A new definition of antisemitism asks whether a given expression is antisemitic 'on the face of it,' but anti-Jewish hatred is frequently found beneath the surf...

https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/the-best-antisemitism-definition-is-one-that-goes-deep/

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Ukrainian forces have retaken 400 square kilometers (155 square miles) of territory in the southern Kherson region so far this month, as they continue to push Russian troops back in the south and east, Ukraine's southern military command says. Natalia Humeniuk, spokesperson for the Ukrainian military's Operational Command South, says in a briefing that the situation along the southern front was rapidly changing and remained complicated. Ukraine has recaptured 29 settlements in the oblast since Oct.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/ukraine-forces-recapture-400-square-kilometers-in-southern-kherson-region

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Estonia's foreign minister says the Baltic country has changed its policy toward Israel and will no longer vote for UN resolutions condemning Israel's actions in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Instead, the European country is looking from now on to align its UN voting position in such matters with Washington, its closest security policy ally. According to a report published by the Estonian public broadcaster ERR, Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu said Estonia — a European Union and NATO member — recently voted together with the United States against the condemnation of Israel at the UN.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/estonia-changes-tack-says-it-wont-side-against-israel-in-un-votes

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Two people are killed in a collision between a truck transporting vehicles and a car on Route 90 near Yahel in southern Israel, medics say. The victims are a man and a woman in their 60s. The driver of the truck is lightly hurt and taken to Yoseftal hospital in Eilat, while another person is treated at the site.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/2-killed-in-accident-between-truck-and-car-on-route-90

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The Otzma Yehudit party's headquarters in Jerusalem erupts with excitement as exit polls on all three major networks indicate a strong showing for the far-right alliance along with a majority for the pro-Netanyahu bloc right-wing and religious parties. Exit polls predict that Religious Zionism — which Otzma Yehudit is part of — winning 14-15 seats, roughly where the party had been polling in recent weeks. Jewish party music begins blasting the moment the polls are shown on the projector screen of the Vert Hotel ballroom and over a hundred young men begin dancing and waving Israeli flags.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/otzma-yehudit-hq-erupts-in-joy-as-exit-polls-show-14-15-seats-for-far-right-faction

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ALGIERS, Algeria (AFP) — Arab leaders on Wednesday vowed their 'total support' for the Palestinian cause, as veteran Israeli hawk Benjamin Netanyahu inched closer to a return to power. The declaration came in the final statement of the first Arab League summit since a number of Arab countries normalized ties with the Jewish state in 2020, dividing the region. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas had called for more support from the 22-state bloc in the face of 'crimes' by Israel, which he accused of 'systematically destroying the two-state solution and throwing away agreements it has signed.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/at-arab-league-summit-leaders-vow-total-support-for-palestinian-cause

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BRUSSELS — The European Parliament's inquiry committee investigating the use of surveillance spyware by the bloc's governments says the EU's executive arm and member countries are failing to properly tackle a surveillance scandal that has targeted opposition politicians and journalists. In a draft report published today, the committee investigating Pegasus says the European Council and national governments 'are practicing omertà' — or a code of silence — and regrets that the European Commission only shared 'reluctantly and piecemeal' information concerning spyware attacks on its own employees.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/meps-probing-pegasus-spyware-scandal-eu-member-states-are-practicing-omerta

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Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu and Religious Zionism chief Bezalel Smotrich conclude a session of coalition talks. According to Smotrich, 'significant progress was made toward forming a national government.'

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/smotrich-meets-netanyahu-cites-significant-progress-in-coalition-talks

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A Dutch court rules that modeling agent Shai Avital, arrested in Amsterdam in August over 26 sexual harassment complaints against him in Israel, can be extradited to Israel. Israel's extradition letter to Dutch authorities is based on two allegations against Avital including indecent acts, out of the 26 complaints against him. However, law enforcement officials claim that they possess strong evidence against the suspect in seven incidents. The arrest in the Netherlands came more than a year after police issued an initial arrest warrant for Avital, who represented some of the country's top models.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/dutch-court-rules-israeli-modeling-agent-to-be-extradited-to-face-sex-abuse-charges

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Iranian authorities say that a former member of the national soccer team arrested last week over his criticism of the government has been released on bail. The announcement came hours before Iran was set to play the US at the World Cup in a match that authorities are heavily promoting as they grapple with nationwide protests that are well into their third month. Voria Ghafouri was arrested last week for 'insulting the national soccer team and propagandizing against the government,' according to state-linked media.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/iran-releases-jailed-soccer-player-ahead-of-match-against-us

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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu virtually addresses an AIPAC conference, saying he looks forward to working with the Biden administration on the issue of Iran. Netanyahu says that today, 'because of the brave men and women of Iran, the entire world sees what we've been talking about, that this is a terrible, repressive, terrorist regime.' 'It's time to close ranks between Israel and the United States – and others,' he adds. 'And I look forward to discussing this issue with President Biden and his team.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/netanyahu-to-aipac-its-time-to-close-ranks-between-israel-and-the-us-on-iran

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Palestinian media publishes footage purportedly showing the moment of a shooting attack near the West Bank settlement of Ofra earlier today. The video shows the gunman, Mojahed al-Najjar, standing next to his vehicle and firing toward a military post in the area. pic.twitter.com/74SyQixpzI — شبكة قدس الإخبارية (@qudsn) December 7, 2022

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/video-footage-purportedly-shows-shooting-attack-near-ofra-earlier-today

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« All Events Theater for the New City presents New Yiddish Rep in 'Crazy Meshugga Hurricane Earthquake,' by Amy Coleman. This six-character play is the story of an unlikely connection that develops between a middle aged secular Jewish woman and a young Hasidic man struggling with schizophrenia. Directed by David Mandelbaum. $18 gen. adm., $15 seniors & students. Box office: www.theaterforthenewcity.net. 212-254-1109. 155 First Ave (at E. 10th Street)

https://jewishweek.timesofisrael.com/event/1320132/1970-01-01

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What do you say to someone who has lost a family member? How do you share painful or unsettling news? Are you permitted to lie if the truth might be worse? In a 3-part series, Dena Weiss of Hadar turns to biblical and rabbinic texts as a means to better understand what to do when 'saying the right thing' can feel challenging to the point of impossible. Virtual and in-person at The Hebrew Institute of Riverdale.

https://jewishweek.timesofisrael.com/event/how-to-have-difficult-conversations-hadars-winter-lecture-series/2022-02-14

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The victim of the Jerusalem bombing attack is named as 16-year-old Aryeh Schupak. Schupak, a yeshiva student from Jerusalem's Har Nof neighborhood, was critically hurt in the attack, which seriously wounded his friend and several other people. He was brought to a hospital in Jerusalem where medical officials declared his death According to the Kan public broadcaster, Schupak has Canadian citizenship. However, Canada's embassy in Tel Aviv would not confirm that Schupak is a Canadian national. An hour earlier, the embassy tweeted that Canada 'strongly condemns this morning's abhorrent terror attacks in Jerusalem.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/victim-of-jerusalem-bombing-named-as-16-year-old-aryeh-shtsupak

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Noam MK Avi Maoz, the sole Knesset member of the extremist anti-LGBT party, sparks outrage during a speech to the Knesset where he compares the outgoing government to the Hellenists of the Hanukkah story. In his speech, Maoz says the story of Hanukkah is 'fitting for today,' sings portions of the popular holiday song 'We Came to Expel the Darkness,' and notes that the Maccabees had to drive out the forces of Hellenistic Jews, who wanted to combine Judaism with Greek culture. 'The spirit that the Greeks and the Hellenists tried to instill in the Jewish people is the real darkness,' says Maoz.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/far-right-anti-lgbt-mk-says-new-coalition-will-end-the-darkness-of-outgoing-government

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Hours before Israel swears in its 37th government, incoming prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has yet to announce who his foreign minister will be. Rumored to be in the running for the job are Likud MKs Israel Katz and Eli Cohen, as well as former ambassador to the United States Ron Dermer. Most other ministerial appointments have been announced, although still vacant are the posts of energy minister, regional cooperation minister, intelligence minister and strategic affairs minister. Besides that, additional appointments could be announced if Netanyahu decides to tap lawmakers as ministers within an existing ministry.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/netanyahu-yet-to-name-foreign-minister-likuds-barkat-distel-atbaryan-chikli-get-roles

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The all clear is given after a suspected infiltration alert sounded in the West Bank settlement of Elazar, in the Etzion settlement bloc. The military's Home Front Command briefly instructed residents to remain inside their homes, and to lock doors and windows. The alert followed a shooting attack near the settlement of Kiryat Arba near Hebron earlier, during which five people were hurt, including one critically and one seriously.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/all-clear-given-after-infiltration-alert-sounds-in-elazar-settlement

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Prime Minister Yair Lapid says he is praying for the Israelis wounded in a shooting attack in Kiryat Arba tonight and hails the Israeli forces who 'neutralized' the Palestinian assailant. In a statement, Lapid says reinforcements will be deployed to the area. 'Terror won't defeat us, we'll act with a strong hand,' he vows.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/lapid-on-kiryat-arba-attack-terror-wont-defeat-us-well-act-with-a-strong-hand

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Israel reaches an agreement with FIFA and Qatar to allow direct charter flights from Ben Gurion Airport to Qatar for the World Cup, which begins on November 20. The charter flights will be run by an airline that currently flies to Doha, but will be subject to Israel's security measures. The Foreign Ministry will also provide consular services through a private international travel company, says FIFA. Noting that the talks had taken months to complete, Prime Minister Yair Lapid thanks the Foreign, Transportation, and Culture and Sports ministries, and the National Security Council for their successful efforts.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/israel-reaches-deal-with-qatar-to-allow-direct-flights-during-world-cup

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NEW YORK — Collapsed cryptocurrency trading firm FTX confirms there has been 'unauthorized access' to its accounts, hours after the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The embattled company's new CEO John Ray III says FTX is switching off the ability to trade or withdraw funds and taking steps to secure customers' assets, according to a tweet by FTX's general counsel Ryne Miller. FTX is also coordinating with law enforcement and regulators, the company said. Exactly how much money is involved is unclear, but analytics firm Elliptic estimated Saturday that $477 million was missing from the exchange.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/funds-disappear-at-imploding-crypto-exchange-ftx

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Incoming prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu announces that Likud MK Yoav Kisch will be the next education minister. Kisch will also serve as a coordinator between the government and the Knesset.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/netanyahu-appoints-yoav-kisch-as-education-minister

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American basketball star Brittney Griner has been sent to a penal colony in Russia to serve her sentence for drug possession, her legal team says. A Russian court rejected an appeal of her nine-year sentence last month. The eight-time all-star center with the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury and a two-time Olympic gold medalist was convicted Aug. 4 after police said they found vape canisters containing cannabis oil in her luggage at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport. Her arrest came at a time of heightened tensions between Moscow and Washington, just days before Russia sent troops into Ukraine, and the politically charged case could lead to a high-stakes prisoner exchange between Washington and Moscow.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/russia-sends-american-basketball-star-brittney-griner-to-a-penal-colony

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US Federal prosecutors arrest and charge a New Jersey teenager with extremist Islamist views for making the threat that led to a sweeping FBI warning for the state's synagogues last week. Omar Alkattoul, 18, of Sayreville, New Jersey, is charged with one count of transmitting a threat in interstate and foreign commerce for an extremist manifesto he shared on November 1 on an undisclosed social media network. He faces up to five years in prison. Alkattoul had pledged allegiance to the leader of ISIS and researched past mass shootings and how to obtain firearms, according to the criminal complaint against him filed today by the US Attorney's Office in New Jersey.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/new-jersey-teen-charged-after-islamist-manifesto-threatened-synagogue-attack

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Presumed incoming prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Otzma Yehudit Itamar Ben Gvir swipe at each other amid ongoing talks to form a new government, in which the far-right lawmaker is set to serve as minister in charge of police. Channel 12 news reports remarks the two made in 'closed conversations,' with Netanyahu saying Ben Gvir needs to rein in his fiery comments. 'Ben Gvir needs to calm down. He needs to internalize that he is the public security minister. He can't express himself like an opposition MK,' Netanyahu is quoted as saying.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/netanyahu-said-to-swipe-at-ben-gvir-needs-to-calm-down

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Pope Francis commits to help bring home the two Israeli civilians and the bodies of two slain IDF soldiers held by Hamas in Gaza. According to Israel's Foreign Ministry, the pope made the pledge during a 45-minute meeting with the families of the captives in the Vatican. 'The pope promised to work with governments and religious leaders, including Muslim ones, to bring back the sons,' according to the Foreign Ministry readout of the meeting. Hamas currently holds two living Israelis — Hisham al-Sayed and Avera Mengistu — along with the bodies of two soldiers killed in the 2014 Operation Protective Edge: Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/pope-pledges-to-help-bring-home-gaza-captives-in-vatican-meeting-with-families

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« All Events Screen 'Yentl,' Barbra Streisand's iconic 1983 musical based on Isaac Bashevis Singer's short story 'Yentl the Yeshiva Boy,' and watch a talkback with Neal Gabler, author of 'Barbra Streisand: Redefining Beauty, Femininity, and Power,' and Mattie Kahn, culture director at Glamour. The film will be available to stream from Friday, Dec. 24 through Sunday, Dec. 26.

https://jewishweek.timesofisrael.com/event/yentl-christmas-day-screening/

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Westchester Jewish Coalition for Immigration hosts a series of lectures on refugee resettlement for anyone interested in becoming better versed on providing critical hands-on direct assistance to Afghan families during the immediate crisis. Find registration information for individual sessions here. Tuesday, 1/18 7:00-8:00 pm  – Forming a Host Group Featuring Jmel Wilson, Vice-President and Director Neighbors for Refugees. Tuesday, 1/18 8:15-9:15 pm – Connecting Refugees to Services Featuring Ashley Makar, Cosponsorship Developer, IRIS (Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services).

https://jewishweek.timesofisrael.com/event/pop-up-seminar-series-refugee-resettlement/2022-01-20

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Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu has invited the leaders of his right-wing and religious bloc for individual meetings tomorrow in Jerusalem, his office says. The meetings would come before Netanyahu is formally tasked with building a coalition, although he is expected to form one with his partners. The Walla news site cites sources in Netanyahu's bloc saying the meetings are not 'official negotiations.' Netanyahu is expected to meet with Itamar Ben Gvir, the leader of the far-right Otzma Yehudit party, later in the week as he is currently on holiday, Walla says.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/netanyahu-invites-right-religious-bloc-leaders-for-meetings-tomorrow-report

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Defense Minister Benny Gantz is wrapping up a previously undisclosed official visit to Azerbaijan, his office announces. Gantz, who is returning to Israel this evening, says the visit dealt with diplomatic and security issues. Gantz met with President Ilham Aliyev as well as Azerbaijani counterpart Zakir Hasanov. According to his office, Gantz stressed during the visit the importance of Israel-Azerbaijan ties and 'the importance of working toward peace and stability in the world and in the region.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/gantz-pays-official-visit-to-azerbaijan-to-discuss-diplomatic-security-ties

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