Israeli lecturer threatened with beheading at London university
(JNS) — An Israeli professor at City St George’s, University of London, says he was threatened with beheading by a pro-Palestinian protester who disrupted his lecture this week.
Professor Michael Ben-Gad, an economics lecturer who served in the Israel Defense Forces from 1982 to 1985, told Sky News that masked activists burst into his classroom, calling him a “war criminal” and “Nazi.”
“They refused to leave. They were masked. One of them made a threat about having my head chopped off,” he said.
The demonstrators, identifying as members of City Action for Palestine, accused Ben-Gad of being part of the “genocide in Gaza” and chanted slogans including “Shame, this lecturer served in the IOF [Israel Occupation Forces]” and “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”
The latter phrase is widely condemned as antisemitic and calling for Israel’s destruction.
Protesters said the university should not employ someone who had served in the Israeli military, especially during the 1982 First Lebanon War.
Ben-Gad, who has taught at the university since 2008 and previously chaired his department, said he would not be intimidated. “These modern Brownshirts are not going to send me into hiding. I’m an unapologetic Israeli patriot, and no one is going to intimidate me,” he said.
International Court of Justice says Israel must work with UN to deliver aid into Gaza
(JTA) — The International Court of Justice issued an advisory opinion on Wednesday that Israel is legally obligated to work with the United Nations’ Palestinian relief agency to deliver aid into Gaza.
In its opinion, the ICJ rejected Israel’s justification for barring UNRWA, the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine, from operating in Israel in March, saying it was unable to prove that the agency was subject to “widespread infiltration” by Hamas.
While UNRWA still operates in Gaza, it has been unable to bring supplies into the enclave since the ban took effect.
“The occupying power may never invoke reasons of security to justify the general suspension of all humanitarian activities in occupied territory,” Judge Iwasawa Yuji said while delivering the opinion. “After examining the evidence, the court finds that the local population in Gaza Strip has been inadequately supplied.”
The ruling comes as top U.S. officials, including Vice President JD Vance, are in Israel to monitor the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and lay the groundwork for improved humanitarian conditions in Gaza.
On Tuesday, Jared Kushner, who helped broker the deal, said there had been “surprisingly strong coordination” between the United Nations and Israel on delivering humanitarian aid into Gaza.
US to Gulf allies: Shift toward Qatar not at your expense
(JNS) — As part of this effort, Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and adviser, and envoy Steve Witkoff recently met in Jeddah and Abu Dhabi with senior Saudi and Emirati officials, assuring them that their status as regional powerhouses would remain intact and that they would not be harmed by the strengthening U.S.-Qatar ties.
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates previously criticized the U.S. over its promoting Qatar as a regional leader, particularly following the signing of an extensive military deal with Doha. A senior Saudi official told Israel Hayom that this effectively means Qatar would work to keep Hamas in Gaza and help it return to power at the first opportunity. Riyadh and Abu Dhabi have threatened to pull out of Gaza reconstruction efforts, especially in areas under Hamas control.
The criticism was relayed to Washington, which has since been trying to reassure its allies that the shift toward Qatar would not come at their expense. During their visit, Kushner and Witkoff conveyed messages from Israel to the Saudis concerning the post-war phase, normalization efforts and the expansion of the Abraham Accords.
Indonesia maintains ban on Israeli gymnasts amid Olympic Committee call for harsh measures
(JNS) — Indonesia on Thursday doubled down on its decision to ban Israeli gymnasts from the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships currently taking place in Jakarta, after the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the body governing the Olympic Games, called on the previous day on global sports associations not to stage events in the Muslim-majority country.
Indonesian Sports and Youth Minister Erick Thohir posted that Jakarta knew that the ban “carries consequences,” but has decided to “adhere to the principle of maintaining security, public order, and public interest in every international event organized.”
“On that basis, Indonesia has taken steps to avoid the arrival of the Israeli delegation at the Gymnastics World Championships,” he wrote in Indonesian.
On Wednesday, the IOC’s executive board said it was ceasing “any form of dialogue” with Indonesia over its decision to ban Israeli athletes.
“All eligible athletes, teams and sports officials must be able to take part in international sports competitions and events without any form of discrimination by the host country,” the board said, having met remotely this week.
Thus, the IOC decided to cease Olympic Games, Youth Olympic Games, Olympic events or conferences in Indonesia until equal access of all athletes is guaranteed.
American Airlines returning to Israel in March
(JNS) — American Airlines announced Friday that it will resume flying to Israel in March, becoming the last U.S. legacy giant to renew service to Tel Aviv after this month’s ceasefire in Gaza.
The Dallas-based carrier suspended flights to Israel right after the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack that triggered the war, and stayed away entirely over the last two years, unlike rivals United Airlines and Delta Air Lines.
American will offer daily non-stop service from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport starting on March 28, and return service to New York from March 31.
The lucrative New York-Tel Aviv route was long the top international route out of Israel, and is consistently in high demand.
The move highlights the resurgence of Israel’s aviation and tourist sectors after the war.
