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Fashion Designer Andrew Rosen Sells NYC Penthouse for $18.5M After Leaving CEO Slot

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Designer Andrew Rosen sold his penthouse in Manhattan for $18.5 million, after leaving his coveted job as CEO of the New York-based contemporary fashion label, Theory. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Designer Andrew Rosen sold his penthouse in Manhattan for $18.5 million, after leaving his coveted job as CEO of the New York-based contemporary fashion label, Theory. Rosen sold his Greenwich Village apartment, at 130 West 12th Street, to Justin Korsant, Long Light Capital financier. He had purchased the home for $13 million in 2012, and listed it for $21.5 million in September 2018. Although he didn’t receive the full asking price, he did manage to profit over 42 percent on his investment.

As reported by The Real Deal, the handsome gain Rosen made on the sale can be attributed to the general increase in luxury residential prices in the Big Apple over the past seven years. Also, Rosen did a major renovation in the home, adding value, thanks to his interior designer wife Jenny Dyer.

Rosen retired as CEO of Theory in April, being replaced by the company’s chief operating officer, Dinesh Tandon. Rosen will, however, continue working with Theory as an advisor. Rosen had worked as the former CEO of Anne Klein and a Calvin Klein executive, when in 1997, he launched Theory with co-founder Elie Tahari. The company grew internationally and experienced so much success that in 2003, Link International purchased an 89% stake in Theory for $100 million. By the beginning of 2016, Theory had a total of 489 stores, with its headquarters still in NYC’s Meatpacking District.

Rosen’s penthouse boasted terraces connecting to all eight of the rooms. The terrace off the master suite was surrounded by tall trees, allowing for privacy, according to the listing. The home also featured a gym and a wood-burning fireplace in the living room.

The apartment is part of a posh five-building complex of condos and townhouses, named Greenwich Lane, where the former St. Vincent’s Hospital once was. The prewar building, developed by The Rudin Family, has been awarded the 2012 Sustainable Design Award by Global Green USA, as well as the LEED-NC Gold Certification from the US Green Building Council. Other well-known Greenwich Lane residents include Michael Kors, British fashion entrepreneur Tamara Mellon and German model Toni Garrn.

Now that Rosen has sold his Manhattan residence, it is not known if he will stay in the city and search for a new pad or move to one of his other homes. The retired CEO owns another house in Southampton, as well as a condo at the Four Seasons Residences at the Surf Club Miami, which he purchased in 2017 for $5 million.

Rosen’s listing agent was Leonard Steinberg of Compass. Brett Mitchell, also from Compass, represented the buyer. A spokesman for Rosen did not immediately comment.

Governor Andrew Cuomo visits the Western Wall

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Andrew Como Photo by The Western Wall Heritage Foundation
Andrew Como Photo by The Western Wall Heritage Foundation

Governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo came with his daughters to visit the Western Wall and the Western Wall tunnels today.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo arrived this morning with his daughters to visit the Western Wall and the Western Wall Tunnels, during his visit to Israel.

Como, who lasted visited the Western Wall in March 2017, took part in a guided tour of the Western Wall Tunnels and the new excavations that the director of the Western Wall Heritage Foundation, his guide Mordechai (Soli) Eliav, spoke of the history of the place and its importance to the Jewish people as the center of longing and yearning for Jerusalem.

The governor expressed his interest in the history of the Jews and their connection to this place and its heritage. The governor noted that his deep connection to the Jewish people passed from generation to generation and that his father, Mario Cuomo, was a true friend of the Israel.

The rabbi of the Western Wall and the holy sites, Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, received the governor and read with him chapter 21 of the Psalms and the governor placed a note between the stones of the Western Wall.

The rabbi of the Western Wall noted that New York is one of the most prominent Jewish centers in the world and expressed his appreciation to the Governor for his friendship with the Jewish people and the State of Israel.

The governor of New York signed the Guest Book of the Western Wall again, with his signature from two years ago: “I wish to pray for peace and brotherhood to all my friends.”

Lumber Liquidators Just Penalized Millions for Lying about Cancer-Causing Chinese-Made Floors

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The Democratic National Committee threw a Thursday fundraiser at the Miami home of the founder of Lumber Liquidators, which earlier this year was ordered to pay millions for lying to investors about selling formaldehyde-laden flooring imported from China. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

The Democratic National Committee threw a Thursday fundraiser at the Miami home of the founder of Lumber Liquidators, which earlier this year was ordered to pay millions for lying to investors about selling formaldehyde-laden flooring imported from China.

By: Brent Scher

The fundraiser at the home of Thomas Sullivan, a longtime Democratic donor who founded Lumber Liquidators, took place in between the DNC’s two presidential primary debates this week in Miami. It also takes place just four months after Sullivan’s former company agreed to pay a $33 million penalty to the Department of Justice for lying to investigators in the aftermath of an undercover 60 Minutes investigation into the “astonishingly high levels” of cancer-causing formaldehyde in its Chinese-made flooring.

Sullivan led Lumber Liquidators from 1994, when he founded the company, through 2017, when he resigned from the board of directors. He was featured in the 60 Minutes exposé, telling host Anderson Cooper that the many tests indicating formaldehyde in its Chinese-made products far above the legal limit were wrong.

The show’s investigators tested laminate flooring from stores across the country and found nearly all of it to be loaded with formaldehyde. They also traveled to China, where factories openly admitted using boards with high formaldehyde levels and falsely labeling them as compliant.

Sullivan was played footage from China by Cooper showing his suppliers admitting they were lying—Sullivan insisted he was completely unaware of the practice.

A 2016 Consumer Product Safety Commission investigation found that the company’s laminate flooring “gave off enough formaldehyde to irritate the eyes, nose and throat of many people” and “increased cancer risks.”

Lumber Liquidators agreed under Sullivan to pay out $36 million in a class-action lawsuit from the 760,000 customers who had bought the Chinese-made flooring.

The Department of Justice settlement says the company, under Sullivan’s leadership, lied about actions it took to make sure its product was safe. It “knowingly filed a false and misleading” report to the Securities and Exchange Commission denying allegations made on 60 Minutes, even though its own internal test results confirmed many of them.

The Department of Justice was also assured Lumber Liquidators “placed its executive management team with experienced executives who have displayed a commitment to building an ethical corporate culture.”

The full 60 Minutes investigation can be viewed on the show’s YouTube page.

Sullivan now runs competing company Cabinets To Go, which is being sued by Lumber Liquidators for violating an existing non-compete agreement.

The cash-strapped DNC said it’s hoping to raise “multiple hundreds of thousands of dollars” at the Sullivan-hosted fundraiser.

In 2013, Sullivan hosted a private $32,400-a-plate dinner with former president Barack Obama for the DNC. He has personally donated at least $94,000 to the national party in recent years.

The DNC did not respond to a request for comment on its relationship with Sullivan. (Washington Free Beacon)

Senate Approves Funds to Address Border Crisis; Ocasio-Cortez Blasts Decision

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The Senate on Wednesday approved bipartisan legislation to address the humanitarian crisis along the U.S.-Mexico border with more than $4 billion in supplemental funds and new requirements for the care of detained migrants, especially children.

By: Michael Bowman

The 84-8 vote came amid renewed scrutiny of the Trump administration’s treatment of minors in its custody and amid widespread revulsion over the deaths of a father and daughter from El Salvador who perished trying to cross the Rio Grande River into the United States.

“There is no longer any question that the situation along our southern border is a full-blown humanitarian and security crisis,” Republican Sen. Richard Shelby of Alabama said, adding that there was “no excuse” for delay in addressing the situation.

“Inaction is simply not an option for those who care about alleviating the suffering of desperate children and families seeking refuge in the United States,” Vermont Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy said.

The Republican-led Senate approved the bill after voting down a House version that also boosted funds for U.S. Customs and Border Protection and other federal agencies stretched to the breaking point by border arrivals totaling more than 100,000 a month, the highest numbers recorded in more than a decade.

Although broadly similar, the Senate version is less extensive in regulating the care of detained children. Unlike the House version, it provides $145 million for the Pentagon to assist in border operations.

To reach President Donald Trump’s desk, the Senate bill would need to pass the House. But majority-Democrats in the House have signaled they want changes to the bill and plan to introduce them Thursday. As a result, a bicameral committee is expected to be formed to try to hammer out a version that can pass both chambers. Time for swift action is growing short, as Congress will be in recess next week for America’s Independence Day holiday.

Speaking with reporters before departing the White House, Trump hailed legislative movement on border funding.

“I believe the House is going to be getting together with the Senate. Hopefully, they can get something done,” Trump said.

Earlier in the day, the president once again blamed Democrats for the border crisis, tweeting: “The Democrats should change the Loopholes and Asylum Laws so lives will be saved at our Southern Border. They said it was not a crisis at the Border, that it was all just manufactured.’ Now they admit that I was right – But they must do something about it. Fix the Laws NOW!”

On the Senate floor, Democratic Minority Leader Chuck Schumer fired back.

“We can do something about this [crisis] if the president would stop playing the political game of blame, blame, blame,” Schumer said. “Mr. President, you are the president of the United States. You are head of the executive branch. You control what’s happening at the border.”

Schumer spoke alongside a blown-up photo, widely distributed by news organizations, of the drowned Salvadoran father and daughter, as reaction poured in across Capitol Hill and beyond.

“I don’t want to see another picture like that on the U.S. border,” Republican Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin said. “I hope that picture alone will catalyze this Congress, this Senate … to do something.”

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has faced renewed criticism on Capitol Hill after news reports emerged earlier this week of squalid living conditions at a CBP facility in Texas that houses detained migrant children.

A Senate panel on Wednesday pressed administration officials on the subject.

“What are you doing to actually make sure that children are getting the care and the sanitary conditions and the food that they need?” New Hampshire Democratic Sen. Maggie Hassan asked.

The Border Patrol’s chief of law enforcement operations, Brian Hastings, responded that detention facilities are being upgraded with shower facilities and increased medical care. He added that more funds are being devoted to basic supplies, such as diapers and baby formula. (VOA)

Trump, Putin Meet Friday to Discuss ‘Issues of Strategic Stability’

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Iran, Syria, North Korea, Afghanistan and Venezuela will be the likely topics of discussion between the world leaders.

By: Batya Jerenberg

President Trump will be meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Japan, Kremlin sources confirmed on Wednesday.

In their first get-together in almost a year, the world leaders will discuss an array of global hot spots, said Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov, according to the Interfax news agency. These include as many as five countries which are “issues of strategic stability,” he said, listing Afghanistan, Venezuela, North Korea, Syria and Iran.

Iran and Syria were the subject of Tuesday’s trilateral meeting in Jerusalem between the American, Israeli and Russian national security advisers.

At a press conference following the discussions, Russia’s national security secretary Nikolai Patrushev defended Iran, calling the Islamic Republic “an ally and partner of ours” and saying it was “helping to stabilize the situation” in Syria. He also flatly rejected the American labeling of Iran as the main threat to global security.

Trump’s antipathy towards the Iranian regime is well-known, and tensions have been on the rise over recent weeks between the two administrations.

Most recently, the Iranians shot down an American surveillance drone which it claimed had infringed upon its airspace, a claim the U.S. denied. On Monday, Trump signed an executive order slapping sanctions on senior Iranian figures, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The Russians and Americans do agree with Israel that Iran should get out of Syria – just as all foreign parties should. This includes Turkish forces as Ankara is holding onto a chunk of Syrian territory along its border.

A senior American administration official confirmed to The Moscow Times that the meeting between the two leaders would focus primarily on “regional security issues.” The official also threw Ukraine into the mix of “Iran, Syria and the Middle East” as expected topics of discussion.

The Ukraine, a U.S. ally, has fought for the past five years with two separatist regions backed by Moscow. 

“They should also touch on arms control issues and on improving the bilateral relationship,” the U.S. official said, although according to the current timetable, the meeting is supposed to take only an hour. (World Israel News)

Read more at: worldisraelnews.com

 

1 in 5 Americans Say Small Businesses Should be Allowed to Refuse Service to Jews 

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Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Nineteen percent of Americans think small businesses should be allowed to refuse service to Jews if serving them would violate their owners religious beliefs, a new poll shows.

Edited by: JV Staff

According to survey results published Tuesday by the Public Religion Research Institute, the proportion of Americans who say small businesses should be able to refuse to serve Jews on religious grounds is up seven percentage points (19% in 2019 vs. 12% in 2014). Republicans (24%) are more likely than independents (16%) and Democrats (17%) to say small businesses should be allowed to refuse service to Jews. Support is up from 2014, when only 16% of Republicans and 9% of Democrats supported this sort of service refusal.

Men are also more likely than women to say small business owners should be allowed to refuse service to Jews (22% vs. 16%). Support for all of these refusals is up for both men and women, with only around one in ten each for men and women endorsing these types of religiously based service refusals in 2014. Though there are no substantial differences by age in support for religiously based service refusals that target Jews, support has increased across all age groups since 2014.

Support for these religiously based service refusals has also increased among most major religious groups since 2014. Support for denying service to Jews has roughly doubled among white evangelical Protestants (up to 24% from 12% in 2014), white mainline Protestants (up to 26% from 11%), and Catholics (up to 20% from 10%), while the religiously unaffiliated (11% vs. 11%) and nonwhite Protestants (19% vs. 14%) have remained mostly stable in their attitudes on these issues.

There is also a distinct pattern across religious traditions.

White Protestants are the most likely to support religiously based service refusals in every case, with white evangelical Protestants and white mainline Protestants showing similar numbers in most cases. Both white evangelical Protestants (24%) and white mainline Protestants (26%) are more than twice as likely to support religiously based refusals to serve Jews than the religiously unaffiliated (11%).

The same is true of support for religiously based refusals to serve African Americans when comparing the white Protestant groups (22% each) to the religiously unaffiliated (11%). Catholics and nonwhite Protestants tend to be more aligned with the religiously unaffiliated than the white Protestant groups, with the exception of religiously based refusals to serve Jewish people, where Catholic support (20%) and nonwhite Protestant support (19%) are close to the white evangelical Protestant (24%) and white mainline Protestant (26%) numbers.

 

PM Netanyahu and President Rivlin Attend IAF Pilots’ Course Graduation Ceremony

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Hatzerim Air Force Base – Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, today  addressed the Air Force pilots’ course graduation ceremony. Following is an excerpt from his remarks:

“President Trump recently recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, moved the US Embassy there, recognized our sovereignty over the Golan Heights and imposed sanctions, strong and biting sanctions on Iran, which declares its intention to destroy us. There is no limit to our appreciation and our gratitude. However, we always remember that we must be prepared to defend ourselves by ourselves against any threat. This is the fundamental principle that ensures our security.

Security control over the area west of the Jordan will always be in our hands. We will never give up our security and we will never relinquish the control to a foreign element. There are those who say that there will be no peace unless we relinquish the Jordan Valley. I say: If we relinquish the Jordan Valley we will ensure that there will be war.”

President Rivlin awarded Lt A, the outstanding graduate and top fighter pilot of Pilots’ Course 178, with his flight wings

President Rivlin to Lt G, the first pilot from the Druze community: “You are proof that partnership is in our hearts. You are proof of the determination of the Druze community to lead in every part of the IDF and of the commitment of the State of Israel to every one of its citizens.”

President Rivlin: “The strategic superiority of the Air Force lies in its human capital, in you. Every one of you graduates. And I am sorry that there are no female graduates this time among you. You are our real advantage.”

This afternoon President Rivlin awarded Lt A, the outstanding graduate and top fighter pilot of Pilots’ Course 178, with his flight wings. The graduation ceremony for Course 178 was held at Hatzerim Air Force Base, attended by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, IDF Chief of Staff Lt-Gen Aviv Kochavi and Commander of the Israeli Air Force, Maj-Gen Amikam Norkin.

“The Israeli Air Force has become a legend,” the president said in his speech. “It is a force that initiates, creates, dares, surprises, and improvises. It is an iron fist – powerful, lethal and sophisticated. One of the best and most advanced air forces in the world. It can launch precise attacks on thousands of targets near and far. It is a force that plays a key role in the State of Israel’s confrontation with evolving threats. Its wingspan reaches across the entire Middle East, touches outer space, is ready to respond immediately to any threat, and we are safe under its wings.”

The President emphasized: “The strategic superiority of the Air Force lies in its human capital, in you. Every one of you graduates. And I am sorry that there are no female graduates this time among you. You are our real advantage. You are the power of the Air Force and the wind beneath the wings of steel. Thanks to you, the IAF takes off and touches the skies. The most modern, powerful and sophisticated equipment would be of no use on its own, in defense or in delivering a precise attack. It needs men and women. People who exercise moral and ethical fortitude alongside operational daring. People who can make decisions. You are those people. You will determine the outcome of the battle.”

The president addressed the graduates of the course and said, with emotion: “In the last few days, I have read about you graduates.  Each one of you exemplifies quality, determination, love of the people and the country, and the search for excellence.”

“I was particularly moved by Lt G., the first IAF pilot who is a member of the Druze community,” said the President, adding: “Lt G, you are proof that partnership is in our hearts. You are proof of the determination of the Druze community to lead in every part of the IDF and of the commitment of the State of Israel to every one of its citizens.”

The president also referred to the grandson of former Prime Minister Arik Sharon ז”ל and said: “On the parade ground today is Lt R, grandson of a hero of Israel, a leader and commander, the late Prime Minister, a person I loved and admired and with whom I also disagreed, Ariel Sharon. Grandpa was so proud of you, and the grandparents of all the soldiers here are so proud of you all.”

The President mentioned the return of the Zachary Baumel ז”ל for burial in Israel, saying, “at this moment we remember Ron Arad ז”ל. It has been 33 years since Ron Arad, an IAF navigator, was captured in October 1986. The years that have passed have not diminished in any way whatsoever the commitment of the State of Israel bring Ron home. Just this year the State of Israel, at the initiative of the Prime Minister, brought Zachary Baumel who was killed in the battle in Sultan Yacoub during the First Lebanon War, home to Israel for burial. We have never and will never lessen our commitment to the sacred mission of bringing home every person that goes out to battle and does not return. We will do everything to find every shred of information about Ron and bring him home for burial in Israel.”

 

Photo credit:photo credit: Kobi Gideon and Mark Neiman (GPO)

 

Caught Trying to Smuggle in Guns Via the Darknet

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As part of the cooperation of the Israel Police with the enforcement authorities in countries around the world, the police opened a secret investigation during the last month dealing with arms trafficking through the Darknet network. The investigation was launched after a resident of Israel tried purchasing a gun and having it mailed to Israel.

With the progress of the covert investigation, the police cyber-crimes unit used a variety of advanced technological means to collect evidence against the 26-year-old central suspect who allegedly contacted a person outside Israel to buy a Glock gun valued at about $1,400.

The investigation also revealed that the suspect had even examined various forwarding options, by which he allegedly wanted to send the gun so that he would not be caught by the law enforcement authorities.

On June 13, the main suspect and his brother age 32 from Jerusalem, who was suspected of having links with the offense and knowledge of his intentions and acquisition of weapons, were both arrested.

They were brought for questioning on suspicion of importing weapons without permit, possession of weapons and conspiracy to commit a crime.

The main suspect was brought before the Magistrate’s Court last night for a hearing in which the State Prosecutor’s Office filed a statement against him, and at the end of which he was released to house arrest and other restrictive conditions. The other suspect was released by the court at the beginning of the week.

 

Israel Police Force: Changes of Command

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Yigal Fink, the operations officer of the Tel Aviv District in his last position, was appointed commander of the new district.

Today, Thursday, a ceremony was held to replace the commander of the Ayalon region of the Tel Aviv District, under the command of Brigadier General Yigal Fink, who replaced Brigadier General Larry Samara, who served as deputy commander of the area for the past 10 months.

Fink (44) lives in Givatayim, is married and is a father of four children. He joined the Israel Police force in 1995 and began his service in the Central District as a commander in a variety of core units, YASAM, traffic and patrols, and served in senior command positions in the Tel Aviv district, including senior operations officer Dan region and the commander of a neighborhood station. The latter served as the operations officer of the Tel Aviv District.

“We are celebrating the appointment of a commander of the District who is at the heart of the local community and its policemen are an influential and involved factor in the various communities and the multicultural infrastructure that exists here,” said Brigadier General Bitan during the ceremony. He went on to express his great appreciation to the deputy commander of the area, and noted that the Ayalon region has received talented policemen and commanders who have proven that they understand the importance of involvement in the community.

The ceremony was held today in the presence of the Minister of Public Security, Gilad Erdan, and the Deputy Inspector-General of the Israel Police, Major General Moti Cohen.

Major General Alon Asor was appointed Deputy Inspector General of the Israel Police, after serving in his last position as Commander of the Northern District. (54) Lives in Binyamina, married to Hagit and father of two. BA in Law, Philosophy and History of the Jewish People and MA in Jewish History. Among his most recent positions were the commander of the Petach Tikvah station, the operations officer in the Central District and the commander of the National Police College.

His successor as commander of the Northern District was appointed Brigadier General Shimon Lavie, who was promoted to the rank of Major General. In his last position he served as deputy commander of the central district. Brigadier General Lavi (49) Lives in Hod Hasharon, married to Sharon and the father of three. He holds a BA in Business Administration and an MA in Public Administration. Among his most recent positions were the Operations Officer of the Tel Aviv District, the Commander of the Dan Region and the Commander of the Sharon Region.

Brig. Gen. Ayelet Yerucham, who is currently the deputy head of the logistics support division, was appointed head of the division and promoted to the rank of chief of staff. Yeruham, 53, lives in Kfar Oranim, married to Natan and has three children. She holds a BA in Economics and an MA in Political Science and is a graduate of the National Security College. Among her last positions are the Head of the Training Division, the Deputy Head of the Planning Division and the Head of Resources in the Planning and Organizational Division.

Acting Chief of Staff of the Israel Police, Major General Moti Cohen, praised the officers and said: “This is the morning of the day when the Israel Police completes the picture of the organization’s future senior command staff: Ayelet has been acting as head of logistical support for several months, I am pleased that you have been appointed to the senior staff of the Israel Police, who has for many years carried out a variety of command positions in the organization and people have always followed you with your head up. And from your experience with your appointment to the Northern District, which is one of the more challenging regions in Israel”.

The new deputy police commissioner, Major General Alon Asor, said: “In recent years, Alon served as commander of the northern district, where he dealt extensively with crime in Arab society and various security challenges. In your new position as Deputy Inspector General, you have a lot of organizational processes to lead and I have no doubt that you will do it in the best possible way. ”

The Minister of Public Security, Gilad Erdan, said at the graduation ceremony: “The Israel Police, which is at the forefront of the struggle against terror and crime, needs professional and moral officers who will strengthen the public’s confidence and the personal security of the citizens of Israel. To appoint today some of the most senior positions in the Israel Police, an officer and professional and high-quality officers who will continue to strengthen the police capabilities as one of the most important security organizations in the country. ”

 

Netanyahu Greets Ambassador Nikki Haley and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo in Jerusalem

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Nikki Haley

Prime Minister Netanyahu and his wife Mrs. Sarah Netanyahu hosted former United States Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley and her husband Michael Haley at the Prime Minister’s Residence in Jerusalem.

PM Netanyahu: “The entire Jewish people appreciates the impressive way in which you represented our alliance between America and Israel, and the way you defended Israel and the truth at the UN. You are a great supporter of this covenant and you have the gratitude of all the people of Israel. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts. ”

Ambassador Nikki Haley: “Thank you for the hospitality and friendship, but more than that – thanks for the partnership, great things have been done between the two governments and this is an eternal bond, and we hope for many more years of partnership and strength between Israel and the United States.”

 

PM Netanyahu Meets with NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with New York Governor Andrew Cuomo at the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem. Also attending the meeting were Israeli Consul General in New York Dani Dayan and National Economic Council Chairman Avi Simhon.

 

President Rivlin Welcomes Governor of New York Andrew Cuomo

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President Reuven (Ruvi) Rivlin met Governor Andrew Cuomo of New York, who is visiting Israel. This is the third time Governor Cuomo has visited Israel in his current role, following visits during Operation Defensive Shield in 2014 and following a wave of anti-Semitic attacks in New York in 2017.

The president thanked the governor for his constant and vocal friendship and support for Israel over many years. “You are a true friend,” the president said. “Welcome back to Israel and to Jerusalem, our capital! It is good to see you, as always,” noting that the two share the same views on the US-Israel relationship and the vital importance of preserving bi-partisan support.

Speaking about anti-Semitism and BDS, the president said, “like you, I am concerned about rising anti-Semitism and appreciate everything you are doing to combat it. We must show absolute opposition to racism and discrimination of any kind. This is also my view on BDS, and we appreciate your Executive Order to withhold funds from BDS supporters.”

The president also spoke about the strong ties between Israel and New York: “Every time you come, there are even more areas of cooperation between Israel and New York. We work closely together on technology, cyber, digital health, law enforcement and academia. We also both have densely populated areas that are targets for terrorism, and can learn much from each other about this.”

Governor Andrew Cuomo offered his condolences to President Rivlin on the death of Nechama ז”ל, and said “Mr President, when we first met in 2014 we talked about anti-Semitism as a concept. The difference in just five years is frightening. Now there is world-wide anger and intolerance, where any difference is demonized. NYPD reported an 83% rise in anti-Semitism over the last year. Our Jewish community is an intrinsic part of New York State and we are doing everything we can to fight back.” The governor also noted that he was accompanied on his visit by his three daughters as a personal statement of the importance he and his family attach to Israel. “We are family,” he told the president.

Attached photo credit: Amos Ben Gershom (GPO)

Israeli President Reuven Rivlin Hosts Chilean President Sebastian Pinera & Wife During State Visit  

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Israeli President Reuven (Ruvi) Rivlin on Wednesday welcomed Chilean President Sebastián Piñera to Beit HaNasi. Photo Credit: Mark Neiman (GPO)

Israeli President Reuven (Ruvi) Rivlin on Wednesday welcomed Chilean President Sebastián Piñera to Beit HaNasi. President Piñera and his wife who are visiting Israel, were received in an official ceremony during which the two national anthems were played. The presidents reviewed an IDF honor guard and then made joint statements to the press.

By: David Ha”Ivri

President Rivlin to President Piñera: “The gaps between us and the Palestinians are great, but we must begin with small steps of cooperation, and not to boycott or refuse plans that will improve our economic and social situation. We must cooperate in every field where we can work together. That is the only way.”

At the beginning of his remarks, President Rivlin welcomed President Piñera on his second visit to Israel, noting the historic connection between the State of Israel and its capital, Jerusalem. “Jerusalem has been the capital of the Jewish people since the days of King David. As you know, the sovereign State of Israel allows, develops and cares for freedom of worship and religion for all those who enter the gates of Jerusalem. Our historical connection to Jerusalem, and our sovereignty in Jerusalem, make us responsible for preserving Jerusalem as a city of faith and peace.” The President also noted the deep friendship between Chile and Israel, even before the establishment of the State of Israel, in saving hundreds of Jews from the horrors of the Holocaust.

“The relations between our two countries have had ups and downs, but at the basis of all this is a solid foundation of friendship,” the president continued, speaking to President Piñera: “I am happy to say that under your leadership the cooperation between the two countries is reaching new heights. In the same year, we became members of the OECD. Despite the many challenges we have faced over the years, our countries have succeeded in developing stable and growing economies. Against all odds, against the natural elements, our countries have turned agriculture into a source of national pride and profit.”

Regarding the calls opposing cooperation between the two countries, the president said: “We must stand together in and counter those voices. We must prove, through what we do on the ground, that we are much stronger together than we are separately.”

Referring to his counterpart’s visit to the Palestinian Authority, the president stressed the need to promote cooperation between Israel and the Palestinians and not to boycott various initiatives: “On our tour of our region, you will also visit the Palestinian Authority. I recently spoke with Abu Mazen, who called me to offer me condolences and we are in constant contact, even if we do not always agree. Peace is the aspiration of the people of Israel. The gaps between us and the Palestinians are great, but we must begin with small steps of cooperation, and not to boycott or refuse plans that will improve our economic and social situation. We must cooperate in every field where we can work together. That is the only way.” Concluding his remarks, the President thanked his colleague and wished for continued fruitful cooperation for the benefit of both peoples.

The President of Chile, Sebastián Piñera, thanked the President for his warm welcome and expressed his condolences on the passing of Nechama. The president said he was happy to be visiting Israel again, this time to further strengthen relations between the two countries. ”In the coming days, we will sign agreements in order to strengthen our friendship and cooperation in areas that are important to us, such as satellite technology, water desalination and irrigation, which will help deal with our northern desert, solar energy and cyber defense. We hope that the visit will be fruitful, expand relations and strengthen cooperation between the two countries,” he said.

“I would like to stress our appreciation for your good will to find the path to peace and harmony with the Palestinian people. I know that you have always asked for peace in the Holy Land. It is a land sacred to a very large part of mankind, the capital of the three monotheistic religions. This is the place for a meeting where the three religions can cooperate with each other. Despite the differences, what unites humanity is the fact that we are all the children of that God,” he added.

Historic Jewish Prayer in Bahrain Synagogue at US-Led Mideast Economic Conference

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US Mideast envoy Jason Greenblatt (left) is part of a Jewish prayer service in Bahrain, June 26, 2019. (Youtube)

Among those in attendance was Jason Greenblatt, a senior adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump.

By: UWI Staff

At the beginning of a new day of proceedings at the U.S-led Bahrain conference on the economic future of the Middle East, Jewish attendees participated in a morning service. Wearing Jewish prayer shawls and tefillin (phylacteries) in an Arab state that does not maintain diplomatic relations with Israel, the men danced in a circle to the song, “Am Yisrael Chai” (the people of Israel live).

Among those in attendance at the prayer service was Jason Greenblatt, a senior adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump.

David Makovksy, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, wrote on Facebook that there was no challenge gathering up a quorum of at least 10 men, known as a minyan, to conduct an official service.

During his stay in Bahrain, Makovksy met with the Gulf state’s former ambassador to the U.S Houda Nonoo, “who is also a member of the 34-member Jewish community of Bahrain,” he added.

Makovsky says that Ambassador Nonoo told him that this morning’s Jewish prayer service was “the first daily minyan she can recall since the synagogue was reopened by Bahraini authorities in 1995,” at a time when Israel was gaining access to the Arab world after granting the Palestinians self-rule in Judea, Samaria, and the Gaza Strip and signing a peace treaty with Jordan.

According to the ambassador, there were some 1,500 Jews in Bahrain before the modern Jewish State was established in 1948. Since then, she told Makovsky, there have been prayer services in private homes and there is occasional prayer at the synagogue when American Jewish sailors of the U.S. Fifth Fleet are in the area.

Times of Israel correspondent Raphael Ahren says that he organized Wednesday morning’s prayer service with the help of Ambassador Nonoo “and the approval of authorities in Manama.”

Ahren writes that “Rabbi Marvin Hier of the Simon Wiesenthal Center led prayers. After the service, one of the worshipers gave a sermon about the weekly Torah reading.” (United With Israel)

Read more at: unitedwithisrael.org

Three Big Questions on Jews and Israel for the Democratic Candidates

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Jack Rosen is the president of the American Jewish Congress

Amid fractures in the American right and left wings over Israel and the cares and concerns of Jewish voters, particularly the dramatic rise in anti-Semitism, Jewish-American voters cannot afford to make a decision in the 2020 Presidential elections lightly.

By Jack Rosen, President of the American Jewish Congress  

That’s why I’m asking all of the contenders for President to address the following three topics head-on: 

  1. What tangible steps will you take against anti-Semitic violence and hate crime? 

White supremacist violence against Jews has taken our sense of safety even in our safest places. For the first time in decades, Jewish Americans are afraid for themselves and for their children. Rates of hate crimes against Jews, which have been rising for years, have spiked even from a year ago. 

Of course, it is the acts of great violence against our community that have left the deepest scars — the synagogue shooting in Poway was timed for the six-month anniversary of the massacre in Pittsburgh — but for every violent attack, the police seem to apprehend three more plots.

 Swastika graffiti is nothing new, yet as larger acts of violence happen more often, we are reminded that every swastika is the seed for bloodshed. Aside from emotional and carefully-phrased condemnations, though, we have not heard much in the way of concrete solutions. We deserve to see these threats against Jews and non Jews answered. 

I ask each candidate, what do you propose we do to combat white supremacist hate and domestic terrorism on a national scale? What will you do, if elected, to help Jewish people rest easier? 

  1. How do we stop the politicization of anti-Semitism and Israel? What will you do to rise above it?

Considering how immediate issues about anti-Semitism and Israel feel to many Jewish Americans, it is endlessly frustrating to see these matters treated more as political/partisan checkboxes instead of things that affect Americans’ lives and futures.

 The Jewish community wants leaders who will approach these issues based on merit and impact, not political salience. The same applies to the anti-Semitic rhetoric we have seen from our elected representatives — in interviews, in campaign ads, and on the House floor. While the other party will always leap to condemn harmful anti-Semitic words, many politicians excuse or justify them, or at least fail to condemn them, when it’s from their own party. 

This tiresome pattern of double standards has left many of us feeling disenfranchised and overlooked by both parties. Israel matters to America for many reasons that shouldn’t be partisan. But Israel also matters personally to many Jewish Americans and affects our own families.

 Unfortunately, the 2020 candidates are no exception to the trend of politicizing Israel; just last week, Democratic candidate Pete Buttigieg used assistance to Israel, one of the most long-standing bipartisan issues, as a political instrument in his fight for the 2020 Democratic nomination. 

I call upon the candidates to tell the Jewish community: Can we count on you to approach issues related to anti-Semitism and Israel with your best judgment as a leader? How will you help to stop this trend of commodifying Jews and the Jewish vote? We want to know where you stand — and whether you will keep that stance in spite of new political winds.

 How will you handle our Middle East policy in the context of what the Trump administration has already done?  

The Trump administration’s actions in the Middle East have been controversial, and his ambitions to create a true Israeli-Palestinian peace plan have been met with a great deal of skepticism. 

Objectively, Trump has accomplished a lot in the Middle East. Trump pulled out of UNRWA and the Iran Deal. He moved the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem, fulfilling a decades-long promise of the U.S. Congress. He has withdrawn most of our presence in Syria — which was controversial with Israel and several other countries in the region. The upcoming Bahrain conference is bringing the U.S. to the table with the Middle East’s most powerful Arab states to discuss the region’s economic future, a big step. 

By and large, any Democrat who is elected President will be expected to overturn what Trump has done in regard to Iran. I would argue that the new President should wait and see the outcomes of Trump’s policies before suggesting a complete overhaul.

 However, the questions remain: How much are the candidates planning to change? If we were to reenter the Iran deal, as some candidates have proposed, how will the new deal be negotiated to assuage the concerns and existential fears of last time? 

It is unavoidable that party politics will affect how we approach the Middle East. But these are some of the most complicated political situations in the world; sweeping yes/no answers will not suffice. I encourage you to get technical and to propose solid, nuanced policies. As prospective candidates for the presidency, your beliefs and positions matter to Jewish voters; as contenders for the Democratic nomination, this responsibility is only amplified. 

The overwhelming majority of Jewish Americans vote Democrat, but they are also a subgroup of Democrats that don’t always align with the party norm. By answering difficult questions like these along the path to nomination, you can give Jews — as engaged and as attentive a bloc as any — more clarity into their options and greater confidence that their voices will be heard by their next President.

Jack Rosen is President of the American Jewish Congress (AJC)

TRAVEL WARNING: More Tourists Die from Mysterious Illnesses in the Dominican Republic; Trip Cancellations Continue 

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The Jewish Voice has officially declared a travel warning to anyone even considering taking a trip to the Dominican Republic this summer. According to a NY Post report, the embattled Caribbean nation has found itself immersed in a maelstrom of controversy due to the increasing number of those tourists falling seriously ill and those dying from mysterious sources.  

Edited by: JV Staff

At least 11 American tourists have died as a result of illnesses they contracted while in the Dominican Republic. 

The NYP reported that trips booked to the island dropped by 74.3% for the months of July and August compared to the same period last year, according to a study from ForwardKeys, which analyzes more than 17 million daily bookings.

The number of trips canceled to the country also increased by 51.2% between June 1 and June 19.

According to the Post report, the tourism cancellations hit a high of 70% on June 10, which coincided with the death of a Staten Island mother, Leyla Cox, 53, at a Punta Cana resort.  

Though tourism to the Dominican Republic has plummeted, other island getaways have seen a boost in visitors, according to the NYP report.

Jamaica, the Bahamas and Aruba have all seen an increase in trips booked between June 1 and June 19, according to the study.

On Wednesday, June 26, the Post reported that an engaged woman from North Carolina says she got “deathly sick” on a Dominican Republic vacation after drinking from her resort’s poolside bar.

“I FaceTimed my daughter and … I was crying, I said, ‘I don’t know if I’m going to make it back home,’” Teresa McAbee told news station WYFF.

McAbee told the Post that she had checked into a resort on May 27 in Punta Cana amid a health crisis on the Caribbean island. During the trip, McAbee became so sick that she could hardly move, she said.

“We were at the pools, at the swim bar, just having fun,” McAbee told the news station. “Within 30 minutes of getting to the room, I just became deathly sick.”

The NYP reported that for the next two days, McAbee suffered from severe nausea and stomach pains, according to the news station. Her fiance and another member of their group also fell ill, but their symptoms were not as severe as hers, she said.

She returned home to Gaffney, NC, and went to the hospital, where she spent 10 hours in the emergency room, according to WYFF. McAbee never received a diagnosis for the terrifying illnesses.

“I’ve been sick before with the flu and viruses, but never anything like that,” McAbee said.

On June 25, the Post reported that a teenage girl from Argentina has gone into a coma while vacationing in the Dominican Republic, with doctors pointing to a life-threatening diabetic condition — even though her family says she has no history of diabetes.

Candela Saccone, 15, had been scheduled to return home from Punta Cana on June 19 after traveling there earlier in the week, but she reportedly became quite ill that morning, according to the NYP report.

Her mother, Natalia Knetch, told CNN’s Spanish-language news channel that she rushed the teen — who was displaying symptoms of dizziness, dehydration and vomiting — to a local medical center, where doctors diagnosed her with diabetic cetoacidosis.

The NYP reported that the condition is described online by the Mayo Clinic as a “serious complication of diabetes that occurs when your body produces high levels of blood acids called ketones.” It normally develops “when your body can’t produce enough insulin,” the clinic says.

According to the NYP report, Candela was reportedly transported from Punta Cana to the General Hospital of the Plaza de la Salud in Santo Domingo — with Argentine officials claiming that the initial medical center “did not have sufficient equipment to treat her.” It’s unclear when she went into the coma, only that the teen was still unconscious and in critical condition on Tuesday, yet stable and showing signs of improvement, according to CNN.

Also on June 26, the New York Post reported that a man from Denver was so sick that he was asked to get off of his return flight from the Dominican Republic, and has spent the past three days there in critical condition — vomiting, alone and screaming in pain in a hospital bed, his relatives said.

Khalid Adkins became so ill on the trip with his daughter that he wasn’t allowed to fly home Sunday — and has been forced to stay on the embattled Caribbean island, news station KDVR reported.

“He said, ‘They pulled me off the plane and made me go to the hospital,’” his sister-in-law, Marla Strick, told the news station.

The NYP reported that Strick said Adkins was “dripping sweat and went to the bathroom to throw up and that’s when they kicked him off the plane.”

Adkins was brought to a hospital in Santo Domingo, where doctors told the family he was in critical condition, according to the news station. His relatives said they haven’t received an official diagnosis, but he’s experiencing kidney failure and having trouble breathing.

The Jewish Voice reported that on Monday June 18th, the state department confirmed that Joseph Allen, 55, was found dead in his hotel room at the Terra Linda Resort in Sosua. As reported by the NY Daily News, Allen was the ninth American tourist since 2018 to die in the small Caribbean country.

Allen, a New Jersey man, was vacationing with his friends, confirmed his sister Jamie Reed. Reed said Allen, Allen, who is survived by a 23-year-old son, “complained about being hot at the pool. He said he was going to his room to take a shower. When his friends came back, he said he wasn’t feeling 100% again, and said he was going to lie down for the night. The next morning his friend said he hadn’t heard from Joe before breakfast, so he knocked on his door and there was no response.” Allen’s friends asked the resort to perform a wellness check. But to their dismay, “They found him on the floor,” Reed said. “He had been there for a while. Rigor mortis had set in, and he was cold.”

Reed said that her brother was generally in good health before the trip and didn’t have any known health conditions. Also, he regularly visited the Dominican Republic a few times a year, so the family had not been concerned about the recent wave of deaths “because he does this all the time.” Reed also said that she reached out to Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) in hopes that the investigation in the Dominican Republic would not be blocked after her brother’s autopsy. “The families need answers,” she said. “We deserve answers … My brother was my best friend. I spoke to him every day. This is killing me.”

“My brother was a hard worker,” Allen’s brother, Jason Allen, told NBC. “He taught me a lot about sacrifice. … He taught me so many things about being a man. He was selfless.” Jason Allen said his family wants the matter investigated “no matter how much money or how much time it is”.

The U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo is facilitating collaboration between US and Dominican investigators. “The safety and security of U.S. citizens that live in, work in, and visit the Dominican Republic remains our highest priority,” Ambassador Robin Bernstein said. “These incidents are tragic and we offer our deepest condolences to those personally impacted.”

Open Skies: Israel and Chile Signed a New Aviation Agreement

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Israel and Chile have signed a new aviation agreement enabling regular flights between the two countries.

The agreement was signed by Minister Smotrich and Chilean Foreign Ministry Director General at the Prime Minister’s Bureau in the presence of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Chilean President, who is currently visiting Israel.

Minister of Transport and Member of the Political-Security Cabinet, Bezalel Smotrich, and Chilean Foreign Ministry Director-General Patricio Torres signed a new aviation agreement on Wednesday allowing airlines of both countries to operate regular flights between Israel and Chile via Brazil The agreement was signed in the presence of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Chilean President Sebastián Piñera, who is currently visiting Israel.

The aviation agreement with Chile was initialed in 2017 and replaced the previous agreement signed between the two countries in 1982. Today there are three weekly flights on the Santiago – Sao Paulo – Tel Aviv route. The flights are operated by the Chilean airline and are used to fly passengers and cargo between Chile and Israel via Brazil.

Minister Smotrich noted that the agreement signed will help strengthen economic ties between the two countries. According to the agreement, El Al will be able to implement “code sharing” arrangements on non-direct flights between Israel and Chile. As part of the arrangement, the passengers will be able to fly with El Al from Tel Aviv to Madrid and Iberia from Madrid to Santo Domingo.

The new agreement was signed as part of the open sky revolution, enabling the expansion of active flights and the launching of direct flights on new routes. It should be noted that in the past decade, since the open skies were introduced, there has been a 40 percent increase in international passenger traffic at Ben-Gurion Airport, and the prices of flights to Europe and destinations around the world have been reduced by tens of percent.