Shorts: U.S.

McKinney wins House primary in Georgia

washington (jta) | Former Rep. Cynthia McKinney won enough votes to avoid a runoff in her quest to return to Congress.

McKinney, who was targeted by Jewish donors two years ago because she is seen as anti-Israel, won 51 percent of the vote in the Democratic primary Tuesday, July 20, in Georgia's 4th District, avoiding a runoff.

Jewish donors who had backed McKinney's opponent in 2002 did not contribute heavily to this year's race, and several said they were waiting for a runoff to fund a challenger.

Instead, McKinney will face Republican Catherine Davis in November in the heavily Democratic district.




B'nai B'rith: Cut off Presbyterians

washington (jta) | B'nai B'rith called for an end to interfaith dialogue with the U.S. Presbyterian church.

B'nai B'rith, a leader among U.S. Jewish groups in promoting interfaith dialogue, cited three decisions by the Presbyterians at their recent general assembly: to fund conversion missions targeting Jews; to divest holdings in Israel and call on others to follow suit; and to label Israel an apartheid state.

"For a dialogue to take place between two parties — interfaith or political — both sides must accept the right of the other to exist," B'nai B'rith said in a statement Tuesday, July 20. The church has an estimated 3 million members in the United States.