USA

U.S. Ambassador picks wrong mosque in London to visit

By Barry Rubin   HERZLIYA, Israel–Almost a decade after the September 11 attacks, the U.S. government seem unable to tell the differences between moderate and radical Muslims, much less understand that it should support the former against the latter group. So when the U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom visits a mosque, you just know this nice […]

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International, Middle East, USA

Unrepentant Helen Thomas renews attack on Jews; ADL fires back

  NEW YORK (Press Release)– The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) on Friday called on those journalism schools and professional organizations that have recognized journalist Helen Thomas to rescind their honors after she “clearly, unequivocally revealed herself as a vulgar anti-Semite” in remarks to an Arab American group. In a speech Thursday in Dearborn, Michigan, the former White House

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USA

An S.O.S. for America

By Isaac Yetiv, Ph.D LA JOLLA, California —  “When the Athenians wanted not to give to Society but Society to give them…, when they wished freedom  FROM responsibility, then the Athenians ceased to be free.” (Edward Gibbon: The Decline and Fall of  the Roman  Empire) Two scores ago, I became, by choice, a U.S. citizen. No, it was not

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USA

Religious Action Center lauds kids’ nutrition bill, but urges restoration of Food Stamp funding

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)— In response to House passage of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act (S.3307) on Thursday, Dec. 2,  Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism Associate Director Mark J. Pelavin issued the following statement: “Today’s House vote in favor of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act (S. 3307) addresses a key need for struggling low-income

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USA

NCJW criticizes Senate for failing as holidays approach to extend unemployment benefits

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)–The National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) on Thursday condemned the Senate’s failure to pass an extension of unemployment benefits before they expired November 30. NCJW President Nancy Ratzan released the following statement: “It is unconscionable that extension of long-term unemployment benefits has languished in the Senate while benefits expired November 30.

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USA

Congressional resolution urges care for Holocaust survivors

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)—The Jewish Federations of North America applauded the unanimous passage of a Congressional resolution Wednesday, Dec. 1,  to support programs that meet the distinct needs of aging Holocaust survivors. Spurred by information gathered by The Jewish Federations of North America and Jewish Family Service agencies, Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) and Frank

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USA

Obama administration has bungled in Middle East for two years now

By Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel — In all the excitement over the Wikileaks story, I want to remind people that there’s another big story  being ignored. You will be reading about it in the mass media in two or three months. The Obama Administration has messed up its attempts to get Israel-Palestinian negotiations going. The

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Middle East, USA

Reform Jews call for immediate end of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’

WASHINGTON, D.C (Press Release) — In response to the release on Tuesday, Nov. 30, of the Pentagon study on the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, Religious Action Center Director and Counsel Rabbi David Saperstein issued the following statement: “The release today of the Pentagon’s long awaited report from the Task Force charged with investigating

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USA

Former Congressman Stephen Solarz mourned in ADL statement

NEW YORK (Press Release) — The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) mourns the passing of former New York Rep. Stephen Solarz, a tireless champion for human rights, advocate for democracy, and guardian of the safety and security of the State of Israel. Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director, who worked closely with the nine-term Brooklyn congressman on

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USA

Korean crisis illustrates why bullying works in international politics

By Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel — What is the United States and the world going to do about an act of aggression by North Korea on South Korea, the deliberate unprovoked firing of mortars at civilians? And what are the lessons of this situation for other world problems? First, nobody is going to do anything

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International, Middle East, USA

West should—but doesn’t—react to Erdogan’s provocations

By Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel –It should be getting pretty hard even for Western leaders to ignore the Turkish regime’s growing alliance with their enemies. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s visit to Lebanon included a very dangerous statement that must not go unnoticed. Lebanon, of course, is now a virtual satellite of Iran, another strategic factor

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International, Middle East, USA