Yesterday's horrific situation in TX is just one example, a reminder of why we can't bury our heads in the sand and ignore the world around us. 

'Anti-Israel agenda in global media has personal motivations' - Ran Puni (Israel Hayom)
Media Ignores Pro-BDS Congresswoman’s Checkered History on Israel avatar  - Rachel O'Donoghue (The Algemeiner)
 

Cost for Afghan Refugees at Bases Reaches $688 Million, Pentagon Says - Travis Tritton (Military.com)

UN chief warns millions of Afghans are on ‘verge of death’ - Edith M. Lederer (AP) 

Biden administration to give additional $308 mln in humanitarian aid to Afghanistan (Reuters)

In Iran, Taliban hold talks with anti-Taliban Afghan group (AP)

Entertainment Industry Leaders Stand United Against Cultural Boycott of Israel and in Support of Sydney Festival (CCFPeace)

Denmark accuses Russia, China, Iran of espionage threat - Jacob Gronholt-pedersen (Reuters)

Iran Increases Its Naval Forces - Agnes Helou (Defense News)

UN Report: Iran Navy Port Emerges as Key to Weapons Smuggling to Yemen - Benoit Faucon (Wall Street Journal)

The UN's Final Solution to the Israel Question - Clifford D. May (Washington Times)

The Netherlands cancels €2.2 million contract with Palestinian terror-linked NGO (De Telegraaf) Read here in Dutch  

Wanted Iranian Official Attends Inauguration of Nicaraguan President - Emanuele Ottolenghi and Toby Dershowitz (National Interest)

Hamas Leader Meets Iranian Foreign Minister in Qatar (Jerusalem Post)

Mahmoud Abbas Begins 17th Year as Palestinian President - Salam AbuSharar (Anadolu-Turkey)

Convicted murderer of 5 has tourney named after him at Birzeit University - Nan Jacques Zilberdik (PMW)

Palestinians reinvent Jesus in their own image - as a terrorist - Itamar Marcus (PMW)

Saudi Arabia Turns to Gulf States to Replenish Depleted Air Defenses - Andrew England (Financial Times-UK)  A U.S. official said the Houthi rebels, who are aligned to Iran and control northern Yemen, launched 375 cross-border attacks last year against Saudi Arabia, many of which targeted oil infrastructure, airports and cities. 

Syrian Ballistic Missile Site ‘Threatens Almost All of Israel’- Tal Beeri (Alma)

Israel Warns Against Hizbullah Presence in Venezuela - Sabrina Martin Rondon  (El American) Israel is concerned about the presence of Iranian terrorists in Venezuelan territory.

January 11 marked the 20th anniversary of the first detainee arrivals at Guantánamo. At its peak, Guantanamo held about 780 prisoners. There are currently 39 detainees there, of which 10 are awaiting trial and 14 have been cleared for transfer. 

I’ve been held at Guantánamo for 20 years without trial. Mr Biden, please set me free - Khalid Qasim (The Guardian)

U.S. Congress Launches Bipartisan Abraham Accords Caucus - Marc Rod (Jewish Insider)   The co-chairs will be Sens. James Lankford (R-OK), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), David Trone (D-MD), Ann Wagner (R-MO) and Brad Schneider (D-IL).

Politico Provides Cover For Congressional Antisemitism - Sean Durns (JNS)

In 2021, U.N. General Assembly approved 14 resolutions demonizing Israel and only five for ALL other nations combined (including just one each for notorious human rights violators Iran and North Korea).

 

In 2021, CAMERA prompted a record 233 corrections in media outlets all over the world. Read about it here.

The first part of this weeks Update is all about Iran. Today's international news was all about Kazakhstan, Sudan, Beijing games and COVID; however, there is so much happening that all connects to Iran, I wanted to cover it. Hope you don't mind.

The New Yorker takes an in depth look at US options in confronting Iran, a country with 1000s of ballistic and cruise missiles. "Iran can fire more missiles than its adversaries—including the United States and Israel—can shoot down or destroy." If the US returns to the Iran nuclear deal, cash flowing to the regime, means more money for weapons to Hamas, not food and supplies for the people of Iran. This patron relationship documented here: Treasury took action in Nov 2019 and State Dept. here. It's important to remember that Iran is Israel's most deadly threat and an avowed enemy of the U.S.

The Looming Threat of a Nuclear Crisis with Iran - Robin Wright (The New Yorker)

The Media Continues Its Iran Deal Myth-Making - Sean Durns (The Algemeiner)

In 2021, the IDF Saw Action on Six Fronts - Anna Ahronheim (Jerusalem Post)

The President of Turkey is using Gaza by proxy to attack Israel. 

Hamas headquarters in Istanbul ‘directed hundreds of terror attacks’ (JNS)

Qatar (big money) and Malaysia (technical training) are also state sponsors of terror and seem to be seen by America and the American press as moderate and friendly states.

Israeli Tanks Fire Warning Shots near Israel-Syria Border - Emanuel Fabian (Times of Israel) A Syrian journalist from the area claimed the sites belonged to Iran or Iran-backed groups. 

Military Bases Housing U.S. Forces Attacked in Syria and Iraq - Jared Malsin (Wall Street Journal) Iran-aligned paramilitary groups have targeted America and its partners.

U.S. Coalition in Syria Takes Out Rocket Launch Sites - Robert Burns (AP-Military Times)

Iran, Hizbullah Bolster Presence, Weapon Shipments near Damascus (Ha'aretz)

The White House Is Sending Iran the Wrong Message - Eli Lake (Bloomberg)

For more details, read Gaza Conflict 2021 by Jonathon Schanzer; it challenges and corrects the some of the wildly inaccurate news reported during the conflict.

In other news:

Afghan Women Chronicle Daily New Horrors  by Phyllis Chesler (IPT News)

Australian Broadcasting Corporation Sanitizes Semen-smuggling Operation By Jailed Palestinian Terrorists (Honest Reporting)

France closes mosque north of Paris after 'unacceptable' preaching (France24)  

Wiesenthal Centre Commends Paris Arab World Institute for Withstanding Attacks on Exhibition "Jews of the Orient"  more on the Paris Exhibition  from The National News.

Israel Working towards Normalization with Indonesia, Saudi Arabia (i24News)

Will the Next Abraham Accords Be with Indonesia? - Amotz Asa-El (Jerusalem Post)

New Year, Same Old Media Erasures of Gaza's Belligerence Tamar Sternthal (CAMERA)

Fatah on its anniversary: Murderers are role models; terror will enable “Palestine” to replace Israel - Nan Jacques Zilberdik (PMW)

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.