Aleppo Site of Intense Fighting in Syria

The northern Syrian city of Aleppo has become the focus of the multi-faceted conflict in that country, with rebel forces managing this week to break out of a siege the Assad regime had held them in for the three weeks. However, all sides are sending reinforcements to the city even as intense fighting between various factions continue in many parts of the country and the UN warns of a massive surge in refugees from the fighting, as well as in neighboring Iraq.

Amar’e Stoudemire began his new post-NBA life in Israel this week by leading a basketball-themed “peace camp” clinic at the Malha Arena in Jerusalem, including children from several different communities in the city. Omri Casspi, Israel’s first NBA player, also participated along with other NBA players. Stoudemire, who recently retired from the NBA after a 14 year career with four different teams, is moving to Israel with his family in August to play for Hapoel Jeruslaem, a team he partly owns.

Canada’s Green Party voted at its convention in Ottowa this week to endorse a resolution in support of the movement to Boycott, Divest and Sanction (BDS) Israel. The resolution was opposed by a large number of delegates, including some prominent leaders, prompting some analysts to speculate that the issue will continue to be a point of disagreement within the Party.

Days after the chief of World Vision’s Gaza branch was arrested on suspicion of funneling charitable donations to the military activities of the Islamist terror militia Hamas, the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) announced on Tuesday that it had arrested a Palestinian man who they believe used his position as a worker for the United Nations Development Program to aid Hamas.