PM said to refuse to name career diplomat in favor of political appointee, likely leaving position vacant until new government formed

Mother of Naama Issachar, who faces 7.5 years in Russian prison for carrying a third of an ounce of marijuana through a Moscow airport, pleads with Russian president to pardon her

Plea to free Naama Issachar reportedly sent via Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III

President Rivlin says 'one of a kind' gathering in Jerusalem in January will also be attended by presidents of Germany, Italy and Austria and many other leaders

Aleksey Burkov's case has been linked to the fate of an Israeli-American backpacker jailed in Russia on drug charges

Court's decision to uphold Aleksey Burkov's extradition 'does not help' Jerusalem-Moscow relations, embassy warns, in case linked to jailing of Israeli woman in Russia

US president says he is considering attending event to commemorate May 1945 allied victory over Nazi Germany; Russia uses annual parade to show off its military might

'We are in a competition of values with unfree nations,' US secretary of state says in Germany, cites Western 'responsibility to deter threats' from such governments

Jewish billionaire believes tide is turning against wave of global populism; of his vilification by right-wing leaders, he says: ''I must be doing something right'

Although no Jews are known to still live in the war-torn country, Russian president says his government is cooperating with Syrian Jews on 'ongoing basis'