Israel & Mideast:
Tensions remained high between Israel and Syria today, even as Israel tried to cool the situation following strikes on Hezbollah weapons near Damascus. Palestinian terror groups in Syria say the regime has given them the go-ahead to attack Israel, and a top Israel official says the Jewish State will act on its ‘red lines’ on Syria.
Meanwhile, on the Palestinian front, PM Netanyahu reportedly froze West Bank settlement construction; Jerusalem’s mayor says Israel will never cede control of the city; and JTA reports Qatar is seeking to become a Mideast peace player.
In domestic news, Israeli NY Times columnist Shmuel Rosner looks at how young Israelis seem ignorant of great Zionist literary figures; Israel’s opposition leaders spar over budget cuts; and a new survey says Jerusalemites are among Israel’s happiest residents.
• Haaretz -- Palestinian militants in Syria: Assad grants green light to attack Israel
• Times of Israel -- Israel will act on its red lines, Yaalon vows
• Israel Hayom (op-ed, Eyal Zisser) -- Assad and the Arab Spring’s pincer
• Jerusalem Post -- ‘PM orders freeze of W. Bank settlement tenders’
• Times of Israel -- Barkat: Let the Palestinians rename Ramallah as ‘Jerusalem’
• JTA -- Oil-rich Qatar pushing to make its name as a Mideast peace broker
Israel Domestic News:
• N.Y. Times “Latitude” blog -- The Youths of Zion
• Times of Israel -- Opposition head bombs Lapid’s ‘cruel’ economic plan
• Ynet News -- Survey: Jerusalem enjoys economic boost, happiest residents
For more Israel news, see the weekly JFNA Israel news page.
For more security news, see JFNA’s Secure Community Network (SCN) website.
Israel Advocacy:
The Algemeiner looks at the anti-Israel slant of The Economist; and a top San Francisco city official gains new insight into Israel on an annual trip led by the Federation-supported SF JCRC.
• Algemeiner -- The Economist Reveals its Anti-Israel Bias
• San Francisco magazine -- What David Chiu learned on his trip to Israel
For more Israel advocacy news, see the Israel Action Network website.
Global Jewish News:
The World Jewish Congress continues to seek to clamp down on a far-right Hungarian party; and the WJC re-elects Ronald Lauder.
• JTA -- WJC resolution urges Hungary to crack down on Jobbik
• Jerusalem Post -- Ronald Lauder reelected president of WJC
Federations/Philanthropy:
Globally, Alisa Doctoroff looks at the impact of a recent Israel mission; a former Federation official in Canada is among those exploring ways to save the Canadian Jewish News; and CBS News looks at a novel non-profit.
Federations are featured in Delaware; Monmouth County, NJ; New York; and Princeton Mercer Bucks, NJ.
Global:
• N.Y. Jewish Week (op-ed, Alisa Doctoroff) -- Mission To Israel: A Workshop In Resilience And Hope (highlights Federation)
• Canadian Jewish News -- Effort underway to rescue the CJN (highlights Federation)
• CBS News -- Modern-day Robin Hood applies business skills to philanthropy
Local:
• N.J. Jewish News -- Women share spirit of federation giving (highlights Federation)
• N.J. Jewish News -- Israeli superstar to lift up the Jersey Shore (highlights Federation)
• Jewish Federation of Delaware (press release) -- Federation Wins Marketing Awards (highlights Federation)