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.

Israel Defense Force (IDF)

IDF, US wrap up air defense exercise; THAAD anti-missile system to leave Israel

The Israel Defense Forces and American military on Sunday completed a four-week air defense exercise that saw the deployment of the United States’ most advanced missile defense system in Israel for the first time.

On March 4, the US European Command (US EUCOM) deployed the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system, along with...

Antisemitism

Ex-London Mayor Ken Livingstone: ‘It’s not anti-Semitic to hate the Jews of Israel’

Former London Mayor Ken Livingstone says he doesn’t believe it’s anti-Semitic to hate Jewish citizens of Israel — the bulk of the population in the Middle East's only democracy.

Livingstone, known as "Red Ken" for his left-wing policies during his 2000-2008 mayoralty, is among a cadre of Labour officials, who are open and virulent critics of the...

Palestinian Authority

Palestinian Islamic Jihad reportedly planning attack on Israel

The Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist group is preparing a “significant” terrorist attack to undermine the ceasefire arrangement between Israel and Hamas, Yediot Aharonot reported on Monday..

According to the report, security forces deployed along the Gaza security fence have noticed “unusual” activity by the group’s military wing, leading...

Archeology

Tiny First Temple find could be first proof of aide to biblical King Josiah

Two minuscule 2,600-year-old inscriptions recently uncovered in the City of David’s Givati Parking Lot excavation are vastly enlarging the understanding of ancient Jerusalem in the late 8th century BCE.

The two inscriptions, in paleo-Hebrew writing, were found separately in a large First Temple structure within the span of a few weeks by...

In The News

Liberia, Africa Night to Honor Israel

Palestinian Authority

Palestinians call for mass Gaza border protests on Saturday

Factions in the Gaza Strip are urging Palestinians to participate in Saturday’s mass protests near the border with Israel afternoon prayers. The factions urged Palestinians on Thursday to “maintain the peaceful and popular nature” of the protests, and said they don’t want to give Israel an excuse to use force against the demonstrators.

Saturday’s...

Hamas

Turkey: air defense purchase from Russia ‘a done deal’

ISTANBUL - Turkey will honor its air defense deal with Russia, Ankara said on Friday after four US senators introduced a bill to ban the planned delivery of F-35 fighter jets if Turkey ignored US opposition and accepted the S-400 system.

"We have agreed with Russia in the end and signed an agreement. This agreement is valid (and) we are...

Israeli Society

Over a thousand Israelis attend funeral for American lone soldier

Over 1,000 people attended the funeral of an American lone soldier in the Israel Defense Forces on Thursday, hours after a call went out on social media urging those who could to make it.

Alex Sasaki, 27, of Laguna Beach, California, was found dead earlier this week from a drug overdose, an official from the Keep Olim NGO who knew him told The...

US-Israel Relationship

U.S. to put Israeli sovereignty over Golan Heights on the map

United States government maps are slated to be redrawn to reflect US President Donald Trump’s official recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, according to a report by Voice of America.

A State Department spokesperson told VOA that the map changes would be “consistent” with Trump’s declaration, although he did not indicate how...

Israel Defense Force (IDF)

IDF readies for massive weekend protests along Gaza Border

The Israeli military said Thursday it is readying for protests along the Gaza border planned for Saturday, Palestinians’ Land Day, and a possible outbreak of violence.

The date also marks a year since the start of weekly violent protests along the Israel-Gaza border, known as the March of Return, which at times have escalated into exchanges of...

Israel Defense Force (IDF)

IDF strikes Gazans launching airborne arson devices into Israel, injuring 4

An Israeli drone fired at a group of Palestinians launching balloon-borne incendiary devices into Israel from the northern Gaza Strip on Thursday, injuring four of them, according to local media reports.

The Israel Defense Forces later confirmed the strike.

“A short while ago, an IDF aircraft attacked a group of terrorists who were launching...

Syria

At least 7 killed in attack on Aleppo; Syria blames Israel – report

At least seven Iranian-linked militia fighters are said to have been killed in an alleged Israeli airstrike in Syria’s Aleppo’s province, Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported on Thursday.

They form part of a wider Iranian-supported presence near Aleppo and have reportedly suffered casualties in previous airstrikes.

The Syrian...

Israeli Society

Netanyahu: Israel’s preparing for a broad campaign in Gaza

Israel is preparing for a broad campaign in Gaza, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday after he visited southern Israel.

“I have ordered the strengthening of our troop so we can be prepared for a broad campaign. The citizens of Israel should know, that if we must embark on a broad campaign, we will hit them very hard, but only...

Israel Defense Force (IDF)

Is the IDF prepared for Palestinian violence this weekend?

With a violent week behind it, Israel’s security establishment is bracing for thousands of Palestinians to riot across the West Bank and Gaza Strip, marking Land Day and the one year anniversary of The Great Return March demonstrations along the Gaza front.

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh called on “our Palestinian people in Gaza, the occupied West...

Issues

Top UAE minister urges strategic shift in Arab-Israel ties; boycott was mistake

A senior United Arab Emirates minister on Wednesday called for a “strategic shift” in Israel-Arab ties, saying that Arab world’s decades-old decision to boycott the Jewish state had been a mistake.

“Many, many years ago, when there was an Arab decision not to have contact with Israel, that was a very, very wrong decision, looking back,” UAE...

Jerusalem

Border cop lightly injured in attempted car-ramming at checkpoint near Jerusalem

A Border Police officer was lightly injured in an attempted car-ramming attack Thursday afternoon at the Qalandiya checkpoint north of Jerusalem, authorities said Thursday.

Police said the driver came from the direction of Jerusalem and managed to flee the scene after hitting the border cop.

The Magen David Adom emergency service said the...

Event Recaps

Mar. 23rd Taylors, SC Israel Advocacy Breakfast

Antisemitism

What is the Anti-Semitism Awareness Act Really All About?

What is the purpose of this legislation?  

The legislation is designed to help the Department of Education and Department of Justice effectively determine whether an investigation of an incident of anti-Semitism is warranted under their statutory anti-discrimination enforcement authority.

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is one of the...

Event Recaps

Mar. 19th Miami, FL Pastor’s Breakfast

Event Recaps

Mar. 19th Marietta, GA Israel Advocacy Luncheon