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- Arab-Countries | Tikva International
October 7th Impact on the Arab World In a Nutshell The Arab world's response to the Gaza-Israel conflict is a complex mix of historical solidarity with Palestinians and pragmatic geopolitical considerations. While there is empathetic support for the Palestinian cause, practical concerns are evident, as seen in Egypt and Jordan's reluctance to host Palestinian refugees due to fears of importing terrorism and destabilizing their own countries. This reflects the delicate balance between solidarity and internal security. Geopolitically, the Middle East has witnessed a shift, with key Arab states like Egypt and Saudi Arabia aligning with Israel on strategic interests, largely driven by mutual concerns over Iran's regional influence. This realignment is highlighted by their cooperation to protect Israel from threats like missile attacks by the Houthi rebels in Yemen, considered Iranian proxies. This evolving dynamic indicates that traditional Arab-Israeli conflicts are being overshadowed by the perceived threat from Iran. Economically, the impact of these conflicts is significant for Arab nations. Activities in the Red Sea, disrupted by Houthi attacks, have caused economic losses for countries like Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. Consequently, these nations find themselves in a challenging position, needing to balance public support for Palestinians with addressing their own security and economic interests. The full story References Related Videos Full Story The Full Story The Arab world's reaction to the Gaza-Israel conflict is a nuanced blend of historical solidarity with the Palestinians and pragmatic geopolitical considerations, particularly in the face of shared threats like Iran's regional ambitions and the direct impact of regional conflicts on their own security and economic stability. On one hand, there is a historical and empathetic support for the Palestinian cause among Arab nations. However, this support is tempered by practical concerns, as evidenced by Egypt and Jordan's hesitance to host Palestinian refugees, largely due to fears of importing terrorism and destabilizing their own countries. This cautious approach highlights the delicate balance these nations must maintain between solidarity with Palestinians and internal security concerns. On the other hand, the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East has seen a shift, with several Arab states, notably Egypt and Saudi Arabia, aligning with Israel on certain strategic interests. A significant factor in this realignment is the shared apprehension regarding Iran's growing influence in the region. Iran's efforts to disrupt the normalization of relations between some Arab countries and Israel have been met with resistance. Notably, Egypt and Saudi Arabia have taken proactive measures to protect Israel from threats such as missile attacks by the Houthi rebels in Yemen, who are perceived as Iranian proxies. This cooperation underscores a broader regional realignment, where traditional Arab-Israeli conflicts are increasingly overshadowed by the perceived threat from Iran. Moreover, the economic impact of these conflicts is also a concern for Arab nations. For instance, the decrease in Red Sea activity due to Houthi attacks has led to economic losses for countries like Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. This situation has forced these countries into a delicate position of balancing their public support for the Palestinian cause with the need to address their own security and economic interests. References References Pay Attention to the Arab Public Response to the Israel-Hamas War Why Egypt and other Arab nations are hesitant to take in Palestinian refugees How arming Saudi Arabia helped Israel and the United States Iran wanted Saudi Arabia to drop Israel — but failed miserably US public support for Israel drops; majority backs a ceasefire, Reuters/Ipsos shows Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia remain mum despite rising cost of Houthi attacks Reletaed Videos Related Videos The 1947 quote that explains everything 🇬🇧 “Don’t you dare talk about Palestinian resistance!” The Blood Of The People Of Gaza is on Haniyeh and the Hamas Leaders Families in Iran have to live under threat of execution Iranian people for the state of Israel Palestinian lives matter! Load More
- 'We have hostages, I caught one': IDF uncovers recordings of UNRWA employees from October 7 | Tikva International
'We have hostages, I caught one': IDF uncovers recordings of UNRWA employees from October 7 5 March 2024 By: YNET UNRWA workers who took part in October 7 attack (Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit) Army releases names and recordings of 4 UNRWA employees talking and joking with alleged terrorists about taking part in October 7 massacre The IDF revealed Monday new evidence based on military intelligence regarding the involvement of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in Hamas’s October 7 attack. The military published the identities of four additional workers who were involved in the massacre - after the identities of other involved employees in the UN agency were already exposed - and also published incriminating recordings of two terrorists for the first time who, alongside their operation for terror organizations in the Strip, worked as teachers in UNRWA schools, and admitted to participating in the massacre. 'I'm inside, with the Jews' In the first recording, a terrorist who works as an Arabic teacher in a UNRWA school in Deir al-Balah described how he infiltrated Israeli territory on October 7 and said he was holding onto an Israeli woman he abducted. The terrorist, and another one with whom he conversed on the phone, are heard laughing and joking - with the latter even describing some woman, likely a hostage, as a "noble mare." In the second recording that was exposed, another terrorist who works as a teacher in an elementary school of UNRWA in Khan Younis, is heard saying he managed to infiltrate Israel: "I’m inside, with the Jews ," he said. "Terror organizations in the Strip use civilian institutions, hospitals, and international aid organizations, and coerce them for terrorist purposes and harming innocent civilians," the military said in a statement. It added that according to its intelligence, over 450 Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists in the Strip are employed as UNRWA workers. IDF Spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, issued a statement on the incriminating recordings, saying the identities of additional terrorists employed by UNRWA will be revealed in the coming days - including those holding senior positions within the UN agency. He noted that in the recordings, the terrorists speak with contempt and hate, referring to the abducted women as "Sabaya" - an Islamic term that refers to women and children as the property of men, and can also be interpreted as slaves or servants. Hagari mentioned that the Islamic State also used the term to describe Yazidi women whom they abducted for sexual slavery. According to Hagari, this is further evidence that Hamas terrorists treated women with brutality and saw them as animals on October 7 — after numerous pieces of evidence and testimonies have already been exposed regarding the terrorists’ sexual atrocities. "The way they refer to the abducted women as 'Sabaya' or 'noble mares' is extremely worrying and calls for a global outcry – the same as when the world cried for Yazidi women," Hagari said, highlighting Israel’s concerns for hostages still held in the Strip. In the main recording released by the military, Yousef Zidan Suliman al-Hawajri, an Arabic teacher in Deir al-Balah, who according to the IDF is a terrorist associated with Hamas's military wing. "We have hostages. I caught one," al-Hawajri says. In the recording, the date of which wasn’t disclosed, he’s heard speaking with another undisclosed individual — though it’s likely he also took part in the massacre due to the context of his words. In the second recording the two individuals, as mentioned, are heard congratulating each other and expressing joy over Hamas's success in carrying out the most severe attack against Israel in its history. 'I saw, they shot them in the eyes' Al-Hawajri asks his unnamed caller if "he found something," to which he replies: "Yes, they brought a horse." According to the IDF, this is likely a codename for a woman. "You brought in a mare?" al-Hawajri confirms - and the other answers that it is a "noble mare, not just any horse." He then adds, "I’m kidding bro.” In the recorded conversation, the two discuss the massacre in southern Israel, and the unnamed caller says: "I was in the eastern area; there’s a lot of smoke in all of the military outposts." Al-Hawajri: "I was there." Caller: "Where?" Al-Hawajri: "Inside, east of al-Dair." Caller: "No way, how is it there?" Al-Hawajri: "We went in." Caller: "Really, bro?... I saw the (graphic) sights." Al-Hawajri: "Yes, I saw it... They shot them in the eyes." Caller: "How many did you see?" Al-Hawajri: "I saw two, me and another guy from our group." Caller: "You should’ve brought them with you.” Later in the conversation, al-Hawajri recounts how the terrorists in the massacre "broke the cameras and the gates" in southern Israel. "Wow, what a thing they did. Listen, they carried out an operation to free us." The second speaker asks if he brought weapons with him, and he replies, "No, we brought what we could." When asked "what he found in Israel," al-Hawajri replied: "1,000 shekels." As mentioned, the IDF revealed another recording of a terrorist named Mamduh Hassin Ahmed al-Kak — a member of the Islamic Jihad’s military wing — who also works as a teacher at a UNRWA elementary school in Khan Younis. The military didn’t detail who he talked with, but it could be assumed to be another terrorist based on the conversation’s context. The second speaker asks al-Kak where he is, and he indicates that the Gaza border "is full of shooting and fighter jets." Al-Kak responds, "I'm inside, with the Jews inside." Later, the second speaker asks al-Kak how he intends to return home, to which he answers, "When I die." In addition to the two recorded terrorists, the IDF revealed the identities of two other terrorists employed by UNRWA: Rassan Al-Jabari, who according to the IDF is associated with Hamas's Al Furqan Battalion and also works as a UNRWA "health officer", and Bakr Mahmoud Abdullah Darwish, who served as an advisor at a UNRWA school - alongside his involvement in Hamas's military wing. After cutting ties with 10 workers out of 12 Israel has previously uncovered as working for Hamas and taking part in the October 7 attack, UNRWA has accused Israel of abusing its workers into confessing these crimes, which they allege didn’t take place. The UN body announced Monday that it will soon publish the conclusions of an investigation it conducted into the alleged abuse of Palestinian detainees held at bases in Israel by the IDF, according to the New York Times. Foreign Minister Israel Katz responded to the report and attacked UNRWA, saying that "there is no limit to the brazenness of this organization, dozens of whose employees took an active part in the October 7 massacre, thousands of them are members of Hamas and its facilities were used by Hamas' infrastructure." <- Previous Read full article Next -> More Insights 7 Ways Hamas Exploits Palestinian Civilians in Gaza Antisemitism defined: Why opposing the Jewish people's right to self-determination is antisemitic What You Need to Know About Israel’s Humanitarian Aid To Gaza Fatah responds to Hamas criticism of new formation of PA government ‘without consulting Hamas’ Surprise jump in Gazan support for 2-state solution, while still in favor of Oct 7 attack Hamas' Most Horrific Weapon of War: 5 Takeaways from UN Report on Sexual Violence Against Israelis Latest Video Clips The History of Israel This Muslim Israeli Woman Is the Future of the Middle East Natasha Hausdorff responds to the content of the House of Commons Gaza Debate. Its time to face the hard truth that you're being played as a sacrificial fool by terrorists. Peace cannot be achieved with those who desire war and jihad instead. 'Awful Things Happening In Israel Nothing To Do With British Jews'
- Stop Pierre Krähenbühl's Appointment as Head of the Red Cross | Tikva International
Stop Pierre Krähenbühl's Appointment as Head of the Red Cross 28 January 2024 By: ActionNetwork This is not an April Fools’ joke. On April 1st, 2024, Pierre Krähenbühl, the disgraced former chief of UNRWA, will take over as the director-general of the International Red Cross. The core principle of the Red Cross is neutrality. Yet when he headed UNRWA, Krähenbühl demonstrated extreme bias against Israel. On repeated occasions during his tenure, UN Watch urged Krähenbühl to end the rampant incitement to terror and antisemitism by UNRWA teachers. Yet Krähenbühl turned a blind eye. He allowed teachers of hate to incite with impunity, indoctrinating a generation of Palestinians to hate Jews. In November 2019, Krähenbühl was forced to resign from UNRWA over allegations that he and other managers were engaged in corruption, abuse of power and ethics violations. The scandal was so damning that Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands and New Zealand at the time suspended their funding for UNRWA. After he quit, Krähenbühl’s supporters suggested that he had been cleared of the charges, and that he had been the victim of a conspiracy between Washington, Jerusalem and a pro-Israel Swiss foreign minister. However, an investigation by Swiss newspaper Le Temps, and a former UNRWA ethics inspector, confirmed the opposite. It is reckless for the Red Cross to appoint as its leader someone who remains tainted by a major scandal of corruption, abuse of power and ethics violations. The Red Cross under its current leadership is already biased against Israel. The last thing that the Red Cross needs at the moment is a new corrupt, biased official at its helm. Tell the Red Cross: rescind the appointment now. Stop Krähenbühl. <- Previous Read full article Next -> More Insights 7 Ways Hamas Exploits Palestinian Civilians in Gaza Antisemitism defined: Why opposing the Jewish people's right to self-determination is antisemitic What You Need to Know About Israel’s Humanitarian Aid To Gaza Fatah responds to Hamas criticism of new formation of PA government ‘without consulting Hamas’ Surprise jump in Gazan support for 2-state solution, while still in favor of Oct 7 attack Hamas' Most Horrific Weapon of War: 5 Takeaways from UN Report on Sexual Violence Against Israelis Latest Video Clips The History of Israel This Muslim Israeli Woman Is the Future of the Middle East Natasha Hausdorff responds to the content of the House of Commons Gaza Debate. Its time to face the hard truth that you're being played as a sacrificial fool by terrorists. Peace cannot be achieved with those who desire war and jihad instead. 'Awful Things Happening In Israel Nothing To Do With British Jews'
- Public protests and criticism of Hamas in the Gaza Strip during recent months | Tikva International
Public protests and criticism of Hamas in the Gaza Strip during recent months 6 March 2024 By: Terrorism-info During the past three months, in light of the continued fighting, public criticism of the Hamas government and leadership has increased significantly in the Gaza Strip compared to the protests in the first months. The expanding activities of the IDF forces in Khan Yunis, Gaza City and the central Gaza Strip, the continuation of IDF and Israeli Air Force attacks throughout the Gaza Strip, the increase in the number of casualties and the heavy damage caused to infrastructure and buildings, the lack of food, the plight of the residents, especially the displaced persons, as well as the discourse about a military operation in Rafah, brought residents into the streets to demonstrate against Hamas. At the protest demonstrations, which are mostly held during the day, for the most part Gazans express their anger at their situation and at senior Hamas officials, especially Isma’il Haniyeh, head of Hamas’ political bureau, and Yahya al-Sinwar, head of the Hamas political bureau in the Gaza Strip. The demonstrations highlight the growing frustration and despair among the Gazans living under the Hamas administration . They are angry at having to pay the price of the war while senior Hamas officials live in luxury in hotels abroad, while those who are in the Strip hide in tunnels. Most of the protesters call for the overthrow of the Hamas government and emphasize their desire to live a life of self-respect and support their families with dignity. An analysis of the demonstrations indicates that currently they are local and sporadic, apparently organized spontaneously. They are not held particularly frequently, only a few per month, and are attended by a few hundred people. Apparently Hamas is not trying to stop them, possibly because it does not currently regard them as endangering its status. Furthermore, Hamas [falsely] claims that most of the demonstrations do not represent the feelings of the population and are fabricated or directed by Israel. Meanwhile, because of the complaints, Hamas is clearly making attempts to correct the situation. For example, in response to complaints about the high price of food, the Hamas ministry of the interior appointed committees to monitor prices and prevent price gouging. The committees’ operatives examine prices, mainly in Rafah, where the majority of the population is concentrated, and masked, walk in the streets armed with clubs and guns, and supervise the markets. Criticisms are also posted on the social networks. However, at the moment there are relatively few threads, managed by a handful of people with a limited number of followers. Criticism deals mainly with two topics: harsh criticism of the conduct of senior Hamas officials inside and outside the Gaza Strip, and a description of the Gazan population’s appalling situation. So far, the number the protests is small and they do not endanger the Hamas administration. However, as time passes and Israel’s military pressure increases in the Gaza Strip, and as a result the humanitarian crisis worsens and the lack of food and shelter for the residents increases, the protests will continue and most likely increase. It is also possible that the approaching month of Ramadan, which begins on March 11, 2024, will further increase the public’s sense of want and its frustration, and therefore the extent of the protests. <- Previous Read full article Next -> More Insights 7 Ways Hamas Exploits Palestinian Civilians in Gaza Antisemitism defined: Why opposing the Jewish people's right to self-determination is antisemitic What You Need to Know About Israel’s Humanitarian Aid To Gaza Fatah responds to Hamas criticism of new formation of PA government ‘without consulting Hamas’ Surprise jump in Gazan support for 2-state solution, while still in favor of Oct 7 attack Hamas' Most Horrific Weapon of War: 5 Takeaways from UN Report on Sexual Violence Against Israelis Latest Video Clips The History of Israel This Muslim Israeli Woman Is the Future of the Middle East Natasha Hausdorff responds to the content of the House of Commons Gaza Debate. Its time to face the hard truth that you're being played as a sacrificial fool by terrorists. Peace cannot be achieved with those who desire war and jihad instead. 'Awful Things Happening In Israel Nothing To Do With British Jews'
- Bloodbath? The Ratio of Civilian Casualties in the Gaza War | Tikva International
Bloodbath? The Ratio of Civilian Casualties in the Gaza War 1 February 2024 By: Mid East Journal The discussion around civilian casualties in the Gaza conflict raises complex moral and ethical questions about warfare. In every armed conflict, including the ongoing situation in Gaza, the issue of collateral damage, or unintended civilian deaths, is a significant concern. Despite efforts to target militants, the reality of militants operating within civilian populations in Gaza makes some level of civilian casualties seem inevitable. Comparatively, data suggests that the civilian death toll in Gaza is relatively low when compared to other recent urban conflicts. However, the accuracy of these figures is debated, as the Gaza Health Ministry, controlled by Hamas, does not distinguish between civilian and militant deaths, which could skew the numbers. Technological advancements have led to more precise military strikes, contributing to a decline in civilian death rates over time. Yet, the shift to warfare in dense urban areas increases risks to civilians. Historical data shows varying civilian death rates across different conflicts, with the Israel-Hamas conflict not appearing as an outlier when considering the ratio of civilian to combatant deaths. Analyzing the ratio of civilian casualties per bomb dropped provides another perspective. For instance, the civilian fatality rate in Gaza is lower than in other conflicts like the battle for Mosul or the Russia-Ukraine war, based on the number of munitions used and reported civilian deaths. However, the reliability of civilian casualty data from Gaza is questioned due to the lack of transparency and potential inclusion of militant deaths in civilian death counts. This ambiguity complicates efforts to accurately assess the proportionality of force used in the conflict. Despite Israel's argument that its actions are justified under international law due to threats from Hamas, the debate over the proportionality and justification of the conflict remains, with the true impact on civilians difficult to ascertain fully. The discussion underscores the tragedy of loss and the complexities of modern warfare, where the distinction between combatant and civilian casualties is often blurred, and the justification of actions is heavily debated. <- Previous Read full article Next -> More Insights 7 Ways Hamas Exploits Palestinian Civilians in Gaza Antisemitism defined: Why opposing the Jewish people's right to self-determination is antisemitic What You Need to Know About Israel’s Humanitarian Aid To Gaza Fatah responds to Hamas criticism of new formation of PA government ‘without consulting Hamas’ Surprise jump in Gazan support for 2-state solution, while still in favor of Oct 7 attack Hamas' Most Horrific Weapon of War: 5 Takeaways from UN Report on Sexual Violence Against Israelis Latest Video Clips The History of Israel This Muslim Israeli Woman Is the Future of the Middle East Natasha Hausdorff responds to the content of the House of Commons Gaza Debate. Its time to face the hard truth that you're being played as a sacrificial fool by terrorists. Peace cannot be achieved with those who desire war and jihad instead. 'Awful Things Happening In Israel Nothing To Do With British Jews'
- Investigation: The antisemitism that Oct. 7 unleashed in Canada | Tikva International
Investigation: The antisemitism that Oct. 7 unleashed in Canada 22 February 2024 By: Global News Canada A Global News investigation explores Canada's dramatic spike in antisemitic hate. Agunman shoots at a Montreal Jewish school. A Jewish-owned grocery store is set on fire in Toronto. In Ottawa, police disrupt an alleged terrorism plot against the Jewish community. The Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel has sparked a dramatic surge of antisemitism across Canada, according to a Global News investigation based on documents, interviews and figures compiled from police forces. Homes, businesses, schools, places of worship, neighbourhoods and institutions have all been targeted in what community leaders are calling an unparalleled spike in hate crimes against Jews. In addition, Canadian intelligence reports warn that Jewish community centres, day schools, synagogues and grocery stores are among the “possible targets” of “increasingly likely” extremist attacks. Antisemitic incidents have jumped in every major city, police figures show. (The government defines antisemitism as a “certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews.”) In Toronto, they more than doubled to 132 last year, while those against the larger Muslim population grew to 35 from 12, and the LGBTQ2 community was targeted 66 times. Reports of antisemitism also increased more than twofold in Halifax, to 18 from seven in 2022, according to police. Alberta’s two biggest cities saw a rise to 45 from 25 the year before. Most were in Calgary, where there were 27 incidents, up from 15, while in Edmonton the numbers went from 10 in 2022 to 18 — with 15 of those occurring after Oct. 7. Ottawa’s Jewish population numbers just 15,000 in a city of one million, but was the most targeted group for hate, accounting for one out of every five incidents in the capital last year. On the West Coast, there were more antisemitic hate crimes in Vancouver after Oct. 7 than in all of 2022, which the city’s police department attributed to the Israel-Hamas conflict. “We are living in unprecedented times,” said Nico Slobinsky, Pacific Region vice-president at the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs. “We have seen the mainstreaming of antisemitism.” “We see it in public spaces, in private spaces. We see it in the workplace, in schools, on university campuses. We see it sometimes being manifested even in interpersonal relationships with people you consider your friends.” 1. Bullets, Firebombs and Hate Just one per cent of the country’s population, Canadian Jews were already disproportionately the victims of hate crimes before Hamas launched its armed assault, and the Israeli military responded in Gaza. But something happened after Oct. 7 that has brought it into the open in ways uncharacteristic of a diverse nation that prides itself on tolerance and the embrace of multiculturalism. “It’s almost like a world gone mad,” said Rabbi Menachem Karmel, principal at Yeshiva Gedola, a Jewish elementary school in Montreal’s Côte-des-Neiges neighbourhood. On Nov. 9, bullets hit the school entrance. Three days later, it happened again. Students were not in class at the time and there were no injuries, but the community was taken aback. The shootings caused “a lot of panic,” said Karmel. Police have not made any arrests. The school has had to install security cameras and floodlights. The incident was among 131 antisemitic hate incidents in Montreal between Oct. 7 and Jan. 30, according to police. It is also the kind of attack that intelligence officials caution about in documents obtained by Global News that assess the potential for violence in Canada stemming antisemitism and the Israel-Hamas conflict. In intelligence briefs released under the Access to Information Act, the Canadian government’s Integrated Terrorism Assessment Centre said violent extremists were spreading antisemitic rhetoric. Using social media as their “main pathway,” extremist influencers have praised Hamas and disseminated antisemitic content and conspiracy theories that incite violence, according to an Oct. 12, 2023 report. “The narratives encourage hate crimes, violence and terrorism,” said the report, titled Canada: Trends Influencing Antisemitic Violent Extremism. A report issued two weeks later predicted the Israel-Hamas conflict would “exacerbate the current steady increase in hate crimes targeting the Jewish community in Canada.” “Violent rhetoric celebrating the Oct. 7 attack and encouraging like-minded individuals to conduct lone actor attacks could inspire individuals to conduct attacks targeting Israeli interests or the Jewish community,” it said. The grandson of Holocaust survivors, Karmel said he was glad his grandparents were not around to witness the turn of events in Canada. “To see this happening again, it’s terrifying,” he said. “It’s hatred.” 2 - The Restaurant and the Flag Marcus Stiller has never lived in Israel, but as a Canadian Jew, he hung an Israeli flag in the window of his Vancouver restaurant, Fish Café. “I’m very loud and proud,” he said in an interview. The flag caused no problems until after Oct. 7, when his restaurant began to receive a string of negative online reviews, one accusing him of supporting genocide. Stiller, whose grandfather fled Greece during the Italian fascist occupation, said he doesn’t mind reviews, good or bad. But this was clearly not about his food or service. Like Jewish business owners in Toronto and Montreal, he was being singled out over the Hamas-Israel conflict. Things escalated when, on Nov. 19, he found a swastika and a far-right slogan painted on a wall behind the restaurant. Next, he found a photo in his mailbox — a picture of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s head cropped onto a uniformed Nazi with a swastika shoulder patch. “This is how things start,” Stiller said. “I’m not scared,” he added. “I am concerned, obviously, about the antisemitism. And I’m a little bit more concerned about my staff’s safety than mine.” “But I’m not going to take the flag down.” 3 - The Preacher In a room above a massage parlor that advertises “sexy hot” staff, Younus Kathrada stood at a microphone delivering a sermon about a “religious war” against “filthy zionists.” When he was done, his worshippers exited the building into a winter afternoon in the B.C. capital, and mingled on a sidewalk facing a graffiti-covered concrete factory. Approached by Global News as he walked to his car, Kathrada did not respond to allegations by Jewish groups that he is spreading antisemitism. But the Saudi-trained 60-year-old has long faced complaints over the weekly lectures he leads in Victoria and posts on social media channels. Since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israelis, he has claimed the conflict is a “jihad,” and those killed fighting would be rewarded with 72 virgins . “We pray that Allah grants them victory over the criminal Jews ,” he said in a recent Friday sermon that was later posted on his Facebook page. A Victoria-area city councillor has asked police to investigate Kathrada’s videos. Jewish groups have also filed police complaints. “Younis Kathrada preaches hate. There’s no other way to say it,” said Slobinsky, the CIJA Pacific Region vice-president. The Victoria Police Department said it had received a report about Kathrada that was being investigated by its hate crimes coordinator. A South Africa-born preacher, Kathrada has never been charged, and has denied promoting hatred or inciting his followers to do anything more than adhere to his version of worship. In the days after Oct. 7, he posted questions online he said a news reporter had asked him, and provided responses. “Do you think your comments are hate speech? Response: Are they serious?! Not a single word of what I have posted is hate speech,” Kathrada wrote. Canada’s hate crimes laws exempt good faith religious expression from prosecution. The Bloc Quebecois introduced a private members bill in November that would scrap that as a defence. The B.C. Prosecution Service updated its hate crimes policy on Friday to define as “prohibited acts” the public incitement of hatred, and the wilful promotion of hatred and antisemitism. The changes recognized that “hate crimes can cause grave psychological and social consequences that may impact one’s own self-worth, inclusion and belonging, as well as personal and collective safety.” Meanwhile, a Global News investigation has found that the non-profit group that runs Kathrada’s prayer centre has received government funding. The city of Victoria acknowledged it had given $5,000 to Muslim Youth of Victoria, which operates Kathrada’s Dar al-Ihsan Islamic Centre. The money came in 2021 and 2022 from the city’s Cultural Infrastructure Program for local non-profits that “own or operate cultural facilities.” Government records also show that a federally regulated charity, the Islamic Society of B.C., gave $2,288 to Muslim Youth of Victoria. Neither group responded to requests for comment. Kathrada became leader of the Dar al-Ihsan Islamic Centre, run by Muslim Youth of Victoria, in 2018. His weekly videos soon attracted attention. The Middle East Media Reserarch Institue (MEMRI ), a U.S. group that monitors online extremism, began issuing reports on Kathrada that same year. Since then, MEMRI has issued 60 reports on him, including one that quotes him preaching that non-Muslims are “enemies,” and not to associate with them. “I want our children to understand this well: the non-Muslims are the enemies of Allah, therefore they are your enemies,” he said in one of the videos. In another video , he said that “people of faith hate the Yahud because of their disbelief in Allah.” He defined Yahud as “Zionists, Zionist Jews, whatever you like.” Yahud is the Arabic term for Jews. “If you do not hate the opponents of Allah you have no faith,” he continued. “Having said that, once again, we have not ever called toward violence toward others.” The government’s Integrated Terrorism Assessment Centre took note of Kathrada in a 2020 report obtained by Global News. Under the heading “Online proliferation of incitement,” it cited his sermon about the beheading by French extremists of school teacher Samuel Paty , whom he called a “filthy excuse for a human being.” Slobinsky said religious leaders had an obligation to unite people, rather than to sow division, and that words have consequences. “Words carry meaning and words can scare people, can affect their sense of safety, their sense of belonging and the sense of mental well-being,” he said. “The speech that Younus Kathrada uses is highly inflammatory and derogatory towards Jews. Nobody should be, listening to what he says.” Sent a series of questions, Kathrada did not respond directly, but later wrote on Facebook that he was being harassed by “lazy misfits” who “twist people’s words.” “Corporate media is anti-Islam, anti-Muslim and straight up dishonest. I urge them to hold their breath for a response,” he wrote. 4 - Campus Unrest Immediately after the Hamas attack, the University of Toronto’s Centre for Jewish Studies opened its doors for community members, so they had a place to grieve. “They sat here and they all just cried together, because they were concerned and worried about their loved ones in Israel,” said Anna Shternshis, the centre’s director. “But also, and this is a heartbreaking part, because they couldn’t find empathy in our university community, from colleagues, from friends, from strangers.” Although Israelis were the victims of the Hamas attack, with 1,200 dead and more than 250 taken hostage, that seemed quickly forgotten, particularly on campuses. As students began to protest in support of Palestinians, Shternshis said Jews found their suffering largely ignored and began to ask: “Are these protests condemning us?” Jewish students said in interviews they felt targeted, and spoke about threats and intimidation, as well as a lack of support from administration. “I personally have felt safer in a bomb shelter than in the streets of Montreal,” said Ora Bar, a Concordia University student who grew up in Israel. Last November, Bar was part of a group that set up a display in support of Israelis taken hostage by Hamas. A pro-Palestinian group put up its own table nearby. Videos taken at the time show a student shouting at the Jewish group, then grabbing their Israeli flag. A brawl erupted. Three were injured and a 22-year-old student was arrested. Across town, a University of Montreal sessional lecturer was suspended after he was allegedly videotaped at a protest calling a Jewish student a whore and telling her to “go back to Poland.” “We’ve been threatened on campus by students, by fellow students. These students have been emboldened by professors,” said Eitan Kovac, who witnessed the incident. “They have this feeling we’re agents of the state of Israel somehow. How is that the case?” A Palestinian student leader said his group had asked members not to engage with Jewish students at Concordia. “We don’t want the escalation. We don’t want tensions on campuses,” he said. At a recent demonstration in Montreal, protesters decried both antisemitism and Islamophobia, which has also increased in major cities, although not to the same level, except in Edmonton. They said stopping the war in Gaza would resolve the problems on campuses. “What is happening now, it could lead to much more tension,” one said. “So it needs to end.” 5 - 'It's really hard to wrap our heads around' On Feb. 12, pro-Palestinian protesters amassed outside Toronto’s Mount Sinai hospital, which was founded by the Jewish community a century ago. Demonstrators climbed up scaffolding outside the building and onto a ledge, waving a Palestinian flag, while others loudly chanted slogans beneath a “HOSPITAL, Quiet” sign. Shimon Fogel, CEO of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, said even when anger is directed at Israel, it is often rooted in antisemitism. “Israel has for many years now become the proxy for the Jewish people,” said Fogel. “And for many who hold hostile views, presenting them or characterizing them as hostility towards Israel is easier, and more politically correct, than simply giving expression to hatred towards Jews.” “But really, from our experience they’re one and the same,” he said. “There is a reason the Jews are being targeted on the streets of Toronto or Vancouver or Montreal. There’s a reason that schools and synagogues are being firebombed,” Fogel added. “And it’s because the antipathy is for the Jewish people, and the Jewish state is only an extension of the Jewish people, not something, independent and separate.” What concerns Fogel is not only the hatred that has found voice since Oct. 7, but where it is coming from, notably progressives who had partnered with the Jewish community on issues such as LGBTQ2 rights. “It’s really hard to wrap our heads around, the kind of alliances that are beginning to take shape,” he said. “So in addition to being anxious about the hate being directed to us, we are profoundly puzzled by these alignments.” The past few months have hit particularly close to home for those who lived through the Holocaust. In a statement issued by the Toronto Holocaust Museum, 19 survivors spoke of a “seismic shift” since Oct. 7. “Our children who were raised to believe that they were far from the horrors of 1930s Germany are recognizing that the cycle of Jew hatred is not over,” they wrote. To Fogel, what distinguishes the current wave of antisemitism from the past is the role of government and police. “Back then, it was driven by government and by officialdom within Germany,” he said. “Here we see that the political sector, law enforcement, civil society by and large, has been unequivocal in its support for the Jewish community and its condemnation of what the Jewish community has been experiencing.” The Mount Sinai hospital protest was condemned by the mayor, premier and prime minister. Toronto Police opened an investigation, and increased patrols along the city’s hospital row. The response has been lacking in many respects, “but the will and the determination to protect the community, to stand with the community, I think, has been articulated and expressed by all levels of government,” Fogel said. “And certainly by law enforcement, who have in many respects done a remarkable job in signaling that they don’t just have the Jewish community’s back, that they will be standing side by side and in front of the Jewish community as they have to contend with these particular threats and challenges.” <- Previous Read full article Next -> More Insights 7 Ways Hamas Exploits Palestinian Civilians in Gaza Antisemitism defined: Why opposing the Jewish people's right to self-determination is antisemitic What You Need to Know About Israel’s Humanitarian Aid To Gaza Fatah responds to Hamas criticism of new formation of PA government ‘without consulting Hamas’ Surprise jump in Gazan support for 2-state solution, while still in favor of Oct 7 attack Hamas' Most Horrific Weapon of War: 5 Takeaways from UN Report on Sexual Violence Against Israelis Latest Video Clips The History of Israel This Muslim Israeli Woman Is the Future of the Middle East Natasha Hausdorff responds to the content of the House of Commons Gaza Debate. Its time to face the hard truth that you're being played as a sacrificial fool by terrorists. Peace cannot be achieved with those who desire war and jihad instead. 'Awful Things Happening In Israel Nothing To Do With British Jews'
- Israeli Soccer Player in Turkey Suspended and Charged Over Hostages Solidarity Expression | Tikva International
Israeli Soccer Player in Turkey Suspended and Charged Over Hostages Solidarity Expression 14 January 2024 By: Time Turkey has charged an Israeli professional soccer player for the Turkish soccer club Antalyaspor with inciting hatred after he referenced the ongoing Israel-Hamas war during a match in the coastal city of Antalya on Sunday. After scoring a goal against rivals Trabzonspor, Sagiv Jehezkel celebrated by showing to the cameras and crowd his bandaged wrist, which had “100 days,” a small Star of David, and “7.10” written on it—a reference to the number of days that Israeli hostages have been held captive by Hamas since the Palestinian militant group’s attack on Israel on Oct. 7. <- Previous Read full article Next -> More Insights 7 Ways Hamas Exploits Palestinian Civilians in Gaza Antisemitism defined: Why opposing the Jewish people's right to self-determination is antisemitic What You Need to Know About Israel’s Humanitarian Aid To Gaza Fatah responds to Hamas criticism of new formation of PA government ‘without consulting Hamas’ Surprise jump in Gazan support for 2-state solution, while still in favor of Oct 7 attack Hamas' Most Horrific Weapon of War: 5 Takeaways from UN Report on Sexual Violence Against Israelis Latest Video Clips The History of Israel This Muslim Israeli Woman Is the Future of the Middle East Natasha Hausdorff responds to the content of the House of Commons Gaza Debate. Its time to face the hard truth that you're being played as a sacrificial fool by terrorists. Peace cannot be achieved with those who desire war and jihad instead. 'Awful Things Happening In Israel Nothing To Do With British Jews'
- Many Iranians Despise The Regime's Support For Palestine | Tikva International
Many Iranians Despise The Regime's Support For Palestine 3 March 2024 By: MEMRI Iranian Islamic Scholar Mohammad-Taghi Akbarnejad: Many Iranians Despise The Regime's Support For Palestine; Khamenei Must Stop Supplying Palestine With Military Support; If Iran Continues On This Path – The Regime Will Fall Director of Jurisprudence and Islamic Civilization Institute Mohammad-Taghi Akbarnejad discussed the Iranian regime's support of Palestine in a December 23, 2023 interview with DidarNews (Iran). He said that a large part of the Iranian population despises the regime's support of Palestine. Akbarnejad suggested that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei stop stating that he wants to wipe Israel off the face of the earth, stop supplying weapons to Gaza, and stop providing military support to the Palestinians. He said that this will lift the sanctions off Iran. Akbarnejad said that Iran is at a "very dangerous crossroad," and if it continues on the same path, it will collapse and the regime will fall". Mohammad-Taghi Akbarnejad: "Our people have shown that they want to support the oppressed of the world, but at what price? What have we done that caused a significant part of our population to despise the support of the Islamic Republic of Iran for Palestine? You see where we have brought our people?" "The logic of the Quran about helping others is like a natural spring. Once the spring starts to flow, it irrigates the trees around it first. If it had more water to spare, it would irrigate other trees and gardens. If we try to divert the water away from the trees around the spring to other places, we cause division, and divert from the logic of Quran. My point is that our people feel that the regime is not focused on them". "I believe that if Mr. Khamenei was asked today to sacrifice his life, his possessions, his family, and his honor for his people, he would not think twice. He would definitely do it. I know Mr. Khamenei to be this kind of person. Unfortunately however, I have reached the conclusion that the focus of Mr. Khamenei's policy is outside of [Iran's] borders". "If today the world asks Mr. Khamenei to back down a little on the issue of Palestine – that he no longer uses the slogan of wiping Israel off the face of the earth, that he will not give more weapons to Gaza, and no longer support the Palestinians militarily...Give them diplomatic support as much as you can, but do not get involved militarily, and back down from the slogan of erasing Israel". "In return, all the sanctions [against Iran] will be lifted, and we will have a clean slate. Iran will be able to resume all forms of cooperation with the world. This will give the Iranians some breathing room again". "My feeling is that Mr. Khamenei would not accept such an offer. Why? Because for him, the Palestinian cause has become the cornerstone of the Islamic Republic". "When the focus of your policy-making is erasing Israel and saving Palestine, and you are not willing to budge a little even when your people are suffering so much, you have to pay the price, and the sanctions are the price. It results in living in [unstable] security conditions". "For the past 45 years, our people have lived in such security conditions. The way we have acted is an indication that the regime's number-one priority is its own survival." "I feel that today our country is at a very dangerous crossroad. Very dangerous. If we continue on the same path as before, our collapse is certain. I am sad to say this but our collapse would be certain – the regime will fall and God only knows what will happen to our country. The policies of the Islamic Republic in the last 40 years have caused many [countries] to become our enemies". "This nation can only tolerate up to a certain limit. It can persevere up to a certain point, but it will explode when the threshold is crossed, and then it will be too late to do anything." <- Previous Read full article Next -> More Insights 7 Ways Hamas Exploits Palestinian Civilians in Gaza Antisemitism defined: Why opposing the Jewish people's right to self-determination is antisemitic What You Need to Know About Israel’s Humanitarian Aid To Gaza Fatah responds to Hamas criticism of new formation of PA government ‘without consulting Hamas’ Surprise jump in Gazan support for 2-state solution, while still in favor of Oct 7 attack Hamas' Most Horrific Weapon of War: 5 Takeaways from UN Report on Sexual Violence Against Israelis Latest Video Clips The History of Israel This Muslim Israeli Woman Is the Future of the Middle East Natasha Hausdorff responds to the content of the House of Commons Gaza Debate. Its time to face the hard truth that you're being played as a sacrificial fool by terrorists. Peace cannot be achieved with those who desire war and jihad instead. 'Awful Things Happening In Israel Nothing To Do With British Jews'
- War-The Palestinians | Tikva International
The relationship between Hamas and the civilian population in Gaza October 7th War in Gaza In a Nutshell The relationship between Hamas and the people in Gaza is complicated. After the October 7th attack and the war in Gaza, people started feeling differently about Hamas. Reports say that Hamas has done things like stopping people from leaving dangerous areas, taking aid meant for the people, and not giving them safe places during attacks. Instead, Hamas has been more focused on making tunnels for its fighters. A top Hamas leader said that it's not their job to protect the people in Gaza, but the UN's and Israel's. This has made many people in Gaza upset and disappointed. They are dealing with tough living conditions and feel let down by Hamas, which is supposed to be in charge. This situation shows a big change in how people in Gaza feel about Hamas. The full story References Related Videos Full Story The Full Story The relationship between Hamas and the people in Gaza is complicated. After the October 7th attack and the war in Gaza, people started feeling differently about Hamas. The relationship between Hamas and the civilians in Gaza is marked by a combination of support, resentment, and exploitation. While Hamas has historically enjoyed popularity in Gaza and the West Bank, the aftermath of the October 7th attack and the subsequent Gaza war has led to a shift in public sentiment. Reports reveal that Hamas has employed tactics such as preventing civilian evacuations, shooting at civilians attempting to flee, stealing humanitarian aid meant for Gazans, and failing to provide bomb shelters for civilians. Instead, Hamas has focused on building extensive tunnel networks for the protection of its fighters, not civilians. A top Hamas official openly declared that the responsibility for defending Gazan civilians lies with the UN and Israel, not Hamas. This stance has intensified anger and disillusionment among Gazans, who face the wrath of Israeli forces while being deprived of basic protections and aid by their governing body. The growing resentment is compounded by the harsh humanitarian conditions in Gaza, exacerbated by the conflict and Hamas's coercive tactics against its own people. This complex dynamic reveals a dichotomy within Palestinian society, where initial support for Hamas's defiance is now contrasted with frustration and despair over the ongoing suffering, destruction, and Hamas's oppressive actions against civilians. References References How anger is growing against Hamas in Gaza Hamas Terrorists Continue to Prevent Civilian Evacuation in Gaza How anger is growing against Hamas in Gaza Gaza woman tells Al-Jazeera Hamas stealing all the aid Hamas Official Mousa Abu Marzouk: The Tunnels In Gaza Were Built To Protect Hamas Fighters, Not Civilians; Protecting Gaza Civilians Is The Responsibility Of The U.N. And Israel Related Videos Reletaed Videos Gaza City is different. Something about responsibility Have you ever wondered where is all the money sent to the people of Gaza? Gaza's Unfiltered Reality: The Untold Story The son of a Hamas leader share why Hamas is responsible for the war. Douglas Murray says what others are too scared to admit about Gaza Load More
- Impact on the West | Tikva International
October 7th Impact on the West Supporting Hamas Supporting Israel Rise in Antisemitism The West is Next
- Iran's Presidency in Disarmament Conference: A Global Security Threat | Tikva International
Iran's Presidency in Disarmament Conference: A Global Security Threat 19 January 2024 By: Hillel Neuer (on Twitter) No Joke: the U.N. just announced the Islamic Republic of Iran will take the Presidency of the Conference on Disarmament, starting March 18th. Having Ayatollah Khamenei preside over global nuclear weapons disarmament is like putting a serial rapist in charge of a women’s shelter. The Iranian regime's presidency will last until May 24th. The agenda of the Conference contains the following core items: · Cessation of the nuclear arms race and nuclear disarmament. · Prevention of nuclear war, including all related matters. · Prevention of an arms race in outer space. · Effective international arrangements to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons. New types of weapons of mass destruction and new systems of such weapons, radiological weapons. · Comprehensive programme of disarmament; and transparency in armaments. When the Ayatollah's representative arrives at the United Nations to take the gavel of the Conference on Disarmament on March 18th, we are calling on all democracies to walk out. UN Watch urges the U.S., Canada, Britain, France, Germany, and all other member and observer states to declare now that they will refuse to send ambassadors to any meeting of this U.N. forum that is being chaired by the Ayatollah's murderous regime. It is a fundamental conflict of interests to have the Islamic Regime in Iran as president of a disarmament forum, an act liable to be exploited by Tehran's propaganda to legitimize the Mollahs' murderous regime. The Islamic regime's past and ongoing breaches of nuclear agreements contradict the very essence of the disarmament conference’s mandate. The Ayatollah's presidency threatens to legitimize the regime’s ongoing violations, and discredits the U.N.’s commitment to disarmament. Allowing an international outlaw to oversee international arms control efforts is just plain wrong. The announcement came on the same day the UN atomic agency said Iran is barely cooperating. The IAEA is struggling to carry out controls on Iran’s nuclear program, which continues to expand even as Tehran denies it wants to make nuclear weapons. “It’s a very frustrating situation. We continue our activities there, but at a minimum,” IAEA director-general Rafael Grossi said in an interview yesterday at the World Economic Forum in Davos. “They are restricting cooperation in a very unprecedented way.” About the Conference of Disarmament: The Conference of Disarmament (CD) reports to the UN General Assembly and is billed by the UN as “the single multilateral disarmament negotiating forum of the international community.” Established in 1979 after a special UN General Assembly session, the CD is made up of 65 countries who have been divided in recent years on key issues. The conference and its predecessors have negotiated such major multilateral arms limitation and disarmament agreements as: • Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons • Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction • Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction • Convention on the Prohibition of Military or Any Other Hostile Use of Environmental Modification Techniques • Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty <- Previous Read full article Next -> More Insights 7 Ways Hamas Exploits Palestinian Civilians in Gaza Antisemitism defined: Why opposing the Jewish people's right to self-determination is antisemitic What You Need to Know About Israel’s Humanitarian Aid To Gaza Fatah responds to Hamas criticism of new formation of PA government ‘without consulting Hamas’ Surprise jump in Gazan support for 2-state solution, while still in favor of Oct 7 attack Hamas' Most Horrific Weapon of War: 5 Takeaways from UN Report on Sexual Violence Against Israelis Latest Video Clips The History of Israel This Muslim Israeli Woman Is the Future of the Middle East Natasha Hausdorff responds to the content of the House of Commons Gaza Debate. Its time to face the hard truth that you're being played as a sacrificial fool by terrorists. Peace cannot be achieved with those who desire war and jihad instead. 'Awful Things Happening In Israel Nothing To Do With British Jews'
- Testing | Tikva International
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