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Friday July 13, 2007

Shorts: U.S.

Israeli diplomats adopt hybrids

Starting this fall, Israel will reduce the gasoline consumption of its senior diplomats in the United States by switching to hybrid-electric vehicles.

The initiative, led by Israel’s ambassador to the United States, Sallai Meridor, will include Israel’s embassy in Washington, its nine U.S. consulates and its mission to the United Nations. This would make Israel’s foreign service among the first to significantly reduce oil demand throughout its entire official fleet.

Israel plans in the years ahead to strengthen energy cooperation with the United States by developing alternative energy technologies and assisting American efforts to reduce petroleum dependence.

“Israel has always been at the forefront of conservation,” Meridor said. “We believe in the critical importance of embracing alternative sources of energy and advanced vehicle technology to help achieve energy independence and build a sustainable environment.”

New Orleans shul flooded once again

Copper thieves flooded a 103-year-old New Orleans synagogue that had become unusable after Hurricane Katrina. The thieves sliced several pipes in the Congregation Beth Israel building last week, according to the congregation president, Jackie Gothard.

A real estate agent and a prospective buyer discovered the flooding on the morning of July 5. Cleanup began Sunday.

“We lost everything in the flood,” Gothard said. “There was nothing more to lose expect the aggravation of it all.”

Gothard did not believe anti-Semitism motivated the crime.

She said the sanctuary was filled with four feet of water and did not know what the cleanup costs would be. She also said it was unclear when the thieves entered the building because the neighborhood is desolate.

Most members of the congregation lost their homes in the neighborhood a half-mile from the levees. They have continued to worship together at a local Reform congregation, in a social hall with a mechitza. — jta

Iranian defector helping U.S.

A former Iranian deputy defense minister defected to the United States and is spilling his country’s nuclear secrets, an Israeli newspaper reported.

Yediot Achronot reported Sunday, July 8 that Ali Reza Asgari, who went missing while visiting Turkey last month, has revealed to the CIA that Tehran has been pursuing a secret nuclear program.

According to the report, which quoted an unnamed U.S. official, the secret Iranian program involves enriching uranium with laser and chemical enhancers. Western and Iranian officials had no comment. — jta

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