NEW YORK (JTA) — Israel was elected to a U.N. General Assembly body for the first time in decades.

The General Assembly unanimously chose an Israeli delegate as one of three vice chairs serving on the Working Group on Disarmament, headed by Indonesia.

Israel's candidacy was presented by the Western European and Others Group, the regional grouping Israel joined in May 2000 after years of being the only country excluded from one of the U.N.'s regional groups.

Holocaust denier arrested in Tennessee

NASHVILLE (JTA) — A Holocaust denier was arrested Feb. 6 in Tennessee for failing to appear at an immigration-related hearing.

Ernst Zundel, formerly of Toronto, moved to the United States about two years ago with the intention of becoming a permanent resident.

The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal ruled in his absence last year that he had broken the law through his operation of a California-based Web site that promoted hatred of Jews.

Jewish groups create emergency terror

NEW YORK (JTA) — A guide to help Jewish groups deal with emergency situations is set for release next month.

New York's Jewish Community Relations Council is working with the United Jewish Communities, the umbrella group of North American Jewish federations, and a panel of professors in emergency preparedness at John Jay College of Criminal Justice to produce an emergency planning manual for Jewish organizations.

The manual will advise agencies on how to respond to all kinds of worst-case scenarios, from hurricanes to a "sniper scenario," such as the one outside Washington last fall, said David Pollock, associate executive director of the JCRC.

The guide is expected to be distributed in CD format to all North America federations, synagogues and Jewish schools next month.

Israel Bonds dinner generates $102 million

MIAMI (JTA) — Israel Bonds raised $102 million at a recent dinner in Boca Raton, Fla.

At the dinner, Israel's finance minister, Silvan Shalom, honored 22 American and Canadian Jewish community leaders for their outstanding commitment to the Jewish state with the Israel Bonds Spirit of Jerusalem medallion.

The government of Israel asked Israel Bonds officials to repeat last year's achievement by securing another $1.25 billion in sales in 2003, Israel Bonds President Joshua Matza said at the dinner.

Interfaith tennis duo honored with award

NEW YORK (JTA) –A Jewish-Muslim tennis duo received a humanitarian award Feb. 6 named after the late tennis star Arthur Ashe.

Israel's Amir Haddad and Pakistan's Aisam Ul-Haq Qureshi received media attention when they played men's doubles together at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open last year.

"During a summer when fear and hatred garnered much of the headlines, Amir and Aisam Ul-Haq provided much relief with their

simple message about tolerance through tennis," said the chief

of the ATP tennis tour, Mark Miles.