Seaport battle looms as Israel plans new competition

Published on May 16, 2013

Israel is betting its economic future on high-tech exports but faces a low-tech bottleneck in state-owned seaports subject to work stoppages and slowdowns because of the enormous strength of their unions.

Civilian airspace in northern Israel closed over fears

Published on May 5, 2013

Israel closed the airspace in its North to civilian traffic following attacks on Syrian targets that were believed to be carried out by the Israeli military.

Israeli hospital separates rare conjoined twins

Published on May 1, 2013

A conjoined twin in Israel who was separated in a rare operation was in serious condition.

Israel shoots down drone from Lebanon, Israeli Military says

Published on April 25, 2013

An Israeli fighter plane shot down a drone from Lebanon over the Mediterranean sea on Thursday as it was approaching the Israeli coast, the military said.

What Boston hospitals learned from Israel

Published on April 22, 2013

Minutes after a terrorist attack killed three at the finish line of the Boston Marathon, doctors and nurses at the city’s hospitals faced a harrowing scene — severed limbs, burned bodies, shrapnel buried in skin.

Amos Shapiro, University of Haifa’s new president

By JewishJournal
Published on March 28, 2013

University of Haifa President Amos Shapira is blunt about what he believes should be Israel’s top priority.

Ayatollah Khamenei: Iran will destroy Israeli cities If attacked

Published on March 21, 2013

Iran's clerical supreme leader said on Thursday the Islamic Republic would destroy the Israeli cities of Tel Aviv and Haifa if it came under attack from the Jewish state.

Iron Dome battery moved to Haifa amid unrest in Syria

Published on January 28, 2013

The Israeli military has deployed an Iron Dome missile defense system near Haifa, according to reports.

Amid conflict, Israel’s hospitals treat Gazan patients

Published on November 20, 2012

Israeli hospitals, amid the ongoing conflict, are treating dozens of patients of all ages who came to Israel from Gaza to get healthcare unavailable there, and are making provisions for accompanying persons.

This Week from Israel

By Noga Gur-Arieh
Published on November 5, 2012

Haifa a many-faceted jewel

By Elyse Glickman
Published on October 31, 2012

Visiting Americans often compare Haifa with San Francisco for its hilly landscape and trendy, artsy neighborhoods, or Boston for its mix of academia and maritime culture.

Arab Lawyers Union honors terrorist who killed 21 Israelis in Haifa

Published on October 18, 2012

The Palestine Committee of the Arab Lawyers Union recently bestowed its “highest honor” on female suicide bomber Hanadi Jaradat, who killed 21 Israelis in a 2003 attack on Maxim’s restaurant in Haifa, Palestinian Media Watch reported on its website here.

Preparing for war, Israel’s North looks to lessons from 2006

Published on October 17, 2012

When missiles rained down on northern Israel from Lebanon six years ago, surgeons at Rambam Hospital in Haifa worked, terrified, on the building’s eighth floor.

Israel’s whiz kids

Published on July 11, 2012

Mickey Haslavsky of Holon is only 18, but he’s already on his second startup.

Note to boycotters: Israel is not a thief

By David Suissa
Published on July 3, 2012

There is an obvious way to respond to author Alice Walker’s refusal to allow her novel “The Color Purple” to be translated into Hebrew. In case you missed it, Walker accused Israel of being “guilty of apartheid and persecution of the Palestinian people, both inside Israel and also in the Occupied Territories.”

Israel builds huge underground hospital for protection against attacks

Published on June 8, 2012

The Rambam Medical Center in Haifa has unveiled the world’s largest fortified hospital, intended to protect more than 2000 patients from missile and rocket attacks. Construction of the Sammy Ofer Northern Regional Underground Emergency Hospital was spurred by missile attacks by Hezbollah and Hamas, particularly during the Second Lebanon War in 2006.

Brad Greenberg to coach Israel’s Maccabi Haifa

Published on June 4, 2012

Brad Greenberg, the former general manager of the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers, has signed on to coach the Maccabi Haifa basketball team.

Oil drilling near Haifa halted

Published on May 14, 2012

Oil drilling in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Haifa was frozen as the investment partners prepare to put a new oil rig in place.

Druze professor appointed Israeli envoy to New Zealand

Published on April 24, 2012

A Druze professor was appointed Israel’s chief diplomat in New Zealand.

Six charged in beatings of soldiers in Haifa

Published on March 8, 2012

Six Arab residents of Haifa were indicted in an attack on two off-duty Israeli soldiers in the city. The Haifa District Court judge who presided over Thursday's hearing said the attack on Shnir Dahan and Roie Sharaff did not appear to be motivated by nationalism, The Jerusalem Post reported.

Rising tennis star Nadine Fahoum: In her own words

Published on November 17, 2011

My name is Nadine Fahoum and I am a 21 year old Israeli Arab Muslim from Haifa. When I was 6 years old and it was time to enroll me in elementary school, my parents faced a very complex dilemma—whether to enroll me in the ―Reali Hebrew School or in an Arab school in Haifa.

After the fire: A Torah’s trip to a secular kibbutz

Published on October 10, 2011

We land at Ben Gurion Airport in the heat of winter, on the first day of Chanukah. At 11 a.m. Dec. 2, already it is 82 degrees in Tel Aviv -- unusual weather for the rainy season in Israel. And it will get hotter. Much hotter.

KISS reunion tour in Haifa: Gene Simmons goes home

Published on September 12, 2011

The most well-circulated piece of trivia about Gene Simmons, former member of the band KISS, is that he was born in Haifa, Israel.

Weills donating $10 million to Haifa’s Ramban hospital

Published on August 10, 2011

Joan and Sanford Weill of New York have committed $10 million to Haifa's Rambam Medical Center to expand the children's cancer ward and facilitate its treatment of Palestinian children.

Knesset to meet during recess over protests

Published on August 8, 2011

Israel's Knesset will meet in a special session on the rash of protests sweeping the nation despite being on summer recess.

Tahl Leibovitz is not only Interesting, but Completely Remarkable

By Ilana Angel
Published on July 22, 2011

Mickey Mouse and Co. heading to Haifa

Published on January 4, 2011

Haifa is poised to be the next home to a Disney amusement park. A 20-acre, $168 million entertainment complex including a 25-screen multiplex and a Disney amusement park is set to be built near the Carmel Tunnel.

Criminal investigation won’t be opened into Carmel fire

Published on December 27, 2010

Israel's attorney general will not open a criminal investigation into the Carmel fire.

Out of the ashes

Published on December 8, 2010

In the aftermath of the deadliest fire in Israel’s history, Israelis this week set to the task of burying the dead, cleaning up and figuring out what exactly went wrong — and who is to blame.

In fire’s wake, lessons learned, friendships found

Published on December 8, 2010

First, of course, are the dead and the injured. Almost all of them young, in a training program for prison guards, trapped in a bus, incinerated. Who by fire? That, says the prayer, God decides: “On Rosh Hashanah it is inscribed, and on Yom Kippur it is sealed: How many shall pass away and how many shall be born, who shall live and who shall die, who in the fullness of time and who before his time, who shall perish by water and who by fire, who by sword and who by wild beast, who by famine and who by thirst, who by earthquake and who by plague, who by strangulation and who by stoning, who shall have rest and who shall wander, who shall be at peace and who shall be pursued, who shall be at rest and who shall be tormented, who shall be exalted and who shall be brought low, who shall become rich and who shall be impoverished. But repentance, prayer and righteousness transform the severity of the decree.”

Displaced children face renewed trauma

By Julie Gruenbaum Fax
Published on December 8, 2010

A standout among the many tragedies of the Carmel fires is the severe damage to the Yemin Orde Youth Village in Northern Israel, which has displaced all of its residents — nearly 500 children originally from Ethiopia, the former Soviet Union and other countries, as well as Israeli-born children who moved to the school from dysfunctional homes. The fire destroyed nearly 20 buildings, including the library, children’s homes, some classrooms, staff housing and a special unit for the youngest children, and many other buildings were damaged on the 77-acre campus atop Mount Carmel.

Report: Fire services are Israel’s weak link

Published on December 8, 2010

The Fire and Rescue Services organization is the weak link in Israel's emergency readiness, a report said.

Carmel Forest Fire Google Map

Published on December 7, 2010

This is a map of the the areas affected by the Carmel forest fire in northern Israel, which began Thursday Dec. 2.

Teen who admitted starting fire is released

Published on December 7, 2010

The teen arrested after admitting to starting the Carmel Forest fire was released from police custody to house arrest.

L.A. pizza and carepackages reached fire’s frontlines

By Julie Gruenbaum Fax
Published on December 6, 2010

Shawn Evenhaim and Shoham Nicolet were both officers in the Israeli army, so they know what it means to be able to sit down during a ten-minute break in action on the field and open a package with some snacks and towelettes and a personal letter from someone overseas thanking you for protecting the Jewish homeland.

Israel fire update: Uncontrolled, 42 dead, 17,000 evacuated

Published on December 3, 2010

The fire raging in northern Israel was still out of control as the sun set on Friday, with 42 people reported dead.

First Carmel fire victims identified, as Israel grapples with national tragedy

Published on December 3, 2010

As medical crews labor through the difficult task of identifying the victims of a massive brushfire ravaging Israel's north, Israel Police released Friday the names of eight of those who found their death in the blaze.

International aid arrives as Carmel fire continues to rage

Published on December 3, 2010

Seven fire-fighting aircraft landed in Israel early Friday, the first arrivals of a planned international airlift sent to aid the battle against a massive brushfire ripping through northern Israel.

Deadly Israeli wildfire draws U.S., Los Angeles support

By Julie Gruenbaum Fax
Published on December 2, 2010

The Jewish National Fund (JNF) and its partner, the Friends of Israel Firefighters (FIF), are leading efforts to raise funds to supply Israel’s beleaguered and aging firefighting force with the equipment it needs to battle the out-of-control brushfire consuming Israel’s Carmel Mountains near Haifa.

Israel’s Carmel fire: Haifa Police Chief Ahuva Tomer critically injured

Published on December 2, 2010

Head of the Haifa Police Department, Deputy Commander Ahuva Tomer was critically injured on Thursday as a result of the huge brushfire in the Carmel region.

Disaster in Northern Israel: 40 dead as fire rages across Carmel Mountains [VIDEO]

Published on December 2, 2010

40 people died on Thursday as a huge brushfire was raging across the Carmel Mountains near Haifa, resulting in the death of some 40 people and hurting dozens of others, among them prison guards and firemen.

Northern Israel brush fire kills at least 40

Published on December 2, 2010

At least 40 people have been killed in a massive brush fire in northern Israel.

Earthquake centered near Haifa

Published on April 12, 2010

A mild earthquake rocked the Haifa area.

Chinese Restaurant in Haifa, Israel Vietnamese Boat People

Published on August 10, 2007

Vietnamese 'boat person' Kien Wong now lives in Haifa and owns Yan Yan, a popular Chinese restaurant

Where to party in Haifa, ‘the city that works’

By Orit Arfa
Published on July 5, 2007

Jihad follows twisted path from Afghanistan to Israel

By Sam Ser
Published on September 28, 2006

Jihad follows twisted path from Afghanistan to Israel.

The Nation and The World

Published on July 27, 2006

A California philanthropist has donated $25 million to the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa.

Cutting Israel Ties Sparks U.K. Outrage

By Daniella Peled
Published on May 5, 2005

The backlash against the decision by a union of British university lecturers to sever ties with two Israeli universities began almost as soon as the controversial motion was passed.

Five Jews Nab Nobel Science Wins

By Tom Tugend
Published on October 14, 2004

When David J. Gross, a winner of this year's Nobel Prize in physics, was asked whether he was Jewish, he told a reporter, "What do you think? Of course!" The same affirmative answer applied to five out of six 2004 science Nobel Laureates. Two are Israelis, three are Americans -- all from Southern California universities -- and two of these Americans have close ties to Israel.

Arabs, Jews Mix at Haifa Holiday Festival

By Dina Kraft
Published on December 18, 2003

Thousands of Jews and Arabs fill the winding stone alleyways of a Haifa neighborhood, sampling latkes, roasted chestnuts and pastries dripping in honey at a coexistence festival to mark the holidays of Chanukah, Christmas and Ramadan.

Attack Forces Israel to Strike at Syria

By Dan Baron
Published on October 9, 2003

This week's Israeli airstrike on an Islamic Jihad training camp near Damascus, which followed the group's deadly suicide bombing in Haifa on Saturday, was a sign to the Arab world that Israel will not be constrained by borders when it comes to the war on terrorism.

The attack came hours before the 30th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War, when Israel was blindsided by Syria and Egypt.

The City by

By Diane Arieff
Published on November 20, 1997

Once-sleepy Haifa is now a tourist mecca, and MayorAmram Mitzna is spreading the word