1,500-year-old Church Discovered

Aerial view of excavation Archaeological excavations near Highway 1 (Jerusalem–Tel Aviv), at the entrance to Abu Gosh, have uncovered a large Byzantine-period road station that included a church. Initiated and funded by the National Roads Company, the excavations were conducted while upgrading and widening the highway between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. The site lies next

Druze Community Honors Israeli Divers

A Druze sheikh with a replica of a coin from the treasure A gold treasure off the Caesarea coast was discovered in February 2015 by a group of six Israeli divers—Tzvika Feuer, Kobi Tweena, Avivit Fishler, Shai Milner, Yoav Lavi and Yoel Miller (see June 2015 Dispatch for story). The treasure, which was completely uncovered

Pope Recognizes Palestine: Tipping Point?

Pope Francis The Roman Catholic Church announced in May that it has all but finalized a formal agreement with “the State of Palestine.” While it is not the first entity to do so, it might be the most significant. Because of its perceived moral authority, especially in the West, Rome’s official recognition may be the

Egyptian President Strengthens Ties with Russia

Egyptian President Sisi Egyptian President Sisi was in Moscow in May to participate in celebrations marking the 70th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in 1945. According to the Jerusalem Post (JPost), Sisi met with Russia’s President Putin. In that meeting, he “expressed his desire to strengthen cooperation between the nations.” Putin reciprocated the

Israel’s Security Policy in Syria

Over the past three years a series of incidents involving attempted attacks from Hezbollah and the movement of weapons through Syria have caused concern in Israel and action to thwart such actions. In this article, retired Brig. Gen.Yossi Kuperwasser explains. The attacks and reported air strikes indicate an ongoing battle between Israel and the Iranian-led

A Profound and Lasting Impact Through Our Feed a Child Program

In Israel, according to a report released in December of 2014, 35.1% of children live in poverty, while 25% go to bed hungry at night. That means nearly a million Israeli children face a very uncertain future, struggle to keep up with their classmates, perhaps are even forced to drop out of school and work

Christians, Jews Praised God for the Miracle of Israel

The restoration of Israel to its God-given homeland has long since been regarded as nothing short of miraculous. Each year, the Jewish nation marks the day with thanksgiving and praises to God. This year, Dr. Shlomo Riskin, Chief Rabbi of the Israeli city of Efrat, launched an initiative inviting Christians to join the people of

Israel Joins Jordan to Save the Dead Sea

Israel and Jordan have signed a historic water-sharing agreement on the Jordanian side of the Dead Sea. The Jerusalem Post reported that, “According to their agreement, Jordan and Israel will share the potable water produced by a future desalination plant in Aqaba, from which salty brines will be piped to the Dead Sea. In return

Israel Rushes to Aid Disaster-Stricken Nepal

When a massive 7.8 magnitude earthquake cut a swath of death and destruction through Nepal, Israel was one of the first nations on the scene to assist. As of this writing, the death toll has quickly skyrocketed to more than 2,500 with tens of thousands wounded or left homeless. Many more remain unaccounted for, sparking

Wounded Syrian Boy Tries Matzah—and Loves It

A wounded Syrian boy hospitalized at the Ziv Medical Center in Safed got to taste matzah (large flat cracker eaten at Passover) for the first time in his life and loved it. The 7-year-old boy, who suffered serious wounds to his legs from a shell hit seven months ago, enjoyed the matzah so much that

Iran Cannot Be Trusted

Netanyahu on Israel’s Security “The survival of Israel is non-negotiable,” he said. “Israel will not accept an agreement which allows a country that vows to annihilate us to develop nuclear weapons. Period.” Netanyahu on Framework Agreement Struck with Iran “Iran said that ‘The destruction of Israel is non-negotiable,’ and in these fateful days Iran is

Limonana, a Refreshing Beverage

When summer heats up in Israel, limonana (frozen mint lemonade) becomes the drink of choice. The combination of lemons and spearmint (nana in Hebrew) is cool and refreshing, even on the hottest of days. Whether served as a slushy blend or over ice, it is the perfect companion to a spot in the shade for

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