebanon, traveling via allies in Iraq and Syria. With Iranian-sponsored-terrorist-group Hezbollah in Lebanon, such a land link poses multiple concerns.

In the meantime, the reason publicly announced in an Israeli press release regarding the meeting with Russia is to coordinate their air forces in Syria, in addition to discussing “the latest developments in the region.” … Continue Reading

Iran Has So Many Missiles They Have Storage Space ‘Problem’

August 14, 2017 News

Will Israel need to defend itself against Iranian missiles? The David’s Sling missile defense system. Photo courtesy of the IDF.

Iran’s missile capabilities have been making headlines, especially after they fired multiple missiles into Syria to strike terrorists in that country and as the United States has repeatedly condemned new Iranian missile tests as threatening. Turns out Iran isn’t just testing missiles, they’re stockpiling them too—and so many they are running out of room to store them.

“The rate of our missile production is so high that we are faced with the problem of space,” PressTV reported Brigadier General Hossein Salami as telling state television last weekend. Salami, the second-in-command of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), also warned the United States that a military confrontation with Iran would result in Israel’s “destruction.” He was quoted by PressTV as saying, “A war in the Persian Gulf would be a fluid one that would move far beyond the imagination of the Americans and engage all the areas bearing their interests; it would be drawn toward the Zionist regime and its destruction.”

And Salami isn’t the only one threatening Israel—apparently that missile strike on Syria was meant as a warning to Israel too. … Continue Reading

Trump ‘Optimistic’ as Envoys Seeking Middle East Peace Return to Region

August 13, 2017 Peace and Conflict

Trump feeling good about Middle East peace prospects. U.S. President Donald Trump (left) meets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (right). Illustrative. Photo courtesy of Kobi Gideon (GPO)

The American envoys working to restart peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians are heading back to the region soon, and United States President Donald Trump is “optimistic.” That characterization of President Trump’s feelings on the situation came from the Twitter feed of one of the envoys, Jason Greenblatt, who said he would be joined by Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and U.S. Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategy Dina Powell. “I look forward to returning to the Middle East soon with Jared Kushner & Dina Powell as we pursue peace,” tweeted Greenblatt last week.

Israel is looking ahead as well. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in comments to the Israeli cabinet released by his office, noted that the envoys are coming soon “in an effort to advance the peace process. Of course, we will welcome them as always.” The upcoming American visit follows the Temple Mount crisis in which Arab terrorists killed two Israeli policemen, and then Arabs protested the Israeli set up of metal detectors at the Temple Mount entrance to prevent future attacks. Israel eventually took down the metal detectors.

However, rather than shy away from talks now, Trump sees this as an “opportunity” according to The Times of Israel. … Continue Reading

Know the News and how it impacts You

Stay informed! Enter your email address to receive notifications of new posts by email.

Follow The Mideast Update on Twitter

Like The Mideast Update on Facebook

Categories