Author: AFSI Staff

Last night on the TV show 60 Minutes, Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi was interviewed. When he was asked whether he believed that Six Million Jews were slaughtered in the Shoah, Raisi said, “Historical events should be investigated by researchers and historians.” Less reported but equally heinous was his response to the question of whether Israel had a right to exist. He asserted that “this was the right of the people of Palestine”.

In response Prime Minister Yair Lapid posted graphic images from the Holocaust to his official Twitter account. IDF Chief of General Staff Lieutenant General Aviv Kochavi on Monday slammed Raisi, “You don’t need to be a historian or researcher to understand the horrors of the Holocaust – you need to be human.” Chairman of Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum Dani Dayan labeled Raisi a “vile antisemite” and called his remarks “dangerous and deserve condemnation.”

It goes without saying that Raisi never should have been interviewed on “60 Minutes,” nor should he be a guest on any other media platform. It is clearly an attempt by Raisi to increase his legitimacy as a world leader, something no one but an Islamist could possibly give an ounce of credence. We’re hard pressed to believe that CBS doesn’t know better. It seems they would rather not heed any lessons when it comes to terrorism and that capturing ratings is all that matters. While “60 Minutes” is looking to grab a large audience, their interview with the head of the #1 State Sponsor of Terror has normalized the face of terror. What about the TV commercial sponsors? A strong message could have been sent to CBS if companies declined to sponsor last night’s show. Sadly, that did not happen.

The only good thing that did come out of last night’s show is that last night’s ratings for 60 Minutes were down from its 2021 season premiere. Maybe the public is finally waking up to the truth.

Sources:
IDF chief slams Iranian president for questioning Holocaust, by Yoav Zitun/Ynetnews.com, September 19, 2022

Lapid hits back after Iranian leader claims only ‘some signs’ of Holocaust exist, by JNS and ILH Staff, September 19, 2022

The Biden administration on Tuesday appeared to step away from urging Israel’s military to review its open-fire protocols in the wake of the killing of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh. This comes after Israeli leaders expressed ire over the US’s suggestion.

The State Department called on Israel publicly last week to consider reforming its rules of engagement after the fatal May 11 shooting, which an Israeli probe found had likely been the result of errant Israel Defense Forces fire, as a way of providing accountability for her death. But the comments sparked a furious Israeli backlash, including from interim Prime Minister Yair Lapid, who fumed over the attempt to “dictate” Israel’s policies.

State Department spokesman Ned Price said, “No one knows the IDF’s processes and procedures better than the IDF, and so it is not on us or any other country or entity to say precisely what the IDF or any military or security organization around the world should do.”

Israel stood strong for its sovereign right to conduct business as it saw fit. The US got the message. The more Israel stands up for itself in every way the more the world will respect it instead of dictating to it.

Source:
US appears to back off pressuring Israel on IDF rules of engagement after backlash, by Jacob Magid/Times of Israel, September 14, 2022

The ‘Ad Kan’ organization, which is leading the disclosure of Ra’am’s ties to Hamas, has revealed its request that the ‘Arab Union List’ party, known as Ra’am, be disqualified from running for the 25th Knesset. The Ra’am charter defines the party as the political arm of the Islamic Movement.

A party that wishes to run for Israel’s Knesset cannot fool the public and pretend to work for the good of the people while at the same time it finances (often using government money) and supports enemy groups, Hamas among them, that seek Israel’s destruction. It’s known that Ra’am’s nefarious activities also violate the law and they should not be registered on any election slate. Knesset elections exist for the people to decide on who they want to lead and shape the country. Terrorists not welcome.

Source:
Ad Kan org. demands Ra’am be barred from running over Islamic Movement ties, by Israel National News, September 14, 2022

Iran said on Monday it was ready to continue cooperating with the IAEA while revealing a drone supposedly capable of hitting major cities in Israel.

The IAEA’s Board of Governors met today, three months after adopting a resolution urging Iran to give credible answers to the agency’s investigations into uranium traces at three sites in Iran. Iran says the probes are politically motivated. “Iran announces its constructive cooperation with the agency as its obligation … While Iran has obligations, it also has rights,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani told a televised news conference.

Iran wants the world to believe it’s capable of doing the right thing while at the same time it continues to devise new ways to taunt and annihilate Israel. As long as Iran continues to build weapons production facilities in proxy nations for the sole purpose of spreading war and terror across the region and world, they can never claim to have “rights” nor be viewed as a trusted, credible country in world affairs.

Source:
Iran claims new drones ‘designed to hit Tel Aviv’ as Israel warns regime from reprisals, by Reuters and ILH Staff, September 12, 2022

Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz yesterday headed to the United States for a series of meetings with United Nations officials. The talks are expected to focus on Iran’s nuclear program and the Abraham Accords.

Gantz said, “Iran has gained knowledge, infrastructure and capabilities—much of which is irreversible. This will enable Iran to further expand its nuclear program during the period of an agreement that would have fewer restrictions. Iran would be able to acquire a nuclear weapon when said agreement ended in 2031.”

As long as Iran continues its nefarious nuclear activities, Gantz made it clear that Israel will not be bound by any deal and will maintain its right to defend itself. Despite last week’s news that a nuclear deal is off the table and won’t be signed in the foreseeable future, ongoing work must be done to stop Iran from its campaign to eliminate Israel.

Source:
Amid Iran tensions, Gantz heads to US for talks with UN officials, by JNS Brief, September 11, 2022

Just in case you’ve lost track (we know we did!) of the timeline of how Israel ended up heading to its fifth elections in two and a half years this coming November 1, Simcha Pasko has an excellent two-part “Explainer” in i24NEWS.

How much do you remember about how Israel got to this point? Read on…we promise we won’t quiz you later!

Sources:
Explainer: A timeline of Israel’s elections 2019-2022 (Part 1), by Simcha Pasko/i24NEWS, September 11, 2022 (revised September 12, 2022)

Explainer: A timeline of Israel’s elections 2019-2022 (Part 2), by Simcha Pasko/i24NEWS, September 12, 2022

After many a contentious argument between Israel and the US, a new nuclear deal between Iran and world powers is off the table and will not be signed in the foreseeable future. US officials conveyed this message to Prime Minister Yair Lapid the recent conversations he had with Joe Biden and other administration officials.

While this is welcome news, Iran still remains a worldwide threat. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said Wednesday it could not guarantee the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program and that there had been “no progress” in resolving questions over the past presence of nuclear material at undeclared sites.

The IAEA also said Iran was continuing to enrich uranium well over the limits laid down in the ailing 2015 deal, with its stockpile now over 19 times the limit set out in the accord. The level of enrichment Iran has reached is much closer to the 90-percent threshold required for use in a weapon.

This has been a long and hard fought battle with Israel’s voice at the forefront of applying pressure to stop sealing any agreement with Iran. Why did so many attempts to seal the deal finally fail? The truth finally won. Iran failed to agree to proper and timely inspections by the IAEA. Contrary to any deal, Iran has enriched its uranium so much that it now has weapon capability which could be reached in days. Iran refuses to give up on its evil intentions with its continued support of Hezbollah, Hamas, PIJ and other threats to Israel. The many attempts to resurrect this agreement simply did not address any of the real threats that Iran poses to the region and the world. Any money – and it was cash and prizes nearing a trillion dollars – that would have gone to Iran would only be used to strengthen their terrorist proxies and enrich their own nuclear program.

Now that this disastrous “deal” has collapsed for the foreseeable future, we can breathe a little bit easier knowing that Israel is that much safer. However, let’s bear in mind that Israel must continue to be vigilant of the ongoing nefarious activities of Iran.

Sources:
Biden sends message to Lapid that new Iran deal ‘off the table,’ report says, by Debbie Reiss/World Israel News, September 7, 2022

Israeli Ambassador to UN says international community knew a stronger Iran deal was needed, by Mike Wagenheim/JNS, September 8, 2022

Tehran’s $1 Trillion Deal: An Updated Forecast of Iran’s Financial Windfall From a New Nuclear Agreement, by Saeed Ghasseminejad/Foundation for Defense of Democracies, August 19, 2022

Prime Minister Yair Lapid rejected the calls from the US government that the IDF reexamine and possibly change its rules of engagement in light of the death of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Aqleh.

Speaking to graduates at the Naval Graduation Ceremony yesterday, Lapid said, “But to be clear – I will not allow an IDF soldier that was protecting himself from terrorist fire to be prosecuted just to receive applause from abroad. No one will dictate our rules of engagement to us, when we are the ones fighting for our lives. Our soldiers have the full backing of the government of Israel and the people of Israel.”

The ever astute Caroline Glick gives excellent analysis in her JNS piece ” Abu Akleh and Biden’s pro-Iran realignment: The U.S. administration is exposing Israel to existential peril.” As the US continues to stab Israel in the back, we are proud that Israel is standing strong for its sovereign right to conduct business as it sees fit.

Sources:
Lapid to US: No one can dictate our rules of engagement while we fight for our lives, by Israel National News, September 8, 2022

Abu Akleh and Biden’s pro-Iran realignment, by Caroline Glick/JNS, September 7, 2022

A Jewish ascender to the Temple Mount in an IDF uniform was arrested Tuesday morning for sitting on the steps and insisting on continuing to sit when a police officer demanded that he get up. Beyadenu,( the Temple Mount organization begun by the Israel Independence Fund), guide Eliasaf Ofan was arrested after he was attacked by an Arab woman on the holy site. “During his ascent to the Mount of Ascension, Ofan encountered an Arab woman who hit him with a sandal. On the way out, the police detained Ofan, stole his phone, and informed him that he was detained to be brought to the station,” Beyadenu CEO Tom Nisani charged in a statement to reporters. The interim Israeli government and the police have gone too far.

Sadly, as Beyadenu reports, Jewish ascenders have been targeted, arrested and ejected from the Temple Mount in record breaking numbers. Now a Jew, Eliasaf Ofan, was attacked by an Arab woman but is himself arrested – this is a blatant war declared on Jews reminiscent of a Nazi police state. The police assigned to work at the Temple Mount have become too empowered when they should only be overseeing the security and safety of all who ascend this holy site. Beyadenu’s Nisani urged that “The time has come for a civil administration on the Temple Mount.” This sounds like a very good idea but we would not want to see a civil administration put in place that ends up causing the same problems that affect Jewish residents of Judea and Samaria. Implementing a civil administration to oversee the Temple Mount will only work if its stated purpose is carried out fairly across the board – minus political bias – without appeasing Arabs. Somehow, there must be an end to discrimination against a Jew’s fundamental right to be present and to worship there.

Source:
Jewish Guides & Activists Arrested, Ejected from Temple Mount by Israeli Police, by Hana Levi Julian/Jewish Press, September 6, 2022

Mayor of Gush Etzion Shlomo Ne’eman has been appointed as the new chairman of Moetzet Yesha, the official council of Judea and Samaria.

Ne’eman said that he sees his new appointment as “…as a great responsibility and a significant mission for the settlement and the people of Israel. The first task before us is to strengthen the sovereignty and the Jewish presence in the region.” He stated that this is the time to “…continue working to develop and strengthen Israeli settlement in Judea, Samaria and the Jordan Valley.”

Many challenges lie ahead for Ne’eman and we have every confidence that he will succeed in his goals for Yesha. We wish him hatzlacha in his new position to build and strengthen the Zionist dream.

Source:
Shlomo Neeman to be Appointed New Head of Settler Council, by Jewish Press News Desk, September 6, 2022