Thursday, 22 April 2010

Featured Stories

Jewish leaders caught between criticizing, defending Obama

Defenders of the Obama administration deny that the traditional phrase
Defenders of the Obama administration deny that the traditional phrase "Next Year in Jerusalem" was kept out of the White House seder on March 29, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
With anxiety over the White House's Mideast policy mounting in some pro-Israel circles, several Jewish organizational leaders have found themselves criticizing the Obama administration in public while defending the president in private. Read more »

New corruption scandal dooms chances of Olmert comeback

A new corruption scandal involving Ehud Olmert and his successor as Jerusalem mayor, Uri Lupolianski, raises the question of how corrupt are Israel's municipal governments. Read more »

Morocco razing of Jewish building raises concern

The government's demolition of a historic Jewish community-owned building in Morocco is drawing protest from Jewish leaders. Read more »

Editors' Picks

Gordon Brown on Israel, the Jews (UK Jewish Chronicle)

In an exclusive interview with the Jewish Chronicle, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown talks about his commitment to Israeli security, his conviction that Israel should lift the blockade of Gaza and why Labor is a better friend of the Jews than the Conservative Party.

Hail to the chief (N.Y. Jewish Week)

Britain's chief rabbi, Jonathan Sacks, is among the few figures capable of filling a vacuum of leadership in the Modern Orthodox world, Gary Rosenblatt writes.

Israel's billionaire gas man (BusinessWeek)

Yitzhak Tshuva talks about how his natural gas finds off the coast of Israel will help supply the Jewish state with its energy needs for the next 20 years.

The coming war (Haaretz)

If President Obama wants to avoid a massive war in the Middle East and a nuclear Iran, he'd better quickly shift course, writes Ari Shavit.

Downfall of 'Downfall' (YouTube)

Had to happen eventually: Now Hitler is mighty angry that his YouTube parody videos are being pulled for copyright violations.

Breaking News

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected an Obama administration call for a total construction freeze in eastern Jerusalem, The Wall Street Journal reported.
As Iran began a massive military exercise in the Persian Gulf, Jewish groups protested the impending visit of Iran's foreign minister to Vienna.
Washington should not limit communication with Damascus over an alleged arms transfer to Hezbollah, a seniot U.S. diplomat said.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy plans to introduce a ban that prohibits the wearing of the full veil in public places.
Two more suspects were arrested in Israel's Holyland real estate scandal.
U.S. Middle East peace envoy George Mitchell will meet with Israeli and Palestinian officials this week.
Richard Goldstone said he will not attend his grandson's bar mitzvah because of information his family received from the synagogue and a group's protest threat.
President Obama and his national security adviser reasserted that the alliance with Israel is in the U.S. interest.
Three Polish men convicted of stealing the famous Auschwitz "Arbeit Macht Frei" sign failed to show up for their prison sentences.
Two Katyusha rockets reportedly fired at Eilat from Egypt's Sinai Peninsula landed in Jordan.
Haaretz reporter Anshel Pfeffer and Israeli television producer Shaul Mayzlish won a journalism prize for Diaspora reportage.