ISSUES

At CUFI, we are focused on several key issues with the goal of defending Israel’s strength, security, and sovereignty.

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Israeli Technology

Decade after 1st interception, new Iron Dome boasts 100% success rate in trials

Marking a decade since the first tests of the Iron Dome missile system, the Defense Ministry on Sunday said it had conducted a fresh series of successful interception trials with an upgraded version of the air defense battery.

“We have completed a series of tests with a success rate of 100 percent. The system intercepted all threats, which were...

Iran

As protests restart in Iran, demonstrators refuse to trample US, Israeli flags

Protesters gathered on the streets of Iran Sunday for a second day of demonstrations against the regime, prompted by the Iranian leadership’s belated admission that it accidentally downed a Ukrainian airliner last week, killing all 176 people on board.

Hundreds of protesters rallied at various locations around the country, including outside a...

Hezbollah

Hezbollah’s Nasrallah threatens US troops, vows retaliation against Israel

Hassan Nasrallah, leader of the Hezbollah terror organization, on Sunday threatened violence against the United States if it did not withdraw its troops from the Middle East, and said any future American attack on Iran would draw a retaliation against Israel.

“If in the coming days or weeks the US doesn’t withdraw its forces from the Middle East,...

Iran

Videos appear to show Iranian police using live fire against protesters

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iranian police and security forces fired both live ammunition and tear gas to disperse demonstrators protesting against the Islamic Republic following its admission that it shot down a Ukrainian jetliner, online videos purported to show Monday.

There was no immediate report in Iranian state-run media on the...

Iran

Iran admits it shot down Ukrainian airliner, sparking protests in Tehran

(January 12, 2020 / JNS) Protesters gathered outside Amirkabir University in Tehran on Saturday night, shouting “Khamenei is over” and calling the government “shameless” after Iran admitted that its forces had shot down a civilian airliner, killing 176 people, and then lied about it.

In initial reports of the crash of the Ukraine International...

Terrorism

Live Updates: Ukraine Gets ‘Important Data’ From U.S. on Iran Plane Crash

Ukraine and U.S. discuss plane disaster.

President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine spoke with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday morning Washington time after he requested that the United States and other Western countries release the evidence that a Ukrainian passenger jet that crashed shortly after takeoff in Iran had been shot down.

Mr....

Iran

Post-missile attacks, Iran takes an off-ramp as America aims for de-escalation

(January 8, 2020 / JNS) Much to the world’s relief, it appears that Iran has gotten the message and will not escalate tensions in the region after retaliating for the assassination of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani early Wednesday morning when the Islamic Republic fired 18 missiles at two bases in Iraq housing U.S....

Antisemitism

Elite NY prep school fires teacher who posted anti-Zionist tweets

NEW YORK (JTA) — The Ethical Culture Fieldston School, an elite New York City prep school, has fired a teacher who posted tweets opposing Zionism.

JB Brager, who taught history at Fieldston, was fired Thursday, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency has learned. The termination comes after Brager, who is Jewish, posted multiple tweets disparaging Zionism...

US-Israel Relationship

US senators introduce bill backing $3.3 billion bill annual aid to Israel

Two US senators from opposite sides of the aisle on Thursday introduced a bill to provide annual aid of $3.3 billion to Israel as part of a 2016 agreement.

Republican Senator Marco Rubio and Democratic Senator Chris Coons co-sponsored the bill, according to Reuters, which was originally part of wider legislation that stalled last year over a...

US-Israel Relationship

US Army to field Israeli-made long-range missile on helicopters

ARLINGTON, Texas — The U.S. Army has decided to field an Israeli-made, long-range precision munition on attack helicopters as an interim solution to get after greater stand-off and long-range engagements.

An Army Requirements Oversight Council decision has authorized the service to field a certain number of Rafael’s Spike Non-Line-of-Sight (NLOS)...

In The News

CUFI Action Fund Welcomes Senate Introduction of United States-Israel Security Assistance Authorization Act

WASHINGTON – On Thursday, Christians United for Israel (CUFI) Action Fund issued a statement welcoming the Senate’s introduction of the United States-Israel Security Assistance Authorization Act:

“At a time when the free world faces unprecedented challenges and uncertainty in the Middle East, a strong US-Israel alliance is vital to ensuring the...

Antisemitism

Rise in anti-Semitic attacks prompts DHS review of security for religious institutions

Following recent attacks on faith-based groups and institutions, including the Dec. 28 machete attack at a home and prayer hall known as Rabbi Rottenberg's Shul in Monsey, NY, where five people were injured, US Homeland Security Acting Secretary Chad Wolf has ordered a review to thwart and curb future incidents.

"Houses of worship and faith-based...

Antisemitism

On Spotify, hate streams unchecked as playlists praise Hitler, call to gas Jews

Music-streaming giant Spotify is host to dozens of user-generated playlists with titles praising Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler, mocking Holocaust victims, and featuring photos of swastikas and white nationalist hate symbols, The Times of Israel has found.

Among the anti-Semitic playlist titles are a variety of explicit calls to “gas” or kill Jews...

Iran

Trump vows immediate new sanctions on already heavily sanctioned Iran

WASHINGTON (AP) — US President Donald Trump said Wednesday his administration will immediately impose new economic sanctions on Iran in response to Iranian missile strikes on US bases in Iraq.

“As we continue to evaluate options in response to Iranian aggression, the United States will immediately impose additional punishing economic sanctions on...

Iran

Trump, full text: The days of tolerating Iran’s destructive behavior are over

The full text of US President Donald Trump’s remarks on Iran, delivered in the White House Grand Foyer, January 8, 2019:

As long as I am President of the United States, Iran will never be allowed to have a nuclear weapon.

Good morning. I’m pleased to inform you: The American people should be extremely grateful and happy no Americans were harmed...

Iran

Iran: Total ‘Annihilation of Israel’ Will Be Price for Soleimani Killing

Iranian leaders are issuing renewed calls for the destruction of Israel, saying the "annihilation" of the Jewish state is the only fair price for America's recent killing of top Iranian military leader Qassem Soleimani.

Seyed Hashem al-Heidari, cultural chief of Hashd al-Shaabi, an Iraqi paramilitary force directed by Iran, said Tehran is eyeing...

Israeli Technology

Israel unveils breakthrough laser to intercept missiles, aerial threats

The Defense Ministry has made a technological breakthrough in the development of lasers that can intercept aerial threats, including rockets and anti-tank guided missiles, it announced Wednesday.

New laser technology “makes the security apparatus more lethal, more powerful and more advanced,” Defense Minister Naftali Bennett said Wednesday...

Syria

Putin meets with Syria’s Assad with the Middle East on edge

MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks Tuesday in Syria with the country’s leader, Bashar al-Assad, the Kremlin spokesman said, with the region nervously awaiting the next possible step in the U.S.-Iran showdown.

Putin’s trip — which was not announced in advance — marked his first visit since 2017 to Syria, Moscow’s main Middle East...

Iran

Ukrainian airliner goes down in Tehran, killing 176

(January 8, 2020 / JNS) A Ukranian Boeing 737 passenger jet crashed shortly after takeoff in Tehran, Iran on Wednesday, killing all 176 people aboard. Though a spokesman for Iran’s Road and Transportation Ministry claimed that the crash was caused by “technical difficulties,” at least two Kazakh airlines announced that they were considering...

Holocaust

Record 2.3 million people visited Auschwitz in 2019

A record 2.3 million visitors toured former Nazi death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau last year, the museum said on Tuesday, as the site gears up to mark 75 years since its last prisoners were liberated.

The figure was an increase of 170,000 on the visitor numbers from 2018, the previous record year.

Almost 400,000 Poles toured the complex in 2019,...