Jews and Judaism – War Watch

Anti-Semitism | Baghdad (Iraq) | Canada | Compensation for Damages (Law) | Diplomatic Service, Embassies and Consulates | France | International Relations | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Iraq | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Jews and Judaism | Macron, Emmanuel (1977- ) | Renting and Leasing (Real Estate) | Suits and Litigation (Civil)

France’s Embassy in Iraq Is a Spoil of Antisemitism, Jewish Family Charges
ByEphrat Livni and Pranav Baskar January 18, 2026January 18, 2026

A Jewish family that fled Iraq generations ago rented its home to France for use as an embassy, but Paris long ago stopped paying it rent, after Iraq stripped Jews of property.

Read More France’s Embassy in Iraq Is a Spoil of Antisemitism, Jewish Family Charges
Archaeology and Anthropology | Barkay, Gabriel (1944-2026) | Bible | Deaths (Obituaries) | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Jerusalem (Israel) | Jews and Judaism

Gabriel Barkay, 81, Dies; His Discoveries Revised Biblical History
ByClay Risen January 17, 2026January 17, 2026

One of Israel’s leading archaeologists, he found evidence that the writing of the Old Testament likely began much earlier than historians had thought.

Read More Gabriel Barkay, 81, Dies; His Discoveries Revised Biblical History
Anti-Semitism | Freedom of Speech and Expression | International Relations | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel-Gaza War (2023- ) | Israel–Iran War | Jews and Judaism | Mamdani, Zohran | Mayors | New York City | Saar, Gideon | Sydney, Australia, Hanukkah Attack (Dec 14, 2025)

Israel’s Stinging Retort to Mamdani Was Meant as Retaliation in Kind
ByDavid M. Halbfinger January 5, 2026

After Mayor Zohran Mamdani of New York scrapped two executive orders on antisemitism and boycotts, the Israeli Foreign Ministry issued an aggressive response to what it saw as an aggressive act.

Read More Israel’s Stinging Retort to Mamdani Was Meant as Retaliation in Kind
Al Qaeda | al-Shara, Ahmed (Abu Mohammad al-Jolani) (1982- ) | Alawite Muslims | Aleppo (Syria) | Arab-Israeli War (1973) | Arabs | Assad, Bashar al- | Assad, Maher al- | Barghouti, Marwan | Barrack, Thomas J Jr | Christians and Christianity | Civilian Casualties | Damascus (Syria) | Defense and Military Forces | Gaza Strip | Hamas | Hezbollah | International Relations | Iran | Iran-Israel War (2025- ) | Iran's nuclear programme | Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) | Israel | Israel-Gaza War (2023- ) | Israel–Iran War | Jews and Judaism | Kurds | Lebanon | Middle East and North Africa Unrest (2010- ) | Muslims and Islam | Netanyahu, Benjamin | Palestinian Authority | Palestinians | Peace Process | Politics and Government | Refugees and Displaced Persons | Sweida, Syria | Syria | Syrian Democratic Forces | Terrorism | Trump, Donald J | Two Thousand Twenty Five | United States International Relations | War and Armed Conflicts | War Crimes, Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity | West Bank

Zero Hour for the Middle East
ByRoger Cohen, David Guttenfelder, Saher Alghorra, Daniel Berehulak and Nanna Heitmann December 28, 2025December 28, 2025

After more than a decade of wars, from Syria to Gaza, the Middle East is exhausted by conflict. Is it ready to find another way?

Read More Zero Hour for the Middle East
Amsterdam (Netherlands) | Anti-Semitism | Boycotts | Concertgebouw (Amsterdam, Netherlands, Performance Space) | Demonstrations, Protests and Riots | Hanukkah | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel-Gaza War (2023- ) | Israel–Iran War | Jews and Judaism | Shai Abramson

Hanukkah Concerts With Israeli Military Cantor Raise Outcry in Amsterdam
ByNina Siegal December 13, 2025

A concert hall canceled the performance several months ago but then reached a compromise in which three concerts will be held. The bargain hasn’t satisfied critics of the events.

Read More Hanukkah Concerts With Israeli Military Cantor Raise Outcry in Amsterdam
al-Shara, Ahmed (Abu Mohammad al-Jolani) (1982- ) | Arms Control and Limitation and Disarmament | Assad, Bashar al- | Barrack, Thomas J Jr | Beirut (Lebanon) | Civilian Casualties | Dahiya (Lebanon) | Deaths (Fatalities) | Defense and Military Forces | Drones (Pilotless Planes) | Gaza Strip | Hamas | Hezbollah | International Relations | Iran | Iran-Israel War (2025- ) | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel-Gaza War (2023- ) | Israel–Iran War | Jews and Judaism | Lebanon | Middle East | Peace Process | Politics and Government | Syria | Targeted Killings | Terrorism | United States International Relations | War and Armed Conflicts | War Crimes, Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity

‘Imperial Israel’ in the New Middle East
ByRoger Cohen and David Guttenfelder November 26, 2025

Despite a cease-fire with Hezbollah, almost daily strikes demonstrate an embolden Israel’s strategy to eliminate its enemies any time, anywhere.

Read More ‘Imperial Israel’ in the New Middle East
al-Shara, Ahmed (Abu Mohammad al-Jolani) (1982- ) | Arms Control and Limitation and Disarmament | Assad, Bashar al- | Barrack, Thomas J Jr | Beirut (Lebanon) | Civilian Casualties | Dahiya (Lebanon) | Deaths (Fatalities) | Defense and Military Forces | Drones (Pilotless Planes) | Gaza Strip | Hamas | Hezbollah | internal-open-access-from-nl | International Relations | Iran | Iran-Israel War (2025- ) | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel-Gaza War (2023- ) | Israel–Iran War | Jews and Judaism | Lebanon | Middle East | Peace Process | Politics and Government | Syria | Targeted Killings | Terrorism | United States International Relations | War and Armed Conflicts | War Crimes, Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity

‘Imperial Israel’ in the New Middle East
ByRoger Cohen and David Guttenfelder November 26, 2025November 26, 2025

Despite a cease-fire with Hezbollah, almost daily strikes demonstrate an emboldened Israel’s strategy to eliminate its enemies any time, anywhere.

Read More ‘Imperial Israel’ in the New Middle East
Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Iranian-Americans | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Jews and Judaism | Long Island (NY) | Pezeshkian, Masoud | Political Prisoners

Iran Sentences Iranian American Jewish Man to Prison, Family Says
ByFarnaz Fassihi November 6, 2025November 6, 2025

Kamran Hekmati of Long Island was arrested for visiting Israel 13 years ago to celebrate his son’s bar mitzvah, they said.

Read More Iran Sentences Iranian American Jewish Man to Prison, Family Says
Elections, Mayors | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel-Gaza War (2023- ) | Israel–Iran War | Jews and Judaism | Mamdani, Zohran | Palestinians | Politics and Government | United States International Relations

Zohran Mamdani’s Triumph in the NYC Mayoral Race Evokes Intense Reaction in Israel
ByDavid M. Halbfinger November 5, 2025November 5, 2025

“The Big Apple has fallen,” a right-wing lawmaker said, reflecting broader worries in the Mideast country. Palestinians hailed the election as a sea change in the United States.

Read More Zohran Mamdani’s Triumph in the NYC Mayoral Race Evokes Intense Reaction in Israel
Hannah Senesh (Play) | Hughes, Sarah (Theater Director) | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Jewish Plot (Play) | Jews and Judaism | Playing Shylock (Play) | Polonsky Shakespeare Center | Rubinek, Saul (1948- ) | Senesh, Hannah | Theater | Theater (Off Broadway) | Theater 154 (Manhattan, NY) | Theater Row (Manhattan, NY, Theater) | Townsend, Torrey

3 Plays About Jewish Identity That Resist Easy Answers
ByElisabeth Vincentelli November 5, 2025

The Off Broadway shows “Hannah Senesh,” “Jewish Plot” and “Playing Shylock” take stock of discussions around casting and storytelling.

Read More 3 Plays About Jewish Identity That Resist Easy Answers