National News
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July 24, 2008
Israeli Drug Co. to Buy U.S. Producer
New York
JTA Wire Service
An Israeli drug company plans to purchase an American producer for $7.5 billion. Teva Pharmaceuticals announced Friday its intention to purchase New Jersey-based Barr Pharmaceuticals in a purchase that, if completed, would be the largest ever by an Israeli company, Ha’aretz reported. The $7.5 billion price tag is 44 percent above Barr’s market value. Teva is the largest generic drug maker in the world.
Foundation Exposes Israeli Artists to U.S.
An American Jewish foundation is bringing Israeli artists to the United States for residencies. The Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation will sponsor six artists from two to months at museums, schools and cultural centers in 2008-09, the foundation said in a July 16 news release. The foundation will sponsor 12 artists the following term. One aim is to expose the artists to America. Also, foundation chair Lynn Schusterman said, “We want to enable Americans to experience, in depth, the vibrant and creative face of Israel that is embodied in its artists, many of whom are doing some of the most exciting and innovative work anywhere in the world today.”
Three artists already have been selected for this fall: performance artist Anat Pick, film historian Yael Munk, and curator and art historian Gideon Ofrat. Pick will be in residence at the International Dada Archives at the University of Iowa. Munk will be at the Jewish Community Centers of Chicago.
UJC Lauds Congress’ Override of Bush Veto
The United Jewish Communities praised the U.S. Congress’ decision to override a veto on Medicare reform. The U.S. House and Senate overrode President Bush’s veto of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act, making it law on Tuesday. The umbrella organization of the North American federation system lauded the move, saying the law blocks a planned pay cut for doctors, provides benefits protection for senior citizens, allows access to better medical equipment and institutes a stronger mental health benefits package.
“The Jewish community is heavily vested in initiatives to ensure that older Americans have access to and receive quality healthcare during the latter years of their lives,” William Daroff, the UJC’s vice president for public policy and director of its Washington office, said in a statement. “The Medicare reforms enacted this week are vital to our efforts to provide for older Americans.”
Hagee Conference Opens
Christians United for Israel opened its third annual summit. The second day of the conference will feature a session marking Israel’s 60th anniversary and an evening banquet attended by U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) and Dan Gillerman, Israel’s outgoing U.N. ambassador. Saying the coverage at last year’s summit was “intrusive,” Christians United for Israel is barring media attendance at the four-day event in Washington except on Tuesday.
“CUFI received complaints last year that the press was intrusive and that their presence inhibited free discussion,” said Ronn Torossian, a spokesman for the organization. “CUFI wants to create a more intimate and open setting this year, which will be more beneficial to our members and core audience.” Both Christians United for Israel, which was founded in 2006, and its founder, Texas pastor John Hagee, have been the target of much criticism of late. Rabbi Eric Yoffie, the president of the Union for Reform Judaism, earlier this year called on Jewish groups not to attend Hagee’s events, saying Christians United did not have Israel’s best interests in mind.
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), the presumptive Republican nominee, repudiated Hagee’s endorsement in May after learning of a recording in which Hagee said Hitler was sent by God to drive the Jews back to Israel. Earlier this month, lawyers for Hagee had the popular video-sharing Web site YouTube remove some 80 clips of the pastor, contending they violated copyright restrictions.
The timing of the removal, just weeks before the summit, prompted blogger Max Blumenthal to accuse Hagee of suppressing free speech. Blumenthal filmed a critical documentary of last year’s Christians United summit that portrayed some attendees as supporting Israel because of end-time beliefs. Among those scheduled to attend this year’s summit are Middle East Forum director Daniel Pipes, U.S. Rep. Elliot Engel (D-N.Y.), New York Times columnist William Kristol and former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum, a Pennsylvania Republican.
This story reprinted courtesy of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.