Current News - Chabad of Great Neck

American worker kidnapped by Al-Qaida appeals to Obama

Thursday, December 26, 2013 - 9:32 PM

A U.S. government contractor kidnapped by Al Qaida in Pakistan again has asked the Obama administration to negotiate with his captors.

Al-Qaida released a video message from Weinstein, a former Peace Corps and USAID official, late Wednesday night in which he says he feels “totally abandoned and forgotten,” according to the Washington Post. The video was sent to journalists and news services in Pakistan, according to reports.

Weinstein, 72, sitting by himself against a white wall, asks Obama to release Al-Qaida terrorists in exchange for his release.

“You are now in your second term as president of the United States and that means that you can take hard decisions without worrying abo… Read More »

U.K. warns against doing business in West Bank Jewish settlements

Thursday, December 12, 2013 - 12:09 PM

(JTA) — The British government is warning the business community to steer clear of Jewish settlements in the West Bank.

New recommendations noting there are “clear risks” and the United Kingdom does “not offer support to such activity” were published last week on the U.K. Trade and Investment website in the section titled Overseas Business Risk–Israel.

The recommendations suggest that British and European Union citizens should “be aware of the potential reputational implications of getting involved in economic and financial activities in settlements, as well as possible abuses of the rights of individuals.&… Read More »

Boycott of Israel endorsed by American Studies Association leaders

Thursday, December 5, 2013 - 6:48 PM

A Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) protest against Israel in Melbourne, Australia, on June 5, 2010. Credit: Mohamed Ouda via Wikimedia Commons.

(JNS.org) The national council of the American Studies Association (ASA) on Wednesday announced its adoption of a resolution to boycott Israel. The ASA’s 5,000 members now have until Dec. 15 to vote on the measure.

“Our resolution understands boycott as limited to a refusal on the part of the Association in its official capacities to enter into formal collaborations with Israeli academic institutions, or with scholars who are expressly serving as representatives or ambassadors of those i… Read More »

Iran ‘far too close’ to nuclear weapon after deal, says former CIA head

Wednesday, December 4, 2013 - 10:36 PM

Former CIA and NSA chief Gen. Michael Hayden. Credit: CIA.

(JNS.org) Gen. Michael Hayden, former head of the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency, said Iran is “far too close to a nuclear weapon” following its interim agreement with world powers. The deal allowed Iran to continue enriching uranium to 5 percent.

“At the end of the day, Iran is going to be a nuclear threshold state,” Hayden told Fox News.

“We have accepted Iranian nuclear enrichment,” he said. “What we have to do is push that threshold back as far as possible, and that will define whether this is a good id… Read More »