Weekly roundup of world briefs

A month after announcing $90 million in Palestinian aid, USAID will send $100 million more

(JNS) — On June 5, Samantha Power, the administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development, announced that the United States would donate $90 million in aid to Palestinians. Just over a month later, Power, who is visiting Israel, revealed that Washington plans to provide another $100 million in Palestinian aid.

Power is meeting with Israeli officials “to discuss continued efforts to increase the flow of assistance across Gaza, including needed improvements to communication and coordination systems to protect humanitarian workers,” USAID stated. Israel has said that aid arrives in Gaza and sits idly without nonprofits retrieving and distributing it.

The USAID administrator and former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations stated that the new $100 million will provide “urgently needed food assistance in Gaza and the West Bank,” where “nearly the entire population in Gaza is facing emergency levels of food insecurity and is in need of assistance, especially the most vulnerable, including children and pregnant and nursing women.” (The Biden administration refers to Judea and Samaria as “the West Bank.”)

JNS has reported that the United Nations, USAID’s partner in aid delivery, admitted that its claims of famine in Gaza are not data-based.

UCLA accused of ‘blaming the victims’ in its defense against encampment suit

(JNS) — Becket, the nonprofit law firm dedicated to defending religious freedom, has pushed back against efforts by attorneys for the University of California, Los Angeles to excuse the school’s failure to protect Jewish students during pro-Hamas activists’ encampment protests.

The group released a statement on Wednesday updating developments in its case Frankel v. Regents of the University of California, in which the college has now “blamed everyone but itself for the rampant antisemitism that took place on its own campus.”

Dissecting the school’s response, Becket said UCLA “blamed the police for the delayed response of ‘several days.’ It blamed the victimized Jewish students for being in the ‘vicinity’ of an encampment that was blocking their access to critical campus facilities. And, for everything else, it blamed the ‘unidentified activists.’”

Mark Rienzi, president of Becket and an attorney for the students, said “in the end, UCLA has nobody to blame but itself for the harassment, assault and segregation of Jewish students on its campus.”

He added that UCLA “is scrambling to defend its actions and cover up its gross failure of leadership. It won’t work—UCLA will answer in court for the rampant antisemitism it allows and assists.”

Harvard appoints new top lawyer to lead responses on antisemitism lawsuits, federal probes

(JNS) — Jennifer O’Connor has been appointed as vice president and general counsel at Harvard University on July 29, where she will focus on leading the school’s response to lawsuits and federal investigations resulting from a surge of antisemitism following the Hamas terrorist attacks in southern Israel on Oct. 7.

Alan Garberm, interim university president after Claudine Gay resigned in January in part because of failing to address anti-Jewish rhetoric, said in an announcement: Widely admired among her colleagues for her collaborative style, strategic insight and dedication to public service, [O’Connor] brings with her an abiding commitment to Harvard and its mission.”

O’Connor previously provided her legal skills to aerospace company Northrop Grumman Corp. and the U.S. Department of Defense.

A 1987 graduate of Harvard who was born in Cambridge, Mass., she earned her legal degree at Georgetown University.

Ohio police chief steps down after sharing racist, antisemitic memes

(JNS) — Brian Gerhard, East Cleveland chief of police, has agreed to resign as the city’s top law-enforcement officer six months after a suspension when an investigation began into imagery alleged to have come from his cell phone.

He is accused of sharing memes between June 2019 and August 2022 that reportedly include caricatures of Jews, advocacy of Adolf Hitler, antisemitic conspiracy theories, racism against black people and homophobic themes.

The agreement between Gerhard and the city did not require him to admit wrongdoing nor did it make mention of the offensive communications. The deal went into effect on June 14, though Gerhard will remain on the payroll through Dec. 15.

Willa Hemmons, East Cleveland law director, expressed hope that “this agreement will rectify some of the harm and hurt, and we will be able to move forward.”

Gerhard had assumed his position in October 2022, following the previous chief’s arrest on charges of theft and tax fraud.

Jewish professor wins discrimination suit against University of Maryland

(JNS) — Following years of litigation, education professor Melissa Landa has reached a settlement with the University of Maryland, College Park following retaliation for Israeli advocacy.

“Dr. Landa filed a complaint of religious discrimination and retaliation with the EEOC [Equal Employment Opportunity Commission],” said Jordan Sekulow, executive director of the American Center for Law and Justice, which represented Landa. “Following a full investigation, the EEOC issued a determination letter finding there was strong evidence that Dr. Landa was discharged in retaliation and urged the university to settle the case. UMD refused.”

Sekulow said his client, in testimony, stated that “she was discouraged from participating in [pro-Israel] activities and told not to display an Israeli flag in her office.”

The Center for Law and Justice had filed suit against UMD in January 2022, and the school repeatedly failed in its arguments for a dismissal. Landa and UMD came to a settlement in which the college would pay her attorney’s fees and unspecified damages totaling $140,000.

Candace Owens doubts Mengele experiments, calling them ‘propaganda’

(JNS) — Far-right political commentator and talk-show host Candace Owens, who was let go from The Daily Wire in March over anti-Jewish rhetoric, dipped her toe into antisemitic waters once again.

She called the torturous “experiments” on Jewish and other prisoners held by Nazi Germans and undertaken by Dr. Josef Mengele during World War II and the Holocaust “bizarre propaganda.”

Owens said this week that “some of the stories, by the way, sound completely absurd.”

Mentioning an account of humans cut in half, Owens asked: “Why would you do that?” She then quipped: “Literally, even if you’re the most evil person in the world, that’s a tremendous waste of time and supplies.”

She asserted that “just sounds like bizarre propaganda.”

Social-media users pushed back, including Arsen Ostrovsky, CEO of the International Legal Forum, who wrote that Owens “has totally lost the plot and gone full-blown neo-Nazi.”

The Combat Antisemitism Movement called her statements “utterly repugnant.”

In response, Owens explained the broader context and purpose of her statements, claiming that Zionists “have polluted American minds to believe that we must defend Israel out of morality and the evils of the Holocaust.”

Further explaining her intent, she wrote that “learning about how many people who committed holocausts and mass murders were protected by Israel is disruptive to that narrative.”

The StopAntisemitism watchdog group asked, “Her senile remarks echo the dangerous rhetoric of her friend, Kanye West, raising the question: Is she vying for the title of ‘Antisemite of the Year?’”

Code Pink, Palestinian Youth Movement face lawsuit after LA protest

(JNS) — Two prominent pro-Hamas groups face legal action following a June 23 demonstration in Los Angeles that devolved into violence and intimidation.

The attorney for plaintiff Ronen Helmann filed suit against Code Pink and the Palestinian Youth Movement on July 7. Both groups have organized anti-Israel protests around the country since the Hamas terrorist attacks in southern Israel on Oct. 7.

In the suit, Helmann recounts his experience at the pro-Israel event conducted at the Adas Torah synagogue in the city’s heavily Jewish Pico-Robertson neighborhood. When he sought to enter the building, the protesters filmed him with their phones and hurled insults such as “Nazi,” “baby murderer” and “colonizer.”

The suit also says Code Pink and PYM violated Helmann’s First Amendment rights by preventing him from entering his place of worship.

The LAPD said that more than 150 people participated in the demonstration that ran amuck, though none were arrested.

Rubio, Cardin introduce resolution seeking justice for AMIA bombing victims

(JNS) — Sens. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) announced a resolution in the Senate on Wednesday that seeks to continue the fight for justice for those murdered and injured in the bombing of the Asociación Mutual Israelita Argentina Jewish Center in Buenos Aires in July 1994.

The measure also raises the alarm about the increase of anti-Jewish, anti-Israel hatred on a global scale.

Cardin stated that “we are faced with the tragic reality that antisemitism is on the rise at an alarming pace around the world. As I lead the congressional delegation later this month to the commemoration of the AMIA attacks, I will reiterate the solemn duty we share to condemn with our words and our deeds all acts of hate and antisemitism wherever and whenever they happen.”

The bombing on July 18, 1994, left 85 people dead and wounded more than 300. Iran has long been seen to have been behind the attack.

“Thirty years ago, the AMIA Jewish Community Center was the target of a brutal terrorist attack,” Rubio said. “Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to visit the AMIA museum and witnessed firsthand the tenacity of Argentina’s vibrant Jewish community. Our commitment to justice and accountability remains firm.”

Last month, the four co-chairs of the Latino-Jewish Congressional Caucus also submitted a resolution to hold accountable the Iranian-sponsored terrorists who bombed the building.

EU survey shows high levels of Jew-hatred before Oct. 7

(JNS) — The European Union’s Fundamental Rights Agency published survey results on Thursday showing high levels of hatred towards Jews.

More than 8,000 Jews over the age of 16 in 13 E.U. countries, including Germany and France, were interviewed.

A whopping 96% said that they had encountered antisemitism in the year before the survey, which was conducted before the Hamas terrorist attacks in southern Israel on Oct. 7.

Ninety percent of the respondents said that they experienced antisemitism online in the year before the study, which was conducted between January and June 2023.

While the survey took place before the Oct. 7 massacre, the report did collect data from 12 umbrella Jewish organizations after the attacks, with some groups reporting a 400 percent or more increase in antisemitic incidents since October 2023.

“Europe is witnessing a wave of antisemitism, partly driven by the conflict in the Middle East. This severely limits Jewish people’s ability to live in safety and with dignity,” said Fundamental Rights Agency Director Sirpa Rautio.

“We need to build on existing laws and strategies to protect communities from all forms of hate and intolerance, online as well as offline. In an increasingly polarized society, we urgently need to spread the message of tolerance and ensure respect for the fundamental rights and freedoms of all,” Rautio said.

32 dead of West Nile virus in Israel

(JNS) — Thirty-two people have died of West Nile virus in Israel during this summer’s outbreak, the Israeli Health Ministry announced on Monday.

Overall, 440 people have been diagnosed with the virus since last month.

West Nile virus has affected Israel for years, usually appearing in June through November and not usually infecting large numbers of people.

Eighty percent of those infected do not develop any symptoms, but the rest, especially elderly and immune-compromised people, display flu-like symptoms including fever, general malaise, headaches and general body aches.

Neurological complications will appear in less than 1% of those infected.

This year’s outbreak was first reported in north Tel Aviv, but has since spread to the southern city of Eilat.

People in central Israel and greater Tel Aviv are especially at risk of contracting the disease as the high humidity creates a good breeding ground for the mosquitoes that spread it, according to the ministry.

Israeli authorities have urged health officials to increase mosquito monitoring and extermination efforts, while calling on the public to take preventative measures.

Israeli Arab social media influencer banned from YouTube

By Etgar Lefkovits

(JNS) — A prominent Israeli Arab social media influencer said Sunday that he is being blocked from posting on YouTube for the fourth time since the start of the war against Hamas in Gaza over his unabashedly pro-Israel stance.

“I did not violate any rule, and yet time after time I find myself being banned simply because of my open support for Israel,” Yoseph Haddad told JNS. “At a time when social media, especially YouTube, is filled with anti-Israel propaganda and incitement, the few pro-Israel accounts need to be defended.”

The Haifa-born, Nazareth-raised Haddad, an Orthodox Christian, volunteered for service in the Israel Defense Forces’ Golani Infantry Brigade and was severely wounded in the Second Lebanon War in 2006.

The 38-year-old is a prominent voice and international public speaker on behalf of Israel and CEO of the Together—Vouch for Each Other association that works to connect the Arab Israeli community to the broader Israeli society.

Haddad said that he expected the YouTube Israel office to intervene.

“I do not intend to surrender and I will never give up,” he said.

Last year, Haddad was accosted on a flight back from Dubai by two Arab passengers over his support for Israel.

Hostage talks to continue despite strike targeting Deif

(JNS) — Israeli diplomatic sources estimate that despite the strike targeting Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif on Saturday, negotiations for a ceasefire and the release of hostages will continue, Israel National News reported on Monday.

The diplomatic sources based the assessment on the response from Hamas officials following the airstrike.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday night that it was not clear whether Deif, the architect of the Oct. 7 massacre, was killed in the strike. In contrast, security forces on Sunday did confirm that Deif’s deputy, Rafa’a Salameh, the commander of Hamas’s Khan Younis Brigade, was killed.

Sources in Hamas confirmed to the Hezbollah-affiliated Lebanese newspaper Al Akhbar on Monday that indirect ceasefire talks are continuing.

“The negotiations are continuing despite the massacre, in order to prevent Israel from accusing Hamas of obstructing them,” the sources said, adding that a new round of talks is supposed to take place in Doha this week.

Mossad chief David Barnea is expected to head to Qatar this week for talks regarding the hostages, Kan News reported.

According to the Al Akhbar report, Israeli negotiators told the Egyptians that Jerusalem would not stop military operations in Gaza while there is no agreement and that “the targeting of Hamas leaders inside Gaza will continue even while negotiations continue.”