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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Israel Defense Force (IDF)

Shot fired at Israeli troops from Gaza; IDF strikes Hamas posts in response

A gunshot was reportedly fired at Israeli troops serving along the Gaza border on Friday, prompting a number of retaliatory strikes against nearby Hamas positions, the Israel Defense Forces said.

No injuries were reported on either side in the exchange of fire.

The IDF said the soldiers were targeted while at the security fence. According to...

Jerusalem

Official: Israel to grant Gaza Christians permits to visit Jerusalem for Easter

Israel has decided to approve hundreds of permits for Palestinian Christians living in the Gaza Strip to visit East Jerusalem and the West Bank for Easter, an Israeli official said on Friday, two days before the holiday.

“Following the recommendations of the security establishment, during this coming Easter, hundreds of Christians from the Gaza...

US-Israel Relationship

Report: Iranian Oil Exports Hit a New Low in 2019 Amid Concern Over US Crackdown

JNS.org – Amid renewed US sanctions on Iran, the country’s oil exports hit a new low in 2019, reported Reuters.

The report, citing tanker data and industry sources, said that “buyers are curbing purchases before Washington clamps down further on Iranian shipments as expected next month.”

In November, the United States reimposed sanctions lifted...

US-Israel Relationship

Born in the Golan? U.S. passport will now say Israel

WASHINGTON – The State Department updated its manual to reflect President Donald Trump’s proclamation on the Golan Heights, and it now states that “US policy recognizes the Golan Heights as part of Israel. The Place of Birth for applicants born in the Golan Heights is Israel.” The previous version of the manual recognized the Golan as “Syrian...

Israel Defense Force (IDF)

Israel will win any conflict against enemies to the north, says departing IDF commander

Israel will win the next conflict with those who pose a threat from the north, says the outgoing head of the IDF Northern Command, General Yoel Strick, as he marks the end of a two-year stint in the position.

Strick says it would be a mistake separating Lebanese-based terror group Hezbollah from the rest of Lebanon since it is a political player...

Israel Defense Force (IDF)

Did Israel use the supersonic Rampage to strike Iranian targets in Syria?

 

Israel’s Air Force reportedly used the supersonic Rampage stand-off air-to-surface missiles for the first time during a strike on Iranian positions in Syria last week, foreign media has reported.

Israel allegedly struck a possible Iranian surface-to-surface missile factory in a Syrian base in Masyaf on Saturday. Satellite images released...

Israel Defense Force (IDF)

IDF general: Hezbollah still planning Galilee invasion, despite anti-tunnel op

The new commander of the IDF’s Ground Forces said Thursday the Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah was still planning to carry out a surprise invasion of northern Israel, despite the recent Israeli operation to uncover and destroy an extensive network of cross-border attack tunnels dug by the Iran-backed militia.

Maj. Gen. Yoel Strick was tapped...

Iran

Iran president urges Mideast states to ‘drive back Zionism’

TEHRAN, Iran (AFP) — Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani called on Middle East states on Thursday to “drive back Zionism,” in an Army Day tirade against the Islamic republic’s arch-foe Israel.

Speaking flanked by top general as troops paraded in a show of might, Rouhani also sought to reassure the region that the weaponry on display was for defensive...

Israel Defense Force (IDF)

IDF colonel critically injured in Gaza War to light Independence Day torch

An IDF colonel critically wounded during Operation Protective Edge in 2014 will light the IDF’s torch at the 71st Independence Day celebrations.

Col. Shai Siman-Tov was the deputy commander of the Golani’s 12th battalion during the IDF’s last war in the Gaza Strip and was critically injured during an infamous battle in Shejaia with Hamas, when a...

Israeli Society

Israeli President Tasks Netanyahu With Forming New Government

Israel‘s president on Wednesday nominated Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to head the next government, after he won the backing of a majority of members of parliament following an April 9 election.

In office for the past decade, Netanyahu won a fifth term despite an announcement by Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit in February that he intends...

Micro-History

US publishes first map showing Golan as Israeli territory

The US has for the first time published a map showing the Golan Heights as Israeli territory, three weeks after President Donald Trump recognized Israeli sovereignty over the strategic plateau.

US Mideast envoy Jason Greenblatt tweeted a picture of the map on Tuesday, saying: “Welcome to the newest addition of our international maps system.

The...

Israel Defense Force (IDF)

IDF shoots down targets in test of Patriot, Iron Dome air defense systems

The Israeli Air Force conducted successful live-fire tests of its Patriot and Iron Dome missile defense systems on Tuesday, the military said.

The exercise had been subjected to the military censor until Wednesday evening.

“Air defense soldiers from the Israeli Air Force conducted successful interceptions of targets at various heights and...

Antisemitism

Did a campus conference on Gaza feature anti-Semitism?

JTA — “This is my anti-Semitic song,” Tamer Nafar, a Palestinian-Israeli rapper, said at the opening of a conference on Gaza last month at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

“I know it might sound R&B stuff, but don’t think of Rihanna when you sing it, don’t think of Beyonce,” he continued. “Think of Mel Gibson. Go that...

US-Israel Relationship

Turkey criticizes US for designating Iran’s Revolution Guard a terror group

ANKARA, Turkey — The US decision to designate Iran’s Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization is a dangerous development that could lead to chaos, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Wednesday.

Speaking at a joint news conference with Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, the Turkish minister also said that US sanctions...

Micro-History

Group of schoolchildren find 1,600 year-old gold coin in the Galilee

A rare 1,600 year-old gold coin was found by a group of ninth-graders in February, the Israel Antiquities Authorities said on Monday.

The coin was discovered during a school trip in Nahal Zippori in the Galilee.

Nahal Zippori was once the capital of the region and the seat of the Sanhedrin. The coin features the effigy of the Byzantine emperor...

Micro-History

Benjamin, Ido Netanyahu receive brother Yoni’s army items after 40 years

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his brother, Dr. Ido Netanyahu, on Monday received personal items belonging to their late brother Yoni, who was killed in the hostage rescue operation in Entebbe in 1976, which he heroically commanded.

Yosef Shemesh served with the late Netanyahu in the 71st Batallion of the Armored Corps in the Golan...

Syria

Iranian FM heads to Syria, Turkey to discuss regional situation

The Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif arrived in Damascus on Tuesday, according to the Iranian MEHR News Agency.

The visit comes upon an official invitation from Syrian President Bashar al-Assad as a follow up on negotiations between the two countries on bilateral ties, including agreements made between Assad and Iranian President...

US-Israel Relationship

US counterterrorism coordinator leading delegation to Israel

The US Coordinator for Counterrorism will lead a delegation to Jerusalem.

Nathan Sales will arrive in Israel on Tuesday for the annual meeting of the US-Israel Joint Counterterrorism Group, the State Department announced on Monday.

It is the State Department’s longest-running strategic counterterrorism dialogue, the statement said.

“The United...

Palestinian Authority

Palestinians throw stones at Israeli vehicles in West Bank

Palestinians threw stones at Israeli vehicles in the West Bank on Monday night near Ma'ale Shomron, a settlement in the West Bank, according to Channel 4.

There were no causalities or damages, according to the report, but Israeli security forces are investigating the incident.

Read More: Jerusalem Post

Syria

Satellite images show possible Iranian missile factory in Syria destroyed

Satellite images released by the Israeli intelligence firm ImageSat International (ISI) on Sunday showed the complete destruction of a possible Iranian surface-to-surface missile factory in Syria’s Masyaf District, allegedly struck by Israel on Saturday.

The main industrial structures were completely destroyed, including the main hangar and the...