Weekly roundup of world briefs

Foxx warns ‘spineless college leaders’ of ‘healthy dose of reality’ at hearings

(JNS) — Three more university leaders will face questions from congressional representatives regarding antisemitic rhetoric and intimidation on their U.S. campuses promulgated by anti-Israel protesters.

Members of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce will conduct a hearing titled “Calling for Accountability: Stopping Antisemitic College Chaos” on Thursday, when they will demand explanations from Northwestern University president Michael Schill; Rutgers University president Jonathan Holloway; and Gene Block, the chancellor of the University of California, Los Angeles.

“The committee has a clear message for mealy-mouthed, spineless college leaders: Congress will not tolerate your dereliction of your duty to your Jewish students,” said Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.), the education committee’s chairperson.

Foxx said that “college is not a park for playacting juveniles or a battleground for radical activists. Everyone affiliated with these universities will receive a healthy dose of reality: Actions have consequences.”

Abbas adviser: Oct. 7 ‘could repeat itself 100 times’

(JNS) — A Palestinian Authority official warned on social media over the weekend that the Oct. 7 massacre could “repeat itself 100 times, and perhaps even more seriously.”

According to the Palestinian Media Watch research institute, P.A. leader Mahmoud Abbas’s religious affairs and Islamic relations adviser, Mahmoud al-Habbash, posted the threat on his Facebook page on Saturday.

The post, translated from Arabic by PMW, reads in full: “If the Palestinian cause is not justly, comprehensively and permanently resolved, at least on the basis of international legitimacy, at least on the basis of the U.N. resolutions, then Oct. 7 [i.e., Hamas’ invasion and massacre in Israel] can repeat itself 100 times, and perhaps even more seriously.”

Al-Habbash’s words came on the heels of a U.N. General Assembly vote on a resolution to give the Palestinians unprecedented rights for a non-member observer state.

The resolution, which the United Arab Emirates pushed and which drew 25 abstentions in the 143-9 vote, came after Washington’s veto the previous month of a U.N. Security Council resolution that would have accepted the Palestinians’ long-dormant 2011 application for full membership in the global body.

New advocacy group launched for Jewish medical professionals

(JNS) — A new advocacy group for Jewish medical professionals aims to combat antisemitism at U.S. hospitals, the New York Post reported.

The American Jewish Medical Association is a “safe, enriching community with a unified voice for all Jewish healthcare workers,” per the website of the nonprofit, which brings together Jewish doctors, fellows, residents, medical students, and public health and healthcare professionals.

The group’s founder and president, Yael Halaas, a Manhattan plastic surgeon, told the Post that “it’s fundamentally scary for those of us who care about humanity. It’s Nazi Germany all over again.”

“Jewish medical students are bullied into silence,” she added.

The new group’s treasurer, Cary Schwartzbach, an orthopedist, told the Post that “antisemitism has made a lot of hospital residency programs uncomfortable for Jewish students.”

“We need a voice. We need to protect ourselves,” Schwartzbach said. “We need to protect medical school students.”

Israeli supermodel Sun Mizrahi graces ‘Vogue’ cover, despite antisemitism

By Miri Weissman

(Israel Hayom via JNS) — Despite facing online antisemitism just last month, Israeli supermodel Sun Mizrahi starred on two covers for the summer issue of Vogue Greece, the world’s most famous and prestigious fashion magazine.

The magazine created two different covers with the theme of “Mediterranean Touch.”

“The diverse facets of the Mediterranean coast make up this unique mosaic, drawing influences from Greece and Italy to the more Middle Eastern roots of Lebanon and Morocco,” described the fashion editorial.

Vogue Greece picked an Israeli model Sun Mizrahi to be on the cover of their “Mediterranean Touch” and their followers got really angry.

The covers faced online backlash.

“Posting an Israeli model on your cover in the midst of current world events is an extremely tone-deaf decision and it really does beg the question of whether you are able to read the room,” one commentator said. “This is not what Israelis look like,” another added.

Many took to X to defend the model, one saying, “They say that Israelis are white. Let me tell you a secret. Her name is Sun Mizrahi. Do you know what Mizrahi means in Hebrew? It means Eastern!”

Just six weeks ago, Mizrahi faced online hate for being Israeli after the international retailer Zara promoted her campaign photos on social media. Landing a Vogue cover is a massive achievement for a model, making this a source of Israeli pride to see the homegrown beauty grace the cover of the iconic fashion bible.

US: Israel killed a third of Hamas terrorists

(JNS) — Israel has eliminated only around a third of the Hamas terrorists and tunnels in Gaza since the start of the war on Oct. 7, Politico reported on Tuesday, citing U.S. intelligence estimates.

“Although Hamas’ communications and military abilities have been degraded, only 30 to 35 percent of its fighters—those who were a part of Hamas before the Oct. 7 attack—have been killed and about 65 percent of its tunnels are still intact, U.S. intelligence indicates,” the Virginia-based news outlet stated.

According to Western officials, thousands of Hamas terrorists have been able to evade the Israel Defense Forces by hiding in Gaza’s vast subterranean tunnel network, while others have mixed into the civilian population.

Gen. Joseph Votel (ret.), who headed U.S. Central Command during the peak of fighting with the Islamic State, was one of several former top officials quoted by the publication who were critical of Jerusalem’s war strategy. He urged the Israeli government to consider long-term plans for the Strip and its population.

“Everybody gets the fact that you have to destroy Hamas …, but then what?” asked Votel.

“What’s the plan to take care of the 2.5 million Palestinians that are left behind? What’s the plan to deal with the remainder of the Hamas fighters? It seems incomplete and I just don’t think that they have communicated or have thought through that as well as I would’ve hoped they would’ve.”

Hamas heralds recognition of Palestinian statehood by three nations

(JNS) — The Hamas terrorist organization welcomed the decision by Ireland, Norway and Spain on Wednesday to recognize a Palestinian state.

“We consider this an important step towards affirming our right to our land,” the group said in a statement, calling “on countries around the world to recognize our legitimate national rights.”

Bassem Naim, a senior member of the Hamas political bureau, attributed the decision to the “brave resistance” of the Palestinians.

“These successive recognitions are the direct result of this brave resistance and the legendary steadfastness of the Palestinian people. … We believe this will be a turning point in the international position on the Palestinian issue,” Naim told AFP.

The Palestinian Authority also expressed support for the decision, which will be implemented on May 28.

Israel called the move a reward for terrorism and the atrocities Hamas committed on Oct. 7.

“Today’s decision sends a message to the Palestinians and the world: Terrorism pays. After the Hamas terror organization carried out the largest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust, after committing heinous sexual crimes witnessed by the world, these countries chose to reward Hamas and Iran by recognizing a Palestinian state,” tweeted Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz.

“This distorted step by these countries is an injustice to the memory of the victims of 7/10, a blow to efforts to return the 128 hostages, and a boost to Hamas and Iran’s jihadists, which undermines the chance for peace and questions Israel’s right to self-defense,” he added.

Rick Scott tells colleges condoning Jew-hatred he’ll fight ‘to rescind every last cent of taxpayer funding’

(JNS) — Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) wrote to university presidents on Tuesday informing them that he will do everything in his control to investigate and defund schools that fail to support Jewish students.

The senator expressed “profound concern” about demonstrations and encampments on college and university campuses and “lawless display of support for terrorists and incitement of violent acts toward Israel and the Jewish people.”

“Many failed to take appropriate action to ensure the safety of Jewish students, who faced the risk of horrific antisemitic verbal and physical attacks,” Scott said. “This failure cannot happen again.”

Scott said he would do “everything in my power to ensure that institutions that allow this lawless and hateful activity are fully investigated and held accountable for any violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.”

“I’ll also continue my fight to rescind every last cent of taxpayer funding of any institution that condones this antisemitism through the Stop Antisemitism on College Campuses Act,” Scott wrote.

“As the summer semesters begin, it is imperative you take decisive action to ensure that your campus is safe for all students,” he added. “You can help restore trust in your institution and reaffirm the values that universities and the United States should uphold.”

OneTable exceeds 1 million reservations for Shabbat dinner

(JNS) — A group that for a decade has worked to bring together Jews in their 20s and 30s for Shabbat dinner has hit a significant milestone: It has surpassed 1 million reservations to celebrate the weekly holiday. 

Following the Hamas terrorist attacks in southern Israel on Oct. 7, OneTable has seen a 105% increase in applications to host the Friday-night meal. It also saw a 45% uptick in participation in the weeks after the atrocities.

“Remember that Oct. 7 and the subsequent rise in antisemitism is on the heels of a pandemic where loneliness and anxiety skyrocketed—not to mention already high levels of antisemitism,” said Aliza Kline, the group’s CEO. “The DIY Shabbat dinner space is a bright spot amid dark times for Jewish young adults right now. The demand we’re seeing reflects that.”

Sam Tannenbaum, 34, a guest in Cleveland, reflected on a dinner experience in December, saying, “It’s great to quickly put the week aside and focus on the people around me and a restful day ahead, rather than focus on myself and the next set of tasks for the week. After Shabbat, I feel like I’m part of a community after feeling lonely and disconnected during the week.”

OneTable, a North American nonprofit that began in 2014, launched a new website to facilitate further Shabbat experiences for young adults.

New advocacy group launched for Jewish medical professionals

(JNS) — A new advocacy group for Jewish medical professionals aims to combat antisemitism at U.S. hospitals, the New York Post reported.

The American Jewish Medical Association is a “safe, enriching community with a unified voice for all Jewish healthcare workers,” per the website of the nonprofit, which brings together Jewish doctors, fellows, residents, medical students, and public health and healthcare professionals.

The group’s founder and president, Yael Halaas, a Manhattan plastic surgeon, told the Post that “it’s fundamentally scary for those of us who care about humanity. It’s Nazi Germany all over again.”

“Jewish medical students are bullied into silence,” she added.

The new group’s treasurer, Cary Schwartzbach, an orthopedist, told the Post that “antisemitism has made a lot of hospital residency programs uncomfortable for Jewish students.”

“We need a voice. We need to protect ourselves,” Schwartzbach said. “We need to protect medical school students.”

US softens stance on Rafah op after Jerusalem addresses concerns

By Joshua Marks

(JNS) — The United States has softened its stance on a broader Israeli military operation in Rafah after Jerusalem addressed its humanitarian concerns, a senior Biden administration official said on Tuesday.

Nearly a million noncombatants have been evacuated from the last Hamas bastion in southernmost Gaza, where four of the remaining terror battalions are entrenched. They have been directed to an expanded humanitarian zone in Al-Mawasi. 

Israel began a limited operation in the eastern part of Rafah on May 6, taking operational control of the border crossing with Egypt as well as the section of the Salah al-Din Road in the city. Israeli forces have yet to engage in a major offensive in the center of the city, but have killed terrorists, seized weapons and unearthed hundreds of tunnels, including 50 smuggling tunnels crossing into Egypt so far during the Rafah operation.

“It’s fair to say that the Israelis have updated their plans. They’ve incorporated many of the concerns that we have expressed,” the Times of Israel quoted the official as saying.

According to Bloomberg, the U.S. official said National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan was reassured during his visit to Israel earlier this week, finding that Jerusalem was incorporating many of the Biden administration’s concerns into the military’s operational plans for Rafah.

U.S. President Joe Biden has for months expressed opposition to a full-scale invasion of Rafah, which Jerusalem says is essential to defeating Hamas. Biden even threatened to withhold a shipment of offensive weapons should the IDF enter Rafah.

“I have to say after coming out of Israel these past couple of days…it is pretty clear that the Israelis are taking those concerns seriously,” the senior U.S. official said, noting the successful mass evacuations of civilians.

Netanyahu rules out Gaza resettlement post-Hamas

(JNS) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin on Tuesday ruled out resettlement in the Gaza Strip after the war against Hamas.

“If you mean resettling Gaza…it was never in the cards, and I said so openly. And some of my constituents are not happy about it, but that’s my position,” the premier said in an interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper.

Netanyahu reiterated his “day after” plan, whereby Israel will stay in charge of security in Gaza until insurgency and terrorism is completely rooted out, after which Gazans can take charge of the Strip.

“I think the only force that can prevent the resurgence of terrorism for the foreseeable future is Israel. At the same time, we want, I want a civilian administration that is run by Gazans who are neither Hamas nor committed to our destruction,” he said.

Netanyahu also said he wants to see a coalition of “moderate Arab states and the international community” that can assist in the reconstruction of Gaza.

The plan is not likely to be welcomed by some in his coalition.

The same day the interview aired, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir reiterated his own plan for after the war.

“Complete occupation of Gaza, everything is ours. Full Israeli control including Jewish settlement and voluntary encouragement of immigration. Not only in settlements that have been evacuated,” he told the Kikar HaShabbat website. Ben-Gvir also said he would be willing to live in Gaza.

During the interview, Tapper asked about the recent announcement by the International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor that he would be seeking arrest warrants for Israeli leaders, including Netanyahu.

The prime minister called the move “beyond outrageous,” adding, “This is a rogue prosecutor that has put false charges and created false symmetries that are both dangerous and false. And the first false symmetry is, he equates the democratically elected leaders of Israel with the terrorist tyrants of Hamas.”

This, he said, was like “issuing the arrest warrants for FDR and Churchill, but also for Hitler, or I’m issuing arrest warrants for George Bush, George W. Bush, but also for [Osama] bin Laden. That’s absurd.”