World Report

LONDON (JPS) -- A panel of senior British lawyers advised last week against the introduction of legislation that would outlaw Holocaust denial.

The panel, chaired by Anthony Julius, who spearheaded the defense of American historian Deborah Lipstadt in the failed libel trial brought by Holocaust denier David Irving, concluded that the present risk posed by Holocaust deniers can best be dealt with by education and public awareness.

Julius noted that Holocaust deniers, whom he said are few in number, "cannot be convinced of either the wickedness or the idiocy of their cause." The report is the culmination of more than 18 months of international research, written and oral inquiries, and testimony from historians and survivors.

Flooding prompts Israeli aid to Africa

MAPUTO, Mozambique (JTA) -- Israel and the African Jewish community have pledged their support to Mozambique after recent flooding in the southern African nation left many dead from malaria and cholera.

The chairman of the African Jewish Congress and Israel's ambassador to six African states assured Mozambique's president, Joaquim Chissano, that aid to his country will continue to relocate people, rebuild road and railway systems and distribute seeds and cattle to flood victims.

Out of Mozambique's total population of 4.5 million, 760,000 have needed assistance, and some 700 people have died as a result of the floods. Reports are that only 19 Jews currently live in Mozambique.

Human rights record improves for Russia

MOSCOW (JTA) -- A Jewish group that monitors human rights in the former Soviet Union praised the dropping of charges against a former Russian municipal official.

The Union of Councils for Soviet Jews, along with Amnesty International and other groups, had worked on behalf of Larisa Kharchenko for three years.

Kharchenko, a housing consultant to former St. Petersburg Mayor Anatoly Sobchak, endured harsh treatment when she was imprisoned for six months in 1997. She subsequently suffered a stroke that left her disabled.

British court to Nazi: No second chances

LONDON (JTA) -- Britain's highest court denied a convicted Nazi war criminal the right to appeal his double life sentence.

Anthony Sawoniuk, 79, was found guilty last year of murdering two Jews in the then-Soviet Union in 1942. The court offered no comment in denying his appeal Monday.

Sawoniuk is the only person in Britain ever found guilty of Nazi war crimes.

Summer games site gets OK for eruv

SYDNEY (JTA) -- Observant Australian Jews will soon be able to carry items and push strollers in Sydney on the Sabbath after a local council gave approval for the building of an eruv, or ritual boundary.

The eruv is slated to be built in an area where 10 of Sydney's 18 Orthodox synagogues are located. This is the same location where the beach volleyball competition in September's Summer Olympics is scheduled to occur.

Canadian Jews mad over pundit's honor

TORONTO (JTA) -- The Canadian Jewish Congress is protesting the University of Toronto's recent awarding of an honorary degree to Palestinian academic Edward Said.

The opposition stems both from Said's allegedly fraudulent claim that his family was exiled from Jerusalem in 1948 and because of his steadfast opposition to the state of Israel.

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