OBAMA ASSURES ISRAEL'S BARAK OF U.S. COMMITMENT

Below is a portion of an article written by Matt Spetalnick that was published in the Washington Post on April 26, 2010 about President Obama’s assurance to Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak of the United States’ “unshakeable commitment to Israel.” To read the entire article, click on the title above.

President Barack Obama assured Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Monday of Washington's "unshakeable" commitment to the Jewish state's security, despite tensions over Israeli settlement building.

Obama also told Barak, who was at the White House for a meeting with U.S. national security adviser Jim Jones, that he remained determined to achieve comprehensive peace in the Middle East, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said.

Israel's main opposition party said on Monday Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government had quietly frozen approval of Jewish housing projects in East Jerusalem in a bid to heal the rift with Washington and coax Palestinians into peace talks.

This followed the conclusion on Sunday of a three-day peace mission by Obama's Middle East envoy George Mitchell, who said he would return to the region next week.

THE PALESTINE PEACE DISTRACTION

The following is a portion of an Op-Ed written by Richard Haass that was published in the Wall Street Journal on April 26, 2010 about why the U.S. announcing a comprehensive plan now—one that is all but certain to fail—risks discrediting good ideas, breeding frustration in the Arab world, and diluting America's reputation for getting things done. Mr. Haass is president of the Council on Foreign Relations and the author of "War of Necessity, War of Choice: A Memoir of Two Iraq Wars." To read the entire Op-Ed, click on the title above.

President Obama recently said it was a "vital national security interest of the United States" to resolve the Middle East conflict. Last month, David Petraeus, the general who leads U.S. Central Command, testified before Congress that "enduring hostilities between Israel and some of its neighbors present distinct challenges to our ability to advance our interests." He went on to say that "Arab anger over the Palestinian question limits the strength and depth of U.S. partnerships with governments and peoples . . . and weakens the legitimacy of moderate regimes in the Arab world."

To be sure, peace between Israelis and Palestinians would be of real value. It would constitute a major foreign-policy accomplishment for the United States. It would help ensure Israel's survival as a democratic, secure, prosperous, Jewish state. It would reduce Palestinian and Arab alienation, a source of anti-Americanism and radicalism. And it would dilute the appeal of Iran and its clients.

But it is easy to exaggerate how central the Israel-Palestinian issue is and how much the U.S. pays for the current state of affairs. There are times one could be forgiven for thinking that solving the Palestinian problem would take care of every global challenge from climate change to the flu. But would it? The short answer is no. It matters, but both less and in a different way than people tend to think.

Take Iraq, the biggest American investment in the Greater Middle East over the past decade. That country's Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds are divided over the composition of the new government, how to share oil revenues, and where to draw the border between the Kurdish and Arab areas. The emergence of a Palestinian state would not affect any of these power struggles.

PRESIDENT OBAMA'S LETTER TO CONFERENCE OF PRESIDENTS

Below is a portion of a letter written by President Barack Obama that was sent to the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations on April 20, 2010 about President Obama’s assurance of his commitment to United States’ relationship with Israel. To read the entire letter, click on the title above.

Thank you for expressing your concerns to my staff about our policies in the Middle East. Since we have known each for a long time, I am sure you can distinguish between the noise and distortion about my views that have appeared recently, and the actual approach of my Administration toward the Middle East.

For over 60 years, American Presidents have believed that pursuing peace between Arabs and Israelis is in the national security interests of the United States. I share that understanding and have made the pursuit of peace, including a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, a top priority from my first day in office. I am deeply committed to fulfilling the important role the United States must play for peace to be realized, but I also recognize that in order for any agreement to endure, peace cannot be imposed from the outside; it must be negotiated directly by the leaders who are require to make the hard choices and compromises that take on history. We are determined to help them, particularly because the status quo does not serve the interests of Israel, the Palestinians, or the United States.

As for our relations with Israel, let me be very clear: we have a special relationship with Israel and that will not change. Our countries are bound together by shared values, deep and interwoven connections, and mutual interests. Many of the same forces that threaten Israel also threaten the United States and our efforts to secure peace and stability in the Middle East. Our alliance with Israel serves our national security interests.

HAITI’S JEWS TRY TO PICK UP THE PIECES

The Baltimore Jewish Times published the following article written by Larry Luxner on April 27, 2010 about the dwindling Jewish population in Haiti since the earthquake. To read the article in its entirety, click on the title above.

For half a century, Gilbert Bigio’s mansion was the de facto Jewish community center of Port-au-Prince.

It’s where Haiti’s only Torah scroll was kept, an Israeli flag fluttered from the rooftop and each Passover the country’s 50 or so Jews would gather for a Seder, singing, “Next year in Jerusalem.”

That beautiful mansion, with its luxurious swimming pool and a gazebo for outdoor parties, is now a collapsed pile of rubble—destroyed like countless other structures in the Jan. 12 earthquake that leveled much of this city. After the quake, Bigio managed to find the Torah scroll amidst the ruins of his house. He took it to his daughter’s undamaged home nearby for safekeeping. None of Haiti’s Jews were known to have been killed in the quake.

If tracking down Haitian Jews was hard before the earthquake, which killed an estimated 230,000 and crippled the country’s fledgling economy, these days it’s next to impossible. There’s no rabbi or functioning synagogue in the country, and land phone lines are still mostly out of service.

COMPUTERIZING ORGANIC FARMS

The following is a portion of an article written by Brian Blum that was published by ISRAEL21c.org on April 26, 2010 about Israeli startup Farmigo and its mission to help organic farms improve their day-to-day operations. To read the entire Op-Ed, click on the title above.

More and more Israelis are joining the worldwide move to buying their fresh produce from small, organic farms. But because they're farmers, and not necessarily businessmen, most of these family-run businesses aren't being run on the most optimal level.

Consumers who get the fresh produce delivered to their homes often don't have a say in what kind of fruit and vegetables they'll receive - will it be 10 radishes and two apples, or top heavy with red peppers? And despite the clear health benefits, the discrepancy in prices between store-bought and organic produce is too much for many consumers.

That's where startup Farmigo and its CEO Benzi Ronen comes in Farmigo, aiming to improve day-to-day operations for small organic farms, making them more effective and hopefully profitable as well.

Ronen and his team interviewed farmers at 124 CSA (Community-Supported Agriculture) farms and discovered that their heads were in the ground - literally. They were focusing so much on the food they were growing, that the business side was being neglected.

JEWISH HOSPITAL IN TANGIERS TORN DOWN

Below is a portion of an article written by Elad Benari that was published in ynetnews.com on April 27, 2010 about how a Jewish hospital was torn down in Tangiers without warning or reason. To read the entire article, click on the title above.

Moroccan Jewish communities around the world are upset after the Jewish hospital in Tangiers was torn down.

According to reports, the Benchimol Hospital in Tangiers which has been standing for more than 110 years was torn down Friday night before Passover at 2 am. “There is a law in Morocco that you cannot enter any private property between 10 pm and 6 am,” explained a concerned member of the Moroccan Jewish community in Toronto. “There was no warning about it.”

The community is now concerned that further action against Jewish institutions may be taken by the authorities in Morocco and wishes to make the public aware of the situation. Although the Tangiers Jewish community now only consists of about 40 Jews (at its peak there were 22,000 Jews in the community), there are still important Jewish landmarks in the area, such as a Jewish nursing home and two cemeteries.

“The new cemetery which is in the outskirts of Tangiers is on the highway going to Rabat. At one point it was really let gone. You could hardly go inside the cemetery because there were snakes; there were bushes in between the tombs,” said the concerned individual. “It was not maintained at all. Last year we sent e-mails and finally they got their act together and they cleaned it completely, and I do have to admit that they did a very good job. But it took years of pounding and pounding until they did it.”

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SOCIAL ACTION/PUBLIC POLICY

ARIZONA GOES ABOUT IMMIGRATION REFORM ALL WRONG

The following is a portion of an Editorial that was published in the Dallas Morning News on April 27, 2010 about why they think the new Arizona immigration law addresses immigration reform in the wrong way. To read the entire Editorial, click on the title above.

Our word for today is "reasonable."

Let's use it in a sentence or two: You may disagree with our position in strong support of comprehensive immigration reform, but we believe it's reasonable.

We may disagree with your strong opposition to what you believe comprehensive immigration reform to be, but we'll concede that if you're still reading, you might be reasonable about the issue.

See how it works?

Now then. A couple of states to our west in Arizona, the word "reasonable" has been wed to "suspicion" to undercut any hopes anyone might have had for the nation's most aggressive anti-illegal immigration law. Yes, the Constitution specifies that the federal government is in charge, but we'd be the first to tell you that the feds have so failed in that duty that they have caused the border states disproportionately affected – like Arizona and Texas – to act out of frustration and fear

LOOK, IT'S AN ILLEGAL, RIGHT?

On April 26, 2010, The LA Times published the following Op-Ed written by Gregory Rodriguez about how he feels the new Arizona immigration law will need racial profiling to make it work. To read the Op-Ed in its entirety, click on the title above.

If Arizona's Republican legislators weren't so dumb, they'd be dangerous. Or maybe they're dangerous because they're dumb.

Either way, once they stop celebrating the passage of what should be dubbed the "We really, really, really don't like illegal aliens" bill , they're going to have to figure out how law enforcement is supposed to identify the culprits.

It's always fun to read the text of silly legislation. Turn to Section 2, Paragraph B, which states: "For any lawful contact made by a law enforcement official or agency of this state or a county, city, town or other political subdivision of this state where reasonable suspicion exists that the person is an alien who is unlawfully present in the United States, a reasonable attempt shall be made, when practicable, to determine the immigration status of the person."

Did you catch the part about "reasonable suspicion"? How is a cop going to know by sight who is or isn't legal? What about a person will elicit suspicion?

FIVE DEAL-BREAKERS IN ARIZONA LAW

The following is a portion of an Op-Ed written by Miami Herald columnist Andres Oppenhiemer that was published in the Dallas Morning News on April 28, 2010 about the five reasons he feels Arizona's anti-immigration law should be stopped and prevented from being copied by other states. To read the entire Op-Ed, click on the title above.

There are five major reasons Arizona's xenophobic anti-immigration law should be stopped and prevented from being copied by other states:

First, it won't stop undocumented immigrants from coming to the United States. As long as the U.S. per capita income is more than three times higher than Mexico's – $46,400 vs. $13,500, to be precise – Mexicans and other Latin Americans will continue crossing the border one way or another.

Second, it will not make Arizona safer. On the contrary, it will divert police resources away from fighting crime and will compel undocumented immigrants – as well as U.S.-born Hispanics who won't want to be hassled by police – not to report crimes.

ENERGY SECTOR POISED FOR INNOVATION -- WITH THE RIGHT SPARK

The following is an Op-Ed written by Bill Gates and Chad Holliday that was published in The Washington Post on April 23, 2010 about why they feel our nation needs to invest in energy innovation. Mr. Gates is chairman of Microsoft Corp and Mr. Holliday was chairman and chief executive of DuPont from 1998 to 2009. To read the entire Op-Ed, click on the title above.

This country runs on innovation. The American success story -- from Ben Franklin's bifocals to Thomas Edison's light bulb to Henry Ford's assembly line to today's advanced microprocessors -- is all about inventing our future. The companies we ran, Microsoft and DuPont, were successful because they invested deeply in new technologies and new ideas.

But our country is neglecting a field central to our national prospect and security: energy. Although the information technology and pharmaceutical industries spend 5 to 15 percent of their revenue on research and development each year, U.S. companies' spending on energy R&D has averaged only about one-quarter of 1 percent of revenue over the past 15 years.

And despite talk about the need for "21st-century" energy sources, federal spending on clean energy research -- less than $3 billion -- is also relatively small. Compare that with roughly $30 billion that the U.S. government annually spends on health research and $80 billion on defense research and development.

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THE IRAN REPORT

September 2007, the JCRC began a special section entitled “The Iran Report”.  Due to the looming serious nature of Iran and its politics within the global world, JCRCs across the country are providing community leaders with updated materials and articles concerning Iran, which will include political matters, divestment information, etc.  Both the United Jewish Communities (UJC) and the Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA) have issued joint statements indicating that the subject of Iran should be on the top of the agenda for local Jewish communities. 

The JCRC will continue to bring the community updates on the situation with Iran and its implications throughout the Middle East and the world.

JCPA RESOLUTION ON IRAN’S NUCLEAR WEAPONS PROGRAM

Adopted by the Board of Directors of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA) on March 27, 2007.

DESMOND TUTU: RELEASE 3 US HIKERS HELD IN IRAN

The following is a portion of an article released by AP that was published by the Washington Post on April 28, 2010 that discusses former South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s call for Iran to release 3 American hikers that have been held since July. To read the entire news release, click on the title above.

Retired South African archbishop Desmond Tutu is calling for the urgent release of three American hikers detained for nearly nine months in Iran.

In a statement Wednesday Tutu says two of the hikers are ill and they are all suffering emotionally and are considering a hunger strike. He says Shane Bauer, Josh Fattal and Sarah Shourd have committed no crime.

The three Americans have been held since crossing the border from Iraq in July. Their families say they unintentionally strayed while hiking.

IRAN OPPOSITION LEADERS CALL FOR ELECTION ANNIVERSARY RALLIES

On April 27, 2010, Voice of America News published the following news release about two major Iranian opposition leaders who are calling for demonstrations on June 12, the anniversary of a disputed election that placed President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in power for another term. To read the news release in its entirety, click on the title above.

Two major Iranian opposition leaders are calling for demonstrations on June 12, the anniversary of a disputed election that placed President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in power for another term.

Opposition website Sahamnews.org said Tuesday that former Prime Minister Mir Hossein Mousavi and reformist leader Mehdi Karroubi are urging people to take part in the public protests. The website said they will apply for permission to hold the rallies.

Since June, more than 80 demonstrators have been killed in government crackdowns on opposition rallies. Hundreds of other activists have been arrested.

The opposition site quotes Mr. Mousavi as saying the Iranian people have a "collective memory" of what he called the "corrupt" actions of the government.

US CONGRESS TO ADVANCE LEGISLATION AGAINST IRAN

Below is a portion of an article written by Yitzhak Benhorin that was published on ynetnews.com on April 26, 2010 about Congress’ attempts to move forward legislation that aims at Iran's reliance on imports of refined petroleum products. To read the entire article, click on the title above.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D – MD) are expected to meet on Wednesday to discuss the advancement of legislation calling for US sanctions against companies that conduct business with Iran.

American and Israeli officials estimate that sanctions imposed on Iran's oil industry would be the most devastating blow to the regime in Tehran. The Obama Administration is trying to promote similar measures in the UN, but Russia and China are opposed to "crippling sanctions," prompting American lawmakers to move forward with their own initiative rather than wait for the president's diplomatic efforts to yield the desired results.

Over the past year the Obama Administration has pressed Congress' Democratic leaders to put their initiative on hold until the UN's Security Council decides on the matter, but Reid and Hoyer have expressed their impatience with the repeated delays in international talks.

The Senate and House of Representatives have passed rival bills taking aim at Iran over its defiance of world demands it freeze its suspect nuclear drive, and must now forge and pass compromise legislation to send it to President Barack Obama.

IRAN STRIKES SECRET NUCLEAR MINING DEAL WITH ZIMBABWE'S MUGABE REGIME

The U.K. Telegraph published the following article written by Itai Mushekwe and Harriet Alexander on April 24, 2010 about how Iran has struck a secret deal with Zimbabwe to mine its untapped uranium reserves in a move to secure raw material for its steadily expanding nuclear program. To read the entire article, click on the title above.

The agreement was sealed last month during a visit to Tehran by a close aide to Robert Mugabe, the Zimbabwean president who last weekend celebrated 30 years in power, The Sunday Telegraph has learned.

In return for supplying oil, which Zimbabwe desperately needs to keep its faltering economy moving, Iran has been promised access to potentially huge deposits of uranium ore – which can be converted into the basic fuel for nuclear power or enriched to make a nuclear bomb.

"Iran secured the exclusive uranium rights last month when minister of state for Presidential affairs, Didymus Mutasa visited Tehran," said a Zimbabwean government source. "That is when the formal signing of the deal was made, away from the glare of the media."

Mr Mutasa is the former lands minister in the Zanu-PF administration and one of Mr Mugabe's most senior aides.

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CRISIS IN DARFUR

February 2009 marked the sixth anniversary of the beginning of the violence in Darfur, Sudan.  For six years a government-backed militia known as Janjaweed (which in Arabic means, “evil men on horseback”) has continued to engage in a systematic program of expulsion, rape and murderous violence in Darfur, Sudan.  Millions of people now live in displacement camps lacking adequate food, water, shelter, healthcare, and sanitation. Attacks on \civilians continue.  As Jews, we have a particular moral responsibility to speak out and take action against genocide.  

The JCRC remains committed in its fight to end this battle and will continue to bring you facts and articles about this ongoing genocide. (For further information on Darfur, visit the JCRC web site “International” section at www.jcrcdallas.org.)

SUDAN IN CRISIS

Explore the history, people and politics behind one of the world's bloodiest conflicts in this interactive web site by The Washington Post.  Click the title above to be connected to this site.

PEACEKEEPERS HELD IN DARFUR TO BE FREED AFTER POLL RESULT

USA Today published the following news release from AP on April 26, 2010 about new clashes at Sudan’s north-south border that have killed many. To read the entire news release, click the title above.

Sudanese officials say clashes along the country's north-south border between soldiers from south Sudan's army and Arab nomads have left scores killed and wounded in south Darfur. Abdullah Massar, a presidential adviser from the Arab tribe involved, said Sunday that local tribal officials report more than 50 Arab nomads were killed in the fighting with soldiers from the southern Sudan's People Liberation Army.

The SPLA could not be immediately reached for comment.

South Darfur deputy governor Farah Mustafa said a committee in the area has yet to determine the number of casualties. I

ICC JUDGES REJECT APPEAL ON CHARGES AGAINST DARFUR REBEL LEADER

The Sudan Tribune published the following news release on April 27, 2010 about the rejection of an appeal to dismiss charges against Bahr Garda, leader of the Resistance, by judges at the ICC . To read the release in its entirety, click on the title above.

The judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) ruled last Friday that the prosecution has failed to provide grounds that warrant an appeal against a decision made last February to decline the confirmation of charges against a Darfur rebel leader.

Bahr Idriss Abu Garda, leader of Darfur United Resistance Front (URF), was accused by the prosecution of playing a role in the deadly assault that left 12 soldiers from the African Union (AU) peacekeepers dead and wounded eight others.

Most of the soldiers, from Botswana, Gambia, Nigeria, Mali and Senegal, were "executed" — shot at close range, according to the prosecutor’s office.

Abu Garda was the first individual to appear before The Hague based court in connection with the Darfur case. The rebel chief agreed to surrender himself voluntarily last year to face the charges saying he is confident of his innocence.

DARFUR REBELS FREE UN PEACEKEEPERS IN SUDAN

Below is a news release from BBC News that was published on April 27, 2010 about the release of four South African peacekeepers who were kidnapped in Sudan's troubled Darfur region earlier this month.

Four South African peacekeepers who were kidnapped in Sudan's troubled Darfur region earlier this month have been released, the UN says.

The two men and two women - who are part of the joint UN-African Union force, Unamid - were abducted after leaving their base in Nyala.

Rebel Movement for the Popular Struggle spokesman Ibrahim al-Dukki said no ransom had been paid.

He said the abduction was to show Darfur was not safe for elections.

A civil war has pushed about three million people into refugee camps in Darfur and the region is prone to lawlessness and banditry.

A number of expatriates, including aid workers and Unamid officials, have been kidnapped by armed groups demanding ransom.

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JEWISH COMMUNITY RELATIONS COUNCIL
Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas
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