Bielski’s son attacks Polish massacre ‘lies’

The son of a legendary wartime partisan on whom a new Hollywood film is based has spoken out against allegations in the Polish press branding the partisans "murderers and thieves".

Robert Bielski's father Tuvia led 1,230 Jews through the Belarusian forest after escaping Nazi-occupied Poland, and built a secret village there.

Now his story has been made into a film based on Nechama Tec's book Defiance: The Bielski Partisans. Produced by Edward Zwick, it stars James Bond actor Daniel Craig as Bielski as well as Billy Elliot actor Jamie Bell.

More..

Hebron claims attacked UK envoys were on an ‘antisemitic’ mission

A fact-finding visit last week by British diplomats to Hebron, during which their car was attacked by settlers, was "antisemitic", according to a representative of the city's Jewish community.

The settlers blocked the route of the armoured vehicle before kicking and shaking it during the incident in the West Bank last Thursday.

The three middle-ranking diplomats were on a tour organised by human-rights group Breaking the Silence. Their guide, Mikhael Manekin, said the incident had proved "a bit nerve-wracking" for the unnamed officials.

More..

Bahrain appoints first Jewish ambassador

The historic appointment of his country's first Jewish ambassador appears to have prompted the King of Bahrain to learn more about his Jewish subjects. So last week, he came to London to meet a few of them.

There are officially only 37 Jews in King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa's island kingdom, one of whom, Houda Nonoo, has become the new ambassador to Washington. An even higher number - 45 - of Jewish Bahrainis are ex-pats who live in Britain.

More..

Russian troops rob JC reporter at gunpoint

A JC reporter was one of a group of civilians robbed at gunpoint by a Russian soldier on Thursday morning in Georgia.

Anshel Pfeffer, also covering the conflict for Israeli newspaper Haaretz, was with three other journalists in a car near a Russian army checkpoint on the outskirts of the town of Gori.

A large crowd of journalists had gathered at the checkpoint, and Mr Pfeffer, 35, said the atmosphere had been cordial, with Russian soldiers and fofficers chatting and joking with the media.

More..

Envoy is told off over invite for settlers

The Foreign Office has said it was a mistake to invite three West Bank settlers to an official birthday reception in honour of the Queen - and has implied that behind the scenes, the British ambassador to Israel has been rapped over the knuckles for inviting the men.

Three members of the Yesha Council of settlers attended the party at Ambassador Tom Phillips' Ramat Gan residence in June.

But the Foreign Office, reaffirming its stance that the settlements are illegal, says it will ensure settlers are not invited to such receptions again.

More..

Palestinian village is focus of Israeli crackdown

Youssef Amireh should still be alive, his father insists.

The 17-year-old was shot in the head by Israeli border police who fired rubber-coated metal bullets during a protest last week and died of his wounds at a hospital in Ramallah on Monday.

He is the second Palestinian fatality within a week in violence that both sides warn will escalate as protests continue against the building of the separation barrier on land confiscated from this village of about 5,000.

More..

McCain vice-president list gets Jewish flavour

A young Jewish congressman has officially been added to Republican candidate John McCain's shortlist for sharing the presidential ticket.

Eric Cantor would not comment on the issue, but press reports in Washington quoted officials in the McCain campaign confirming that Mr Cantor was asked to provide documents to the committee advising Mr McCain on choosing a vice-president, indicating that he is being seriously considered.

More..

Sarkozy’s son in ‘antisemitic’ satire

The son of French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been plunged into the centre of a national controversy after he was attacked by a satirist for planning to marry a Jewish woman.

In his article, cartoonist Siné mocked the political agenda of Jean Sarkozy, and implied the young man had decided to wed a Jew and convert to Judaism in order to push forward his career.

More..

Heirs invited to view Hitler’s art collection online

A Berlin museum is presenting an online museum of works collected by Adolf Hitler in the hope of uniting former owners or their heirs with stolen works.

The virtual collection, a joint project by the German Historical Museum and Federal Office for Central Services and Unresolved Property Issues, is also meant to provide research material on the National Socialist abuse of art for political purposes, according to Angelika Enderlein of the Federal Agency, Museum collection director Monika Flacke and Berlin historian Hanns Christian Löhr, who co-ordinated the project.

More..

Refugee murdered in Gaza

A Palestinian denied asylum in Australia and deported back to Gaza has been found dead.

Akram Al-Masri, 32, sought refuge in Australia after arriving by boat in 2001. He was incarcerated in Woomera, South Australia, one of Australia's most notorious detention centres, before being released in 2002 by a landmark decision of the full bench of the Federal Court.

More..