Hagee Responds

JERUSALEM — The leader of Reform Judaism has a “troubling disrespect for the truth,” Pastor John Hagee said last week. His comments came after a call this month by Rabbi Eric Yoffie, president of the Union for Reform Judaism, for Jews to dissociate themselves from the evangelical leader. Rabbi Yoffie said Rev. Hagee, founder of Christians United for Israel (CUI), advocates hardline policies against territorial concessions that “would lead [Israel] to diplomatic isolation, increased violence and the loss of Israel’s Jewish majority.” Rabbi Yoffie misrepresented his views, Rev. Hagee said, adding that it’s up to Israelis to determine their own future. At an April 6 CUI rally in Jerusalem calling for the capital to remain united under Jewish control, Rev. Hagee said his group would give $6 million (US) to 16 Israeli causes.

Seoul-ful Emissaries

SEOUL — A Lubavitch emissary couple arrived in Seoul earlier this month to establish the first Chabad House in South Korea. There is currently no shul in the country. Chabad said Israel’s ambassador to South Korea asked three visiting Lubavitch yeshiva students last year to arrange for permanent Chabad emissaries.

Bombers Escape

RABAT — Nine men involved in suicide bombings in Casablanca in May 2003 escaped from jail March 7. A Jewish community centre and cemetery were among five sites hit in May  2003 by a banned Islamist group linked to Al Qaeda. The bombings, among the deadliest in Moroccan history, killed 45. The escape occurred at the start of a one-day hunger strike by 1,000 Islamists in Moroccan jails.