International

Links to recommended viewing and reading #3

David Brooks, “The Hannukah Story” in The New York Times (a different take) Keith Darce, “Scripps Hospital in Encinitas Gets $10 million donation (from Leichtag Foundation,” San Diego Union-Tribune Daniel Gordis, “A Real Miracle or the Doing of Extraordinary People,” in the Jerusalem Post Phil Jacobs, “Sharansky comes to Baltimore,” in Jewish Times of Baltimore […]

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Middle East, San Diego Calendar, USA

Clinton says Jerusalem a matter for Israelis, Palestinians to decide together

WASHINGTON, D.C (Press Release)–Following is a partial transcript of an interview that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton gave on Friday to Riz Khan of Al Jazeera television: QUESTION: The European Union, with a prompt from Sweden, has put forward a plan for East Jerusalem to be a capital for a Palestinian state. Obviously, it’s met

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Middle East, USA

ADL denounces desecration of mosque on West Bank

JERUSALEM (Press Release)–The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) on Friday condemned the vandalization of a West Bank mosque, allegedly by Jewish extremists.  The perpetrators set fire to holy books, furniture and rugs, and spray painted hateful graffiti in Hebrew on the walls of a mosque in the Palestinian village of Yasuf. ADL’s Israel Office issued the following

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Middle East

World Jewish Congress to award highest honor to Vienna Mayor Michael Haupl

VIENNA (WJC)–Michael Häupl, mayor of the Austrian capital Vienna, will be awarded the World Jewish Congress’ highest distinction, the Nahum Goldmann Medal, which is named after the long-time president of the organization and is awarded to statesmen and other leaders in recognition of their services to world Jewry. WJC President Ronald S. Lauder will present

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Middle East

27 European nations ready to back UN sanctions against Iran

BRUSSELS (WJC)– Leaders of the 27 European Union countries attending a summit meeting have announced their readiness to back new sanctions against Iran at the UN Security Council. “Iran’s persistent failure to meet its international obligations and Iran’s apparent lack of interest in pursuing negotiations require a clear response, including through appropriate measures,” the draft

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USA

UK will label West Bank food origins as 'Palestinian' or 'Israeli settlement'

LONDON (WJC)–Israeli officials reacted angrily about new product labeling guidelines issued by the British Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on goods produced in Israel and the Palestinian territories. “We think this is singling out Israel and it plays into the hands of those who are calling for a boycott of Israeli goods,” a

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Middle East

Links to recommended reading and viewing, #2

Judy Lash Balint in Jerusalem tells of “anti-freeze” demonstration, favoring continued construction “Jewish Federations of North America Update on Rescue of Yemen Jews” Donald H. Harrison, “Santee Lakes are models of recreation and reclamation,” Examiner.com (Don is now doing general sightseeing stories in addition to his work as editor of San Diego Jewish World.  Friends

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Donald H. Harrison, Middle East, USA

Turkey promises 'earthquake' of consequences to Israel if it violates airspace in Iran attack

CAIRO (WJC)–If Israel were to violate Turkish airspace in order to conduct operations against Iran, Ankara’s reaction would resemble an “earthquake,” Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said in an interview with an Egyptian journalist. Responding to a question about rumors that Israel had entered Turkey’s airspace for espionage purposes, Erdogan said that such

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Middle East, USA

Settlers demonstrate power of a religiously driven minority

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–Israel’s limited, 10-month settlement freeze is not working like a well oiled Swiss watch, assuming that metaphor still has validity in the digital age. Settlers have massed to demonstrate against what they call the abominable anti-Jewish doctrines of the prime minister many of them had supported, and they are sending their teen

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Ira Sharkansky, Middle East

Romans urge Shalit release, celebrate works of Luzzati

A sign demanding freedom for Israeli prisoner Gilad Shalit and an exhibit of Jewish Italian artist Emanuel Luzzati are highlights this December in Rome _______________________________________________________ Story by Ulla Hadar, Photos by Rafi Hadar ROME–Climbing the last few steps from the Forum Romano I entered the Piazza in front of the Palazzo Senatorio. My eyes opened

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Middle East

Congresswoman Susan Davis Attends Jerusalem Forum on Middle East Issue

ATTENDED FORUM—From left Nita Lowey, Ted Kaufman, Joseph         Lieberman, Binyamin Netanyahu, Henry Waxman, Lindsey Graham, Howard Berman and Susan Davis _____________________________________________________________ WASHINGTON, D.C  (Press Release)– Congresswoman Susan Davis of San Diego recently attended the 2009 Saban Forum in Israel which brought together leading policymakers from America and Israel to discuss U.S.-Israel relations and the critical

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USA

Lawrence Family JCC dinner, lecture to mark Talmis' return visit to San Diego Jan. 11

LA JOLLA, California — Yoav Talmi, former conductor of the San Diego Symphony Orchestra, on Monday, Jan. 11, will discuss orchestras in Israel and the continuing controversy over whether they should play the music of composer  Richard Wagner, who was a Nazi sympathizer. Talmi currently is the permanent guest conductor of the Israel Chamber Orchestra,

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Eileen Wingard, Middle East, San Diego Calendar