Weekly roundup of world briefs

US health, human services secretary appears to recognize ‘Palestine’

(JNS) — Xavier Becerra, the U.S. secretary of health and human services, appeared to recognize “Palestine” as a formal entity and referred to a “cycle” of violence between Israelis and Palestinians during a speech at the 77th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland.

“The health and security of each nation is irrevocably connected to the health and security of people everywhere,” the former California attorney general said at the gathering of the body which is part of the World Health Organization, a United Nations agency.

“That is why the tragic, avoidable loss of life and cycle of destruction and dislocation between Israel and Palestine must stop immediately,” he added. “We need a ceasefire agreement that leads to the release of hostages, a surge in humanitarian assistance into Gaza, and the road to a two-state solution.”

“Palestinians and Israelis deserve to live safely, with dignity and in peace,” he said.

JNS sought comment from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services about whether the secretary was recognizing “Palestine” as a state or other formal entity, and whether he was referring to a “cycle” of violence between a U.S. ally and a U.S.-designated terror group.

Senior U.S. official typically refer to “Palestinian Territories,” as the U.S. State Department does in a fact sheet, or to Gaza and the “West Bank.”

Bacerra offered U.S. support to Israel shortly after Oct. 7. He wrote on Oct. 12 that he had spoken the prior day with Moshe Arbel, then the Israeli health minister, “and offered my deepest condolences for the victims of Hamas’s brutal terrorist attack. I reaffirmed the United States’ solidarity with the government and people of Israel and asked about any potential health needs.”

Israeli wife of Quentin Tarantino lands lead role in new thriller

By Eran Swissa

(Israel Hayom via JNS) — Daniella Pick, the wife of acclaimed director Quentin Tarantino, is making strides in Hollywood. The Israeli-American producer and director Danny A. Abeckaser (Danny A.) is currently working on a new American action thriller titled, “The Perfect Gamble,” in which Pick has been cast in the lead female role.

In the film, Pick will star alongside actors David Arquette (“Scream”) and Danny A. in the leading roles. The movie, produced by Yoav Gross, will be shot in Israel and follows the story of two gamblers who are released from prison and open an illegal casino. Pick is set to portray the girlfriend of one of the two protagonists who become entangled with the mafia throughout the film.

Galit Rosenstein, who cast Pick in the role, commented to Israel Hayom: “Daniella will play a significant leading female role. This is very exciting, and I am extremely proud. She trusts me to choose something suitable for her. She has a very meaningful part. I can tell you that you will be shocked; she will surprise everyone in a big way.”

Rosenstein recalled Pick’s reaction to the news of her casting: “She was very excited. She didn’t give an immediate answer; it took some time. But in the end, it’s worth waiting for good things.”

Originally published by Israel Hayom.

Civilians killed by fire that broke out after Rafah strike

(JNS) — Noncombatants were killed in an Israeli airstrike in Rafah on Sunday night due to a fire that broke out after the attack, an Israeli government spokesperson said on Monday.

The Israel Defense Forces earlier said that it was investigating Palestinian media reports that dozens of Gazan civilians were killed and wounded in the strike on a Hamas compound in the city’s northwestern Tel Sultan section.

The targets of the strike were named as Yassin Rabia, the head of Hamas’s Judea and Samaria headquarters, and Khaled Nagar, a senior official in the terrorist group’s Judea and Samaria wing.

The IDF spokesperson said earlier that the strike was carried out in accordance with international law, was based on intelligence and executed using precision weaponry. However, the spokesperson continued, “The claim is known that as a result of the attack and a fire that broke out in the area, a number of non-involved people were injured. The incident is under investigation.”

The IDF announced on Monday afternoon that the military advocate general ordered a probe into the incident led by the General Staff’s investigation mechanism—an independent body that is not subordinate to Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi.

“The mechanism is investigating the circumstances of the deaths of civilians in the area of ​​the attack. The IDF regrets any injuries to those not involved in hostilities,” the army statement said.

Rabia and Nagar carried out terrorist attacks in the early 2000s in Judea and Samaria that killed and wounded Israeli civilians and soldiers, the military said. They also transferred funds for terrorist activities in Judea and Samaria and planned and directed attacks there.

70 fires rage in Judea and Samaria, arson suspected

(JNS) — Israeli firefighters on Monday battled some 70 blazes across Judea and Samaria, including large fires authorities believe were intentionally lit, the Kan News public broadcaster said, citing the Israel Fire and Rescue Services.

The first fire on Monday was reported near an Israel Defense Forces base on Mount Hazor, located near Ofra in the Binyamin region of Samaria. Authorities said the fire appeared to be the result of arson.

The Israel Fire and Rescue Services said it also suspected arson in the case of three fires lit on Monday around the community of Peduel, located near the security barrier in northern Samaria.

“It started from the direction of the Shiloh Stream and climbed under the protection of the wind towards Peduel,” the commander of the regional fire station told Ynet, explaining that “due to the danger, the decision was made to evacuate the first row of houses.”

In Elon Moreh, an Israeli town of some 2,000 people in Samaria, a residential building and a nearby warehouse were damaged by large fires. A dog died in the suspected arson attack, local rescue workers said.

Channel 14 reported that foul play was also suspected in fires around Revava, Shavei Shomron and Kiryat Netafim. Additional fires were reported near Kochav Hashachar, in Gush Etzion and the Jordan Valley.

Fires sparked by burning balloons and kites sent over the Gaza border by the Hamas terrorist organization have claimed tens of thousands of acres of land in southern Israel since 2018. Israeli experts believe it will take years to rehabilitate the burned nature reserves and farmland.

Saudi Arabia removes anti-Israel material from schoolbooks

(JNS) — Saudi Arabia has removed practically all antisemitism and anti-Israel material from its schoolbooks a study released Tuesday found.

The study, conducted by the Institute for Monitoring Peace and Cultural Tolerance in School Education, an international research organization, found a “marked reduction” in anti-Israel content in the Saudi curriculum, which no longer teaches that Zionism is a “racist” European movement, nor denies the historical Jewish presence in the region dating back 3,000 years.

In addition, according to the study, hostile references to Israel in the textbooks have been modified, while the word “Palestine” has been removed from maps of Israeli sites.

The study also noted that all remaining violent interpretations of jihad, which had been in place for years, were removed or altered in this year’s textbooks.

References to homosexuality as a “monstrous atrocity,” or claims that emulating the opposite sex is a “deviation from normality,” were removed, as well. While retaining a traditional approach to gender roles, there has been a notable improvement in the depiction of women, the study revealed. 

“Saudi textbooks published for the 2023/24 school year constitute another step towards the transformation of a curriculum into an educational framework which encourages tolerance, peace and greater equality,” said IMPACT-se CEO Marcus Sheff.

Zuckerberg’s Meta to pay $6.8m to Israel for rules violation

(JNS) — Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta Platforms, Inc., the world’s largest social networking firm with a market cap of $1.2 trillion, will pay 25 million shekels ($6.8 million) to Israel’s State Treasury after violating rules governing acquisitions.

Meta’s Facebook arm purchased two Israeli companies, RedKix, Inc. in 2018 and Service Friend Ltd. in 2019, without obtaining the Israel Competition Authority’s consent, contrary to the Economic Competition Law, according to an ICA statement.

Redkix combines email with collaboration tools. Service Friend builds A.I. bots for messaging apps to help customer service teams.

The ICA’s investigation found that Facebook was obliged to report the transaction to the director general since Facebook is a “monopolist,” the statement said, defining monopolist as a firm whose market share in Israel exceeds 50 percent.

Any company with 50 percent or more in a relevant market needs the ICA director general’s consent before completing a transaction that constitutes a “merger of companies” under the Economic Competition Law.  

However, Facebook did not obtain the director general’s approval before closing the acquisitions. 

The Competition Authority’s Tribunal said, “Handling this type of defect by paying an amount to the State Treasury is a proper course. Since it is done by agreement and the amount is relatively high, it seems that it should be approved.”

70 fires rage in Judea and Samaria, arson suspected

(JNS) — Israeli firefighters on Monday battled some 70 blazes across Judea and Samaria, including large fires authorities believe were intentionally lit, the Kan News public broadcaster said, citing the Israel Fire and Rescue Services.

The first fire on Monday was reported near an Israel Defense Forces base on Mount Hazor, located near Ofra in the Binyamin region of Samaria. Authorities said the fire appeared to be the result of arson.

The Israel Fire and Rescue Services said it also suspected arson in the case of three fires lit on Monday around the community of Peduel, located near the security barrier in northern Samaria.

“It started from the direction of the Shiloh Stream and climbed under the protection of the wind towards Peduel,” the commander of the regional fire station told Ynet, explaining that “due to the danger, the decision was made to evacuate the first row of houses.”

In Elon Moreh, an Israeli town of some 2,000 people in Samaria, a residential building and a nearby warehouse were damaged by large fires. A dog died in the suspected arson attack, local rescue workers said.

Channel 14 reported that foul play was also suspected in fires around Revava, Shavei Shomron and Kiryat Netafim. Additional fires were reported near Kochav Hashachar, in Gush Etzion and the Jordan Valley.

Fires sparked by burning balloons and kites sent over the Gaza border by the Hamas terrorist organization have claimed tens of thousands of acres of land in southern Israel since 2018. Israeli experts believe it will take years to rehabilitate the burned nature reserves and farmland.

Gunfire targets Canadian Jewish school for the second time in a week

By Ron Kampeas

(JTA) — Gunfire hit a Jewish school in Montreal, the second such attack on a Jewish school in Canada in recent days.

On Wednesday, police discovered that at least one bullet had hit the Belz Yeshiva Ketana at the Young Israel of Montreal synagogue in the city’s Cote-des-Neiges—Notre-Dame-de-Grace neighborhood. They believe the shooting at the Orthodox school occurred before Wednesday, The Montreal Gazette reported.

The shooting comes less than a week after two masked suspects emerged from a vehicle early on Saturday morning and fired multiple shots at Bais Chaya Mushka, a Chabad girls’ school in Toronto. It also comes days after a man was charged in a similar shooting at another Montreal Jewish school, Yeshiva Gedola, in November.

No one was injured in the shootings, but Canadian Jewish leaders and political officials said the pattern was alarming.

“We have had enough. Yet another Jewish school was shot at in the middle of the night – in Canada,” said a statement jointly released Thursday by Montreal’s Federation-CJA and Canada’s Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs. “Thankfully no one was inside the building, but this violent hatred must no longer be tolerated.”

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau joined municipal and provincial figures in condemning the attack.

“Disgusted that another Jewish school has been the target of a shooting,” he said on X. “Relieved that no one was hurt, but I’m thinking of the parents and community members in Montreal who must be incredibly shaken. This is antisemitism, plain and simple — and we will not let it win.”

Hamas has only ‘dozens’ of long-range rockets left

(JNS) — Hamas has only tens of rockets left with sufficient range to reach Tel Aviv and central Israel, according to estimates by the Israel Defense Forces.

In addition, the terror group’s overall rocket arsenal has been reduced from the thousands at the start of the war to hundreds after nearly eight months of fighting.

In addition to destroying numerous rocket launchers in Gaza, the IDF has also eliminated many weapons production facilities in the Strip, making it harder for Hamas to replenish its supply of rockets.

In a reminder that Hamas is still capable of targeting the Jewish state’s major population centers, the terrorist group on Sunday fired an eight-rocket barrage at Tel Aviv and the central region for the first time in four months, rattling millions of residents.

The rocket fire reached as far north as the Sharon region, sending residents in the city of Kfar Saba running for shelter for the first time since the war started on Oct. 7.

Greece to expel foreign students over disruptive anti-Israel protests

By Adi Nirman

(Israel Hayom via JNS) — In a move to address escalating protests against Israel on Greek college campuses, authorities have decided to deport nine foreign students from the United Kingdom and European Union member states.

The students, detained after participating in a pro-Palestinian rally at Athens Law School on May 14, are now facing expulsion.

The rally saw 28 people arrested on charges ranging from disturbing public order and damaging property to trespassing and possessing prohibited items such as weapons or flares.

Of those detained, nine non-Greek nationals were deemed “unwanted aliens” who pose threats to public safety and national security, prompting deportation proceedings.

Lawyers representing the detained students plan to challenge the deportations at an upcoming trial. They contend the right of free movement for E.U. citizens encompasses political activism such as supporting “Palestine,” not just tourism and investment. The nine facing deportation currently remain held at the Amygdaleza detention facility.

In a statement to Al Jazeera, the detainees decried the deportations as an excessive punishment for the “crime” of being present at a university campus. They accused Greek authorities of giving the broader context of protesting what they view as genocide.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis of the New Democracy Party has made clear the government will not allow university protests over Israel’s actions in Gaza. His administration rescinded a law in 2019 that had prohibited security forces from entering university grounds—a safeguard instituted after the violent 1973 military crackdown on student protesters.

While Greece’s government has moved towards closer alignment with Israel after historically pro-Palestinian leanings, the country has witnessed many protests reflecting growing support for the Palestinian side of the conflict among its youth.

Originally published by Israel Hayom.