FEATURED JOBS
Comments (0)Americans opposed to Israel’s naval blockade of the Gaza Strip are organizing a ship from the United States to take part in an international flotilla.
The flotilla, set to sail to Gaza in September or October, will be made up of ships from India, Europe, Canada, South Africa and the Middle East. The organizers hope to name the American ship The Audacity of Hope, after President Obama’s second autobiographical book.
“From the deck of The Audacity of Hope, we will be in a powerful and unique position to challenge U.S. foreign policy and affirm the universal obligation to uphold human rights and international law,” organizers wrote on their website, UStoGaza.org.
Organizers are trying to raise $370,000 through the website to pay for a ship, crew, and licensing and registration of the boat. They plan to carry 40 to 60 people on board.
Among the more than 70 people who have signed the appeal for money are Lara Lee, who smuggled out a video of the flotilla incident in May in which nine aboard a Turkish-flagged ship were killed, and Michael Ratner, director of the Center for Constitutional Rights.
Jordanian American Convicted of Bomb Threat
A dual Jordanian-American citizen was convicted of mailing a bomb threat to a Chicago Jewish day school.
Mohammad Alkaramla, 26, of Chicago’s North Side, was convicted Tuesday in U.S. District Court and ordered jailed until his Sept. 29 sentencing.
Arrested in March 2009, Alkaramla was convicted of mailing a letter to the Ida Crown Jewish Academy that threatened to blow up Jewish educational institutions as well as injure or kill Jewish individuals in the city. The letter, which was received on Dec. 31, 2008, was addressed to rabbis and leaders of the Jewish community.
The letter threatened: “Will Give You until 01.15.2009 to back OFF from Gaza in Palestine or will set our explosive in your areas, it very important to make a quick action before we make our decisions to set bombs in the fowling [sic] addresses.”
The letter then listed 22 addresses of Jewish educational centers in the Chicago area, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
A draft of the letter was found on Alkaramla’s laptop computer. He faces up to 10 years in jail and a $250,000 fine.
Israeli an Ace at World Series of Poker Event
A native Israeli won first place in an event at the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas.
Tomer Berda, who now lives in Menlo Park, Calif., where he owns a software research and development company, took the gold bracelet in the no-limit hold ‘em event. Berda defeated 197 others to take the $825,976 first prize.
Ynet reported that Berda was the first Israeli to win a World Series of Poker event.
According to the World Series of Poker website, Berda started playing poker in 2003, and enjoys playing online, but has started playing more live tournaments in the last year.
Berda previously had two final table appearances and four cash wins at the World Series.