Email from Counter Extremism Project (CEP) Starmer to Iran: Britain won’t tolerate incitement of antisemitism Eye on Extremism May 5, 2026 Top Stories Associated Press: US military leaders say ceasefire with Iran holding despite attacks in the Strait of Hormuz U.S. military leaders said Tuesday that a ceasefire with Iran remains in effect a day after Tehran was blamed for new attacks in the Strait of Hormuz and against the United Arab Emirates. The fragile truce, reached nearly a month ago, appeared to be holding as U.S. forces pressed ahead with efforts to reopen the vital waterway for global energy. On Monday, the U.S. said it sank six small Iranian boats that had threatened commercial ships. Politico: Starmer to Iran: Britain won’t tolerate incitement of antisemitism Keir Starmer warned Tuesday that Britain will not tolerate foreign states spreading anti-Jewish hate. Speaking during a Downing Street summit on antisemitism, the British prime minister said police are investigating whether a foreign power is behind a recent spate of anti-Jewish attacks in the U.K. EXHIBITION NOW OPEN: “The Birdman of Auschwitz: Science and the Failure of Conscience”  Watch the story of The Birdman of Auschwitz video here  Watch preview video here. CEP Mentions ZDFheute: Strait of Hormuz: Experts see Iran on a course of escalation Iran has fired two missiles at a US warship in the Strait of Hormuz , according to the Fars news agency . The US military denies that the ship was hit. Nevertheless, experts say the incident represents a dangerous escalation of the situation. Middle East expert Hans-Jakob Schindler and maritime security expert Moritz Brake provided their analysis of the situation on ZDFheute live. Analysis Washington Institute for Near East Policy: The U.S. Shouldn’t Lose Sight of the Real Terrorist Threats From releasing its long-delayed CT strategy document to filling crucial professional vacancies, the administration needs to publicly clarify that countering terrorism—Iranian and otherwise—remains a top national security priority. Washington Institute for Near East Policy: Deniable, Disposable, Disruptive: Iran’s Hybrid Warfare in Europe Demands a Proactive Response At the outset of the Iran war, many expected the regime to activate long-embedded sleeper cells abroad. Instead, a leaner, more disposable hybrid operational model has emerged, centered on the front entity Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiyah (HAYI). This model relies on the recruitment of non-ideological local residents—mainly youths with petty criminal backgrounds—via casual, gig-economy channels on Snapchat and Telegram. Recruits are offered modest cash incentives for low-complexity acts of violence and intimidation against Jewish communities and symbolic targets in Europe, using readily available materials. Although no fatalities have resulted from these claimed incidents so far, they have achieved measurable psychological and media effects. Jerusalem Post: Iran feeling confident in attacking after month of shaky ceasefire – analysis A month of a shaky ceasefire has provided Tehran the opportunity to husband its resources and begin to think of new tactics and strategy. Iran is now testing the ceasefire to see how far it can push. It has already done this on other fronts in limited ways, for instance, by attacking Kurdish opposition groups in the Kurdistan Region of northern Iraq. Now, Iran’s recent attacks on the UAE and threats on shipping show that it feels increasing confidence as time goes by. United States Associated Press: Man to plead guilty in Colorado firebombing attack on pro-Israel demonstrators A man accused of killing one person and injuring a dozen more in a firebomb attack on Colorado demonstrators showing support for Israeli hostages in Gaza plans to plead guilty this week to murder and other charges, according to court documents. Fox News: US kills 2 more suspected drug traffickers in boat strike The U.S. military conducted a strike on a vessel in the Caribbean tied to suspected drug trafficking operations, killing two people, U.S. Southern Command said. In a post on X, U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) said Joint Task Force Southern Spear carried out a "lethal kinetic strike" on May 4 at the direction of commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan. Jerusalem Post: 'Heil Hitler': NYC synagogues, homes vandalized in spate of antisemitic graffiti At least two Queens synagogues and several homes were defaced with antisemitic graffiti in a spate of vandalism over Sunday night, according to one of the congregations, New York City Jewish community organizations, and local politicians. JNS: Jewish New Yorkers targets of 59% of total hate crimes, confirmed and reported, in city in April Jewish New Yorkers were targeted in 59% of the total hate crimes reported and confirmed in the city in April, including 60% of confirmed incidents and 58% of reported ones, according to New York City Police Department data. In April, the city recorded 30 confirmed anti-Jewish hate crimes and no confirmed anti-Muslim hate crimes, out of a total 50 confirmed hate crimes, NYPD said. Jewish Insider: Brandeis Center files Title VII complaint against the National Education Association A leading Jewish legal group has filed a bias complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission against the National Education Association, alleging the country’s largest teachers’ union violated civil rights law by discriminating against its Jewish members, Jewish Insider has learned. Jewish Insider: Cruz warns of future where both parties are anti-Israel Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) has for months been raising the alarm about the growing threat of antisemitism on the American right. During a visit to Los Angeles for the Milken Institute Global Conference, he called for elected officials — including in his own party — to take a clear stand on the issue. WHSV 3: Teen sentenced after planning ISIS-inspired attack on Phoenix Pride parade A teen convicted of planning an ISIS-inspired terror attack on an Arizona pride parade will spend just under two years in prison, a judge ruled. Marvin Aneer Jalo was 17 when he was arrested in October 2024 at the start of Phoenix LGBTQ+ Pride festivities. Authorities said he planned to use an explosive drone during the parade, scheduled for two days after his arrest. Jalo, now 18, pleaded guilty April 3, 2026, to two counts of terroristic threats. He was sentenced April 29 to 1.75 years in prison, with credit for 599 days served. Lancaster Online: Pa. House passes bill to ban white nationalist housing communities; Here's how Lancaster County lawmakers voted A bill to prevent white nationalist groups from creating their own housing communities narrowly passed the Pennsylvania House of Representatives on April 28. One Democrat joined the Republican caucus to vote against the bill, resulting in a 101-100 vote split. Canada Jerusalem Post: Canadian intelligence intervened in seven violent threats motivated by Gaza war in 2025 The Canadian Security Intelligence Service investigated at least seven priority cases of radicals preparing to commit violence that were at least in part motivated by the Israel-Hamas conflict, according to the CSIS annual public report published on Friday, amid rising concern about religiously motivated violence in Canada. Denmark Brussels Times: Terrorgram extremist sentenced in Denmark, but case heads to appeal A 30-year-old Danish-French man has been sentenced to six years in prison in Denmark for terrorism-related offences linked to the online extremist network known as “Terrorgram.” The man, who was based in the suburbs of Copenhagen, was convicted at the District Court in Glostrup of producing and disseminating far-right extremist propaganda and providing guidance in support of the network, Europol reported. Germany Associated Press: A driver plows into people in a shopping area in Germany, killing 2v A driver plowed into people in a busy shopping area in the center of the German city of Leipzig on Monday afternoon, leaving two people dead, authorities said. An additional three people were seriously injured in what officials believe was a deliberate rampage, Mayor Burkhard Jung said. Norway Jerusalem Post: Norwegian university professor: October 7 attacks 'most beautiful thing to happen in our century' A Norwegian university professor called the October 7 Hamas attacks “the most beautiful thing that has happened in our century.” Bassam Hussein, a project management professor at Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Trondheim, made the comments during an April 21 lecture organized by the Socialist Forum. United Kingdom Times of Israel: UK’s Starmer holds summit on antisemitism, says attacks are ‘a crisis for all of us’ British Prime Minister Keir Starmer urged leaders from across UK society on Tuesday to work together to eradicate antisemitism “from every corner,” as he convened an emergency meeting following the stabbing of two Jewish men last week and a string of other antisemitic attacks. Associated Press: Counterterror police probe arson attack at a former London synagogue amid antisemitic attacks Counterterror police were investigating an arson attack at a former London synagogue Tuesday as Prime Minister Keir Starmer hosted a meeting to respond to a recent wave of antisemitic attacks that have caused outrage and fear in the Jewish community. Independent: Ministers announce £1m for Jewish communities ahead of antisemitism talks Jewish communities across England are set to receive an extra £1 million of Government funding as ministers seek to tackle a rise in antisemitism. The money is expected to pay for community safety work and projects aimed at countering antisemitic narratives. The Times: Golders Green attack raises doubts about counterextremism programme For the past 23 years, the Prevent programme has been the core of the UK’s counterterrorism strategy. Devised in the wake of 9/11 and expanded significantly following the 7/7 attacks, it has sought to prevent individuals from being radicalised. State institutions, such as schools and universities, have a formal duty to refer people to the programme who may show signs of radicalisation. The Home Office claims that the scheme has helped to divert thousands away from extremism over the past two decades. Reuters: Four UK pro-Palestinian activists guilty of criminal damage over raid at Israeli firm Elbit Four British pro-Palestinian activists were on Tuesday convicted of criminal damage relating to a ​2024 raid on a factory operated by Israeli defence ‌firm Elbit, with one of the defendants found guilty of hitting a police officer with a sledgehammer. Prosecutors at London's Woolwich Crown Court said ​the six defendants were members of the banned group ​Palestine Action, which organised the assault on the ⁠Elbit Systems UK facility in Bristol, southwest England, in August ​2024. Russia Afghanistan International: Taliban Delegation Travels To Russia To Facilitate Medicine Imports The Taliban health ministry said Hamdullah Zahid, deputy minister for food and medicine, has travelled to Russia with a delegation to facilitate pharmaceutical imports to Afghanistan. Following reduced trade with Pakistan and rising medicine prices in Afghanistan, Taliban delegations have travelled to several countries to find alternative import routes. Gaza Strip/West Bank Jewish Insider: U.S. quietly advances postwar Gaza plan as Waltz vows Hamas ‘will never again rule’ While the world’s attention has been fixed on Iran, U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Mike Waltz and a team of American bureaucrats have spent the last few months quietly working to turn President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace into a fully functioning entity. Times of Israel: Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib: Israel has re-embraced Hamas rule in Gaza Describing a rat-infested Gaza Strip and further entrenchment of the terror organization, the head of Realign for Palestine weighs in on the lack of momentum with the Board of Peace plan, Times of Israel: IDF says recent north Gaza strikes killed armed Hamas operatives The IDF says it carried out strikes in northern Gaza today and yesterday, targeting armed Hamas operatives who it says posed an immediate threat to troops. According to the military, an armed cell was struck earlier today near forces deployed along the Yellow Line, while in a separate incident yesterday, troops from the 14th Reserve Armored Brigade identified five operatives approaching the ceasefire line. Times of Israel: EU, PA announce program to support Palestinians facing settler violence in West Bank The European Union will soon launch a program to support Palestinians facing Israeli extremist settler violence in the West Bank, the Palestinian Authority and the EU office in Jerusalem said Monday. Iran Iran International: Khamenei’s top aide warns USS Tripoli sailors over Persian Gulf deployment Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior adviser to Iran’s supreme leader, warned sailors aboard the USS Tripoli that their deployment in the Persian Gulf would become a “nightmare.” “You are extras to a movie show for Trump next Presidential election,” Velayati said on X. “Now you are assigned to save the money boxes of our region but you will end up in an abattoir,” he said. Iran International: Pezeshkian brands IRGC escalation ‘madness’ as tensions rise in Tehran Exclusive information obtained by Iran International points to a growing clash between Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian and its military leadership over Monday’s escalation in the Persian Gulf and attacks on the United Arab Emirates. According to sources familiar with Tehran’s deliberations, Pezeshkian has expressed strong anger at actions by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, led by Ahmad Vahidi, describing missile and drone strikes on the UAE as “completely irresponsible” and carried out without the government’s knowledge or coordination. Israel Naharnet: Israeli official threatens to hit Hezbollah officials in 'Beirut' if operational opportunity arises Israel intends to intensify its attacks on Hezbollah, Israel's Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper said Monday, as an Israeli security official insisted that, "contrary to the impression" that Israel’s hands are tied, “Hezbollah will be hit in places it did not think" Israel would reach. "The Americans may be bothered when we strike in Beirut, but they are less bothered in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah will feel that soon. And if there is an operational opportunity, we will hit its senior officials in Beirut as well," the official told Yedioth Ahronoth. Lebanon Naharnet: Aoun says army must be sole authority in south, stresses civil peace is 'red line' President Joseph Aoun affirmed Tuesday that his actions are in the interest of "all Lebanese, not just a specific group," and that the path of negotiations is "the only remaining option after all other solutions, including war, have been exhausted." He added that the Lebanese people suffered greatly when the Lebanese Army was absent from the south, and that "the time has come for its return to fully assume its responsibilities and be solely responsible for security in the south." Naharnet: Geagea tells Hezbollah that Aoun and govt. are the representatives of the Lebanese people Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea on Tuesday responded to Hezbollah's repeated announcements that it is not concerned with any direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel and subsequently by their outcome. Hitting back, Geagea said: "We are not concerned with your words or anything you do, except that it has brought disasters upon Lebanon and the Lebanese people. Lebanon has a democratically and effectively elected parliament that truly represents the Lebanese people." Naharnet: Salam: Arms monopoly decision won't be reversed, no need to put army in confrontation with any party Prime Minister Nawaf Salam noted Monday that the country has been placed on "a new path," and that implementing the Beirut demilitarization decision will take "weeks and months" but will be eventually implemented. There will be "no turning back" on the decision, Salam stressed, calling for strengthening security measures in Beirut and deterring violators. Turkey Reuters: Erdogan ally wants jailed Kurdish militant leader to have official status Turkish nationalist party leader Devlet Bahceli said ‌on Tuesday the jailed head of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) should be given an official role to help advance a peace process aimed at ending a decades-long conflict. Bahceli, a close ally of President Tayyip Erdogan who in ​2024 effectively initiated the process with a call for peace, made the proposal a week ​after pro-Kurdish lawmakers accused the government of moving too slowly. Pakistan Afghanistan International: Pakistan Hosts Regional Meet On Afghanistan Without Taliban Mohammad Sadiq Khan, Pakistan’s special envoy for Afghanistan said he chaired an “Afghanistan–Central Asia Intergovernmental Coordination Cell” meeting with regional stakeholders, but no Taliban representative attended. Chad Reuters: Chad's army says 23 personnel killed in Boko Haram attack Islamist Boko Haram ​militants have attacked a military ‌base in Chad, killing at least 23 security personnel ​and injuring 26 others, ​the army said in ⁠a statement on ​Tuesday. It said the army had repelled the ​attack, which took place on Monday night in the Lake ​Chad region, and ​operations to clear the area were ‌under ⁠way. Boko Haram militants have since 2009 extended their reach from northeast Nigeria ​to western ​Chad, ⁠where attacks on military installations ​have become frequent. Nigeria Deutsche Welle: Pushback in Nigeria over ex-Boko Haram fighter reintegration Communities in Nigeria's northeast, particularly in Borno state, are grappling with a difficult question: Can those who once took up arms against them truly return — and be accepted? Nigerian officials hope to reintegrate more than 700 former Boko Haram fighters into civilian life under its deradicalization program, Operation Safe Corridor. Authorities say the initiative is key to ending a decade-long conflict. But in communities that have borne the brunt of extremist violence, the policy is reopening wounds that have yet to heal. Sudan Associated Press: Sudanese military downs drone launched by paramilitary forces at the main airport, officials say A drone launched by Sudan ‘s paramilitary forces targeted the airport in the capital of Khartoum on Monday but was shot down before it could hit the target, airport officials said. It was the latest attack in the deadly war in Sudan, now in its fourth year, which has pushed the country to the brink. Australia Times of Israel: Fearing it would cause hostility, Sydney cancels controversial ‘Globalize the intifada’ forum The mayor of Sydney said Monday that she had canceled a controversial forum promoting the slogan “Globalize the intifada.” The event, organized by the activist group Stop the War on Palestine, was set to take place on Tuesday as the Royal Commission holds an inquiry into the country’s growing antisemitism problem. It was to be held as the state of New South Wales considers banning public use of the phrase and had drawn sharp condemnation from political and Jewish leaders. CEP Podcasts Unpacking the week's extremism-related anniversaries and news, as well as counter extremism developments and prospects. A deep dive into CEP's research and topics that are relevant to our mission, from our Berlin-based team.   The Counter Extremism Project (CEP) is a nonprofit and non-partisan international policy organization working to combat the growing threat posed by extremist ideologies. CEP depends on the generosity of its supporters. If you value what we do, please consider making a donation. DONATE Were you forwarded this email? Subscribe for yourself here. Counter Extremism Project (CEP) | PO Box 3980 | NEW YORK, NY 10185 US Unsubscribe | Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice