ADL: DISAPPOINTED PANEL DID NOT TO DISCIPLINE PROFESSOR FOR ANTI-ISRAEL MESSAGE Cont'd from Home Page Professor Robinson had been accused by two students of abusing his academic position and inappropriate intimidation of them by his sending an e-mail to his class comparing Israeli behavior in Gaza to Nazi treatment of Jews. Cyndi Silverman, Director of the ADL Santa Barbara Tri-Counties Region, issued the following statement: Unfortunately, this matter was portrayed as a question of protecting academic freedom when, in fact, the issue was when does academic freedom cross the line into behavior that violates the academic rights of students. Not pursuing this issue by conducting a further investigation, as the Committee decided, sends a disturbing message that only the rights of faculty are to be respected, not the rights of individual students. If students who are understandably feeling intimidated and excluded by actions such as these by a faculty member -- this was not a mere difference of opinion about what happened in Gaza -- conclude that there is no recourse for their concerns, it will create a climate in which true academic freedom will not be able to endure. The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry. POIZNER ANNOUNCES TERRORISM FINANCING PROBE  Cont'd from Home Page "State law prohibits California insurance companies from investing in countries designated as state sponsors of terrorism," says Commissioner Poizner. "I have directed California insurers to divest of Iranian government holdings and ordered a survey of these insurance companies to ensure compliance with the law. Additionally, I am requiring all insurance companies that do business in California to disclose what, if any, indirect investments they have in Iran. "Specifically, I will require each insurer to report all investments they have with companies that do business with the defense, nuclear, petroleum, natural gas or banking sectors of the Iranian economy as of March 31, 2009. To protect California consumers, the California Department of Insurance will also closely evaluate any indirect investments by California-based insurers in Iran to make sure that they are safe and sound." The California insurance code specifically prohibits any investment respecting a foreign jurisdiction, or any investment denominated in the currency of that foreign jurisdiction, if that jurisdiction is designated as a state sponsor of terrorism. This section of the code took effect Jan. 1, 2009. The insurance code also authorizes the Insurance Commissioner to evaluate the "soundness" of investments by California insurance companies. Should the Commissioner hold a hearing and find the investments to be unsound, he can order divestment. Insurance companies generally invest premium dollars as they are received until they are needed to pay claims. For example, a life insurer may collect premiums for decades before the policy is paid out.  The goal of the survey will be to determine an insurer’s level of indirect investment in specific sectors of the Iranian economy as well as direct investments in the Iranian government. Each insurer licensed to do business in California will be required to list any investment in a company that conducts in excess of $20 million of business in the Iranian petroleum or natural gas sectors. Insurers will also be required to list investments of any amount in companies doing business in the banking, nuclear, or defense sectors of Iran, including activities relating to the production of chemical, biological or nuclear weapons and technologies. The companies’ reports will be due in approximately 90 days. A preliminary CDI analysis shows that insurance companies that conduct business in California – which is the 4th largest insurance market in the world – have tens of billions of dollars of investments in companies with substantial business in Iran. Insurance companies are the largest investor group in the global economy, with an estimated $3 trillion to $4 trillion in investments. This action will join an existing array of global and local economic and trade sanctions already in place against Iran, including measures by Congress, the European Union and the states of Missouri, Texas and Florida. California has taken similar measures in the past by directing the state’s two enormous public pension funds to divest Iranian investments.

JACKSON'S EX-WIFE IN CUSTODY VOW Debbie Rowe was married to Jackson for three years, BBCi Cont'd from Home Page "I want my children," Ms Rowe said in an interview on Thursday with the NBC TV network in Los Angeles. Ms Rowe is the mother of Prince Michael, 12, and Paris Michael Katherine, 11. A third child, Prince Michael II, 7, has a surrogate mother. Jackson's mother has been given temporary custody of the children. The star, who was 50, died after suffering heart failure at his Los Angeles home last Thursday. In a 90-minute telephone interview, Ms Rowe said she was prepared to undergo DNA testing to prove she was the children's biological mother. She said she would also seek a restraining order to keep Jackson's father, Joe, away from them, the channel's website reported. "I am stepping up, I have to," she said. Ms Rowe was left out of Jackson's will, which was drawn up in 2002 and details of which were made public this week. "I have intentionally omitted to provide for my former wife, Deborah Jean Rowe Jackson," the document states. Ms Rowe surrendered her parental rights in her divorce settlement with Jackson, but an appeals court later ruled this was done in error, NBCLA's website reported. --BBCi WHY HAS ROWE WAITED UNTIL AFTER JACKSON'S NET WORTH WAS ANNOUNCED TO STEP FORWARD? Many questions surround why Michael Jackson's ex-wife is stepping forward now?  Is it because Jackson "intentionally" left her out of his will?  And the biggest question is why did Rowe wait until after Jackson's net worth was reported before stepping forward:? Is it for the money or the children? It remains to be seen what will happen, but a problem could be that Rowe seems to have had little contact with these children.  No doubt Monday morning's court hearing should shed light on some of the estate issues; however, guardianship issues have been continued to July 13   Rowe's position flies in the face of the fact that Jackson has clearly stated in his will that he wants his mother, Katherine Jackson, to have custody of his children.  A call by  The Jewish Observer to Rowe's attorney was not immediately answered at the time this story went to publication, hence the questions. TOWN HALL TO HOST THE HON. GAVIN NEWSOM LOS ANGELES – Town Hall LA will host Mayor of the City and County of San Francisco The Hon. Gavin Newsom during a luncheon program with Q&A at 12 p.m. on Thursday, July 9, at Sofitel Los Angeles, 8555 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, California Newsom grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area. He attended Santa Clara University, graduating in 1989 with a BA in political science. In 1991, Newsom recruited investors and founded PlumpJack, a wine shop, which he grew into a thriving enterprise of 15 businesses including wineries, restaurants, and hotels. In 1996, Newsom was appointed by San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown to the city’s parking and traffic commission where he was elected president. In 1997, Brown appointed him to the city’s board of supervisors. Voters elected Newsom to the board in 1998 and re-elected him in 2000 and 2002. In November 2003, Newsom was elected mayor. After 36 days as mayor, Newsom gained attention when he granted marriage licenses. His initiatives promote the city as a center for biotech and clean tech. He initiated a plan to bring universal health care to all of the city’s uninsured residents.  As mayor, he has moved 7,000 homeless individuals off the street, and his volunteer initiative, Project Homeless Connect – has attracted over 20,000 San Franciscans who give their time to help the homeless.   There is a fee to attend this event.  For more information, call (213) 628-8141.