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

U.S. State Department: Iran’s IRGC has set up a training base in Lebanon

The US State Department has released a video alleging that Iran has established a military training base in Lebanon in close proximity to Rayak Air Force base near the border with Syria.

The video, released in an Arabic language tweet on Tuesday, said that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Force training facility near Beit Moubarak on...

Hamas

PayPal among online payment platforms that shut down services to BDS group with terror links

(May 15, 2019 / JNS) PayPal has joined other major online payment systems in shutting down services to the BDS group Samidoun, which has close ties with Palestinian terror groups.

Over the last several weeks, the International Legal Forum, along with the Zionist Advocacy Centre, successfully petitioned PayPal, along with Donorbox and Plaid, to...

Hamas

New England Revolution to play Chelsea FC to highlight hate crimes worldwide

(May 15, 2019 / JNS) The New England Revolution and Chelsea FC soccer teams will play in a friendly match on Wednesday evening titled the “Final Whistle on Hate” to raise awareness about hate crimes worldwide, especially anti-Semitic ones.

The game’s proceeds will be donated to 15 groups, including the Anti-Defamation League, the Jewish Agency...

Israeli Technology

Mayo Clinic and Israeli health companies to create new medical technologies

(May 15, 2019 / JNS) The Minnesota-based Mayo Clinic has signed a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. branch of the Israel Innovation Authority to collaborate with Israeli firms to co-create new medical technologies, announced the two groups.

The MOU was signed on Tuesday at the MIXiii Biomed Conference and Exhibition in Tel Aviv.

“The...

Israeli Society

Earthquake in Israel rocks Haifa

JERUSALEM (JTA) — An earthquake measuring 4.5 on the Richter scale was felt throughout Israel.

The temblor at about 8 p.m. Wednesday was centered about 125 miles off the coast of the Mediterranean Sea between the northern Israeli cities of Haifa and Hadera, according to Israel’s Geophysical Institute.

No injuries or damage have been reported.
...

US-Israel Relationship

US Ambassador to Germany: Anti-Semitism is a ‘human problem’ that must be rooted out

(May 15, 2019 / JNS) U.S. Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell marked his first year in the German capital on May 8. In that short time, the ambassador advocated for American interests in Germany, which, in his case, also align with many Israeli interests. He has encouraged German companies to cut ties with Iran, assisted in getting convicted...

US-Israel Relationship

US Republicans launch bid to force House vote on BDS

WASHINGTON (JTA) — Republicans want to force a vote on a controversial bill meant to oppose the anti-Israel boycott.

The bill, which earlier this year passed the Senate, has been held up in part because the Democrats, who control the US House of Representatives, say it poses a threat to First Amendment free speech protections.

The bill would...

Antisemitism

Philadelphia Muslims apologize for video of kids talking beheadings, Jerusalem

Declaring “the mistake is ours to own,” Muslim leaders in Philadelphia apologized Wednesday for an event last month at which children were captured on video speaking in Arabic about beheadings and the liberation of Jerusalem’s most sensitive holy site.

The Muslim American Society’s Philadelphia chapter and the Leaders Academy, a gathering place...

US-Israel Relationship

Trump on anniversary of Jerusalem embassy move says it’s ‘a proud reminder’ of strong US-Israel ties

(JTA) — One year after the United States moved its embassy to Jerusalem, President Donald Trump called it “a proud reminder of our strong relationship with Israel.”

Trump referenced the anniversary in a tweet Tuesday.

The Jerusalem municipality marked the date by projecting Israeli and American flags onto the walls of the Old City.

The...

Antisemitism

Daughter of Las Vegas rabbi targeted with anti-Semitic notes at middle school

(JTA) — The daughter of a rabbi in Las Vegas found anti-Semitic and threatening notes left on her middle school desk.

One note discovered earlier this week contained a large swastika and the words “You don’t belong here.” The second was a drawing of Adolf Hitler with his hand in the air, a Nazi salute and a swastika.

Rabbi Craig Rosenstein, a...

Antisemitism

Prominent Jewish woman, 60, stabbed and critically injured in Sweden

(May 14, 2019 / JNS) A 60-year-old Jewish woman was stabbed and critically injured on Tuesday in Helsingborg, Sweden, where she is known to be a prominent member of the Jewish community.

Reports suggest the suspect, who is on the run, is Muslim and known to Swedish authorities.

While the Jewish community is viewing this incident as anti-Semitic,...

Terrorism

Hackers interrupt Eurovision broadcast with fake IDF missile warning

(May 15, 2019 / JNS)Hackers interrupted the Eurovision Song Contest broadcast on the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (Kan) website Tuesday, streaming a fake Israel Defense Forces video message warning all viewers near the contest venue to immediately seek shelter.

The two-minute video was only played in Israel, and appeared as an IDF...

US-Israel Relationship

Friedman fires back at ‘The New York Times’: ‘Where am I off saying God is on the side of Israel?’

U.S. Ambassador to Israel David M. Friedman fired back at The New York Times Wednesday over an article castigating him for claiming that Israel was “on the side of God” while speaking about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the upcoming U.S. peace proposal.

Speaking to a group of Evangelical faith leaders at the Aish Hatorah World Center,...

United Nations (UN)

Pompeo, Friedman: Israeli rule over Golan fulfills UN Resolution 242

President Donald Trump's decision to recognize the Golan Heights as part of Israel's sovereign territory fulfills UN Security Council Resolution 242, United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman argued in an op-ed published Wednesday by the Wall Street Journal.

Trump recognized Israel's sovereignty over...

Palestinian Authority

10,000 Palestinians mark ‘Nakba day’ on Gaza border

According to the IDF, several attempts were made to breach the border fence, while some demonstrators threw explosive devices at the fence.
Gaza's health ministry said 60 Palestinians were injured in clashes with IDF.
In Israel, a fire broke out in Kibbutz Alumim near the border as the result of a suspected fire bomb sent over the fence.
On...

Holocaust

CNN Fact Checks Tlaib’s Holocaust Comments: ‘She Can’t Rewrite History’

CNN’s John King corrected Representative Rashida Tlaib’s (D., Mich.) revisionist history of the Holocaust on Monday, pointing out that Palestinian leaders supported the German extermination of Jews and violently resisted the creation of a Jewish state.

“It was my ancestors — Palestinians — who lost their land and some lost their lives, their...

Iran

Saudi Arabia oil infrastructure hit by drones; Iran-backed rebels claim attack

Saudi Arabia said drones attacked one of its oil pipelines as other assaults targeted energy infrastructure elsewhere in the kingdom on Tuesday, shortly after Yemen’s rebels claimed a coordinated drone attack on the Sunni power.

The assaults marked the latest incidents challenging Mideast security after the alleged sabotage of oil tankers off the...

US-Israel Relationship

As tensions increase, Trump warns that Iran will ‘suffer greatly’ if ‘they do anything’

(May 13, 2019 / JNS) Amid increasing tensions between the United States and Iran, U.S. President Donald Trump warned on Monday that Tehran will “suffer greatly” if “they do anything.”

“We’ll see what happens with Iran. … If they do anything, they will suffer greatly,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office in response to reports that two oil...

Antisemitism

New Canary Mission-style website lists anti-Israel professors in Israel

(May 14, 2019 / JNS) A new website launched by the Zionist NGO Im Tirtzu enables students to search for and access information about Israeli academics who promote anti-Israel activity.

The Hebrew-language website, called “Know Your Professor,” contains a list of some 85 Israeli professors who are involved in anti-Israel activity such as promoting...

US-Israel Relationship

Israeli president thanks American astronaut for her plans to bring Israeli flag into space

Meir, the daughter of a mother from Sweden and an Iraqi-Israeli father, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency about the Israeli flag she’s bringing with her last week. She also plans to take some socks sporting menorahs among her personal items.

“Thank you for taking us with you on your world journey in space,” Rivlin said in a statement.

Meir, 41,...