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Jewish Journal

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June 12, 2018

Poll: Israeli and American Jews Divided on Trump, Israeli Policy

Leave a Comment / United States /

A new survey from the American Jewish Committee (AJC) shows some stark differences between Israeli Jews and American Jews on President Trump and Israeli policy.

The June 10 survey found that 77% of Israeli Jews strongly or somewhat approve of Trump’s handling of United States-Israel relations and 10% disapprove somewhat or strongly; for American Jews those figures were 34% and 57%, respectively.

There were also differences between the two when on Israel policy matters. Eighty-five percent of Israeli Jews approve of the Jerusalem embassy move while only 46% of American Jews supported the move. On the two-state solution, 44% of Israeli Jews favored it and 48% were opposed; for American Jews those numbers were 59% and 30%, respectively.

Additionally, differences were stark on the mixed gender prayer area on the Western Wall, as 42% of Israeli Jews supported it while 73% of American Jews supported it.

The survey was conducted from April 18-May 10 for American Jews with a margin of error of 3.9%; for Israeli Jews the survey was conducted in May with margin of error of 3.1%.

“The main factor predicting how people will respond is how they identify religiously,” AJC CEO David Harris said in a statement. “The more observant they are on the denominational spectrum, their Jewish identity and attachment to Israel is stronger; skepticism about prospects for peace with the Palestinians higher; and support for religious pluralism in Israel weaker.”

Harris added that differences in “political affiliation” were also part of the divide.

“The majority who identify with the Democratic Party and voted for Hillary Clinton are less attached to Israel, more weakly identified with the Jewish people, and more favorable to religious pluralism than the minority who are Republicans and report that they voted for Donald Trump,” Harris said.

The full results of the poll can be seen here.

Poll: Israeli and American Jews Divided on Trump, Israeli Policy Read More »

Hezbollah Flags Flown At London Protests

Leave a Comment / Worldwide /

A slew of Hezbollah flags and signs stating “We are Hezbollah” were flown at a June 11 rally in London celebrating Quds Day.

According to the Jewish Chronicle, Hezbollah flags are allowed to be flown at the protests because only Hezbollah’s military wing is designated as a terror organization in Britain, not their political wing.

The protests, which took place in front of the Saudi embassy in London because of the country’s growing warmth toward Israel, featured a speaker identified as Shaykh Mohammad Saeed Bahmanpour who declared that Israel needs to be “wiped from the map” and that the “days are numbered” for Zionists. Another speaker, Anglican church cleric Stefan Sizer, posted an article on Facebook in 2015 claiming that Israel was behind the 911 terror attacks.

The leader of the protest, Nazim Hussein Ali, claimed that Zionists were behind the fire that destroyed London’s Grenfell Tower in June 2017. He led chants of “Free free Palestine” at the June 11 rally.

An Israeli flag was also burned at the event.

The Zionist Federation of Great Britain hosted a “Stand Against Hate, Stand Against Hezbollah” counter-protest at the event, which featured speakers like radio host Maajid Nawaz.

One of the attendees at the counter-protest, Sussex Friends of Israel co-founder Fiona Sharpe, told the Jewish Chronicle that flying Hezbollah flags “crosses the line.”

“We wouldn’t want to see the flying of an ISIS flag on the streets of London,” Sharpe said. “I don’t think it’s appropriate to fly the Hezbollah flag.”

Quds Day is Iran’s yearly celebration of Palestine. Hezbollah is Iran’s Shia terror proxy in Lebanon.

Hezbollah Flags Flown At London Protests Read More »

South African City Councilor Suspended for Calling City An Ally of Israel

Leave a Comment / Worldwide /

A councilor for the city of Johannesburg, South Africa was suspended on June 12 for praising Israel.

Mayoral Committee Member for Health Mpho Phalatse said over the weekend, “I would like to declare that I am a friend of Israel and the city of Johannesburg is a friend of Israel. Shalom.”

The mayor of Johannesburg, Herman Mashaba, announced the suspension in a statement and stated that an investigation was pending.

“My disappointment stemmed from the attribution of those sentiments to the City of Johannesburg on a matter of such an emotional and sensitive nature,” Mashaba said, adding that her comments resulted in “a divisive state which is counter to the kind of social cohesion that is needed in our City.”

The South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) condemned Phalatse’s suspension.

“These are just the most recent instances of attempts to silence South Africans who challenge the anti-Israel narrative,” SAJBD spokesperson Charisse Zeifert said in a statement. “It is all part of an environment in which Israel is being demonized to a degree that bears no relationship to reality.”

South African City Councilor Suspended for Calling City An Ally of Israel Read More »

Trump, Kim Jong Un Sign Symbolic Agreement

Leave a Comment / United States /

President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed an agreement on the evening of June 11 in Singapore that commit the two countries to further negotiations.

The agreement featured four main points: establishing relations between the two countries, creating “a lasting and stable peace regime on the Korea Peninsula,” North Korea committing to denuclearization in exchange for the U.S. providing security guarantees to North Korea, and repatriation between the two countries on prisoners of war from the Korean War.

Additionally, the Associated Press (AP) is reporting that a “step-by-step denuclearization process” has been agreed to:

“I think our whole relationship with North Korea and the Korean Peninsula is going to be a very much different situation than it has in the past,” Trump said.

Trump also called Kim “a very talented man.”

Kim said through a translator, “Many people in the world will think of this as a form of fantasy…from a science fiction movie.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Trump for the summit with Kim.

“I congratulate US President Donald Trump for the historic summit in Singapore,” Netanyahu said in a statement. “It is an important step in the effort to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula.”

The full text of the agreement can be read here.

Trump, Kim Jong Un Sign Symbolic Agreement Read More »