World news

Iranian troops are fighting in Syria, says US

By Anshel Pfeffer, May 24, 2013

The US State Department finally acknowledged this week what has been common knowledge in the Middle East for months — that the Syrian civil war has become a conflict between regional and global players in which foreign fighters and proxies are playing a growing role.

More..

Ashton’s Iran talks produce nothing

May 23, 2013

Nuclear talks between Iran and six world powers in Istanbul last week ended without producing any concrete results.

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, who met Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili, described the talks as “useful” although she was unable to report any substantive development.

More..

Football star’s campaign for murdered journalist

By Jonathan Gilbert, May 23, 2013

A sporting legend is demanding the resignation of Brazil’s football chief for inciting the murder of a Jewish journalist.

Romario, who scored 1,000 goals in a celebrated international career, has accused Jose Maria Marin, the president of the CBF, Brazilian football’s governing body, over the death of former BBC reporter Vladimir Herzog in 1975.

More..

Man convicted for sexual assault

By Dan Goldberg, May 23, 2013

An Australian man who sexually assaulted an elderly Holocaust survivor in 1991 has been jailed for between three and five years. Robert Webb, 39, was arrested and charged in 2011, but has only now been convicted by a Sydney court. He could be released within a year given the time he has already served.

More..

Baby-death case doctor speaks of prison ordeal

By Sandy Rashty, May 23, 2013

A doctor imprisoned in the United Arab Emirates on a manslaughter charge has spoken of his joy and relief at being home.

Professor Cyril Karabus, a 78-year-old paediatric oncologist from Cape Town, said it was “fantastic” to be free after a nine-month ordeal in which he had witnessed the effects of beatings and despaired of ever being released.

More..

Jordan and Israel 'as one' over Syria and Iran attack

By Stephen Pollard, May 23, 2013

A senior Jordanian official has confirmed that the Hashemite Kingdom is allowing the Israelis to fly unmanned drones over its air space as part of the Israeli monitoring of the situation in Syria.

More..

Los Angeles elects first Jewish mayor

By Zoe Winograd, May 22, 2013

Los Angeles has elected its first Jewish mayor.

Eric Garcetti, 42, defeated his opponent Wendy Greuel by six percentage points.

The Liberal Democrat tweeted after hearing the result : “Thank you Los Angeles – the hard work begins but I am honored to lead this city for the next four years. Let’s make this a great city again.”

More..

Chabad aids victims of Oklahoma tornado

By Zoe Winograd, May 21, 2013

A Chabad centre in Oklahoma has opened its doors for families affected by yesterday’s devastating tornado.

The tornado, which hit Oklahoma City on Monday afternoon, has left at least 91 people dead , including 20 children , and hundreds injured.

The Chabad community centre of southern Oklahoma is provid ing shelter and supplies for those left homeless.

More..

Protest targets Israel's Eurovision singer

By Natalie Rothschild, May 20, 2013

Israeli singer Moran Mazor was under heavy security protection during her stay in Malmö, Sweden, where she competed in the Eurovision Song Contest. Israeli journalists told Swedish radio that they were followed by a group of young men who said they wanted to bomb the Israelis' hotel rooms.

More..

On an Atlantic isle, Morocco honours its lost Sephardim

By Bernard Josephs, May 17, 2013

It was an unlikely setting for a Jewish cemetery and the group, there to attend a rededication ceremony, was also out of the ordinary.

Among those gathered at the event in Cape Verde, an archipelago of islands 300 miles off the coast of Senegal, were high ranking Americans, Europeans and Moroccans, including a representative of King Mohammed VI, a major benefactor of the project.

More..