“In the wake of Airbnb’s decision to ban Jewish homes in Jerusalem and the West Bank, we made it clear the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement is wrong, and it has no place in the free enterprise of the United States of America,” said VP Mike Pence speaking at a conference last week.
In response to the Airbnb decision – and in only a week – Koshbn is up and running! United With Israel reports that Koshbn is a portal of kosher friendly guest rentals around the world. Read more HERE.
Former minister and Likud member Gideon Sa’ar participated last week in the My Israel conference.
Sa’ar expressed his strong support for Israeli sovereignty over Judea and Samaria. “We need to make a move that will bring about normalization and say that we’re there forever. We must apply sovereignty in the Israeli settlement areas and we must build everywhere in the Land of Israel.”
An unprecedented UN resolution condemning Hamas is being promoted by the United States and Israel.
The resolution, a joint move by Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon and outgoing US Ambassador Nikki Haley, excoriates Hamas’ terrorist activities, its rocket fire on Israel, its incitement to violence, and its use of civilian resources for military purposes, predominately its sprawling grid of terror tunnels.
The Jewish Press reports that the Israeli High court ruled that 522 dunams (129 acres) of disputed land near Kibbutz Rosh Tzurim in Gush Etzion does in fact belong to the Kibbutz and a subsidiary organization of the Jewish National Fund.
Arabs were claiming that this land belonged to them.
Today’s Times of Israel reports that Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan said that Israel is “closer than ever” to re-occupying the Gaza Strip and “must move from defense to offense.”
He further clarified his statement to mean “targeted killings of the terrorist leaders of Hamas’ military wing. And it means being willing to capture and hold the Gaza Strip, until we dismantle the terrorist infrastructure.”
Retired General John Abizaid has been nominated by President Trump as ambassador to Saudi Arabia, a position that has been open for several years.
Abizaid’s credentials are impressive and make him and ideal choice for this position:
Abizaid’s nomination as ambassador to Saudi Arabia comes at a crucial juncture for US-Saudi relations and also Riyadh’s role in the region.
A Palestinian Arab from Qalqilya was indicted for plotting to kill renowned pioneers of Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria, including Daniella Weiss and Moshe Zar.
Daniella Weiss is a close and dear friend of AFSI. Moshe Zar is a friend who bought land and gave some to a group of young idealists in memory of his son who was killed. That is Chavat Gilad. AFSI also installed cameras there in the spring.
Hearing that these two were targets of this vile plot hits us at AFSI particularly hard. We are longtime friends and admirers of these two brave leaders. Daniella’s bravery and strength was the driving force behind Kedumim where she served as Mayor for many years.
Moshe Zar’s bravery is legendary. Following his son, Gilad’s murder he gave land to young idealists who created the Yishuv of Chavat Gilad. AFSI has many close friends in that Yishuv and donated a security camera to the community just last Spring.
Airbnb announced that it will no longer list homes in Judea and Samaria following years of criticism of Airbnb for allowing such listings.
Airbnb stated, “We are most certainly not the experts when it comes to the historical disputes in this region.”
Obviously, we don’t like this. It would behoove Airbnb to educate itself on the truth about Judea and Samaria and not use an excuse and blame it on “historical disputes.” Moreover, we think this is anti-semtisim.
US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley says that in prior years the US abstained from voting ‘no’ on the annual UN resolution, “The Occupied Syrian Golan.” This resolution repeatedly condemns Israel and it’s “occupation” of the Golan Heights.
This year is different. Here is why the US voted ‘no’: “Given the resolution’s anti-Israel bias, as well as the militarization of the Syrian Golan border, and a worsening humanitarian crisis, this year the United States has decided to vote no on the resolution.”
Artuz Sheva report HERE.
The Jerusalem Post reports that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that the Golan Heights is a part of Israel and will remain under its sovereignty forever.
Israeli NGO Shurat HaDin has placed Facebook and its Israeli branch under formal legal notice for allowing Hamas’s Al-Aqsa TV to maintain Facebook and Instagram accounts.
In a nutshell, Shurat HaDin argues that because the state-owned TV channel in Gaza is run by Hamas, Facebook’s maintenance of its account is comparable to providing the organization with support and resources.
Israel suffered the most intense rocket attacks this week and we know that the hateful content Facebook allows continues to incite anti-Israel rhetoric. AFSI applauds the vital work of Shurat HaDin as it works to remove anti-Israel content from this social media platform.
Jerusalem Post story HERE.
