From the Jewish Telegraphic Agency
Obama in State of the Union pledges to veto new Iran sanctions
WASHINGTON (JTA) — President Obama said in his State of the Union address that he will veto any new Iran sanctions.
“There are no guarantees that negotiations will succeed, and I keep all options on the table to prevent a nuclear Iran,” Obama said in prepared remarks the White House posted online just minutes before the speech, a first.
“But new sanctions passed by this Congress, at this moment in time, will all but guarantee that diplomacy fails — alienating America from its allies; and ensuring that Iran starts up its nuclear program again,” he said. “It doesn’t make sense. That is why I will veto any new sanctions bill that threatens to undo this progress.”
When he delivered the veto pledge, Obama earned applause from the Democratic side of the room.
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From the Jewish Telegraphic Agency
Japanese PM calls ISIS ransom threat ‘unacceptable act of terrorism’
JERUSALEM (JTA) — Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Jerusalem called on the Islamic State to release two Japanese hostages immediately and said the demand for a $200 million ransom is “an unacceptable act of terrorism.”
“Japan will cooperate with the international community and further contribute to peace and stability in the region,” Abe said during a news conference Tuesday morning. “This policy is unshakable and we won’t change it.”
The Islamic State, or ISIS, on Tuesday morning posted a video on social media demanding that Japan pay the ransom for the hostages within 72 hours or the men would be executed, according to the video.
In the video, a masked man standing between the two kneeling men in orange prison jumpsuits directly addresses Abe, criticizing his decision to join the U.S.-led coalition against ISIS.
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From PressTV
Assailants bomb Hamas official’s car in Gaza: Interior ministry
Unknown attackers have bombed a car belonging to a security official of the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian interior ministry says.
“A home-made bomb damaged a car belonging to a military police officer which was parked in front of his house in Gaza City, without causing casualties,” ministry spokesman Iyad al-Buzum said in a statement issued on Tuesday.
The car belonged to Helmi Khalaf, administrative and financial manager of the military police in the besieged enclave, witnesses said.
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From PressTV
Israeli settlers once again storm al-Aqsa Mosque
In their latest desecration assault, dozens of extremist Israeli settlers have stormed into the holy al-Aqsa Mosque Compound in East al-Quds (Jerusalem), Press TV reports.
Israeli settlers on Monday forced their way into the al-Aqsa Mosque Compound through the al-Magharbeh Gate under tight protection of Israeli police.
Angry Palestinian worshipers present in the mosque’s yard tried to force the settlers out.
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From PressTV
Israeli forces kill Palestinian Bedouin in Negev
At least one Palestinian man has been killed and dozens more injured by a group of Israeli forces who attacked a funeral for another Palestinian in the town of Rahat.
Sami Ibrahim Zayadna, 45, died on Sunday after inhaling teargas fired by Israeli police in the Negev town.
Violent clashes erupted after Israeli police entered a cemetery as mourners were burying a 21-year-old Bedouin, Sami al-Jaar, who had been shot dead last week in the same town.
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From Ynet News
Residents of northern Israel wary of potential retaliation
Even as IDF urges calm – and Jerusalem maintains distance from strike – locals in upper Galilee, Golan fear possible escalation after assassination. “The fear exists like it does across the State of Israel, but we are making every effort to not let it disrupt our way of life,” said a resident of Metula on Tuesday evening, ahead of another tense night in northern Israel, following the Sunday assassination of senior Hezbollah members and an Iranian general.
Military convoys leading tanks and armored personnel carriers were seen throughout the day in the Golan Heights and the upper Galilee and – though the denizens of the north attempt to deny the developments – memories of more trying times have been resurfacing.
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From the Jewish Daily Forward
Two Countries, Two Paths on Torture
Who Uses More Controversial Practices — Israel or America?
By Josh Nathan-Kazis and Nathan Guttman
In the U.S. Senate’s landmark 600-page redacted summary of its still-secret report on the CIA’s use of torture, Israel is mentioned just once: Both America and the Jewish state, the document notes, share “striking similarities” in their attempts to deal with terrorism.
But a careful look at how each nation has actually balanced dealing with that threat and the countervailing pressures of democracy and human rights reveals two countries that have traveled along opposite trajectories: While America started off with an absolutist approach, totally rejecting any form of coercive interrogation for any reason, it ended up tossing out its own rules when terror struck home.
Israel, meanwhile, barely monitored or restrained its interrogators for decades. Then, when shocking public revelations forced authorities to acknowledge the reality of long-standing torture policies and practices, a gradual — and still incomplete — imposition of restraints brought Israeli practices under greater regulation. Over time, courts and governments limited and defined the allowed scope of torture as a supposed means of achieving real-time intelligence.
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At a news conference in Jerusalem, Mr Graham called the prospect of mounting a lawsuit against Israel a “bastardising of the role of the ICC” adding: “I find it incredibly offensive.”
“We will push back strongly to register our displeasure. It is already part of our law that would require us to stop funding if they actually bring a case,” said Mr Graham, of South Carolina.
The Obama administration has said it does not believe Palestine is a sovereign state and therefore does not qualify to be part of the ICC, but has not explicitly threatened to withhold aid. Mr Graham’s language is some of the most bullish since Palestine made its claim to become the 123rd state to join the ICC late last year.
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From Ynet News
Rahat rages: Pipe bomb hurled at police
Violent demonstrations continue in predominantly Bedouin city of Rahat in Israel’s southern district after two residents killed during previous clashes with police. A pipe bomb was hurled at Israeli security forces on Tuesday evening as violent demonstrations continued in the predominantly Bedouin city of Rahat in Israel’s southern district after death of two residents during clashes with police.
There were no reported injuries in the pipe bomb attack however violence was raging on Tuesday evening as demonstrators hurled stones and tires lit on fire at Israeli police forces.
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From the Jewish Telegraphic Agency
Coen brothers to preside over Cannes jury
(JTA) — Filmmaking partners Joel and Ethan Coen have been selected jointly as the presidents of this year’s Cannes Film Festival.
The brothers will chair the jury at the 68th edition of the annual French festival, according to a statementthat appeared Tuesday on the festival website.
The Coens, who write, direct, produce and edit their films as a duo, have enjoyed great success at Cannes, most recently in 2013 with their latest film, “Inside Llewyn Davis,” which was awarded the Grand Prix by a jury headed by Steven Spielberg.
In a statement released through the film festival, the brothers quipped, “Presiding over the Jury is a special honour, since we have never been president of anything. We will issue further proclamations at the appropriate time.”
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From the Jewish Telegraphic Agency
Why Israel’s elections are confusing, in one graph
Polls show that either the right-wing Likud or a newly formed center-left alliance called the Zionist Camp is poised to win Israel’s March elections.
If only it were that simple.
If current surveys bear out, Likud and the Zionist Camp will indeed compete for the most votes. But the one that wins the most seats in Knesset won’t necessarily lead the next government.
To understand why, take a look at this graph of Israeli polls created by J Street, America’s self-described “pro-Israel, pro-peace” lobby.
From PressTV
Israel issues stop-work order for park in West Bank, seeks to demolish it
Israeli authorities have issued an order to stop the construction of a park in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin as a prelude to demolishing it.
Israeli forces entered Barta’a village, southwest of Jenin, on Monday and handed a demolition order for an amusement park, which is currently under construction, to the locals.
Palestinian sources said the order was the third warrant issued by the Israeli military against the construction of the park.
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From PressTV
Israel to award 53 soldiers, officers for Gaza war
Israel has decided to present 53 soldiers and officers with awards over their involvement in the war on Gaza last summer that left thousands of Palestinians dead or injured.
According to Israeli media, the regime’s army chief, Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz, has approved the awards on the basis of recommendations by a military committee headed by Brig. Gen. Harel Knafo.
A Tuesday military announcement said several army units will receive “citations of merit” and medals of “appreciation” over their role in the war.
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From the Jewish Daily Forward
‘Pope’s Rabbi’ Wants New Argentina Terror Probe
(JTA) — Rabbi Abraham Skorka traveled from Buenos Aires to Washington to wax lyrical about his passion – interfaith dialogue – and intimate about his well-known pal, Pope Francis. Also to plug his movement, Conservatism, and its strides in Latin America.
Timing dictated that he also issue a plea to his government: Press ahead with the AMIA case in the wake of the suspicious death of its prosecutor.
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From the Jewish Daily Forward
Men Pushing Baby Strollers? Only Goys Do That!
Now that Hasidic men are barred from pushing strollers, will they turn to other modes of baby transportation? / Illustration by Anya Ulinich
Baseball. Men’s briefs. Dogs. Hipster eyeglasses. Motorcycles. Neckties. English. Math. Men’s shoes any color besides black. Button-down shirts that flap left-over-right. Fixing your own car. Modern Hebrew.
That’s a partial list of “goyish” things Satmar Jews have successfully banned within their flock.
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From the Jewish Daily Forward
Viva Las (Oscar) Goodman
Las Vegas’s First Jewish Mayor Still Revels in the City of SunBy Sarah Feldberg
There is a box of candy on Oscar Goodman’s desk.
Goldenberg’s Peanut Chews. His face lights up at their mention. They’re from Philadelphia, he says. “I love them. I have at least one a day.”
Goodman — former mob lawyer, former Las Vegas mayor, current Sin City spokesman — is happily ensconced behind his desk at the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority building in the heart of the city. Along the walls, photos show him as he is best known: the jovial, red-nosed mayor of the City of Las Vegas, Bombay Sapphire martini in hand, and a pair of feathered showgirls by his side.
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