Mideast Report

JERUSALEM (JTA) -- The Conservative movement's Jewish Theological Seminary is placing an ad in today's edition of two Israeli newspapers urging voters to consider religious pluralism when they vote Monday.

The ad, which will run in Ma'ariv and the Hebrew and English editions of Ha'aretz, urges Israelis to vote with "your head and your heart" and features photos of prominent Jews across the ideological spectrum who have received honorary degrees from the seminary.

'Pig-poster' woman heads back to jail

JERUSALEM (JTA) -- An Israeli court on Wednesday ordered an extreme right-wing activist convicted of distributing anti-Islamic materials back to jail for violating her parole.

Tatyana Suskin, who was found guilty two years ago of distributing leaflets in Hebron that portrayed the prophet Mohammed as a pig, was sentenced to 24 months in jail, one-third of which had been commuted for good behavior.

She was ordered to return to jail for the final eight months of her sentence after the court ruled that she had left the Tel Aviv area at least six times in violation of her parole terms.

Settlers erect homes on hill near Efrat

JERUSALEM (JTA) -- A group of Jewish settlers set up a dozen mobile homes Tuesday on a windswept hill near the West Bank settlement of Efrat, taking over land claimed by residents of a nearby Palestinian village.

The move came with the approval of the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which said the land falls within the boundaries of Efrat.

The hilltop, Givat Dagan, was the site of disturbances four years ago, when Israeli police forcibly removed Jewish settlers and demonstrators trying to claim the hilltop.

20,000 more settlers to move to West Bank

JERUSALEM (JTA) -- Israeli Foreign Minister Ariel Sharon said last week that despite criticism, 20,000 more settlers will live in the West Bank by the end of the year.

In an interview with the Associated Press, the former army general said the only way to make Israelis living in isolated areas feel secure is to hold onto the high ground.