The Times of Israel https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/raphael-ahren/ News from Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World Fri, 19 Jun 2026 02:00:28 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://static-cdn.toi-media.com/www/uploads/2018/11/toi_icon_512-200x200.png Raphael Ahren | The Times of Israel https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/raphael-ahren/ 32 32 In struggles for West Sahara and West Bank, thorny parallels may loom for Israel https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-intractable-struggles-over-west-sahara-and-w-bank-some-see-thorny-parallels/ Wed, 16 Dec 2020 20:47:09 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2449796 Both places are claimed by one people and occupied by another. Could new US recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over one of the territories have impact on the status of the second?

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]]> US-Israeli delegation to take 1st direct flight from Tel Aviv to Rabat next week https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-israeli-delegation-to-take-1st-direct-flight-from-tel-aviv-to-rabat-next-week/ Tue, 15 Dec 2020 15:47:57 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2449313&preview=true&preview_id=2449313 Trump official says team headed by Kushner and Berkowitz will land in Israel Monday, jet off the next day for Morocco to advance recently announced normalization deal

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]]> NY-based rabbi seeks to bring US Jews to visit the Gulf, including Saudi Arabia https://www.timesofisrael.com/ny-based-rabbi-seeks-to-bring-us-jews-to-visit-the-gulf-including-saudi-arabia/ Tue, 15 Dec 2020 09:49:03 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2448968 'The grand prize for Jewish tourism is not Israel but the American Jewish community,' says Marc Schneier, who will launch new initiative alongside Bahraini tourism minister

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]]> After years undercover, diplomats who built Gulf ties inch out of the shadows https://www.timesofisrael.com/after-years-undercover-diplomats-who-built-gulf-ties-inch-out-of-the-shadows/ Tue, 15 Dec 2020 04:41:13 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2448330 Serving under false identities in Arab states to promote bilateral relations, envoys given go-ahead to reveal some of their stories, not names, as relations come into the open

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]]> Norwegian diplomat tapped as UN’s new Middle East peace envoy https://www.timesofisrael.com/norwegian-diplomat-tapped-as-uns-new-middle-east-peace-envoy/ Mon, 14 Dec 2020 20:41:15 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2448722 Tor Wennesland set to replace Nickolay Mladenov, who was named as UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’s new special envoy for Libya

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]]> If unstopped, Iran will become ‘global bully,’ Netanyahu tells top Trump aide https://www.timesofisrael.com/if-unstopped-iran-will-become-global-bully-netanyahu-tells-top-trump-aide/ Sun, 13 Dec 2020 16:37:20 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2447617 Visiting Jerusalem, US National Security Adviser O'Brien says Israel's Morocco normalization deal even more remarkable than other agreements with Arab states

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]]> A rich Jewish past, and present: Why Israel’s deal with Morocco is so resonant https://www.timesofisrael.com/a-rich-jewish-past-and-present-why-israels-deal-with-morocco-is-so-resonant/ Thu, 10 Dec 2020 21:05:56 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2446634 Unlike other longtime and fresh peace partners of Israel, Morocco has an ongoing connection to the Jewish people, and many Israelis will be rushing for a direct flight 'home'

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]]> ‘This will be a very warm peace’: Netanyahu hails Israel’s new ties with Morocco https://www.timesofisrael.com/this-will-be-a-very-warm-peace-netanyahu-hails-israels-new-ties-with-morocco/ Thu, 10 Dec 2020 18:16:00 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2446484 At Western Wall Hannukah ceremony, PM notes historic friendship between Moroccans and Jews, says working toward establishing full diplomatic relations 'as rapidly as possible'

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]]> Israel joins UAE-based international body fighting organized crime https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-joins-uae-based-international-body-fighting-organized-crime/ Thu, 10 Dec 2020 11:14:55 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2446111 Emirati deputy PM says Jewish state will add strength to 10-member International Security Alliance

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]]> No labels: Israel’s new Gulf partners seem happy to do business with settlements https://www.timesofisrael.com/no-labels-israels-new-gulf-partners-seem-happy-to-do-business-with-settlements/ Wed, 09 Dec 2020 12:48:26 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2439860 Wine from the Golan, olive oil from the West Bank -- despite the political sensitivities, companies in UAE and Bahrain appear unfazed about where their trading partners are located

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]]> Good prince, bad prince: Why Israelis shouldn’t be shocked by Saudi royal’s rant https://www.timesofisrael.com/good-prince-bad-prince-israelis-should-not-be-shocked-by-saudi-royals-anger/ Mon, 07 Dec 2020 14:52:02 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2443814 Turki bin Faisal often looked like the public face of Riyadh's covert rapprochement with Jerusalem; then he launched a harangue against normalization

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]]> Dubai museum, Jerusalem heritage center ink ‘people-to-people’ partnership https://www.timesofisrael.com/dubai-museum-jerusalem-heritage-center-ink-interfaith-partnership/ Mon, 07 Dec 2020 11:09:43 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2443698 Crossroads of Civilizations Museum and Jerusalem's Heritage Center for Middle East and North Africa Jewry agree to 'highlight positive historic relationship between Jews and Arabs'

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]]> Saudi prince: Bully Israel steals land, puts Palestinians in concentration camps https://www.timesofisrael.com/saudi-prince-bully-israel-steals-land-puts-palestinians-in-concentration-camps/ Sun, 06 Dec 2020 12:31:47 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2443131 Turki al-Faisal also says Israel 'assassinates who it wants to,' built 'apartheid wall,' and denies equal rights to its non-Jewish citizens; FM Ashkenazi slams false accusations

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]]> In backtrack, Bahrain won’t import settlement and Golan goods as made in Israel https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-backtrack-bahrain-wont-import-settlement-and-golan-goods-as-made-in-israel/ Sat, 05 Dec 2020 11:39:36 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2442740&preview=true&preview_id=2442740 Bahrain foreign minister says he spoke with Palestinian counterpart and clarified position after trade minister said Manama wouldn't make distinction

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]]> Bahrain minister says he took a stroll around Jerusalem, felt its holy ‘spirit’ https://www.timesofisrael.com/bahraini-minister-gets-spiritual-as-he-tours-jerusalems-old-city/ Thu, 03 Dec 2020 15:56:57 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2441984 Zayed Alzayani compares nighttime walk that brought him near Western Wall and Dome of the Rock to his visits to Mecca and Medina

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