Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
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(JTA)-President Donald Trump's decision in December to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital drew wide international criticism, with 128 countries including the United Kingdom, Germany and Canada voting in favor of a United Nations resolution condemning it. But several countries saw Trump's decision in a different light: as an example to follow. Shortly after the United States officially moves its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem on May 14, it will be joined by Guatemala and Paraguay. Both c... Full story
WASHINGTON (JTA)-When President Donald Trump teased and then announced he would be pulling the U.S. out of the Iran nuclear deal, the next obvious question was, what next? What was Plan B? "Congress has heard nothing about an alternative," Rep. Ed Royce, R-Calif., the chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee said at a hearing on Iran on Tuesday. That was just hours before Trump announced that he was indeed pulling the United States out of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal... Full story
Turkey recalls ambassadors to US and Israel amid Gaza violence JTA—Turkey recalled its ambassadors to the United States and Israel after at least 50 Palestinian protesters were reportedly killed at the Gaza border. South Africa also recalled its envoy to Israel earlier on Monday, Agence France-Presse reported. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused Israel of “genocide” over the killings in Gaza. Tens of thousands gathered of Palestinians gathered there for protests in the hours before the dedication of the new U.S. embassy in Jerus... Full story
It was the signature deal of Barack Obama’s presidency, and President Trump’s dramatic announcement Tuesday that he was withdrawing from it engendered very sharp reactions from both the former president and his secretary of state, John Kerry, who oversaw the negotiations with Iran. Obama reiterated the main argument he made when Congress was debating in 2015 whether to agree to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the formal name of the nuclear accord. “Without the JCPOA, the United States could eventually be left with a losin... Full story
(JNS)—Reactions from American Jewish and pro-Israel groups poured in following U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision on Tuesday afternoon to withdraw the United States from the 2015 Iranian nuclear deal. Among mainstream Jewish organizations came both strong support and tepid approval for the decision. World Jewish Congress President Ronald S. Lauder lauded Trump for his “unmistakable message to Iran that its threats will not be tolerated.” “Iran is a rogue nation ruled by a regime that cannot be trusted to honor its word, and even more so w... Full story
(JNS)-The coming month of May looks set to contain an unusual number of potential escalation points that could converge to create a highly explosive month. The Israeli defense establishment is dealing with several pending potential flashpoints, including an Iranian threat to revenge a missile attack on an air base in Syria that was housing several senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps officers; a decision by the Trump administration on whether to cancel or amend the nuclear deal with Iran; we... Full story
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday spoke by telephone with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel regarding the sensational revelations obtained by Israel's intelligence agency about Iran's dangerous nuclear development program. Speaking at the Ministry of Defense complex in Tel Aviv Monday evening, the Israeli leader unveiled a trove of more than 100,000 documents obtained by the Mossad, Israel's national intelligence agency, in recent weeks from a secret... Full story
NEW YORK (JTA)-Three Jewish organizations are accusing the Zionist Organization of America of inappropriately criticizing them. And the ZOA is accusing one of them right back. On Wednesday, the various spats will have a formal hearing at a committee meeting of the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish American Organizations, an umbrella association for Jewish groups. The Presidents Conference by-laws, according to the Forward, prohibit its members from attacking each other with "insults, ad... Full story
BERLIN (JTA)-In an unusual sight, the people lazing about or strolling down the paths in several parks here on a sun-drenched Sunday were wearing gleaming white kippahs. Seventy volunteers handed out some 6,000 of the satin yarmulkes in total at five parks in the German capital to counter a recent anti-Semitic incident targeting a man wearing the Jewish head covering. Three non-Jewish friends planned the event, dubbing it "Kopf Hoch"-literally "Keep your head high," or "Cheer Up." "It's always... Full story
AMSTERDAM (JTA)-The debate about wearing a kippah in Western Europe returned only a decade or so ago, but it has nonetheless come to follow a rigid pattern even in that short period of time. The cycle-there have been dozens of such cases-begins with an anti-Semitic assault. It prompts a Jewish community official to warn congregants not to wear the Jewish skullcap in a certain area or at certain periods to avoid inviting further violent attacks. This triggers a wave of indignation that often exce... Full story
(JTA)—Secretary of State Mike Pompeo acknowledged that the United States has known “for a while” about Israel’s cache of stolen documents concerning the Iranian nuclear program. Pompeo told reporters on the airplane traveling from Jordan to Andrews Air Force Base outside Washington, D.C., that he had been aware of the existence of the documents, and that he and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had discussed them when they met in Tel Aviv on Sunday. “I know there are people talking about these documents not being authentic... Full story
Although many couples have often wondered what the results would mean for their future family if they discover the devastating reality that they are carriers for severe genetic diseases, new pathways now can lead these couples to start healthy families. Expanded genetic screening, best done before pregnancy, can test for hundreds of disease genes. Most couples get reassuring results. But for those who don’t, there are now life changing options to start the healthy family desired by millions. New options supported by JScreen and the Jewish F... Full story
Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump to attend Jerusalem embassy opening WASHINGTON (JTA)—The official White House delegation for the opening of the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem will include President Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka and her husband, Jared Kushner, as well as Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin. Kushner heads up the team seeking to restart Israeli-Palestinian talks Other members of his team—Jason Greenblatt, the lead negotiator, and David Friedman, the U.S. ambassador to Israel—will also be present for the ceremony on May 14, the 70th an... Full story
(JNS)-The death toll from flash floods that hit a group of teenage hikers in southern Israel Thursday rose from nine to 10 after a body found overnight was identified as the last missing teen Friday morning. The ten victims, nine girls and one boy of around 18 years old, were killed during a field trip Thursday during flash floods that pummeled Israel. A group of 25 students, ages 17 and 18, who were accepted to the Bnei Tzion pre-military academy in Tel Aviv for the coming year, were hiking in... Full story
In a US State Department annual report on human rights, the controversial term "occupied" was largely eliminated in references to various territories in and adjacent to Israel. While the term "occupied" had been used in such reports since the Carter administration, the 2017 version drops this term, which is generally used pejoratively to criticize Israeli policy following military victories through which the Jewish state acquired control of various territories. Whereas previous publications of... Full story
(JNS)-The U.S. Senate easily confirmed Mike Pompeo as secretary of state on Thursday, elevating the former CIA director as the nation's top diplomat amid a slew of foreign-policy challenges. In a 57-42 vote, which included several moderate Democrats, Senate lawmakers moved quickly to confirm Pompeo, aware that the new secretary of state faces a number of serious international issues, including whether or not to remain in the Iran nuclear deal, tensions with Russia, the breaking of ice with... Full story
Liviu Dragnea, the chairman of the Social Democratic Party who effectively runs the Romanian government, said in a television interview late Thursday that the government had decided to move the nation’s embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. His statement coincided with Israel’s 70th Independence Day celebrations. On Friday, President Klaus Iohannis, who is in charge of Romania’s foreign policy, said he hadn’t been informed and that the decision lacked “a solid... base.” However, he said such a decision could be made “after a deep analysis which t... Full story
(JNS)—As part of the May 14 ceremony to mark the official opening of the US Embassy, a mezuzah will be affixed to the embassy building. According to a Channel 20 report, organizers decided on the unusual move of holding a religious ceremony to install the mezuzah as a gesture to Israel and following the recommendation of US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman. At a special event to mark the 70th anniversary of Israel’s founding at the Menachem Begin Heritage Center in Jerusalem on Monday, Friedman said he sees Jerusalem as a religious pla... Full story
LONDON (JTA)-Keith Walker was having a sandwich in Parliament Square when he saw something that made him sit up straight and cut short his lunch. What did the 42-year-old activist for disabled people's rights find so fascinating? It was three billboards on wheels that circled around the square for several long minutes last week during one of its busiest days of the year. They carried text accusing Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn of tolerating anti-Semitism in the party. Inspired by the... Full story
‘Iran lied big time’ about nuclear program, Netanyahu says in describing secret files JERUSALEM (JTA)—“Iran lied big time” about the nature of its nuclear program, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. Netanyahu on Monday evening unveiled copies of half a ton of material that make up part of what he identified as Iran’s secret nuclear files. He first delivered his presentation in English in an effort to reach the widest possible audience. The files, which the Israeli leader calls “new conclusive proof of Iran’s secret nuclear weapons... Full story
KRAKOW, Poland (JTA)-At one of Poland's plushest synagogues, leaders of this city's small but vibrant Jewish community welcomed visitors from around the world to a celebration of what the hosts call their minority's "revival" in this country. The occasion for the party Sunday at Tempel Synagogue was the 10th anniversary of the adjacent Jewish Community Center of Krakow, located in the heart of the city's historic Jewish quarter, Kazimierz. Since its opening in 2008, the three-story building,... Full story
Jason Greenblatt, President Donald Trump’s Special Representative for International Negotiations, hit back Friday after being accused of automatically “repeat[ing] Israeli talking points” while “omitting any word of condemnation” of Israeli forces at the Gaza border fence, where daily violence orchestrated by Hamas has been ongoing. Chief Palestinian Authority negotiator Saeb Erekat had leveled these highly critical accusations at Greenblatt and the American administration in a letter sent to all foreign diplomats in Ramallah last week. Not... Full story
(JNS)—The Iron Dome missile-defense system has been voted the winner of Israel’s Ministry of Economy and Industry contest ranking of the greatest Israeli inventions of all time, in honor of Israel’s 70th Independence Day. In the first stage of the competition, 70 Israel inventions were listed and then whittled down to the top nine by 52,000 participants. In the second stage, some 63,000 online participants had to choose the single greatest Israeli invention. In first place among the top nine came the Iron Dome missile-defense system; follo... Full story
Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) released its traditional statistics report on the citizens of Israel in honor of Yom Ha’Atzmaut, Israeli Independence Day, which is celebrated this year on Wednesday night and Thursday. Israel boasts 8,842,000 citizens, more than 10 times as many as the 806,000 at the time of the establishment of the Jewish state in 1948. On Israel’s 100th birthday, in 2048, the CBS estimate that Israel’s population will grow to about 15 million citizens. According to CBS projections, Israel’s population will surp... Full story
AMSTERDAM (JTA)—When Barry Vingerling asked his employers at the Anne Frank House whether it was okay for him to start coming to work wearing a kippah, he did it mostly as a courtesy. “I hadn’t expected this to be an issue,” Vingerling, 25, told the Dutch-Jewish NIW weekly in an interview. “I work at the house of Anne Frank, who had to hide because of her identity. Should I have to hide mine in that same house?” His bosses’ answer to this question appeared to be “yes.” Suggesting at first that he wear a hat on top of his skullcap, they di... Full story
