International

Giffords’ husband expresses gratitude to American public

TUCSON, Arizona (Press Release) — U.S. Navy Capt. Mark Kelly, who is a NASA astronaut, issued a statement on the website of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who was severely wounded Saturday during a community event in her district.  Six other people were killed and 13 others wounded in a rampage, at which Jared Laughner was arrested and later charged.  […]

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USA

Union for Reform Judaism says Knesset investigatory panels undermine Israel’s democracy

NEW YORK (Press Release)– In response to the Knesset’s decision last week to form a parliamentary committee investigating Israeli groups critical of the Israel Defense Forces, Rabbi Eric Yoffie, President of the Union for Reform Judaism, and Rabbi David Saperstein, Director of the Religious Action Center for Reform Judaism issued the following statement:   “We

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Middle East

ADL probes Loughner’s postings; only hatred of God and religion is clear

NEW YORK (Press Release)– The Anti-Defamation League, which makes a practice of monitoring websites, has analyzed that of Jared Lee Loughner, the 22-year-old accused in Phoenix of killing six bystanders and wounding Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and 13 others. The ADL notes that speculation has understandably been intense over the possible motives of the suspected shooter. 

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USA

If hate speech led to Arizona shootings, imagine how much greater its effect in the Middle East

By Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel –When one crazed or ideologically obsessed gunman named Jared Loughner  starts shooting in Arizona, people condemn him and start bemoaning the state of their society. How about a place with ten million people like that who are treated as heroes? America this week is awash in a huge and passionate debate

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Middle East, USA

Video report: Campaign develops on Internet to free Jonathan Pollard.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A video making the rounds on the Internet calls on President Barack Obama to commute the prison sentence of Jonathan Pollard to time served. It includes comments from members and former members of the executive, legislative and judicial branches of the federal government. This version was distributed by Israel News Video, which

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USA

Video report: Southern Israel tense over firing of rockets from Gaza

SDEROT, Israel — In this city close to the Gaza Strip — and surrounded by the kibbutzim and moshav of Sha’ar Hanegev, the partnership region to the Jewish Federation of San Diego County– tensions are running high in anticipation of more rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip.   This video was  provided by Israel News Video

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Middle East

Sarid: Meir Kahane breathes through Avigdor Lieberman’s mouth

By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — Yossi Sarid is a former leader of the left-wing Meretz party. When he was in government he was Israel’s minister of education. Today he’s one of the sharpest and wittiest columnists in Ha’aretz. Meir Kahane was an American Orthodox rabbi who came to Israel to spread fascism. He was assassinated

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Middle East

ZOA applauds formation of Knesset investigative committee

NEW YORK (Press Release)–The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) supports the Israeli government’s formation of a Knesset committee to investigate the funding of Israeli groups that condemn the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and assist foreign campaigns seeking to delegitimize and demonize Israel. The parliamentary committee will be charged with determining if the groups in question

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Middle East

Society of Professional Journalists’ executive committee suggests ‘retiring’ Helen Thomas Award

NEW YORK (Press Release)– The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) on Tuyesday welcomed the recommendation of the Executive Committee of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) to “retire” the Helen Thomas Award for Lifetime Achievement.  The recommendation, approved in a vote Saturday at a meeting in Nashville, Tenn., will be sent to the full board of directors within the

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USA

Giffords’ Jewish religion may have caused her to be targeted for assassination

WASHINGTON, D.C. (WJC)–The US Department of Homeland Security has listed Congresswoman Gabriel Giffords’ Jewish faith as being a possible factor in her shooting. An department memo says that her assailant, Jared Lee Loughner, mentioned American Renaissance, an extremist anti-immigrant group, in some of his own postings. “The group’s ideology is anti-government, anti-immigration, anti-ZOG (Zionist Occupational

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USA

J Street condemns demolition of Shepherd Hotel in East Jerusalem

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) — J Street President Jeremy Ben-Ami released the following statement in response to the demolition of the Shepherd’s Hotel in East Jerusalem, aimed at clearing land for the construction of new Jewish housing in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood: “The demolition of the Shepherd’s Hotel in East Jerusalem is a deeply provocative action,

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Middle East

Israel to spend $100 million over three years for Birthright/Taglit

JERUSALEM (Press Release)– Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that the Government of Israel approved $100 million in funding for Taglit-Birthright Israel over the next three years, speaking Thursday (Jan. 6) to three thousand young adults at the winter Mega Event in Jerusalem. The goal of the funding increase is to enable Taglit-Birthright Israel to bring

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Middle East