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Antisemitism Watch: The pro-Iranian Houthi militia began arresting the remaining Yemenite Jews in the Kharif District, the Egyptian Al Mesryoon newspaper reported Monday. According to the report, after arresting the Jewish residents, the Houthis forced them to sell their homes, their land, and all their properties to Houthi leaders. The militia also pressured them to leave Yemen. The Jewish community of Yemen is one of the most ancient in the world, dating back close to 900 years.
About 20 gravestones in a cemetery in southern France were vandalized with swastikas and the words “Death to Jews” and “Death to the French.” The cemetery was closed to the public. No suspects have been identified in the attack.
Jewish communities in America should follow the example of those in Europe and put security measures in place in synagogues, former NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly said in an interview. He warned that “we are in a dangerous place in history.”
In the wake of a string of high-profile controversies involving the likes of rapper Ice Cube and NFL player DeSean Jackson, two more prominent black commentators called out antisemitism in the black community this week: NBA Hall of Fame member and columnist Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and sports journalist Jemele Hill.
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COVID-19: The number of people infected with the novel coronavirus in one day hit a new peak on Wednesday: 1,898, Israel’s Health Ministry reported on Thursday morning. In response to the deepening financial crisis caused by the pandemic, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a new NIS 6 billion ($1.75 billion) aid package that will see all citizens aged 18 and over receive checks for at least NIS 750 ($218). Families with one child are to receive a one-time payment of NIS 2,000 ($583). The sum rises to NIS 2,500 ($729) for those with two children, and NIS 3,000 ($875) for those with three or more.
Meanwhile, Israel started trialing a COVID-19 test that claims to provide results in just 15 minutes. A pilot program asked those seeking a virus test to submit to the current method, as well as the US Food and Drug Administration-approved Sofia 2 test, the Health Ministry said on Wednesday.
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Iranian authorities are investigating a blaze that damaged seven ships at a southern Iranian port, the latest in a string of fires and explosions that have raised suspicions of coordinated sabotage targeting the nation’s infrastructure and a nuclear facility.
Recommended Reading
- No Ethiopian left behind: Israel and Operation Moses (Dov Lipman)
- How Jewish Twitter users and celebrities took down a virtual antisemitic mob (Hen Mazzig)
- How not to be a racist: The student demand for sensitivity training (Richard L. Cravatts)
- A home for every Jew: Israel’s ‘law of return’ (Pesach Benson)
