International

ADL says START treaty ratification would ease Russo-U.S. teamwork against Iran

NEW YORK (Press Release)– The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has called on members of the United States Senate to ratify the New START treaty, saying that failure to do so promptly “would inevitably hamper” American leadership to stop the Iranian nuclear weapons program. In a letter sent Friday to all members of the Senate, the League urged […]

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USA

SHAS is a more moderate party than Westerners perceive

By Ira Sharkansky  JERUSALEM –Among the platitudes being promoted here and elsewhere is that the Sephardi ultra-Orthodox party SHAS is one of the extremist elements keeping the Netanyahu government from acting with good sense. The conventional line is that Israel must leave the West Bank to Palestine, in compliance with the views expressed by right

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Ira Sharkansky, Middle East

NJDC lauds selection of Steve Israel as Democratic Congressional Campaign chairman

WASHINGTON, DC (Press Release)– National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC) President and CEO David A. Harris issued the following statement congratulating Representative Steve Israel (D-NY) on his appointment as Chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC): “We wish a hearty mazel tov to Representative Steve Israel for being chosen by Speaker Nancy Pelosi to serve as the

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USA

Feinstein calls for immediate repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)– U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) on Thursday called on her colleagues in the Senate to vote in favor of repealing the military’s “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, which unfairly discriminates against gay and lesbian Americans in uniform. Senator Feinstein made her statement at a press conference with fellow Democratic Senators. Following is

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USA

Jewish groups denounce initiative in San Francisco to ban circumcision

SAN FRANCISCO (WJC)–Jewish organizations have condemned a proposal to outlaw ritual circumcision of minors in San Francisco. The Anti-Defamation League, the SFJewish Community Relations Council, the Board of Rabbis of Northern California and the American Jewish Committee together issued a statement expressing “great concern” about the proposed initiative by a San Francisco resident, which would

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USA

Obama pushing peace treaty, whatever the consequences to Israel

By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — During the Bush administration, an envoy was sent to ask what it would take for Israel to feel secure if a Palestinian state was established without a peace treaty with Israel. He had incentives in his pocket. The Israelis turned him down because without a treaty that addressed Israel’s

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Middle East, Shoshana Bryen

Is 90-day construction freeze agreement unraveling?

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–Let’s start with the bad news. For the good news, you’ll have to look elsewhere. A week ago things were looking pretty good. The prime minister reported that the Americans were offering, as an inducement for a 90-day construction freeze in the West Bank, 20 F-35 advanced military planes, free of charge,

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Ira Sharkansky, Middle East

Obama’s order on faith-based initiatives stirs support, opposition

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)— In response to President Obama’s Executive Order concerning federally funded partnerships between the government and faith-based and neighborhood organizations, Rabbi David Saperstein, Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism and member of the President’s Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, released the following statement: “We welcome today’s executive

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USA

ADL applauds court decision permitting mosque in Murfreesboro, Tennessee

NEW YORK (Press Release) — The Interfaith Coalition on Mosques (ICOM) on Thursday welcomed the decision of a Murfreesboro, Tenn., judge that turned back a meritless attempt to block the construction of a mosque. Chancellor Robert Corlew III rejected claims that the city planning commission had acted inappropriately in granting the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro permission to

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USA

Nazi website based in Iran runs through server in Arizona

By Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel — Is Iran’s government sponsoring an Internet site that extols the German Nazis, their history and achievements, including the antisemitism that the current Iranian regime also supports? Or is it merely permitting one to operate in a highly censored communications’ system? Here are the facts. There is a discussion group site entitled IranNazi that

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International, USA

U.S. reportedly insists Israel include East Jerusalem in construction freeze

JERUSALEM (WJC)–As part of a planned 90-day settlement freeze, the United States is reportedly demanding that Israel refrain from construction not only in the West Bank but also in the eastern part of Jerusalem. Although Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is unlikely to win their support, ministers of the ultra-Orthodox Shas Party have said they would

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Middle East

Jewish religion of Texas House speaker becomes a campaign issue for Republican conservative opponets

AUSTIN, Texas (WJC)–Joe Straus, the Republican speaker of the Texan House of Representatives who is seeking re-election next January, has come under attack for being Jewish. Conservatives want to see Straus, who represents San Antonio, replaced by a “true conservative” and a “Christian” for the top legislative job in Texas. A report by the Texan

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USA