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Comments (0)The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee approved Elena Kagan for the U.S. Supreme Court in a vote mostly on party lines.
Kagan, who would be the third Jewish justice on the current court, received 13 votes; six committee members voted against her nomination.
Democrats favored and Republicans voted against, with the exception of Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who cautioned his colleagues to base their votes on character and qualifications, and not on ideology.
Kagan, currently the U.S. solicitor general, now awaits a vote by the full Senate, which the Obama administration hopes to take place before the August recess.
Republicans, who are in the minority, have said they will not filibuster her nomination.
Colorado Trade Delegation Inks Israel Pacts
A delegation from Colorado on a trade mission to Israel signed several economic development agreements.
The mission, sponsored by the Allied Jewish Federation of Colorado and private contributions, and led by Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter, returned Monday after the weeklong mission that focused on building partnerships in fields such as energy, clean tech and water.
“This trip was a success on all fronts—business, academic and research,” Ritter said. “We created a solid foundation for future economic activity, set the stage for immediate follow-up meetings in Colorado and laid the groundwork for long-term collaboration. I’m confident this mission will lead to increased jobs, investments and economic growth for Colorado.”
During the mission, Ritter met with several top Israeli officials, including President Shimon Peres; Minister of Industry, Trade and Labor Benjamin Ben-Eliezer; Infrastructure Minister Uzi Landau; and Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon, formerly U.S. ambassador.
Ritter and Ben-Eliezer signed a bilateral agreement between Colorado and Israel to advance research and collaboration between companies and institutions in both states.
The state also signed an agreement to help develop the workforce for the Tamar natural-gas field off the coast of northern Israel.
Food Co-op Votes to Boycott Israeli Products
A food co-op in Washington State has voted not to sell products made in Israel.
The boycott approved July 15 by the board of directors of the Olympia Food Co-op covers products made in all of Israel, not just the West Bank. The co-op has two grocery stores that carried Israeli products including ice cream, crackers and a line of baby wipes.
Olympia is the hometown of Rachel Corrie, an American peace activist who was run over and killed by an Israeli bulldozer in Gaza in 2003 as she attempted to prevent a Palestinian home from being demolished.
The boycott went into effect the day after the vote.
Co-op board member Rob Richards said the Olympia co-op wants to act as a catalyst.
“Each additional organizational entity that joins may have a very small effect on the big picture, but drop by drop fills the tub,” he said.
The co-op will continue to carry Peace Oil, an Israeli-Palestinian fair trade olive oil.