Shorts: U.S.

Feinstein aims to limit cluster bombs

washington (jta) | U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein introduced an amendment to restrict the sale of U.S.-made cluster bombs.

The California Democrat, who is Jewish and a supporter of Israel, wants to guarantee that the weapons will "not be used in or near any concentrated population of civilians, whether permanent or temporary, including inhabited parts of cities or villages, camps or columns of refugees or evacuees."

The amendment to the Defense Department appropriations bill, due for consideration this month, does not mention any specific country, but suggests it was inspired by a State Department investigation into Israel's use of U.S.-made cluster bombs during the recent war with Hezbollah in Lebanon. Israel vigorously denies human rights groups' claims that it used the weapons in heavily populated areas.




Netanyahu meets with Cheney in D.C.

washington (jta) | Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu met with Vice President Dick Cheney.

The leader of Israel's opposition Likud Party met with Cheney and top senators Tuesday, Sept. 5 on a visit to Washington to explain Israel's position on containing Hezbollah and Iran.

Netanyahu lined up behind the government during its July-August war against Hezbollah in Lebanon, and this visit was similarly in the spirit of national unity.

Two top aides to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert were also in Washington on Wednesday, Sept. 6.




Israeli diplomat arrested in sex case

new york (jta) | A staffer at Israel's consulate in Atlanta was arrested for sex offenses.

The 37-year-old Israeli, described by media reports as the consulate's security officer, was taken into custody Aug. 31 on charges he tried to solicit sex from minors over the Internet.

Neither the consulate nor the Israeli Embassy in Washington had immediate comment.