Shorts: U.S.

Sen. Specter defeats primary challenger

washington (jta) | Sen. Arlen Specter barely defeated a conservative rival in Pennsylvania's Republican primary.

Rep. Pat Toomey challenged Specter on the basis of the Jewish, four-term senator's relatively moderate views on abortion and other issues.

Specter won a close race, 51 percent to 49 percent. President Bush had campaigned for Specter, believing he has the better chance of helping him carry the closely divided state in the November election.

College paper to apologize for Holocaust cartoon

new york (jta) | A college newspaper is apologizing for a cartoon that depicted a Jew being knocked into an oven in an arcade game.

The editor of the Medium, a humor newspaper at New Jersey's Rutgers University, said the newspaper had failed in trying to convey the racist attitudes that led to the Holocaust, the Home News Tribune of Central New Jersey reported.

The April 21 front page of the Medium, a student-funded weekly, depicted a man throwing a ball at another man sitting on top of an oven. The caption reads, "Knock a Jew in the oven! Three throws for one dollar! Really! No, REALLY!"

Lieberman: Stand by U.N.'s Brahimi

washington (jta) | The top U.N. envoy to Iraq is that country's "best hope" for the transition, despite his belief that Israeli policies are "poisonous" to the process, Sen. Joseph Lieberman said.

In interviews, U.N. envoy Lakhdar Brahimi stood by his statements that Israel's policy toward the Palestinians makes his job of persuading Iraqis to join a civilian government more difficult, saying there is worldwide unanimity that Israel is "not interested in peace."

Bush declares Jewish Heritage Week

washington (jta) | President Bush proclaimed May 4-11 Jewish Heritage Week to mark 350 years of Jewish life in America.

"I call upon all Americans to observe this week with appropriate programs and activities that highlight and honor the contributions Jewish Americans have made to our nation," he said in a presidential proclamation issued April 24. "As scientists, physicians, social workers, educators, artists, businessmen, and in many other professions, Jewish citizens have contributed to the strength of our country."