PRINCETON, N.J. — Even as relations between the leaders of Israel and the United States reportedly deteriorate over disagreement about how to handle Iran’s nuclear program, Israel has retained its broadly favorable image in the U.S. over the past year. Seventy percent of Americans now view that country favorably, and 62% say they sympathize more with the Israelis than the Palestinians in the Mideast conflict. By contrast, 17% currently view the Palestinian Authority favorably, and 16% sympathize more with the Palestinians.

Read more

Poland’s Coat of Arms

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Polish lawmakers have approved a new national holiday honoring the Poles who risked their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust.

The Senate voted Wednesday on the bill, initiated by President Andrzej, to make March 24 a national day of remembrance. It was approved 58-14 in the Senate with three abstentions, and now only requires Duda’s signature to become law.

Read more

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s government watchdog agency on Wednesday criticized the military’s so-called “Hannibal” directive that allowed troops to use heavy force when one of their own was abducted — even at the risk of killing the soldier.

Read more

WASHINGTON (AP) — Arab nations that don’t formally speak to Israel joined Israeli officials and others at the White House on Tuesday for an unusual meeting on the dire humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.

The conference of international donor nations appeared aimed at altering the perception among Palestinians that President Donald Trump’s White House is less concerned with their future than Israel’s. Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner, who is leading the White House effort to broker Israeli-Palestinian peace, presided for several hours over discussions about short-term projects that could improve the situation in Hamas-run Gaza, which is on the brink of economic disaster.

“In order for peace to be within our grasp, we must first improve the conditions on the ground to create hope and opportunity,” White House envoy Jason Greenblatt told the conference.

Read more

BEIT LAHIYA, Gaza Strip (AP) — The United Nations says about $540 million is needed for humanitarian relief in the Palestinian territories in 2018.

Jamie McGoldrick, the top U.N. humanitarian coordinator, said Wednesday that 75 percent of that sum is for Gaza, where “a man-made tragedy is unfolding daily.”

Read more

Wendy Hinton

Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters today announced the appointment of diplomat Wendy Hinton as New Zealand’s next Ambassador to Turkey.

“New Zealand and Turkey enjoy a warm relationship, based on our shared Gallipoli heritage,” says Mr Peters. “Turkey is a generous host of annual Anzac Day commemorations and welcomes many New Zealanders each year.

“The Ambassador will play an important role in strengthening our relationship with Turkey and exploring opportunities to expand our trade and economic relationship.

“Turkey is a significant Middle East regional player, and provides New Zealand with useful insights into current turmoil in the region. Turkey also hosts more than 3 million refugees from the conflicts in Iraq and Syria.”

Ms Hinton has held a number of key positions in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and was most recently Ambassador to Poland and Ukraine.

In addition to Turkey, Ms Hinton will be accredited to Israel and Jordan.

Source

JNS.org – It’s a good thing that Poland took a step back against its Holocaust law — which not only absolved it of guilt, but also made it a liar.

The law gave in to common sentiment, which populism tends to do. Wisely, the government has decided — for now — not to implement the law, which could lead to a fine and up to three years in prison for anyone who refers to Nazi extermination camps on its territory during World War II as “Polish death camps” or accuses Polish citizens of being complicit in the extermination of the Jews.

Read more

Jewish groups and US politicians condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin’s suggestion that the 2016 US presidential election may have been manipulated by Russian Jews.

Putin’s remarks came during a long and occasionally surreal interview with NBC News on Saturday (Sunday NZT), in which he speculated that nearly anyone other than the Russian government could have been behind a program to disrupt the election. US intelligence agencies believe Putin ordered the effort to undermine faith in the US election and help elect Donald Trump as president.

“Maybe they’re not even Russians,” Putin told Megyn Kelly, referring to who might have been behind the election interference. “Maybe they’re Ukrainian, Tatars, Jews – just with Russian citizenship.”

Read more