Israeli Politics, US Politics

The Illogic of the JCPOA—Past and Present

tehran missile display 2018

A recent report by the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies (BESA) looks at the purpose of the JCPOA as it was originally, and as it is today. The report tells us that only around one-fifth of the original Iran deal dealt with nuclear issues, with the rest detailing payments to Iran for “nuclear concessions.” This …

media bias

Matti Friedman: Journalists Have Become Activists

Matti Friedman

Veteran Israeli American journalist Matti Friedman has an article in the spring edition of Sapir entitled Eight Tips for Reading About Israel. Friedman may be center left, but his thoughts on journalistic integrity, and how journalists write about Israel are, if you’ll excuse the pun: right on. It’s worth reading the whole piece, but I …

antisemitism, terror, World Politics

World Protests Against Sarah Halimi Ruling

Sarah Halimi

Protests were scheduled not just in Paris, but around the world on Sunday, in response to the despicable ruling in the Sarah Halimi case. Sarah Halimi was murdered by Kobili Traoré, a 27-year-old Muslim man, in April 2017. Traoré violently beat his 65-year-old neighbor, screaming “Allahu Akbar” as he threw her out the window of …

antisemitism, social media

The Week Removes Graphic of Biden Trapped in Star of David

The week Biden trapped in blue Magen David

The Week magazine drew criticism last week, after accompanying an op-ed with a political cartoon of President Biden trapped inside a blue Star of David. After social media exploded with criticisms and outrage from Jewish leaders and other observers on social media, the magazine removed the graphic. The op-ed, entitled “Israel is Testing Biden” criticized …

Israel, US Politics

Israel Concerned US Leaked Israeli Intel to the Press

Iranian cargo ship, the Saviz

The NY Times last week reported that an anonymous US official said Israel was behind the Red Sea operation against the Saviz, the Iranian IRGC Navy reconnaissance vessel and floating military base. According to the report, the attack was tit for tat for recent Iranian attack on an Israeli cargo ship. The NY Times report even …

terror, World Politics

EU Celebrates Glorifier of Terror on International Women’s Day

Laila Ghannam

International Women’s Day is a time to celebrate accomplished women. What it’s not: a time to celebrate women who glorify terrorists responsible for the cruel murder of Jewish civilians in Israel. But go tell it to the EU, who featured Ramallah and El-Bireh District Governor Laila Ghannam under the hashtag “#InspiredByHer,” for International Women’s Day. According …

antisemitism

New Mural in Memory of Thessaloniki Holocaust Victims Vandalized

Jewish mural Thessaloniki defaced

A new mural honoring the memory of Holocaust victims from the Jewish community of Thessaloniki has been defaced. The mural, painted by street artist Same84 is 38 yards in length and more than 7 yards high. Tens of thousands of Thessaloniki Jews were exterminated by Hitler. 🚨 Appalling: a Jewish mural in Thessaloniki, Greece, has …

Israeli Politics

Ayman Odeh of the Knesset Arab Joint List Calls Israeli Arabs a “Successful Population”

Ayman Odeh

Ayman Odeh heads the Joint List, which is an alliance of the three largest Arab parties in the Israeli Knesset. Odeh is definitely NOT pro-Israel. Interviewed recently on Israel’s Channel 13, however, Odeh spoke of Arab advancement in Israel which suggests full equality between Arab and Jewish citizens of Israel: When I look at the …

US Politics

Iranian Dissidents Protest Biden Top Defense Post Nominee Colin Kahl

Colin Kahl

Iranian dissidents are protesting President Joe Biden’s top nominee for undersecretary of defense, Colin Kahl. The dissidents say that Kahl has close ties to Iran lobbyists that act as a go-between to arrange meetings between political bigwigs and Iranian officials. Kahl has spoken at a number of events for the National Iranian American Council (NIAC). …

antisemitism, coronavirus, Israel, media bias

Antisemitism is Never Funny Even When it’s on SNL

Michael Che tells antisemitic joke on SNL

Protesters chanting “Shame on NBC!” and “Antisemitism is not funny!” appropriately gathered in New York on Saturday night. Why appropriately? Because the protest was a response to antisemitic content aired on Saturday Night Live, a show broadcast live from New York City on NBC. The protesters gathered outside the entrance to NBC’s West 49th Street …