Advocates for children in international custody cases are warning that the unfolding Elian Gonzales saga could have drastic repercussions on efforts to retrieve kids from foreign countries, including Israel, where such cases have risen sharply in recent years.
“This gives those who want to justify the non-return of children another peg to hang their hats on,” said Nancy Hammer, international director of the Center for Missing and Exploited Children in Virginia.

Sears Roebuck’s home product repair division will pay more than a half million dollars to settle religious accommodation complaints brought by Sabbath observant employees, state Attorney General Eliot Spitzer announced this week.
The settlement reached Monday requires the Illinois-based retail giant to provide back pay and legal fees to five plaintiffs; to pay $225,000 to the American Law Institute to create a training program on religious accommodation; and provide scholarships of about $12,000 for 10 Sabbath observers to attend New York technical schools.