Vandals Hit Lobby
LONDON — A group of Palestinian supporters vandalized the offices of a pro-Israel lobby in London. They entered the offices of British Israel Communication & Media, a Jewish community-financed group set up in 2001 to explain Israel’s position to the British media. The vandals used loudspeakers to shout anti-Israel messages and scare staff and then turned over desks, cut phone lines and threw around leaflets before running away. Police said that when they arrived, they dealt with a “suspected package, and made it safe.” They are trying to find those responsible.
Yemeni Jews Moved
SANA’A, Yemen — The government of Yemen is relocating a Jewish community for safety reasons. A Jewish man from Yemen’s Amran province was murdered last month, and members of the 266-person community have been the victim of verbal and stone-throwing assaults since the Israeli invasion of Gaza began, according to Yemeni press reports. The Yemeni government has allocated buildings to house the Jews in the capital of Sana’a, and also will give each of the approximately 50 families being relocated the equivalent of about $10,000. The relocation was to take place Sunday. The government said the houses and other property of the relocated Jews will remain theirs, and they can sell it if they wish.
Messages From U.K.
LONDON — Warning messages sent to the cellphones of Israeli soldiers and their families originated from the United Kingdom, according to reports. The text messages received Jan. 13 by hundreds of cellphones across Israel warned soldiers of their fate if they entered Gaza. According to media reports in Britain and Israel, checks of the code from the sender’s number revealed the texts originated in the United Kingdom. Initially, it was assumed the text messages were part of Hamas psychological warfare and were sent from Gaza. The messages, sent in English, read: “Come on into Gaza. Lots of surprises waiting for your sons, the least of which is death – Hamas.”
Hadassah Sheds Staff
NEW YORK — Hadassah: the Women’s Zionist Organization of America has instituted massive layoffs. The organization began laying off 80 employees across the country Jan. 13, roughly one-quarter of its national staff, a spokesperson said. The cuts are at all levels. Hadassah recently said it had $40 million invested in Bernard Madoff’s Ponzi scam, as well as another $50 million it thought it had made in the scheme. It was a major hit to its endowment, which now stands at $412 million (US). The layoffs, however, weren’t solely caused by the Madoff losses. Hadassah had been discussing streamlining for nearly two years. The stock market downturn and the Madoff losses accelerated the process, the spokesperson said.
Islamists Threaten Madonna
LONDON — Madonna has beefed up her security with two ex-Mossad bodyguards following threats on an Islamist website, according to a British newspaper.
The People newspaper also reported Jan. 11 that the singer has instructed ex-husband Guy Ritchie to increase security for their three children. On the site, which is password protected, the extremists chatted about assassinating Madonna without referring specifically to her contacts with Israel or Judaism.
The newspaper reported that the “threat was made by Muhammad Abdel-Al, leader of the Popular Resistance Committees – a fringe group of Palestinian militia who have launched thousands of rocket attacks on Israel.”
Madonna’s involvement in Kabbalah is well-known, and she has visited Israel several times.
A source close to Madonna said the pop icon “is beside herself with worry, not just for her own safety but for that of the children.”
JTA and British newspapers reported this month that the anti-terrorism branch of the British police warned prominent Jews to be extra vigilant and review their security arrangements. The Community Security Trust, the organization in charge of security for the Jewish community and its institutions in Britain, offered similar advice following the rise in anti-Semitic attacks since the start of Israel’s military operation in Gaza on Dec. 27.