Israel

Resolving Gaza’s ‘Custody Battle’–the Capstone of Trump’s Mideast Peace Negotiations?

Within hours of the jubilant press conference to announce the US “takeover” of Gaza and the potential of turning this war ravaged region into the crown jewel of the Middle East, Saudi Arabia publicly affirmed their support for a Palestinian state as sine qua non to any normalization of relations with Israel. [Amy Neustein, Ph.D]

Resolving Gaza’s ‘Custody Battle’–the Capstone of Trump’s Mideast Peace Negotiations? Read More »

Amy Neustein, Israel, Middle East, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

‘Four Hours a Day’ is Not Enough Time

Four Hours a Day shown Tuesday morning, Feb. 4, at the San Diego International Film Festival is a documentary film directed by Ayelet Dekel in which she interviews mothers and daughters who lived on different kibbutzim in Israel.  The subjects commented on the kibbutz ideology of having their children raised communally in a “children’s home.” [Cailin Acosta]

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Cailin Acosta, Israel, Lifestyles, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Trump is Israel’s Good Friend– and He Proved It Again While Meeting Netanyahu

Since returning to the White House in January 2025, President Donald Trump has enacted several policies that have significantly strengthened the U.S.-Israel alliance. Even before he officially took office, Trump played a crucial role in mediating a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. This agreement led to the release of numerous hostages, including children, women, and elderly men who had been abducted during the October 2023 attacks. [Miriam Gershenson]

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Antisemitism, Holocaust, International, Israel, Miriam Gershenson, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Trump Disengages with 2 UN Agencies in Meeting with Israel’s Netanyahu

The first executive order ends the United States’ engagement with the United Nations Human Rights Council, notorious for its extreme anti-Israel bias.  The second prohibits U.S. funding for UNRWA, the U.N. agency whose employees participated in the October 7 attacks. [Jake Braunstein, AIPAC}

Trump Disengages with 2 UN Agencies in Meeting with Israel’s Netanyahu Read More »

Antisemitism, International, Israel, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Identifying Antisemitic Foreign Students May Be Problematic for Trump’s Administration

An associate professor here who questions how authorities will acquire information to deport anti-Israel foreign students may well be right. Therein lies the main rub with President Trump’s executive order to crush antisemitic activity when and where possible. [Bruce S. Ticker]

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Bruce Ticker, Israel, Opinion, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Immune System Triggers Brain’s Learning, U of Haifa Researchers Find

The findings demonstrate that the brain and the immune system collaborate to prepare for future challenges and reveal how they “learn” to activate the immune system based solely on sensory information and brain activity. This process involves the “representation” of the immune system in the brain and the integration of this information with sensory inputs, such as taste. [Press Release]

Immune System Triggers Brain’s Learning, U of Haifa Researchers Find Read More »

Israel, Press Release, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Drumatix Performance Features Percussion and Improvisation

The ensemble consisted of seven members, one being a male. Each one had a unique style and “voice” in their way of dancing, interacting with the audience, and the general presence on stage. While each was different, together they created a cohesive experience for the viewers that was incredibly engaging. The performance was full of surprising props that one would not consider instruments such as spoons and bubble wrap as well as traditional instruments such as drums, and a keyboard. [Miriam Gershenson]

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Albert Kreimerman, Israel, Miriam Gershenson, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors

AJC Calls for Standing Together, Fighting Antisemitism through Alliances

What spoke loudly throughout the February 2 event was the realization among the American Jewish community that standing strong in the fight against the pervasive antisemitism ravaging American society (including school and university campuses) means standing together with non-Jewish allies. [Barrett Holman Leak]

AJC Calls for Standing Together, Fighting Antisemitism through Alliances Read More »

Barrett Holman Leak, Israel, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Trump’s Department of Education to Investigate Antisemitism at 5 Universities

The U.S. Department of Education on Monday, Feb. 3, announced investigations into five institutions of higher education where widespread antisemitic harassment has been reported. The investigations are in response to the explosion of antisemitism on American campuses following the Hamas massacre of Israeli civilians on Oct. 7, 2023.    [Press Release]

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Antisemitism, Israel, Press Release, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Jewish Trivia Quiz: Tariffs

As ‍a ‍result ‍of ‍The ‍United ‍States–Israel ‍Free ‍Trade ‍Agreement ‍signed ‍in ‍1985, ‍there ‍are ‍few ‍tariffs ‍or ‍duties ‍on ‍goods ‍traded ‍between ‍the ‍United ‍States ‍and ‍Israel. ‍But ‍there ‍are ‍still ‍some ‍tariffs ‍in ‍effect ‍between ‍the ‍two ‍countries. ‍This ‍includes ‍United ‍States ‍tariffs ‍on ‍Israeli ‍“meat ‍of ‍bovine ‍animals,” ‍and ‍Israeli ‍tariffs ‍on ‍live ‍fish ‍including ‍tilapia, ‍carp, ‍and ‍trout. ‍What ‍tariffs ‍has ‍Israel ‍imposed ‍on ‍other ‍countries? [Mark D. Zimmerman]

Jewish Trivia Quiz: Tariffs Read More »

International, Israel, Mark D. Zimmerman, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA

Gymnast Survived Nazis; Went on to Become Gold Medalist in Olympics

This book, written in simple language for children between the ages of 5 and 9, tells of Ágnes being banned from the national gymnasium because she was Jewish.  In response, she secretly practiced early in the morning at an unlit, unheated high school gym with her friend Istvan Sarkany. [Donald H. Harrison]

Gymnast Survived Nazis; Went on to Become Gold Medalist in Olympics Read More »

Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Holocaust, International, Israel, Jewish History, Sports & Competitions, Staff and Bylined Contributors