From the Jewish Telegrapic Agency
U.S. donors providing most of Netanyahu’s reelection funds
JERUSALEM (JTA) — More than 90 percent of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s reelection funds have come from the United States.
Of the total contributions of nearly $259,000 — slightly over 1 million shekels — about $237,000 came from American donors, according to records made public by Israel’s State Comptroller and first published byBuzzFeed. Three wealthy families donated about half the amount from the Americans.
Israeli politicians may accept a maximum donation of about $11,500.
The three families are the Falics of Florida, owners of the Duty Free Americas stores found in airports; the Books of New Jersey, owners of Jet Support Services, Inc.; and the Schottensteins of Ohio, owners of the American Eagle clothing chain.
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From PressTV
Palestine to join ICC on April 1: Ki-moon
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon says Palestine will join the International Criminal Court (ICC) on April 1.
In a statement posted on the UN’s treaty website on Tuesday night, the secretary-general said, “The statute will enter into force for the State of Palestine on April 1, 2015.”
On Monday, Herman von Herbel, who serves as ICC registrar, confirmed that the body has received documents by Palestine declaring its acceptance of the body’s jurisdiction. This paves the way for the court’s investigation of Israeli crimes committed during the recent war on Gaza.
When Palestine accedes to the Rome Statute, The Hague-based court would be able to prosecute Israeli officials for crimes they have committed over the past months in Gaza and the West Bank.
The ICC started its work in early-July 2002, when the Rome Statute entered into force as the foundational and governing document. Currently, there are 122 states, which are party to the Rome Statute and thus members of the ICC.
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From PressTV
EU criticizes Israel over Palestine tax freeze
The European Union has criticized Israel for its decision to freeze tax revenues belonging to the Palestinian Authority in retaliation for Palestinians applying to join the International Criminal Court (ICC).
EU foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, said in a statement on Tuesday that Tel Aviv’s move violates a 1994 agreement that was made following the Oslo accords.
Mogherini added that the move puts at risk EU achievements in aiding the Palestinian Authority to develop its beleaguered economy.
“An effective Palestinian Authority, committed to non-violence and a peaceful resolution of the conflict, is a key element for a two-state solution,” said Mogherini.
In addition, Mogherini voiced concern over recent steps taken by both sides that could undermine peace efforts and create obstacles in the way of reaching a negotiated solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
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From PressTV
Israeli troops arrest 19 Palestinians across West Bank
Israeli forces have arrested at least 19 Palestinians during separate overnight raids on a number of houses across the occupied West Bank.
The Palestinian Prisoners Society said in a statement on Tuesday that Israeli troopers detained the Palestinians in several villages south and north of al-Khalil (Hebron), situated 30 kilometers (19 miles) south of al-Quds (Jerusalem) late on Monday.
The statement further noted that Israeli troops also arrested a man near the northern West Bank city of Jenin, and took away another near Tulkarm, situated 61 kilometers (38 miles) southeast of al-Quds.
The report comes as the health condition of several Palestinian prisoners held inside Israeli jails is failing.
The Palestinian Authority Department of Prisoners Affairs said in a statement on Monday that Palestinian prisoners being kept inside Israeli detention facilities are suffering from serious health problems, yet they are not receiving proper medical treatment.
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From PressTV
Palestine prisoners’ health failing in Israeli jails
The health condition of several Palestinian prisoners held inside Israeli jails is failing, says the Palestinian Authority Department of Prisoners Affairs.
Palestinian prisoners residing in Israeli jails are suffering from serious health problems, yet they are not receiving proper medical treatment, the department said in a statement on Monday, Palestine’s Ma’an News Agency reported.
A 75-year-old prisoner, Fouad Shweiki, who suffers from weak eyesight, elevated blood pressure, and prostate problems, was among thoses not receiving proper medical treatment.
In 2006, Shweiki, the oldest Palestinian prisoner currently held in Israeli jails, was sentenced to 20 years behind bars.
Another prisoner, Khaled Hassan al-Qadi, contracted Hepatitis B after being jailed in 2003, but has not received any manner of medical treatment.
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From PressTV
Boycotting Israel can stop Tel Aviv regime crimes: Analyst
A political commentator says the world must boycott Israel in order to halt the ongoing crimes by the Tel Aviv regime against Palestinians, Press TV reports.
Jim W. Dean, the managing editor of Veterans Today, said in an interview with Press TV from Atlanta that the international community and the world public must impose “a widespread boycott of Israel.”
The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign has taken some concrete steps to boycott Israeli institutions over the constant crimes against Palestinians, Dean said.
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From the Jewish Daily Forward
Will ‘White Supremacist’ Speech Hurt GOP With Jews?
Steve Scalise Addressed David Duke Event in 2002
By Ron Kampeas
(JTA) — A recent revelation that a top Republican addressed a white supremacist group is reviving an age-old Washington debate: How important are false steps from the past in evaluating a party today?
Not very, say Republicans, in the case of Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.), the majority whip in the U.S. House of Representatives sworn in on Tuesday. In 2002, when he was a state legislator, Scalise spoke to a group affiliated with the white nationalist David Duke.
Not so fast, counter Democrats, who say the speech, while not indicting Scalise as a racist, underscores what they claim is the GOP’s propensity to flirt with extremists.
From the Jewish Telegrapic Agency
France to Palestinians: Don’t resubmit U.N. statehood resolution
(JTA) — France warned the Palestinians against antagonizing Israel by resubmitting a statehood resolution to the United Nations Security Council.
France, which voted for the resolution on Dec. 30, was reacting Tuesday to the announcement made two days earlier by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas that he would soon resubmit the resolution, Reuters reported.
The resolution before the 15-nation council came up one vote short of the necessary nine needed for passage.
“While we think the Palestinians have the right to move the status quo, at the same time there has to be an effort to find a consensus solution,” Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius told reporters, according to Reuters. “Once you set this cycle off, you get results that you don’t want one way or another.”
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From PressTV
Hamas opposed to Abbas’ resubmission of UN bid
Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has criticized Mahmoud Abbas’ plans for resubmitting a bid to the UN Security Council (UNSC) on ending Israeli occupation.
A spokesman for Hamas on Monday said the plan to re-file a resolution on ending Israeli occupation would be “political foolishness.”
Sami Abu Zuhri said Hamas is totally opposed to any attempt by the Palestinian Authority to go back to the UNSC.
He described such a potential move as a “dangerous game” with the destiny of the Palestinian nation.
Palestinian Authority announced on Friday it has decided to resubmit a draft resolution to the UNSC setting a deadline for reaching a peace deal with Israel and ending the occupation.
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From the Jewish Telegrapic Agency
Republican Jewish Coalition hosting Cruz at victory party
WASHINGTON (JTA) — The Republican Jewish Coalition is drawing top GOP lawmakers, including possible presidential contender Ted Cruz, to a Washington victory event.
The event Tuesday, celebrating the GOP sweep in the November midterm elections, was portrayed in Politico as a signal by the GOP’s interventionist wing to shore up support for a robust foreign policy in the face of the recent rise in support for Republicans who call for scaling back the U.S. role overseas.
In addition to Cruz, a Texas U.S. senator, others attending the event include Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.), the 2008 presidential nominee, and Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) and Rob Portman (R-Ohio), among the party’s most outspoken advocates for intervention. Also, U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.), a freshman who will be the sole Jewish Republican in Congress.
The event was going ahead despite snows tangling the capital in traffic.
From the Jewish Telegrapic Agency
Why did Cameron Diaz have a Jewish wedding?
In an interesting twist, the couple had a Jewish ceremony — despite the fact that neither appears to be Jewish.
Diaz’s father was Cuban, and her mother has English and German ancestry. Madden, who started Good Charlotte with his twin brother Joel, was born to Robin Madden and Roger Combs. There is no evidence that he has any Jewish ancestry.
Furthermore, while some high-profile celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow and Madonna have converted to Judaism or shown interest in Kabbalah, it is not readily apparent that Diaz and Madden have done either of these.
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From the Jewish Daily Forward
‘Selma’ Distorts History by Airbrushing Out Jewish Contributions to Civil Rights
Film’s Portrayal of Lyndon Johnson Is Not Only Inaccuracy
The film arrives on the 50th anniversary of the Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, marches, with Oprah Winfrey as one of its lead producers. The screenplay, by Paul Webb, reveals Dr. King’s media savvy, as he embraces the Selma setting as one most likely to cause confrontation and result in wide coverage. In another scene, we witness the doctrinal and tactical splits within the civil rights movement between the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and Malcolm X. Most powerfully, we watch the unfolding of Bloody Sunday, March 7, 1965, when the marchers are attacked by the Selma police on the Edmund Pettus Bridge.
