Nissan Shtrauchler – www.israelhayom.com

EU forced to admit it was deceived by PA

miriw — Tue, 09 Dec 2025 04:00:24 +0000

An Israeli intelligence delegation that traveled to Brussels, classified reports delivered to Israeli ambassadors in European capitals, and a broad advocacy campaign – this is how Israel succeeded in changing the European Union's stance toward the Palestinian Authority, and forced Europeans to publicly acknowledge for the first time that Abbas continues paying salaries to terrorists, despite his commitment to stop.

At the end of November, a meeting was held in Brussels between senior Palestinian Authority officials and representatives of donor countries. On the agenda: examining the reforms the Authority committed to implement – chief among them stopping payments to terrorists and their families, a reform the Palestinians declared had already been carried out.

The Authority's commitment to reforms didn't stem from goodwill, but from financial distress. Unlike the past, the Europeans decided to stop serving as an "open wallet" and conditioned continued aid – hundreds of millions of euros – on meeting commitments.

European Union flags flutter outside the EU Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, September 28, 2022 (Photo: Reuters/Yves Herman) Reuters/Yves Herman

A day before the meeting, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar issued an unusually detailed declaration: The Authority not only hasn't stopped payments to terrorists – it has actually increased them. The only change: instead of transferring the money through a designated fund, the Authority found alternative and covert channels.

The response from Brussels was unprecedented. "We understand that recently a payment was made to the families of prisoners," the Union stated in an unusual declaration. "We are very sorry about this decision. It appears to contradict previous statements. We have requested clarifications from the Palestinian Authority."

Palestinian Authority representatives, who arrived in Brussels expecting to raise additional funds, encountered rare criticism. During the meeting, several representatives of donor countries made clear – both to the Palestinians and to their friends in Europe – that part of the funds are conditioned on implementing the reforms.

The Palestinian representatives, unaccustomed to such criticism, committed to establishing a transparent fund that would reflect the transfer of money and to stop payments to terrorists. But they also understand that supervision over them has grown – not only from Israel, but also from the Europeans, whose credibility toward the Authority now lies on the table.

Irish Foreign minister Helen McEntee (L) , Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa and European Commissioner for Mediterranean Dubravka Suica (R) attend a Palestine Donor Group (PDG) meeting at EU commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, 20 November 2025 (Photo: EPA/Olivier Hoslet) EPA

The Authority committed to stopping payments to terrorists back in February, and earned praise from world leaders – President Macron even cited this as a turning point. But in Israel, they didn't buy the deception. In Jerusalem, they understood that behind the declarations, the money continues to flow.

To substantiate the claims, Sa'ar led an effort based on intelligence from the IDF and other agencies. While the Palestinians prepared for the Brussels meeting, the Foreign Ministry led a covert campaign designed to block the space for denial – both by Authority officials and by Europeans who preferred to ignore.

Intelligence agencies prepared a report, but not all of it could be revealed publicly – parts of the evidence were redacted to protect intelligence sources. Once approved for distribution, the report was presented at every meeting with foreign ministers – so that no room for doubt remained: The Authority continues to pay, despite its declarations.

In parallel, a booklet was prepared that summarized the intelligence evidence. It was sent to Israeli ambassadors in major European capitals, who then passed the information directly to the foreign ministers in the countries where they serve.

"Intelligence indicates that the policy of payments to terrorists is still ongoing, despite the declaration about Abu Mazen's decree," the report stated. "This is done through various channels intended to conceal the continuation of payments, while presenting a false impression of reforms."

The report further stated: "The policy wasn't canceled but only disguised anew. Some payments are now channeled through alternative channels, creating a misleading impression of reform. In practice, the PA continues to finance and encourage terror. The PA continues to pay, just in a new method."

The report notes documentation of payment collection from Palestinian postal branches. It was further noted that terrorists who were released in the deal received salaries throughout their time in prison, and some even received additional grants from the Authority after their release.

The report also quotes Abbas himself, who said on February 25: "If we have only one penny left, it will be given to the prisoners and martyrs. I will not allow anyone to remove any commitment or penny given to them. They are more honored than all of us."

In mid-November, an Israeli delegation of intelligence personnel traveled to Brussels. They met with European Union officials and presented the Palestinian violations – which led the Union to acknowledge that the Authority is not meeting its commitments. The European Union is the largest donor to the Authority, and public criticism from it against the Authority is rare. Until now, the Union preferred to remain silent. Now, even in the Authority, they understand that continuing the payments could drag them into confrontation with their largest funder.

A Commission Spokesperson said to Israel Hayom: "We can confirm that a meeting took place between the Israeli Ambassador to the EU, Israeli delegation and Commission representatives to discuss a broad range of topics relating to the Middle East"

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'Garbage can full of bodies': Former hostage recounts horrors to Italian leaders

miriw — Mon, 08 Dec 2025 07:00:22 +0000

Rom Braslavski, accompanied by his father, took the stage at a special event hosted by Italy's ruling party, Fratelli d'Italia, led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The 22-year-old from Jerusalem also met with the former president of Rome's Jewish community, Riccardo Pacifici, and other prominent figures in Italy's Jewish community.

Braslavski addressed the audience Sunday evening and thanked the Italian prime minister before sharing what he endured in captivity. "I am 22 years old from Jerusalem, and for two years I was held hostage by Hamas in the Gaza Strip. October 7 is a terrible trauma. I was kidnapped by the terrorists from Gaza. I saw the horrors with my own eyes. I witnessed the massacre. I saw young, beautiful women thrown on the ground, riddled with bullets, their clothes torn, and rivers of blood were on the road while in the background the cries and screams of 'Allahu Akbar' were heard."

He continued, "I saw inside a large yellow garbage can full of bodies. Women, adults, small children, all covered in blood, and they were murdered only because they are Jews and Israelis. During my time in captivity, they tortured me every day and left me with physical and mental scars everywhere. This captivity is not suitable for animals, certainly not for humans. Therefore, I ask you, dear people, to continue the good work for the sake of justice and peace. The October 7 massacre was without a justified reason, and was an inhuman massacre."

Former hostage Rom Braslavski (Photo: Eren Yardeni)

In closing, he said, "I will finish and thank you and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni for the invitation to come here. Until two months ago, I was inside Gaza, 131 feet (40 meters) underground. Torn clothes after I hadn't showered for at least a month, I hadn't eaten for entire days, and look how I am dressed today – the wheel has turned, and it is a divine miracle."

In an interview with journalist Maurizio Molinari, Braslavski described on the honor stage at the ruling party's "Atreju" conference Hamas members' demand that he convert to Islam and his response that surprised them: "I was born a Jew and will die a Jew."

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PA caught with continued terror payments despite promises to EU

miriw — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 09:30:34 +0000

The European Union is changing its approach toward the Palestinian Authority. In a meeting held between EU representatives and senior Palestinian Authority officials toward the end of last month, senior EU officials who are friendly to Israel raised the issue of the PA's violation of agreements regarding continued payments to terrorists, and demanded that they stop transferring funds to those who carried out attacks against Israelis and Jews.

During discussions in Brussels ahead of the meeting of the "Palestine Donors Group" (PDG), in which many European countries and others participate, the Palestinian Authority's progress in implementing the structural reforms it committed to was examined. During the discussions, several representatives of member states confronted PA representatives with evidence that they continued to transfer funds to terrorists through alternative channels, and expressed their dissatisfaction with the violation of the commitment.

The officials reminded that the transfer of some of the funds sent to the PA is conditional on fulfillment of Palestinian commitments to stop paying salaries and stipends to terrorists and their families. The Palestinian Authority promised in February to stop the flow of funds to terrorists and their families, but in recent months, it has been reported that payments were transferred through alternative means.

In Israel, it was further revealed that the Palestinian Authority essentially changed the payment mechanism to one based on socio-economic criteria, rather than on the number of years of imprisonment, as was the case in the past. This change led to the cessation of payments to some terrorists in prisons, but not to all, and thus it effectively continued payment to terrorists and their families.

It should be noted that the European Union, which is the largest financial donor to the Palestinian Authority, has conditioned its financial support, amounting to hundreds of millions of euros per year, on the implementation of comprehensive reforms in the Palestinian Authority. The Union granted the Palestinian Authority a grant of between 1.2-1.6 billion euros for the years 2025-2027, subject to the gradual implementation of reforms whose main focus is fighting corruption and building stable and proper governance in the PA, but they also include a Palestinian commitment to stop paying salaries and stipends to terrorists as a reward for attacks they carried out, as well as stopping incitement in textbooks that the Palestinian Authority distributes to Palestinian educational institutions. In recent months, it was revealed in Israel Hayom that Palestinian textbooks continue to incite against Israel, Jews, and encourage terrorism.

The Palestinian Authority prefers to postpone the implementation of the education reform to next year, although, after it became clear that it is not keeping its promises, pro-Israel officials in the European Union are expected to increase pressure in light of the huge sums being transferred.

In response to the accusations against them, senior Palestinian Authority officials claimed that in January, a new payment system is supposed to be implemented that will create transparency, and payments to terrorists will stop. The PA also fired the finance minister after accusing him of transferring the funds.

According to a spokesperson for the European Commission, the step the Palestinians took to stop payment to terrorists "was a step forward and marked the Palestinian Authority's commitment to implement far-reaching reforms. However, we understand that a payment was recently made to prisoners' families under a previous plan. We very much regret this decision, as it appears to contradict previous statements."

"We requested clarifications on the matter from the Palestinian Authority, and the Committee for the Promotion of Palestinian Policy provided the opportunity to discuss the matter openly. The Palestinian Authority reaffirmed its commitment to fully implement the Social Protection Law and also confirmed that a contract has been signed for an audit of the new payment system, which is expected to begin in January. Within this framework, verification will be carried out to assess that there are no parallel payment programs and to provide evidence that the system is now based only on genuine needs," the spokesperson said.

The Union confirmed again that they continue to monitor the PA's other promise regarding education reform. "Reform in the education sector, including curriculum reform, is part of the EU-Palestine reform agenda," added a spokesperson on behalf of the Commission.

"The Palestinian Authority, as reaffirmed in President Abbas' intervention in New York in September, is committed to conducting a comprehensive curriculum reform to ensure full compliance of all learning materials with UNESCO standards containing values of peace, tolerance, coexistence, and non-violence. This includes changes in the textbooks in question."

Just about two weeks ago, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar revealed that the Palestinian Authority nearly doubled salaries to terrorists and their family members in the past year. According to him, in 2024 it paid 470 million shekels ($130 million), and in 2025 it has already committed to pay about 700 million shekels ($194 million) in salaries, and the year has not yet ended. "I call on Europe and the world to hold the Palestinian Authority accountable for financing terrorism. The salaries to terrorists must be stopped now," Sa'ar demanded.

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'I'm on the right side of history': Anti-Hamas journalists who refuse to bend

miriw — Sun, 30 Nov 2025 08:00:57 +0000

In democratic nations priding themselves on free speech, journalists who challenged Hamas propaganda after October 7 discovered the limits of Western tolerance – losing careers, receiving death threats, and requiring police escorts simply for reporting a perspective sympathetic to Israel.

They live in democratic countries with freedom of expression and worked for major media outlets – yet paid a heavy price for criticizing Hamas and supporting Israel. Some were fired, others received death threats and harassment that forced them to need police escorts. Despite everything, they continue to speak out while their colleagues criticize Israel or choose comfortable silence.

In early November, Yotam Confino (35), a Danish-Israeli journalist, was invited to lecture at the Tivoli Hotel in Denmark about propaganda and misinformation in the Gaza war. Confino, who reports from Israel for leading media outlets in Denmark, the US, and Britain, arrived early – he knew pro-Palestinian activists were preparing a "reception" for him. As someone who is half Israeli, he has always been under a magnifying glass, but since October 7, he has been accompanied by police to every public event.

Yotam Confino (35), a Danish-Israeli journalist

"About 400 people registered for the lecture, including members of parliament and Danish leaders who wanted to hear a different angle from what's in the local media," Confino said. "The lecture dealt with misinformation that reached the media during the war – mainly from Gaza, but also from Israel. The focus was on the media's devotion to information conveyed by Hamas, which continues to mislead it."

The lecture became public after a local imam with an affection for Hamas and Hezbollah published the event date and hotel name – intending to pressure organizers into canceling it. He called Confino "the Israeli Zionist agent."

"I arrived at the hotel an hour before the lecture, and there were already about 20 protesters with Palestinian flags, and six police officers preventing them from entering," he said. "They shouted insults at me and held a sign reading 'Death to the IDF.' One of them wore a mask hiding his face – something forbidden in Denmark – and the police didn't demand he remove it."

"Usually protesters go out against a prime minister or political figure, not against a journalist," he said. "For me, this is a new level of hatred. But I have no doubt I'm on the right side of history. These people are terror supporters, and if I'm causing them to react like this, apparently I'm hitting where it hurts them. They were 20 people, compared to 400 who paid to enter the lecture exposing the hypocrisy of Western media and the manipulations through which Hamas buys sympathy in the world."

Confino is the only journalist in Denmark against whom demonstrations are held, and the only one who needs police protection at every public event. The police asked him to update them on every public appearance. He is one of the prominent voices supporting Israel's right to fight terrorist organizations and defend itself, while many others act against it or remain silent for fear of threats.

"For two years, I've experienced a campaign that includes threats, silencing, and harassment. They call me a Nazi," Confino said. "Pro-Palestinian elements pressured to fire me from TV2, Denmark's leading television channel – and succeeded. There are people here calling to put me on trial for war crimes, and even a member of parliament from the radical left who criticizes me. It's gotten out of control. The threats have become routine, which no longer moves the authorities."

"There's a hunt here for anyone who publicly expresses positive views about Israel," he said. "You no longer need to be a pronounced pro-Israeli to receive threats – it's enough that you expose Hamas propaganda."

"I respect the Danish police, they're doing their maximum, but they don't have enough resources, and some of them don't understand the nuances," he said. "In my world, if you call for the death of all the IDF – you're calling for mass murder. But here they think it's just a slogan. Every weekend in Copenhagen, police escort pro-Palestinian protesters shouting 'Death to the IDF' and carrying Hamas flags and pictures of Sinwar. If this were an al-Qaida demonstration with pictures of bin Laden, it's clear they would act differently."

"I'm sure there are journalists who are afraid to cover the conflict fairly, because they know that if they expose lies from Gaza, they'll start receiving threats," Confino said. "As someone who is half Israeli, I'm a clear target, but they're also 'hunting' others who support Israel, even if they're not Jewish."

"My heart broke when I saw the videos from the border communities"

Another prominent example is Erin Molan (42), an Australian journalist who paid a heavy price for supporting Israel. "My heart broke when I saw the videos from the Gaza border communities," she said. "The shock turned to shame when I saw Australians celebrating the massacre in front of the Sydney Opera House, a day or two later. I have a television show, and even though I'm not Jewish or Israeli, I immediately stood with Israel because I knew it was the right side. From that moment on, my life changed."

Erin Molan (42), an Australian journalist

Support for Israel led to threats on her life and police escorts for her and her daughter. She was forced to change her residence after direct threats, which included exposure of personal details on social media and in pro-Palestinian groups, including where her daughter studies.

"I received death threats, harassment, threats against my child," Molan said. "It's hard to continue fighting under such a threat, and all because of my support for Israel. But I continue – also for the sake of my daughter's future. The people going against Jews won't end there; they'll continue with Christians, and it won't end."

Within a few months, Molan lost all her positions – as a television host, columnist, and sports journalist. A career she cultivated for more than two decades.

"I can't say everything is because of my support for Israel, but apparently in some cases there's a connection," she said. "At the same time, I try to look at the good – new opportunities have opened for me in markets outside Australia, and I'm reaching many people I didn't know before."

"But the career isn't what determines it – rather the knowledge that I'm doing the right thing," she said. "I go to sleep every night knowing I'm on the right side. The Jews are worth it, the Israelis are worth it, and the West is worth it. You need to fight evil."

"During the Holocaust, there were many people who remained silent, and there were those who helped despite the danger," she said. "I want to believe that if I had lived in that period, I would have helped the Jews, I would have passed the test. I wouldn't have stood by then, and I won't stand by today."

"The celebrations after the massacre shocked me"

Nicole Lampert is a Jewish-British culture journalist who wrote for years for the kingdom's leading newspapers. Over the years, she began writing about antisemitism as well, especially during Jeremy Corbyn's leadership of the Labour Party, but her main occupation remained cultural – at least until October 7.

Nicole Lampert is a Jewish-British culture journalist (Photo: Jenny Smith)

"Writing about antisemitism turned me from a journalist into an activist, and this intensified since October 7," she said. "I saw people celebrating the massacre in front of the Israeli embassy, and a pro-Palestinian demonstration of hundreds of thousands days after – and it shocked me. I started writing for The Telegraph and Daily Mail about antisemitism, talking with survivors and bereaved families. Suddenly, this became the central topic in my writing."

"I was one of the first British journalists to speak about the Israeli side," she said. "The British don't know Israelis as victims. Every time I write something, I receive hatred on social media – Nazi messages, accusations of 'genocide denial' and 'loving apartheid,' pictures of a swastika inside a Star of David."

Lampert discovered that in her regular posts, about 6% of respondents are fake bots – but in posts about Israel, the number doubles to 13%. Evidence of the strength of the organized campaign operated against Israel on social media. She also experienced hostile reactions from feminist journalists after criticizing the feminist movement for not standing with Israeli women around the rape events on October 7.

"We Jews stand on the frontline of a cultural war between radical Islam and the right," she said. "The right is growing in Britain and other countries, and the significant reason for this is immigration. The Conservative Party and Labour allowed globalization of the intifada on British streets. Calls like 'From the river to the sea,' which are forbidden in Germany, are heard here without a firm response from authorities."

"Daily life hasn't changed, but I'm aware of the difficult situation of Jews in the country," she said. "My children deal with antisemitism more than I do. My son's girlfriend left her university and transferred to another – because her roommate told her she 'doesn't talk to Jews.'"

"This is a difficult period for defining our identity in Britain," she concluded. "My British identity has cracked. I always said I was 'British Jewish,' and now the order has changed – I'm first of all Jewish, and only then British."

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Italy investigates horrific 'kill tourism' from Bosnia war

miriw — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 08:00:07 +0000

Milan's public prosecutor's office opened an investigation into suspicions that several Italians paid significant sums to "kill tourism guides" and participated in murdering civilians in Sarajevo during the Bosnian-Serbian war between 1992 and 1995.

According to the suspicion, ordinary citizens with connections to the far right and deep affection for weapons hired an underground service and flew from the city of Trieste in Italy to the city of Belgrade via direct flights operating during those years, to participate in a killing spree that included sniping at citizens of Sarajevo from the hills overlooking main streets in the city, which was a war zone in the early and mid-1990s. According to preliminary investigation findings, the "kill tourism package" was priced at sums equivalent to between $84,000 and $105,000 (80,000-100,000 euros), with shooting at children receiving higher pricing. In most cases, the killing spree occurred on weekends, since the participants were middle-aged people with capital who were busy with their legitimate work during the week.

The sniping incidents in the hills of Sarajevo were part of the siege of the city of Sarajevo, which today serves as the capital city of Bosnia, that occurred during the Bosnian War (1992-1995). Snipers of the Army of Republika Srpska were deployed on the hills of Sarajevo, which allowed them to shoot at civilians and soldiers within the city, which was besieged for close to four years. Now authorities are examining whether the rumors about kill tourism are founded, and who were those who participated in it and initiated it.

The complaint filed with Italian law enforcement comprises 17 pages and was prepared by the writer and journalist Ezio Gavazzeni, with support from the famous former judge Guido Salvini and the former mayor of Sarajevo (2021-2024), Benjamina Karić. Gavazzeni collected information on a subject about which rumors have spread for years, as mentioned, and were even exposed in 2023 in a documentary film by Slovenian director Miran Zupanič. This film included testimonies and hints at the possibility that wealthy foreigners paid to travel to the Bosnian city to participate in a human hunting expedition and shoot people themselves.

According to the writer and journalist Ezio Gavazzeni, the Bosnian prosecutor's office buried the investigation due to the difficulty in investigating the case, while in Serbia, they treat the affair as an "urban legend," and therefore, he decided to open the investigation file in Italy. "We are talking about people with money, with reputation, businessmen, who during the siege on Sarajevo paid so they could kill unarmed civilians. They left Trieste for hunting and then returned and continued their regular lives," Gavazzeni noted in interviews with the Italian media.

According to various estimates, the number of participants in the "sniping expeditions" is approximately one hundred, comprising citizens from all over the world. Prosecutor Alessandro Gobbis noted there is a list of several people who can give testimony and will be called to testify. According to Gavazzeni, among the witnesses is a Bosnian intelligence agent with the initials ES, who was aware of the events and claims that the Italian secret services, which had staff people in Sarajevo, had information about this in 1993 and that classified files exist regarding the matter. "He told me that the Bosnian intelligence warned against the presence of at least five Italians, who were in the hills around Sarajevo, and were preparing to shoot at civilians," declared the Italian journalist and writer Gavazzeni, who claimed that same intelligence man learned for the first time about the phenomenon through documents of the Bosnian military security service to which he was exposed. These documents, according to him, contained an interrogation transcript of a Serbian volunteer who was captured by the Bosnians, who noted that the human hunting expeditions indeed exist. He joined the Bosnian Serbian militias, and on an expedition from Belgrade to Bosnia-Herzegovina, he was accompanied by at least five foreigners, three of whom were Italian, and one of whom claimed to be from Milan. All of them joined the human hunting expedition.

The name of a Serbian officer, Jovica Stanišić, who was convicted of war crimes by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, came up as one of the people involved in organizing these expeditions. The expeditions were disguised as hunting trips abroad, as a cover to justify the group's flights to Belgrade. According to that agent, "the Bosnian intelligence services believed that the Serbian security service was behind everything and that the Serbian military intelligence service was also involved, with the help of Serbian commanders in the occupied area."

This photograph shows a general view of a nursing home and its' burnt facade after a deadly fire broke out the day prior in the north-eastern Bosnian city of Tuzla, on November 5, 2025 (Photo: Elvis Barukcic/ AFP) AFP

Correspondence from Bosnian intelligence bodies was found that hints at the involvement of people who participated in those human hunting expeditions. The correspondence is based on the testimony of that Serbian volunteer who claimed that, "a man from Turin, one from Milan, and the last from Trieste. The person from Milan was an owner of a private clinic specializing in cosmetic procedures; he participated in one of the hunting expeditions." The correspondence also contains information about the distorted pricing. "Children cost more than armed men and women in uniform, and senior citizens can be killed for free."

The Bosnian consul in Milan, Dag Domoročić, promised "full cooperation" from his country's government. "We are eager to expose the truth about such a cruel affair and settle accounts with the past. I have information that I will contribute to the investigation," he declared.

In the past, photographs of Russian writer Eduard Limonov in the hills of Sarajevo, alongside Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadžić, were well-known and controversial. In the photographs, he appears apparently observing the snipers located on the hills and shooting at people, and he himself is positioned near a machine gun and firing several shots. Estimates are that approximately 11,000 people were killed as a result of the sniping carried out by the militias during those years.

As part of the investigation entrusted to the Special Operations Unit of Italian law enforcement, the Milan public prosecutor's office will summon witnesses for questioning in the coming weeks and will consolidate all documents and existing testimonies regarding the affair.

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Germany arrests Hamas operative who stockpiled weapons for attacks on Jewish targets

adin — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 07:30:31 +0000

Federal prosecutors in Germany announced Wednesday that a Hamas operative was captured in Karlsruhe. Burhan al-Q. (full name withheld under German law), a Lebanon-born terrorist acquired a rifle, eight pistols, and 600 rounds of ammunition, weapons allegedly intended for attacks on Israeli or Jewish institutions in Germany and Europe.

Burhan was arrested on Tuesday night when he attempted to enter Germany from Czechia. Investigators from the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) and Federal Police apprehended the Hamas terrorist at the border.

German police in Magdeburg, eastern Germany, on November 10, 2025 (Photo: Ronny Hartmann/AFP)

According to authorities, in August 2025, the Lebanon-born operative allegedly acquired an AK-47 automatic assault rifle, eight Glock pistols, and over 600 rounds in Germany. According to the Federal Prosecutor's Office, he then transferred these items to his accomplice, who was staying in Berlin. The weapons transfer failed. As the Federal Prosecutor's Office announced in early October, the suspect came under surveillance by counterterrorism investigators. Three other suspects were arrested, one of whom was detained in Denmark, and Burhan al-Q. was arrested Tuesday night.

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Norway's anti-racism center turns Kristallnacht memorial into Gaza protest

adin — Fri, 07 Nov 2025 11:05:25 +0000

Norway's Center Against Racism announced plans to hold a Kristallnacht memorial event on Sunday under the banner of "fighting racism," with one central topic being the Middle East situation, specifically focusing on the Palestinian situation in Gaza. The taxpayer-funded organization claims Zionism equals racism and that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, and according to reports, Norway's prime minister confirmed his attendance at the event rather than the Jewish community ceremony at Oslo's community institutions.

Center director Omar Ashraf labeled one of the community's senior members, Erwin Kohn, as an "extremist voice" after Kohn accused Amnesty International of antisemitism following the organization's one-sided stance against Israel. Event organizers invited Jonathan Shapira, a peace activist in an international anti-Israel organization known for his accusatory statements against Israel before and after October 7, to speak.

"While the Jewish community holds a memorial event for the horrific event that occurred on Kristallnacht, a non-Jewish organization that opposes Zionism and the State of Israel, which recently released a report examining racism against Palestinians in Norway with almost complete disregard for Jewish suffering in the country, will hold a 'memorial event' where it takes the disaster that befell the Jewish people and exploits it for the false narrative it builds against the State of the Jews – as if Israelis and Jews who support Israel are the new Nazis. It's simply unbelievable," a source in Norway's Jewish community said.

The Jewish community expressed shock at the distortion and feigned innocence of the Center Against Racism, which systematically attacks Israel. "Recently, representatives of human rights organizations here claimed that Jews try to cover up the 'genocide' by complaining about their sense of insecurity and antisemitism. There are organizations here trying to rewrite history, and in the end, the Norwegian prime minister announces he's attending this event and legitimizes it. It's no coincidence they invite leftists – they want to bring Jews who will say what they themselves believe and won't accuse them of antisemitism, and thus they rewrite history and turn the victim into the aggressor, thereby making the victim again," the source explained.

Anti-Israel demonstrators in Norway (Photo: EPA)

According to reports in Norwegian media, Jewish community leaders sent a letter to the prime minister and Oslo's mayor protesting the Center Against Racism's "memorial ceremony" and the Norwegian prime minister's planned attendance while the Jewish community holds a parallel ceremony. The anti-racism center event invited numerous additional anti-Israel and pro-Palestinian organizations. "In recent years, we've been forced to hold our memorial ceremonies inside synagogues due to the difficult atmosphere surrounding these events, while the Center Against Racism chose to hold a separate ceremony. This is a difficult and painful event for us, and the way it's being commemorated today only makes it harder for us. The prime minister is warmly invited to participate in our memorial ceremony at the Jewish community synagogue in Oslo," the letter stated.

Oslo Jewish community Rabbi Joav Melchior warned the ceremony might become an event promoting antisemitism by centering the Middle East instead of focusing on the memorial and honoring it in a way that respects the country's Jews who fell victim to an enemy seeking their destruction, as quoted on the NRK website. "It's not easy for us to talk about distorting reality on such a day. However, it's not just that the Center Against Racism ignores our narrative – it actually attacks it," he noted that pro-Palestinian activists received too much space in the memorial ceremony, and nearly all focus is now on the Middle East situation. The ceremony organizers' intent is clear. "Jews may of course be criticized, but choosing this specific day – and given what many Norwegian Jews are going through during this period – shows a lack of empathy and something the Center Against Racism needs to spend time thinking about."

Norwegian-Israeli activist On Elpeleg said, "It's simply incomprehensible that Norway's prime minister chose to mark the Kristallnacht events – the November pogrom – alongside antisemitic organizations and Israel boycotters, while completely ignoring the Jewish community's official invitation to participate in its memorial ceremony. Through this act, he not only weakens the fight against antisemitism but actually strengthens the hands of antisemites in Norway. This represents serious and dangerous irresponsibility from the prime minister – precisely when Norway's Jews need support and identification most."

Responding to accusations ahead of the event, Omar Ashraf told the NRK website that the Center Against Racism is "not antisemitic" and that accusations against the center are incorrect. He claimed all organizations were invited and the event is open to the Jewish community as well, though according to him, the community cut off contact with them and refuses to cooperate with the center he heads. He said the commemoration is not connected to "Palestine" and that the event deals with "Jewish experiences, learning from history, remembering victims of antisemitic violence while simultaneously standing against all racism."

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Boris Johnson slams British gov: 'They changed direction because of Muslim voters'

omrif — Fri, 07 Nov 2025 08:35:29 +0000

Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who led the Conservative Party from 2019 to 2022, has never been afraid to speak his mind. So it's no surprise that at a time when many European leaders are steering clear of pro-Israel events for fear of political backlash, Johnson is entirely unfazed.

On Monday, he received the King David Award from the European Jewish Association (EJA), led by Rabbi Menachem Margolin, during a conference in Krakow titled "Securing a Future Against Hate and Incitement." In an interview with Israel Hayom, Johnson did not hold back his criticism of the British government, attacked the BBC for its anti-Israel coverage, and explained why the UK's recognition of a Palestinian state is "a gift to Hamas."

Though not Jewish, Johnson takes pride in his partial Jewish heritage—his great-grandfather was Jewish—and said he is deeply troubled by the antisemitism spreading through London. "When I was mayor, I didn't allow national politics to spill into the local arena, into our streets," he said. "It's tragic that Jews now have to worry about their safety. The police should be the ones ensuring that, not the Jewish community itself."

The King David Award presented by the European Jewish Association (EJA) and Rabbi Menachem Margolin. Photo: Yoav Dudkevitch

He added, "I remember protests against Israel during my time as mayor, but it's disheartening to see middle-class professionals and intellectuals marching through London chanting 'From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free', a clear call for Israel's destruction. The antisemitic virus that has always existed in Europe is surfacing again."

Johnson said the situation could still be turned around but requires decisive leadership. "London's politicians must understand that this decline has to stop. The police need more authority and must act as effectively as they did when I was mayor."

He accused the current government of moral inconsistency: "Britain says it stands with Israel and is a close ally, yet it boycotts Israel by halting weapons transfers when Israel needs them most, and recognizes a Palestinian state unconditionally. I would never have done that. The government must choose a clear moral line when Israel is under threat and antisemitism is surging again."

Asked if he was affected by criticism over his outspoken support for Israel, Johnson said, "I don't care. I don't follow that criticism." He attributed his sympathy for Israel to personal experience. "I volunteered at a kibbutz in the 1980s when I was 18. It was tough, they worked me hard. I washed dishes, picked apples at four in the morning. I'm not surprised the kibbutz model failed economically, it was a kind of communism, but that experience deepened my love for Israel."

Johnson with Israel Hayom reporter Nissan Shtrauchler during the interview

While Johnson still supports the two-state solution, he voiced skepticism about its feasibility after Hamas's October 7 massacre. "I want the Palestinians to achieve what they desire eventually, but I feel sorry for them, they have been led catastrophically. Peace is possible, but they must first stop wanting to destroy Israel. Perhaps a kind of unarmed federal authority under international supervision could work, though that too may take time. Sadly, too many people profit from this conflict."

Johnson was especially critical of British media. "I don't understand why certain outlets, especially the BBC, have adopted such a hostile tone toward Israel. We all saw Hamas executing Palestinians right after the cease-fire began, so why isn't the BBC reporting that non-stop? We were told there was famine in Gaza, it wasn't true. We were told Israel deliberately targeted hospitals, that wasn't true either. Some of this anti-Israel sentiment is rooted in antisemitism."

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer against the backdrop of explosions in Gaza. Photo: Reuters, AP Reuters, AP

He added, "In the past, Israel had support from the political Left, including in Britain. It's sad that the Left has withdrawn its backing from Israel, the only democracy in the region. But today, the Labour Party depends on Muslim voters, and out of fear of offending them, it has changed direction."

Asked whether the government's stance contributes to the rise in antisemitism, Johnson replied, "Yes, I think it does. It creates a false moral equivalence. Recognizing a Palestinian state now is a reward to Hamas. They committed the worst atrocities against the Jewish people since the Holocaust, and then Britain, which claims to stand with Israel, unconditionally recognizes a Palestinian state."

"I still believe in two states for two peoples," he said, "but why recognize one now, when we don't even know its borders? The answer is that it's not about Palestinians or peace, it's about Labour's domestic politics. That's a mistake."

The company's logo at the entrance of the British Broadcasting Company BBC's headquarters in London, Britain, August 1, 2024 | Photo: Andy Rain/EPA EPA

Although Johnson continues to speak about politics, he said he has no intention of returning to public office. "I don't miss politics," said the former London mayor, foreign secretary, and prime minister. "I'm writing books and articles, I have four children under six, and I'm happy about the new kitchen we're building at home."

As the left-wing government's popularity collapses in the polls in favor of Nigel Farage's right-wing Reform UK Party, Johnson's own Conservative Party is also struggling. Still, he remains optimistic: "Absolutely. The Conservatives are Britain's oldest party, nearly 200 years old. We'll be back in the center of the stage. The party needs to reconnect with ordinary voters. I've always been a Conservative, and I always will be."

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Israeli intel firm blames French ego for sabotaging Louvre theft recovery

adin — Wed, 05 Nov 2025 12:00:21 +0000

People connected to the Louvre heist contacted Israeli business intelligence firm CGI Group with an offer to sell one of the stolen jewels for 8 million euros. This marks the second approach the company received through the dark web after a previous negotiation with the firm failed due to what its representatives described as the French authorities' refusal to advance the recovery of the jewels through this channel. The Louvre Museum itself denied contacting the Israeli company after reports on the matter emerged.

Four days after the heist, on October 23, a person identifying himself as a representative of the thieves contacted CGI Group's website. "We heard you were involved in the Dresden incident," the message stated. "We have something similar – one of the missing works from the Louvre Museum. Are you interested?"

The criminals offered a deal within 24 hours in exchange for transferring 8 million euros through an encrypted method via a "neutral point in Austria or Slovakia." The Israeli company's staff demanded proof of authenticity and simultaneously contacted French sources. However, the French did not advance the negotiations, and the criminals lost patience. "Words sound good, but practical steps speak louder," they wrote. "If you're serious this time – prove it."

On November 1, the criminals reached out again, accusing the company of not being serious. "We explained the situation to him while attempting again to build trust, we received another time window," said Zvika Neve, CEO of CGI Group. "But unfortunately, once again the French ego sabotaged the opportunity to return the jewels." The correspondence ended three days ago without result.

The French royal jewels stolen from the Louvre (Photo: AFP)

CGI Group claimed that sources connected to the museum contacted the company through its European branch in Rome, attempting to obscure the connection with the Israeli company and asking them to help solve the break-in mystery. However, the Louvre Museum officially denied this.

According to Zvika Neve, the company's CEO, "Five days after the heist at the Louvre Museum, a person identifying himself as a representative of the thieves contacted us through the CGI website and asked if we were interested in negotiating with him on the dark web to purchase the stolen works, emphasizing that we would be given the opportunity to complete a deal within 24 hours. We responded to the offer after conducting lengthy chats with him to examine and confirm that he proves to us that he indeed holds at least part of the work. Immediately after the approach, we updated the relevant sources in Paris, but unfortunately, ego games and foot-dragging sabotaged the possibility of purchasing at least part of the works. On November 1, 2025, the thieves' representative contacted us again and accused us of not being serious. We explained the situation to him while attempting again to build trust. We received another time window, but unfortunately, once again, the French ego sabotaged the opportunity to return the stolen jewels."

On October 19, four thieves disguised as construction workers broke into the Louvre Museum. The thieves arrived in a truck with a crane, climbed to the first floor, smashed a window, and entered the Apollo Gallery. Within minutes, nine historic jewels belonging to the French royal families were stolen. Empress Eugénie's crown – the most valuable – was found broken outside the museum.

The thieves arrived in a truck with a crane and climbed to the first floor (Photo: EPA)

A week after the heist, two suspects in carrying out the break-in itself were arrested: a 34-year-old French-Algerian citizen caught at Charles de Gaulle Airport moments before a flight to Algeria, and a 39-year-old man in the Paris area. Both partially admitted their involvement. Last weekend, five more suspects were arrested, including a couple from Saint-Denis – a 37-year-old man whose DNA traces were found in the crane truck and who is suspected as part of the thieves' gang, and his 38-year-old girlfriend.

Three of the suspects were released, and four had charges filed against them and remained in custody. The jewels, estimated to be worth around $100 million, have not yet been found.

In an interview with Radio France-Info, prosecutor Laure Beccuau said this involves "criminality that isn't exactly everyday, but also not the type usually associated with the top tier of organized crime." During the conversation, she said the profile of the four people arrested so far – including one suspect's girlfriend – is not typical of organized crime figures capable of carrying out complex operations.

In 2019, after the diamond heist from the Green Vault museum in Dresden, CGI Group was hired to examine the security setup. The company claimed it provided information that helped the investigation.

The post Israeli intel firm blames French ego for sabotaging Louvre theft recovery appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

Spanish bank singles out Israelis over 'Genocide in Gaza' decree

omrif — Thu, 30 Oct 2025 18:00:47 +0000

Over the past two weeks, Israelis with accounts at the Spanish bank Sabadell encountered trouble transferring funds from Israel. The bank demanded they fill out forms declaring that the money did not originate from Judea and Samaria, submit notarized and translated tax reports, and commit that they were not violating a Spanish royal decree regarding "genocide in Gaza." On Thursday, the Israeli Embassy in Spain informed customers that the bank had pledged to halt the practice.

Shlomit (a pseudonym), an Israeli who previously lived in Spain and bought an apartment there, said that about 10 days ago, she tried to transfer funds to her Sabadell account to pay her mortgage. The money never arrived. "I contacted the bank, and they told me that due to sanctions on Israel and their internal policy, they couldn't process the transfer," she said. "They asked for all my tax reports, translated by a notary into English and Spanish. That demand was totally unreasonable."

Anti-Israel protests in Barcelona. Photo: EPA

Shlomit hired a Spanish lawyer, who contacted the bank to clarify the legal basis for their actions. After receiving a response, the lawyer threatened to sue. Two days later, the bank allowed the transfer, without updating the lawyer. "I really hope this gets resolved and there won't be more issues," she said. Israeli friends of hers in Spain also said they were unable to transfer money unless they declared that the source was not from Judea and Samaria.

A document sent by the bank to Israeli customers, obtained by Israel Hayom, contained extraordinary requirements. Titled "Declaration Form on the Purpose of Goods/Services for Export/Import to Israel," it required customers to affirm that their transaction did not violate restrictions imposed by a Spanish royal decree dated September 23, 2025, "which adopted urgent measures against genocide in Gaza and in support of the Palestinian population."

Customers were required to state the geographic origin of their funds and confirm that "in the case of an import transaction, the products involved do not originate from Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, in accordance with the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice dated July 19, 2024."

Beyond the inherent discrimination of singling out only Israeli citizens for such declarations, and the liquidity challenges this caused for Israelis with financial dealings in Spain, there were concerns that other countries considering boycotts of Israel would emulate this policy. "Do they conduct similar checks on funds coming from Iran or Lebanon or other places where there are human rights concerns?" asked another Israeli living in Spain. "Of course not. This is something targeted specifically at Israel, and if it continues, we are planning to sue the bank."

On Thursday, Israelis living in Spain received a message from the Israeli Embassy saying, "We received a commitment from the bank that the steps taken against Israeli clients and the requirement to sign the accompanying form have been stopped. Please update us if anyone continues to experience difficulties with them." According to Israeli residents in Spain, the efforts were led by Dana Erlich, the Head of Mission at the Israeli Embassy in Spain.

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