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WASHINGTON, D.C. (WJC)--The US House of Representatives has passed legislation allowing for tougher Iran sanctions. The bill, co-sponsored by Democrat Barney Frank and Republican Mark Kirk and approved by 416 votes against 6, authorizes US state and local governments to divest from firms with investments of US$ 20 million or more in Iran's oil and gas sectors, relieving some of the legal barriers currently in place. The legislation does not directly impose sanctions on Iran, but shields states and local governments from lawsuits if they pull their money out of such businesses.
Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Indiana, New Jersey, Colorado, New York, Ohio, Texas, and Washington have all enacted some form of divestment laws, according to Kirk's office. Democratic senator Bob Casey and Republican senator Sam Brownback have drafted similar legislation in the Senate, which has 36 co-sponsors. And lawmakers may soon take more severe action, with pending legislation that would impose sanctions on companies that help Iran import gasoline and other refined petroleum products to meet its domestic energy needs. "For diplomacy to succeed, we must provide our diplomats more tools for their diplomatic toolbox," Kirk said.
BRUSSELS (WJC)—The leaders of the European Union institutions have vowed to fight anti-Semitism and all other forms of racism and xenophobia and to promote European values of tolerance, freedom and human rights. Speaking at the opening of the new European Jewish Congress (EJC) office in Brussels, European Commission President José Manuel Barroso said: "We must firmly reject all attempts to rewrite history or to deny the dignity of fellow human beings. We must condemn all forms of intolerance, racism, xenophobia and anti-Semitism."
Emphasizing the need to be "vigilant," he reminded that a few weeks ago Europe solemnly commemorated the 70th anniversary of the start of the Second World War "to pay tribute to those who fought for freedom and to honor the memory of millions of victims of barbarism." Barroso also paid tribute to the memory of Marek Edelman, the last survivor of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising, who had died last week. "The European Union represents the victory of law over arms, solidarity over nationalism and justice over all forms of oppression," Barroso said, adding that the Jewish communities of Europe had played a full part in building Europe "because they have been able to bring their ideal of justice and peace to the European project."
Jerzy Buzek, the president of the European Parliament, underlined his "personal commitment" to the promotion of tolerance and reconciliation, as well as to the combat against anti-Semitism and all forms of discrimination based on race or religion. He said Europe addresses these threats to our democratic values by taking positive steps to encourage intercultural dialogue and, in particular, dialogue with different religions and faiths.
Israel’s minister for national infrastructure, Uzi Landau, told guests in Brussels that Israel will take all necessary measures to defend itself against the Iranian threat. He also criticized that many European governments had not yet realized the danger posed by Iran.
Israelis in India believed at risk
JERUSALEM (WJC)—The counter-terrorism bureau of Israel’s National Security Council in Jerusalem issued a new, more severe warning against traveling to India. There was a concrete threat against places frequented by Israelis and Westerners, in particular Chabad houses and synagogues across India, including in Goa, the terrorism experts warned.
The local Chabad House was one of the targets of the November 2008 attacks in the city of Mumbai, in which at least 170 people were killed. The new warning is based on intelligence received by Israeli officials indicating that a global jihad group had teamed up with the Pakistani terror cell responsible for the Mumbai massacre and was planning another attack in India, the ‘Jerusalem Post’ reports.
The warning also recommends that Israelis who are currently in India avoid staying in crowded areas and refrain from visiting tourist places that are not guarded by armed and visible security forces.
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Hezbollah is caching weapons in civilian homes, Israel reports
JERUSALEM (Press Release)-- Thousands of weapons are hidden in homes in 160 villages of southern Lebanon, senior Israeli defense officials said LAST Tuesday, a day after one such stockpile exploded in the home of a Hezbollah operative in the village of Tayr Filsay. On Tuesday, the IDF released video taken from an Israeli aircraft of the home, which belongs to Abdul Nasser Issa, a low-level Hezbollah operative. The blast took place at around 8 p.m. on Monday, and an hour later Hezbollah men were seen carrying weapons out of the home and loading them onto a truck. In the footage, seven men are seen carrying a four-meter-long device, thought to be a Katyusha rocket or launcher. Hezbollah is believed to have more than 30,000 rockets of various ranges and sizes.
Contrary to media reports, Israeli defense sources said on Tuesday that no one was killed by the blast but that one person was injured. The officials also dismissed Hezbollah claims that the explosion was caused by IDF ordinance left behind during the Second Lebanon War in 2006. The Israeli aircraft followed the truck as it drove about 4 kilometers to another village. There, the truck pulled up at another home and the group of men unloaded the weapons. "Hezbollah uses civilian homes to hide its weaponry," an IDF officer said. "This is a direct violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701."
Israel’s President Shimon Peres said that Hezbollah had turned Lebanon into a "powder keg" that would in the end do damage to Lebanon. "It is Hezbollah which is endangering Lebanon, not Israel, just as it is Hamas which is endangering the Palestinian people," Peres said. "We have evacuated all of the territory and are now extending a sincere hand to the Lebanese people. Lebanon could have long since become the Switzerland of the Middle East. It is Hezbollah and Hamas that are preventing this economic flowering and peace and security for the region." Hezbollah acknowledged that the home belonged to one of its members, but would not give any other information. Hezbollah legislator Hussein Haj Hassan said Israel was exaggerating the incident, to "take advantage of it for political interests."
Elections will be held Jan. 10 unless Hamas reconciles—Abbas
RAMALLAH, Palestinian Authority (WJC) —Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said he would hold elections as planned in January 2010 unless Hamas agreed to an Egyptian reconciliation deal that would delay the polls until June. "Our Basic Law stipulates that elections must be held before 24 January 2010," Abbas told a news conference after meeting Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.
"According to the Egyptian document, elections should be held on 28th of June 2010. If there is an agreement [with Hamas] we will abide by it, but if there is no agreement we will abide by the Basic Law," the Palestinian president said.
Meanwhile, Egypt delayed the signing of a deal to heal the rift between Fatah movement and Hamas because of "new complications", an official in Cairo said on Friday.
Republican Jewish Coalition adds Norm Coleman to board
WASHINGTON, D.C. —The Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) on Thursday announced that former Sen. Norm Coleman of Minnesota has joined the RJC Board of Directors.
RJC Executive Director Matthew Brooks said, "We are thrilled to have Norm Coleman join the Board. He is an outstanding Republican leader who brings a wealth of experience and insight to the organization. He has long been a good friend of the RJC and we are pleased that he is taking an active role in the RJC's work."
Coleman's appointment to the Board was confirmed at the RJC Board of Directors meeting on Tuesday, October 13. Also confimed at that meeting were the following new Board members: Dr. Jeffrey R. Gunter of California, Joe Shapira of California, and Roberto J. Tenenbaum of Massachusetts.
The RJC is the national grassroots organization of Jewish Republicans. Established in 1985, the RJC has over 40 chapters around the country and offices in Pennsylvania, New York, Florida, and California. It is the preeminent voice of Jewish Republicans in the Jewish community and in the Republican community.
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