A roundup of the most talked about political and global stories in the Jewish world this week:
France shooting
During a shootout Thursday, French police ” title=”http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Latest-News-Wires/2012/0320/France-worries-school-gunman-will-strike-again” target=”_blank”>reportedly filmed his attack of a Jewish school in Toulouse, France, that left three children and a rabbi dead. French Jews are scared that another attack might be on the horizon. “There can be no copycats of Toulouse here in this country. Attacks that specifically target and kill Jewish children are so abhorrent and unthinkable that they paralyze a community’s ability to function and thrive,” ” title=”http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2012/03/the-jewish-school-shooting-and-patterns-of-violence/254707/” target=”_blank”>said Heather Horn in The Atlantic. And with evidence that the man was Muslim, ” title=”http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/03/axelrod-mittzkrieg-comment-draws-fire-from-jewish-group/” target=”_blank”>he called Mitt Romney’s ad campaign in Illinois as “the Mittzkrieg” on Twitter. The comment insinuated a comparison between Romney’s efforts to distance himself from Rick Santorum and the blitzkrieg, a military strategy used by the Nazis during WWII. “It’s just worth pointing out: a) two can play at that game; b) you know who else had a neatly combed moustache and a dangling forelock; and b) with a little trimming and a slight darkening of Axelrod’s care-grayed whiskers, the truth really comes out,” ” title=”http://www.slate.com/blogs/weigel/2012/03/19/phony_outrage_of_the_day.html” target=”_blank”>joked Slate’s Dave Weigel.
Sandra Fluke’s Jewish boyfriend
Sandra Fluke, the Georgetown grad student who burst onto the political scene earlier this year over the birth control debate, ” title=”http://blogs.forward.com/sisterhood-blog/153134/sandra-fluke-and-the-big-jewish-conspiracy/” target=”_blank”>said Sarah Seltzer in The Jewish Daily Forward. “Oh my god! Not only are these rich, socialist, college-lovin’ Jewish Jews rich, socialist and college-lovin’, but they’re actually concerned with helping others? You are so busted, Ms. Fluke! Gotcha!” ” title=”http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2017771557_israeligays17m.html” target=”_blank”>according to reports. The delegation is traveling to other West Coast cities this week, but only Seattle cut them out of the agenda. It came amid pressure from protesters who cite Israel’s poor treatment of Palestinians based on its positive record on gay rights, known as “pinkwashing.” “This is absolutely absurd from any perspective. Israel is one of the most gay-friendly countries in the world,” ” title=”http://soundpolitics.com/archives/015293.html” target=”_blank”>said one blogger. “No word from the religious fundamentalist Sunni radicals at Hamas or Islamic Jihad on whether they appreciated the show of solidarity from Seattle’s gays,” ” title=”http://blog.chron.com/believeitornot/2012/03/backstreet-boy-invites-fans-on-special-tour-of-israel/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter” target=”_blank”>inviting his fans to come along with him. He will perform at the Sea of Galilee, go clubbing with the group, and join them for some tours of famous sites during the 10-day trip. “What could be better than enjoying homemade hummus with Howie?” ” title=”http://bsbcruise.blogspot.com/2012/02/howie-ds-backstreet-tour-of-israel.html” target=”_blank”>worried one blogger. “The last reason why I’d be hesitant to do this trip is that it seems very Christian-focused and I’m not Christian. I’m afraid I wouldn’t really be able to get nearly as much out of it.”
