In The News

The truth is a powerful weapon, but it is hard to find in a world where we are inundated with agenda-driven reporting. The CUFI Daily Briefing will help you understand current events so you can become a confident defender of Israel.

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Israel welcomes first Abu Dhabi-Tel Aviv flight in official ceremony

04/06/2021
Etihad Airways CEO says has never received warmer welcome anywhere in the world

The first flight from Abu Dhabi landed in Israel on Tuesday, with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) ambassador to Israel on board, as the delegation was welcomed in an official reception at the Ben Gurion Airport.
Tony Douglas, CEO of Etihad Airways,…

Afghanistan’s last known Jew leaves for Israel

04/05/2021
Zabulon Simantov, 61, has announced that he will immigrating to Israel in the fall

The last known Jew living in Afghanistan is reported to be leaving for Israel, according to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
“I’m going to watch TV in Israel to find out what’s going to happen in Afghanistan,” Zabulon Simantov told Arab News on…

Two rockets land nearby Baghdad airbase hosting US soldiers

04/04/2021
14 attacks carried out against US interests in Iraq since Biden took office in January

Two rockets hit near an Iraqi airbase hosting US soldiers north of Baghdad on Sunday, three days ahead of a new “strategic dialogue” with Washington, a security source said.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the strike, which…

Israel Air Force receives advanced intelligence jet

04/02/2021

The Israel Air Force received on Sunday the Oron advanced intelligence jet at the Nevatim Air Base in Southern Israel. 

The IDF said in a statement that the jet was developed by the Defense Ministry’s Directorate of Research and Development, the IAF, the IDF Intelligence Directorate, the Navy and Israel Aerospace Industries. It…

‘Like a Miracle’: Israel’s Vaccine Success Allows Easter Crowds in Jerusalem

04/04/2021
JERUSALEM — On Friday morning, in the Old City of Jerusalem, in the limestone alleys of the Christian quarter, it was as if the pandemic had never happened.
The winding passageways that form the Via Dolorosa, along which Christians believe Jesus hauled his cross toward his crucifixion, were packed with over 1,000 worshipers. In the…

Saudi foreign minister says ties with Israel would bring ‘tremendous benefit’ to Middle East

04/04/2021

Normalization with Israel would bring “tremendous benefit” to the region, the Saudi foreign minister has said, but such an accord with the kingdom would depend on progress in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

Under the Abraham Accords brokered by former US president Donald Trump last year, four Arab countries — the United…

Thousands gather for Easter in Jerusalem’s Old City

04/04/2021

Thousands gathered in the Christian Quarter of Jerusalem’s OId City Friday for the Way of the Cross procession, retracing Jesus’s last steps before his crucifixion, The New York Post reported. 

The ceremony, held on Good Friday, comes before the holiday of Easter, which commemorates the resurrection of Jesus following his death on…

Biden administration to allocate $90 million in aid to Palestinians

03/30/2021

The Biden administration has allocated $90 million in aid to the Palestinians, with only a portion of the money being publicly announced, according to a report by the Associated Press.

The United States announced last week that it would give $15 million in coronavirus relief to the Palestinians. However, the Biden administration…

In The News

Israel signs multimillion-dollar commerce accord with Morocco

04/01/2021

Jerusalem and Rabat have signed a strategic accord worth hundreds of millions of dollars, Israel Hayom has learned.

The heads of the Israel Manufacturers Association, the Israel Farmers Federation and the Israeli Federation of the Chambers of Commerce signed the unprecedented agreement with the General Confederation of Moroccan…

Lebanon’s Top Christian Cleric Criticizes Hezbollah in Leaked Video

04/01/2021

Those dragging Lebanon into regional conflicts were not acting in its best interests, the country’s top Christian cleric said, in unusually direct comments that appeared to refer to Hezbollah.

“I want to tell them … Do you want to force (Lebanon) to go to war? Are you asking before you go to war? Before you go to Syria? … You’re…

In The News

Tesla opens its first ‘Supercharging’ station in Tel Aviv

04/02/2021
esla also has more than 6,000 Superchargers across Europe

Tesla first fast-charging station for electric vehicles opened at the Azrieli shopping center in Tel Aviv on Tuesday, business website Globes reported.
The company plans to open three more so-called “Supercharger” stations in 2021, for the exclusive use of Tesla customers,…

In The News

US says joining upcoming Vienna talks on Iran deal, ‘open’ to direct negotiations

04/01/2021
State Department says not expecting ‘immediate breakthrough,’ hails ‘healthy step forward’

The US confirmed on Friday that it will be part of the upcoming meeting in Vienna next week, which will focus on the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran.
The State Department also announced that Washington was “open” to direct negotiations with…

In The News

Bahrain appoints its first ambassador to Israel

03/28/2021

Bahrain has announced its appointment of the country’s first-ever ambassador to Israel, following the establishment of formal relations in September as part of the Abraham Accords.

Khalid Al Jalahma will head the Gulf country’s diplomatic mission to Israel, the state news agency BNA reported on Tuesday. Al Jalahma serves as…

In The News

Biden Administration to Allocate $90 Million in Aid to Palestinians

04/01/2021

The Biden administration has allocated $90 million in aid to the Palestinians, with only a portion of the money being publicly announced, according to a report by the Associated Press.

The United States announced last week that it would give $15 million in coronavirus relief to the Palestinians. However, the Biden administration…

In The News

Israel and Bahrain Sign $3 Million ‘First-of-Its-Kind’ Deal to Share Knowledge on Water Technology

03/31/2021

Israel’s state-owned water company Mekorot has inked a $3 million deal to provide Bahrain’s Electricity and Water Authority (EWA) with consulting services on water projects and to share knowledge on technologies, in what marks the first “significant” agreement between the Jewish state and the Gulf emirate since the Abraham Accords.

In The News

Holocaust survivors who died in Israel’s wars to be honored in ceremony

03/31/2021

A special ceremony commemorating Holocaust survivors will be held at the Ghetto Fighters House Museum near Acre in northern Israel. 

The ceremony, held this year under the title of “Last Survivors,” will honor Holocaust survivors who made aliyah after losing their families in WWII, and later died during one of Israel’s military…

In The News

Kosovo’s top diplomat calls opening of Jerusalem embassy ‘a done deal’

03/31/2021

Kosovo’s new foreign minister says she considers the opening of the country’s embassy in Jerusalem to be “a done deal.”

Foreign Minister Donika Gervalla is asked during an interview about the pressure Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has put on Kosovo’s new government to reconsider the Balkan nation’s recent opening of an…

In The News

Congressional Republicans blast ‘outrageous’ Biden admin offer to roll back Iran sanctions

03/30/2021

Congressional Republicans are calling the Biden administration’s reported plan to roll back sanctions on Iran before it commits to renewed diplomatic talks an unacceptable concession that will only embolden the hardline regime and reward its bad behavior.

As Iran continues to balk at U.S. proposals for direct negotiations on a…