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.

In The News

Young Iranians Facing Death Penalty Over Protests

A doctor, rap artists and a footballer are among around two dozen Iranians who risk being hanged as Tehran uses capital punishment as an intimidation tactic to quell protests, rights groups say.

The executions in the past week of Mohsen Shekari and Majidreza Rahnavard, both 23 years of age and the first people put to death over the protests,...

In The News

Israeli intelligence sees genuine, lasting changes in Iran

Israel’s intelligence agencies have devoted most of their efforts, budgets and energy for the past two decades to monitoring developments in Iran. While much of the emphasis has been placed on Iran’s nuclear ambitions, weekly discussions and assessments have also been devoted to the stability of the ayatollahs’ regime and prospects of its...

Antisemitism In The News

UN Palestinian rights official’s social media history reveals antisemitic comments

A lawyer heading the UN Human Rights Council’s open-ended investigation into Israel’s treatment of Palestinians said during a 2014 conflict between Israel and Gaza terror groups that the “Jewish lobby” was in control of the United States.

Francesca Albanese, an Italian lawyer, was appointed earlier this year as the UN special rapporteur on the...

In The News

British PM Rishi Sunak plans to visit Israel for its historic 75th birthday next year

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told a packed Conservative Friends of Israel reception that he plans to visit Israel next year for the Jewish state’s 75th anniversary of independence.

According to a report by the U.K.’s Jewish News, while speaking at an event attended by three former prime ministers—Liz Truss, Boris Johnson and Theresa...

In The News

Former Iraqi parliamentarian, supporter of peace with Israel, faces prison, execution

Former Iraqi parliamentarian Mithal al-Alusi, a longtime supporter of peace with Israel and a recipient of the American Jewish Committee’s (AJC) Moral Courage Award, was sentenced last week by an Iraqi federal court to seven years’ imprisonment for “insulting the judiciary.”

Article 226 of Iraq’s penal code, which dates back to Saddam Hussein’s...

In The News

Chris Murphy Snubs Israel, Calls Qatar the ‘Best Partner in Region’

In a snub to Israel, Democratic senator Chris Murphy (Conn.) described Qatar—the small oil-rich country allied with Iran—as the United States’ "best partner in the region."

Qatar, Murphy said in a recent interview, is "an imperfect partner. There's a lot not to like about Qatari policy. But in many ways, they are our best partner in the...

In The News

UNRWA’s mandate renewed for three years, US and Canada abstain

The United States and Canada abstained from the United Nations General Assembly vote to allow its Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) to continue to operate until June 2026.

Israel was the only country to oppose the resolution, which had the approval of 157 nations.

Ten nations abstained from the vote that took place in...

In The News

Lockerbie bombing suspect in custody

The Lockerbie bombing suspect was taken into custody on Sunday.

"The United States has taken custody of alleged Pan Am flight 103 bombmaker Abu Agila Mohammad Mas’ud Kheir Al-Marimi," a Department of Justice spokesperson confirmed to Fox News. "He is expected to make his initial appearance in the U.S. District Court for the District of...

In The News

Iran execution: Man publicly hanged from crane amid protests

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran executed a second prisoner on Monday convicted over crimes committed during the nationwide protests challenging the country’s theocracy, publicly hanging him from a construction crane as a gruesome warning to others.
The execution of Majidreza Rahnavard came less than a month after he allegedly fatally...

In The News

Netanyahu meets with delegation of visiting UN ambassadors, touts Abraham Accords

Presumed prime minister-to-be Benjamin Netanyahu met on Sunday with a group of 13 United Nations ambassadors who are visiting Israel.

Netanyahu spoke with the delegation — which visited the United Arab Emirates before arriving in Israel — about the “historical importance of the Abraham Accords,” according to his office.

The office did not...

In The News

‘Al Jazeera witness is PIJ terrorist’ claims pro-Israel watchdog

Pro-Israel media watchdog HonestReporting claimed on Sunday that Al Jazeera’s critical witness in the formal complaint against Israel over the death of Shireen Abu Akleh is affiliated with Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
On December 6, Qatar-based news network Al Jazeera filed a formal complaint with the International Criminal Court against Israel...

In The News

Saudi foreign minister: ‘All bets off’ if Iran gets nuclear weapon

Saudi Arabia's foreign minister said on Sunday that Iran's Gulf Arab neighbours would act to shore up their security if Tehran were to obtain nuclear weapons.
Indirect U.S.-Iranian talks to salvage a 2015 nuclear pact between global powers and Iran, which Washington exited in 2018, stalled in September. The U.N. nuclear chief has voiced concern...

In The News

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...

In The News

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...

In The News

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,...

In The News

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...

In The News

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...

In The News

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...

In The News

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...

In The News

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...