Weekly roundup of world briefs

Antisemitic incidents in France increased by 75 percent in 2021

By Cnaan Liphshiz

(JTA) — Reports of antisemitic incidents in France increased by 75 percent in 2021, according to the French Jewish community’s main watchdog group.

SPCJ recorded 589 hate crimes against Jews last year, including a 36 percent increase in physical assaults over 2020. The group released its annual report Wednesday.

Incidents targeting people – as opposed to communal buildings and institutions – accounted for 45 percent of all incidents in 2021. Of those, 10 percent were physical assaults.

A quarter of all incidents happened inside or just outside the victims’ homes, typically perpetrated by a neighbor, SPCJ wrote, adding this was a new and worrisome phenomenon.

Use of weapons, mostly knives and guns, in antisemitic incidents was also unusually high in 2021, occurring in 20 percent of all assaults and 10 percent of all cases of intimidation, the report said.

In nearly a third of all cases, perpetrators indicated they were motivated by issues connected to Palestinians, the report added.

Dozens of incidents happened within the space of 11 days in May, when Israel and Hamas were exchanging fire amid rioting by Israeli Arabs and attacks on Arabs by Israeli Jews. During that period, SPCJ documented on average five antisemitic incidents per day.

Out of 160 incidents that SPCJ classified as “violent crimes,” 60 were assaults against people. There were three cases of arson and 68 incidents involving antisemitic vandalism. Additionally, SPCJ recorded 429 cases of what the group classified as “intimidation.”

In one incidents from 2021, guards protecting a Jewish school in Marseille overpowered a man wielding a knife whom they suspected intended to stab patrons at a nearby kosher store and bakery.

In another, occurring a month later, Jewish residents of a Paris suburb chased and overpowered a man who witnesses said tried to stab three Jews. They handed him over to police.

White House Holocaust council appointees include many with deep ties to advocacy for survivors

By Ron Kampeas

WASHINGTON (JTA) — The Biden administration is naming 12 people to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum Council, many of whom have longstanding ties to advocacy for Holocaust survivors and for Holocaust education.

Among those to be named Wednesday in a list obtained by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency is Stuart Eizenstat, who has for decades led Holocaust reparations negotiations for multiple administrations, including the current one. Biden has named Eizenstat to be chairman of the council.

Also named to the council is Abraham Foxman, who retired in 2015 as the national director of the Anti-Defamation League and who is a Holocaust survivor who has spoken frequently about his experience of being kept in hiding by a Christian woman.

Another appointee is Leah Pisar, the daughter of Samuel Pisar, a Holocaust survivor who wrote extensively about the genocide. The elder Pisar wrote the spoken text to accompany “Kaddish,” a seminal work by Leonard Bernstein. Leah Pisar has recited her father’s script at performances of “Kaddish” and heads Project Aladin, which combats antisemitism and other bigotries.

Biden has also named two longstanding members of the council to additional terms: Tom Bernstein, a former chairman, and Allan Holt, its current vice-chairman. Another appointee is Susan K. Stern, who has for decades been involved in the Jewish Federations system and is a past chairwoman of UJA-Federation of New York.

The council has 68 members, including presidential appointees, who serve five-year terms, along with senators and representatives and members of the education, interior and state departments.

Former President Donald Trump raised eyebrows a year ago when he named to the council during his lame-duck period after his election loss a number of young acolytes who had little to no background in relation to the Holocaust.

Hundreds arrested in months-long operation to rein in Arab-sector crime

(Israel Hayom via JNS) — Following three months of intensive efforts to rein in crime in the Arab sector, senior Israel Police officials said on Tuesday that 98 Arab Israeli criminals from three crime organizations had been taken off the street.

According to Israel Police data, since the operation’s launch in Oct. 2021, 243 suspects have been arrested and indictments have been filed against 98 of the 243 targets.

Hundreds of weapons, including 43 pistols, 31 rifles and 42 grenades, hundreds of weapons parts, explosives and ammunition were seized. In addition, over 20 million shekels (around $6.3 million) were seized, including in luxury cars, bank accounts and cash.

The vast majority of illegal weapons seized by police were located in Arab Israeli communities. They were found in a variety of locations, including in private residences, businesses, inside cars, in hidden locations, on persons’ bodies, as well as hidden underground. Over 60 assets were seized, and hundreds of investigations were opened over various offenses.

On Tuesday morning, six suspects were arrested on suspicion of racketeering, fraud and money laundering.

Senior Israel Police official Dror Asraf said the operation was having a significant impact “on crime on the Arab street and leading to a significant decrease in the volume of violent crimes, racketeering, and shootings.”

He noted a change in perception on the Arab street, which he said was cooperating with police and demanding an increased police presence and activity in Arab communities.

“The police have made tackling crime and violence in Arab society a central goal, and the operation data proves we are on the right path,” he said. According to Asraf, the operation will continue in the coming months.

This article first appeared in Israel Hayom.

Abbas Palestinian rival Dahlan delivers 1 million COVID vaccines to Gaza Strip

(JNS) — Mohammed Dahlan, a longtime rival of Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas, sent 1 million doses of coronavirus vaccine to the Gaza Strip from the United Arab Emirates.

According to a report by AFP, the vaccines arrived on Wednesday.

Gaza Health Ministry spokesman Mahmoud Hammad said the Russian-made Sputnik V COVID-19 doses were the largest shipment yet of vaccines to Gaza. They passed through the Rafah border crossing with Egypt.

Dahlan is based in the UAE; in the past, he served as security chief under Abbas.

He has organized similar aid shipments to Gaza as he seeks to promote his image among Palestinian citizenry.

Israel approves fourth COVID-19 shot for high-risk individuals 18 and up

(JNS) — Israeli Ministry of Health director-general Nachman Ash approved a fourth Pfizer coronavirus vaccine shot on Wednesday for people over the age of 18 who suffer from underlying medical conditions, are at high risk of developing severe COVID-19 and their caregivers.

The decision was made in light of recent Health Ministry data that found a fourth jab is two times more effective at preventing infection than only a third shot and three to five times more effective at stopping severe disease.

The move comes as Israel’s health system announced that it would need to operate on “Shabbat mode” in some departments due to the high number of coronavirus patients.

More than 76,000 new Omicron cases were diagnosed in Israel on Tuesday, reported the Health Ministry late Wednesday. More than 2,300 people are hospitalized with the virus, including more than 900 in serious conditions.

According to the ministry, the fourth dose will be given on condition that four months have passed since the date of receiving the third vaccine.

Israel, NASA set to cooperate on space programs centered around Mars, moon

(JNS) — Israel and NASA are set to cooperate on the joint study of space, the moon and Mars, according to a report in recent days by EurAsian Times.

Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid said the Jewish state will be a part of the Artemis Accords to boost cooperation in space-related trade, economics and industries among various country signatories.

According to NASA’s website, through Artemis “NASA aims to land the first woman and first person of color on the moon, heralding a new era for space exploration and utilization.”

It added that “international partnerships will play a key role in achieving a sustainable and robust presence on the moon while preparing to conduct a historic human mission to Mars.”

“The Artemis Accords will describe a shared vision for principles, grounded in the Outer Space Treaty of 1967, to create a safe and transparent environment which facilitates exploration, science and commercial activities for all of humanity to enjoy,” said the space agency.

As of October, in addition to the United States, 12 other countries signed the accords: Australia, Brazil, Canada, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Poland, the Republic of Korea, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom.

Meanwhile, in 2024, Israel is scheduled to launch its “Beresheet 2” project to touch down on the moon, made up of three spacecraft, an orbiter and two landers.

Elbit awarded $16 million to build new space telescope for Weizmann Institute

(JNS) Israeli defense company Elbit Systems announced on Wednesday that it had won a $16 million contract to supply a space telescope to the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot.

The telescope will be part of Israel’s Ultraviolet Transient Astronomy Satellite (“ULTRASAT”) program to observe and research deep space, said Elbit.

“The ULTRASAT program, jointly managed and funded by the Weizmann Institute of Science and the Israeli Space Agency, is carried out in association with the German DESY research center. The contract will be performed over a period of two years,” it added.

“Elbit Systems will develop, manufacture and integrate a highly sensitive, wide field of view (200 square degrees) ultraviolet space telescope that is intended to help scientists in understanding the creation of heavy elements, black holes and gravitational waves, and to discover astronomical phenomena such as supernovas (star explosions),” said the company.

It noted its record of providing space cameras, satellites and other electronic instruments of its production to space programs to other areas of the world, such as the United States, Europe, South Korea and Brazil.

“We are proud to take part in this scientific endeavor lending our capabilities and experience to the effort to better understand nature,” stated Oren Sabag, general manager of Elbit Systems ISTAR EW (Intelligence Surveillance Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance and Electronic Warfare) Division.

The telescope is being designed for a three-year orbit at 36,000 kilometers from Earth.

Aoun says Lebanon ready to restart talks with Israel on maritime borders

(JNS) — Lebanese President Michel Aoun declared on Wednesday that his country was prepared to restart indirect negotiations with Israel over the two countries’ maritime borders.

According to Israel’s Kan news, Israel responded to the announcement by saying that “for us, the negotiations have never been stopped. But Lebanon must stop raising new demands.”

Aoun’s comments on restarting negotiations regarding the demarcation of international boundaries on the Mediterranean Sea were made to the U.N. mission in Lebanon, according to I24.

Aoun stressed that the drafting of these borders must be done “in a way that preserves Lebanon’s sovereignty.”

The report noted that American mediator Amos Hochstein will meet in Israel next week with Energy Minister Karine Elharrar.

Discussions could open up access to potentially lucrative natural-gas reserves that Lebanon seeks to tap as the country endures a devastating economic crisis the World Bank calls one of the worst in a century, it added.

The United States is organizing the indirect talks.

“Hochstein reportedly told both sides that he will give up on seeking a resolution to the dispute if a deal is not reached by the March parliamentary elections,” said the report.

Anti-Semitic fliers dispersed in US by group ‘motivated by hatred of Jews’

(JNS) — Anti-Semitic fliers distributed in two Florida cities with large Jewish populations have also been found in several other states.

The fliers name senior health officials in the United States that are Jewish and falsely claim that Jews are responsible for the U.S. government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, stating: “Every single aspect of the COVID agenda is Jewish.”

They were distributed to homes in Miami Beach and Surfside, Fla., over the weekend. Police said they were also found in the San Francisco neighborhood of Pacific Heights on Sunday, as well as in the city of Chico in Northern California.

The Anti-Defamation League said the fliers were also seen in Texas, Colorado, Maryland and Wisconsin.

The ADL additionally shared information about those responsible, saying they are “a loose network of individuals that engages in anti-Semitic stunts to harass Jews,” and that “individuals associated with this network include a range of anti-Semites and white supremacists who are motivated and united by their hatred of Jews.”

Anyone who has seen the fliers is encouraged to report them to the ADL.

“We want to make sure that law-enforcement investigates and get to the bottom of exactly what is going on,” said Teresa Drenick, deputy director of the ADL’s Central Pacific Region.

China was Israel’s largest source of imports in 2021, surpassing US

By Jordyn Haime

(JTA) — China became Israel’s largest source of imports in 2021, surpassing the United States, according to data released by Israel’s National Bureau of Statistics on Thursday.

Last year, Israel imported $10.7 billion in goods from China, compared with $7.7 billion in 2020, a nearly 40% increase.

Israel’s imports from the United States, previously its largest import source, totaled $8.2 billion, a slight increase from 2020. The United States remained Israel’s largest export destination.

Israel’s largest trade deficit was also with China, totaling $6.6 billion.

The new data comes shortly after Israel vowed to keep the Biden administration in the loop on any major trade deals with China, in an effort to avoid further tensions. According to a Haaretz report, the United States has not made explicit demands, but Israeli officials have begun discussing the state’s policy toward China.

Both the Biden and the Trump administrations have expressed concerns about the warming relationship between Israel and China as the latter’s ties with Europe and the United States have soured.

Israel to plant 450,000 trees in cities in effort to counter effects of climate change

By Shira Hanau

(JTA) — Israel’s cabinet approved a plan to plant 450,000 trees in the country’s cities to mitigate some effects of climate change by offering more shade and cooler temperatures.

The plan, which is predicted to cost about 2.25 billion shekels, or $716 million, will be carried out between now and 2040. The goal of the plan is for 70% of sidewalks to be shaded by trees.

“The government of Israel has set the subject of climate as a national aim. More than 90% of the country’s residents live in urban communities, and the hotter the climate gets, the harder it will be to move around outside,” Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said, according to The Times of Israel.

The plan is meant to both protect residents of cities from sizzling temperatures as the climate changes in Israel’s already hot climate but also to prevent further damage from climate change. Trees recycle carbon dioxide, one of the gases emitted by polluting cars, as well as anchor soil and absorb rainfall, mitigating the effects of flooding, which has become an increasingly common event in Israel.

The resolution passed Sunday by the cabinet called trees “critical urban infrastructure, especially in a time of climate change.”

But even as Israel plans for new tree saplings, hundreds of thousands of more mature trees are being cut down each year for reasons like construction, according to Haaretz. In response to questions about tree felling by Haaretz, Israel’s Environmental Protection Agency said it would establish a group to “look into aspects of preventing felling, both in public areas and in private gardens.”