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.

In The News

How bad is the US weapons freeze for Israel?

Diplomatic shockwaves have been traveling between Washington and Jerusalem in the aftermath of a paused weapons shipment that was due to arrive in Israel last week.

‘A tear in the heart of Israel’: Nation marks a visceral post-October 7 Memorial Day

Israel began marking a uniquely somber Memorial Day on Sunday evening, the first since Hamas’s brutal October 7 massacre in southern Israel, as the country commemorated the deadliest year in five decades for those killed in war and terror.

Read more: The Times of Israel

In The News

Iran exploiting world’s focus on Gaza to advance nuclear weaponization

As the world’s attention is diverted to Gaza where Israel is waging a war against Hamas, Iran is working assiduously to develop its nuclear capability.

IDF: We have enough arms for Rafah; PM: ‘We’ll fight with our fingernails’ if needed

The Israel Defense Forces asserted Thursday that the military had enough munitions for its planned missions, after United States President Joe Biden threatened that some arms shipments would be frozen if Israel launched a planned offensive in southern Gaza’s Rafah.

Read more: The Times of Israel

In The News

Almost a state, UN expected to back Palestinian bid for state status

The United Nations General Assembly on Friday is set to back a Palestinian bid to become a full U.N. member by recognizing it as qualified to join and sending the application back to the U.N. Security Council to "reconsider the matter favorably."

Israel bombs Rafah, prepares for ground invasion after ceasefire talks with Hamas fall apart

Israel continues a missile strike on the city of Rafah, Hamas' last stronghold in Gaza, after ceasefire talks with the terrorist regime once again fell apart.

Report: State Department set to confirm Israel not breaking international law in Gaza

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is expected to submit a report to Congress as early as Friday on Israel’s conduct in Gaza that criticizes the IDF’s conduct but stops short of concluding it has violated international law, according to a report presented by Axios on Thursday.

Read more: The Times of Israel

In The News

IDF announces soldier killed in Hezbollah attack on army post in north

An Israeli soldier was killed in a Hezbollah-claimed mortar and missile attack on an army position in the area of the northern community of Malkia on Wednesday, the military announced Thursday.

Read more: The Times of Israel

In The News

Israel, Hezbollah trade fire, Israeli minister warns of ‘hot summer’ at Lebanon border

Israel carried out heavy airstrikes in south Lebanon and Hezbollah said it had launched explosive drones and rockets at Israeli targets on Wednesday as Israel's defence minister warned of a "hot summer" in the border region.

Israel strikes eastern Rafah as US warns a major assault could halt arms

Israeli tanks and warplanes bombarded areas of Rafah on Thursday, Palestinian residents said, after U.S. President Joe Biden vowed to withhold weapons from Israel if its forces launch a major invasion of the southern Gaza city.

Biden’s Israel threat slammed by pro-Israel lawmakers, mainstream Jewish groupsP

President Joe Biden’s CNN interview threatening to cut off offensive weapons transfers to Israel if Israel invades Rafah drew quick criticism from Israel-backing Democrats and Republicans on Capitol Hill, and from mainstream Jewish and pro-Israel organizations across the country.

Netanyahu reaffirms promise to defeat Hamas, despite Biden threats

Amid the Biden administration’s decision to withhold arms from Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday reaffirmed Jerusalem’s resolve to defeat Hamas, even if it has to fight without U.S. backing.
Read more: Jewish News Syndicate

In The News

Despite Hamas mortar rounds, Kerem Shalom crossing opens to allow humanitarian aid

The crossing was reopened on Wednesday morning, partly at the request of the U.S., following a phone call between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Joe Biden, despite ongoing mortar fire targeting Kerem Shalom even on the previous day.

IDF spokesman plays down US arms shipment holdup, says disagreements resolved privately

The Israel Defense Forces appeared Wednesday to minimize the seemingly unprecedented holdup of an arms shipment by a US administration concerned by the prospect of a major Israeli operation in the southern Gazan city of Rafah, saying the allies resolve any disagreements “behind closed doors.”

Read more: The Times of Israel

In The News

US concerns over Israel’s Gaza policy led to weapons holdup

The Biden administration is holding up shipments of two types of Boeing-made precision bombs to send a political message to Israel, according to a U.S. official and six other people with knowledge of the deliberations.

At Holocaust event, Biden, Johnson, Jeffries condemn antisemitic protests in US

U.S. President Joe Biden and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) condemned the antisemitic campus protests that have proliferated across the United States while at a Holocaust remembrance ceremony on Tuesday.
Read more: Jewish News Syndicate

In The News

US signals backing for ‘limited op’ after IDF takes over Gazan side of Rafah crossing

The Biden administration appeared to signal its initial approval of the operation launched by Israel early Tuesday morning to take over the Palestinian side of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt.

Read more: The Times of Israel

In The News

Biden to condemn antisemitism in speech at Holocaust Memorial Museum

President Joe Biden is set to condemn acts of antisemitism in a keynote speech this morning at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum's annual commemoration of the events surrounding the genocide of European Jews during World War II, a White House official said.

Army announces two reserves troops killed in Hezbollah drone attack Monday

Two reserves soldiers were killed in a Hezbollah-claimed explosive-laden drone attack against an army position near Metula in northern Israel on Monday afternoon, the military announced Tuesday.

Read more: The Times of Israel

In The News

Hamas agrees to free just 18 hostages unless Israel ends the war, report

Hamas says it will only free 18 hostages unless Israel agrees to end the war, according to a report on CNN reported on Tuesday quoting sources.