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Congress Delays Iran Sanctions Bill, With AIPAC Blessing

05/25/2010 | Ron Kampeas | JTA

WASHINGTON (JTA) -- In a sign of closer White House-congressional coordination on Iran, Congress is delaying an Iran sanctions bill several weeks to give the Obama administration time to shepherd new sanctions through the U.N. Security Council.

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee blessed the delay, in part because an array of parallel measures are under consideration that would stiffen existing sanctions aimed at getting the Iranian regime to stand down from its suspected nuclear weapons program.

Netanyahu Says Israel’s National Security Exercises Routine

05/24/2010 | JTA

JERUSALEM (JTA) -- Israel's national home front exercise is routine and not the result of a worsening security situation, Benjamin Netanyahu said.

In announcing the exercise, which will include warning sirens throughout the country, Israel's prime minister said Sunday at the start of the weekly Cabinet meeting that "This is a routine exercise that has been scheduled for some time. I would like to make it clear that it is not the result of any exceptional security development.

Small Protest Greets Oren Address

05/24/2010 | JTA

(JTA) -- Michael Oren told Brandeis University graduates that Israel has a responsibility to seek peace.

The Israeli Ambassador to the United States spoke Sunday at the university's 59th commencement ceremony.

At least 20 protestors demonstrated near the ceremony, holding signs criticizing Israel's treatment of Palestinian civilians and blaming Israel for committing war crimes, the weekly Brandeis Hoot reported.

Comedy Central Changes Video Game Title

05/24/2010

(JTA) -- Comedy Central has changed the title of a video game on its Web site, but has not removed the offensive game, which includes anti-Semitic stereotypes.

Jewish Groups: Rebuke Libyan Envoy for Nazi Comments

05/23/2010 | JTA

WASHINGTON (JTA) -- Jewish and international groups called on the United Nations' Secretary General to rebuke the Libyan envoy, who currently leads the General Assembly, for likening Israel to Nazis.

Ali Abdussalam Treki’s "comments are an outrage, a blight upon the United Nations and his high office, and an impediment to historical truth and to peace," B’nai B’rith International President Dennis Glick and Executive Vice President Daniel Mariaschin wrote Tuesday in a letter to Ban Ki-moon.

ADL: Comedy Central Video Game Encourages Anti-Semitism

05/21/2010 | JTA

(JTA) -- A video game and clips on Comedy Central's Web site "play into and encourage offensive anti-Semitic and anti-Israel stereotypes," the Anti-Defamation League said.

The game in the "Drawn Together" section of the Web site, based on an animated series that previously ran on Comedy Central, features a character called Jew Producer, and a robot called “the Intelligent Smart Robot Animation Eraser Lady” (I.S.R.A.E.L.), which murders children and wreaks destruction.