RSS
Orioles Owner Donates $1.5 Million to Jewish Museum of Maryland Recently Targeted in Arson Attack
David Rubenstein, left, on March 28, 2024, before the opening day game between the Los Angeles Angels and Baltimore Orioles. Photo: Cory Royster/Cal Sport Media/Sipa USA via Reuters Connect
David Rubenstein, the owner of the professional baseball team the Baltimore Orioles, donated $1.5 million to the Jewish Museum of Maryland (JMM) to help develop the institution’s public spaces following an arson attack that took place at the museum last month, it was announced on Thursday.
The new David M. Rubenstein Exhibition Arcade will be a central public space at the museum’s front of house that will branch out and lead visitors into the museum’s galleries, a new audio and video production studio, and a library. There will also be a new multimedia gallery, relocated lobby and entry, and updates to the museum’s major galleries.
“The Jewish Museum of Maryland plays a critical role in preserving and sharing Maryland’s rich and fascinating Jewish heritage and culture,” said Rubenstein, a Baltimore native. “Through modern and compelling exhibits in an inviting space, more and more people will learn from and be inspired by Maryland’s Jewish history.”
The JMM’s Executive Director Sol David said, “We are extremely grateful for David’s support of this transformative and deeply meaningful project. This project will ensure the museum’s architecture and technologies support the museum’s evolution as a cultural institution delivering a dynamic range of ways the public can engage with Maryland’s Jewish history and culture.”
In early August, scorch marks were discovered on the ground outside the JMM, and surveillance camera footage from the scene showed a person pull up to the front gate of the museum in a vehicle, put something on the ground, and set the item on fire before driving away in the vehicle.
Assadollah Hashemi, 66, was arrested and charged with attempted arson and attempted malicious burning of property for the incident. He could face up to 20 years or a maximum penalty of $30,000 for the arson attack. The suspect — who is of Iranian descent, according to court documents – was denied bail. He has a history of bipolar disorder and a judge ordered that he complete a competency evaluation before continuing with his hearing. He was screened by a health care professional on Aug. 26 and a date has not been announced for his trial.
The JMM is located between two historic synagogues on Baltimore’s Lloyd Street: the Lloyd Street Synagogue and the B’nai Israel Congregation. The latter is the only remaining active synagogue in the East Baltimore/downtown area.
The post Orioles Owner Donates $1.5 Million to Jewish Museum of Maryland Recently Targeted in Arson Attack first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
RSS
Witkoff Reportedly Conveys Principals for Ceasefire Proposal to Hamas
US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, Washington, DC, Jan. 20, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Carlos Barria
i24 News – United States (US) Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff conveyed a message to Hamas behind the scenes regarding the conditions for negotiations — involving freeing the 48 remaining hostages in exchange for ending the war — Israeli media reported Sunday morning.
Witkoff’s message was relayed to Hamas through Israeli activist Gershon Baskin, who had also helped broker messages in the 2011 Gilad Shalit negotiations, a source told Israeli reporter Barak Ravid. He delivered the message through senior Hamas official Ghazi Hamad.
The proposal included several general principles in addition to the release of all the hostages in exchange for ending the war, Ravid reported.
i24NEWS correspondent Guy Azriel reported that Israel is not responding to reports of the document of principles, saying, “This is a matter of correspondence between the Americans and Hamas.” The only message from Jerusalem at this stage remains, “We are adhering to the five conditions that the cabinet voted on to end the war.”
Meanwhile, Hamas released a statement Saturday evening expressing their readiness for a ceasefire agreement, saying, “We renew our commitment and adherence to the agreement we announced together with the Palestinian factions regarding the mediators’ proposal for a ceasefire on August 18.”
The annnouncment included their willingness to agree to a ceasefire under conditions including the withdrawl of Israeli forces and release of the hostages, but did not meet Israel’s conditions for ending the war which include the full disarmament of Hamas, demilitarization of the Strip, and Israeli security control over Gaza.
“We emphasize our openness to any ideas or proposals that would achieve a permanent ceasefire, a complete withdrawal of the occupation forces from the Gaza Strip, the unconditional entry of aid, and genuine prisoner exchanges through serious negotiations mediated by intermediaries,” Hamas added.
RSS
Iranian Foreign Minister Urges Europe to Rethink Nuclear Stance
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi addresses a special session of the Human Rights Council at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, June 20, 2025. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse
i24 News – Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi has called on Britain, France, and Germany to change course after their decision to trigger the UN mechanism for reinstating sanctions against Iran.
In an op-ed published Sunday in The Guardian, Araghchi argued that the move has “no legal basis,” claiming the mechanism outlined in the 2015 nuclear deal (JCPOA) cannot be applied without considering the United States’ withdrawal from the pact in 2018 under former President Donald Trump.
The minister accused European governments of “blindly following Washington’s strategy” while failing to honor their own commitments, including lifting economic sanctions and restoring normal trade relations with Tehran.
Araghchi also criticized Europe’s silence over Israel’s June strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, warning that such passivity would leave them sidelined in regional diplomacy.
He reiterated Iran’s readiness for dialogue but only under conditions that ensure both strict oversight of its nuclear program and the full removal of sanctions.
He cautioned that failure in diplomacy could have “serious regional and international consequences,” stressing that Iran’s military is prepared to defend against any aggression.
Araghchi concluded by urging Europe and the U.S. to “give diplomacy a chance,” warning that the alternative would be a dangerous escalation that risks further destabilizing the Middle East.
RSS
Israeli Military Spokesperson Issues Evacuation Warning for Residents in Gaza City
Smoke and flames rise as an Israeli airstrike hits a house, in Gaza City, September 7, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Khamis Al-Rifi
The Israeli military’s Arabic spokesperson on Sunday issued a new evacuation warning for residents in a building in Gaza City and surrounding tents, as Israel called again for Hamas to surrender.
It was the second warning for the same building and tents housing displaced families in little over 24 hours.