USA

Commentary: Barack Obama an intellectual? An ideologue is more like it!

By Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel — You’re traveling through another dimension–a dimension not only of sight and sound but of mind; a journey into a wondrous land whose boundaries are that of imagination. That’s a signpost up ahead: your next stop: the Twilight Zone! –Rod Serling’s introduction to the “Twilight Zone” television series Just when […]

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USA

U.S. imam describes self as a ‘recovering anti-Semite’ following trip to Auschwitz

By Jeanette Friedman SOUTH ORANGE, New Jersey — The auditorium at Jubillee Hall was filled November 14,  as curious Seton Hall students, Jews (including Holocaust survivors and educators), Muslims and Christians came to hear Imam Abdullah Antepli describe how a trip he took to Auschwitz last August changed his life. He was one of the

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USA

Six years after his death, Arafat’s legacy one of terror, stubbornness, greed

By Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel — Six years ago, on November 11, 2004, Yasir Arafat died. On that occasion, former President Bill Clinton explained why he wouldn’t attend Arafat’s funeral: “I regret that in 2000 he missed the opportunity to bring [Palestine] into being….” Not Israel, but Arafat did so. Today, the Arafat era’s lessons

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International, Middle East, USA

National Council of Jewish Women decries anonymous spending in campaigns; calls for more disclosure

 WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) The National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) released a statement decrying the immense infusion of anonymous cash into the 2010 elections and calling for passage of the DISCLOSE Act as a step toward transparency in campaign funding. NCJW’s Board of Directors on Friday, Nov. 12,  released the following statement: “The 2010 election season

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USA

Reacting to anti-Semitism in the white and black communities

By Bruce S. Ticker PHILADELPHIA –The day after news broke that a Catholic archbishop suggested that Judaism has been displaced, Abe Foxman fired off a letter to Cardinal-elect Kurt Koch, the newly appointed president of Vatican’s Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews. Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League, wrote on Oct. 25: “We

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USA

Congressman slams conspirators in case alleging false billing to Holocaust reparations fund

WASHINGTON, D.C.  (Press Release)– Congressman Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) on Wednesday, Nov. 10,  condemned a group of conspirators for defrauding a Holocaust fund and commended the FBI for uncovering the crime.  The Memphis Congressman has a long history of working to ensure fairness for Holocaust survivors and chaired a hearing this past September on the Holocaust Insurance

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USA

New congressman’s appointment of radio commentator to staff riles Jewish Democrats

WASHINGTON, DC (Press Release) – The National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC) on Wednesday  condemned Republican Congressman-elect Allen West’s (R-FL) decision to appoint talk radio host Joyce Kaufman as his Chief of Staff. NJDC President and CEO David A. Harris said upon hearing of Kaufman’s appointment: “Congressman-elect Allen West’s constituents – but especially his Jewish constituents – should

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USA

California Insurance Commissioner sues for right to require Iran divestments by insurance companies

SACRAMENTO (Press Release)–California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner on Tuesday, Nov. 9,  announced that he is filing a lawsuit challenging a California Office of Administrative Law (OAL) determination, issued last month at the behest of the insurance industry, that the Commissioner’s efforts to stop insurers from investing in Iran constituted an “underground regulation.” The Commissioner’s lawsuit contests

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USA

Jay Feinberg, bone marrow foundation founder, named Jewish Community Hero

NEW ORLEANS (Press Release)— The Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) on Tuesday awarded Jay Feinberg, from Boca Raton, Florida, the 2010 Jewish Community Hero Award.  The award marked the culmination of the second annual Jewish Community Heroes contest, in which more than 300,000 votes were cast online to recognize the selflessness and courage of those

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USA

Will Obama be pragmatic or an idealogue in second half of term?

By Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel (Press Release)–What effect will the congressional elections have on U.S. foreign policy generally and Middle East policy in particular? It isn’t a matter of the individual candidates, since nobody lost or won who will have some big influence on U.S. policy in the next couple of years. The important factor

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Middle East, USA

More LGBT candidates elected this year than any before

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)–The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund has  announced that more openly lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) candidates won election to public office in the U.S. in 2010 than in any year in America’s history. At least 106 of the group’s record-breaking 164 endorsed candidates were winners as of Wednesday morning, including Providence,

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USA

U.S. should not be afraid to compare itself with other western democracies

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — The recent column on American madness produced one request to be dropped from my list, several accusations that I had turned against the homeland that nurtured me, claims for the superiority of American freedom and opportunity, an often-repeated accusation from a die-hard Democrat that I am a mad Israeli, one “Amen,”

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USA

ZOA: American voters disapprove Obama’s foreign policy

NEW YORK (Press Release)–The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) has stated that Tuesday’s Congressional election result indicates a sweeping rejection of President Obama’s domestic, economic and foreign policy. Many polls indicate Americans’ dissatisfaction with President Obama’s handling of the Arab/Israeli situation. This election further validates that part of the message sentWednesday to President Obama to

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Travel and Food, USA