German Intelligence: BDS a Security Threat, Antisemitic

Today’s Top Stories

1. In a precedent-setting move, German intelligence labeled BDS as antisemitic and a security threat, the Jerusalem Post reports. “Labeling BDS as antisemitic could have far-reaching consequences for German politicians and public and private organizations that engage in pro-BDS activity.”

For decades, the Jerusalem consulate has operated differently than almost every other consulate around the world. Rather than reporting to the U.S. Embassy in Israel, it has reported directly to the State Department in Washington, giving the Palestinians an unfiltered channel to engage with the U.S. government.

Meanwhile, Amb. Friedman discussed the embassy move, the Trump administration’s peace plans, bipartisan support American support for Israel and more in a Q+A with the Times of Israel.

3. Is a major American BDS umbrella organization linked to Palestinian terror groups? Tablet takes a closer look:

The US Campaign, which is officially called Education for Just Peace in the Middle East, coordinates the efforts of 329 different pro-BDS organizations “working to advocate for Palestinian rights and a shift in US policy … bound by commonly shared principles on Palestine solidarity as well as our anti-racism principles,” according to the group’s website.

But as Tablet confirmed , the group also helps facilitate tax-exempt donations to a Palestinian coalition that includes Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, and other groups the U.S. State Department designates as terror organizations.

4. The Village Idiot: Irish Magazine’s Flawed Article: Investigative journalist Frank Connolly demonstrates that he has done very little investigating into the facts.

Israel and the Palestinians

• Israeli jets launched air strikes on terror targets in Gaza overnight in retaliation for Saturday evening mortar fire and burning kites. More than 500 acres of a nature reserve adjacent to Kibbutz Carmia were devastated by the worst fire yet triggered by the kites. Authorities said about one-third of the reserve was destroyed. By the way, Israeli media reports that Gazans have improved the way they play with fire, going beyond kites:

Today, authorities are battling helium balloons carrying long-burning materials like charcoal. The balloons are capable of flying several kilometers into Israel and sparking fires farther afield.

• Officials in Jerusalem and Damascus denied reports that a deal had been reached to remove foreign fighters — including Iranian and Hezbollah personnel — from near the Israeli-Syrian border.

• Israeli diplomats are upbeat about an emerging US strategy to combat the UN Security Council’s bias against the Jewish state. Whenever a one-sided resolution is introduced — in this case, a Kuwait-sponsored resolution condemning Israel and calling for international protection of Palestinians in Gaza — the US will put forward a counter-measure, or what Ambassador Danny Danon called “a proactive effort to expose the hypocrisy of the council.”

• Hamas is in crisis, with no answers for improving Gaza’s quality of life, few regional allies, no leverage to get Israel and Egypt to lift the Strip’s blockade and no means of pressuring the Palestinian Authority on reconciliation. Gazans are questioning if the “March of Return” accomplished anything at all. I’m sure the terror group’s apologists will have what to say about this Washington Post report.

• Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop is demanding answers (“assurances” in diplospeak) on whether or not Aussie aid to the Palestinian Authority was used for terror stipends. More on the story at The Australian.

• Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blocked a Knesset debate over recognizing the Armenian genocide debate to avoid ‘aiding Erdogan,’ the Times of Israel reports.

• Israel will participate for the first time in a biennial naval exercise held in Hawaii at the end of June. With 27 countries taking part, the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) naval exercise is the world’s largest. More at Israel Defense and Stars and Stripes.

• NATO won’t aid Israel if Iran attacks. “Jens Stoltenberg told the magazine Der Spiegel in comments published Saturday that Israel is a partner, but not a member and that NATO’s ‘security guarantee’ doesn’t apply to Israel.'” It’s obvious that Israel isn’t a full member of NATO, so the Jerusalem Post delves into why Stoltenberg stated this now.

• A 21-year old Palestinian medic, Razan al-Najjar, was shot and killed during Friday’s Gaza border clashes. The IDF said it’s investigating the shooting. Her death is indeed tragic. Peter Lerner shed a light on the complexities of the situation by tweeting a photo and a video of a Palestinian in what appears to be a white medic’s coat trying to breach the border fence. Palestinians lit tires, threw rocks and firebombs and flew flaming kites.

Around the World

• Jordan rocked by biggest anti-government protests in years as demonstrators rally against austerity measures.

Jordan’s economy has deteriorated in the last few years for several reasons, among which are the conduct of recent governments and the intake of over a million Syrian refugees. Despite the protests, opposition circles have not called to oust the government or king, who’s is seen as a stabilizing factor and a keeper of the kingdom’s institutions.

Meanwhile, the kingdom’s stability is a supreme security concern from Israel’s standpoint. At this point, officials in Jerusalem are closely following the demonstrations in Jordan as well as the regime’s efforts to halt the protest.

• The Daily Telegraph reports that Jeremy Corbyn’s right-hand man, John McDonnell (shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer), is president of a group campaigning in support of Labour figures accused of anti-Semitism.

• Following BDS protests, a major Japanese department store removed Israeli wines produced in the Golan.

• Kings College London set a precedent by becoming one of the first UK universities to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism.

Commentary

• Here’s what else I’m reading today . . .

– Jonathan Marcus: Is Israel driving a wedge between Russia and Iran?
– M.K. Bhadrakumar: Russia censures Iran, expects Israel to help restore ties with US
– Zev Chafets: It’s time to recognize reality on Israel’s Golan claim
– Haviv Rettig Gur: Why Palestinians care what Donald Trump thinks about Jerusalem
– James Kennard: Hamas must be held to account for the failure of the Palestinian dream
– Amb. Mark Sofer: The truth behind Hamas and the Gaza protests
– Eldad Beck: The European media’s Palestinian propaganda
– Maj. Gen. (ret.) Gershon Hacohen: Is toppling Hamas necessary?
– Neri Zilber: Israel and Hamas: Negotiating with rockets and bombs
– Evelyn Gordon: Baby Layla shows what’s wrong with Israel’s PR
– Giora Eiland: Needed: A different Gaza strategy

– Robert Morgenthau: The dangerous perversion of ‘genocide’: Israel’s critics distort a crucial term
– Yossi Beilin: Gaza isn’t a lost cause
– Bassam Tawil: EU and Palestinian illegal ‘facts on the ground’
– Dror Eydar: It’s not the ‘occupation,’ it’s the Jews
– Jonathan Marks: Do Jews get to define antisemitism?
– David May: South Africa adds to its long record of Israel-bashing
– Edwin Black: Why International Farhud Day stymies invented Palestinian history
– Nick Timothy: Britain must make it harder for people to march in support of Hezbollah
– Keith Kahn-Harris: To ask Corbyn to support Israel is an impossible demand
– Spengler: The safest country for European Jews? Try Hungary

Featured image: CC BY Steve Soblick; Friedman via YouTube/US Embassy Jerusalem; navy via Instagram/israeli_navy; wine CC BY-ND Angelo Amboldi; quill CC0 Pixabay/Ashreila;

For more, see yesterday’s Israel Daily News Stream and join the IDNS on Facebook.

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