CNN president expects Trump to see out his four-year term — Why shouldn’t he? — Zio-Watch, Mar 9, 2017
Society Zio-Watch News Round-up

CNN president expects Trump to see out his four-year term — Why shouldn’t he? — Zio-Watch, Mar 9, 2017

From The Times of Israel

CNN president expects Trump to see out his four-year term

At Jerusalem conference, Jeff Zucker recalls his last conversation with president, in Dec., a ‘monologue’ in which Trump railed at him over CNN guest who said things he didn’t like

March 7, 2017, 9:01 pm

CNN's Jeff Zucker interviewed by Channel 2's Yonit Levy at the INTV conference in Jerusalem on March 7, 2017. (Screen capture: Youtube)

CNN’s Jeff Zucker interviewed by Channel 2’s Yonit Levy at the INTV conference in Jerusalem on March 7, 2017. (Screen capture: Youtube)

CNN President Jeff Zucker said grudgingly Tuesday he expected President Donald Trump to see out his four-year term.

Interviewed at a media conference in Jerusalem, Zucker was asked in an interview whether he though Trump would survive a full term in office. After dodging a little, he replied: “I think today, you have to say that, you know, he will be president for four years.”

Zucker, whose network has been dismissed by Trump as “fake news,” said the last time he spoke to the president was on “December 21 at 7 p.m.” when Trump was “railing” at him about a CNN guest who said things he didn’t like about him.

“He yelled at me for two minutes,” said Zucker, and then “he said, ‘OK, got it, goodbye’ And he hung up.”


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From the Jewish Telegraphic Agency

New app allows users to report anti-Semitic incidents

(JTA) — A new app will allow users to report suspicious activity and document anti-Semitic incidents from their smartphones.

The app, called Jewish Security Application, is being launched by the Community Security Service, a New York-based group that works to enhance security at Jewish institutions.

The app will allow users to receive security alerts from Community Security Service, send messages to the group and other relevant authorities and to upload video or photos to assist first responders. It also will feature a panic button to alert local authorities to immediate threats.

The launch of the app comes after six waves of bomb threats that have affected over 100 Jewish community centers, schools and Anti-Defamation League offices around the country. At least three American Jewish cemeteries have also been vandalized in recent months.
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From PressTV

Thu Mar 9, 2017 2:54PM
German Chancellor Angela Merkel addresses the Bundestag, the German lower house of parliament, on March 9, 2017 in Berlin. (Photo by AFP)
German Chancellor Angela Merkel addresses the Bundestag, the German lower house of parliament, on March 9, 2017 in Berlin. (Photo by AFP)

Chancellor Angela Merkel has called on Turkish officials to stop comparing modern Germany to Nazi Germany as tensions continue to escalate between the two countries.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused Germany of “Nazi practices” last week after several Turkish ministers were denied permission to hold rallies in Germany in support of an upcoming referendum on extending his powers.

Addressing the German lower house of parliament, Bundestag, on Thursday, Merkel said Turkey’s accusations of “Nazi-style practices” in modern Germany are “sad” and ”cannot be tolerated.”

“Comparisons with Nazi Germany always lead to misery, to the trivialization of the crimes against humanity committed by National Socialism [more commonly known as Nazism],” the German leader said.

Such comparisons by Ankara must stop, she said, adding “they are not worth considering our close ties between Germany and Turkey and our peoples – politically, in our society, as a NATO partner and economically.“

Merkel, however, said German officials would continue to do all in their powers to secure the release of detained German-Turkish journalist, Deniz Yucel.
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From PressTV

Thu Mar 9, 2017 11:25AM
This file picture shows a Syrian fighter jet at a hangar in the al-Jarrah airbase in northern Syria.
This file picture shows a Syrian fighter jet at a hangar in the al-Jarrah airbase in northern Syria.

Syrian government forces have retaken an airbase in the country’s northern province of Aleppo from Takfiri Daesh terrorists.

A military source said Daesh terrorists withdrew from the small al-Jarrah military airport on Thursday as Syrian troopers launched an attack to reestablish control over it, Arabic-language Enab Baladi reported.

Separately, Syrian army soldiers seized back control of 19 towns and villages on the eastern outskirts of the city of Aleppo. Among the liberated areas were Khafiya al-Hamar, al-Raihaniyah, Harna Shahab, and Ma’arba.

Syrian fighter jets also carried out a string of airstrikes against Daesh positions in the villages of al-Boeida Qlieb al-Thour and al-Lweibda in the west-central province of Hama.

Syrian government forces advance near the town of al-Khafsah on the eastern outskirts of the city of Aleppo, March 8, 2017. (Photo by AFP)

More than 40 terrorists were killed and injured in the airstrikes. Seven pickup trucks, some equipped with 23mm-caliber machine guns, were destroyed as well.

Syrian jets bombarded the positions of the Jabhat Fateh al-Sham militant group — formerly known as al-Nusra Front — in the town of Kafr Zita and the village of al-Sayyiad. At least 13 terrorists were killed and more than 15 others were injured in the process.

Moreover, aerial attacks in al-Masasnieh Village left six Nusra Front militants dead and seven others injured.
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From PressTV

Sat Mar 4, 2017 8:14AM
Palestinian protesters hold placards during a demonstration against US President Donald Trump’s pledge to move the American embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem al-Quds, in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, January 24, 2017. (Photo by AFP)
Palestinian protesters hold placards during a demonstration against US President Donald Trump’s pledge to move the American embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem al-Quds, in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, January 24, 2017. (Photo by AFP)

A member of the Israeli parliament has claimed that a US Congressional delegation will be visiting Israel to discuss with Israeli officials a highly-controversial plan to relocate the American embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem al-Quds.

Yehuda Glick said on his Facebook page on Friday that the American delegates, including Chairman of the Congress Subcommittee on National Security Ron DeSantis and Congressman Dennis Ross, would begin their trip on Saturday.

According to Glick, during the 24-hour visit, the delegation members would meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other officials “to discuss the practical and political implications of the embassy’s transfer to Jerusalem.”

Israeli lawmaker Yehuda Glick (photo by AP)

He further said that the Congressmen would also explore a potential new site for the US diplomatic mission and may return to the US “with an accurate analysis of the matter, in order to update the US administration and Congress.”

However, Congressman Ross has denied he would be taking part in such a visit. He told the Israeli TV channel i24NEWS that he “is actually not attending this trip.”

US President Donald Trump has pledged on numerous occasions — including personally to the Israeli premier in a meeting last September — to move the American embassy to Jerusalem al-Quds, in a sign of recognizing the city as the capital of a future Israeli “state.”

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The controversial rhetoric and the prospect of its potential implementation, however, have sparked widespread condemnations, with critics warning that the move could wreck the chances of peace in the Middle East for good.
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From the Jewish Telegraphic Agency

Netanyahu praises Putin’s fight against radical Islam in Russia visit

(JTA) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Russia’s contribution to the fight against the Islamic State and Al Qaida during a one-day visit to Moscow.

In a statement issued prior to his meeting Thursday in Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Netanyahu stressed that it is important to make sure that Iran does not step in to fill the vacuum left by those terror groups.

“Of course, in the past year, there was significant progress in the fight against the radical Sunni Islamic terrorism led by Daesh and Al Qaida,” the statement said, using an Arabic acronym to refer to the Islamic State. “Russia has made a very important contribution. Naturally, we do not want this terrorism to be replaced by the radical Shiite Islamic terrorism led by Iran.”

Netanyahu also thanked Putin for offering greetings for the Jewish holiday of Purim, noting that the holiday marks an attempt by Iran’s Persian forbearers to destroy the Jewish people.
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From the Jewish Telegraphic Agency

Sheldon Adelson may be deposed in Netanyahu corruption investigation

JERUSALEM (JTA) — Jewish-American billionaire Sheldon Adelson may be questioned in connection with a corruption investigation of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli media reported.

Police investigators have reportedly contacted authorities in the United States to obtain a deposition from Adelson, a Las Vegas gaming magnate and the owner of the Israeli newspaper Israel Hayom. One of the investigations of Netanyahu is looking into allegations Netanyahu and Arnon Mozes, publisher of the daily Yediot Acharanot, discussed a deal in which Netanyahu would receive favorable coverage in Yediot in exchange for legislation that would cut into the circulation of Adelson’s paper.

Netanyahu is also under investigation for accepting gifts worth hundreds of thousands of shekels from wealthy businessmen.

The reports about Adelson come on the heels of other reports that Israeli billionaire Arnon Milchan, a filmmaker who lives in Los Angeles, gave testimony to Israeli police that supports indicting the prime minister. Milchan reportedly later walked back that testimony.
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From The Times of Israel

UN rights chief says US not doing enough against anti-Semitism

Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein says ‘greater and more consistent leadership’ necessary to combat ‘surge’ in Jew hatred

March 8, 2017, 2:22 pm

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra'ad Zeid al-Hussein gives a speech on the opening of a meeting of the United Nations Human Rights Council on February 27, 2017 in Geneva, Switzerland. (AFP Photo/Fabrice Coffrini)

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Zeid al-Hussein gives a speech on the opening of a meeting of the United Nations Human Rights Council on February 27, 2017 in Geneva, Switzerland. (AFP Photo/Fabrice Coffrini)

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein said on Wednesday that US President Donald Trump needs to do more to combat anti-Semitism and racism in the US.

“Greater and more consistent leadership is needed to address the recent surge in discrimination, anti-Semitism, and violence against ethnic and religious minorities” in the US, he said at a meeting of the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Zeid’s comments were made a day after a number of Jewish community centers and Jewish institutions received threats in the sixth such an incident since the start of the year.

At least three Jewish cemeteries in the US have also been desecrated over the past month, with vandals toppling hundreds of headstones.

Vandalized Jewish tombstones are framed through a hole in the fence surrounding Mount Carmel Cemetery February 27, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Mark Makela/Getty Images/AFP)

Vandalized Jewish tombstones are framed through a hole in the fence surrounding Mount Carmel Cemetery February 27, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Mark Makela/Getty Images/AFP)

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From The Times of Israel

Homophobic rabbi who mentors soldiers says IDF turns women ‘crazy’

Yigal Levinstein tells graduates of a pre-army religious academy that IDF turns Jewish women into unattractive ‘non-Jews’ by eroding their values

March 8, 2017, 1:03 am

Rabbi Yigal Levinstein speaking at the 'Zion and Jerusalem' convention in July 2016. (Screen capture: YouTube)

Rabbi Yigal Levinstein speaking at the ‘Zion and Jerusalem’ convention in July 2016. (Screen capture: YouTube)

A controversial rabbi who runs a pre-army religious academy told new IDF recruits that military service drives female soldiers “crazy” and strips them of their Jewishness.

In footage broadcast by Channel 2 news on Tuesday, Rabbi Yigal Levinstein told several hundred graduates of a prestigious religious army preparatory academy in the West Bank settlement of Bnei Atzmon that IDF service has “driven our girls crazy.”

“They recruit them to the army, where they enter as Jews, but they’re not Jews by the time they leave,” he said. “Not in the genetic sense, but all of their values and priorities have been upset and we must not allow it.”

“What happens if there’s a female company commander? This is a question of madness, it belongs in an insane asylum,” Levinstein said. “This is an Orthodox girl. Put aside those who are secular. They’re making our girls crazy.”

As for female IDF soldiers in camouflage, Levinstein speculated that it was just practice for something far more important.
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From the Jewish Telegraphic Agency

Ben Cardin comes out against David Friedman as ambassador, signaling party line vote

Ben Cardin

Sen. Ben Cardin speaking during a press conference at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., Oct. 1, 2015. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON (JTA) — Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said he would oppose President Donald Trump’s nomination of David Friedman to be ambassador to Israel.

“I believe it is critical for the U.S. ambassador to Israel to be seen as a unifying figure in this enduring relationship,” Cardin said in a statement Wednesday, a day before the committee was due to vote on Friedman’s nomination.

“Following extensive consideration of Mr. Friedman’s record and taking into account his statements during his nomination hearing, I have concluded that his past record would make it very difficult for him to serve as that unifying force,” Cardin said.
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From The Times of Israel

Florida homeless man to be charged for scratching swastikas

Jailed man admits to etching anti-Semitic symbol on cars in Jewish neighborhood in Miami Beach

March 8, 2017, 6:48 pm

A large swastika is spray-painted on the side of a car in a predominantly Jewish neighborhood in Boca Raton, Florida on February 12, 2017. (screen capture: 7News Miami)

A large swastika is spray-painted on the side of a car in a predominantly Jewish neighborhood in Boca Raton, Florida on February 12, 2017. (screen capture: 7News Miami)

An incarcerated homeless man will be charged with criminal mischief for allegedly scratching swastikas into several cars in a Jewish neighborhood in Miami Beach.

The swastikas were found on the cars on February 26, including one owned by a non-Jewish family.

Timothy Merriam, 61, is already in jail on charges of using scissors to slash the tires of more than 100 rental bikes on Miami Beach owned by the city’s public bike share program. While in prison, he made statements that led detectives to believe that he had also scratched the swastikas into the cars, the Miami Herald reported, citing the Miami Beach police.

Police told NBC Miami that they will be working with the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s office to determine if hate crime charges should also be filed.