Briefs

Iran Admits Supplying Spy Drones

The London-based newspaper A-Sharq al-Awsat quoted an Iranian Revolutionary Guard officer as saying the Lebanese militia received eight drones in August. On Monday, Hezbollah sent one drone on a 10-minute sortie over northern Israel, worrying the top brass in Tel Aviv.

Israel Halts Ivory Coast Arms Sales

Israel said it would suspend arms sales to the Ivory Coast after a French request. France, which formerly ruled Ivory Coast as a colony, destroyed the African nation’s air force in retaliation for the deaths of nine French peacekeepers and an American aid worker in a government airstrike on rebels. The French request was the second regarding the turmoil-plagued country in recent months, Ha’aretz reported.

Ads to Show Israeli Teachers

A pro-Israel advocacy group is launching a series of television advertisements focusing on efforts by Israeli teachers to teach peace in the classroom. The Israel Project’s ads, which are slated to begin Wednesday on CNN, Fox and MSNBC, feature three Israeli teachers talking about their efforts.

University Offers Jewish Certificate

The University of Denver’s School of Social Work is offering a certificate in Jewish communal service. The program will allow social work students to supplement their master’s degree social work curriculum with six Judaic courses, including a class in Jewish literacy and one in Jewish advocacy and public policy.

Filmmaker’s Killing Prompts Anti-Muslim Outbreak

The killing of a Dutch filmmaker, allegedly by an Islamic extremist, sparked anti-Muslim incidents in the Netherlands. Since the Nov. 2 murder of Theo van Gogh, who earlier this year released a film critical of how women are treated under Islam, there have been numerous anti-Muslim incidents, including two attempts to burn down mosques, Dutch media reported Sunday. Eight alleged Islamic extremists have been arrested in connection with the murder. Among those arrested was the alleged 26-year-old killer, identified only as Mohammed B. Mainstream Muslim groups have condemned the killing.

AMIA Case Appeal

An Argentine Jewish group is appealing the acquittal of five defendants in the bombing of an Argentine Jewish center. Five locals were acquitted in September of involvement in the July 1994 attack on the AMIA Jewish center in Buenos Aires. Eighty-five people were killed and some 300 wounded in the still-unsolved bombing.

U.S. Wants Alleged Crime Boss Extradited

An alleged Israeli underworld boss faces extradition to the United States on drugs charges. Israeli police arrested Zev Rosenstein on Monday following a joint investigation with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Rosenstein is suspected of involvement in a Miami drug ring, and could face trial in the United States. Under Israeli extradition laws, he would have to be returned to the Jewish state to serve his sentence. Rosenstein, considered one of Israel’s major crime bosses, denied any wrongdoing.

Reconstructionist Founder Dies

Benjamin Mehlman, a founder and former president of the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation, died Oct. 31 in New York at the age of 94. Mehlman was a former president of the Society for the Advancement of Judaism, in Manhattan, which was the first Reconstructionist synagogue.

Prague Jews Boot Leader

Members of Prague’s Jewish community voted out the community’s leader. The vote against Tomas Jelinek came Sunday, after several controversies that have divided the community, including Jelinek’s recent dismissal of the community’s head rabbi, Karol Sidon. Also at issue were a long-running dispute over the administration of the Lauder Jewish school and Jelinek’s plans to build a nursing home that some members thought was too costly. But Jelinek told JTA he rejects the vote because he believes it violates the community’s constitution.

Israeli Slain in New York

The Israeli manager of a kosher restaurant in New York was stabbed to death. The victim was knifed in the chest, stomach and arm Nov. 4 by a disgruntled employee he had recently fired, according to the New York Sun. Patrons of Cafe K in New York City were horrified when the victim emerged from the eatery’s basement bleeding profusely.

“His eyes were rolling up in to back of his head and he was shaking a little bit,” one anonymous witness told the Sun. “He was covered with blood.”

The victim was taken from the restaurant by stretcher and rushed to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead about two hours later.

Briefs courtesy Jewish Telegraphic Agency.