On 83rd anniversary of Kristallnacht, Austria dedicates new memorial to murdered Jews

On the 83rd anniversary of Kristallnacht and in a clear gesture that it is finally taking public responsibility for its past, the government of Austria unveiled the Shoah Wall of Names Memorial, its first public Holocaust memorial. Located in Ostarrichi Park in the centre of Vienna. Read more

Michal Cotler-Wunsh: Jewish Agency can shift relationship paradigm with everyone at table

As a former Knesset member and now head of the Nefesh B’Nefesh Institute for Aliyah Policy and Strategy, as well as a senior consultant to the Jewish Federations of North America, Michal Cotler-Wunsh is no stranger to politics or Diaspora Jewry, both of which she will need intimate knowledge if she is chosen to head the Jewish Agency, which is currently looking for a new director. Read more

Babi Yar art installations aim to connect visitors with a forgotten past

“No monument stands over Babi Yar.” These are the first words of Yevgeni Yevtushenko’s famous 1961 poem which helped further catapult the story of Babi Yar into the public consciousness. Read more

Babyn Yar Holocaust Memorial Centre publishes 159 names of Nazi soldiers who murdered Jews one by one

Against the background of the official commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the Babi Yar Massacre, with the participation of the presidents of Ukraine, Germany and Israel, the Babyn Yar Holocaust Memorial Centre  (BYHMC) has released the first instalment of its ongoing research into those who carried out the murder of Ukrainian Jews on Sept. 29-30, 1941. Read more

At long last, Babi Yar victims to receive the respect they deserve

The horrors of the Nazi mass extermination camps in the Holocaust are well-known but the “Holocaust by Bullets,” during which Jews were shot one by one, is less known. Read more

Danny Danon’s quest to lead the Jewish Agency into the future

Former Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations and current chairman of World Likud Danny Danon is excited about another potential role, which he hopes will be as the new head of the Jewish Agency. Read more

In the footsteps of his predecessors, Bennett aims to change paradigms

“Hands out of your pockets, sir!” barked a U.S. Secret Service agent at a bewildered pedestrian as Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett walked down the Fifth Avenue sidewalk in New York City, accompanied by a large entourage of Secret Service and Shin Bet agents, aides and reporters. A long motorcade of Black Secret Service Suburbans and police cars rolled alongside with blue lights flashing, keeping pace with the walkers. Read more

Elazar Stern aims to promote Jewish unity, identity and solidarity in Diaspora

“Israel is your home away from home,” Israeli President Isaac Herzog said in a message on Sept. 2, ahead of the Jewish New Year. His address was aimed at “the people of Israel and the Jewish people at large,” which he referred to as his “extended family.” Read more

Palestinian consulate pressure, differences on Iran loom over Bennett-Biden meeting

On Aug. 26, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett will walk the red carpet into the White House, where he will meet U.S. President Joe Biden. The two will exchange pleasantries and then they will get right down to business. One major issue the two leaders will discuss is, not surprisingly, Iran. Another major issue is the establishment of a Palestinian consulate in Jerusalem. And therein lies the problem. Read more

After American withdrawal from Afghanistan, implications for Israel look grimmer

As Israel observes the fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban, it’s difficult to forget the capitulation of the Iraqi army to ISIS in 2014 or the EUBAM observers who fled as Hamas seized power in the Gaza Strip in 2007, not to mention visions of the United States fleeing Saigon in the spring of 1975 as part of the collapse of the Vietnam War. Read more

Will Israel’s politicized Supreme Court stick to law on Palestinian Sheikh Jarrah squatters?

In what can be seen as an eyebrow-raising moment, Israel’s Supreme Court on Monday noted that the Jewish owners of properties under dispute in the Shimon HaTzadik neighbourhood of Jerusalem, which is often erroneously mixed up with the adjacent Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood, are within their legal rights to evict the illegal Palestinian squatters, but is pushing to find a solution that allows them to remain in the homes. Read more

Raisi’s presidency a ‘metaphor’ for Iran’s regional escalation

Iran’s new president Ebrahim Raisi will be sworn in on Thursday, and he is already making his mark. Read more

Israel faces Russia policy change, or perhaps political posturing, regarding Syria

Lebanese media outlets as well as Saudi Arabia’s London-based Asharq Al-Awsat have reported that Israel’s freedom of action against Iran in Syria is dwindling as Russia makes changes to its policy vis-à-vis its relationship with Israel. But this so-called reversal of policy by Russia may be manufactured news and does not necessarily reflect reality. Read more

Israel authorizes deducting $180 million from Palestinian Authority over ‘pay for slay’

The Israeli government led by Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has deducted more than $180 million from the funds it collects for the Palestinian Authority over its refusal to cease payments to prisoners and families of terrorists as part of a long-running campaign called “pay for slay.” Read more

Are Israel and Jordan ready to turn over a new leaf?

Jordan’s King Abdullah II has often described his country as being wedged between a “rock and a hard place,” referring to war-torn Iraq and the Israeli-controlled areas west of the Jordan River. Read more

Former ambassador Gold: World powers must work to prevent Iran’s quest for hegemony

“Iran will never get a nuclear weapon on my watch.” Read more

Israel worried about US return to Iran nuclear deal as its influence in Washington fades

In a press conference in Jerusalem on Tuesday evening, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken clarified the Biden administration’s stance on Iran and the nuclear deal—the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA. Read more

Former Secretary of State Pompeo blasts Biden team for ‘folly’ of appeasing Iran

Former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo harshly criticized the Biden administration for its blatant efforts to appease Iran by going out of its way to avoid explicitly stating the Islamic regime’s involvement in the Hamas terror group’s firing of more than 4,000 rockets at Israeli civilians from its base in the Gaza Strip. Read more

US appeasement of Iran, misconceptions over facts linger in wake of Israel-Gaza conflict

The conflict in Gaza over the last two weeks highlighted a number of misperceptions and emerging trends between the United States and Israel. Read more

Faith-based legislators lobby governments against ICC war-crimes probe of Israel

Saying he is “appalled and shocked” by the war-crimes accusations made by the International Criminal Court against Israel, Josh Reinstein, head of the Israel Allies Foundation (IAF) and the Knesset Christian Allies Caucus (CAC), noted that it is “even more egregious since [the ICC] was started to stop atrocities like the Holocaust and rampant antisemitism.” Read more

Netanyahu touts achievements from record vaccinations to boosting regional ties, security

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made his case for why he believes—again, or rather, still—that he is Israel’s strongest candidate to head Israel’s next government in the fourth round of elections in two years. Read more

Will a US-Saudi rift affect Israel?

The Biden administration has distanced itself from Saudi Arabia, imposing sanctions on some Saudi officials over the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, but stopped short of penalizing Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) himself. Read more

Landmark decision recognizing non-Orthodox conversions performed in Israel sparks fierce debate

Israel’s Supreme Court handed down a bombshell decision on Monday recognizing Reform and Conservative conversions for those seeking to obtain citizenship. The result has caused an uproar in Israel and within the Jewish Diaspora, with some saying it crossed a red line while others affirming that it is a decision that is long overdue. Read more

Self-proclaimed ‘loyal student of Herzl and Jabotinsky,’ Sa’ar sees himself as Israel’s next premier

For the fourth time in two years, Israel will go to elections on March 23 to elect its 24th Knesset. While early polling points to a similar inconclusive fate with the previous three, there have been some notable changes in this election cycle that could lead to a different outcome. Read more

Some Western leaders are ‘divorced from reality’ with regard to Palestinians, Iran

Iranian diplomat Assadollah Assadi was sentenced to 20 years in prison this week for planning a bomb attack in Paris. Read more

Former Israeli official: Americans should not give Iranians leverage by easing sanctions

As the new Biden administration takes shape, Israeli leaders in recent days have been outspoken in their warnings about Iran and its pursuit of nuclear weapons, hinting at possible military strikes if the Islamic Republic continues its path towards nuclearization. Read more

Panel discusses role of Anglos at diverse levels of Israeli decision-making

Should Jews living in the Diaspora have a say in decisions made in Israel’s Knesset? Do Israel’s members of Knesset understand the importance of including the voice of Anglos living in Israel? Read more

What can Israel expect at the UN during a Biden administration?

Despite efforts by its detractors, Israel has seen a steady improvement in its diplomatic standing around the world with breakthroughs in relations with Arab states, Africa, Asia and Latin America. Read more

With change rippling through the Middle East, where do the Palestinians stand?

The winds of diplomatic change in the Middle East are blowing strongly, but which way will they move the Palestinian Authority? Read more

Observers say EU-funded review of Palestinian textbooks reeks of ‘incompetence, concealment’

In a ground-breaking move and in response to the lack of change in the Palestinian Authority school curriculum and the continued insertion of antisemitism, hate and incitement to violence and martyrdom in its textbooks, the Norwegian parliament endorsed a complete cut last week in aid to the P.A. Read more

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