International

A Voltairian view of the Duck Dynasty controversy

By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — After some reluctance, I decided it was important for me to weigh in on the Duck Dynasty controversy involving Phil Robertson and his off-the-cuff remarks regarding gays and African Americans. Robertson’s equation of homosexuality to bestiality is incorrect. The biblical passages dealing with homosexuality pertain to […]

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Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, USA

JNS news briefs: December 26, 2013

Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan threatened by corruption scandal (JNS.org) Turkey’s Islamist Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is facing an increasing pressure on his rule amid a corruption scandal that has already forced three of his top ministers to resign. The corruption probe, revealed by prosecutors on Dec. 17, targeted the resigned minister’s sons with

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International

106 MK’s to Obama: Release Pollard

By Aryeh Savir JERUSALEM–Israel’s Knesset held a special session on Wednesday, Dec. 25, marking Jonathan Pollard’s 29th year of incarceration in an American prison after being convicted of espionage  for Israel in 1987. The session was attended by a huge majority of house members from across the political spectrum, including Arab MK’s. Forty Knesset members

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Middle East

If they’re not hypocrites, here’s what ASA members will give up

By Michael Ordman NETANYA, Israel — Last week we saw another suicidal attempt by so-called “academics” to sever themselves from the Jewish State. The real world, however, knows the true value of Israel’s life-enhancing innovations. Whilst the American Studies Association was voting itself into oblivion, Israel’s VBL Therapeutics announced the development of the first of

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USA

ASA boycott of Israel rejected by academia

NEW YORK (Press Release)– The Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations welcomed the many responses from presidents of leading universities and academic associations across the United States rejecting the call by the American Studies Association for a boycott of Israeli universities.  Responding to a letter from Conference leaders, Robert G. Sugarman, Chairman, and

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USA

JNS news briefs: December 24, 2013

Palestinian conflict talks extension requested by Israel (JNS.org) Israel has asked the U.S. to extend the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict negotiations by a year. If such an extension is not approved, Israel believes it is likely the talks will fail. Israel’s concern stems from U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry’s eagerness to get a framework agreement

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International

JNS news briefs: December 23, 2013

Saudi Arabia delegation meets with Netanyahu, report says (JNS.org) A Saudi Arabian delegation recently flew to Israel for meetings with high-ranking Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel Hayom reported, citing Iran’s Fars news agency. Fars reported that Saudi representatives also recently met with Israeli officials in Monaco. The Iranian report cited an “Israeli

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International