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.

Iran

Bipartisan group of more than 40 senators sound alarm on Iran’s nuclear program

03/25/2021

A bipartisan group of more than 40 senators is sounding the alarm on Iran’s nuclear program, urging President Biden to use a mix of “diplomatic and economic tools.”

The letter to Biden — led by Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) — comes as Biden seeks to...

In The News

Biden admin restores US humanitarian aid to Palestinians

03/25/2021
US to transfer $15 million to 'the most vulnerable communities' through a charity

US President Joe Biden's administration will restore aid to the Palestinians that was cut by his predecessor Donald Trump, the US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield said on Thursday.
"President Biden is restoring US assistance...

In The News

With new tech, Israel prepares for Hezbollah war

03/26/2021

Defending the border from Hezbollah infiltration, destroying anti-tank missile infrastructures and maneuvering inside enemy territory are just some of the skills that were exercised in the 188th Armored Brigade drill that was completed on Thursday. 

The brigade’s drill was the culmination of a 17-week training session. The 53rd,...

In The News

Lawmakers Investigate State Department Over $1 Billion Ransom Payment to Iran

03/25/2021

Republican foreign policy leaders in Congress are pressing Secretary of State Antony Blinken to fully disclose the contents of secret talks with South Korea that are believed to have paved the way for that country to hand Iran $1 billion as part of a ransom payment.

Reps. Bryan Steil (R., Wis.), Jim Banks (R., Ind.), and Greg...

In The News

Iran fired missile at Israeli ship in Arabian Sea – report

03/25/2021

An Iranian missile was fired at an Israeli ship in the Persian Gulf, N12 reported Thursday.

The container ship is owned by an Israeli businessman and was making its way from Tanzania from India, N12 reported.

As the ship sailed between Indian and Oman, it was hit by a missile that damaged it, according to N12.

The incident...

In The News

The story of Passover

03/25/2021
CUFI Coffee Break

Being Jewish means much more than belonging to a religious group. In fact, you can be religious or secular and still be Jewish. Essentially, the Jewish people are made up of a group of individuals who share a common identity. That identity is made up of key aspects, including:...

Archeology

Lost biblical scroll may have been 2,700 years old, Israeli scholar says

03/22/2021

A lost biblical manuscript discovered in 1878 – long believed to be a forgery – was authentic and likely predated the Dead Sea Scrolls by hundreds of years, making it the most ancient biblical scroll ever known in the modern era, Israeli scholar Prof. Idan Dershowitz has suggested.

In his book, The Valediction of Moses,...

In The News

The Biden administration must enforce the Taylor Force Act

03/25/2021

In May 2020, then-presidential candidate Joe Biden spoke clearly when he proclaimed that he would “fully support the Taylor Force Act, which prohibits aid to the PA based on payments they make to terrorists in Israeli jails.” While it’s not uncommon for a candidate’s promises to go unfulfilled once they take office, Biden was...

In The News

Israeli, Slovak defense ministries sign $175 million defense-export agreement

03/25/2021

Israel and Slovakia on Thursday signed a first-of-its-kind, $175 million agreement for the procurement of 17 sophisticated radar systems for the Slovak Air Force, according to a statement by Israel’s Defense Ministry.

The agreement, which was signed in a festive ceremony at the Slovak Ministry of Defense in Bratislava, includes...

Iran

Iran temporarily releases elderly Jewish man jailed for living in Israel

03/24/2021

The Islamic Republic of Iran has temporarily released the 65-year-old Iranian Jew Nourollah Shemian who was imprisoned for allegedly visiting Israel, according to a Tuesday report on the Persian-language website of the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA).

“The temporary release of Nourollah Shemian as the third recently...

Hamas

IDF: Rocket launched from Gaza Strip lands in Israeli territory

03/23/2021
The incident comes as the Israeli public continues to head to the polls on Tuesday

A projectile launched from the Gaza Strip landed in Israeli open territory near the southern city of Beersheba on Tuesday, according to a statement released by the Israel Defense Forces.
No casualties were reported in the incident and it remains...

Hamas

IDF airstrikes pound Hamas targets in retaliation for rocket fired from Gaza

03/23/2021
Hamas rocket production plant, military post attacked in retaliation for projectile

The Israel Defense Forces struck Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip after a rocket landed in Israeli territory earlier on Tuesday, according to a statement by the military.
"Earlier today, a rocket was fired from the Gaza Strip at Israeli territory,"...

In The News

Colin Kahl’s nomination will be a disaster for Israel and the region

03/23/2021

For many years, American and Israeli leaders were rightly proud of repeating the mantra that excellent relations between the two nations was a bipartisan issue in Washington. Obviously, for a variety of reasons, that truism has faltered in recent years even while remaining broadly accurate.

However, the nomination of Colin...

In The News

US air defense chief praises Iron Dome and close partnership with Israel

03/23/2021

In a recent conversation with Foundation for Defense of Democracies Brad Bowman the director of US Air and Missile Defense Brig. Gen. Brian Gibson praised the Iron Dome system. He said that the system should be ready by the end of the year. The US currently has two batteries of Iron Dome which was developed by Israel’s Rafael...

In The News

Palestinians Funneled Hundreds of Millions to Terrorists, State Dept Report Reveals

03/22/2021

The Biden administration privately confirmed to Congress last week that the Palestinian Authority has continued to use international aid money to reward terrorists but said the finding won't impact its plans to restart funding.

In a non-public State Department report obtained by the Washington Free Beacon, the administration said...

Iran

Iran threatens to infiltrate US Army base, kill senior general: report

03/21/2021
NSA intercepted chatter in January that suggested IRGC was planning USS Cole-style attacks against the base

Iran reportedly made threats against a United States Army base in the nation's capital and against the Army’s vice chief of staff, said two senior US intelligence officials according to The Associated Press (AP).
They...

In The News

Turkish Nazi sympathizer has park in Istanbul named after him

03/23/2021

The Istanbul metropolitan municipality's naming of a park after a writer who showed great sympathy for the Nazi movement's lethal antisemitism, has largely been ignored in the media outside of the Republic of Turkey.

In November, the Istanbul city government named a park after Hüseyin Nihal Atsız (1905–1975) who is considered by...

Iran

Western officials fear Iran hiding equipment it could use to build nuke — report

03/22/2021

Iran is hiding equipment from international officials that could enable it to build a nuclear bomb, according to a Monday report.

Unnamed Western intelligence officials told The Telegraph that they fear Iran is concealing essential parts and pumps for centrifuges that are used to enrich uranium to the weapons-grade level of 90...

Iran

Iran concealing elements of nuclear activities, officials fear

03/22/2021

Iran is deliberately concealing key components of its nuclear programme from UN inspectors that can be used for producing nuclear weapons, according to the latest reports received by Western intelligence officials.

The equipment being hidden from UN inspectors includes machinery, pumps and spare parts for centrifuges, the machines...

In The News

Israel, Bahrain enter their first medical cooperation initiative

03/22/2021

Israel and Bahrain will be entering their first medical cooperation initiative, Sheba Medical Center and Salmaniya Medical Complex announced on Monday. 

After a formal meeting was held Monday between Prof. Yitshak Kreiss, Director-General of Sheba Medical Center, and Dr. Ahmed Al Ansari, Director of Salmaniya Medical Complex, the...