The Times of Israel https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/eric-cortellessa/ News from Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World Sat, 29 Aug 2026 06:15:39 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://static-cdn.toi-media.com/www/uploads/2018/11/toi_icon_512-200x200.png Eric Cortellessa | The Times of Israel https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/eric-cortellessa/ 32 32 Hackers steal $7.5m in endowment funds from DC Jewish federation https://www.timesofisrael.com/hackers-steal-7-5m-in-endowment-funds-from-dc-jewish-federation/ Thu, 03 Sep 2020 01:35:28 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2380936 US federal law enforcement investigating theft, while organization hires team of lawyers, cybersecurity experts to figure out what went wrong and try to recover the money

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]]> Biden tells Arab Americans he opposes BDS, backs proponents’ free speech rights https://www.timesofisrael.com/biden-campaign-platform-opposes-bds-but-supports-proponents-free-speech-rights/ Tue, 01 Sep 2020 01:11:33 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2379237 In platform aimed at community, former VP restates opposition to annexation and support for two-state solution; vows to restore US-Palestinian relations

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]]> Harris to Jewish donors: Biden won’t leverage Israel aid, will revive Iran deal https://www.timesofisrael.com/harris-tells-jewish-supporters-biden-will-not-condition-aid-to-israel-if-elected/ Thu, 27 Aug 2020 01:29:23 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2376357 Would-be VP says Democratic presidential candidate will not 'tie security assistance to any political decisions Israel makes'; also vows to 'work with allies' to bolster Iran JCPOA

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]]> Biden campaign slams Pompeo for ‘politicizing’ Israel with Jerusalem speech https://www.timesofisrael.com/biden-campaign-slams-pompeo-for-politicizing-israel-with-jerusalem-speech/ Thu, 27 Aug 2020 00:35:30 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2376304 Democratic presidential candidate accuses Trump's top diplomat of trying to make Jewish state a 'political wedge issue' after address to Republican convention

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]]> Stirring controversy, Pompeo to address Republican convention from Jerusalem https://www.timesofisrael.com/stirring-controversy-pompeo-to-address-republican-convention-from-jerusalem/ Mon, 24 Aug 2020 00:21:45 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2374193 Breaking decades of precedence, America's top diplomat to speak at political event, drawing criticism from Democrats and former State Department officials

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]]> US lawmaker seeking foreign affairs job flips stance on conditioning Israel aid https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-lawmaker-seeking-foreign-affairs-job-flips-stance-on-conditioning-israel-aid/ Fri, 21 Aug 2020 04:32:13 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2370930 New York Rep. Gregory Meeks says military assistance to Jerusalem is 'absolute and unequivocal,' 2 weeks after stating US should leverage aid to stop annexation

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]]> Trump says he expects not only Saudis, but also Iran, to make Middle East peace https://www.timesofisrael.com/trump-says-he-expects-saudis-as-well-as-iran-to-join-peace-bid-in-middle-east/ Wed, 19 Aug 2020 23:12:54 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2371929 President tells reporters he thinks Riyadh will follow Abu Dhabi's lead and open up relations with Israel, then adds he believes Tehran will 'ultimately come in too'

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]]> Kushner: US will not agree to Israeli annexation ‘for some time’ https://www.timesofisrael.com/kushner-says-us-will-not-consent-to-annexation-for-some-time/ Mon, 17 Aug 2020 15:46:00 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2369974 Netanyahu 'has given us assurances that he won't do it without our consent,' Trump's adviser says; world 'starting to block out the noise' from 'illogical' Palestinian officials

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]]> Trump misspoke in saying Israel is suspending ‘settlements,’ meant annexation https://www.timesofisrael.com/trump-misspoke-in-saying-israel-is-suspending-settlements-meant-annexation/ Fri, 14 Aug 2020 20:57:15 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2368326 President's reference to Jerusalem ostensibly agreeing to a settlement freeze was a slip, Times of Israel told

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]]> After Israel-UAE deal, Kushner indicates more Arab countries will follow https://www.timesofisrael.com/after-israel-uae-deal-kushner-indicates-more-arab-countries-will-follow/ Thu, 13 Aug 2020 20:40:32 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2367646 Trump adviser says some other countries 'were upset they weren't first,' adds US began working on ties between the two states 18 months ago; ramped up as annexation bid accelerated

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]]> In Harris, Biden chooses a traditionally pro-Israel Dem as his veep candidate https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-harris-biden-chooses-a-traditionally-pro-israel-dem-as-his-veep-candidate/ Wed, 12 Aug 2020 05:50:14 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2366091 Senator has good relations with AIPAC, is closely aligned with running mate on Mideast policy and aid to Jewish state; voted against anti-BDS bill, citing First Amendment rights

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]]> Bipartisan US bill aims to advance normalized ties between Israel, Arab states https://www.timesofisrael.com/bipartisan-us-bill-aims-to-advance-normalized-ties-between-israel-arab-states/ Tue, 11 Aug 2020 02:02:11 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2365188 New legislation from senators Portman and Booker would require State Department to publish annual report on countries' anti-normalization practices

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]]> In New York area, a Jewish media landscape devastated by COVID-19 https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-new-york-area-a-jewish-media-landscape-is-devastated-by-covid-19/ Mon, 10 Aug 2020 19:33:40 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2358288 The economic fallout of the pandemic has forced the 45-year-old New York Jewish Week to pause its print edition and the 74-year-old New Jersey Jewish News to shut down completely

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]]> Dems seeking House foreign affairs job would restrict Israel aid over annexation https://www.timesofisrael.com/dems-seeking-house-foreign-affairs-job-would-restrict-israel-aid-over-annexation/ Fri, 07 Aug 2020 20:30:57 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2363347 All 3 candidates running to chair powerful committee say American assistance shouldn't go toward Israel annexing parts of West Bank, signaling growing Democratic support for idea

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]]> Liberal Jewish groups warn against hawkish pick for House Foreign Affairs post https://www.timesofisrael.com/liberal-jewish-groups-warn-against-brad-sherman-for-house-foreign-affairs-post/ Wed, 05 Aug 2020 06:26:19 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2361375 Five organizations, including J Street and Americans for Peace Now, send letter to House panel laying out criteria for who should replace Eliot Engel as chair

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