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

100 Ukrainian Jewish orphans arrive in Israel

Around 100 Jewish Ukrainian orphans arrived to Israel on Sunday, where they were greeted at Ben Gurion Airport by Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and cabinet ministers.
The children, ranging in age from 2 to 18 years of age, flew from Romania after a two-day bus ride from the Alumim Jewish orphanage, in the northern Ukrainian city of Zhytomyr....

In The News

War-torn Ukrainian refugees’ lives saved by Israeli doctors at new border clinic

The people are arriving cold and exhausted after trudging by foot from war-torn Ukraine across the border into Poland, said Dr. Dorit Nitzan, who left for Poland last week with a delegation of physicians, nurses and social workers through the NATAN Worldwide Disaster Relief organization.

“The needs are immense and we are doing our best in a...

In The News

Jerusalem stabbing attack: 2 officers wounded, suspect shot dead

Two policemen were lightly to moderately wounded on Sunday during a stabbing attack in Jerusalem's Old City, Israel Police said.
The suspected attacker, 19, from East Jerusalem, was shot dead.
The attack took place at the Bab Huta Gate in the Muslim Quarter at around 4:30 am.
The suspect approached police officers stationed at the gate, pulled...

In The News

With nuclear deal looming, Gantz implores world to ‘mobilize’ against Iran

Defense Minister Benny Gantz attempted to divert part of the world’s attention from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to what he said was another threat to world peace, seeking to rally the international community against Iran amid speculation that a new pact over its nuclear program may be in the offing.

Gantz called in a Monday Facebook post for...

In The News

IDF says its F-35 jets intercepted 2 Iranian drones ferrying arms to Gaza last year

The Israel Defense Forces on Sunday announced that it downed several Iranian drones heading for the Gaza Strip last year.

Two aircraft were intercepted by F-35 jets far from Israel’s borders in March 2021, the IDF said in a statement. According to Channel 12 news, a third drone was downed using electronic warfare means.

“The interception of...

In The News

‘I just want my kid to be ok’: After days of travel, Ukraine refugees land in Israel

Most of the harried travelers arrived at the airport in Iasi, Romania on Thursday after days of traveling with only one or two suitcases — an entire lifetime of possessions and memories distilled into a couple of bags.

They had come from numerous cities, towns and villages across Ukraine — fleeing the Russian invasion of their country.

When...

In The News

EU lawmakers advocate for Palestinian funding reduction if anti-Semitic textbooks are not changed

Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) from 18 countries co-signed a letter calling for the reduction of funding to the Palestinian Authority (P.A.) if the latter continues to refuse to change its educational material that includes anti-Semitic incitement to violence and the demonization of Israel.

The letter sent to European Commission...

In The News

After being given the cold shoulder, Israeli distributor takes Ben & Jerry’s to court

Avi Zinger was so upset after Ben & Jerry’s pulled the rug out from under him that he never picked up the phone to speak with them. Instead, he’s taking them, and their parent company Unilever, to a U.S. district court.

The longtime Israeli manufacturer and distributor of the Vermont-based ice cream company’s products wants his license...

In The News

US CENTCOM commander: Iran poses biggest threat to regional security

Iran is the biggest threat to regional security, and the US will do everything possible to prevent it from securing nuclear weapons, Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie tells Israel Hayom in a special interview during a farewell visit before stepping down as head of CENTCOM, which Israel joined last year after being reassigned from the US European Command...

In The News

1,408 Ukrainians have arrived in Israel since start of Russian invasion

Israel's Border Crossings, Population and Immigration Administration reported Friday that 1,408 foreigners with Ukrainian passports have arrived in the Jewish state since the Russian invasion began last week.
The authority said 79 of them were refused entry.
Ukraine has about 43,300 people who identify as Jewish and about 200,000 who are...

Issues

IAEA chief heads to Iran as regime seeks to scrap probe of its undeclared nuke sites

The head of the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency, the UN nuclear watchdog, will travel to Iran on Saturday “for meetings with senior Iranian officials,” the IAEA said Thursday.

IAEA director general Rafael Grossi will hold a press conference on his return to Vienna, an agency spokesman said.

The announcement comes a day after...

In The News

Israel, Germany announce new strategic cooperation in a significant upgrade in relations

Israel and Germany announced new strategic cooperation that is being hailed as a significant upgrade in relations amid the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.

In a joint press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Jerusalem on Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said that the two leaders “have agreed on the creation of a new...

In The News

As Ukraine crisis rages, deconfliction with Russia over Syria remains a core Israeli interest

As the world is shaken by Russia’s war on Ukraine’s sovereignty, the battle for the future of the Middle Eastern order continues. Israel’s critical operational interests in Syria have remained unchanged, but there is no guarantee that the conditions in the northern arena will not change following the war in Europe.

Since Russia agreed to enter...

In The News

Man arrested for stabbing Israelis in Hizma in suspected terror attack

Israeli law enforcement arrested on Thursday a suspect in the stabbing incidents that took place in the Palestinian village of Hizma near Jerusalem the day before.

The suspect, a man in his 20s, was arrested by undercover operatives and Border Police officers in cooperation with the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) and the IDF.

He is...

In The News

Israel preparing a field hospital for Ukraine, Health Minister says

Israel is preparing to set up a field hospital to help wounded Ukrainians, Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz said on Thursday.

“It will be operated by civilians; preparations are underway in the Health Ministry,” Horowitz told Kan Bet. “There are many volunteers, medical professionals and medics who want to go.”

The field hospital will be...

Issues

Bennett: We have reached ‘moment of truth’ on Iran nuclear program

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said on Tuesday that the critical juncture regarding Iran’s nuclear program was at hand, and reiterated that the Jewish state would not be bound by any agreement reached in Vienna.

Speaking at a ceremony at the Mossad intelligence agency’s “Advanced Technologies and Innovation Event,” attended by senior...

In The News

Iran’s role in persecution of Mideast Christians is overlooked, expert says

The West is missing a critical component of the story when it comes to the persecution of Middle East Christians, said Farhad Rezaei, a visiting lecturer at Toronto-based York University, during a Zoom presentation on Feb. 22. And that missing element is Iran.

In the presentation — sponsored by The Philos Project, a Christian group advocating...

Issues

Georgia House of Representatives votes to adopt IHRA definition of anti-Semitism

The Georgia House of Representatives passed a resolution adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition of anti-Semitism.

House Bill 1274 passed on Monday with a vote of 141-19, with six abstaining. The resolution, which was sponsored by six lawmakers, in part requires state agencies and departments to consider the...

Issues

US and Israel to announce new cybersecurity collaboration framework Wednesday

A small contingent from the United States Department of Homeland Security  is in Israel this week to sign commitments to expand cybersecurity cooperation between the two countries, and to discuss Israel’s progress toward joining the US visa waiver program.

According to a DHS official, the series of cybersecurity agreements include three general...

In The News

Russia strikes Kyiv TV tower, killing 5 and damaging Babi Yar Holocaust site

A Russian airstrike hit Kyiv’s main television tower in the heart of the Ukrainian capital on Tuesday, knocking out some state broadcasting but leaving the structure intact.

After a blast sounded around the city and smoke was seen rising in the Babi Yar district, the interior ministry said equipment had been damaged and “channels won’t work for...