Shalit for Pollard, Bikel on Bedouin, Al-Qaida Captive’s Appeal

NSA spying revelations boost calls for Pollard’s release Disclosures that American intelligence monitored the emails of two former Israeli prime ministers has prompted a new round of calls for clemency for Jonathan Pollard.	Al-Qaida releases new video of kidnapped U.S. worker In the video, Warren Weinstein asked the Obama administration to negotiate with his captors. Op-Ed: Israel must develop Negev for benefit of all Broadway legend Theodore Bikel calls on Israel to halt a policy that threatens to displace thousands of Bedouin.
BREAKING NEWS Russian forensics experts: Arafat was not poisoned Boston funeral home drops Orthodox burial society for Jewish alternative More U.S. universities withdraw from ASA over academic boycott of Israel Gaza rocket strikes southern Israel Report: Netanyahu, Abbas have held secret talks for years Reports: New settlement construction to be announced with prisoner release Nephew of Conn. governor arrested in Stamford yeshiva high school Israeli actors excused from performing in West Bank theater Ariel University’s establishment legal, high court rules Gilad Shalit calls for Jonathan Pollard’s release Prime Minister’s Office: Palestinian media incited recent terror attacks Netanyahu, Peres offer Christmas greetings SEE MORE BREAKING NEWS >

TELEGRAPH The battle for Beit Shemesh resumes With a new election likely in the religiously divided city, expect a heated contest. MORE FROM JTA’S NEWS AND CULTURE BLOG >
AROUND THE WEB Four captive Jews (Forward) The Jewish community had taken different approaches to American Jews taken prisoner in Pakistan, Cuba, Iran and, until a recent escape, Bolivia. Very Jewish midnight Mass (Public Radio International) A Jerusalem church welcomes throngs of Jewish visitors eager to take in a Christmas spectacle. No peace now (Council on Foreign Relations) The positions taken by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and the Arab League suggest that a comprehensive peace agreement is not imminent, writes Elliott Abrams. Tel Aviv Christmas (TLV1) From Filipino and African migrants to Arab Christians, Christmas has diverse celebrants in Tel Aviv. Occupation double standards? (Times of Israel) Some Israelis want to know why the European Union is taking a tougher line on Israel than on Morocco over its occupation of Western Sahara and on Turkey over its occupation of Northern Cyprus. Thank this man for that Christmas Eve Chinese food (Jewniverse) What primed Ed Schoenfeld for the title of „curator of Chinese food in America”? Growing up Jewish in New York City.
6° NO BACON Mel Brooks: There’s no ‘solely Jewish humor’ anymore Mel Brooks gets real about Jewish humor. MORE FROM JTA’S ENTERTAINMENT BLOG >
BULLETIN BOARD Remembering Edgar Bronfman Several organizations have contacted JTA about publicly expressing their admiration and appreciation for Edgar Bronfman’s many contributions to the Jewish people. To accommodate such requests, we will be publishing a page of sponsored tributes in tomorrow’s Daily Briefing. If your organization would like to participate, please email tribute@jta.org for details today(Thursday, Dec. 26) before 3:00 p.m. EST/12:00 p.m. PST.

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