In these early days of the holy month of Ramadan this year, excitement, spirituality and happiness are conflicting with fear, sadness and desperation over the latest developments in Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip: the kidnapping and murder of three Israeli teenagers, a revenge kidnapping and murder of a Palestinian teen, and an ugly wave of violence and incitement.
The recent cycle of violence in Israel, after a period of relative calm, raises concerns that perhaps we are on the threshold of another intifada, or another Operation Pillar of Defense (a full-scale operation in Gaza), or both.
Five years after merging with Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center (PJTC), former members of Congregation Shaarei Torah in Arcadia were among those who took part June 22 in a symbolic Torah scroll procession from their old building to their new home.
Israel, as always, fights its battles on two fronts.
The Israeli military reportedly has hit more targets in Gaza in the first day and a half of a bombing campaign to curb rocket fire than during its entire eight-day operation in November 2012.
An Israeli police officer shown in a video beating Palestinian-American teen Tariq Abu Khdeir was suspended and could be indicted.
An Israeli aircraft targeted a civilian car in the center of Gaza City\’s busiest shopping street on Wednesday night and at least one person in the car, the driver, was killed, medics said.
Palestinian militants fired rockets at Tel Aviv on Thursday, setting off sirens and activating Israel\’s Iron Dome interceptor which shot down at least two of the projectiles, Army Radio said.
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