On Thursday, we celebrated 72 years of Israeli independence. From balconies across the country, Israelis joined together to sing Hatikvah—beautifully captured by this video.
Israel’s birthday coincided with the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Dachau. To honor the occasion, the U.S. military and Israel Defense Forces came together over Zoom for a special playing of the Israeli national anthem.
As we celebrate Yom Ha’atzmaut, we honor the spirit and the heroism of Israel—its incredible history and its ambitious vision for the future.
And we recommit ourselves to forever ensuring Israel’s strength, vibrancy and enduring partnership with the United States of America.
Below are more stories we are following this week.
Wishing you continued health and a good weekend.
Best,
Brian Shankman
Director of Regional Affairs and Development
AIPAC Briefing: Voice Recordings that Monitor Our Health
Featuring: Vocalis Health (12 minutes)
Thanks to Israel’s Vocalis Health, voice recordings can be used to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Tal Wenderow, CEO and President of Vocalis Health, discusses how this voice database is playing a pivotal role in identifying COVID-19 carriers.
Legislative Initiatives AIPAC is Supporting
Support U.S.-Israel Health Innovation:
A new bipartisan bill, authored by Sens. Ted Cruz and Chris Coons, would create a U.S.-Israel grant program to promote key innovative solutions to COVID-19 and other health problems.
AIPAC is urging senators to support this bipartisan health initiative: aipac.org/Health
Oppose Attacks Against Israel at the ICC:
The International Criminal Court is considering unjust, politicized criminal cases against America and Israel.
AIPAC is urging Congress to sign bipartisan letters in the Senate and House encouraging continued support for the U.S. and Israel against illegitimate attacks by the ICC: aipac.org/ICC
Visit aipac.org/ActNow to take action on more legislative initiatives AIPAC is supporting.
Iran Satellite Launch Reveals Advancing Missile Program
Last week, Iran successfully launched its first military satellite into orbit.
The launch marked the coming out of a military program that Tehran has kept mostly under wraps for a decade. U.S. officials and arms-control experts say that for Iran, the satellite program likely serves as a guise for the development of intercontinental ballistic missiles.
"This week’s launch of a military satellite…makes clear what we have said all along: Iran’s space program is neither peaceful nor entirely civilian," U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement issued Saturday.
Treasury Department Targets IRGC Front Company and Owner
On Friday, the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) took action against dual Iranian and Iraqi national Amir Dianat, a longtime associate of senior officials of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force (IRGC-QF), and Dianat's company, Taif Mining Services. Dianat is involved in IRGC-QF efforts to generate revenue and smuggle weapons abroad.
"The Iranian regime and its supporters continue to prioritize the funding of international terrorist organizations over the health and well-being of the Iranian people," said Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin.
Syria Strikes Destroyed Warehouse and Underground Facility Controlled by Iran
A pair of airstrikes against Iran-backed forces in Syria in April were attributed to Israel as Israel works to force out Iran from Syria.
The strikes targeted a warehouse outside of Palmyra and the entrance to an underground facility near Damascus controlled by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force, according to satellite images released by a private Israeli intelligence firm Thursday.
Jerusalem has never officially acknowledged conducting the strikes, though Defense Minister Naftali Bennett has hinted at Israel’s involvement, repeatedly commenting that the military was working to force out Iran from Syria.
Germany banned all Hezbollah activity on its soil on Thursday and designated the Iran-backed group in its entirety a terrorist organisation, ending the artificial distinction between its so-called "military" and "political" wings.
Police also conducted early morning raids on mosque associations in cities across Germany which officials believe are linked to the heavily armed terrorist group.
"The activities of Hezbollah violate criminal law and the organization opposes the concept of international understanding," said the interior ministry in a statement.
In January, Colombia, Honduras and Guatemala officially labeled Hezbollah a terrorist organization.
Hezbollah is a terrorist organization that receives $800 million annually from Iran.
"Hezbollah is an Iranian-backed terrorist organization that is responsible for attacks around the world. The EU should follow Germany’s lead and ban Hezbollah from Europe," AIPAC said on Twitter.
