APRIL COVER

IN THIS ISSUE: PARTIAL LISTINGS

HEADLINES, FRONT PAGE NEWS & FEATURE ARTICLES

COVER STORY:

Behind the Scenes of Russia! the Art Exhibit

Photo: Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, Spain.

“We believe the harmony of art, together with the strength of the human spirit, can overcome the contrariness and discord in today’s world.” This statement, made by Larissa Zelkova, Director General of the Vladimir Potanin Charity Fund, also reflects this author’s strongly held belief. The Guggenheim Museum’s Russia! is an inspiring example of how harmony and accord is alive and well, even when displaying art that can be 800 years old. It took the cooperation of an international team of like-minded experts to make an exhibit of this magnitude come to life. Russia! was also made possible by the Potanin Fund, with major sponsorship by Alcoa Foundation and Sintez.

PHOTOS OF THE MONTH: ARABS AND MUSLIMS STREET DISPLAY IN LONDON AND PARIS... IN PHOTOS

STEAMY LETTERS TO THE EDITOR. UNCENSORED!

COMMENTARY BY DR. AARON LERNER

Olmert's reality gap

By Dr. Aaron Lerner

The IDF responded with full force when the first Qassam rocket landed in Israel after the retreat from the Gaza Strip, leveling buildings used by the various Palestinian militias and killing scores of armed militiamen targeted from the sky. Elite ground forces also took part in surprise raids to drive home the message that no place in the Gaza Strip was beyond the reach of the IDF. The Palestinian assumption that Israel would honor "human shields" was proven to be deadly wrong when a Qassam launching team was taken out as they were setting up a rocket in a school yard. "The blood of the children of Sderot is no less red" Israeli officials explained.

No. This isn't what happened when the first Qassam fell. And it isn't what happened when the 300th fell. And it isn't what happened when rockets repeatedly landed by "strategic Israeli targets". It didn't even happen after now Kadima politician Avi Dichter confidently proclaimed recently that Israel would show its stuff if the Palestinians dared to launch another Qassam. They launched a score since then and the "stuff" has yet to be seen. Of course there are all kinds of explanations for the yawning gap between post retreat reality and the pre-retreat tough talk but the gap is there for all to see.

It's a gap that Israelis who live near the Gaza Strip are reminded of several times a day as the IDF shells and bombs empty fields in response to an ever increasing number of Palestinian rocket attacks. It's a gap that Mr. Olmert and the rest of the retreat supporters continue to ignore, "Olmert said that once a border is determined, Israel would "not lose any option for security action in line with our needs in the fight against terrorism, which is to a large degree the case today in Gaza." [The Jerusalem Post 9 March] How did the philosopher get out of the pit? He postulated a ladder and climbed out.

Ehud Olmert is trying to do the same thing.

POLITICAL VIEW POINT

Prominent Arab-American Professor Cheers Hamas, Slams Bush. By DR. JOSEPH LERNER

In the interview which follows Rashid Khalidi, Director of Columbia University's Middle East Institute and Edward Said Professor of Arab Studies, welcomes Hamas' election victory as deserved and as presenting an opportunity to calm the Palestinian-Israeli conflict by a long-term truce. He asserts that Hamas brought terrorism to the conflict and insists that this should not interfere with its potential to serve the long-term truce. Khalidi attacks Bush for taking a "messianic" stand against terrorism..

Academic Attack on Israel's Military. By Professor Steven Plaut

In the campaign in the UK to organize an academic boycott of Israeli universities, led by the British Association of University Teachers (AUT), it turned out that a fanatic anti-Israel faculty member at an Israeli University, Ilan Pappe from the University of Haifa, was the driving force, seeking to create a boycott of his own university...

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ISRAEL:

Polls: Kadima 34-38 Labor 18-20 Likud 14-18 NRP/Nat'l Union 8-10; 37% support unilaterally evacuating settlements. By Dr. Aaron Lerner...

Handler of Pollard says information obtained was essential to Israel's security

The Israeli handler of Jonathan Pollard, the American convicted of spying for Israel two decades ago, defended the risky operation that tarnished Israel-U.S. relations in an interview published Friday, saying Pollard's information was too good to resist and would have made a great difference in the event of war with Arab countries. "I asked myself over and over again what more information could be gained, what and who could be saved by it...

Israeli agent: Soviet mole framed Pollard

A former agent for Israel's intelligence service says that convicted Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard was framed by a Soviet agent. Ravi Eitan told Ynetnews.com that Pollard, a former U.S. Navy intelligence officer, did pass on information to Israel..

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WORLD:

Record High: More Christians Martyred in Past 100 Years than in all 1900 Prior Years Combined! Don’t Allow One More.

Afghan Christian Abdul Rahman has been sentenced to death by Afghanistan. His “crime”: Converting from Islam to Christianity. Afghan Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah, who is in Washington this week for talks on deepening strategic and economic ties with the United States, callously commented on the pending execution, saying, "I know this is a sensitive issue, and we know the concerns of the American people but the government of Afghanistan has nothing to do with it.” Absolutely incredulous! The foreign minister of U.S.-liberated Afghanistan completely defends the right to execute a Christian...

"Hands off Iran," read several placards carried by protesters

Photo: An anti-Iraq war protester wearing a mask depicting US President George Bush, is shadowed by a policeman during a peace march through the streets of Sydney. Several thousand people from a coalition of students, greens, Quakers, and left-wing organisations demanded an end to Australian military presence in Iraq.

An anti war rally in Australia kicked off a wave of global protests on Saturday, as campaigners marked the third anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq with a demand that coalition troops pull out. Around 500 protesters marched through central Sydney, chanting "End the war now!" and "Troops out of Iraq!"

EU Eyes Budget Deal as Britain Offers New Rebate Cut

Chirac said the EU summit was heading towards a budget deal.

Britain offered Friday to slash a 10.5 billion euros ($12.57 billion) off its cherished EU rebate, sources said, raising hopes of a breakthrough to a fierce standoff over the bloc's future budget. French President Jacques Chirac, who has demanded an outright end to the British budget cheque, immediately said EU leaders appeared to be heading "little by little" toward a deal on the 2007-2013 funding plans..

German Chancellor Angela Merkel appears to have been one of the chief reasons the EU managed to agree on a budget deal during two days of haggling at a Brussels summit.

The EU finally announced it had found a compromise on the bloc's 2007 to 2013 budget in the early hours of Saturday morning. Britain said it would cut 10.5 billion euros ($12.57 billion) off its jealously-guarded budget rebate, with funds being shifted towards the poorer mainly former communist countries that joined the EU last year...

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ARAB WORLD

Bad news for Jordan's mothers. Opportunity for secularists in Arab society. By Sue Lerner.

Coptic Egyptian Website: Mubarak's Recent Decree Allowing Church Renovation and Rebuilding is "Toothless"

In early December, 2005, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak issued a presidential decree easing the severe restrictions on repairing and rebuilding churches in Egypt.(1) In an editorial in the Coptic Internet weekly Watani, editor Youssef Sidhom stated that the decree would deliberately be implemented in a way that would render it meaningless, and cited a letter by an Egyptian governor substantiating this claim.

Qatar to donate 100 military vehicles to the Palestinian Authority

ABU DHABI- Qatar has decided to donate 100 military vehicles to the Palestinian Authority. Qatari Emir Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani directed the military to export 100 surplus combat vehicles to Palestinian security forces...

Hamas MP Asserts Government Formational Declared Before End of the Month...

Hamas outlines basic principles of incoming Palestinian government. Hamas document outlining principles of incoming Palestinian government surfaces recently; Hamas says it is 'committed to the expulsion of the occupation and the right of return,' says it has 'right of resistance in all its forms'..

ARAB DISCRIMINATION AGAINST ARABS

The Jordan Times 15 March '06 "Employment of Jordanians in UAE labour market" which follows below, contains a clear contradiction. The UAE representative states his willingness to remove all obstacles that prevent Jordanians from working in his country." and later says "the UAE gives priority to Jordanians ..."

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PEOPLE, NEWSMAKERS, SOCIETY:

ROSTER OF THE MOST FAMOUS AMERICANS

ROSTER AND PHOTOS OF THE NEWEST WEALTHIEST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD. THE MEGA BILLIONAIRES.

PERSONALITY OF THE MONTH: Jason Ben-Meir. Unquestionably, Ben-Meir is one of the brightest Jewish minds, today, and he is considered to be an international authority on the Arab and Muslim world. Jason Ben-Meir's publications mostly focus on strategies for implementing community development in the Islamic world and how that can enhance relations with the West. In an article, he wrote, "The Right Way to Reconstruct Iraq" Ben-Meir suggested that "

MADONNA ENDORSES HILLARY!

Life Imitates Cartoon Art: Madonna, the diva of decadency has endorsed Hillary Clinton in the 2008 Presidential election with an eerie resemblance to a page out of the new children’s book, “Help Mom! Hollywood is in my Hamper,” by Katharine DeBrecht. "Hillary Clinton should go for it, definitely," Madonna told ContactMusic.com.

The 99 Most Powerful Women in the World. Jewish women take the lead (2004-2005-2006)...

Sharon Stone Plants a Tree in Israel

Photo: Sharon Stone planting a tree in Israel.

While in Israel at the invitation of the Peres Center for Peace, Hollywood star Sharon Stone visited Jewish National Fund's only project dedicated to an American President, the John F. Kennedy Memorial, where she planted an olive tree in the name of peace. "I was born on a farm and I know about planting with my own hands," she said as she removed her sandals, gently scraped the clod of earth off the sapling and ensured that it was correctly covered and watered...

HADASSAH HONORS BONNIE McELVEEN-HUNTER

Photo: Bonnie McElveen-Hunter

Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America, saluted the American Red Cross recently by presenting its Chairman of the Board of Governors, Bonnie McElveen-Hunter, with a plaque in appreciation for “its steadfast leadership and unwavering support of Magen David Adom of Israel in its quest for admission to the Federation of the International Red Cross...

Tribute to Raoul Wallenberg

Photo: Agnes Adachi.

Last month, a tribute to Raoul Wallenberg was given at the Raoul Wallenberg School in New York and a portrait by Mossad Agent was donated to the school. Agnes Adachi, who aided WWII hero Raoul Wallenberg, spoke for the first time to students at the Raoul Wallenberg School in New York. Mossad Agent Peter Malkin, the man who captured Eichmann, donated to the school, a portrait of Malkin, who died in 2005...

Beit T’Shuvah

Photo: Chief Executive Harriett Rossetto, creator and Director of Beit T’Shuvah.

Rossetto, always a woman in search of her “calling”, knew she had found it 15 years ago when a small want ad in the Los Angeles Times caught her eye. Person of Jewish background and culture to work with Jewish criminal offenders. Masters in Social Work required. Harriet soon realized that the majority of Jews behind bars were there as a by-product of addictive/compulsive behaviors...

Gwyneth's haunted house

Photo: The 33-year-old is adamant her London home is haunted and wants to create a good energy before she gives birth to her second child .

Gwyneth Paltrow is planning to have her home exorcised, it has been reported. The 33-year-old is adamant her London house is haunted and wants to create a good energy before she gives birth to her second child...

Muslim head says gays 'harmful'

Photo: Sir Iqbal Sacranie said everyone's views should be heard.

A British Muslim leader has told the BBC he believes homosexuality is "not acceptable" and denounced new same-sex civil partnerships as "harmful". Head of the Muslim Council of Britain Sir Iqbal Sacranie said introducing the partnerships did "not augur well" for building the foundations of society...

JEWISH ORGANIZATIONS OF THE MONTH:

SKIP THE STEREOTYPES. THE CHALLAH JEWISH MOTHERS WELCOME HERE. At San Francisco's Congregation Sherith Israel, you won't find young women rejecting the title of "Jewish Mother". Instead, here they embrace it. Just ask the young mothers who make up the Sherith Israel Mamas, a support group designed to help women create a Jewish home for their families...

Jewish Community Council of Greater Coney Island. Under the leadership of Rabbi Moshe Wiener, Jewish Community Council of Greater Coney Island (JCCGCI) has become one of the best and greatest humanitarian and socio-cultural organizations in the United States...

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ARTICLES, COMMENTARIES AND IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS:

Hamas Encouraging Children to Die for Allah on Website

Hamas has a special web site for children, al-fateh.net, where violence is glorified and death for Allah is labelled a "victory." Al-Fateh means 'The Conqueror.' The Shahada deaths of terrorists during attacks against Israel are presented to children as a time of celebration...

PA CHIEF ABBAS: TERRORISM AGAINST ARABS IS "CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY," BUT TERRORISM AGAINST JEWS "DAMAGING TO PALESTINIAN INTERESTS"

Palestinian Authority (PA) chief, Mahmoud Abbas, condemned last month's terrorist attack in Amman, Jordan, as a "crime against humanity" but made no similar moral condemnation of last week terrorist attack in Netanya, which killed five Israelis and wounded over 30 more...

Rabbi Michael Melchior and the Usual Suspects

Rabbi Michael Melchior, Member of the Knesset and a long time advocate for peace with the Palestinian Arabs spoke at Temple Emanuel in Palm Beach Florida. He spoke under the sponsorship of his wealthy personal patron and the usual nationwide suspects - the perennial peace-advocating Jewish Federations and their Community Relations Councils - in this case that of Palm Beach...

George Bush's Diplomatic Ambiguities

The majority of the Palestinian Arabs voted for Hamas and the Bush administration acts surprised and shocked. They denounce Hamas and are squirming to find ways to still proceed with a fictional "peace process" based on an ill-conceived scheme called the Roadmap...

The Political Lessons of Purim

Just before Purim it is traditional for Jews to read as the Haftara portion in synagogues the section of the First Book of Samuel in which King Saul is stripped of his kingdom and office. The context is that Haman, the villain of Purim, is thought to be descendent from Agog, the evil king of the Amalekites, captured by King Saul...

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INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING

WHO KILLED PRESIDENT KENNEDY AND WHY? DISCOVERIES & NEW THEORIES.

WHO Killed Kennedy? That is the question! Why they killed Kennedy? This is the second biggest question! Nobody really knows except those who were involved. But who are those people who designed and executed the most famous and infamous assassination-plot-cover-up and enigmatic intrigue of the 20^th century? There are so many theories and possibilities encompassing the “One Bullet Theory”, “The Three Bullet Theory”, “The New Orleans Connection”, “The Marseilles Connection”, “The Corsican Killers Connection”, “The Mafia Involvement”, “The Castro Involvement”, “The Jimmy Hoffa’s Group Connection”, “The FBI Hoover Cover Up”, “The Lyndon Johnson Involvement”, “The Oswald-KGB Involvement”, you name it and you will find a fertile terrain…fertile for all kind of possibilities, assumptions, accusations, finger

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