Iran

What to Know About Iran's Ballistic Missile Attacks and Israel's Efforts to Defend Itself
On October 1, Iran launched over 180 ballistic missiles at Israel, marking the largest-ever single ballistic missile attack. Israel, with the help of the U.S. and its allies, intercepted most of the missiles using its multi-layered air defense system, but some hit central Israel, resulting in casualties. The attack, which Iran claims was in retaliation for Israel's assassination of key Hezbollah and Hamas leaders, is part of Iran’s long-standing campaign against Israel, which it seeks to eliminate. In response, Israel is preparing for further action, with global allies condemning the attack and offering support.
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BDS

What Is Samidoun, the 'Charity' That Supports Anti-Israel Campus Protests and Fundraises for a Terror Group
The U.S. Treasury Department and Canadian government sanctioned Samidoun, a nonprofit posing as a Palestinian rights charity, for financially supporting the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), a designated terrorist group involved in Hamas' October 7 attacks. Cofounded in 2011 by American Charlotte Kates and her husband, PFLP member Khaled Barakat, Samidoun has also backed pro-Hamas protests on college campuses including at Columbia University; Kates was recently arrested in Canada for praising the October 7 massacre and traveled to Iran to accept a "human rights award" from the Iranian regime.
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Interreligious Relations

Respected Indonesian Religious Leader Completes Six-week Fellowship in Interfaith Dialogue, Study of Judaism
Professor Nasaruddin Umar, the Grand Imam of Masjid Istiqlal – Indonesia's national mosque and the largest mosque in Southeast Asia – recently completed a six-week intensive fellowship with American Jewish Committee (AJC) and the Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS). The fellowship included academic study, meetings with civil society leaders and government officials, and participation in interreligious dialogues across the United States.
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