HEADLINES
US Launches Passport Services in Efrat
UK Green Party Votes Zionism is Racism
DOJ Sues UCLA for Antisemitic Hostile Environment
The time is now 5:02 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
In US Policy Concerning Israel, the United States will provide on-site passport services this week in the West Bank town of Efrat, marking the first time American consular officials have offered such services in the region. The services, which are set to begin on Friday, February 27, are part of efforts to reach all Americans abroad and will be followed by planned on-site services in Ramallah, Beitar Illit, and in major Israeli cities such as Haifa. The United States currently offers passport and other consular services at its Embassy in Jerusalem and at a Tel Aviv branch office. Officials note that tens of thousands of dual American-Israeli nationals live in the West Bank, and the embassy spokesperson said this is the first time consular services have been provided to a settlement in the West Bank, with similar services planned for American-Palestinian dual nationals there. Netanyahu spoke at a meeting with a delegation of ambassadors and diplomatic envoys to the United Nations visiting Jerusalem, telling them Israel is absolutely committed to protecting our future and to ensuring a region of prosperity, security and peace for all those who will join us. He described Israel as a very small, but very powerful country, because of technology and science, but also because of the spirit of the people, and he warned about growing antisemitism, noting that after the Holocaust people thought it would disappear, but it returned. He added that Israel has just emerged from a seven-front war and that the country has the ability to defend itself.
In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, the UK Green Party is set to vote on Motion A105 Zionism is Racism at its Spring Conference. The motion defines Zionism as racism, recognizes its continued harm to Palestinians, and would position the Green Party as anti-Zionist. It states Zionism is Israel's foundational ideology that has created and maintains an apartheid regime between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea. It would affirm the right to self-determination and liberation of the Palestinian people and support the establishment of a single democratic Palestinian State in all of historic Palestine, with Jerusalem as its capital, effectively erasing the State of Israel. The motion also calls for steps such as de-proscribing Palestine Action and the release of Palestinian political prisoners, including Marwan Barghouti. When pressed on whether he would vote for the motion, party leader Zack Polanski said he’d wait to hear the debate, but absolutely, if the definition of Zionism is what is happening now by the Israeli government, then yes, absolutely, that’s racist and I’ll vote for it. Separately, the US Justice Department filed suit against the University of California, alleging an antisemitic hostile work environment at its Los Angeles campus. The DOJ said UCLA violated the Equal Protection Clause and Title VI by acting with deliberate indifference in creating a hostile educational environment for Jewish and Israeli students. Earlier in July, UCLA settled a lawsuit brought by a Jewish professor and Jewish students over antisemitic conduct during protests in 2024, and UCLA’s administration has banned BDS from all university entities, with student governments barred from boycotting based on a country’s association. The case underscores ongoing concerns about antisemitism on campuses. Former UK Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn accused Israel of organ harvesting in Gaza hospitals, a claim Israeli authorities say has not occurred, noting that handling and return of Palestinian bodies has occurred only through internationally supervised arrangements coordinated with the International Committee of the Red Cross. The World Israel News report underscores the dispute over these allegations. A Hebrew post describes online outreach in public diplomacy and requests help after a previous post about a video with a deceptive translation that stirred antisemitism online, noting that nearly a thousand users shared the video via RT’s promotion and suggesting others advertisers can be found by searching for the term.
In Israeli Domestic Politics, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told a delegation of United Nations ambassadors and diplomatic envoys visiting Jerusalem that Israel is absolutely committed to protecting its future and to ensuring a region of prosperity, security and peace for all who will join. He praised Israel as a small country with great power, rooted in technology, science, and the spirit of its people, and he warned of growing antisemitism worldwide, saying that after the Holocaust, antisemitism returned. He added that Israel has just emerged from a seven-front war and emphasized the country’s ability to defend itself.
In Uplifting News, Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park recorded 426 chimpanzees in last year’s census, the first census of the species there conducted with support from the Jane Goodall Institute. Uganda Wildlife Authority officials call the count a major milestone for evidence-based conservation and say the data will guide future conservation investments. Bwindi, a 320-square-kilometer UNESCO World Heritage Site, is among East Africa’s most important protected landscapes and habitats for chimpanzees.
Thank you for tuning in to this Israel Today: Ongoing War Report update.
I'm Noa Levi. Stay safe and informed.
Keep in mind that this AI-generated report may contain occasional inaccuracies, so consult multiple sources for a comprehensive view. Find the code and more details in the podcast description.
SOURCES
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-887828
https://t.me/selena_updates/55779
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-887840
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-887831
https://worldisraelnews.com/former-uk-labour-party-leader-jeremy-corbyn-accuses-israel-of-organ-harvesting-in-gaza-hospitals/
https://t.me/abualiexpress/115326
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-887834
https://www.jpost.com/environment-and-climate-change/article-887839
