04 Jan
Culture, History, Religion, topics

Israel Still Has the Power to Change

By Scott Fox The beginning of 2012 means the nearing of elections in Israel and the United States. In both, incumbents have surprisingly maintained a strong likelihood of being re-elected in spite of failures and widespread criticism. While most polling shows Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney are trailing President Obama slightly, what is more surprising is that polls show that Benjamin “Bibi” Netanyahu’s Likud party would gain seats if an election were held today. This affirmation is probably the reason Likud has moved up their primary for the next election to January 31 even though a general election does not need to be held until October 2013. Many suspect that a new election will be called during 2012 while Netanyahu still maintains this high level of support. An outside observer may find it strange that an incumbent...

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07 Aug
Arts & Culture, Latest

This Week's Links

By Michelle Albert A new children's book tells the story of how Max Yasgur, a Jewish dairy farmer in Bethel, NY, allowed half a million people to camp out in his backyard for Woodstock, which would become a defining moment in rock and roll history. Jewish summer camps upload thousands of pictures to their websites each day for anxious parents to appreciate. Is this digital link smothering the camp experience? Comedian Richard Herring defends his show "Hitler Mustache" in the Guardian. Tablet takes an in-depth look at the lives of Israel's mafia. Though Iran has been working on creating enriched uranium since 2007, the US State Department registered their doubt that scientists in Tehran could create "weapon-grade material" before 2013. Kristen Davis, of "Sex and the City" fame, was dropped from her position as spokesperson for...

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05 Sep
Latest

Shin Bet Justice: Tunnel Vision?

Tunnels. The very word connotes ancient secrets, mystic rites and modern adventure. Israel is blessed with tunnels both natural (the country gets whole pages on spelunking websites) and man made: The "Rabbinical" tunnels alongside and beneath the Temple Mount get lots of attention. Their excavation launched Arab riots as well as a new locus for tourism. (Jerusalem's coolest tunnel is Hezekiah's ancient passage to the Gihon Spring, seen at right.) For Israel's security forces, it's the tunnels under Gaza's border with Egypt that, understandably, generate the most interest. Egypt's government claims, unconvincingly, that it's trying to keep the tunnels closed, while evidence at the other end (filmed by France24's English newscast) shows Gazans' using the tunnels routinely to smuggle in market goods and even electricity generation. Hamas undoubtedly also uses them for less homey shipments, like...

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05 Aug
Latest, Misc

Pentagon Profiled Supposed Israeli Spy

Ha'aretz reports that last month the Pentagon issued an internal report stating David Tenenbaum, an engineer who was placed on paid leave from the U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM) in Warren, Michigan, in 1997, was singled out as a potential spy because he was Jewish. Says Ha'aretz: "It was well known that Mr. Tenenbaum was Jewish, lived his religious beliefs and by his actions appeared to have a close affinity for Israel," the Pentagon report, which was released three weeks ago, said. "We believe that Mr. Tenenbaum was subjected to unusual and unwelcome scrutiny because of his faith and ethnic background, a practice that would undoubtedly fit a definition of discrimination." In 2000, Tenenbaum filed a lawsuit against the U.S. government, accusing it of employing "Naziesque" surveillance methods against Jews, according to the Detroit Free Press....

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Hezbollah and Israel flags
16 Jul
Latest

Hezbollah, Israel Complete Emotional Swap

The touchy swap between Hezbollah and Israel of prisoners and the remains of soldiers captured in 2006 was completed today with the assistance of the Red Cross at the Israeli-Lebanon border. Although much of Israel held out hope that the two Israeli soldiers—Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser—were still alive, the nation's fears were confirmed when the two soldiers' were brought to the border in coffins. In return, Hezbollah received the remains of 200 of their fighters, as well as Samir Kuntar and four other prisoners. Kuntar is a particularly controversial figure. In 1979, he killed Danny Haran and his four-year-old daughter Einat in gruesome fashion before being apprehended. Haran's other daughter was accidentally smothered to death by her mother, Smadar, who was attempting to keep her from crying out and disclosing their hiding spot. Kuntar is therefore a loathed...

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