International

In Israel, Reform must focus on providing alternative to Orthodoxy

By Rabbi Dow Marmur  JERUSALEM–In the closing decades of the last century, the complaints I used to hear in Progressive/Reform/Liberal Judaism circles in Israel had to do with the dangers inherent in the secularization of the Jewish state. Religiously and politically liberal Jews were urged to articulate viable alternatives and create institutions to promote them.

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Middle East

American Jewish Committee urges passage of DREAM Act

WASHINGTON, D.C.  (Press Release)– American Jewish Committee (AJC)  is urging the Senate to pass the DREAM Act, which is scheduled for a vote today (Saturday, Dec. 18) “The DREAM Act, addressing the critical needs of the undocumented student population, is an important step towards desperately needed reform of our immigration system,” said Richard T.Foltin, AJC Director of

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USA

U.S. senators urge boycott of Durban III

WASHINGTON, D.C (Press Release)– A bipartisan coalition of 18 U.S. Senators, led by U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, on Friday  urged United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations Susan Rice to refrain from participating in the United Nation’s Durban III World Conference Against Racism, citing concerns that the conference will once again serve as a forum for

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USA

Highly sophisticated Israeli spy equipment found in Lebanon; more border attacks from Gaza

By Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel — Here’s a good report on Israel’s amazing intelligence activity along its northern border, with new types of information-gathering and targeting equipment concealed in rocks: And here’s a good report on the heating up of terrorism activity along Israel’s Gaza border: Note that something very important is happening here–unnoticed [surprise!]

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Middle East

ACLU says U.S. agents improperly question Muslims about their religion and beliefs

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents are questioning innocent Americans who are perceived to be Muslim about their religion and their political beliefs without any suspicion that they have done anything wrong, according to a letter the American Civil Liberties Union and Muslim Advocates sent to the top internal watchdog

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USA

Coordinated effort needed to deal with domestic terrorism, congressional report suggests

  WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)–While there is a coordinated federal government approach to combatting terrorism emanating from foreign countries, there is no such coordination in countering the threat of domestic terrorism, according to a report provided by the Congressional Research Service.   The report provides history of domestic terror incidents in the United States, several of

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USA

Conference of Jewish presidents urges U.N. to reject call for Durban III session

NEW YORK (Press Release)– The Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations called on Thursday  for countries to vote against a 10th anniversary commemoration of the infamous World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance held in Durban in September 2001.  That conference, which began with lofty goals, deteriorated into an orgy of hatred,

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Middle East

Jordan reaches out to Iran — evidence it believes it can no longer count on U.S. for protection?

By Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel –Here’s an old joke that applies to the contemporary Middle East. The Lone Ranger was a Western lawman who chased bad guys with his friend, a Native American named Tonto. One day, they were surrounded by dozens of Native American warriors. The Lone Ranger turned to Tonto and said, “Don’t

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Middle East

Man who tried to blow up JFK Airport sentenced to life in prison

BROOKLYN, NY  (Press Release)– United States District Judge Dora L. Irizarry on Wednesday, Dec. 15, sentenced Abdul Kadir to life in prison for conspiring to attack John F. Kennedy International Airport in Queens, New York, by exploding fuel tanks and the fuel pipeline under the airport. Kadir and his coconspirators believed their attack would cause

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USA

Court says spectator who ridiculed Santa Cruz City Council with Nazi salute should not have been ejected

  SAN FRANCISCO (Press Release)–The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has held that the City Council of Santa Cruz was wrong to eject a spectator who, in protest of not being allowed to speak, gave the Council a silent raised-arm Nazi salute.  Wrote the presiding judge in an opinion: “…unlike der Führer, government officials

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USA