Israel News - Haaretz Israeli News source.

Jerusalem Court grants rabbis custody over Nablus tomb, violating status quo

Joseph's Tomb is located in the West Bank city of Nablus which is under full Palestinian control since the Oslo Accords were signed.

By Akiva Eldar | May 17, 2012 | 01:03 AM | 11

Soldiers and an ultra-Orthodox man praying at Joseph’s Tomb in Nablus last year.

Jerusalem Court grants rabbis custody over Nablus tomb, violating status quo 08:03 AM

MK Gideon Ezra, former government minister, dies at 75

MK Gideon Ezra passed away overnight Wednesday, at age 75, following a prolonged battle with lung cancer. Throughout his...

By Haaretz | 07:22 AM

New draft law unlikely to compel ultra-Orthodox enlistment in IDF

The Finance Ministry is crafting a proposal to induct ultra-Orthodox men at age 20 into police and fire-fighting units. The...

By Meirav Arlosoroff | 01:03 AM | 3

U.S. Senate to consider new Iran sanctions Thursday

Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid will ask the U.S. Senate to approve a new package of oil and economic sanctions on...

By Reuters | 04:50 AM

'Ground Zero' imam still reaching out to America

Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf's new book aims to change American stereotypes about Islam and Muslims.

By Natasha Mozgovaya | May 17, 2012 | 01:03 AM

A Tel Aviv kindergarten catering to foreign workers’ children after it was firebombed last month.

Threats made against south Tel Aviv aid workers after Yishai remarks

Hotline for Migrant Workers files a police report about the calls and also filed a complaint against Interior Minister Eli Yishai for incitement.

By Dana Weiler-Polak | May 17, 2012 | 01:03 AM

A rainbow of opinions at Israeli gay center

Gay community members work with architecture students to design a center where all can feel welcome.

By Esther Zandberg | May 17, 2012 | 04:49 AM

Israeli chess fans flock to Moscow for world championships

Mikhail Gorbachev, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Zhukov, and Arkady Dvorkovich, the assistant to the Russian president, were all in attendance.

By Eli Shvidler | May 17, 2012 | 05:20 AM

Middle East

Former Spain PM: Russia believes Israel will prevent Iran nuclear weapon

Former Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar said on Wednesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin told him in the past...

By Amos Harel | 07:02 PM | 2

Fayyad replaced as finance minister in Palestinian Authority cabinet reshuffle

Salam Fayyad, a Palestinian leader widely credited by the West with introducing transparency to a corruption-plagued and...

By Reuters | 04:57 PM

Palestinian girls walk past an overflowing garbage container in Kufr Aqab village near Ramallah.

After years of neglect, Palestinians going green

In a society preoccupied with the struggle for independence from Israel, protecting the environment has often been sidelined -...

By The Associated Press | 12:11 PM | 4

Iran executes alleged Mossad agent for killing nuclear scientist

Iran media says Majid Jamali Fashi was hanged at Tehran's Evin Prison after being sentenced to death for the assassination of Massoud Ali-Mohammadi.

By Reuters | May 15, 2012 | 11:03 AM | 4

IAEA urges Iran to grant access to military site as Vienna talks begin over Islamic Republic's nuclear program

Senior official from UN nuclear watchdog says aim of two-day meeting is to reach agreement with Iran on approach to resolving issues about disputed atomic activities.

By Reuters | May 14, 2012 | 11:41 AM | 29

Syria clashes kill 27; fighting hits Lebanon

Four killed in Lebanon; Syria's Muslim Brotherhood calls for international investigation into Damascus bombings that killed 70.

By DPA | May 13, 2012 | 10:20 PM | 7

Diplomacy & Defense

Israel Police establishes new West Bank settlement demolition task force

Israel Police has established a new task force ahead of a number of demolitions of West Bank settlements and outposts that are...

By Chaim Levinson | 04:21 PM

Iranian Foreign Affairs Minister Ali Akbar Salehi

ISIS: Iran's foreign minister established clandestine nuclear program in the 90s

Communications from the 1990s suggest Iran's current foreign minister, Ali Akbar Salehi, had knowledge of a program to procure...

By Reuters | 03:58 AM

Israel's Military Intelligence chief visited U.S. for secret talks on Iran, Syria

Military Intelligence chief Maj. Gen. Aviv Kochavi made a secret visit two weeks ago to Washington and to UN headquarters in...

By Barak Ravid | 12:41 AM | 9

Top U.S. think tank warns against Israeli, American strike on Iran

RAND Corporation sides with Mossad chief Meir Dagan and former Shin Bet head Yuval Diskin, openly disagreeing with Netanyahu and Barak's belligerent stance on Iran.

By Amir Oren | May 16, 2012 | 12:19 AM | 16

A relatively quiet Nakba Day, thanks to the Palestinian prisoners

Both Israel and the Palestinians had a stake in bringing an end to the hunger strikes, although none of it would have been possible without the help of members of Egyptian intelligence.

By Amos Harel | May 15, 2012 | 10:57 PM

Israel to funnel aid to Palestinians in case of earthquake

Decision comes in the wake of a 5.5-magnitude quake which rattled Israel and the West Bank on Friday.

By Reuters | May 15, 2012 | 08:55 PM | 3

Jewish World

Jews are gathered at an assembly point in the Kaunas ghetto, Kanusas, Lithuania, October 26, 1943

Lithuania reinstates event to honor Nazi collaborator

The Lithuanian Parliament published on Wednesday an updated schedule of events in honor of the repatriation to Lithuania of...

By Ofer Aderet | 08:36 PM | 2

The cover of the Talmud in Arabic that was published in Amman, Jordan.

National Library acquires first Arabic translation of Babylonian Talmud

On a stand at the book fair in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia about two months ago was a sign advertising the first translation in...

By Nir Hasson | 12:41 AM

President Shimon Peres meeting with Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg at Facebook headquarters

Facebook IPO: Good for the Jews?

If the Talmud were written today, would it look like Facebook? First, the rabbis of the Mishnaic period post a Jewish...

By JTA | 11:12 AM

The Jewish calendar’s lesson on life

The Jewish calendar might appear obsessed with tragedy, but the context in which we find these days of sadness teaches us an important lesson on life.

By Rabbi Micah Peltz / Jewish World blogger | May 16, 2012 | 10:27 AM

Orthodox Jewish rapper Y-Love reveals he’s gay

'I feel like I’ve wasted years of my life worrying that it would alienate the community I dedicated my life to as an artist and as a man' says Yitz Jordan.

By JTA | May 16, 2012 | 02:14 PM

Ultra-Orthodox to host mega-rally in U.S. for a more kosher Internet

Campaign uses Twitter and Facebook while condemning nature of the Web.

By Josh Nathan-Kazis | May 16, 2012 | 08:18 AM

National

Students in Nakba Day protest outside Haifa University, May 16, 2012.

University of Haifa cancels Nakba Day event at last minute

The University of Haifa rescinded permission for a student-organized Nakba Day event on Wednesday, just three hours before the...

By Revital Hovel, Talila Nesher | 01:03 AM

This year's main Memorial Day ceremony at the Western Wall in Jerusalem.

Special Yizkor text to regain its role next Memorial Day

Defense officials plan to recommend that the Yizkor text that was the subject of a dispute last year be officially included in...

By Gili Cohen | 01:03 AM

Man sets out to prove he didn't kill his baby son

Abu Kabir forensic institute could be at fault after new evidence is found. Twelve years after Dennis Eisen was convicted...

By Tomer Zarchin | 01:03 AM

Ashdod deputy mayor suspended over sexual harassment accusations

Police confirm a complaint had been filed, but say it relates to an incident that happened several years ago.

By Sharon Shpurer | May 17, 2012 | 01:03 AM

Harmful bacteria, mold found in IBA facilities in capital

'This is really dangerous,' say an IBA official. 'These things constitute a danger both to the staff and to visitors who come to the studio.'

By Emilie Grunzweig | May 17, 2012 | 01:03 AM

Unproven community policing program expands to more Israeli cities

Disputed move made in response to recent spate of violent incidents, including stabbing death of Gadi Vichman in Be'er Sheva.

By Revital Hovel | May 17, 2012 | 01:03 AM

Culture

Spanish tortilla, Italian frittata or Persian kuku, three names for delicious.

Be Merry / Putting all your eggs in one basket

It is hard to imagine a typical Spanish meal without an array of egg dishes, the most treasured of which is undoubtedly the...

By Limor Laniado Tiroche | 05:41 AM

A production of 'The In-Laws' at Habima Theater last week.

Culture Ministry accuses Habima national theater of damaging Israel

A New York literary agent who represents four playwrights to whom Habima owes money is slamming the national theater, as well...

By Zipi Shohat | 01:03 AM

U.S. music star Lenny Kravitz to rock Israel in October

Grammy-winning U.S. music star Lenny Kravitz will travel to Israel this fall and hold a concert in Tel Aviv's Hayarkon Park on...

By Haaretz | 10:17 PM

Israeli cinematographer brings poetry to the big screen

Shai Goldman has left his mark again - this time, on 'The Exchange,' which opened in cinemas last week.

By Nirit Anderman | May 16, 2012 | 05:06 AM

An Israeli harpist with an attitude

Renana Neeman's repertoire includes jazz impros on harp and songs of protest.

By Uri Zer Aviv | May 16, 2012 | 05:06 AM

In Israel, the paparazzi prefer Gilad Shalit to Homeland stars

Homeland, the award winning Fox 21 drama thriller, which is filming in Israel this week, is causing a paparazzi commotion in the country.

By Danna Harman | May 16, 2012 | 12:41 AM

Haaretz Select

Designer Mushon Zer-Aviv and artist and illustrator Galia Ofri.

The Israeli couple blazing a new visual trail with 'Illustrated Wikipedia'

As Wikipedia enters its second decade, an Israeli couple is exploring ways to improve and share illustrations on the world's most popular source of info.

By Yuval Saar | Features

In Israel, the paparazzi prefer Gilad Shalit to Homeland stars

By Danna Harman | Arts & Leisure

Israel's baby boomers facing rocky retirement

By Meirav Arlosoroff | Business

Haaretz publisher Amos Schocken holds Q&A session with Haaretz readers

By Amos Schocken | Business

Image grab from video of 'Dayenu - Coming Home,' by the Ein Prat Fountainheads.'

The Fountainheads, a religious Israeli band that could, coming to a synagogue near you

If you like cheerful, cheesy, and yet infuriatingly catchy songs about the Jewish holidays, you will love this band.

By Danna Harman | Arts & Leisure

The theft that changed the Israeli banking system and underworld

By Hagai Amit | Business

Israeli cinematographer brings poetry to the big screen

By Nirit Anderman | Arts & Leisure

Shooting down a canard: Torah study does boost GDP

By Uri Weiss | Opinion

Opinions & Blogs

Step in the right direction

Palestinian society, like every society waging a struggle for national liberation, feels a special responsibility toward those...

Diplomania | Barak Ravid Israel ranked alongside Iran as one of countries with most negative global influence

Strenger than Fiction | Carlo Strenger Israel’s universities could be world leaders

Yitzhak Laor Israel's left doesn't want it

Zvi Bar'el Annexing Israel

Adar Primor Russia and Israel: The unexpected alliance

Hannah Weisfeld A toxic attachment

Routine Emergencies | Allison Kaplan Sommer Our new Zionist hero

Hanan Ashrawi Recognizing Nakba, reaching peace

Iran: The Debate

Israel fears nuclear deal between Iran, world powers as Baghdad talks draw near

By Barak Ravid | 06:04 PM | 28

New image reportedly depicts Iran's military nuclear testing site

By The Associated Press | 06:50 PM | 103

Iran wins release of Turkish journalists captured in Syria, says Turkey FM

By Reuters | 01:57 PM | 7

U.S. Elections 2012

Obama's support for same-sex marriage isn't motivated by morals

By Yael Sternhell | 09:32 PM | 14

Newt Gingrich drops out of race for U.S. Republican presidential candidate

By Natasha Mozgovaya, Reuters | 11:00 PM | 8

New poll shows majority of U.S. Jews support Obama's policy toward Israel

By Natasha Mozgovaya | 07:35 PM | 28

Travel In Israel

Tel Aviv tour teaches English speakers to read the Hebrew graffiti on the wall

By Danna Harman | 12:59 AM

Greening Tel Aviv - Nir Keidar - May 15, 2012

Greening Tel Aviv with vertical gardening

By Zafrir Rinat | 12:59 AM | 3

A family enjoying the spread at the annual Taste of the City food festival in Tel Aviv.

Get a taste of Tel Aviv's finest cuisine

By City Mouse Online | 02:27 PM

Books

Israel bans Lebanese edition of Jewish philosophical work

By Akiva Eldar | 01:59 AM | 15

Peter Beinart's crisis of oversimplifying American Jews

By James Kirchick | 07:28 PM | 3

Turning the page on the third Jerusalem writers festival

By David Green | 11:32 AM

Benjamin Netanyahu