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Message: <br /><br /> If you are having trouble reading this email, you may view this article online at: http://www.jweekly.com/38394/full/38394/shorts-mideast17/ <br /><br /> <b>shorts: mideast</b> <br /> Thursday, June 18, 2009 | by <br /><br /><h2>Pride parade in Tel Aviv draws thousands</h2> <p>Tens of thousands of people were estimated to have participated in Tel Aviv’s 11th annual Gay Pride Parade, which took place June 12 as part of the city’s centennial celebrations.</p> <p>The parade began in the late morning and continued throughout the day, ending in the early evening hours, with a first-of-its-kind beachside wedding of five gay couples — two male and three female — who received a “Certificate of Union”attesting to their commitment to their partner. A small group of people held a protest against the parade. — jpost.com</p> <p> </p> <h2>Birthright teens stricken with swine flu in Israel</h2> <p>At least 10 participants in the Birthright Israel program came down with swine flu while in Israel and were quarantined.</p> <p>The teens infected 18 Israeli soldiers who met with the group, the Jerusalem Post reported this week.</p> <p>Some 131 people have been diagnosed with swine flu in Israel since its outbreak. About one-third of those infected contracted the virus in Israel. No deaths from the virus have been reported in Israel.</p> <p>The World Health Organization last week labeled the latest swine flu outbreak as a pandemic. — jta</p> <p> </p> <h2>Gilad Shalit’s father gives letter for son to Carter</h2> <p>The father of captive Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit has given former President Jimmy Carter a letter to deliver to his son. Noam Shalit said he hoped Carter could help with the release of his son, who was abducted by Hamas three years ago. The elder Shalit, according to media reports, noted that Carter is the “only American in contact with Hamas” and that Carter promised to help.</p> <p>Carter, who came to the Mideast to observe elections in Lebanon, was honored June 13 by the Palestinians. In accepting the Palestine International Award for Excellence and Creativity, Carter told PA leaders in Ramallah that he would continue to fight for Palestinian statehood. — jta & jpost.com</p>

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