(JTA) — Iran executed a man convicted of spying for Israel and of assassinating an Iranian nuclear scientist.
Majid Jamali Fashi, 24, was hanged early Tuesday morning, according to Iranian news reports. He was sentenced to death in August 2010 for the murder of Ali Mohammadi, a particle physics professor at Tehran University killed by a [...]

A proposed resolution that would have required the United Methodist Church (UMC) to divest from three companies doing business with Israel was defeated Wednesday. At its quadrennial conference in Tampa, Fla., the UMC instead supported a motion calling for “positive investment” in the Palestinian economy.
Leading up to the conference, 1,200 American [...]

Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz along with family members of First Lt. Hila Bezaleli lay a wreath for the fallen soldier at Mount Herzl on April 22. Bezaleli, 20, was killed when a heavy lighting fixture collapsed during rehearsals for the upcoming Independence Day ceremony at Mount Herzl. (Photo: Gal Ashuach/IDF Spokesperson’s Unit)

JERUSALEM (JTA) — [...]

(JTA) — One woman was killed and several people were injured after a stage collapsed on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem. The collapse came Wednesday afternoon during a rehearsal for the national Memorial Day ceremony to be held next week, according to reports.
Haaretz has reported that the woman killed was a female Israel Defense [...]

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Obama discussed Iran and other issues during their March 5 meeting in the White House Oval Office. (Photo: Ron Kampeas)

By RON KAMPEAS
WASHINGTON (JTA) — President Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agree, at least in principle: Keep the talk on what to do about Iran behind closed [...]

A possible preemptive Israeli attack on Iranian nuclear facilities was topic No. 1, when Barbara Walters talked with Israeli President Shimon Peres on “The View.”
Here is the exchange from Wednesday’s show:

Yoel Hasson, a member of the Israeli Knesset from the Kadima Party, will speak 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 8 at Adath Jeshurun Congregation, 10500 Hillside Lane W., Minnetonka.
His talk is titled “Why the Future of Israel is the Two-State Solution.”
The event is sponsored by the Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas and [...]

After a period of uncertainty, there are signs that the Obama and Netanyahu governments have begun to coordinate their message on Iran
By RON KAMPEAS
WASHINGTON (JTA) — It’s one of those coincidences too tempting to believe is a coincidence.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is delivering a speech to AIPAC about what should happen next [...]

JERUSALEM (JTA) — Talks between Israeli and Palestinian negotiators leading to full peace talks have ended with no progress, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said.
Abbas, following a fifth meeting between the sides, met Wednesday with Jordan’s King Abdullah before announcing that the exploratory talks were concluded.
He said he would discuss Feb. 4 with the Arab [...]

The story of an eight-year-old Israeli girl, afraid to walk to school for fear of violence from ultra-Orthodox men, spurs rallies and riots in Jerusalem suburb
By MARCY OSTER
JERUSALEM (JTA) — For several years now, the Jerusalem suburb of Beit Shemesh has been the site of on-again, off-again religious violence.
But it wasn’t until the [...]