The October 7 Hamas terrorist assault on southern Israel began at dawn on October 7, 2023. It was the deadliest attack against Jews since the Holocaust and the worst terrorist attack in Israel’s history. Hamas terrorists breached the Gaza border fence and infiltrated Israeli territory, attacking more than 20 communities, military bases, and the Nova music festival. They murdered approximately
Aliyah (Hebrew for “ascent”) refers to Jewish immigration to Israel. The term reflects the spiritual significance of returning to the Jewish ancestral homeland and “ascending” to Jerusalem, which sits on a mountainous plateau. Jewish immigration to the Land of Israel has occurred continuously throughout history, even during periods when the vast majority of Jews lived in diaspora. Modern Aliyah is
Diaspora (from Greek meaning “dispersion”) refers to the historical dispersion of Jews outside their ancestral homeland in Israel. The Jewish diaspora began with the Babylonian exile in 586 BCE and expanded following the Roman destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE and the Bar Kokhba revolt in 135 CE. Throughout this 2,000-year diaspora, Jewish communities maintained their distinct identity,
Settlements refer to Israeli civilian communities established beyond the 1949 Armistice Lines (the “Green Line”), primarily in the West Bank/Judea and Samaria. The legal status of these communities is complex. Israel maintains that these communities are built on disputed rather than occupied territory since no internationally recognized sovereign state previously controlled these areas. Jordan’s occupation of the West Bank (1948-1967)
UN Security Council Resolution 242, adopted unanimously on November 22, 1967 following the Six-Day War, established the “land for peace” formula that has formed the basis for subsequent peace negotiations between Israel and its neighbors. The resolution deliberately called for Israel to withdraw “from territories occupied in the recent conflict” rather than “from the territories” or “from all territories.” This
The Law of Return is an Israeli law passed in 1950 that gives Jews worldwide the right to immigrate to Israel and gain automatic citizenship. It was later amended in 1970 to extend eligibility to people with one Jewish grandparent and their spouses. This law reflects the core purpose of Israel as a refuge and homeland for the Jewish people
Judea and Samaria are the historical and biblical names for the mountainous region now commonly referred to as the West Bank. These names derive from the ancient Israelite kingdoms that existed in this territory and have been in continuous use for over 3,000 years. Judea (in Hebrew “Yehuda”) was the southern kingdom centered around Jerusalem, while Samaria (in Hebrew “Shomron”)
The IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism: A Global Standard In the spirit of the Stockholm Declaration that states: The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Committee on Antisemitism and Holocaust Denial is made up of international experts from a variety of fields. The committee called the IHRA Plenary in Budapest 2015 to adopt the following working definition of antisemitism. On 26
BDS stands for the boycott, divestment, and sanctions movement against Israel. It is a well funded and well organized, global propaganda campaign with a focus on negatively impacting Israel via economic, diplomatic, legal, and cultural warfare – its goal is to undermine support for Israel’s right to exist and defend itself, and ultimately to cause Israel to no longer exist
Intifada is an Arab word referring to a rebellion, uprising, or resistance movement. In the context of the Israel-Palestinian conflict, it refers to two popular uprisings in recent decades. Since October 7, 2023, calls for a “Third Intifada” have increased significantly, raising serious concerns given the violent history associated with previous intifadas. The First Intifada: Started in 1987, and lasting
