FEATURED JOBS
Comments (0)Israel’s conversion bill reportedly will not reach the Knesset floor until October.
Proponents of the controversial bill had hoped to bring the bill to the Knesset floor on Wednesday, the last day of the Israeli parliament’s summer session before the start of a three-month hiatus. Its sponsor, Yisrael Beiteinu Party lawmaker David Rotem, reportedly is not willing to introduce the bill on the floor until he is sure he has a majority of lawmakers supporting it.
The bill would consolidate control over conversions under the office of the Orthodox-dominated Israeli Chief Rabbinate. It was approved last week by the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee.
The Knesset will reconvene for its winter session on Oct. 11, when Rotem likely will reintroduce the legislation.
American Jewish organizations and religious organizations have rallied against the conversion measure.
Israeli Shelling Kills 2 Gazans
Two Palestinians reportedly were killed and up to eight were injured by an Israeli army shelling at the northern border of the Gaza Strip.
Israel’s military told Israeli media that its tanks fired at several Palestinians approaching the border carrying a rocket launcher near the northern Gaza town of Beit Hanoun.
One of the dead men was identified as an Islamic Jihad terrorist, according to Haaretz. The second man died of his wounds several hours after the attack.
American-Israeli Teen’s Killer Convicted
An Israeli Arab was convicted of killing an Israeli-American teenager and two others.
Adwan Yahiya Farhan, 35, was convicted Wednesday in Nazareth District Court for the murder of Dana Bennett, 18, as well as Czech tourist Sylvia Molrova and Farhan’s former cellmate, Aharon Simahov. Farhan is facing a possible prison sentence of three life terms.
Bennett disappeared in Tiberias in 2003; her remains were discovered in 2009.
A Chicago native, Bennett had come to Israel to study and live at Kibbutz Tirat Tzvi in 1999. Her mother lives in Tiberias and her father in Los Angeles.
Farhan also was convicted of rape, two counts of kidnapping with intent to murder and abduction.
“Justice was done,” said Bennett’s mother, Vicky, following the verdict. “I never thought it would turn out any differently. It is no consolation, but it’s a relief.”