International News

Shalit And Parents Meet With Sarkozy In Paris

02/09/2012

PARIS (JTA) -- Former captive Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit and his parents met with French President Nicolas Sarkozy at the presidential palace in Paris.

“We are very happy to be here at the Elysee Palace,” said Noam Shalit, speaking to journalists Wednesday morning. “We are very touched.”

Hours later, Shalit's parents attended the annual gala hosted by the French Jewish umbrella group CRIF.

Kissinger, Others Honored By Israeli President

02/09/2012

JERUSALEM (JTA) -- Former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger was among the recipients of Israel's first President's Prize.

The new initiative, spearheaded by Israeli President Shimon Peres, honors individuals who have made a significant contribution to Israeli society and the country's global image.

Brazil Remembers Jewish And Afro-Descendant Shoah Victims

01/31/2012

RIO DE JANEIRO (JTA) - Brazil's president attended a Holocaust remembrance ceremony that honored Jewish and Afro-descendant victims.

President Dilma Rousseff and several Jewish and non-Jewish officials attended a Holocaust remembrance ceremony held Jan. 29 in Salvador, Brazil's third largest city.

Austrian Politician Slammed For Comparing Protests To Kristallnacht

01/31/2012

(JTA) -- The leader of an Austrian far-right political party was condemned for comparing protests by students in Vienna with the Nazi persecution of Jews during Kristallnacht.

The Anti-Defamation League on Monday slammed the comments made Jan. 27 by Austrian Freedom Party leader Heinz-Christian Strache in response to heckling from leftist and radical protesters outside the Wiener Korporations-Ball in Vienna.

Iran Bluster On Campaign Trail Distorts Complex Issue

01/31/2012 | James D. Besser | Special To The Jewish Week

In a presidential race even more devoid of foreign policy debate than usual, Iran and its alleged nuclear quest appear to be the exception. Republican contenders are outdoing each other with hints of military action to prevent the Islamic republic from crossing the nuclear threshold, and President Barack Obama promised in last week’s State of the Union address that “I will take no options off the table” in dealing with Iran.

Panetta: It Would Take Iran One Year To Make Nuclear Bomb

01/30/2012

NEW YORK (JTA) -- U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta said it would take Iran approximately one year to build a nuclear bomb.

"The consensus is that if they decided to do it, it would probably take them about a year to be able to produce a bomb and then possibly another one to two years in order to put it on a deliverable vehicle of some sort in order to deliver that weapon,” Panetta said in an interview that aired Sunday on the CBS show “60 Minutes.”