Citizens from more than 30 countries around the world appealed to the UN Secretary General to suspend UN Human Rights Commissioner Zaid Ra’ad al-Hussein after calling Judea and Samaria communities a “war crime”, following the latest report he issued regarding the pace of construction for Jews in Judea and Samaria.

Source – Arutz Sheva 

AFSI’s Co-Executive Director, Judy Freedman Kadish, met Congressman Pete Roskam, (R-IL) at a NORPAC event held at the home of Rabbi Steven & Yael Weil in Teaneck NJ on Sunday morning, March 18. Representative Roskam earned his JD at Chicago-Kent School of Law and is in his 6th term representing his suburban Chicago constituency. Among his many other roles, Roskam serves as a co-chair of the House Republican Israel Caucus, the largest Republican congressional organization dedicated to strengthening the U.S.-Israel relationship.

In March 2017, he took part in introducing the Anti-BDS Bill stating,”The BDS movement is nothing more and nothing less than the latest attempt by Israel’s enemies to destroy the Jewish State. After their repeated military conquests ended in failure, they have now turned to economic means in the hopes of achieving the same outcome. Thankfully, the United States Congress – and the American people – will not stand for it. We will oppose all forms of economic warfare against Israel and Israelis.”

He is all for re-imposing sanctions on Iran, even if the US stands alone in doing so andwas encouraging in his assessment of the likelihood of getting the Taylor Force Bill passed in both houses of the Congress.

Congressman Roskam is clearly is one of Israel’s best friends in the Congress and we wish him continued success in all that he does for Israel and the Western World.

US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman pictured here at the Knesset

US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman slammed the Palestinian Authority Monday for its failure to condemn a string of deadly terror attacks that took the lives of three Israelis since Friday afternoon.

“Such brutality – and no condemnation from the Palestinian Authority,” said Friedman.

Adiel Kolman, 32, was stabbed in a terror attack on Hagai Street, near the Western Wall in the Old City of Jerusalem on Sunday afternoon. Kolman was taken to Shaare Zedek Hospital where he later died. Adiel was the father of four children. The terrorist was later shot and killed by security forces near Lion’s Gate.

Source – Artuz Sheva 

Last Friday two IDF soldiers were killed and two were injured after a Palestinian drove his vehicle into them outside the Mevo Dotan settlement in the northern West Bank. The soliders have been identified as Capt. Ziv Daos and Sgt. Netanel Kahlani. Two other soldiers were critically wounded.

MANY SUGGESTIONS ARE BEING MADE TO STOP THE TERRORISM. THEY SHOULD ALL BE EXPLORED – BUT ONE THING IS CERTAIN – PA TERRORISM MUST NOT BE TOLERATED AND MUST COME TO AN END. THE PASSOVER SEASON OF FREEDOM IS FAST APPROACHING. ISRAEL MUST FREE ITSELF FROM THIS SCOURGE OF TERROR. DAYENU!!!!!!!!

All of us at AFSI express our condolences to the families of the two soldiers killed and two seriously hurt Friday afternoon near Hermesh in northern Samaria. That the people of Israel should continue to experience such horrific loss is unacceptable.

Arutz Sheva story HERE

 

Thursday evening, March 15, Terrace on the Park in Queens, NY was the scene of a gathering of over 700 people, brought together by the National Council of Young Israel, to celebrate 70 years of the creation of the State of Israel, as well as President Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

Helen Freedman, AFSI’s Co-Executive Director, was one of the many honorees, given the Aishes Chayil Award. Ken Abramowitz, AFSI Board member was honored with the Shofar Award. Helen was so pleased and thankful to AFSI’s loyal members and Chizuk participants – those who join the semi-annual missions to Israel over and over again, for attending in such large numbers. It was a joyous reunion for the many friends and family who helped to make the event so meaningful.

Councilman Arieh King from Jerusalem has escorted the AFSI group around Yerushalayim for many years. We were especially pleased to greet him at the event and to see him as part of the delegation which honored Consul General Nivia Rosemary Arauz Monzon from Guatemala for that country’s announcement in support of their embassy in Jerusalem.

Sander Gerber introduced the subject of the Taylor Force Act which would withhold U.S. Funds to the PA while they continue to pay terrorists and their families for their murderous deeds. The audience was encouraged to call the offices of Congressman Eliot Engel (202) 225-2464 and Senator Mitch McConnell (202) 224-2541, to urge them to get the Bill passed in the Senate. It has already passed in the House. Stuart Force, the father of Taylor Force, z”l, who was brutally knifed in Israel by a PA terrorist, after surviving service in Iraq and Afghanistan, spoke movingly about his son and his tragic death. We know that Taylor Force is only one of the many victims of Arab terrorism. Closing off the spigot of funding for the terrorists is the only logical thing to do.

Kudos to Dinner Chairman Dr. Joseph Frager, to the Journal and Dinner Coordinators, Carol and Judah Rhine, and to the Program Chairmen, Rabbi Marc Volk and Rabbi Binyamin Hammer.

Congratulations also to all the honorees and speakers. Special thanks to Anthony Scaramucci, who concluded the evening with warm and complimentary remarks to the Jewish community.

AFSI looks forward to this beginning of a meaningful and productive partnership with NCYI in championing the many causes in Israel and America that cry for attention and action.

 

A recent article in the Gatestone Institute discusses the fact that the current leadership in Greece has a good chance of being defeated. This has the potential to reinvigorate new life into critical partnerships with Israel and the United States.

Adonis Georgiadis, the vice president of Greece’s opposition party, New Democracy,declared his support for recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

Full story HERE

The governments of former Israeli Prime Ministers Levi Eshkol and Golda Meir sought to transfer the Arabs of the Gaza Strip to Judea and Samaria, according to documents published this morning by journalists Hagai Huberman and Dr. Miriam Billig.

Arutz Sheva story HERE 

Arutz Sheva reports that Arabs from the village of Einabus this morning began clearing a road with a backhoe loader, which would connect the outskirts of the village to Yitzhar.

This is ostensibly an area under closed military zone order, but until now the army has not stopped the work.

As a sovereign nation, Israel cannot sit back with its hands tied and allow this to happen.

The land belongs to Israel and she needs to exercise her right to it.

Need we say more?

Noam Arnon, the spokesman for the Jewish community of Hevron, on Wednesday blasted the judicial system, the army and the police following the ruling of the Supreme Court that the residents of the Machpela House in Hevron would be evicted.

Arnon told Arutz Sheva that he was not surprised by the ruling. “We saw the system’s attitude to Jews who want to buy a house in Hevron. The entire system treats them unfairly, with hostility, and this is the result.”

This is not our Israel. Shame on the government.