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CARACAS, Venezuela (WJC) — Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Ángel Moratinos and his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro have paid a joint visit to Caracas’ main synagogue Tiferet Israel, which was attacked by 15 heavily armed people in January 2009. The two ministers were welcomed there by the president of the Latin American Jewish Congress, Jack Terpins, and Abraham Levy Benshimol, head of the Venezuelan Jewish community. Terpins stressed that “This visit of Foreign Minister Maduro to the synagogue strengthens the dialogue between the Venezuelan government and the Jewish community.” Maduro conveyed the greetings of President Hugo Chávez to the Venezuelan Jewish community.
After the visit to the synagogue, the Jewish leaders had a meeting with the Spanish foreign minister at the headquarters of the Jewish Association of Venezuela. Moratinos stressed his interest in cooperating to achieve peace in the Middle East and conveyed his solidarity for the attacks suffered by the community. The LAJC delegation also comprised Alejandro Resnik, a member of the LAJC Future Generations program.
Synagogue bombing suspect booted from Carleton U faculty
OTTAWA, Canada (WJC)--Following criticism from Jewish organizations, Canada's Carleton University has abandoned plans to reinstate a professor accused of killing four people in the 1980 bombing of a Paris synagogue. Hassan Diab, 55, had been given a contract to teach a sociology class two days a week until mid August. Diab's lawyer told a court that his client had expected to resume teaching this week. However, the university said in a statement that a full-time faculty member "will immediately replace" him, explaining the move was meant to provide students "with a stable, productive academic environment that is conducive to learning.”
Diab, a Lebanese national who became a Canadian citizen in 1993, has been under virtual house arrest since he was arrested in November 2008. He was granted bail but under strict conditions, and is currently fighting efforts by French authorities to extradite him. An exemption was granted for Diab to attend the university unaccompanied.
Sacha Baron Cohen threatened
by Al Aqsa Martyr's Brigade
LONDON (WJC) --
The Jewish comedian Sacha Baron Cohen has increased his security arrangements after a Palestinian terrorist group threatened him. The Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigade issued a statement on Monday threatening the British entertainer for the inclusion of one of its members in his most recent film, "Brüno", in which Baron Cohen plays openly gay Austrian fashion reporter.
"We reserve the right to respond in the way we find suitable against this man," the group was quoted as saying, referring to Cohen. "The movie was part of a conspiracy against the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade."
In the movie, Baron Cohen interviews Ayman Abu Aita, identified as a leader of the Palestinian terrorist group. At one point he beseeches Aita to take him hostage, saying "I want to be famous. I want the best guys in the business to kidnap me. Al-Qaeda is so 2001." Aita has said he is no longer involved in the organization.
Iranian swimmer declines to compete against Israeli
ROME (WJC)—An Iranian swimmer has reportedly refused to compete against an Israeli participant at the World Championships in Rome. Mohammad Alirezaei did not compete in his heat of the men's 50-meter breaststroke since it would have meant getting in the pool with Israeli swimmer Mickey Malul, the Israeli news service 'Ynet' reported.
In the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Alirezaei withdrew from the men's 100-meter breaststroke event rather than compete against Israeli swimmer Tom Beeri, who finished fourth, leaving Alirezaei's lane empty during the heat.
On Monday, Israeli Itai Chammah swam the 100-meter backstroke alongside the Iraqi swimmer Saif Alaslam Saeed al-Saadi. Reportedly, al-Saadi was not aware he would be competing in the same heat as the Israeli because of Chammah's late registration, 'Ynet' reports.
University of Haifa develops terrorism response program
HAIFA, Israel (Press Release)--Terror attacks, missiles, severe faults at a hazardous chemicals industry, natural disasters – all are emergencies that threaten us every day, primarily due to the unexpected ways in which they are likely to occur. A graduate study program at the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies of the University of Haifa will train its graduates in coping with such threats – from formulating planning procedures and preventative measures to coping with events after they occur and providing for appropriate rehabilitation.
"Many countries around the world are already placing an emphasis on priming for cases of disaster. Imparting professional knowledge for those who will be decision makers in the public and private sectors and who will be required to act in real time, will make Israel a country that knows how to better manage such events," said Dr. Sigal Blumenfeld, who is coordinating the Program for Coping with Emergencies at the University of Haifa.
According to Dr. Blumenfeld, the new program will provide a comprehensive view of the field coupled with leading Israeli lecturers. It will focus on providing applicable tools for decision makers, including Hazard Evaluation workshops, participation in a Disaster Management forum, and more. "The program will deal with day-to-day coping skills in the case of an emergency, from appropriate planning, use of technology that can prevent particular disasters, use of internal and external regulation tools in order to enforce prevention, and more. Correct action in these areas will make interception, support and rehabilitation after the occurrence much easier and more effective," she adds.
The program is intended for functionaries and policy makers in the public and private sectors: emergency economy, home front, police, fire brigade, industry security, etc. The courses will include a Disaster seminar, Hazard Evaluation workshop, Coping with Sudden Events with Multiple Casualties, Technology as a Tool for the Prevention and Interception of Industry Hazards, Communication in Time of Emergency, and more. The Disaster Management forum, which will be comprised of experts, the graduate students and open to the public, will discuss relevant issues in the management of emergencies and disasters. The final project will include mapping out the zones in Israel that have disaster potential, so that every final assignment will actually provide a position paper that presents the problems and ways of handling them in each of the different zones.
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ADL's Foxman warns of growing domestic terror threat from American Muslim extremists
NEW YORK (Press Release)—The indictment of seven North Carolina men conspiring to wage "violent jihad" overseas, is part of a growing domestic terror threat posed by American Muslim extremists, according to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL).
An increasing number of American Muslim extremists have become involved in terrorist plots and conspiracies since the September 11 attacks. Approximately 100 such individuals have been arrested on various terror-related charges since 9/11, ranging from bombing plots to providing material support to terrorists. More than half of them are U.S. born, while about one-third are converts to Islam.
"The recent arrests in North Carolina represent only the latest example of a growing domestic terror threat from American Muslim extremists," said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director. "An alarming number of post-9/11 plots and conspiracies have involved or been led by American Muslim extremists. It is a troubling reminder of the broader problem of increased radicalization among a small subset of the domestic Muslim population."
The League has posted on its Web site further details about the North Carolina conspiracy, as well as a list of American Muslim extremists charged, convicted or sentenced on terror-related charges in 2009. ADL also recently reported on the increasing number of American Muslim extremists involved in plots targeting Jews or Jewish institutions since 9/11.
"Many of these extremists are fueled by hatred of Jews, Israel and America, and have been influenced, to some degree, by the ideologies of extreme intolerance propagated by terrorist movements overseas," Mr. Foxman added.
FIRST AMENDMENT ISSUES
Business successfully defends
use of Christian abbreviation
MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota (Press Release)– A federal class action lawsuit against Bullseye Collection Agency (Bullseye), which challenged Bullseye’s “WWJD” business motto, has now been dismissed with prejudice. The Plaintiffs in that suit, Mark and Sara Neill, claimed they were harassed and oppressed when they received a collection letter from Bullseye that contained the same “WWJD” motto that Bullseye includes on all of its business communications. Of course, far from being oppressive, WWJD is an acronym that sometimes means “What Would Jesus Do?” Bullseye, a small, family-owned business, uses the motto as a reminder to act with diligence and respect in an industry traditionally characterized by ruthlessness and incivility.
Instead of abandoning its motto or giving up its constitutional rights, Bullseye fought back with Liberty Counsel’s assistance. Bullseye argued that “WWJD” is not oppressive as a matter of law and cannot violate the law. Bullseye also argued that if any law actually prohibits the benign and courteous use of “WWJD” as a business motto, then such law is unconstitutional, because it violates Bullseye’s freedom of speech, freedom of religion and equal protection rights.
In addition to vigorously defending Bullseye, Liberty Counsel also filed a comprehensive counterclaim against the Neills and another company, Bureau of Collection Recovery, LLC (BCR). Bullseye discovered that Mr. Neill was no stranger to the collection business but was the president of BCR, a giant competitor collection company with offices in the United States and India. Bullseye alleged that the Neills and BCR abused the legal process and engaged in a conspiracy to harm Bullseye competitively and to deprive Bullseye of its constitutional rights.
Upon receiving Bullseye’s counterclaim, the Neills decided to abandon their frivolous crusade against Bullseye. They dismissed with prejudice each of their claims, such that they can never bring them again in any court. As a result, Bullseye remains free to use “WWJD” on its stationery, and its constitutional rights remain intact.
Horatio Mihet, Senior Litigation Counsel for Liberty Counsel, stated, “Neither the law nor the courtroom provides refuge for those wishing to harm others with their intolerance of Christian viewpoints. Christian men and women in business need not check their faith at the door of the marketplace.”
IRS withdraws audit of minister who sermonized about elections
WARROAD, Minnesota (Press Release) — The Internal Revenue Service has stopped investigating Pastor Gus Booth of Warroad Community Church over sermons he preached as part of the Alliance Defense Fund’s Pulpit Initiative last year.
Booth originally sent the IRS a copy of a sermon he preached in May 2008 with regard to the primary elections. After participating in the Pulpit Initiative’s Pulpit Freedom Sunday Sept. 28, Booth also sent the agency his sermon regarding the general election. After launching an audit of the church in August 2008, the IRS has now stated in a letter that it is closing its examination of the sermons due to a procedural problem.
“Pastors have a right to speak freely from their pulpits. Something is very wrong in America when free speech is held hostage by bungling bureaucracies,” said ADF Senior Legal Counsel Erik Stanley. “This latest action from the IRS continues to leave churches in limbo when it comes to speaking freely from their pulpits. It illustrates everything that is wrong with the current enforcement of the Johnson Amendment. After an 11-month audit, it is disingenuous for the IRS to simply close the file and walk away as if nothing happened.”
Since the addition of the Johnson Amendment to the Federal Tax Code in 1954, the IRS has issued increasingly vague guidance on the law, which limits the First Amendment rights of pastors speaking from the pulpit, but has continued to launch investigations while avoiding court review of the constitutionality of its actions. Groups such as Americans United for Separation of Church and State have taken advantage of the vagueness of the tax law and have reported churches to the IRS in an attempt to remove their tax-exempt status.
“The IRS apparently has no desire to clarify the law for churches and has studiously avoided a court confrontation over this issue for years,” Stanley explained. “They continue to vaguely interpret the law, leave churches guessing as to what the law actually means, and enforce the Johnson Amendment through fear and intimidation.”
ADF attorneys believe the IRS could have continued its investigation of Warroad Community Church and reached a conclusion on the merits of the case, which they argue is the unconstitutionality of the Johnson Amendment.
“Instead of standing and fighting in court, the IRS prefers to run the other way,” said Stanley. “ADF would likely have waived any complaint about procedural concerns involved in the investigation stage of the audit in order to reach the merits of the case and clarify the law. Once a federal court has an opportunity to review the Johnson Amendment, we believe it will not take long for the court to strike it down as unconstitutional. Pastors have the right to preach from their pulpits on all issues, including candidates and elections. No pastor should fear the IRS.”
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