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.

Antisemitism

Synagogue Defaced With Antisemitic Graffiti Amid Los Angeles Riots

A synagogue was defaced with antisemitic graffiti in Los Angeles over the weekend as the city faced violent riots and looting following the death of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer.

Congregation Beth Israel in the Fairfax District of the city was spray-painted with the phrases “F*** Israel” and “Free Palestine,”...

Iran

Senior US Official: America Doubles Down on ‘Maximum Pressure’ Campaign in Iran

In recent weeks, the Trump administration has shown no signs that it is easing up on its “maximum pressure” campaign on Iran as the United States seeks to ramp up pressure on the international community to extend the arms embargo on Tehran.

“The Iranian regime is weaker today than when we took office three years ago, and so are its proxies. The...

In The News

Trump Signs the Never Again Education Act Into Law

US President Donald Trump signed the Never Again Education Act, which seeks to expand Holocaust education in the United States, into law on Friday.

The House of Representatives passed the legislation in January, while the Senate did so on May 13.

The new law expands the US Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM)’s education programming to teachers...

Antisemitism

As Twitter Checks Trump, Khamenei Account Left Alone, Despite Plea From Israel

Twitter sparked a row with US President Donald Trump this week by flagging two of his tweets for misinformation, but the social media firm appears to have left alone Iran’s supreme leader, despite an appeal from Israel to suspend his account over its “anti-Semitic and genocidal” messages.

Strategic Affairs Minister Orit Farkash-Hacohen sent a...

In The News

Cameraman Who Criticized Palestinian Authority Fired from Associated Press

Eyad Hamad, a veteran Palestinian cameraman, said on Wednesday that he was fired from the Associated Press (AP) after the Palestinian Authority filed a “complaint” against him.

 Hamad, 63, a resident of Bethlehem, told The Jerusalem Post that the complaint was filed against him because he had criticized the Palestinian security forces for...

Antisemitism

Qatar’s Al Jazeera Network Broadcasts Islamist Cleric’s Appeal to ‘Kill Jews’

The Qatar-owned satellite network Al Jazeera broadcast a crudely antisemitic interview with a leading Muslim cleric who called for the violent conquest of the State of Israel.

“Victory will not come on a golden platter. Victory is achieved through the blood of martyrs and over the skulls of the enemies. Victory is achieved by sacrificing money,...

Israel Defense Force (IDF)

IDF Chief Gives Award to Soldier Who Lost Leg in West Bank Ramming

IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kohavi presented a soldier who lost his leg in a car ramming attack earlier this month with an award of excellence on Wednesday, the military said.

Staff Sgt. Shadi Ibrahim, from the Druze town of Sajur in northern Israel, sustained serious injuries when a Palestinian man rammed his car into him outside the Negohot...

Iran

Iran Says it Will Continue Nuclear Work Despite US Sanctions

TEHRAN — Iran said Friday its experts would continue nuclear development activities, despite sanctions imposed earlier this week on their fellow scientists by the United States.

State TV cited a statement from the country’s nuclear department saying the US decision to impose sanctions on two Iranian nuclear scientists indicate continuation of a...

Iran

Hackers Targeting Israel’s Water Supply Aimed to Cause ‘Humanitarian Disaster:’ Official

A recent cyberattack on Israel's water supply was aimed at bringing about a "humanitarian disaster," Israel's cyber defense chief told a conference Thursday.
According to Yigal Unna, Director General of Israel National Cyber Directorate, while the attack had been thwarted, it could have resulted in a shortage of water amidst the COVID-19...

Antisemitism

Universities Urged to Protect Jewish Students ‘Under Attack’ by Anti-Israel Activists on Campuses

As universities across the US prepare to welcome back students for the fall semester, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) on Wednesday called on campus administrators to proactively counter anti-Israel activists.

The Jewish civil rights group’s latest report on campus antisemitism — “Antisemitism and the Radical Anti-Israel Movement on U.S. Campuses...

In The News

Trump to Sign Never Again Education Act into Law

U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to sign the Never Again Education Act, which seeks to expand Holocaust education in the United States, into law on Thursday, a source familiar with the situation told JNS.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the legislation in January, while the U.S. Senate did so on May 13.

The upcoming official...

Iran

Israeli Cyber Czar Warns of More Attacks From Iran

A cyber winter is coming and it will be faster than suspected, Israel’s cyber czar warned on Wednesday, a week after Iran tried hacking Israel’s water system.

 In a recorded speech for a Cybertech conference event slated for Thursday and obtained by The Jerusalem Post, National Cyber Directorate chief Yigal Unna provided striking new details...

In The News

Netanyahu Participates in Coronavirus Conference With World Leaders

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu participated in a video conference on Wednesday with world leaders dealing with the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic.

The meeting was the third of its kind, and was hosted by Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz. Participants included Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Danish Prime Minister...

Medical Advancement

6 Coronavirus Vaccine Developments From Israel to Watch

Research groups across the world are using a variety of approaches to formulating vaccines that could protect people from coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19).

Big money and urgent demand are accelerating the normally lengthy process of vaccine development (see our companion story, “In the race for a coronavirus vaccine, first doesn’t mean best,” to...

Iran

US Cancels Sanctions Waivers for Companies Working on Iran’s Nuclear Sites

"Iran’s continued nuclear escalation makes clear this cooperation must end," Mike Pompeo asserts

The US is canceling sanctions waivers for European, Russian and Chinese companies working on a number of Iran's nuclear sites, State Secretary Mike Pompeo announced Wednesday.
The decision will come into effect within 60 days. Pompeo also announced...

Hezbollah

Hezbollah’s Nasrallah Warns of ‘Great War’ on All Fronts with Israel

Marking 20 years since Israel's withdrawal from Lebanon, Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah warned Israel of "the great war that will open all fronts at once," saying that it would be "the end of Israel." The Hezbollah leader stressed, however, that there are "no indications that Israel intends to launch a war against Lebanon."

The...

Israeli Technology

D-ID, the Israeli Company that Digitally De-Identifies Faces in Videos and Still Images, Raises $13.5 Million

If only Facebook had been using the kind of technology that TechCrunch Startup Battlefield alumnus D-ID was pitching, it could have avoided exposing all of our faces to privacy destroying software services like Clearview AI.
At least, that’s the pitch that D-ID’s  founder and chief executive, Gil Perry, makes when he’s talking about the...

Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS)

Oklahoma Becomes 30th State to Enact Anti-BDS Law

Oklahoma has become the 30th state to enact a measure to combat the anti-Israel BDS movement.

The Oklahoma House passed the bill, 75-20, back in March.

Gov. Kevin Stitt, a Republican, signed it into law on May 22.

It declares that Israel is one of Oklahoma’s largest trading partner and is a staunch U.S. ally and it prohibits the state...

Holocaust

Texas Holocaust Survivor Celebrates 100th Birthday With Drive-By Car Parade

A Holocaust survivor in Texas was surprised with a parade of drive-by visitors on Sunday in honor of his 100th birthday.

A procession of cars and visitors — who were practicing social distancing and wearing masks — drove by Heinz Wallach’s home to help him celebrate the milestone.

The parade was organized by his daughter, Tamar Leventhal, with...

Israeli Technology

Israel’s IDE Technology Beats out China-Based Firm’s Desalinization Plant Tender

The Israeli company IDE Technologies on Tuesday won the tender to build what is expected to be the world’s largest seawater desalinization plant—worth $1.5 billion—at Nahal Sorek, near the Palmachim air base, south of Tel Aviv.

The Israeli firm beat a bid by Hong Kong-based multinational conglomerate CK Hutchison Holdings to construct and operate...