IDF Downs Hezbollah Drone Approaching Israel’s Golan Heights

By JNS— The IDF Tuesday intercepted and destroyed an Iranian-made unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operated by the Lebanese terror organization Hezbollah that entered the demilitarized zone of the Golan Heights near Israel’s border with Syria. An Israeli Air Force fighter jet fired a single Patriot missile at the UAV – an intelligence collection drone –…

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IDF Chief: Israel Seeking to Prevent Iran From Becoming North Korea of the Middle East

By Barney Breen-Portnoy, Algemeiner— Israel’s goal is to “prevent Iran from becoming the North Korea” of the Middle East, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gadi Eizenkot said in a Rosh Hashanah interview published by the Hebrew news site Walla on Wednesday. “This is an effort of the State of Israel, the moderate Sunni states…

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Bernie Sanders calls for rethink on US aid to Israel, Iran policy

BY Times of Israel Staff— US senator and former presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders called for Washington to adopt a friendlier approach to Iran, and said he would consider supporting slashing US aid to Israel over the Jewish state’s policies towards the Palestinians. In an interview Thursday with The Intercept, the Jewish senator said the US…

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Former CIA officer blames Jews for America’s wars

BY SHOSHANA KRANISH, JPost— Valerie Plame Wilson, a former covert CIA operative, caused a controversy on Thursday when she tweeted several antisemitic messages to her nearly 50,000 followers. ”American Jews are driving America’s Wars,” the rampage began. The tweet linked to an article from UNZ.com, a site that claims “a collection of interesting, important, and…

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The D.C. Swamp that Needs Draining

BY Earl Cox, JPost— President Donald Trump blocked a recent State Department effort to force Israel to return $75 million in military aid, the department’s most recent attempt to erode the U.S.-Israel military alliance. State’s demand was shocking, but it shouldn’t be surprising. Rex Tillerson’s State Department has been embroiled in a power struggle with…

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The Next Hizballah-Israel Conflict

BY Michael Eisenstadt and Jeffrey White, American Interest— The recapture by pro-Assad regime forces—including Lebanese Hizballah—of rebel-held Aleppo (December 2016) and of IS-held Deir al-Zur (ongoing as of September 2017) may not just mark the denouement of Syria’s tragic civil conflict, but may also pave the way for the next Hizballah-Israel war. Buoyed by these…

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US troops deployed to Israel get a new barracks

By John Vandiver, Stars and Stripes— A small group of U.S. troops carrying out a missile-defense mission in Israel is taking up residence inside a new barracks building on an Israeli base in an effort to improve living conditions for troops. The barracks, which officially opened during a ceremony Monday, will house about 40 soldiers,…

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Rosh Hashanah (New Year) guide for the perplexed, 2017

By Yoram Ettinger 1. Rosh Hashanah (“the beginning of the year” in Hebrew), the Jewish New Year, is celebrated on the first day of the Jewish month of Tishrei (תשרי). Tishrei was a Babylonian term for launching the agricultural (creation) calendar, starting with the planting of seeds and the first rain. 2. Rosh Hashanah highlights…

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