European Union Adds Military Wing of Hezbollah to List of Terrorist Organizations

By JAMES KANTER and JODI RUDOREN, NY TIMES— The military wing of Hezbollah, the powerful Lebanese Shiite group, was blacklisted by European Union ministers as a terrorist organization on Monday in a policy shift that reflected their concern about Hezbollah’s suspected involvement in Europe-based bombings and its growing role in the Syria war. The blacklisting…

Extremism Escalating in the West Bank

By KHALED ABU TOAMEH, GATESTONE— What happened at the al-Aqsa Mosque during last week’s Friday prayers should be sounding alarm bells in the U.S., Britain and France. After the prayers, during a demonstration in support of Egypt’s deposed President Mohamed Morsi, thousands of Muslims began shouting slogans against the U.S., Britain, France and Israel. “Allahu…

Courts unravel sanctions on Iran

By SHOSHANA BRYEN, inSIGHT— Supporting sanctions against Iran is understood to be a position designed to moderate Iranian behavior regarding the acquisition of nuclear capability. It is the position of people and countries that do not want to contemplate military action by either the United States or Israel. It is the position of the European…

The Temple taboo

By CHAIM RICHMAN, JPOST— Tisha Be’av, Israel’s day of national mourning for the loss of the Holy Temple, is upon us. The Book of Lamentations, traditionally read on the evening of the fast, establishes the theme of the day: “For these do I weep,” or, in the words of Ray Charles, “It’s Cryin’ Time Again.”…

Giving up the Temple Mount

By STEVEN PLAUT, FRONTPAGEMAG— The Temple Mount in Jerusalem is the holiest place on earth according to Judaism.  It is where both Biblical Temples stood, whose destruction is commemorated this week with fasting and mourning on the Ninth day of the month of Av according to the religious calendar.  The Western Wall is considered holy…