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Prince William Lands in Israel for First-Ever Official Visit by a UK Royal
Prince William landed in Israel earlier today, marking the first-ever official visit to the country by a UK royal. The three-day stay will include a visit to Yad Vashem and participation in a memorial ceremony, a meeting with two survivors of the Kindertransport as well as Prime Minister Netanyahu and his wife, and a tour of several religious sites in Jerusalem's Old City. He will also meet with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, but the UK Consul General has emphasized this will not be a political visit.
Israeli Non-Profit Receives UN Award for Treating Heart Disease in Children from Developing Countries
An Israeli non-profit organization that treats children from developing countries with heart disease will be the first organization from Israel to receive the United Nations Population Award. The award ceremony will be taking place tomorrow at the UN headquarters in New York where the organization, Save a Child’s Heart, will be recognized for its work in treating thousands of children from 57 countries, about half of whom are Palestinian children.
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Terrorist Attacks on Israelis Reach 2 1/2-Year High
There were 365 terrorist attacks against Israelis in May, a 40% increase from April and the highest number of attacks in 2 1/2 years. In its monthly report published last week, the Israel Security Agency stated that 271 of the attacks involved firebombs and the increase occurred in Jerusalem, the West Bank and along Israel's border with Gaza.
Burning Kites Cause Severe Damage to Agricultural, Natural Habitats in Israel
In recent months Palestinians in Gaza have sent hundreds of burning kites into Israel. Drone footage has revealed large areas of land blackened by the fires, with some 450 fires suspected to have been caused by kites burned around Gaza since April 14. Some 6,250 acres of agricultural and natural habitats have been burned, with thousands of animal carcasses found, including foxes, jackals, turtles and snakes. Claims for damages made by farmers are estimated to be in the millions, while recovery of nature reserves will take years.
Syrian Teen Found Guilty of Assault on Man Wearing Kippah in Berlin
Today a Syrian teen was found guilty of serious bodily harm and slander after he attacked an Arab Israeli wearing a kippah in Berlin back in April. A video of the incident went viral and showed the attacker striking the man with a belt while shouting "Yahudi," the Arabic word for Jew. A Berlin court sentenced him to four weeks of juvenile detention, which he already served while awaiting trial.
Facebook, Twitter Deactivate Hezbollah Accounts
Facebook and Twitter reportedly shut down accounts belonging to Hezbollah over the weekend, with the terrorist group’s officials stating the closures came “without prior warning.” Neither Facebook nor Twitter have provided reason for the decision to deactivate the accounts, although earlier this month Israel’s public security minister had called on Twitter to remove accounts that were clearly linked to terrorist organizations or face potential legal action.
From the Arab World
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan claimed victory today after winning the elections in Turkey, with his Islamist-rooted AK Party and nationalist allies securing a majority in parliament. Erdogan will now remain president at least until 2023. His main rival, Muharrem Ince of the Republic People’s Party, has called the elections unjust and said the current presidential system is “very dangerous” because it could lead to a one-man rule.
For the first time in Saudi Arabia’s history, women finally sat in the driver's seat after a decades-old ban on women driving was lifted. Reportedly more than 120,000 women applied for a driver’s licence after the ban was lifted. This is a big step in women’s rights in the country, now giving more women the opportunity to join the workforce, grow their own businesses and explore the kingdom without needing to hire a male driver.
Bring the Tour for Humanity to Your Community!
Whether you're an educator, a parent or a student, help bring the Tour for Humanity to your community! The Tour for Humanity has visited hundreds of schools across Ontario, educating students of all ages about the Holocaust, human rights, diversity and tolerance. Our educators inspire students to take action against hate and intolerance in their communities. Spots are already filling up fast for the 2018-2019 school year, so don't delay reserving dates.
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