International

A primer on Israel’s presidential hopefuls

By Alina Dain Sharon/JNS.org Israeli President Shimon Peres is retiring in July, capping a seven-year term and a nearly seven-decade political career in the Jewish state. After replacing disgraced former President Moshe Katzav, who was convicted of rape in 2007, the younger-than-his-years Peres turned the largely ceremonial role of Israeli president into a pseudo-ambassadorial position, […]

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Middle East

JNS news briefs: May 13, 2014

Danny Glover, others in ‘American Revolutionary’ call for boycott of Israel (JNS.org) Actor Danny Glover and others featured in “American Revolutionary: The Evolution of Grace Lee Boggs” lamented the documentary film’s screening at the DocAviv festival in Tel Aviv, and called for a boycott of Israel. “We stand in solidarity with the people of Palestine,

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International

The Flaw in Obamacare — Gov’t red tape

By Joe Gandelman   SAN DIEGO — There’s good news and bad news about Obamacare. The good news is some 8 million Americans have signed up for health care, and the national uninsured rate is dropping. The bad news is an estimated 5 million “working poor” Americans can’t get insurance because they’re considered too poor. Others

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Joe Gandelman, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Former PM Ehud Olmert sentenced to six years in prison

TEL AVIV (WJC) — A district court on Tuesday sentenced former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to six years in prison for bribery and handed him a fine of US$ 290,000. Olmert’s spokesman said he would appeal to the Supreme Court and ask to be freed on bail until it had ruled. Olmert maintains his innocence. The former Kadima and Likud politician and ex-mayor

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Middle East

Abbas tells Peres, Indyk one thing, Netanyahu another

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — In democracies with strong institutions, individuals do not generally make major decisions. They come from parties, organizations, and governmental bodies, with the oversight of courts that are designed to neutralize the egos and policy preferences of those claiming leadership. Yet personalities are part of the process, and can get in

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Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USA

U.S. Senator Charles Schumer seeks rewards, refugee status for people finding kidnapped Nigerian girls

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)–U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer called on the U.S. State Department to take three critical steps in order to aid in the rescue of the 276 missing girls in Nigeria. Specifically, Schumer called on the State Department to: 1.) set up financial rewards for reliable information that leads to the location and return

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International, USA

Sanders urges more college credit programs in h.s.

BURLINGTON, Vermont (Press Release) – Flanked by Vermont college students and graduates who are deep in debt, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders said today he will introduce legislation to help students earn college credits in high school in order to cut the cost of earning a college diploma. Sanders said he supports a separate bill to lower

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Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Cardin, other senators, decry Chinese ‘aggressive tactics’

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) – A bipartisan group of senators called recent actions by Chinese ships in the South China Sea “deeply troubling,” and urged their colleagues to pass a senate resolution reaffirming support of the U.S. government for freedom of navigation in the Asia-Pacific region and for the peaceful diplomatic resolution of outstanding territorial and

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International, USA

‘College Sexual Assault Bill of Rights’ proposed

Hartford, Connecticut (Press Release)–  U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) released a comprehensive report on Monday, May 12, calling for a College Sexual Assault Bill of Rights. The report was the culmination of a series of statewide roundtables Blumenthal hosted on campus sexual assault at seven colleges and universities across Connecticut. More than 450 college administrators, faculty, students,

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USA

Iran gains momentum, dollars in interim deal with West

By Ambassador Eric Edelman & Ambassador Dennis Ross Co-Chairs, Gemunder Center Iran Task Force WASHINGTON, D.C. — More than three months since the implementation of the interim deal with Iran over its nuclear program, formally known as the Joint Plan of Action (JPA), we thought it valuable to offer an assessment of the impact of the agreement.

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International, Middle East

Mother who survived death says trust your premonitions

By Janice McCafferty CHICAGO — After seven rounds of intense and emotional IVF procedures, Stephanie Arnold became pregnant with her second child in October of 2012. All was fine until her 20th week ultrasound. Stephanie became overwhelmed with premonitions of her own death. She best explains this feeling as something that made every cell in

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Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Latvian pre-school boasts it has no Jews

RIGA, Latvia (WJC) — The sign with the German term ‘judenfrei‘, which was used by the Nazi occupiers during World War II, was seen posted on the outside gate of the Pucite pre-school in Riga which is reportedly owned by the far-right lawmaker Imants Paradnieks. The Coordination Forum for Countering Antisemitism further reported that Paradnieks was asked last Tuesday via Twitter if the

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International