Results for: Israel

Antisemitic activities on American university campuses are escalating, with the ultimate goal of ending Jewish freedom and the existence of Israel. These efforts include misrepresenting Israel’s actions in the recent conflict with Hamas, falsely accusing Israel of aggression, and calling for divestment, military aid suspension, and the severing of Israel’s alliance with the US. The underlying hatred stems from Muslim extremists, racists, and self-hating Jews, and is enabled by an environment that prioritizes free speech over the violent consequences of its abuse. Targeting the Jewish majority state and extending hostility to Jews on campus is considered an exception, while hatred directed at any other minority group would be condemned. The ultimate goal is to create a pariah state of Israel and pave the way for enemies to target Jews everywhere.

The U.S. Senate has approved billions of dollars in foreign aid for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, as well as a provision that could lead to a ban on TikTok. The legislation provides military and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and Israel, and requires TikTok’s China-based parent company to sell the platform or face a ban. The bill, which passed the House of Representatives over the weekend, now heads to President Biden’s desk for his signature.

Amid an ongoing conflict with Israel, Hezbollah faces a strategic dilemma. Iran, its primary backer, wants to preserve Hezbollah as a deterrent against Israel but also risks weakening the group if it engages in extended fighting. Hezbollah, meanwhile, continues to escalate attacks while balancing its interests in Lebanon, where popular support for the group remains limited. The conflict has raised questions about whether the rules of engagement between Hezbollah and Israel have shifted.

On April 23, 2024, the US Senate overwhelmingly approved a $95.3 billion foreign aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. The aid package includes $61 billion for Ukraine, $26 billion for Israel, and $8 billion for Taiwan. The aid package will provide these countries with much-needed military and humanitarian assistance. The Senate voted 79-18 in favor of the aid package, while the House approved the bill on April 20 with a 311-112 vote. President Biden is expected to sign the bill into law within days.

Germany has announced that it will resume cooperation with the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) following an independent review. The review found that Israel had not provided evidence to support its claim that hundreds of UNRWA staff were members of terrorist groups. Israel had alleged that UNRWA employees were involved in attacks that triggered the war in the Gaza Strip in January. Germany, along with several other donor states, suspended funding to UNRWA in the wake of these allegations. However, following the release of the review’s findings, Germany and other countries have resumed funding. The review highlighted some neutrality-related issues at UNRWA, including staff sharing biased political posts on social media and the use of some textbooks with problematic content. Germany has called for the implementation of the review’s recommendations without delay.

David Satterfield, the US special envoy for humanitarian issues, has warned that the risk of famine in northern Gaza remains “very high” despite an increase in aid admitted to the territory. The UN has raised concerns about obstacles to delivering and distributing aid in Gaza since Israel launched an offensive there six months ago.

Israeli Diaspora Minister Amichai Chikli has criticized President Joe Biden’s leadership and declared that he would vote for Donald Trump if he could in the American elections. Chikli’s remarks reflect growing divisions between the Netanyahu government and the Biden administration, which has expressed criticism of Israel’s military approach and handling of humanitarian needs in Gaza. Despite these tensions, the US Senate has approved a $14 billion security assistance package for Israel, which Biden has pledged to sign into law. Amidst ongoing protests against US support for Israel, the issue has become a concern for Biden’s re-election prospects.

Utah Sen. Mike Lee, a Republican, strongly criticized the Senate’s passage of a $95 billion foreign aid package, calling it “wrong,” “shameful,” and a “sad day for America.” The package includes $61 billion to support Ukraine’s war against Russia, $26 billion for Israel, and nearly $8 billion for the Indo-Pacific and Taiwan. Lee particularly objected to the aid for Ukraine, arguing that it is “spending money that doesn’t belong to them.” The senator posted a series of messages on social media, accusing the Republican Party of siding with Democrats to pass the measure and neglecting the needs of the American people.

Yossi Amrosi, a former senior Shin Bet officer, recently called for a decisive military strike against Iran following the country’s alleged attack on Israel. Amrosi argued that Iran’s aggression, carried out through its proxies Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis, poses a serious threat to Israel’s existence. He proposed a visible and significant strike on an Iranian oil field to demonstrate Israel’s strength and undermine the Iranian regime’s support among its people.

Members of Parliament (MPs) and Lords will gather on Wednesday, April 24, for a special session to examine the United Kingdom’s arms exports to Israel. The session, held by the Business and Trade Committee, will feature testimony from experts on legal, political, and military issues surrounding these exports. Since 2008, the UK has authorized over £574 million worth of arms to Israel. This figure comes from an analysis of government export data conducted by the Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT), a UK-based organization advocating for an end to the global arms trade. CAAT has raised concerns about UK industry contributions to F-35 combat aircraft, which have been allegedly employed in the recent bombardment of Gaza. The session takes place amid reports of civilian casualties and alleged mass graves in Gaza, following Israeli airstrikes and Hamas rocket attacks. The UN has expressed dismay over these reports.