News at a Glance
October 02, 2008 Flag Raised Over L.A.'s Consulate
NEW YORK (JTA) -- The Israeli flag was raised over the Israeli consulate in Los Angeles for the first time since its opening in 1973.
Israeli consulate offices around the world generally do not fly the Israeli flag openly for fear they will be targeted for violence.
Sunday's outdoor flag-raising event was titled "Blue and White on Wilshire," the city's main downtown-to-coast thoroughfare. It took place under extensive security and was attended by 3,000 Southern Californians who were entertained by church and synagogue choirs, as well as Latino bands and the Jewish Symphony Orchestra.
L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa pledged his city's unbreakable bond with Israel, ending with a rousing "Am Yisrael Chai."
The catalyst for the event was Israeli Consul General Yaakov Dayan, who, on assuming his post a year ago, wondered why his country's emblem did not fly before the consulate in Los Angeles and in five other American cities, including Philadelphia.
IDF Uses Facebookto Nab Draft Dodgers
JERUSALEM (JTA) -- Israel's army is using Facebook to track down draft dodgers.
The army visited the Facebook account of a teenager who was dismissed from army service after declaring she was religious despite attending a secular school, and discovered that she did not lead a religious lifestyle, Ynet reported.
Pictures on Facebook showed that she did not dress in a style acceptable to the religious community and that she attended parties on Shabbat.
The army has since drafted her. The teen appealed the decision, but was turned down.
Some 44 percent of Israeli teenage females do not enlist -- 53 percent on religious grounds, according to the Israel Defense Force.
'Waltz With Bashir' Takes Israeli 'Oscar'
NEW YORK (JTA) -- An animated documentary about the first Lebanon War won best film at Israel's Academy Awards.
"Waltz with Bashir," which details how director Ari Folman attempted to fill in the numerous holes in his memory regarding his army service during the Lebanon War, took home six Ophir Awards Tuesday night.
It will be Israel's entry in the best foreign film category at the Academy Awards.
Yoel Zilberg, the director of the "Kuni Lemel" films, received a lifetime achievement award.
Meanwhile, an HBO version of the Israeli hit show, "In Treatment," received an Emmy Award recently in Los Angeles.
