US probes ‘bribery’ scheme to seek White House pardon

Washington (AFP) – The US Justice Department is investigating an alleged bribery scheme involving campaign donations to secure a presidential pardon, a court filing showed Tuesday.The document, which discusses the legality of searching communications and electronic devices of individuals, including attorneys, is highly redacted, with all identifying information blacked out.But it refers to a “secret […]

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USA

Dr. Scott Atlas, Controversial Trump COVID-19 Adviser, Resigns From White House Job

With Monday marking only 51-days until President-elect Joe Biden will be sworn into office, Dr. Scott Atlas, a controversial coronavirus task force member, announced his formal resignation as special adviser to the president.Atlas, a former Fox News contributor with no expertise in infectious disease, joined the Trump administration as a Special Government Employee (SGE) in

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USA

Iran releases Jewish prisoner imprisoned for visiting Israeli family

The Islamic Republic of Iran has freed imprisoned Iranian Jew Mashallah Pesar Kohan, who was detained in 2017 for visiting his family members in Israel.George Haroonian, a prominent Iranian Jewish American, announced Sunday on social media that “Mashallah Pesar Kohan, a Jewish citizen, was released from prison in greater Tehran.”Karmel Melamed, an Iranian-American journalist and

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Middle East

Lawyers give emotional plea for victim of German synagogue attack

Lawyers representing the parents of one of the two people gunned down by a right-wing extremist in the German city of Halle last year made emotional pleas in court on Tuesday, as the trial enters its final stretch.”You robbed a mother of her child in the most disgusting and perverse way,” one attorney, representing the

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International

Israel’s Gantz says will back bill to dissolve parliament

Israel’s Alternate Prime Minister Benny Gantz said on Tuesday his party will vote for an opposition bill to dissolve parliament, a move that could force a fourth election in under two years.Gantz’s centrist Blue and White party is currently the key partner in a precarious coalition led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud.That coalition,

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Middle East

Hamas Has Smuggled Cruise Missiles Aimed at Israel

A war of words broke out in Israel’s Knesset (Parliament) between Avigdor Lieberman, who heads the Yisrael Beiteinu (“Israel Our Home”) party and MK Member Shlomo Karai, from the leading Likud (“Unity”) party. At issue was the alleged leak of security information on new weapons in the hands of Hamas, the militant Islamic Palestinian nationalist movement that has run the Gaza strip since 2007. Lieberman himself is a former Minister of Defense, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Infrastructure Minister and Deputy Prime Minister. Lieberman claimed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister (and deputy prime minister) Benny Gantz were covering up information about precision cruise missiles and cluster bombs being produced by Hamas. [Stephen D. Bryen]

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Middle East, Stephen D. Bryen

Jacob Showed Us the Value of Acting Now

What else can possibly be found in a parasha? Jacob meets his brother, Esau. Jacob wrestles with an angel. We read about the rape of Jacob’s daughter, Dina. Her brothers massacre the men of Shechem. Rivka passes away. Jacob is given a new name, “Yisroel.” Rachel dies after giving birth to Benjamin. Isaac dies. And on it goes. [Michael Mantell, Ph.D]

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Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell, San Diego County

Anarchism and the Avant-Garde

The Museum of Modern Art is currently presenting Félix Fénéon: The Anarchist and the Avant-Garde – From Signac to Matisse and Beyond, examining the immense influence of this art critic, editor, publisher, collector and anarchist. Fénéon (1861-1944) saw the critic as a channel between the artist and the public – a role which had particular significance because art could further the cause of social justice and harmony. As Paul Signac would proclaim: “Justice in sociology, harmony in art: same thing.” [Sam Ben-Meir]

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Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Sam Ben-Meir

Some Palestinians Taking Softer Line on Israel Relations

A recent poll by the Palestinian Center for Public Opinion shows strong sentiment against trusting Israel, but along with that various segments willing to cooperate.
• 38% would agree to returning relations with Israel to their former status, along with various reasons concerning their ability to work in Israel and other economic opportunities
• 40% would agree to the resumption of security coordination with Israel, which in fact has been agreed to by the Palestinian Authority.
• 43% would agree to the resumption of peace negotiations between the Palestinian Authority and Israel [Ira Sharkansky]

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Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USA

Whitewashing FDR’s Abandonment of the Jews

Franklin D. Roosevelt is widely remembered as a strong leader who boldly led America out of the Great Depression and to the brink of victory in World War II. Yet when it comes to the Holocaust, some defenders of FDR’s record want us to believe he was not responsible for keeping Jewish refugees out of America—as if that was all the handiwork of the State Department, which supposedly ran U.S. immigration policy and foreign policy independently of the president’s wishes. Sorry, but you can’t have it both ways. [Rafael Medoff and Stephen H. Norwood]

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International, Jewish History, USA

Biden’s budget pick faces thorny Senate confirmation

Washington (AFP) – Neera Tanden, US President-elect Joe Biden’s pick to head the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), faces a potentially stormy Senate confirmation with opposition coming from the right and strained relations with the left.”Neera Tanden, who has an endless stream of disparaging comments about the Republican senators whose votes she’ll need, stands

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USA

Exporting Racism: The Latest Slander Against Israel

In April, leadership at Tufts University outside Boston was embarrassed when  it was disclosed that Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), the toxic anti-Israel group with a sordid history of campus activism, had been given “The Collaboration Award” by the Office for Campus Life for the group’s role in exposing what they refer to as The Deadly Exchange—partnerships and cooperation between U.S. law enforcement and Israeli security forces. Tufts president Anthony Monaco immediately tried distancing the university from SJP’s award, saying that he “would be reviewing the awards process” to clarify why the divisive SJP—which promotes boycotts against Israel on the 200 or so campuses where it has chapters—should be hailed for collaborating at all, let alone winning an award.  [Richard L. Cravatts, Ph.D]

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Middle East, Richard L. Cravatts, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA