Syrian minister: we will not use chemical weapons

April 24, 2013

JERUSALEM (JTA) — Syria will not use chemical weapons against its own citizens or against Israel, a Syrian minister said.

“Even if Syria does have chemical weapons, our leadership and our military will not use them either against Syrians or...

Parisian rabbi and son injured in knife attack

April 24, 2013

(JTA) — A rabbi and his 18-year-old son were injured in an attack in Paris by a knife-wielding man who reportedly shouted “Allahu Akbar” — “God is great.”

Police arrested the man immediately after the attack Tuesday, the French news...

Intelligence: Iran to cross ‘red line’ this summer

April 24, 2013

JERUSALEM (JTA) — Iran will cross Israel’s “red line” for nuclear activity by this summer, Israel’s former director of military intelligence said.

“In the summer, Iran will be a month or two away from deciding about a bomb,” Amos Yadlin...

Israel intelligence: Syria used chemical weapons

April 24, 2013

JERUSALEM (JTA) — Syrian forces have used chemical weapons against rebel forces and civilians, the head of Israel’s military research said.

The weapon likely is sarin-based, which targets the nervous system and can cause paralysis or death, Brig. Gen Itai...

State Dept. blasts Israel for treatment of African refugees

April 23, 2013

WASHINGTON (JTA) — The U.S. State Department in its latest human rights report elevated its criticism of Israel’s treatment of African refugees.

The report for 2012, issued April 19, said “the treatment of refugees, asylum seekers, and irregular migrants” was...

Canadian Jewish News calling it quits

April 23, 2013

TORONTO (JTA) — Canada’s flagship Jewish newspaper, The Canadian Jewish News, is folding. The newspaper, which has a circulation of approximately 40,000, announced Monday that its final print edition will be June 20. The closure will mean the loss of...

Budapest anti-Semistism event draws thousands

April 23, 2013

(JTA) — Tens of thousands of protesters marched in Budapest against anti-Semitism, as Hungarian police prevented a neo-Nazi demonstration for the third time in two weeks.

The march Sunday against anti-Semitism was part of the annual March of the Living,...

Pink Floyd’s Waters still considers boycott against Israel

April 22, 2013

(JTA) — Pink Floyd guitarist Roger Waters said he was still considering whether to call on musicians to boycott Israel.

“I am considering my position,” Waters said in a taped interview published online Monday by The Huffington Post. “The letter...

Israeli gymnast captures European gold

April 22, 2013

JERUSALEM (JTA) — Israeli gymnast Alexander Shatilov won a gold medal in the men’s floor exercise final at the European Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Moscow.

Shatilov shared the first-place podium on Saturday with Max Whitlock of Britain.

It was the...

Sirens signal start of commemoration of Warsaw Ghetto uprising

April 19, 2013

WARSAW, Poland (JTA) — Sirens wailed in two Polish cities as the country commemorated the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of the Warsaw ghetto uprising.

The sirens in Gdansk and Warsaw Friday were part of a series of commemorative events...