31 Jul
Culture, Latest

This Week's Links

By Michelle Albert The Fatah-affiliated Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades have threatened Sacha Baron Cohen's life because of their inclusion in his latest film farce, Bruno. Fashionistas of the world, unite: Save Sacha! Persian Jews live the high life in Los Angeles. According to cartoonist Rich Tenorio, the right beverage can solve even the stickiest problems. Iranian protesters meeting to honor the people killed in the post-June 12 presidential election fracas were met with violence and tear gas. Jewish author Michael Chabon dislikes circumcision. Haaretz examines the rumors that White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel is a "self-hating Jew" and is turning the Obama administration against Israel.

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20 Apr
Latest

UN Racism Conference Starts Today–Ahmadinejad Accuses Israel of Genocide

By Benjamin Schuman-Stoler Well, it's not as if the United Nations Durban II conference against racism was ever going to avoid controversy. The primary storyline going into the conference was the contentious--if not by any means surprising--abstention by the United States and Israel (as well as Canada, Italy, Germany, Australia, and Holland).  But news has just come out about Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's speech earlier today that we must post first. JTA has the scoop on the speech, which occurred a few hours ago, in which European diplomats walked out in protest: In a speech at the U.N.-sponsored anti-racism conference in Geneva, the Iranian president first blamed the West for injustice, then went on the offensive against Israel, calling it the “racist perpetrators of genocide.” “Under the pretext of Jewish suffering, they have helped bring to power the most oppressive, racist regime in Palestine,”...

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22 Jan
Latest

Former Senator George Mitchell to be Obama's Middle East Special Envoy

By Benjamin Schuman-Stoler President Barack Obama (still sounds so new, doesn't it?) announced that he has chosen former Senator George Mitchell to be his special emissary to the Middle East. Mitchell is a veteran negotiator, most known for an agreement he brokered in Northern Ireland, and the appointment of such a high ranking diplomat points to the Obama administration's desire to make real progress in the region. Although Mitchell was born to a Lebanese mother, experts agree that he will bring a neutral perspective to the region. From the New York Times: “He’s neither pro-Israeli nor pro-Palestinian,” said Martin S. Indyk, a former American ambassador to Israel and an adviser to the Clinton administration. “He’s, in a sense, neutral.” Stay tuned to ITM for further analysis.

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14 Jan
Latest, Moment Magazine

Clinton Confirmation Hearings: Good or Bad?

By Benjamin Schuman-Stoler First of all, hello! We at Moment and ITM hope you had a lovely holiday season. Here's to a beautiful 2009! (Or at least one without World War 3 and total economic meltdown.) In case you haven't seen it, our January/February issue is out, with a pretty set of photographs chronicling Jewish/black relations in this country to celebrate the inauguration of our 44th president. Darn, what's his name again? The important news of the day involves yesterday's confirmation hearings of Hillary Clinton for Secratary of State.  Clinton took the opportunity to prepare the country for a new kind of State Department that would have a renewed focus on diplomacy and direct negotiation with Iran and other previously untouchable rogue states; thereby signaling a break from the kind of shunning politics the Condoleeza Rice State Department...

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24 Nov
Latest

Orthodox Jews Were Not Affected By "Obama Bad For Israel" Rhetoric

By Benjamin Schuman-Stoler According to data based on precincts "with High-Concentration Of Orthodox Jewish Voters," Orthodox Jews were not only unafraid of Barack Obama, some communities voted for him in larger numbers than they did for John Kerry in 2004. Shmuel Rosner blogs (and has a nice chart) about the data , compiled by The Public Policy office of the Orthodox Union, at JPost. He gives four explanations for the data: Like many Americans, Orthodox Jews thought it was time for the GOP to get its butt kicked. The economy has a profound impact on Orthodox families with a lot of children and a lot of expenses. Bush was rewarded in 2004 for his friendship toward Israel. McCain wasn't. Sarah Palin was a downer to Jews, some Orthodox included. Either way, we know that the rumors and the rhetoric swirling around Obama...

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21 Nov
Latest

Waxman and Cohen Move Up: US Congress Jewish Update

By Benjamin Schuman-Stoler In the aftermath of the election and an entirely new incoming administration, the Republican and Democratic parties have shuffled their rosters to prepare for the next Congress. As a result, some Jewish members have been promoted and now hold top positions. This week, representatives Eric Cantor (R-Va.) and Henry Waxman (D-Cal.) got significant promotions in their parties' and Congress' hierarchy. On Wednesday, Rep. Cantor (see above video) was unanimously elected House minority whip by his fellow Republicans. The Jerusalem Post and Ha'aretz both had pieces about Cantor and the GOP's post-election efforts this week. Ha'aretz had this quote: "As a rising star in the Republican party and an outstanding legislator, Rep. Cantor is a source of tremendous pride for the Jewish community," Republican Jewish Coalition official Matt Brooks said. "While the many challenges facing this country,...

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17 Nov
Culture, Latest

Former Critics Fall in Line, Begin Accepting Obama

By Benjamin Schuman-Stoler Well, it's been a few weeks now since Barack Obama was elected, and preliminary indications do not point to a massive restructuring of the fundamental American traditions (besides the ones that said only white people should be president). No, Obama has not nominated Leon Trotsky or Eugene Debs as honorary economic advisers, and former critics are starting to fall in line behind the president-elect. The Orthodox Union's Institute of Public Affairs is one such example. Known for their conservative view on things, the IPA gracefully embraced Obama post-election, and, in a recent post entitled "It Was Only A Matter of Time; We All Love Obama (for) Now", say that other former critics in the Jewish community have too. Specifically, they link to an editorial written recently by the editors of The Jewish Press that acknowledges...

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14 Nov
Latest

One View of Obama From The Muslim World

By Benjamin Schuman-Stoler Over at the Islam's Advance blog, writer Wajahat Ali has a post about how Barack Obama and the various foreign policy decisions he will inherit from the current administration are viewed across the Muslim world. Although the post goes into the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as the situation in Pakistan, we're focused on what he says about Israel. Ali says that even though American Muslims came out and voted for Obama in record numbers, the feeling abroad is a touch less enthusiastic. Overseas, however, Muslims are treating Obama with considerable skepticism born from a fear that once in office, he will be overwhelmed by imperial desire and will perpetuate the rhetoric of the "War on Terror." Much of this consternation comes from Obama's appointment of Rahm Emanuel as White House chief of staff....

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