Dear ,

Escalations in Israel

During the past week, we saw another flare up along the Gaza-Israel
border with approximately 80 rockets fired into Israel by terrorists
affiliated with Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). The skirmish began last
Wednesday, when Israeli soldiers were fired upon by a PIJ sniper cell
and the IDF returned fire. This was followed, on Sunday, by a PIJ
attempt to plant an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) alongside the
security fence separating Gaza and Israel. Again, the terrorist plot was
foiled by the IDF.

PIJ then proceeded to launch 50 rockets into Israel. Israel responded by
destroying PIJ targets near Damascus, Syria and in Gaza. These targets
included research and development and rocket manufacturing facilities as
well as the headquarters of PIJ's Khan Yunis Brigade.

The rocket fire continued through Monday evening, with one rocket
hitting a children's playground - thankfully no one was hurt. A
cease fire was agreed to Monday night and, as of the time of this
writing, it is holding.

Who Are Palestinian Islamic Jihad?

Of the world's radical Islamist terror organizations, PIJ is less well
known, but not without its ability to kill and maim. The organization is
nearly 30 years old and enjoys backing from Iran and Syria.

PIJ's operational arena is the Gaza Strip, and while that territory is
controlled by Hamas, the two terror organizations share the goal of
destroying Israel, and PIJ is generally thought of as even more radical
than Hamas.

Tactically, PIJ's approach to terrorism has followed the trends of
radical Islamic terror organizations worldwide. In the 1980's and
90's their primary tactic was bombing. This was followed during the
second

**Intifada**with their using suicide bombers targeting Israeli busses
and high-density civilian areas such as restaurants and markets. In the
years since the development of Israel's security fence, terrorist
organizations in Gaza have shifted their tactics to primarily using
rockets, and PIJ is no different.

At their core, PIJ shares the same goals, financial backers, and tactics
as their better known allies, Hamas.

Israel's Ability to Defend Itself

Defending a democratic nation against terrorism is no simple task. But
Israel is able to defend itself against Palestinian terror onslaughts,
like the one we saw this past week, in large part because of the
strength of the US-Israel relationship.

The Iron Dome Missile defense system, which consistently destroys
rockets headed for civilian population centers in mid-air (including
during PIJ's most recent rocket barrage) would not exist were it not
for American aid to Israel. Likewise, Israel's Qualitative Military
Edge (QME) in the Middle East, which is vital to ensuring Israel's
security, exists because the US is committed to ensuring and maintaining
Israel's ability to protect itself.

Each-and-every day, CUFI Action Fund lobbyists visit Capitol Hill to
ensure the strength and durability of the US-Israel relationship. We
lobby in support of US military aid to Israel and remind elected
officials that the intelligence and technical know-how that the US
receives from Israel is second-to-none and has directly contributed to
saving American lives.

Likewise, each time CUFI activists convene in Washington, as we will
June 28-30, our aim is to strengthen the US-Israel relationship to
ensure Israel has the support and capability it needs to keep terrorists
like PIJ at bay.

Iran Takes a Hit

Last Friday, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an
intergovernmental body charged with "combating money laundering,
terrorist financing and other related threats," blacklisted Iran due to
the Islamic Republic's terror financing. CUFI called

for this move last summer, and though we feel it should have happened
sooner, we are pleased that this move will make it much more difficult
to do business in Iran.

While the FATF's blacklisting of Iran is a positive development, more
still can be done to maximize the maximum pressure campaign against the
Islamic Republic. The Trump administration can terminate civilian
nuclear waivers granted to Tehran, and the international community can
snap international sanctions back into place that were relieved as a
result of the disastrous Iran nuclear deal.

Given the round of Iran-sponsored PIJ rocket fire emanating from Gaza
that we saw this week, it is clear that until Iran's funds are
completely dried up, they will continue to support terror and sow
instability in the Middle East at every opportunity.

Keep reading the Action Fund's weekly Update to stay informed about
developments in the region and what we, as committed Christian Zionists
from across the country, are doing to ensure the US never turns its back
on our stalwart ally Israel.

Sincerely,
CUFI Action Fund Team

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