Daniel Estrin

The World

Daniel Estrin is an American journalist in the Middle East.

Daniel is an American journalist in the Middle East. He reports for The World, the Associated Press and other media.

Israeli tenth-graders are learning cyber security skills. The military won't allow photos that show their faces because many of them may later be recruited to Israel's version of the NSA.

Israel teaches cybersecurity skills to its high schoolers

A program for gifted 10th-graders teaches them coding, encryption and how to defend a computer network against hacking. Many of the students will end up in Israel's equivalent of the NSA.

Israel teaches cybersecurity skills to its high schoolers
Ivanka Trump Jared Kushner inauguration

Does Israel recognize Ivanka Trump's Jewishness? It does now.

Does Israel recognize Ivanka Trump's Jewishness? It does now.
Proto-Sinaitic script

There's an intriguing theory that illiterate miners invented the alphabet

There's an intriguing theory that illiterate miners invented the alphabet
The entrance to the room where the tomb of Jesus is located.

Jesus' tomb was just exposed for the first time in centuries. Here are the photos.

Jesus' tomb was just exposed for the first time in centuries. Here are the photos.
A young swimmer gets ready to leap off of a diving board at Sommerbad Neukolln, a public pool facility in Berlin. It's located in one of Germany’s most ethnically diverse neighborhoods.

Welcoming refugees to the pool — in a most German way

Welcoming refugees to the pool — in a most German way
Children climb on a construction near a gravestone in the playground of the Sophienkirche day-care center in Berlin, Germany. The day-care is located on the grounds of the Sophienkirche church, and it’s playground occupies a space that was once the parish

Berlin's graveyards are being converted for use by the living

Space is at a premium in most big cities — but even then space is usually reserved for the dead. In Berlin, though, many old cemeteries are being converted as public spaces.

Berlin's graveyards are being converted for use by the living
Tarek Bakhous is a Syrian Christian refugee. He says he faced harassment from his Syrian Muslim refugee roommates in Berlin.

These Syrian Christians fled Muslim extremist harassment. Then they found it again in Germany.

Syrian Christian refugees are living with Syrian Muslim refugees in Germany. And some Christians say they're being harassed.

These Syrian Christians fled Muslim extremist harassment. Then they found it again in Germany.
Frank Hessenland left Germany's Alternative fur Deutschland (AfD) party when he realized how far to the right it had moved. But the party continued to haunt him.

This reporter joined a new political party. But he left in horror when it turned 'almost neo-Nazi.'

When Frank Hessenland joined Germany's Alternative für Deutschland, he saw it as a center-right political party. Then it moved far to the right. Even though he quit the party, he couldn't shake its far-right image.

This reporter joined a new political party. But he left in horror when it turned 'almost neo-Nazi.'
Imam Kadir Sanci holds a model of the House of One in Berlin.

This place of worship would be 3-in-1: Church, synagogue and mosque

In Berlin, a priest, a rabbi and an imam have come together on a project to create a hybrid church-synagogue-mosque in the German capital. Like the fall of the Berlin Wall, the House of One would tear down the walls between religions.

This place of worship would be 3-in-1: Church, synagogue and mosque
The Jellinek family in their home in Berlin, with their houseguest, Kinan, a Syrian Muslim refugee (second from left). When Chaim Jellinek told Kinan he was Jewish, Kinan said he had no problem with that.

This Jewish family is hosting a Syrian Muslim refugee in their Berlin home

When a Syrian refugee moved into the Jellinek family's home in Berlin, he got help with his German. And the Jewish family developed a new appreciation for their country.

This Jewish family is hosting a Syrian Muslim refugee in their Berlin home
Deportation stamps used by the German federal police "Bundespolizei" to stamp ID documents of rejected asylum seekers, in Rosenheim, southern Germany.

In Germany, mass deportation is a touchy subject

Mass deportation is a painful issue in Germany given its Nazi past. The last time the country rounded up masses of people was during the Holocaust.

In Germany, mass deportation is a touchy subject
Milad Khawam performing in Berlin as part of his new music project, "Exilistan."

A Syrian trumpet player in Berlin has a new project called 'Exilistan'

Milad Khawam, a Syrian refugee in Berlin, describes his music as a "schizophrenia of feelings." It's the mix of emotions, he says, of someone who has left everything behind and is starting over.

A Syrian trumpet player in Berlin has a new project called 'Exilistan'
Avigdor Lieberman (L) and Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, after agreeing a new coalition deal last week, which gave Lieberman the Defense Ministry

Who is Israel's controversial new defense minister?

The job of defense minister is seen as Israel's second-most powerful post. And now it's in the hands of a man often described as "impulsive" and "ultranationalist." Avigdor Lieberman was sworn in on Monday.

Who is Israel's controversial new defense minister?
At a Memorial Day gathering in front of the city hall in Jerusalem. People come together to sing songs of loss and remembrance.

Long before karaoke came to Israel, there were public sing-alongs

In Israel, Memorial Day means public gatherings where people sing together to remember those they have lost.

Long before karaoke came to Israel, there were public sing-alongs
Novelist Ayelet Waldman and a Palestinian man in Hebron. “For most of my life, I loved Israel, I longed for Israel, I planned to live in Israel,” she says.

Novelist Ayelet Waldman is sending writers to the West Bank to document what they see, 50 years into occupation

Israeli-born writer Ayelet Waldman tried to put Israel out of her mind for 20 years. Now she and her husband, Michael Chabon, are bringing writers to the region to write about the West Bank occupation.

Novelist Ayelet Waldman is sending writers to the West Bank to document what they see, 50 years into occupation