Israel News - Haaretz Israeli News source.

In south Tel Aviv, Israelis anguished and bitter due to influx of African refugees

A day in Tel Aviv's Shapira neighborhood, where tensions between veteran Israelis and African asylum seekers have boiled up to the surface recently.

By Shoham Smith | May 18, 2012 | 02:38 AM

Three Eritrean asylum seekers suspected of raping a minor in Tel Aviv
By Yaniv Kubovich

Jerusalem Custom House museum reopens to public

Customs clerk Ben-Moshe's night shift at Jaffa Port on June 1, 1962, began as usual. He arrived at 9:30 P.M., as he wrote in...

By Nir Hasson | 02:38 AM

Israeli NGO: Police beat handcuffed detainees in Palestinian solidarity protest

The Justice Ministry has received complaints of severe police violence against demonstrators, including the use of Taser...

By Akiva Eldar | 02:38 AM

The U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C. - Bloomberg

U.S. Senate Republicans block new Iran oil sanctions

U.S. Senate Republicans blocked new economic sanctions on Iran's oil sector on Thursday, saying they needed more time to study...

By Reuters | 09:21 PM

Panetta: U.S. to give Israel additional $70 million for Iron Dome

Defense Minister Barak meets with U.S. Defense Secretary in the Pentagon, welcomes new U.S. aid; Israel has already received $205 million from the U.S. to support the short-range missile defense system.

By Natasha Mozgovaya, Reuters | May 17, 2012 | 09:26 PM

Israel mulls ban on biking with headphones

New bill would forbid bicycle riders to listen to music via earphones while on the road; while no such ban exists in other countries, its sponsors say it has the support of local cycling groups.

By Jonathan Lis | May 18, 2012 | 02:38 AM

Quality time with King Bibi

TIME magazine's cover story about Netanyahu would never be published by the Israeli media, because only U.S. journalists get to spend real quality time with the PM.

By Barak Ravid | May 17, 2012 | 11:03 PM

Kfar Sava hospital bans teaching staff from speaking in Arabic

Arab teachers and students working in Kfar Sava's Meir Medical Center have been forbidden to speak to each other in Arabic, despite the fact that Arabic is one of Israel's official languages.

By Jack Khoury | May 18, 2012 | 02:38 AM

Middle East

Ahmadinejad eager to attend London Olympics, despite 'Zion' logo

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Thursday he was keen to attend the 2012 London Olympics to support his country's...

By Reuters | 08:16 PM

Protesters chant slogans as they march in Tahrir Square, in Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, April 9, 2011.

Egyptian court acquits 14 policemen of protesters' deaths during revolt

An Egyptian court on Thursday found 14 policemen not guilty in the killing of protesters during last year's popular uprising,...

By The Associated Press | 07:18 PM

A crowd gathered for a funeral procession for four people killed by government forces in Damascus.

Syrian forces shell rebel stronghold in Homs

Syrian forces began a fresh offensive in the rebellious province of Homs, on Thursday according to opposition...

By The Associated Press, DPA | 02:14 PM

Iran threatens to sue Google for leaving Persian Gulf nameless

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman says internet giant could face 'serious damages'; Tehran takes offence to some Arab states' insistence on calling the body of water the Arabian Gulf.

By The Associated Press | May 17, 2012 | 02:06 PM | 11

Plans to strike Iran ready, U.S. envoy to Israel says

Less than one week before the next round of Iran nuclear talks in Baghdad, U.S. envoy to Israel says the U.S. plan for an attack on Iran is ‘available and ready.’

By Reuters | May 17, 2012 | 10:10 AM | 13

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

Jose Maria Aznar says Iranian Ayatollah Ali Khamenei told him in 2000 that Israel must be wiped from the map.

By Amos Harel | May 16, 2012 | 07:02 PM | 8

Diplomacy & Defense

TIME crowns Netanyahu as the 'king of Israel'

TIME magazine has crowned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as the 'king of Israel' in its cover story this week, which...

By Haaretz | 05:35 PM | 9

Former Mossad chief Meir Dagan with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Ex-Mossad chief to international community: Sanctions only way to halt Iran's nuclear program

Former Mossad chief Meir Dagan co-penned an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday and urged the international...

By Barak Ravid | 05:15 PM | 14

IDF soldiers near Gaza - Eliyahu Hershkovitz

Palestinian report: IDF soldiers open fire near Gaza border, 8 wounded

Israeli forces opened fire near the Karni border crossing in the northern Gaza Strip, Palestinian sources reported on...

By Gili Cohen, Avi Issacharoff, Haaretz | 11:56 AM | 23

Report: Turkey scrambles jets after Israeli craft enters Turkish Cyprus airspace

Citing Ankara army officials, Turkish daily says Israeli craft passed near contentious gas, oil exploration region in Eastern Mediterranean.

By Haaretz | May 17, 2012 | 11:07 AM | 18

Barak: Nuclear talks allowing Iran to continue atomic bid 'ridiculous'

In interview to CNN, Defense Minister says Israel could agree to allow Tehran to maintain a negligible amount of enriched uranium that will 'never suffice for even one single weapon.'

By Haaretz | May 17, 2012 | 10:22 AM | 8

U.S. Senate to consider new Iran sanctions Thursday

Sanctions are focused on foreign banks that handle transactions for Iran's national oil and tanker companies.

By Reuters | May 17, 2012 | 04:50 AM | 2

Jewish World

Extreme far-right Golden Dawn party's supporters hold flares, May 6, 2012.

Jewish group wants Europe to tackle far right

The head of a major European Jewish group says his organization is urging European governments to quickly adopt measures to...

By The Associated Press | 01:03 AM

Arno Lustiger, historian and Holocaust survivor, dies at 88

BERLIN - Arno Lustiger, a Holocaust survivor and historian who put a spotlight on Jewish resistance against the Nazis, died on...

By JTA | 01:03 AM

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 | 4

National Library acquires first Arabic translation of Babylonian Talmud

The translation took six years and 96 scholars, most of whom were Aramaic-speaking Christians, to complete.

By Nir Hasson | May 16, 2012 | 12:41 AM

Facebook IPO: Good for the Jews?

On the eve of Facebook’s initial public offering, Jews - like everyone else - are still figuring out how Facebook can serve their personal or professional needs.

By JTA | May 16, 2012 | 11:12 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

National

One of the three Eritrean asylum seekers suspected of robbery and rape, Tel Aviv, May 15, 2012.

Three Eritrean asylum seekers suspected of raping a minor in Tel Aviv

A 15-year-old girl was brutally raped, allegedly by Eritrean refugees, in south Tel Aviv last month while her boyfriend, also...

By Yaniv Kubovich | 06:26 PM

Police officer speaking on a cell phone.

Israel's Justice Ministry pushes for increased phone-call, e-mail surveillance

The Justice Ministry is working on a bill meant to increase the state’s ability to monitor Israeli citizen’s phone calls and...

By Tomer Zarchin | 09:02 AM | 3

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

University of Haifa cancels Nakba Day event at last minute

Critics say the commemoration of the events of 1948 was called off following pressure from right-wing groups.

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

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

Twelve years after being convicted of killing his 3-month-old son, he may be able to prove his innocence.

By Tomer Zarchin | May 17, 2012 | 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

Culture

Jerusalem Custom House museum reopens to public

Customs clerk Ben-Moshe's night shift at Jaffa Port on June 1, 1962, began as usual. He arrived at 9:30 P.M., as he wrote in...

By Nir Hasson | 02:38 AM

Sacha Baron Cohen's 'The Dictator' commits crimes against comedy

Long ago, in the days before web-streaming and pre-VCR, to watch a pornographic film, men (and women) had to sneak into a...

By Anshel Pfeffer | 12:34 PM | 6

An image from the famous 'dead parrot sketch.'

British actor John Cleese to appear in Israeli heist comedy

British comedian John Cleese will play a role in Israeli writer-director Reshef Levy’s next film. Film industry website “The...

By Nirit Anderman | 11:52 AM

Modern Manna recipe / Knafeh in a skillet

A sinfully sweet Arab dessert, that's just as sinfully easy to make.

| May 17, 2012 | 10:47 AM

Be Merry / Putting all your eggs in one basket

Spanish tortilla is a deceptively simple dish, whose sum is greater than its parts.

By Limor Laniado Tiroche | May 17, 2012 | 05:41 AM

The artist as wandering Jew

Joshua Neustein, once a young lion of Israeli art world, shows five decades of work in New York, at new Israel Museum exhibit.

By Daniel Rauchwerger | May 17, 2012 | 05:41 AM

Haaretz Select

Hitting the right note: The Israeli start-up that makes practicing music fun

Practice makes perfect, and this software will even help the kids develop an ear

By Efrat Neuman | Business

Stop whimpering and thank Bibi nicely for waking you up

By Asher Schechter | Business | 3

Note to Israel's leaders: An army is more than state-of-the-art weaponry

By Uri Milstein | Opinion

Visions for a new Jerusalem

By Nir Hasson | National

The artist as wandering Jew

Joshua Neustein, once a young lion of Israeli art world, shows five decades of work in New York, at new Israel Museum exhibit.

By Daniel Rauchwerger | Arts & Leisure

Traditional Arab knafe, with a twist for the modern Shavuot table

By Vered Guttman | Modern Manna

Sacha Baron Cohen's 'The Dictator' commits crimes against comedy

By Anshel Pfeffer | Arts & Leisure | 6

Homes fit for a prime minister: From Ben Gurion's shack to Netanyahu's compound

By Moshe Gilad | Arts & Leisure | 5

Opinions & Blogs

Israel has to change the way it views Palestinian prisoners

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

David Landau Israel's right-wing wants to maintain the occupation status-quo

Ari Shavit The Palestinian tragedy mustn't be used to spark a Jewish one

Roni Schocken Chilling effect of the Nakba Law on Israel's human rights

Oded Diner Yishai's double standard over African refugees and the Ultra-Orthodox

Israel Harel Nakba Day events geared at vengeance, not reconciliation

The Fifth Question | Mira Sucharov Israel should listen to Shimon Peres - and look in the mirror

Routine Emergencies | Allison Kaplan Sommer Our new Zionist hero

Salman Masalha Israel's new cabinet is driven by Jewish messianic fervor

Iran: The Debate

Iran executes alleged Mossad agent for killing nuclear scientist

By Reuters | 11:03 AM | 4

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

By Barak Ravid | 06:04 PM | 29

The military complex at Parchin, Iran - AP

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

By Reuters | 11:41 AM | 29

U.S. Elections 2012

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

By Yael Sternhell | 09:32 PM | 14

Obama becomes first U.S. president to support gay marriage

By Natasha Mozgovaya | 12:59 AM | 46

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

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

Travel In Israel

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

By Haaretz | 10:17 PM

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

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