Britannia Radio

Daily Briefing

Thursday, October 27, 2011

FEATURED STORY Sacha Baron Cohen a Jewish parliamentarian? One reason to doubt new Euro Jewish parliament The farcical selection of candidates for a new European Jewish Parliament has Jewish leaders deriding the latest attempt by Ukrainian Jewish billionaires Igor Kolomoisky and Vadim Rabinovitch to become European Jewish leaders.Read more » EDITORS' PICKS Gilad Sharon: Dad had no regrets Ariel Sharon's son, Gilad, stopped by an American Jewish group for lunch to talk about his new book, "Sharon: The Life of a Leader," and everybody seemed to want him to answer the same question: What would Arik do? Uriel Heilman reports for JTA on its Telegraph blog. Ruth Madoff interview: Bernie and I tried to commit suicide (CBS News) Ruth Madoff in an interview with "60 Minutes" correspondent Morley Safer says that she and her husband, Bernard, were so distraught over the burden of his crimes that they attempted suicide together. See the video. BREAKING NEWS Dual American-Israeli citizen Ilan Grapel boarded an airplane in Egypt bound for Israel. Grammy Award-winning singer Amy Winehouse died of alcohol poisoning, according to the results of her autopsy. Oprah Winfrey visited Chasidic Jews and a mikvah in Brooklyn for a new television series. Ruth Madoff said in an interview that she and her husband, Ponzi schemer Bernie Madoff, attempted to commit suicide in 2008. Jordan's King Abdullah II said he would stand by his country's peace treaty with Israel, although he expressed doubts about the Egypt-Israel peace. A Kent State University professor shouted “Death to Israel” at a lecture given by a former Israeli diplomat. Israeli airstrikes struck terrorist sites in Gaza in response to rocket fire on southern Israel. Sixteen House Democrats, including 10 top Jewish members, wrote to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urging her to use her influence to preserve Jewish sites in Libya. The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum launched a website that will track the war crimes trial of Ratko Mladic in real time. The names of individuals or companies doing business with Iran would be published under a bill to be submitted to the New York State Legislature. A coalition of Israeli and U.S. groups that campaign for Israeli Bedouin rights met with White House officials to lobby against Israel's planned mass relocation. House Democrats failed in their attempt to block a bill that they say allows a stake in the largest U.S. copper mine to an Iranian-affiliated mining company. Activists are working to reinstate Jerusalem City Council member Rachel Azaria, who was stripped of her portfolio after petitioning Israel's Supreme Court to ban gender segregation in a haredi Orthodox neighborhood. The Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas will mark its 100th anniversary with a citywide day of community service. Award-winning Israeli film director Joseph Cedar and Hebrew University professor Yehezkel Dror were recognized for their work in promoting global Jewish unity. Germany should break off diplomatic relations with Iran to demonstrate its stated support for Israel, Germany's top Jewish leader said.