Israeli government allocates $13.8 million to oil-spill cleanup
February 25, 2021 by JNS
Israel’s Cabinet on Tuesday approved the allocation of 45 million shekels ($13.8 million) to help deal with a massive oil spill that has polluted some 100 miles of Israel’s coast. Approximately $20,000 will be advanced as immediate assistance to local authorities and the Nature and Parks Authority, according to an official statement. Read more
In new memoir, Amos Oz’s daughter alleges lifetime of abuse by ‘sadistic’ father
February 24, 2021 by JNS
Israeli author Galia Oz, daughter of world-renowned literary icon Amos Oz, alleged in interviews on Sunday that her “sadistic” father “serially abused” her physically and emotionally, until his death in 2018. Read more
Israeli Cabinet approves proposal to recognize, compensate for Yemenite ‘children affair’
The Israeli Cabinet on Monday approved a proposal to recognize the “Yemenite, Mizrahi and Balkan children affair” and provide financial compensation to the affected families, the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement. Read more
Israeli court puts gag order on oil-spill investigation
February 23, 2021 by JNS
In a surprise move, a Haifa court on Monday imposed a seven-day gag order on the ongoing investigation into the massive oil spill that devastated Israel’s Mediterranean coast over the weekend, according to Hebrew media reports. Read more
Blinken stresses importance of two-state solution in call with Israeli counterpart
February 23, 2021 by JNS
U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken stressed the importance of the two-state solution in a phone call on Monday with his Israeli counterpart, Gabi Ashkenazi. Read more
Israeli woman who crossed into Syria returns home
February 22, 2021 by JNS
An Israeli young woman who recently crossed into Syria was returned to Israel on Friday with the help of Russian mediation, following several days of talks. Read more
82 years later, reunited childhood friends torn apart by Holocaust Zoom regularly
February 21, 2021 by JNS
Two Jewish friends from Berlin who believed that each other had been killed during World War II and the Holocaust recently reunited with the help of the USC Shoah Foundation. Read more
‘Unorthodox’ star Shira Haas makes TIME magazine’s list of 100 most influential people
February 19, 2021 by JNS
Israeli actress Shira Haas, star of the Netflix drama “Unorthodox,” has been listed by TIME magazine as one of 100 emerging leaders of 2021 who are shaping the future of entertainment, health, politics and business, the magazine announced on Wednesday. Read more
Israeli nanosatellite hitches ride on NASA rocket to International Space Station
February 19, 2021 by JNS
A nanosatellite from Tel Aviv University will begin its travel to the International Space Station when it is launched from Wallops Island, Virginia, on a NASA resupply spacecraft tomorrow. Read more
Report reveals UNRWA continues antisemitic hate, incitement in schools
School material distributed by the U.N. Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) continues to glorify Islamic jihad and incite violence in 2021 despite promises by UNRWA that the hateful content would be removed by last November, revealed a report published on Wednesday. Read more
White House: Netanyahu to be first Middle East leader Biden will call
February 17, 2021 by JNS
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be the first Middle East leader President Joe Biden will call, the White House said on Tuesday. Read more
Spain’s Jewish communities insist on investigation into neo-Nazi rally
February 17, 2021 by JNS
The Federation of Jewish Communities in Spain (FCJE) has called on the country’s hate-crimes public prosecutor to investigate antisemitic hate speech made during a demonstration in Madrid on Feb. 13 of more than 300 people in honour of a neo-Nazi military unit, reported El Pais. Read more
‘Harry Potter’ star narrates new Holocaust documentary for British students
February 14, 2021 by JNS
A new Holocaust documentary narrated by British actor and “Harry Potter” star Jason Isaacs debuted this week for students in the United Kingdom. Read more
Steven Spielberg chosen as 2021 Genesis Prize honoree
February 12, 2021 by JNS
Steven Spielberg was awarded the 2021 Genesis Prize, an annual $1m award that honours individuals for their professional achievement, contribution to humanity and commitment to Jewish values, the Genesis Prize Foundation announced on Wednesday. Read more
Report: Decrease in antisemitic incidents in UK, though numbers remain high
February 12, 2021 by JNS
A new report released on Thursday shows a slight decrease in the number of antisemitic incidents in 2020 across the United Kingdom, even though the numbers still remain quite high. Read more
At 70, Stevie Wonder earns Israel’s prestigious Wolf Prize
February 12, 2021 by JNS
Legendary singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder was awarded Israel’s prestigious Wolf Prize on Tuesday along with a group of laureates in the arts and sciences. Read more
Palestinian Authority, Hamas agree on election timetable
February 11, 2021 by JNS
Palestinian factions agreed on Tuesday after a two-day meeting in Cairo to “respect and accept” the results of their upcoming elections, reported Reuters. Read more
Netanyahu to Blinken: Golan Heights ‘will remain forever part of Israel’
February 10, 2021 by JNS
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office pushed back against U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken over his comments that stopped short of endorsing the Trump administration’s recognition of the Golan Heights in 2019. Read more
Pointing to COVID-related economy, UAE says it will not fund UNRWA in 2021
February 10, 2021 by JNS
The United Arab Emirates says it does not plan to fund the U.N. Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, this year as part of a “wiser way of utilizing funds,” according to Minister of State for International Cooperation Reem al-Hashimy, reported Reuters. Read more
Germany charges former Nazi concentration-camp guard with complicity in 3,518 murders
February 10, 2021 by JNS
Prosecutors in Germany charged a 100-year-old former Nazi concentration-camp guard for involvement in the murder of 3,518 people. Read more
Netanyahu pleads not guilty at final pretrial hearing in Jerusalem
February 9, 2021 by JNS
The Jerusalem District Court on Sunday resumed proceedings in the corruption trial against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Read more
UNRWA textbooks under scrutiny by EU Parliament committee
February 9, 2021 by JNS
Palestinian textbooks provided by the U.N. Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) came under scrutiny during a recent hearing of the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee. Read more
Biden says no to lifting Iran sanctions before Tehran complies with nuclear deal
February 9, 2021 by JNS
U.S. President Joe Biden told CBS’s “Face the Nation” on Sunday that he would not lift sanctions on Iran as a way of persuading it to return to the negotiating table, and that it would have to first cease enriching uranium. Read more
In latest call, Ashkenazi and Blinken discuss ‘outrageous’ ICC ruling
February 9, 2021 by JNS
Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi spoke to U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken on Monday, where he thanked Blinken for American support in the wake of the International Criminal Court’s decision to open a war-crimes case against Israel.
Israeli general Moshe Dayan’s widow dies at 103
February 8, 2021 by JNS
Ruth Dayan, the first wife of the late Israeli defence minister and politician Moshe Dayan, passed away Friday morning at the age of 103. Read more
Report: Trump’s attorney requests impeachment trial pause for Jewish Sabbath
In a letter sent to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) late last week, former U.S. President Donald Trump’s impeachment lawyer asked that the trial be suspended during the Jewish Sabbath. Read more
US Supreme Court rules against Holocaust victims’ heirs in Nazi-era disputes
February 5, 2021 by JNS
In a unanimous decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday against the heirs of Holocaust victims seeking to recover their families’ art treasures and other property seized by Nazi Germany in the 1930s. Read more
German cabinet officially recognizes IHRA as an international institution
February 5, 2021 by JNS
The German cabinet officially recognized the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) on Wednesday as an international institution. Read more
Israelis 16 and up eligible for COVID vaccine; Netanyahu urges inoculation for all over 50
February 4, 2021 by JNS
The Israeli Health Ministry on Wednesday announced that beginning today, COVID-19 vaccines would be available to all Israelis over the age of 16. Read more
Biden administration ‘embraces’ international definition of antisemitism
February 3, 2021 by JNS
The Biden administration has said it will adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism, a key tool in fighting antisemitism at home and abroad. Read more
