Suspect in Belgium Jewish museum attack claims innocence

A suspected jihadi insisted Tuesday that he's innocent of terrorism charges over the 2014 killing of four people at Belgium's Jewish museum, as the jury in his trial prepared to consider its verdict.

Weeks after telling the Brussels criminal court that he would reveal the truth "when the time is right," Mehdi Nemmouche on Tuesday said only that he was "trapped" into involvement in the slaying.

A court sketch shows Mehdi Nemmouche, accused of the terrorist attack at the Jewish Museum in Brussels in 2014

"If I could change things, I would change everything," the 33-year-old Frenchman, wearing a black shirt and top and flanked by police officers in ski masks, said in remarks lasting less than 20 seconds. Nemmouche is charged with four counts of "terrorist murder" over the killing of an Israeli couple and two staffers at the Brussels Jewish Museum. His alleged accomplice, Nacer Bendrer, 30, stands accused of supplying the revolver and assault rifle used in the shooting. Prosecutors claim that Nemmouche trained and fought with the Islamic State group in Syria. The museum shooting crystalized fears that European extremists would use combat experience from places like Syria or Iraq to sow terror back home. The 12-member jury is set to hand down its verdict on Thursday. In a secret ballot, the jury must decide by a majority vote whether Nemmouche is guilty. He would likely be sentenced on Friday, and could face up to 30 years in prison. Whatever the verdict, Nemmouche would remain in prison as he must face charges in France of taking hostages in Syria. For most of the trial, Nemmouche has exercised his right to silence, but on Tuesday he urged the jury not to take that silence as "disrespect."

Belgium's Jewish museum

In more than six hours of case summary last week, defense lawyer Sebastien Courtoy argued that Iranian or Lebanese security officials were behind the killings, and that one, or both, of the murdered Israelis could have been Mossad agents. Michele Hirsch, a lawyer for the Coordination Committee of Jewish Organizations in Belgium, described Courtoy's summary as "hallucinatory, delirious, completely incoherent." In his final remarks to the jury on Monday, Courtoy said: "It's impossible for you not to have some doubt. For me, it's just not possible." "It might feel more comfortable for you to condemn him," he said. "But if you think he's innocent, please, don't be afraid to say it." Addressing the jury, Nemmouche's co-accused, Bendrer said: "Today I'm scared, I didn't do anything. But I'm scared. I say to myself, maybe they didn't understand."

Let's block ads! (Why?)

Suspect in Belgium Jewish museum attack claims innocence : https://ift.tt/2C8d7t0

Art collected by Jewish lawyer before WWII goes to auction

[unable to retrieve full-text content]

Some works brought out of Nazi Germany by son of Ismar Littmann, a Jewish lawyer who amassed 6,000 pieces before commiting suicide in 1934, can now be purchased at Swann Auction Galleries in New York Art collected by Jewish lawyer before WWII goes to auction : https://ift.tt/2TqfLnP

Jews live in the shadows in Muslim-majority Indonesia

[unable to retrieve full-text content]

Living in the world's biggest Muslim-majority nation, Rabbi Yaakov Baruch keeps his religious identity under wraps after a group of men threatened him with death and called him a 'crazy Jew' as he walked with his pregnant wife. Jews live in the shadows in Muslim-majority Indonesia : https://ift.tt/2EypVZZ

World mayors unite against anti-Semitism

In response to the recent uptick in anti-Semitism around the world, a coalition of mayors of cities around the world are pledging to combat hate, anti-Semitism and the BDS (boycott, divestment and sanctions) movement targeting Israel.

 

The initiative is headed by Modi’in Mayor Haim Bibas, Mayor of Bal Harbour (Florida) Gabriel Groisman and Mayor of Frankfurt Uwe Becker.

The mayors behind the initiative (Photo: Jorge Novominsky)

They intend to release a statement signed by the mayors of 40 cities to combat anti-Semitism. They will commit to a number of steps including conducting an annual gathering to discuss dealing with the issue, taking concrete steps to raise awareness in the educational system, examining the possibilities for applicable legislation and exploring ways in which to unite against the rise in extremism around the world.

“"We unequivocally condemn all forms of hatred, prejudice and contempt that have permeated our society, and we, municipal leaders from around the world, understand that we cannot avoid taking responsibility and taking part in global efforts to counter these phenomena," read a statement signed by the mayors last week.

Anti-Semitic graffiti in Athens

The formation of the coalition was announced during the Local Government Conference for Innovation MUNI-Expo 2019, a gathering for mayors from Israel and around the world. Among the prominent mayors participating are the mayors of Pittsburgh, USA; Montevideo, Uruguay; Belgrade, Serbia; Kiev, Ukraine; Taipei, Taiwan; Tirana, Albania; and Tegucigalpa, Honduras.

"What binds us together is not our religion or nationality, but the fact that we have zero tolerance for hatred and violence, and our duty to stop the violence directed at our residents and to work for the improvement of their lives no matter what religion they believe in or what their nationality is,” said Bibas, chairman of the Union of Local Authorities and the mayor of Modi’in Maccabim-Reut.

"We see the meteoric rise of hate and anti-Semitism around the world, and as mayors we must take part in this important struggle. With the establishment of this coalition, we are making a strong statement against those who spread hate and it will serve as a vital tool for mayors around the world to share ideas and conclusions to combat these phenomena," said Gabriel Groisman, Mayor of Bal Harbour, Florida and one of the initiators of the coalition. "Our partnership as city leaders who stand together against anti-Semitism is a strong sign of solidarity towards Israel and a clear message against those who spread hatred against the Jews around the world, and I am happy to head this initiative together with Haim Bibas and Gabriel Groisman, and together as a coalition we will create a strong voice for Jews around the world," said Frankfurt Mayor Uwe Becker.

“I've seen a study showing how certain areas of the US are left behind in areas of economic development, there are whole areas that are not part of the acceleration in technology, and it’s happening in the whole of the US," said Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto.

"This is where the most extreme racist and anti-Semitic discourse on the social networks occurs. There, where the state neglects the residents economically, communities are created that are more inclined to hate on the social networks and hate crimes, and therefore the context of economic neglect cannot be separated from this hate crime context.”

Let's block ads! (Why?)

World mayors unite against anti-Semitism : https://ift.tt/2SImy7Y

Pope: Vatican next year to open archives on Holocaust-era Pius XII

Declaring that the church "isn't afraid of history," Pope Francis said Monday he has decided to open up the Vatican archives on World War II-era Pope Pius XII, who has been criticized by Jews of staying silent on the Holocaust.

Francis told officials and personnel of the Vatican Secret Archives that the archive would be open to researchers starting March 2, 2020.

Pope Pius XII (Photo: AP)

Pius was elected pontiff on March 2, 1939, six months before World War II erupted in Europe. Pius died on October 9, 1958, at the Vatican summer residence at Castel Gandolfo, near Rome. The Vatican usually waits 70 years after the end of a pontificate to open up the relevant archives. But the Holy See has been under pressure to make the Pius XII documentation available sooner and while Holocaust survivors are still alive. Vatican archivists had already started preparing the documentation for consultation back in 2006, at the behest of Francis' German-born predecessor, Benedict XVI. The Vatican has defended Pius, saying he used behind-the-scenes diplomacy to try to save lives. Francis indicated he, too, embraced that interpretation.

Pope Francis (Photo: MCT)

Pius' actions will be scrutinized as part of efforts underway to decide if he should be declared a saint. Francis indicated that the church was confident that the papacy would withstand the findings by historians' studying the archives, saying Pius was "criticized, one can say, with some prejudice and exaggeration." "The church isn't afraid of history, on the contrary, it loves it, and would like to love it even more, like it loves God," Francis told staff at the archive. "Thus, with the same trust of my predecessors, I open, and entrust to researchers, this patrimony of documentation." Francis expressed certainty that historical research would properly evaluate Pius' legacy "with appropriate criticism."

He said the Pius papacy included "moments of grave difficulties, tormented decisions of human and Christian prudence, that to some could appear as reticence." Instead, he said they could be seen as attempts "to keep lit, in the darkest and cruelest periods, the flame of humanitarian initiatives, of hidden but active diplomacy" aimed at possibly "opening hearts."

In response, the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial Museum commended the Vatican's decision.

"For years, Yad Vashem has called for the opening of these archives, which will enable objective and open research as well as comprehensive discourse on issues related to the conduct of the Vatican in particular, and the Catholic Church in general, during the Holocaust.

"Yad Vashem expects that researchers will be granted full access to all documents stored in the archives," the Holocaust Memorial Museum said in a statement.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

Pope: Vatican next year to open archives on Holocaust-era Pius XII : https://ift.tt/2SDH8pS

A relationship in need of Reform

The American Reform Movement and Israel’s Foreign Ministry are locked in a battle of mutual accusations over the Central Conference of American Rabbis, which according to the ministry excludes discussions on Israel and Israeli representatives — a statement referred to as “a complete lie” by the organization.

 

Just days after AIPAC, Israel’s close ally within American Jewry, denounced Netanyahu’s cooperation with the far-right Otzma Yehudit and called the party “racist and reprehensible”, a new crisis has surfaced.

Women of the Wall at the Western Wall (Photo: AP)

The trouble started when Hillel Newman, a Foreign Ministry official, sent an urgent letter to the Israeli Consulate in New York, asking them to contact the Central Conference of American Rabbis, a Reform rabbinical leadership organization, in an attempt to incorporate Israeli diplomats and Israel-related content in their upcoming convention in Cincinnati.

The letter lamented the deterioration of Israel’s relationship with the Reform Movement, the largest Jewish denomination in the US, saying the future conference would not touch upon any Israel-related issues, and that no Israeli representative was invited.

But soon after it was released, Reform leaders slammed the ministry, accusing it of lying and stating that dozens of Israeli Reform Rabbis would be taking part in the conference.

Rabbi Gilad Kariv, head of the Reform Movement in Israel, said the claims were “no less than scandalous.”

“Under the pretext of honest concern about Israel’s relationship with the Diaspora, the Reform Movement in North America is being slandered,” Kariv said. “The convention, which will take place (at the end of the) month, will include dozens of Israeli Reform Rabbis and many of the meetings will address strengthening the connection between Israel and Diaspora Jewry.

“This will take place alongside the struggle against the ugly and destructive discrimination of the Reform Movement in Israel,” said Kariv.

Gilad Kariv, an Israeli Executive Director of the Israel Movement for Reform Judism (Photo: Yaron Brener)

Foreign Ministry officials have claimed the Reform Movement is angry with Israel and recent political events, especially in light of the agreement brokered by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu between Jewish Home and the far-right Otzma Yehudit Party, and have thus chosen to exclude Israel from the convention.

“Israel is becoming solely the domain of the American right-wing and religious sectors,” said ministry officials. “Jewish organizations feel as if they are perceived as ATMs. The AIPAC criticism over Otzma Yehudit is a part of this trend. Israel actually has to beg Jewish organizations not to sideline it; it’s becoming embarrassing.”

Kariv, however, said the ministry’s statement was untrue, and sought to lessen the connection between non-Othrodox streams of Judaism and the Jewish state. 

“Israeli diplomats are regularly invited to Reform conventions and to Reform communities around the globe. If the man who initiated this statement fears for the future of Israel’s relationship with the Diaspora, he should start by addressing the Israeli policy against the non-Orthodox denominations in recent years, instead of slandering the Reform Movement.”

Rabbi Rick Jacobs, president of the Union for Reform Judaism in North America, recently met with Israeli politicial figures, alongside Israeli Reform leaders. The Reform officials said they initiated the meeting in order to voice their concern over the growing rift between Israel and the Diaspora.

Rabbi Rick Jacobs, president of the Union for Reform Judaism (Photo: Noam Galai)

“I met with Israeli leaders from all political sides,” said Jacobs. “We’ve discussed an option to heal relationship between Israel and the Diaspora, and about our shared vision of a Jewish, democratic and tolerant Israel.”

Kariv called for the rift to top the agenda for the Israeli government after the upcoming elections. “Restoring this connection, which was severely damaged in recent years, has to be one of the important subjects our next government deals with,” he said.

A recent survey about the growing rift between the world’s two largest Jewish communities (Israel and the US), came up with interesting, but somewhat worrying, results. Apparently, some 50 percent of Israelis still consider Israel’s relationship with US Jewry as positive, while only 7% defined it as poor. A somewhat embarrassing result, however, shows that 34% of Israelis consider American Jewry to be a financial asset for the country, first and foremost.

Shira Ruderman, CEO of the Ruderman Family Foundation that ordered the survey, said it clearly shows Israelis understand the importance the relationship with the Diaspora. “We are heading for elections, and it's evident that when it comes to the Israeli relationship with American Jewry there’s no right or left — 95% answered it is important to preserve this relationship,” Ruderman said.

“Furthermore, some 90% understand that the American Jewish community is a strategic asset for Israel — in the realms of security, economy, but also in the realms of morals and good values,” Ruderman added.

“It’s important to raise this issue now, before the elections. Those who ask for the public's vote have to present their stance regarding Israel’s relationship with the Diaspora,” she said.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

A relationship in need of Reform : https://ift.tt/2BYPlPW

Drones to map Europe’s Jewish cemeteries

A private organization that wants to preserve thousands of old Jewish cemeteries in Europe is using aerial drones to map burial sites in countries where the Holocaust decimated Jewish populations that existed before World War II.

 

The European Jewish Cemeteries Initiative said Tuesday that teams of drone operators plan to survey 1,500 endangered Jewish cemeteries in Slovakia, Greece, Moldova, Lithuania and Ukraine this year. Once the boundaries are recorded, the sites will be enclosed and cleaned, the Germany-based organization said.

Drones used to map the Jewish cemeteries (Photo: AP)

The European Union is funding the effort with an 800,000-euro grant ($911,100) at a time of rising alarm over anti-Semitic acts in some countries. This month, swastikas were painted on about 80 gravestones at a Jewish cemetery in France, and vandals damaged windows, sinks and a prominent headstone at a Jewish cemetery in northwestern England. The chief executive of the initiative, Philip Carmel, said walls fitted with locking gates will be erected around the graveyards covered by the EU-funded project both to protect them and to re-establish a physical presence, “so people know there’s a Jewish cemetery.”

Preservation work at a Jewish cemetery in Slovakia (Photo: AP)

The group also wants to recruit volunteers in the five countries to help maintain and safeguard the cemeteries. “Fencing doesn’t protect. It’s the people who protect the cemeteries,” Carmel said, noting that a fence didn’t protect a cemetery near the French city of Strasbourg where 37 gravestones and a monument to Holocaust victims were tagged with anti-Semitic graffiti in December.

Preservation work at a Jewish cemetery in Slovakia (Photo: AP)

There are about 10,000 known Jewish burial sites in 46 European countries, according to the European Jewish Cemeteries Initiative. About three-quarters are located in central and eastern Europe. In some parts of the east, the organization is on what Carmel called a last-minute “rescuing mission.” Germany funded the nonprofit group’s previous projects, involving 123 cemeteries in Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

“It is vital, especially, that the next generation of Europeans learns about Jewish existence to combat rising anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial,” Carmel said. “The cemeteries are so often the last physical proof of centuries of Jewish life in the towns and villages of Europe, which were wiped out in the Shoah. There is no better proof to deny Holocaust denial.”

Preservation work at a Jewish cemetery in Slovakia (Photo: AP)

Many of the cemeteries to be surveyed and enclosed this year had to be found before they could be protected. Local residents helped the organization’s researchers find some, abandoned and grown over since World War II. Pre-1918 maps and aerial photos that Germany’s Luftwaffe used to pinpoint targets for aerial bombing missions helped reveal more. Now, drones are collecting topographic data that experts based in Kiev can use to design plans preservation plans for the sites. As part of the project, workers erected a fence Tuesday around a neglected Jewish cemetery in Slovakia that dates from the 18th century and sits like an island in the middle of vast farmlands east of the capital, Bratislava. “Preserving our Jewish history creates a vital link to our past, which in turn makes us more aware of the present and shapes our future,” Rabbi Isaac Schapira, the initiative’s founder, said. “We owe our ancestors this duty and mark of respect by ensuring their final resting places are restored and preserved.”

Let's block ads! (Why?)

Drones to map Europe’s Jewish cemeteries : https://ift.tt/2TfFE9N