In The News

March 01, 2015

Since Israel’s founding in 1948, the United States has stood firmly as its closest ally in the Middle East. The first country to recognize Israel, the United States has forged a deep and unshakable bond with Israel through a multifaceted relationship that reflects the depth and breadth of the ties between our people and the values that we share.

02/26/2015 | Roey Gilad, Chicago Sun Times

Rabbi David Saperstein, the new U.S. envoy for religious freedoms, said one priority will be to identify moderates in religious communities who could marginalize extremists.

Speaking Friday at his swearing-in at the State Department, Saperstein said he would work with U.S. civil society groups “in shaping policies that contribute to isolating and delegitimizing extremist religious voices.”

By Tim Devaney - 02/12/15 | The Hill

Gun owners would be allowed to carry concealed weapons around the country under new legislation introduced in the Senate.

The Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act would allow gun owners who have a concealed carry permit in their home state to bring their firearms in any other state with concealed-carry laws.

The White House’s top Middle East official will speak in Israel at a conference on security and meet with Israeli and Palestinian officials.

Phil Gordon, the special assistant to the president and White House coordinator for the Middle East, North Africa, and the Gulf Region, will travel to Israel on Feb. 15, Alistair Baskey, a National Security Council spokesman, told JTA in an email.