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

Israel to be 1st in world to pipe desalinated water into a natural lake, the Galilee

Early next year, Israel is set to become the first country in the world to channel desalinated water into a natural lake — the Sea of Galilee.

One of the lowest-lying bodies of water on Earth, the Sea of Galilee is Israel’s largest freshwater lake and its emergency water store.

The national water company, Mekorot, plans to complete...

In The News

Facing Hezbollah threat, Israel ramps up bomb shelter construction in north

The Defense Ministry on Tuesday announced that it had begun reinforcement work on dozens of homes in Israeli communities close to the Lebanese border — those that are most likely to be hit by rocket fire in a future conflict with the Hezbollah terror group.

The effort, dubbed Shield of the North, officially began in October, when the ministry’s...

In The News

‘Mess with Israel, you’ll pay a price,’ PM warns after Iran steel plant cyberattack

Outgoing Prime Minister Naftali Bennett warned Tuesday, a day after Iran’s major steel companies were hit by a cyberattack, that anyone who attempts a cyberattack against Israel will “pay a price.”

“ approach with our enemies, especially Iran… we don’t go around wreaking havoc in Tehran — that’s never been our policy. Our policy is, if you mess...

In The News

Iran, US to begin indirect nuclear deal talks in Qatar

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran and the United States appeared poised Tuesday to start indirect talks in Qatar aimed at finding a way to save Tehran’s tattered nuclear deal with world powers.
The state-owned Tehran Times posted a photograph of Iran’s top nuclear negotiator, Ali Bagheri Kani, in a hotel lobby with Iranian Ambassador to...

In The News

Israel, Arab allies agree to tighten cooperation ahead of Biden visit

Senior diplomats from Israel, the US, and regional Arab allies agreed to increase efforts to improve security, stability and prosperity in the Middle East during a Negev Summit follow-up meeting in Bahrain on Monday.

The first meeting of the Negev Summit Steering Committee — consisting of Israel, Bahrain, the UAE, Egypt, Morocco, and the US —...

In The News

Pro-Israel, Jewish Groups United in Opposition to Biden’s Anti-Semitic Ambassador Nom

Jewish and pro-Israel organizations across the political spectrum are calling on the White House to withdraw the nomination of an ambassadorial candidate who is under fire for anti-Semitic remarks.

Elizabeth Frawley Bagley, a longtime diplomat and Democratic Party insider who was tapped to serve as the next ambassador to Brazil, is facing...

In The News

Let UNRWA die already

Despite managing to raise $160 million in New York on Thursday, at a pledging conference of the Ad Hoc Committee of the U.N. General Assembly, the head of the United Nations Relief Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) was not pleased.

Trying to sound grateful for the ill-deserved windfall, UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini...

In The News

Report: US brokering deal for Iran to send oil to Syria; Israel may give approval

Israel may give its approval to a reported US-brokered deal allowing Iran to transfer oil to Syria, ahead of the resumption of talks to revive the nuclear agreement between Tehran and world powers.

According to an unsourced report by Channel 12 news on Sunday, three tankers are already making their way from Iran to Syria.

The report said the...

In The News

US hosted ‘secret meeting’ of Arab and Israeli delegates to discuss Iran threat

The United States held a secret meeting of senior military officials from Israel and Arab states in March to discuss ways of coordinating efforts to deal with growing Iranian missile and drone threats, The Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday.

“The previously undisclosed talks, which were held at Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, marked the first time...

In The News

Syrian, Russian paratroopers carry out drill in second joint exercise this month

DAMASCUS, Syria — Hundreds of Syrian paratroopers took part in a joint drill with their Russian counterparts in the war-torn country in the second joint maneuver this month, state media reported.

The agency did not give further details in its Saturday night report about the drill or say where it took place. It said the aim was to train Syrian...

In The News

Report: Hezbollah erects 15 outposts on Israel-Lebanon border

Hezbollah has recently constructed 15 outposts on the Lebanon-Israel border, Israeli media reported on Friday.

Most of the outposts are along the western section of the border, with each such site containing an outlook position or tower, two to three housing units and storage facilities, according to Channel 12.

“We see a clear statement of...

In The News

UNRWA teachers continue to support antisemitism, terrorism on social media – UN Watch

Teachers working for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) continue to publish antisemitic posts on social media despite commitments by UNRWA and the US to ensure that antisemitism, violence and terrorism are not supported in UNRWA institutions, according to a new report by the NGO UN Watch published on...

In The News

IsraAID to supply essential medical, relief items in wake of Afghanistan earthquake

IsraAID is launching a humanitarian response to the earthquake that struck eastern Afghanistan on June 22 and killed at least 1,000 people, injured more than 1,600 and damaged thousands of homes. Those numbers are expected to rise as search-and-rescue operations continue.

It will work with local partners to assess the needs of the affected...

In The News

US envoy Lipstadt plans Saudi trip next week to kick off global antisemitism fight

Deborah Lipstadt’s first overseas tour as the Biden administration’s special envoy to monitor and combat antisemitism will start in Saudi Arabia, her office said Thursday, signaling the kingdom’s willingness to change its image in the West and among Jews.

Lipstadt, who was confirmed to the ambassadorial post in March, said in a briefing last...

In The News

The UK must end its double standard over Jerusalem

Earlier this month, the United Kingdom celebrated the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, marking Her Majesty’s 70th year on the throne. To mark the occasion, the United Kingdom hosted parties for the Queen around the world, including in Israel. However, there seemed to be a disparity between how Israelis and Palestinians were able to mark the occasion.
...

In The News

Senate Shoots Down Biden’s Anti-Semitic Ambassador Pick

The Senate on Thursday morning voted not to advance the Biden administration's nominee to serve as the U.S. ambassador to Brazil to a full vote, less than a day after the Washington Free Beacon reported on the candidate's past remarks about the "Jewish lobby" and its "major money."

Elizabeth Frawley Bagley, a longtime diplomat and Democratic...

In The News

37 members of Congress send letter urging investigation into Boston BDS map

A bipartisan group from the U.S. House of Representatives is calling for the federal government to investigate the use of the Boston “BDS Map” by violent extremists and terrorists, and boost security for the organizations listed.

Sent to Attorney General Merrick Garland, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and FBI director...

In The News

Flourishing in the crosshairs of Hamas terror

In any other country Sderot would be just an idyllic, well-maintained small town. But in southwestern Israel, less than a mile from the border with Gaza, it’s all that as well as a place where almost everyone suffers from PTSD.

The post-traumatic stress disorder, that affects residents of all ages in Sderot, is caused by both the threat as well...

In The News

How China’s oil imports are helping Iran withstand sanctions – analysis

If anyone is mystified about how Iran has managed to withstand US and EU sanctions and seems unconcerned about its current conflict with the IAEA, its key ally, China, is no mystery.

On Wednesday, it was reported by Reuters that China had received a new shipment of nearly 2 million barrels of Iranian oil in the past week alone at a southern...

In The News

Iranian kidnapping of Israeli diplomats and tourists in Istanbul foiled

Just before the arrival of Foreign Minister Yair Lapid to Turkey, Turkish intelligence revealed on Thursday that it managed to thwart an Iranian attack attempted in Istanbul last Friday, Israeli media reported.

According to intelligence reports, Iranians planned to kidnap Israeli diplomats and tourists in Istanbul. The report states that the...