Ben-Gurion International Airport

JERUSALEM — Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport increased security following an attempted terrorist attack on a flight to the United States.

Airline passengers travelling from Israel to the US will also be subjected to additional questioning, according to reports.

The American Jewish Committee on December 26 praised the crew and passengers traveling on the Northwest Airlines flight from Amsterdam to Detroit on December 25 who prevented a bombing attack by an alleged Al-Qaeda operative

Abdul Farouk Abdulmutallab, 23, a Nigerian native currently studying in London, was charged December 26 with attempting to blow up the US airliner.

He was held by passengers and crew of the flight after he set off an explosive strapped to his leg, which set fire to the airplane’s wall and the terrorist’s leg.
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Anti-Semitic graffiti. Photo: AJN file

WASHINGTON — The incidence of hate crimes in the United States during 2008 hit a seven-year high, according to data released by the FBI.

The 7783 documented hate crimes in 2008 represented a 2.1 per cent increase from 2007 and the highest since 2001.

Of the 1519 religion-based hate crimes, also at a seven-year high, 1013 — or 66 per cent — were directed against Jews and Jewish institutions.

The FBI report also found the highest number of crimes directed at blacks, Jews and gay men and lesbians since 2001.

ADL national director Abraham Foxman said: “While the increase in the number of hate crimes may be partially attributed to improved reporting, the fact that these numbers remain elevated — particularly the significant rise in the number of victims selected on the basis of religion or sexual orientation — should be of concern to every American.
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YITZHAK BENHORIN

WASHINGTON – Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s envoys to US on the issue of the settlements, Attorney Yitzhak Molcho and Brig. Gen. Mike Herzog, met US special envoy to the Middle East, George Mitchell, on Wednesday.

The US State Department reported that it was a “good meeting,” and that Mitchell will visit the region in the second half of next week.
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WASHINGTON  - Two dovish pro-Israel groups, Brit Tzedek and J Street, are exploring a formal collaborative relationship.
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RON KAMPEAS

WASHINGTON - Top Jewish organizational leaders expressed support for US President Barack Obama’s Middle East peace strategies at a White House meeting but said the president must do a better job of showing he expects hard work from all sides, not just Israel.
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Har Homa

By Ahron Shapiro

IN November 1998, during Binyamin Netanyahu’s first term as prime minister, Israel went ahead with the construction of the Jewish neighbourhood of Har Homa in East Jerusalem, situated between Kibbutz Ramat Rahel and Bethlehem.

The Oslo Accords were already several years old and there had been further agreements between the Israelis and the Palestinians that had moved forward during this period - most recently the Wye Memorandum that was ratified by Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat on October 23, 1998.

The Palestinians objected strenuously to the building of Har Homa. In March, 1997, the Clinton Administration had used its veto power on two different United Nations resolutions to defend Israel regarding construction at Har Homa. The US was the only country of the 15 members on the council to vote against the resolutions.

On November 12, 1998, in a press conference, a State Department spokesman under the Clinton Administration, James Rubin, toed the line that typified the longstanding US understandings on Jerusalem. Read the full story

Yitzhak Benhorin

WASHINGTON - The United States administration was “obviously heartened” by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s offer to “immediately” resume peace talks with the Palestinian Authority, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said on Wednesday.

“We’re hopeful that the same goes for Mr Abbas when we see him,” added Gibbs. The Palestinian president is in Washington and was scheduled to meet with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton before meeting US President Barack Obama on Thursday.
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Roni Sofer

JERUSALEM –- United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met with Israeli prime minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Ehud Barak and received a strong message that dialogue with Iran required a deadline.

“Our shared goal is the need for creative thinking to move forward and out of the maze,” Netanyahu said after the two met at the King David Hotel in Jerusalem, their session extending beyond the originally scheduled one hour.

In comments made after the meeting on Tuesday afternoon, Netanyahu confirmed that the conversation had touched on the Iranian threat, the situation with the Palestinians and other issues relevant to the Middle East. Read the full story