Sorrow and Hope

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The Prequel to the “Deal of the Century”

How the Revised View on Judea and Samaria Set the Stage On January 28, 2020, the United States under President Donald Trump formally announced a Middle East peace plan in which they acknowledged that the Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria—which some call “settlements”—would remain part of Israel. While some elements of President Trump’s “Deal

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The Lone Soldiers Guarding Israel

Since its rebirth 72 years ago, Israel has navigated a grim reality. “If the Jews put down their weapons today, there would be no more Israel,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu summed up the situation. For this reason, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) exists. At any given time, tens of thousands of Israelis form part of

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The Fight Must Go On

When work began on the Fifth World Holocaust Forum to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz–Birkenau death camp, organizers planned for 10 world leaders to be in attendance, 15 if the heavens smiled down on the event. Yet on January 23, 2020, delegations from 49 countries converged on Jerusalem for the

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Unpacking the Parashah

The Jewish people have a long history of closely studying God’s word. It is precious to them. The Torah (Gen.–Deut.) is especially dear, and they focus on it weekly throughout the year. In fact, the Jewish community worldwide reads through those five books of Moses, sometimes called the Pentateuch, every year on a standardized cycle.

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Israeli Celebrations—Expressions of Joy, Sorrow and Hope

Israel’s Independence Day, Jerusalem. It is well past midnight, but the capital is more alive than ever. From the Old City to Jaffa Street—and all across the country—Israel celebrates. Standing on the crowded streets amid a thousand other revelers, it is easy to be swept up in the merriment. Foreigners and natives alike dance together

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Reclaiming Nazi Plunder

In 2006, an exquisite painting by Gustav Klimt sold for the staggering sum of US $135 million. The painting was owned by Maria Altmann, a Holocaust survivor who was born in Vienna and escaped to Los Angeles during the war. It was a portrait of Altmann’s aunt, Adele Bloch-Bauer, decorated in gold and silver leaf,

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The Real Bad Guys in Tehran

As tensions between Iran and the United States simmer, the Islamic Republic continues proclaiming its goals to wipe Israel off the map and punish the US for standing with the Jewish state against Iranian aggression. The friction culminated in clashes in December and January that led to multiple Iranian strikes on American targets in Iraq

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Jerusalem under Siege

Jerusalem is one of the most amazing cities on earth, constantly in the global public eye and a destination for millions of pilgrims every year. This is interesting, since it is certainly not the most densely populated city, with less than a million people, or even the largest, covering less than 50 miles2 (129 km2).

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Facing Hezbollah: The Next Round against the Party of Allah

The list of those who seek to reduce Israel to a footnote in history is a long one. At present, the top spot on the list as Israel’s most imminent threat goes to Hezbollah—and for good reason. The Iranian-backed Lebanese terror group openly hails Israel’s annihilation as its chief aim, possesses an impressive arsenal of

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Who Are The Kurds?

A Brief Guide to the Main Participants: PKK: Kurdistan Workers’ Party, a communist group formed in Turkey in 1978 that fights for an independent Kurdish state and has been blamed by Turkey for the death of Turkish soldiers and civilians; designated by the US, the EU and other entities as a terrorist group YPG: Kurdish

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