Looking at top terms Googled in 2021, the Middle East and politics in general held little interest with the general public, other than how to pronounce Qatar and Kabul. So give yourselves a pat on the back for continuing to be interested in what's happening outside of your own backyard!

Wishing you a better 2022!

The Iranian and Houthi War Against Saudi Arabia (Center for Strategic and International Studies)

Deadly Water Crisis Threatening Iran's Leadership - Golnar Motevalli (Bloomberg)

Israel Protests to UN over Lebanese Plans to Drill in Its Maritime Waters - Tovah Lazaroff (Jerusalem Post)

Israeli Air Raid on Syrian Port Followed Arrival of Iranian Container Ship - Thomas Newdick (The War Zone)

A Report from MEMRI on The Water-for-Energy Deal Between Jordan And Israel Amid Popular Opposition

Hizbullah Deploys Air Defense Systems in Syria and Lebanon - Anna Ahronheim (Jerusalem Post)

Following Explosion Of Hamas Arms Depot In South Lebanon Mosque, Lebanese Politicians, Journalists Call To Remove Palestinian Weapons From Country (MEMRI)

Palestinian COVID conspiracy theories do matter - Stephen M. Flatow (JNS)

The crux of Abbas’ Fatah remains: Terror and Martyrdom for “Palestine” as Fatah celebrates 57 years of terror  - Nan Jacques Zilberdik (PMW)

Normalizing Assad? Associated Press, AFP Botch Israel’s Golan Heights Development Plan Story - Gidon Ben-Zvi (Honest Reporting)

How a Victorious Bashar al-Assad Is Changing Syria (Economist-UK) 
Russia Unlikely to Help Syria Break Away from Iranian Influence - Anna Borshchevskaya (19FortyFive)

The Top 10 Worst U.N. Actions of 2021 (UN Watch)

Global Anti-Semitism 2021 Top Ten (Simon Wiesenthal)  Anti-Zionism and Antisemitism Have Real-world Implications

Why CAIR Merits Attention from All of Us (IPT News)

CAIR, The Investigative Project, and The Dispatch's Double Standard - Tamar Sternthal (CAMERA)

Former Iran hostage files lawsuit against Princeton University for 'abandoning him' - Benjamin Weinthal (Jerusalem Post) 

Nothing to do with the Middle East: NOT REAL NEWS: A look at what didn't happen this week (Yahoo)

Wishing all those who celebrate, a very merry Christmas! 

Bethlehem To Nazareth To Jerusalem: A Christmas Tour Of COVID And Politics (WorldCrunch)

Toronto School Board Cancels Yazidi Nobel Peace Prize Winner Because Her Account As An ISIS Sex Slave Could Foster ‘Islamophobia - Anton Carillo (Christianity Daily)

Where Are Christians Persecuted in the Middle East? - Jake Wallis Simons (Spectator-UK)

Chile’s next president is Gabriel Boric, a left-wing politician who has spurned ties with Chilean Jews over Israel - Cnaan Liphshiz  (JTA)

Report: Russia and China Toughening Stance toward Iran - Jonathan Lis (Ha'aretz)

U.S. Navy Seizes Iranian Weapons in Arabian Sea (U.S. Navy)

A Short History of ‘F**k Him’ How Netanyahu Enraged U.S. Presidents, From Clinton to Trump - (Haaretz) 

Hizbullah Has 2,000 Drones - Part of Iran's UAV Army - Tal Beeri  (Alma Research & Education Center)

Hamas' Growing Armed Presence in Lebanon - Yaakov Lappin (JNS)  

Latest Palestinian Attacks Are Motivated by Incitement Combined with Hamas' Interest to Increase Terror - Brig.-Gen. (res.) Yossi Kuperwasser (Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs)

Parents of Palestinian Murderers "Proud of Their Sons" - Khaled Abu Toameh (Jerusalem Post)

Get your friends to envy you - have a murderer of Israelis in the family - Nan Jacques Zilberdik (PMW)

UN passes 14 anti-Israel resolutions in 2021, only 4 against all other countries (UN Watch)

The UN’s Secret Data And Media Disinformation (CAMERA)

GOOD NEWS: Thanks to UN Watch Pressure, UNRWA Teachers Complain: “We can no longer praise Hamas attacks on social media” (UN Watch)

CAIR’s Zahra Billoo’s Chilling Incitement Against Jews - David Lange (Israelly Cool) A few years earlier, when Billoo was voted off the board of the Women’s March for antisemitic tweets, she likewise responded by labeling anyone who opposed her ‘Islamophobic.’

'Apartheid' and the Media's Complicity in a Modern-Day Libel - David Litman (CAMERA)

Egypt Is Rebuilding Gaza - Zvi Bar'el (Ha'aretz)

Iran's Missile Arsenal Growing in Size, Reach, and Accuracy - Farzin Nadimi (Washington Institute for Near East Policy)

Iran Top Priority for U.S., Israel - C. Todd Lopez  (U.S. Defense Department)

The Real Winner of the 70th Miss Universe Contest Is Israel - Allison Kaplan Sommer (Ha'aretz)

Gaza Boy Is 6,000th Child Saved by Israel's Save a Child's Heart (Jewish News-UK)

Israeli Woman Stabbed in the Back by Palestinian Girl in Jerusalem - Judah Ari Gross (Times of Israel-Ha'aretz) Since mid-November, one Israeli has been killed and ten wounded in a series of attacks by Palestinians. 

Israel, Jordan sign huge UAE-brokered deal to swap solar energy and water (Times of Israel) and then, Thousands of Jordanians protested major energy deal with Israel

Kenya Police Uncover Iranian Terror Plans (The Star-Kenya)

Lebanese Man Sentenced to Prison for Marrying Palestinian with Israeli Passport (Al-Araby Al-Jadeed-UK)

Fatah brainwashes 4th grade girls that Israel's destruction is inevitable - Nan Jacques Zilberdik (PMW)

Media Erase Iran Link In Coverage of Hamas Terror - Akiva Van Koningsveld (Honest Reporting)

UN General Assembly Erases Jewish Link to Temple Mount in Jerusalem (United Nations)

Israel Blasts UN "Palestine Day," Reminds that Jews Were Expelled from Muslim Countries (Times of Israel)

Trump says American Jews ‘either don’t like Israel or don’t care about Israel’ in new interview - Dan Mangan (CNBC)

Today’s GOP is Endangering the U.S.-Israel Relationship - Hon. Ron Klein and Steve Sheffey (Jewish Democratic Council of America)

Rep. Greg Meeks joins anti-Israel socialists to push NYC Council speaker pick - Julia Marsh and Carl Campanile (NY Post)

RANA – the Jaffa choir of Muslim, Jewish and Christian women singing about togetherness, community, peace, conflict, friendship.  https://ranachoir.com/en/home-page-english

Jewish and Arab Women’s Choir Shows How Music Builds Bridges

Rana Choir just released an original collaboration with Los Angeles-based indie pop band Distant Cousins… https://jewishjournal.com/culture/arts/music/342680/jewish-and-arab-womens-choir-shows-how-music-builds-bridges

 Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving with friends and family or at least a relaxing day off. These updates will be taking a two-week break. See you again on or about December 17th.   

  *Whenever you see misinformation in your local paper or in the news, address it. Write letters to the editor, tweet or call. This week, I wrote to NYT and Vice asking for corrections.

     *On Sunday morning, an Arab resident of Jerusalem, who worked in a school funded by the Jerusalem municipality, decided to act upon incitement by the Palestinian Authority and his homicidal Hamas ideology to attack Israelis with an automatic weapon. The attacker murdered civilian Eliyahu Kay and injured four others. Israeli police officers shot the active terrorist shooter before he could murder any more innocent people. In the world of the PA, a Palestinian was “shot by the occupation”  

     *The initial Associated Press headline first referred to the Palestinian terrorist: "Israeli police shoot dead Palestinian who killed 1 Israeli and injured 4 others." Meanwhile, the NYT  made a point not to label perps and victims. In their reporting on Sunday's terror attack, they also called Jerusalem "the holiest site" and provided a link describing how it's holy to several religions - omitting that it is the holiest site for Jews alone. Further, they labeled Hamas a "militant Islamist group;" the US, UK and Europe label Hamas Islamist terrorists.  And lately Vice News has has been nothing but Palestinian propaganda.

On Wed. evening news, an expert stated there are still 185,000 allies left behind! 

Taliban Closes In As Desperate Afghan Women Await Rescue - Phyllis Chesler (IPT News)

Thousands of Afghans Seek Temporary US Entry, Few Approved (Voice of America) USCIS, which is primarily fee-funded (by desperate families), is sitting on some $11.5 million from Afghans in the last few months.

U.S. blacklists ISIS-K leaders as terrorist organization's threat grows - Darryl Coote (UPI) The top UN diplomat in Afghanistan warned last week that ISIS-K “seems to be present in nearly all provinces and increasingly active.”

Australia designates entirety of Hezbollah a terrorist organization (Jerusalem Post)

Bahrain Foils Planned Attack, Confiscates Iranian Weapons and Explosives (Reuters)

Iraqi Air Force Bombs ISIS Hideouts in Mountains (Al-Monitor)

Gaza War in May 2021 Showed Increase in Hamas Capabilities - Lt.-Gen. (ret.) Richard Natonski and Lt.-Gen. (ret.) Thomas Trask (Real Clear Defense) This conflict is a harbinger of growing threats to the U.S. from adversaries that fight unconventionally with advanced weaponry.

PA Launches Military Operation to Regain Control of Jenin - Elior Levy (Ynet News)  The Palestinian Authority launched an extensive military operation in Jenin on Friday to regain control of the area. Armed militias affiliated with Islamic Jihad, al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, and Hamas recently marched openly in the city, proclaiming their control.

Palestinians clash with police in East J’lem after march supporting Hamas terrorist - Aaron Boxerman (Times of Israel)

PA Min. of Education to kids: There's no Israel, “the entire land is ours, from the Sea to the River” - Nan Jacques Zilberdik (PMW)

Russia Pressures Iran to Withdraw from T4 Airbase in Syria (Syrian Observer-Turkey)

Syrian Women's Organizations And Women's Rights Activists: Islamic Opposition Organizations Backed By Turkey Are Inciting Against Us, Putting Our Lives In Danger (MEMRI)

Secret Chinese Port Project in Persian Gulf Rattles U.S. Relations with UAE - Gordon Lubold (Wall Street Journal) After rounds of meetings and visits by U.S. officials, construction was recently halted.  It appeared the Emirati government was unaware of the military nature of China's activity.

British Army to Move Main Overseas Training Base to Middle East - Dominic Nicholls (Telegraph-UK) UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace is expected to announce this week the move of Britain's biggest overseas training base from Alberta in Canada to Oman in the Middle East. 

Britain Outlaws Palestinian Militant Group Hamas - Stephen Farrell and Alistair Smout  (Reuters) The rationale for it is that there is no longer any meaningful distinction to be made between the military and political wings of Hamas

Biden cannot let pursuit of Iran nuclear deal lead to a 'Munich moment'  - Marvin Hier and Abraham Cooper (The Hill) 

Duke University Hands a Big Win to Antisemites — and BDS - Ben Stone (Algemeiner)

This New Hanukkah Video of a Ladino Classic Will Make You Want to Dance www.kveller.com/this-new-hanukkah-video-of-a-ladino-classic-will-make-you-want-to-dance

At an event this week where we met The Honorable Ayoob Kara, we learned how important it is to lobby for the fight against the BDS movement and the boycott of Israel. The introductory speaker wasn't exaggerating when he reminded us that it was 20 yrs of propaganda denigrating Jews and minorities that enabled Germany to invent genocide. As Mr. Kara was essential to the success of the Abraham Accords, we heard more about these historic agreements and learned that there are at least 10 more Arab states willing to sign agreements with the Israelis. It's up to the new Israeli govt. to actively pursue this along with the Biden administration. 

Action Needed Now to Address the Humanitarian Catastrophe in Afghanistan - Youssof Ghafoorzai (The Diplomat)

Colombia Expels 2 Hizbullah Operatives Tracking Israelis, Americans (AFP)

Israel, Jordan and UAE to Sign Deal for Huge Solar Farm - Barak Ravid (Axios)
Clarifying the Record on Israel’s Recent Terror Designations of Six Palestinian NGOs - Anne Herzberg (NGO Monitor)

Memorandum Of Understanding Signed With UN On Promoting Women's Rights Sparks Opposition In Libya - Chernitsky (MEMRI)
‘Horrific’: 10 people suffocate in overcrowded migrant boat off Libya (The Guardian)

Palestinian Human Rights Activist Sues over Ben and Jerry's Boycott, Saying It Promotes Hatred - Isabel Vincent  (New York Post) 
PFLP Boasts about Its Ties to Iran - Joe Truzman (Long War Journal-FDD)
A Syrian Woman's Experiences with Hamas in Gaza - Allison Norlian (Forbes)
Economic, Social Protests Against Hamas Flare Up Again in Gaza - S. Schneidmann  (MEMRI)
Palestinians Fear "Civil War" amid Growing Anarchy - Khaled Abu Toameh  (Jerusalem Post)In the past few days, four universities in the West Bank were shuttered due to violent clashes on campuses between students and rival clans.

Facebook disrupts Pakistani hacking group targeting Afghan users - Maggie Miller (The Hill)

Video: Today Saudi Arabia Is Part of the Solution - Amb. Dore Gold (Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs) Back in 2001, the Muslim World League, headquartered in the Saudi kingdom, was spreading the ideology that supported a new wave of global terror. Yet in 2020, its secretary-general took a delegation to Auschwitz. We are in a different world.

Growing Opposition to Iran's Involvement in Syria - Ben Caspit (Al-Monitor)
Iranian "Bags of Dollars" in Southern Syria Raise Assad's, Russia's Concerns - Nazir Magali (Asharq Al-Awsat-UK)

UAE-Israel Trade Growing beyond Expectations (Khaleej Times-UAE)

BBC News Whitewashes Pro-Iran Groups at LSE Anti-Israel Demo - Hadar Sela (CAMERA)

The New York Times Publishes Glowing Profile on Notorious Anti-Israel Terror Apologist - Rachel Donoghue (Honest Reporting)
Palestinian Leaders’ Fabrications About Ancient Israel Go Unchallenged By Media - Gidon Ben-Zvi (Honest Reporting) False Claims That Weaponize History
U.S. temporarily halts some refugee admissions, prioritizes resettling Afghan evacuees - Yacob Reyes (Axios)
U.S. senators move to block $650 mln arms sale to Saudi Arabia - Mike Stone and Patricia Zengerle (Reuters)
Oberlin Giving Haven to Iranian Diplomat - Dexter Van Zile (Times of Israel) ... while serving as an Iranian diplomat to the UN, Mahallati was part of an effort to cover up the 1988 mass killings of Bahais and political dissidents by the Iranian regime. 

The Myth of Lone-Wolf Terrorism - Ayaan Hirsi Ali (UnHerd)
British MP Stabbed to Death in Islamist Terror Attack - Doug Faulkner (BBC News)

Taliban's Murder of Volleyball Player Marks the Beginning of Afghan Dark Era - Phyllis Chesler (4W)  

Google Warns Iran behind Cyberattacks - Ajax Bash (Google)

Hizbullah Operatives Given Refuge in Venezuela - Damian Pachter (Israel Hayom)

The Iranian Revolutionary Apparatus and Hizbullah in West Africa - Toulu Akerele   (Hudson Institute) 

Investigation of Beirut Port Blast Leads to Armed Clashes in Lebanon - Michael Young  (Carnegie Middle East Center) many Christians believe Hizbullah was responsible for the explosion.

Lebanese Journalist: Hizbullah Continues To Turn Lebanon Into A 'Narco State,' Now Using West Africa As A Transit Hub For Its Illegal Drug Trade (MEMRI)

13 NGOs, 70 Staff and Board Members Linked to Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). (NGO Monitor)

PA Security Forces Members Planned Terror Attack (Times of Israel)

Palestinian Prisoners No One Talks About - Khaled Abu Toameh (Gatestone Institute)

Report: Russia Disbanding Its Syrian Militia, Opening Up Golan for Iran (Times of Israel)

Why Israeli gas and Syrian sanctions relief may turn on Lebanon’s lights - Matthew Zeis (Atlantic Council)

War still rages in Syrian border town at heart of Iran’s regional ambition - Martin Chuluv (The Guardian)

U.S. Military Was Tipped Off about Iran-Backed Attack on Troops in Syria, Saving Lives - Lucas Tomlinson (Fox News)

Swedish Foreign Minister: Corruption an Obstacle to Economic Support for Palestinian Authority - Mohammad Al-Kassim (Media Line)

Britain Ends Direct Funding of PA Teachers - Jenni Frazar (Jewish News-UK)

Ahead of Donor Conference, UNRWA Should Identify Which 6 Employees Suspended for Antisemitism - letter from UN Watch to UNRW

Hollywood Stars Sign Anti-BDS Letter But Major Media Outlets Turn Blind Eye- Rachel O'Donoghue (Honest Reporting) 

This week the UN was in session in NY where the Israeli Ambassor, Gilad Urdan, and the head of UN Watch, Hillel Neuer, were both prevented from speaking out on  the endemic antisemitism at United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) schools.

Egypt's President Sisi Hails Peace with Israel (Asharq Al-Awsat-UK)

Why Arabs Are Annoyed with the Europeans - Khaled Abu Toameh  (Gatestone Institute) The European Parliament has enraged many Arabs by calling for a boycott of Expo 2020 Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).  The timing of the resolution is problematic and implies that the European Parliament is seeking to punish the UAE for signing a peace treaty with Israel. 

'The Squad' & Congress' Iron Dome Fiasco Is Bigger Than You Think. Here's Why. (Video, Honest Reporting)

Hamas Is Building a Second Front Against Israel in Lebanon - Yaakov Lappin (Investigative Project on Terrorism)

Pandora Papers: Lebanese Politicians Stowed Vast Wealth Abroad as Economy Tanked (Haaretz)

Associated Press Whitewashes Hamas ‘Workshop’ That Ended With Call for Israel’s Destruction, Enslavement of ‘Educated Jews’ - Akiva Van Koningsveld (Honest Reporting)  See more at MEMRI

United States to stay in Syria, top Kurdish politician says (Reuters)

Expect the next Update to be on or about Oct. 30.

Did you know that 90% of 5000 Hamas offensive missiles fired at Israeli civilian areas were downed by the defensive Iron Dome systems last May? 

Colombia Uncovers Another Iranian Foreign Assassination Campaign - Potkin Azarmehr (IPT News)

Iran: We Have Established Six Armies Outside Our Borders - Rawad Taha (Al Arabiya-Dubai) IRGC General Gholamali Rashid: Hizbullah In Lebanon, Hamas And PIJ In Palestine, PMU In Iraq, And The Houthis In Yemen Are All Armies Ready To Defend The Iranian Regime (MEMRI)

Iran and Venezuela strike oil deal amid US sanctions - Lexi Lonis (The Hill)

Arrest Warrants Issued for Three Iraqi Leaders Who Attended Conference Calling for Peace With Israel (The Algemeiner) 

Over 300 prominent Iraqis publicly call for full peace with Israel (Times of Israel)

Abbas’ UN speech explains why he is no partner for peace - Maurice Hirsch, Adv (PMW)

U.S., Qatar launch joint action on Hezbollah financing (France24)

Sudan Closes Door on Support for Hamas - Khalid Abdelaziz (Reuters)

UN says at least 350,000 civilians killed in Syria’s civil war - Lisa Schlein (Voice of America)

The Assad Regime’s Business Model for Supporting the Islamic State -  Matthew Levitt (Lawfare) 

Congress Approves Funding for Afghan Arrivals (HIAS)

New Lebanese PM: We’ll work with any country, ‘except Israel, of course’ [mirroring the Taliban]- (Times of Israel)

Libyan commander, Chadian rebels clash in southern Libya (AP) The clashes, which flared up earlier this week, could further destabilize the wider Sahel region

Islamists Suffer Crushing Defeat in Moroccan Parliamentary Elections (France 24)

Pakistani Ambassador To China Moin Ul Haque: I Think The Taliban Would Welcome An Invitation To Join China-Pakistan Economic Corridor - (MEMRI/ CGTN Network (China) )

Report: 2 Palestinian Fugitives Flee to Jordan, 4 to Jenin (Ynet News)

3,728,600 reasons the escaped terrorists chose to return to prison quietly - Maurice Hirsch (PMW)

Riots have raged across the West Bank and eastern Jerusalem as Palestinians burned tires and threw rocks at IDF soldiers following the jailbreak of six prisoners. (Times of Israel)

Hamas in Gaza Wages Perilous Campaign of Harassing Israel (AFP)

Selective Memory: The Carefully Excised "WHY" of the 9/11 Attacks - Todd Bensman (IPT)

Who gets to teach what about Israel? A UNC course ignites the debate -  Arno Rosenfeld (Forward)

‘We Feel His Presence in the Department Is Threatening’ - Robbie Grammar (Foreign Policy) Over 70 colleagues have asked Secratary Blinken to fire their colleague Fritz Berggren. As the activies of Mr. Berggren were widely reported in February (see here and here). Why is he still at the State Dept?

Arizona Scraps Investments in Unilever over Ben and Jerry's Israel Policy - Howard Fische  (Arizona Capitol Times)

New Jersey set to shed $182 million Unilever assets over Ben & Jerry's boycott - Ross Kerber (Reuters)

FREE EVENT

by The Temple Emanu-El Streicker Center

In-Person and Virtual

Ohad Hemo: Reporting from the Arab Street

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 26 2021

6:30 PM — 8:00 PM

Register Here: https://streicker-fall-2021.ticketleap.com/ohad-hemo/dates/Oct-26-2021_at_0630PM