Islamic Jihad says it leaked IDF soldiers’ personal information
(Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) The Islamic Jihad terrorist group in the Gaza Strip claims that it published more than 100 Israeli soldiers’ personal information on the Internet on Monday, according to Palestinian media outlets.
The list of documents published online reportedly contains confidential information including the soldiers’ military certifications, ranks in the Israel Defense Forces, cellphone numbers and home addresses. Also among the files are recorded meetings between reserve officers and plans for a parting event for former Homefront Defense Minister Matan Vilnai.
The IDF Spokesperson’s Unit said the military was aware of the reports.
“The matter is known to the IDF’s information security unit,” the unit said. “The IDF is well aware of attempts by hostile agents to collect information, and has taken numerous measures to protect its systems and confidential information on both day-to-day and emergency operations.”
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Livni unveils new party for run in Israeli elections
(JNS.org) After months of speculation, former Israeli Foreign Minister and Opposition Leader Tzipi Livni on Tuesday announced her candidacy in Israel’s Jan. 22 general elections, unveiling her new party Hatnuah (“The Movement”), Israel Hayom reported.
Livni reportedly delayed launching her new party until after hostilities with Hamas in Gaza had ceased.
“It was difficult for me to return to politics,” Livni told a packed roomful of reporters at a press conference in Tel Aviv. “I came to fight for our shared vision; to fight for peace. I will not lend a hand to those who are trying to turn the word ‘peace’ into a bad word. I came to fight for Jewish Israel, for democratic Israel. I came to fight against social gaps.”
Labor Chairwoman Shelly Yachimovich, who had asked Livni to join the party but was rejected, issued a statement saying: “Tzipi Livni, who is a worthy woman and politician, is making a terrible mistake. She is establishing a party of double refugees and giving Netanyahu and [Avigdor] Lieberman a reason to smile. Instead of focusing on their [Likud-Beytenu] ultra-extreme Knesset list, now we’re focusing on the fact that there is another little party in the Center.”
JDC announces new CEO
(JNS.org) The world’s largest Jewish relief organization, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), has announced that Alan Gill will take the reins as CEO of the organization early next year.
“We couldn’t be more proud that Alan Gill, whose seasoned leadership and forward-thinking expertise has been so critical to JDC’s impact in recent years, will lead us into our second century,” said JDC President Penny Blumenstein, according to the JDC press release.
Gill, a former CEO of the Jewish Federation of Columbus, Ohio, is a 20-year veteran of JDC and will succeed interim CEO Darrell Friedman, who had replaced longtime CEO Steven Schwager. In his current role as executive director of international relations, Gill presided over a tenfold increase in JDC’s direct philanthropic revenue. He was also instrumental in establishing a number of JDC’s landmark programs such as Ashalim, which helps children at risk in Israel, and The Hunger Relief Campaign, which helps Jewish communities in post-communist countries.
“I’m privileged to be appointed CEO of this remarkable, dynamic organization. Our mission has never been more critical or more urgent, and in the years ahead, we must reach even further to ensure that wherever a Jew is in need, JDC is there,” said Gill.
Founded in 1914, the JDC is the world’s leading Jewish humanitarian organization. Currently, it assists Jewish communities in more than 70 countries and Israel to alleviate hunger and hardship, rescue Jews in danger, create lasting connections to Jewish life and provide relief for other victims of natural or man-made disasters such as the 2004 South Asia tsunami or the genocide in Darfur.
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Fears of ‘Islamist dictatorship’ grow after controversial decree by Egypt’s president
(JNS.org) Despite receiving praise over his role in negotiation a ceasefire in Gaza, Egypt’s President Mohamed Morsi is facing mounting protests at home over a controversial ruling that many fear could result in a new “Islamist dictatorship.”
Opponents are upset with President Morsi’s decree on Nov 22., which declared that Egyptian courts cannot overrule any decisions he has made over the last six months or decisions he will make until the a new constitution is passed.
However, the drafting of Egypt’s new constitution has been complicated by the lack of a parliament, which was dissolved last June by the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces after an Egyptian high court ruling that found issues with the election. Egypt’s Islamists—which dominated the parliament at the time—were upset with the dissolution.
Later, after becoming president, Morsi replaced several prominent generals in the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, in a move that many analysts viewed as an effort to consolidate his authority over Egypt’s military.
Morsi also attempted to restore the parliament, but the move was rejected by Egypt’s courts.
But even if parliament is restored and constitution is drafted, Middle East experts see Islamists continuing to dominate.
“By the time you get that new constitution, it will have been written by an Islamist-dominated assembly that all non-Islamists have completely abandoned,” Eric Trager, a fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, told CNN.
Morsi’s opponents, who include broad coalition liberals, secularists and Christians, have taken to the streets in protest. Many of them are deeply suspicious of the President Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood.
Thousands have gathered in Cairo’s Tahrir Square, reminiscent of the demonstrations that overthrew former President Hosni Mubarak in 2011. Violence has also been directed against offices of the Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party and a 15-year old Muslim Brotherhood supported was killed, according to the New York Times.
The opposition refuses to meet with Morsi until he rescinds his decree and has scheduled additional demonstrations in Cairo in the upcoming days.
“There is no room for compromise. If he wants a dialogue, he has to rescind these measures,” said Mohammed ElBaradei, former head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and leader of Egypt’s liberal Constitution Party.
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Preceding provided by JNS.org