U.S. report

NEW YORK (JTA) -- An overwhelming number of the largest daily newspapers in the United States support Israel and criticize the Palestinian Authority on their editorial pages, according to a survey carried out by the Anti-Defamation League.

"Our survey shows that the editorial boards of the major newspapers across the country are viewing the situation in the Middle East in a realistic and objective manner," said ADL national chairman Glen Tobias and ADL national director Abraham Foxman in a statement. "Many of the editorials are in synch with the policies of the Bush administration and reflect the overall American perception of the situation on the ground in Israel."

As a follow-up to a December 2000 survey, the ADL based its latest findings on more than 50 editorials from major U.S. newspapers between May 22 and June 18.

Olympian will swim despite the violence

NEW YORK (JTA) -- A U.S. Olympic gold medalist says he will swim in the Maccabiah Games next month, despite the violence in the Middle East.

Lenny Krayzelburg, who earned three gold medals in the 2000 Sydney Olympics, says he never considered dropping out.

"I want to come close to my heritage," said Krayzelburg, who was born in Odessa, Ukraine and will be visiting Israel for the first time. "It's important to show support for Israel."

Some 2,000 athletes are expected to compete in this year's Maccabiah, down from the 5,000 who originally registered for the Games.

Tourist office launches solidarity campaign

NEW YORK (JTA) -- A new initiative has been launched to send one or two members of every synagogue in the United States to Israel in the coming months. Dubbed "Operation Joshua," the campaign is the latest effort to show solidarity with the Jewish state.

It is being organized by the Israel Government Tourist Office, with the assistance of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations.

In a related development, more than 250 American Jewish organizations signed a full-page ad in last Friday's New York Times, saying they are "going to Israel this summer" in a show of solidarity.

The Union of American Hebrew Congregations, which canceled its youth trips this summer, signed on to the ad because its other summer programs are continuing.

Cheney breaks date with Muslim Council

WASHINGTON (JTA) -- Vice President Dick Cheney canceled his planned meeting last Friday at the White House with the American Muslim Council, which has praised terrorist groups.

Cheney's office cited a "scheduling conflict," but last week, it was reported that the Zionist Organization of America urged Vice Cheney to cancel.

Last year, George W. Bush returned a $1,000 donation the council made to his presidential campaign, because of its extremist positions. Hillary Clinton also returned a $1,000 donation the group made to her senatorial campaign.

Southern university yanks Nazi 101 class

ATLANTA (JTA) -- School officials were worried that a course titled "The Culture of Nazi Germany" would give Georgia-based Kennesaw State University an anti-Semitic image.

As a result, school officials pulled the class from their fall catalog.

The university was sued at least five times in the past decade by former professors claiming anti-Semitism, a school official told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.