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Friday April 18, 2003

World Report

BRUSSELS

(JTA) -- Israel will return its ambassador to Belgium after Belgian legislators amended laws that would have allowed Israel's prime minister to be put on trial for alleged war crimes.

Yehudi Kenar will return to Belgium four months after he was recalled in protest of a controversial law seeking to prosecute war criminals and perpetrators of genocide from around the world.

The law had enabled Palestinians to sue Israeli Prime MinisterAriel Sharon over his alleged involvement in the slaughter of Palestinians by Lebanese Christian militias at the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps in 1982.

Last month, however, Belgium's House of Representatives passed several amendments that limit the law to cases where the perpetrators are from undemocratic countries where they will not have a serious trial.

Anne Frank cited in gay refugee case

SYDNEY (JTA) -- Australia's High Court was asked recently to consider the story of Anne Frank in dealing with a Bangladeshi gay couple's application for refugee status.

An Australian refugee panel rejected the argument that the couple would be like Anne Frank if forced to return to Bangladesh, where it would be prudent to hide their gay relationship.

The two are now appealing the decision to the court.

While expressing his sympathy for the couple's predicament, Jeremy Jones, the president of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, said, "The analogy between a gay couple and Anne Frank is not appropriate and lacks sensitivity."

Kosher slaughter under threat in Britain

LONDON (JTA) -- A British advisory board has indicated that it plans to submit recommendations to the government which, if adopted, would mean the end of shechita (kosher slaughter) in Britain, the London Jewish Chronicle reports.

At a recent meeting, the Farm Animal Welfare Council made clear it intends to urge the government to adopt regulations requiring that all animals be stunned prior to being slaughtered, a step that contradicts Jewish law.

Rabbi lauds Shiite murdered in Iraq

LONDON (JTA) -- Britain's Orthodox chief rabbi paid tribute to Abdul Majid al-Khoei, a senior Shiite cleric assassinated last week in the Iraqi holy city of Najaf.

Al-Khoei, who had returned to Iraq only a week earlier after 12 years of exile in London, was the leader of the al-Khoei Foundation, an international body that promoted dialogue between Muslims and Jews.

Speaking on BBC radio, Rabbi Jonathan Sachs said of al-Khoei: "He was a delightful human being, a moderate, somebody who was a peacemaker. I feel personally shattered because Iraq is going to need figures of reconciliation like that."

Canadian Jews fight al-Jazeera inclusion

ONTARIO (JTA) -- The two largest Jewish organizations in Canada reportedly have come out against a plan to offer al-Jazeera on Canadian cable TV.

The Canadian Cable Television Association is considering adding the Qatar-based TV network to its package of "ethnic" offerings.

The Canadian Jewish Congress and B'nai B'rith Canada said they oppose al-Jazeera's inclusion because it is anti-Semitic, the Toronto Globe and Mail reported.

CJC President Keith Landy said some of the channel's material might violate Canada's hate-crimes legislation and federal broadcasting statutes.

Arab groups in Canada have vowed to push for the channel's inclusion, saying it would "broaden the horizon" of the Canadian public regarding the Middle East.

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