THURSDAY AUGUST 13, 2020
August 14, 2020 by Roz Tarszisz
THURSDAY AUGUST 13, 2020
Owing to the temporary indisposition of publishing staff, J-Wire will not be published for the next few days.
Biden picks Kamala Harris as Democratic running mate
August 12, 2020 by Jackson Richman - JNS
The presumptive Democratic 2020 nominee, former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, announced on Tuesday that he has picked Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) as his running mate. Read more
Trump vows new Iran deal ‘within four weeks’ if re-elected
U.S. President Donald Trump vowed that if re-elected in November, there would be a new deal with Iran “within four weeks.” Read more
Report: Lebanese leaders knew explosives in the Beirut port could flatten the city
August 12, 2020 by JNS
Lebanese security officials warned the country’s prime minister and president just last month that the 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate stored in Beirut’s port could potentially destroy the city, according to Reuters. Read more
Palestinian Authority daily claims that Israel is behind Beirut blast
August 12, 2020 by JNS
A writer for the official Palestinian Authority daily accused Israel of being behind the explosion in Beirut last week that cost the lives of at least 163 people and injured thousands, as well as left hundreds of thousands homeless. Read more
120 Jewish groups write to Facebook on antisemitism
August 11, 2020 by J-Wire Newsdesk
A worldwide group of organisations have written to Facebook calling on the company to adopt the IHRA definition of antisemitism. Read more
Beyoncé dons Israeli designers’ creations for mega visual album
Beyoncé has done it again, producing a visual album called Black Is King and sending the world into an absolute frenzy. Read more
Netanyahu agrees to delay budget deadline, staving off new elections
August 11, 2020 by JNS
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that he had agreed to support legislation that would delay the collapse of the government by putting off the deadline for passing the state budget. Read more
Gantz: Hezbollah chief Nasrallah ‘Lebanon’s biggest problem’
August 11, 2020 by JNS
Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee on Monday that while Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah is Israel’s “biggest enemy from the north,” he is “Lebanon’s biggest problem.” Read more
Muslim Kazakhstan adds grave of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson to heritage list
The U.S. Commission for the Preservation of America’s Heritage Abroad recognized Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and former present Nursultan Nazarbayev for “facilitating the commemoration” of the passing, or yahrtzeit, of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson, father of the Lubavitcher Rebbe—Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson—on Monday, the 20th day of the Jewish month of Av. Read more
Elder passes away from COVID-19 in Melbourne
August 11, 2020 by J-Wire Newsdesk
One Elder has passed away at Melbourne’s Residential Home in Windsor as a result of COVID-19. Read more
Concerts return to Israel as infection rate remains high
August 10, 2020 by Aryeh Savir - TPS
The government has announced the immediate return of public cultural events and performing artists’ concerts as the infection rate in Israel remained one of the highest in the world. Read more
Buying time, Israeli Government will postpone decision on budget
August 10, 2020 by Aryeh Savir - TPS
The government factions will vote on a law the postpones by 100 days the date at which a budget must be presented, buying the government time and possibly averting the fourth round of elections. Read more
Australian Government should help Lebanese people, not Hezbollah
August 10, 2020 by J-Wire Newsdesk
The Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) applauds Australia’s commitment to helping the people of Lebanon rebuild after last week’s devastating explosion. Read more
The miracle of the twins of the Yosef family
August 10, 2020 by Zaki Heler
The birth of Gilat Yosef’s twins began at her home in Kiryat Ata but she did not expect the drama to come. Read more
Lebanese information minister resigns amid unrest following Beirut disaster
August 10, 2020 by JNS
Lebanese Information Minister Manal Abdul-Samad resigned on Sunday as the public outcry against the Lebanese government intensified in the aftermath of the massive Beirut port explosion on Aug. 4, international news agencies reported. Read more
Premier keynote at NSW Jewish Board of Deputies’ AGM
August 10, 2020 by J-Wire Newsdesk
Premier Gladys Berejiklian will be the keynote speaker at next week’s NSW Jewish Board of Deputies’ AGM. Read more
ECAJ complains about “a military attack possibly by Israel”
August 10, 2020 by J-Wire Newsdesk
The Executive Council of Australian Jewry has lodged a formal complaint with FreeTV Australia about an interview that was aired on Ten Network’s ‘The Project’ on Wednesday 5 August 2020. Read more
Three arrested in Jerusalem as anti-Netanyahu demonstrations continue for 7th week
August 9, 2020 by Aryeh Savir - TPS
Jerusalem’s police on Saturday night arrested three rioters who participated in protests against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in another night of unrest in the capital, the seventh consecutive weekend the protests have taken place. Read more
Cabinet meeting cancelled, elections in the air again
August 9, 2020 by Aryeh Savir - TPS
The government’s weekly Cabinet meeting was cancelled today (Sunday) after the Likud and Blue and White parties could not agree on an agenda, as the prospect of the fourth round of elections looms large. Read more
One of Judaism’s great commentators, Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz, dies at age 83
August 9, 2020 by JNS
Rabbi Adin Even-Israel Steinsaltz, one of Judaism’s exceptional modern-day commentators, died in Jerusalem after suffering from acute pneumonia. He was 83 years old. Read more
Media polls show Yamina to grow; Likud and Blue and White to slip
August 9, 2020 by JNS
Media polls released on Thursday show that if Israeli elections were held today, Yamina would grow, while the Likud and the Blue and White parties would slip. Read more
COVID-19 cases at Windsor now 33
August 8, 2020 by J-Wire Newsdesk
The COVID-19 cases relating to Melbourne’s Jewish Care residential home at the Hannah and Daryl Cohen Family Building in Windsor has risen to 33. Read more
Winners of UIA “My Israel Video” Competition
August 7, 2020 by J-Wire Newsdesk
UIA has announced the winners of its 2020 My Israel video competition. Read more
‘We have the product in hand:’ Israel will bergin human trials with COVID-19 Vaccine in October
August 6, 2020 by Aryeh Savir - TPS
The Israel Institute for Biological Research (IIBR) in Ness Ziona has made further progress toward a Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine and will commence trials on humans after the New Year holidays, in October. Read more
Full scope of Beirut disaster ‘still not understood,’ states former Israeli military intelligence chief
August 6, 2020 by J-Wire
A day after two blasts—one of them an enormous—ripped through Beirut, causing untold destruction, it’s still not possible to grasp the true scope of the calamity, a former Israeli Military Intelligence chief has said. Read more
Controversy erupts follows as Tel Aviv lights up municipality with Lebanese flag
August 6, 2020 by Aryeh Savir - TPS
The Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality lit up its building façade on Wednesday evening with the colours of the Lebanese flag in solidarity with the Lebanese people following the disaster in Beirut on Tuesday, generating controversy as opponents said it was displaying the flag of an enemy country. Read more
Tel Aviv in solidarity with Beirut
August 6, 2020 by J-Wire Newsdesk
Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality lit up the municipality building on Wednesday evening, in solidarity with the Lebanese people following the disaster in Beirut on Tuesday. Read more
COVID-19 Windsor update
August 6, 2020 by J-Wire Newsdesk
The number of COVID-19 cases at Jewish Care Victoria’s residential home has increased to 12 Elders and three staff members. Read more
New community centre for Perth
August 6, 2020 by J-Wire Newsdesk
The Western Australian government will provide $ 6million to match a further $6million from the Federal Government to build a new Jewish community centre in Perth. Read more
