DAY 8: “A week of raids and arrests, but no hard lead to the kidnappers” by Avi Issacharoff:“The terrorist group that was able to kidnap the three Israeli teens from the Alon Shvut hitchhiking stop last Thursday will likely go down in the annals of the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) and Israeli intelligence forces as one of the most dangerous and sophisticated cells to have been active in the West Bank in recent years.“To disappear for more than a week with the entire Israeli army and intelligence force in hot pursuit is no easy task. Clearly, much thought and many resources were dedicated to it. Which begs the question: could it be that all this was a local initiative by a local Hamas cell acting of its own accord? Or was it a case of a few terrorists who instigated an attack under explicit orders from the political leadership of Hamas or, alternatively, its senior military leadership?” [ToI] (more…)
By Jacob Kornbluh & JI Staff
DEEP DIVE: “How To Lose $1 Billion: Yeshiva University Blows Its Future on Loser Hedge Funds” by Steven I. Weiss in TakePart: “What they couldn’t have known… a decade ago was that the real danger in Yeshiva’s new leadership was not to the school’s spiritual welfare but to its very existence. Over the years to come, the new leadership at Yeshiva would ramp up risk in the school’s investment portfolio, vastly increase spending, and do little to insure against a rainy day. When rainy days did arrive, with the global financial meltdown of 2008, Yeshiva was heavily exposed. Today, its finances are overwhelmed by a sea of red ink. According to a recent announcement by credit ratings agency Moody’s, the school will run out of cash next year. (more…)
Four Jewish #Senate committee chairs–Levin, Feinstein, Boxer, Wyden–write against @SenatorMenendez #Iran bill http://t.co/Yu20EeMal6
— Laura Rozen (@lrozen) December 20, 2013
. @lrozen You are burying the lead: Nearly 25 percent of Senate Dems, incl perhaps the Leader, are willing to publicly buck POTUS.
— William Daroff (@Daroff) December 20, 2013
. @lrozen The leader of their party. That’s expected. This is a big deal – even if it runs counter to the narrative you’d prefer.
— William Daroff (@Daroff) December 20, 2013
No, but that it’s not irrelevant to the domestic politics of it. Deep misgivings about Iran bill with pro Israel Dems @eottolenghi
— Laura Rozen (@lrozen) December 20, 2013
This bill is not a juggernaut, significant opposition and significant who is opposing. Resistance not futile @eottolenghi
— Laura Rozen (@lrozen) December 20, 2013
Same as your point. You can be sure that Senate offices paying attention to four Jewish Senators against the Menendez bill @Daroff
— Laura Rozen (@lrozen) December 20, 2013
Otherwise, why would Jewish Federation bother to put out a statement in favor of the bill, if they thought doesn’t matter? @Daroff
— Laura Rozen (@lrozen) December 20, 2013
But you are putting out position on a bill that is before lawmakers. So how is it not relevant that 4 Jewish Senators oppose bill? @Daroff
— Laura Rozen (@lrozen) December 20, 2013
@lrozen Because it implies interests that are different than their non-Jewish peers.
— William Daroff (@Daroff) December 20, 2013
@lrozen We speak for the Jews. The Senators speak for their constituents. Again, their religion is immaterial to their view of US nat sec.
— William Daroff (@Daroff) December 20, 2013
. @PeterBeinart My point, Peter, is the danger of ascribing different motivations to Jewish Senators than to their non-J peers @lrozen
— William Daroff (@Daroff) December 20, 2013
Tweeps: My point was that Jewish Senators represent their constituents, whereas JFNA, among others, represents the Jewish community.
— William Daroff (@Daroff) December 20, 2013
Tweeps @lrozen is a friend. She is a good person, I didn't intend to imply otherwise; I merely disagree w/a syllogism she used. I'm sorry.
— William Daroff (@Daroff) December 20, 2013