Naftali Herstik, Renowned and Influential Cantor, Dies at 77
Part of a long line of cantors, he led services at the Great Synagogue in Jerusalem for 30 years and helped train the next generation. Naftali Herstik, whose soulful, resonant…
MIDDLE EAST
MIDDLE EAST NEWS
Some in Israeli Border Town Left Charred by Hezbollah Attacks Refuse to Flee
Despite the danger, older residents, firefighters, medics and a few small-business owners chose to stay put in Kiryat Shmona, the northernmost Israeli city near the border with Lebanon. Puffs of…
The U.S. Seeks to Pause Fighting Between Israel and Lebanon
With fears growing of a wider regional war in the Middle East, the United States is working to broker a short-term cease-fire agreement. The United States is working to broker…
Lebanon’s Growing Civilian Death Toll Includes Children and Rescue Workers
Lebanese organizations have begun to identify children, humanitarians and journalists among a growing number of civilians killed in Israel’s intense bombardment. From girl scouts to first aid responders, cleaners to…
What We Know About Hezbollah’s Military Capability
The Iran-backed militants have perhaps the largest arsenal of any armed group in the world, excluding governments, experts say. Israel’s recent assault on Hezbollah has dealt a blow to the…
Fleeing Israeli Airstrikes in Lebanon, and Worrying About Where to Go Next
After years of decline, Lebanon is ill-equipped to deal with a wave of displaced people. One family left their farm and found themselves homeless in Beirut. Ahmed Issa and his…
Israeli Bulldozers Flatten Mile After Mile in the West Bank
Videos from Tulkarm and Jenin show bulldozers destroying infrastructure and businesses, as well as soldiers impeding local emergency responders. Jenin Jenin Tulkarm Tulkarm Source: Reuters Over two weeks, Palestinians watched…
Iran’s Dilemma: How to Preserve Its Proxies and Avoid Full-Scale War
News Analysis Iran says Israel wants to trap it into a direct conflict by bombing Hezbollah, even as a new Iranian president tries outreach to the West. Israel’s war against…
Israel Says It Shot Down Missile Over Tel Aviv
The military said that Hezbollah fired the missile from Lebanon, in what appeared to be the first attack by the group to target as far south as central Israel. The…
Israel’s Attacks on Hezbollah Achieved Short-Term Aims, Officials Say, but End Goal Is Unclear
Some hawkish generals think that Hezbollah can be forced to back down, current and former Israeli officials said, while others in the government think Israel must reach a deal with…