Meet the father of the Paralympics, Sir Ludwig Guttmann - a ground-breaking doctor in paraplegia and a Holocaust refugee.

The Paralympics, the quadrennial competition for athletes with disabilities that follows the Olympics, will draw some 4,200 participants to London in late August to vie for medals before 1.5 million ticket-holders, 5,600 journalists, countless television viewers — and, for the first time, a bronze bust of the bespectacled physician and refugee from Nazi Germany who started it all.

 

Sir Ludwig Guttmann, whose groundbreaking treatments for traumatic paraplegia provided the platform for what has become the Paralympics, is getting some long-delayed official recognition at last.

 

The bust of Guttmann that will be on display at the London Paralympics was presented to the International Paralympic Committee’s president, Sir Philip Craven, last June by supporters of Guttmann. It will be lent out for display at all future Paralympic Games, as well, to visibly memorialize the father of what has become an enormous worldwide movement.

Read more at The Forward

The attack on the Israeli-Gaza border which left 16 Egyptian soldiers dead has set back relations between Cairo and Gaza.

Up until Sunday, relations between Cairo and Gaza were beginning to look bright. Hamas politicians from Gaza were working diligently on improving ties with Egypt’s new Islamist government, cautiously elevating them from the political low of the Mubarak years.

Just two weeks ago Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh spoke of “unprecedented positivity” following his meeting with President Mohammed Morsi in Cairo. The Egyptian president promised to ease Palestinians’ travel restrictions, and the Rafah border crossing gradually began broadening its scope of activity.

Now the terror attack on the Egyptian border police outpost Sunday night, in which 16 Egyptians were killed, has brought everything back to square one.

Read more at Times of Israel

A charter school in Louisiana has a formal policy that allows them to forcibly test any student suspected of being pregnant, and then banning them from school if they test positive or refuse to submit to the test.

The panty-sniffing brigade has always taken a special interest in teenage girls, both for reasons exactly as icky as you'd imagine and because the social permission for all adults to exert control over and humiliate teenagers gives the sex cops cover. Whether they're trying to prevent a pregnancy, terminating a pregnancy, or going through with a pregnancy, teenagers often have to contend with a bunch of adults who take way too much interest in their sex lives.

 

Now the ACLU is fighting a public school, Delhi Charter School in Louisiana, that is doing just that. The school has a formal policy banning pregnant students from attending the school, and they reserve the right to forcibly pregnancy-test any student. Here's the policy, in the school's own words:

Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer has teamed with Rep. Robert Brady to create on interactive voting rights app aimed at younger voters.  The app offers state-specific data for all 50 states and 6 US territories.  Click below to view the app and share it with friends and family!

In the last year, there has been a nationwide assault on the American citizen’s right to vote. Aside from the unnecessary, expensive, and ineffective new voter ID laws, there has also been targeted purges of eligible, registered voters from state rolls. Little has been done to educate the public about these actions. As a result, there are thousands of eligible voters are at risk of being turned away on Election Day.

 

These voting law changes have created unnecessary obstacles for many American citizens. In order to help navigate the changes, we are releasing a new voter registration app. This tool will allow anyone to check the status of their registration, learn about any new requirements, and provide all the information needed to successfully register in their state or territory.

 

Click on the link below to try out the app:

A terrorist attack on the Israeli-Egyptian-Gazan border has left 16 Egyptian soldiers dead and broke through the Israeli border, travelling a mile into Israel before being stopped by the Israeli Air Force.

The terrorists who smashed into Israel at the Kerem Shalom border crossing on Sunday night managed to drive about a mile into Israel, and were traveling at 70 kilometers an hour along the road toward Kibbutz Kerem Shalom, before the Israeli Air Force was able to get a clear shot and blow up their armored vehicle without risk to civilian traffic on the road or nearby.

That was one of the findings of the IDF’s initial investigation into what officials said Monday was a very carefully planned and complex terror attack.

The Shin Bet intelligence service on Friday gave the army a general warning of the danger of an attack at the Kerem Shalom crossing, two days before the terror cell — apparently comprised of Bedouin and other gunmen from the Sinai Peninsula, with close links to and possible participation of Gaza-based terrorists — launched the attack that left 16 Egyptian soldiers dead and penetrated the Israeli border.

Read more Times of Israel

The Palestinian Authority has thanked to IOC for refusing to hold a moment of silence during the Opening Ceremonies at the London Olympics in memory of the 11 Israeli athletes massacred in Munich 40 years ago.

The Palestinian Authority has thanked the International Olympic Committee for refusing to hold a minute of silence at Friday’s opening ceremony in London to mark the 40th anniversary of the murder of 11 Israeli sportsmen at the 1972 Munich Games.

Jibril Rajoub, head of the Palestinian Football Federation, sent a letter to IOC chairman Jacques Rogge thanking him for his position, the PA’s official news agency, Wafa, reported.

 

“Sports is a bridge for love, connection and relaying peace between peoples. It should not be a factor for separation and spreading racism between peoples,” Rajoub, a former PA security commander, wrote in his letter.

Read more at Jerusalem Post

House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) spoke on the House Floor today to offer his sympathies to victims of the shooting in Aurora, Colorado, and in support of the Congressional Black Caucus’ effort to prevent voter suppression.  Below are his remarks and a link to the video:

 

“Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my friends in the Congressional Black Caucus for organizing today's special order. But as my colleague, Mr. Engel, as my colleague on the Republican side, and as Dr. Christensen has pointed out, our hearts and thoughts go out to and with those people who by happenstance of going to a movie have lost their lives. Been injured badly. Have lost family members. Have had the confidence of going out and about in this country put at risk. How we lament that loss of life, that loss of confidence, that loss of a sense of safety in their community.

 

“Mr. Speaker, we need to address that issue. To instill confidence. To restore safety. To ensure that America continues to be a land in which people feel safe.

 

“Mr. Speaker, today I want to talk about an issue that is central to America. That is the right to vote. This is an issue that affects millions of Americans from every walk of life. But it will certainly have a disproportional effect on African-Americans, Hispanic Americans, seniors, and youth.

Read more at The Office of the Democratic Whip

A plaque has been unveiled near the Olympic village to honour the victims of the 1972 Munich massacre.

 

London Mayor Boris Johnson was joined by Yosef Romano, nephew of one of the murdered Israelis, as wreaths were laid during the commemoration in an art gallery near Hackney Town Hall, organised by Councillor Linda Kelly and Martin Sugarman.
Ms Kelly is a Conservative Jewish councillor in Hackney – a designated Olympic borough – and Mr Sugarman chairs the Hackney Anglo-Israel Friendship Association.

 

Mr Johnson, before unveiling the plaque, spoke of hearing about the massacre of September 1972, when he was eight years old.

The tearful funerals of the five Burgas airport suicide-bomb bombings were being held in the course of Friday, drawing hundreds — and in some cases thousands — of mourners.

Hundreds attended the funerals of Itzik Idan Kolengi and Amir Menashe, the childhood friends from Petah Tivah who were two of the five victims, who were laid to rest Friday morning at Petah Tikva’s Segula Cemetery.

At noon, thousands gathered at the Nahalat Asher Cemetery near Acre to bid a final farewell to Maor Harush, 24. His friend Elior Priess was laid to rest at 4 p.m. on Friday in the same cemetery.

Kochava Shriki, 42, was buried in the Rishon Lezion Cemetery by scores of family, friends and neighbors.

Read more at Times of Israel

Once again House Republicans are attaching riders to critical legislation that specifically attack reproductive rights and women's health issues.

They’re back!

This spring’s political contretemps over access to contraception are returning to Capitol Hill — and this time Republicans are trying to tie the issue to must-pass legislation, foreshadowing a possible government shutdown standoff unless conservatives back down and temporarily agree to set aside earlier grievances.

House Republicans renewed their effort Wednesday by advancing a measure through the Labor-HHS appropriations subcommittee with a rider to roll back President Obama’s contraception mandate. Authorized by the Affordable Care Act, the rule requires employer-provided health insurance plans to cover contraception without co-pays, with carve-outs for churches and religious non-profits. Republicans on the panel defeated a Democratic amendment to strip the provision, suggesting they’re willing to pick the fight.

Read more at Talking Points Memo

President Barack Obama strongly supports holding a formal moment of silence at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in tribute to 11 Israeli athletes and coaches killed by Palestinian extremists at the 1972 games in Munich, the White House said Thursday.

 

"We absolutely support the campaign for a moment of silence at the Olympics to honor the Israeli athletes killed in Munich," National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor told Yahoo News by email.

 

The son of slain Israeli wrestling coach Moni Weinberg, Guri Weinberg, welcomed the news on Twitter. "I'm literally crying right now. Thank you, President Obama," he said.

 

The International Olympic Committee has rejected the proposal, and said that the victims—killed by extremists of the Palestinian "Black September" group—would be honored at a separate ceremony. In years past, the IOC has said that the Games are no place for what might be seen as a political statement. But supporters of the homage have not given up, and a global campaign has been under way to convince the IOC to reverse its decision. The opening ceremonies begin July 27.

Read more at Yahoo News

Israeli President Shimon Peres has stated he is ready to meet newly elected Egyptian President Morsi at any time.

The US is said to be pressuring Egypt’s newly elected President Mohammed Morsi to meet with his Israeli counterpart Shimon Peres in Egypt.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton discussed the matter with Morsi during their meeting in Cairo Saturday, Kuwaiti daily Al-Jarida reported, quoting “knowledgeable sources.”

At a press conference Wednesday morning, Peres said he was willing to meet Morsi at any time.

“We are interested in dialogue with the Egyptian leadership as soon as possible and will respect any way and time for dialogue,” Peres told journalists at his residence on the eve of the month of Ramadan. “The Egyptian people have just concluded an election process and we respect the results.”

Red more at Times of Israel

President Obama's condemnation of the terrorist attack on Israeli tourists in Bulgaria.

I strongly condemn today’s barbaric terrorist attack on Israelis in Bulgaria. My thoughts and prayers are with the families of those killed and injured, and with the people of Israel, Bulgaria, and any other nation whose citizens were harmed in this awful event. These attacks against innocent civilians, including children, are completely outrageous. The United States will stand with our allies, and provide whatever assistance is necessary to identify and bring to justice the perpetrators of this attack. As Israel has tragically once more been a target of terrorism, the United States reaffirms our unshakeable commitment to Israel’s security, and our deep friendship and solidarity with the Israeli people.

whitehouse.gov

An Israeli has just been named as the UN Security Council's top lawyer for counterterrorism.

The United Nations has promoted a former Israeli government attorney to a job as the Security Council’s top counterterrorism lawyer, making him the only Israeli national serving in a senior security position within the U.N. Secretariat, Israeli and U.N. officials said Tuesday.

David Scharia has been appointed legal coordinator for the Counter-Terrorism Committee executive directorate, where he will oversee a team of 12 international legal experts who advise the 15-nation Security Council on its counterterrorism efforts.

The appointment would not typically be notable were it not so uncommon for Israelis to reach the upper levels at the United Nations. The organization helped give birth to Israel, but the recent history between the country and the U.N. has been contentious.

Read more at Washington Post

A tragic bombing in Bulgaria appears to have targeted Israeli tourists.

At least seven people were killed in an attack on an Israeli tour bus at the Sarafovo International Airport in the Bulgarian vacation city of Bourgas on Wednesday afternoon. Some news reports put the number of fatalities as high as 10.

According to initial reports, a bomb was placed in the bus, detonating to murderous effect. The impact was so strong as to damage two other buses nearby, also with Israelis on board. Some initial reports said the attack was a suicide bombing, but the preliminary investigation pointed to the bomb having been placed in a suitcase in the vehicle’s luggage hold.

Nearly all the casualties were understood to be Israelis. A Bulgarian tour guide was also said to be among the dead.

Read more at Times of Israel