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

After Soleimani, ‘maximum pressure’ campaign against Iran has entered a critical phase

 

Less than 24 hours after Defense Secretary Mark Esper warned of possible preemptive action against Iran, a historic strike killed Quds Force leader Qassem Soleimani, Iranian proxy militia commander Abu Mahdi al Muhandis, and other Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps officers. These individuals, and Soleimani in particular, had the blood of...

Iran

Europeans to trigger Iran nuclear deal dispute mechanism

PARIS/LONDON (Reuters) - Britain, France and Germany will trigger the dispute resolution mechanism in the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, two European diplomats said on Tuesday, the biggest step the Europeans have taken in response as Tehran has backed off nuclear commitments.

In one of the strongest calls yet from Europe for a new agreement to...

Iran

Esper: U.S. Could Strike Iran Or Proxies ‘Where Legally Available And Appropriate’

Defense Secretary Mark Esper says the U.S. has the constitutional authority to strike Iranian proxies in Iraq and Iran on the Islamic Republic's home soil in retaliation for attacks on American forces.

In an interview with NPR on Monday, Esper said the Authorization for Use of Military Force Resolution gives the U.S. military the right to attack...

Iran

Iran state TV sees at least 2 news anchors quit: ‘Forgive me for the 13 years I told you lies’

At least two Iranian journalists at a state-owned media outlet reportedly resigned from their jobs, with one of them apologizing to viewers for "the 13 years I told you lies."

As Tehran continues to grapple with the fallout from protests stemming from a cover-up of its accidental downing of a Ukrainian airliner, TV anchor Gelare Jabbari addressed...

Holocaust

Last Auschwitz survivors speak: ‘We haven’t won, but we’ve taught our grandkids’

AFP — As he looks at pictures of his parents and sisters who perished in Auschwitz, Szmul Icek begins to tremble, tears clouding his eyes.

It may have been 75 years ago, but for this survivor of the Holocaust the memories of life and death in the Nazi extermination camp remain painfully fresh.

More than a million Jews were killed at Auschwitz,...

US-Israel Relationship

US Army to purchase Israeli-made Spike missiles

The US Army has chosen the Israeli-made long-range Spike precision missile to use on attack helicopters as an interim solution for greater standoff capabilities.
According to Defense News, an Army Requirements Oversight Council authorized the decision “ahead of a bigger decision” regarding acquiring long-range precision munitions for its air...

Iran

Trump warns Iran not to kill protesters, says door still open to talks

WASHINGTON (AFP) — US President Donald Trump warned Iran Sunday against killing protesters who have risen up over the regime’s downing of a civilian airliner as his defense secretary left the door open to talks with Tehran without preconditions.

Trump’s salvo came as Iran’s Islamic regime faced a challenge from angry street protests, having come...

US-Israel Relationship

US senators back bill to provide Israel with $3.3B a year

Republican and Democratic US senators introduced legislation on Thursday to provide 3.3 billion dollars annual aid to Israel, seeking to put into law an aid agreement between the two countries reached in 2016 amid concern over rising Middle East tensions.

Republican Senator Marco Rubio and Democratic Senator Chris Coons co-sponsored the bill, a...

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...