July 31, 2018

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Visits Family of Terror Victim. PA Calls His Visit ‘Provocative’

Leave a Comment / United States / Aaron Bandler

David Friedman, the United States ambassador to Israel, visited the family of 31-year-old Yotam Ovadia, who was murdered by a Palestinian terrorist on July 26. The Palestinian Authority (PA) denounced Friedman’s act of sympathy as “provocative.”

The PA Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it condemns “the provocative visits by the ambassador of the Trump administration to Tel Aviv to settlements in the occupied West Bank.”

Friedman responded in a tweet:

Yesterday I visited a young widow grieving the death of her husband, murdered last week by a Palestinian terrorist. I was heartbroken by her tears and those of her in-laws who had lost their only son. Today, the PA Foreign Ministry condemned my visit. Nothing more to say.

— Ambassador Tom Nides (@USAmbIsrael) July 31, 2018

Friedman visited Adam (Geva Binyamin) outside Jerusalem on July 30 during the Ovadia family’s weeklong Shiva to pay his condolences.

“I was heartbroken to see the tragic impact of the murder of Yotam Ovadia — a young mother left alone to care for two small children, parents grieving for their only son,” Friedman said when he left the Ovadia home. “Words are insufficient to describe the evil and barbarity of the terrorist act.”

Ovadia was stabbed to death by 17-year-old Palestinian terrorist Mohammad Tareq Yousef, who also injured two other Israelis before being shot to death by one of his victims. The other two Israelis have survived their injuries.

“Shocked to hear of the brutal terror attack in Adam that left 31 year-old Yotam Ovadia dead and two others injured,” Friedman tweeted at the time. “My heartfelt prayers for all the families. All life is sacred, but premeditated murder cries out for condemnation. Not hearing it from Palestinian leadership.”

Shocked to hear of the brutal terror attack in Adam that left 31 year-old Yotam Ovadia dead and two others injured. My heartfelt prayers for all the families. All life is sacred, but premeditated murder cries out for condemnation. Not hearing it from Palestinian leadership.

— Ambassador Tom Nides (@USAmbIsrael) July 27, 2018

Friedman’s predecessor, Daniel Shapiro, visited the families of those murdered by Palestinian terrorists on a couple of occasions.

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Visits Family of Terror Victim. PA Calls His Visit ‘Provocative’ Read More »

College Textbook: Those Who Died in Holocaust ‘Did Not Tap into the Strength That Comes from Their Intrinsic Worth’

Leave a Comment / United States / Aaron Bandler

A college textbook that’s being used in a University of North Carolina (UNC) fitness class is under fire for claiming that Holocaust victims died because they didn’t use their inner strength.

According to CNN, the book, titled “21st Century Wellness,” is being used in UNC’s Lifetime Fitness classes, which is a required for students to graduate. The book includes the following quote on the Holocaust: “The people in the camps who did not tap into the strength that comes from their intrinsic worth succumbed to the brutality to which they were subjected.”

Brigham Young University professor Ron Hager, who co-authored the book, told CNN in an email that the Holocaust reference was suggesting that “a sense of inherent self-worth can be a source of strength or motivation that can help those struggling.”

The book is also under fire for claiming that people afflicted with cancer basically chose to do so.

“Some experts have begun calling these diseases diseases of choice because how we choose to live, in large part, determines the risk of being diagnosed with disease like heart disease, cancer, dementia, and others,” the book states.

Darin Padua, UNC’s chair of exercise and sports science, told The News and Observer that certain lifestyle choices can increase the risk of disease.

However, some students took umbrage with the textbook’s passages.

“I thought that it was an oversimplification that didn’t account for situational factors,” student Ryan Holmes told CNN.

Abigail Painter, UNC’s senior associate dean of undergraduate education, told CNN that the exercise and science department would be reviewing the book for possible revisions next semester.

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Trump Offers to Hold Talks With Iran

Leave a Comment / United States / Aaron Bandler

President Trump signaled a willingness to hold talks with the Iranian regime without preconditions, but Iran has rebuffed the suggestion.

In a joint press conference with Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte on July 30, Trump said, “If they [Iran] want to meet, I’ll meet any time they want.”

“Good for the country, good for them, good for us and good for the world,” Trump said. “No preconditions. If they want to meet, I’ll meet.”

Iranian Foreign Minister Bahram Qasemi, however, said that the regime would not meet with Trump due to the Trump administration’s use of “sanctions and pressure” against the regime. Kamal Kharrazi, who heads Iran’s Strategic Council of Foreign Relations, said that Iran “sees no value” in meeting with the Trump administration.

“Trump should first make up for his withdrawal from the nuclear deal and show that he respects his predecessors’ commitments and international law,” Kharrazi said.

An Israeli diplomatic source told the Times of Israel on July 31 that “senior American officials” told him that despite Trump’s statements, “There is no change in its tough policies toward Iran.”

Buttressing that claim is Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s comment on Trump’s remarks.

“If the Iranians demonstrate a commitment to make fundamental changes in how they treat their own people, reduce their malign behavior, can agree that it’s worthwhile to enter into a nuclear agreement that actually prevents proliferation, then the president said he’s prepared to sit down and have the conversation with them,” Pompeo said in a July 30 interview on CNBC’s “Morning Bell.”

Trump Offers to Hold Talks With Iran Read More »

Netflix to Launch Documentary On Farrakhan

Leave a Comment / United States / Aaron Bandler

Update: On July 31, Netflix said the film will not be released on Netflix and there was an internal miscommunication. More information coming.

Netflix will be releasing a documentary in August about Louis Farrakhan, who has a history of anti-Semitic and homophobic remarks.

Farrakhan announced the documentary’s release in a tweet, stating: “On August 1st, watch the premiere of my music documentary “My Life’s Journey Through Music” on @netflix.”

The documentary, titled “The Honourable Minister Louis Farrakhan: My Life’s Journey Through Music,” was produced by Farrakhan’s son in 2014 and discusses Farrakhan’s life and career.

Farrakhan has been in the news in recent months due to his ties to Democratic representatives like Reps. Keith Ellison (D-MN) and Danny Davis (D-IL) as well as progressive activists like Women’s March Board co-president Tamika Mallory.

According to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL):

“Farrakhan has embarked on a wide-ranging anti-Jewish campaign, which has featured some of the most hateful speeches of his career. He has repeatedly alleged that the Jewish people were responsible for the slave trade as well as the 9/11 attacks, and that they continue conspire to control the government, the media, Hollywood, and various Black individuals and organizations.”

The ADL also noted that Farrakhan has met with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on multiple occasions.

Simon Wiesenthal Center Associate Dean Rabbi Abraham Cooper said in a statement sent to the Journal, “We hope that Netflix is planning to afford the opportunity to the Simon Wiesenthal Center and other critics to share with Netflix viewers Farrakhan’s six decades long history of bigotry and anti-Semitism.”

Netflix has not responded to the Journal’s request for comment.

Netflix to Launch Documentary On Farrakhan Read More »

travel classics montreal group Lisa Niver

Do YOU want to be a Travel Writer? Travel Classics Montreal

Leave a Comment / Travel / Lisa Ellen Niver

Are you looking for “The World’s Most Exclusive Conferences for Professional Travel Writers and Editors?”

I was honored to participate in Travel Classics conferences in Scottsdale, Ireland, Tucson and Montreal. I am looking forward to the next conference in Scottsdale from Nov 29 to December 2, 2018.

Thank you to Maren Rudolph for creating these wonderful conferences to meet in person with top travel magazine editors and network with other journalists in fantastic destinations.

As it says on the Travel Classics website:

“There’s no better way to stay in the loop of major magazine markets, as you enhance your career with great writing assignments. Travel Classics is unlike any other conference on Earth.”

What happened at Travel Classics Montreal?

Video: Travel Classics Montreal 2018 Part 1 of 3

VIDEO: What happens at Travel Classics Montreal 2018 Part 2 of 3

Video: Find Your Way at Travel Classics Montreal Part 3 of 3

VIDEO: Why go to Travel Classics? Ask the Editors! Montreal 2018

My videos from Past Conferences

from Travel Classics Tucson 2017: My post conference Dude Ranch experience

from Travel Classics Ireland May 2017: my article

from Scottsdale 2016: my article

12 Terrific Blogs to Follow From Travel Classics

My Canada adventures on the way to TRAVEL CLASSICS MONTREAL:

What does the conference include?

Travel Classics Writers Conferences:

There’s no better way to stay in the loop of major magazine markets, as you enhance your career with great writing assignments. Travel Classics is unlike any other conference on Earth.

Conference and Accommodations fees include: