Britannia Radio

Daily Briefing

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

FEATURED STORY After stumble, Herman Cain stresses pro-Israel bona fides Herman Cain stumbled early on a question related to Israel, but since then he has been boning up on his knowledge and even made a visit to the Jewish state. Read more » EDITORS' PICKS Tracking anti-Semitism at British universities A new survey finds 4 in 10 British university students witnessed anti-Semitism, JTA's Alex Weisler reports. 'Seinfeld' star promotes Mideast peace Jason Alexander -- aka George from "Seinfeld" -- tells Israel's president not to give up in the search for a peace agreement. Israel as an election issue (Wall Street Journal) Douglas Feith attacks a joint effort by two venerable Jewish institutions to ensure that Israel is not an issue in the upcoming American elections. Reclaiming Germany (Spiegel) The number of American Jews claiming German citizenship nearly doubled between 2007 and 2008, and the figure remains high. The Jewish occupiers of Wall Street (New York Jewish Week) Jonathan Mark introduces us to the varied Jewish faces of the Occupy Wall Street protest. Just say no (Haaretz) Columnist Amira Hass writes that diplomatic efforts at the United Nations are futile and that Palestinians must eschew negotiations and continue the resistance. Prosecute 'em (Jerusalem Post) Washington attorney Nathan Lewin says the Department of Justice should indict and extradite prisoners released in the Shalit swap for prosecution in the United States. Transatlantic: Odessa orphanage JTA's roving European correspondent Alex Weisler finds that a Jewish orphanage in Ukraine doesn't fit the stereotype. The history of circumcision This week's Torah portion features the first-ever circumcision, performed by Abraham on himself. Read a comprehensive history of circumcision at MyJewishLearning. BREAKING NEWS Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said he will never recognize a Jewish state and that capturing Gilad Shalit was a "good thing." Iran's top military chief warned that his country would retaliate harshly against an Israeli strike on its nuclear sites, as Israel successfully test-fired a new ballistic missile. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered housing construction in eastern Jerusalem and the West Bank to be expedited in response to UNESCO's vote granting full membership to the Palestinians. A group of liberal Jewish activists, former politicians and union leaders have released a statement denouncing opponents of Occupy Wall Street for criticizing the movement as anti-Semitic. Schools reopened in southern Israeli communities after having been closed for three days due to rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip. Marine Le Pen, the leader of the far-right National Front party and a contender in France's presidential elections next year, will not receive special treatment when she visits the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. The leaders of four American Protestant denominations issued a statement endorsing the Palestinian U.N. bid for statehood. Vice President Joseph Biden's future son-in-law is a Jewish doctor. Modern Orthodox leader Rabbi Mordechai "Motti" Elon was indicted for the sexual assault of a minor. Canada's foreign affairs minister said his country would continue paying dues to UNESCO but would not offer it any additional money. A West Bank yeshiva high school whose students have been identified as being involved in attacks against Palestinians has been ordered shut down. Carl Lindner Jr., one of the largest non-Jewish donors to the organized Jewish community in the United States, has died. Gilbert (“Gil”) Cates, a multifaceted theater, film and television producer and director, as well as a university dean, has died. Ethan Bronner, The New York Times bureau chief in Jerusalem, dropped out of a planned panel appearance with hard-line advocates of confronting Iran. More than 70 people involved in rioting at the Israeli Embassy in Cairo were given suspended jail sentences. A fourth suspect was arrested in the arson attack on a mosque in an Israeli-Arab town.