Shorts: U.S.

Court rejects Pollard's appeal

washington (jta) | A U.S. federal appeals court rejected Jonathan Pollard's appeal of his life sentence for spying for Israel.

A three-judge panel on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled last week that Pollard could not appeal his sentence on claims of ineffective counsel because the appeal wasn't filed on a timely basis.

The court also denied Pollard's request to have attorneys view classified information for the purpose of making a case for clemency. Pollard appeal was heard in March; he now is likely to petition the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the case. The former U.S. Navy intelligence analyst is serving a life sentence in Butner Prison in North Carolina after pleading guilty in 1986 to spying for Israel.




Bush picks new Israel ambassador

washington (jta) | The White House named Richard Jones as U.S. ambassador to Israel.

Jones, a former ambassador to Kuwait and Lebanon, was named to the post this week.

He most recently served as a senior adviser and policy coordinator on Iraq at the State Department. He has not been involved in U.S.-Israeli relations as a member of the U.S. Senior Foreign Service. Jones replaces Daniel Kurtzer, who served in the post for four years.




Church to vote on security barrier

washington (jta) | Another Protestant denomination is set to consider a resolution calling on Israel to tear down its West Bank security barrier.

The resolution to be discussed next week in Portland, Ore., by the Disciples of Christ Church is similar to one adopted by the United Church of Christ earlier this year, the Jerusalem Post reported.

Pro-Israel groups plan to protest outside the meeting.




Episcopal Diocese condemns divestment

new york (jta) | The Episcopal Diocese of New York condemned recent calls by the Anglican Communion to divest from Israel.

At a news conference last week in Manhattan, Episcopal Bishop Mark Sisk joined Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, executive vice president of the New York Board of Rabbis, in calling "to invest, not divest."

"Now is the time to invest both in Israel and Palestine, not only our capital, but also programmatic funding to end the familiar and deeply embedded pattern of violence," Sisk said.

The Anglican Consultative Council recently called for members of the Anglican Communion, which includes the Episcopal Diocese of New York and the Episcopal Church USA, "to take appropriate action where it finds that its corporate investments support the occupation of Palestinian lands or violence against innocent Israelis, and commends such a process to other provinces having such investments, to be considered in line with their adopted ethical investment strategies."




Pullout opponents rally in L.A.

los angeles (jta) | Some 500 opponents of Israel's Gaza Strip withdrawal plan rallied outside the Israeli Consulate in Los Angeles last weekend.

In a sea of orange, the color adopted by the anti-withdrawal movement, the protesters maintained a festive atmosphere that featured emotional appeals by speakers under a broiling noonday sun and amid tight security.

One participant was Vivi Mintz, 18, of Toronto, who said she was taking time off from a vacation in Los Angeles to express her convictions. What the Israeli government is doing "is unacceptable," she said.