CUFI at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC (2026)

01/22/2019

Anti-Zionism At The Women's March

The Women's March took place over the weekend in Washington, D.C. As you know, the Women's March has been plagued by accusations of anti-Semitism stemming from the close relationship between several of its leaders and the Nation of Islam's Louis Farrakhan.

One consequence of that controversy is that Saturday's crowd was a mere shadow of past rallies. Another consequence is that several leaders of the Women's March felt obligated to stand before the crowd and deliver statements rejecting anti-Semitism.

However, Linda Sarsour did the group no favors when she took the stage and vowed to protect the BDS movement. Sadly, the founders of the Women's March are trying to hide their anti-Semitism by suggesting they only have a problem with Israel.

That's absurd. You can't say that you love Italians but hate Italy. And it is ludicrous to suggest that you have no animus toward Jews while declaring war on the only Jewish nation in the world, Israel.

Kudos to the Democratic National Committee, to Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) and others who have had the courage to call out the Women's March and disassociate themselves from the bigotry of its leadership.

Reverend King On Israel

On a day we honor the legacy of Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., it is worth remembering that Rev. King was a strong supporter of Israel and that the American Jewish community was a strong supporter of the civil rights movement.

Below is a quote from Reverend King about the need for peace in the Middle East. His words in 1968 are as true today as they were then.

"I think it is necessary to say that what is basic and what is needed in the Middle East is peace. . . Peace for Israel means security, and we must stand with all of our might to protect its right to exist, its territorial integrity.

"I see Israel, and never mind saying it, as one of the great outposts of democracy in the world, and a marvelous example of what can be done, how desert land almost can be transformed into an oasis of brotherhood and democracy. Peace for Israel means security and that security must be a reality."

12/06/2018

Operation Northern Shield

Yesterday, Israel launched Operation Northern Shield -- a major effort by the Israeli Army to destroy Hezbollah terror tunnels built in Lebanon. It is believed there could be as many as ten such tunnels.

Speaking at the Israeli Defense Ministry last night, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said:

"These cross-border terror tunnels were built by Hezbollah with direct support and funding from Iran. They were built with one purpose in mind – to attack and murder innocent Israeli men, women and children. This is a grave violation of Israel's sovereignty, and a gross violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701. It is an unacceptable act of wanton aggression.

"The terror tunnel that was exposed today was built under a home in a civilian neighborhood in southern Lebanon. Now, this is just one more example of how Hezbollah is committing a double war crime. They target civilians while hiding behind civilians. . .

"Like any other nation, Israel maintains the right to defend itself. We will continue to do all that is necessary to defend ourselves against Iran's efforts to use Lebanon, Syria and Gaza as forward terror bases to attack Israel. . . Israel will continue to do all that is necessary to protect our people and defend our borders."

The Trump Administration immediately offered its full support. National Security Advisor John Bolton tweeted, "the U.S. strongly supports Israel's efforts to defend its sovereignty."

In addition, Russia's embassy in Israel also released a statement, saying, "Israel has the right to protect its national security, including to prevent the illegal entry of anyone into the country."

Christians United for Israel has posted a brief video featuring Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus of the IDF explaining Operation Northern Shield. Watch it here.

In addition to neutralizing this attempt by Hezbollah to figuratively and literally undermine the Jewish state's security, some Israeli intelligence experts believe the operation could be a "precursor to a larger Israeli operation to remove the threat posed by precision missiles" Iran has provided to Hezbollah.

Progressives Rally For Hill

We recently reported that Professor Marc Lamont Hill, a left-wing commentator, gave a shocking speech at the U.N. in which he called for the destruction of Israel. In his remarks, Hill defended Palestinian terrorism and concluded by saying, "Give us what justice requires -- and that is a free Palestine from the river to the sea."

"From the river to the sea" is a well-known phrase used by anti-Semites that means the annihilation of the state of Israel. It is used by those who want to make it clear that there should not be a homeland for the Jewish people. To its credit, CNN fired him.

Sadly there is a report that some left-wing progressives, including members of academia and Hollywood, are urging CNN to reinstate Hill. Most disturbingly, one of those coming to Hill's defense is Representative-elect Rashida Tlaib.

CUFI Action Fund works with both members on both sides of the aisle. We look forward to giving a briefing on the reality of the Middle East to Rep. Tlaib, assuming she is willing to listen.

The truth is that Israel is not the obstacle to peace. Israelis are not calling for the destruction of any Muslim nation.

11/30/2018

Left-wing Anti-Semitism

CNN commentator and Temple University Professor Marc Lamont Hill delivered a speech yesterday to a United Nations event celebrating "International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People." There is no shortage of progressive advocates for the Palestinians. But Hill's remarks suggested the annihilation of Israel.

Critics of Israel often talk about "the occupation." But Israel is not occupying Gaza. Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005. Should Israel give the Golan Heights back to Syrian butcher Bashar al-Assad? Some refer to the "occupation of Jerusalem." But Jews have lived in David's City for thousands of years.

The problem is that many Palestinians see all of Israel as an "occupation" of the imaginary nation of Palestine. Such a nation has never existed.

One way Palestinians make this point to themselves is to say that the Jews must be kicked out and a Palestinian state must be created "from the river to the sea" -- meaning the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea.

Well, that's everything. That means no Israel at all and the destruction of the Jewish state. And that is exactly what CNN's Marc Lamont Hill embraced yesterday.

First Hill defended Palestinian terrorism by comparing it to the "slave revolts" against the "American apartheid," saying:

"If we are to operate in true solidarity with the Palestinian people, we must allow the Palestinian people the same range of opportunity. . . If we are standing in solidarity with the Palestinian people, we must recognize the right of an occupied people to defend itself."

Hill concluded his remarks by saying, "Give us what justice requires -- and that is a free Palestine from the river to the sea."

Hill is defending his statement by suggesting that he wants a "single secular democratic state for everyone." That may sound nice, but under Hill's ideal vision, there would no longer be a homeland for the Jewish people.

"Everyone" means that Israel's seven million Jews would be demographically swamped by so-called "Palestinian refugees."

"Democratic" means that Israel's Jews would soon become a minority in Hill's "Palestine." And let's not forget that the terrorists of Hamas were "democratically" elected by the people of Gaza.

In reality, Hill's "single state" is just another majority Muslim nation in the Middle East.

Unfortunately, Hill's outrageous remarks were not the only example of left-wing anti-Semitism on display this week.

On Sunday, Hussam Ayloush, an official with the California Democrat Party and executive director of the Los Angeles chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), compared Israel to Iran and tweeted that "both murderous regimes" should be "terminated."

Comparing Israel to Iran is beyond disgusting. Israel is committed to democratic values and tolerance. Iran is a radical theocracy and the world's leading state-sponsor of terrorism. You will regularly hear chants of "Death to America!" in Iran, but never in Israel.

In spite of CAIR's checkered past, including ties to Hamas and the radical Muslim Brotherhood, the organization enjoyed tremendous influence in the Obama Administration, and currently operates an office on Capitol Hill.

There are reports that CNN has fired Professor Hill. I hope that is the case. Now CAIR and the California Democrat Party should dismiss Hussam Ayloush.

11/29/2018

Paul's Position

Earlier this week we reported that Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) was blocking a vote on legislation reaffirming America's commitment to Israel's security. Christians United for Israel and CUFI Action Fund, along with other pro-Israel groups, urged their supporters to contact Sen. Paul's office.

In addition, CUFI Action Fund launched a two week, $100,000 digital and cable news ad-buy across the state of Kentucky urging pro-Israel voters to share their views with Sen. Paul.

Evidently, you got his attention!

Paul explained his position in an exclusive statement to the Jewish Insider. Here's an excerpt:

"I'm not for foreign aid in general, if we are going to send aid to Israel it should be limited in time and scope so we aren't doing it forever, and it should be paid for by cutting the aid to people who hate Israel and America. This is a stance I've taken for many years. . .

"This is Washington's dirty little secret: The U.S. gives Foreign Aid to enemies of Israel. Each time I've tried to stop giving aid to enemies of the U.S. and Israel, I have been thwarted. Often by groups that claim they are pro-Israel.

"Why would supposedly pro-Israel groups oppose my legislation to end aid to the Palestinian Liberation Organization? Maybe it's because they fear any debate on anyone's foreign aid threatens a broader debate on whether we should be borrowing from foreign countries simply to send the money to other foreign countries."

There are several flaws in Sen. Paul's argument, as Sandra Parker, Chairwoman of CUFI Action Fund, noted. Parker said:

"The amendment Sen. Paul is reportedly expected to introduce sounds a great deal like the one he introduced in committee months ago; save Sen. Paul himself, that amendment received no support from any senator in either party.

"Like most Americans, we place a premium on ensuring our taxpayer dollars are used wisely. That is why CUFI led the efforts to advance the Taylor Force Act and oppose continued aid to UNRWA.

"Sen. Paul's decision to hold this bill does not make America safer and does not ensure taxpayer dollars are used most efficiently – quite the opposite. Whether one is guided by liberal, conservative or libertarian values, aid to Israel is fiscally sound, in the national security interests of the United States and keeps with our country's finest moral traditions."

I agree wholeheartedly!

While I understand Sen. Paul's desire to stop sending our tax dollars to nations that do not support America, it makes no sense to hold our ally Israel hostage in the process.

Netanyahu Reacts

Yesterday, we reported on the shocking results of a CNN poll regarding anti-Semitism in Europe. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reacted to the poll, telling CNN:

"I'm concerned, because I think anti-Semitism is an ancient disease and when it rears its ugly head, it first attacks the Jews, but it never stops with that, and then it sweeps entire societies, as happened obviously in mid-century Europe."

Prime Minister Netanyahu also took aim at growing anti-Semitism on the left, which promotes efforts such as the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement that seeks to delegitimize the state of Israel itself. Netanyahu said:

"There's old anti-Semitism in Europe that came from the extreme right, but there's also new anti-Semitism that comes from the extreme left and also the radical Islamic pockets in Europe that spew forth these slanders and lies about Israel.

"There are over six million Jews living in Israel. So the new anti-Semites say this: 'We're not against Jews. We're just against the State of Israel.' Anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism, anti-Israeli policies, the idea that the Jewish people don't have the right to a state, that's the ultimate anti-Semitism of today."

11/28/2018

Shocking Survey

As one of President Trump's appointees to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, I have been pushing the Commission to put a greater emphasis on the virulent anti-Semitism that is spreading throughout Europe. Now a shocking new poll by CNN shows clear evidence of the problem.

Here are some of the findings:

A third of Europeans said they knew a little or nothing about the Holocaust.
28% of Europeans blamed Israel for the anti-Semitism in their country.
18% blamed the everyday behavior of Jewish people for anti-Semitism in their country.
More than a quarter of Europeans polled believe Jews have too much influence in business and finance.
Nearly one in four said Jews have too much influence in conflict and wars across the world.

The ancient hatred of anti-Semitism is a sign of deep societal sickness. It must be exposed and rooted out. All men and women of faith and goodwill must speak out against anti-Semitism in all its forms. And I promise to do that as long as God grants me breath!

May Speaks Out

Three cheers for British Prime Minister Theresa May!

Speaking at a major conference yesterday examining the link between anti-Semitism and discrimination against women, May condemned anti-Semitism on the left and the right. Here are some excerpts of her remarks:

"I have no time for equivocation. Anti-Semitism is racism – and any 'equality' movement that indulges or ignores it is not worthy of the name. . .

"The research published at today's conference, showing that Jewish women politicians are more likely to attract the attentions of far-Right hate groups, was deeply disturbing. But I doubt it came as much of a surprise to those who have been on the receiving end. . .

"These attitudes are not limited to the far Right. As is so often the case with anti-Semitism, bigotry directed at Jewish women also comes from those who would never consider themselves to be racist, including within the women's rights movement itself.

"Some Jewish women have been told that they're not 'real' feminists unless they publicly disavow Israel's right to exist or been thrown off pride marches for flying rainbow flags that feature the Star of David. . .

"Anti-Semitism and misogyny have no place in this country. Hatred can be defeated. Hatred must be defeated."

11/14/2018

Israel At War

Over the past 25 hours, Israel's enemies have fired more than 460 rockets and mortars from Gaza toward Jewish communities. Israel's Iron Dome defense system has intercepted about a quarter of the projectiles. At least one Israeli has been killed and scores have been injured.

Yesterday, Palestinian terrorists fired an anti-tank missile at a bus, severely wounding an Israeli soldier. It could have been a far worse tragedy. Just moments before the attack, dozens of Israeli soldiers had gotten off that bus.

The Israel Defense Forces responded by striking 160 Hamas and Islamic Jihad targets.
There are reports of a possible ceasefire, but the Israeli security cabinet authorized the IDF to "continue its operations as needed."

Ceasefire or not, Israel is at war. These barrages have become more frequent and more intense. Israel's enemies are not interested in peace with Israel or even a piece of Israel. No nation should be expected to tolerate these attacks.

I find it amazing that when Israel protected its border from an invasion, when a mass of people was the weapon, the media gave us mass condemnations of Israel. But now that thugs in Gaza are firing massive numbers of rockets at innocent Jews, it barely makes the news.

Jason Greenblatt, President Trump's Special Representative for International Negotiations, tweeted yesterday:

"Terrorists in Gaza are again attacking Israel with tools of war. These rocket & mortar attacks on Israeli towns must be condemned by all. Israel is forced once again into military action to defend its citizens. We stand with Israel as it defends itself against these attacks."

CUFI Responds

As you may know, Pastor John Hagee, the founder of Christians United for Israel, is in Israel this week with hundreds of pro-Israel activists. Reacting to this latest attack against the Jewish state, Pastor Hagee said:

"The Palestinian terrorists' actions are abhorrent. They are actively seeking to murder innocent Israelis and force Israel into a full scale military confrontation. The world must unequivocally stand with Israel as the Jewish state does what it must to protect those that Hamas and its ilk seek to kill and maim."

In addition, Christians United for Israel called on our elected leaders in Congress to demonstrate their full support for Israel. The statement issued by CUFI's leadership declared:

"The attacks perpetrated by Hamas and other Palestinian terrorist groups are the clearest and latest sign that the Palestinian leadership seeks nothing less than the destruction of Israel. Regardless of party affiliation or political ideology, our leaders in Washington must explicitly condemn Palestinian terrorism and stand steadfastly with Israel during this dark hour.

"During the coming weeks, Congress must act in support of the US–Israel relationship and in opposition to the terrorists on Israel's doorstep. We call upon the House of Representatives to advance the STOP Using Human Shields Act and the Senate to advance the US-Israel Security Authorization Act without delay."

11/08/2018

Election Results

There was something in last night's election results for everyone to celebrate.

Mid-term elections generally punish the president's party, and Democrats did succeeded in retaking the House. On the other hand, Republicans defied the odds and expanded their majority in the Senate. As of now, the Senate looks to be 54-to-46 Republican, for a net gain of three seats.

In the House, there are still about 20 races that have yet to be decided (with Republicans leading in the majority of these seats), but the margin should be close to 229-to-206 for the Democrats, who have gained at least 30 seats.

Christians United for Israel Action Fund is extremely proud of the educational campaign we ran highlighting Sen. Heidi Heitkamp's pro-Iranian vote for the 2015 nuclear deal with that radical regime.

All the Democrat senators who lost last night -- Donnelly (IN), Heitkamp (ND), McCaskill (MO) and Nelson (FL) -- voted for the Iranian nuclear deal. Democrat Jackie Rosen, who defeated Nevada Republican Senator Dean Heller opposed the Iranian nuclear deal.

It remains to be seen how this shake-up in the House will impact policy toward Israel. Rest assured, Christians United for Israel Action Fund is prepared for any challenge and ready to work with all allies in both parties who seek to strengthen the U.S.-Israel alliance.

Palestinian Bigot Vents

Linda Sarsour, the Israel-hating anti-Semite, is not a happy camper this morning. Believe it or not, she is mad at the Democrats because they aren't radical enough for her.

She complained, "They [the Democrats] stay away from the Palestinians, they stay away from the leftists, and they stay away from the socialists."

Harvard Professor Alan Dershowitz disagrees, and warned the Democrats not to "move to the far left." He added, "Sarsour is an enemy of democracy and America, and of Israel."

This exchange between Sarsour and Dershowitz is just a hint of the growing split within the progressive movement regarding the U.S.-Israel alliance, which liberals like Professor Dershowitz and Joshua Block are resisting.

Anti-Semitism On Campus

In view of the horror at the Tree of Life synagogue, it is essential that we identify anti-Semitism and root it out wherever it is found. Amit Deri, founder of Reservists on Duty, has found plenty of anti-Semitism on U.S. college campuses. Below are some excerpts of his latest column:

"I have spent the last two years immersed in American college campuses helping to make the existential case for Israel. I have encountered not just rejection of Israel's legitimacy, but the most vile Jew-hatred, over and over again, with little pushback from decent people. . .

"What I have learned from my campus experience is that words have power. When anti-Semitism is excused because the speaker is someone whose political agenda I support, or is part of an ethnic or racial group that I don't want to offend, then I have given my tacit support to that same anti-Semitism.

"In the increasingly identity-centric world I encounter on campuses, where the world is conveniently divided between the privileged and the oppressed, the real loser is human dignity.

"In the current calculus, Israel – and by extension and increasingly explicitly Jews – are privileged oppressors. Unworthy. Not deserving of common decency and respect. Anti-Semitism thrives in this very conditional landscape. . .

"Anti-Semitism is ultimately civilization's acid test of decency. When it is tolerated, the floodgates of hatred and inhumanity will open in truly horrific fashion. This is history's clear and irrefutable message."

Deri's message is an urgent warning about the state of our "institutions of higher learning." And it is why the work of groups like CUFI on Campus is so urgently needed.

11/01/2018

Consoler-In-Chief

President Trump and members of his family went to Pittsburgh yesterday. They visited the Tree of Life synagogue where anti-Semite Robert Bowers murdered 11 innocent Jewish worshippers, and they visited the hospital where Jewish doctors and nurses treated the injured, including Bowers.

President Trump was America's consoler-in-chief yesterday. According to Jewish burial tradition, the president left a stone on each of the markers representing the 11 people who were brutally murdered at the synagogue.

It was particularly poignant to watch because this was not only the First Family of America, but half of the First Family members there to mourn this anti-Semitic atrocity are Jews themselves.

At the hospital, President Trump met privately with doctors and first responders. There were no cameras. While there, he spent nearly an hour with Peg Gottfried, widow of Dr. Richard Gottfried.

Tehran's Tentacles

Last week, we told you about a disturbing report that Iran was using its European embassies as cover to disguise terrorists as diplomats. A year ago, an Iranian dissident was assassinated in the Netherlands. This summer, European intelligence busted up a plot by Iranian agents to bomb a rally in Paris.

Well, Danish authorities recently disrupted another terror plot tied to Tehran. For a time, Denmark sealed its borders and completely isolated Copenhagen from the European mainland while an intense manhunt was launched for an Iranian assassin. The suspect was eventually apprehended in Sweden.

Assassinating political opponents of the regime is nothing new for the tyrants of Tehran. You may recall that they even had the audacity of plotting an assassination attempt at a Washington, D.C., restaurant that could have killed dozens of innocent bystanders.

Once again, we are reminded that the regime which chants "Death to Israel! Death to America!" is not one the civilized world can or should do business with. Thankfully, the Trump Administration is seriously confronting Iran's belligerent behavior. A new round of biting sanctions take effect next week.

10/26/2018

Squeezing Iran

The Trump Administration's efforts to financially squeeze Iran are having a significant impact on its economy.

We have previously reported that major European companies, in spite of European Union efforts to resist U.S. policy, are abandoning Iran. Countries around the world are cancelling oil contracts with the Iranian regime. The latest blow to Tehran comes from China.

Reuters reports that the Bank of Kunlun, "the main official channel for money flows between China and Iran," has privately informed clients that it will stop financial transactions with Iran in the coming days.

The strain on Iran is so severe that some reports suggest as many as 70% of Iranian "factories, workshops and mines" have been shuttered.

In addition, today's Wall Street Journal adds that the mullahs are scrambling to head off massive protests and unrest by boosting welfare payments "to 20 million lower-income people, or about a quarter of the population, and extra relief to 11 million of the country's poorest."

Meanwhile, the Iranian currency has lost about two-thirds of its value since the beginning of the year. The regime this week upheld the death sentence for two currency traders convicted of "disrupting the economy."

Sadly for the condemned individuals, Ayatollah Khamenei is the one most responsible for disrupting the Iranian economy. He is the "supreme leader" and he is the one who is deciding to spend $16 billion a year supporting terrorism and foreign aggression.

10/25/2018

Fighting Anti-Semitism -- Victory In Washington!

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) held its regular meeting last week, but this time we met at the Holocaust Museum. After a tour of the museum, I said to my fellow commissioners and staff members that we should not only learn about the Holocaust that happened, but we should also speak out against the one that powerful forces are demanding today.

Recently, the U.N. body UNESCO declared that two major religious Jewish sites, the Tomb of the Patriarchs and Rachel's Tomb, to be Palestinian sites. That is outrageous.

Today those who advocate for a second Holocaust are trying to erase the evidence of the historical Jewish presence in the Holy Land. Of course by doing that, they would also erase the historical roots of Christianity. In response, I proposed that USCIRF issue a statement condemning the UNESCO resolution.

Quite frankly, I don't believe that historically the Commission has done enough to combat the most ancient of hatreds, which is anti-Semitism. I am blessed to be able to bring Christians United for Israel's concerns about anti-Semitism and Christian persecution overseas before the Commission.

I am pleased to say that there was unanimous support from the commissioners to address UNESCO's absurd resolution, and we released a statement in my name. We said:

"The idea that there's a question about the Jewish historical presence in the Holy Land and specifically at these sites is unacceptable and diminishes the religious rights of the Jewish people. UNESCO has no business pronouncing on territorial sovereignty or arbitrating territorial disputes."

Tehran's Tentacles

Since its inception in 1979, the Islamic Republic of Iran has repeatedly earned the title "world's leading state-sponsor of terrorism."

Yesterday, marked the 35th anniversary of the 1983 bombing of the Marine barracks in Beirut, Lebanon. That attack, carried out by the Iranian proxy Hezbollah, killed 241 Americans.

Year after year, Iran has continued to kill and maim innocent people across the globe. Iran is also responsible for the deaths of hundreds of U.S. soldiers in Iraq.

A recent report from an Iranian dissident group underscores how the regime is using its foreign embassies to disguise terrorists as diplomats. This summer, it was discovered that Iranian "diplomats" were plotting to bomb a rally in Paris. In response, France halted diplomatic travel to Iran and froze the assets of Iranian intelligence officials.

The Iranian regime is the source of virtually all the chaos in the Middle East and even much beyond that region. Appeasing the regime with sanctions relief failed to change its behavior.

Yesterday's solemn anniversary and this latest report are stark reminders that the regime which chants "Death to Israel! Death to America!" is not one the civilized world can or should do business with.

Christians United for Israel Action Fund applauds the Trump Administration for taking a clear-headed approach to the threats posed by the world's leading state-sponsor of terrorism

10/24/2018

It was such an honor to have Colonel Richard Kemp speak to us tonight. Thank you to everyone who attended! This picture was taken at the meet and greet social following the event giving college students a chance to discuss issues one on one with Colonel Kemp and to learn more about CUFI on campus!

10/23/2018

New Danger Confronts Israel

Last week we reported to you about the disturbing news that Iran was supplying GPS devices to Hezbollah so it could transform "dumb" rockets into precision missiles. This poses a dramatic new threat to Israel.

As Professor Meir Litvak, Director of the Alliance Center for Iranian Studies at Tel Aviv University, explains:

"Most [of Hezbollah's rockets] are not precise enough, making their potential threat tolerable to Israel, If Hezbollah succeeds in converting these missiles, the new situation would represent a significant risk to Israeli airports, power stations, the Dimona nuclear reactor, and more."

Hezbollah is believed to possess at least 150,000 rockets and missiles they could unleash against innocent Israelis at any moment.

Killer Balloons

The regular Palestinian riots at the Gaza border continued last Friday. According to the Gaza Health Ministry (not always a reliable source), 130 Palestinians were wounded during the riots.

Frustrated by their inability to breach the Israeli security fence, Hamas has taken to launching balloons over the fence. In some cases, they are flying bombs carrying explosive devices. Others carry incendiary materials designed to start fires. Several were launched toward Israel Friday.

The Israel Defense Forces attacked the Hamas operatives who launched them. The IDF also tweeted, "No parent should have to tell their children that balloons can kill."

Jason Greenblatt, President Trump's special envoy for the Middle East, condemned the latest Hamas balloon barrage. He wrote, "It's not enough to send projectiles from Gaza into Israel to destroy & kill directly. Hamas endangers Israeli kids with balloons & kites."

This is just another glimpse into the twisted mindset of Israel's enemies and a reminder of why all good and decent people should proudly stand with Israel.

Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman testified before the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee today. He reiterated his call for a crushing response to the continued provocations from Hamas, saying, "Anything less than the toughest response won't help anymore. We have exhausted the other options."

Liberman insisted that Israel had "no choice" but to take decisive military action, adding, "I don't believe in reaching an arrangement with Hamas. It hasn't worked, doesn't work and won't work in the future."

Given the growing threats posed by Iran and Hezbollah in Syria and Lebanon, Israel may feel compelled to neutralize Hamas sooner rather than later.

CUFI at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill