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

West Bank: Attempted stabbing attack thwarted

An attempted stabbing attack adjacent to Gitai Avisar Junction in the West Bank was thwarted on Friday, Israel’s army (IDF) reported.
According to the initial report, Palestinian suspects drove and stopped adjacent to a military post on the Gitai Avisar Junction.
The assailant exited the vehicle, armed with a knife, and ran towards a bus station...

In The News

US Navy seizes $4 million worth of heroin in Arabian Sea

United States navy vessels seized 385 kilograms (849 pounds) of heroin in the Arabian Sea worth some $4 million, in a major bust by the international maritime operation in the region, officials said Thursday.
The USS Tempest and USS Typhoon seized the drugs hidden aboard a stateless fishing vessel plying Mideast waters, the international task...

In The News

Swastikas Graffitied at Borough Park Playground, as Antisemitic Hate Crimes Surge in NYC

New York City police are investigating the graffitiing of two swastikas at a playground in Borough Park, amid a surge in antisemitic hate crimes this year.

The offensive symbols were discovered Sunday afternoon on a structure at Gravesend Park and reported to the voluntary neighborhood patrol group Boro Park Shomrim, who contacted the NYPD,...

In The News

Israel approaches 9.5 million residents on eve of 2022

Israel has close to 9.5 million residents, the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) said in data released Thursday to mark the end of 2021.

According to the statistics, 9.449 million people live in Israel at the end of 2021. Of those, 6.982 million (74 percent) are Jewish, 1.99 million (21%) are Arab and 472,000 (5%) are neither.

The...

In The News

Iran claims to have launched rocket with satellite carrier into space

Iran said Thursday it launched a rocket with a satellite carrier bearing three research devices into space, though it’s unclear if any of the objects entered orbit around the Earth.

The state TV report, as well as others by semiofficial news agencies, did not say when the launch was conducted nor what devices the carrier brought with it....

In The News

Abbas said to warn Gantz changes on Temple Mt. could lead to ‘unstoppable’ violence

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas reportedly warned Defense Minister Benny Gantz that while he was committed to stopping violence in the West Bank, he was concerned that changes to the religious status quo on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem could lead to an “unstoppable” escalation, Hebrew media reported Wednesday.

Abbas was hosted by...

In The News

Palestinian workers in Israel’s high-tech industry

Israel’s high-tech industry is seeing a growing number of Palestinians from the West Bank making the commute to contribute to the sector.
Considered as a major player in the world’s tech industry - with record levels of foreign investments in 2021 - Israel is home to major high-tech firms like Microsoft and Intel.
It comes as no surprise that...

In The News

Hezbollah deploys air defense systems north of Damascus, Syria

Hezbollah is reportedly deploying air defense systems in Syria, where it would be able to defend against Israeli airstrikes there as well as Lebanon.

According to the ALMA Research Center, the group is deploying the systems to the Qalmoun Mountains region northwest of Damascus which borders Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley, home to Hezbollah’s logistical...

In The News

Jewish man punched, given black eye in Brooklyn for wearing IDF shirt

Two Jewish men, one of whom was wearing an IDF sweatshirt, were attacked in Brooklyn on Sunday, the New York Post reported.

Blake Zavadsky and Ilan Kaganovich were in a shoe shop in the city when two attackers accosted them.

"They asked us what we were doing in their neighborhood," Zavadsky told the Post.

Zavadsky was the one wearing...

In The News

Lawmakers urge Biden administration to impose sanctions on Hamas, Hezbollah for use of human shields

A bipartisan group of 20 members of Congress is calling for the Biden administration to apply provisions of a law passed unanimously in 2019 to punish organizations that engage in the use of human shields, such as the Hamas and Hezbollah terrorist organizations.

Reps. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.) and Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.) co-authored a letter to U.S....

In The News

Israeli civilian injured by gunfire from Gaza; IDF shells Hamas posts in response

An Israeli civilian was injured from gunfire Wednesday near the border with Gaza, the Israel Defense Forces said, drawing retaliatory strikes in the Strip.

Several Hebrew media outlets reported that the Israeli was injured by sniper fire originating in Gaza.

The man was taken to Barzilai hospital in Ashkelon with light injuries to his leg,...

Event Recaps

December 13 – Why Israel – Bradenton, FL

I was invited to do a Why Israel presentation at a Pastors and Leaders conference. The event was attended by more than 60 pastors and leaders from different states, as well as 2 pastors from South Korea. Most of the attendees were very interested in partnering with CUFI.  At this event, doors also opened for me to do Pastors meetings in Wisconsin...

Event Recaps

December 4 – Pastors’ Meeting – Mesquite, TX

The event was hosted by Pastor Ren Finney who is a CUFI Israel trip alumni.  It was attended by  65 Indian American pastors.  Indian American churches are some of the fastest growing congregations in the nation.  Most of the pastors who attended the event have not heard of CUFI.  They told me that the presentation gave them a greater understanding...

Event Recaps

November 21 – Why Israel – Long Pine, NE

The more I travel in Nebraska, the more I love Nebraska! North Platte is a wonderful with wonderful people. Tears were shed during the Why Israel presentation for the granddaughter of a Holocaust Survivor who attended. She said even though she had heard her grandmother’s stories, this presentation really brought a lot of clarity to her...

Event Recaps

November 20 – Pastors’ Meeting – Clarendon, VT

Pastor William Kingsley is a CUFI Pastor’s Trip alumni who has been waiting for almost two years to be able to host a live event at his church. The Brick Church was founded in the early 1800’s and is a registered historic site. Pastors from a number of churches in Vermont who were not familiar with the work of CUFI were in attendance and were all...

Event Recaps

November 10 – Why Israel – Shelbyville, TN

Pastor Jason Daughdrill of Gateway Church hosted CUFI for Wednesday Night Services where we shared the CUFI message. We had many in attendance become members of CUFI through a combination of signing the pledge cards and scanning the QR code from the screen. Pastor Jason Daughdrill is planning to be on the 2023 Israel Pastor’s Trip with CUFI.

Event Recaps

November 9 – Pastors’ Meeting – Montgomery, AL

Dr. Willie Bradley (2019 Israel Trip Alumni) hosted pastors in the Montgomery, AL area to hear about the work of CUFI. This was an incredible open door to the area, and will reap many benefits for CUFI, as a 2022 Israel Trip Pastor was in attendance, as well as at least one 2023 Israel Trip Pastor. The Pastors were eager to learn and will have...

In The News

Alleged Israeli airstrike hits Latakia Port for second time in a month

An alleged Israeli airstrike targeted the commercial port in Latakia in northwestern Syria for the second time in a month early Tuesday morning, according to Syrian state news agency SANA.

This is the second alleged Israeli airstrike on the Latakia Port this month and the third alleged Israeli airstrike on Syria, in general, this month.

A...

In The News

Lebanon’s Aoun expresses outrage as Hezbollah continues to block cabinet

Lebanese President Michel Aoun expressed outrage in a speech on Monday that the country's cabinet has not met for over two months due to demands by Hezbollah for Judge Tarek Bitar to be removed from the Beirut Port blast case before they agree to a cabinet meeting.

After being halted for a month, Bitar resumed his investigation into the Beirut...

In The News

Al-Aqsa Waqf guard arrested for attacking police officer

A guard working for the Waqf on the Temple Mount was arrested in the past week after he attacked an Israeli police officer at the site, according to an indictment issued against the guard on Tuesday.

On December 21, the guard, Louay Abu Al-Saad, disrupted Israel Police officers who were arresting a Waqf employee on the Temple Mount. Al-Sa'ad...