The Two Abortion Wars: State Battles Over Roe v. Wade

A NYT editorial looks at the state-based war on reproductive rights, with over 600 measures introduced to undermine Roe v. Wade in 2010, with 34 of those securing passage.  Even more such measures are in the pipeline and we must make our voices heard against these bills.

Away from Washington, another ominous anti-abortion battle is accelerating in the states. Anti-abortion forces have been trying to take advantage of the 2007 ruling in which the Supreme Court upheld a federal ban on a particular method of abortion. 

In 2010, more than 600 measures were introduced in state legislatures to limit access to abortion and some 34 secured passage, according to tallies by Naral Pro-Choice America and the Center for Reproductive Rights. November’s elections made the outlook even bleaker. 

Read more at the New York Times

U.S. Democrats and pro-Israel lobbies slam Republican Senator's call to halt Israel aid

This should not really be a surprise, as he campaigned on this issue, but Senator Rand Paul stated on air that all foreign aid should be ended, including aid to Israel.

U.S. Democrats and pro-Israel lobbies slammed on Thursday comments made by newly elected Republican Senator and Tea Party representative Rand Paul who suggested that the United States should halt all foreign aid including its financial aid to Israel.

Read more at Haaretz

The House GOP's Plan to Redefine Rape

HR 3, the so-called "Stupak on Steroids" bill offered by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), would do much more than restrict access to abortion.  It is seeking to redefine rape in order to limit just what would qualify for abortion coverage exceptions.

Rape is only really rape if it involves force. So says the new House Republican majority as it now moves to change abortion law.

For years, federal laws restricting the use of government funds to pay for abortions have included exemptions for pregnancies resulting from rape or incest. (Another exemption covers pregnancies that could endanger the life of the woman.) But the "No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act," a bill with 173 mostly Republican co-sponsors that House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) has dubbed a top priority in the new Congress, contains a provision that would rewrite the rules to limit drastically the definition of rape and incest in these cases.

Read more at Mother Jones

Statement on Rahm Emanuel's Candidacy for Mayor of Chicago

January 26, 2011

The jokes about Chicago politics have ceased to be funny.
 
A travesty is occurring in the race for mayor.  Rahm Emanuel was the frontrunner until his legitimacy was challenged by those who, for political reasons, wanted him off the ballot.  Two of three Illinois appellate judges determined that Emanuel does not meet the residency requirements to run for mayor, overturning a lower court decision that he does meet those requirements. Ballots were set to go to the printer without Rahm's name, until the Illinois Supreme Court, which agreed to hear the case, today directed the Chicago Board of Elections to print his name on all ballots until the Court makes its ruling. Early voting is set to begin next week. The general election is February 22nd. 
 
The facts of the case seem clear to us.  Rahm Emanuel has spent his life in Chicago except for the times he went to Washington to perform public service, first as advisor to President Clinton, then as Representative from Illinois' 5th district, and most recently as chief of staff to the President of the United States.  If he doesn't meet the standard of legitimacy, it is hard to imagine who does.  No one should be penalized for public service.Someone with his resume shouldn't be sent packing because others don't want him to succeed.
 
We at JAC supported Emanuel in his Congressional race.  Yes, he is a fierce competitor, but always fair and with the interest of the people -- all the people -- at heart.  And no one works harder or has more energy. He understands business and how to advance Chicago's interests in the global marketplace.  He knows that education is the key to Chicago's competitiveness in that marketplace. Whether or not one supports Rahm in his bid for mayor is not relevant.  What is relevant is that good government demands that his name be on the ballot and that politics not trump judicial independence.  We often say how important the judiciary is -- whether it be the Supreme Court or lower courts.  What is happening in Chicago proves that point.  The world is watching to see whether this city can redeem itself from this ugly episode and allow the voters to determine whether or not Rahm Emanuel will be the next mayor of Chicago.

Across Country, Lawmakers Push Abortion Curbs

This article outlines a comprehensive list of state legislatures that are aiming to reduce access for reproductive rights in coming year.  According the head of Ohio Right to Life, they see this as the "best climate for passing pro-life laws in years."

Newly energized by their success in November’s midterm elections, conservative legislators in dozens of states are mounting aggressive campaigns to limit abortions.

The lawmakers are drafting, and some have already introduced, bills that would ban most abortions at 20 weeks after conception, push women considering abortions to view a live ultrasound of the fetus, or curb insurance coverage, among other proposals. 

Read more at The New York Times

Senators ask Clinton to oppose Palestininan resolution at U.N. on negotiations

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, on Tuesday  wrote to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urging the administration to oppose a U.N. resolution that is being drafted by the Palestinian Authority (PA) in an effort to unilaterally dictate terms to Israel, enabling the PA to avoid direct negotiations.

 Read more at the San Diego Jewish World

Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom

Did you know that Sunday, January 16 marked the anniversary of the enacting of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, authored by Thomas Jefferson?  This law provided for the separation of religion and state.  Take a moment to read it over.  Here is an excerpt:

Be it therefore enacted by the General Assembly, That no man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever, nor shall be enforced, restrained, molested, or burdened in his body or goods, nor shall otherwise suffer on account of his religious opinions or belief; but that all men shall be free to profess, and by argument to maintain, their opinions in matters of religion, and that the same shall in nowise diminish, enlarge, or affect their civil capacities.

Read more at The Religious Freedom Page

Board won't penalize abortion pill provider

Iowa medical regulators have declined to punish a Planned Parenthood doctor for using a long-distance video system to provide abortion pills by remote control.

The Iowa Board of Medicine decision clears the way for Planned Parenthood of the Heartland to continue using the controversial method of delivering abortions in rural areas, which often lack abortion providers.

Read more at the Des Moines Register

Did you know?

As a gift for Israel's 60th anniversary, David Suissa combined his passion for Israel together with his background in advertising to create a new organization called ads4israel.com.  Ads highlighting the many contributions that Israel has made to modern society combined with beautiful graphics are definitely worth sharing to help in the fight against BDS and delegitimization.

Read more at ads4israel.com.

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, friend to JAC, shot at Tuscon event

1/8/2011

At noon (EST) today, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ), was shot while at an event known as “Congress-on-your-Corner” in a grocery store parking lot in Tucson, AZ. Eighteen other people, including six members of her staff, were also shot. There were six fatalities, including a federal judge and a nine-year-old child. Giffords survived surgery at University Medical Center in Tucson. Although she is in critical condition, her surgeon stated he is as “optimistic about her recovery as it is possible to be” given the extent of her injuries.

The shooting of Congresswoman Giffords has caused shock and dismay in many quarters. One of 27 Jewish members of Congress, she is a special friend to JAC. Marcia Balonick, executive director, said the JAC contingent that attended the Congressional swearing-in ceremonies on Wednesday attended a reception in her honor. “I met and spoke with her mother and we talked about how special she is. Her mother told me how lucky she was to have such a wonderful daughter. 'With Gabby,' she said, 'life was always an adventure.' The attempted murder of any member of Congress would be tragic to me, but this is personal.”

In 2009 Giffords spoke for JAC at the Detroit chapter's membership event. She was extremely well received. Lisa Lis, chair of that event, also considers the shooting a personal matter. “This is truly heartbreaking. She is a bright star in the Congress, passionate about bringing positive changes to the country. When she spoke at our meeting, we were so impressed by her dedication to public service. She was genuinely approachable and touched everyone's heart.”

Gabrielle Giffords is a positive force on issues of concern to JAC. She is a staunch advocate for Israel, reproductive rights and separation of religion and state. She stood on principle when it came to health care reform even though it could have cost her her re-election.  As a member of the Armed Services committee, she is well respected and well liked, even by her political opponents. Gail Yamner, JAC President, said “You cannot help but like her. She is a warm, caring woman who wants only to serve her country. She is an incredible woman who believes in an America that is for everyone.”

We do not know the shooter's motivation, but Arizona’s laws that permit easy access to guns make it too easy to commit a heinous crime such as this one. His violent act is likely to have a chilling effect on the public's access to elected officials. American democracy is ill-served by a violent gun culture and by security barriers erected between the people and their government. Neither is consistent with Gabby's modus operandi.

We at  JAC send out heartfelt expressions of sadness to the family of Gabrielle Giffords, to the Jewish community and the country.  Our thoughts are with the Congresswoman, her family and all of the victims of this tragedy.   The shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords is a personal affront, an affront to the Jewish community, to her Arizona constituents and to the country.

The truth about Israel beyond the failed bus ads

In a response to the recent bus ad controversy in Seattle where proposed ads for the Metro accused Israel of war crimes, Rabbi Jonathan Singer discusses how this is another attempt to delegitimize Israel.

The Big Lie is alive and well in Seattle, and this fact is ironic for a city that prides itself on having a commitment to diversity, openness and intellectual engagement.

In the past, big lies were used by fascists and dictators as a means of delegitimizing certain groups or classes, seeking a scapegoat upon whom to blame general societal disappointments. Experts at utilizing this tool understand you cannot start with an outlandish statement but must state many small lies at first. In an age of Twitter and instant messaging, our culture is ripe for domination by this political approach.

Read more at The Seattle Times

Media Watch: Most Ignored Story Of 2010? Israel

What was the most ignored story of 2010?

Israel. Really.

Only a handful of mainstream newspapers covered the Palestinian claims to the Western Wall and Rachel’s Tomb; or that Palestinian rockets were still landing in Israel; or the 1930s level of anti-Semitism in the official Palestinian media; or the Palestinian claims that Haifa and Sderot are occupied territory; let alone not covering the transcendent beauty of daily religious life and Jewish culture in Israel.

Read more at The Jewish Week

Women Don't Have Constitutional Protection Against Discrimination

The equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution does not protect against discrimination on the basis of gender or sexual orientation, according to Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia.

In a newly published interview in the legal magazine California Lawyer, Scalia said that while the Constitution does not disallow the passage of legislation outlawing such discrimination, it doesn't itself outlaw that behavior:

Read more at The Huffington Post

Gaza militant groups agree to halt rocket attacks on Israel

Over 200 rockets have been fired from Gaza into Israel this year, killing one person and causing some minor injuries.  Palestinian militant groups have agreed to halt these attacks temporarily.

Militant Palestinian groups in the Gaza Strip have agreed to halt rocket attacks against Israel, a senior Islamic Jihad leader said Thursday. 

"We agreed to halt one of the means of armed resistance, which is firing rockets at Israel, to avoid the Israeli threats," Dawood Shihab, a spokesman for the group, said in a statement e-mailed to journalists. 

Read more at Haaretz

Kansas to consider bill to restrict late-term abortions based on fetal-pain claim

Following the passage of the "fetal pain law" in Nebraska earlier this year which bans abortions after 20 weeks, the Kansas legislature is set to take up a similar bill. 

Kansas lawmakers plan to consider legislation modeled on a new Nebraska law that restricts late-term abortions based on the claim that fetuses can feel pain after 20 weeks.

“I think the issue of fetal pain is an important one, and one that is becoming more and more a part of the debate,” said Rep. Lance Kinzer, an Olathe Republican who has championed late-term abortion reforms for the past several years.

Read more at The Kansas City Star

Raising fish in the desert

A group of Israeli scientists have developed a process that makes farming fish much easier and more feasible anywhere on land.

"There's plenty of fish in the sea," the old saying goes - but that's not as true as it once was. In fact, says Dotan Bar-Noy, CEO of Israel's GFA (Grow Fish Anywhere) Advanced Systems, there are fewer fish in the sea with each passing year. "Overfishing is a much bigger problem than people realize, and in a few years, many species of salt water fish are simply going to disappear if something isn't done."

Bar-Noy and 30 or so others - mostly engineers, marine biologists and other technical folk - have found a solution to the diminishing numbers of fish in the sea. Based on the work of Israeli scientist Dr. Yossi Tal and Hebrew University professor Jaap van Rijn - inventor of the system - GFA has developed an on-land environment where fish can be raised, without having to exchange water or treat it chemically.

Read more at Jerusalem Post

King Co. rejects Israeli-Gaza bus ad

In light of numerous complaints, both local and national, over a proposed anti-Israel bus ad set to run in Seattle, the King County Council has decided to pull the ad.

The outcry over a proposed bus ad to protest Israeli actions in Gaza prompted King County Executive Dow Constantine on Friday to order the county's transit system not to accept it or any other new noncommercial advertising.

A group called Seattle Mideast Awareness Campaign paid $2,760 to place the ad on 12 buses, starting Monday, Metro Transit spokeswoman Linda Thielke said. The placard shows children and a demolished building with the caption, "Israeli War Crimes - Your tax dollars at work."

Read more at The Seattle Times

To go where no Israeli has gone before

Most people they meet raise an eyebrow or two after hearing their plan. But if you ask Yonatan Winetraub and Kfir Damari what they are doing these days, the answer is simple: “We are working on going to the moon.”

The two, in their 20s, are scientists: Winetraub works for Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) as a satellite engineer with a focus on nano-satellites, and Damari is a lecturer at the Israeli College of Management and is a communication-system engineer.

Read more at The Jerusalem Post

Anti-abortion group aims to influence race for RNC chairman

The anti-reproductive rights group, The Susan B. Anthony List, is working to ensure the next RNC Chairman is strongly anti-abortion.  This follows the recent appointment of Rep. Joe Pitts (R-PA) to the Health Subcommittee chairmanship, which they promoted.  They are also pushing for the appointment of Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI) to be chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee.

An anti-abortion group announced Wednesday it will launch a widespread e-mail campaign to elect a like-minded Republican National Committee (RNC) chairman.

The Susan B. Anthony (SBA) List, which is co-sponsoring a Jan. 3 RNC chairman debate, said it will reach 500,000 socially conservative activists with its campaign.

Read more at The Hill

Israel protests Gaza rockets in U.N.

In response to a recent upsurge in rocket attacks from Gaza into Israel, the Israeli government has filed a formal complaint with the UN.

Israel has filed a complaint in the United Nations over rocket attacks from Gaza.

In a letter to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Security Council President Susan Rice, Meron Reuben, Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, called on the body to "send a clear and resolute message that these attacks are unacceptable."

The letter, dated Tuesday, was sent several hours after a rocket fired from Gaza landed several yards from a kindergarten in session in a western Negev kibbutz, wounding a 14-year-old girl on her way to school. Israel responded to the attack later in the day with an airstrike on what it called a Hamas terror center in Gaza.

Read more at JTA