In State of the Union, US president vows to ‘never allow the world’s No. 1 sponsor of terror’ to acquire nukes; touts role in freeing Hamas hostages, says Gaza war ‘proceeding at very low level — it’s just about there’

The post Trump: US ‘wiped out’ Iran’s nuclear program ‘but they want to start all over again’ appeared first on The Times of Israel.

An increasingly popular program from Melton and Matan adapts Torah, prayer and holiday study for learners around the world who've been long left out of formal adult education

The post New curriculum brings adults with intellectual disabilities into heart of Jewish learning appeared first on The Times of Israel.

Pop-ups to be held in Efrat, which has a large number of US citizens, and Haredi town of Beitar Illit; embassy to also host consular service events in Ramallah, several Israeli cities

The post In first, US embassy to provide consular services at pop-ups in West Bank settlements appeared first on The Times of Israel.

Remark by California governor, who is widely expected to run for US president in 2028, signals opposition to the pro-Israel lobby group is increasingly become a litmus test for Democrats

The post Gavin Newsom declares he never has and ‘never will’ accept AIPAC funding appeared first on The Times of Israel.

Trump administration accuses the state university system of not only ignoring but having 'at times facilitated' Jew hatred on campus and 'systematically ignoring cries for help'

The post US feds sue University of California for turning ‘blind eye’ to antisemitism at UCLA appeared first on The Times of Israel.

Japanese national was detained in Tehran, Tokyo reveals, demanding swift release * Trump says during State of the Union that he 'speaks a lot' with Zohran Mamdani

The post Security forces investigating arson in Palestinian village after reported settler attack appeared first on The Times of Israel.

The metro, as envisioned, will complement the city's light rail system, and is slated to comprise three lines covering roughly 150 kilometers across the greater Tel Aviv area

The post Israel begins bidding for $50 billion Tel Aviv metro project, with sights set on 2037 appeared first on The Times of Israel.

Conservative US commentator borrows talking points from the left, highlighting how anti-Zionist discourse is finding a home on both sides of the spectrum

The post Tucker Carlson’s anti-Zionism shows horseshoe theory nearing a circle appeared first on The Times of Israel.

The far-right pundit, who has used his show to slam Israel and lean into friendly interviews with conspiracy theorists and white nationalists, was seen at the White House this week

The post Laura Loomer, other Jewish conservatives sound alarm over Tucker Carlson’s access to Trump appeared first on The Times of Israel.

Israeli ambassador to UN says Jerusalem and Washington 'each have their own calculations'; FM Sa'ar announces 117 power generators will be sent to Kyiv region

The post Israel backs United Nations vote voicing support for Ukraine, as US abstains appeared first on The Times of Israel.

Israeli officials reportedly believe US attack is 'unavoidable'; Iran said to okay counterproposal for next round of nuclear talks on Thursday as IRGC holds drills on Iran's coast

The post F-22 jets deploy at Israeli Air Force base as US builds up forces for Iran strike appeared first on The Times of Israel.

Leaders haven't formulated a plan despite deadline on issue passing weeks ago, says Gali Baharav-Miara; government secretary argues all available enforcement tools are being used

The post AG tells High Court government failing to sanction ultra-Orthodox draft dodgers appeared first on The Times of Israel.

Following Monday hearing on green groups' petition, court demands the state define its 'bottom line' for emissions cuts, report on climate steps and status of climate bill

The post Heeding green groups’ demand, High Court orders government to justify climate targets appeared first on The Times of Israel.

'Bau: Artist at War' tells story of Holocaust survivor, animator and master forgerer, with his daughters seeking to stave off demolition of his Tel Aviv former studio

The post Film about Israeli ‘Walt Disney’ lends urgency to save Joseph Bau museum appeared first on The Times of Israel.

PLO secretary general claims Hamas isn't a terror group, should have a role in governing postwar Gaza; dismisses as 'impossible' expected reforms of Palestinian Authority

The post Defying Trump, senior Palestinian official rejects demand for Hamas disarmament, PA reforms appeared first on The Times of Israel.

As PM Modi arrives in Israel, Jerusalem must elevate the relationship to a top-tier priority. Moving beyond defense to a full-scale economic and tech alliance is now a geopolitical necessity.

As US-Iran tensions rise, US President Donald Trump stated that he will “never allow the world’s number one sponsor of terror to have a nuclear weapon.”

"We are considering whether to take legal action," Claudia Sheinbaum said during her daily morning press conference, adding that government lawyers are reviewing the matter.

France’s Foreign Minister, Jean-Noël Barrot, said the senior American representative is required to explain his absence, and until he does so, he will be denied access to senior figures.

CENTCOM Chief Admiral Brad Cooper, who replaced Kurilla in August 2025, is as influential as ever, in particular as the top commander who has planned the current potential operations against Iran.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said a nuclear agreement with the US is within reach if diplomacy is prioritized, as the two sides prepare to resume talks in Geneva on Thursday.

American F-22 fighter jets landed at an Israeli Air Force base on Tuesday evening amid rising tensions between the US and Iran. 

From his 2017 visit to Israel to a broader strategic shift in New Delhi, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has transformed relations, reshaping diplomacy, security, and regional cooperation.

Trump’s address is expected to tout the accomplishments of his second term in what he has said will be a “long speech” centering on the US economy.

Newsom, widely believed to be running for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination, was offering a clear sign that he is aiming to appeal to a voter base that is increasingly critical of Israel.

In his interview with Saudi state network Al Liwan, Carlson hit out at the US government for going along with what he interpreted as Israel’s demands to overthrow the Islamic Regime in Iran. 

“It seems like a suicide mission for any Christian or Jew who doesn’t idolize Hitler to keep donating to the GOP,” Laura Loomer posted on X/Twitter late Monday.

New LL.B. track at Ono International School combines Israeli law with NY Bar eligibility

“It was a secret poll which said that 92% of the Iranian people hate their regime,” Sabti said, according to a transcript provided to The Jerusalem Post.

Speaking at the Jerusalem Post Miami Summit on Wednesday, Alshareef called on Israel and the Jewish people to back Iranians seeking freedom, as Netanyahu voiced solidarity with the protesters.

At the Jerusalem Post Miami Conference, TALMA CEO Ido Mahatzri showed how teachers, language and values reshape Israel’s periphery.

Speaking at the Jerusalem Post Miami Conference, IDF veterans and civil-society leaders highlighted service, dignity, and Diaspora responsibility as pillars of Israel’s next chapter.

Amid changing geopolitics and evolving Diaspora-Israel relations, the conference served as a platform for powerful ideas, bold discussions, and building bridges across continents.

According to data obtained by Let the Animals Live, the Nature and Parks Authority killed approximately 1,300 stray dogs in 2025, an increase from the 794 killed in 2024.

Somaliland — a self-declared state recognized only by Israel — now seeks to deepen its ties with Jerusalem beyond diplomacy.

The patients were treated for their wounds at the same hospital after fire and rescue services arrived on scene.

Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon, along with ambassadors envoys to the United Nations from across Europe, Africa, Latin America, and the Pacific, met with the Prime Minister and the President.

Addressing the possibility of an independent Israeli strike, MK Vaturi said there was currently no justification for such a move.

The program, called What’s Mine is Yours: Jewish Adult Learning for All., aims to provide Jewish academic resources for adults with disabilities, who have few options for Jewish educations.

The film is based on the extraordinary real life of Alfred Nakache, a Jewish athlete whose story of resilience under Nazi persecution has previously been told in two French documentaries.

The Jews at the heart of Among Neighbors, from California-based filmmaker Yoav Potash, died six months after the end of Nazi occupation.

The Arizona House approved resolutions rejecting the term "West Bank" in official state business, instead recognizing Israel's historical and legal sovereignty.

הרחק מאור הזרקורים, מתנהל בימים אלה קרב יצרי על מבנה היסטורי בלב העיר העתיקה ‑ חצר אלכסנדר. אחרי שנים של הקפאה, נערכים שוב דיונים חשאיים בהובלת משרד ראש הממשלה בנוגע לבעלות על המתחם. מי שלוטש לעברו עיניים הוא נשיא רוסיה, שמצפה מנתניהו לעמוד במילה שנתן לו לאחר שחרור נעמה יששכר. אלא שכעת יש מי שמעלים סימני שאלה לגבי הכוונה האמיתית של הקרמלין

נשיא ארה"ב נשא את נאום "מצב האומה" בקונגרס, ואמר שהוא מעדיף הסכם מול איראן - אך הזהיר שטהרן רוצה לחדש את תוכנית הגרעין וכי כבר פיתחה טילים שיכולים להגיע עד לאירופה: "רודפת שוב אחר שאיפות אפלות. יש לנו את הצבא החזק בעולם, לא אהסס להתעמת עם איומים". הנאום שבר שיא כארוך בהיסטוריה והתמקד בנושאי פנים וכלכלה, מהומה פרצה כשטראמפ התפאר בגירוש מהגרים, המחוקקות המוסלמיות צעקו - והוא נזף: "תתביישו לכן! הדמוקרטים מטורפים"

במהלך היום יהיה מעונן חלקית, בעוד שבלילה יחל לרדת גשם לפרקים והרוחות יתחזקו. מחר הגשם ימשיך לרדת, לצד שלג שצפוי בחרמון

ריח הבחירות כבר באוויר, והקרב על הנהגת הגוש של מתנגדי נתניהו כבר התחיל. במקום להתמקד בממשלה, מפלגות האופוזיציה יורות בתוך הנגמ"ש ומנסות לשפר עמדות לפני ההכרזה על בחירות, שתאלץ אותם לצופף שורות. הכתבת הפוליטית של ynet מורן אזולאי עושה לנו סדר: מי מתחזק, מי נחלש - ומה זה אומר על סיכויי האופוזיציה לנצח בבחירות

בשריפה שפרצה בבניין בנתניה נפגעו אנושות גבר ואישה כבני 80. מלבדם נפגעו שתי נשים בנות 73 ו-42 באורח קשה ובינוני, ושבעה אחרים באורח קל. בכבאות והצלה חוקרים את נסיבות פרוץ הדלקה וציינו כי לוחמי האש, שחילצו את הדיירים מהמבנה, "השיגו שליטה מלאה באירוע"

בכלי התקשורת הפלסטיניים דווח כי עשרות מתנחלים הציתו מבנים וכלי רכב בכפר סוסיא. "ראינו ג'יפ ולול תרנגולות עולים באש, אין למי לפנות", אמרה תושבת המקום. אין עצורים ולא ידוע על נפגעים. המשטרה: "מגנים בתוקף"

ראש ממשלת הודו יגיע לביקור היסטורי בישראל, בין היתר במטרה לחזק את הציר המתון מול האחים המוסלמים. במהלך ביקורו, שנערך כקונטרה להתחממות בין טורקיה לפקיסטן, הוא ייפגש עם נתניהו והרצוג. "זה גם מעביר מסר לסעודיה, מצרים וירדן - שלא יחשבו להצטרף לציר הטורקי", אמר בכיר לשעבר במל"ל

3 שנים לאחר החיסול של ליאור גרינברג בחולון, עצרה המשטרה גבר בן 32 שלפי החשד מעורב ברצח. ביום שישי הוא נעצר באתונה בעקבות חשד להלבנת הון בהיקף של יותר משמונה מיליון אירו בהולנד. עורך דינו מנע את הסגרתו להולנד, אך הוא נעצר עם נחיתתו בארץ

הביקורת על יעל קוטיק נובעת רק מכך שהיא העזה לצאת נגד היועצת המשפטית לממשלה. אם לא נטהר את השורות ונזרים דם חדש לפרקליטות היא תתנוון ותירקב

השבתם של 255 החטופים מהווה הישג אך בצוות האסטרטגי של מטה החטופים האזרחי הבנו דבר אחד: ניתן היה לעשות זאת קודם. היעדר שקיפות, עקשנות, וטעויות רבות בדרך יכלו להימנע. עובדה זאת מחייבת את המדינה להגיע למיצוי הדיון בנושא

באיראן לא נושמים לרווחה נוכח חילוקי הדעות בצמרת האמריקאית ביחס לתקיפה. בטהרן משוכנעים שהמטרה של טראמפ נותרה הפלת המשטר האיסלאמי, ואף עוסקים ביום שאחרי חמינאי ובאפשרות שיחוסל

הודו של מודי היא כבר לא "מדינת עולם שלישי" מתפתחת, אלא כוח עולמי אדיר. מסמכי האסטרטגיה של הבית הלבן הפנגטון מגדירים את הודו כשותפה החיונית ביותר של ארה"ב במאה ה-21, בעיקר על רקע היריבות והתחרות המתפתחת עם סין.

בלי המפכ"ל, בלי תיאום ובניגוד לנהלים? השר לביטחון לאומי בונה לעצמו שרשרת פיקוד פרטית מול הניצבים בשטח. ממסעדה בדרום ועד למרפסת בכותל - כך נראים המפגשים הישירים של בן גביר עם צמרת המשטרה. "התופעה לא הגיונית ובלתי-נסבלת", אמר המפכ"ל לשעבר קראדי. לשכת השר: "אלו פגישות מקצועיות"

על אף יחס שלילי של רבנים ופוליטיקאים, מספר הבנות הדתיות הפונות לגיוס לצה"ל ולא לשירות לאומי רק עולה. למרות זאת, כעת נחשף כי מוקדשים פי 8 יותר משאבים בהכנת נערות לשירות לאומי. בנוסף, 51% מבנות השירות בוחרות להתנדב שנה בלבד, מחצית מהזמן של חברותיהן במדים. משרד החינוך: "התקצוב ייבחן"

בני משפחת קסאו מציינים שנתיים להיעלמותה של הבת היימנוט - שנתיים של געגועים בלתי נגמרים ומחשבות מייסרות על גורלה של אהובתם, שאמורה לחגוג בת מצווה בעוד חודשיים. היום הם יצעדו בירושלים ויזעקו את זעקתה של משפחה שמרגישה שהמדינה ויתרה עליה: "דורשים ששב"כ יתערב. לא מאבדים תקווה"

מטוסי ה-F-22, שיש רק לארה"ב, אמורים להשתלב במטסי תקיפה אמריקניים באיראן, אם טראמפ ייתן אור ירוק. הסיבות כנראה לנחיתתם בארץ ולא באחד מבסיסי ארה"ב במזה"ת: יצירת אפקט הרתעתי, ניסיון ללחוץ את האיראנים - והעברת מסר שוושינגטון וירושלים מתואמות, ועשויות לפעול ביחד

הפעם בלי מרדכי דוד: 3 ימים לאחר שהפגינו ליד דלת ביתה, חזרו פעילים אל סמוך לבניין של המגישה. הם התעמתו עם שוטרים וקראו: "הימין סיים לשתוק"

מבית החולים בנתניה נמסר כי המטופל שעישן נפגע באורח בינוני כתוצאה משריפה שפרצה במחלקה הפנימית, ומטופל נוסף נפגע באורח קל. "מערכת הכיבוי האוטומטית הופעלה, השריפה כובתה ולא נשקפת סכנה למטופלים נוספים", נמסר

נשיא ארה"ב יגיע הלילה לקונגרס לנאום דרמטי, בצל המתיחות הגדולה במזרח התיכון והאפשרות של מתקפה קרובה נגד איראן. הנאום יאפשר לו להסביר לציבור האמריקני את עמדתו בנושא האיראני, על רקע היעדר הקונצנזוס בממשל והתסכול של בוחריו מהעיסוק הגובר במדיניות חוץ. גורמים בבית הלבן אמרו שבנאום טראמפ יציג את התוכניות שלו בנושא איראן. הנשיא אמר לכתבים לקראת הנאום: "איראן רוצה להגיע לעסקה כדי שלא תותקף, אבל לא מתחייבת לא לפתח נשק גרעיני"

אם כולם ימשיכו לדבוק בעמדותיהם הניציות, צפוי לנו אירוע מביך למדי שבו ספסלי האופוזיציה יתרוקנו מיושביהם, ויותירו את מודי כמי שנואם בפני נציגיו של חצי מהעם בלבד

שי סימן טוב נפצע אנושות בעזה ב-2014 כשהיה מג"ד בגולני. הוא חזר לצבא חרף נכותו, מכהן כמפקד באגף המבצעים, וכפי שנחשף ב-ynet הוחלט להעלות אותו לדרגה הבכירה. הרמטכ"ל: "אתה דוגמה לתמצית הרוח האנושית"

שניים במצב קשה ולפחות חמישה פצועים קל, ברצף תאונות באחד הכבישים המרכזיים בארץ. התאונה הראשונה אירעה במחלף חמד, והשנייה בצד השני של הכביש - כנראה בעקבות כלי רכב שעצרו לסייע

נושאת המטוסים פורד ממשיכה להתקרב, ובארץ כבר נחתו 12 מהמטוסים המתקדמים בעולם. על רקע עיבוי הכוחות, ולפני נאום "מצב האומה" של טראמפ, איראן מנסה לשדר - עסקה אפשרית. הנשיא פזשכיאן: "תומכים בשלום ויציבות". שר החוץ עראקצ'י: "לא נפתח נשק גרעיני". סגנו: "אם יהיה רצון - הסכם אפשרי"

שתי הילדות, ששיחקו בפארק לפני חוג, סיפרו כי האישה צילמה אותן ואף הציעה להן טיול בצפון. אמה של אחת הילדות: "היא ביקשה להיות איתה לבד כאילו זה חלק ממשחק, ואז נגעה לה בישבן". החשודה, תושבת השרון בת 45, נעצרה

במלאת 4 שנים למלחמת רוסיה-אוקראינה, העצרת הכללית אישרה ברוב עצום הצעת החלטה של קייב שכוללת בין היתר דרישה ממוסקבה לנסיגה. ישראל לא הצביעה כמו האמריקנים, שבחרו להימנע בגלל מאמציהם להגיע להסכם שלום

במקום לנסוע לשגרירות האמריקנית בירושלים ולבזבז זמן רב בפקקים ובחיפוש חניה, נציגי הקונסוליה יגיעו לאפרת וליישובים נוספים ויעניקו שירותים לאזרחי ארה"ב

אלכסיי ברודסקי יוסגר לרוסיה, שם הוא צפוי לעמוד לדין על עבירת פיראטיות שעונשה עד 15 שנות מאסר. בשנת 2009 נעצר בפרשה אך נמלט - ובהמשך נתפס בקפריסין בעקבות צו שהוציא האינטרפול. עורך דינו הודיע שיערער על ההחלטה

"יכולים לעזור לכם": על רקע האפשרות לתקיפה, סוכנות הביון המרכזית של ארה"ב פנתה לאיראנים וצירפה סרטון עם הנחיות ליצירת קשר באופן מאובטח

24 ימים חלפו מאז היעלמותה של ננסי, אמה הקשישה של מגישת NBC סוואנה גאת'רי, וטרם ידועה זהותו של רעול הפנים שתועד בכניסה לביתה. משפחתה של ננסי מקווה לנס, והבת סוואנה פרסמה סרטון שבו הציעה פרס גדול תמורת מידע שיוביל למציאתה: "אנחנו רוצים אותה בבית וצריכים לדעת איפה היא"

בן 25 נורה למוות בראמה, ואיל סעאידה נרצח באום אל-גאנם שבגליל כשיצא לקניות. אחיו סיפר שנהג המתין לרוצח ומילט אותו מהמקום, האב: "יש לנו יחסים טובים עם כולם. כשאנחנו ישנים, אנחנו לא נועלים את הדלת"

Tensions between the US and Iran are nearing a boiling point, with diplomatic efforts continuing even as Washington ramps up its military posture across the region and issues direct threats toward Tehran.

President Donald Trump has set an early March deadline for reaching a deal and warned that if no agreement is achieved, "bad things will happen." Writing overnight between Monday and Tuesday, Trump said he would "prefer a deal, but if not, it will be a very bad day for Iran."

Trump weighs military strike in Iran. Photo: Reuters

Meanwhile, At least 12 F-22 Raptor stealth fighter jets landed Tuesday at an Israeli Air Force base in southern Israel as part of the US regional deployment in the Middle East, a source at US Central Command confirmed to Kan News.

The F-22 is a strategic stealth fighter aircraft operated by the US. Unlike the F-35, Washington has not sold the F-22 to any other country. Much of the aircraft's capabilities remain classified and it is considered a state secret in the US, with abilities unmatched by any other fighter jet.

The aircraft's structure and composite materials enable it to evade radar detection, allowing it to fly covertly toward its target. To preserve its stealth profile, the missiles it carries are stored internally rather than mounted under its wings until the moment of launch. The F-22 is also equipped with a low-observable radar system that allows it to detect adversaries without exposing itself while in stealth configuration, along with advanced self-defense capabilities.

According to Bloomberg, Trump has assembled the largest US military force in the region since the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Officials in Tehran reportedly assess that if the Islamic Republic of Iran withstands a possible strike, it would be able to claim victory.

At the same time, The New York Times reported that the president is considering an initial strike in the coming days. If that fails to break the regime's resilience, a broader military campaign could follow, even as Pentagon officials warn of the risk of a prolonged confrontation.

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Australia's Royal Commission into antisemitism, established in the wake of the Bondi Beach shooting in which 15 people were killed and 40 wounded, has opened its public hearings.

The federal commission will examine the prevalence of antisemitism and its root causes, and will submit recommendations to the government. The inquiry, led by former Supreme Court Justice Virginia Bell, began Tuesday and will also examine the events that led up to the attack – the worst mass shooting in Australia in decades.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had opposed calls for a federal inquiry, arguing it would harm social cohesion, but later yielded to public pressure. The commissioner is expected to submit an interim report by the end of April and a full report no later than the first anniversary of the attack, which took place on December 14 of last year.

"I acknowledge that for some, it will never feel right to talk about closure, but a small part of grappling with the events of that evening will be the work of this commission," Bell said in her opening address on Tuesday. "I regard delivering my report by or before the first anniversary as a matter of critical importance," she added.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (Photo: AP)

Bell said she was "eager to hear from Jewish Australians who have experienced antisemitism, whether at school, university, the workplace, or elsewhere." Anyone can submit testimony online, and no one will be pressured to give evidence publicly, she said.

Richard Lancaster, a senior counsel assisting the commission, described the Bondi shooting as "a truly horrific event" and acknowledged the "enormous trauma" the attack had caused Australian Jews. Lancaster proposed leading evidence across four broad areas: identifying antisemitic behavior, identifying the causes of antisemitism, examining how law enforcement agencies handle antisemitism, and investigating the circumstances of the Bondi shooting – particularly what security agencies and intelligence services knew about the alleged perpetrators.

A memorial at the site of the massacre in Sydney, Australia (Photo: AP)

Of the perpetrators who carried out the attack, Sajid Akram, 50, was shot dead by police at the scene. His son, Naveed Akram, was seriously wounded and later transferred from the hospital to prison. The 24-year-old appeared in court last week for the first time, facing 59 charges, including 15 counts of murder and one count of carrying out a terrorist attack.

In light of the ongoing criminal case, the royal commission has been directed to avoid matters that could prejudice current and future legal proceedings. This may mean that some hearings will be held behind closed doors.

Immediately after the shooting, Albanese announced a review by a former intelligence chief to examine what federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies had done ahead of the attack and what improvements could be made. He said that review – alongside a royal commission to be convened by the state of New South Wales – would be the best way to respond to the attacks, and that a federal inquiry would provide a platform for antisemitic hate speech.

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Twenty years ago, Hedva Sela – known by her Belgian name, Jeanne Ben Zaken – first went public with a claim that stunned many: "I am the daughter of the King of Morocco." Three years ago, encouraged by her son, she launched legal proceedings against the estate of Morocco's former king, Hassan II (who ruled Morocco from 1961 until his death in 1999), demanding that the reigning king, his three sisters, and younger brother recognize her as their sibling.

In an interview she gave to Yedioth Ahronoth three years ago, Sela said her attorneys had persuaded the court that Raoul Jossar, the husband of her late mother, Anita, was not her biological father. Yet more than three years into the case filed in Belgium, no conclusive evidence has been presented to establish that King Hassan II was her father. Sela's lawsuit demands that the king and his family submit to DNA testing – a demand that has been firmly rejected.

Atty. Stanislas Eskenazi, representing Morocco's Foreign Ministry, filed a counterclaim against Sela, alleging she is lying. The counterclaim states that Sela has no connection whatsoever to the royal family and that it was therefore inconceivable that the king and the princes should be asked to undergo DNA testing. In an interview with Israel Hayom, Eskenazi argued that Sela has no shred of evidence and that all she wants is "fair compensation" – in a word, money.

Atty. Stanislas Eskenazi, representing Morocco's Foreign Ministry, filed a counterclaim against Sela, alleging she is lying (Photo: J. De Taye) "Trying to speak for the dead"

Three years since the case opened in Belgium – have any new pieces of evidence been presented that prove a biological connection?

"She is trying to speak for the dead. There is no one left to contradict her version of events. She can adjust, expand, and reframe her narrative without facing direct contradiction from those involved – her late mother, Anita, and former King Hassan II. The one fact that remains constant is this: she has no verifiable evidence. What we are witnessing is not proof; it is a media campaign built on one of the greatest forgeries ever."

Beyond personal testimony and family recollections, what objective evidence has been presented to support the claim?

"None! To date, no objective, proven evidence establishing a biological connection has been presented. What we see are personal accounts and family narratives. Courts, however, decide based on evidence such as documents, verified facts, and scientifically reliable material capable of proving a concrete biological link."

Sela's attorneys said they proved "easily" that Raoul Jossar was not her father, and that doing so did not even require tissue testing.

"They have no proof that Raoul Jossar is not the biological father. They went to court on an ex parte (one-sided, without the opposing party present) basis and developed a narrative they have been running again and again. The court had no opposing party to argue against that finding. She has a brother, yet she did not even ask him to appear – because there would be consequences for the family. She gave the court an incorrect name and date of birth for her brother so that he could not be summoned to testify. And so the court ruled that Raoul Jossar was not her father, based solely on her narrative, with no evidence. She claimed in the press that she had conducted three DNA tests to show that Jossar was not her father. I, on the other hand, sent the test to an international DNA-testing expert in the US – and he did not reach the same conclusion."

"Not evidence – a forgery"

One argument raised is a physical resemblance between Sela and King Hassan II. Is that admissible evidence in court, and has it actually been presented as such?

"You do not open a DNA investigation based on subjective resemblance, because supposed resemblance is not evidentiary proof of any biological link. In this case, I took the photographs published online and in newspapers – offered as proof of a similar appearance – and gave them to a forensic expert for examination. He concluded they had been altered. Digital manipulation. These are not evidence. It is a forgery. In fact, everything she has produced in the context of this case has been distorted: her Belgian address, the photographs she sends to the media, her DNA test results, her motives – which are purely financial – and so on."

Sela's attorneys argue that the refusal to conduct a DNA test implies a fear that her claim will prove correct. What is your position? Is that a legitimate argument?

"If my client were afraid, he would be hiding. The state of Morocco appeared in the proceedings – we had no fear. We filed a criminal complaint. The Court of Appeals issued new investigative orders. It gave us grounds to conduct further investigations into her. Why would anyone grant another person a DNA test when no evidence has been presented? There is one goal here from the very start. The story began when Ben Zaken's Belgian attorney went to the Moroccan ambassador in Brussels to ask for money. He came to him and said, 'I have evidence. I represent the daughter of the late king. Let us reach a settlement.' That was published in the press – he asked for a 'discreet and equitable remedy.' But if you want recognition as the daughter of a king, you do not ask for a discreet remedy. And so she wants money – not recognition. You cannot be a princess in secret."

Mohammed VI King of Morocco arrives for the commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the end of WWI at Elysee Palace on November 11, 2018 in Paris, France (Photo: Aurelien Meunier/Getty Images) Getty Images "She needs to come with evidence"

In the absence of substantive proof of a blood connection between different individuals, can one party compel the other to undergo DNA testing?

"In a country governed by the rule of law, there must be a minimum evidentiary threshold before invasive measures such as genetic testing can be compelled. Otherwise, anyone can force anyone else to submit to testing – including public figures – based on an allegation alone. In this case, I will make sure that does not happen, so that it does not set a precedent. I am certain that in Israel you are protective of privacy and individual rights. That is 'your property' – you certainly do not want it shared with the general public." Their declaration – "Why not just take the test?" – is absurd. It is akin to having a global database of DNA tests exposed to everyone."

"She should have come with solid evidence. Why didn't she bring her brother? Because she knows she has no proof – and that is why she went to the press. She is only dreaming of being a princess. She will not receive any DNA test from any member of Morocco's royal family. I am saying this in the clearest possible terms. There is no justification for such a request."

In addition to the main case in Belgium, there is a parallel case in the US seeking sealed medical records. Why was a second arena opened?

"She is losing the case in Belgium. She can see she is not going to get where she wanted, because in Belgium, a counterclaim by the state of Morocco has been filed against her. So she turned – again on an ex parte basis – to obtain biological material from 30 years ago, from the one occasion when the late king was treated at a hospital. Where and how would you find a hospital sample from 30 years ago that could be used for DNA identification? She is only looking to show she has something – to intimidate us, something that will not help in the Belgian case – but might help her enter into negotiations. That will never happen. The state of Morocco will not negotiate with a fraudster."

The response of attorney Nathalie Uyttendaele, representing Hedva Sela, reads as follows: "The statements made by the attorney representing the Kingdom of Morocco are riddled with untruths, and the media offensive he is waging is part of a pressure strategy aimed at evading the truth. Ms. Ben Zaken filed a lawsuit in the Belgian court with one sole objective – to be granted a basic right: to know who her father was. The Belgian court will rule on the claim after examining all the evidence before it, including testimony, documents and expert opinions, among them a world-renowned geneticist who examined Ms. Ben Zaken's genetic profile. The Belgian court has the authority to order DNA testing, and refusal to comply with such an order constitutes decisive proof of paternity."

She added, "The attorney's claims that Ms. Ben Zaken is 'losing the case in Belgium' are false and disrespectful to the court. The proceedings are at the stage of arguments and will be decided by the court on the basis of evidence. Ms. Ben Zaken has presented, and will present, a complete body of evidence that speaks for itself. Meanwhile, Morocco's standing in these proceedings is itself in question, and the court has yet to rule on whether it will allow Morocco to make any arguments at all – as opposed to family members themselves, who are entitled to participate."

Uyttendaele further argued, "The Belgian court has already ruled that Mr. Raoul Jossar is not Ms. Ben Zaken's biological father. It did so after hearing a range of evidence, including expert genetic opinion and evidence proving that Mr. Jossar had been at sea for months during the period when Ms. Ben Zaken's mother became pregnant. Contrary to what has been claimed, Ms. Ben Zaken informed the court of the existence of her brother – whom she last saw in 1996 following the death of her mother – but he could not be located. This is documented in writing in the court file, and any attempt to deny it only underscores the nature of the claims being made."

"The US proceedings are aimed at locating DNA samples in order to allow the case to be concluded quickly and efficiently. Anyone who truly wants the truth to be established cannot object to such a test. The fact that the Kingdom of Morocco is deploying its full weight and resources in an attempt to undermine and obstruct these proceedings speaks for itself."

On the claim that there is no physical resemblance between Ms. Ben Zaken and King Hassan II, Uyttendaele said, "Contrary to what has been claimed, the photographs of Ms. Ben Zaken and King Hassan II that show a striking resemblance between them are not forged – that allegation is false. There is an abundance of photographs of Ms. Ben Zaken, including those taken by media outlets, and of course an endless supply of photographs of King Hassan II. The strong resemblance is evident, and it will be presented to the Belgian court, including the professional basis for the comparison between the photographs."

"Prior to filing the paternity claim, Ms. Ben Zaken sought to allow a confidential determination of paternity – without public attention and without any financial demand. Ms. Ben Zaken did not want to enter into a legal battle facing the power and resources of an entire state, and did so only as a last resort. Unfortunately, the Kingdom of Morocco has for years been working to complicate and delay the proceedings by filing spurious claims against Ms. Ben Zaken and through other means aimed at intimidating her and deterring her from pursuing her paternity claim to its conclusion. The enormous resources Morocco is investing in this matter speak for themselves. All of this, while the facts can be established through a very simple test – immediately."

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A significant rift has emerged between what President Donald Trump said publicly about his top general's views on Iran and what that general allegedly communicated in high-level White House meetings – a disconnect that The New York Times has reported ahead of Thursday's US-Iran negotiations in Geneva.

Trump posted on social media Monday that Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, regarded any US military action against Iran as "something easily won." Behind closed doors, however, the picture Gen. Caine painted was far more sobering, according to people familiar with the administration's internal deliberations cited by The New York Times. The general told the president and senior advisers that while US forces in the Middle East were positioned for a small or medium-scale operation, any such strike risked significant American casualties and would deplete US weapon stocks. He further drew a pointed contrast with last month's seizure of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, describing any action against Iran as considerably more complex than the Venezuela mission, the paper reported.

That gap captures the delicate role Gen. Caine plays as the nation's senior military adviser – mapping out the full array of options, their risks and trade-offs, while refraining from endorsing any particular course of action. Asked to respond to Trump's remarks, a Joint Staff spokesman offered no comment, the paper reported.

US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine (R) and IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir (L) during Caine's visit to Israel (Photo: IDF)

In his post, Trump framed Gen. Caine as a battle-hardened commander with unrivaled Iran expertise, citing his role leading Operation Midnight Hammer – last June's B-2 bomber strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities. "General Caine, like all of us, would like not to see War but, if a decision is made on going against Iran at a Military level, it is his opinion that it will be something easily won," the president wrote. He added, "He knows Iran well in that he was in charge of Midnight Hammer, the attack on the Iranian Nuclear Development." Deploying the general's nickname, Trump continued: "Razin Caine is a Great Fighter, and represents the Most Powerful Military anywhere in the World," before closing with: "He has not spoken of not doing Iran, or even the fake limited strikes that I have been reading about, he only knows one thing, how to WIN and, if he is told to do so, he will be leading the pack."

None of that squared with Caine's actual conduct in those meetings – including a session in the White House Situation Room last Wednesday – where he walked through operational military possibilities and, as is his established practice, held back from advocating any policy outcome.

A Sunday report from The New York Times had revealed that Trump signaled readiness to pursue a far larger campaign to dislodge Iran's leadership should early diplomacy or a preliminary strike fall short. Potential targets include the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps headquarters, Iran's nuclear facilities, and elements of its ballistic missile program; should even those steps fail to move Tehran, Trump raised with advisers the possibility of a broader assault later this year aimed at toppling supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the paper noted.

US and Iranian negotiating teams are set to meet in Geneva on Thursday in what has the hallmarks of a final attempt to forestall armed conflict. "I am the one that makes the decision," Trump declared Monday, adding: "I would rather have a Deal than not but, if we don't make a Deal, it will be a very bad day for that Country."

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Dozens of diplomats, senior Trump administration officials, and Jewish community leaders gathered Friday evening at the Donald J. Trump Peace Institute in Washington for a Shabbat dinner hosted by Ambassador Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun, President Trump's special envoy to combat antisemitism.

On Thursday, the same venue hosted the founding session of the Gaza Board of Peace, which focused on Gaza's rehabilitation. The gathering brought together a select circle of senior Washington figures, including Princess Reema bint Bandar Al Saud, Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the United States, and Yousef Al-Otaiba, the UAE's ambassador to the United States – even though the two Gulf states have experienced tensions in their bilateral relations in recent months.

Kaploun, who began his role at the State Department in December after Senate confirmation, addressed the gathering. "I wanted to give ambassadors from many countries and State Department officials the experience of Shabbat, and for them to understand its importance," he said.

Thank you to UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh @ABZayed and his team for a very productive meeting. It takes courage to lead, and we see the benefits of peace with the Abraham Accords.

Looking forward to working together to implement even more programs for… https://t.co/JytypWEWdD

— Ambassador Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun (@StateSEAS) February 23, 2026

The Saudi ambassador spoke after him and addressed the question of normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia. Kaploun said the ambassador "noted how close Saudi Arabia and Israel had come to normalization before October 7, that the issue was personally important to her, and that she has many regrets that the efforts did not succeed." He added that she said "leadership requires courage, and that we must aspire to a culture of mutual respect."

Among the 40 to 45 attendees were primarily diplomats and official representatives, alongside American Jewish leaders and Israel Hayom publisher Dr. Miriam Adelson. Kaploun said the success of the event has led him to plan additional official Shabbat dinners in the future.

Earlier in the week, Kaplan continued his Gulf outreach with a meeting with UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed. It was his second meeting with a Gulf foreign minister, following a similar meeting roughly a week earlier with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, held on the sidelines of the Munich Conference.

"We talked about how to create an atmosphere that builds on the Abraham Accords, based on the premise that peace builds prosperity and that extremism must be stopped," Kaploun said. "We talked about how hate rhetoric must be condemned by everyone, and that more must be done to condemn hatred around the world." He described the meeting as very positive.

Asked whether there were common threads between his meetings with the two foreign ministers, he replied, "Both foreign ministers agreed that the efforts the president and the State Department are making to advance peace are the best initiative the United States can take, and they acknowledged the contribution of the president's peace envoys." Kaploun noted that he intends to continue meeting with regional leaders to advance President Trump's policy.

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Reports from Iran indicate that a military helicopter crashed Tuesday into a crowded market in the city of Khomeyni Shahr (a town near Isfahan in central Iran) in what appeared to be a serious accident.



Video: Iranian military helicopter crashes into crowded market. Credit: Social media

Videos published from the scene showed a severe fire at the crash site, making it impossible to identify the helicopter's remains. Iran's ISNA (Islamic Students' News Agency) reported that the helicopter's pilot and co-pilot were killed in the crash. Two market vendors were also reported killed.

The model of the downed helicopter was not disclosed, but Persian-language media outlets in Turkey reported that it belonged to the Iranian army. Last week, an Iranian Air Force F-4 Phantom fighter jet crashed, killing its pilot.

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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Israel is no routine diplomatic event. It is a moment that can – and must – serve as the opening shot for crafting a genuinely updated strategic doctrine. The visit is taking place at a time when the space between the Mediterranean and the Indian subcontinent is undergoing a profound reorganization around regional blocs. These are no longer disconnected arenas – they constitute a continuous expanse in which centers of power are actively seeking alignment and influence.

Before our eyes, a distinct Sunni Islamist axis is taking shape – one that should be called by its true name: the Muslim Brotherhood bloc. This bloc presents Israel with a layered challenge. It is working to establish a new regional order with the paradoxical backing of both the US and Europe – an order that runs directly counter to Israeli interests and, given the enduring tensions between India and Pakistan, one that just as plainly cuts against Indian interests in the region.

Turkey provides the bloc with political and military leadership; Qatar serves as its financial engine; and Pakistan offers diplomatic cover backed by a nuclear umbrella. Joining them is Saudi Arabia – driven by regional competition and the need for a repositioning – and Egypt, which is still wavering but is deeply dependent on capital and investment. A country like Egypt, with its fragile economy, will struggle to remain outside an axis that offers economic backing and a political horizon over the long term.

This bloc has already notched impressive gains in just a few months. Syria has fallen to an Islamist-Turkish axis; the Gaza Strip is under complete Hamas-Turkish control; and Judea and Samaria in the post-Abu Mazen (Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian Authority president) era are squarely in Turkish-Qatari crosshairs. Meanwhile, this axis has its sights set on Iraq and Lebanon – weak, fractured states vulnerable to outside influence. Israel once dozed off as the Shiite chokehold tightened around its throat. It cannot afford to fall asleep again in the face of a Muslim Brotherhood stranglehold.

This is where Iran enters the picture – not the Iran of today, but the Iran of tomorrow. Looking ahead, there is a profound historic and strategic interest in toppling the ayatollah regime that goes far beyond the need to neutralize the security threats we currently face. A regime change in Iran is a necessary and consequential geopolitical move that would carry substantial weight in Israel's future ability to contend with the challenges ahead. A post-ayatollah Iran – non-theocratic, non-revolutionary, non-imperialist – can and should be a natural partner for India and Israel in the effort to contain the growing power of a radical Sunni Islamist bloc led by Turkey and Qatar, with Pakistani backing. A pro-Western Iranian regime would ensure stability and balance in the Middle East of the future. An India-Iran-Israel axis would serve as a counterweight and an alternative for other states in the region, and would also check the American drift toward Turkey and Qatar.

Modi's visit this week must focus on the understanding that the interests of Jerusalem and New Delhi extend well beyond the bilateral arena and connect to a broader regional balance. Above all, what is needed is a shared vision and a proactive action plan for the day after the ayatollahs in Iran. India has a historic role to play in such a scenario – it has always been both a stakeholder in and an ally of Iran. Israel must lift its eyes from the military arena and grasp the magnitude of the strategic diplomatic opportunity from its own vantage point. Israel and India are declaring, during Modi's visit, an upgrade of their relations to "special strategic relations" – and the expression of that must go beyond weapons systems to coordination and joint action in shaping the regional space.

Many will doubt the possibility of reshaping the regional balance of power that is now consolidating. At times, political short-sightedness seems like a congenital defect of Israeli politics. And yet, fundamental shifts in foreign policy following a change of government are not theoretical. We have seen this recently in Syria, where leadership change has opened a new chapter with the United States; we have seen it in Venezuela, a country until recently defined as starkly anti-American and anti-Western, which is now willing to sell oil even to Israel, a move that would have seemed unthinkable just a few months ago. The geopolitical reality is more fluid than it appears. Israel must stay focused on opportunities that appear and vanish at a rapid pace – and start initiating moves rather than merely reacting to them.

History, too, teaches that such a pivot is not fantasy. In the 1960s and '70s, a strategic alliance existed between Jerusalem and Tehran – security, intelligence, and energy cooperation between two minority peoples in the Middle East who sought balance against the radical Arab world of that era. It bears emphasizing: a minority alliance in the Middle East is the most durable foundation for stabilizing a long-term relationship in the region – especially when such an alliance is backed by a rising power like India. What David Ben-Gurion understood in the 1950s must be evident to today's leadership as well.

The Israeli discourse on Iran has been locked for years inside a fixed triangle: nuclear weapons, ballistic missiles, and proxy terror. This is a real, serious, and immediate threat – and it must not be minimized. But a national strategy cannot settle for managing the threat. A country that sees itself as a regional power must think twenty and thirty years ahead – asking not only how to prevent the next danger but how to shape the next Middle East. This is especially urgent when a rare window of opportunity has opened for substantial change, and when hostile regional powers are aggressively and proactively working to mold the space to suit their own needs.

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There is deep skepticism that Iran's proposal, set to be presented Tuesday to Oman's foreign minister, will include any substantive changes from previous offers, and a breakthrough at the upcoming meeting in Geneva appears unlikely, a regional diplomat familiar with the negotiations said.

According to the diplomat, Tehran has already signaled publicly that it intends to focus on technical issues, including oversight of its nuclear facilities and the timeframe after which it would be permitted to resume uranium enrichment. No Iranian concession is expected on the core issue of enrichment itself, nor is there any indication that Tehran will agree to discuss its ballistic missile program or its support for regional terrorism.

Reports in Israel and elsewhere that Saudi Arabia is quietly backing regime change in Iran have not been denied by the Saudi royal court. A Saudi source told Israel Hayom that Riyadh prefers to wait for the outcome of the negotiations and unfolding events, but made clear that any meaningful weakening of the ayatollah regime or its replacement would be welcome news for the kingdom.

US officials Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are expected to attend the Geneva meeting, along with Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the UN watchdog overseeing nuclear activity. Grossi's presence showcases the technical nature of the talks and their focus on enrichment levels and supervision of Iranian nuclear sites.

Araghchi, Witkoff and Kushner. Photo: AP/Arab networks

Meanwhile, Iran's rapid trials are continuing, most conducted remotely via video. Special tribunals established to prosecute participants in the protest movement handed down death sentences at the start of the week to dozens of young people accused of burning mosques and committing other offenses. It remains unclear whether the executions have been carried out, but families have received official notifications.

Iran previously assured the US that it would refrain from executing protesters. Israel Hayom has reported, however, that hundreds and possibly thousands of detained demonstrators were killed in custody, most often by gunshot or strangulation.

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A rare visit by US Air Force aerial refueling aircraft to an Israeli Air Force base at Ben-Gurion Airport made headlines Monday after the large KC-46 Pegasus jets were photographed by local spotters.

The deployment is considered unusual, as US military aircraft, aside from transport planes delivering equipment to the Israel Defense Forces, do not routinely operate from Israeli Air Force bases. By contrast, US forces regularly use airfields in Jordan, Iraq and Gulf states.

The newly arrived refueling aircraft represent the technological spearhead of the US aerial refueling fleet. This system allows the US Air Force and US Navy, which maintains its own separate air arm, to operate far beyond their standard combat range. In the event of fighting with the Islamic Republic of Iran, numerous refueling squadrons already transferred to bases in the region would enable US forces to operate deep inside Iranian territory from significant distances, including from bases in Jordan and from aircraft carriers positioned far off Iran's coast.

The Israeli Air Force's new refueling aircraft. Photo: Boeing

The US Air Force currently operates 77 KC-46 aircraft, which service both Navy and Air Force planes. In addition, it continues to fly more than 300 refueling aircraft from earlier models. Although the KC-46 is considered the most advanced operational refueling aircraft in the world, it has been linked in the past to a series of malfunctions, primarily involving its refueling boom and onboard vision systems.

Israel has so far purchased six KC-46 refuelers, with the acquisition of the final two approved in 2025. However, it will take additional time before it is declared operational, as Israel plans to install Israeli-made systems on the new planes and adapt them to the Israeli Air Force's operational needs.

The Boeing KC-46 has a range of 11,830 kilometers (7,350 miles) and several additional capabilities, including the ability to refuel two aircraft simultaneously, with the option of examining the feasibility of refueling three at once. It can operate day and night and in all weather conditions. The aircraft can also carry a combination of passengers and cargo. As a military platform, it is equipped with self-defense systems.

The delivery of the refueling aircraft will enable the Israeli Air Force to conduct aerial refueling for all aircraft currently in service. Photo: Getty Images

During Operation Rising Lion, the Israeli Air Force carried out more than 60 aerial refuelings using aging Boeing aircraft, enabling a sustained Israeli Air Force presence over Iran. Squadron 120, the refueling squadron that operates the tankers, marked its 60th anniversary last year. The squadron specializes in complex aerial refueling missions across multiple arenas and at significant distances, allowing the Israeli Air Force to operate deep inside enemy territory and at extended ranges under risk.

Refueling aircraft are capable of long-distance flights and precise fuel transfers in a wide range of scenarios, requiring complex coordination with strike squadrons. Each plane carries dozens of tons of fuel and conducts midair refueling even in hostile areas, ensuring operational continuity and the ability to strike targets at extended distances. Aerial refueling constitutes a critical pillar of Israel's deterrence and response capabilities, particularly in distant theaters such as Iran and Yemen.

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An Israeli source quoted on the Saudi television channel Al-Hadath warned that the threat level facing Israeli diplomatic missions abroad is extremely high, with multiple warnings of planned attacks.

According to the Israeli source, "We may evacuate several of our embassies." He added, "We have raised the readiness threshold at our embassies in Europe, the Far East, and Latin America."

"There are warnings about the intent of elements linked to Iran to carry out terrorist attacks against our interests abroad," the source was quoted as saying. "We have asked former security personnel and former senior officials to return to the country as soon as possible."

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei (L) and US President Donald Trump (R) (Photo: Reuters, EPA)

According to the New York Times, American and Western security officials said they are monitoring with growing concern signs that Iran may direct its proxies to carry out terrorist attacks against American targets in Europe and the Middle East, as retaliation for a US strike against Iran.

The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, noted that no concrete attack plans had yet been identified, but heightened "chatter" – intelligence jargon for intercepted communications among terrorists – pointed to some level of planning and coordination. A senior official said that State Department analysts are tracking "a lot" of activity and planning, but it remains unclear exactly who the attacking party would be.

The post Report: Iran-linked terror plots targeting Israeli embassies abroad appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

בנאום "מצב האומה" הארוך בהיסטוריה הציג דונלד טראמפ חזון ל"תור זהב" אמריקאי, איים על איראן, הכריז על הישגים בעזה – והתעמת חזיתית עם הדמוקרטים בקונגרס

בסרטון שפרסם ראש הממשלה נתניהו, הוא אומר שעזה זקוקה ל'חינוך מחדש', מכנה את ישראל נכס אסטרטגי לארה"ב ומזהיר את איראן בעוצמה בלתי נתפסת אם תתקוף

כמעט שלוש שנים לאחר שנמלט מהארץ בעקבות רצח ליאור גרינברג ב-2023, שון קונסטיני נעצר בנתב"ג עם נחיתתו מיוון | השטרה תבקש הבוקר להאריך את מעצרו בבית משפט השלום בתל אביב

הסקס לוהט והכימיה בלתי ניתנת להכחשה - אך מחוץ לחדר השינה הם מגלים שאין להם כמעט על מה לדבר, ועתיד משותף נראה רחוק מתמיד: יועצת הזוגיות מייעצת מה כדאי לעשות

רבנים, שרים, אנשי מקצוע ונפגעות, התכנסו לדיון ראשון מסוגו בכנסת על תפקיד הקהילה בהתמודדות עם פגיעות מיניות, כולל עדויות אישיות וקריאה לאפס סובלנות

רפורמת החלב מתקדמת, אבל האם היא אכן תוריד את המחירים לצרכן? סוגיה שעלתה היום על שולחן הדיונים מציבה אתגר כלכלי משמעותי

שרפה פרצה באחת המחלקות בבית החולים לניאדו, שני מטופלים ששהו במקום נפגעו והם במצב קל ובינוני. ההערכה: אחד המטופלים עישן בחדר האשפוז

טראמפ מנסה לפעול בתור המבוגר האחראי כדי להימנע ממלחמה כוללת. איראן תסבך את עצמה אם היא תירה לכיוון ישראל - ומערך ההגנה האווירית שלנו יהיה מוכן יותר, לפחות על הנייר

בישראל חוששים מהסכם אמריקאי מהיר וחלקי עם איראן, שישאיר את איום הטילים והפרוקסיז בחוץ, ומנסים לפענח אם פניו של טראמפ לעימות או לעסקה שתותיר אותנו לבד

"נאום מצב האומה": טראמפ נאם במשך שעה ו-47 דקות, בהן התייחס לסוגיות ההגירה, הבריאות והכלכלה - והרבה לתקוף את הדמוקרטים. על איראן: "לעולם לא נאפשר להם נשק גרעיני", "כל החטופים הישראלים חזרו הביתה"

מכונת הרעל חשפה בשבועיים האחרונים את היד שלה, כי אם החקיקה להחלשת התקשורת מתעכבת, תמיד אפשר להסית ולתקוף את אנשי התקשורת עצמם

גשמים מקומיים צפויים לפרקים בעיקר בצפון הארץ ובמישור החוף. הטמפרטורות יהיו רגילות לעונה

איום האופוזיציה בהחרמת הישיבה בכנסת לכבוד ביקורו של ראש ממשלת הודו הוא צעד שעלול לפגוע בישראל, דיפלומטית ואסטרטגית

לקראת יום המודעות הבינלאומי למחלות נדירות, שלושה ישראלים שמתמודדים עם מחלות כאלה מספרים על הקשיים, על המגבלות, על החוסן שפיתחו ועל האופטימיות: "לא להסתכל על המבוי הסתום, אלא על איך אפשר למצוא פתרון"

פה ושם יש לפרחחי הימין שמלהיטים את האוויר שותפים במדי משטרה, אבל נראה שהמפכ"ל משאיר למפקדים המקומיים את השמירה על הסדר 

במהלך עדותו של ראש הממשלה בתיק 4000 התפתח ויכוח חריג, בין נתניהו לתובעת עו"ד יהודית תירוש | ח"כ טלי גוטליב פרסמה תגובה חריפה בחשבון שלה ברשת X: "איזו שאלה נוראית זו"

כולם, בישראל ובעולם, עסוקים בשאלה אם ארצות הברית תתקוף או לא תתקוף באיראן. ובינתיים, אנחנו ממשיכים להתעסק בזוטי זוטות הקטנות ביותר שניתן להעלות על הדעת

על רקע ריכוז כוחות אמריקאיים באזור, נאט"ו מגדילה את המעקב האווירי אחר איראן מטורקיה. אנקרה מתכוננת לאפשרות של הסלמה על הגבול

לפי דיווח ברויטרס, איראן בדרך להשלמת עסקה שעשויה לשנות את מאזן הכוחות באזור. במרכזה: רכישת טילים על קוליים מתקדמים נגד ספינות שיהוו איום ממשי על כוחות הצי האמריקאי

ועדת המשנה לעובדים זרים בכנסת דנה במחסור של כ‑5,000 נהגים באוטובוסים | חברות התחבורה מבקשות פיילוט לייבוא 1,000 נהגים זרים | מנגד נציגי הועדים איימו: "אנחנו נעצור את התחבורה הציבורית בארץ"

Israeli company Aporia says its artificial intelligence control tool Guardrails has been selected as one of TIME’s 2024 Best Inventions, a list of 200 pioneering innovations redefining the way we live.  

Guardrails, which mitigates evolving risks in AI systems real-time, has been recognized as one of the 10 companies in the AI technology category. 

The list was created following a thorough process in which TIME’s global editors and correspondents assessed each candidate based on several critical factors, such as originality, efficacy, ambition, and impact.

“We’re incredibly proud to see Aporia’s Guardrails recognized by TIME as one of the year’s best inventions,” said Aporia CEO Liran Hason. 

“Aporia is committed to making AI applications safer and more reliable for everyone—from businesses to everyday consumers,” he said. 

We’re developing rigorous Guardrail policies, implementing advanced capabilities to ensure compliance with AI regulations in the EU and US, expanding capabilities to secure a broader range of AI systems, and welcoming new customers. Our Guardrails do more than manage glitches; they empower companies to deploy AI that users can trust.”

The company has also been named a Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum, and recently announced partnerships with Google Cloud and Microsoft. 

The post Israeli AI Safety Tool Among TIME’S Best Inventions For 2024  appeared first on NoCamels.

For more than a decade, NoCamels has written about every aspect of Israel’s high-tech sector, from medical breakthroughs for treatment of deadly diseases to digital developments for both work and leisure and greentech to preserve our struggling planet. 

Here are five favorites from us and five from you, our loyal readers:  

Our Picks: 

Cancer Cures 
With artificial intelligence playing an ever-increasing role in our lives, medtech company OncoHost is using it to help oncologists decide the optimum therapy for their cancer patients. 

The startup’s main focus is determining treatment for a form of lung cancer, with its proprietary PROphet platform scanning up to 7,000 proteins in a patient’s blood in order to see how receptive that person would be to immunotherapy.  

The platform looks for proteins that are present in the blood of patients who did not respond to immunotherapy but absent for patients who did respond. Click here for more

Life Saver 
When Israeli businessman Adam Bismut saw a man lose his life by drowning at the Dead Sea because help was too far away, he was determined to stop such tragedies from happening again. 

Bismut developed Sightbit, a drowning prevention platform that uses AI to spot dangers on and in the water, alerting lifeguards to people in peril in real time. 

Sightbit creator Adam Bismut z”l (Photo: Courtesy)

Tragically, the person who devoted his professional life to helping others also gave his life to protect others, as IDF Sgt. Maj. (res.) Adam Bismut fell in battle in Gaza on January 22, 2024. May his memory be a blessing. Click here for more

Water World 
Building on a water-from-air concept devised by WaterGen, fellow Israeli startup H2oll also produces drinking water from the atmosphere, but more cheaply, more efficiently and more sustainably – and in any climate.

The internal workings of the H2oll machine (Photo: Courtesy)

H2oll has added a new element to the existing technology, by way of a concentrated salt solution. Instead of cooling the whole air mass, it extracts and cools only the moisture molecules – around two percent of air content, depending on humidity – and turns them into water.

The company says it aims to address the global water crisis, especially in the developing world, where countries want to avoid expensive infrastructure, or costly bottled supplies. Click here for more

A Voice For The Voiceless 
The AI-powered Voiceitt platform is designed to recognize and translate speech by people with an underlying medical condition, disability or age-related condition that means their speech is hard to understand. 

Voiceitt lets people with speech disabilities speak spontaneously and be easily understood (Photo: Courtesy)

It works either as voice to text or voice to synthesized speech, with the latter allowing the user to speak in person in real time, as part of a face-to-face conversation, or in a virtual, online meeting.   

The technology is based on machine learning and speech recognition algorithms that are customized to the user, allowing the platform to assimilate each user’s unique way of speaking. It is web based, which means that it can be accessed from any internet-connected device without having to download a program or app. Click here for more

Potato Power
Rumafeed has come up with a way to boost the amount of animal feed produced worldwide by genetically modifying the currently discarded foliage from potato harvests and making it suitable for livestock.  

Potato foliage discarded during harvest could be nutritious feed for livestock (Photo: Depositphotos)

Potato foliage contains glycoalkaloids, which makes it toxic, but by removing this inedible chemical compound, the foliage is transformed from a waste byproduct to a plentiful, viable food source for herds that is rich in nitrogen and protein.  

Potato hay could also be a valuable source of income for farmers, fetching as much as $600 per hectare of land where the tubers are grown, with each hectare capable of producing 3.5 tons of it. Click here for more

Your Picks: The Articles You Read The Most

Ice Cream On Demand
A machine invented by Israeli startup Solato uses a secret process to create super-fresh frozen desserts from liquid in just 60 seconds. It whips up and freezes a range of gelato, sorbet, frozen yogurt, smoothies and even iced coffee.

Solato uses a secret process to create super-fresh frozen desserts from liquid in capsules, in just 60 seconds (Photo: Courtesy)

Solato says it is the first to market with a frozen dessert capsule machine, offering a range of flavors including Amarena cherry and mascarpone, piedmont hazelnut gelato, lychee sorbet, and classics like dark chocolate and vanilla gelato, as well as plain frozen yogurt. 

Each cup-sized capsule of concentrate liquid makes a cup of ice cream. The unique code on each capsule is read by the machine to determine how much it needs to freeze it and how much air it needs to add, to increase its volume. The capsule itself, which is biodegradable, can then be used for serving. Click here for more

COVID Spray 
An Israeli-founded company in Canada has developed a nasal technology to treat and prevent upper respiratory and topical infections such as COVID-19 and successful Phase 3 clinical trials proved it can reduce viral load in people with mild cases of coronavirus.

Enovid reduces COVID viral loads (Photo: Gilly Regev/LinkedIn)

Enovid, the nitric oxide nasal spray (NONS) created by Vancouver-based SaNOtize is designed to treat adult patients who have a risk of progression of COVID-19.  

The patented platform technology allows for the topical delivery of nitric oxide (a naturally occurring nanomolecule with the formula NO, hence the name) to treat a variety of bacterial, fungal, and viral diseases. Click here for more

Chewing Gum Diet 
A chewing gum infused with an ancient sugar-blocking herb may help people lose weight, according to a new consumer study. 

Sweet Victory gum (Photo: Courtesy)

Israeli startup Sweet Victory imbues the Indian botanical gymnema sylvestre into its gum, which blocks the taste receptors for sweetness when it is chewed for just two minutes. The company says that its effects last up to two hours.  

Of the 80 participants in a two-week trial, 87 percent reported experiencing weight loss, at an average of 1.3 kilos per two weeks. An additional 80 percent of the participants significantly reduced their consumption of sweets by the end of the trial, and said they had “better control” of their food choices. Click here for more

Screenless Laptop With Virtual Screens 
Spacetop, billed as the world’s first augmented reality laptop, looks like the keyboard to a standard 13-inch laptop, minus the 13-inch screen.

Spacetop offers dozens of virtual screens for its screenless laptop (Photo: Courtesy)

But with a dedicated pair of glasses and just 20 seconds of training, the user can actually see a dozen or more virtual screens. They can toggle between them, resize and reposition them at will, and even zoom in and out.

Sightful, the company behind the design, says Spacetop has been painstakingly redesigned “from the ground up” with no off-the-shelf components. Everything is custom-made and works on Spacetop OS, a proprietary operating system. Click here for more

Sperm Solution
Israeli scientists at the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) haven developed an innovative platform to create sperm in a laboratory through a microfluidic system, which contains hundreds of microchannels for fluids to pass through. 

Sperm grown in the lab can provide a solution for men who have been affected by aggressive medical treatment (Image: Depositphotos)

The sperm was grown on a special silicon chip developed in collaboration with researchers at the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. The chip enables the researchers to grow cells from the testis in the microchip and add fresh cell culture media designed to support cellular growth. A 3D system was also built and integrated to allow the addition of testicular tissue cells. 

The innovation is designed to help males who receive aggressive treatment for cancer that can damage sperm-forming cells and result in impaired spermatogenesis, the origin and development of sperm cells within the reproductive organs, leading to fertility problems. Click here for more

The post Editors’ & Readers’ Choice: 10 Favorite NoCamels Articles appeared first on NoCamels.

Medical researchers at Tel Aviv University (TAU) have discovered a way to help the body fight cancerous tumors that are even resistant to prevailing forms of immunotherapy.

The researchers found that reversing a mechanism preventing the immune system from attacking tumors can stimulate the immune system to fight the cancer cells. 

The breakthrough was led by Prof. Carmit Levy, Prof. Yaron Carmi, and PhD student Avishai Maliah from TAU’s Faculty of Medical & Health Sciences. The paper was published in the leading journal Nature Communications.

Levy said the discovery occurred at his lab, which studies both cancer and the effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun on our skin and body  – both of which are known to suppress the immune system. 

“Cancer suppresses approaching immune cells and solar radiation suppresses the skin’s immune system,” he explained. 

“While in most cases, we cancer researchers worldwide focus on the tumor and look for mechanisms by which cancer inhibits the immune system, here we proposed a different approach: investigating how UV exposure suppresses the immune system and applying our findings to cancer. The discovery of a mechanism that inhibits the immune system opens new paths for innovative therapies.”

The research was recently published in the leading journal Nature Communications.

The post TAU Team Discovers Mechanism To Eliminate Cancerous Tumors appeared first on NoCamels.

The tech incubator operated by Ashdod Port is investing $2 million in three startups as part of its strategy to foster innovation at the site. 

The sum was approved by the port’s board of directors as part of its Corporate Venture Capital (CVC) investment fund, subject to the approval of the Government Companies Authority. 

Since its establishment in 2021, the incubator has supported more than 90 startups in various fields, including operations, logistics, cyber and safety. 

The three startups were selected following a pilot program lasting an average of six months, during which the technologies being developed were tested in close cooperation with the port’s staff. 

The three startups are:

Makalu Optics, which develops groundbreaking LiDAR technology for various applications  

Treedis, which develops an advanced digitally compatible solution based on virtual and augmented reality  

Flyz Robotics, which developed an autonomous system for miniature drone robots with unique capabilities  

“The Ashdod Port Company views investments in technology companies as a strategic move, which will help us meet both the challenges of the current period of time and the global challenges faced by ports all over the world and, in parallel, optimize our competitive ability,” said Shaul Schneider, the chairman Ashdod Port Board of Directors. 

“We are confident that this investment will yield optimal results for the Port of Ashdod, for the Israeli economy, as well as for the international port industry.”

The post Ashdod Port Investing In Startups As Part Of Innovation Strategy appeared first on NoCamels.

The past year has been a period of great upheaval and uncertainty in Israel, yet the high-tech sector has proven steadfast, despite concerns over investment and durability and swathes of the workforce serving in the IDF reserves for long stretches at a time. 

And as Israel navigates this time of war on multiple fronts – with its troops fighting in Gaza and Lebanon as well as handling attacks from Iran, Iraq, Syria and Yemen – NoCamels asked leaders in the sector to look forwards and share their thoughts on what the future holds for the national high-tech industry, whose strength and vitality earned the country the moniker “Startup Nation.”  

Israeli readiness to embrace innovation, even when it seems somewhat risky, is a long-standing trait that is key to the sector thriving even in wartime – and crucial to it flourishing in the years to come, says Jon Medved, the CEO of Israel’s global investment powerhouse OurCrowd. 

“The fact that Israel grows and it continues to grow its tech sector during war is sort of a core element of who we are,” Medved tells NoCamels. 

“The reason that we’re so strong in the startup arena boils down, more than any other single reason, to our attitude towards risk. We are people who have learned to live with risk, even though I’m not sure we chose it.”  

Limor Nakar-Vincent: Periods of growth follow cycles of tension (Photo: Eyal Toueg)

In agreement with this sentiment is Limor Nakar-Vincent, the Deputy Executive Director of Business at the Binational Industrial Research and Development  Foundation (BIRD), a joint Israeli-American endeavor that brings companies from both countries together on collaborative projects. 

Nakar-Vincent tells NoCamels that the decades of conflict that the country has endured has made its people hardy, and spurred innovation and development. 

She cites the strong sense of solidarity and a highly adaptable workforce whose members often take on additional responsibilities to cover for colleagues called to reserve duty. 

“Israelis are creative and deeply motivated, which helps them navigate challenging times,” she says. “[They] are accustomed to managing through cycles of tension, and historically, periods of growth follow.” 

Going Global

Medved credits the diverse essence of Israel – a rich melting pot of Jews from around the world – with its ongoing and future success on the global stage. This “secret sauce,” he says, allows Israelis to retain ties, language skills and familiarity with global commerce and business on a broad scale – all of which are key, too, to its future success. 

It is this global outreach that is crucial for investment in the sector in years to come, Medved says, as foreign investors are “the main part of the story in the Israeli Startup Nation ecosystem.” 

In fact, he explains, even during the ongoing conflict, Israel reached a record high of 93-percent foreign VC participation in funding rounds for local startups, meaning that just 7 percent of them were solely Israeli efforts. 

And as the sector looks to sustain itself and expand in years to come, Medved believes that in the next half decade or so, Israeli startups must now look beyond becoming a unicorn or decacorn (companies valued at $1 billion or $10 billion, respectively) and seek the attainable target of a $20, $50 or even $100 billion valuation, which means a more international approach.  

“I predict that 10 years from now, there will be several Israeli companies in that $100 billion range,” he says. 

Medtech veteran Mati Gill shares this sentiment, citing a trend of Israeli startups moving into the international arena rather than opting for what he calls “the classical ‘exit’ model” of selling to a larger entity. 

“We saw a generation of Israeli startups that went public and grew globally, [while] maintaining their headquarters and R&D in Israel,” says Gill, who today is CEO of the Rehovot-based Aion Labs medtech venture studio, an initiative of the Israel Innovation Authority that works with global pharmaceutical giants on solutions for some of the most challenging diseases facing humanity. 

In fact, Gill tells NoCamels, the expansion by Israeli startups into areas outside the classic tech and SaaS space into fields such deeptech and biotech has opened new opportunities for Israeli R&D to mature into industry solutions.

Staying Power 

These new opportunities include making headway in the field of sustainability – one of the most innovative and significant in the tech ecosystem – which will create fresh avenues for Israeli startups in the years ahead. This, of course, is  alongside other major areas like cybersecurity and fintech, in which local companies have already built a reputation. 

“The double bottom line of impact investing – doing well and making money at the same time – is very valid and important,” says Medved. 

“Whether it’s in healthcare or climate, access to disabled technologies, foodtech or agtech, transportation, education or financial inclusion, you will see large numbers of Israeli startups on the front lines of this important battleground.” 

Gill, who has worked extensively in medtech innovation, also believes that healthcare – which he describes as the meeting point of technology and life sciences – is an area in which Israel is “uniquely positioned” to become one of the most relevant and leading ecosystems. 

Israel is ‘uniquely positioned’ to lead in the healthcare sector, says Mati Gill (Photo: Elad Malka)

“Our strong research and talent capabilities in both sectors, coupled with the entrepreneurial mindset of Israelis have helped birth a new cluster of startups in the tech bio space in Israel,” he explains. 

This includes significant fundraising achievements, deals and increased interest from pharmaceutical multinational corporations in the past five years alone, he adds.

Medved also highlights the need to ensure that Israeli innovation in these extremely important areas is made available in “every corner of the planet,” regardless of how economically developed a country is. 

To this end, he says, OurCrowd has partnered with the World Health Organization Foundation on a $200 million Global Health Equity Fund to help make these technological advances more equitable.  

Meanwhile, says Nakar-Vincent, the ongoing war will likely lead to growth among companies focusing on dual-use technologies, which serve both civilian and military applications. 

“This sector has garnered heightened interest, leading to increased funding and expedited development processes,” she says. 

In fact, she adds, the experience gained by many Israelis now serving in reserve duty will nurture the establishment of new start-ups in the defense and homeland security spheres.

“It’s essential to consider various forms of support for high-tech companies, especially those facing the ‘valley of death’ but with the potential to commercialize their technologies,” she explains. 

Looking beyond new innovation to the challenges of maintaining its well-respected position in the world’s tech sector, Gill believes that regulatory and geopolitical stability are vital, as well as restored trust in the country’s leadership and maintaining an independent judiciary. 

The latter refers to the domestic political turmoil over proposed judicial reform in the months preceding the October 7, 2023 mass terror attack by Hamas that saw tens of thousands taking to the streets every week to protest.  

Equally important, Gill says, is the ability to produce experienced homegrown talent in the sector and the ability to attract talent from abroad to Israel.  

Jon Medved: Israeli startups must discover new funding sources (Photo: Courtesy)

Medved ties expansion in Israeli high-tech to the need to find novel ways of raising money, in particular for startups in the field of artificial intelligence, which Israeli angel investor and former military intelligence officer Alon Arvatz predicted last year would be accelerated due to its use by the army in the current war.  

“It turns out that to build these AI startups fast, you need a lot of capital and a lot of money for computing and for GPU farms,” Medved says, referring to sophisticated servers that can quickly perform complex calculations.

Ultimately, say both Medved and Gill, it is experiences of extreme challenge that makes Israelis creative, progressive and determined to succeed, and will continue to do so in the future. 

“We are great as a country at staying focused on what matters, delivering results no matter what and adapting to any circumstances – especially when our backs are against the wall,” declares Gill. 

“It’s unfortunately been part of our environment for thousands of years that our risk of survival is simply part of the nature of our society,” says Medved. 

“As a result, we don’t stop creating. We don’t stop celebrating. We move forward with laughter through tears, and if they think they can stop us, they can’t.”

The post Forward Facing: What Does The Future Hold For Israeli High-Tech? appeared first on NoCamels.

With conspiracy theories and so-called fake news rampant on social media, in particular during major election periods, researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) have developed a method to help fact checkers keep up with increasing volumes of misinformation on these platforms.

A team led by Dr. Nir Grinberg and Prof. Rami Puzis of BGU’s Department of Software and Information Systems Engineering found that tracking fake news sources, rather than individual articles or posts, can significantly lower the burden on fact checkers and produce reliable results over time.

The researchers’ audience-based models outperformed the more common approach of looking at who’s sharing misinformation by large margins: 33 percent when looking at historical data, and 69 percent when looking at sources as they emerge over time.

The authors also showed that their approach can maintain the same level of accuracy in identifying fake news sources while requiring less than a quarter of the fact-checking costs.

“The problem today with the proliferation of fake news is that fact checkers are overwhelmed,” explained Grinberg. 

“They cannot fact check everything … [and] we know little about how successful fact checkers are in getting to the most important content to fact check. That prompted us to develop a machine learning approach that can help fact checkers direct their attention better and boost their productivity,” he said.  
The team’s findings were published recently in Proceedings of the 30th ACM SIGKDD Conference on Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining.

The post BGU Develops Fast Fact Checking Via News Sources Not People appeared first on NoCamels.

Israeli military technology company Elbit Systems has announced that it has been awarded an approximately $200 million contract by the nation’s Ministry of Defense to supply high-power laser systems for the Iron Beam air defense platform.

The mobile Iron Beam system consists of two pivoting laser guns, a surveillance system to track the incoming projectile and a control center staffed by personnel who issue commands to the system. 

The laser gun creates a high-energy beam that can bring down missiles, mortars and drones at a reported maximum range of 10 km. The laser heats its target to incredibly high temperatures very quickly, rendering it obsolete. 

According to the contract, Elbit will supply the ministry with its proprietary high-power laser solution in order to provide a robust defense against a variety of threats. The contract also includes the provision of ongoing support services.

“As Israel’s Laser Center and a global leader in high-power laser technology, Elbit Systems congratulates on the significant progress made in the Iron Beam project and is proud of its contribution to its success. The capabilities developed at Elbit Systems represent a leap forward in future defense against various threats,” said Bezhalel (Butzi) Machlis, the president and CEO of Elbit Systems. 

The Haifa-based company, which has almost 20,000 personnel working across five continents, says its products allow its clients around the world “to address rapidly evolving battlefield challenges and overcome threats.”

The post Israel Gives Elbit $200M Contract For Laser Air Defense System  appeared first on NoCamels.

Researchers at Tel Aviv University have found that the Oriental hornet is the only known animal in nature capable of consuming alcohol chronically and in high concentrations with almost no negative effects on their health or lifespan. 

The researchers hope that the discovery could help future studies into alcoholism and how alcohol metabolizes in our bodies. 

The research was conducted under the leadership of postdoctoral fellow Dr. Sofia Bouchebti from the laboratory of Prof. Eran Levin at Tel Aviv University’s School of Zoology and the Steinhardt Museum of Natural History. 

The team tested the Oriental hornet’s ability to consume and break down alcohol, and were surprised by the rapid rate at which the insects metabolized it. 

They also found that even high concentrations of alcohol had no noticeable effect on the hornets’ behavior and that there was no difference in lifespan for hornets that only consumed alcohol for their entire three-month lives and those that consumed sugar water.

“This is a remarkable animal that shows no signs of intoxication or illness even after ingesting huge amounts of alcohol,” said the research team. 

“While alcohol-related research is highly advanced, with 5.3 percent of deaths in the world linked to alcohol consumption, we believe that, following our research, Oriental hornets could potentially be used to develop new models for studying alcoholism and the metabolism of alcohol,” said Prof. Levin. 

The study was published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS).

The post TAU’s Booze-Proof Hornets Could Help Research Into Alcoholism appeared first on NoCamels.

Israeli company Dataloop AI has announced a collaboration with American multinational Qualcomm Technologies, which aims to significantly accelerate AI model development for mobile, automotive, IoT and other computing devices powered by Snapdragon platforms.

Snapdragon is a versatile suite of system-on-chip (SoC) semiconductor products for a range of devices designed and marketed by Qualcomm, including mobile devices, tablets and laptops.

Dataloop enables developers to streamline the entire AI lifecycle through an automated pipeline that includes data curation, labeling, model fine-tuning, and integration with Qualcomm AI Hub, which compiles, optimizes, and profiles the ready-to-deploy model.

“The Qualcomm AI Hub helps enhance the efficiency of AI development. Dataloop’s comprehensive platform simplifies the entire AI lifecycle, while Qualcomm Technologies’ innovations enable models that are optimized and ready for deployment on edge devices, empowering developers to accelerate innovation and bring AI solutions to market faster,” said Dataloop AI co-founder and CBO Nir Buschi.

“Qualcomm Technologies is collaborating with Dataloop to streamline on-device AI deployment,” said Siddhika Nevrekar, senior director of product management at Qualcomm.

“With Dataloop’s automated pipelines and robust data management, developers can effortlessly create powerful AI systems and seamlessly deploy them on-device using our Qualcomm AI Hub.”

The post Israeli, US Firms Team Up To Develop AI Models For Devices appeared first on NoCamels.

NoCamels has recently shone a spotlight on Israeli medical technology and green technology that has the potential to change the world. 

But there are other equally innovative companies whose remit falls outside of these two categories yet have just as much potential impact on our lives. Here we take a look at 10 of them: 

Electric Air Travel

Eviation became the first company in the world to develop an electric plane with its nine-seater aircraft Alice, which it designed from scratch.

In 2022, Alice made a successful eight-minute flight at Moses Lake in Washington State, reaching an altitude of 3,500ft. The company beat the world’s aerospace giants in the race to develop an electric airplane, which in most cases were focusing their R&D on modifying existing petrol planes. 

The plane runs on rechargeable lithium-ion batteries that only require 30 minutes to fully charge. It has a top speed of nearly 300 mph, a range of 288 miles and can fly for an hour at a time.

Eviation hopes to launch the plane for short-hop commercial flights in the US in 2027, with the aim of shaping future air travel for both passengers and cargo. Click here for more

Sustainable Sweetness 

A heavy impact on the environment makes globally beloved chocolate a costly affair for the planet. But Israeli startup Celleste Bio has found a way to change that with its lab-cultivated beans that create cocoa indistinguishable from the rest.

Celleste Bio uses lab-grown cocoa beans to create sustainable chocolate (Photo: Depositphotos)

Celleste Bio uses cell culture technology to create the cocoa beans, combined with AI modeling to create optimal growing conditions. The bean cells are used to make the cocoa butter needed to manufacture chocolate, which has the identical chemical profile to the original.

It takes just seven days for the bean cells to mature in their bioreactor so that the butter can be harvested.  

And because the process involves just a couple of beans that can be repeatedly reproduced, the Misgav-based company says the lab-cultivated cocoa is grown without ever needing to cut down a single tree again. 

“We are the first in the world to have been able to produce chocolate-grade cocoa butter,” said Celleste CEO Michal Beressi Golomb. “We’re really excited about it.” Click here for more 

Hunter Drones 

In southern Israel, close to the city of Be’er Sheva, Robotican has been developing a drone that can snatch its target out of the sky and even named it after a bird of prey that grapples with its enemies mid-flight. 

The Goshawk floating above its ‘nest’ (Photo: Ariel Gabay)

The Goshawk fully autonomous drone is a counter-UAS (unmanned aircraft system) designed to detect, track and destroy other craft. It sits in a metal box-like device that Robotican has dubbed its “smart nest,” waiting for its opportunity to strike. 

Once the radar system spots that a hostile drone has infiltrated the no-fly zone, the nest opens and the Goshawk takes to the air, chases it and catches it in a net.  

If the hostile drone is too heavy or if the Goshawk senses other threats, the net is sent plummeting to the ground with its victim trapped inside. Otherwise, it bears it safely to earth unharmed.  

According to Robotican, the Goshawk has already intercepted more than 250 enemy drones in its use by the Israel Defense Forces. Click here for more

Beating Bots With AI  

Tel Aviv-based Cyabra calls itself a “social threat intelligence” company, whose mission is to fight misinformation and expose online risk to individuals, institutions or even governments. 

Cyabra says unlike other cybersecurity companies, it focuses on accounts aiming to cause harm in the social sphere, rather than hackers who pose “classic threats” to infrastructure or hardware.

Cyabra roots out accounts spreading disinformation on social media (Image: Unsplash)

The company says its unique AI software can root out even the most sophisticated threats, quickly identifying malicious actors using social media and other online spaces such as comment sections, to spread false information. 

Hundreds of different behavioral parameters are fed into the Cyabara algorithm, including an account’s online behavior, the accounts that it follows and engages with and those that follow and engage with it.  

The company’s three founders are all veterans of the Israeli high-tech sector and two served in information warfare units in the IDF.  

“They developed the technical tools and skills to be able to track and fight disinformation, and then they started to use those skills for good,” said Cyabra VP Marketing Rafi Mendelsohn. Click here for more

Taxis In The Sky

Israel’s notorious traffic jams have led two companies to develop drones that can carry passengers in urban areas, by passing the clogged roads below. 

Dronery and AIR were both part of the Israel National Drone Initiative (INDI), which five years ago began preparing for the regular use of unmanned flying vehicles to carry goods as well as passengers.  

Dronery’s UAV is designed to carry people through the air for distances of up to 30km (Photo: Mark Nomdar)

Dronery’s Chinese-made, Israeli-adapted craft can carry 220 kg in cargo and fly as far as 30 km, while AIR’s homegrown AIR ONE craft can carry up to 250 kg and for a far greater distance of 160 km. 

Successful test flights last year involved taking off and landing in urban areas while carrying mannikins.  

“We believe that this whole technology is something that can really help solve urgent problems such as traffic and such as air pollution, and help us move things from place to place in a more efficient and safe way,” said Daniella Partem, who headed Israel’s drone project. Click here for more

To Catch A Hacker 

Pentera simulates attacks across an entire organization to pinpoint potentially exploitable gaps that make it vulnerable to potential hacking attempts.  

The company takes the perspective of the hackers in order to highlight the security gaps that would be most appealing to them, rather than just searching for any and all weaknesses. 

Pentera approaches cybersecurity from the perspective of the hackers (Photo: Depositphotos)

The system carries out the assessments automatically, without disrupting an organization’s ongoing operations, and focuses on two particular kinds of threats: exploitable gaps in the external attack surface – an organization’s digital footprint that is visible and accessible to anyone – and potential openings for malicious hackers using compromised credentials like passwords.

It identifies corporate passwords and other sensitive information that were leaked online either through the dark web or other resources used by hackers that make it vulnerable to cyberattacks. 

“Our goal is to find these exploitable gaps so that security teams can remediate the issues before our adversaries have a chance to use them,” said Pentera’s Senior Director of Product Management Ofer Yavelberg. Click here for more

Man Or Machine? 

Can you tell if you are talking to a computer or a real human? It’s not as easy as it might seem. 

A game created by AI21 Labs tests users’ skills in discerning the difference between bot and person with the aim of showing just how far artificial intelligence has advanced. And it even fooled its creator Amos Meron.

The game gives users two minutes to determine if they are talking to a human or bot (Image: Courtesy)

The premise is based on what Alan Turing, the father of modern computing, in the 1950s called the Imitation Game – a time when machines could imitate man so well that it would be difficult to tell from one the other. The test later came to be known as the Turing Test in his honor. 

Using an array of large language models (LLMs), including ChatGPT4 and AI21’s own Jurassic-2, the test makes each bot into its own character, with a name, location and date of birth, that has knowledge of recent events and even the current weather.

The test takes two minutes, which Meron calls the sweet spot as anything shorter is not enough interaction but a longer conversation could be boring or expose the flaws in the bot. Click here for more 

Cybersecurity In The Actual Clouds 

Cyviation says it is the first-ever company to focus on cybersecurity for aircraft, with a software solution that provides multiple levels of safety without having to make changes to the planes themselves.  

Cyvation keeps planes safe from cyberattacks with four levels of protection (Photo: Pexels)

The four-layer system is designed to reduce the risk of cyber attack, help manage such attacks should they occur and support airlines as they implement new and upcoming international regulations regarding cybersecurity in aviation. 

The first layer is a scan of an entire craft to create a virtual “twin” that allows the company to analyze any vulnerabilities on different severity levels.

The second is cybersecurity training for pilots, which the company says had not previously existed at all.  Similarly, the third layer of protection is security information and event management (SIEM), which trains pilots and crew in how to act should a cybersecurity incident actually occur.  

 The final layer is a set of patented devices that can detect any attack in real time, allowing the pilot to react swiftly to the threat. 

“When we look at cyber training, we don’t look at how you protect your password, we look at how you react when there is an event on the aircraft,” said Cyvation CEO Avi Tenenbaum. Click here for more 

Watchers Over The Waves

Drawing on decades of professional experience, two Israeli technology veterans created a new startup to combat cyberattacks on some of the country’s key institutions, including national water company Mekorot. 

IXDen’s founders and co-CEOs Zion Harel and Dr. Leonid Cooperman devised entirely new software from scratch with a focus on artificial intelligence and machine learning. 

IXDen protects the infrastructure of Israel’s national water carrier Mekorot from attack (Photo: Courtesy)

Collecting information from sensors placed around the company’s infrastructure, IXDen uses those algorithms to analyze millions of pieces of data every day in order to spot any anomalies that point to suspicious activity or even to just identify a fault in the system. 

The water company has around 3,000 sites in 10 regions across Israel, including 700 water pumping stations and 20 desalination sites. The IXDen platform is active at each location, analyzing 300 million pieces of data on a daily basis and feeding it all into one centralized system. Click here for more

The post Impact Innovation: Israeli Startups That Could Shape Our Future appeared first on NoCamels.

Leading green power company Enlight Renewable Energy has announced the completion of its Solar and Storage Cluster project in Israel, covering 12 locations in the north and the south of the country. 

The 12 installations were built in cooperation with multiple agricultural communities in Israel, and have a combined solar generation capacity of 254 MW and energy storage capacity of 594 MWh. While portions of it began commercial operation in 2023 and grid connections continued throughout 2024, the process has now been completed.

The Cluster’s entire output will be sold to Enlight’s supplier division, which markets the electricity directly to customers in Israel’s newly deregulated power market. 

The generation volumes of the Cluster currently account for 50 percent of all clean power produced under the new regulatory framework. 

“Today we completed the commencement of full commercial operations at the largest group of renewable energy facilities operating in Israel’s deregulated power market,” said Enlight MENA General Manager Gilad Peled. 

“The Cluster will generate attractive returns for Enlight, while creating a stable and vital source of income for our partners in the agricultural communities of Israel.”

Enlight is headquartered in Rosh Ha’ayin and operates in multiple countries worldwide, including Italy, Spain, Sweden and the US. 

The post Clean Energy Firm Completes Solar Project In North, South Israel appeared first on NoCamels.

An Israeli company that develops cannabis-based therapeutics says its CBD injections have proven effective in providing pain relief for dogs with naturally occurring osteoarthritis. 

According to InnoCan Pharma, a long-term treatment plan consistently demonstrated the LPT-CBD injection’s efficacy in pain reduction and improved mobility, with the effects lasting for several weeks after each treatment. 

This, the company says, demonstrates that LPT-CBD can be a viable treatment option for managing chronic pain and enhancing the quality of life in animals.

Two dogs suffering from osteoarthritis were treated for two years or more with LPT-CBD after failing to respond to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and oral CBD. Both animals showed noticeable pain relief, substantially improved mobility and obvious increased well-being. 

“We are thrilled with these findings, which highlight the long-lasting effects of repeated administration of LPT-CBD to treat chronic pain,” said InnoCan CSO Prof. Chezy Barenholz. 

“These results support the potential of LPT-CBD as a monthly treatment for chronic pain conditions, providing sustained relief. They position LPT-CBD as a breakthrough solution for managing chronic pain in animals and, by extension, human patients,” he said.

“This compassionate therapy has demonstrated significant efficacy in companion dogs and reinforces our commitment to advance FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) approval of LPT-CBD for the treatment of chronic pain in dogs,” said Dr. Eyal Kalo, InnoCan’s director of R&D.

The post Cannabis Therapy Firm: CBD Jab Reduces Pain In Arthritic Dogs  appeared first on NoCamels.

The US government is funding the development of an effective treatment created by Israeli firm RedHill Biopharma for the rare and deadly Ebola virus (EBOV).

The funding comes via the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), part of the US Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR).  

A study last year carried out by RedHill found that twice-daily oral doses of its opaganib medication boosted survival from about six days to 11 days in mice infected with Ebola. 

Opaganib is a host-directed therapy, meaning rather than destroying the pathogen directly, it makes its local environment less favorable to grow and live in. 

The drug is also in development as a treatment for multiple cancers, COVID-19 and viral and inflammatory diseases.  

“EBOV is deadly, killing, on average, half of all those who contract it. This year marks 10 years since the West Africa Ebola epidemic in which 11,000 people died, and yet there are still no host-directed, small molecule therapies approved to provide effective and usable treatment strategies,” said RedHill Chief Business Officer Guy Goldberg.  

 “Currently only Inmazeb, a combination of three monoclonal antibodies, and Ebanga, a single monoclonal antibody, are FDA-approved to treat EBOV, as such there is an urgent medical need for additional effective and easy to distribute and administer EBOV therapies,” he said.  

The post US Government Funding Development Of Israeli Ebola Treatment appeared first on NoCamels.

With the adverse impact of climate change becoming clearer almost every day, the role of technology in mitigating these devastating effects has never been more important. 

Israeli innovation – from clean energy to agriculture technology – has made massive contributions to the world’s efforts to  deal with this phenomenon, and NoCamels takes a look at some of the companies that have the potential to make a real difference. 

Making A Splash With Clean Energy  

Eco Wave Power has become a worldwide phenomenon with its ability to transform water into electricity by using the power of waves. 

The company’s unique floating devices are placed in the water, where they rise and fall with the movement of waves, generating energy that is delivered to power stations on land. The power stations then convert that energy into pressure used to spin a generator, thereby producing electricity.

The system is already generating electricity in China, Israel, South America and the US, and the company lately signed an agreement to bring its technology to Taiwan.  

“It seems like slowly but surely the world understands the great potential and undeniable resource, which is wave energy,” said EWP co-founder and CEO Inna Braverman. 

Eco Wave Power’s floater technology draws energy from incoming waves by converting their motion into clean energy (Photo: Courtesy)

Click here for more

Air Con Without Electricity 

With no wires, no plugs and no greenhouse gasses, Green Kinko has developed the world’s first outdoors air conditioning unit to use liquid nitrogen as a power source. 

The Kensho unit quietly emits nitrogen gas at a temperature of -10C (14F) to cool the surrounding area, providing needed relief as the world gets hotter, without contributing to the problem. It even has the option of adding an insect repellent, to keep the mosquitoes at bay while enjoying a cool breeze in the garden. 

Liquid nitrogen is already in wide use as a coolant in multiple industries, and the Shefayim based company came up with the idea of using it to cool the air while working on an unrelated project with cryogenic (very low temperature) liquids.

“We have invented a new generation of air conditioner,” said Green Kinko CEO Tal Leizer. “The technology is unique and amazing.” 

The Kensho unit is the world’s first outdoor air conditioner that works without electricity (Photo: Courtesy)

Click here for more

Taking The Pollution Out Of Plastic  

UBQ Materials says its thermoplastic material, made from unsorted household waste, is considered to have the lowest carbon footprint in the world.

Each year, the world produces more than two billion tons of household waste, most of which is unrecyclable and sent to landfills, for incineration or dumped in open natural spaces. 

The company’s patented technology breaks down the waste into its most basic molecular components and assembles them into the new raw material. It can absorb all kinds of non-sorted household waste, including organic garbage, plastics, papers, cardboard and even dirty diapers.  

The process has zero emissions and uses little energy and no water, giving it a carbon footprint 15-20 times lower than that of alternative resins. 

“By converting solid waste into a sustainable circular thermoplastic that acts as a plastic substitute, we can stop covering up our waste and start transforming and reusing it in safe, affordable and beneficial ways,” said UBQ International Advisory Board member and former White House climate expert Gina McCarthy.  

UBQ Materials takes household waste and converts it into a bio-based plastic substitute (Photo: Courtesy)

Click here for more 

A Breath Of Fresh Air  

Using data from thousands of locations worldwide, BreezoMeter’s app gives users real time information on the air quality in their immediate vicinity – even as they move about. 

The startup takes data from government air monitoring stations – using more than 50,000 sources globally, including satellite, weather and traffic data. Its AI and machine-learning algorithms are then able to track levels of pollution street by street and hour by hour, and are accurate down to five meters (16 feet). 

Its Cleanest Route feature directs pedestrians and cyclists to the least polluted route for them, giving the options a score from 0 to 100, based on air pollution, pollen and smoke in the atmosphere. It also works for motorists, who are actually exposed to higher levels of pollution as they sit behind the wheel.

And so effective is the app, the startup was bought by Google in 2022, in a deal reported to have been worth more than $200 million.

“Our mission is to improve the health and safety of millions of people by reducing their exposure to environmental hazards,” said Tamir Kessel, BreezoMeter’s head of Business Development and Strategy.  

The BreezoMeter Air Quality map tells users how best to avoid pollution in the air (Photo: Courtesy)

Click here for more 

Keeping Urban Landscapes Green And Shady

Trees are one of the biggest casualties of human encroachment into natural landscapes. But one company has found a way to allow trees and technology to coexist – to the benefit of urban dwellers and nature. 

TreeTube’s proprietary tubes are massive, soil-filled cylinders made from inert plastic material (one quarter of which is recycled), which are fitted together like blocks and placed under roads and walkways alongside the infrastructure of modern life.

The tubes allow the roots of the trees to grow in non-compacted soil, unlike the earth needed for pipes and cables, giving them unfettered access to the ground, air and water they need to survive.

The company works primarily with local authorities and landscape architects, and installing the tubes is a quick and efficient process that takes just several hours. The tubes are already successfully in use in Israel, the Netherlands and Estonia, providing shade, keeping down urban temperatures and even reducing carbon emissions in the air. 

“Trees are fantastic filters,” said TreeTube co-founder Jonathan Antebi. “They are one of the utilities that have an actual return on investment to a municipality. 

TreeTube’s plastic-based tubular system is easy to install under sidewalks to let trees flourish in cities (Photo: Courtesy)

Click here for more

Don’t Worry, Bee Happy  

As the world’s beekeepers warn of the dangers of rapidly disappearing colonies of the honeymakers, Israeli company BeeHero has created a way of monitoring their hives to ensure that the insects inside are happy and healthy. 

Tiny in-hive sensors (about the size of an AirPods case) act as eyes and ears for beekeepers who rely on the bees for honey and pollination of crops. 

They gather a wide range of data from inside the hives, including sound, light, temperature, vibration and humidity. The data is analyzed by the AI platform, which alerts keepers to potential issues that require their attention.

The company says its solution is in use in more than 200,000 hives worldwide and in 2022 alone saved the lives of a quarter of a billion bees, while its precision pollination program tells farmers just how many bees they need and where they need them. 

“I think what is very, very unique about BeeHero is the understanding… that there must be a way to apply Big Data, algorithms, machine learning and artificial intelligence into a legacy industry,” said BeeHero’s VP Global Strategy Eytan Schwartz. 

BeeHero uses sensor technology to monitor the welfare of bees in hives (Photo: Courtesy)

Click here for more

Meat With Mercy 

The world’s first steak created without killing an animal was the work of Israeli startup Aleph Farms, which grows cultured cow cells in the lab to create meals to satisfy any carnivore. 

Scientists have warned of the environmental impact of the world’s high demand for meat, which requires massive swathes of land for grazing, which not only is resource heavy but also drives up production costs. 

Aleph Farms says its bio-engineering platform, developed in conjunction with the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, means it can grow steak in the lab without the need for vast tracts of land, water, feed and other resources to raise cattle. Nor does Aleph require antibiotics, whose use in animal feed has exacerbated the growing phenomenon of antibiotic resistance.

The startup uses a combination of six unique, innovative technologies, including the bioreactors in which the cells are grown, which also allow it to drop the production costs of the meat.  

“We’re shaping the future of the meat industry — literally,” said Aleph Farms co-founder and CEO Didier Toubia. 

Aleph Farms creates cultivated meat with less resources and animal cruelty (Photo: Courtesy)

Click here for more

The post Israeli GreenTech Making Our World A Happier, Healthier Place  appeared first on NoCamels.

Israeli company SuperCom, which provides security solutions for digital operations, has been awarded a five-year contract by the government-run Israel Prison Service (IPS) to deploy its PureSecurity Electronic Monitoring (EM) Suite, alongside its prime partner Electra. 

The full-service contract, which is already in effect, includes all EM programs within Israel, including SuperCom’s existing Home Detention Monitoring program and additional GPS Tracking programs.

The program is expected to cover all EM offender programs in Israel, with an estimated 1,500 enrollees and potential for expansion. SuperCom says it will deploy its cutting-edge EM solutions, including PureCom, PureTrack, PureTag, and PureBeacon. 

The contract also includes the option for up to four one-year extensions.  

“We are deeply honored to support Israel’s public safety infrastructure during these challenging times,” said SuperCom CEO and President Ordan Trabelsi. 

“By providing the Israel Prison Service state agency with our advanced electronic monitoring solutions, we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to making Israel safer for all its citizens,” he said.

“We also thank our partner, Electra, one of the most reputable and reliable nationwide security services providers. Together, we offered a winning proposal that combines the most advanced technologies and services to meet the critical needs of the IPS.”  

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CivicLabs, a joint initiative by the Israeli government and private industry to help the high-tech industry in the north, has launched a new program designed to promote startups in the Built Environment (human-created spaces) sector. 

The initiative was devised by Baran Group, Israel’s largest engineering company, and the program focuses on early-stage startups in the sector that have demonstrated both technological and business feasibility.

Forty percent of the startups participating in the program are from the north of Israel, where swathes of the area have been devastated by rocket fire from the Hezbollah terrorist group in Lebanon since the day after the massive terror attack by Hamas in the south last October.

Over a period of six to eight months, the program will offer professional guidance, access to funding and investment opportunities, support for technological and business development, access to R&D infrastructure, pilot opportunities with potential customers and networking with global investors specializing in the Built Environment. 

The five startups selected for the program so far last week presented their ventures at an event held at Meta’s offices, attended by Alon Stopel, the chairman of the Israel Innovation Authority and chief scientist at the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, along with investors, potential partners and leading industry experts.

“Our vision is not only to provide technological and business support but also to establish a comprehensive connection to the entire ecosystem in the north,” said CivicLabs CEO Yogev Katzir.

“This is crucial during normal times and even more so now. We believe that in this challenging period, breakthrough solutions can emerge that will transform the industry and revitalize the economy in the north. Our goal is to position Israel, particularly the north, as a leading technology hub in the Built Environment sector, thereby developing innovative technologies and strengthening the local economy,” he said. 

“The North needs support now more than ever, and at this moment, we are proud to spearhead a significant change in the industry,” said Baran Israel CEO Zohar Nevo.

“The Startup Nation, which has already demonstrated its leadership in various technological fields, is taking another step toward fostering innovation in the Built Environment sectors, which are essential for the ecosystem, independence, and resilience of the Israeli economy, now more than ever.”

The post New Program Supporting Early-Stage Construction Startups In North  appeared first on NoCamels.

Israel Aerospace Industries, a world leader in the aerospace and defense sectors, has opened its first American innovation center in Washington, D.C., marking the event with the launch of a new accelerator program. 

The new IAI Catalyst program focuses on a number of fields critical to the future of aerospace innovation, among them AI, quantum science, energy and space technology, with the stated aim of becoming an epicenter for aerospace innovation. 

IAI says the Catalyst program will host two cohorts every year, each comprising four startups who have passed a rigorous screening process. 

The selected startups will be provided with office space, technological and business support from IAI and an investment of $100,000, and will be encouraged to work with IAI engineers on future advanced technologies.

“We are proud to launch the Israel Aerospace Industries Innovation Center in the United States, marking a significant milestone that underscores the deep bond between Israel and the US,,” said Amir Peretz, IAI’s Chairman of the Board of Directors and former Israeli defense minister. 

“This center symbolizes the partnership between Israel and America, and the achievements that are reshaping global defense and technology. Together, we will continue to lead, innovate, and shape the future for future generations,” he said.

The post IAI Launches First US Innovation Center, New Accelerator Program  appeared first on NoCamels.

Raanana-based startup Cympire has been selected by the Israel Defense Forces to use its cybersecurity training and assessment platform for training. 

Cympire says its military-grade platform provides hyper-realistic training environments and is designed to meet the needs of military, government, enterprise organizations and higher education, 

The platform enables users to “train-as-they-fight,” offering mission-critical readiness, as well as online training content and services.

“We are honored to be selected by the IDF for this critical project. Cympire’s platform offers the most advanced capabilities for building cyber defense skills, and we are committed to supporting the IDF in maintaining their leading edge in cybersecurity,” said Cympire CEO Yaniv Shachar.

According to Cympire’s senior advisor US Maj. Gen. Neil S. Hersey, the former Deputy Commanding General – Operations at the US Army Cyber Command, the partnership underscores the company’s ability to meet the demands of elite military cyber units. 

“By leveraging Cympire’s platform, the IDF will enhance its ability to counter advanced cyber threats effectively. I am excited to see this technology being utilized in one of the world’s most challenging and dynamic cyber defense environments,” he said.

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American pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson has completed its purchase of Israeli medtech company V-Wave, which makes a device to treat heart failure, after the prospective acquisition was announced in August. 

The Israeli company has now become part of Johnson & Johnson MedTech.  

V-Wave’s proprietary, minimally invasive Ventura Interatrial Shunt (IAS) is designed to treat patients with heart failure. The shunt between the left and right atria in the heart aims to reduce elevated pressure in the left atrium. 

It received FDA Breakthrough Device Designation in 2019 and CE mark in 2020, and, according to Johnson & Johnson, has the potential to be the first device of its kind to market.

The American multinational said in August that it would pay up to $1.7 billion for V-Wave. This included a sum of $600 million upfront, followed by further payments totalling some $1.1 billion should V-Wave hit certain regulatory and commercial milestones. 

“We’re excited to officially welcome V-Wave to Johnson & Johnson MedTech,” saif Johnson & Johnson Executive VP and Worldwide Chairman Tim Schmid. 

“V-Wave’s novel implantable device, the Ventura Interatrial Shunt, offers tremendous promise for patients experiencing heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. This technology has the potential to be the first device of its kind to market. We look forward to working with the talented V-Wave team to bring this transformative innovation to patients.”

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Researchers at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot have created a new composite plastic that degrades easily using bacteria that is cheap, strong and simple to prepare. 

Seeking to create a composite plastic that would meet the needs of industry while also being environmentally friendly, the researchers decided to focus on commonplace, inexpensive source materials whose properties could be improved. 

They found that molecules of tyrosine – a prevalent amino acid that forms exceptionally strong nanocrystals – could be used as an effective component in a biodegradable composite plastic. 

And after examining how tyrosine combines with several types of polymers, they also chose hydroxyethyl cellulose, a cellulose derivative employed extensively in the manufacture of medicines and cosmetics.

When hydroxyethyl cellulose and tyrosine are combined, they form an exceptionally strong composite plastic made of fiber-like tyrosine nanocrystals that grow and integrate into the hydroxyethyl cellulose. 

The study was led by Dr. Angelica Niazov-Elkan, Dr. Haim Weissman and Prof. Boris Rybtchinski of Weizmann’s Department of Molecular Chemistry and Materials Science. 

As both cellulose and tyrosine are edible, the biodegradable composite plastic can actually be eaten. The researchers say, however, that as the conditions in the lab are not suitable for foodstuffs, they have yet to sample their new material.

The post Weizmann Researchers Create Biodegradable Composite Plastic  appeared first on NoCamels.

The Startup Nation is world-famous for its innovation in a wide range of fields, from cybersecurity that protects from hackers to awe-inspiring defense tech on the ground and in the air that keeps us all safer.  

But for many who find themselves facing the greatest battle of all – for their health – Israeli companies have developed truly life-changing medical technology. 

We take a look at some of the most significant innovations, which have the potential to really make the world a better and healthier place. 

Freezing Out Cancer 

IceCure Medical’s ProSense system does what the name of the company suggests – freezing tumors as a treatment for early-stage breast, lung, liver and kidney cancers. 

Doctors insert a small needle into the tumor, using liquid nitrogen to freeze it to temperatures as low as -170°C, without harming the healthy tissue that surrounds it. The cells die as they thaw, and are then absorbed by the body.

The system can be used in a doctor’s own surgery with no invasive treatment or general anesthetic, involving no hospitalization or tissue removal that can cause scarring. The ice ball also has an analgesic effect, providing additional numbing and pain relief to the treated area.

Today, ProSense currently has regulatory approval in 15 countries, including Canada, the United States and China.

IceCure allows physicians to remove tumors by freezing them with liquid nitrogen – with no need for hospitalization (Photo: Courtesy)

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Wheelchair That Puts Users Back On Their Feet  

The wife of inventor and entrepreneur Dr. Amit Goffer cried when she saw him standing on his own feet for the first time, after almost two decades in a wheelchair, thanks to his UpnRide development.  

The unique mobility device gives users the freedom to sit, stand and travel in an upright position, and can lift the user from a sitting to a standing position – and back again – unaided.

Goffer had lost the use of both legs and some movement in his arms when he broke his neck in an ATV accident in 1997, He had already invented the “bionic” ReWalk, a wearable device that allows paraplegics to walk again, and then began developing a solution for people who did not have the upper-body function it requires.  

And unlike other similar solutions on the market, FDA-approved UpnRide’s sophisticated technology allows the user to travel upright at 4km per hour regardless of terrain, tackling almost all urban environments. Click here for more

Dr. Amit Goffer visiting the Western Wall in Jerusalem using the mobility device he invented (Photo: Courtesy)

Delivering An IVF Baby Boom 

Israel loves babies. It is the only developed nation on the planet with an above-average number of births per woman and is by far the world leader in IVF procedures. 

So it is hardly surprising that a major revolution in the efficacy of IVF treatments should be Israeli. 

Tel Aviv-based startup AIVF uses artificial intelligence to select the embryo with the best chance of being successfully implanted into a woman’s womb. 

Using massive amounts of biological data, the EMA platform was trained to understand developmental biology in order to detect milestones and parameters in a developing embryo. 

The founders created the platform based on the premise that AI would be better than the human eye at the “crucial point“ of evaluating embryos in the lab and determining which of a woman’s fertilized eggs was most likely to be viable. 

The AIVF platform predicts which embryos fertilized using IVF are most likely to result in pregnancy (Photo: Depositphotos)

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Tiny Camera Is Canceling Colonoscopies   

Perhaps the most famous of Israeli medtech developments, the PillCam is a non-invasive method of detecting disorders in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. 

Developed by Given Imaging (today owned by American multinational Medtronic), the pill-sized camera is ingested by patients, which allows physicians to visualize the esophagus, colon and areas of the small intestine. This is vital for detecting diseases including Crohn’s, obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB) and even esophageal cancer.

After a 10-hour fast, patients swallow the PillCam that then passes naturally through the digestive system over an eight-hour period. During that time PillCam transmits approximately 50,000 images, which can then be downloaded and reviewed by the physician.  

The pill also costs around $800, making it far cheaper than a colonoscopy that can come with a price tag of more than $4,000 and is often far more uncomfortable. 

Since acquiring Given Imaging, Medtronic has opened development centers in Jerusalem and Yokneam, where it employs around 750 people. 

The PillCam allows physicians to examine the gastrointestinal tract without a colonoscopy (Photo: Courtesy)

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Predicting Strokes With Sensors

Prevention, as the saying goes, is better than a cure, and Avertto’s groundbreaking wearable device alerts people to the dangers of an imminent stroke before it even happens. 

The first-ever device of its kind uses cutting-edge pulse wave analysis technology to monitor changes in the blood flow to the brain through the carotid artery, allowing immediate medical steps to be taken to mitigate the risk. 

Strokes are most commonly caused by a clot blocking the essential supply of blood to the brain, and according to the World Health Organization are the second leading cause of death and the leading cause of disability across the globe. 

Avertto’s device uses sensors placed over the carotid arteries, the two major blood vessels on either side of the neck that provide the blood supply to the brain.

A lower blood flow level indicates potential blockages in the carotid arteries. The device’s AI-based alert system detects these changes and within seconds notifies the wearer, first responders and healthcare providers. 

Avertto’s wearable device monitor changes in the blood flow to the brain via the carotid arteries (Images: Courtesy)

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AI Platform Makes Snappy Work Of Diabetic Eye Test

A store-bought camera and a revolutionary AI platform have made simple work of one of the seemingly endless list of tests required by diabetics to monitor their health – with minimum discomfort and in a convenient setting.  

AEYE Health’s proprietary software analyzes an image of the eye for diabetic retinopathy – damage to the blood vessels in the retina that can lead to blindness – without having to dilate the pupil in an uncomfortable and incapacitating procedure. 

Building the platform, which uses machine learning, involved collecting and analyzing massive amounts of data in order to understand how to differentiate between patients whose eyes needed no immediate further care and those who required a referral to an ophthalmologist. 

The method can be used by a family doctor at a pharmacy or even in a patient’s own home, and yields immediate results, avoiding the discomfort and inconvenience that deters many people from having the crucial annual test. 

So remarkable is the development that AEYE Health CEO Zack Dvey-Aharon was recently named by TIME Magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in artificial intelligence for 2024. 

The AEYE Health technology allows crucial eye tests to be carried out in a convenient setting (Photo: Courtesy)

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Mapping Endometriosis Without Surgery 

Women suffering from endometriosis – when tissue similar to the womb lining grows as “lesions” on other parts of the body – have traditionally had to undergo painful and invasive surgery to properly assess the extent of the debilitating disease.  

So challenging has been the detection of the disease, Yale Medicine says that it takes between four to 11 years from the onset of symptoms to diagnosis and treatment.  

But femtech startup EndoCure has developed an AI-powered ultrasound platform for comprehensive mapping of the lesions, leading to quicker diagnosis and customized treatment options for the one in 10 women of reproductive age worldwide who suffer from endometriosis. 

The lesions appear primarily on the ovaries, bowel and other areas of the pelvic region, causing severe pain and affecting fertility. 

EndoCure’s system integrates with standard ultrasound equipment, streaming the data using its own software as the area is scanned.  It produces 3D imaging that is able to detect lesions smaller than one millimeter, which are extremely hard for current systems to spot.

Scar tissue on a woman’s reproductive system caused by endometriosis (Image: Depositphotos)

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An honorable mention also goes to femtech startup Gynica, which has developed a treatment for endometriosis with cannabinoids, the main component in the cannabis plant. 

The startup’s proprietary slow-release suppository makes use of cannabinoids’ anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, as well as their ability to deter the movement of the endometrium cells to different parts of the body in a three-fold treatment that tackles different aspects of endometriosis. Click here for more

The post Israeli Medical Technologies That Could Change The World appeared first on NoCamels.

The Israel Innovation Authority (IIA) has approved a second year of funding for a joint R&D project to develop CRISPR gene-editing technology for crustaceans that will improve key traits such as growth rate, disease resistance and environmental adaptation. 

The joint project by sustainable aquaculture company Watershed AC, computational biotech firm Evogene and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) focuses on giant freshwater prawn, white leg shrimp and red swamp crayfish.

CRISPR is a powerful gene-editing tool that allows for the modification of DNA with unprecedented precision and ease, making it a valuable tool in various fields of research and biotechnology.

The decision by the IIA – the government agency dedicated to supporting the national tech sector – came after the collaboration partners met their targeted goals in the first year of research. 

Using Evogene’s advanced GeneRator AI tech-engine and other tools, Watershed and BGU successfully produced the first edited giant freshwater prawn with selected gene modifications by using CRISPR.  

In the second year, the collaboration’s main target is to industrially scale-up CRISPR technology for giant freshwater prawn and expand the obtained application to other two crustacean species.  

The collaborators say the global shrimp market, which was worth $40.35 billion in 2023, is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.09 percent and the global crayfish market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 31.5 percent during the next eight years, 

These growing markets increasingly emphasize the need to expand sustainable aquaculture, the team says, making the technology developed in the frame of the collaboration exceptionally relevant.

The post IIA Funds Further Israeli R&D Into Crustacean Gene Modification appeared first on NoCamels.

Eco Wave Power, an Israeli company that uses waves to create energy, has signed an agreement to bring its technology to Taiwan.

According to the agreement, the Tel Aviv-based company will sell its first wave energy generation unit to I-Ke International Ocean Energy, a subsidiary of leading maritime engineering company Lian Tat.

I-Ke will provide the full financing for the 100KW pilot project, by buying a turnkey conversion unit from Eco Wave Power, the agreement states. The conversion unit includes all the hydraulic and electric conversion parts, coupled with the smart control and automation system.

This agreement is based on a memorandum of understanding signed between Lian Tat and Eco Wave Power in June 2023, and will leverage the latter’s technology to maximize energy extraction on the Taiwanese coastline.

“The construction of Eco Wave Power’s project is relatively easy, and I believe that it will be a significant stepping stone for the development of green electricity in Taiwan,” said Lian Tat Chairman CY Huang. 

“I also think that this will allow Taiwan to break away from existing renewable energy restrictions and develop in the direction of diversified renewable energy,” he said. 

“I am certain that Eco Wave Power’s official visit in Taiwan and the signing of this official collaboration agreement between our companies is the beginning of a true friendship and a productive business collaboration,” said Eco Wave Power founder and CEO Inna Braverman. 

“I believe that this new collaboration will not only be a win-win collaboration for both parties but will also serve as a pioneering step towards the implementation and adaptation of wave energy all over Asia, as this will be the first onshore wave energy array in the region. So let’s change the world together – One Wave at a Time!” 

The post Israeli Wave Energy Tech To Create Power In Taiwan appeared first on NoCamels.

A new AI tool created by Microsoft, in association with a group documenting the events of the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7 of last year, facilitates the preservation of real-time testimonies from that day as part of a collective memory. 

Engineers from Microsoft Israel’s R&D department teamed up with Edut 710 to develop the unique tool, which allows anyone to create a personalized ceremony, event or learning session. 

The ceremony can include video testimonies, background materials, artwork and texts related to the October 7 attack,and creators end up with a customized PowerPoint presentation of their work.

Edut 710 was founded to preserve the memories of the victims of the mass terror attack in southern Israel, collecting testimonies of survivors in full detail. So far, more than 1,200 testimonies have been collected as part of a project to create a comprehensive national archive. This archive could then be used to teach and discuss the attack even when survivors cannot be physically present. 

Browsers of the collective digital memory bank do so with the help of advanced language-learning models (LLMs),which allow it to carry out sophisticated searches across hundreds of testimonies. 

“Collaborating with the amazing employees at Microsoft has allowed us to take another step forward in our commitment to the survivors, their stories, and society at large, ensuring that these testimonies reach a wide audience and are not just preserved in archives,” said Itay Ken-Tor, co-founder and Head of Partnerships and Resource Development at Edut 710. 

“We are excited by the collaboration and the amazing dedication of the Microsoft volunteers who created such an important and impactful platform in such a short time, and we thank them all,” he said. 

“Above all, we are deeply moved by the ability of users to send personal thanks to the survivors whose testimonies they heard. From our experience and consultations with experts, we know how significant this is for them.”

The post Microsoft Creates AI Tool To Help Preserve October 7 Testimonies   appeared first on NoCamels.

Israeli water management pioneer LeakZon has announced the official release of what it says is the first and only dedicated platform designed to significantly reduce water loss rates and enhance the control and clarity of water networks. 

The WEAD (Water Efficiency, Anomaly Detection) platform contains an automated algorithm to identify, categorize and address any anomalies in a water system, monitoring the problem and its performance until resolution.

The  SaaS solution integrates with any Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) platform, and is the only platform available that supports simultaneous integration with multiple AMI platforms. 

The platform, which is available for water utilities, municipalities, smart meter manufacturers and multifamily property owners, also maintains high levels of cybersecurity to safeguard customer data. 

Its capabilities include reducing water loss by up to 66 percent; an intuitive dashboard that provides a clear snapshot of entire water networks; and a Virtual District Metered Area (VDMA) that presents a holistic view of water networks.

“We are thrilled to offer utilities the opportunity to enhance their water loss management,” said LeakZon CEO Dan Winter. 

“With numerous customers already benefiting from our solution, we are confident that WEAD will help utilities, municipalities, and multifamily property owners increase their revenue and significantly reduce water loss. In light of the global climate crisis, LeakZon has made sustainability one of our top priorities, and we are pleased to be able to make our humble contribution to creating a better and safer world.”

The post Water Management Pioneer Unveils Unique New Anti-Leak Platform appeared first on NoCamels.

“We will dance again” has become an Israeli mantra of hope and resilience following the massacre at the Nova music festival on October 7, when Hamas terrorists brutally slaughtered 364 people at the dance party and kidnapped dozens more to nearby Gaza. 

Vibez, a unique, young platform for music events, is determined to help Israelis do just that – with major input from a famous Israeli DJ whose son was one of the victims of the Nova attack. 

The memorial to the victims of the massacre at the Nova music festival in southern Israel (Photo: Shlomo Roded/PikiWiki)

The platform is available in app and browser form, and operates as a portal for private communities for specific events, which anyone can apply to join. The platform serves as a complete environment for each event, with social media features, member offers and ticket sales. 

“We built an ecosystem for advanced communities that does much more than just ticketing,” Dovev explains. “We do the whole aspect of member management.”  

And no other platform in the world, he says, has the same range of features as Vibez. 

One of the main communities on the platform – with more than 10,000 members –  is operated by David Abramov, better known in the Israeli music world as DJ Darwish, who is also a member of the Vibez advisory board.   

Abramov’s 20-year-old son Laor was initially declared missing in the chaotic aftermath of the Nova attack and tragically later found to be among the dead. 

Launched just two weeks before the massacre at the Nova festival on October 7, Vibez co-founder and CEO Saar Dovev tells NoCamels that it took until mid-March for Israeli events to begin happening again. 

Nova was a prime example of a community-based music festival, Dovev says. 

Saar Dovev: We realized that events were building themselves communities (Photo: Courtesy)

Each community – be it created by an individual, specific festival or club – has its own pages on the platform, with listings for upcoming events, messages from the operators and special offers exclusive to that group. 

Would-be members ask to join the specific community in order to access their features and, once approved, can interact and receive often exclusive details of upcoming events.  

Dovev explains that each community can also define the levels of membership within it, such as premium or VIP, set up event promotions or even just send messages to its members. A social media aspect, allowing members to chat, is also in development. 

“We are a little bit like Meetup,” Dovev says, referring to the global forum for people to find others in their immediate vicinity who share their interests, “but for nightlife, festivals, parties – everything to do with culture.” 

Dovev set up Vibez in late 2021 with co-founder Yael Dovev, who is the company COO and also his wife, whom he fondly refers to as his “partner in crime.”  

An experienced entrepreneur in the event industry, Dovev had created ticketing platform EventBUZZ more than a decade ago, but came to realize that as events of all kinds were building communities around themselves, they would need a dedicated home to manage all their interactions. 

“Communities became a big thing everywhere, in every segment of life,” he says.  

The founders funded the development of the platform themselves, with no external investment and a small team to write the code and develop the software themselves. 

“I’m very proud of the fact that we are a bootstrap company, and we reached the milestone that we have reached,” Dovev says, adding that Vibez “didn’t spend a shekel on marketing.”  

That milestone includes some 100,000 users in Israel and an app that he says has been downloaded by more than 10 percent of that number – making it the 15th most popular app in the country in less than a year. 

The Vibez app has become one of the most popular apps in Israel (Photo: Courtesy)

Although currently operating primarily in Israel, the platform has also expanded internationally with events in Finland and Thailand, and has already established itself as a firm fixture in the latter. 

Vibez is also hopeful that a large music festival in Europe will be using the platform in the near future, and has its sights set on the US, where it has already registered the company. 

Although the emphasis is on music events, Dovev says the platform is suitable for any kind of cultural experience. 

“If it has culture, if it has music, sound, art, movement, it’s relevant for us,” he says.

The post Innovative Music Festival Platform Is Helping Israelis To Dance Again  appeared first on NoCamels.

The Israel Innovation Authority (IIA) has announced the 20 Israeli climate tech companies that will be featured at the United Nations COP29 Climate Conference set to take place in Baku, Azerbaijan in November. 

The 20 companies operate in a diverse range of sectors related to green tech – including renewable energy; water; advanced agriculture; and smart transportation – and each has its own innovative solution to combating the global climate crisis.

The various companies were chosen in order to showcase the impact of Israeli innovation in this ecosystem, and will be present at the Israeli pavilion inside the event’s main Blue Zone hub. 

COP29 will be the UN’s 29th climate conference, the largest event of its kind in the world. More than 100 heads of state and over 40,000 participants – including members of governments, the private sector, academia and financial institutions – 

are expected to attend this year’s conference, which will focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to climate change, with an emphasis on innovative and sustainable solutions.

The Israeli companies selected are: 

Airovation Tech: Developed a unique technology for capturing and storing carbon dioxide from the air, enabling industries such as fertilizers, cement and steel to significantly reduce carbon emissions

CarbonBlue: Removes carbon dioxide from ocean water, allowing it to absorb more CO₂ from the atmosphere without requiring water pre-treatment

Rewind: Developed a carbon dioxide removal method involving the storage of biomass in the 2km deep, oxygen-depleted waters of the Black Sea

Momentick: Uses advanced sensors and artificial intelligence to provide precise and autonomous capabilities for detecting and quantifying methane and other greenhouse gas emissions worldwide

Senecio Robotics: Tackles the global mosquito epidemic by developing an AI-powered robotic platform that releases sterile males, dramatically reducing mosquito populations in vast areas

TextRe: Specializes in converting synthetic textile waste into sustainable recycled materials used in various applications in the plastics industry.

Treetoscope: Presents advanced irrigation optimization technology in agriculture, reducing water waste and promoting efficient use of renewable water sources

BlueGreen Water Technologies: Purifies polluted lakes by combining innovative materials and technologies to treat stagnant water sources and rivers

SolCold: Developed a unique nanotechnological coating that cools buildings under sunlight without the need for electricity, making it a perfect solution for extremely hot regions

EZPack: Provides off-grid water solutions for rural areas, with technologies that supply clean water for drinking and agriculture even in harsh conditions

NGV: Offers technology to reduce carbon emissions from polluting industries while creating sustainable products, enabling over an 80-percent reduction in emissions throughout the lifecycle

Envomed: Developed a solution for the treatment of hazardous medical waste, focusing on environmental preservation and reducing pollutant emissions

Reep Technologies: Removes ink from paper in a way that allows paper reuse, reducing pollution in the printing industry

H2OLL: Provides technology to extract drinking water directly from the air, a unique solution for areas with water shortages

Salicrop: Develops environmentally friendly fertilizer alternatives that help plants adapt to harsh climatic conditions

ANINA Culinary Art: Offers unique packaging solutions for healthy, eco-friendly meals that are ready to eat within minutes

CI Sensing: Developed a revolutionary solution for monitoring greenhouse gas emissions based on Optical Gas Imaging technology, which helps energy companies reduce emissions and enhance safety against leaks

Marine Edge: Provides optimization solutions for shipping companies, reducing fuel consumption and pollutant emissions

Terra: Developed technology for managing and monetizing carbon removal for farmers

The post Israel Sending 20 Green Tech Firms To UN Climate Conference appeared first on NoCamels.

One year after the brutal mass attack by Hamas terrorists on southern Israel, and the country is still dealing with the subsequent and ongoing war in Gaza, driving Hezbollah from the northern border, and attacks by Iran and its other proxies in Iraq, Syria and Yemen. 

But during the past year, Israelis have displayed the resilience, determination and creativity that has helped them overcome the threats they have faced since the creation of the state in 1948 and for which they have a worldwide reputation. 

So too has the national innovation ecosystem risen to the occasion, displaying the same tenacity that earned it the moniker Startup Nation, and using it to rehabilitate the country during the greatest challenge of its 76-year history.  

Perhaps in the realest sense of the word rehabilitation, Sheba Medical Center – Israel’s largest and internationally ranked hospital – is developing the most groundbreaking surgical techniques to improve the lives of Israeli veterans who were wounded in the line of duty. 

The soldiers underwent what Sheba said were life-changing procedures by Israeli and top global surgeons, with the aim of helping them to reclaim their sense of empowerment and independence. 

The foreign surgeons also worked with their Israeli counterparts on these new techniques, in a joint project by Sheba and Brothers for Life, a non-profit organization providing critical and immediate aid to wounded IDF veterans.

The innovative techniques will now be used to operate on IDF veterans such as Sergeant O., who lost his right leg after stepping on an IED during a mission in the West Bank in January, and who has since  experienced severe pain due to nerve damage. 

Sergeant O. was set to undergo surgery at Sheba to ease the pain, a procedure to be led by Dr. Jason Souza, Director of the Orthoplastic Reconstruction and Advanced Amputation Program at Ohio State University.  

“We are humbled and honored to serve those who have served us. It is our duty to help veterans rebuild their lives and enable them to look ahead to a future filled with hope and possibilities,” said Dr. Avi Avitan, head of Sheba’s Outpatient Rehab Clinic. 

“Our network of healthcare professionals, including surgeons, physical therapists and prosthetists assists patients along every step towards recovery, providing support in every way possible. They fought their battle on the front line, and now it is our turn to fight alongside them in their journey to recovery and rehabilitation,” he said. 

Brothers for Life today works with 2,000 wounded IDF veterans and its co-founder and executive chairman Gil Ganonyan, who was also wounded in battle, anticipates that more veterans will look to the organization for support in the coming months. 

“We are fully committed to continuing our vital mission of supporting the physical and mental recovery of our heroes, putting the puzzle pieces back together to build a stronger, more resilient future,” Ganonyan said. 

Coping with the wounds of the past year also means healing the mental scars, and Israel’s innovation ecosystem has also been hard at work in this sphere too.  

Medical cannabis company SyqeAir – which created the world’s first inhaler with metered doses for pain management – has developed an online questionnaire to recognize early symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and recommendations for professional help for anyone suffering from mental distress. 

The number of Israelis dealing with PTSD has almost doubled in the past year (Photo: Pexels)

According to the Israeli Center for Suicide Research, the number of Israelis dealing with PTSD has almost doubled in the past year from 16 percent to 30 percent. Furthermore, a survey by the University of Haifa also found that approximately 60 percent of the population not directly affected by the war are experiencing acute stress disorder (ASD), which when left untreated has the potential to develop into PTSD.

SyqeAir’s questionnaire asks respondents about their recent emotions and behaviors, and the degree of their intensity, which may reveal symptoms characteristic of PTSD. 

The completed questionnaire is analyzed for signs of symptoms characteristic of PTSD. If such signs appear, the respondent is recommended to contact a professional for a full diagnosis and treatment advice. 

The questions are based on a self-report survey used by the National Center for PTSD at the US Department of Veterans affairs, which assesses 20 symptoms of post-traumatic stress. 

According to SyqeAir, its data shows a 350 percent increase in victims of hostilities being treated with medical cannabis, of which 56 percent are being treated for PTSD. 

The data also shows a 150 percent increase in members of the security forces being treated with medical cannabis, of which 57 percent are dealing with PTSD from the ongoing conflict.

“Professional estimates suggest that by the end of 2025, between 1.5 to 2 million individuals may be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD),” said SyqeAir CEO Hagit Kamin. 

“Our newly developed digital tool aims to raise awareness about post-traumatic symptoms and offers an early self-identification solution for those in need of help and professional guidance to improve their well-being,” she said. 

“Considering the rapid increase in the number of people experiencing PTSD, we recognize the critical need to provide the general public with an initial identification tool to promote awareness and enable individuals to seek treatment as early as possible.”

Young Israelis are also innovating for better medical solutions, with students at Afeka College of Engineering creating new technologies for emergency medical services in the wake of the October 7 attacks. 

The top three winning entries were an AI-powered platform to streamline patient medical history, thereby reducing time to treatment; a smart bandage that helps prevent sepsis by detecting an infection based on the changes in a patient’s pH levels; and a drone that can deliver medical equipment to remote areas.

The unique solutions for emergency care were created during the Tel Aviv college’s third annual 24-hour hackathon, and is an issue of great importance to Afeka, which has seen 42 percent of its study body serving in the Israel Defense Forces during the course of the war. 

Afeka students beside a Magen David Adom ambulance during the college’s hackathon for medical care innovation (Photo: Courtesy)

The event, dubbed “the MDAthon,” was held in conjunction with Magen David Adom, Israel’s national rescue service, and included multidisciplinary teams of students and alumni, emergency responders and industry professionals. 

“The demand for skilled engineers has never been greater, especially during these critical times,” said Afeka President Prof. Ami Moyal. 

“Our students will be the leaders and innovators that drive future success, will drive our economy, and ensure Israel’s continued success on the global stage.”

The post Rehabilitation Nation: Israeli Innovation On Road To Healing  appeared first on NoCamels.

Israeli medical diagnostic company MeMed has announced the successful completion of the first randomized controlled trial in the US of its test to differentiate between bacterial and viral infections. 

The test could reduce the amount of use of antibiotics, which do not work on viral infections but whose prescription for them plays a part in the growing problem of antibiotic resistance in bacteria.

The company says the trial of the MeMed BV test successfully demonstrates its clinical utility in promoting appropriate antibiotic use, highlighting its potential to improve patient outcomes and healthcare decision making. It also called the trial a critical step toward making the test the standard for distinguishing bacterial and viral infections.  

The randomized controlled trial was conducted across 11 Emergency Departments (EDs) and Urgent Care Centers (UCCs) in the US and Israel, and included 260 adult patients with clinical suspicion of lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI). 

The first small-scale analysis of data from the trial showed a 62 percent relative reduction in unnecessary antibiotic prescription rates, while follow-up data indicated no significant increase in the rate of return ED/UCC visits within 7 days.

“The results of this trial build on a decade-long series of studies involving thousands of patients, demonstrating the high performance of the MeMed BV technology,” said MeMed co-founder and CEO Dr. Eran Eden. 

“This trial marks a significant step forward by generating interventional data and showcasing the test’s actual impact on patients. We are committed to further expanding on these findings, with several additional utility and real-world studies underway,” he said.  

The post Israeli Test To Tell If Infection Bacterial Or Viral Successful In Trial  appeared first on NoCamels.

Tel Aviv University (TAU) has been ranked seventh worldwide and first outside the US in the 2024 Pitchbook Ranking for global entrepreneurship. 

The annual ranking, published by renowned business data research company Pitchbook, tracks startups raising capital in the US, using the number of entrepreneurs among an institution’s alumni to compile the top 50 universities.

TAU says the achievement was driven by 893 alumni with bachelor’s degrees who have founded 755 companies over the past decade, raising $29.8 billion in total capital. 

While TAU joins world-famous US universities such as Stanford, MIT and Harvard in the top 10, it places higher than Yale, Columbia and Princeton, who were ranked 11th, 13th and 14th respectively. 

Pitchbook singled out three companies founded by TAU alumni that have each raised over $1 billion: Generate ($4.3 billion); Lendbuzz ($1.2 billion); and Next Insurance ($1.1 billion).

“TAU continues to be Israel’s main entrepreneurial university and a global leader in producing alumni who become entrepreneurs, found companies, raise venture capital and drive economic progress,” said Prof. Moshe Zviran, the university’s Chief Entrepreneurship & Innovation Officer. 

“TAU’s 7th place in the Pitchbook ranking is another testament to the exceptional quality of our alumni and the impact of our entrepreneurial ecosystem on campus, which actively promotes this mindset,” he said. 

Three other Israeli universities made the list: the Technion – Israel School of Technology in Haifa, which was ranked 16th; the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, which was ranked 30th; and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, which was ranked 47th.

The post Tel Aviv University Ranked 7th In World For Global Entrepreneurship appeared first on NoCamels.

<p>US President Donald Trump concluded his State of the Union address a short time ago. The speech was nearly two hours long.</p>

Azzam al-Ahmad rejects Hamas disarmament, criticizes US proposals, and reveals plans for discussions on Hamas joining the PLO.

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Trump pointed out that he ended eight wars within his first few months in office, including the war between Israel and Iran and the war in Gaza. He thanked his Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and his adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner for their help in ending the Gaza war.

The Board of Peace launches its official website, featuring key members, mission details, and governance documents.

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The Trump administration sues the University of California, alleging it ignored antisemitism during anti-Israel student protests.

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Senior Hamas official says the issue of disarmament is “difficult to resolve" and rejects Israeli and US demands.

The Department of Justice filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday accusing the leadership of UCLA of allowing an antisemitic work environment on campus, intensifying the Trump administration’s long-running scrutiny of the Los Angeles campus.

The lawsuit, filed in federal court in the Central District of California, alleges UCLA failed to protect Jewish and Israeli faculty and staff from harassment following the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel and the protests that spread across American universities afterward.

The complaint was filed the same day President Donald Trump is scheduled to deliver the first State of the Union address of his second term, in which he is expected to cite the administration’s broader confrontations with higher education institutions as evidence of its successes. It also comes roughly three months after nine Justice Department attorneys resigned from the government’s University of California antisemitism investigation, telling the Los Angeles Times they believed the probe had become politicized. 

The lawsuit says that antisemitic conduct at UCLA became widespread after Oct. 7 and persisted through the 2023-24 academic year. According to the lawsuit, Jewish and Israeli employees were subjected to threats, classroom disruptions, antisemitic graffiti and, at times, were blocked from parts of campus during protests.

The government places particular emphasis on the spring 2024 Royce Quad encampment, when pro-Palestinian demonstrators established a tent protest in the center of campus. The Justice Department alleges UCLA failed to enforce its own campus rules, allowing protests that disrupted university operations and contributed to what it describes as a hostile workplace.

“Based on our investigation, UCLA administrators allegedly allowed virulent anti-Semitism to flourish on campus,” Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in a DOJ press release announcing the lawsuit. Harmeet K. Dhillon, who leads the department’s Civil Rights Division, described the alleged incidents as “a mark of shame” if proven true.

UCLA officials rejected the government’s characterization, pointing instead to changes made under Chancellor Julio Frenk.

“As Chancellor Frenk has made clear: Antisemitism is abhorrent and has no place at UCLA or anywhere,” vice chancellor of strategic communications Mary Osako said in a statement. She cited investments in campus safety, the launch of UCLA’s Initiative to Combat Antisemitism, the reorganization of the university’s civil rights office, the hiring of a dedicated Title VI and Title VII officer and strengthened protest policies.

“We stand firmly by the decisive actions we have taken to combat antisemitism in all its forms, and we will vigorously defend our efforts and our unwavering commitment to providing a safe, inclusive environment for all members of our community,” Osako said. 

Frenk, who is Jewish, has spoken publicly about antisemitism in higher education. In an essay published by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency last year, he invoked the history of German universities under Nazism, warning that those institutions “never recovered after driving Jews out” and urging American colleges to confront antisemitism while preserving academic freedom and open debate.

The new lawsuit follows earlier legal battles over campus protests at UCLA. In July 2025, the university agreed to pay $6.13 million to settle a lawsuit brought by Jewish students and a Jewish professor who said demonstrators had blocked access to parts of campus. Under that agreement, UCLA said it would ensure protesters could not restrict movement or access to university spaces.

Campus tensions over speech and security have continued more recently. Bari Weiss, the journalist and founder of The Free Press, withdrew this month from a scheduled appearance at UCLA as part of the Daniel Pearl Memorial Lecture series. Weiss had been invited to speak on “The Future of Journalism” but canceled the event, citing security concerns ahead of the lecture.

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Among the guests expected to attend President Donald Trump’s State of the Union Address Tuesday evening are Hanan Lischinsky, the brother of the Israeli embassy staffer killed last summer, and the Jewish Olympic hockey star brothers Jack and Quinn Hughes.

Trump’s address is expected to tout the accomplishments of his second term in what he has said will be a “long speech” centering on the U.S. economy. In the decades-long history of the State of the Union address, it has become customary for the president and lawmakers to invite guests who have personal ties to prominent political issues.

This week, House Speaker Mike Johnson announced that he had invited several guests to the address including Hanan Lischinsky, the brother of Yaron Lischinsky, the Israeli embassy staffer who was shot and killed outside of the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., last May along with his girlfriend and fellow embassy staffer Sarah Milgrim. (Milgrim was an American, while the Lischinskys are German-Israeli.)

“These two young diplomats of the Israeli Embassy, devoted to the cause of peace and to one another, had their futures stolen in a violent act of antisemitism. Yaron’s brother, Hanan Lischinsky, has shown remarkable courage in shedding light on the extremism that took his brother’s life,” Johnson said in a statement. “I am honored to invite him as my guest for President Trump’s State of the Union address.”

Trump also invited the U.S. men’s hockey team to attend the address during a call with the team shortly after their Sunday win over Canada at the Winter Olympics. The call ignited a backlash when the team laughed as Trump said, “We’re going to have to bring the women’s team,” referring to the U.S. women’s gold medal hockey team, joking that if he did not he “probably would be impeached.” The women’s team later declined the invitation.

Jack Hughes, who scored the game-winning goal on Sunday that earned the U.S. men’s team its first gold medal since 1980, as well as his brother and U.S. teammate Quinn, both welcomed the invitation.

“We’re so proud to represent the U.S. and when you get the chance to go to White House and meet the President, we’re proud to be Americans and that’s so patriotic,” Jack Hughes told the Daily Mail. “No matter what your views are, we’re super excited to go to the White House tomorrow and be a part of that.”

Jack Hughes #86 and Quinn Hughes #43 of Team United States celebrate winning the gold medals after the team’s 2-1 overtime victory in the Men’s Gold Medal match between Canada and the United States of the 2026 Winter Olympic games in Milan, Feb. 22, 2026. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Florida Jewish Republican Rep. Randy Fine, who drew calls last week from Jewish officials for his censure or resignation after posting on X that “the choice between dogs and Muslims is not a difficult one,” said one of his guests at the State of the Union will be his father’s seeing-eye dog, Sadie.

“Sadie being with us allows my father to live his life, and she has turned into part of our family. Dogs Make America Great. I will fight like hell against anyone who wants to take them away,” wrote Fine in a post on X.

Other prominent Jewish lawmakers have also announced their invitees to the State of the Union, including New York Sen. Chuck Schumer, who is bringing Dani Bensky, a survivor of the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

“I’m proud to bring Dani Bensky, New Yorker and survivor of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse, as my guest to the State of the Union to demand the truth. Dani has turned unimaginable pain into unrelenting advocacy,” wrote Schumer in a post on X. “Survivors deserve justice. Trump must end the cover-up and release the full Epstein files—NOW.”

Sen. Jacky Rosen, a Nevada Jewish Democrat, announced on Monday that she had invited Vania Carter-Strauss, a small business owner and nurse practitioner, as her guest to highlight the impacts of the Trump administration’s cuts to Medicaid and tariffs.

“I’m so grateful to be joined by Vania at the State of the Union to highlight the real impact of these cruel policies, and I will continue to speak out against any actions that raise costs for hardworking Nevadans,” said Rosen in a statement.

Jewish Democratic Illinois Rep. Brad Schneider has also announced his invitation to Rick Woldenberg, the CEO of Learning Resources who was a plaintiff in the Supreme Court case that ended last week in Trump’s tariffs being overturned.

“When harmful policies raise costs and hurt American businesses, patriotic Americans like Rick fight back,” said Schneider in a post on X.

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When an interviewer told him he wouldn’t vote for a candidate who accepts support from AIPAC, California Gov. Gavin Newsom stumbled over his answer.

“It’s interesting,” Newsom said, repeating the phrase multiple times. He distanced himself from the pro-Israel lobbying group, saying it is “not relevant” to his “day-to-day life,” but didn’t comment on whether he would ever accept its support. His critics said he “short-circuited.”

That was back in October. This week, he had a clearer answer.

“Never have and never will,” Newsom said on Sunday, asked whether he would take money from AIPAC.

It wasn’t the first time that Newsom has shown off his record of not taking money from AIPAC, nor from other special interest lobbying groups in industries like tobacco and oil. And that record comes as no surprise: AIPAC has not historically gotten involved in state elections, and Newsom has run only in gubernatorial races since 2018.

But Newsom, who’s widely believed to be running for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028, was offering a clear sign that he is aiming to appeal to a voter base that is increasingly critical of Israel and uses AIPAC support as a litmus test of politicians.

Signs are piling up that support for Israel is a mounting liability for national politicians. Polling shows that support for Israel has plummeted to the single digits among Democrats and has declined on the right, too. An internal investigation by the Democratic National Committee, meanwhile, found that Kamala Harris lost votes in the 2024 election as a result of her stance on Israel’s war in Gaza, Axios reported this week.

Now, moderate Democrats who have records of voting for pro-Israel policies are swearing off AIPAC, signaling just how toxic the pro-Israel group has become in electoral politics.

Newsom was the first sitting mayor of San Francisco to visit Israel when he did so in 2008, according to J. As governor of California since 2019, Newsom’s constituency includes more than 1.2 million Jews, making up more than 16% of the American Jewish population, according to the 2024 American Jewish Year Book. 

Newsom visited Israel less than two weeks after Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack, meeting with anguished Israelis as well as senior officials including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. 

During a wave of pro-Palestinian protests in 2024, Newsom signed legislation requiring public universities to update their codes of conduct and add mandatory anti-discrimination training for students amid a rise in antisemitic incidents on college campuses. He also signed a bill meant to prevent “hate littering,” aimed at limiting the dissemination of flyers with threatening speech.

He said earlier this year that he is “crystal clear in my love for Israel — and my condemnation of Bibi [Netanyahu], and there’s a distinction.”

In a podcast with conservative commentator Ben Shapiro in January, Newsom said “there was a dehumanization” in the way Netanyahu talked about Palestinian people when they met. Newsom said he disagrees with accusations of genocide — an increasingly common accusation among Democratic politicians — and that he was not “granting legitimacy” to them. But he said he understands “the tendency for people to assert” that Israel committed genocide because of its conduct in the war.

Weighted polling data compiled by Race to the WH shows Newsom as the leading Democratic presidential candidate, though some polls have him behind Harris or Pete Buttigieg. 

Newsom has taken a unique approach as a major Democratic politician over the past year, hosting right-wing figures such as Shapiro, Charlie Kirk and MAGA firebrand Steve Bannon on his podcast. “We can all be in our own lanes and be in total denial, and that’s a line we can draw, but we’ve got to draw a circle. We have to live together across our differences,” he told NPR on Tuesday, when asked about those podcasts. Newsom, who is currently on a book tour with stops in Tennessee, Georgia and South Carolina, has framed the tour as a way to appeal to voters in red states. Newsom made headlines on the Atlanta leg of his tour this week when he revealed that he “can’t read” his speeches because of his dyslexia.

Newsom’s Israel views have drawn criticism from some progressives, such as Rep. Ro Khanna from California.

“He doesn’t want to offend the AIPAC donors,” Khanna said in January, in response to Newsom not accusing Israel of genocide. “He doesn’t want to offend the donor class. And that explains his position on going to give Netanyahu a blank check right after Oct. 7, on not being willing to ever call out the funding we were giving, and not willing to call out that clearly it was a genocide, and then not willing to challenge the billionaire class on tax policy.”

There is no record of Newsom receiving donations from AIPAC, though a filing from his 2003 run for mayor showed that his campaign gave $500 to AIPAC as a “civic donation.” 

His latest comment about AIPAC, which came in an interview with YouTuber Adam Mockler on Newsom’s book tour, did not halt left-wing criticism of Newsom’s Israel-Palestine views.

“Gavin Newsom is a former AIPAC donor,” the X account Track AIPAC, which works to counter the pro-Israel lobby, wrote as the clip was circulating. “He refuses to acknowledge the genocide in Gaza, attempted to crush pro-Palestine protests, and still supports unconditional aid to Israel. He will never be president.”

Track AIPAC’s co-founder, Cory Archibald, said in a follow-up that she took Newsom’s comment as a victory.

“I would also like us to take a collective moment to appreciate what a feat it is that Gavin Newsom feels he has to come out, in February 2026, to state that he rejects AIPAC,” Archibald wrote.

She added: “We will make AIPAC money the defining issue of the 2028 race. Watch.”

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A documentary about the murder of five Jews in a Polish town is being threatened with a ban in Poland — not because they were killed in the Holocaust, but because they weren’t.

The Jews at the heart of “Among Neighbors,” from California-based filmmaker Yoav Potash, died six months after the end of Nazi occupation. They were among a handful of survivors from Gniewoszów, a town where about 1,500 Jews made up half the population before World War II. When they returned home in 1945, they were killed by their Polish neighbors.

Since premiering at the Warsaw Jewish Film Festival in November 2024, “Among Neighbors” has been screened in six countries and qualified for Academy Award consideration. But its release on TVP, the Polish public broadcaster, has prompted uproar from right-wing politicians and a national investigation.

The Jewish Telegraphic Agency will host a U.S. stream of the film on Thursday, followed by a live conversation with Potash. Register here to attend.

Potash stumbled into making “Among Neighbors” on a 2014 trip to Gniewoszów, where he planned to document a modest rededication ceremony for the Jewish cemetery. As he began talking with the oldest residents, one woman, who has since died, told him that Jews were killed there well after the war.

“That just really struck me as a very different kind of story, because it was not the Germans doing the killing, it was the Poles,” said Potash. “It was not during the war, it was well after, when it should have been a time of peace.”

When “Among Neighbors” appeared on televisions across Poland in November 2025, it was hit with backlash from the office of Polish President Karol Nawrocki, a right-wing historian who led nationalist efforts to rewrite Poland’s Holocaust history. His Law and Justice party, which governed Poland from 2015 to 2023, promoted historical narratives about Polish victimhood and resistance to the Nazis while delegitimizing research on Polish antisemitism or Poles who killed Jews.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk now leads the Polish government with a centrist coalition, but Nawrocki has been a counterweight to Tusk since he was elected last year.

Pelagia Radecka, featured in “Among Neighbors,” witnessed the postwar murder of five Jews as a 15-year-old girl. (Courtesy of 8 Above)

Six days after “Among Neighbors” aired on TVP, Agnieszka Jędrzak, a minister in Nawrocki’s office, attacked the broadcaster on X. Calling the documentary “historical anti-Polish manipulation,” she said “a television station that has ‘Polish’ in its name should not be broadcasting it.”

Jędrzak oversees state awards and Polish diaspora relations. Before joining the president’s office, she spent 15 years working at the Institute of National Remembrance — previously headed by Nawrocki — which gained a reputation for advancing nationalist narratives about the Holocaust. According to Jędrzak’s government profile, she led the IPN as it “responded to defamatory statements which damaged the reputation of Poland and the Polish nation.”

A probe into “Among Neighbors” launched after the Ordo Iuris Institute, a far-right Catholic think tank, filed a complaint with the National Broadcasting Council, comparable to the Federal Communications Commission in the United States.

“The narrative presented in the documentary film ‘Among Neighbors’ clearly undermines values ​​important to Poles, such as historical truth,” the institute said in November. “Above all, the film creates a false image of Poles as a nation co-responsible for the German genocide of Jews during World War II. What is particularly outrageous is the fact that the production was released by Polish Television.”

The National Broadcasting Council responded by opening an investigation into the film.

“Among Neighbors” was made over the course of a decade that largely spanned the Law and Justice regime. In 2018, the country passed a law that outlawed accusing Poland or the Polish people of complicity in Nazi crimes. The infraction has since been downgraded from a crime punishable with prison time to a civil offense, but the law remains in effect.

For Potash, reactions to the film from right-wing nationalist officials were “not surprising at all.”

“They have adopted this mindset where there’s an almost sacred sense that Poles during World War II were either victims or heroes,” he said. “Any story that anyone tells that contradicts that, or that adds that some Poles were perpetrators, is anathema to that.”

A fragment of a Jewish tombstone in Gniewoszów, Poland. After World War II, tombstones from the Jewish cemetery were used by local residents to pave roads and sharpen knives. (Courtesy of 8 Above)

TVP has stood by the film and continues to air it. The network has been backed by the Jewish Historical Institute of Poland and the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews, whose representatives sent a letter of support to the TVP Program Council’s chair, Barbara Bilińska.

“Among Neighbors” unfolds around a man and a woman who grew up in Gniewoszów. In the last breaths of their lives, they seek to answer questions that have possessed them for 80 years — he as the Jewish child of Holocaust survivors who were killed in their hometown, and she as a Polish eyewitness to the murders.

In a statement, TVP said the reckonings of these two people were neither “anti-Polish” nor “a judgment of the entire Polish nation.”

“We are open to dialogue regarding historical memory and believe that even difficult topics allow society to understand the fuller context of past events,” said TVP. “As a public broadcaster, we have a duty to facilitate such conversation and not shy away from presenting those fragments of history that require reflection and civic courage.”

Beyond Gniewoszów, “Among Neighbors” touches on a wave of murders that struck Jews returning home to cities and towns across Poland after liberation from the Nazis. In the most notorious instance, 42 Jews in the southeastern town of Kielce were killed by a mob of Polish residents, soldiers and police officers in July 1946. The Kielce pogrom convinced many survivors they had no future in Poland, spurring an exodus.

A film dramatizing the Kielce pogrom drew protests from Polish Americans, and the Berlin office of its Jewish producer was destroyed by an arson in 1996, the same year the Polish government formally apologized for the pogrom.

“Among Neighbors” confronts the simultaneous intimacy and violence woven through small towns, where Poles lived and worked with Jews, where their children played with Jewish children, and where some Poles also killed their Jewish neighbors. That complex relationship still rests under the surface of skirmishes over Poland’s history.

Konstanty Gebert, a journalist interviewed in the film, compared the relationship between Poland and its Jews to the phenomenon of phantom limbs — the sensation that a body part remains attached after it has been amputated.

“Poland is still suffering from its Jewish phantom pains, and Jews are suffering from their Polish phantom pains,” said Gebert. “Until those two amputated hands can actually shake — and I don’t know how you do that to amputated limbs — but I know that if you don’t, we’ll be still standing there, swallowing painkillers for a pain that cannot be relieved, because the amputated limb is gone and it still hurts.”

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Jewish figures on the far right are increasingly expressing concerns about President Donald Trump’s handling of an antisemitism rift among the Republican party, after its instigator Tucker Carlson reportedly visited the White House for the third time in weeks on Monday.

The visit, reported by Punchbowl News journalist Jake Sherman, came days after his combative interview with Trump’s ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, ignited antisemitism allegations and a diplomatic row with Arab leaders.

After the interview Carlson also appeared on Saudi state-owned TV, during which he called Israel’s Gaza war a “land grab” and repeated his past claims that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is “evil and destructive.” Carlson has ties with both Saudi Arabia and Qatar, where he has said he intends to buy property and has hosted high-profile events.

Laura Loomer, a far-right Jewish activist, has staked out a warpath against Carlson’s continued welcome in the Trump administration..

“It seems like a suicide mission for any Christian or Jew who doesn’t idolize Hitler to keep donating to the GOP,” Loomer tweeted late Monday. In a follow-up, she wrote, “It’s like I woke up one day and 90% of the people I’ve come to know on the right over the last 10 years have morphed into different people.”

Loomer’s explosion of anger and angst is significant because she has boasted of close ties to Trump and has appeared to hold some sway over White House hiring. In the past, when she has targeted administration staffers or potential hires, many have been spiked quickly. Now, as she raises alarms about Carlson and antisemitism on the right, the White House has remained silent.

“It’s shocking that I have to say this, but the GOP has a major identity crisis right now, the GOP has a growing Jew hate and foreign influence problem, and the party seems to be in a struggle session with Neo Nazis who they aren’t explicitly rejecting,” Loomer tweeted. “My advice is for people to not donate at this time till we get clarity from the party on what the party’s position is on these issues.”

Other Jewish figures on the far right, including radio host Mark Levin and pro-Israel activist Sloan Rachmuth, sided with Loomer against Carlson.

“He should be condemned by the White House, not invited to it,” Levin tweeted.

Carlson’s reported White House visit was one of several he has made since increasingly using his show to lean into friendly interviews with conspiracy theorists and white nationalists, including Nick Fuentes. Seen as a bellwether of conservative influence with close ties to Vice President JD Vance, Carlson’s broadsides against Israel and increasing embrace of antisemitic talking points have paralleled a similar rise in such sentiments among younger GOP voters, and caused serious concern among many Jewish conservatives.

Huckabee himself, in damage control following his comments in the interview, has publicly urged the Trump administration to cut ties with his former Fox News colleague.

“I hope they quit letting him into the White House because, quite frankly, this is a person who is doing serious, significant damage to President Trump and to the administration,” the ambassador told the Christian Broadcasting Network, hours before Carlson was spotted at the White House.

At least one other Trump appointee has also spoken out to defend Huckabee and condemn Carlson.

“Am I the ONLY member of the Trump’s [sic] Administration defending AND supporting Ambassador Huckabee?” Leo Terrell, chair of the Trump administration’s antisemitism task force, tweeted Monday.

Following the Huckabee interview, the influential Israeli-American conservative activist Yoram Hazony said Carlson’s earlier visits to the White House had come at the invitation of Trump, who Carlson said was worried that the burgeoning antisemitism rift would drive voters to the Democrats in the midterm elections this fall.

Hazony, whom Carlson mentioned in the video of his Huckabee interview, said Carlson had asked him for help mending fences but that he had come away unconvinced that Carlson wanted to make any changes.

“I explained to him that I can’t do much to help him, because just about every Jew I know believes he’s been waging a savage campaign against Jews, Judaism, and Israel for the past 18 months — and that most think his aim is to drive Jews and Zionist Christians out of the Trump coalition and out of the Republican party,” Hazony wrote on X.

Carlson requested Hazony set up a meeting with Netanyahu, Hazony claimed; he declined to do so. While at first Hazony said he was open to conversing with Carlson in the name of “building coalitions,” he has changed his mind.

“In Tucker’s case, the private person turns out to be exactly who we’ve been seeing in public,” he wrote. “Whatever his motives for turning his podcast into what seems to be a circus of anti-Jewish messaging, right now that project is clearly more important to him than helping the administration keep its coalition together so it can govern effectively and win elections in 2026 and 2028.”

Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, condemned Carlson and praised Huckabee on Monday. He had previously said Carlson should not be invited to the White House.

“Tucker Carlson has a long history of peddling antisemitic conspiracy theories and lies about Jews and the Jewish state,” Greenblatt tweeted. “His recent interviews continue to amplify hate and launder falsehoods. None of this is new. It’s just pathetic. I appreciate Ambassador @GovMikeHuckabee’s effort to engage in good faith and set the record straight. Unfortunately, I’m not surprised at the outcome.”

Some non-Jewish GOP lawmakers have started to join their Jewish colleagues on the right in condemning Carlson, or antisemitism more forcefully.

“I used to respect Tucker Carlson but after watching his interview of @GovMikeHuckabee I am appalled,” Rep. Marlin Stutzman of Indiana wrote on X. “Tucker gave ample platform and time to Nick Fuentes to share his anti-Semitic vitriol, but constantly interrupted, was impatient, disingenuous, argumentative and disrespectful to Huckabee.”

Stutzman added, “Carlson suggesting all ‘Jews’ do a DNA test in order to live in Israel is repulsive and smacks of ignorance regarding the oldest faith practice in the world combined with the worst kind of exclusionary prejudice and elitism.”

In a slightly more coded message, Alabama Sen. Katie Britt tweeted Monday, “We must continue to call out and condemn antisemitism at every turn. Proud to stand with our Jewish brothers and sisters at home and abroad.” Britt did not mention Carlson or Huckabee by name. By contrast, GOP Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, an established foe of Carlson’s who was also on the receiving end of a tough interview over Israel, has retweeted several pro-Huckabee and anti-Carlson posts following the interview.

The Trump administration has not commented publicly on the interview or its backlash. Trump staffers have reportedly been working behind the scenes to assure Arab leaders that Huckabee’s comments during the interview, in which he suggested Israel has a divine right to much of the Middle East, do not represent official administration policy.

The drama has raised a range of issues beyond the antisemitism rift, including the fact that Carlson’s son works for Vance and about Carlson’s relationships with Saudi Arabia and Russia, both of which are promoting interviews on state media about Carlson’s criticism of the Trump administration.

Carlson is keeping up his streak elevating fringe GOP figures amid the controversy, posting a new interview Monday with outsider Iowa gubernatorial candidate Zach Lahn.

“We have a Christian form of government, but we have elected people that are not following that custom and religion in Christianity,” Lahn told Carlson in the interview. “And so you’re going to have a constitutional crisis. You’re going to have fraud all over the place.”

For Loomer, the moment is existential for right wing-Jews. “The GOP has made it very clear over the last few years that Jewish voters on the right are not welcome, we are not appreciated, and we will not be given basic respect,” she tweeted.

“There’s some elected officials in the GOP who would be ok with seeing Jews mass murdered,” Loomer continued, without naming names. “As a lifelong Republican, this is very alarming to me.”

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A version of this piece first ran as part of the New York Jewish Week’s daily newsletter, rounding up the latest on politics, culture, food and what’s new with Jews in the city. Sign up here to get it in your inbox.

Synagogue ‘buffer zones’ bill watered down

• Legislation to establish “security perimeters” around houses of worship is being softened in the New York City Council.

• Speaker Julie Menin initially proposed a buffer zone of up to 100 feet around houses of worship after two pro-Palestinian protests outside city synagogues. But her office has removed any reference to distance after feedback from the NYPD, reported Jewish Insider.

• A new draft of the bill simply requires NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch to propose her own plan for “buffer zones” that she deems appropriately sized to “address and contain the risk of injury, intimidation, and interference, while preserving and protecting protest rights.”

• A recent poll found that 70% of voters and 83% of Jews statewide support buffer zones around houses of worship. Left-wing groups objected to the initial legislation, including Jews For Racial & Economic Justice, the American Council for Judaism, Jewish Voice for Peace-New York City and IfNotNow NYC, citing free speech concerns.

• Menin’s spokesperson said her proposal “does not limit protest activity,” merely directing the NYPD to protect the free entrance and exit of worshippers.

• Mayor Zohran Mamdani said during an interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper on Monday night that he was still waiting for a legal review of the bill, which faces its first council hearing on Wednesday.

Taxi ads against antisemitism spurn Mamdani’s ‘free buses’

• JewBelong, a New Jersey-based group known for its tongue-in-cheek billboards about antisemitism, is targeting Mamdani through ads on 4,000 NYC cabs that say, “Not gonna hide my Jewish star for a free bus ride.”

• The ads reference Mamdani’s plan to make buses free, along with his anti-Israel views. JewBelong, which has aligned itself with staunchly pro-Israel influencers, has also launched a physical billboard in the Bronx with the same message.

• “It’s about naming what too many Jews are feeling right now, that antisemitism has crept so deeply into everyday life that even simply existing openly can feel like a negotiation,” JewBelong founder Archie Gottesman said to The New York Post.

55-foot-long sculpture in Long Island synagogue for sale

• A 55-foot-long, 16-foot-high Louise Nevelson wall sculpture with a built-in Torah ark will be leaving Temple Beth El on Long Island for a new home, according to ArtNews.

• Named “The White Flame of the Six Million,” the massive sculpture references the Jews killed in the Holocaust. Nevelson was born to a Jewish family in the Russian Empire before settling in New York.

• Temple Beth El, once the host of 1,500 families with a 500-family waiting list in 1980s Great Neck, now has only about 400 member families and will move to a smaller space. The synagogue is negotiating to sell its property, along with Nevelson’s sculpture.

Lee Krasner gets her dues

• Lee Krasner, the Jewish artist from Brookyln who was often typecast as Jackson Pollock’s wife, will get her dues in a Metropolitan Museum of Art exhibition about the couple, “Krasner-Pollock: Past Continuous.”

• The exhibition launching in October will show both artists in dialogue, starting from their early influences — which for Krasner included Hebrew calligraphy, according to The New York Times.

Michelin star restaurant goes kosher, briefly

• Blue Hill At Stone Barns, a farm-to-table restaurant in Tarrytown with two Michelin stars, is presenting a 100% kosher menu from March 17-19. The menu will be curated by celebrity chef Dan Barber.

• Tickets of $1,800 per person will benefit Our Place NY, which supports at-risk Jewish teens and young adults.

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When he’s not working at the local dog care and boarding center, 24-year-old Raffi Stein-Klotz is usually playing kickball or tending to the garden at his residential facility in Boca Raton.

But once a week, Stein-Klotz can be found in an adult Jewish learning class series created specifically for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, like him and his housemates at JARC, the Jewish Association for Residential Care.

“We learn the book of Genesis,” Stein-Klotz, the son of two rabbis, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. “And we get to know how everything is in Hebrew and English, and every morning we say ‘boker or,’ ‘boker tov,’” referring to the Hebrew expressions for “good morning.”

Stein-Klotz’s class is possible thanks to a new curriculum from the Florence Melton School of Adult Jewish Learning, the Jewish education network that offers in-person and online classes. The program, called What’s Mine is Yours: Jewish Adult Learning for All., aims to provide Jewish academic resources for adults with disabilities, who advocates say have few if any options for formal Jewish education tailored to their needs.

“There’s really not a lot specifically designed for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to have a continued adult learning experience,” said Carol Morris, Jewish disabilities advocates coordinator at Jewish Family Service of Colorado. “That doesn’t mean that there aren’t some educational programs that they could attend or be part of, but not really anything designed specifically for them as adults to do higher-level Jewish learning.”

The curriculum was developed in partnership with Matan, an organization that educates Jewish community leaders on how best to include people with disabilities. After a successful precursor curriculum with Melton took off in Atlanta in 2021, What’s Mine is Yours began piloting the Melton and Matan curriculum in 2023. Four cities are offering the curriculum for the first time this year.

The rollout comes as the Jewish world has otherwise made significant strides in some aspects of disability inclusion in recent years. (February is Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance and Inclusion Month, a global Jewish organizational initiative.)

“One of the things that’s so important here is the Jewish world, to a great extent, has embraced the importance of inclusion, the importance of adding ramps where there are stairs to get into the synagogue, to get up to the bimah in the front, they’ve thought about the ways to include people with disabilities,” said Rabbi Morey Schwartz, international director of Melton.

But, he added, “Inclusion can’t just be about ramps. It has to be about giving them inspiration, education, engaging, thought-provoking materials that can give them also the ability to participate fully to the extent that they can to the enterprise of Jewish learning. It can’t be like some watered-down version of something else. That’s not what we’re doing.”

What’s Mine is Yours includes units about prayer, holidays, Shabbat and rituals that are structured to be accessible for adults with intellectual disabilities. (Melton)

What’s Mine is Yours includes units about prayer, holidays, Shabbat and rituals that are structured to be accessible for adults with intellectual disabilities without giving up on the core elements of advanced Jewish learning: open-ended questions, engagement with original texts and group discussions. Lesson plans ask students to relate the ideas they encounter to their own lives, and materials include prominent visual markers to enable students who might have trouble accessing text-based materials to follow along.

The pilot class in Atlanta, in 2021, was supported by a local Jewish disability support network. “Then we got feedback: We should take this over, nationalize it, scale it up,” Schwartz said.

The result is a customizable system that can be used wherever Melton classes are held, such as synagogues, JCCs and Jewish federations — or in residential facilities, day programs, specialty organizations, adult camp programs, community centers and educational networks. It’s in use in nine cities, mostly in the United States but also in Cape Town, South Africa.

Each module in the curriculum is three lessons, but can be stretched over more classes if teachers prefer. The first collection of 14 modules are completed and two are in progress.

Subject matter includes the meaning and purpose of prayer; the Exodus story; the miracles of Hanukkah and Purim; symbols in Judaism; and marriage, divorce, and conversion in Judaism.

“There are suggestions made, and everyone can kind of enter at a different point of where their knowledge is,” said Judy Snowbell Diamond, director of curricular development at Melton. “In addition to the course book, there’s a faculty guide, which gives the faculty some suggestions as to how to modify it depending on the learners.”

At JARC in Boca Raton, teacher Harvey Leven’s class recently completed the “Sacred Cycles” module, where students learned about Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. During a recent class, which JTA viewed by Zoom, six students, roughly mid-30s and older, sat around a conference table. (The rest of the class was on a field trip to Orlando.)

In his class, Leven reviewed relevant terms with students like “atonement,” “repentance” and “self-denial.”

Leven also played a three-minute video where a narrator, speaking quickly, recapped the basics of the holiday. Before playing any video, Leven tells his students a few of the things they might see, and a few things to look out for.

“Some people participate a lot, and some never say a word,” said Leven.

Stein-Klotz said he counts himself as one of those quieter students.

“For me, it’s hard, because I have autism, and it takes my brain a little bit to get it,” he said.

Leven has worked in Jewish education for more than 20 years, teaching both children and adults. But teaching the Melton curriculum marks the first time he has adapted his teaching specifically for students with special needs.

“Sometimes, like today, the vocabulary in the material often needs translating for these students,” Leven said. “And so you have to spend some time helping the students to understand what exactly is being said there.”

It can be difficult to measure how much information is getting through to his students, Leven said.

“We don’t do tests,” he said. “Today, one or two barely said anything. So I’m hoping that something sinks in.”

Over the past two years of teaching from the What’s Mine is Yours curriculum, Leven has had a number of returning students. Having worked with them in the past, he is already familiar with their learning styles and with their personalities, which has been helpful in the classroom.

“Every one of those students has particular idiosyncrasies that I had to learn and to be able to work with in order to make this class meaningful and fun for them, enjoyable for them,” Leven said.

But he said he had identified challenges in executing the curriculum. Leven said he avoids the suggested physical activities, for example, because many of his students have limited mobility, and the space and shape of his classroom is not conducive to much movement.

And though the program seeks to be accessible to all, in practice, it doesn’t work for every person’s needs.

What’s Mine is Yours lessons include core elements of advanced Jewish learning, including open-ended questions. (Melton)

Alissa Korn is the mother of two adult daughters, including 27-year-old Jillian, who has intellectual disabilities and mental health challenges. After learning about the success of the adapted curriculum in Atlanta, Korn was inspired to introduce the What’s Mine is Yours curriculum to Jillian’s adult living facility in New Haven, Connecticut.

“My daughter, it wasn’t great for her, because she really learns best in a one-on-one setting,” Korn admitted. “And with adults raising their hands and talking over each other, it was very challenging for her.”

Still, Korn finds value in the program, and her family continues to support it at her daughter’s living facility.

“It doesn’t necessarily need to be the perfect match for my daughter,” Korn said. “It just makes me feel good to be involved in anything in the special needs world, where we can feel like we’re empowering people and making them feel good about themselves.”

Erica Baruch, Jewish disabilities advocates adviser at Jewish Family Service of Colorado, said just offering the program takes the burden off families like Korn’s.

“Oftentimes families don’t ask for things because they make the assumption that it wouldn’t be possible or it would be a burden on the community,” she said. “Learning is such a big piece of Jewish life.”

Stein-Klotz is exactly the kind of student Melton is trying to reach. He fondly recalls marking his bar mitzvah at 13, when his godfather, who is also a rabbi, taught him his Torah portion — the story of Noah and the ark. He recalls having fun, learning about the animals and getting to sing songs.

“It was great, because I had people helping me, and I remembered everything,” he recalled of his bar mitzvah. “Learning it was hard for me, and I didn’t want to do it, but I took my time and learned well, and I still remember it, and I’m still Jewish throughout this day.”

Now, he is able to play a helping role in his Melton course, which he said has been a great way to get to know his neighbors from JARC and from the garden.

“It’s great to see them in the Melton class and learn what their disability is and what their strong skills and what their weaknesses are,” Stein-Klotz said. “So that’s a good thing, so I help them with that, if I can.”

Stein-Klotz said he even helps some of his classmates who are new to Judaism or interested in converting one day.

“They make me feel happy and good and strong,” he added. “Like I’m helping people, or like a good mitzvah.”

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At first glance, “Papillon” (Butterfly), the 15-minute Oscar-nominated animated short by veteran French filmmaker Florence Miailhe, may appear like a meditative journey through water and memory. An elderly man swims in a hand-painted sea, flashing back to childhood memories of being bullied and a loving mother who makes it all right.  

As he cuts through the water and moves through time, the fuller context emerges: The sun-soaked beaches appear to be North Africa, the boy becomes a champion swimmer, a swastika tells you that he is competing in the 1936 Berlin Olympics, and the soundtrack echoes with taunts of “Jew” and “kike.”

The film is based on the extraordinary real life of Alfred Nakache, a Jewish athlete whose story of resilience under Nazi persecution has previously been told in two French documentaries but is seldom remembered today.

Born in 1915 in French Algiers (his family immigrated from Iraq), Artem “Alfred” Nakache became one of France’s most celebrated swimmers in the 1930s, specializing in the butterfly stroke — a full-bodied lunge that looks like a bird, or butterfly, in flight. His success brought him to the 1936 Berlin Olympics, where he competed under the shadow of rising antisemitism in Nazi Germany (and was part of a freestyle relay team that didn’t medal, but finished ahead of the Germans).

Under Vichy, the Nazi puppet regime, Nakache was stripped of his French nationality and forced out of Paris. He joined the resistance underground while still competing for Vichy. On Nov. 20, 1943, Nakache and his wife and daughter were arrested by the Gestapo, and the family was separated at Auschwitz. Only Alfred survived. He later endured the death march to Buchenwald before liberation.

Despite these unimaginable losses, Nakache returned to swimming after the war, competing at the 1948 London Olympics. (He, gymnast Agnes Keleti and weightlifter Ben Helfgott are the only known Jewish survivors to have competed in the Olympics after the war.) 

Nakache remained a swimmer the rest of his life, and died of a heart attack after a swim in the sea near the Spanish-French border in 1983.

Miailhe, a 70-year-old animator known for her labor-intensive oil and pastel on glass technique, has a personal connection to Nakache’s legacy. As a child, she took swim lessons with his younger brother Bernard and heard stories of his triumphs long before she understood their full historical weight. The end credits explain that her father also knew Alfred, whom he met in the resistance during the war.

“I hope people will be moved by Alfred Nakache’s story and rediscover it, because it’s not well-known in France,” Miailhe said in an interview with Deadline. “Also, we are living in some very troubled times in a world where racism and antisemitism are back.”

Produced by Oscar-winning animator Ron Dyens alongside Luc Camilli for Sacrebleu Productions and XBO Films, Papillon took roughly 100 days to animate — a testament to the craftsmanship that makes every frame an essay on the various qualities of water. The film has earned a César nomination (the French Academy Award) and a nomination at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, and won the International Competition for best animated film at the Grand Prix at Stuttgart.

Amid the horrors of the Holocaust, the animated short also depicts the camaraderie among the athletes who swam — and stood — by Nakache’s side before and after the war. 

“Some people denounced the Nakache family [to the Gestapo], but others saved Alfred when he returned from the camps,” Dyen told Deadline. “The whole tragedy of human duality is ultimately reflected in Nakache’s story.”

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An Australian man is facing hate crime charges after he allegedly rammed his truck into a historic synagogue in Brisbane, in an attack that has spurred calls for increased security from the synagogue’s rabbi.

Matthew De Campo, 32, of Sunnybank, was arrested on Friday after he allegedly backed his pickup truck into the Brisbane Synagogue in Queensland, Australia, narrowly missing a person as he struck its gates. He has been charged with willful damage, serious vilification or hate crime, dangerous driving and possession of a dangerous drug.

The ramming comes two months after gunmen opened fire on a Hanukkah celebration in Sydney, killing 15 and injuring dozens more. Last month, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the launch of a Royal Commission inquiry, the country’s highest level of inquiry, which is slated to hold its first public hearing on Tuesday.

In the wake of the attack, the Australian government also tightened gun ownership laws and introduced legislation to curb hate speech, efforts that have been echoed by Queensland Premier David Crisafulli, who earlier this month introduced a package of legislation to combat antisemitism.

“This is another signal as to why we have to put strong laws before parliament to protect all people where they worship,” wrote Crisafulli in a post on X following the attack.

Libby Burke, the vice president of the Queensland Jewish Board of Deputies, said that the local Jewish community had been “deeply distressed” by the incident, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

“A synagogue is a sacred place, a place of prayer, reflection, and community,” said Burke. “To see its gates viciously rammed is profoundly devastating and is not dissimilar to what we have seen throughout the globe, vehicles used as weapons to kill and harm Jews.”

Man charged with hate crime after Brisbane Synagogue targeted in alleged ramming incident pic.twitter.com/dQaRnsrnMX

— Australian Jewish Association (@AustralianJA) February 21, 2026

North Brisbane District acting Superintendent Michael Hogan said that police did not consider the ramming a “terrorist act,” though he added that it was “definitely a targeted attack against the Jewish synagogue.”

During an appearance Saturday before the Brisbane Magistrates Court, De Campo, who represented himself, claimed that he “did not do any hate crime or anything like that” and said that he was a “man of good faith,” according to The Courier Mail.

“Last night was a bit of a brain snap and I believe there is something more sinister going on behind the scenes,” De Campo said.

Rabbi Levi Jaffe of the Brisbane Synagogue told The Australian that the attack had “shaken” his community, which had concluded Shabbat services shortly before the ramming.

“Friday night’s ramming of a synagogue, when prayers usually take place, seems to me like a pretty direct attack on a Jewish institution,” said Jaffe. “Lives could have been lost.”

Jaffe said that it was important that the “authorities come down strong on this kind of behavior,” adding that it had underscored the need for boosted security.

“Sadly, we need a lot of security because of these kind of events,” Jaffe said. “There needs to be more police presence around the synagogue, and there needs to be, sadly, armed guards.”

Rabbi Levi Wolff of the Central Synagogue in Sydney told The Australian that the attack had sent a “chilling message that even sacred spaces are not safe.”

“At a time of catastrophic antisemitism, as we saw at Bondi, this inevitably deepens fear and insecurity,” said Wolff. “People must know they can prayer, gather, and live openly without intimidation. Ultimately, the real question is whether there are strong, visible consequences for these crimes.”

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During the recent Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations’ mission to Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanded that Jews around the world stand strong and unified in support of Israel and against antisemitism. “Fight, fight, fight,” he told us, celebrating Jewish strength and unity in the face of existential challenge.

Indeed, since Oct. 7, Israel has waged a multifront war to defend itself against terrorists and their sponsors. Despite navigating a wide array of views among our own members about how Israel should execute the war, Diaspora communities have stood by Israel while facing resurgent and lethal antisemitism.

Yet now, forces in Israel’s own government are threatening a war on another front — against the Jewish people itself. And it is the prime minister who is silent.

Members of his coalition are pushing legislation in the Knesset that would prohibit any religious services or activities at the Kotel that do not meet the approval of the Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) chief Rabbinate. Under the bill, anyone who publicly leads or engages in prayer contrary to the Rabbinate’s directive would face up to seven years in jail.

As leaders of two of the largest global Jewish movements, which together represent more than 3 million Jews, we know too well what would happen if this became law. Egalitarian, non-Orthodox approaches, such as mixed seating, would be banned. Women would have no space to read Torah or lead prayer. Birthright Israel and many others would no longer have a place to gather as a mixed group at Judaism’s holiest site.

Think of thousands of families from places such as Florida, New Jersey, Buenos Aires, Tel Aviv and beyond who want to celebrate their daughter’s bat mitzvah in an intergenerational moment of Jewish pride at our holiest site in our holiest city — only to face seven years in prison.

And the prime minister is silent.

This legislation is just the latest challenge in our movements’ years-long efforts to secure religious pluralism at the Kotel. We know that touching the stones and feeling closer to the ancient Holy of Holies can offer deep spiritual and religious connections. That’s why the Kotel should be a strong symbol of Jewish resilience, unity and spirit. It should reflect the diversity of our people and our approaches to prayer and Jewish life.

In 2016, a previous Netanyahu-led government approved a compromise to establish a new section of the Kotel for egalitarian prayer to recognize that pluralism. In that area, located south of the more established space run according to haredi tradition, families and groups may gather without a mechitza, or separation by gender. Liberal Jews can pray and celebrate according to our traditions and practices.

Yet, after a lengthy and challenging negotiation process in which all parties made painful compromises, Netanyahu immediately set the agreement aside, and successive governments have never fully implemented the plan.

In practice, the southern egalitarian prayer section is a vibrant space, with thousands coming daily for prayer and to celebrate b’nai mitzvah and other happy occasions. However, even as the Israeli government provides millions of shekels annually for upkeep of the northern section of the Kotel, it has refused to provide equal or adequate funding for security and upkeep to the southern section. Our space lacks full access for those with physical disabilities, its flooring is rotting, and visitors have not been able to touch the actual wall since a stone fell there seven years ago.

Last week, the Israeli Supreme Court took an important step to push the government to fulfill its 2016 commitment by directing it to stop dragging its feet and finally meet its obligations. In response, MK Avi Maoz, with the support of Justice Minister Yariv Levin and others within the current governing coalition, has sponsored the bill demanding that the entire Kotel, including the area of pluralistic Jewish expression, be brought under the Chief Rabbinate’s control.

By aligning with only the 15% of Jews worldwide who are haredi, Maoz is declaring war against the vast majority of the Jewish people. Despite the dream articulated in “Hatikvah” to be “a people living freely in their Land,” there will be no freedom of religion at Israel’s holiest site. Extremism and coercion will be the law of the land.

Maoz and his allies see the vitality of non-haredi religious expression as something to be controlled and repressed — not just at the Kotel, but throughout the State of Israel and beyond.

In contrast, we believe in religious pluralism and Jewish unity, without seeking to tell others how to “do Jewish.” We see it as a sign of strength and vibrancy and know that true Jewish unity does not require uniformity of practice or approaches to prayer.

That stance should start with the prime minister.

Our Diaspora communities have “fought, fought, fought” for Jewish strength and Israel for generations, and especially since Oct. 7. It’s time for the prime minister to “fight, fight, fight” for the unity and strength of the Jewish people, demand that members of his coalition reject this bill and respect Jewish pluralism.

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KYIV, Ukraine — Viktoria Maksimovich’s students at the Sha’alavim Jewish Day School no longer run for shelters when air raid sirens sound.

“They don’t want to hear the alarms. They don’t care about the shots and bombs. They don’t care about it. This is the biggest problem right now, as they won’t look for a shelter,” she said in a virtual interview from her school in Kharkiv, Ukraine. “It’s like usual life for them, and a lot of them grew up like this during the war and don’t remember normal life.”

Indeed, the Russian invasion, which marks its fourth anniversary on Tuesday, has reshaped everything in the lives of Ukrainian Jews, from big choices about whether to stay or flee to the seemingly mundane decision about whether to take the elevator or the stairs when visiting high-rise buildings.

With Russian strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure a near-daily occurrence, taking the elevator means risking being trapped for hours if the power goes out. Recognizing that the dilemma has trapped elderly Jews in their homes, Maksimovich and her colleagues recently organized a service day for their students, who baked challahs and hiked up many flights of stairs to deliver them to Kharkiv’s elderly Jews.

“They managed it and were so happy about it because they met those old people and saw in their eyes, ‘You are here and brought us challahs and candles for Shabbat,’” Maksimovich recalled. “It was amazing.”

The fourth anniversary of the Russian invasion arrives in grim fashion for Ukrainians, with the Russian and Ukrainian armies locked in a bloody stalemate and support from the United States and Europe increasingly uncertain. Ukrainian cities are regularly barraged with drones and missiles, not only exacting a devastating tally of civilian deaths and injuries but making it increasingly challenging for Ukrainian civilians to carry out the basic functioning of their lives.

The last four months have been particularly challenging due to power and water cuts that have left Ukrainians frigid and in the dark. Whereas during the first three years of war, especially in the metropolitan center of Kyiv, life went on largely as normal, albeit punctuated by attacks. Now, mobile “resilience hubs” offering warming and charging dot the landscape, and the sound of generators is overpowering.

People charge their devices, eat and warm themselves at a mobile resilience hub set up in a residential district amid electricity and heating interruptions on Jan. 20, 2026 in Kyiv, Ukraine. (Yan Dobronosov/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)

For Ukraine’s Jews, the situation means that children are gathering in bomb shelters to light Shabbat candles, the elderly rely on intermittent aid deliveries, and everyone is hunkered down for the worst winter since the war began.

“When the full-scale invasion began, I did not think it would last two weeks, but here we are,” said Julia Goldenberg, founder of the Ukrainian Charitable Funds and partner of World Jewish Relief. “And I still do not think the war will be over even this year.”

Before the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, according to the Institute for Jewish Policy Research, there was a core Jewish population of 40,000 living in Ukraine. Since then, however, thousands have fled to Israel and Europe, reshaping hubs of Jewish life in the country. Now, with conditions worsening, even far from the front lines, Goldenberg expects even more to leave.

Many will be seeking security for their children, whose schooling and experiences have been peppered with trauma and interruption since even before the war. In-person schools had only resumed after a yearlong COVID closure for a semester before war broke out.

“Parents tell us of children who can’t sleep at night, children who react to all kinds of different sounds. It’s challenging to work with them,” said Rabbi Irina Gritsevskaya, who is based in Tel Aviv and travels to Ukraine regularly to lead Masorti Kyiv, one of the country’s only Conservative congregations.

Jewish schools have borne a wide range of effects. Ariel Markovitch, director of the JCC in Kyiv, recounted how a Russian missile struck the Perlina school and kindergarten in Kyiv in October 2024, where refugees fleeing fighting on the front lines in Ukraine’s east had been sleeping.

Inna Federova, 55, the head of Ukraine’s oldest Jewish day school, Lyceum No. 299 or Orach Chaim, said missiles were only one challenge of many.

“It fractured our community,” she said about the war. “I am a Jewish mother first, and I wanted to be there for the kids, but I couldn’t be once they were scattered all over Europe.”

Jewish students take a break from class at Lyceum No. 299, the oldest Jewish day school in Ukraine, during the fall of 2025. (Theia Chatelle)

At least one of the school’s alumni, Igor Tish, was gravely injured while fighting on the frontline, while the Israeli teachers who taught Hebrew and other subjects have not returned since being evacuated in the days before the Russian invasion. Instruction is more rudimentary now, Federova said.

“We have a physical education teacher who does exercises with the children in the shelter, because it’s very hard for them to sit still for so long without moving,” she said, adding: “They’ve lived through bombings, evacuations, constant anxiety. Our teachers received special training from psychologists, including Israeli specialists, on how to support children emotionally during wartime.”

Other support for Jews in Ukraine has come from the Joint Distribution Committee, which leads disaster response for Jewish communities living in conflict zones around the world ; Chabad, the global Jewish network whose emissaries are at the front line of Jewish life in many smaller communities; and Goldenberg’s group, which works to preserve Jewish life and welfare in Ukraine.

Sustained by a network of global donors, the Ukrainian Charitable Funds has helped elderly Jewish Ukrainians repair their homes after Russian airstrikes. Goldenberg recalled one woman she worked with: “She had no windows. She lost all of them in a Russian strike, but did not have the funds to fix them.”

While the advent of war in Israel in 2023 spurred concerns about whether Jewish donors would continue to send support to Ukraine, Gritsevskaya said aid from both inside and outside had made a difference.

“I think in the Jewish community, there is a huge sense of being hugged,” she said, adding, “Ukraine is an amazing example of the ability of Jews to unite and to help others in unbelievable situations. In general, I think that people who are connected to Jewish communities are more capable of going through the difficult things they go through because they have the wider Jewish world.”

Rabbi Irina Gritsevskaya with a study group from the Ben and Harriet Teitel Seminar in Ukraine in early 2026. (Courtesy Midreshet Schechter Ukraine)

Even as she gears up for a potential war in Israel, Gritsevskaya is planning on heading back to Ukraine this summer for another session of Ramah Ukraine, a camp that has already filled with Ukrainian Jewish teens eager for a respite from the challenges of war.

“I would rather not think of the fears I have,” she said. “They are so overwhelming, we have to focus on what must be done.”

Federova, too, said she continues to focus on the positives as she and her students start a fifth year of war.

“We have children from different backgrounds, some from observant families, some who are just discovering their roots, and the school gives them that connection,” Federova said about Orach Chaim. “Even during the hardest times when the alarms go off and when we don’t know what will happen tomorrow, I look at them and think ‘if we can give them knowledge and faith, then we have done something important.”

This reporting was supported by the International Women’s Media Foundation’s Women on the Ground: Reporting from Ukraine’s Unseen Frontlines Initiative in partnership with the Howard G. Buffett Foundation.

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Instead of practicing with her a capella group or preparing to lead Shabbat services, University of Maryland senior Tekoa Sultan-Reisler spent her Friday afternoon testifying about campus antisemitism in front of the United States Commission on Civil Rights.

She shared that she had witnessed antisemitism at her school, and heard about it from other students in J Street U, the college division of the liberal pro-Israel lobby that she leads. But she was also very clear on another point: She did not want Jewish college students’ pain to be used for a political agenda.

“Jewish students do not want to be used as a pretext to justify this divisive and xenophobic action of the administration,” Sultan-Reisler said in her testimony. “Instead, protecting students’ right of free speech and expression would allow all students to feel safe on campus, regardless of faith or ethnicity.”

Sultan-Reisler and other students who testified similarly criticized the Trump administration’s decision to defund universities that did not comply with its terms for addressing antisemitism. They took the stand on Friday on the second day of a two-part hearing called by the civil rights commission in an independent investigation — the first — into how the federal government has responded to campus antisemitism.

The commission, which has the power to issue subpoenas, is appointed by Congress and the president and currently has a narrow Democratic majority. A bipartisan group of representatives requested the antisemitism investigation in 2024.

Friday’s session followed several tense exchanges on Thursday as commission members pressed those testifying — including representatives of antisemitism watchdogs StandWithUs and the Brandeis Center — on whether the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights should have its full funding back, and the costs and benefits of different government agencies’ own civil rights offices. They also made partisan jabs, with many accusing either the Biden or Trump administration of failing to protect Jewish students.

Craig Trainor, former acting assistant secretary for civil rights at the U.S. Department of Education, criticized the Biden administration for its slow pace in resolving antisemitism discrimination complaints at universities.

“The Biden Education Department’s Offices for Civil Rights’ policy agenda was deeply unserious and counterproductive and its response to the antisemitic harassment and violence consuming America’s college campuses was weak and ineffective,” Trainor said.

Kevin Rachlin, vice president for government relations and Washington director of the The Nexus Project, meanwhile, lambasted the Trump administration’s attempt to shrink the Office of Civil Rights.

“By closing those offices, by removing those personnel, by reducing those resources you have effectively hobbled the very organization that is dedicated to protecting not just Jewish students but all students,” Rachlin said.

Like her peers who testified over the past two days, Sultan-Reisler recounted specific incidents of antisemitic intimidation. She recalled that in November 2023, the words “Holocaust 2.0” were written in chalk on the campus sidewalk, and during an on-campus demonstration, a student waved the flag of Hezbollah, a designated terrorist organization. But said she didn’t think the Trump administration’s response to allegations of campus antisemitism had made her safer.

Among the other students testifying was Harvard University’s Tova Kaplan, who was one of 10 students to pen an op-ed last year arguing that Trump’s response to antisemitism had harmed research and academic freedom without helping Jewish students.

Others who testified, including many non-students and older adults, said they thought the Biden administration had been too reserved in tackling campus antisemitism and praised the Trump administration’s heavier-handed tactics.

“Despite the elimination of encampments and other results of the threat to withhold federal funding from schools which failed to protect Jewish students, the underlying hatred which gave rise to the encampments is alive and well and could explode again at any time,” said Leonard Gold, a retired attorney and the executive producer of “Blind Spot,” a documentary about campus antisemitism after Oct. 7.

Since 2025, the Trump administration has canceled billions of dollars in HHS research grants for universities like Columbia, Harvard, and Princeton in an effort to coerce universities to comply with demands like making hiring, admissions, and course material changes. Harvard University defended its handling of campus antisemitism and decided to reject those demands.

The commission is accepting written testimonials until March 20. The commission’s report is expected by the end of the 2026 fiscal year.

The final report could feature more information from within federal agencies. In one tense exchange, Mondaire Jones, a Democrat and former congressman from New York who is one of the investigation’s chairs, asked Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Greg Dolin why the justice department had not yet handed over documents the commission requested.

“You have a statutory obligation to comply,” Jones said. “That is very clear under federal law.”

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An anti-Zionist group in Germany has drawn condemnation after it announced plans for a protest against the Buchenwald concentration camp memorial in response to a ban on pro-Palestinian symbols at the site.

The group Kufiyas in Buchenwald claims that the memorial has become a place of “historical revisionism and genocide denial.” It announced a demonstration for April 11, the anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration camp.

“Instead of honoring the persecuted and resolutely opposing every genocide, the memorial spreads Israeli propaganda and provides the ideological ammunition for the ongoing genocide in Palestine,” the group says on its website.

Buchenwald, one of the first concentration camps built by the Nazis and one of the largest in the country, was the site of the murder of roughly 56,000 male prisoners, including 11,000 Jews, from 1937 to 1945.

Last year, a German court ruled that the concentration camp had a right to refuse entry to visitors who wear a keffiyeh, a traditional Palestinian headscarf that has been adopted by pro-Palestinian protesters. The ruling stemmed from a lawsuit by a woman who attempted to wear the scarf to an event commemorating the concentration camp’s liberation.

The woman, who was only identified by her first name, Anna, posted a testimony about her actions on the Kufiyas in Buchenwald Instagram page in which she said she was inspired by the resistance of Buchenwald prisoners.

“Our fundamental principle is this: criticism of the Israeli government’s policies, settlement policy, or actions in the Gaza Strip is legitimate,” said the Buchenwald Foundation’s director Jens-Christian Wagner in a statement outlining the memorial’s protocols. “However, it becomes antisemitic when used to relativize the Holocaust and discredit its victims as perpetrators. We will not tolerate this at the Buchenwald Memorial.”

The campaign against the memorial has been signed onto by a host of pro-Palestinian groups, including the International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network and the German group Jewish Voice for a Just Peace in the Middle East, which has defended the protest on X as evidence of what “commemorating past German crimes has to do with rejecting current ones.”

In a post on Instagram announcing the protest earlier this month, the Kufiyas in Buchenwald group wrote that it would hold a “public protest” in Weimar, the German city located nearby the concentration camp. The group also said it planned to host lectures and a “tour that vividly illustrates the events in the former concentration camp.”

It was unclear whether the protest is intended to take place outside the memorial itself. Kufiyas in Buchenwald did not immediately respond to an inquiry from the Jewish Telegraphic Agency about the location of the protest.

The protest quickly drew condemnation from German leaders, including the country’s antisemitism czar Felix Klein, who told the Swiss outlet Neue Zürcher Zeitung that the protest marked a “new low point in the unfortunately all-too-common reversal of perpetrator and victim roles.”

Michael Panse, the commissioner for combatting antisemitism for the German state Thuringia, where Weimar is located, told the outlet that the protest was “tasteless and historically ignorant.”

The protests also drew condemnation from the European Jewish Congress, which wrote in a post on X that the demonstration represents a “deeply troubling instrumentalization of Holocaust remembrance.”

“Holocaust memorial sites are places of solemn reflection and respect for the victims of National Socialism,” the post continued. “They must never be exploited to promote agendas that deny Israel’s legitimacy or glorify those who perpetrate violence against Jews.”

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Vanderbilt University has launched an inquiry into a mathematics lecturer whose classroom exercise about Palestinian territory drew criticism from the activist group StopAntisemitism.

Tekin Karadağ, a senior lecturer at the university’s department of mathematics, drew the ire of the antisemitism watchdog after it obtained a slide from one of his lectures that used a pro-Palestinian protest slogan and suggested that Israel was shrinking the Palestinian territory.

“Assume Palestine as a state with a rectangular land shape. There is the Mediterranean Sea on the west and the Jordan River on the east,” read the slide. “From the river to the sea, Palestine (…) was approximately 100 km. in 1946. The land decreases by 250 sq. km per year, due to the occupation by Israel. How fast is the width of the land decreasing now?”

Karadǎg, a Turkish national who received his PhD from Texas A&M University in 2021, included the question under “examples related to the popular issues” in a survey of calculus class, according to StopAntisemitism, which wrote in a post on X that Karadǎg was “bringing his anti-Israel, antisemitic bias into his classroom.”

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In a statement shared with the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Vanderbilt said that the content had been removed and that an inquiry had been launched into Karadağ.

“The university has received reports alleging a member of the faculty engaged in unprofessional conduct related to content shared during course instruction,” the school said. “The content in question has been removed, and a formal inquiry has been initiated consistent with relevant university policy.”

Vanderbilt Hillel welcomed the university’s actions in a statement shared with the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, writing that they were “confident that the University will take appropriate action.”

“The teaching of calculus — or any subject — is not an opportunity for an instructor to inculcate the class with their personal biases and politics; that is both commonsense and the policy of the University,” the statement read. “We are glad that the Administration moved quickly to remove this question and launch a formal investigation.”

In recent years, rhetoric about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on college campuses has grown increasingly fraught, with professors’ commentary on the region sparking heavy scrutiny and, at times, disciplinary measures when their universities have determined that they exceeded the bounds of academic freedom. A recent report by Columbia University’s antisemitism task force found that students frequently experienced pro-Palestinian advocacy in classes entirely unrelated to the Middle East — such as dance or math classes.

The inquiry was not the first time that Vanderbilt took swift action against the expression of pro-Palestinian sentiments on its campus.

In March 2024, the university, which has roughly 1,100 Jewish undergraduate students, was among the first universities to expel students who participated in pro-Palestinian demonstrations. Last year, the school’s antisemitism “grade” from the Anti-Defamation League was bumped up from a “C” to an “A.”

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British actor Hugh Laurie pushed back against being labeled as a “Zionist” after facing a wave of online criticism for posting a tribute to the Israeli producer of the hit television show “Tehran.”

“Dana Eden, who co-created and produced ‘Tehran’, died on Sunday, seemingly by her own hand,” Laurie, who played a nuclear inspector in the show’s third season, tweeted last week. “It’s a terrible thing. She was brilliant, and funny, and an exceptional leader. Love and condolences to all who knew her.”

The seemingly innocuous post eulogizing Eden, 52, who was found dead while filming the latest season of the hit Apple TV+ series in Athens last week, quickly drew a volley of backlash on social media.

“She was part of the occupation force’s propaganda arm,” wrote one user in response to Laurie’s post. “What a shame, didn’t expect you to be a closet Zionist.” Another wrote that Eden “creates propaganda for Israel so that they can kill kids more effectively. People should have no sympathy for her.”

The award-winning series, which follows a young Israeli Mossad agent in Iran, was produced by the Israeli public broadcaster Kan and purchased by Apple TV+ in 2020 for roughly $20 million. Eden’s death, for which no cause has been announced, occurred during production of the show’s fourth season, which had already stalled following Oct. 7.

Laurie is not the first actor to spurn the “Zionist” label, as entertainers in recent years have increasingly faced pressure to declare their views on Israel. In December, Jewish actress Odessa A’zion pushed back on claims she was a Zionist after an image of her wearing an IDF shirt as a teenager circulated online.

On Friday, Laurie, who previously starred in the Emmy Award-winning medical drama “House,” shot back at the criticism.

“Nothing I have ever said or done could lead a sane person to believe that I am a Zionist,” wrote Laurie in a post on X. “However.  If someone exults in the death of a friend of mine, yes I will block them.  If you wouldn’t do the same in my position, you can f—ck off too.”

Laurie’s subsequent post also drew outcry, but this time from pro-Israel influencers who lamented the actor’s disavowal of the Zionist label, calling him “weak” and a “pathetic weasel” in the replies.

Freelance journalist Angela Epstein replied to Laurie’s post, writing, “Not Hugh Laurie as well. I thought he was one of the decent ones….”

“God almighty, why does no one understand English any more?” wrote Laurie in response to Epstein’s critique. “I have not spoken or written a word that would indicate pro or anti Zionism. That’s what those words mean. Blimey.”

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A version of this piece first ran as part of the New York Jewish Week’s daily newsletter, rounding up the latest on politics, culture, food and what’s new with Jews in the city. Sign up here to get it in your inbox.

Hundreds of Jewish teens stranded in NYC

• 1,500 Jewish teens are stranded in New York after the winter storm punctuated an international teen summit sponsored by the Chabad-Lubavitch movement.

• Before the historic blizzard began, three former Israeli hostages led 4,500 Jewish teens in reciting the Shema in Times Square on Saturday night.

• Segev Kalfon told The Times of Israel that he dreamed of singing the Shema on stage during his two years in Hamas captivity.

• Young Australians from Chabad’s Bondi Beach community, which was targeted by a mass shooting during a Hanukkah event in December, also took the stage. Piva Schlanger, the 17-year-old daughter of murdered emissary Rabbi Eli Schlanger, told the crowd, “We will keep being Jewish, loudly and proudly.”

• Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, the chairman of Chabad’s Global Networks, announced a new youth center in Sydney to be named for Schlanger and said that “darkness will not have the last word.”

• Police and Jewish volunteers maintained a high security presence, as local community members remain tense over last month’s car ramming into Chabad’s world headquarters, which is being investigated as a possible hate crime.

• The 18th annual summit brought Chabad teens from 60 countries to New York, where they also visited sites like the Ohel, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson’s burial site in Queens, and met Jewish leaders including City Council Speaker Julie Menin and Comptroller Mark Levine.

Should Mamdani be invited to the Israel Day Parade?

• Yaakov Hagoel, chair of the World Zionist Organization, has invited Mamdani to join New York’s annual Israel Day Parade in May — but the Israeli Consul General is pushing back.

• “I have already approached him in the past and clarified that the responsibility toward more than a million Jews in the city demands a clear stance against antisemitism,” Hagoel said on X after extending his invitation to Mamdani.

• Ofir Akunis, the Israeli Consul General in New York, reprimanded Hagoel and said he should not “invite others who don’t acknowledge Israel’s existence as a Jewish state,” reported The Jerusalem Post.

• Whether or not Mamdani is invited, he already told JTA in October that he “will not be attending the Israel Day Parade.” He added, “My lack of attendance should not be mistaken for a refusal to provide security or the necessary permits for its safety.”

Most Jews support synagogue buffer zones

• 83% of Jews in New York State support Gov. Kathy Hochul’s proposal of a 25-foot buffer zone around houses of worship where protests would not be permitted, according to a new poll conducted by the ADL Center for Antisemitism Research for the UJA-Federation of New York.

• Large majorities of Muslims (76%) and Christians (72%) also said they supported the move, which had 70% support among overall voters statewide. The survey of 3,989 voters was conducted from Feb. 6-11.

• Hochul proposed the buffer zones after pro-Palestinian protests targeted two synagogues hosting Israel-related events in NYC. Mayor Zohran Mamdani has said his legal department is reviewing a 100-foot buffer zone proposed by Menin at the city level, but suggested there could be First Amendment concerns.

Outgoing antisemitism czar rebukes Mamdani

• Moshe Davis, outgoing director of the Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism, criticized Mamdani for revoking the city’s adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism and urged him to “Let New York’s Jews define the hate they face” in a New York Daily News op-ed.

• Phylisa Wisdom, Davis’s replacement, has indicated that she aligns with Mamdani in opposing codification of the definition, which characterizes some forms of Israel criticism as antisemitic. Wisdom officially started the job today.

Columbia students testify about antisemitism

• Three Columbia University students shared their experiences with on-campus antisemitism on Friday during a session for the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, which is investigating the federal government’s response to antisemitism allegations.

• Students from Harvard University, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and American University also testified, along with federal, academic, legal and policy experts.

• A commission spokesperson told The Columbia Spectator last week that the school is no longer part of the yearlong investigation, without giving a reason.

Yiddish snow alerts

• Are you a Yiddish reader? Click here to follow NotifyNYC alerts about the blizzard in Yiddish.

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The Israeli bobsled team’s historic journey to the 2026 Winter Olympics ended in anything but storybook fashion on Sunday, as Israel’s own Olympic committee withdrew it from competition after learning that the team had lied about a member’s health.

The withdrawal meant that Israel did not compete in the four-man race on Sunday, the final day of competition in Milan and Cortina.

After finishing the first two heats of the four-man bobsled race as the slowest team, Israel planned to swap out Uri Zisman for team alternate Ward Farwasy, who would have become Israel’s first-ever Druze Olympian had he taken the ice.

But bobsled substitutions are only permitted in the event of an athlete’s injury or illness, so Zisman had agreed to lie and tell officials he was sick. He had reportedly obtained a medical certification for the false story.

In a statement, Israel’s Olympic committee said it had learned of the team’s plan to substitute in Farwasy “in an improper manner that does not meet the standards expected of Olympic athletes and is not in line with Olympic values,” and chose to withdraw the team from the race.

“The Olympic Committee of Israel views any deviation from the Olympic values as unacceptable and cannot accept inappropriate behavior,” the statement said. “It should be emphasized that, up to this point, the participation of the bobsleigh delegation has taken place in the spirit of sport and without any violations by the athletes.”

David Greaves, the president of the Israeli Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation, told the Times of Israel that he was “deeply disappointed in the actions of the team.”

AJ Edelman, the team’s captain and main driver of its existence, took responsibility for the scheme.

“I apologize profusely for the disappointment,” Edelman posted on X. “But I will always remain proud that the team looked at their Druze brother, who had earned his place on the team, and unanimously said ‘we want this for you.’ I signed off on it and I take responsibility.”

Later, fending off criticism that he had compromised the very Olympic program he had sought to build up, Edelman appeared to blame Zisman’s mother for calling foul on the switch and said he did not regret it.

“I make no apologies for the decision. At all. The switch is not only common in our sport, we did it believing it was good for the country and to honor our teammate. We thought we were putting country first,” he wrote. “The end effect was not intended but I am proud of the team’s consensus in that moment. It was only an issue because the mother of the athlete replaced was upset it was her child, not another athlete. The decision itself was not in question and I remain okay with it.”

The disqualification ignited criticism of the team from both pro-Israel sports fans and those who had protested Israel’s inclusion in the Olympics in the first place. Edelman and Menachem Chen’s last-place finish in the two-man bobsled event last week was overshadowed by a Swiss broadcaster’s criticism of Israel and Edelman during the race. The broadcaster later removed the clip from its website.

On Saturday, Italy’s public broadcaster apologized for a commentator’s off-camera remark calling to “avoid” the Israeli team. The network’s director issued an apology for what he said was an “unacceptable expression that in no way represents the values of public service broadcasting or of RAI Sport.”

The controversies came after the bobsled team’s apartment was broken into while it trained in the Czech Republic. Israel was competing in Olympic bobsled for the first time, in what Edelman and some fans dubbed “Shul Runnings,” a reference to the Jamaican bobsled team’s similarly improbable run in 1988.

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BERLIN — They stood outside Berlin’s Babylon theater, bundled against the cold, laughing and dragging on cigarettes: the Cunio twins David and Eitan, and their younger brother Ariel.

David and Ariel were among the last Israeli hostages released in October from Hamas captivity, after 738 days. Their presence in Berlin — for a screening of a film about them, now recut with a redemptive ending — felt almost like an apparition. On the other side of two heavy glass doors were hundreds of theatergoers, people who had long waited for this moment.

The brothers and their extended family were in Berlin for a second premiere of Tom Shoval’s film “Letter to David.” The original film, shown in 2025 at the Berlin International Film Festival, or Berlinale, dove deep into the struggles of a family whose members had been abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz on Oct. 7, 2023. By then, six kidnapped members of the family, including three children, had been freed. But David and Ariel remained in captivity.

“Last year I was standing before the screening with a poster of David and Ariel. I was determined, every time I showed the film, to say that it’s an unfinished film,” Shoval told the sold-out audience at the theater in former East Berlin.

“And now I’m standing here. I have David in the audience, and I have Ariel in the audience,” he continued. “This is a precious, precious moment.”

The film “is a testament to love, hope and all the people who did not give up during the two years I was in captivity,” David Cunio said in Hebrew, standing on the stage with his extended family. “You gave me a voice when I could not be present. You were there for me.”

The film’s second showing came as tensions over the war in Gaza and Germany’s support for Israel roiled the Berlinale. After the jury’s president, director Wim Wenders, brushed off a journalist’s exhortation for the festival to take a stand against Israel, the Indian author Arundhati Roy announced she would not attend, and some 80 filmmakers and stars signed an open letter of protest.

Festival director Tricia Tuttle issued a statement saying that “artists should not be expected to comment on all broader debates about a festival’s previous or current practices over which they have no control. Nor should they be expected to speak on every political issue raised to them unless they want to.”

Abdallah Alkhatib (2nd from right), director of the film “Chronicles from the Siege” receives the GWFF Best Feature Film Debut Award while holding up a Palestinian flag on stage during the award ceremony at the closing gala in the Berlinale Palast, Berlin, Feb. 22, 2026. (Christoph Soeder/picture alliance via Getty Images)

Journalists and filmmakers continued to raise the issue, even on the festival’s final weekend, when some award winners — including the Syrian-Palestinian director Abdullah Al-Khatib, who won best debut film — swatted back at the festival jury, criticizing what they see as Germany’s general support for Israel. Al-Khatib’s allegation that Germany has been “partners in the genocide in Gaza by Israel” prompted a German minister to walk out of the awards ceremony on Sunday.

Friday’s screening of “Letter to David” was by contrast a love fest, and the two police cars out front and uniformed officers circulating inside appeared to have little to do. The audience gave the entire family a standing ovation before the screening.

“I think this is a piece of history,” audience member Nirit Bialer, an Israeli who has lived for years in Berlin, said in an interview. “Just seeing the family, and just following the story about this family on the media, going to the Hostages Square in Israel every time I was there in the last two years: Wow, I’m speechless.”

The film’s original ending showed twins David and Eitan Cunio as actors, grappling with each other in an embrace that is both tender and violent, in a scene from Shoval’s feature film, “Youth,” screened at the Berlinale in 2013.

That ending now segues into a new conclusion, in which the reunited Cunio family embraces. They also view the film together, and Shoval captures their faces as the projector beams from behind.

Shoval said in an interview that he had not changed anything in the first part of the film. “I wanted to leave it as a time capsule, in a way, of how we perceived it back a year ago,” he said.

Düzen Tekkal, Christian Berkel, Andrea Sawatzki and Ulrich Matthes hold up signs reading “Bring David Cunio Home” on the red carpet during the 75th Berlinale International Film Festival Berlin, Feb. 13, 2025. (Stephane Cardinale – Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images)

Though he had been invited to be with the family at their reunion, he chose not to, explaining, “I thought it’s a moment that belongs to them and not to me.”

But he spoke with David soon after he was released. And shortly afterward, he visited Sharon and David Cunio at their home. “I came in the morning and we sat until sunset together and we talked. Even when I’m thinking about it now, I’m getting emotional, because it was really…” He paused. “You’re waiting for a moment for this for so long.”

The Friday screening was not an official part of the Berlinale, but the beleaguered festival director Tuttle made a point of taking the stage herself. The film has been “finished in the way that Tom only hoped and dreamed and believed that he would be able to finish it,” she told the audience.

“We were horrified along with the world and all of you when David Cunio and many members of his family were abducted by Hamas,” she said. And on their release “we rejoiced with everyone as well.”

Saying that the new version was completed too late to be included in the festival schedule, Tuttle thanked two co-production companies that work closely with Israeli artists for backing Friday’s screening: the Israel-based Green Productions and the Berlin-based Future Narrative Fund.

Audience members seemed loath to leave the theater after the screening, lingering over what some described as mix of happiness and worry.

“The fact that David is able to see the movie makes us see the movie in a different way,” commented Konstantin, who had seen the original version last year. A young Jewish actor who lives in Berlin, he asked that his full name not be used, out of concerns about antisemitism.  “With the ending, it’s like a full circle, completed.”

Israeli director Tom Shoval presenting his film “A Letter to David” two subsequent Berlinales, as seen in Berlin on Feb. 13, 2025. (John MacDougall / AFP via Getty Images)

Seeing the film again with the Cunio family present “was very uplifting and very happy,” said Berliner Julia Kopp, who also saw the film last year. “But at the same time, it’s not a happy ending … I also have a bit of a heavy heart,” worrying about “how life will go on for them.”

Both brothers have indicated that reentry into everyday life has been challenging after two years of captivity for them and two years of traumatized advocacy by their loved ones. And Ariel Cunio and his partner Arbel Yehud, who was held in captivity until January, have raised nearly $1.8 million since launching a crowdfunding campaign last week aimed at allowing them the time and space to “come back to life.”

A crowdfunding campaign launched on behalf of David and Sharon Cunio their twin daughters, also former hostages, says, “The family not only has to deal with the trauma that follows being held hostage and the events that transpired on October 7th, but also needs to rebuild their entire lives from scratch.”

Shoval said the film — and the screening — offered a vision for what a more settled future might look like.

“For me, the film is about the unification of the brotherhood, and what that means to be torn apart from each other, but also to get back,” Shoval said. “They can sit in the theater and they can see themselves. They can see what they missed, what happened. They can project about the past, about the present. This is a power of cinema, I feel. It felt natural for me to do that: to bring them back.”

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An American soldier who is credited with saving the lives of 200 Jewish comrades in a prisoner of war camp in Germany during World War II will receive the U.S. military’s highest decoration, the Medal of Honor.

The award to Roddie Edmonds, who died in 1985, was announced last week. It comes more than a decade after Israel’s Holocaust memorial, Yad Vashem, recognized him as a “Righteous Among the Nations” for his bravery and six years after President Donald Trump recounted his heroism during a Veterans Day parade.

Edmonds, a sergeant from Knoxville, Tennessee, was the highest-ranking soldier among a group taken prisoner during the Battle of the Bulge in January 2045 when the Nazis asked him to identify the Jews in the group. Understanding that anyone he identified would likely be killed, Edmonds made the decision to have all of the soldiers present themselves as Jews.

When a Nazi challenged him, he famously proclaimed: “We are all Jews here!”

The show of solidarity came to light only after Edmonds’ death, when a Jewish man who had been among the soldiers at the camp shared his recollection with the New York Times as part of an unrelated 2008 story about his decision to sell a New York City townhouse to Richard Nixon when Nixon was having trouble buying an apartment following his resignation as president.

When they found the article several years later, it was the first that Edmonds’ family, including his pastor son Christ Edmonds and his granddaughters, had heard about the incident. Soon they were traveling to Washington, D.C., and Israel for ceremonies honoring Edmonds, one of only five Americans to be credited as Righteous Among the Nations, an honor bestowed by Israel on non-Jews who aided Jews during the Holocaust.

As the family campaigned for a Medal of Honor, Edmonds was also the recipient of bipartisan praise from two American presidents.

“I cannot imagine a greater expression of Christianity than to say, I, too, am a Jew,” President Barack Obama said during remarks at the Israeli embassy in Washington, D.C., on International Holocaust Remembrance Day in 2016.

Three years later, President Donald Trump recounted the story at the New York City Veterans Day Parade. “That’s something,” he said. “Master Sergeant Edmonds saved 200 Jewish-Americans — soldiers that day.”

Last week, Trump called Chris Edmonds to invite him to the White House to receive the Medal of Honor on his father’s behalf, Chris Edmonds told local news outlets. The Medal of Honor ceremony is scheduled for March 2.

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Jewish hockey star Jack Hughes scored the game-winning goal Sunday to clinch a gold medal for the U.S. men’s hockey team, its first since 1980.

The New Jersey Devils star center, who had scored twice in Team USA’s semifinal win, sent the puck between the legs of Canadian goaltender Jordan Binnington 1:41 into overtime to give the American team a 2-1 win.

“This is all about our country right now. I love the USA,” Hughes told NBC. “I love my teammates.”

The win broke a 46-year Olympic drought for Team USA, which had not taken gold since the famous “Miracle on Ice” team that upset the Soviet Union on its way to gold in 1980. The United States also won in 1960.

“He’s a freaking gamer,” Quinn Hughes, Jack’s older brother and U.S. teammate said, according to The Athletic. “He’s always been a gamer. Just mentally tough, been through a lot, loves the game. American hero.”

Quinn Hughes is a defender for the Minnesota Wild and a former captain of the Vancouver Canucks who won the NHL’s top defenseman award in 2024. He was also named the best defender in the Olympic tournament by the International Ice Hockey Federation after scoring an overtime goal to send the U.S. team to the semifinals.

The third Jewish member of the U.S. team, Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman, won the one game he played, a Feb. 14 preliminary-round victory over Denmark.

The Hughes family — rounded out by youngest brother Luke, who also plays for the Devils — has long been lauded as a Jewish hockey dynasty. They are the first American family to have three siblings picked in the first round of the NHL draft, and Jack was the first Jewish player to go No. 1 overall. They are also the first trio of Jewish brothers to play in the same NHL game and the first brothers to earn cover honors for EA Sports’ popular hockey video game.

Jack, who had a bar mitzvah, has said his family celebrated Passover when he was growing up. Their mother, Ellen Weinberg-Hughes, who is Jewish, represented the U.S. women’s hockey team at the 1992 Women’s World Championships and was on the coaching staff of the gold-medal-winning women’s team in Milan. Weinberg-Hughes is also a member of the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.

Hughes’ golden goal ushered in a burst of Jewish pride on social media, with one user calling it “the greatest Jewish sports moment of all time.” The Hockey News tweeted that Hughes was “​​the first player in hockey history to have a Bar Mitzvah and a Golden Goal! Pretty cool!”

Jewish groups and leaders also jumped on the praise train. “Special shout out to @jhugh86 on scoring the game-winning goal!” tweeted Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League. “Beyond his incredible skill on the ice, Jack makes history as a proud representative of the American Jewish community, reminding us that the Jewish people are interwoven into America in her 250th year! Mazel Tov, Jack!”

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A protester uses a pole to break a window at Milano Centrale railway station, during a demonstration that is part of a nationwide “Let’s Block Everything” protest in solidarity with Gaza, with activists also calling for a halt to arms shipments to Israel, in Milan, Italy, Sept. 22, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Claudia Greco

Antisemitism in Italy surged to record levels last year, according to newly published figures, as Jews and Israelis across Europe continued to face a relentlessly hostile environment including harassment, vandalism, and targeted attacks.

In Italy, the Milan-based CDEC Foundation (Center of Contemporary Jewish Documentation) confirmed that antisemitic incidents in the country almost reached four digits for the first time last year.

Of 1,492 reports submitted through official monitoring channels, the CDEC formally classified a record high 963 cases as antisemitic, according to the European Jewish Congress and Union of Italian Jewish Communities (UCEI), the main representative body of Jews in Italy.

By comparison, there were 877 recorded incidents in 2024, preceded by 453 such outrages in 2023 and just 241 in 2022. The data fits with several reports showing antisemitism surged across the Western world, especially the US and Europe, following the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, massacre across southern Israel.

The findings will be formally presented at the Senate in Palazzo Giustiniani on March 3.

According to the CDEC, anti-Israel animus was a key ideological driver of the surge in antisemitism.

“The main ideological matrix that has fueled hatred against Jews is anti-Semitism linked to Israel – i.e., the transfer of anti-Jewish myths, such as blood libel, racism by election, and hatred of mankind,” the organization stated.

In May, for example, a restaurant in Naples ejected an Israeli family, telling them “Zionists are not welcome here.” Months earlier, demonstrators at a January protest in Bologna vandalized a synagogue, painting “Justice for a free Gaza.”

Most of the incidents, 643, occurred online on digital platforms, while 320 involved physical acts such as graffiti, vandalism, and desecration of synagogues in addition to discrimination, threats, and assaults.

The surge in antisemitism came amid multiple surveys showing pervasive antisemitic attitudes among the Italian public.

Around 15 percent of Italians consider physical attacks on Jewish people “entirely or fairly justifiable,” according to one survey published in September.

The survey, conducted on Sept. 24-26 by the pollster SWG among a national sample of 800 adults, found that 18 percent of those interviewed also believe antisemitic graffiti on walls and other public spaces is legitimate.

About one-fifth of respondents said it was reasonable to attack professors who expressed pro-Israeli positions or for businesses to reject Israeli customers.

Months earlier, in June, the Italian research institute Eurispes, in partnership with Pasquale Angelosanto, the national coordinator for the fight against antisemitism, polled a representative sample of the country’s population and found that 37.9 percent of Italians believe that Jews “only think about accumulating money” while 58.2 percent see Jews as “a closed community.”

About 40 percent either did not know or did not believe that 6 million Jews died in the Holocaust, and the majority of respondents — 54 percent — regarded antisemitic crimes as isolated incidents and not part of any broader trend.

The report also showed elevated levels of anti-Israel belief among younger Italians, with 50.85 percent of those 18-24 thinking that “Jews in Palestine took others’ territories.”

The Institute for Jewish Policy Research estimates the number of Jews in Italy as ranging from 26,800 to 48,910 depending on which standards of observance one selects. Eurispes places the number at 30,000.

In January, the Anti-Defamation League released the newest results of its Global 100 survey which found that 26 percent of Italians — 13.1 million adults — embrace six or more antisemitic stereotypes.

Candidate Zohran Mamdani speaks during a Democratic New York City mayoral primary debate, June 4, 2025, in New York, US. Photo: Yuki Iwamura/Pool via REUTERS

A group of Queens elected officials and civic leaders has filed suit against New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, accusing his administration of stonewalling a Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) request related to his decision to revoke an executive order adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism.

The lawsuit centers on Mamdani’s move on his first day in office in January to rescind a series of executive orders issued by his predecessor, former Mayor Eric Adams, to combat antisemitism. Among the orders revoked was one formally adopting the IHRA definition, which has been widely embraced by governments and institutions across the democratic world.

Plaintiffs include Queens Councilmembers Joann Ariola and Vickie Paladino, along with Queens Civic Congress President Warren Schreiber, the Queens Daily Eagle reported last week.

They argue that the mayor’s office has failed to provide adequate transparency regarding the rationale behind rescinding the IHRA order, a move critics say weakened the city’s formal commitment to combating antisemitism at a time of rising anti-Jewish incidents both locally and nationally.

“The purpose of the FOIL applications at issue in this proceeding is to decipher and obtain the documentary trail of information illuminating Mayor Mamdani’s motives, policies, programs, legislative initiatives, and budgetary priorities implicated within the EO [executive order],” the lawsuit reads.

In their filing, the plaintiffs accuse the administration of having “stonewalled, deflected, delayed, and denied” their FOIL request, calling the response timeline “arbitrary and capricious.” Although the city’s Law Department acknowledged receipt of the request and projected a response date in April, the plaintiffs contend that such delays are unacceptable given the gravity of the issue. The lawsuit characterizes Mamdani’s actions as “anti-Israel” and “anti-Jewish.”

IHRA — an intergovernmental organization comprising dozens of countries including the US and Israel — adopted the “working definition” of antisemitism in 2016. Since then, the definition has been widely accepted by Jewish groups and lawmakers across the political spectrum, and it is now used by hundreds of governing institutions, including the US State Department, European Union, and United Nations. Law enforcement also uses it as a tool for matters such as hate-crime investigations and sentencing.

According to the definition, antisemitism “is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.” It provides 11 specific, contemporary examples of antisemitism in public life, the media, schools, the workplace, and in the religious sphere. Beyond classic antisemitic behavior associated with the likes of the medieval period and Nazi Germany, the examples include denial of the Holocaust and newer forms of antisemitism targeting Israel such as demonizing the Jewish state, denying its right to exist, and holding it to standards not expected of any other democratic state.

Jewish community advocates have expressed alarm that rescinding the executive order could signal a retreat from clear standards at a moment when antisemitic incidents have surged in the two years following Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, massacre across southern Israel.

The Israeli government and leading US Jewish groups sharply criticized Mamdani’s decision.

Mamdani’s supporters say the move was part of a broader action by Mamdani to revoke all executive orders issued by Adams since Sept. 26, 2024, when the ex-mayor was indicted for corruption, charges of which have since been dismissed. Mamdani’s office has framed the move as an administrative reset rather than a targeted policy shift, saying the new mayor sought to begin his term with a clean slate.

However, critics argue that lumping the IHRA adoption together with other rescinded orders was, at best, careless and, at worst, reflective of an ideological discomfort with pro-Israel policy frameworks.

The New York Times reported last month that Mamdani “knew from the moment he won the election” in November that he would revoke the executive orders related to Israel and antisemitism but believed rescinding them would upset Jewish groups whose concerns he spent months trying to allay. Therefore, the report continued, Mamdani’s team laid out a few options, and he chose to rescind every order that Adams issued after his indictment, “allowing him to frame the choice as a matter of good governance.”

The lawsuit now seeks a court order compelling the mayor’s office to produce internal communications and documentation explaining the decision-making process behind the revocation.

The IHRA definition could have been problematic for Mamdani, a far-left democratic socialist and avowed anti-Zionist who has made anti-Israel activism a cornerstone of his political career and been widely accused of promoting antisemitic rhetoric. A supporter of boycotting all entities tied to Israel, he has repeatedly refused to recognize Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state; routinely accused Israel of “apartheid” and “genocide”; and refused to clearly condemn the phrase “globalize the intifada,” which has been used to call for violence against Jews and Israelis worldwide.

Leading members of the Jewish community in New York have expressed alarm about Mamdani’s electoral victory, fearing what may come in a city already experiencing a surge in antisemitic hate crimes.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Chinese President Xi Jinping shake hands as they meet, in Beijing, China, Sept. 2, 2025. Photo: Iran’s Presidential website/WANA (West Asia News Agency)/Handout via REUTERS

The Chinese Communist Party has embraced overt antisemitic messaging in its domestic propaganda in recent years, according to a new report which ties the move to both geopolitical rivalry with the United States and efforts to curry favor with Arab and Muslim countries hostile to Israel.

The Jewish People Policy Institute (JPPI), a prominent think tank based in Israel, documents in the report how China’s authoritarian government has deliberately cultivated antisemitism among the population and internationally as a strategy.

One key trend detailed by the study’s author, JPPI senior fellow Shalom Salomon Wald, is the way in Chinese media that Israel, Jews, and Judaism have grown conflated.

“In popular discourse, Israel and Jews are more or less synonymous. This is not much different from the West, where the anti-Israeli presentation of the Gaza war by official and social media is regularly causing verbal and physical violence against local Jews,” Wald writes. “Chinese officials, intellectuals, and news providers are generally aware of the difference between Israel and world Jewry. Officials acknowledge the distinction when it suits them, for example, when they insist that their criticism of Israel has no antisemitic connotation. They often fail to draw the distinction when it does not suit them.”

The report identifies 2021 as when “the Chinese government chose to harden its attitude toward Israel and its Jewish supporters. Chinese contacts informed some Israeli experts of this policy change. Whether [Chinese President] Xi Jinping himself made the relevant decisions is not known. No single reason, but a convergence of events caused this change.”

Writing in The Jerusalem Post, Wald identifies at least three factors driving China’s shift toward anti-Zionism.

The first is economic, with Israel walking back its relationship with China under US pressure.

“Israel, admonished by the United States, made Chinese investments, particularly in hi-tech and infrastructure projects, more difficult,” he writes. “The Chinese expressed their resentment quite openly.”

The second is geopolitical. “China was in the midst of expanding its presence in the Arab Middle East, offering major economic cooperation and long-lasting political ties,” Wald explains. “A harder attitude against Israel was a cheap sweetener for such offers.”

The third is the perception that, due to internal issues, Israel has grown weaker: “Israel’s domestic crisis eroded its ‘strongman’ image in Chinese eyes. A country wracked by mass demonstrations and numerous ineffective elections could no longer be taken as seriously as it had been.”

However, recent Israel-Hamas conflicts in Gaza were also key catalysts for upticks in antisemitism.

“Antisemitic waves washed over China’s social and official media following the Gaza conflicts of 2021 and 2023-25. They were authorized, if not initiated, by the Chinese government in pursuit of China’s political goals and based on anti-Jewish tropes,” states the report, which notes the hostility especially surged following Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, massacre across southern Israel.

“Chinese media began spreading antisemitic tropes under the cover of criticism of Israel’s military actions,” it continues. “While similar denunciations conflating Israel, Zionists, and Jews occurred in other countries too, in China all political speech is tightly monitored and censored if it is not in line with official positions. If antisemitism was spreading on China’s media, it meant that it was officially sanctioned. It appeared in government sources and public media, in social media, and in universities.”

Wald notes in the JPPI report that Beijing’s turn toward antisemitism will have a long-term impact on education.

“Universities are among the most influential promoters of Chinese antisemitism,” he states. “As they train China’s next generation, they risk transmitting current prejudices to some of China’s future leaders. Today, almost all Chinese government leaders and most Communist Party high officials are university graduates.”

The report describes how the rise in academic antisemitism in China has destroyed years of positive scholarship, quoting Prof. Ping Zhang of Tel Aviv University who said that “the foundation of the good relationship built between the two sides over the past three decades has been shattered.”

JPPI’s research notes that during the 20th century, China’s leaders originally supported Zionism. Sun Yat-sen, the first provisional president of the Republic of China and known today as the “father of modern China,” wrote in 1920 to the head of the Shanghai Zionist Association that he favored the “movement to restore your wonderful and historic nation which has contributed so much to the civilization of the world.” Similarly, in 1948 the Communist Party’s People’s Daily praised the founding of Israel.

Since then, however, China’s sympathies have shifted dramatically, recognizing a Palestinian state in 1988 and, more recently, moving closer to Hamas and Iran, whose leaders openly promote antisemitism and seek Israel’s destruction.

This month, for example, a Chinese military attaché in Tehran presented Brigadier General Bahman Behmard, commander of the Iranian Air Force, with a scale model of China’s J-20 fifth-generation stealth fighter. Even though no official contract was announced, experts interpreted the Chinese gesture as a sharp warning to the US and its ally Israel amid mounting fears of renewed conflict in the Middle East.

Days earlier, a new study revealed the extent to which the Iranian regime used Chinese technology to silence dissent during recent nationwide anti-government protests, imposing near-total internet shutdowns and disrupting satellite communications while carrying out a brutal crackdown. According to the international human rights organization Article 19, China has provided material and technical support to Iran since at least 2010, bolstering its surveillance and censorship capabilities as Chinese firms continue operating in the country despite international sanctions.

China, a key diplomatic and economic backer of Tehran, has moved to deepen ties with the regime in recent years, signing a 25-year cooperation agreement, holding joint naval drills, and continuing to purchase Iranian oil despite US sanctions.

China is the largest importer of Iranian oil, with nearly 90 percent of Iran’s crude and condensate exports going to Beijing.

According to some media reports, China may be even helping Iran rebuild its decimated air defenses and ballistic missile program following the 12-day war with Israel in June.

Closer to home, Beijing has also lambasted the Jewish state for its increasingly close ties with Taiwan. China considers Taiwan, a nearby island run by a democratic government, as a renegade Chinese province that must be reunited with the mainland — by force, if necessary.

In September, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke to a delegation of 250 US state legislators at the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem, warning of China’s role in demonizing Israel.

There is “an effort to besiege — not isolate as much as besiege Israel — that is orchestrated by the same forces that supported Iran,” Netanyahu said. One is China. And the other is Qatar. They are organizing an attack on Israel … [through] the social media of the Western world and the United States.”

That same month, the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), an Israeli think tank, released a report examining how China has increasingly used state media and covert campaigns to spread anti-Israel and antisemitic narratives in the US. The effort includes the promotion of conspiracy theories about “Jewish control” of politics, the economy, and the media.

While China’s primary aim is to target and undermine the United States, according to the study, Israel ends up suffering “collateral damage” as a result.

Israeli Muay Thai fighter Ahavat Gordon. Photo: YouTube screenshot

Israeli Muay Thai fighter Ahavat Hashem Gordon returned home to Israel on Monday morning after winning a match in Lithuania on Saturday night against a Turkish rival who reportedly had posted on social media a series of threats against the Israeli athlete as well as anti-Israel messages before their fight.

The 19-year-old Israeli, who is nicknamed “Golden Boy,” defeated Turkish fighter Ali Koyuncu, 25, after just two rounds at the Lithuanian UTMA 17 held at the Zalgirio Arena in Kaunas. Gordon has no UTMA losses and put on an aggressive performance in the Muay Thai fight, where the fighters use MMA gloves. In the second round, Koyuncu injured his foot shortly before Gordon knocked him to the floor with a blow to the head. When the fighters were pulled apart, Koyuncu was seen heavily bleeding from the side of his head. The judges then made the call to end the fight and Gordon was named the winner.

At the pre-fight weigh-in on Friday, Gordon was draped in an Israeli flag and wore a kippah, tzitzit, and a Star of David necklace. Koyuncu tried to grab his Israeli opponent by the throat and as officials attempted to hold the two men back from each other, the Turkish fighter managed to kick Gordon in the stomach.

Koyuncu additionally raised his middle finger at Gordon and made antisemitic threats, which led to the Israeli Embassy in Lithuania requesting increased security around Gordon ahead of the fight, according to Israel Hayom. Before getting into the ring, Koyuncu also reportedly posted a video on social media that featured a message about the “bloodshed” he hoped Gordon would suffer.

At a special press conference after arriving back home to Israel, Gordon talked about his victory. “Everything is from God,” he said, according to Ynet. “Especially since the fight was against a Turkish opponent who is antisemitic, this whole week was crazy. This is the moment I’ve been waiting for my entire life. If I had let everything that was happening get into my head, it would have thrown me off balance and I would have stopped this fight.”

“I always try to avoid bringing politics into sports. The moment he brought it in, there was no turning back,” Gordon added about his opponent. “I’m glad I showed the whole world that the people of Israel are strong. It’s incredible and it’s a privilege. I gave strength and showed that a Jewish Israeli can step into the ring wearing a kippah and tzitzit and not hide who he is … I asked him why he wrote what he wrote and told him not to do it again. I do respect him for stepping into the ring because that takes a lot, but beyond that I don’t respect him.”

Gordon thanked the public for their supportive messages, especially those he received from IDF troops. “Soldiers who watched the fight in Gaza, it moved me almost to tears,” he said. “Did I receive antisemitic responses about this fight? Yes, absolutely,” he admitted. “Not only me, but my family also did. I also heard about incidents in the crowd. We’re doing what we need to do, and we’re doing the right thing.”



An Iranian newspaper with a cover photo of an Iranian missile, in Tehran, Iran, Feb. 19, 2026. Photo: Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS

Iran is close to a deal with China to purchase anti‑ship cruise missiles, according to six people with knowledge of the negotiations, just as the United States deploys a vast naval force near the Iranian coast ahead of possible strikes on the Islamic Republic.

The deal for the Chinese‑made CM‑302 missiles is near completion, though no delivery date has been agreed, the people said. The supersonic missiles have a range of about 290 kilometers and are designed to evade shipborne defenses by flying low and fast. Their deployment would significantly enhance Iran’s strike capabilities and pose a threat to US naval forces in the region, two weapons experts said.

Negotiations with China to buy the missile weapons systems, which began at least two years ago, accelerated sharply after the 12‑day war between Israel and Iran in June, according to the six people with knowledge of the talks, including three officials who were briefed by the Iranian government as well as three security officials. As talks entered their final stages last summer, senior Iranian military and government officials traveled to China, including Massoud Oraei, Iran’s deputy defense minister, according to two of the security officials. Oraei’s visit has not been previously reported.

“It’s a complete gamechanger if Iran has supersonic capability to attack ships in the area,” said Danny Citrinowicz, a former Israeli intelligence officer and now senior Iran researcher at Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies think tank. “These missiles are very difficult to intercept.”

Reuters could not determine how many missiles were involved in the potential deal, how much Iran had agreed to pay, or whether China would go through with the agreement now given heightened tensions in the region.

“Iran has military and security agreements with its allies, and now is an appropriate time to make use of these agreements,” an Iranian foreign ministry official told Reuters.

In a comment sent after publication, China‘s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it was not aware of the talks about a potential missile sale that Reuters had reported. China‘s defense ministry did not respond to a request for comment.

The White House did not directly address the negotiations between Iran and China over the missile system when asked by Reuters. US President Donald Trump has been clear that “either we will make a deal or we will have to do something very tough like last time,” a White House official said, referring to the current standoff with Iran.

The missiles would be among the most advanced military hardware to be transferred to Iran by China and defy a United Nations weapons embargo that was first imposed in 2006. The sanctions were suspended in 2015 as part of a nuclear deal with the US and allies, and then reimposed last September.

US FORCES GATHERING NEAR IRAN

The potential sale would underscore deepening military ties between China and Iran at a moment of heightened regional tension, complicating US efforts to contain Iran’s missile program and curb its nuclear activities. It would also signal China’s growing willingness to assert itself in a region long dominated by US military might.

China, Iran, and Russia hold annual joint naval exercises, and last year the US Treasury Department sanctioned several Chinese entities for supplying chemical precursors to Iran‘s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps for use in its ballistic missile program. China rejected those allegations, saying it was unaware of the cases cited in the sanctions and that it strictly enforces export controls on dual-use products.

While hosting Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian for a military parade in Beijing in September, Chinese President Xi Jinping told the Iranian leader that “China supports Iran in safeguarding sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national dignity.”

China joined Russia and Iran in a joint letter on Oct. 18 to say they believed the decision to reimpose sanctions was flawed.

“Iran has become a battlefield between the US” on one side and Russia and China on the other, said one of the officials who was briefed by Iran’s government on the missile negotiations.

The deal comes as the US assembles an armada within striking distance of Iran, including the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and its strike group. The USS Gerald R. Ford and its escorts are also heading to the region. The two ships together can carry more than 5,000 personnel and 150 aircraft.

“China does not want to see a pro-Western regime in Iran,” said Citrinowicz, the Israeli specialist on Iran. “That would be a threat to their interests. They are hoping that this regime will stay.”

Trump said on Feb. 19 he was giving Iran 10 days to reach an agreement over its nuclear program or face military action. The US is preparing for the possibility of sustained, weeks-long operations against Iran if Trump orders an attack, Reuters reported on Feb. 13.

A DEPLETED ARSENAL

The CM-302 purchase would be a significant improvement in an Iranian arsenal depleted by last year’s war, said Pieter Wezeman, a senior researcher at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

China’s state-owned China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC) markets the CM-302 as the world’s best anti–ship missile, capable of sinking an aircraft carrier or destroyer. The weapons system can be mounted on ships, aircraft, or mobile ground vehicles. It can also take out targets on land.

CASIC did not respond to a request for comment.

Iran is also in discussions to acquire Chinese surface‑to‑air missile systems, so-called MANPADS, anti‑ballistic weapons, and anti-satellite weapons, the six people said.

China was a major arms supplier to Iran in the 1980s, but large‑scale weapons transfers dwindled by the late 1990s under international pressure. In recent years, US officials have accused Chinese companies of providing missile-related materials to Iran but have not publicly accused it of supplying complete missile systems.

A man works on an electric pole next to a damaged building, in the aftermath of an Israeli strike on Friday, in Tamnine el Tahta, Bekaa valley, Lebanon, Feb. 21, 2026. Photo: REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir

Israel has warned Lebanon that it would strike the country hard, targeting civilian infrastructure including the airport, in the event that Hezbollah gets involved in any US-Iran war, two senior Lebanese officials said on Tuesday.

The Lebanese officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the Israeli message was delivered indirectly. The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Lebanese presidency did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Iran and the US will hold a third round of nuclear talks on Thursday in Geneva, Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi said on Sunday, amid growing concerns about the risk of military conflict.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, whose government has sought the disarmament of Iran-backed Hezbollah since taking office a year ago, urged the terrorist group not to take Lebanon into “another adventure,” speaking in a newspaper interview published on Tuesday.

Israel dealt heavy blows to Hezbollah during a war in 2024, killing its leader Hassan Nasrallah along with thousands of its fighters and destroying much of its arsenal.

Shi’ite Muslim Hezbollah was established by Iran‘s Revolutionary Guards in 1982.

Hezbollah‘s new leader Naim Qassem said in a televised address last month that the group was “not neutral” in the standoff between Washington and Tehran, and that it was “targeted by the potential aggression.”

“We are determined to defend ourselves. We will choose in due course how to act, whether to intervene or not,” Qassem said.

Hezbollah‘s last war with Israel began after it opened fire in solidarity with its Palestinian ally Hamas at the start of the Gaza conflict in 2023, prompting months of cross-border fighting before Israel mounted its devastating offensive.

PM SALAM WARNS HEZBOLLAH AGAINST ‘ANOTHER ADVENTURE’

“The Gaza adventure imposed a big cost on Lebanon. We hope that we will not be dragged into another adventure,” Salam told Nida al-Watan newspaper in the interview published on Tuesday.

The US State Department is pulling out non-essential government personnel and their eligible family members from the US embassy in Beirut, a senior State Department official said on Monday.

Since a US-backed ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon in 2024, Israel has carried out regular strikes against what it has identified as Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, accusing the group of seeking to rearm.

Israeli strikes have killed around 400 people in Lebanon since the ceasefire, according to a Lebanese toll.

Hezbollah says it has respected the ceasefire in southern Lebanon. In January, the US-backed Lebanese army said it had established operational control over the south, in line with the objective of establishing a monopoly on arms.

Israel said the effort was an encouraging beginning but far from sufficient.

Members of the Syrian government security forces stand guard as a group of female detainees gather at al-Hol camp after the government took control of it following the withdrawal of Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), in Hasaka, Syria, Jan. 21, 2026. Photo: REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi

An EU internal memo has raised security concerns about the escape of thousands of people from a detention camp holding relatives of suspected Islamic State fighters in northeastern Syria, suggesting terrorist groups could recruit from them.

The memo, sent from the Cyprus presidency of the Council of the European Union to member states and dated Feb. 23, said the status of third-country nationals who had fled the camp at al-Hol remained unclear and that it was reported that a majority of them had escaped.

“This raises concerns about how terrorist groups might seek to capitalize on the current situation to increase recruitment efforts among escapees,” said the memo, which was reviewed by Reuters.

PRISONERS INCLUDED THOUSANDS OF FOREIGNERS

Al-Hol, near the Iraqi border, was one of the main detention camps for relatives of suspected Islamic State fighters who were detained during the US-backed campaign against the jihadist group in Syria.

Control of the camp changed hands in January, when Syrian government forces under President Ahmed al-Sharaa drove the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces from the area.

The SDF had guarded the facility for years.

The camp‘s population was 23,407 people the day before the government takeover, including 6,280 foreigners from more than 40 nationalities, Reuters reported last week, citing official data from the camp.

The US military said on Feb. 13 it had completed a mission to transfer 5,700 adult male Islamic State fighters from jails in Syria to Iraq. It had originally said up to 7,000 prisoners could eventually be transferred. The EU memo noted that the initial target was not met.

‘CHAOTIC TAKEOVER‘

In a section entitled “Security concerns stemming from the evolving situation in northeast Syria,” the EU memo said the “chaotic takeover led to the collapse of security and services in the al-Hol camp, triggering the escape of a significant portion of its population.”

The UN refugee agency in Syria and the Syrian government “have confirmed that an uncontrolled exodus has occurred over the past few weeks,” it added.

Damascus has accused the SDF of withdrawing from al-Hol on Jan. 20 without any coordination. The SDF has said its forces had been “compelled” to withdraw from the camp to areas surrounding cities which it said were under threat.

A Syrian government security source told Reuters last week that the security authorities, working in cooperation with international partners, had established a unit to “pursue those who are wanted.”

The SDF had guarded prisons holding thousands of Islamic State militants in northeast Syria, in addition to al-Hol and a second camp at Roj, which also holds relatives of suspected jihadists.

The EU memo said the capacity of Damascus “to manage these facilities is assessed as limited and facing significant operational challenges.” It noted that the government’s stated intent to gradually phase out al-Hol camp had “been overtaken by recent events, which raise grave security concerns.”

The EU memo said that al-Hol and Roj camps were hosting around 25,000 people, primarily women and children, “with many of these being highly radicalized and living in degrading humanitarian and security conditions.”

Roj camp remains under the control of the SDF for now.

Last week, the SDF released 34 Australian nationals from Roj, only for them to return later. The Australian government has ruled out helping families of IS terrorists return home. Roj is also home to British-born Shamima Begum.

The EU memo said there was “reason for concern regarding the possible escape of families” from Roj once the Syrian government takes control.

Syria‘s Information Ministry and the US Central Command did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The memo came amid an uptick of Islamic State violence in Syria.

Islamic State terrorists killed four Syrian government security personnel in northern Syria on Monday, the Syrian state news agency reported, in what would be the group’s deadliest attack on government forces since the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad.

The assault on a checkpoint west of Raqqa city underlined an escalation in attacks by the jihadist group against President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s government, two days after the jihadist group declared “a new phase of operations” against it.

Islamic State issued no immediate claim of responsibility for Monday’s attack. On Saturday, the group claimed two attacks targeting Syrian army personnel in northern and eastern Syria, in which a Syrian soldier and a civilian were killed.

The Syrian state news agency said forces foiled Monday’s attack and killed one of the militants. It quoted a security source as saying Islamic State carried out the attack.

The terrorist group, however, only claimed responsibility on Tuesday for a separate attack on an army headquarters in the city of Mayadin in Deir al-Zor in eastern Syria that killed one soldier.

The group had carried out an attack in the same city days earlier.

The Syrian government joined the US-led coalition to combat Islamic State last year. In January, government forces seized control of Raqqa from the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, along with much of the surrounding territory in northern and eastern Syria.

Meanwhile, US forces on Monday began withdrawing from their largest military base in the northeast, according to three Syrian military and security sources – part of a broader pullout of US troops who deployed to Syria a decade ago to fight Islamic State.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi speaks during a press conference following talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow, Russia, Dec. 17, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Ramil Sitdikov/Pool

Iran‘s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Tuesday that a deal with the US was “within reach, but only if diplomacy is given priority,” days ahead of an expected fresh round of talks between the two sides in Geneva.

The talks are set to take place on Thursday in Geneva, a senior US official said on Monday, with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner slated to meet with an Iranian delegation for the negotiations.

The two countries resumed negotiations earlier this month as the US builds up its military capability in the Middle East. Iran has threatened to strike US bases in the region if it is attacked.

“We have a historic opportunity to strike an unprecedented agreement that addresses mutual concerns and achieves mutual interests,” Araqchi said in a post on X.

The Iranian top diplomat said his country would resume the talks with “a determination to achieve a fair and equitable deal in the shortest possible time.”

Earlier, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi said Iran was ready to take all necessary steps to reach a deal with the United States.

“We are ready to reach an agreement as soon as possible. We will do whatever it takes to make this happen. We will enter the negotiating room in Geneva with complete honesty and good faith,” Takht-Ravanchi said in comments carried by state media.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Tuesday that US President Donald Trump’s “first option” was always diplomacy but that he was “willing to use lethal force” if necessary.

“The president is always the final decision maker around here,” she told reporters at the White House.

A senior Iranian official told Reuters on Sunday that Tehran would seriously consider a combination of sending half of its most highly enriched uranium abroad, diluting the rest, and taking part in creating a regional enrichment consortium – an idea periodically raised during years of Iran-linked diplomacy.

Iran would do this in return for US recognition of Iran‘s right to “peaceful nuclear enrichment” under a deal that would also include lifting economic sanctions, the official said.

“If there is an attack or aggression against Iran, we will respond according to our defense plans … A US attack on Iran is a real gamble,” Takht-Ravanchi added.

Indirect talks between the two sides last year brought no agreement, primarily due to friction over a US demand that Iran forgo uranium enrichment on its soil, which Washington views as a pathway to a nuclear bomb.

Iran has always denied seeking such weapons.

The US joined Israel in hitting Iranian nuclear sites last June, effectively curtailing Iran‘s uranium enrichment, with Trump saying its key nuclear sites were “obliterated.” But Iran is still believed to possess stockpiles enriched previously, which Washington wants it to relinquish.

An Australian flag sits amongst floral tributes honoring the victims of a shooting at Jewish holiday celebration on Sunday at Bondi Beach, in Sydney, Australia, Dec. 16, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Hollie Adams

Australia on Tuesday opened a government-backed inquiry into antisemitism, after a mass shooting at a Jewish event at Bondi Beach killed 15 people in December 2025.

The attack at a Jewish Hanukkah celebration shocked a country with strict gun laws and fueled calls for tougher controls and stronger action against antisemitism.

The Royal Commission, the most powerful type of government inquiry in Australia which can compel people to give evidence, will be led by retired judge Virginia Bell.

It will consider the events of the shooting as well as antisemitism and social cohesion in Australia, and is expected to report its findings by December this year.

In her opening statement at a court in Sydney on Tuesday, Bell said security arrangements for the event would form a major part of the commission.

“The commission needs to investigate the security arrangements for that event, and to report on whether our intelligence and law enforcement agencies performed to maximum effectiveness,” Bell said.

Police say the alleged gunmen, Sajid Akram and his son Naveed Akram, were inspired by Islamic State.

Sajid Akram was shot dead by police at the scene, while Naveed Akram, who was also shot but survived, is currently facing charges including 15 counts of murder and a terror offense.

INQUIRY SCOPE LIMITED

Due to the ongoing legal proceedings, no potential witnesses in Akram’s trial will be called to give evidence to the commission, Bell said.

Bell said she plans to meet with victims’ families in private to explain some of the limitations of her inquiry.

Richard Lancaster, the top lawyer assisting Bell with the inquiry, said his team had sent dozens of requests to government and other agencies to produce documentary evidence, but the level of responses is “not presently where we would like it to be.”

There was no testimony heard or evidence given on Tuesday, and the commission is yet to determine when it will next sit.

Michele Goldman, CEO of the New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies, said after the hearing that the inquiry would be an opportunity to showcase the community’s “horrific” experiences of antisemitism.

But some people directly impacted by the attack would find it “very hard” to be barred from sharing their accounts with the inquiry, she said.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had initially resisted calls to set up a Royal Commission, saying the process would take years, which attracted criticism from Jewish groups and victims’ families.

The Bondi attack followed a spate of antisemitic incidents in the country, including the firebombing of a Melbourne synagogue.

The government has already responded by tightening gun laws and introducing new legislation against hate speech.

A February 2023 protest in Washington, DC calling for an end to executions and human rights violations in Iran. Photo: Reuters/ Bryan Olin Dozier

A revolutionary court in Tehran has issued a death sentence for an Iranian man accused of “enmity against god,” which if confirmed would be the first such sentence linked to mass protests in January, a source close to the man’s family said.

The source told Reuters on Tuesday that Iran‘s judiciary had not yet announced the sentence against the man, Mohammad Abbasi, and that Iran‘s Supreme Court was yet to uphold it.

Abbasi was accused of killing a security officer, an allegation his family denied, the source said.

Rights groups say thousands of people were killed in a crackdown on the protests, the worst domestic unrest in Iran since the era of its 1979 Islamic Revolution.

During the unrest, US President Donald Trump warned Tehran that he could order military action if it carried out executions.

The source said the defendant’s daughter, Fatemeh Abbasi, was handed a 25-year prison sentence over her role in protests.

“The defendants do not have access to the lawyer they wanted, and were given a public defender,” the source added.

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Some of these women have been agunot for years. They are trapped in a bizarre world where they are not single but not married.

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Chanie hung her head but the damage was done. Her mother tried to pull things back on course by introducing a new game. The girls’ feeble response, however, signaled the party was all but over.

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He assumed it probably wasn’t a problem, but his uncertainty held him back. Was exchanging bills considered using company money? Was borrowing temporarily any different?

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You never really know what is happening behind closed doors. Knowing that, I was a bit disappointed with myself that I was even thinking all of this. I needed to reground myself and move forward.

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Something Borrowed, Something Blue
“‘You Shall See It’ To Exclude A Nighttime Garment”
(Menachos 43a)

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When someone lives with insecurity, they often develop a heightened radar for disrespect. They may feel that if they don’t guard against being diminished, they will disappear.

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There is a categorical difference between criticizing a government and singling out the world’s only Jewish state for obsessive denunciation while displaying indifference toward, or even apologetics for, far graver abuses elsewhere.

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Distinct. Individuals. Representing tribes. But in Terumah, at the moment of donation, before they are placed and named in detail, they are called something else. Avnei miluim. Stones defined not by their brilliance, but by their necessity.

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What personifies G-d’s presence in the Mishkan most of all? It is the Torah, in the form of Tablets of the Law. The Torah is G-d’s representative on earth. We communicate with Him by studying His words.

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Chani suddenly realized that Effi was also in the bakery! Her heart gave a lurch as she spied him sitting off in a corner with Ralph and the Krausses, hunched over a laptop working on something.

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Fundamentally, Judaism is a reality-based religion. We are enjoined to find G-d in our own lives and world, with our feet firmly planted on the ground.

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A good Purim party needs music – good music. When you build your playlist for your upcoming Purim party, don’t forget to check the two columns from last year – you’ll find some good suggestions. And now let’s look at some more.

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Talking about miracles – I can definitely say:
I hope for a special miracle on this Purim day!

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The Mishkan gives Bnei Yisrael predictability through clear instructions, agency through voluntary offerings, collaboration through shared labor, embodiment through materials and craft, and containment through a defined sacred space. It is the Torah’s first blueprint for communal healing.

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While wealthy families may not worry about paying monthly bills, they face a different, and sometimes more complex, set of challenges. As wealth increases, so does exposure to lawsuits, taxes, poor investment decisions, complicated family dynamics, and spiritual drift. Thoughtful planning becomes essential.

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A Guinness World Record has recently been broken in Israel. It’s a record of generosity and kindness. Last week, 2,000 kidney donors posed for a group photo at the International Convention Center in Jerusalem, forming the largest gathering of organ donors in history.

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The reality of the Beit HaMikdash is very much alive and pulsating in our modern Jewish lives, we just don't acknowledge it as such. To us, it is just the normal Jewish routine.

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Question: I am the gabbai in a large synagogue, where many people bring Divrei Torah handouts to distribute. As such, I am faced with disposing of the constantly growing accumulation of sheimot. How do I deal with these papers that include the names of Hashem in many substitute forms, mostly in English?
No name please
Via email

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Our calling is not merely to take in and reflect surrounding culture, but rather to shape it, to serve as a light unto the nations by embodying and promulgating the Torah’s Divine values.

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Rav Menasseh is perhaps most remembered for his diplomatic mission to England, where he petitioned Oliver Cromwell to formally readmit the Jews, who had been expelled since 1290.

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Human nature is fragile, and our avodat Hashem can falter. Living a commanded life does not mean that we always succeed. It means that we accept all of Hashem’s mitzvot, without selectively embracing those we prefer and discarding those we resist.

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The big change, however, has been the increasing inclusion of free gifts presumably aimed at guilting the recipient into contributing.

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On the evidence of his writings, Philo was almost certainly a Torah-observant Jew who believed in the Divinity of the Torah and the uniqueness of Moshe’s prophecy.

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Allow yourself to feel disappointed that dating has not gone as you had hoped. Forcing positivity and enthusiasm doesn’t work.

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We can make the startling conclusion that the entire event of Purim, the intended genocide of the Jewish people and the miraculous reversal that led to the downfall of Haman and the Amalekis, all hinged on the slander and the snitching of the noblemen at the king’s gate.

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At Sinai, the Jewish people received the Torah, experienced direct prophecy, and felt G-d's presence in an overwhelming, transformative way. It was the founding moment of the nation.

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In assessing the potential of every Jew, Rabbeinu Yonah writes that even an individual who does not show great promise can achieve exalted heights and become a tzaddik. The simplest and most humble person can merit the Divine presence.

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דערצויגן געוואָרן אין דער שטאָט ניו־יאָרק, בײַ אַ משפּחה וואָס האָט נישט פֿאַרמאָגט קיין אויטאָ, האָב איך אַ גרויסן חלק פֿון מײַן לעבן „אויסגעלעבט“ אויף דער אונטערבאַן („סאָבוויי“). הגם הײַנט פֿאָר איך בדרך־כּלל מיט מיט דער מחוץ־שטאָטישער באַן „מעטראָ־נאָרט“, מוז איך מודה זײַן, אַז מײַנע יאָרן אויף דער אונטערבאַן האָבן זיכער געהאָלפֿן צו אַנטוויקלען בײַ מיר דאָס געפֿיל פֿון אַן עכטן ניו־יאָרקער.

אין עלטער פֿון 11 יאָר, למשל, זענען איך און מײַן 10־יאָריקע שוועסטער, גיטל, יעדע וואָך, נאָך די קלאַסן, געפֿאָרן מיט דער אונטערבאַן פֿינף סטאַנציעס צו אונדזער פּיאַנע־לעקציע. וואָס איז דער חידוש, פֿרעגט איר? איר קענט זיך אויסמאָלן, אַז צוויי אומשולדיקע מיידלעך, טראָגנדיק קליידלעך און צעפּלעך, זאָלן הײַנט פֿאָרן, אָן שום באַגלייטונג פֿון אַ דערוואַקסענעם — אויף דער אונטערבאַן? איך — נישט. פֿונדעסטוועגן, מיין איך, אַז דאָס האָט אונדז געגעבן אַ געוויסן נישט־באַוווּסטזיניקן קוראַזש, וואָס פֿעלט הײַנט די קינדער, וואָס זייערע עלטערן מוזן זיי פֿירן אינעם אויטאָ פֿון איין אָרט צום צווייטן.

איך האָב ליב געהאַט צו לייענען די רעקלאַמעס אין וואַגאָן. איך געדענק, למשל, די מעלדונגען וועגן דעם יערלעכן שיינקייט־קאָנקורס, „מיס סאָבווייס“. עטלעכע וואָכן פֿאַרן קאָנקורס, איז אין יעדן וואַגאָן געהאָנגען אַ בילד פֿון די זעקס פֿינאַליסטקעס. פֿלעג איך מיט גיטלען איבערלייענען זייערע קליינע ביאָגראַפֿיעס — בדרך־כּלל, סטודענטקעס, סעקרעטאַרשעס, זינגערינס, און טענצערינס — און דיסקוטירן מיט איר, ווער ס׳וואָלט געדאַרפֿט געווינען די „אונטערערדישע קרוין“. איך פֿלעג זיך אָפֿט מאָל חידושן, ווי אַזוי איינע מיט אַ גרויסער נאָז אָדער געדיכטע ברעמען האָט דערגרייכט אַזאַ מדרגה, אַז איר פּנים זאָל באַצירן יעדן וואַגאָן פֿון דער ניו־יאָרקער באַן־סיסטעם.

איך האָב זיך אויך געלערנט מײַנע ערשטע שפּאַנישע זאַצן אויף דער אונטערבאַן. אין יעדן וואַגאָן איז געהאָנגען אַ וואָרענונג אויף ענגליש און אויף שפּאַניש: „די רעלסן פֿון דער אונטערבאַן זענען געפֿערלעך. אויב די באַן שטעלט זיך אָפּ צווישן די סטאַנציעס, בלײַבט אינעווייניק. גייט נישט אַרויס. וואַרט אויף די אינסטרוקציעס פֿון די קאָנדוקטאָרן אָדער דער פּאָליציי“. גיטל און איך האָבן זיך אויסגעלערנט אויף אויסנווייניק די שפּאַנישע שורות, און זיי איבערגעחזרט אַזוי פֿיל מאָל, ביז די ווערטער האָבן זיך בײַ אונדז אַראָפּגעקײַקלט פֿון דער צונג ווי בײַ אמתע פּוערטאָ־ריקאַנער. און ס׳איז אונדז צו ניץ געקומען: אַז מיר זענען געשטאַנען ערגעץ צווישן מענטשן, און געוואָלט אויסזען ווי אמתע שפּאַניש־רעדער, האָבן מיר אויסגעשאָסן די שפּאַנישע שורות מיט אַזאַ טראַסק, אַז אַ נישט־שפּאַניש רעדער וואָלט געקענט מיינען, מיר טיילן זיך מיט עפּעס אַ זאַפֿטיקער פּליאָטקע.

מײַנע דרײַ בנים האָבן שטאַרק ליב געהאַט צו פֿאָרן אויף דער אונטערבאַן. קינדווײַז פֿלעגן זיי צודריקן די פּנימלעך צו די פֿענצטער, סײַ ווען די באַן איז געפֿאָרן אין דרויסן, סײַ אינעם פֿינצטערן טונעל. מײַן עלטסטער, יאַנקל, האָט צוויי מאָל געפּרוּווט צו פֿאַרווירקלעכן זײַנס אַ חלום: צו פֿאָרן, במשך פֿון איין טאָג, אויף יעדער ליניע פֿון דער גאַנצער סיסטעם, פֿון דער #1 ביז דער #7; פֿון דער A־באַן ביז דער Z. (מע דאַרף האָבן אַ מאַטעמאַטישן קאָפּ דאָס אויסצופּלאָנטערן.) ביידע מאָל האָט יאַנקל באַוויזן צו פֿאָרן אויף אַלע ליניעס… אַחוץ איינער. נישט קיין חידוש, אַז בײַ אונדז אין דער היים איז יאָרן לאַנג געהאָנגען אינעם שפּריץ אַ פֿירהאַנג מיט אַ ריזיקע מאַפּע פֿון דער אונטערבאַן.

הײַנט האָב איך אַ ספּעציעלע הנאה צו פֿאָרן אויף דער אונטערבאַן מיט מײַנע אייניקלעך. פּונקט ווי עס האָבן קינדווײַז געטאָן זייערע טאַטעס, קוקן זיי אויך אַרויס פֿון פֿענצטער און קאָמענטירן וועגן אַלץ וואָס פֿליט פֿאַרבײַ. ווער ווייסט? אפֿשר וועלן זיי אויך מיט דער צײַט זיך אויסלערנען די ציפֿערן און אותיות פֿון יעדער באַנליניע און דערבײַ אַליין פֿאַרוואַנדלט ווערן אין עכטע ניו־יאָרקער.

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(JTA) — The Department of Justice filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday accusing the leadership of UCLA of allowing an antisemitic work environment on campus, intensifying the Trump administration’s long-running scrutiny of the Los Angeles campus.

The lawsuit, filed in federal court in the Central District of California, alleges UCLA failed to protect Jewish and Israeli faculty and staff from harassment following the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel and the protests that spread across American universities afterward.

The complaint was filed the same day President Donald Trump is scheduled to deliver the first State of the Union address of his second term, in which he is expected to cite the administration’s broader confrontations with higher education institutions as evidence of its successes. It also comes roughly three months after nine Justice Department attorneys resigned from the government’s University of California antisemitism investigation, telling the Los Angeles Times they believed the probe had become politicized.

The lawsuit says that antisemitic conduct at UCLA became widespread after Oct. 7 and persisted through the 2023-24 academic year. According to the lawsuit, Jewish and Israeli employees were subjected to threats, classroom disruptions, antisemitic graffiti and, at times, were blocked from parts of campus during protests.

The government places particular emphasis on the spring 2024 Royce Quad encampment, when pro-Palestinian demonstrators established a tent protest in the center of campus. The Justice Department alleges UCLA failed to enforce its own campus rules, allowing protests that disrupted university operations and contributed to what it describes as a hostile workplace.

“Based on our investigation, UCLA administrators allegedly allowed virulent anti-Semitism to flourish on campus,” Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in a DOJ press release announcing the lawsuit. Harmeet K. Dhillon, who leads the department’s Civil Rights Division, described the alleged incidents as “a mark of shame” if proven true.

UCLA officials rejected the government’s characterization, pointing instead to changes made under Chancellor Julio Frenk.

“As Chancellor Frenk has made clear: Antisemitism is abhorrent and has no place at UCLA or anywhere,” vice chancellor of strategic communications Mary Osako said in a statement. She cited investments in campus safety, the launch of UCLA’s Initiative to Combat Antisemitism, the reorganization of the university’s civil rights office, the hiring of a dedicated Title VI and Title VII officer and strengthened protest policies.

“We stand firmly by the decisive actions we have taken to combat antisemitism in all its forms, and we will vigorously defend our efforts and our unwavering commitment to providing a safe, inclusive environment for all members of our community,” Osako said.

Frenk, who is Jewish, has spoken publicly about antisemitism in higher education. In an essay published by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency last year, he invoked the history of German universities under Nazism, warning that those institutions “never recovered after driving Jews out” and urging American colleges to confront antisemitism while preserving academic freedom and open debate.

The new lawsuit follows earlier legal battles over campus protests at UCLA. In July 2025, the university agreed to pay $6.13 million to settle a lawsuit brought by Jewish students and a Jewish professor who said demonstrators had blocked access to parts of campus. Under that agreement, UCLA said it would ensure protesters could not restrict movement or access to university spaces.

Campus tensions over speech and security have continued more recently. Bari Weiss, the journalist and founder of The Free Press, withdrew this month from a scheduled appearance at UCLA as part of the Daniel Pearl Memorial Lecture series. Weiss had been invited to speak on “The Future of Journalism” but canceled the event, citing security concerns ahead of the lecture.

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The man who piloted the Israeli bobsled team to its first-ever Olympic Games defended the athlete-swapping scheme that led to the team’s removal from competition, saying in an interview with the Forward that the Israeli sporting authority blew the incident out of proportion.

The Olympic Committee of Israel said it pulled the team after learning that a member had faked an illness in order to allow the substitution of a teammate in his place.

AJ Edelman, the team’s captain, did not contest that account. He said that the substitution was unanimously agreed to by the group, calling it “essentially a normal maneuver” at the Olympics given what he called a “somewhat arbitrary” rule that allows alternates to compete only when an athlete is medically unable to continue.

The reason it didn’t work, he said, was that the teammate chosen to fake sick tipped off the Israeli committee, which needed to approve the substitution.

“We’re not the only team to have made that sort of substitution in the competition,” Edelman, 34, said in a phone interview with the Forward from Prague, seemingly referring to the Romanian team, which also made a sub. “We are the only team for which the person then was just upset that he was the one doing it and made a scene about it.”

The swap would have made Ward Fawarsy, who was traveling with the squad as an alternate, the first Druze Israeli to appear in Olympic competition. Instead, the committee pulled the team before its third race, cutting short Israel’s run with two heats remaining.

Related

• Israeli bobsled squad is disqualified from Olympics after trying to swap in Druze teammate

The Israeli committee said in a statement that it had reported the matter to the International Olympic Committee and would conduct an investigation after the Games.

The exit — which Edelman characterized as a voluntary withdrawal — blighted a budding underdog success story. The team, nicknamed “Shul Runnings” (a play on the title of a popular movie about the 1988 Jamaican team), had scrapped its way into the Olympics without financial support from Israel — largely thanks to the perseverance of Edelman, its indefatigable spearhead, who told the Forward he saw the team as a “holy endeavor.”

Without a national sports program behind him, Edelman, a former MIT hockey goaltender, had recruited Israeli athletes from other sports to the project — Zisman was a former pole vaulter, Fawarsy played rugby — and crowdfunded relentlessly to pay for their training. He said this year was the first he broke even, with the team’s costs totaling to around $300,000.

After narrowly missing qualification in 2022 and 2026, Israel broke through in January, receiving an invitation after the United Kingdom decided to send only one team instead of two.

But at the end of a whirlwind month in which the team was burglarized at its pre-Olympic lodgings, booed at the opening ceremony and drawn into controversy involving multiple foreign broadcasters, Israel’s withdrawal left it below teams that crashed in the final results for 4-man bobsled, marked “Did Not Start” on the scoresheet.

Israel also finished last out of 26 teams in 2-man sled.

Taking the plunge Israel’s 4-man bobsled team was in 24th place out of 27 when one team member falsely claimed an illness. Photo by Tiziana FABI / AFP via Getty Images

The fake illness plan was set in motion after the second of four heats in the 4-man competition, with Israel in 24th place out of 27 and medaling out of reach.

Olympic rules generally do not allow alternates to compete unless a team member has to withdraw due to injury or illness. The idea to fake an injury, according to Edelman, had been Zisman’s earlier in the year, when it appeared that he, not Fawarsy, would be the alternate. Edelman said he nixed the proposal at the time.

But in Italy, with Fawarsy the alternate due to a pre-Olympics injury, Edelman went for the switch.

“Ward’s inclusion was important because of his years of service to the team, because of who he was and because of who he represented,” Edelman said. “I was quite proud that a group of young Israelis took a look at their brother, their teammate, and said, ‘This is important for you. This is important for us.’”

After the group agreed to the plan, the question became which team member would drop out.

According to Edelman, Zisman thought it should be Menachem Chen, because he had raced with Edelman in the 2-man. But Zisman, Edelman said, “was the weakest performer. And given that Ward’s position was his position in the sled, they were somewhat interchangeable.”

Zisman appeared to begrudgingly go along with the arrangement at first, undergoing a medical exam and signing an affidavit to support the substitution request, according to Israeli officials. But Edelman said that during that process, Zisman volunteered that “another athlete should do it instead, and at that point Israel made it what it became.”

Edelman said his team’s alternate substitution ploy was not uncommon at the Olympics.

The Olympic Committee of Israel said in a statement that Zisman had admitted to the head of the delegation that he had acted improperly, forcing the committee to withdraw the request and disqualify the move.

“The Olympic Committee of Israel views any deviation from the Olympic values as unacceptable and cannot accept inappropriate behavior,” the OCI statement added. “It should be emphasized that, up to this point, the participation of the bobsleigh delegation has taken place in the spirit of sport and without any violations by the athletes.”

The Israel committee did not respond to questions sent by the Forward, and Zisman did not respond to a request for comment.

Edelman flatly disagreed with the committee’s decision.

“We felt that it was completely fine, given that it was essentially a normal maneuver,” Edelman said. “It was really blown into something that we hadn’t expected. Israel insisted on sort of making an example of the situation.”

Iced out of Italy AJ Edelman, left, and Israel’s Menachem Chen congratulate each other after competing in a 2-man bobsled heat. Photo by Stefano Rellandini / AFP via Getty Images

The incident capped a Winter Olympics in which Israel appeared in more headlines due to controversy than competition. The country did not medal at Milan Cortina — it has never medaled at a Winter Games — and most of its athletes ended competition in the bottom half of contestants.

The first Israeli delegation to compete at the Winter Olympics since the attacks of Oct. 7, 2023, was also a frequent target at the Games. Much of the ire from foreign press and other athletes targeted Edelman, who has been a vocal defender of Israel’s war in Gaza on social media.

As Israel was racing in the 2-man event, a commentator for a Swiss TV broadcast listed Edelman’s comments and actions related to the war, which it said were “in support of the genocide in Gaza.” The network later apologized.

An Italian commentator also landed in hot water after he told someone off camera but on live air to avoid the Israeli team.

Edelman said the hostility extended to his fellow bobsled athletes, and claimed that one had called the team “baby killers.” He declined to name the athlete or say what country he represented.

“I take a look at a guy like that, who has made the Olympics a couple of times, and I go, ‘What a loser,’” Edelman said. “He spends his time worrying about Israelis or Jews? What a total loser. So I just don’t put too much stock in it.”

Ward Fawarseh would have become the first Druze Israeli to compete in the Olympics. Photo by IOC via Getty Images

Edelman did not want to highlight the role Fawarsy’s ethnic background played in the team’s decision to break the rules, saying doing so “minimizes him as an athlete and it minimizes him as a person, into something demographic.” At the same time, he appeared to allude to Fawarsy serving in the IDF as a reason for his inclusion.

On Oct. 12, 2023, Edelman posted a picture of Fawarsy to Instagram, writing in the caption that his teammate was “serving on the front lines right now.” (He edited the caption earlier this month to, “Love Ward. Send him a message with your support!”)

“He served Israel with distinction and a level of heroism that all of us aspire to have in our lives,” Edelman told the Forward, adding, “Ward earned it and deserved it as much, if not more, than any of the other guys.”

Fawarsy did not respond to an inquiry.

Frozen fallout

Few in the public sphere have found inspiration in the team’s intentional rule-breaking, even done in service of a Druze athlete’s achievement. Israel’s i24 news broadcast called it a “dramatic and disappointing development.” The Times of Israel said the team’s “legacy was tainted.”

And David Greaves, the president of the Israeli Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation, told Times of Israel that he was “deeply disappointed in the actions of the team.”

Edelman maintained that the public reaction reflected a lack of context about how the sport tends to operate.

He compared the move to a football player seeking medical treatment to stop the clock or buy time for fatigued teammates. But that ploy, he noted, conferred a competitive advantage his team’s swap had not.

The rule that alternates could not compete was arbitrary in Edelman’s view because it was mostly designed to limit the census of the Olympic Village. He said that other teams had similarly broken the rule with none the wiser.

AJ Edelman touts himself as the first Orthodox Jewish Winter Olympian. Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

“When you take a look at the sport from the outside and don’t understand how the sport works, what the usual behavior is in the sport and why things are the way they are,” he said, “the decision seems like a very heavy risk to have taken on. The move is not unusual. It is not uncommon whatsoever.”

The change in Romania’s 4-man team was unremarked upon during the NBC broadcast.

Other bobsled substitutions in previous Olympics include the Trinidad 2-man team in 2022, the Nigerian 2-woman team in 2018, and the 2-man teams for Canada and Australia in 2010. The circumstances surrounding those substitutions were not immediately clear.

And at least one alternate was substituted in in another sport: Rich Ruohonen, an athlete on the U.S. curling team, entered competition late in a match with his team facing a near-insurmountable deficit. His throws made Ruohonen, 54, the oldest-ever U.S. Winter Olympian. It was unclear how he was able to substitute, and U.S. broadcasters embraced the moment. (Ruohonen could not be reached for comment.)

In a statement to X following news of the team’s withdrawal, Edelman took accountability for the decision and said he believed he had been “putting the country first.” And while he believed Israel was held to a higher standard than other countries, he was not sure that should have influenced his team’s choices.

“A lot of people have asked, ‘Would you do it again?’” Edelman told the Forward. “I think it would have been very hard in the future for all of us to take a look back on it and go, ‘You know, every other team does this sort of thing — we were just not going to get Ward in there because we’re looked at extra harshly if something goes wrong.’

“Again, it’s tough to explain to outsiders who don’t know the sport,” he continued. “So I feel very comfortable and confident in the decision that the team unanimously took.”

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Correction: This article has been updated to reflect the Romanian bobsled team’s use of a substitution at Milan Cortina. A previous version of the article stated none had occurred.

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(JTA) — At first glance, “Papillon” (Butterfly), the 15-minute Oscar-nominated animated short by veteran French filmmaker Florence Miailhe, may appear like a meditative journey through water and memory. An elderly man swims in a hand-painted sea, flashing back to childhood memories of being bullied and a loving mother who makes it all right.

As he cuts through the water and moves through time, the fuller context emerges: The sun-soaked beaches appear to be North Africa, the boy becomes a champion swimmer, a swastika tells you that he is competing in the 1936 Berlin Olympics, and the soundtrack echoes with taunts of “Jew” and “kike.”

The film is based on the extraordinary real life of Alfred Nakache, a Jewish athlete whose story of resilience under Nazi persecution has previously been told in two French documentaries but is seldom remembered today.

Born in 1915 in French Algiers (his family immigrated from Iraq), Artem “Alfred” Nakache became one of France’s most celebrated swimmers in the 1930s, specializing in the butterfly stroke — a full-bodied lunge that looks like a bird, or butterfly, in flight. His success brought him to the 1936 Berlin Olympics, where he competed under the shadow of rising antisemitism in Nazi Germany (and was part of a freestyle relay team that didn’t medal, but finished ahead of the Germans).

Under Vichy, the Nazi puppet regime, Nakache was stripped of his French nationality and forced out of Paris. He joined the resistance underground while still competing for Vichy. On Nov. 20, 1943, Nakache and his wife and daughter were arrested by the Gestapo, and the family was separated at Auschwitz. Only Alfred survived. He later endured the death march to Buchenwald before liberation.

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Despite these unimaginable losses, Nakache returned to swimming after the war, competing at the 1948 London Olympics. (He, gymnast Agnes Keleti and weightlifter Ben Helfgott are the only known Jewish survivors to have competed in the Olympics after the war.)

Nakache remained a swimmer the rest of his life, and died of a heart attack after a swim in the sea near the Spanish-French border in 1983.

Miailhe, a 70-year-old animator known for her labor-intensive oil and pastel on glass technique, has a personal connection to Nakache’s legacy. As a child, she took swim lessons with his younger brother Bernard and heard stories of his triumphs long before she understood their full historical weight. The end credits explain that her father also knew Alfred, whom he met in the resistance during the war.

“I hope people will be moved by Alfred Nakache’s story and rediscover it, because it’s not well-known in France,” Miailhe said in an interview with Deadline. “Also, we are living in some very troubled times in a world where racism and antisemitism are back.”

Produced by Oscar-winning animator Ron Dyens alongside Luc Camilli for Sacrebleu Productions and XBO Films, Papillon took roughly 100 days to animate — a testament to the craftsmanship that makes every frame an essay on the various qualities of water. The film has earned a César nomination (the French Academy Award) and a nomination at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, and won the International Competition for best animated film at the Grand Prix at Stuttgart.

Amid the horrors of the Holocaust, the animated short also depicts the camaraderie among the athletes who swam — and stood — by Nakache’s side before and after the war.

“Some people denounced the Nakache family [to the Gestapo], but others saved Alfred when he returned from the camps,” Dyen told Deadline. “The whole tragedy of human duality is ultimately reflected in Nakache’s story.”

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(JTA) — Jewish figures on the far right are increasingly expressing concerns about President Donald Trump’s handling of an antisemitism rift among the Republican party, after its instigator Tucker Carlson reportedly visited the White House for the third time in weeks on Monday.

The visit, reported by Punchbowl News journalist Jake Sherman, came days after his combative interview with Trump’s ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, ignited antisemitism allegations and a diplomatic row with Arab leaders.

After the interview Carlson also appeared on Saudi state-owned TV, during which he called Israel’s Gaza war a “land grab” and repeated his past claims that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is “evil and destructive.” Carlson has ties with both Saudi Arabia and Qatar, where he has said he intends to buy property and has hosted high-profile events.

Laura Loomer, a far-right Jewish activist, has staked out a warpath against Carlson’s continued welcome in the Trump administration.

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“It seems like a suicide mission for any Christian or Jew who doesn’t idolize Hitler to keep donating to the GOP,” Loomer tweeted late Monday. In a follow-up, she wrote, “It’s like I woke up one day and 90% of the people I’ve come to know on the right over the last 10 years have morphed into different people.”

Loomer’s explosion of anger and angst is significant because she has boasted of close ties to Trump and has appeared to hold some sway over White House hiring. In the past, when she has targeted administration staffers or potential hires, many have been spiked quickly. Now, as she raises alarms about Carlson and antisemitism on the right, the White House has remained silent.

“It’s shocking that I have to say this, but the GOP has a major identity crisis right now, the GOP has a growing Jew hate and foreign influence problem, and the party seems to be in a struggle session with Neo Nazis who they aren’t explicitly rejecting,” Loomer tweeted. “My advice is for people to not donate at this time till we get clarity from the party on what the party’s position is on these issues.”

Other Jewish figures on the far right, including radio host Mark Levin and pro-Israel activist Sloan Rachmuth, sided with Loomer against Carlson.

“He should be condemned by the White House, not invited to it,” Levin tweeted.

Carlson’s reported White House visit was one of several he has made since increasingly using his show to lean into friendly interviews with conspiracy theorists and white nationalists, including Nick Fuentes. Seen as a bellwether of conservative influence with close ties to Vice President JD Vance, Carlson’s broadsides against Israel and increasing embrace of antisemitic talking points have paralleled a similar rise in such sentiments among younger GOP voters, and caused serious concern among many Jewish conservatives.

Huckabee himself, in damage control following his comments in the interview, has publicly urged the Trump administration to cut ties with his former Fox News colleague.

“I hope they quit letting him into the White House because, quite frankly, this is a person who is doing serious, significant damage to President Trump and to the administration,” the ambassador told the Christian Broadcasting Network, hours before Carlson was spotted at the White House.

At least one other Trump appointee has also spoken out to defend Huckabee and condemn Carlson.

“Am I the ONLY member of the Trump’s [sic] Administration defending AND supporting Ambassador Huckabee?” Leo Terrell, chair of the Trump administration’s antisemitism task force, tweeted Monday.

Following the Huckabee interview, the influential Israeli-American conservative activist Yoram Hazony said Carlson’s earlier visits to the White House had come at the invitation of Trump, who Carlson said was worried that the burgeoning antisemitism rift would drive voters to the Democrats in the midterm elections this fall.

Hazony, whom Carlson mentioned in the video of his Huckabee interview, said Carlson had asked him for help mending fences but that he had come away unconvinced that Carlson wanted to make any changes.

“I explained to him that I can’t do much to help him, because just about every Jew I know believes he’s been waging a savage campaign against Jews, Judaism, and Israel for the past 18 months — and that most think his aim is to drive Jews and Zionist Christians out of the Trump coalition and out of the Republican party,” Hazony wrote on X.

Carlson requested Hazony set up a meeting with Netanyahu, Hazony claimed; he declined to do so. While at first Hazony said he was open to conversing with Carlson in the name of “building coalitions,” he has changed his mind.

“In Tucker’s case, the private person turns out to be exactly who we’ve been seeing in public,” he wrote. “Whatever his motives for turning his podcast into what seems to be a circus of anti-Jewish messaging, right now that project is clearly more important to him than helping the administration keep its coalition together so it can govern effectively and win elections in 2026 and 2028.”

Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, condemned Carlson and praised Huckabee on Monday. He had previously said Carlson should not be invited to the White House.

“Tucker Carlson has a long history of peddling antisemitic conspiracy theories and lies about Jews and the Jewish state,” Greenblatt tweeted. “His recent interviews continue to amplify hate and launder falsehoods. None of this is new. It’s just pathetic. I appreciate Ambassador @GovMikeHuckabee’s effort to engage in good faith and set the record straight. Unfortunately, I’m not surprised at the outcome.”

Some non-Jewish GOP lawmakers have started to join their Jewish colleagues on the right in condemning Carlson, or antisemitism more forcefully.

“I used to respect Tucker Carlson but after watching his interview of @GovMikeHuckabee I am appalled,” Rep. Marlin Stutzman of Indiana wrote on X. “Tucker gave ample platform and time to Nick Fuentes to share his anti-Semitic vitriol, but constantly interrupted, was impatient, disingenuous, argumentative and disrespectful to Huckabee.”

Stutzman added, “Carlson suggesting all ‘Jews’ do a DNA test in order to live in Israel is repulsive and smacks of ignorance regarding the oldest faith practice in the world combined with the worst kind of exclusionary prejudice and elitism.”

In a slightly more coded message, Alabama Sen. Katie Britt tweeted Monday, “We must continue to call out and condemn antisemitism at every turn. Proud to stand with our Jewish brothers and sisters at home and abroad.” Britt did not mention Carlson or Huckabee by name. By contrast, GOP Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, an established foe of Carlson’s who was also on the receiving end of a tough interview over Israel, has retweeted several pro-Huckabee and anti-Carlson posts following the interview.

The Trump administration has not commented publicly on the interview or its backlash. Trump staffers have reportedly been working behind the scenes to assure Arab leaders that Huckabee’s comments during the interview, in which he suggested Israel has a divine right to much of the Middle East, do not represent official administration policy.

The drama has raised a range of issues beyond the antisemitism rift, including the fact that Carlson’s son works for Vance and about Carlson’s relationships with Saudi Arabia and Russia, both of which are promoting interviews on state media about Carlson’s criticism of the Trump administration.

Carlson is keeping up his streak elevating fringe GOP figures amid the controversy, posting a new interview Monday with outsider Iowa gubernatorial candidate Zach Lahn.

“We have a Christian form of government, but we have elected people that are not following that custom and religion in Christianity,” Lahn told Carlson in the interview. “And so you’re going to have a constitutional crisis. You’re going to have fraud all over the place.”

For Loomer, the moment is existential for right wing-Jews. “The GOP has made it very clear over the last few years that Jewish voters on the right are not welcome, we are not appreciated, and we will not be given basic respect,” she tweeted.

“There’s some elected officials in the GOP who would be ok with seeing Jews mass murdered,” Loomer continued, without naming names. “As a lifelong Republican, this is very alarming to me.”

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(JTA) — A documentary about the murder of five Jews in a Polish town is being threatened with a ban in Poland — not because they were killed in the Holocaust, but because they weren’t.

The Jews at the heart of “Among Neighbors,” from California-based filmmaker Yoav Potash, died six months after the end of Nazi occupation. They were among a handful of survivors from Gniewoszów, a town where about 1,500 Jews made up half the population before World War II. When they returned home in 1945, they were killed by their Polish neighbors.

Since premiering at the Warsaw Jewish Film Festival in November 2024, “Among Neighbors” has been screened in six countries and qualified for Academy Award consideration. But its release on TVP, the Polish public broadcaster, has prompted uproar from right-wing politicians and a national investigation.

Potash stumbled into making “Among Neighbors” on a 2014 trip to Gniewoszów, where he planned to document a modest rededication ceremony for the Jewish cemetery. As he began talking with the oldest residents, one woman, who has since died, told him that Jews were killed there well after the war.

“That just really struck me as a very different kind of story, because it was not the Germans doing the killing, it was the Poles,” said Potash. “It was not during the war, it was well after, when it should have been a time of peace.”

When “Among Neighbors” appeared on televisions across Poland in November 2025, it was hit with backlash from the office of Polish President Karol Nawrocki, a right-wing historian who led nationalist efforts to rewrite Poland’s Holocaust history. His Law and Justice party, which governed Poland from 2015 to 2023, promoted historical narratives about Polish victimhood and resistance to the Nazis while delegitimizing research on Polish antisemitism or Poles who killed Jews.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk now leads the Polish government with a centrist coalition, but Nawrocki has been a counterweight to Tusk since he was elected last year.

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Six days after “Among Neighbors” aired on TVP, Agnieszka Jędrzak, a minister in Nawrocki’s office, attacked the broadcaster on X. Calling the documentary “historical anti-Polish manipulation,” she said “a television station that has ‘Polish’ in its name should not be broadcasting it.”

Jędrzak oversees state awards and Polish diaspora relations. Before joining the president’s office, she spent 15 years working at the Institute of National Remembrance — previously headed by Nawrocki — which gained a reputation for advancing nationalist narratives about the Holocaust. According to Jędrzak’s government profile, she led the IPN as it “responded to defamatory statements which damaged the reputation of Poland and the Polish nation.”

A probe into “Among Neighbors” launched after the Ordo Iuris Institute, a far-right Catholic think tank, filed a complaint with the National Broadcasting Council, comparable to the Federal Communications Commission in the United States.

“The narrative presented in the documentary film ‘Among Neighbors’ clearly undermines values ​​important to Poles, such as historical truth,” the institute said in November. “Above all, the film creates a false image of Poles as a nation co-responsible for the German genocide of Jews during World War II. What is particularly outrageous is the fact that the production was released by Polish Television.”

The National Broadcasting Council responded by opening an investigation into the film.

“Among Neighbors” was made over the course of a decade that largely spanned the Law and Justice regime. In 2018, the country passed a law that outlawed accusing Poland or the Polish people of complicity in Nazi crimes. The infraction has since been downgraded from a crime punishable with prison time to a civil offense, but the law remains in effect.

For Potash, reactions to the film from right-wing nationalist officials were “not surprising at all.”

“They have adopted this mindset where there’s an almost sacred sense that Poles during World War II were either victims or heroes,” he said. “Any story that anyone tells that contradicts that, or that adds that some Poles were perpetrators, is anathema to that.”

TVP has stood by the film and continues to air it. The network has been backed by the Jewish Historical Institute of Poland and the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews, whose representatives sent a letter of support to the TVP Program Council’s chair, Barbara Bilińska.

“Among Neighbors” unfolds around a man and a woman who grew up in Gniewoszów. In the last breaths of their lives, they seek to answer questions that have possessed them for 80 years — he as the Jewish child of Holocaust survivors who were killed in their hometown, and she as a Polish eyewitness to the murders.

In a statement, TVP said the reckonings of these two people were neither “anti-Polish” nor “a judgment of the entire Polish nation.”

“We are open to dialogue regarding historical memory and believe that even difficult topics allow society to understand the fuller context of past events,” said TVP. “As a public broadcaster, we have a duty to facilitate such conversation and not shy away from presenting those fragments of history that require reflection and civic courage.”

Beyond Gniewoszów, “Among Neighbors” touches on a wave of murders that struck Jews returning home to cities and towns across Poland after liberation from the Nazis. In the most notorious instance, 42 Jews in the southeastern town of Kielce were killed by a mob of Polish residents, soldiers and police officers in July 1946. The Kielce pogrom convinced many survivors they had no future in Poland, spurring an exodus.

A film dramatizing the Kielce pogrom drew protests from Polish Americans, and the Berlin office of its Jewish producer was destroyed by an arson in 1996, the same year the Polish government formally apologized for the pogrom.

“Among Neighbors” confronts the simultaneous intimacy and violence woven through small towns, where Poles lived and worked with Jews, where their children played with Jewish children, and where some Poles also killed their Jewish neighbors. That complex relationship still rests under the surface of skirmishes over Poland’s history.

Konstanty Gebert, a journalist interviewed in the film, compared the relationship between Poland and its Jews to the phenomenon of phantom limbs — the sensation that a body part remains attached after it has been amputated.

“Poland is still suffering from its Jewish phantom pains, and Jews are suffering from their Polish phantom pains,” said Gebert. “Until those two amputated hands can actually shake — and I don’t know how you do that to amputated limbs — but I know that if you don’t, we’ll be still standing there, swallowing painkillers for a pain that cannot be relieved, because the amputated limb is gone and it still hurts.”Related

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(JTA) — Among the guests expected to attend President Donald Trump’s State of the Union Address Tuesday evening are Hanan Lischinsky, the brother of the Israeli embassy staffer killed last summer, and the Jewish Olympic hockey star brothers Jack and Quinn Hughes.

Trump’s address is expected to tout the accomplishments of his second term in what he has said will be a “long speech” centering on the U.S. economy. In the decades-long history of the State of the Union address, it has become customary for the president and lawmakers to invite guests who have personal ties to prominent political issues.

This week, House Speaker Mike Johnson announced that he had invited several guests to the address including Hanan Lischinsky, the brother of Yaron Lischinsky, the Israeli embassy staffer who was shot and killed outside of the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., last May along with his girlfriend and fellow embassy staffer Sarah Milgrim. (Milgrim was an American, while the Lischinskys are German-Israeli.)

“These two young diplomats of the Israeli Embassy, devoted to the cause of peace and to one another, had their futures stolen in a violent act of antisemitism. Yaron’s brother, Hanan Lischinsky, has shown remarkable courage in shedding light on the extremism that took his brother’s life,” Johnson said in a statement. “I am honored to invite him as my guest for President Trump’s State of the Union address.”

Trump also invited the U.S. men’s hockey team to attend the address during a call with the team shortly after their Sunday win over Canada at the Winter Olympics. The call ignited a backlash when the team laughed as Trump said, “We’re going to have to bring the women’s team,” referring to the U.S. women’s gold medal hockey team, joking that if he did not he “probably would be impeached.” The women’s team later declined the invitation.

Jack Hughes, who scored the game-winning goal on Sunday that earned the U.S. men’s team its first gold medal since 1980, as well as his brother and U.S. teammate Quinn, both welcomed the invitation.

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“We’re so proud to represent the U.S. and when you get the chance to go to White House and meet the President, we’re proud to be Americans and that’s so patriotic,” Jack Hughes told the Daily Mail. “No matter what your views are, we’re super excited to go to the White House tomorrow and be a part of that.”

Florida Jewish Republican Rep. Randy Fine, who drew calls last week from Jewish officials for his censure or resignation after posting on X that “the choice between dogs and Muslims is not a difficult one,” said one of his guests at the State of the Union will be his father’s seeing-eye dog, Sadie.

“Sadie being with us allows my father to live his life, and she has turned into part of our family. Dogs Make America Great. I will fight like hell against anyone who wants to take them away,” wrote Fine in a post on X.

Other prominent Jewish lawmakers have also announced their invitees to the State of the Union, including New York Sen. Chuck Schumer, who is bringing Dani Bensky, a survivor of the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

“I’m proud to bring Dani Bensky, New Yorker and survivor of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse, as my guest to the State of the Union to demand the truth. Dani has turned unimaginable pain into unrelenting advocacy,” wrote Schumer in a post on X. “Survivors deserve justice. Trump must end the cover-up and release the full Epstein files—NOW.”

Sen. Jacky Rosen, a Nevada Jewish Democrat, announced on Monday that she had invited Vania Carter-Strauss, a small business owner and nurse practitioner, as her guest to highlight the impacts of the Trump administration’s cuts to Medicaid and tariffs.

“I’m so grateful to be joined by Vania at the State of the Union to highlight the real impact of these cruel policies, and I will continue to speak out against any actions that raise costs for hardworking Nevadans,” said Rosen in a statement.

Jewish Democratic Illinois Rep. Brad Schneider has also announced his invitation to Rick Woldenberg, the CEO of Learning Resources who was a plaintiff in the Supreme Court case that ended last week in Trump’s tariffs being overturned.

“When harmful policies raise costs and hurt American businesses, patriotic Americans like Rick fight back,” said Schneider in a post on X.

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(JTA) — When an interviewer told him he wouldn’t vote for a candidate who accepts support from AIPAC, California Gov. Gavin Newsom stumbled over his reply.

“It’s interesting,” Newsom said, repeating the phrase multiple times. He distanced himself from the pro-Israel lobbying group, saying it is “not relevant” to his “day-to-day life,” but didn’t comment on whether he would ever accept its support. His critics said he “short-circuited.”

That was back in October. This week, he had a clearer answer.

“Never have and never will,” Newsom said on Sunday, asked whether he would take money from AIPAC.

It wasn’t the first time that Newsom has shown off his record of not taking money from AIPAC, nor from other special interest lobbying groups in industries like tobacco and oil. And that record comes as no surprise: AIPAC has not historically gotten involved in state elections, and Newsom has run only in gubernatorial races since 2018.

But Newsom, who’s widely believed to be running for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028, was offering a clear sign that he is aiming to appeal to a voter base that is increasingly critical of Israel and uses AIPAC support as a litmus test of politicians.

Signs are piling up that support for Israel is a mounting liability for national politicians. Polling shows that support for Israel has plummeted to the single digits among Democrats and has declined on the right, too. An internal investigation by the Democratic National Committee, meanwhile, found that Kamala Harris lost votes in the 2024 election as a result of her stance on Israel’s war in Gaza, Axios reported this week.

Now, moderate Democrats who have records of voting for pro-Israel policies are swearing off AIPAC, signaling just how toxic the pro-Israel group has become in electoral politics.

Newsom was the first sitting mayor of San Francisco to visit Israel when he did so in 2008, according to J. As governor of California since 2019, Newsom’s constituency includes more than 1.2 million Jews, making up more than 16% of the American Jewish population, according to the 2024 American Jewish Year Book.

Newsom visited Israel less than two weeks after Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack, meeting with anguished Israelis as well as senior officials including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

During a wave of pro-Palestinian protests in 2024, Newsom signed legislation requiring public universities to update their codes of conduct and add mandatory anti-discrimination training for students amid a rise in antisemitic incidents on college campuses. He also signed a bill meant to prevent “hate littering,” aimed at limiting the dissemination of flyers with threatening speech.

He said earlier this year that he is “crystal clear in my love for Israel — and my condemnation of Bibi [Netanyahu], and there’s a distinction.”

In a podcast with conservative commentator Ben Shapiro in January, Newsom said “there was a dehumanization” in the way Netanyahu talked about Palestinian people when they met. Newsom said he disagrees with accusations of genocide — an increasingly common accusation among Democratic politicians — and that he was not “granting legitimacy” to them. But he said he understands “the tendency for people to assert” that Israel committed genocide because of its conduct in the war.

Weighted polling data compiled by Race to the WH shows Newsom as the leading Democratic presidential candidate, though some polls have him behind Harris or Pete Buttigieg.

Newsom has taken a unique approach as a major Democratic politician over the past year, hosting right-wing figures such as Shapiro, Charlie Kirk and MAGA firebrand Steve Bannon on his podcast. “We can all be in our own lanes and be in total denial, and that’s a line we can draw, but we’ve got to draw a circle. We have to live together across our differences,” he told NPR on Tuesday, when asked about those podcasts. Newsom, who is currently on a book tour with stops in Tennessee, Georgia and South Carolina, has framed the tour as a way to appeal to voters in red states. Newsom made headlines on the Atlanta leg of his tour this week when he revealed that he “can’t read” his speeches because of his dyslexia.

Newsom’s Israel views have drawn criticism from some progressives, such as Rep. Ro Khanna from California.

“He doesn’t want to offend the AIPAC donors,” Khanna said in January, in response to Newsom not accusing Israel of genocide. “He doesn’t want to offend the donor class. And that explains his position on going to give Netanyahu a blank check right after Oct. 7, on not being willing to ever call out the funding we were giving, and not willing to call out that clearly it was a genocide, and then not willing to challenge the billionaire class on tax policy.”

There is no record of Newsom receiving donations from AIPAC, though a filing from his 2003 run for mayor showed that his campaign gave $500 to AIPAC as a “civic donation.”

His latest comment about AIPAC, which came in an interview with YouTuber Adam Mockler on Newsom’s book tour, did not halt left-wing criticism of Newsom’s Israel-Palestine views.

“Gavin Newsom is a former AIPAC donor,” the X account Track AIPAC, which works to counter the pro-Israel lobby, wrote as the clip was circulating. “He refuses to acknowledge the genocide in Gaza, attempted to crush pro-Palestine protests, and still supports unconditional aid to Israel. He will never be president.”

Track AIPAC’s co-founder, Cory Archibald, said in a follow-up that she took Newsom’s comment as a victory.

“I would also like us to take a collective moment to appreciate what a feat it is that Gavin Newsom feels he has to come out, in February 2026, to state that he rejects AIPAC,” Archibald wrote.

She added: “We will make AIPAC money the defining issue of the 2028 race. Watch.”

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On South Seventh Street in downtown Lafayette, Indiana, a Star of David still crowns a synagogue built in 1867. In the mid-19th century, this congregation became an early laboratory of the Reform movement — and, historians say, the site of the first known egalitarian minyan in America.

Over the decades, it would serve as a proving ground for rabbis who went on to shape American Judaism. One of them, Julian Morgenstern, later rose to lead Hebrew Union College and helped secure visas for several Jewish scholars fleeing Nazi persecution — including Abraham Joshua Heschel.

The congregation moved to a new building in 1969. Since then, the old structure has housed churches, the Red Cross and other nonprofits. Now the building is for sale.

And a group of local Jews is trying to buy it back before it’s sold to someone else.

They have raised $9,751. They need $290,149 more.

A sacred space

The campaign is being shepherded by Robyn Soloveitchik and Tanya Volansky. Both felt something when they stepped inside the old sanctuary last year during a tour.

“With the building being for sale, it is a giant question mark,” said Volansky, a medical massage therapist. “It would be wonderful not only to bring it back into the Jewish community. We want to guarantee it will be there for future generations.”

Soloveitchik, who works in auto manufacturing, looked up at the stained glass and wondered how it had survived. The sanctuary still dominates the upper floor. A wooden wall now covers the original ark.

The building is listed for $299,900.

Ahavas Achim was founded in 1849 in Lafayette, Indiana. It moved into this building in 1867. It moved out in 1969. Photo by Chris Volansky-Wirth

If someone else buys it — a developer, a church, an investor — there’s not much they can do to change the facade. Exterior changes, including alterations to the stained glass windows, must be approved by the Lafayette Historic Commission. But the building’s landmark status does not control who owns it or how the interior is used. Its future purpose would be up to whoever signs the deed.

So the two women and a few others formed a nonprofit, the Ahavas Achim Cultural Center, and began making calls. They built a website. They launched a crowdfunding campaign. They reached out to preservationists and descendants of Lafayette’s early Jewish families.

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They are not trying to reopen the sanctuary as a full-time synagogue. Lafayette already has two: Temple Israel, which is Reform, and a small Conservative congregation, Sons of Abraham. It also has a Chabad and Hillel connected to Purdue University. Roughly 1,500 Jews, including students, live in the Greater Lafayette area.

Instead, they imagine something else: a place for adult education classes, film screenings and community events — a visible reminder that Jews have been part of Lafayette’s civic fabric since before the Civil War.

A rich history

Ahavas Achim was founded in 1849, when Lafayette was still a bustling river town along the Wabash. Many of its Jewish families had arrived by way of the Erie Canal, joining the westward stream of peddlers and merchants pushing into the American interior. Many were from Bavaria, accustomed to life as minorities in small European towns. In Indiana, they found familiar rhythms: small communities, German-speaking neighbors and space to build. Lafayette later became a major railroad hub on the way to St. Louis and Chicago.

In 1867, the congregation moved into its home on South Seventh Street. Local newspaper coverage of the dedication spilled across two columns on the front page — speeches transcribed, dignitaries listed, the building described in loving detail — as if the city itself understood that something lasting had been built.

The sanctuary of the original Ahavas Achim synagogue in Lafayette, Indiana. The building dates to 1867. Courtesy of Sean Lutes

More than 150 years later, the structure is now considered one of roughly a dozen or so 19th-century synagogue buildings still standing in the United States. That history, said Michael Brown of the Indiana Jewish Historical Society, is what moves people. “They see how rare it is,” he said. “It’s pretty important.”

In 1919, the congregation updated its constitution and adopted a new name: Temple Israel. And in 1969, as members increasingly lived across the river in West Lafayette, it relocated — this time to a new building closer to the university community.

Temple Israel never disappeared. It simply moved.

A minor league for Reform heavyweights

In the early 20th century, Lafayette’s temple functioned as something like a minor league franchise for Reform Judaism.

Rabbi Julian Morgenstern served here from 1904 to 1907 before becoming president of Hebrew Union College. From that perch, he watched European scholarship with mounting frustration. As Jewish academics fled rising antisemitism in the 1930s, many gravitated toward the more traditional Jewish Theological Seminary.

“That enraged him,” said Brown.

Morgenstern compiled a list of promising European scholars he believed Reform must recruit. He worked with the State Department to help secure visas for several rabbis and thinkers fleeing Nazi persecution. One of them was Abraham Joshua Heschel.

In the United States, Heschel would later encounter another Indiana rabbi, Abraham Cronbach, who was one of the people who introduced him to the idea that a rabbi could be a public activist as well as a scholar.

Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, second from left, and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., center, take part in a Vietnam War protest at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Arlington Cemetery, Feb. 6, 1968. Rabbi Maurice Eisendrath holds the Torah. Photo by Charles Del Vecchio/The Washington Post via Getty Images

Morgenstern was not the only future luminary to pass through Lafayette’s pulpit.

Nathan Krass later served for decades at New York City’s Temple Emanu-El, one of the country’s most prominent Reform congregations. Morris Feurlicht, who stood up to the Ku Klux Klan during the 1920s in its Indiana stronghold, once stood here. Bernard J. Bamberger, a prolific Bible translator, would become president of the Central Conference of American Rabbis. Joshua L. Liebman — whose bestseller Peace of Mind reshaped how rabbis approached counseling — also served in Lafayette before rising to national prominence.

Lafayette’s Jewish footprint extended beyond the sanctuary. The city was also the birthplace of Academy Award-winning director Sydney Pollack and home to Jewish merchants and civic leaders who helped shape the town’s commercial and cultural life.

A fragile model

Wendy Soltz, a history professor at Ball State University who led the federally funded Indiana Synagogue Mapping Project, has documented 66 purpose-built synagogues across the state dating back as far as 1865. Of those, 24 have already been demolished — including nine of Indiana’s original 19th-century synagogues.

The Lafayette building, she said, “has statewide and national significance.”

But she also offered a caution.

Across Indiana, she has seen former synagogues converted into small museums — projects that begin with enthusiasm but struggle to sustain long-term interest.

“You get that initial wave of visitors,” she said. “But then it really dramatically trickles off.”

The sanctuary in the building as it looks today in Lafayette, Indiana. Courtesy of Tanya Volansky

Where adaptive reuse has worked, she said, is when buildings function as active community centers rather than static exhibits. In Terre Haute, a former synagogue now operates as the Wabash Activity Center, hosting senior programs and public events. In Evansville, a community center incorporates the surviving tower of a burned synagogue into its campus — even using it in the organization’s logo.

“If it’s just a museum, it likely won’t work,” Soltz said of the Lafayette project. “But if there are aspects serving the community, that has proven staying power.”

With Indiana synagogues, not every rescue looks the same. Sometimes preservation takes surprising forms.

When a new baseball stadium was built in 2012 in South Bend, the team owner had to figure out what to do with a 1901 Romanesque Revival–style synagogue on the property that was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The team spent $1 million restoring the building. It’s now where the gift shop is located. A mural on the wall of what’s now known as the Ballpark Synagogue riffs on the Sistine Chapel, depicting God passing a baseball to Adam along with words “Play Ball.”

An Orthodox synagogue building dating to 1901 has been restored and is now a gift shop at a minor league ballpark in South Bend, Indiana. It is known as the Ballpark Synagogue and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Photo by Wendy Soltz/Indiana Synagogue Mapping Project Continuing a legacy

In 2024, during Temple Israel’s 175th anniversary, Rabbi Adam Bellows led congregants back into the old sanctuary for a commemorative tour.

“One of the highlights of my rabbinical career,” he said, was reciting the Shehecheyanu blessing there. Standing in the space, he felt connected “to all the past congregants and past rabbis and past prayer leaders.”

Bellows, the current rabbi of Temple Israel, is not formally involved in the buyback effort. But he supports it.

“I don’t think it’s counterproductive,” he said, even though his synagogue has room for events. He envisions the building as a monument to the long Jewish legacy in the region — a place for education and community gathering, even if regular worship remains across town.

“It’s a little bit of an underdog story,” he said. “But I believe in miracles.”

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The post Indiana Jews race to reclaim a synagogue that shaped the Reform movement appeared first on The Forward.

Tucker Carlson sat across from United States Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee at Israel’s Ben-Gurion Airport and delivered a version of an argument that demagogues have recycled for centuries.

“Our country is not thriving,” Carlson said, “and we’re spending tens and tens of billions of dollars over time defending Israel.” His implication was clear: that same money could be spent fixing things at home. Why are we sending around $3.8 billion a year to a country with universal healthcare when many Americans can’t afford a dentist?

It’s a powerful line. But here’s the math Carlson doesn’t want you to do. The federal government spends roughly $7 trillion a year. We send more than $3.8 billion in annual military aid to Israel; that represents 0.054% of the budget. That’s approximately five cents out of every hundred dollars. The government spends the equivalent of the entire Israel aid package every five hours.

“Fine,” you might say, “but $3.8 billion is still a lot of money.” It is. But if that’s your standard, why single out this line item? After all, the government made $162 billion in improper payments last year — money sent to the wrong people, in the wrong amounts, by accident. That’s 42 times the annual aid to Israel.

If Carlson cared about fiscal responsibility, he’d be screaming about accidental overpayments, not a line item that rounds to zero. But he’s not. Because the money was never the point.

I say this not as a defender of any particular aid package. It’s legitimate for Americans to debate the merits of the U.S. sending military aid to Israel. I say this as an economist who has spent a career watching this exact rhetorical trick be deployed across the political spectrum, by politicians and pundits who know better.

What Carlson is doing is creating what’s known as a false dilemma: presenting two options as if they’re the only possibilities. Either we fund Israel’s military, or we fix our own pressing domestic problems. Pick one.

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It sounds intuitive because it maps onto how households think. Each of us is used to making these daily calculations. If, say, I spend $100 going out to dinner, I can’t spend that money on groceries that would keep me fed for much longer.

But a government with a $7 trillion annual budget is not a household. We can easily conceive of how much money $100 is, and how far it will stretch. Almost none of us can readily do the same for $7 trillion.

That vast, vast sum funds thousands of programs simultaneously because it has to. Governments work in “stereo”: They have to fund defense, education, healthcare, foreign policy, disaster relief and food safety, all at once, all the time. And that’s just a fraction of the list.

The idea that we must choose between sending aid to an ally and fixing potholes in Ohio is designed to make you feel like someone is stealing from you. And it works.

Carlson knows that he’s deceiving his audience. He understands that cutting Israel aid to zero would not build a single hospital or hire a single teacher. Instead, it would most likely be redistributed within the State Department’s foreign operations budget, or shave a vanishingly miniscule amount off the huge and ever-growing U.S. budget deficit. Not exactly a game-changer for American healthcare.

He makes the argument anyway, because zero-sum thinking is one of the most powerful instincts in politics.

A recent study by some of my economics colleagues surveyed more than 20,000 Americans and found that people who see the world in zero-sum terms —where one group’s gain must come at another’s loss — are drawn to populist positions across the spectrum. On the left, they favor more economic redistribution; on the right, more immigration restrictions. The cognitive instinct is the same; only the target changes.

Both sides shamelessly overuse this tactic. Sen. Bernie Sanders, for instance, regularly plays it from the left — also, occasionally, regarding Israel. “We need health care for all Americans, not weapons for a war criminal,” he wrote on X this month, in response to a U.S. sale of arms to Israel.

Back in 2016, pro-Brexit campaigners plastered a red bus with the claim that Britain sent 350 million pounds a week to the European Union, money that should go to the National Health Service instead. The number was inflated, the trade-off was false, and Nigel Farage admitted as much the morning after the vote. But it worked: Vote Leave’s own campaign director later conceded that without the NHS claim, Remain would likely have won.

In Venezuela, Hugo Chavez built an entire movement on the premise that oil revenue spent on anything other than social programs was revenue stolen from the poor. He redirected billions from reinvestment in oil production toward social spending, starving the industry that drove the nation’s economy. When oil prices dropped, the productive economy collapsed. The social programs collapsed with it.

The honest version of Carlson’s argument — “I think military aid to Israel is not a good use of American resources, and here’s why” — could be a perfectly legitimate position. We can debate the strategic value of that aid and its humanitarian implications, as well as the proper allocation of the foreign aid budget. But by singling out this one-line item and building an entire narrative around it, Carlson is not making a fiscal argument. He’s constructing a villain. When your obsession with government overreach zeroes in on the half of a tenth of one percent of a $7 trillion budget that goes to Israel, the argument isn’t really about the budget anymore.

“Can you feel the resentment?” Carlson asked Huckabee. “Because it’s real.” He’s right that the resentment is real. Americans are frustrated about healthcare costs, stagnant wages and crumbling infrastructure. Those frustrations deserve serious engagement.

What they don’t deserve is to be exploited. The false dilemma of us or them is shameless manipulation driven by resentment — Carlson’s word — if not something far worse.

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The post What Tucker Carlson won’t tell you about U.S. military aid to Israel appeared first on The Forward.

(JTA) — When he’s not working at the local dog care and boarding center, 24-year-old Raffi Stein-Klotz is usually playing kickball or tending to the garden at his residential facility in Boca Raton.

But once a week, Stein-Klotz can be found in an adult Jewish learning class series created specifically for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, like him and his housemates at JARC, the Jewish Association for Residential Care.

“We learn the book of Genesis,” Stein-Klotz, the son of two rabbis, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. “And we get to know how everything is in Hebrew and English, and every morning we say ‘boker or,’ ‘boker tov,’” referring to the Hebrew expressions for “good morning.”

Stein-Klotz’s class is possible thanks to a new curriculum from Melton, the adult Jewish education network that offers in-person and online classes. The program, called What’s Mine is Yours, aims to provide Jewish academic resources for adults with disabilities, who advocates say have few if any options for formal Jewish education tailored to their needs.

“There’s really not a lot specifically designed for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to have a continued adult learning experience,” said Carol Morris, Jewish disabilities advocates coordinator at Jewish Family Service of Colorado. “That doesn’t mean that there aren’t some educational programs that they could attend or be part of, but not really anything designed specifically for them as adults to do higher-level Jewish learning.”

The curriculum was developed in partnership with Matan, an organization that educates Jewish community leaders on how best to include people with disabilities. After a successful precursor curriculum with Melton took off in Atlanta in 2021, What’s Mine is Yours began piloting the Melton and Matan curriculum in 2023. Four cities are offering the curriculum for the first time this year.

The rollout comes as the Jewish world has otherwise made significant strides in some aspects of disability inclusion in recent years. (February is Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance and Inclusion Month, a global Jewish organizational initiative.)

“One of the things that’s so important here is the Jewish world, to a great extent, has embraced the importance of inclusion, the importance of adding ramps where there are stairs to get into the synagogue, to get up to the bimah in the front, they’ve thought about the ways to include people with disabilities,” said Morey Schwartz, international director of Melton.

But, he added, “Inclusion can’t just be about ramps. It has to be about giving them inspiration, education, engaging, thought-provoking materials that can give them also the ability to participate fully to the extent that they can to the enterprise of Jewish learning. It can’t be like some watered-down version of something else. That’s not what we’re doing.”

What’s Mine is Yours includes units about prayer, holidays, Shabbat and rituals that are structured to be accessible for adults with intellectual disabilities without giving up on the core elements of advanced Jewish learning: open-ended questions, engagement with original texts and group discussions. Lesson plans ask students to relate the ideas they encounter to their own lives, and materials include prominent visual markers to enable students who might have trouble accessing text-based materials to follow along.

The pilot class in Atlanta, in 2021, was supported by a local Jewish disability support network. “Then we got feedback: We should take this over, nationalize it, scale it up,” Schwartz said.

The result is a customizable system that can be used wherever Melton classes are held, such as synagogues, JCCs and Jewish federations — or in residential facilities, day programs, specialty organizations, adult camp programs, community centers and educational networks. It’s in use in nine cities, mostly in the United States but also in Cape Town, South Africa.

Each module in the curriculum is three lessons, but can be stretched over more classes if teachers prefer. The first collection of four adapted modules has been completed, and another 12 are still in process.

Subject matter includes the meaning and purpose of prayer; the Exodus story; the miracles of Hanukkah and Purim; symbols in Judaism; and marriage, divorce, and conversion in Judaism.

“There are suggestions made, and everyone can kind of enter at a different point of where their knowledge is,” said Judy Snowbell Diamond, director of curricular development at Melton. “In addition to the course book, there’s a faculty guide, which gives the faculty some suggestions as to how to modify it depending on the learners.”

At JARC in Boca Raton, teacher Harvey Leven’s class recently completed the “Sacred Cycles” module, where students learned about Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. During a recent class, which JTA viewed by Zoom, six students, roughly mid-30s and older, sat around a conference table. (The rest of the class was on a field trip to Orlando.)

In his class, Leven reviewed relevant terms with students like “atonement,” “repentance” and “self-denial.”

Leven also played a three-minute video where a narrator, speaking quickly, recapped the basics of the holiday. Before playing any video, Leven tells his students a few of the things they might see, and a few things to look out for.

“Some people participate a lot, and some never say a word,” said Leven.

Stein-Klotz said he counts himself as one of those quieter students.

“For me, it’s hard, because I have autism, and it takes my brain a little bit to get it,” he said.

Leven has worked in Jewish education for more than 20 years, teaching both children and adults. But teaching the Melton curriculum marks the first time he has adapted his teaching specifically for students with special needs.

“Sometimes, like today, the vocabulary in the material often needs translating for these students,” Leven said. “And so you have to spend some time helping the students to understand what exactly is being said there.”

It can be difficult to measure how much information is getting through to his students, Leven said.

“We don’t do tests,” he said. “Today, one or two barely said anything. So I’m hoping that something sinks in.”

Over the past two years of teaching from the What’s Mine is Yours curriculum, Leven has had a number of returning students. Having worked with them in the past, he is already familiar with their learning styles and with their personalities, which has been helpful in the classroom.

“Every one of those students has particular idiosyncrasies that I had to learn and to be able to work with in order to make this class meaningful and fun for them, enjoyable for them,” Leven said.

But he said he had identified challenges in executing the curriculum. Leven said he avoids the suggested physical activities, for example, because many of his students have limited mobility, and the space and shape of his classroom is not conducive to much movement.

And though the program seeks to be accessible to all, in practice, it doesn’t work for every person’s needs.

Alissa Korn is the mother of two adult daughters, including 27-year-old Jillian, who has intellectual disabilities and mental health challenges. After learning about the success of the adapted curriculum in Atlanta, Korn was inspired to introduce the What’s Mine is Yours curriculum to Jillian’s adult living facility in New Haven, Connecticut.

“My daughter, it wasn’t great for her, because she really learns best in a one-on-one setting,” Korn admitted. “And with adults raising their hands and talking over each other, it was very challenging for her.”

Still, Korn finds value in the program, and her family continues to support it at her daughter’s living facility.

“It doesn’t necessarily need to be the perfect match for my daughter,” Korn said. “It just makes me feel good to be involved in anything in the special needs world, where we can feel like we’re empowering people and making them feel good about themselves.”

Erica Baruch, Jewish disabilities advocates adviser at Jewish Family Service of Colorado, said just offering the program takes the burden off families like Korn’s.

“Oftentimes families don’t ask for things because they make the assumption that it wouldn’t be possible or it would be a burden on the community,” she said. “Learning is such a big piece of Jewish life.”

Stein-Klotz is exactly the kind of student Melton is trying to reach. He fondly recalls marking his bar mitzvah at 13, when his godfather, who is also a rabbi, taught him his Torah portion — the story of Noah and the ark. He recalls having fun, learning about the animals and getting to sing songs.

“It was great, because I had people helping me, and I remembered everything,” he recalled of his bar mitzvah. “Learning it was hard for me, and I didn’t want to do it, but I took my time and learned well, and I still remember it, and I’m still Jewish throughout this day.”

Now, he is able to play a helping role in his Melton course, which he said has been a great way to get to know his neighbors from JARC and from the garden.

“It’s great to see them in the Melton class and learn what their disability is and what their strong skills and what their weaknesses are,” Stein-Klotz said. “So that’s a good thing, so I help them with that, if I can.”

Stein-Klotz said he even helps some of his classmates who are new to Judaism or interested in converting one day.

“They make me feel happy and good and strong,” he added. “Like I’m helping people, or like a good mitzvah.”

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(JTA) — An Australian man is facing hate crime charges after he allegedly rammed his truck into a historic synagogue in Brisbane, in an attack that has spurred calls for increased security from the synagogue’s rabbi.

Matthew De Campo, 32, of Sunnybank, was arrested on Friday after he allegedly backed his pickup truck into the Brisbane Synagogue in Queensland, Australia, narrowly missing a person as he struck its gates. He has been charged with willful damage, serious vilification or hate crime, dangerous driving and possession of a dangerous drug.

The ramming comes two months after gunmen opened fire on a Hanukkah celebration in Sydney, killing 15 and injuring dozens more. Last month, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the launch of a Royal Commission inquiry, the country’s highest level of inquiry, which is slated to hold its first public hearing on Tuesday.

In the wake of the attack, the Australian government also tightened gun ownership laws and introduced legislation to curb hate speech, efforts that have been echoed by Queensland Premier David Crisafulli, who earlier this month introduced a package of legislation to combat antisemitism.

“This is another signal as to why we have to put strong laws before parliament to protect all people where they worship,” wrote Crisafulli in a post on X following the attack.

Libby Burke, the vice president of the Queensland Jewish Board of Deputies, said that the local Jewish community had been “deeply distressed” by the incident, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

“A synagogue is a sacred place, a place of prayer, reflection, and community,” said Burke. “To see its gates viciously rammed is profoundly devastating and is not dissimilar to what we have seen throughout the globe, vehicles used as weapons to kill and harm Jews.”

North Brisbane District acting Superintendent Michael Hogan said that police did not consider the ramming a “terrorist act,” though he added that it was “definitely a targeted attack against the Jewish synagogue.”

During an appearance Saturday before the Brisbane Magistrates Court, De Campo, who represented himself, claimed that he “did not do any hate crime or anything like that” and said that he was a “man of good faith,” according to The Courier Mail.

“Last night was a bit of a brain snap and I believe there is something more sinister going on behind the scenes,” De Campo said.

Rabbi Levi Jaffe of the Brisbane Synagogue told The Australian that the attack had “shaken” his community, which had concluded Shabbat services shortly before the ramming.

“Friday night’s ramming of a synagogue, when prayers usually take place, seems to me like a pretty direct attack on a Jewish institution,” said Jaffe. “Lives could have been lost.”

Jaffe said that it was important that the “authorities come down strong on this kind of behavior,” adding that it had underscored the need for boosted security.

“Sadly, we need a lot of security because of these kind of events,” Jaffe said. “There needs to be more police presence around the synagogue, and there needs to be, sadly, armed guards.”

Rabbi Levi Wolff of the Central Synagogue in Sydney told The Australian that the attack had sent a “chilling message that even sacred spaces are not safe.”

“At a time of catastrophic antisemitism, as we saw at Bondi, this inevitably deepens fear and insecurity,” said Wolff. “People must know they can prayer, gather, and live openly without intimidation. Ultimately, the real question is whether there are strong, visible consequences for these crimes.”

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A recent study of American Jews’ attitudes toward Israel has provoked much confusion in the Jewish establishment: Only 37% of Jews said they identified as Zionists, according to the data, but 88% said that “Israel has the right to exist as a Jewish, democratic state.”

Which, of course, is the standard definition of Zionism.

What’s going on? Responding to the study, Mimi Kravetz of the Jewish Federations of North America, which commissioned it, noted that large numbers of respondents conflated Zionism with “supporting the policies, decisions, and actions of the Israeli government.” Thus, Kravetz wrote, the 51% of Jews who do not identify as Zionists but support Israel’s right to exist:

are not rejecting Israel’s existence or the idea of a Jewish state. They are reacting to an understanding of Zionism that includes policies, ideologies, and actions that they oppose, and do not want to be associated with.

I agree with Kravetz’s analysis, but propose that we should take it a step further. Because the issue isn’t one survey. Americans, Jewish and otherwise, have been talking past one another about Zionism for years, and the ‘standard definition of Zionism’ hasn’t reflected reality for decades. And maybe those 51% of Jews are right.

Instead of Kravetz’s framing of “correct vs. incorrect understanding of Zionism,” it might be fruitful to see this as the difference between Zionism in principle and Zionism in practice.

Zionism in principle is what Nathan Birnbaum meant when he coined the term in 1890: the movement to establish a Jewish state (details TBD) in the historic land of Israel. That sounds fairly unobjectionable. There are states for French people, Ugandan people, Vietnamese people — so why not a state for Jewish people?

But Zionism in practice has turned out to be something altogether different. For at least 80 years, it has involved the dispossession of another population that calls the territory home, the second-class citizenship held by non-Jews in the Jewish state (which shows up in countless specific legal contexts), and, ultimately, various forms of discrimination, dehumanization and violence. Contrary to the way some on the Left use the word, Zionism is not only these things, but it has, historically, involved all of them.

I was raised to believe that all this was not intrinsic to Zionism, but was the unfortunate result of Arab rejectionism and terrorism, plus a few bad right-wing-nationalist apples in the Israeli population. I was educated in a pre-internet world by Jewish educators who presented a very partial view of Israeli/Palestinian history. I never learned this history from a Palestinian point of view. I never learned about the Nakba. I believed that terrorists hijacked airplanes because they hated Jews.

This understanding was always woefully incomplete and incorrect, but even as a young adult, it still made some sense to me. I was living in Israel when Rabin and Arafat shook hands on the White House lawn. I saw Rabin himself speak many times. I met with Israeli and Palestinian peace workers who believed, sincerely, that coexistence was finally at hand. Finally, the real Zionist dream would be realized.

Then Rabin was assassinated. And for most of the subsequent 30 years, Israelis elected right-wing and far-right governments. Settlements have swallowed large swaths of the West Bank. And for anyone under 30, this period of Israeli history is all they have ever known.

What is “Zionism” supposed to mean to that person? The dream of Herzl or the reality of Sharon, Netanyahu and Ben Gvir?

I’m not saying that this is a full depiction of recent history. It wasn’t only Bibi expanding settlements; it was Hamas blowing up buses and Yasser Arafat letting peace slip through his fingers at Camp David. I’m only saying that the “Zionism” that a Gen Z or young Millennial American has known for their entire life is totally different from the Zionism that I learned about in Jewish day school or saw in my own younger years.

So who is right about what Zionism really means? Those of us who cling to the classical definition in spite of its remoteness from reality, or those who define Zionism as it has actually been put into practice in the decades of Netanyahu’s rule?

Personally, I still cling to that dream, even if it is a delusion. And obviously, I am not alone. Organizations like J Street, the New Israel Fund, Truah, and many others still believe that Zionism can mean, or should mean, a Jewish and actually-democratic state alongside a Palestinian one. What’s left of the Israeli Left does too. Even Bono managed to issue a nuanced statement on Israel/Palestine accompanying U2’s surprise new release, which includes both a Yehuda Amichai poem and a song dedicated to peace activist Awdah Hathaleen.

But many of my close friends do not. And many intellectuals including Avraham Burg, Peter Beinart, and Shaul Magid have demonstrated that the dream was never reality; that it could not ever have been reality; that Zionism was ethno-nationalism from the beginning and thus inevitably leads to a politics of domination. In this view, the war crimes in Gaza aren’t an aberration from Zionism, but its inevitable expression.

I admit, I find it increasingly hard to disagree with this dim view of Jewish nationalism, especially as Israeli Jews keep voting for the Right.

Of course, I understand that many are not selecting an ideology so much as trying to keep their families safe from unrelenting violence. One can hardly blame a population for voting for security rather than peace when they are subjected to constant rocket fire from Gaza, Lebanon, Iran and Yemen. Nor do I embrace the hyperbolic exaggerations of some on the hard left, which often slide into antisemitism.

But sometimes I wonder if I’m just clinging to a nostalgic, diaspora-tinted image of what a Jewish state could be. Where I could go to the symphony at the Jerusalem Theater and eat gourmet kosher food in the German Colony. Where I could sit in my favorite field and imagine ancient pasts. Where the patterns of my religious and cultural life were embedded in the society itself.

Maybe, like the nationalists further to my right, I am so besotted by these emotions that I am unable to see the reality of what Zionism really entails, particularly for those on the wrong end of its hierarchies. I would submit that many of us who maintain the classical definition of Zionism in principle, rather than adopt the historical one of Zionism in practice, may be similarly swayed by emotion.

At the end of the day, I despise right-wing ethno-nationalism (in the United States as well as in Israel) and its consequences, most recently the ethnic cleansing proposed for Gaza and the state-sanctioned pogroms underway in the West Bank. I feel ambivalent when I hear the Hatikva. But ultimately, there are 7.5 million Jewish people living between the river and the sea, and the large majority of them will not surrender their sovereignty. Neither will the 9.5 million Palestinians living in the same territory. Ultimately, there will still, one day, have to be some division of the land — if not this decade, then in the next one.

If this is Zionism, it is a Pragmatic Zionism, born of exhaustion. I have no utopian visions to offer, no dreams. What I yearn for is what Yehuda Amichai describes in Wildpeace, the poem that U2 just set to music:

Not the peace of a cease-fire
not even the vision of the wolf and the lamb, but rather
as in the heart when the excitement is over
and you can talk only about a great weariness.

 

The post We are talking past one another on Zionism appeared first on The Forward.

This is a revised version of the original article in Yiddish which you can read here.

Di Tsukunft (The Future)
A book of short stories in Yiddish
by Shiri Shapira
Leyvik House, 2025

You may not have heard about Shiri Shapira yet but you may do so soon. She’s one of the few young Israeli writers who are choosing to write in Yiddish, the language of her East European ancestors. A collection of her short stories was recently published by the Tel Aviv publishing house, Leyvik House, with the support of Israel’s National Authority for Yiddish Culture.

Like the author herself, the protagonists in her new collection of short stories and autobiographical pieces, Di Tsukunft (The Future), are average Israeli men and women with everyday worries about their livelihood, families and health problems. But beneath their daily routine lies a latent personal experience that waits for a critical moment to be revealed. When that moment arrives, the characters often enter a new phase of life.

Shiri Shapira’s collection of stories, Di Tsukunft” (The Future) Courtesy of Leyvik House

For the 13-year-old heroine of the opening story, also titled “The Future,”  this happens in 2001. The terror attacks of 9/11 in New York City coincide with the onslaught of terror in her own town:

“The changes to daily life were immense. A seemingly endless series of discussion circles was held in memory of a victim from our school that I hadn’t known. Every morning I’d have to look at his smiling, pimpled face staring out from the enlarged photo that had been hung by the school gate.”

Thus 2001 ushered in the “terror attacks of the future […] up to the very skies, shining, silvery.” They became an indispensable part of the ‘new normal’ — for Shapira, the State of Israel and the entire world.

The word “future” is both the title of the book, and the name of the first and last stories in the collection. The term is key to Shapira’s work: for the author and her characters alike, the future is dangerous and uncertain.

Notably, “The Future” is also the name of one of the most important Yiddish literary periodicals, Di Tsukunft, published in New York from 1892-2010. In one of the more autobiographical pieces in the collection, also titled “Future”, Shapira writes about cataloging articles of Di Tsukunft for the Index to Yiddish Periodicals at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. The concluding story “Future” highlights Shapira’s turning to Yiddish, which comes to loom so large in her life.

Shapira shares how she’d initially hoped to read the issues of Di Tsukunft and “learn everything about Jewish history.” Instead, she found herself reading the Israeli press, with its news of terror attacks in Israel, day after day, during the 2015-2016 wave of violence known as the “Intifada of the Individuals.” Israeli reality cancelled out the beautiful, visionary future of those long-ago Yiddish socialists: “What’s there to say about the future? The future’s a thing of the past.”

Shapira recalls: “As a child, I had the impression that I’d come too late for the past, and that someone whose past was shut off to them was of little use for the future.” Shapira references here a national oblivion around the “past”: Israeli society’s longtime neglect of Yiddish and Eastern European Jewish culture.

This neglect, however, served only to awaken her own interest in Yiddish. Historical inquiries and philosophical questions such as this one are woven skillfully into the narrative fabric of her stories.

Shapira’s characters live in Israel and speak Hebrew. Most of them don’t know Yiddish. Shapira herself is a Hebrew writer who has translated a significant number of works from German into Hebrew.

Sometimes Shapira’s tone is bitterly ironic, especially on the subject of the writer’s bleak lot in today’s society. The protagonist of “Self-Portrait as a Hebrew Writer” fantasizes about her ideal reader:

“He comes to an event celebrating my first book, my debut. […] He sits there, looking ridiculously handsome, listening to me babble about the difficult, wrenching labor of writing this text. When the musicians finish their part, he applauds energetically.”

The man reads her book twice and, as she comments ironically, “sees deep into her soul.” Their encounter takes them to the bedroom: “As he climaxes, he lets out a sweet sigh, a melody of contentment — like an enthused, eloquent review.”

So what role does Yiddish play here? Her stories suggest an answer.

In “Earthquake,” an elderly couple, Benny and Dalia, survive an earthquake in Jerusalem. Their modern apartment is unharmed, but many buildings in Shuafat, a Palestinian refugee camp in East Jerusalem, are destroyed, and around 700 people are killed. The couple’s Arab cleaning lady goes missing, and no one knows what happened to her.

For the couple, life goes on as usual. They quickly forget the cleaning lady, especially because they never even knew how to pronounce her name. Jews and Arabs make their home in the same town, but they live in completely different worlds.

Every night, Benny and Dalia eat dinner and nap a bit while watching a TV show. Something new does enter their routine; they sign up for a Yiddish class. Though they barely remember any of the Yiddish their parents once spoke, they hope they’ll “at least learn something before the next earthquake comes.”

The earthquake acts as a metaphor for the dramatic and tragic events that take place in Israel. These misfortunes cut through the monotony of the everyday, but soon enough life goes on as before. In such moments, Yiddish makes its appearance as a sort of phantom of Jewish history from which one might “at least learn something” before the next crisis hits.

Shapira remembers a feeling that used to disturb her as a child: “I was really young, and I thought that everyone besides me knew what to do in every situation, that they were grounded in their lives, while I was the only one floating in the air, not knowing where to land safely.” Yiddish, on the other hand, creates a kind of spiritual shelter, a ‘refuge’ where historical roots can be found.

Shiri Shapira has a keen sense of time in general and of the present moment in particular. In her stories, time flows naturally for months on end, then suddenly brings on changes in the lives of individuals and of society at large. Every day has the potential for danger. Written in Yiddish, Shapira’s stories build imaginary bridges between the troubling present and the past that has nearly disappeared from Israeli memory.

To buy the book, click here.

 

The post Millennial anxieties are the ‘new normal’ in these Yiddish stories appeared first on The Forward.

At Jewish funerals, the final act is often the simplest: The casket is lowered into the earth, mourners take turns with a shovel, and the grave slowly fills. It is a moment many rabbis describe as the essence of burial — the point at which ritual, grief and physical reality meet.

At a cemetery in Scottsdale, Arizona, that moment now does not happen.

A new safety policy at Paradise Memorial Gardens requires families to leave before a casket is lowered into the ground. Cemetery officials say the rule, which applies to all funerals, is necessary to prevent accidents, likely involving uneven ground, heavy equipment and mourners overcome with grief. But Jewish clergy say the policy interferes with a core religious ritual, and one local rabbi is preparing a lawsuit.

For Cindy Carpenter, 66, the dispute became painfully personal.

Her younger daughter, Chelsea, died at 33 of cancer in November. As Carpenter arranged the funeral, she and her husband purchased five burial plots at Paradise — for their two daughters, themselves and Chelsea’s husband — expecting the family would be buried together and according to Jewish practice. In total, the plots cost about $50,000, Carpenter said.

Eleven weeks later, Carpenter returned to the same cemetery to bury her older daughter, Cortney, who had significant disabilities and died at 40 after a long illness. Between the first funeral and the second, Carpenter said, the cemetery moved from compromise to refusal.

At Chelsea’s funeral, after intervention from local rabbis, mourners say they were allowed to stay but were placed around 20 feet away behind a rope while the casket was lowered. It was an imperfect accommodation Carpenter said she accepted. She understood the attempt to balance safety and tradition.

When Cortney died at the end of January, Carpenter said, that accommodation was gone. The standardized printed contract for the graveside service had added to it an additional handwritten note at the bottom stating that the casket would not be lowered until the “family has departed.” Carpenter said she was told that they had to leave the property altogether and that her request to stay inside a building at the cemetery and watch from a window was denied. Carpenter and her husband, Jim, signed under protest because the funeral was the next day.

Cindy added her own handwritten note: “I object to this awful policy,” while Jim wrote: “I acknowledge your policy & strongly object to the policy.”

The bottom of the contract for the funeral of Cortney Carpenter includes handwritten notes from her parents and the cemetery. Courtesy of Cindy Carpenter

“We’re grieving parents for the second time in 11 weeks,” Carpenter said in an interview. “And you’re telling me I can’t stay to see my daughter buried?”

Rabbi Pinchas Allouche of Scottsdale’s Congregation Beth Tefillah, who officiated at the funerals for both of Carpenter’s daughters, confirmed that everyone who came for Cortney’s funeral was told they could not wait in their cars and had to leave the property. “It was horrible,” Allouche said.

Afterwards, Allouche sent his 24-year-old son back into the cemetery — dressed in a baseball cap and sunglasses — to pretend to be a random person visiting a nearby grave. “From there,” Allouche said, his son “took a video of the lowering of the casket and the covering of the grave for the family to have some slice of comfort in all this.”

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Cemetery officials say the rule is not aimed at any one faith. Sabrina Messinger-Acevedo, CEO and owner of Messinger Mortuaries, which operates Paradise Memorial Gardens, said the cemetery is non-denominational and that its safety policies are applied uniformly. She acknowledged the new policy does “not fully align with certain religious traditions,” but said it was adopted after past incidents in which attendees failed to follow staff directions, creating safety concerns.

Messinger Mortuaries operates multiple funeral homes, cemeteries and crematories across Arizona, including Paradise Memorial Gardens, which has a large Jewish section.

Cortney’s funeral was Feb. 3, but the dispute did not gain attention until it was reported by the local news on Feb. 16. Carpenter said the delay was due to the nonstop coverage of the Tucson disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the mother of Today show host Savannah Guthrie.

Eddie Dressler, a funeral director who has served Atlanta’s Jewish community since the 1990s, said he has never encountered a cemetery policy requiring families to leave before the lowering of a casket. “Having a rule like that is just crazy,” Dressler said.

The only similar restrictions he has seen are at some U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs cemeteries, which open multiple graves at once for logistical reasons — but even there, he said, exceptions are typically made for Jewish burial practices.

Safety and spirituality

Allouche said the rule removes what Jewish law considers the defining moment of burial. The lowering of the casket and the covering of the grave, he said, are not symbolic gestures but the final act of care for the dead — one traditionally performed with mourners present and often participating.

Allouche said he is working with an attorney and expects to challenge the policy, arguing that families who purchased plots in the cemetery did so with the expectation they would be able to bury loved ones according to Jewish practice. Applying the rule without exception, he said, effectively prevents that.

Rabbi Randy Brown, the resident rabbi at Arlington National Cemetery who has officiated at more than 900 funerals there, said safety concerns at gravesides are real. He has personally helped prevent people from falling in “dozens of times.”

But Brown said most cemeteries do not impose blanket bans. Instead, clergy, funeral directors and grounds crews typically coordinate accommodations, such as keeping families at a distance during the lowering and allowing them to return afterward to place earth on the grave, a practice that preserves both safety and ritual meaning.

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• They met at synagogue in 1961. They were buried together at Arlington National Cemetery in 2025. This is their story.

Graveside funerals, he said, function both as sacred ritual and, with bulldozer equipment nearby, active work sites. Arlington, he added, approaches each burial individually — considering weather, terrain and family needs — rather than applying a single policy to every service.

Brown described the moment when earth strikes the casket as emotionally powerful for many mourners, recalling his own experience at his grandmother’s funeral as “visceral and cosmic.” That meaning, he said, is why cemeteries and clergy typically seek practical compromises. “It’s not one size fits all,” he said.

Religious disputes have surfaced elsewhere. In Atlanta in 2023, for example, a synagogue threatened to sue after a cemetery policy was seen by rabbis as interfering with Jewish burial customs. The cemetery eventually settled.

Allouche said he expects legal action to move forward. Some families who own plots at the cemetery have begun reconsidering their plans, he said, while others are waiting to see whether the cemetery revises its rules or reaches a compromise with community leaders.

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• What I learned about life from preparing the dead
• Opinion: California Jews, enough with your green, grassy Jewish cemeteries

Messinger-Acevedo said her company — founded in 1959 by her grandparents, Paul and Cora Messinger — has “deep roots in the community” and a commitment to serve families with “care and compassion.” She said they offer “partial refunds to families who choose to rescind the purchase of an unused burial space” — a complex decision for those with relatives already buried at the cemetery.

Carpenter said the dispute is not something she wanted to fight, but one she felt compelled to pursue. Nearly two decades ago, she founded Cortney’s Place, a day program for adults with disabilities created in her older daughter’s honor, and is now working with local clergy to create “Shabbat boxes” for Jewish patients in hospitals — small packages with challah, candles and grape juice inspired by Chelsea.

“I fought for them all of their life,” Carpenter said. “And this is no different.”

Left to right: Jim Carpenter, Cindy Carpenter, Chelsea Carpenter Mitchell, and her husband, Andrew Mitchell; Cortney Carpenter is in front. The photo is from the May 2021 wedding of Chelsea and Andrew in Turks and Caicos. At right, the sisters on a 2015 boat trip. Courtesy of Cindy Carpenter Related

• Why Jews bury books like they bury the dead
• Why are Jews buried in a plain pine coffin?

The post An Arizona cemetery now requires mourners to leave before burial. A rabbi plans to sue. appeared first on The Forward.

(JTA) — Vanderbilt University has launched an inquiry into a mathematics lecturer whose classroom exercise about Palestinian territory drew criticism from the activist group StopAntisemitism.

Tekin Karadağ, a senior lecturer at the university’s department of mathematics, drew the ire of the antisemitism watchdog after it obtained a slide from one of his lectures that used a pro-Palestinian protest slogan and suggested that Israel was shrinking the Palestinian territory.

“Assume Palestine as a state with a rectangular land shape. There is the Mediterranean Sea on the west and the Jordan River on the east,” read the slide. “From the river to the sea, Palestine (…) was approximately 100 km. in 1946. The land decreases by 250 sq. km per year, due to the occupation by Israel. How fast is the width of the land decreasing now?”

Karadǎg, a Turkish national who received his PhD from Texas A&M University in 2021, included the question under “examples related to the popular issues” in a survey of calculus class, according to StopAntisemitism, which wrote in a post on X that Karadǎg was “bringing his anti-Israel, antisemitic bias into his classroom.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/DVCRjMnjlGP/

In a statement shared with the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Vanderbilt said that the content had been removed and that an inquiry had been launched into Karadağ.

“The university has received reports alleging a member of the faculty engaged in unprofessional conduct related to content shared during course instruction,” the school said. “The content in question has been removed, and a formal inquiry has been initiated consistent with relevant university policy.”

Vanderbilt Hillel welcomed the university’s actions in a statement shared with the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, writing that they were “confident that the University will take appropriate action.”

“The teaching of calculus — or any subject — is not an opportunity for an instructor to inculcate the class with their personal biases and politics; that is both commonsense and the policy of the University,” the statement read. “We are glad that the Administration moved quickly to remove this question and launch a formal investigation.”

In recent years, rhetoric about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on college campuses has grown increasingly fraught, with professors’ commentary on the region sparking heavy scrutiny and, at times, disciplinary measures when their universities have determined that they exceeded the bounds of academic freedom. A recent report by Columbia University’s antisemitism task force found that students frequently experienced pro-Palestinian advocacy in classes entirely unrelated to the Middle East — such as dance or math classes.

The inquiry was not the first time that Vanderbilt took swift action against the expression of pro-Palestinian sentiments on its campus.

In March 2024, the university, which has roughly 1,100 Jewish undergraduate students, was among the first universities to expel students who participated in pro-Palestinian demonstrations. Last year, the school’s antisemitism “grade” from the Anti-Defamation League was bumped up from a “C” to an “A.”

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(JTA) — British actor Hugh Laurie pushed back against being labeled as a “Zionist” after facing a wave of online criticism for posting a tribute to the Israeli producer of the hit television show “Tehran.”

“Dana Eden, who co-created and produced ‘Tehran’, died on Sunday, seemingly by her own hand,” Laurie, who played a nuclear inspector in the show’s third season, tweeted last week. “It’s a terrible thing. She was brilliant, and funny, and an exceptional leader. Love and condolences to all who knew her.”

The seemingly innocuous post eulogizing Eden, 52, who was found dead while filming the latest season of the hit Apple TV+ series in Athens last week, quickly drew a volley of backlash on social media.

“She was part of the occupation force’s propaganda arm,” wrote one user in response to Laurie’s post. “What a shame, didn’t expect you to be a closet Zionist.” Another wrote that Eden “creates propaganda for Israel so that they can kill kids more effectively. People should have no sympathy for her.”

The award-winning series, which follows a young Israeli Mossad agent in Iran, was produced by the Israeli public broadcaster Kan and purchased by Apple TV+ in 2020 for roughly $20 million. Eden’s death, for which no cause has been announced, occurred during production of the show’s fourth season, which had already stalled following Oct. 7.

Laurie is not the first actor to spurn the “Zionist” label, as entertainers in recent years have increasingly faced pressure to declare their views on Israel. In December, Jewish actress Odessa A’zion pushed back on claims she was a Zionist after an image of her wearing an IDF shirt as a teenager circulated online.

On Friday, Laurie, who previously starred in the Emmy Award-winning medical drama “House,” shot back at the criticism.

“Nothing I have ever said or done could lead a sane person to believe that I am a Zionist,” wrote Laurie in a post on X. “However.  If someone exults in the death of a friend of mine, yes I will block them.  If you wouldn’t do the same in my position, you can f—ck off too.”

Laurie’s subsequent post also drew outcry, but this time from pro-Israel influencers who lamented the actor’s disavowal of the Zionist label, calling him “weak” and a “pathetic weasel” in the replies.

Freelance journalist Angela Epstein replied to Laurie’s post, writing, “Not Hugh Laurie as well. I thought he was one of the decent ones….”

“God almighty, why does no one understand English any more?” wrote Laurie in response to Epstein’s critique. “I have not spoken or written a word that would indicate pro or anti Zionism. That’s what those words mean. Blimey.”

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(JTA) — An anti-Zionist group in Germany has drawn condemnation after it announced plans for a protest against the Buchenwald concentration camp memorial in response to a ban on pro-Palestinian symbols at the site.

The group Kufiyas in Buchenwald claims that the memorial has become a place of “historical revisionism and genocide denial.” It announced a demonstration for April 11, the anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration camp.

“Instead of honoring the persecuted and resolutely opposing every genocide, the memorial spreads Israeli propaganda and provides the ideological ammunition for the ongoing genocide in Palestine,” the group says on its website.

Buchenwald, one of the first concentration camps built by the Nazis and one of the largest in the country, was the site of the murder of roughly 56,000 male prisoners, including 11,000 Jews, from 1937 to 1945.

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Last year, a German court ruled that the concentration camp had a right to refuse entry to visitors who wear a keffiyeh, a traditional Palestinian headscarf that has been adopted by pro-Palestinian protesters. The ruling stemmed from a lawsuit by a woman who attempted to wear the scarf to an event commemorating the concentration camp’s liberation.

The woman, who was only identified by her first name, Anna, posted a testimony about her actions on the Kufiyas in Buchenwald Instagram page in which she said she was inspired by the resistance of Buchenwald prisoners.

“Our fundamental principle is this: criticism of the Israeli government’s policies, settlement policy, or actions in the Gaza Strip is legitimate,” said the Buchenwald Foundation’s director Jens-Christian Wagner in a statement outlining the memorial’s protocols. “However, it becomes antisemitic when used to relativize the Holocaust and discredit its victims as perpetrators. We will not tolerate this at the Buchenwald Memorial.”

The campaign against the memorial has been signed onto by a host of pro-Palestinian groups, including the International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network and the German group Jewish Voice for a Just Peace in the Middle East, which has defended the protest on X as evidence of what “commemorating past German crimes has to do with rejecting current ones.”

In a post on Instagram announcing the protest earlier this month, the Kufiyas in Buchenwald group wrote that it would hold a “public protest” in Weimar, the German city located nearby the concentration camp. The group also said it planned to host lectures and a “tour that vividly illustrates the events in the former concentration camp.”

It was unclear whether the protest is intended to take place outside the memorial itself. Kufiyas in Buchenwald did not immediately respond to an inquiry from the Jewish Telegraphic Agency about the location of the protest.

The protest quickly drew condemnation from German leaders, including the country’s antisemitism czar Felix Klein, who told the Swiss outlet Neue Zürcher Zeitung that the protest marked a “new low point in the unfortunately all-too-common reversal of perpetrator and victim roles.”

Michael Panse, the commissioner for combatting antisemitism for the German state Thuringia, where Weimar is located, told the outlet that the protest was “tasteless and historically ignorant.”

The protests also drew condemnation from the European Jewish Congress, which wrote in a post on X that the demonstration represents a “deeply troubling instrumentalization of Holocaust remembrance.”

“Holocaust memorial sites are places of solemn reflection and respect for the victims of National Socialism,” the post continued. “They must never be exploited to promote agendas that deny Israel’s legitimacy or glorify those who perpetrate violence against Jews.”

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(JTA) — Instead of practicing with her a capella group or preparing to lead Shabbat services, University of Maryland senior Tekoa Sultan-Reisler spent her Friday afternoon testifying about campus antisemitism in front of the United States Commission on Civil Rights.

She shared that she had witnessed antisemitism at her school, and heard about it from other students in J Street U, the college division of the liberal pro-Israel lobby that she leads. But she was also very clear on another point: She did not want Jewish college students’ pain to be used for a political agenda.

“Jewish students do not want to be used as a pretext to justify this divisive and xenophobic action of the administration,” Sultan-Reisler said in her testimony. “Instead, protecting students’ right of free speech and expression would allow all students to feel safe on campus, regardless of faith or ethnicity.”

Sultan-Reisler and other students who testified similarly criticized the Trump administration’s decision to defund universities that did not comply with its terms for addressing antisemitism. They took the stand on Friday on the second day of a two-part hearing called by the civil rights commission in an independent investigation — the first — into how the federal government has responded to campus antisemitism.

The commission, which has the power to issue subpoenas, is appointed by Congress and the president and currently has a narrow Democratic majority. A bipartisan group of representatives requested the antisemitism investigation in 2024.

Friday’s session followed several tense exchanges on Thursday as commission members pressed those testifying — including representatives of antisemitism watchdogs StandWithUs and the Brandeis Center — on whether the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights should have its full funding back, and the costs and benefits of different government agencies’ own civil rights offices. They also made partisan jabs, with many accusing either the Biden or Trump administration of failing to protect Jewish students.

Craig Trainor, former acting assistant secretary for civil rights at the U.S. Department of Education, criticized the Biden administration for its slow pace in resolving antisemitism discrimination complaints at universities.

“The Biden Education Department’s Offices for Civil Rights’ policy agenda was deeply unserious and counterproductive and its response to the antisemitic harassment and violence consuming America’s college campuses was weak and ineffective,” Trainor said.

Kevin Rachlin, vice president for government relations and Washington director of the The Nexus Project, meanwhile, lambasted the Trump administration’s attempt to shrink the Office of Civil Rights.

“By closing those offices, by removing those personnel, by reducing those resources you have effectively hobbled the very organization that is dedicated to protecting not just Jewish students but all students,” Rachlin said.

Like her peers who testified over the past two days, Sultan-Reisler recounted specific incidents of antisemitic intimidation. She recalled that in November 2023, the words “Holocaust 2.0” were written in chalk on the campus sidewalk, and during an on-campus demonstration, a student waved the flag of Hezbollah, a designated terrorist organization. But said she didn’t think the Trump administration’s response to allegations of campus antisemitism had made her safer.

Among the other students testifying was Harvard University’s Tova Kaplan, who was one of 10 students to pen an op-ed last year arguing that Trump’s response to antisemitism had harmed research and academic freedom without helping Jewish students.

Others who testified, including many non-students and older adults, said they thought the Biden administration had been too reserved in tackling campus antisemitism and praised the Trump administration’s heavier-handed tactics.

“Despite the elimination of encampments and other results of the threat to withhold federal funding from schools which failed to protect Jewish students, the underlying hatred which gave rise to the encampments is alive and well and could explode again at any time,” said Leonard Gold, a retired attorney and the executive producer of “Blind Spot,” a documentary about campus antisemitism after Oct. 7.

Since 2025, the Trump administration has canceled billions of dollars in HHS research grants for universities like Columbia, Harvard, and Princeton in an effort to coerce universities to comply with demands like making hiring, admissions, and course material changes. Harvard University defended its handling of campus antisemitism and decided to reject those demands.

The commission is accepting written testimonials until March 20. The commission’s report is expected by the end of the 2026 fiscal year.

The final report could feature more information from within federal agencies. In one tense exchange, Mondaire Jones, a Democrat and former congressman from New York who is one of the investigation’s chairs, asked Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Greg Dolin why the justice department had not yet handed over documents the commission requested.

“You have a statutory obligation to comply,” Jones said. “That is very clear under federal law.”

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(JTA) — KYIV, Ukraine — Viktoria Maksimovich’s students at the Sha’alavim Jewish Day School no longer run for shelters when air raid sirens sound.

“They don’t want to hear the alarms. They don’t care about the shots and bombs. They don’t care about it. This is the biggest problem right now, as they won’t look for a shelter,” she said in a virtual interview from her school in Kharkiv, Ukraine. “It’s like usual life for them, and a lot of them grew up like this during the war and don’t remember normal life.”

Indeed, the Russian invasion, which marks its fourth anniversary on Tuesday, has reshaped everything in the lives of Ukrainian Jews, from big choices about whether to stay or flee to the seemingly mundane decision about whether to take the elevator or the stairs when visiting high-rise buildings.

With Russian strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure a near-daily occurrence, taking the elevator means risking being trapped for hours if the power goes out. Recognizing that the dilemma has trapped elderly Jews in their homes, Maksimovich and her colleagues recently organized a service day for their students, who baked challahs and hiked up many flights of stairs to deliver them to Kharkiv’s elderly Jews.

“They managed it and were so happy about it because they met those old people and saw in their eyes, ‘You are here and brought us challahs and candles for Shabbat,’” Maksimovich recalled. “It was amazing.”

The fourth anniversary of the Russian invasion arrives in grim fashion for Ukrainians, with the Russian and Ukrainian armies locked in a bloody stalemate and support from the United States and Europe increasingly uncertain. Ukrainian cities are regularly barraged with drones and missiles, not only exacting a devastating tally of civilian deaths and injuries but making it increasingly challenging for Ukrainian civilians to carry out the basic functioning of their lives.

The last four months have been particularly challenging due to power and water cuts that have left Ukrainians frigid and in the dark. Whereas during the first three years of war, especially in the metropolitan center of Kyiv, life went on largely as normal, albeit punctuated by attacks. Now, mobile “resilience hubs” offering warming and charging dot the landscape, and the sound of generators is overpowering.

For Ukraine’s Jews, the situation means that children are gathering in bomb shelters to light Shabbat candles, the elderly rely on intermittent aid deliveries, and everyone is hunkered down for the worst winter since the war began.

“When the full-scale invasion began, I did not think it would last two weeks, but here we are,” said Julia Goldenberg, founder of the Ukrainian Charitable Funds and partner of World Jewish Relief. “And I still do not think the war will be over even this year.”

Before the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, according to the Institute for Jewish Policy Research, there was a core Jewish population of 40,000 living in Ukraine. Since then, however, thousands have fled to Israel and Europe, reshaping hubs of Jewish life in the country. Now, with conditions worsening, even far from the front lines, Goldenberg expects even more to leave.

Many will be seeking security for their children, whose schooling and experiences have been peppered with trauma and interruption since even before the war. In-person schools had only resumed after a yearlong COVID closure for a semester before war broke out.

“Parents tell us of children who can’t sleep at night, children who react to all kinds of different sounds. It’s challenging to work with them,” said Rabbi Irina Gritsevskaya, who is based in Tel Aviv and travels to Ukraine regularly to lead Masorti Kyiv, one of the country’s only Conservative congregations.

Jewish schools have borne a wide range of effects. Ariel Markovitch, director of the JCC in Kyiv, recounted how a Russian missile struck the Perlina school and kindergarten in Kyiv in October 2024, where refugees fleeing fighting on the front lines in Ukraine’s east had been sleeping.

Inna Federova, 55, the head of Ukraine’s oldest Jewish day school, Lyceum No. 299 or Orach Chaim, said missiles were only one challenge of many.

“It fractured our community,” she said about the war. “I am a Jewish mother first, and I wanted to be there for the kids, but I couldn’t be once they were scattered all over Europe.”

At least one of the school’s alumni, Igor Tish, was gravely injured while fighting on the frontline, while the Israeli teachers who taught Hebrew and other subjects have not returned since being evacuated in the days before the Russian invasion. Instruction is more rudimentary now, Federova said.

“We have a physical education teacher who does exercises with the children in the shelter, because it’s very hard for them to sit still for so long without moving,” she said, adding: “They’ve lived through bombings, evacuations, constant anxiety. Our teachers received special training from psychologists, including Israeli specialists, on how to support children emotionally during wartime.”

Other support for Jews in Ukraine has come from the Joint Distribution Committee, which leads disaster response for Jewish communities living in conflict zones around the world ; Chabad, the global Jewish network whose emissaries are at the front line of Jewish life in many smaller communities; and Goldenberg’s group, which works to preserve Jewish life and welfare in Ukraine.

Sustained by a network of global donors, the Ukrainian Charitable Funds has helped elderly Jewish Ukrainians repair their homes after Russian airstrikes. Goldenberg recalled one woman she worked with: “She had no windows. She lost all of them in a Russian strike, but did not have the funds to fix them.”

While the advent of war in Israel in 2023 spurred concerns about whether Jewish donors would continue to send support to Ukraine, Gritsevskaya said aid from both inside and outside had made a difference.

“I think in the Jewish community, there is a huge sense of being hugged,” she said, adding, “Ukraine is an amazing example of the ability of Jews to unite and to help others in unbelievable situations. In general, I think that people who are connected to Jewish communities are more capable of going through the difficult things they go through because they have the wider Jewish world.”

Even as she gears up for a potential war in Israel, Gritsevskaya is planning on heading back to Ukraine this summer for another session of Ramah Ukraine, a camp that has already filled with Ukrainian Jewish teens eager for a respite from the challenges of war.

“I would rather not think of the fears I have,” she said. “They are so overwhelming, we have to focus on what must be done.”

Federova, too, said she continues to focus on the positives as she and her students start a fifth year of war.

“We have children from different backgrounds, some from observant families, some who are just discovering their roots, and the school gives them that connection,” Federova said about Orach Chaim. “Even during the hardest times when the alarms go off and when we don’t know what will happen tomorrow, I look at them and think ‘if we can give them knowledge and faith, then we have done something important.”

This reporting was supported by the International Women’s Media Foundation’s Women on the Ground: Reporting from Ukraine’s Unseen Frontlines Initiative in partnership with the Howard G. Buffett Foundation.

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How Israel’s War Economy Defied Economic Predictions  Jacobin

Economic growth eases in the fourth quarter of 2025  FocusEconomics

The Blogs: Israel’s Economic Crossroads: UAE or France?  The Times of Israel

An Israel visit — its strategic, economic, regional impact  The Hindu

Breakingviews - Israel’s economy faces an uncertain truce dividend  Reuters

Israel’s Zombie Economy (Part 2): The Counter-Revolution of the Israeli Arms Industry  Jadaliyya

OECD sees Israel economy rebound following Gaza ceasefire, but warns of risks  The Times of Israel

IMF: Israel's economy expected to strengthen following Gaza truce, but regional conflicts a concern  The Times of Israel

The $15 billion windfall: How 2025 quietly made thousands of Israeli tech workers rich  CTech

How the War with Hamas Has Impacted the Israeli Economy  American Jewish Committee (AJC)

New study proposes major shift in US-Israel strategic partnership approach  Fox News

After two years of war, defense tech buoys Israel’s economic recovery  The Times of Israel

Iran’s missile threat is a warning for Israel: ex‑IAF head  The Jerusalem Post

From taboo to boom: Inside Israel’s new defense tech gold rush  CTech

Technion ranked top AI university in Europe and Israel  The Jerusalem Post

India bets on AI, resilience tech for strategic autonomy  The Jerusalem Post

Israeli military tech start-ups cash in on two years of war  The Washington Post

Modi Comes to the Knesset: The Pipeline Washington Isn’t Watching  The Times of Israel

Battered By Gaza War, Israel's Tech Sector In Recovery Mode  Barron's

Battered by Gaza war, Israel's tech sector in recovery mode  The Japan Times

Israel’s arms sales are surging. So why are its weapons expos smaller than ever?  +972 Magazine

Israel Tech Week Miami Returns With Expanded Global Platform, Confirmed Sponsors and Nine Technology Verticals  Business Wire

Israel’s Economy Has Problems, but It’s Not Collapsing Yet  Jacobin

Battered by Gaza war, Israel's tech sector in recovery mode  The Killeen Daily Herald

Battered by Gaza war, Israel's tech sector in recovery mode  The Anniston Star

Battered by Gaza war, Israel's tech sector in recovery mode  Caledonian Record

War rewrote the rules and now the world studies Israel’s AI-driven battlefield playbook  Ynetnews

Israel’s high-tech miracle meets a budget reckoning  CTech

As Modi visits, Israel-India defense cooperation deepens  The Jerusalem Post

Nvidia acquires Israeli AI startup Illumex for $60 million  CTech

Defence, tech, trade: What’s the agenda of PM Modi’s Israel visit?  Firstpost

Spain exempts Airbus from Israeli tech ban  Reuters

China, Israel continue to collaborate in science and tech despite unrest in Gaza  South China Morning Post

Israel's tech sector says more staff seek relocation abroad-report  Reuters

Israel to invest in more AI infrastructure  BICOM - Britain Israel Communications and Research Centre

PM Modi in Israel Live: Narendra Modi set for two-day Israel tour, visit to boost defense and tech partnershi  India.Com

“This is now the start of the Kennedy era for the Israeli tech ecosystem”  CTech

Tech Giant David Siegel’s Relocation to Israel Opens Many Doors to Others  The Media Line

After record year, some in Israeli tech fear its future won’t be in Israel  The Times of Israel

Decoding the Israeli miracle: Can startup DNA be replicated?  CTech

Israeli security cabinet meets amid rising tensions over possible US strike on Iran  Anadolu Ajansı

Drones smuggling weapons, drugs from Egypt pose serious risk to Israeli security  The Jerusalem Post

Israel Targeting Hezbollah Ahead of Possible Clash Over Iran Strike, Security Sources Say  Haaretz

Israel installed security at Epstein’s Manhattan apartment for ex-PM Barak  Al Jazeera

Israel to seek new security deal with the US, FT reports  Reuters

Netanyahu: No Gaza rebuild before Hamas disarms, Israel will keep ‘security control’ over Gaza  The Times of Israel

Israel’s security cabinet approves measures to strengthen control over the West Bank  Associated Press News

The Israeli Government Installed and Maintained Security System at Epstein Apartment  Drop Site News

Israel Can't Hide Behind an Iran War to Avoid a Strategy in Lebanon and Syria  Haaretz

Israel warns of a Ramadan escalation — while doing everything to provoke one  +972 Magazine

Why 2026 Is the Year Israel Finally Stopped Fearing Ramadan  Middle East Forum

Living hell: Israel’s prison system as an instrument of oppression  Peoples Dispatch

A dozen US F-22 warplanes land in Israel amid regional tensions  chinadailyasia.com

Israel’s Strategic Consensus on Iran — and Its Risks  Stimson Center

New study proposes major shift in US-Israel strategic partnership approach  Fox News

Israeli security cabinet approves rules to increase control over West Bank  Al Jazeera

The world is not against us  The Times of Israel

‘Recognize Israel’: Epstein Pressed Qatar as Israel Stays Central in Files  Palestine Chronicle

The multibillion-dollar arms deals driving Modi's visit to Israel  Haaretz

Kashmir, spying, demolitions: How Modi’s India embraced ‘Israel model’  Al Jazeera

Israel Bans Five Jerusalem-based Palestinian Media Platforms Amid Crackdown  Haaretz

Police Arrest Dozens of Bedouin Israelis on Suspicion of Weapons Trafficking  Haaretz

Against the law, Ben-Gvir uses the police to promote political propaganda  Haaretz

Court Overturns Israeli Officer's Conviction for Palestinian Journalist Attack  Haaretz

What Is Netanyahu’s ‘Hexagon Alliance’? Israel’s New Security Bloc That Puts India at the Centre of West Asia’s Changing Power Map  The Sunday Guardian

Israel Backs Reza Pahlavi to Rule Iran. That's a Dangerous Gamble  Haaretz

Israel's security cabinet to huddle on Sunday, expected to discuss looming Iran-US tensions  Firstpost

Various foreign ministers condemn Israel’s West Bank measures as unlawful expansion  The Jerusalem Post

Israel moves towards controversial death penalty revival  DW.com

Fighting the 'Jesus Was a Palestinian Lie': Inside Israel's MAGA Influence Campaigns  Haaretz

Modi’s Israel visit is about capability - opinion  The Jerusalem Post

Missiles, drones, Iron Beam: Modi’s visit puts India-Israel defense ties in high gear  CTech

As Modi visits, Israel-India defense cooperation deepens  The Jerusalem Post

Israel's Defense Establishment Raises Alert Level Ahead of Possible U.S. Strike on Iran - Israel News  Haaretz

Israel Is Ready for Any Iran Scenario, as Long as It's Not an Agreement  Haaretz

Inside the Gaza tunnels that Israel says must be destroyed before reconstruction can begin  NBC News

IDF chief’s new Haredi adviser gets promotion  The Times of Israel

What I told Israeli lawmakers about reviving regional integration  Atlantic Council

Analysis: Israeli strikes against Hamas in Lebanon signal a sustained strategy  Long War Journal

IDF responds to car-ramming attempt at southern Jerusalem checkpoint  JNS.org

Israel’s Strategic Consensus on Iran — and Its Risks  Stimson Center

Israeli Analysis Affirms Gaza Health Ministry’s Official Palestinian Death Count  Common Dreams

New study proposes major shift in US-Israel strategic partnership approach  WFIN

Israeli operations in Lebanon against Hezbollah: February 16–22, 2026  Foundation for Defense of Democracies

From taboo to boom: Inside Israel’s new defense tech gold rush  CTech

‘Total disorder’: Comptroller accuses government, IDF of ‘systemic failure’ in post-Oct. 7 evacuations  The Times of Israel

Israel honors missing fallen soldiers at annual Mout Herzl ceremony  JNS.org

Iran’s missile threat is a warning for Israel: ex‑IAF head  The Jerusalem Post

IDF launches multi-day counter-terrorism op in southern Samaria  JNS.org

Israel said to warn Lebanon it’ll be hit hard if Hezbollah takes part in any US-Iran war  The Times of Israel

Unprecedented achievement – Elbit Systems makes historic strides in submarine technology  The Jerusalem Post

IDF Faces Record Complaints In 2025: Racism, Unsafe Orders, And Harassment  i24NEWS

Israel’s arms sales are surging. So why are its weapons expos smaller than ever?  +972 Magazine

Lockheed Martin to integrate AI, combat targeting into F-35  The Jerusalem Post

Ministry Of Defense Requests Billions In Extra Funds Ahead Of Possible Iran Confrontation  i24NEWS

Ex-IDF cyber commanders launch Astelia, secure $25 million Series A to combat AI-era threats  CTech

After two years of war, defense tech buoys Israel’s economic recovery  The Times of Israel

IDF examining claims it's employing Haredi draft dodgers to clean kitchens ahead of Passover  The Times of Israel

Reasserting The 1967 Framework: Unity In Defense Of International Law – OpEd  Eurasia Review

Israel strikes Hamas in Lebanon, Palestinian terrorists violate Gaza ceasefire 14 times from February 5 to 20, IDF says  Foundation for Defense of Democracies

Modi’s upcoming visit expected to take Israel-India relations ‘to a new, strategic level,’ Israeli ambassador says  Jewish Insider

Ahead of Thursday talks, Iranian FM says nuclear deal 'within reach' if 'diplomacy is given priority'  The Times of Israel

Can India-Israel ties create solid defense partnership?  The Jerusalem Post

Israel Must Exhaust Diplomacy Before Joining a War With Iran  Haaretz

Feb. 24: Iranian FM says nuclear deal with US ‘within reach’ if ‘diplomacy is given priority’  The Times of Israel

Benjamin Netanyahu, Isaac Herzog meet UN ambassadors delegation  The Jerusalem Post

Ex-IAF chief: Iranian regime ‘finished its career,’ diplomacy still in play  The Times of Israel

Shalom, Achi: PM Modi’s Visit and the Strategic Logic Binding India and Israel  The Times of Israel

Modi's visit expected to strengthen Israel-India ties  The Jerusalem Post

Between Tel Aviv And The Arab World: India’s Diplomatic Tightrope – OpEd  Eurasia Review

High-stakes diplomacy in U.S.-Iran standoff  GIS Reports

Trump prefers diplomacy, but willing to use 'lethal force' against Iran if necessary - White House spox  The Times of Israel

Israeli-Palestinian Conflict | Global Conflict Tracker  Council on Foreign Relations

Iran Signals It Seeks a Resolution, But Is Also Prepared for War  Middle East Council on Global Affairs

Taiwan’s Diplomatic Bridge: Taiwan-Somaliland-Israel vs China in the Horn of Africa  Taiwan Insight

What's behind Israel's 'special relationship' with India?  Middle East Eye

The media fight over Israel that signals a bigger Iran showdown  JNS.org

India Under Modi Chooses Israel (Without Saying So)  The Wire India

Reasserting The 1967 Framework: Unity In Defense Of International Law – OpEd  Eurasia Review

The world is not against us  The Times of Israel

Somaliland president to make first official Israel visit - exclusive  The Jerusalem Post

The Blogs: Tel Aviv as a Diplomatic Signal  The Times of Israel

Modi’s visit shows India is central to Israel’s strategic doctrine - opinion  The Jerusalem Post

US, Iran to hold talks Thursday as Tehran claims ‘good chance’ of diplomatic solution  The Times of Israel

Hamas Rejects Netanyahu's Call For A Regional Alliance With Arab States  i24NEWS

'We miss the bigger picture': Meet the diplomat who greets the world on Israel's behalf  The Jerusalem Post

Prospects for Syria-Israel Relations  The Washington Institute

The Long History of Israeli Involvement in Kenya’s Internal Repression  The Wire India

India and Israel: trade, defense and diplomacy  Arab News PK

"Greater Israel" rhetoric is the key to peace  Israel National News

Israeli elections: Can Naftali Bennett topple Benjamin Netanyahu?  The Jerusalem Post

In an election year, Netanyahu tries rewriting Israel’s Oct. 7 narrative  The Christian Science Monitor

Can this year’s elections reverse the decline in women’s representation in Israel?  The Israel Democracy Institute

Election Year in Israel: Portents of the Coming Political Battle  Arab Center Washington DC

Let Lebanon Debate Peace  Foundation for Defense of Democracies

Netanyahu leans on Trump ties as Israel heads toward elections  CNN

DNC finding: Biden’s Israel backing cost Harris votes for president  The Forward

Israeli elections 2026: Meet the parliament—MK Sasson Guetta  JNS.org

This Is Trump’s Most Dangerous Threat to US Elections Yet  Zeteo

2026 Israeli Elections  Britannica

Israel in 2026: Elections will be a referendum on the legacy of 7 October – and the future of the social contract  Chatham House

Election Currents  The Times of Israel

Considerations of Arab voters in the upcoming 26th Knesset elections  Dayan Center for Middle Eastern and African Studies

As elections loom, can Netanyahu balance Trump, Mohammed bin Salman, and his political future?  Atlantic Council

Baltimore Jewish Council Hosts Educational Series on Israeli Elections  Baltimore Jewish Times

Iran tops Netanyahu's many challenges as Israeli elections loom  Reuters

Israel’s new national consensus: Returning to October 6  +972 Magazine

75% of new Israeli voters lean right, shifting politics  The Jerusalem Post

Israel is approaching elections in a new era. There aren’t many new faces  The Times of Israel

Report: Democrats’ internal review finds Harris lost votes in 2024 over Gaza stance  The Times of Israel

Israeli elections panel allows lawyers with ties to Likud to vie for adviser post  Haaretz

Israeli premier asks aides to prepare for possible Knesset dissolution, early elections: Media  Anadolu Ajansı

Jeffrey Epstein Claimed to Have Meddled in Israel’s Elections  Jacobin

Israeli lawmakers to hold initial vote on draft budget as elections loom  Reuters

From Japan to Israel, elections are reshaping global politics  Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Israel elections: Naftali Bennett rejects gov't with Benjamin Netanyahu  The Jerusalem Post

Early 2026 Election Looms in Israel's Political Landscape  The Jewish Independent

Naftali Bennett hires US pollsters ahead of Israel election  The Jerusalem Post

Netanyahu leans on Trump ties as Israel heads toward elections  WQOW

Editorial: Israel’s Upcoming Elections  Washington Jewish Week

Israel's 2026 Public Health Basket: Cancer Treatment Leads, More Mental Health Drugs  Haaretz

Israel's health services prepare for war amid Iran tensions  The Jerusalem Post

Israeli Analysis Affirms Gaza Health Ministry’s Official Palestinian Death Count  Common Dreams

Half of Produce Arriving in Israel From Palestinian Territories Has Dangerous Levels of Pesticides, Health Officials Warn  The Media Line

Gaza child dies waiting for Israeli permission to leave for treatment  Al Jazeera

Heart & Kidney Health  Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Shas MK resumes chairmanship of Knesset health committee  The Times of Israel

Israel/OPT: Older people in Gaza suffering overlooked health crisis amid Israel’s ongoing blockade of aid and medicines – new research  Amnesty International

A new drug just entered Israel's health basket. It matters  The Jerusalem Post

Press Release | Sep 15, 2025 — Israel’s Health Ministry Gives Top Marks to Hadassah’s Medical Center  Hadassah | The Women's Zionist Organization of America

Heavy rains flood Gaza tents as Israel kills two more Palestinians  Yahoo

How Israel destroyed Gaza’s health system ‘deliberately and methodically’  Al Jazeera

Religious soldiers in casualty ID unit lack adequate mental health support, lawmakers are told  The Times of Israel

Semaglutide Improves Cardiovascular Health but Price Reductions Are Needed To Make It Cost-Effective, Study Finds  Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Israel’s Health Ministry Ranks Hadassah’s Hospitals #1 in Jerusalem for Internal Medicine  Hadassah | The Women's Zionist Organization of America

Imported Palestinian produce contains toxic pesticides  The Jerusalem Post

Israel’s war on Gaza’s healthcare continues in full force under ‘ceasefire’  Al Jazeera

When crisis became a catalyst: Two medical students build a mission for Israel  The Times of Israel

‘Health crime’: Aoun slams Israel over spraying chemicals in south Lebanon  Al Jazeera

Why the world wants to learn from Israel’s healthcare, but not our schools - opinion  The Jerusalem Post

Far-right Knesset Health Committee chair renews push for Israel's withdrawal from the WHO  Haaretz

Newark Beth Israel Medical Center Hosts Its 13th Annual Ray Murphy Men’s Health Night  rwjbh.org

Explainer: How many Palestinians has Israel's Gaza offensive killed?  Reuters

Who are the 95 Palestinian healthcare workers held captive by Israel?  Al Jazeera

No essential supplies in truce: Gaza’s healthcare system broken by Israel  Al Jazeera

Europeans’ health data sold to U.S. firm run by ex-Israeli spies  Follow the Money - Platform for investigative journalism

Pappas, Weber Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Strengthen U.S.-Israel Medical Innovation  Congressman Chris Pappas | (.gov)

Newark Beth Israel Medical Center and Children’s Hospital of New Jersey Celebrates 20th Anniversary of Partners in Progress  rwjbh.org

Newark Beth Israel Medical Center Vascular Non-Invasive Laboratory Receives 30 Year Milestone Gold Recognition from the IOC  rwjbh.org

Bodies of 15 Palestinians returned by Israel, health officials in Gaza say  Los Angeles Times

Technion ranked top AI university in Europe and Israel  The Jerusalem Post

Discovery in Israel Rewrites the Story of Humanity's First Exodus From Africa  Haaretz

Israel Whale  The Killeen Daily Herald

Technion ranked 1st in Israel and Europe in international computer sciences index  The Times of Israel

China, Israel continue to collaborate in science and tech despite unrest in Gaza  South China Morning Post

Press Release | Jan 05, 2026 — Nature Names Hadassah’s Hospitals #1 in Israel for Scientific Output  Hadassah | The Women's Zionist Organization of America

Iranian missile strike devastates two buildings at Israel’s Weizmann Institute  Science | AAAS

Levin: Science endures at Israel’s missile-damaged Weizmann Research Institute  The Detroit News

Iranian missile strikes Israel's ‘crown jewel of science'  NBC New York

PM Modi's Israel visit: Defence, science, technology cooperation on agenda - India Today  India Today

How we’re rebuilding the Weizmann Institute — and our hopes for a better future  Nature

Israel’s Symbol of Science Will ‘Build Back Better’ After Iranian Attack  Washington Jewish Week

Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities degrading  The Jerusalem Post

Deflated: Israeli scientists find Jupiter, though huge, is smaller than previously thought  The Times of Israel

Not a Hypothesis: Boycott Against Israeli Science Spreads 'Like a Virus' - Israel News  Haaretz

In world first, Israeli researchers use blood cancer treatment for Alzheimer’s in mice  The Times of Israel

Israel's science teams conclude olympiad season with record 26 medals  The Jerusalem Post

Israeli academia is in a maelstrom. This is how we can move forward  The Times of Israel

Israeli researchers uncover key to why breast cancer spreads to brain and turns deadly  The Times of Israel

The Blogs: Israeli Science’s Historic Post-War Opportunity: Health Tech Valley | Jessica Feldan  The Times of Israel

Killing the ‘brain trust’: How Israel targeted Iran’s nuclear scientists  The Washington Post

Israeli team pioneers bacteria ‘factories’ to produce medicine inside the body  The Times of Israel

Scientists create ‘immune-activating’ molecule to help the body fight cancer  The Times of Israel

'We Were Targeted': Iran Put Israel's Scientific Research High on Their Kill List  Haaretz

Story | Hadassah Hospitals Ranked No. 1 in Israel for Scientific Output  Hadassah | The Women's Zionist Organization of America

Bringing Israeli physicians and scientists back home  The Jerusalem Post

Iran missiles severely damage Weizmann Institute labs, 'irreplaceable' samples destroyed  The Jerusalem Post

Hope Walks Again with Israeli Science  The Times of Israel

Israel signs NASA deal, aims for woman in space  The Jerusalem Post

EU-Israel tensions over Gaza risk country's scientific research, Israeli academics warn  Haaretz

With 1.3 Million Visitors, Tourism To Israel Began Recovery In 2025  Forbes

Winds of war begin to calm, but tourists unlikely to rush back immediately  The Times of Israel

From Gaza Tensions to Trade Deals; Modi’s High-Stakes Israel Tour Explained  The Times of India

Israel tourism industry prepares for possible Iran strikes  The Jerusalem Post

Israel Draws Nearer to Tourism Recovery  TravelPulse

Israel tourism is on the rise – flights are back and visitors are returning, slowly.  The Travel Magazine

No Tourists: The Figures Behind Israel's Half-empty Hotels  Haaretz

Israel Aims for Sixty-Nine Thousand Indian Visitors by 2027, Recovering from Crisis and Shaping a Sustainable Tourism Growth for their Deeper Cultural Connections  Travel And Tour World

Israeli settlers join 'safari' tour of Palestinian prisoners  Middle East Eye

Israel tourism: Return to 69,000 Indian visitors by 2027 after Gaza war dip  Deccan Herald

War in Gaza Took a Big Toll on Israel Tourism: 'Where Are All the People?'  cbn.com

Israel’s Tourism and Hospitality Outlook – From Recovery to Reinvention  Hospitality Net

Israel banks on Christian pilgrims and faith-based travel to drive tourism recovery  The Times of Israel

Israel counts on pilgrimages to revive post-war tourism  The Jerusalem Post

Israel tourism recovery post-crisis  Travel And Tour World

Tourism ministry develops plan to evacuate some 42,000 tourists in event of new Iran war  The Times of Israel

Israel Tourism Recovery 2027: Direct India Flights and E-Visas Signal Strong Comeback for Global Travelers  Travel And Tour World

Airlines return as Israel tourism revives  The Jerusalem Post

Israel Belarus business opportunities  Travel And Tour World

Israel Unveils Bold Vision for Tourism Excellence Aiming to Surpass Sixty-Nine Thousand Indian Visitors by 2027 Through Direct Flights, Strategic Marketing, and Diverse Travel Experiences  Travel And Tour World

While war takes toll on Israel tourism, faith-based travel adapts  Travel Weekly

Ancient Wonders to Modern Escapes: Israel’s Tourism Revival Signals Big Opportunities for Indian and Global Travellers  Travel And Tour World

India’s Growing Travel Interest: Israel Eyes a Major Tourism Surge by 2027  Travel And Tour World

Arkia Israeli Airlines Launches New Route from Tel Aviv to Minsk from February 2026, Opening Opportunities for Tourism and Business Growth Between Israel and Belarus  Travel And Tour World

Great Britain Joins Netherlands, Turkey, Israel, China, the United States and More Faces Dip in Overnight Stays in Berlin Germany 2025 , Yet Maintains Global Appeal  Travel And Tour World

Israel Tourism Reawakens as UK Flights Return  The Times of Israel

Tourism in Israel suffers even after Iran ceasefire, long recovery ahead  The Jerusalem Post

PR News | Targeted Victory Does Media Work for Israel Tourism - Wed., Sep. 3, 2025  O'Dwyer's PR

Filipinos reject Israeli tourism amid the Gaza genocide  Mondoweiss

1.3 million tourists visited Israel in 2025  JNS.org

Douek: October 7 spurred new wave of Israeli philanthropy  The Jerusalem Post

Apax under fire as senior partner alleges toxic culture under Israel head Zehavit Cohen  CTech

Viewing the U.S.–Israel Alliance Through a Cultural Lens  The Times of Israel

Why Is Israel a Special Place? Unpacking the Beauty and Geography of Israel  Unpacked

Israel’s culture minister vows to defund ‘Israeli Oscars’ after film about Palestinian boy wins big  CNN

Israeli Music Legend Matti Caspi Dies At 76  i24NEWS

How Israeli Football Culture Became a Weapon of Genocide  THE HIND RAJAB FOUNDATION

Inside Israel: 100 lives shaping the nation  The Jerusalem Post

Israel’s culture minister threatens national film awards after Palestinian story takes top prize  The Guardian

Israel's Culture Ministry Scraps 2026 Arts Prizes, Ending Decades-long Tradition  Haaretz

Israel Says It Will Defund Film Awards After Palestinian Win  The New York Times

Matti Caspi, singer and composer who helped mold Israeli culture, dead at 76  The Times of Israel

Israel's culture minister's war on Israeli culture | Editorial  Haaretz

Israel’s isolation deepens as backlash and international sanctions mount  CNN

Hugh Laurie confronts antisemitism after Dana Eden euology  The Jerusalem Post

Culture minister says Gaza belongs to Israel, Palestinians merely ‘there as guests’  The Times of Israel

Israeli singer, composer Matti Caspi dies at 76  The Jerusalem Post

The Blogs: Solidarity with Israel’s Film Industry  The Times of Israel

Culture minister continues campaign to recalibrate Israeli film industry  The Times of Israel

Israeli co-creator of Tehran dies during filming in Greece  The Jerusalem Post

Israeli Culture Has Become a German Colony  Haaretz

Hollywood stars back boycott as Israel's minister targets film academy  NPR

Israeli Culture Minister Threatens Tel Aviv Cinema Budget Over Human Rights Film Festival  Haaretz

Hundreds of Artists Demand Legal Review of 2025 Culture Award Cuts - Israel News  Haaretz

Hamas Is Winning the Culture War  Tablet Magazine

Two movies about Jewish cultural icons now streaming  The Jerusalem Post

Drama about Palestinian boy is Israel's Oscar entry amid Hollywood boycott of Israeli film institutions  Jewish Telegraphic Agency

Israeli Culture Minister Miki Zohar Says Pulling Funding For Ophir Awards After Palestinian Drama Wins Top Prize  Deadline

Secret Harvard archive preserves Israeli publications ‘in case Israel ceases to exist’: Report  Anadolu Ajansı

Israel threatens national film awards after Palestinian story wins top prize  BBC

Israeli bobsled captain on Olympics exit: ‘Holy endeavor’ slammed into rigid rule  The Forward

Female athletes push for equal sports access in Israel  The Jerusalem Post

Republic of Ireland-Israel tie has sparked a debate with one Irish club dealing with fallout - The Athletic  The New York Times

Israel pulls Olympic bobsled team over disputed lineup change  ESPN

Beitar runs riot over Netanya to remain in title race  The Jerusalem Post

Olympic Store Worker Fired After Repeatedly Calling Out ‘Free Palestine’ to Israel Sports Fans  Algemeiner.com

International sports federations refuse to suspend Israel despite destruction of sports in Gaza and killing of hundreds of athletes  Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor

Cohen Earns World Baseball Classic Spot with Team Israel  George Washington University Athletics

OPINION - Ban Israel from global sports now, before it is too late  Anadolu Ajansı

US to fight efforts to ban Israel’s football team from World Cup 2026  Al Jazeera

Republic of Ireland commits to Israel matches in Nations League due to ‘potential disqualification’ - The Athletic  The New York Times

Spain's prime minister wants international sports ban for Israel  ESPN

Tel Aviv teams keep winning in Israeli basketball league  The Jerusalem Post

Israel disqualifies its own Winter Olympics bobsleigh team  The Jerusalem Post

Maccabi Tel Aviv claims 47th Israel State Cup title  The Jerusalem Post

Turkish boxer attacks Israeli opponent before fight, Israeli wins in two rounds  The Jerusalem Post

Israeli bobsled team head's historic year  The Jerusalem Post

Padel boom reaches northern Israel  The Jerusalem Post

Israelis face danger, risks in sport contests abroad  The Jerusalem Post

New England Patriots remain Israel's team: Why Israelis are invested in Superbowl LX -opinion  The Jerusalem Post

Efforts to punish Israel over Gaza war intensify in sports and cultural arenas  The Times of Israel

Efforts to punish Israel over Gaza grow in sports and cultural arenas  Associated Press News

Report: UEFA set to vote to suspend Israel over war in Gaza  ESPN

All’s Fair in Love and Sport: Why Israel Is Not Russia  HonestReporting

Spanish minister calls for Israel to be banned from sport  Al Jazeera

Spanish PM calls for Israel’s ban from sporting events over Gaza genocide  Al Jazeera

Israel is committing genocide. Why is it still welcome in global sports?  Sports Politika

Spanish PM calls for Israel to be barred from international sport  BBC

United Nations experts ask FIFA, UEFA to suspend Israel as 'necessary response' to conflict in Palestine  CBS Sports

Turning Israel into a sporting pariah is misguided, harmful  The Jerusalem Post