Ottoman

'West Bank-ification?' Police investigate Negev arson spree as Bedouin tensions intensify

Multiple vehicles were torched in Negev towns overnight, with police linking the incidents to reprisals following ongoing operations in nearby Bedouin communities.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir tour at the Bedouin town of Tarabin al-Sana, in southern Israel, December 28, 2025.
National Park – Gan HaShlosha – Sachne

Israeli archaeologists uncover medieval sugar mills beneath Gan Hashlosha National Park

ETROGIM ON display: The fruit’s distinctive bumpy skin and bright color made it both a ritual object and a coveted commodity across Jewish communities.

The ‘etrog’ wars: How the Ottoman Empire turned a sacred fruit into a global commodity

Indian soldiers at the Haifa military cemetery on Sept. 29, 2025 commemorate the 1918 Battle of Haifa, in which Indian soldiers liberated the city from the Ottoman Empire

Haifa honors Indian cavalry who liberated the city in 1918


On this day: 105th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration

105-years-ago, Foreign Secretary Arthur James Balfour wrote a letter that made history.

Lord Arthur James Balfour and the text of the Balfour Declaration

On the Turkish-Syrian border, a city’s last Jews watch the ending of an epoch

A symbol composed of a Star of David entwined with a Christian cross and Islamic crescent has practically become the city’s logo.

Turkish Jews join to blessing prayers of Mi Sheberah by Chief Rabbi Izhak Haleva at Neve Shalom synagogue in Istanbul

How to follow Ze'ev Jabotinsky's footsteps in Jerusalem

In honor of his 82nd yahrzeit, I suggest a list of locations linked to his activities in Jerusalem from which one can create an itinerary for a walk in his footsteps.

 ZE’EV (VLADMIR) JABOTISKY with wife Yohanna and son Eri: Reunited in Jerusalem.

Turkey, Armenia hold 'constructive' talks on mending ties

The two countries are at odds over several issues, primarily the 1.5 million people Armenia says were killed in 1915 by the Ottoman Empire, the precursor to modern Turkey.

 Members of the Armenian diaspora rally in front of the Turkish Embassy

In this Turkish city, historic synagogues are seeing new life

Izmir will soon get a taste of what it was like when it was home to the third largest Jewish community in the Ottoman empire.

 The Shalom synagogue is part of the Izmir Jewish Heritage project.

150 years of excavating Jerusalem: A rich layer cake

Book: Under Jerusalem by Andrew Lawler

 Robinson's Arch, located to the right of the Western Wall

On This Day: Ottomans surrender Jerusalem in World War I

The British would continue to hold onto the city until fully withdrawing from Mandatory Palestine in 1948. 

 The surrender of Jerusalem, December 9, 1917.

On This Day: Ottomans defeated in World War I's Battle of Beersheba

The Battle of Beersheba broke the stalemate in the Middle East, helped fuel the Balfour Declaration and saw Australian troops launch one of history's last great cavalry charges.

‘The charge of the Australian Light Horse at Beersheba, 31 October 1917,’ painted by George Lambert three years later

Eight antiquity robbers in Israel search for gold, get caught in pit

According to a legend, some Ottoman treasures were buried in some sites in Southern Israel.

Antiquities robbers caught in southern Israel.

The iconic Jaffa clock broke. An olah watchmaker is getting it fixed

Susanna Kaufmann’ watchmaking abilities have even been pursued by Buckingham Palace

A general view of Jaffa Clock Tower, in Jaffa, Israel