British public figures sign letter refusing to vote Labour over antisemitism scandal
November 17, 2019 by JNS
Twenty-four British public figures signed an open letter refusing to vote for the Labour Party in the United Kingdom’s Dec. 12 general elections due to party leader Jeremy Corbyn’s multiple ties to antisemitism. Read more
Netflix to edit Demjanjuk docuseries after pressure by Polish government
Netflix says it will edit its documentary miniseries “The Devil Next Door,” about alleged notorious Nazi guard John Demjanjuk after Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki complained of inaccuracies in the series, Variety reported on Thursday. Read more
Pope Francis condemns antisemitism in address from St. Peter’s Square
Pope Francis denounced antisemitism against Jews worldwide during his weekly general audience. Read more
Orthodox Jew from Golders Green announces Brexit Party run against Corbyn
November 17, 2019 by JNS
An Orthodox Jewish man has announced that he will be running for Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn’s Parliament seat in the United Kingdom’s general elections on Dec. 12. Read more
Ceasefire off to shaky start as sirens wail in southern Israel
November 15, 2019 by JNS
A ceasefire between Israel and Gaza-based terrorist groups that went into effect early Thursday morning was immediately put to the test as five rockets from Gaza sent Israelis scrambling for shelter in the south. Read more
Israel faces second day of rocket fire from Gaza
November 14, 2019 by JNS
Israelis faced a second day of rocket barrages from the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terrorist group in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, after a brief overnight lull gave way to renewed launches in the morning hours. Read more
Jewish Agency provides emergency funds to families hit by rockets from Gaza
November 13, 2019 by JNS
In the wake of the rocket fire on Israel, the Jewish Agency for Israel put its emergency operations into gear, providing assistance to 6,500 new immigrants in absorption centres and 5,000 seniors in assisted-living facilities located in southern Israel, as well as 7,700 young Jews visiting on Israel Experience programs. Read more
Poland presses Netflix to amend documentary about Nazi death-camp guard
November 13, 2019 by JNS
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has pressed Netflix to make changes to a documentary about a Nazi death-camp guard that includes a map highlighting Nazi concentration and death camps inside modern Poland. Read more
Netanyahu, Knesset mark 25 years of peace between Israel and neighbouring Jordan
November 12, 2019 by JNS
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday marked 25 years of a peace agreement between Israel and Jordan. Read more
Overwhelming majority of UN Human Rights Council reps praise Iran on record
November 12, 2019 by JNS
Ninety-five out of 111 delegates, or 85 per cent, of the delegates to U.N. Human Rights Council’s Nov. 8 review session on Iran’s human-rights record praised the Islamic Republic, according to Geneva-based NGO U.N. Watch. Read more
Bernie Sanders: ‘It’s not antisemitic to criticize Israel’
November 12, 2019 by JNS
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who is running for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, said that “it is not antisemitic to criticize the policies of the Israeli government,” adding on to his prior stance that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government is “racist.” Read more
Netanyahu offers Bennett defence ministry job
November 10, 2019 by JNS
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday offered New Right Party leader Naftali Bennett the spot of the country’s defence minister in a move perceived as a way to stop Bennet from joining a coalition led by the rival Blue and White Party. Read more
UAE to allow Israelis to visit for 2020 World Expo, and perhaps afterwards as well
November 10, 2019 by JNS
The United Arab Emirates will open its doors to Israelis for the 2020 World Expo in Dubai and may allow them to continue to visit even after it’s over. Read more
Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg expected to run for president
November 10, 2019 by JNS
Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is expected to run for president after announcing earlier this year that he would not run for the Democratic nomination. Read more
UNRWA head resigns over misconduct allegations
November 8, 2019 by JNS
The head of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) announced his resignation on Wednesday, following allegations of sexual misconduct, nepotism, retaliation, discrimination and other abuses of authority. Read more
New UK House of Commons Speaker said Jewish MPs ‘face worst of it’ online
U.K. Labour Party member Lindsay Hoyle was elected on Monday as Speaker of the U.K. House of Commons amid his party facing backlash and the United Kingdom reaching a deal to leave the European Union. Read more
Fatah official says PA chief Abbas, soon to turn 85, won’t run for re-election
November 6, 2019 by JNS
Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas will not run for re-election, senior Fatah official Jibril Rajoub told Palestine TV on Monday. Read more
Supreme Court rules Israel can deport Human Rights Watch official
November 6, 2019 by JNS
Israel’s Supreme Court has ruled that Human Rights Watch Israel and Palestine director Omar Shakir may be deported, upholding a district court ruling that found him guilty of promoting anti-Israel boycotts. Read more
Jewish astronaut Jessica Meir shares photos of Israel captured from space
November 6, 2019 by JNS
Jewish astronaut Jessica Meir has shared photos of Israel she took from space.
Israeli court stops auction of letter written by 11-year-old Jewish Holocaust victim
The Tel Aviv District Court blocked the sale of a letter written by an 11-year-old Jewish-Polish girl who was killed in the Holocaust following protest by her family members. Read more
In a first, Jewish Labour Movement withdraws party support due to antisemitism
For the first time in its 100-year history, the Jewish Labour Movement (JLM) in the United Kingdom will not be campaigning for members of the Labour Party outside of “exceptional circumstances and for exceptional candidates,” announced the group amid criticism over the party’s handling of antisemitism complaints. Read more
If Israeli prime minister, Gantz promises to ‘embrace all streams of Judaism’
October 31, 2019 by JNS
Blue and White leader Benny Gantz has said that if he succeeds in becoming Israeli’s next premier, he will “embrace all streams of Judaism.” Read more
Belgium’s first female PM is married to an Australian
Belgium’s first female prime minister, Sophie Wilmès, is Jewish.
Jewish Agency to rebrand as a global hub for the Jewish world
October 28, 2019 by JNS
At the board of governors meeting that began on Sunday in Jerusalem and runs until Oct. 29, the Jewish Agency announced its new strategic plan, which includes rebranding the 90-year-old organization as a hub for the Jewish world. Read more
Historic copy of Hebrew Bible returns to Spain to go on display in 2020
One of the oldest and most expensive copies of the Hebrew Bible was returned to Spain, where it was created in 1476, and will go on display next year. Read more
Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh announces plans to reopen post-shooting
October 27, 2019 by JNS
The Tree of Life*Or L’Simcha Synagogue in Pittsburgh announced on Facebook plans to reopen its building following the deadly shooting almost one year ago on Oct. 27, 2018, when 11 Jewish worshippers were shot and killed during Shabbat-morning services by a lone gunman. Read more
US Supreme Court Justice Ginsburg wins $1 million prize for social-justice work
October 27, 2019 by JNS
Jewish U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was awarded $1 million to give to charitable organizations of her choice for her contributions to social justice and gender equality. Read more
Israel’s second attempt to land aircraft on moon just years away, says engineer
October 27, 2019 by JNS
A representative from the Israel Aerospace Industries has spoken about Israel’s continued hopes of becoming the fourth country to land softly on the moon, following a failed attempt in April. Read more
Jewish museum in Portugal’s oldest synagogue reopens
October 27, 2019 by JNS
A museum inside Portugal’s oldest synagogue has been reopened following a two-year renovation. Read more
District court rejects boycott of Israelis by Spanish city
October 27, 2019 by JNS
A district court in Barcelona recently issued a temporary injunction that rejects a boycott of Israeli individuals and businesses by the city of Molins de Rei. Read more
