Jewish Press of Tampa

Just a nosh…


Sen. Menendez to Netanyahu: Don’t partner with extremists

WASHINGTON – Sen. Robert Menendez, a stalwart of the mainstream pro-Israel lobby in the Senate, told Benjamin Netanyahu that his partnership with an extremist leader could shatter support for Israel in the United States.

Menendez, D-NJ, raised what he said were “concerns” about Itamar Ben-Gvir with the former – and hopeful – Israeli prime minister during a visit to Israel in early September, according to an Axios report Oct. 2.

At the time, Netanyahu had just hosted Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, another right-wing party leader, at his Caesarea home. The visit was part of Netanyahu’s effort to try to unite the far-right parties so they can maximize their clout in Israel’s Nov. 1 election. Ben-Gvir is an adherent of the late extremist rabbi Meir Kahane whose political party was banned and declared a terror group in both Israel and the U.S. According to the Times of Israel, Ben-Gvir says unlike Kahane he doesn’t support expelling all Arabs from Israel, only “terrorists” or those he deems “disloyal.” Ben-Gvir would likely secure a cabinet position in a Netanyahu-led government. Menendez said Ben-Gvir’s inclusion would seriously erode bipartisan support for Israel.

Biden administration expands penalties for complying with boycott of Israel

WASHINGTON — The Biden administration will enhance penalties for compliance with the decades-old Arab League boycott of Israel.

Matthew Axelrod, the assistant commerce secretary for export enforcement, told the American Jewish Committee that those complying with the boycott will now be required to admit wrongdoing before settling with the U.S. government, and that they will be subject to penalties if their foreign subsidiaries comply with the boycott. Companies until now did not have to acknowledge participating in the boycott when they settled charges.

Axelrod said the boycott was weakening, notably among the four Arab countries that in 2020 normalized relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords. But other countries were hardening their positions. “This recent doubling down on anti-Israeli sentiment by countries like Syria and Iraq comes at a time of shocking growth in antisemitism,” he said.

From the Editor…

Due to the hurricane and the High Holidays, the Sept. 21 – Oct. 6 edition of the Jewish Press of Tampa Bay experienced unexpected delays in printing and mailing. Some events publicized in that paper may have occurred prior to readers receiving the paper. We regret the inconvenience this may have caused.

Correction

Andi Parker will receive the Weinberg Village Service Award at the Sue and Jeff Schoenbaum Annual Community Leadership Awards on Oct. 27. A story and ad in the Sept. 23 edition were in error.

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