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SPOTLIGHT
On this week’s episode of People of the Pod [link removed], Eric Cortellessa, Washington, D.C. correspondent for The Times of Israel, explains how antisemites are blaming a Jewish conspiracy for President Trump’s impeachment. Then Rabbi David Levy, AJC New Jersey Director, discusses the fears in New Jersey’s Jewish community after two shooters targeted a kosher supermarket and murdered four people last week. And lastly, Jacob Magid, settlements correspondent for The Times of Israel, gives us an update on the International Criminal Court’s inquiry into clashes between Israelis and Palestinians. Listen now
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MUST-READS
Germany’s Parliament Votes to Ban Hezbollah
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The Wall Street Journal / 2-minute read
An overwhelming majority of German lawmakers have called on Chancellor Angela Merkel to ban all Hezbollah activity on the ground in Germany, including fundraising. The motion adopted Thursday also calls on Berlin to push its European neighbors to stop making a false distinction between the Iran-backed global terror group’s political and military wings. Earlier this year, AJC and the Institute for Counter-Terrorism (ICT) produced a fact-based analysis [link removed] that demonstrated how full designation of Hezbollah as a terrorist organization could strengthen Lebanon, protect the West, and promote stability across the Middle East. AJC tweeted [link removed] : “As an organization that has spent at least two decades urging Germany to ban Hezbollah activity anywhere on German soil, we could not be more pleased with the parliament’s decision today.” Read more
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Jersey City School Official Calls Jews ‘Brutes’
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JTA / 1-minute read
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop have called on a local school board member to resign over a Facebook post in which she called Jews who had moved to the city “brutes” and challenged people to heed the message of the two shooters who targeted a kosher supermarket last week, killing four. Joan Terrell-Paige, who is black, criticized the outpouring of support for Jersey City’s Jewish community, saying “brutes of the Jewish community … brazenly came on the property of Ward F black homeowners and waved bags of money.” She later insisted that she was speaking as a private citizen, not a public servant. Last month, AJC published the Translate Hate [link removed] glossary, so private citizens and public servants don’t traffic in antisemitism like this. AJC tweeted [link removed] : “Hate like this has no place in America, and certainly not in the leadership of our nation’s schools. She should step down immediately.” Read more
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Suspect in Murder of French Jewish Woman Won’t Stand Trial
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The Times of Israel / 2-minute read
A French court has ruled that the Muslim man accused of murdering his Jewish neighbor in Paris will not stand trial, saying he could not be held responsible because he was in a psychotic state from smoking marijuana. Kobili Traore is accused of beating 66-year-old Sarah Halimi for an hour in 2017 while calling her a demon and shouting about Allah, before hurling her body from a third-story window. The court ruled that although Traore “does appear to have voluntarily ended the life of Sarah Halimi” and the killing partly stemmed from antisemitism, he will no longer be incarcerated and can’t be convicted. AJC tweeted [link removed] : “We are appalled and aghast. This shameful, outrageous, and despicable decision will forever be a stain on France’s judicial system and casts serious doubt on its willingness to condemn antisemitism and uphold the rights of French Jews.” Read more
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Britain Considers Anti-BDS Legislation
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The New York Times / 2-minute read
Fulfilling a campaign manifesto, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced during a ceremony with Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday that his Conservative Party would propose barring local governments from participating in the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement. The British government issued rules to prevent local governments from boycotting Israel three years ago, but a court ruled that the prohibition exceeded the government’s authority. AJC CEO David Harris tweeted [link removed] : “Bravo, UK Prime Minister @BorisJohnson! … By showing such principle & backbone, you’ve set an inspiring example for others to follow. For more on why Jews should care about the Conservative Party’s election victory last week, read Why British Jews Feared a Labor Victory [link removed] on AJC Global Voice. Read more
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Congress Raises Money for Synagogue Security to All-Time High
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Haaretz / 2-minute read
A measure to increase funding for security measures at religious institutions has received bipartisan support in Congress. The budget for the Non-Profit Security Grant Program went from $60 million to $90 million in 2020 – the most money ever allocated by Congress to support security at houses of worship and other nonprofit organizations such as religious day schools and community centers. The grants can be used for installing security cameras, gates, locks, bulletproof windows, and other safeguards. Read more
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GOOD TO KNOW
Brazil Set To Move Embassy to Jerusalem in 2020
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The Jerusalem Post / 2-minute read
Brazil opened a new trade office in Jerusalem this week, and proclaimed it was a precursor to moving its embassy to the Israeli capital next year. Eduardo Bolsonaro, the son of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, and a congressman who serves as chairman of the Brazilian International Affairs and National Defense Committee, confirmed the relocation during an opening ceremony for the trade office attended by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “It’s not something extraordinary. It’s supposed to be a natural and normal thing. We want to move to Jerusalem not just for Brazil, but to set an example for all of Latin America,” the Brazilian congressman said. The move is anticipated in 2020. Read more
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Hamas Plots Attack on Israel From Turkey
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Telegraph / 2-minute read
Transcripts of Israeli police interrogations show that senior Hamas operatives have been plotting attacks against Israel from Istanbul, including an assassination attempt earlier this year on the mayor of Jerusalem. Last weekend Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hosted Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas. Turkey agreed in a 2015 deal with Israel to prevent Hamas from planning attacks from its soil. Read about What Hamas is Hiding [link removed] on AJC Global Voice. Read more
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U.S. Ends Decades Old Arms Embargo on Cyprus
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The Times of Israel / 2-minute read
Congress has approved a spending package that, among other measures, lifts a decades-old arms embargo on the island nation of Cyprus. The National Defense Authorization Act also includes provisions that will restrict the sale of F-35s to Turkey in light of Ankara's acquisition of S-400 missiles from Russia. In addition, Congress also approved the Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act of 2019 [link removed], which will establish a United States-Eastern Mediterranean Energy Center to facilitate energy cooperation among Israel, Greece, Cyprus and the U.S. AJC and its partners at the Hellenic American Leadership Council have spent years advocating for this groundbreaking legislation, as well as for the adoption of the Working Definition of Antisemitism developed by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance. Greece adopted the working definition last month and Cyprus adopted it this week. AJC tweeted [link removed] : “We applaud the Senate’s passage of the National Defense Authorization Act, which ends the Cyprus arms embargo and puts restrictions on Turkey’s F-35 acquisitions – moves advocated for by AJC and @HellenicLeaders. #EastMedAct We call upon the President to sign it swiftly into law.” Read more
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TIDINGS
The Baggage of TV’s Jewish Women
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All Hail the Jewish Disney Princess
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Uncut and Unflattering Gems
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The articles featured here do not necessarily reflect AJC’s positions.   


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