Weekly roundup of world briefs

 


Israel urges citizens not to travel to Istanbul citing Iranian terrorist threat

By Ron Kampeas

(JTA) — Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid urged Israelis not to travel to Istanbul, saying that Israeli and Turkish authorities have recently thwarted Iranian-backed terrorist attacks.

“In recent weeks, Israeli security services, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Prime Minister’s Office have put tremendous effort into saving Israeli lives, some of whom have returned to Israel and are walking among us without knowing their lives were saved,” Lapid in his statement Monday.

“If you’ve planned a flight to Istanbul — cancel it,” he said. “No vacation is worth your lives and the lives of your loved ones. Listen to the directives we are putting out, we are updating them all the time and in accordance with our status assessment.”

Israel’s National Security Council raised the threat warning for Istanbul to 4, meaning Israelis should not enter the area and should immediately leave if they are already there.

Israeli was said last week to have thwarted an Iranian plot to kidnap Israeli tourists, the Times of Israel reported.

Judge orders Yeshiva University to recognize LGBTQ organization

By Andrew Silow-Carroll

(New York Jewish Week) — The New York County Supreme Court ruled that Yeshiva University must recognize a campus LGBTQ pride group.

Judge Lynn Kotler directed the Modern Orthodox university to provide the YU Pride Alliance “full equal accommodations, advantages, facilities, and privileges afforded to all other student groups at Yeshiva University.”

Tuesday’s decision caps a dispute that dates back at least to 2020, when seven LGBTQ student activists and allies filed a complaint with the New York City Commission on Human Rights charging the university with discrimination. Administrators had overruled a student government decision to recognize the gay pride group.

In her ruling, Kotler said that Y.U. is chartered as a non-religious organization and as a result is subject to New York City Human Rights Law.

In its court filings, Yeshiva University acknowledged that while it was incorporated as non-sectarian, it was guided by its religious beliefs. “The court’s ruling violates the religious liberty upon which this country was founded,” a Y.U. spokesperson told The Commentator, a campus newspaper.

Gay sex is forbidden by nearly all Orthodox interpretations of Jewish law, although attitudes toward individuals who identify as queer have eased somewhat in Modern Orthodox settings in recent years.

The Manhattan-based university intends to appeal the decision.

Jewish Queer Youth, a nonprofit representing the interests of gay Orthodox Jews, hailed the ruling as “a victory for human dignity, mental health and safety on campus,” Rachael Fried, executive director of JQY and a Y.U. alum, said in a statement.

South African pro-Palestinian group calls for Justin Bieber to boycott Israel

(JNS) — Pop-music singer Justin Bieber is being threatened with being canceled by an anti-Israel group in South Africa if the artist goes ahead with his planned tour stop in Israel. 

A group called #Africa4Palestine said in a news release on Tuesday that its activists have purchased a large number of tickets to Bieber’s “Justice World Tour” stops in Cape Town and Johannesburg, South Africa, on Sept. 28 and Oct. 1. They promised to disrupt his performance if the concert in Tel Aviv-Jaffa, scheduled for Oct. 13, is not canceled. 

“In the 1980s, an artist was on the wrong side of history when she or he crossed the picket line and performed in apartheid South Africa,” the group wrote in its release. “Likewise, today, an artist has crossed the picket line when he or she performs in apartheid Israel.”

The group continued by listing artists who have canceled concerts in Israel since a cultural boycott of Israel was launched in 2005, including Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters, Lauryn Hill, Chuck D, Lorde and others. 

The group threatened Bieber with a serious backlash if his performance goes on as planned. Besides the press release, the group has also written directly to Bieber.

The Canadian singer recently canceled his North American tour after he was diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome, a rare disease related to shingles that has paralyzed half of his face.

Israeli-based company seeks approval to ease US shortage of baby formula

(JNS) — An Israeli-based company hopes to fill the void as the baby-formula shortage in the United States continues.

Three weeks ago, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued emergency guidance enabling the import of infant formulas produced abroad. Tel Aviv-based MyOr, an Israeli health-tech company, is among companies seeking FDA approval as its Mexican subsidiary, AlphaCare, produces and markets MyOr formulas from a plant in north-central Mexico.

“We have 200,000 cans of formula ready to be shipped right now, with a capacity to produce another 250,000 a month,” said MyOr co-founder and chief technology officer Michael Brandwein. Once it receives FDA approval, he said, the company will be able to ship formula to homes and distributors in a matter of days, as many back-end arrangements have already been made.

Among the formula products AlphaCare makes are specialty ones in very short supply.

“These are for premature babies and for infants dealing with food allergies and sensitivities,” said Brandwein.

He said the company remains hopeful that “approval will come in the next few days,” describing the process as akin to the frantic early approval process for COVID-19 vaccines.

“MyOr has received numerous requests from distressed retailers in the U.S. eager to supply our products,” said Dr. Ariel Katz, CEO of MyOr and AlphaCare. “We’re talking about the most basic and humane act of providing newborn babies with nutrition. MyOr has made supporting the community of parents in the United States our No. 1 priority.”

Tel Aviv ranked seventh in survey on world’s best tech ecosystem

(JNS) — U.S. research company Startup Genome ranked Tel Aviv seventh in an annual survey of the world’s best ecosystems for startups.

“Israel has more startups per capita than any nation in the world thanks to its tight-knit entrepreneurial community, impressive R&D capabilities, educated population and strong government support,” noted Startup Genome.

Tel Aviv’s startups are valued at $120 billion and raised a record-breaking $20 billion in 2021, making up 63 percent of the country’s total. In addition, the city had 30 unicorns, which are companies valued at more than $1 billion, and 20 that went public, raising $4 billion.

In 2021, cybersecurity companies raised $8.8 billion, triple the amount from the previous year, according to the research firm.

Other reasons for startups moving to Tel Aviv include tax benefits and deductions for single investors that invest in R&D during a company’s initial stages. Israel’s Ministry of Economy also offers wage subsidies for specific groups such as students and minorities.

JFNA estimates aid to Ukraine projected at $100 million

(JNS) — Jewish Federations of North America conducted an analysis of the emergency needs of the dozens of relief organizations they are supporting in Ukraine and is projecting a total of $99 million for emergency-aid funding through the end of 2022.

To date, some $62 million has been raised by JFNA and its partners for this next phase of the campaign, leaving a shortfall of $37 million to provide assistance to those being impacted by the war in Ukraine.

To help bridge the gap, the Wilf Family Foundations has pledged $5 million towards this next stage of funding for Ukraine aid. The donation comes during the last week of Mark Wilf’s tenure as chair of the Board of Trustees of Jewish Federations of North America.

“It has been a true honor to serve in this role and witness the impact of Jewish philanthropy to improve the lives of vulnerable populations from all backgrounds—from people in our own neighborhoods to individuals in need around the world,” he said. “I feel blessed to be able to offer this pledge on behalf of my family during my last days as board chair, understanding the enormity of the needs in Ukraine, along with the tremendous impact of philanthropy to transform lives.”

In addition to JFNA’s core partners—the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), the Jewish Agency for Israel and World ORT—they are also supporting dozens of other organizations providing critical rescue and relief to Ukrainian refugees of all backgrounds.

The aid being distributed through Jewish Federations of North America includes humanitarian relief in Ukraine; funding for rescue and aliyah operations; aid for refugees in neighboring countries; resettlement and integration of refugees; and strengthening of the regional Jewish community.

Egypt, Israel, EU sign deal to supply natural gas to European countries

(JNS) — Egypt, Israel and the European Union signed a deal on Wednesday to increase liquified natural-gas sales to E.U. countries that want to diversify from their dependence on Russian energy supplies.

The deal was signed in Cairo. European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said Israel would send gas to Egypt to liquefy it for export by sea, reported the AP.

“What a special moment. I very warmly welcome the signing of this historic agreement,” she said.

Von der Leyen later said in a joint news conference with Egypt President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi: “It is known that the Russian war against Ukraine has exposed our European dependency on Russian fossil fuels, and we want to get rid of this dependency.”

Israeli Energy Minister Karin Elharrar said “this is a statement to those who see in our region only negative forces such as division and conflict. This [Memorandum of Understanding] shows us that we are paving a new path of partnership, solidarity and sustainability.”

Von der Leyen met on Tuesday with Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and discussed strengthening bilateral relations, as well as the need to enhance cooperation in several fields, including innovation, climate change and sustainability.

Fatah official incites terror, new intifada to be called ‘Liberation Intifada’

(JNS) — A few days after Shireen Abu Akleh, a Palestinian American journalist working for Al Jazeera, was shot and killed while covering a gunfight in Jenin initiated by Palestinian terrorists, a Fatah official called for a new wave of Palestinian terror.

According to a report by Palestinian Media Watch, Fatah Nablus Branch Secretary Muhammad Hamdan said the goal of that effort would be the “liberation” of “Palestine.”

During the interview, which aired on official PA TV, Hamdan said “Allah willing, there will be a Shireen [Abu Akleh] Intifada, a Jenin Intifada, a Jerusalem Intifada, and all of our people’s activity will be planted in this intifada in the defense of Jerusalem and Jenin. Allah willing, this intifada will be the ‘Liberation Intifada.’ ”

PMW further noted that on Fatah Party social media, Fatah Central Committee member Abbas Zaki stated: “I think that the Palestinian people are on the brink of a great intifada.”

Satellite images show Iran ‘readying for space launch’

(JNS) — Iran appears to be preparing for an unannounced space launch, AP reported.

Satellite images show a rocket on a launch pad at the Imam Khomeini Spaceport in Semnan province in the north of the country, according to a report on Tuesday by AP.

The images were provided by Maxar Technologies, a space technology company, and show “a rocket on a transporter, preparing to be lifted and put on a launch tower. A later image Tuesday afternoon showed the rocket apparently on the tower,” the report stated.

“Iran did not acknowledge a forthcoming launch at the spaceport and its mission to the United Nations in New York did not immediately respond to a request for comment,” it added.

The Iranian state-run IRNA news agency said in May that the Islamic Republic would have seven domestically manufactured satellites ready for launch by March 23, while an Iranian Defense Ministry official suggested that Iran might soon test its new solid-fuel “Zuljanah” rocket, according to AP.

Israeli analysts believe that Iran’s space program is cover for the development of intercontinental ballistic missiles, which could threaten Europe in the first stage and potentially North America in later development stages.

In December, an Iranian attempt to launch three payloads into orbit failed, Reuters reported. “There have been five failed launches in a row for the Simorgh program, another satellite-carrying rocket. A separate fire at the Imam Khomeini Spaceport in February 2019 also killed three researchers, authorities said at the time,” said the report.

Israeli narrowly escaped Iranian kidnap attempt in Turkey

(JNS) — An Israeli tourist narrowly avoided an Iranian kidnapping attempt in Turkey in recent days, according to Israeli media.

The kidnappers made physical contact with their intended victim, who resisted them, according to Channel 12. The full details of the incident cannot yet be publicized, the report on Tuesday stated.

The incident comes after Channel 13 reported on Monday that a group of Israeli tourists in Istanbul had been whisked to safety by Israeli security forces, narrowly avoiding an Iranian hit squad. The tourists received a telephone call from an Israeli security official warning them not to return to their hotel, where the Iranian cell was waiting for them, according to the report.

The intended victims were evacuated to the airport in a bulletproof vehicle, and put directly onto a flight back to Israel; their luggage remained behind.

Iranian cells remain at large in Turkey, and a special task force comprising the Israel Security Agency, the Mossad and Israel’s National Security Council is working around the clock in coordination with Turkey’s security forces to contain the threat, according to Channel 12’s report. Turkish police have also deployed in unprecedented numbers to protect Israeli tourists.

Some 1,000 Israeli tourists in Turkey have received warning calls from Israeli security forces, according to the report.

“We will not hesitate to activate Israel’s power in any place in the world in order to safeguard our civilians,” Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said in a statement on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, an Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Monday that if Iran “wants to respond to Israel’s operations, we will provide our answer in the [right] place and not in a third country,” Channel 12 reported.

Former police officer who joked about Holocaust gets $1.5 million buyout

(JNS) — A suburb of Seattle is paying a former police chief who hung a Nazi insignia on his office door, as well as joked about the Holocaust, more than $1.5 million to resign and not seek to be rehired, The Associated Press reported.

Derek Kammerzell, who was with the Kent Police Department for nearly 30 years, was originally given two weeks of unpaid leave after he joked about the murder of 6 million Jews and hung the insignia of the Obergruppenführer, which during the Holocaust indicated someone was a high-ranking Nazi SS officer, on his office door in September 2020.

Following outrage from local residents, including members of the Jewish community, Kent Mayor Dana Ralph ordered Kammerzell to be put on paid administrative leave and demanded his resignation. That led to a dispute between Kammerzell’s lawyers and the city that was likely to head to litigation, according to the AP.

The city announced last week that it had resolved the matter through negotiations and would pay Kammerzell $1,520,000 to resign. If the city only fired Kammerzell, he could have been rehired through arbitration under federal and state labor laws, noted officials.

The Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle and its Jewish Community Relations Council issued a statement on June 10 saying it has been working with the city of Kent since January to address the situation.

“Though it’s disturbing that an individual who elevated and honored Nazi imagery and titles and joked about the Holocaust should receive a $1.52 million settlement, we know the City of Kent had limited options,” wrote Federation. “We believe they worked to create the best possible outcome by ensuring that Kammerzell does not return to his role as a law-enforcement officer.

“This is a step towards ensuring the safety and well-being of the Jewish community and of other groups who were made to feel targeted and unsafe through Kammerzell’s actions,” they emphasized.

 

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