New York News
In Hewlett, three incidents targeting Jewish-owned businesses overnight sparked fears of antisemitic attacks.
A fire at Avi’s Auto Repair destroyed a tow truck and damaged the office, ASAP Restoration had its windows smashed, and an anti-Israel, antisemitic banner reading “50K Dead Gazan Kids” was hung at the Chesed Center. Nassau County police believe the arson and vandalism may stem from a personal grievance against the business owner, not antisemitism, but the banner is being treated as an antisemitic act, though not legally a hate crime absent direct threats. Young Israel of Hewlett urged vigilance, unity, and support for Israel, stating, “No act of hatred will deter us.” Investigations continue, with no confirmed link between the incidents.
Latest polling has Zohran Mamdani within 2 points of Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary for NYC Mayor. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez endorsed Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani as her top choice for the New York City mayoral Democratic primary, ranking City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams second, Comptroller Brad Lander third, former Comptroller Scott Stringer fourth, and State Senator Zellnor Myrie fifth. The Crown Heights Jewish Political Action Committee and the Sephardic Community Federation endorsed former Governor Andrew Cuomo, citing his experience and stance against antisemitism. The New York Working Families Party ranked Mamdani first, Lander second, Adams third, Myrie fourth, and State Senator Jessica Ramos fifth. Representative Nydia Velázquez and six Brooklyn Democrats endorsed Adams, Lander, and Mamdani. Ramos, despite earlier criticism, also endorsed Cuomo. Housing for All, a landlord super PAC, pledged $2.5 million for Cuomo’s campaign.
Mamdani, during a forum at B’nai Jeshurun synagogue in Manhattan, declined to affirm Israel’s existence as a Jewish state when questioned by progressive Jewish voters. The 33-year-old Democratic Socialist reiterated his support for the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement, which could bar him from Israel under its entry laws. Mamdani also vowed to order the NYPD to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he visits New York, citing an International Criminal Court warrant for alleged war crimes. He acknowledged the U.S. does not recognize ICC jurisdiction but maintained his stance.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams signed Executive Order No. 52 at Tribeca Synagogue in Manhattan, adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of antisemitism. The order directs city agencies to use this definition to identify and address antisemitic incidents across the five boroughs. Jewish New Yorkers, who make up about 11 percent of the city’s population, have faced over half of all reported hate crimes. Adams also proposed legislation to the City Council to codify the definition into law. The executive order was signed in response to a surge in antisemitic incidents in the city.
A New York State Regents Exam study guide for 10th-grade Global History and Geography faced criticism for its portrayal of the Israel-Palestine conflict. The guide, used to prepare students for the standardized test, included questions and content that Jewish lawmakers and community leaders called biased. One question linked Israel’s 1947 UN Partition Plan solely to the Holocaust, ignoring the Zionist movement’s 19th-century origins. Another suggested Zionists and Jewish immigrants benefited most from territorial changes, omitting context about defensive wars against Arab states. The New York State Education Department defended the questions, stating they were vetted by certified teachers to test geography knowledge. Following backlash, the department confirmed the questions would not appear on future exams.
New
York Governor Kathy Hochul announced the start of a $36.9 million rehabilitation project for the Fort Hamilton Parkway bridge over the Gowanus Expressway in Brooklyn. The project involves replacing the bridge deck, making structural repairs, upgrading lighting, and adding ADA-compliant ramps. A new protected bike lane will also be constructed to enhance cyclist safety. The work aims to improve the bridge’s infrastructure, which serves as a key connection in the borough. The New York State Department of Transportation is overseeing the project, with completion expected within two years.
US NEWS
Protests in Los Angeles, sparked by Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids targeting undocumented immigrants, escalated into violent clashes, prompting President Donald Trump to deploy 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to the city. The unrest began in downtown Los Angeles and spread to Paramount and Compton, with protesters setting vehicles on fire, looting businesses, and throwing rocks at law enforcement. Over 100 people were arrested, including 44 for immigration violations and others for unlawful assembly. The Los Angeles Police Department and sheriff’s deputies used tear gas, rubber bullets, and flash-bangs to disperse crowds. California Governor Gavin Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass criticized the federal deployment, arguing local forces were sufficient.
Over 25,000 people gathered at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia for the fourth annual Adirei HaTorah event, organized by Beth Medrash Govoha of Lakewood, New Jersey. The sold-out event celebrated the dedication of the yeshiva’s kolel scholars, with attendees filling the arena to honor Torah study. The program, produced by Shloime Steinmetz of The Pivot Group, featured the entrance of BMG’s Roshei Yeshiva, including Hagaon Rav Shmuel Kaminetzky, and concluded with dancing after a Siyum Hashas. The event included speeches and displays of kavod hatorah, drawing supporters from the Satmar community and beyond.
Mohamed Sabry Soliman, a 45-year-old Egyptian national, was arrested in Boulder, Colorado, after attacking a pro-Israel demonstration with Molotov cocktails and a makeshift flamethrower, injuring 12 people, including an 88-year-old Holocaust survivor. The attack targeted a “Run for Their Lives” event advocating for the release of Israeli hostages. Soliman, who entered the U.S. on a tourist visa in August 2022 and overstayed after it expired in February 2023, faces 118 state charges, including 28 counts of attempted murder, and a federal hate crime charge. He is held on a $10 million bond. His wife and five children were detained by ICE for expedited removal, with their visas revoked, and are currently in a Texas detention facility.
Elon Musk publicly criticized President Donald Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill,” formally the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, calling it a “disgusting abomination” in posts on X. The House passed the bill, which extends Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, increases military and border security spending, and cuts clean energy tax credits, including those for electric vehicles impacting Musk’s Tesla. Musk, who recently left his role leading the Department of Government Efficiency, argued the bill would increase the federal deficit by $2.4 trillion to $5 trillion over ten years. Trump expressed disappointment, claiming Musk knew the bill’s details and was upset over the removal of EV incentives. The dispute escalated with Trump threatening to cut Musk’s government contracts, while Musk suggested Trump’s election win relied on his support.
The U.S. House of Representatives passed two resolutions condemning the rise in antisemitic violence. H.Res. 481 reaffirmed the House’s commitment to combating antisemitism, passing with near-unanimous support. H.Res. 488 specifically condemned the antisemitic attack in Boulder, Colorado, where an assailant used Molotov cocktails against a pro-Israel demonstration, injuring 12 people. The vote on H.Res. 488 was 400-0-2, with Representatives Rashida Tlaib and Marjorie Taylor Greene voting “present.” The resolutions addressed a 388 percent spike in antisemitic incidents in the U.S. since October 7, 2023, as reported by the Anti-Defamation League. The measures also urged law enforcement to enhance security for Jewish communities.
President Donald Trump’s Justice Department is investigating last-minute pardons issued by former President Joe Biden before leaving office. The probe, led by DOJ pardon attorney Ed Martin, examines whether Biden, aged 82 at the time, was competent during the issuance of these pardons. Martin’s email to staff highlighted concerns about potential misuse of an autopen, a device that mechanically replicates signatures, in granting clemency. The investigation focuses on pardons for Biden’s family members, including Hunter Biden, James Biden, Frank Biden, Valerie Biden Owens, and their spouses, as well as 37 death row inmates whose sentences were commuted to life imprisonment. The inquiry also reviews whether unelected staffers acted without Biden’s full awareness.
Chinese nationals Yunqing Jian, 33, and Zunyong Liu, 34, were charged with smuggling Fusarium graminearum, a fungus classified as a potential agroterrorism weapon, into the United States through Detroit Metropolitan Airport. Jian, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Michigan’s Molecular Plant-Microbe Interaction Laboratory, and Liu, a researcher at Zhejiang University, allegedly planned to study the fungus at the Michigan lab. The fungus, which causes head blight in wheat, barley, maize, and rice, was found hidden in Liu’s backpack inside tissues. Both face charges of conspiracy, smuggling, false statements, and visa fraud. Jian is in custody, while Liu was deported to China. The University of Michigan lacks permits to handle the fungus.
The U.S. Justice Department filed a lawsuit against Fathi Abdulrahim Harara and Native Grounds LLC, owners of Jerusalem Coffee House in Oakland, California, for discriminating against Jewish customers. The complaint alleges that Harara ejected two patrons wearing baseball caps with Star of David symbols, one in June 2024 and another with his five-year-old son in October 2024. On the October 7, 2024, anniversary of Hamas’ attack on Israel, the coffee shop introduced drinks named “Iced In Tea Fada” and “Sweet Sinwar,” referencing violent anti-Israel terms and a Hamas leader. The shop’s exterior displayed inverted red triangles, a symbol associated with antisemitic attacks. The lawsuit claims violations of Title II of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. removed all 17 members of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. The committee, composed of medical and public health experts, advises on vaccine schedules and coverage. Kennedy announced the decision in a Wall Street Journal opinion piece, stating most members were appointed by the Biden administration, with 13 in 2024. Termination notices were sent to members shortly after the announcement. The committee’s webpage was deleted that evening. A new panel is under consideration, with the next meeting scheduled for June 25-27 in Atlanta.
Israel NEWS
The Israeli Navy’s Sa’ar 6-class corvettes launched two long-range guided missiles from hundreds of kilometers away, striking Yemen’s Hodeida port. The attack targeted infrastructure used by the Houthi militia for weapons smuggling, destroying key docking facilities. The operation, conducted by the Navy’s 3rd Flotilla, involved coordination with the IDF’s Intelligence and Operations Directorates and the Air Force. The strike followed Houthi ballistic missile and drone attacks on Israel, including one that fell short the previous night. The Hodeida port, a critical hub for 80 percent of Yemen’s food imports, has been hit multiple times by the IDF over the past year. The operation marked the farthest confirmed offensive action by Israeli missile boats, 1,800 kilometers from Israel.
Three Israeli soldiers were killed and two were wounded when an explosive device detonated in northern Gaza’s Jabalia during military operations. The soldiers, all from the Givati Brigade’s Rotem Battalion, were identified as Staff Sgt. Lior Steinberg, 20, a combat medic from Petah Tikva; Staff Sgt. Ofek Barhana, 20, a combat medic from Yavne; and Staff Sgt. Omer Van Gelder, 22, a squad commander from Maale Adumim. The incident occurred as their Humvee, escorting a fire truck to extinguish a burning armored vehicle, struck a roadside bomb. The IDF later discovered a minefield with dozens of explosives in the area. Funerals were held for Steinberg in Petah Tikva, Barhana in Yavne, and Van Gelder in Jerusalem.
Israeli forces conducted airstrikes on weapons storage facilities near Daraa in southern Syria, targeting sites the IDF identified as belonging to hostile groups. The strikes were in response to rockets launched from Syrian territory toward Israel. The operation caused significant damage to the targeted facilities, with Syrian air defenses activated but failing to intercept the Israeli jets. Local reports confirmed explosions and fires in the Daraa countryside, with no immediate casualties reported. The IDF statement held the Syrian regime accountable for allowing hostile activities from its territory. Military sources noted the strikes aimed to disrupt weapons smuggling routes used by Iran-backed militias in the region.
Israeli naval forces intercepted the Madleen, a British-flagged yacht operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, in international waters 185 kilometers west of Gaza. The vessel, carrying 12 activists including Greta Thunberg and Rima Hassan, aimed to deliver a small amount of humanitarian aid, including baby formula and medical supplies, to Gaza. Israeli commandos boarded the yacht, surrounded by quadcopter drones and sprayed with an irritant substance, and towed it to Ashdod port. The passengers underwent medical examinations and were detained for deportation. The IDF reported no resistance during the operation. The aid on board was transferred to Gaza through established humanitarian channels.
Israeli forces uncovered and destroyed a bomb-making laboratory in Tulkarem, Samaria, containing gas canisters, over 200 explosives, and 150 kilograms of explosive-making materials. The lab, used to produce roadside bombs and pipe bombs, was dismantled during counterterrorism raids led by the IDF’s Kfir Brigade and Shin Bet. Over the weekend, 35 terror suspects were arrested across Judea and Samaria, including two in al-Mughayyir for rock-throwing attacks on Israeli civilians and one in Qalqilya for similar acts during a riot. The operations seized weapons, military gear, and tens of thousands of shekels in terror funds, with raids targeting sites like Kafr Malik and Qabatiya.
Israeli forces recovered the bodies of two hostages, Judi Weinstein Haggai, 70, and Gad Haggai, 72, both Israeli-American citizens, from the Khan Younis area in southern Gaza. The couple, residents of Kibbutz Nir Oz, were killed during the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, and their bodies were taken to Gaza by the Mujahideen Brigades. The recovery operation, conducted by the IDF and Shin Bet, relied on precise intelligence. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum confirmed the return of their remains to Israel for burial. Fifty-six hostages remain in Gaza, with around 20 believed to be alive, according to Israeli estimates.
WORLD NEWS
The National Holocaust Monument in Ottawa, located at Wellington and Booth streets, was vandalized with red paint and the words “FEED ME” in capital letters. The Ottawa Police Service’s Hate and Bias Crime Unit is investigating the incident as a hate crime. Cleaning crews from the National Capital Commission used pressure washers to remove the graffiti. The monument, commemorating six million Jews and other victims of the Holocaust, was previously vandalized in 2020. Israeli Ambassador Iddo Moed and Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe condemned the act, noting its proximity to Parliament Hill. The Jewish Federation of Ottawa reported a 71 percent rise in hate crimes targeting Jewish Canadians between 2022 and 2023.
Argentinian President Javier Milei arrived in Israel and visited the Western Wall in Jerusalem’s Old City, marking the start of his second official trip to the country since taking office. Accompanied by a delegation including Foreign Minister Gerardo Werthein, Presidential Secretary Karina Milei, and Ambassador Rabbi Shimon Axel Wahnish, he was welcomed by Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz and Mordechai Eliav of the Western Wall Heritage Foundation. Milei prayed at the site and wrote in the visitors’ book, in transliterated Hebrew, “Cherut Letzion,” meaning “Freedom for Zion.”
The Australian government canceled the visa of Hillel Fuld, a dual U.S.-Israeli citizen and pro-Israel influencer, barring him from entering the country for three years. The Department of Home Affairs cited his social media posts, including one comparing Gazans to Germans under Nazi rule and another calling Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas a Holocaust denier who funds terrorism, as risks to public order and the Islamic community. Fuld was set to speak at Magen David Adom fundraising events in Sydney and Melbourne to support a new ambulance station in Lehavim, Israel. The decision followed a social media campaign by pro-Palestinian activists.
