Elton John has vowed to defy calls for a cultural boycott of Israel.

Europe Says Yes to ‘Discriminatory’ Kosher Slaughter Bill

New European laws requiring kosher meat to bear a label indicating that the animal was not stunned before killing have been given their first green light by the European Parliament after members voted 326-270 in favour of the proposal. Shechita campaigners fear the regulations, labelled as “discriminatory” by some Jewish groups, could put kosher slaughter houses out of business. The rules mean ritually slaughtered meat sold to non-Jews to finance the industry will be marked out as unstunned, which critics of the bill believe could put consumers off, ultimately making the process unviable. Henry Grunwald of the campaign group Shechita UK claimed the rules discriminate against religious killing processes and said the labels “should indicate those killed by electrocution, shooting, gassing or clubbing as well as the millions of animals that are mis-stunned during the stunning process.” Rabbi Bruno Fiszon, the chief rabbi of the French city of Metz, described the development as a “catastrophe” and said it would prompt Shechita meat boycotts from animal welfare organisations. German European Parliament member Renate Sommer said the rule “is about protection of animals and is nothing to do with religion.”  A second reading of the proposal will take place in September.

German Leftists Show Israel Support

Non-Jewish groups demonstrated outside the headquarters of Germany’s most left-wing major party on Saturday to express solidarity with Israel and protest against the involvement of three of its members in the infamous flotilla carrying aid to Gaza. Three members of Die Linke, known in English as the Left Party, participated in the mission to Israel, which ended in the death of nine activists. The protesters, also members of Germany’s left-leaning groups, were joined by Iranian exile groups, according to the London Jewish Chronicle. Jonathan Weckerle, co-founder of the Mideast Freedom Forum Berlin, described their participation in the flotilla as an “aggressive act against Israel and more or less direct collaboration with Hamas” and said it “could not go without a reaction and a warning.”

Teacher Shatters Island’s Holocaust Myth

A Corsican myth that no Jews were deported from the island during the Second World War has been found to be false after research by a history teacher. Louis Luciani said he cried when discovered documents in police archives proving that Holocaust victim Ignace Schreter had been arrested in Corsica, a French island off the coast of Italy. The presence of Schreter, a Jew also thought to be a communist, was tipped off to the Nazis while wartime prefect Paul Balley was absent on business. Schreter eventually died in Sobibor. “I felt like I had touched terror with my own hands,” Luciani said of his discovery.

Elton John: Nobody Will Stop Me Singing in Israel

British star Elton John has vowed to defy calls for a cultural boycott of Israel, telling a crowd at a concert in Ramat Gan that pro-Palestinian campaigners “ain't gonna stop me from coming here, baby.” John told a cheering audience of 50,000: "That is what we do. We do not cherry-pick our consciences, OK?" Several bands and artists have cancelled performances in Israel, including Elvis Costello and the Pixies.

Benayoun ‘Close to Chelsea Deal’

Israeli soccer player Yossi Benayoun may be on his way to London giant Chelsea, according to reports from his home country. Haaretz claimed the former Liverpool midfielder was set to travel to the British capital in the coming days to sign the contract, but the British press say the deal is a long way from completion. A figure in the region of $9 million has been mentioned as a likely transfer fee.