Shorts: Mideast

Chabad shelters Israelis during coup

bangkok (jta) | As more than a dozen tanks encircled Thailand's Parliament building in a military coup d'etat Tuesday night, Sept. 19, hundreds of Israeli backpackers sought shelter at the local Chabad. Hearing rumors of an impending coup in the late afternoon, Rabbi Nehemya Wilhelm began warning Jews and Israelis to stay off the streets.

As CNN and BBC began broadcasting pictures of the unfolding military overthrow of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatrain in Bangkok, frantic parents in Israel began calling Chabad.

"It's ironic that we should come all this way from tanks and guns in Israel only to end up in this balagan,' or craziness, said Uri, a 24-year-old traveler from Tel Aviv.




Gay pride parade slated for November

jerusalem (jta) | The postponed gay pride parade in Israel will take place on Nov. 10. Petitioners to Israel's High Court reached an agreement Monday, Sept. 18 with the government on the new date. Organizers postponed the parade in August due to Israel's war with Hezbollah and police warnings that they might not be able to ensure safety at the march.




Israeli 'Idol' winner apologizes on TV

jerusalem (jta) | The winner of Israel's version of "American Idol" apologized for making unpatriotic remarks.

Jacko Eisenberg, who won earlier this month in Channel 2's popular songfest, "A Star is Born," drew fire and boycott threats after boasting about dodging the draft and not bothering to vote in national elections. After off-duty soldiers heckled the 26-year-old rocker at his show n Rehovot last weekend, he apologized on national TV.