March 21, 2013 | 6:07 am

This week in power: Obama arrives, New pope, Pollard fight, Passover preview

Posted by Danny Groner

Photo by Darren Whiteside/REUTERS.

A roundup of the most talked about political and global stories in the Jewish world this week:

Obama in israel
Although nobody is expecting the Presidet to make any sweeping changes during his short stay in israel this week, "if any progress is going to be made on the Mideast peace front (or the Iran situation) this trip will be the pivotal moment for anything he hopes to accomplish there in his second term," wrote Dashiell Bennett at The Atlantic Wire. During his stay, he's sure to do more than just tour the country, and his meetings will surely touch on all of the key issues. "If Obama improves his standings with the Israelis and patches things up with Netanyahu, he can call the trip a success. The raised expectations can come later," said a GoSanAngelo editorial.

Pope Francis
A new pop took over last week and Jews around the world couldn't be more thrilled with the choice. Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, now Pope Francis, has a history of denouncing "injustice, corruption, social inequality, [and] human trafficking," according to JTA's Mordechai Levin, and he has a "commitment to building a better society." It's not just the Jews who are rejoicing, but other faiths, too. “When he told his colleagues in Rome that [the Islamic community here] would visit him at the diocese, he said they were surprised; that they couldn’t believe it,” an Islamic Center representative told the Miami Herald. “I think he’s going to be good for all of mankind, without exception.” Everyone is hopeful for a better future under the new pope. "Imagine a more peaceful world that respects religious difference. I believe it can happen. And I hope that, one day, respecting religious (and non-religious) differences will be what we remember, when we think of the legacy of Pope Francis," wrote Joyce S. Dubensky in The Huffington Post.

Pollard strike
One group that will be protesting via a hunger strike upon Obama's landing in Israel are supporters of Jonathan Pollard, the American serving a life term for spying for Israel. They say it's time to send Pollard home. "No, he is not innocent of wrong-doing. No one ever said that. But he has served his time – and another 4 times as much as he should have served," said Paula R. Stern in The Jewish Press. Others vehemently disagree. "Nations are rightly judged by their choice of heroes. Israel has plenty of worthy heroes, yet today there's a square in Jerusalem named for Pollard," said Bret Stephens in The Wall Street Journal. "So here's something else I'd like Mr. Obama to do while he's in Israel: Insist that the square be renamed. Maybe then, in a quieter hour and without regard to diplomacy or politics, can Jonathan Pollard's fate be reconsidered in a purely humanitarian light."

Hungary honor
Outrage erupted after Hungary announced that a Jewish sociologist, Andreas Kovacs, and two people accused of making anti-Semitic statements were going to receive prestigious national awards called the Szechenyi Prize, according to reports. Among the winners is Ferenc Szaniszlo, a television personality for Echo TV, who has been accused of using the term “apes" and he's made several anti-Semitic comments, Some believe that the selections are part of the of government's efforts to win favor with the far right.

Passover prep
Passover is around the corner and the talk of food is in the air. "Thing is, I've got all year to drink good wine. Passover is the one night when I can ignore taste and can reach again and again (and again) for the Manischewitz," said Bon Appetit editor Adam Rapoport. "Unless you’re vegan or watching your cholesterol, Passover is about as eggy as Easter: Eggs are used in cakes, souffled vegetable side dishes and weeknight frittata," said Bonnie S. Benwick in The Washington Post. And think about others while you clean this weekend, advised Ariel Gros-Werter at The Huffington Post: "Too often in today's world, our willingness to give to those in need is inhibited by reluctance to part with items of financial value. Passover thus presents a special opportunity to give. The food is already paid for and has been deemed of no further use by its owners. Giving it away doesn't impose any cost upon the giver: it's an expense-free but valuable gift. What could be better than doing good at no additional cost?"

March 14, 2013 | 3:36 am

This week in power: Obama plans, Egypt movie ban, Brooks column, SXSW

Posted by Danny Groner

A roundup of the most talked about political and global stories in the Jewish world this week:

Obama's coming
"What should Barack Obama, who is to visit Israel next Wednesday for the first time in his presidency, do about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?" asked Rashid Khalidi in The New York Times. "In short, if the objectives of the entire peace process are not ending the occupation, removing the settlements and providing for real Palestinian self-determination, then what is the purpose of pretending to restart it?" Others are focused on the President's agenda for the week. "And then Obama is off to Ramallah, a visit that signifies his continued commitment to a two-state solution. Interestingly enough, the time allotted for the Ramallah trip – where he will meet Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas – is the same as the time allotted for his meeting with Netanyahu: five-and-a-half hours," wrote Herb Keinon in The Jerusalem Post. Stay tuned next week.

Movie delayed
A documentary about Egypt’s Jews that was scheduled to screen this week in the country was suspended after security officials "delayed the renewal of its authorization," said reports. "Jews of Egypt" may yet air, but censorship stand in the way now. "There is no excuse for this except delay and obstruction," said the film's producer in a post on the film's Facebook page. "I announce the delay of the screening of Jews of Egypt until a solution is found for this inexplicable problem, inherited from long years in the parlours of the Egyptian state securities and which aim to terrorise thought and repress creativity." He is also threatening to take legal action for financial losses incurred due to the delay.

Brooks column
New York Times' columnist David Brooks took a trek to an Orthodox neighborhood in Brooklyn and lived to tell the tale in a much-discussed op-ed. "As someone who has spoken out about the crisis in marriage among the non-Orthodox, I appreciate and indeed envy the devotion to marriage and children exemplified by the large families and countercultural values that Brooks so lovingly describes," said Jane Eisner in The Jewish Daily Forward, but it's only half the story. Other bloggers were even more aghast over the overlooking of key facts. "The people who shop at Pomegranate voted with their tuition dollars and sent their daughters to Brooklyn schools that emphatically and purposely do NOT prepare their students for careers as US attorneys. If Brooks was attempting to be a journalist rather than a publicist he might have discovered this," said DovBear.

SXSW: Jewish edition
The annual tech and music festival South by Southwest began last weekend in Austin and attracted all kinds of people, including those looking for a religious experience while staying there. Chabad couldn't really sit out such a festivity, could it? "#openShabbat is like any of the umpteen other events put on throughout the week, except for one rule: no technology," wrote Adrianne Jeffries at The Verge. "All told, the reviews were positive. Some even waited until after Shabbat ended to share their love on Twitter," joked Tablet's Adam Chandler about the event. Some savvy Jewish entrepreneurs attended the conference to gain momentum for their products and services as well.

New Haggadah
There's a new Haggadah in town this Passover season. And it omes from a familiar source, Edgar Bronfman, the businessman and Jewish philanthropist. What do people think of “The Bronfman Haggadah” so far? "No Kiddush, no Four Questions, No Dayenu. Not only is this not your grandfather’s Haggadah, it’s not your father’s," wrote Steve Lipman in The Jewish Week. "Their Haggadah, they say, is meant for people like them: committed to Jewish life but not committed to strict Jewish observance. Based on several years of research, it evolved from notes Bronfman used at the seders he led for friends and family." For the more historically-minded, this Haggadah could be just the right fit.

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March 7, 2013 | 3:31 am

This week in power: AIPAC, Chavez, Ukraine bomb, Soccer protest

Posted by Danny Groner

A roundup of the most talked about political and global stories in the Jewish world this week:

AIPAC conference
"From the second one arrives at the Washington Convention Center, the AIPAC spectacle is all-encompassing. From the anti-Israel demonstrators clustering around the entrance to the sparkling multi-screen plenaries in the main hall, there is a both a sense of showmanship and a sense that this is, for two days, the only show in town," said Ben Cohen in The Jewish Press. This year's festivities included an address from Vice President Biden. "The president missed AIPAC this year—no great scandal, since he’s making his first in-office trip to Israel later this month," said Slate's Dave Weigel. Not everyone thought the conference covered for it. "There’s elephant in the room in this AIPAC conference, and this elephant is American policy in the region. In one session after another one hears criticism of American inaction, American hesitation, American lack of coherence," said Shmuel Rosner in the Jewish Journal.

Chavez gone
Venezuelan Jews and the rest of the world said farewell to leader Hugo Chavez on Tuesday after he passed away at the age of 58. Chavez never explicitly threatened the Jews there, said reports, but he was known to be staunchly anti-Israel. "His one-man style, gleeful nationalizations and often harsh treatment of opponents," said the Jewish Journal, were seen "as traits of an egotistical dictator whose misplaced statist economics wasted a historic bonanza of oil revenues." A new leader will take over within a month. There's no way to know how he will rule. “As part of the security apparatus of the regime, many Venezuelans are under surveillance,” said a Jewish columnist at El Nacional, quoted by JTA. “The Jewish community is obviously perceived as some sort of threat that warrants those actions.”

Ukraine bomb blast
President of the All-Ukrainian Jewish Congress, Vadim Rabinovich, was the target of a bomb attack in Kiev recently, according to reports. An explosive device was thrown into Rabinovich's moving car, resulting in damage to his vehicle and nearby buildings. Miraculously, nobody was injured in the blast. The perpetrator got awaym but police are looking for the suspect. It's too early to know if antisemitism was the motivating factor, but many locals suspect it was.

Weinstein let off
Carmen Weinstein, the president of the Egyptian Jewish community, was acquitted of fraud and embezzlement of roughly $450,000 by the Abdeen Court of Misdemeanors. After Weinstein was sentenced to three years in jail, she had her sentence overturned. An Egyptian businessman had accused Weinstein of stealing from him after he paid for a Jewish community property. Weinstein filed a countersuit arguing that the accusation was baseless.

Racist protest
The hatred in the stands at Israeli soccer games is only getting worse, by the looks of it. Hundreds of fans last weekend left the Beitar Jerusalem soccer team after the first goal was scored by a Muslim player. The match with Maccabi Netanya, which ended in a 1-1 tie, but it was Zaur Sadayev's goal that had people talking afterward. Most of the Beitar Jerusalem fans, however, remained in the stands for the duration of the game. "An obsession with racial purity ... where have we heard that before?" asked Dan Amira in New York Magazine. "Now we have to add Israel to the ever-growing list of countries that are home to bigoted shitbag soccer fans," added Tom Ley at Deadspin.

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February 28, 2013 | 3:58 am

This week in power: Oscars, Hagel, Bennett comments, Hikind

Posted by Danny Groner

A roundup of the most talked about political and global stories in the Jewish world this week:

MacFarlane's misfires
Seth MacFarlane may not have been the best host the Academy Awards ever had, but, boy, was he a controversial one. On Sunday night, the "Family Guy" creator took the stage and hurled zingers in every which direction. The ones aimed at Jews and Hollywood stereotypes hit hard among Jewish groups. "While we have come to expect inappropriate 'Jews control Hollywood' jokes from Seth MacFarlane, what he did at the Oscars was offensive and not remotely funny," said Abraham Foxman, ADL director. He insulted nearly everyone, said Peter Dreier at JTA. "As a progressive and a Jew, I found the comments outrageous, and I'm confident that many of the millions of Americans watching the show on TV also were offended by the bigoted stereotypes about women, gays, Latinas and Jews." Still, MacFarlane had his defenders. "Maybe the outrage arises because Jews are still uncomfortable with the notion of being powerful.   But here's the fact: Jews are disproportionately represented in Hollywood," said the Jewish Journal's Rob Eshman. It's time to get with the program.

Hagel in
The Senate approved Sen. Chuck Hagel as the new secretary of defense despite strong opposition from both Democratic and Republican politiicans and some Jewish groups over his past comments that “the Jewish lobby intimidates a lot of people” in Washington. The protests did have an impact -- 41 people voted against him, the highest number ever for a new U.S. defense secretary. The process was worth it, said the Wall Street Journal in an op-ed. "We doubt Republicans will get much media credit for sticking with their principle of allowing a vote on a President's Cabinet choices, and Democrats aren't likely to do the same favor to the next GOP President. But Republicans performed an important service by giving the nominee the vetting he deserved and the public needed to hear. Good luck, Mr. Secretary."

Bennett's allegations
Are Israel's elections corrupt? That's what Jewish Home leader Naftali Bennett charges after he publicly denounced his party for its actions during the recent campaign. Bennett says that during primary elections, MK Nissan Slomiansky allegedly bought votes, and that the police are investigating the matter. It centers around the disqualification of thousands of illegitimate registrants to the party, who either didn’t exist or were still registered as members with other parties. Slomiansky maintains he did nothing wrong and called these charges pure gossip stemming from political rivalries.

Purim message
The holiday of Purim last weekend sparked some to consider what the holiday means in our times. "I often ask myself how would this whole splendid scenario would play in Mea She’arim or Bnei Brak? Jewish girl is taken by non-Jewish ruler, lives with him and has a child by him. Would that union be celebrated? Does the end justify the means?" asked Stewart Weiss in The Jerusalem Post. It leaves us with an important lesson about getting along with our partners, said Deborah Rosenbloom at The Huffington Post. "Among the keys for a healthy relationship are developing a strong voice, which includes a positive self-identity and an identification with something larger than ourselves -- a community or cause; presenting ourselves in a manner that shows confidence; and striving for parity in which we balance the power of each partner in a couple relationship."

Hikind's Purim flap
New York state assemblyman and Orthodox Jew Dov Hikind apologized on Monday after images of him in a costume that included blackface and an Afro wig turned up over the weekend. Hikind justified it as in the spirit of Purim, but acknowledged that it rubbed some people the wrong way. "It was not meant to offend anybody, it was not meant to hurt anybody. I'm sorry that anyone was," Hikind said. "Maybe so. But we have a right to expect our public officials to have more sense than that, even when it’s Purim," said Eleanor Randolph at The New York Times. Blackface is never a good idea, said The New Yorker's Rebecca Mead, and Hikind should have known that. "That Hikind, a thirty-year veteran of the Assembly, might not have been aware until this week of the ugly history of blackface is as good an argument as any for the necessity of term limits within that body," Mead argued.

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February 21, 2013 | 3:50 am

This week in power: Livni, Putin, Soldier pic, Save the date

Posted by Danny Groner

A roundup of the most talked about political and global stories in the Jewish world this week:

Livni appointment
Tzipi Livni is the first person named by Binyamin Netanyahu as a partner in a new coalition. Livni will be in charge of reviving the peace process with the Palestinians, according to reports. It comes as a surprise to some who believe these two are mismatched -- Netanyahu is much more fierce in his stance on the costs and chances of peace. Livni had retired from politics, and this position could be a good fit for her. "It is a relief to know that Livni will serve as justice minister. In her past stint in this role, during which she had a major feud with then-Supreme Court President Aharon Barak, Livni was sometimes right and sometimes wrong, but she was always a member of the enlightened crowd," said Dan Margalit at Israel Hayom.

Putin stands up
A furor popped up this week after Russian President Vladimir Putin sugested that a vast collection of Jewish books and documents would stay in Moscow's Moscow's new Jewish Museum. Russia's holding onto the Schneerson Collection to Chabad Lubavitch led a court to threaten them with a fine of $50,000 a day until it gives the collection back. Putin believes that the collection is property of the Russian state; he authorized the collection to be moved from the archive of Moscow’s Lenin Library to the new museum. “We might think this over, I’m ready to draft relevant instructions for the government, so that this library could be placed on the center’s premises,” Putin said.

Hungary list
The student council of the University of Budapest reportedly put together a list of students' presumed religion, ethnic background including Jewish origins, and political affiliation. It was composed by the HÖK student council from 2009. Jewish groups have requested that police investigate the case, since the registration of this information is forbidden under Hungarian law. Many Jews in general in the country are increasingly worried about their safety. “I tell my daughter she needs to find a way to leave Hungary and find a more stable place to live. If I am being honest, I cannot tell my children that Hungary will be a good place to live in the coming years. I tell them to prepare to leave at any moment,” a Hungarian documentary filmmaker told the Canadian Jewish News.

A soldier's image
An Israeli soldier was reprimanded this week after he posted a picture on Instagram showing the back of a Palestinian boy’s head in the cross hairs of a sniper rifle. "Yes, this photo should certainly spark outrage but so should the war crimes that precipitated it. In fact, I would argue that anyone surprised by the photo is absolutely clueless about what occupation and dominance over another people means," said blogger Raniak Halek. Others believe this goes beyond one soldier's error in judgment: "What does it mean that the Israeli army recruits a soldier, with a dubious history, who is stupid enough to post images of himself committing more criminal offenses?" asked Ali Abunimah at Electronic Intifada.

Bar Mitzvah celebration
One upcoming Bar Mitzvah boy takes Save the Date videos to the next level with his rap song and tour of "Hotlanta." "All we can say is: With that much effort going into a save-the-date video, this kid had better nail his Torah portion. Still, soon-to-be-a-man Daniel we say to you: Mazal tov, and well done!" said a Heeb blogger. Others were equally impressed. "I think I get this video. Daniel’s parent have a lot of money just kickin’ around, his college fund is already at maximum capacity. Daniel watched Rebecca Black’s videos a hundred times, and he was inspired," said blogger Hipster Jew. "I’m not gonna lie, the video is better than anything I’ve ever produced. His lines are better than anything I’ve written. But did he come up with this on his own?"

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February 14, 2013 | 3:56 am

This week in power: Pope resigns, Argentina plotting, Silverman sis, Soccer racism

Posted by Danny Groner

A roundup of the most talked about political and global stories in the Jewish world this week:

Pope Benedict's legacy
How will we remember Pope Benedict XVI, who stepped down this week? He helped Catholic-Jewish relations during his tenure and "the need for ongoing dialogue between our communities," according to reports. "Although many Jews are still suspect about the motives of the Church and believe it to be just a new ploy in trying to convert us, I believe that the change in their attitude was sincere," said Harry Maryles in the Jewish Press. "They no longer consider us ‘Christ killers.’ They no longer say that Judaism has lost its legitimacy and has been replaced by Christianity. They now consider us their ‘older brother’ religion and quite legitimate." He was a true leader, said Brad Hirschfield in The Washington Post. "Pope Benedict functioned with his own unique brand of sharp intellect, defense of conservative Catholic teaching, and a genuine spirit of respect for as wide a range of people, both within and beyond the church, as possible."

Argentina fights back
Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner alleged that the head of Buenos Aires' Jewish community was a "foreign espionage agency that knows of a new terror attack planned against Argentina" after Argentina and Iran entered into an agreement to set up a committee to investigate a 1994 bombing there. "That the Argentinian leaders could collaborate with such a cynical whitewashing of the murder of their own citizens and create a 'truth commission' with a wretched, despotic, Holocaust denying regime should lead to the condemnation of the Argentinian government by the civilized world," wrote Isi Leibler in The Jerusalem Post. "It should be viewed as even worse than the Venezuela of Hugo Chavez, known to be one of Argentina’s principal allies and funders."

Settlement goes on
Israel's Defense Ministry approved this week the construction of 90 housing units in the settlement of Beit El, reported JTA, which upset many people around the world particularly ahead of President Obama's upcoming trip to Israel. The U.S. has urged Israel not to build in the territories. "The Palestinian position is clear. There can be no negotiations while settlement continues," a spokesman for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, said in response. "Officially, there is judicial oversight, so everything it does is hanky-dory. In practice, this oversight barely exists. The court approves just about everything, from land confiscation under dubious pretenses to the expulsion of 400 suspects without trial, and is notorious for admitting secret evidence. The judges often agonize over their decisions – but, with hardly any exception, once their ordeal is over, they approve whatever the government wants," said Yossi Gurvitz at 972mag.com.

Other Silverman arrested
Each month, some women gather at the wailing wall and don tallits, knowing they'll be arrested for their protest. It was different this time around -- or drew more attention at least -- because Sarah Silverman's sister and niece, were among those who participated. Rabbi Susan Silverman and her daughter Hallel Abramowitz are members of "Women of the Wall." "It allows non-Orthodox and women's prayer at Robinson's Arch at the southernmost part of the Kotel far away from the main prayer areas. But that area is not set up for prayer services and is in no way equivalent or roughly equivalent to the main kotel prayer areas," said one blogger. "This apparently bothers religious men and women because Jews can’t mind their own business," said another.

Soccer vandalism
"The torching of Beitar Jerusalem’s offices by fans angry at the signing of two Muslim players has sparked a major outcry which both supporters and ex-players hope could end decades of open racism at the club," reported AFP. Police arrested four people for the arsonthat caused extensive damage to the offices and destroyed team memorabilia. Politicians are stressing that this incident is rare and reflects only a very small population of people who oppose the move to sign Muslim players. ''We are not talking about 10 fans, we are talking about thousands of fans… and during the last year they shouted racist slogans inside and outside the stadium and no one really tried to stop them, not the police, not the club, not the attorney-general and not the Israeli Football Association,'' Arab-Israeli politician Ahmed Tibi said.

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February 7, 2013 | 3:43 am

This week in power: Syria, Obama’s trip, Hagel, Shark Tank

Posted by Danny Groner

An Israeli soldier stands guard next to Iron Dome rocket interceptor batteries deployed near the northern Israeli city of Haifa on Jan. 31. Photo by Baz Ratner/Reuters

A roundup of the most talked about political and global stories in the Jewish world this week:

Third Iron Dome
Israel deployed a third Iron Dome missile defense system this week aimed at the northern borders with Syria and Lebanon, according to reports. Israel has said that it will do whatever it takes to prevent chemical weapons and advanced arms from Syria to get to militant groups. Syrian state television said a “scientific research center” was hit in the strikes, but didn't add any more information. The region awaits what Syria and Hezbollah will do in response to the air strike after authorities had previously made threats of retaliation.

Obama's plans
President Obama will travel to Israel some time this spring for the first time since taking office. Many hope that it will give him and israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu time to move past their differences since both men were reelected in their respective elections. “The start of the president’s second term and the formation of a new Israeli government offer the opportunity to reaffirm the deep and enduring bonds between the United States and Israel,” Jay Carney, the White House spokesman, said.  Others aren't so sure this is a good idea. "Assuming coalition talks are completed by the time Obama comes, the new government will be busy with drafting a budget and planning for cuts in government spending and raising taxes. Obama’s visit will be a distraction — not an event that’s going to top the agenda for very long," said Shmuel Rosner in the Jewish Journal.

Reviewing Hagel
"One dispiriting lesson from Chuck Hagel’s nomination for defense secretary is the extent to which the political space for discussing Israel forthrightly is shrinking," said a New York Times editorial. "Republicans focused on Israel more than anything during his confirmation hearing, but they weren’t seeking to understand his views. All they cared about was bullying him into a rigid position on Israel policy. Enforcing that kind of orthodoxy is not in either America’s or Israel’s interest." And it could just be the beginning of larger problems for the two countries, said Ilai Saltzman in the Jerusalem Post: "The challenge, however, will be to go beyond the debate over Hagel’s personal views and votes in the past and work out the existing differences between Washington and Jerusalem together through candid dialogue, not unilateral behavior."

War over Warsaw
There's a fight brewing over whether to demolish the historical building of the Jewish community in Warsaw. Developers want to build a skyscraper in its place. "The white building," the headquarters of the Jewish community, is under threat in particular. The local Culture Ministry will make a decision what to do with the location, but they won't announce how they'll be making their decision. Based on past precedent, it doesn't sound like opponents have much of a case and will likely lose. Stay tuned.

Rabbi in the "Tank"
A Chabad rabbi and entrepreneur from Minnesota appeared on Friday's episode of “Shark Tank" on ABC where he pushed his product, the SoundBender, an accessory for the iPad. He ran his investment opportunity by a team of entrepreneurs and business executives. Daymond John, the man behind the FUBU clothing line, took the chance on Weiss's product and gave $54,000 for a 40 percent stake in the company. “One of the great things about reality shows is that it is emes,” said Rabbi Weiss. "Reality is the hardest thing to fake so there was no way I could go on that show and not be myself." Everyone enjoyed Weiss's enthusiasm. "The way he unveiled the product, Steve Jobs-style, is priceless," said a TwinCities.com blogger.

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January 31, 2013 | 3:59 am

This week in power: Barak comments, Argentina probe, Birth control revelation, Blood libel cartoon

Posted by Danny Groner

A roundup of the most talked about political and global stories in the Jewish world this week:

Barak interview
Israeli defense minister Ehud Barak said in an interview last week that the Pentagon "had prepared sophisticated blueprints for a surgical operation to set back Iran’s nuclear program should the United States decide to attack — a statement that was a possible indication that Israel might have shelved any plans for a unilateral strike, at least for now," reported The New York Times. In addition, he said that the killins in Syria should be a warning to everyone else that you can't turn to any of your neighbors or friends for support and a country must care about its own future first. “We of course prefer that some morning we wake up and see that the Arab Spring was translated into Farsi and jumped over the Gulf to the streets of Tehran,” he said. “But you cannot build a plan on it.”

Crying about Argentina
Israel is objecting to a joint investigation between Iran and Argentina over the 1994 bombing of a Jewish center that killed 85 people in Buenos Aires. Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon compared it to “inviting a murderer to investigate the killings he committed.” Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, on the other hand, called the agreement "historic", saying it guaranteed "the right to due process of law, a fundamental principle of international criminal law."

Immigrant outrage
Israel admitted this week that it has secretly been giving Ethiopian Jewish immigrants birth-control injections, according to reports. It cxame after an investigation revealed more than 30 women from Ethiopia who came forward. The drug in question is thought to be Depo-Provera. "One imagines that if it were well-heeled immigrants from America as opposed to poor Africans from Ethiopia at the center of the scandal then getting to the bottom of it would be something of a state priority," said Nathan Jeffay at The Jewish Daily Forward. "This case should be sparking concerns about other areas in policy and society where racism is allowed to pass unchecked," said S.E. Smith at Care2.

Objectionable cartoon
On Holocaust Memorial Day last week, the Sunday Times ran a cartoon that upset many people for "not simply treading the fine line between criticism and blood libel, but indeed spitting all over it, leaving it for dust, and careering head first into anti-Semitismsville," according to Raheem Kassam at The Commentator. After the controversy arose, Rupert Murdoch, whose News Corp. owns the publication, apologized for what he called a "grotesque" cartoon of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The Sunday Times said it was "a criticism of Netanyahu, and not of the Jewish people: there was no slight whatsoever intended against them."

Off 'The Voice'
"We like to encourage young people to develop their natural talents and follow their dreams," said Renee Ghert-Zand at The Jewish Daily Forward. "But that’s not necessarily how things work in some sectors of Israeli society." This week, Israeli "The Voice" contestant Ophir Ben-Shetreet, 17, has been punished for or showing off her voice on the international singing competition. Her community and school argue that Ophir shouldn't be singing in public at all and that it's immodest and in violation of Jewish law. "I wish her success, not because I think she is doing the right thing or that she hasnt compromised on something a religious girl should not compromise on, but because we are given free will and free choice," said one blogger. "I always wish everyone well when they choose to do something knowing the consequences, even if from a religious perspective it looks to me like they are making the wrong choice."

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