JERUSALEM, Dec. 11 (JTA) — Amid an ongoing controversy over unauthorized activities of religious groups on Israeli army bases, members of the Reform movement were allowed to pass out jelly doughnuts, a traditional food eaten during the Chanukah festival, to soldiers on the Golan Heights. The controversy has centered primarily on activities by the Chabad movement at Israeli bases. The doughnut delivery was cleared after Meretz Knesset member Ra’anan Cohen intervened. Meanwhile, Cohen had his own sweet snack, compliments of the Chabad, whose members arrived at the Knesset on Tuesday to present the treats to members of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. Cohen opposed the Chabad members’ giving the legislators the doughnuts directly. So the Chabad members handed the goodies over to committee chairman Uzi Landau, who did the honors.
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