NEW YORK (JTA) — U.S. Jewish and Muslim groups condemned televangelist Pat Robertson for lashing out at Muslim attitudes toward Jews.
In a recent broadcast, Robertson said Muslims want to kill Jews and that any hope of negotiating a peace agreement by giving Muslims territory was an illusion.
“I wish the Jews in America would wake up, open their eyes and read what is being said about them. This is worse than the Nazis. Adolf Hitler was bad, but what the Muslims want to do to the Jews is worse,” Robertson said.
David Harris, executive director of the American Jewish Committee, called Robertson’s comments “outrageous.” Jews “do not live under any illusions about the challenges before us, but we must always make distinctions between the extremists, with whom dialogue is impossible, and those committed to moderation and coexistence,” Harris said.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations also criticized Robertson, calling “on elected leaders and religious leaders to repudiate these kinds of comments. Time and again we see attacks on Islam go unchallenged.”
Nimoy’s nude photos: controversy goes on
DETROIT (JTA) — A photo collection by actor Leonard Nimoy that includes naked women wrapped in Jewish ritual objects is provoking more outcries.
The actor who gained fame playing Spock in the “Star Trek” TV series and movies is stirring controversy with “Shekhina,” a book he describes as a photographic journey into the mystical power of Jewish women.
Now on a 16-city promotional tour, Nimoy was forced out of the Detroit Jewish Book Fair after objections by some local Jewish leaders, and instead appeared at Temple Shir Shalom, a Reform congregation in the area.
U.S. family gets nod to sue Palestinians
PROVIDENCE (JTA) — A judge in a U.S. court refused to dismiss a $250 million lawsuit against the Palestinian Authority filed by the family of an American victim of Palestinian terror.
A federal court judge in Rhode Island ruled Nov. 4 that since the Palestinian Authority doesn’t meet the criteria for statehood, it can’t be granted the immunity of a sovereign state.
The judge ruled that the family of Yaron Ungar therefore can proceed with the lawsuit.
The family charges that the Palestinian Authority is responsible for a 1996 terrorist attack carried out by Hamas.
Divestment petitions battle at Columbia
NEW YORK (JTA) — Two opposing petitions are competing for the support of the Columbia University community, according to The New York Jewish Week.
One petition, which has gained about 400 signatures on its Web site, calls on Columbia to use its financial and political influence to lobby the U.S. government to suspend aid to Israel.
However, a counter petition launched last week by pro-Israel forces has gained more than 5,000 signatures, the paper reported.
Columbia University’s president blasted the faculty-sponsored petition calling on the school to divest from companies that do business with Israel.
Maryland college also fights divestment
BOSTON (JTA) — Approximately 200 students rallied for Israel at the University of Maryland.
The Wednesday morning rally overlapped with a news conference launching a campaign to convince the university to sell its holdings in companies that do business with Israel.
Hillel and other pro-Israel student groups coordinated the Israel rally.