Today’s Top Stories
1. The Arkansas Times is challenging in federal court an anti-BDS law that requires state contractors to pledge not to boycott Israel. At stake: advertising accounts with state institutions:
The Times initiated the suit after the University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College, which has advertised regularly in the Times and its sister publications, informed the Times that it had to sign a certification that it would not engage in a boycott of Israel if it wanted to continue to receive advertising contracts from the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees on behalf of UAPTC. The university imposed this condition because Act 710 requires all state institutions to do so. Times publisher Alan Leveritt declined, and UAPTC has refused to advertise further with the Times. The Times has never participated in a boycott of Israel or editorialized in support of one.
2. The IDF uncovered a third Hezbollah tunnel dug from Lebanon into Israel.
3. The FBI arrested an Ohio man plotting attacks on Toledo synagogues. Damon Joseph told officials he was a supporter of Islamic State and was inspired by the Pittsburgh synagogue massacre. He was arrested while acquiring two AR-15-style rifles from an undercover agent.
The same day, the FBI also announced the unrelated arrest of a Toledo woman who sought to carry out a mass casualty attack at a bar.
4. The Guardian: Hyperlinking to Hate: An article in The Guardian unacceptably links to the website of MEMO, a propaganda site affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood and Interpal, two terror-supporting organizations.
Join the fight for Israel’s fair coverage in the news
In the News
• According to The Australian and SBS News, the Australian cabinet is expected to formally recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, but delay an embassy move due to costs. Reports said a consular office would be opened in the meantime.
What is unclear is if it will recognise West Jerusalem as the capital, or a broader definition which recognised Jerusalem but without prejudice to future borders set in any peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians. This is regarded as an important distinction, as any future border is likely to involve land swaps.
• Haifa’s Arab deputy mayor stepped down over comments in support of Hamas and Hezbollah.
• Palestinian car-rammings were foiled by responding forces in Hebron and the northern Jordan Valley yesterday. No Israelis were hurt in either incident.
• Israeli security forces continue to search for the Palestinians who shot at a group of Israelis at the entrance to the Ofra settlement earlier this week. The Media Line examines the complexities of manhunts in the West Bank.
• At a gathering of Israeli diplomats, several ambassadors criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for budget cuts, poor salaries, and the shuttering of diplomatic missions, per Israeli media reports. Netanyahu also serves as acting foreign minister. Employees of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have gone on strike in the past, hobbling consular services.
• The Knesset passed a law allowing victims of sexual abuse to speak out without court permission. “Until now, the penal code has prohibited publication of details that could identify the victim unless a judge approved a victim’s letter of consent to publicity or ruled that publicity was permissible because of special circumstances.”
• I can’t imagine clerks at any other city hall in the world dealing with the likes of this:
Jerusalem Municipality Rejects Plea to ‘Practice Animal Sacrifice’ for Future Jewish Temple
• Factions within Australia’s Labour Party are trying to work out a compromise on granting recognition to a state of Palestine ahead of next week’s national conference. The Australian explains in a nutshell:
Under the deal, conference would pass a motion which “urges” Labor to recognise Palestine, but does not commit a future [Bill] Shorten government to immediately recognize a future Palestinian state if elected.
• Several Birthright trip providers said they’re seeing a sharp drop in US participation. They told Haaretz the reasons could be a change in eligibility for the free trips, or “that young American Jews are growing increasingly disengaged from Israel, and have less and less interest in visiting.”
• Around the world: Canberra‘s Jewish community ‘living in fear’ due to anti-Semitic attacks. A Jewish teacher sued a New Jersey Catholic school after pupils “threw coins at him” and decorated desks with swastikas and antisemitic comments. Antisemitic, racist and homophobic graffiti was found at a Boston-area high school
Commentary
• Cheers to rocker Nick Cave for going out on a limb responding to musician Brian Eno’s support for boycotting Israel.
I think the cultural boycott of Israel is cowardly and shameful. In fact, this is partly the reason I am playing Israel – not as support for any particular political entity but as a principled stand against those who wish to bully, shame and silence musicians . . .
How far must we have strayed from the transformative nature of music to feel justified in weaponising music and using it to punish ordinary Israeli citizens for the actions of their government. Furthermore, what has brought us to the point where certain musicians feel it is ethically sound to use forms of coercion and intimidation, in the form of ‘open’ letters, on fellow musicians who don’t agree with their point of view?
• Here are other commentaries I’m reading today:
– Alex Fishman: Failing to deal with West Bank violence is a boon for Hamas
– Benny Avni: Israel’s blitz of Hezbollah’s terror tunnels will help win the PR war
– Amos Harel: Israeli operation against Hezbollah tunnels enters its explosive stage
– Jerusalem Post (staff-ed): UNIFIL’s moral mandate
– Avigdor Liberman: Nations of the free world must speak in unison on Iran
– Bassam Tawil: UN vote approves terror, torpedoes peace
– Gadi Shamni: It’s time to divorce the Palestinians
– Abe Greenwald: Finding the good in antisemites
– Daniel Schwammenthal: ‘Anti-Zionism’ threatens Europe’s Jews (click via Twitter)
– Michael Keshmiri: Don’t overlook antisemitism cloaked in progressive values
– Ron Kampeas: Here’s why the arrest of a Chinese tech mogul matters for Iran — and Israel
Featured image: CC BY-NC Jurg Stuker; Arkansas CC BY Stuart Seeger; Haifa CC BY-NC-ND Dr. Thomas Liptak; Cave via YouTube/Charles Slane;
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