Dispatch from Jerusalem

Roman Bathhouse Unearthed

{image_1}An 1,800 year-old bathing pool that was probably part of a bathhouse used by the Roman Tenth Legion was exposed in excavations by the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) where a new men’s mikveh (ritual bath) is to be built in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem.

The Battle for Israel’s History

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As long as there have been historians, there have been those who would rewrite their stories, and for a myriad of reasons. On the positive side, re-examining history has long been accepted as a means of keeping our understanding of the past current. Developments in science, technology, archaeology, etc, have shed new light on old stories, sometimes adding a new dimension to a particular historical period or event and sometimes even modifying the mainstream view. Allowing for the reinterpretation of longstanding views based on new evidence is, in fact, good scholarship, providing that adherence to accuracy is central to the review.

Law Passes Requiring Vote for Withdrawal

{image_1}The Israeli Knesset [parliament] passed a new law that will require a public referendum vote or the approval of 80 of the 120 Knesset members for any attempts to withdraw from East Jerusalem or the Golan Heights. According to The Jerusalem Post, the National Referendum Law passed in the Knesset 65–33. Though the law applies to East Jerusalem, which the Palestinians claim for their capital, and the Golan Heights, which is claimed by Syria, it does not apply to the West Bank [Judea and Samaria]. This is because the West Bank was never fully annexed by Israel as civilian territory, whereas the other two areas were.

A Dish with History:  Tunisian Chicken

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One of the many pleasures afforded to those who visit Israel is the opportunity to feast on foods influenced by Jewish immigrants from over 100 nations who now make Israel their home. Much of Israeli cuisine is, in fact, an amalgam of culinary delights from around the world, and many dishes bring with them as much history as they do flavor. One such tasty item is our recipe from Tunisia.

Israel Shatters Tourism Record

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Israel announced they broke the record for incoming tourists in a year, with 2010 passing the 3 million-tourist-mark in November. The Tourism Ministry is predicting a total of 3.4 million tourists for 2010, which would eclipse the previous all-time high set in 2008 with 400,000 tourists.

Israeli among Top Game-changers

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Israeli educational executive Shai Reshef was awarded the 12th spot in a poll answered by 3 million readers of popular American news blog site Huffington Post as one of the Ultimate 12 Game Changers. These were defined as people considered by readers to be global innovation leaders who have significantly changed the way we live or view the world.

IDF Training Base Goes Green

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Last year, the Israel Defense Forces [IDF] inaugurated a new officers' training base near Mitzpe Ramon in the Negev. At the same time, a new US $275 million program was announced by the IDF to protect the environment and also fund environmental education at all IDF bases and training areas.

New Jerusalem Skateboard Park

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“Jerusalem will be joining leading cities around the world with a modern and professional skate park that will attract many visitors,” Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat announced recently. The state-of-the-art skateboard park, to span 0.7 acres [0.3 hectares] at an investment of about US $1.3 million, is to open in the capital by the end of 2011 in Jerusalem's Liberty Bell Park.

US Defends Jewish Connection to Western Wall

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A recent charge by a Palestinian official that there is no Jewish connection to the Western Wall, one of Judaism’s holiest sites, has been repudiated by the Obama administration.

[Palestinian Authority] Deputy Information Minister Al-Mutawakel Taha caused a furor in Israel and around the Jewish world when he endorsed a study that claims that the site, a remnant of the Jewish Temple, is, in fact, historically a Muslim property with no nexus to Judaism.

Arabs Want Iranian Strike

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While Arab nations have generally been cautious about discussing military action against Iran’s nuclear program publicly, in private, some of the regions’ officials and leaders have actually called for the US armed forces to stop the Islamic nation’s pursuit of nuclear weapons.