ISSUES

At CUFI, we are focused on several key issues with the goal of defending Israel’s strength, security, and sovereignty.

If you want to keep up with all things Israel, sign up for CUFI’s Daily Briefing – our daily news roundup created exclusively for CUFI members. Every morning, Monday through Friday, receive an email with some of the top headlines in the news so you are always informed and ready to debunk lies with the truth.

Youngkin panel targets antisemitism in Va. classroom, courtroom

Calling antisemitism the world’s “oldest hatred,” the head of a panel commissioned by Gov. Glenn Youngkin says it is “surprising and disturbing that incidents of such hatred and bigotry have been increasing both nationally and in Virginia.”

Monday, the Commission to Combat Antisemitism, which Youngkin created with an executive order on his...

Arrow, lasers and why air defenses are so important right now – analysis

This week an Israel-Germany Defense Dialogue took place in an annual bilateral strategic dialogue event that is important.

During the talks, the two sides discussed Iran’s threats in the region as well as the Russia-Ukraine war. A statement about the meeting from Israel’s Ministry of Defense said that “‏additionally, the parties discussed...

Europe levels fresh sanctions on Iran over drones to Russia, crackdown on protests

The EU and Britain are set to impose more sanctions on Iran for drone supplies to Russia and a crackdown on protests over the death of Mahsa Amini, European diplomats said Friday.

The new measures will target around eight individuals and organizations involved in the manufacture and delivery of drones Moscow has used in the war on Ukraine,...

Iran hangs protester in first known execution related to mass demonstrations

Iran has executed a man for injuring a paramilitary officer in the first known execution linked to protests that have swept the country since September, state media reported Thursday.
Mizan Online, a news agency affiliated with Iran’s judiciary, and the semi-official Tasmin news agency both named the protester as Mohsen Shekari. He was reportedly...

At White House antisemitism roundtable, Doug Emhoff laments ‘epidemic of hate’

WASHINGTON — US Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff on Wednesday lamented what he called an “epidemic of hate” facing the country, in remarks at a White House roundtable discussion with Jewish leaders on the recent rise of antisemitism.

The gathering was held amid a surge in anti-Jewish vitriol spread by public figures, including famous rapper Kanye...

2,200-year-old Greek sling bullet may have been used against Jews in Hanukkah story

Some 2,200 years ago, a Greek soldier stood in battle in what is now the Israeli city of Yavne, aimed his sling at Jewish Hasmonean troops, and launched a projectile at them during battles that would later become part of the story of Hanukkah.

At least, that is one option suggested following the discovery in Yavne of a sling bullet made of lead...

New IRGC flights to Beirut may be carrying weapons to Hezbollah – report

The IRGC-affiliated Meraj Airlines has begun flights to Beirut in recent days, raising concerns that Iran could use the flights to transfer weapons directly to Hezbollah in Lebanon instead of using Damascus.

Al-Arabiya reported on Thursday that sources had informed them that Meraj had begun flights from Tehran to Beirut and could transport...

Three Palestinians killed in fierce battles with Israeli forces in Jenin

Three Palestinian gunmen were killed in a battle with Israeli security forces in Jenin on Thursday, according to Palestinian and Israeli media reports.

Israeli forces came under fire after entering the city to arrest suspected terrorist Khaled a-Hija, according to the Israel Defense Forces.

In parallel, troops operating in the Jenin area...

Gazan laborer arrested in Israel as Hamas spy, Shin Bet says

Israeli security forces have arrested a Palestinian man from the Gaza Strip on suspicion that he spied in Israel on behalf of the Hamas terror group, the Shin Bet security service said Thursday.

The agency said that Saber Mahmoud Yosef Abu Thabat, 28, from the central Gazan city of Deir al Balah, had a permit to enter Israel for work. He was...

New report reveals severity of antisemitism in Virginia

A new state report reveals the scope of antisemitism in Virginia and outlines steps to address the problem.

In one of his first executive orders, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced plans to create the Commission to Combat Antisemitism. The panel’s report says there is an alarming national trend of increasing hate toward the Jewish community, and...

In The News Iran

Sister of Iran’s Supreme Leader condemns his rule, urges IRGC to disarm

A sister of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has condemned his crackdown on nationwide protests and called on the widely-feared Revolutionary Guards to lay down their weapons, according to a letter published by her France-based son.
"I think it is appropriate now to declare that I oppose my brother's actions and I express my sympathy...

Germany busts far-right terror cell said planning coup with violent Reichstag attack

Thousands of police carried out a series of raids across much of Germany on Wednesday against suspected far-right extremists who allegedly sought to overthrow the state in an armed coup.

Federal prosecutors said some 3,000 officers conducted searches at 130 sites in 11 of Germany’s 16 states against adherents of the so-called Reichsbuerger or...

Palestinian gunmen clash with IDF in Nablus; eight terror suspects arrested

Palestinian gunmen clashed with Israeli troops early Wednesday in the northern West Bank city of Nablus during an attempt by the army to arrest a wanted man.

According to the Israel Defense Forces, troops operating in the city came under fire from armed Palestinians. The IDF said the forces returned fire, and that no soldiers were hurt.

A...

In The News Iran

Iran sentences 5 to death over killing of Basij paramilitary officer

Iran has sentenced to death five people over the killing of a member of the Basij paramilitary force during nationwide protests, the judiciary said Tuesday.

Another 11 people, including three children, were handed lengthy jail terms over the death of Ruhollah Ajamian, judiciary spokesman Massoud Setayeshi told a news conference, adding the...

Experts from Israel and 6 Arab countries head to Morocco to discuss coexistence

Government officials, scholars and policy experts from Israel and more than six Arab countries are convening in Morocco on Monday for a three-day meeting on education, coexistence and people-to-people ties in the region.

Why it matters: The conference, which is organized as part of the Atlantic Council and the Jeffrey M. Talpins Foundation N7...

125 lawmakers call for interagency antisemitism task force, coordinator

A bipartisan group of 125 lawmakers urged President Joe Biden on Monday to establish a  “whole-of-government” approach to antisemitism, the broadest call yet for such a unified plan to combat spiking antisemitism across the country.

In a letter to Biden, the lawmakers suggest that the administration establish an interagency task force to combat...

Police: Antisemitic crimes up 125% in New York City

The New York Police Department on Monday reported 45 antisemitic crimes in the city in November, compared to 20 over the same period in 2021, according to police data.

In the most high-profile incident, two men were arrested for plotting to attack Jewish targets in the city. One was in possession of a hunting knife and a swastika arm band at...

Palestinians entitled to fight Israel ‘by all legitimate means,’ ruling Fatah says

For the second time in recent weeks, Palestinian leaders who met in Ramallah on Sunday evening said the Palestinians are entitled to “resist the occupation by all legitimate means,” implying they also have the right to resort to violent activities against Israel.

The latest call, made during a meeting of the ruling faction’s Fatah Revolutionary...

Iran may be able to build ‘crude’ nukes within 6 months – report

Iran may be launching an accelerated effort to achieve a few “crude” nuclear weapons in only six months, a new think tank report, obtained first by The Jerusalem Post, has warned.

According to Monday’s report by Institute for Science and International Security president David Albright, even though top Israeli officials just recently told...

Lockheed Martin joins Iron Beam project to build variant of system for US market

US defense contractor Lockheed Martin on Monday signed an agreement with the Israeli Rafael weapons manufacturer to join the development of a high-powered laser interception system, dubbed Iron Beam.

In a statement, Lockheed Martin said the cooperation would be geared toward developing, testing, and manufacturing a variant of the Iron Beam...