Israel News

Ehud Barak Says He Will Leave Politics

11/26/2012 | JTA

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak announced that he will leave politics after more than half a century, and not run in the upcoming elections.

Barak made the surprise announcement Monday, less than a week after the end of Operation Pillar of Defense in Gaza, for which he has received accolades for his successful leadership.

Barak said he planned to spend more time with his family.

Israel's New Missile Tests A Success

11/26/2012 | JNS

On the heels of the success of the Iron Dome system, Israel successfully tested a new missile defense system in the Negev.

Dubbed David’s Sling, after the weapon used in the Biblical story of David and Goliath, the system is being developed jointly between the Israeli and American defense firms Rafael and Raytheon. It is designed to intercept medium to long-range missile between 70 and 300 kilometers—likely to be primarily launched from Lebanon-based terror group Hezbollah, Syria and Iran.

Poll: Half Of Israelis Say Operation Ended Too Soon

11/23/2012 | JNS

Maagar Mohot research institute released the poll on Friday, according to news service JNS. Click here for more coverage of the operation Israel called "Pillar of Defense" and its cease-fire.

Is Criticism Of Israel Fair Game During War?

11/20/2012

Jeremy,

If we are serious about a covenantal relationship between Israel and world Jewry, diaspora Jews not only have the right but the responsibility to criticize Israeli policies, from the left or the right, that seem to them inimical to Jewish values and interests.

My question is this: What, if any, are the limitations on diaspora criticism of Israel during war? I’m writing to you at a particularly sensitive moment, when Israeli cities and towns are under rocket attack, while Hamas centers in Gaza are under Israeli air bombardment.

‘We Don’t Want To Live In Fear Anymore’

11/20/2012 | Michele Chabin | Israel Correspondent

Jerusalem — Ordinarily filled with noisy children, last Friday the Nisu’i elementary school in Jerusalem became a makeshift call-up center for reservists who, just hours earlier, had been told they were being sent to the front.

Still in civvies or in wrinkled uniforms they’d pulled out of storage, the men, religious and not, in their 20s and 30s, sat on the ground and watched as a group of teens played soccer in the schoolyard.

Gaza Cease-Fire Seen Solidifying U.S.-Israel Relations

11/20/2012 | Stewart Ain | Staff Writer

UPDATE: Israel and Hamas reached an Egyptian-brokered cease-fire that took effect Wednesday afternoon. Both sides agreed to end rocket fire, and Israel agreed to ease border crossings into Gaza.

The cease-fire hammered out in Cairo to end rocket attacks between Hamas and Israel appears to have bolstered the stature of Egypt and solidified Israeli-U.S. relations, but few believe it will truly end hostilities.