This is the Forward’s coverage of Israel, the Jewish state in the Middle East founded in 1948.
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The Latest
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Opinion Who’s a Pirate? Jewish Naval Battles, from Gaza Coast to La. Oil Smear
The news this week is chock-full of outrage over the Israeli naval action that Turkey and others are calling an act of naked piracy on the high seas. And in the week’s other top story, by incredible coincidence, the oil slick oozing across the Gulf of Mexico made its first major landfall Thursday at, of…
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The Schmooze University of Haifa Awards Honorary Doctorate to Druze Spiritual Leader
The name Shaykh Mowafak Tarif probably doesn’t mean much to you. But among Israel’s Druze minority, everybody has heard of him — he is the community’s spiritual leader. Today he will receive an honorary doctorate at the University of Haifa. There is much excitement about the award in the Druze community, where it is seen…
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Life Rihanna in Israel
Some great music artists have been performing in Israel. Madonna’s 2009 concert and Elton John’s concert in two weeks are definite highlights, although I suppose this admission reveals that I am in fact just a teeny-bopper at heart. Given the political context, I feel like I should probably be grateful for any artist willing to…
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The Schmooze Shuli Rand, Remember Him?
Remember Shuli Rand, the actor who took the lead role in “Ushpizin,” an internationally acclaimed Israeli movie made in 2004? Well that role is pretty much the extent of the actor’s exposure outside Israel since he returned to the ways of his Orthodox upbringing and became ba’al teshuva, or newly religious, in 1996. But in…
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The Schmooze Israeli Apartheid Group Banned From Toronto Gay Pride Parade
The decision today to ban a group called Queers Against Israeli Apartheid from Toronto’s Gay Pride parade is drawing fire from some gay activists for “censorship” – but has earned praise for “censoring a hateful message” from the Canadian B’nai Brith. At a raucous press conference earlier — interrupted by cries of “Shame!” and “Resign!”…
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The Schmooze Sarcasm Software Is Dead Serious
If there’s one thing that Israelis don’t get, it’s sarcasm. Try being sarcastic, whether in English or in Hebrew, and more often than not it falls flat, sometimes leading to embarrassing misunderstandings. Ironic, then, that Israeli academics have just made a breakthrough that will help the world know when somebody is being sarcastic. Hebrew University…
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The Schmooze World’s Largest Falafel, But Who Cares?
Israel and Lebanon have waged a several year battle over who can produce the largest vat of hummus. The last record was set by Lebanon on May 12, with a 23,046 pound bowl of the chickpea dip. And now Israel is off to set the Guinness World Record for the largest falafel ball. An Israeli…
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Life A Holiday From the Holidays
For the first time in months, I am actually sitting down to work and I am able to actually think about work. There are no Hanukkah candles to light, no Purim costumes or mishloach manot gift baskets to prepare, no campfires to plan for Lag B’Omer, no Passover cleaning. I don’t have to take the…
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