Preparing for war in the north, Israel boosts air defenses

Israel has boosted its air defense in the northern part of the country following a significant confrontation between the Jewish State, Syria and Iran which led to the loss of an F-16 fighter jet . While the Israeli army refused to comment on the reports, witnesses reported seeing a convoy of missile defense batteries heading north near the Israeli-Arab city of Baqa el-Garbiyeh.

New Analysis: Israeli, Iranian confrontation in Syria unlikely to escalate into war

Experts believe that recent friction between Israel and Syrian army forces shows Iran might have changed "rules" on its strategy towards Israel but situation is unlikely to develop into a full-fledge war. The Israeli army launched a large-scale attack against the Syrian aerial defense system and Iranian targets in Syria after an Israeli F-16 fighter was hit by missiles from Syria and crashed Saturday morning.

Iranian UAV that entered Israeli airspace seems to be American stealth knock-off

IAF's second-in-command says drone, which was reportedly similar to aircraft seized by Tehran in 2011, was advanced and based on Western technology The remains of an Iranian drone that was shot down by the Israeli Air Force after it penetrated Israeli airspace on February 10, 2018. The Iranian drone shot down by the Israeli Air Force early Saturday morning appears to have been a relatively new stealth model whose design was stolen from an American unmanned aerial vehicle that was captured by Iran in 2011, according to aviation analysts.

Israel downs Iranian drone and strikes Syria as F-16 crashes

In its most serious engagement in neighboring Syria since fighting there began in 2011, Israel shot down an infiltrating Iranian drone Saturday and struck Iranian targets deep in Syria before one of its own jets was downed. The sudden escalation offers what could be a harbinger of what lies ahead as the Syrian fighting winds down and an emboldened Iran establishes a military presence that Israel vows it will never accept.

Young US Jews Write 700 Letters of Solidarity to Ahed Tamimi

Two left-wing groups in the U.S. organized the letters campaign and protests marking the the 17th birthday of the imprised Palestinian teen. More than 700 Jewish young people from the U.S. wrote letters of solidarity to Ahed Tamimi, the iconic Palestinian 17-year-old who was arrested by Israeli authorities last month and charged with 12 counts including assaulting an occupation soldier and stone throwing after a video of her slapping a soldier at her home's yard went viral.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg says she will serve as long as she has ‘steam’

US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg told a Jewish audience that she would serve on the Supreme Court as long as she felt up to it. Ginsburg, appearing Thursday at a Forward event at Adas Israel synagogue in Washington DC, appeared to confirm recent reports that she plans on serving through Donald Trump's presidency.

Rep. Frelinghuysen: A stranger among us

Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen announced this week that, after 23 years in the U.S. House of Representatives, he won't be running for re-election this year. He may have decided differently if he'd been more attuned to listening to others - as Moses did in this week's Torah portion, Yitro.

I’m Not A Rich Jew – And I Hate The Stereotype

On a recent business trip to L.A., when I mentioned I was Jewish, an Asian businessman told me that his son would ask him daily: "Dad, why was I not born a Jew, they are so smart and so rich!" I smiled at the "compliment." That's what's called a positive stereotype - like the ones that all Asian-Americans are good at math.

Rep. Gonzalez sides with Trump on Israel

Aligning with President Donald Trump and others Republicans, including Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-McAllen, supports the U.S. moving to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. The U.S. also plans to move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem by the end of 2019, Vice President Mike Pence said during an Israel visit last week.

Obama on Israel: I’m ‘Basically a Liberal Jew’

Former President Barack Obama called himself "basically a liberal Jew" when speaking this week about his relationship with Israel and the Jewish community, Haaretz reported Friday . Speaking at Temple Emanu-El in Manhattan, Obama's remarks were the first public statements he's made about Israel since leaving office.

Palestinian Christians slam Pence’s pro-Israel faith

In this Dec. 7, 2017 file photo, a Palestinian defaces a painting on the separation barrier of U.S. President Donald Trump, with a warning that Vice President Mike Pence is not welcome, in Bethlehem, West Bank. Palestinian Christians say Pence's brand of evangelical Christianity, with its fervent embrace of modern-day Israel as fulfilment of biblical prophecy, lacks their faith's compassion and justice, including for those who have endured half a century of Israeli occupation.

Pence says troops should not have to worry about government shutdown

Vice President Mike Pence is making his fourth visit to Israel, returning to a region he's visited "a million times" in his heart. An evangelical Christian with strong ties to the Holy Land, Pence this time comes packing two key policy decisions in his bags that have long been top priorities for him: designating Jerusalem as Israel's capital and curtailing aid for Palestinians.

Pence says troops should not have to worry about shutdownabout 2 hours ago

Vice President Mike Pence is making his fourth visit to Israel, returning to a region he's visited "a million times" in his heart. An evangelical Christian with strong ties to the Holy Land, Pence this time comes packing two key policy decisions in his bags that have long been top priorities for him: designating Jerusalem as Israel's capital and curtailing aid for Palestinians.

Analysis: Trump support carries rewards and risks for Israel

In this Tuesday, May 23, 2017 file photo, US President Donald Trump, left, shakes hands with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem. From recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital to the cutoff of aid to Palestinians, President Donald Trump has given Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the unprecedented gift of strong U.S. Alignment with a nationalist Israeli government.

Pence has long pushed for Trump policies on Israel

Vice President Mike Pence is making his fifth visit to Israel, returning to a region he's visited "a million times" in his heart. An evangelical Christian with strong ties to the Holy Land, Pence this time comes packing two key policy decisions in his bags that have long been top priorities for him: designating Jerusalem as Israel's capital and curtailing aid for Palestinians.

Pence to visit Middle East this month following postponement – Mon, 08 Jan 2018 PST

President Donald Trump, right, welcomes Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky., third from left, to the podium to speak during a news conference after participating in a Congressional Republican Leadership Retreat at Camp David, Md., Saturday, Jan. 6, 2018. Also pictured is House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis., left, CIA Director Mike Pompeo, second from left, and Vice President Mike Pence, second from right.