Since Gilad Schalit was kidnapped five years go, the government has not put pressure on Hamas to release the captive IDF soldier, Noam Schalit said on Friday. The soldier's father made the comments Friday during a visit to Arad where he met with the family of Hanan Barak, Gilad's commander, who was killed during the raid in which Hamas kidnapped Gilad. Schalit said that his family wants the public to involve itself in the struggle to free his son because in the five years since Gilad was kidnapped, the …More

The flotilla of boats planning to challenge Israel's naval blockade of the Gaza Strip will set sail next week, a spokeswoman said on Friday, after repeated delays that activists blame on Israeli sabotage. "Israel is doing its very, very best to make sure we don't get out of port," spokeswoman Greta Berlin said, speaking by telephone from Greece where some of the ships are moored. "We want to move the boats by July 5 to get to our rendezvous point no later than July 6 or 7 ... We will go with what we have," she …More

Swiss party ad features Jewish doll Jewish community outraged: Anti-Semitic group in Geneva distributes ad for independence day party showing doll wearing yarmulke with arrow on its head, Israeli flag painted on share Ads promoting an independence party in Geneva featured a doll of a man wearing a yarmulke with an arrow in its head and an Israeli flag painted on it, Swiss media reported Friday. According to Swiss reports, a local anti-Semitic and anti-Israel group, the GNC, is behind the ad. Last week, a Swiss …More

Israeli artist Ori Gersht has two new shows at Angles Gallery in Los Angeles, which both examine cultural heritage and memory. "Falling Petals" examines the significance of the cherry blossoms in Japanese culture. Cherry Blossoms boom for a short time every year and have appropriated many meanings throughout Japanese history. Gersht's film "You Will Dance For Me" features Auschwitz survivor Yehudit Arnon, who, at 19 years old was forced to dance for Nazi officers at their Christmas Party. Arnon refused and vowed …More

Film 1. MIDNIGHT IN PARIS Owen Wilson, Marion Cotillard, Rachel McAdams, Kathy Bates and Carla Bruni star in Woody Allen’s romantic comedy about a family on a business trip in the City of Light. As a young couple engaged to be married experiences a profound transformation during their visit to Paris, an idealistic man with a romanticized view of the city finds that there’s plenty of truth to that old adage about the grass being greener on the other side. At selected cinemas throughout the country. …More

San Francisco's proposed ballot ban on circumcision would be "patently" unconstitutional and should be stricken from the ballot if a court exempts medical professionals from the ban, the city attorney's office said Thursday. In a brief filed in San Francisco County Superior Court Thursday afternoon, the city builds on an earlier suit filed by Jewish and Muslim groups. That suit says that only the state - not a city - can regulate the actions of medical professionals. If that is true and the ballot initiative is …More

The first and only Israeli to play in the NBA was traded by the Sacramento Kings, his team for his first two seasons, to Cleveland along with a conditional first-round pick in exchange for J.J. Hickson. CBS’s Eye on Basketball blog calls this a win for Cleveland; ESPN’s top NBA beat writer, the tastefully named Marc Stein, reports that Casspi “has been coveted for his combination of defense, energy and underrated perimeter shooting by numerous teams after two solid seasons with the Kings.” …More

The possible collapse of a financial services company heavily frequented by English-speaking immigrants has many scrambling to recoup money entrusted with the firm, in some cases hundreds of thousands of dollars.Branches of Cheerfully Changed in Jerusalem and surrounding cities have been closed since last week and many customers say they have been unable to reach a representative to inquire about their accounts. In addition, a statement posted online and comments by former employees who said the company's entire …More

Israel's U.S. ambassador, Michael Oren, outlined for Jewish leaders his country's list of priorities in framing peace talks with the Palestinians. Oren, speaking Thursday in a conference call, said Israel is looking into President Obama's recent proposals for renewing talks. Such talks, Oren said, should be framed by what he called the "terms of reference": the recognition of Israel as a Jewish state; no return of Palestinian refugees; and a long-term military presence for Israel along the Jordan-West Bank border. …More

Pop superstar Madonna has announced big plans to open an orphanage in Malawi. The singer, who has adopted two children from the impoverished African nation, has turned her attention to helping other needy kids - and she hopes her efforts will make it easier for them to find new homes too. During new TV documentary series American Revolutionaries: The Hitmakers, which is set to air in the U.S. next week, she says, "My short term goals are to build an orphan care centre that will service and reach at least 1,000 …More

Actor Shia Labeouf has teamed up with shock rocker Marilyn Manson to shoot a documentary about the making of his new album. The Transformers star recently stepped behind the camera to direct the video for Kid Cudi's controversial new song Marijuana, and when Manson saw the actor's work, he commissioned him to help with visuals on his own record.  Describing their recent meeting during an appearance on U.S. show Live With Regis and Kelly, the actor says, "He's a real sweet guy. He's an eccentric human being. …More

Paul Simon made a triumphant return to the stage this past Wednesday after recovering from a respiratory infection. The folk legend was forced to postpone a concert at London's Hammersmith Apollo on Tuesday  after falling ill. He rescheduled the gig for Wednesday and thrilled fans with a set featuring tracks from his Simon & Garfunkel heyday as well as solo hits 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover and You Can Call Me Al.  The singer had also called off a show in Bournemouth, England on June 27th while …More