Britannia Radio

Daily Briefing

Monday, May 23, 2011

FEATURED STORY Is Obama charting a new course on Israeli-Palestinian issues? A close reading of what President Obama said and left unsaid in his two recent speeches hints at a few significant ways his approach to resolving the conflict may differ from his predecessors. Read more » EDITORS' PICKS Blogging the AIPAC conference Howard Kohr's balancing act, Ari Fleischer's Jewish voting analysis, Obama's biggest applause line, Eliot Engel's discontent and other updates from the AIPAC Policy Conference by Ron Kampeas at JTA's Capital J blog. Who will represent Israel in France's National Assembly? France is allowing its overseas citizens to elect their own parliamentary representatives, and one newly created overseas district has a majority of its constituents living in Israel, The Jerusalem Post reports. From L.A. thug to Israeli pol? Marcus Hardie, 26, was dubbed "American Thug" by his L.A. gang; today he is an Orthodox lawyer who enlisted in the IDF as a combat soldier and has his eyes set on the Knesset, Haaretz reports. The 1967 lines tussle: History repeats The latest controversy over whether the 1967 lines should serve as the basis for Israel's borders has a precedent in U.S.-Israel relations, Adam Soclof finds as he scours the JTA's Jewish News Archive. The Eulogizer: Leo Kahn and Endre Wolf JTA's Appreciation column remembers Staples co-founder Leo Kahn and violinist Endre Wolf. What do you know about modern Jewish history? Test your knowledge of modern Jewish history with a quiz from MyJewishLearning.com. JEWISH IDEAS DAILY Sponsored Content Sympathy for the Devil Jacob Frank was a serial apostate, sexual deviant, messianic pretender, and chameleonic charlatan. Was he also the unintended prophet of our times? Read BREAKING NEWS Palestinian officials said they would not resume peace negotiations unless Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accepts President Obama's 1967 border guidelines. The American Israel Public Affairs Committee said it "appreciated" President Obama's clarification that he did not expect Israel to return to its 1967 lines. Hamas condemned President Obama's AIPAC speech, saying it will not recognize Israel despite the U.S. president's demand. President Obama said his call for Israeli-Palestinian negotiations based on the pre-1967 lines did not mean the future state of Palestine would have those exact borders. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he "appreciated" President Obama's speech to AIPAC and that he is "determined to work together" with the president to advance peace. AIPAC director Howard Kohr called on activists to refocus lawmakers on Iran. Hamas should recognize Israel's right to exist, the president of Turkey, Abdullah Gul, told The Wall Street Journal. Israeli protesters demonstrated against President Obama's recent statements on Israel and the Palestinians in front of the U.S. embassy in Tel Aviv. An anti-circumcision group will circulate a petition in Santa Monica, Calif., to place a measure seeking to ban male circumcision on an upcoming ballot. Israeli director Joseph Cedar won the best screenplay award at the Cannes International Film Festival for his movie "Footnote." Organizers of Limmud-Oz, the Australian arm of the global festival of Jewish learning, are facing a backlash over their decision to ban presenters who support a boycott of Israel. The Los Angeles public pension fund is divesting itself from companies doing business with Iran and Sudan. An Iranian Jewish real estate investor in Los Angeles was found guilty of fraud after he was accused of stealing $21 million from clients. An Israeli theater company canceled performances in Turkey after learning of threats that would interrupt the show and harm the actors. A list of thousands of personal effects of former concentration camp inmates has been put online for claiming. Iran has arrested 30 people accused of spying for the United States. Israel's military attache to Russia was expelled on suspicion of spying after three warnings, according to a Russian newspaper. The Texas state Senate has passed a bill that would require homeowner associations to permit religious displays on their doors, including mezuzot. The Dalai Lama received a special Hebrew blessing during a private reception in northern India with a Jewish delegation from Australia. The Israeli social games developer Playtika Ltd. has been acquired by Caesars Entertainment Corp. for an estimated $90 million. An Israeli man has asked to officially change his name to those of 10 British monarchs.