JERUSALEM — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Monday that he had failed to form a majority government in parliament, marking a major setback for the embattled Israeli leader that plunges the country into a new period of political uncertainty. In a statement, Netanyahu said he had worked "tirelessly" to establish...
Fresno State Professor Emeritus Weaves Swashbuckling Tale of Iran Tanker Conflict
U.S. officials were determined to keep a tanker that they thought was full of Iranian oil from reaching war-torn Syria, putting cash into the hands of Iran's government and fuel into Syria's, and violating European Union sanctions on Syria. What transpired was a story of modern-day attempted piracy, author and...
Israeli Politics Remain in Chaos After Deadlocked Election
JERUSALEM — Benjamin Netanyahu has been tasked by Israel's president to form a new government for the sixth time in his lengthy political career. This time it's no mere formality, but rather a daunting endeavor that looks like mission impossible. After an inconclusive national election last week, Netanyahu has no obvious path...
Israel's Netanyahu Given Chance to Form New Government
JERUSALEM — Israel's president on Wednesday asked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to form a new government, giving the longtime leader the difficult task of breaking a post-election deadlock that has paralyzed the country's political system. After a divisive campaign, Netanyahu called for a "broad unity government" with his chief rival...
Israel's Main Parties Begin Talks on Coalition Government
JERUSALEM — Israel's two largest parties met Tuesday to discuss the possibility of forming a unity government, in a long-shot effort to break the political deadlock following last week's national elections. The meeting between party representatives comes a day after Blue and White leader Benny Gantz and Prime Minister Benjamin...
Feds Threaten University Funding Over Islam Focused Studies
The Trump administration is threatening to cut funding for a Middle East studies program run by the University of North Carolina and Duke University, arguing that it's misusing a federal grant to advance "ideological priorities" and unfairly promote "the positive aspects of Islam" but not Christianity or Judaism. An Aug....
Critic of Israel's Treatment of Palestinians Speaks in Fresno
America's foreign policy in Israel is being guided by neoconservatives whose plan is to build up Israel while destabilizing nearby countries — and American tax dollars are helping to pay for it, author Alison Weir said Wednesday evening at Clovis Community College. Weir, a longtime critic of Israel's treatment of...
Exit Polls Signal Setback for Israel's Netanyahu in Election
JERUSALEM — In an apparent setback for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the longtime Israeli leader on Tuesday fell short of securing a parliamentary majority with his hard-line allies in national elections, initial exit polls showed, putting his political future in question. Results posted by Israel's three major TV stations indicated...
Free Speech Is What Allows Us to Govern Ourselves in America
Among the many things that make America great is our freedom of speech without government reprisal. In fact, one of our Founding Fathers, James Madison, believed that free speech should be nearly absolute. He also said that those who try to restrict free speech were opponents of our republic. Listen...
Israeli PM Vows to Begin Annexing West Bank Settlements
JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed on Tuesday to annex the heart of the West Bank if he wins re-election next week, a move that could inflame the Middle East and extinguish any remaining Palestinian hope of establishing a separate state. Arab leaders angrily condemned Netanyahu's remarks, and...