From the Jewish Telegraphic Agency
Canada prevents anti-Semitic comedian Dieudonne from entering country
French comic Dieudonne M’bala M’bala speaking at a news conference in Paris. (Michel Euler/AP Images)
MONTREAL (JTA) — Border services agents in Montreal sent convicted anti-Semitic comedian Dieudonne M’bala M’bala back to France on Tuesday after he landed in the city for a series of 10 sold-out shows in Canada.
Hours earlier, Dieudonne had been convicted again in France for breaking hate speech laws, for which he was fined $11,400.
Jewish groups had pressured Ottawa for two weeks to keep Dieudonne from entering Canada based on his numerous convictions in Europe over the last decade for hate speech and Holocaust denial.
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From PressTV
Syrian troops further advance against militants near Damascus
The Syrian army has managed to retake control of several areas in Eastern Ghouta near the capital, Damascus, from Takfiri militants.
According to the so-called Syrian observatory for human rights, the Syrian forces purged several areas in Housh al-Admal and Zabdin in Eastern Ghouta of militants on Wednesday.
The report also said that the army clashed with foreign-backed militants in the town of Darayya in western Ghouta, and inflicted losses on them.
Meanwhile, the Britain-based observatory also said that the Syrian troops have launched operations against the Daesh Takfiri terrorists in the eastern countryside of Homs.
The battles between Daesh and the Syrian army are still ongoing near al-Mohr oil field and the al-Taifour military airport, according to the report.
The Syrian air force also bombed Daesh positions in the Shaer oil field and al- Sukhnah town in the eastern countryside of Homs.
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From The Independent
After splitting with Al-Qaeda, Al-Nusra is being presented to the West as a moderate force. It’s nothing of the sort
From Russia Today
Ukraine president’s villa neighbors ‘bombed from camouflage-painted helicopter’
Published time: 11 May, 2016 13:53
© ТСН / YouTube
Kiev police are investigating a report of an incendiary bomb attack on a house in a suburb of the capital, which reportedly involved a military-style painted helicopter. The house is located near to the president’s residence.
The incident happened in the village of Kozin on the Dnieper River, south of Kiev, on May 6, according to reports on TV news program TSN. The property belongs to the family of business owners.
Witnesses of the attack, including a guard and the young son of the couple, told journalists that a helicopter painted in black and green “camouflage” fired at least three incendiary projectiles at the property.
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From Ynet News
Israel celebrates 68th Independence Day
Celebrations to begin on Wednesday evening with the traditional torch-lighting ceremony; Thursday’s events include an IAF fly-over, awarding Medals of Excellence to 120 IDF soldiers and officers, the International Bible Quiz and the Israel Prize ceremony.
The State of Israel celebrates its 68th Independence Day on Thursday, with events beginning Wednesday evening.
Independence Day celebrations will begin at 7:45pm with a torch-lighting ceremony on Mount Herzl. The theme of this year’s ceremony is “civilian bravery” and torches will be lit by Rona Ramon, Herzl Biton, Gabi Barshishat, Avi Toibin, Dr. Anan Falah, Nili and Moshe Levy, Hillel Bareli, Rotem Elisha, Fainy Sukenik, Yaakov Ehrenfeld, Father Gabriel Naddaf, IDF representative Sgt. Roberto Farah-Usa and Border Police representative Staff Sgt. Alison Berson.
In addition to the torch-lighting ceremony, IDF soldiers will put on a marching display, during which they will form elaborate shapes. It will be the final year the display will be commanded by Col. (ret.) David Rokani,
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From the Jewish Telegraphic Agency
Playwright Tony Kushner accuses Toronto federation of ‘McCarthyism’
Tony Kushner attending the “Mike Nichols: American Masters” world premiere at The Paley Center for Media in New York City, Jan. 11, 2016. (Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)
(JTA) — Award-winning Jewish playwright Tony Kushner accused Toronto’s Jewish federation of “McCarthyism” for disassociating itself from his appearance under the auspices of a beneficiary agency.
In an interview with Canada’s Globe and Mail newspaper published a day before his May 9 speech for the Koffler Centre for the Arts, Kushner — best known for the Pulitzer Prize-winning “Angels in America” and the screenplay for Steven Spielberg’s “Munich” — said he was “disgusted” by the UJA Federation of Toronto’s action, describing it as a “smear campaign.”
The federation in March said it was pulling back from Kushner’s appearance because he is on the advisory board of Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), a group that promotes Boycott, Divestments and Sanctions (BDS) against Israel.
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From the Jewish Telegraphic Agency
Netanyahu choice for envoy to Rome withdraws candidacy
Member of Italian Parliament and member of the Partito della Liberta conservative ruling party, Fiamma Nirenstein, taking part in a demonstration “For the truth for Israel” in Rome, Oct. 7, 2010. (Andreas Solaro//AFP/Getty Images)
(JTA) — Fiamma Nirenstein, an Italian journalist and former parliamentarian, withdrew her candidacy to serve as Israel’s ambassador to Italy.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who also serves as Israel’s foreign minister, announced the decision to appoint Nirenstein in August. Nirenstein, 71, moved to Israel in 2013 and received citizenship.
She announced on Tuesday that she had notified Netanyahu of her decision to renounce her candidacy for the position.
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From the Jewish Telegraphic Agency
Beyonce rocks Israeli-designed dresses on new world tour
Beyonce on stage in an Inbal-Dror dress during a performance in Houston, Texas, May 7, 2016. (Screenshot from Twitter)
JERUSALEM (JTA) — Beyonce is wearing a line of dresses custom made by Israeli fashion designer Inbal Dror on stage during her new world tour.
Dror, of Tel Aviv, posted photos on her Facebook page and Twitter feed of the performer wearing her creations in a May 7 Houston show for the “Formation” tour, which started late last month.
The legend that is @Beyonce on stage in @InbalDror #FormationWorldTour pic.twitter.com/7b7tGhoZXS
From the Jewish Telegraphic Agency
Arizona JCC evacuated after bomb threat
(JTA) — A Jewish community center in suburban Phoenix was temporarily evacuated after a bomb threat was phoned in on Wednesday.
The East Valley JCC in Chandler, Arizona, received the anonymous threat in the morning, Fox10 Phoenix reported.
Police arrived on the scene soon after, evacuating the facility as well as nearby businesses. In addition, access to a nearby strip mall was restricted.
In a Facebook post in the early afternoon, the JCC announced that children “are safely returning to the JCC after a bomb scare this morning. The children have been safe the entire time.”
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From the Jewish Telegraphic Agency
NJ state Senate passes anti-BDS bill
BDS supporters protesting in New York, October 2015. (BDS Facebook page)
(JTA) — The New Jersey Senate unanimously approved a bill that would require the state’s public worker pension fund to divest from companies that boycott Israel.
The Senate passed the legislation Monday. A similar bill in the state Assembly is in committee.
The bill bars the state Division of Investments from investing the public workers’ $68.6 billion pension fund in any company “that boycotts the goods, products, or businesses of Israel, boycotts those doing business with Israel, or boycotts companies operating in Israel or Israeli-controlled territory.”
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