May 23, 2013

Mideast:

In regional news, PM Netanyahu meets with European officials to discuss the war on terror, and meets with Sec. of State Kerry to discuss the Palestinian peace process. The Times of Israel runs a story that former PM Olmert discussed a land-swap peace plan with Palestinian Authority President Abbas. Also, an Israeli columnist says the recent series of Israeli public comments on war with Syria were part of a concerted messaging strategy.

In domestic Israeli news, the OECD faults Israel for not integrating Arabs and religious Jews enough; and the new law to draft religious youth exempts very few from the army.

Regional News:

• Jerusalem Post -- PM to Hague: Together we face battle against terrorism
• Haaretz -- Netanyahu to Kerry: Israel wants to renew peace talks with Palestinians above all
• Times of Israel -- Kerry: Israeli 'prosperity' preventing sense of urgency about peace
• N.Y. Times -- In Mideast, Kerry Plays Down Pessimism On Peace
• Times of Israel -- Hand-drawn map shows what Olmert offered for peace
• Ynet News (analysis) -- Putin is unreliable: On to direct messages to Assad

Israel Domestic News:

• Ynet News -- OECD: Haredi, Arab integration insufficient
• Times of Israel -- New bill exempts only 1,800 haredi students per year from draft

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:

Amnesty International charges Israel and the Palestinians with war crimes.

• Times of Israel -- Amnesty accuses Israel, Palestinians of war crimes

For more Israel advocacy news, see the Israel Action Network website.

Global Jewish News:

JAFI Chair Natan Sharansky calls for an independent investigation of the new reports of Claims Conference wrongdoing; a Hungarian newspaper reports on efforts by JFNA and other Jewish groups to seek government help in clamping down on local anti-Semitism; and Tablet reports on rising French Jewish concerns of anti-Semitism.

• Jerusalem Post -- JA chairman Sharansky: Independent probe needed
• Budapest Times -- Jews ask US to keep up pressure on Hungary (highlights JFNA)
• Tablet -- A Growing Fear in France

Federations/Philanthropy:

Globally, the Adelsons donate $40M to Birthright, their latest major gift to the organization; a Claims Conference leader addresses accountability issues; the NY Jewish Week’s Gary Rosenblatt speaks with a rabbi who offers a new vision of Jewish community; and Jewish groups deliver food to tornado-ravaged Oklahoma.

Federations are featured in Boston; Cleveland the East Bay, CA and Pittsburgh.

Global:

• JTA -- Adelsons donate $40 million to Birthright
• JTA -- After botched probe, Claims Conference chairman Julius Berman addresses accountability
• NY Jewish Week (editor’s column) -- Rabbi offers a new way to think of ourselves: "tribal," and "covenental." (highlights Federation)
• JTA -- Jewish organizations to deliver 20,000 pounds of food to Oklahoma

Local:

• Cleveland Jewish News -- Jewish Federation of Cleveland Launches Oklahoma Tornado Disaster Relief Fund (highlights Federation)
• Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle -- Federation sends volunteers group to Israel on mission (highlights Federation)
• Yahoo! Finance -- East Bay Jewish Federation Opens Oklahoma Tornado Relief Fund (highlights Federation)

May 20, 2013

Mideast:

News reports say that Syria is preparing to strike Tel Aviv if Israel launches another attack on its territory. A YNet columnist links Israel's attacks to Iranian maneuvering to support Hezbollah, which according to a NY Times story, is heavily supporting a new Syrian military push.

John Kerry is heading back to Arab states and Israel for diplomatic talks. In Israel, a UNESCO delegation's visit has been suspended over Israeli concerns that it has been overly politicized. A new Israeli report refutes prominent French news footage that seemed to show IDF brutality.

• Haaretz -- Report: Assad preparing missile strike against Tel Aviv in case attacked again 
• YNet (op-ed) -- Will Israel destroy Russian missiles?  
•  NY Times -- Hezbollah Aids Syrian Military in a Key Battle 
•  Times of Israel -- Kerry swinging through Mideast to advance struggling Syria plan 
•  JPost -- Israel nixes UNESCO J'lem delegation at last minute  
•   AP/ABC -- Israel, Palestinians Still Arguing Over Epic Image

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:

A South African member of parliament is pushing back against anti-Israel sentiments there. The Israeli contestant in a prominent European singing competition faces threats.

•  JNS -- South Africa parliament member and clergyman makes the case for Israel 
•  Jewish Chronicle (UK) -- Protest targets Israel's Eurovision singer  

For more Israel advocacy news, see the Israel Action Network website. 

World Jewish News:

A former official in the Obama presidential campaign has been named a State Department envoy to combat anti-Semitism. Israeli soccer organizers take anti-hooliganism training in Europe.

•  JTA -- Ex-Jewish Dems chief Forman tapped for anti-Semitism post
•  JTA -- As European soccer racism festers, British pros coach Israelis in tolerance  

Federations/Philanthropy:

Globally, a Texas billionaire seeks to donate $4 billion with "an unsentimental focus on results and an aversion to feel-good projects." A Times of Israel columnist looks at hurdles faced by Israeli travelers to the US. In eJewishPhilanthropy, a columnist explores whether a focus on metrics is supplanting a focus on meaning among Jewish professionals.

Federations are featured in MetroWest NJ, Quad Cities (Ill.) and Knoxville.

Global:

• Wall St Journal -- The New Science of Giving 
• Times of Israel (opinion) -- Israeli Tourist and Business Travel to U.S. More Onerous Than It Should Be 
• eJewishPhilanthropy -- The Business of Meaning 

Local:

• NJ Star-Ledger -- Holocaust Seder will honor survivors and victims of all genocides
• American-Israel Chamber of Commerce blog -- Israelis Visit Oak Ridge, Tennessee for BioEnergy Challenge  
• Quad City Times -- Night to honor Israel represented in ... Israel