Weekly roundup of world briefs

Israeli-owned eatery in London hit with ‘free Palestine’ graffiti

By Cnaan Liphshiz

(JTA) — Unidentified individuals spray-painted the words “free Palestine” on the facade of an Israeli-owned cafe in London.

The incident, which the owner Michael Levi suspects was an antisemitic hate crime, occurred on May 14 at Michaels Brasserie, the Jewish News of London reported on Tuesday.

The graffiti was painted there late at night on a Saturday, the report said.

Police arrived at the café and documented the incident and are looking into it, Levi told the Jewish News. Levi said that there was nothing Jewish about the cafe’s facade when it was vandalized.

”I can’t really get angry with people who choose this path. I just feel ashamed and hurt, and upset. We are just try to live our lives doing the best we can ... and then this,” he told the newspaper.

The café serves Middle Eastern foods popular in Israel and in Arab countries, including shakshuka, shawarma and smoked eggplant.

IDF seizes 1 million shekels worth of drugs at Egyptian border

(JNS) — The Israel Defense Forces announced on Wednesday that it had thwarted an attempt to smuggle narcotics worth 1 million shekels, an estimated $300,000, into the country from Egypt.

IDF forces seized 105 kilograms of drugs and night-vision goggles, and arrested one suspect, the IDF said in a statement.

On April 24, Israeli security forces seized 200 kilograms of narcotics at the Israel-Egypt border, worth an estimated 4 million shekels ($1.2 million).

Once largely the domain of police, the IDF has increasingly become involved in such incidents in recent years, out of concern that if the drug smugglers can reliably infiltrate the border, terrorists would be quick to follow.

New York state lawmakers pass Holocaust Education Bill

(JNS) — The New York State Senate unanimously passed a bill on Wednesday that will ensure that schools across New York are teaching students about the Holocaust, as required by law. 

The bill, which unanimously passed the State Assembly earlier this week, will now be sent to Gov. Kathy Hochul for consideration. 

The legislation authorizes the New York State Education Department to survey schools to determine if they are teaching students about the Holocaust appropriately at each grade level, as required under existing law. It will also examine whether a school district is meeting learning standards about the Holocaust. 

Districts not in compliance will be required to submit a “corrective-action plan” on how they expect to comply with learning standards. The survey’s findings will be accessible to legislative leaders.

The bill was sponsored by State Sen. Anna M. Kaplan and Assemblywoman Nily Rozic.

After the bill’s passing in the Senate, Kaplan said that “with anti-Semitism on the rise and Holocaust misinformation exploding around the world, it’s never been more important that we learn the lessons of the Holocaust and ensure our next generation knows about our history—no matter how dark or difficult the conversation may be. It’s why I’ve fought tirelessly to pass the Holocaust Education Bill, and I’m thrilled to be able to pass it today so that we can ensure we ‘Never Forget.’ ”

UK chief rabbi issues prayer for Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee

(JNS) — Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, chief rabbi of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth, wished Queen Elizabeth II “many more years of blessing” in a prayer that he issued on Wednesday in honor of her Platinum Jubilee.

Four days of celebrations will take place in the United Kingdom starting on June 2 to mark her 70 years on the throne.

In his prayer, Mirvis also called for the Queen, the Prince of Wales and the entire Royal Family to be blessed with years of health and strength.

“Her crown is honor and majesty; her scepter, law and morality. Her concern has been for welfare, freedom and unity, and in the lands of her dominion she has sustained justice and liberty for all races, tongues and creeds,” he said.

“Together with all our fellow citizens, we fervently pray that she be granted many more years of blessing so that she may continue to bring honor and glory to the Crown and to all her people,” he added.

The rabbi additionally blessed the Royal Family that they should be granted “wisdom and understanding … so that they and we may walk together in the paths of unity, freedom and harmony, and may a new spirit inspire the nations of the world so that we may live together in righteousness and peace.”

“In this year of joyful remembrance and celebration, we express our deepest sentiments of loyalty, esteem and gratitude,” he concluded his prayer by saying. “We pray for the peace and prosperity of Britain and the Commonwealth, for the well-being of the House of Israel and for the redemption of all mankind under the sovereignty of God. May this, our prayer, be Your will speedily in our days, Amen.”

Baltimore-area JCC receives bomb threat, second in two weeks

(JNS) — The Jewish Community Center of Greater Baltimore received an anti-Semitic bomb threat on Tuesday, its second in less than two weeks.

The first one, sent on May 15, led to the evacuation of JCC’s Rosenblum Owings Mills in Maryland. A second JCC site, in Weinberg Park Heights, was closed that day.

According to WMAR 2 News, the most recent threat was similar in tone to the earlier bomb threat.

Law-enforcement officials did a sweep of both facilities and deemed the threats to be noncredible.

The JCC in St. Louis received a similar scare earlier this month, and related bomb threats were sent to Jewish Community Centers across the country in the last several months, according to JCC leadership.

“The threat we and other JCCs have received are full of anti-Semitic language and causes frustration and anxiety,” said Barak Hermann, CEO of the JCC of Greater Baltimore, and Laura Rubenstein, the JCC’s board chair, in a statement.

They added: “We are saddened that situations like these continue to occur. We take the security of our JCC campuses very seriously and are grateful for the tremendous financial support we receive … to be able to have full-time security personnel at both campuses. This is a good time to remind everyone that if you see something, say something. … We will continue to focus our work at the JCC on building a safe, welcoming, and inclusive community for everyone.”

Explosion at Iranian military facility leaves two dead, several wounded

By Neta Bar

(Israel Hayom via JNS) — An explosion at Iran’s Parchin military base has left two people dead and several others wounded, the country’s media reported Thursday.

The Tasnim News Agency cited Iranian officials as saying that an “industrial accident” had taken place in one of the facilities on base. Other Iranian media outlets reported that an explosion took place at the heart of the military compound, killing two “military experts.”

The Intellitimes intelligence blog cited media reports alleging that the explosion was the result of a drone strike.

Parchin is a large military complex located about 30 kilometers, ab0ut 20 miles, southeast of Tehran. It is closely linked to the Islamic Republic’s missile program and is also believed to house sites associated with Iranian nuclear weapons.

While Iran denies any nefarious activity is taking place at the complex, it consistently denies International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors access to the site.

A massive blast rocked the Parchin base on June 26, 2020. The Iranian Defense Ministry said at the time that there had been an explosion at a gas storage facility in the “public area” of Parchin, not the military site.

This article first appeared in Israel Hayom.

Pro-Hezbollah, Iran social media promotes ‘BDS Training Day’ in Paris

(JNS) — The pro-Hezbollah and pro-Iran “Axe de la Résistance” (‘Axis of Resistance’) Telegram channel shared a post promoting a BDS training event, the Middle East Media Research Institute’s Jihad and Terrorism Threat Monitor stated in a report shared with JNS.

The “Axis of Resistance” shared a similar post on its Twitter account on May 25, the day of the event.

The promotional graphic shows an anti-Israel demonstration and a banner reading: “BDS-Boycott Israel Apartheid.”

The poster reads: “BDS France Paris-and-suburbs invites you to a BDS training day, on Wednesday 25 May, 2022, at 7 p.m. at the CICP, 21ter Voltaire street, 75011.”

The CICP venue is the “Centre international de culture Populaire” (International Folk Culture Center). The online CICP calendar did not list the BDS training event, nor did the French BDS website.

MEMRI-JTTM assesses that since the “Axis of Resistance” was “the only platform promoting the event; thus, it appears that it was not meant to be widely publicized but was aimed only at the ‘resistance’-motivated.”

The flags in the group’s signature include Iran, the Palestinians, Lebanon, Iraq, Syria and Yemen.

New York mayor and Israel’s immigration minister talk connections, anti-Semitism

(JNS) — Israeli Immigration and Absorption Minister Pnina Tamano-Shata met on Monday with New York City Mayor Eric Adams at City Hall in Lower Manhattan.

They talked about strengthening the connection between Israel and New York in the backdrop of a surge of support for Israel as part of the “Celebrate Israel Parade” that took place on Sunday down Fifth Avenue in Manhattan and was attended by tens of thousands of people.

Tamano-Shata, an Ethiopian-born immigrant to Israel and the first Ethiopian woman to enter the Knesset back in 2013, made it a point to say that “Eric Adams is a pioneer from the black community and a true friend of Israel. He exemplified New York’s key messages of equality and the creation of bridges between the various communities in New York. I thanked Adams for standing by New York alongside Israel during these challenging times, as we saw in the great march of support for Israel. He sees great importance in connecting with the Jewish communities in his city for increased security in their districts.”

She added: “I was inspired to hear the fascinating story of his life as a member of the black community who, following incidents of police violence and inequality of opportunity he experienced himself, decided to enter the police and then politics to change and correct from the most significant roles.”

The two also discussed the rise in anti-Semitism in the city, particularly in areas with significant Jewish populations.

Israeli Health Ministry announces second suspected case of monkeypox

(JNS) — A second suspected case of monkeypox has been detected in Israel, the Israeli Health Ministry announced on Sunday.

The second patient, a 27-year-old sailor, arrived in Israel following a trip to Western Europe. He has been hospitalized in isolation at the Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon, according to Mako, which reported that he’s in good condition.

The first suspected case in Israel was detected on May 20, when a man in his 30s arrived at the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center-Ichilov Hospital with symptoms of infection.

On Saturday, the Health Ministry’s infectious disease committee held an emergency meeting.

Dr. Arnon Shahar, head of the Information and Digital Health Branch at Maccabi Healthcare Services, said there are no concerns about a large pandemic reminiscent of COVID-19, but added, “We must act in a focused and cautious manner,” according to Mako.

Sky News reported on Sunday that the World Health Organization has identified approximately 80 monkeypox cases globally, adding that there are around 50 additional suspected infections.

On Saturday, U.S. President Joe Biden said the outbreak is something “everybody should be concerned” about, adding that U.S. health officials are looking into possible treatments and vaccines, according to Reuters.

One killed, one wounded in Jenin gun battle with IDF forces

(JNS) — One Palestinian was killed and another seriously wounded in Jenin overnight on Friday in a gun battle with Israeli forces, according to Israeli media reports.

The fatality, identified by the Palestinian Authority’s WAFA news agency as Amjad Fayad, was a member of one of the armed factions in the Jenin refugee camp, according to Ynet.

In a statement, the IDF said soldiers conducting a counter-terror raid in Jenin had returned fire after being targeted with firebombs and an explosive device, as well as a drive-by shooting.

On Saturday, P.A. Prime Minister Muhammad Shtayyeh condemned Fayad’s death and called on the international community to “hold Israel accountable for its acts,” warning of “serious consequences of these repeated crimes.”

EU Parliament president kicks off visit to Israel

(JNS) — European Parliament president Roberta Metsola began her trip to Israel on Sunday with a visit to Tel Aviv University and the Yad Vashem Holocaust Remembrance Center in Jerusalem.

After her visit to TAU, Metsola tweeted that she had been impressed by “the engagement, the questions and ideas put forward by students.”

“Always good to listen and discuss the future with young people—where there is dialogue there is hope,” she wrote.

During her tour of Yad Vashem, Metsola visited the Flashes of Memory exhibit and took part in a memorial ceremony in the Hall of Remembrance, as well as the Children’s Memorial.

Prior to her arrival in Israel, Metsola had criticized a decision by Israel to ban European Parliament member Manu Pineda, a Spanish communist politician who has called for a boycott of Israel, and the chairman of the European Parliament Delegation for Relations with Palestine.

Filmmaker and comedian Albert Brooks subject of classmate Rob Reiner film

(JNS) — Actor and film movie director Rob Reiner told the entertainment paper Variety that he is working on a new documentary about Jewish comedian, filmmaker and actor Albert Brooks.

Reiner, son of the late Jewish actor, director, screenwriter and comedian Carl Reiner, said that the documentary will feature interviews with comedians, actors and directors, including Larry David, Conan O’Brien, Sarah Silverman, Ben Stiller, James L. Brooks, Judd Apatow, Chris Rock, Wanda Sykes and Jonah Hill. 

He also plans to interview actress Sharon Stone, who starred alongside Brooks in the 1999 film “The Muse.” 

The documentary will reportedly be titled “Albert Brooks: Defending My Life,” after the 1991 film “Defending Your Life,” which Brooks starred in, wrote and directed.

Reiner said he considers Brooks a “really, really close friend.”

“We met in high school,” said Reiner. “This is a pleasure for me because I have always looked up to Albert and, in a way, been intimidated by him. He’s brilliant. He’s a genius. There is nobody like him. He is a unique, one-of-a-kind comedian. … I’ve always wanted to make a film about him to let people know what I know about him.”

The documentary is being produced by Reiner’s recently relaunched company Castle Rock Entertainment, which released hits such as “When Harry Met Sally,” “The Princess Bride” and “The Shawshank Redemption.” 

Academy Award-nominated actor Brooks has written, directed and starred in several hit films, including “Broadcast News,” “Finding Nemo,” “Modern Romance” and “Lost in America.”

Rep. Tlaib attends ‘nakba’ rally where activist calls for use of guns, stones, rockets

(JNS) — Osama Siblani, the publisher of The Arab American News, said in a “Nakba Day” rally on May 15 in Dearborn, Mich., that despite Israel thinking that its 1948 borders are safe, Palestinians have carried out successful attacks with knives and their bare hands.

According to a report by the Middle East Research Institute (MEMRI), Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) attended the rally.

Siblani also said that Arabs would triumph wherever they fought, using stones, guns, planes, drones, rockets, hands and voices.

“We are the Arabs who are going to lift Palestinians all the way to victory, whether we are in Michigan and whether we are in Jenin. Believe me, everyone should fight within his means,” said Siblani.