Wednesday, 28 April 2010

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Featured Stories

As Britain votes, Liberal Democrats' record on Israel draws scrutiny

Liberal Democratic leader Nick Clegg launches his party's manifesto in London on April 14, 2010.
Liberal Democratic leader Nick Clegg launches his party's manifesto in London on April 14, 2010. (Alex Folkes / Creative Commons)
With the Liberal Democratic candidate having upended the race for British prime minister, Jews are concerned about the Israel record of a party likely to wield considerable power in the next parliament. The vote is May 6. Read more »

Obama spreads the love, keeping Jewish leaders happy -- for now

After months of focus on disagreements over settlements, President Obama and his top lieutenants have ramped up efforts to underscore their belief in the strength and importance of the U.S.-Israel relationship. Read more »

New Arizona law brings renewed attention to immigration reform

Jewish groups are slamming Arizona's stringent new immigration-enforcement law, but hope outrage over the measure will reignite efforts to push comprehensive immigration reform on a national level. Read more »

Selection of Israeli envoy sparks debate at Brandeis

Brandeis has sparked a controversy in the university community with its selection of Israel's ambassador to Washington as its commencement speaker. Read more »

Editors' Picks

Obama's Jerusalem holdup (Wall Street Journal)

President Obama's shift in U.S. policy on Jerusalem is stalling the Middle East peace process, writes Mort Zuckerman, a former chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations.

David Axelrod: The video

President Obama's senior adviser talks tikkun olam, Iran, Israel and Jewish memories in his speech to the National Jewish Democratic Council.

Civil war at Human Rights Watch (The New Republic)

Human Rights Watch is waging an internal battle over its treatment of Israel, culminating in the publication last year of an Op-Ed by its founder calling the organization's work on Israel shoddy and biased. Benjamin Birnbaum has the story.

Blame the shadchan (Montreal Gazette)

A Canadian doctor is suing his matchmaker for failing to find him a Jewish, well-educated, never married, childless professional.

Breaking News

The leading Modern Orthodox rabbinic association has come out against the ordination of women, but is encouraging the creation of professional opportunities for female scholars.
Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat called the Obama administration's demand for a construction freeze in eastern Jerusalem a "slap in the face."
On the eve of the sentencing hearing for Sholom Rubashkin, lawyers for the former kosher meatpacking executive are denying prosecutors' claims that he bribed the mayor of Postville, Iowa.
A rabbi and two Jewish officials were arrested in Chicago for their part in immigration reform protests.
The student government at the University of California, San Diego is set to vote on a divestment bill targeting two companies that do business with Israel.
Google has acquired its first Israeli company.
Lawyers for the reporter who received top secret Israeli army documents from a former soldier will turn them over to security officials.
A new European Jewish lobby modeled after J Street will present a petition criticizing Israeli policies while defending Israel's right to exist.
A street in Beverly Hills will be renamed to honor Theodor Herzl.
More than 90 tombstones were knocked over at a Jewish cemetery east of Prague.
The Anne Frank House museum has launched an online virtual tour of the secret rooms in which the Frank family and other Jews lived.
A former Bush administration official said he hopes the United States will address the Iranian president's threat to "wipe Israel off the map."
A Jewish cemetery in western Ukraine was vandalized.
Israel's foreign minister thanked Hillary Rodham Clinton for removing items critical of Israel from UNESCO's agenda.