A Singular Solution: A One-state Approach to the Israeli–Palestinian Conflict

The two-state solution sounds final—the long-sought answer to the Middle East’s most intractable riddle. But what if it’s not the only “solution” to the problem? What if it’s not even a plausible one? What alternative can there be to the “solution”? There is another possibility, hovering as both a promise and a threat: the one-state

Life on the Frontlines: Coping under Fire

The siren sounds. You have 15 seconds to reach the bomb shelter. How fast can you run? One, two, three…Were you eating dinner with your family? Driving home from work? In the shower? Perhaps you were asleep? Four, five, six…Run! Run to the nearest bomb shelter. Do you know where it is? Of course you

Breaking the Barrier: How Israel and Hamas Communicate

“Israel, by virtue of its being Jewish and of having a Jewish population, defies Islam and the Muslims.” So reads Article 28 of the charter of Hamas, the terror organization in political and military control of the Gaza Strip. The charter also reads, “Israel will rise and will remain erect until Islam eliminates it as

V is for Victory?

August 27, 2014 was a day of great celebration in the Gaza Strip. The day before, a cease-fire agreement signaled the end of seven weeks of fighting between Israel and Hamas, and the terror group ruling the coastal enclave had planned a rally to celebrate the war’s outcome. Throngs of jubilant Gazans—decked out in the

The Lost Sheep of Israel Make Aliyah

Along a rocky path in the heart of the Judean Hills, a shepherdess named Jenna leads a small sheep harnessed with a pink bridle. The sheep’s wool is speckled with splotches of black on white and its head is crowned with four horns. The shepherdess calls this little ewe Golda Meir, after Israel’s first female

Sharon’s Rosh HaShanah Tzimmes

The theme of sweetness is central to the celebration of Rosh HaShanah (Jewish New Year). Israelis wish one another Shanah tovah u’metuka (have a good, sweet year) and enjoy a popular holiday treat of apples dipped in honey. This doubly sweet snack is not the only sugary staple on a traditional New Year’s menu. In

Shanah Tovah, Israel!

As Jewish people around the world celebrate the festival of Rosh HaShanah (Jewish New Year), the streets of Israel resound with joyous shouts of “Shanah tovah u’metuka (have a happy and sweet new year),” with family, friends and perfect strangers wishing one another a sweet and prosperous new year. Sunset on Sunday, September 29, ushers

Portable Allergen Detector a Potential Life Saver

Some 250 million people worldwide—8% of children and 4% of adults—suffer from a food allergy, many of them severe. Eating out can be a struggle, as unknown ingredients can cause an adverse reaction and sometimes even be fatal. Israeli start-up SensoGenic is working to address this problem with their portable biosensor, which detects the smallest

Jewish Settlement from the Second Temple Period Uncovered in Beersheva

For the first time, the remains of a Jewish settlement of the Second Temple period have been discovered in Beersheva, revealing evidence of Jewish day-to-day life there. The site, dated from the first century AD until the Bar Kokhba Revolt in AD 135, appears to contain underground hidden passageways used by the Jewish rebels. According

Lighting the Ancient World

An Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) excavation at Shivta [an ancient city in the Negev] has discovered a unique wick used to light lamps, dated to the Byzantine period 1,500 years ago. Dr. Naama Sukenik of the IAA said, “It seems that this rare find was preserved thanks to the dry climate in the Negev…Lamps

Israel Brings Clean Water to Ugandan Community

Selda Edris and Mayes Morad, 26, were young water engineering students when they were first exposed to the poor living conditions [in] Uganda. The two young engineers graduated and joined the HelpApp organization, which aims to provide humanitarian aid to developing African countries. Edris and Mayes made their dream come true when they were finally

Ancient Gold Coin Unearthed

Four high school students from Kibbutz Yifat in the Jezreel Valley spotted a gold coin glinting in the grass as they walked along the banks of the Zippori stream in the Galilee, adjacent to the Sanhedrin Trail (a 70-kilometer [43.5 mi] hiking trail that runs from Tiberias to Beit She’arim). After examining the coin, IAA

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