Canada/U.S.: Following outrage over the omission of Jews in Justin Trudeau’s Holocaust Remembrance Day statement, CIJA says it was not deliberate. Meanwhile, attorney Julian Falconer opened up about representing Sammy Yatim’s mother and sister in a lawsuit against former Toronto police chief Bill Blair, and the city is gearing up for Jewish Disability Month, which starts today.
The CJN spoke to University of Victoria’s Professor Aaron Devor, believed to be the first chair of transgender studies at a major university, about its importance.
The state of Indiana has become the latest to pass legislation targeting companies that promote the anti-Israel BDS movement, rap mogul Russell Simmons discussed ways to combat anti-Semitism at Limmud FSU’s first-ever West Coast event, and a Utah high school dodge ball team called ‘The Ballocaust’ is under fire for its offensive name.
The Iowa caucus is tonight, and the question on everybody’s minds is what is Jewish nominee Bernie Sanders’ stand on Israel? On the other end of the political spectrum, Donald Trump’s Walk of Fame star was vandalized with a backwards swastika this weekend.
Israel: After attempting to stab an IDF soldier at a West Bank barrier, a Palestinian teen was shot and killed today. Following Hamas’ declaration that they are rebuilding terror tunnels, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has proclaimed that Israel will strike with greater force than in 2014 if the tunnels are used for attacks. UN chief Ban Ki-moon has responded to claims that his speech on Middle East terrorism the Israeli-Palestinian conflict justified Palestinian terrorism in an op-ed for The New York Times called “Don’t shoot the messenger, Israel,” in which he accuses Israel of “lashing out at every well-intentioned critic.”
After a six-year hiatus, Burger King is back in Israel, an Israeli virologist is hunting for a cure to the Zika virus, a historic compromise involving Women of the Wall and other non-Orthodox groups has been made in Jerusalem, and, in an important op-ed from David Sachs, the political commentator asks if “Palestinians are knowingly bringing knives to a gun fight?”
Following the aforementioned compromise in Jerusalem, Israeli tourism minister Yariv Levin said the Reform movement will be dead within three generations, citing Chelsea Clinton’s wedding as proof.
World: In an interview with NBC, Holocaust survivor Gena Turgel recalls the horrors of Auschwitz, Iran has received access to its $100 billion (US), France says it will recognize a Palestinian state if peace talks fail, Hong Kong gave the boot to known anti-Semitic comedian Dieudonné M’bala M’bala, an Australian globe omitted Israel for Palestine (this is becoming an unfortunate trend), and suspected neo-Nazis attacked migrants in Stockholm who “didn’t look ethnically Swedish.”
Business: An Israeli polio victim has built a fascinating scooter for the disabled, and a new Israeli app lets you bring your ideas to life on an interactive, 3D canvas:
WATCH: Israel is putting design at your fingertips! Israeli app uMake brings your ideas to life on an interactive, 3-D canvas!—-> If you support Israel, let the people of Israel know. Add your name to ISupportIsrael.com nowVia: Israeli American CouncilMusic: bensound.com
Posted by The Israel Project on Sunday, January 31, 2016
Culture: Jeffrey Tambor dedicated his Screen Actors Guild award to trans men and women after winning best actor in a comedy series, Jennifer Lopez has announced her debut performance in Israel, and an Israeli film has taken the top prize at the Sundance Film Festival.
Drake is in the headlines (again), after releasing a new anthem, Summer Sixteen, and announcing that his ode to Toronto, Views from the Six, will finally drop in April.
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