Briefs

Iran Bans Jews From U.N. Forum

An international Jewish human rights group said it was told by an Iranian official that Jewish groups “would not be welcome” at a U.N. conference on racism and discrimination.

The Simon Wiesenthal Center said the forum should not be held this week in Iran because the country’s policies are discriminatory and oppressive.

Clinton Blasted for Jews-Rich Link

U.S. Jewish leaders criticized President Clinton for trying to shift the blame for pardoning fugitive financier Marc Rich onto Israelis and Diaspora Jewish leaders.

Clinton “should not use the Jews as scape-goats,” said Ronald Lauder, chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations.

In an Op-Ed in Sunday’s New York Times, Clinton cited eight reasons for pardoning Rich in the final hours of his presidency.

The last read, “Finally, and importantly, many present and former high-ranking Israeli officials of both major political parties, and leaders of Jewish communities in America and Europe, urged the pardon of Mr. Rich.”

Groups Slam YMCA Report

The World Alliance of YMCAs in Geneva released a report saying the group is taking “the side of the oppressed Palestinian people” in the Middle East conflict.

The YMCAs of the United States and Canada distanced themselves from the report, earning applause from Jewish groups including the Anti-Defamation League and the American Jewish Congress.

The Simon Wiesenthal Center asked YMCA offices in other countries to stop funding the international office.

Mufti Denies Jewish Link to Wall

The mufti of Jerusalem, the highest Islamic official appointed by the Palestinian Authority, issued a religious ruling declaring the Western Wall a Muslim possession and disavowing any Jewish connection to the site. The rabbi of the Western Wall said the mufti is trying to rewrite history, but nothing can shake the Jewish people’s link to the site.

Palestinian Stabs Yeshiva Student

A Palestinian woman stabbed and lightly wounded a Jewish yeshiva student in Hebron. Also on Tuesday, Israeli security forces tore down two illegally built structures near Hebron that were located near the site where an Israeli was killed in a shooting ambush earlier this month.

All briefs by Jewish Telegraphic Agency.