THIS WEEK'S TRIBUNE  THIS WEEK'S TRIBUNE Egyptian events to welcome all advocates, including those from Israel
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Egyptian events to welcome all advocates, including those from Israel |
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Written by --
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Tuesday, 27 October 2009 |
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Breast cancer advocates from the United States, Canada and across the Middle East are meeting in Egypt from Oct. 21-27 for breast cancer awareness events.
There have been reports that some of the invited participants – Israeli invitees – would not be allowed to attend these events, said Nancy Goodman Brinker, founder of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, which has now received confirmation that all advocates, regardless of their country of origin, are invited to fully participate in events to bring breast cancer to the forefront of public discussion in the Middle East.
“After we received the initial report on the situation, we launched a diplomatic effort to ensure they would be able to participate,” said Brinker. “I am pleased to report that our efforts led to confirmation that all advocates would be welcome to participate in the events.
Egypt refuses to sit with Lieberman
JERUSALEM (JTA) – A summit of foreign ministers was postponed after Egypt refused to attend with Avigdor Lieberman. The meeting of foreign ministers of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership, which was scheduled for next week in Turkey, was postponed Monday when Egypt said it would not take part if the Israeli foreign minister was among the participants. The partnership includes all 27 member states of the European Union, as well as 16 countries in the southern Mediterranean and the Middle East. France had initiated the foreign ministers’ meeting. “It’s a shame that Egypt acts in a negative way and takes advantage of a conference meant to develop the region as a political weapon against Minister Lieberman,” an Israeli Foreign Ministry official told the Israeli media. “In doing so, Egypt is mainly hurting itself and incurs the anger of European nations. It is just one of 47 countries slated to attend the Euro-Med conference on the foreign minister level.” Lieberman angered the Egyptians last year when he said President Hosni Mubarak could “go to hell,” if he did not want to visit Israel.
Descendants of Chinese Jews arrive in Israel
JERUSALEM (JTA) – A group of descendants from an ancient Chinese Jewish community moved to Israel. The seven young adults, all descendants of the Jewish community of Kaifeng, arrived last week in Israel on one-year entry permits. They will study Hebrew at a kibbutz ulpan and then undergo conversion to Judaism, according to Michael Freund, founder of the Shavei Israel organization, which brought the group to Israel. "This is an historic event,” Freund said. “Kaifeng’s Jewish descendants are a living link between China and the Jewish people, and it is very moving to see the remnants of this community returning to their roots.” An estimated 1,000 Jewish descendants are living in Kaifeng.
Israel to form task force on Goldstone report
JERUSALEM (JTA) – Israel will establish a task force to respond to the Goldstone Report and its repercussions. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday appointed Israeli Justice Minister Yaakov Neeman to form the task force. Netanyahu was careful to point out that the task force will not serve as an independent commission on the events of last winter’s Gaza war and that such a commission of inquiry is not being considered, according to reports. “No soldiers or officers will be brought before a commission of inquiry,” Netanyahu said. The task force will be made up of representatives of the foreign and defence ministries, as well as the Israel Defence Forces, Ha’aretz reported.
Israeli soldiers dismissed for swearing-in protest
JERUSALEM (JTA) – Two Israeli soldiers who disrupted their swearing-in ceremony to protest the potential removal of West Bank settlements were expelled from their unit. The two soldiers from the Kfir infantry brigade were sentenced Sunday to 20 days in a military prison and will not be permitted to serve as combat soldiers. The men waved signs with statements like We did not enlist in order to evacuate Jews at a parade at the Western Wall prayer plaza to celebrate the end of basic training, according to reports. Another sign vowed not to help evacuate the West Bank settlement of Homesh. “This was a disgraceful disciplinary aberration that will be addressed,” a military spokesman said in a statement last Friday. “The Kfir commander will, furthermore, consider whether these soldiers will continue to serve in the brigade.” An unnamed brother of one of the protesters said it was clear that the soldiers would be serving in the West Bank, where “they are going to take on the settlers” as a freeze and the prospect of dismantling illegal outposts looms. “And everyone knows what the damage of that is, both on the personal and the ideological levels,” he told Army Radio. |
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 04 November 2009 )
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