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Incredible Group of Educators Complete Holocaust Certificate Course
After four incredible days, a group of educators completed the Holocaust Educator Certificate Course. The teachers - from both Ontario and Saskatchewan - grappled with difficult content as well as the ethical and moral questions that are often raised when discussing the Holocaust. Testimonies from survivors provided an eye-witness account to this history and messages of hope that the teachers will be passing on to their students.
Canada Announces Contribution to Empower Peace Advocates in Middle East
Yesterday Canada announced it will be contributing $168,011 to the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation in Israel to train and empower young leaders as peace advocates in the Middle East. According to a statement from Global Affairs Canada, 100 young leaders will be trained online and at workshops in Jerusalem and Jordan - gaining skills to "promote messages of peaceful coexistence."
'Partners in Hate' Get 35 Years for Antisemitic Firebombings
Two New Jersey men were sentenced to 35 years in prison on Friday after being convicted last year of terrorism charges. Acts they committed included firebombing two synagogues, throwing a Molotov cocktail into a rabbi's home, and spray-painting antisemitic graffiti at two synagogues.
Irish Columnist Fired for Antisemitic, Misogynistic Article
The Sunday Times of London has fired one of its columnists, Kevin Myers, after including an antisemitic and misogynistic opinion piece in the Irish edition of The Sunday Times. In his article, titled "Sorry, ladies - equal pay has to be earned," Myers - who has a history of Holocaust denial and making provocative right-wing statements, according to numerous news outlets - stated that the two "best-paid presenters in the BBC...are Jewish" and that "Jews are not generally noted for their insistence on selling their talent for the lowest possible price." After backlash from readers, the newspaper removed the article from the website, issued an apology, and later confirmed Myers had been fired.
North Carolina Anti-BDS Legislation Signed Into Law
North Carolina's governor, Roy Cooper, signed an anti-BDS bill that prohibits state agencies from contracting with companies that boycott Israel. The bill passed earlier this month following a vote by the state House of Representatives and the state Senate. North Carolina has become at least the 22nd state with laws or executive orders that ban state business with companies that support the antisemitic, anti-Israel BDS movement.
PA Budget Reveals Half of Foreign Aid Going to Palestinian Prisoners, 'Martyr' Families
Following the release of the Palestinian Authority (PA) Finance Ministry's 2017 budget, an Israeli report revealed that half of the foreign aid Ramallah expects to receive this year will be going towards paying the salaries of incarcerated and released Palestinian prisoners - many of whom are terrorists - as well as "martyr" families. The budget allocates close to $345 million of the expected $693 million received from donors for the stipends.
Austrian Man Convicted After Claiming Mass Killings of Jews in Gas Chambers Was Made-Up Story
An Austrian court has sentenced a man to a suspended 12-month prison term after he claimed that the mass killings of Jews in gas chambers was a story made up by Jews. The 34-year-old man, who posted the statement on Facebook, was found guilty of violating Austria's anti-Nazi laws.
Antisemitic Attacks in UK Hit Record High
According to a report by the Community Security Trust - a UK-based organization that focuses on protecting British Jews from antisemitism and related threats - a record number of antisemitic incidents have been recorded in the UK. Between January and June of 2017, 767 incidents were reported - which includes violent assaults, verbal abuse, graffiti, vandalism, hate mail and abuse via the Internet. This is a rise of almost a third when compared to the same period in 2016.
From the Arab World
A suicidebombing and a gun battle at the Iraqi Embassy today resulted in thedeaths of two embassy employees. An unconfirmed claim that the attack wascarried out by the Islamic State has been reported by security sources.Authorities reported that all assailants were killed in the gunfight, whichreportedly lasted for several hours.
Inthe past week, Turkish authorities have detainedmore than 1,000 people in the country's latest anti-terrorism raids,including for suspected ties to last year's failed coup attempt, the outlawedKurdistan Workers Party, the Islamic State, and "leftist terroristgroups." Since last year's failed coup attempt, the country has arrestedmore than 50,000 and fired or suspended more than 150,000 people - a crackdownthat has worried numerous rights groups and countries, despite Turkey claimingit is justified.
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