United States

Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) met with Abbas Hamideh, a Palestinian activist who has said that Israel is a “terrorist entity,” over the weekend. “I was honored to be at Congresswoman @RashidaTlaib swearing in ceremony in #Detroit and private dinner afterward with the entire family, friends and activists across the country. #Palestine #TweetYourThobe #RashidaTlaib,” Hamideh tweeted. Hamideh, executive director of the U.S.-based Palestine...

The Stephen Wise Free Synagogue in New York City announced last week it has disassociated from the Women’s March amid accusations of anti-Semitism against a few of the movement’s leaders such as their association with Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan. Instead, it will join the 2019 Women’s March on NYC under the auspices of the Women’s March Alliance, which has no relationship...

A bipartisan bill to elevate the status of the U.S. special envoy on anti-Semitism overwhelmingly passed in the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly on Friday. Rep. Justin Amash (R-Mich.), a libertarian, was the sole vote against the legislation. The Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism Act was reintroduced last week by Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.). If enacted, it would upgrade the status of the special envoy to combat anti-Semitism—a...

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has announced an international summit in Poland next month on Iran, in addition to promoting stability and freedom in the Middle East. The U.S. top diplomat told Fox News during his weeklong trip to the region that “we’ll bring together dozens of countries from all around the world” from Feb. 13-14. This development is part of the administration’s “maximum...

Former Nazi guard Jakiw Palij, who was deported from the United States to Germany last year after years of unsuccessful attempts, has died at the age of 95. U.S. Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell confirmed this development on Twitter: “Former Nazi prison guard Jakiw Palij has died in Germany. I am so thankful to for making the case a...

For the second time this week, Senate Democrats failed to reach the necessary 60 votes on Thursday afternoon to end debate on Republican-introduced legislation that, if enacted, would impose fresh sanctions on Syria, as well as boost security cooperation with Israel and Jordan amid the announced gradual withdrawal of U.S. troops from Syria. It is also aimed at tackling the anti-Israel BDS movement. The...

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Thursday slammed the Obama administration’s Mideast policies, which were outlined in a similar venue almost a decade ago, and touted their reversal under U.S. President Donald Trump, saying that “America is a force for good in the Middle East.” Without mentioning former President Barack Obama by name, he said at the American University...

The Senate failed to reach the necessary 60 votes on Tuesday evening to end debate on Republican-introduced legislationthat, if enacted, would impose fresh sanctions on Syria, as well as boost security cooperation with Israel and Jordan amid the announced gradual withdrawal of U.S. troops from Syria. It is also aimed at tackling the anti-Israel BDS movement. The final tally was 56-44. At least three...

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy signed a bill into law on Tuesday, doubling security funding for nonpublic schools, including Jewish ones. The legislation, passed unanimously in the state legislature last month, allocates $22.6 million for security in private schools, six times the funding from three years ago. Before the Democratic governor signed the bill, just 36 percent of New Jersey’s school...

The foundation belonging to Israeli-American philanthropists Adam and Gila Milstein announced recently the 2019 Milstein Family Foundation Innovation Competition. “We are looking for a never-been-done-before, out-of-the-box, pro-Israel initiative on campus and beyond—be it showing positive aspects of Israel, strengthening the U.S.-Israel alliance or fighting anti-Israel forces,” according to a poster announcing the second annual contest. Open to only college students, up...