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From 7 October 2023 to 7 June 2024, the Crowd Counting Consortium recorded nearly 12,400 pro-Palestine protests and over 2,000 pro-Israel protests in the United States. Since January 2017, when CCC first started counting protest events and their crowd sizes, the current pro-Palestine protest wave involves the largest, most sustained US protests sparked by a foreign event. We hypothesize three possible reasons for the size of the pro-Palestine mobilization: casualties and suffering motivate protestors and the Palestinian casualties have been much higher; protestors react to the US government’s position, which in this case strongly favors Israel; and protestors are driven by emotional outrage at Israeli policy and the resultant Palestinian suffering. By looking at property damage and police injuries, we also conclude that this pro-Palestine movement has not been violent. That is true of both the national protest wave in general and of the student encampments in spring 2024 in particular. The rhetorical core of this pro-Palestine movement has not been a call for violence against Jews, but rather a call for freedom for Palestinians and an end to violence being inflicted upon them. To substantiate this point, we considered two sources of evidence: 1) the banners, signs, and chants seen or heard at pro-Palestine events; 2) the demands issued by organizers of over 100 student encampments. One caveat: Although we use the terms pro-Israel and pro-Palestine as shorthand, we acknowledge that these binary terms are unsatisfying and misleading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Heated tobacco products (HTPs), like IQOS, are marketed as innovative, stylish, harm-reduction products distinct from cigarettes and e-cigarettes. Research is needed to better understand how adults who are newly introduced to HTPs perceive them relative to cigarettes and e-cigarettes, and the impact of these perceptions on use outcomes. Aims and Methods We analyzed 2021 cross-sectional survey data from 1914 adults who never used HTPs from the United States and Israel, two countries where IQOS has unique histories and markets. Exploratory factor analysis examined perceptions of HTPs (vs. cigarettes and e-cigarettes) across 12 perception measures (eg, innovative, trendy, harmful, addictive). Multivariable linear regression examined these factors in relation to self-reported likelihood to: (1) "try HTPs in the next year" (1 = not–7 = extremely) and (2) "suggest IQOS to a friend who smokes cigarettes" (1 = not–5 = very), controlling for demographics and past-month cigarette and e-cigarette use (10.1% dual use, 15.4% cigarette-only, 5.7% e-cigarette-only, 68.8% neither). Results Four factors were identified: HTPs' health and utility ("health-utility") and design and appeal ("design-appeal") versus cigarettes and versus e-cigarettes, separately. More favorable perceptions of HTP versus e-cigarette design-appeal (B  = 0.30, 95% CI = 0.18, 0.41) were associated with greater likelihood to try HTPs. More favorable perceptions of HTP versus cigarette design-appeal (B  = 0.38, 95% CI = 0.26, 0.51) and health-utility (B  = 0.25, 95% CI = 0.13, 0.36), and HTP versus e-cigarette design-appeal (B  = 0.32, 95% CI = 0.20, 0.45) were associated with greater likelihood to suggest HTPs to smokers. Conclusions Monitoring perceptions of HTPs versus cigarettes and e-cigarettes is critical given the role of such perceptions in HTP use and their population-level impact. Implications This study examined the relationship of perceptions of HTPs relative to cigarettes and e-cigarettes, with regard to adults' self-reported likelihood to use HTP or to suggest HTPs to those who smoke cigarettes. Favorable perceptions of HTPs' design and appeal versus e-cigarettes correlated with greater likelihood to try HTPs. Favorable perceptions of HTPs' design and appeal, as well as health and utility, versus cigarettes and e-cigarettes correlated with greater likelihood to suggest HTPs to those who smoke. Findings underscore the need for ongoing surveillance of HTP marketing and consumer perceptions to inform regulatory efforts and estimate the population-level impact of HTPs and other tobacco products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Economic Administrative & Legal Sciences is the property of Arab Journal of Sciences & Research Publishing (AJSRP) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This article delves into the often-overlooked emotional aspect of Secretary of State Henry Kissinger's decision-making during the 1975 Shuttle Diplomacy, focusing on the US-Israel relationship. While historical records commonly highlight policy nuances and international dynamics, this article illuminates Kissinger's personal emotions, arguing that these played a pivotal role in his policy decisions. It presents a thorough examination of various records reflecting Kissinger's interactions with key figures, including Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and President Gerald Ford. The analysis demonstrates how Kissinger's emotional responses influenced the intensity of his diplomatic pursuits and reactions to obstacles. This approach not only enhances our understanding of the disengagement agreement negotiations, but also fosters a linkage between diplomatic history and the history of emotions. It propounds that emotions are a crucial aspect of decision-making analysis, both at an institutional and individual level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Family rituals may serve as a buffer against stressful situations, particularly non-normative stressors like the COVID-19 pandemic, by facilitating closeness and a sense of togetherness. However, research also suggests that rituals can be a source of added tension, stress, and conflict. The goals of this research were two-fold. We explored the ways families engaged in rituals during the COVID-19 shelter-in-place mandates, in both the United States and Israel, and examined the perceived impact of engagement on the ability to cope. Using survey data from 337 United States and 116 Israeli participants, we conducted a thematic analysis of rituals before (maintained) and during shelter-in-place (developed) followed by hierarchical linear regressions to examine associations between ritual connectedness, perceptions of rituals, and psychological well-being. Results revealed similarities and differences between the countries in the family rituals developed and maintained during shelter-in-place and significant associations between ritual connectedness and perceptions of rituals on psychological well-being. Findings provide a resource for family ritual strategies and extend our understanding of how family ritual engagement may foster or hinder families' ability to cope during periods of unexpected stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the Twitter/X networks of U.S. ambassadors in Israel, Iraq, and Qatar from 2017 to 2024, aiming to assess how digital diplomacy is conducted through these platforms. Utilizing Sprinklr, we gathered 586,736 mentions involving the ambassadors' Twitter handles, with a focus on evaluating the influence and communication strategies within these networks. We analyzed a random sample of 30,000 tweets from the collected data using network analysis techniques. This approach enabled the examination of centrality metrics within the ambassadors' digital networks, providing insights into the influence patterns and communicative interactions via Gephi. The analysis revealed a significant influence of state actors and established political elites who predominantly engage in unidirectional communication, despite the platforms' capabilities for interactive and reciprocal dialogues. We identified elected officials and specific non-governmental organizations as key actors shaping the diplomatic narratives, highlighting the diverse yet controlled actor interplay in digital diplomacy. This research underscores the need for strategic adjustments in digital diplomacy practices to enhance interaction and inclusivity. Our work provides policymakers with insights into leveraging digital platforms for more effective and dynamic diplomatic exchanges. The study illuminates the role of digital platforms as critical venues for shaping diplomatic narratives by both state and non-state actors. Notably, our findings highlight the use of hashtags in advancing human rights movements and in discussions surrounding the Israel–Palestine conflict, demonstrating hashtags' impact on global and regional advocacy efforts. This research offers a unique perspective on the integration of traditional diplomatic roles with contemporary digital strategies, particularly highlighting the constraints and potentials within Middle Eastern contexts. We suggest ways to enhance the inclusivity and effectiveness of diplomatic engagements through improved social media utilization, thereby contributing to the evolving field of international relations and public diplomacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores the semiotics of argan phytodiplomacy, focusing on the endangered argan trees in Morocco and their significance to the marginalized Tachelhit Amazigh community. It discusses the gender-and-development model that capitalizes on argan's potential, as well as the diplomatic relations between Morocco, Israel, and the United States regarding agricultural research and argan domestication. The narrative also delves into the global commercial aspects of argan oil, highlighting the role of Moroccan women, a phytochemist, and the challenges of semiotic appropriation and exploitation in the industry. [Extracted from the article]

Culture-specific vocabulary denotes objects that bear cultural weight and are not readily translatable or understood in other languages. The present study explores cultural items in an endangered language, Juhuri (Judeo-Tat), the traditional language of Mountain Jews (MJ) who immigrated to Israel and the United States. A set of ten items, five cultural and five neutral, served as stimuli for a picture recognition task inserted in a questionnaire distributed to MJs from three generations (G1, G1.5, and G2). In addition, participants rated their ethnocultural and national identities and their level of Juhuri proficiency. Results yielded significantly better recognition of culture-specific over neutral items by G1.5 and G2 participants, but no difference among more proficient G1 participants. Regression analyses revealed a significant effect of MJ identity on the recognition of cultural items. Neither Israeli nor American national background had an effect on the recognition of either cultural or neutral items. The findings shed light on the role of ethnocultural identity in the recognition of culture-specific vocabulary. Results are discussed in terms of research on heritage language maintenance and shift, identity, and the status of the MJ community in both countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the relationship between China, the United States, and the Middle East peace process from 1977 to 1982. It discusses China's concerns about the US's involvement in the conflict and its support for Israel, as well as China's cautious support for the peace agreement between Egypt and Israel. The article also explores China's decision to focus on economic relations in the region and its role in supporting the Palestinians. It concludes by discussing the implications of these findings for Cold War historiography and ongoing great power interactions in the Middle East. [Extracted from the article]

This article examines the Americanization of Israeli conservative civil society organizations (CSOs), by exploring how the transnational transfer of Jewish American philanthropy and the diffusion of conservative ideas influence the formation of right-wing Israeli CSOs, applying the theoretical framework of critical community. "Critical Community" is a concept describing the transference of ideas, ideologies, and cultural cues between protest groups in different countries. We explain the transnational diffusion of American conservative ideology using three case studies of Israeli CSOs that exhibit organizational trajectories affected by an American conservative model: The Tikvah Fund, Shalem Center, and the Kohelet Policy Forum. We trace the financial, ideational, and personal links between these CSOs and their American counterparts, shedding light on the significance of transnational relations between ideological groups across borders. Such a critical community enables philanthropic support for these organizations and the emergence of a conservative movement shaped by the flow of ideas from the United States to Israel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The simultaneous occurrence of Waldenström macroglobulinemia and multiple myeloma in the same patient has been published as case reports. Patients with Waldenström macroglobulinemia often have a small clone of plasma cells. However, the concurrent occurrence of symptomatic myeloma with lytic bone lesions is rare. The diagnosis of this 'hybrid' entity is challenging, and there are no standard therapies. We present six patients from five centers (three in Israel and two in the United States). We describe these patients' unique clinical course and treatment approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a speech by Marcus Levitt, Professor at the University of Southern California, delivered at the AATSEEL conference in U.S. Topics included his reflections on his extensive career at USC, and his scholarly adventures in Slavic studies. He acknowledged the contributions of his colleagues, discussed his journey from his early academic pursuits to his experiences in Russia, and reflected on contemporary geopolitical issues, including the wars in Ukraine and Israel.

Drones are changing the face of modern warfare and have emerged as a potent weapon of choice in recent wars, including in Nagorno-Karabakh and the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza. The success of drones on the battlefield has spurred states to acquire UAVs for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and targeting capabilities. In South Asia, the export of drones to India by extra-regional powers such as the United States and Israel is disturbing the regional military balance. The United States has approved the sale of 31 MQ-9B Reaper drones and missiles to India, while Israel has supplied the Indian military with Heron and Hermes 900 drones. In addition, India's DRDO has recently invested in building a home-grown industry that can design and assemble drones and indigenously make the components that go into the manufacturing process. In line with this, the Indian government has set the ambitious target of becoming a global drone hub by 2030. This research paper will employ Barry Buzan and Ole Wæver's Regional Security Complex Theory to understand how India's development and acquisition of high-tech drone technology contributes to security dilemma for Pakistan and imperils peace and stability in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Relaciones Internacionales (1699-3950) is the property of Autonomous University of Madrid, Spain, International Relations Studies Group (GERI) Law Faculty and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Introduction: This paper examines the productive vocabulary skills of five groups of English-Hebrew bilinguals in Israel and the United States. The juxtaposition of these five groups allows us to simultaneously compare performance across dominance profiles, acquisition contexts (L2 learned in school, HL maintained at home, immigration and immersion), and countries (Israel and the USA). Methods: A total of 185 participants took part in study: Hebrew-dominant heritage English speakers, Hebrew-dominant L2-English speakers, Englishdominant heritage Hebrew speakers, and English-dominant L2-Hebrew speakers in the US and in Israel. They were all administered the MINT assessment in both languages, as well as background questionnaires. We then employ network modeling based on a secondary data analysis of background questionnaires to consider how each group's lexical proficiency ties in to reported input factors. Results and Discussion: The MINT results indicate clear language dominance in all the groups except Hebrew-dominant heritage English speakers, who show balanced proficiency in both their languages. The network models indicate key distinctions between the groups as a function of linguistic context, and we assess our findings in the context of recent work on quantifying the bilingual experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the impact of U.S. foreign policy, particularly economic sanctions, on the recent increase in migrants and asylum seekers from Venezuela, Cuba, and Nicaragua at the U.S.-Mexico border. It argues that these sanctions have worsened the economic conditions in these countries, leading to a surge in migration. The article also highlights the historical role of U.S. intervention and neglect in Latin America as a contributing factor to the ongoing migration issues. It suggests several potential solutions, including ending economic warfare, providing more federal aid to local governments, expediting work permits for migrants, and increasing foreign aid to Latin America. [Extracted from the article]

The invasive brown widow spider, Latrodectus geometricus (Araneae: Theridiidae), has spread in multiple locations around the world and, along with it, brought associated organisms such as endosymbionts. We investigated endosymbiont diversity and prevalence across putative native and invasive populations of this spider, predicting lower endosymbiont diversity across the invasive range compared to the native range. First, we characterized the microbial community in the putative native (South Africa) and invasive (Israel and the United States) ranges via high throughput 16S sequencing of 103 adult females. All specimens were dominated by reads from only 1–3 amplicon sequence variants (ASV), and most individuals were infected with an apparently uniform strain of Rhabdochlamydia. We also found Rhabdochlamydia in spider eggs, indicating that it is a maternally-inherited endosymbiont. Relatively few other ASV were detected, but included two variant Rhabdochlamydia strains and several Wolbachia, Spiroplasma and Enterobacteriaceae strains. We then diagnostically screened 118 adult female spiders from native and invasive populations specifically for Rhabdochlamydia and Wolbachia. We found Rhabdochlamydia in 86% of individuals and represented in all populations, which suggests that it is a consistent and potentially important associate of L. geometricus. Wolbachia was found at lower overall prevalence (14%) and was represented in all countries, but not all populations. In addition, we found evidence for geographic variation in endosymbiont prevalence: spiders from Israel were more likely to carry Rhabdochlamydia than those from the US and South Africa, and Wolbachia was geographically clustered in both Israel and South Africa. Characterizing endosymbiont prevalence and diversity is a first step in understanding their function inside the host and may shed light on the process of spread and population variability in cosmopolitan invasive species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current research examines joint collective action between advantaged and disadvantaged groups, from the perspective of the latter. We hypothesize that joint action poses a dilemma which lies in the tension between perceived instrumentality of joint action (i.e., ability to promote the disadvantaged's goals) and perceived normalization (i.e., its tendency to blur power relations). We test this idea across three studies in the United States and Israel/Palestine. In Study 1 (n = 361) we manipulated perceptions of joint action from the perspective of a hypothetical character, and in Study 2 (n = 378) we presented participants with an article highlighting the risk and benefit of joint activism. Results showed that perceived instrumentality increases, whereas perceived normalization decreases joint action tendencies. In Study 3 (n = 240), we described a joint action event that taps into some of the themes that induce concerns about normalization. We found that normalization perceptions feed into perceptions of instrumentality, and this occurred mainly among high identifiers, for whom the dilemma is most salient. The implications of these findings for understanding the complexity of joint collective action from the perspective of the disadvantaged are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study sheds light on the close political and strategic alliance between the United States and Israel over many decades, and the outcomes of the biased American position regarding the Palestinian cause, and the chapters of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, over several American administrations. As the American strategic vision closely links its national security constants with that of Israel, the study reveals the scopes of support provided by Washington and the administration of President Joe Biden, which stood behind Israel with all its political, diplomatic and military weight after October 7th and Al-Aqsa Flood, which truly represented... A “strategic shock” to the theory behind security of both the United States of America and Israel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the topic of Zionism in Jewish Studies and the need for critical engagement. The author acknowledges the sensitivity of the subject, especially in light of recent events, but emphasizes the importance of scholars engaging with different perspectives. The article highlights the range of Jewish critics of Zionism and explores various essays that offer insights into Israeli politics, religious Zionism, and alternative visions for the Jewish future. The author focuses on one particularly challenging essay that calls for restorative justice in Palestine/Israel and emphasizes the need to listen to and learn from different voices. The article concludes by suggesting that engaging with diverse perspectives can lead to imagining less violent futures. [Extracted from the article]

Since the 1970s, there has been an 'orthodoxization' of Judaism worldwide, particularly in France, the United Kingdom, the United States and Israel. This movement is primarily driven by young people. However, until now, studies have not sufficiently addressed the conjunction of globalization, youth and religion in this evolution. This article examines the globalization of an Orthodox Jewish movement, the Lubavitch movement. How does it include youth in a globalization strategy? What are the effects on their religious practice? This faith-based NGO is an important vector of 'orthodoxization' among young people. It invests in youth as a priority, in particular through a specific educational system: it aims to encourage integration into the Lubavitch community, through a standardized orthodox training. But within the movement, young people are also agents: they promote a globalized Jewish orthodoxy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evolution and proliferation of drone technologies have emerged as pivotal factors in the transformation of global geopolitics. While the United States and Israel once dominated the drone market, the industry now witnesses a growing number of contenders, including China, Iran, and Turkey. This article examines the geopolitical implications of Turkey's rising prominence in the drone sector while exploring the subsequent challenges and opportunities it poses to Turkey's relations with Russia, the United States, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). While the long-term strategic implications for global politics remain to be seen, Turkey's drones have enabled it to pursue its regional interests and assert its role as a global drone power, while also exposing it to diplomatic tensions. The paper also discusses the need for a global framework to regulate the drone industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the current situation in Israel, highlighting the ongoing war and the plight of hostages held by Hamas. The author explains that the war against asymmetric actors like terrorist organizations can be prolonged, and the situation in Israel has persisted for many years. The article also mentions the impact of the war on Israel's relationship with the United States and the growing rift between the two countries. The author emphasizes the importance of resolving the situation in Rafah, as it is linked to the broader diplomatic process and Israel's strategic circumstances. The article concludes by paying tribute to Professor Shlomo Avineri, a respected academic and contributor to political discourse in Israel, who recently passed away. [Extracted from the article]