World news round-up: Court drops case against Auschwitz operator

Country: United States

A progressive Jewish group in the U.S. has called on the government to review the tax deductible status of pro-settlement organisations. J-Street, which opposes settlement construction in the West Bank, said a ‘sophisticated private network’ was channelling millions of dollars into the schemes.

Country: Germany

A court in Neubrandenburg in northern Germany is dropping a criminal case against a 92-year-old woman who worked as a radio operator at Auschwitz. The woman, referred to as Helma M, is blind and deaf, and was deemed unfit to stand trial. She was charged with 260,000 counts of accessory to murder.

Country: Columbia

Israeli mine-clearing experts are advising their counterparts from Columbia, after the South American country negotiated an end to 50 years of hostilities between the government and left-wing guerrillas. The problem is immense: the only country known to have more land mines in the ground is Afghanistan.

Country: Australia

The principal of a Jewish college has accepted an apology from a Christian boarding school in Alice Springs, where a student was allowed to dress as Hitler during a fancy-dress day attended by Jewish students. Jeremy Stowe-Lindner, head of Bialik College, said it was a ‘learning opportunity’.

Country: Switzerland

Israel’s ambassador to Switzerland has backed out of a panel debate at an event next week organised by New Israel Fund. Jacob Keidar had a problem with the debate’s ‘provocative’ title, which asks: ‘Is Israeli democracy in danger?’ NIF director Daniel Sokatch said it set ‘a disturbing precedent’.

Country: Poland

Jewish and Catholic representatives are expected in Krakow on Sunday for a march in memory of the city’s former Jewish residents. The event, which winds its way through the old town and ends with a free concert at the Tempel Synagogue, was ‘an opportunity to manifest solidarity,’ said organisers.