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Obama: Use Flotilla Fallout to Push Peace

06/04/2010

NEW YORK (JTA) -- President Obama reiterated his call for an investigation into the flotilla confrontation and urged parties in the Middle East to transform the situation into a chance to advance the peace process.

In an interview with Larry King on CNN Thursday, Obama called the loss of life on the boat "unnecessary" and predicted that the Israelis would agree to an "investigation of international standards" because they recognize that the current situation "can't be good for Israel's long-term security."

Democrats Target Malek's Fundraising role

06/04/2010 | Ron Kampeas | JTA

WASHINGTON (JTA) -- Democrats pressed Republicans to distance themselves from a major donor involved in Richard Nixon's campaign against Jewish government employees.

Fred Malek's role in demoting Jews in the Bureau of Labor Statistics while working as personnel director in the Nixon administration was first revealed in 1988, when it led to his resignation as deputy chairman of the Republican National Committee. He subsequently reached out to Jewish groups to make amends.

ZOA Wants Inquiry Into Turkey

06/04/2010

WASHINGTON (JTA) -- The Zionist Organization of America called for an investigation of Turkey's role in this week's flotilla incident.

Israeli commandoes raided an aid flotilla headed for Gaza on Monday. Nine activists aboard the main ship were killed and seven Israeli soldiers were wounded in the subsequent melee.

Report: U.S. Citizen Among Dead Flotilla Activists

06/03/2010

(JTA) -- A dual American-Turkish citizen is reportedly among the activists killed by Israeli soldiers when a Gaza-bound flotilla was intercepted by Israel's Navy.

Turkish investigators told the state-run Anatolia news agency that Furkan Dogan, 19, who has both Turkish and U.S. passports, took four bullets to the head and one to the chest in Monday's incident.

Obama Extends Jerusalem Embassy Waiver

06/03/2010

WASHINGTON (JTA) -- President Obama has extended a waiver for an additional six months delaying the move of the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem.

Obama's waiver, issued Wednesday, follows in the footsteps of predecessors Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, who also extended the waiver every six months since the law was adopted in 1995 calling for the move of the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Presidents are permitted to delay the move on national security grounds.

Jewish Groups Want Stronger U.S. Defense of Israel, Obama Not Obliging

06/02/2010 | Ron Kampeas | JTA

WASHINGTON (JTA) -- The Obama administration appears to be rebuffing calls from some Jewish groups for the United States to be more assertive and public in defending Israel regarding the flotilla incident.

The bluntest appeal for a more pronounced pro-Israel posture came from Abraham Foxman, the Anti-Defamation League's national director, who is in Israel meeting with the Israeli leadership.