International

Middle Eastern countries most restrictive on religion, American countries the least

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) – In a new report measuring infringements on religious beliefs and practices around the world, the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life finds that two-in-three people in the world today live in countries with high levels of restrictions on religion. The report gauges the level of restrictions due both to government actions […]

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USA

New EU Foreign Minister Catherine Ashton denounces Israel

STRASBOURG, France (WJC)–Catherine Ashton, the European Union’s new foreign policy chief, has lashed out against Israel. In her first major speech since taking office on 01 December, Ashton – a former deputy minister in the British government and until recently EU trade commissioner – condemned Israel’s “occupation,”  demanded that Israel lift its “blockade” of the

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Middle East, USA

ZOA endorses Israel counter-boycott campaign against British goods

NEW YORK (Press Release)–The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) is supporting a petition signed by 39 Members of the Knesset calling upon the Israeli public to reconsider availing themselves of British goods and services in response to a recent British government initiative to recommend to all U.K. retail chains the placing of prominent labels indicating

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Middle East

Fatah and Hamas may be gearing up for Civil War

By Shoshana Bryen  WASHINGTON, D.C.–While the Europeans were busy recasting Jerusalem in the image of Cold War Berlin complete with a wall and two governments-one free and one not-the Palestinians were busy revealing what their presumed state would look like. Follow the threads.   In June, Fatah reaffirmed “the right of armed resistance” (terrorism) in

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Middle East

ADL lists its top 10 Jewish issues for 2009

NEW YORK (Press Release)—Our nation’s first African-American president,the pronounced intensification of global anti-Semitism, continued defiance from Iran, and an unabashedly biased anti-Israel report were among the top issues affecting Jews in 2009, according to the Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL) annual list. “Much of the good news from the past year is, unfortunately, tempered by the bad,”

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Middle East, USA

Barak's decision to join Netanyahu government may have been prescient

By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM–When Ehud Barak, the elected leader of Israel’s Labour Party, joined the Netanyahu government early this year as Minister of Defense, it was said in many quarters that he’d destroy the party that had already been greatly diminished in the election. The fact that several members of his Knesset faction rebelled

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Middle East

Human Rights Watch says migrants abused in many countries including Arab countries, Israel and U.S.

NEW YORK (Press Release)– Many governments’ policies toward migrants worldwide expose them to human rights abuses including labor exploitation, inadequate access to health care, and prolonged detention in poor, overcrowded conditions, Human Rights Watch said Wednesday in advance of International Migrants Day, on December 18, 2009. A 25-page roundup of Human Rights Watch reporting on violations

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Middle East, USA

Fundraiser pleads guilty to sending money to Iraq during Saddam's time

 JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri (Press Release) – Matt J. Whitworth, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Columbia, Missouri, man pleaded guilty in federal court Wednesday to illegally transferring funds to Iraq in violation of federal sanctions. Ahmad Mustafa, 55, of Columbia, a citizen of Iraq and a lawful permanent resident alien

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USA

Credit Suisse forfeits $536 million for helping Iran, other countries, circumvent U.S. laws

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)–Credit Suisse AG, a Swiss corporation headquartered in Zurich, has agreed to forfeit $536 million to the United States and to the New York County District Attorney’s Office in connection with violations of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and New York state law. The forfeiture is the largest ever entered

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USA

Gordon Brown to Tzipi Livni: You're welcome in Britain

LONDON (WJC)–Following the row  between Israel and Britain over attempts to arrest former Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, the British attorney-general will in future be asked to approve any warrants before suspected war criminals can be arrested, ‘The Guardian’ newspaper reports. Discussions had begun on creating “safeguards” in criminal cases against visiting foreign leaders. Lawyers

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Middle East

Iran's missile test spurs talk of sanctions, war

TEHRAN (WJC)–Iran test-fired a new version of its long-range Sajjil-2 missile on Wednesday and delivered the message that it is prepared to retaliate should Israel, the United States or anyone else attempt a military strike against its nuclear facilities. Images of the launch were shown on Iranian state television. Defense Minister Vahidi said that the

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Middle East, USA