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.

US-Israel Relationship

Accelerator seeks to grow Michigan-Israel investment

 

A local business nonprofit is expanding to further Michigan's reach into the growing tech sector in Israel.

After several successful leadership missions since 2015, the Michigan Israel Business Bridge is seeking public and private financing to become the Michigan Israel Business Accelerator to spur more investment between the two nations...

Event Recaps

November 11th South San Francisco, CA Pastor’s Lunch

Event Recaps

November 10 Gardena, CA Spanish Stand with Israel

Event Recaps

November 9th La Puente, CA Bilingual Stand with Israel

Event Recaps

November 9 Ringgold, Georgia 4th Annual Night To Honor Israel

Event Recaps

November 19 Anchorage, Alaska Stand with Israel

Israeli Society

Mexico says it will henceforth vote with Israel in international bodies

RIO DE JANEIRO — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tweeted a message of gratitude to Mexico following its announcement that it would not vote against the Jewish state in upcoming votes at the United Nations.

“Thank you President of Mexico @EPN and Secretary of Foreign Affairs Videgaray for refusing to go along with one sided anti-Israel...

Syria

Filmed crossing into Israel with sick kid, mother says all Syrians want to come

In unprecedented footage, the IDF allowed an Israeli TV crew to film it opening the border gates to Syria, and allowing in a group of mothers and their children, who were then transported to an Israeli hospital for medical treatment.

The footage, broadcast on Sunday night by Hadashot News (formerly Channel 2), also included interviews with...

Israeli Society

162 ‘Lost’ Indian Jews Arrive in Israel

A total of 162 members from the Bnei Menashe Jewish community of northeast India arrived in Israel this week, marking the latest wave of so-called “lost” Jews to immigrate to the Jewish state.

The new immigrants arrived at Israel’s Ben-Gurion International Airport in two groups and were greeted by jubilant family members and supporters, who...

Iran

Alleged Iranian base near Syria border caught on camera

Israeli satellite photos published Thursday appear to strengthen a BBC report a week ago that Iran is building a permanent military base in Syria, just 50 kilometers (31 miles) from Israel’s northern border.

The ImageSat International pictures, published by Hadashot (formerly Channel 2) news, show that renovations and alterations were recently...

US-Israel Relationship

US ambassador ‘confident’ Trump will move embassy to Jerusalem

The US ambassador to Israel said he is “pretty confident” the US embassy will be moved from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem during US President Donald Trump’s current term in office.

Trump has so far balked at moving the mission to Israel’s capital, despite initial anticipation among many Israeli and American Jews that he would make good on an election...

Israeli Society

Thousands of Ethiopian Jews gather in Jerusalem for Sigd

Thousands of Ethiopian Jews gathered in Jerusalem Thursday to celebrate the festival of Sigd, marking the community’s centuries-old aspirations to return to the holy city.

On a sunny, warm winter’s day, busloads of people came from all over the country to participate in ancient prayers led by the kessim, the religious leaders of the community,...

US-Israel Relationship

House committee unanimously passes measure that targets Palestinian terror payments

“Since 2003, it has been Palestinian law to reward Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails with a monthly paycheck,” Rep. Ed Royce (R-Calif.), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said in a statement. “Palestinian leadership also pays the families of Palestinian prisoners and suicide bombers. These policies incentivize terrorism.”

The...

Incitement

US House committee unanimously passes Taylor Force Act

WASHINGTON — The US House Foreign Affairs Committee unanimously passed the Taylor Force Act on Wednesday, legislation that would cut US funding to the Palestinian Authority unless it discontinues its practice of paying monthly stipends to the families of terrorists who kill Israelis.

The legislation includes three exceptions, allowing for US...

Incitement

Group of Americans strive to see PLO held responsible for terrorism that maimed and killed their loved ones

Lawmakers are still waiting on the Trump administration to advise the Supreme Court on a case that, if taken up, would potentially allow American victims of Palestinian terrorism to collect a reversed multimillion dollar judgment, sources on and off Capitol Hill told TWS.

The Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) and Palestinian Authority...

Hamas

Netanyahu warns terror groups: Don’t even think about it

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned on Sunday that the country would respond harshly to any attack against it no matter where it comes from.

Netanyahu’s comments appeared to be prompted by blustery statements from the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group in Gaza, which is threatening Israel with retaliation for the destruction of a terror tunnel...

US-Israel Relationship

Amb. John Bolton: America’s embassy in Israel should be moved to Jerusalem – NOW

Whether to move America’s embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem has long been a subject of political debate in the U.S. and abroad. It’s time now to resolve the debate by recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital city and relocating our embassy there on incontestably Israeli sovereign territory.

This relocation would be sensible, prudent...

Israel Defense Force (IDF)

IDF deploys Iron Dome, raises alert amid Gaza terror threat

A number of Iron Dome missile defense batteries were deployed in central Israel on Monday, the military said, amid heightened tensions with the Palestinian Islamic Jihad since the army demolished the terrorist group’s border-crossing attack tunnel last month.

The Israel Defense Forces confirmed the anti-missile systems had been installed in...

US-Israel Relationship

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell: America’s Support for Israel Has Never Wavered and Never Will

Former US Secretary of State Colin Powell was honored on Wednesday by the World Jewish Congress with its annual Theodor Herzl award at a dinner in New York City.

“The vision and prophecy of Theodor Herzl has become real so many years after his death,” the 80-year-old Powell — a retired four-star general who served as chairman of the Joint Chiefs...

Iran

Iran building a permanent military base in Syria — report

Iran is building a permanent military base in Syria just south of Damascus, the BBC reported Friday, citing a Western intelligence official. The British broadcaster commissioned a series of satellite pictures that indicate widespread construction at the site.

Israel has long warned that Iran is trying to establish a presence in Syria as part of...