Minister’s marriage visa pledge

A potential solution has emerged to the marriage visa crisis which has caused widespread consternation among Charedis.

Immigration minister Phil Woolas told a delegation from the Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations that he would explore the possibility of pre-certification.

This would mean that under-21s from outside the European Union who wish to marry in the UK would be examined by an embassy or consulate in their country of origin in order to certify that there was no suggestion of coercion.

More..

Arrest in JFS bus assault

A teenager has been arrested in connection with an antisemitic attack on Jewish pupils travelling on a popular London bus route, the 183.
The 16-year-old, unnamed for legal reasons, was detained by officers last week and appeared at Hendon Magistrates’ Court last Friday.

He denied charges of racially aggravated harassment and common assault, but admitted one charge of malicious communication with police officers. He was released on bail and will face trial on January 28.
The youth was arrested by officers from Barnet’s Safer Neighbourhoods and Safer Transport teams.

More..

Four to fight ‘Yom Kippur’ council seat

Four Jewish candidates are standing for election to a council which held a poll on Yom Kippur.

The four, together with a fifth candidate who is not Jewish, will compete for a seat on London's Haringey Council, following the death of Seven Sisters ward incumbent Fred Knight in November.

The ward is to the north of Stamford Hill and is home to a large number of strictly Orthodox residents.

In October the authority caused outrage among Jewish voters after scheduling a by-election in Alexandra ward on the holiest day of the year.

More..

Arrest in JFS bus route row

A teenager has been arrested in connection with an antisemitic attack on Jewish pupils travelling on a popular bus route.

The 16-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was detained by officers on Wednesday and appeared at Hendon Magistrates’ Court, North-West London, on Friday.

He denied charges of racially aggravated harassment and common assault, and admitted one charge of malicious communication with police officers. He was released on bail and will face trial on January 28.

More..

Row over ‘pointless’ Olmert UK visit

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s one-day visit to the UK next week has been dismissed by officials in his own government as “pointless” and an “embarrassing waste of national resources”.

Despite the Israeli PM being officially invited to London by Gordon Brown, Israeli officials have told the JC that Mr Olmert was “angling” for an invitation and that there was no urgent matter that warranted a face-to-face meeting between the two leaders.

More..

Boycott is now over say Oxford academics

Two Oxford academics who have mounted a legal challenge the University and College Union (UCU), said this week that the union had dropped its proposed boycott of Israeli academics.

But in a statement, the union said “There was never a boycott motion passed at its Congress”. Its general secretary, Sally Hunt, insisted: “We have passed a motion to provide solidarity with the Palestinians, not to boycott Israel or any other country’s academic institutions.” Implementation of the motion “within the law”, she said, “will now fall to the national executive committee (NEC)”.

More..