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U.S. State Department Warns Against Travel in Israel

06/22/2010

WASHINGTON (JTA) -- The U.S. State Department warned Americans to "exercise a high degree of caution" while traveling in highly trafficked areas in Israel.

It also said that Americans should avoid West Bank demonstrations because of dangers posed by Israeli troops dispersing protesters, and should not attempt to enter the Gaza Strip by sea.

San Francisco Protesters Prevent Israeli Ship from Unloading

06/21/2010

(JTA) -- Hundreds of protesters gathered at the Port of Oakland to prevent an Israeli cargo ship from unloading.

About 500 protesters gathered at the port at 5:30 a.m. on Sunday to meet the Zim shipping lines cargo ship. They convinced dockworkers to agree not to unload the ship when it arrived in the port.

The ship did not arrive until 6 p.m. on Sunday. A second shift of dockworkers, at the request of the demonstrators, agreed not to cross the picket line and did not arrive to unload the ship.

Israel Brings Jews from Kyrgyzstan

06/21/2010

JERUSALEM (JTA) -- Israel brought 12 Jews from conflict-riven southern Kyrgyzstan to Israel.

The 12 Kyrgyz Jews were brought to Israel on Sunday and were scheduled to attend a welcome ceremony at the Jewish Agency for Israel's board of governors assembly on Monday along with 650 other new immigrants. They were immediately made Israeli citizens.

Judge: Rubashkin To Get 27 Years

06/21/2010 | Stewart Ain | Staff Writer

A federal judge in Iowa said she plans to sentence Sholom Rubashkin, a former executive at the Agriprocessors meatpacking plant in Iowa, to 27 years in prison and to pay $31 million in restitution for bank fraud.

Judge Linda Reade, chief judge of the Northern District Court in Iowa, wrote in a 52-page sentencing memorandum that the sentence of 27 years is “sufficient, but not greater than necessary,” to comply with the law.

Poll: Arab States Back Tougher Iran Sanctions

06/20/2010

BERLIN (JTA) -- Several Arab countries strongly favor tougher sanctions on Iran to curb its nuclear ambitions, a new poll shows.

Respondents in Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon were among the most supportive of such sanctions, according to the ninth annual Pew Global Attitudes Project released Thursday in Berlin and Washington. Most countries favored a tough stance on Iran, with only Pakistan and India disagreeing.

The survey of 25,000 individuals in 22 countries was completed in May, and was co-sponsored by the German-based Bertelsmann Foundation.

World Zionist Congress Calls for Settlement Freeze

06/18/2010

(JTA) -- The World Zionist Congress passed a resolution endorsing a two-state solution and a West Bank settlement freeze.

The vote in Jerusalem came a day after some opponents of the resolution walked out of a meeting of the 36th Congress’ settlement committee. Following the walkout, the remainder of the meeting was chaired by Hadar Susskind, the vice president of policy and strategy at J Street, which favors U.S. pressure on Israel toward a two-state solution.