U.S. Jews most against Iraq war
A review of 13 polls over two years shows more U.S. Jews are opposed to the Iraq war than are members of any other religious minority.
The review by Gallup, published Feb. 23, in the Hotline political newsletter, showed that 77 percent of Jewish respondents believed “sending troops to Iraq was a mistake,” much more than the general average of 52 percent. Of those who said they had no religion, 66 percent opposed the war.
Among Protestants, 48 percent were opposed, 53 percent of Catholics were opposed and 27 percent of Mormons.
Overall, 12,061 people were interviewed with a margin of error of plus or minus one point. Of them, 303 were Jewish. — jta
Korean, Jewish leaders protest cartoons
Leaders of Korean and Jewish communities in Los Angeles protested anti-Semitic cartoons in a South Korean book.
One cartoon depicts a newspaper, magazine, radio and TV set with the caption, “In a word, American public debate belongs to the Jews.” The publication, in comic book format, is part of a series designed to teach Korean students about other nations.
The author responded by saying he would change chapters on Jews that were criticized as anti-Semitic, but said the stereotypes are accurate. The book also indirectly blames Jews for Sept. 11.
“The Jews are the invisible force that controls the U.S.,” Lee Won-bok, a Seoul university professor, told AP. “I wrote the chapter to let people know that you can’t understand the U.S. without knowing the Jewish community.” — jta
Lantos asks end to Jackson-Vanik
A U.S. Jewish lawmaker called for an end to the Jackson-Vanik Agreement.
Speaking at a Moscow news conference last week, Rep. Tom Lantos (D-San Mateo) said the 1974 agreement was “a relic of the Cold War” and should be lifted. The Soviet-era law restricted bilateral trade, and remains a source of tension between Moscow and Washington. It was imposed because of the Soviet Union’s emigration and human rights policies toward Jews. — jta
CopyrightJ, the Jewish news weekly of Northern California