Focus U.S.A.- Israel News | Haaretz Daily Newspaper

by Natasha Mozgovaya

In clash with U.S., Russia isn't above using its own orphans as pawns

Russian Parliament approves bill to ban adoption of Russian children by American parents in response to the American Magnitsky Act barring Russian human rights violators and their capital from the U.S..

By Natasha Mozgovaya | Dec 27, 2012 | 06:37 PM

Orphan children play in their bedroom at an orphanage in the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don.

Russian lawmakers back bill banning Americans from adopting Russian children
By Reuters
Obama announces new task force to tackle gun violence in the U.S.
By Natasha Mozgovaya | 2
2012 at a glimpse: The 10 most popular articles on Haaretz.com
By Haaretz

Obama Netanyahu - Amos Ben Gershom / GPO - 2012

In a U.S. election year, even death of Netanyahu's father is political

The fact that President Obama offered his condolences three days after Benzion Netanyahu's death has been labeled by some as 'insulting' and 'typical' of the U.S. administration.

By Natasha Mozgovaya | May 2, 2012 | 05:54 PM | 16

U.S. Congress voices concern over Iran cyber-threat

Some fear the Stuxnet cyber-attack against Iran's nuclear program may have spurred the Islamic Republic to invest in a more aggressive cyber-warfare apparatus.

By Natasha Mozgovaya | Apr 28, 2012 | 04:29 AM | 13

On campaign trail, Biden defends Obama's Iran policy, attacks Romney

U.S. VP Joe Biden: The only step we could take that we aren't already taking is to launch a war against Iran.

By Natasha Mozgovaya | Apr 27, 2012 | 10:39 AM

Washington greets Israel on its birthday as Birthright targets baby boomers

Obama and Clinton issue statements on Israel's 64th Independence Day as Israel's UN envoy sings 'When I'm 64' by the Beatles; new Birthright-style trip for 50-60 year-olds aims to expose more Jewish adults to Israel; Paul Krugman goes under fire for critical remarks on Israeli government.

By Natasha Mozgovaya | Apr 26, 2012 | 10:20 PM

U.S. elections unofficially open as Romney all but clinches nomination

Monthly jobs reports, the Supreme Court decision on Obama's healthcare reform and possible foreign policy land mines might become turning points in the lead-up to the November vote.

By Natasha Mozgovaya | Apr 25, 2012 | 08:11 AM

Bloomberg - 4.3.12 - Michael Oren, Israel's ambassador to the U.S., AIPAC

When Michael Oren irked Bob Simon

Was it justified for Israel's Ambassador to the U.S. to contact top CBS officials in a quest to influence a '60 Minutes' report on Israel's Christian community?

By Natasha Mozgovaya | Apr 23, 2012 | 08:42 AM | 59

As Israel, U.S. mark Holocaust Remembrance Day, Washington gets first neo-Nazi lobbyist

Exibition from Yad Vashem to open in UN General Assembly building; Obama to give speech at U.S. Holocaust museum; UN officials to take part in conference on Adolf Eichmann trial.

By Natasha Mozgovaya | Apr 19, 2012 | 01:28 AM | 2

Santorum bows out of race leaving field to Romney, the inevitable candidate

With his signature vests and jeans, endless answers during campaign events instead of the usual candidate sound bites, he seemed the least probable presidential candidate.

By Natasha Mozgovaya | Apr 11, 2012 | 02:21 AM | 7

Norman Finkelstein bids farewell to Israel bashing

'It's become too easy,' says Norman Finkelstein, talking about his new and surprisingly optimistic book.

By Natasha Mozgovaya | Apr 5, 2012 | 04:19 AM | 81

What’s the capital of Israel? Don’t ask the U.S. State Department

In statement issued this week, State Department spokeswoman listed a U.S. diplomat’s travel destinations as ‘Algeria, Qatar, Jordan, Jerusalem, and Israel’ – drawing fire from conservative reporters.

By Natasha Mozgovaya | Mar 28, 2012 | 10:07 PM | 5

About this blog

Natasha Mozgovaya is the chief U.S. correspondent for Haaretz, based in Washington D.C. Through Focus U.S.A., Mozgovaya presents additional insight to the people and politics of he United States, and how they affect Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World. Follow Natasha on Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/mozgovaya