By Donald H. Harrison in San Diego
INTERNATIONAL
Ha’aretz reports that MKs Yuli Edelstein, Ofir Sofer, and Sharren Haskel are the only members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition who are sure votes against making permanent the Haredi community’s exemption from military service.
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The Times of Israel quoted Israel’s former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett contradicting the Haredi parties’ contention that Torah study and military service are mutually exclusive. Bennett cited Numbers 32:6-8: “Moses replied to the Gadites and the Reubenites, “Are your brothers to go to war while you stay here? Why will you turn the minds of the Israelites from crossing into the land that (Hashem) has given them? That is what your fathers did when I sent them from Kasesh-barnea to survey the land.”
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The mayor of Bat Yam, Tzvika Brot, said Iranian agents are trying by telephone to recruit residents of his city to spy on Israel, The Jerusalem Post reported. He urged residents not to cooperate with Iran: “If you or relatives or friends responded to one of these approaches, held conversations with the Iranians, perhaps even already carried out various tasks, do not wait until they knock on your door. It is probably still not too late to reach out to us, and we can try together with the security agencies to turn the wheel back.”
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The U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee is set to debate on Wednesday bipartisan legislation instructing the State Department to assess every branch of the Muslim Brotherhood for designation as a terrorist group, Jewish Insider reports. The legislation’s cosponsors are two Floridians, Mario Diaz-Balart, a Republican, and Jared Moskowitz, a Democrat.
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Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited France on Monday and Ireland on Tuesday to bolster European support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia. France’s President Emmanuel Macron, in an allusion to a peace plan proposed by the United States, “Ukraine is the only one that can talk about territories. It’s about its own territories, recognized by international law and sovereign. When we talk about security guarantees, these cannot be talked about or negotiated if the Ukrainians, the owner of the territories, are not around the table.”
In Dublin, Zelenskyy told a joint session of Oireachtas, Ireland’s parliament, that “Ukraine is closer to peace than ever before. And there is a real chance.” He added: When you have a true community of nations on your side, you cannot be crushed, and your rights can be restored. No one can break the world alone – not even Russia, not even with its few buddies. No one can lie to the entire world forever – not even Putin. No one can stand against everyone else. And that is the truth. But also true – one can inspire everyone else. And that is why Ukraine is fighting for every voice in the world, for every community, in every region. We are trying to reach every heart, to answer every doubt, to counter every accusation with facts.”
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CBS News reported that after Tuesday’s meeting with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, a top aide to Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, Yuri Ushakov, said there is “still much work to be done” before Russia and Ukraine can come to a peace agreement. Ushakov, nevertheless, said the talks were “constructive, very useful and substantive.”
The hang up was Russia’s demand that Ukraine cede certain of its territories to Russia. Ushakov said “the territorial issue, naturally, is the most important for us, and for the Americans too. A compromise option has not yet been found…”
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Soccer’s World Cup draw, taking place in Washington, D.C. at noon, Friday, Dec. 5, may present an opportunity for Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum to meet face-to-face with U.S. President Donald Trump. The U.S., Mexico, and Canada are jointly hosting the 2026 World Cup, with 48 nations so far qualified to compete. The co-hosts will play all their games in their countries.
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NATIONAL
World Jewish Congress President Ronald S. Lauder told a conference in New York sponsored by the Israeli daily newspaper Israel Hayom that “Father Coughlin was the Tucker Carlson of the 1930s.” He noted that Coughlin’s radio program reached “30 million weekly listeners and spread antisemitism in ways that helped close America’s doors to Jews fleeing Nazi persecution – with disastrous consequences.” Lauder said, “Now antisemitism is rampant throughout our culture – on campuses, online, in politics, and even in the halls of government.”
Tucker Carlson is among finalists in StopAntisemitism organization’s “Antisemite of the Year” contest, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) reports. The podcast host competes for the dishonor with Ms. Rachel, Cynthia Nixon, Marcia Cross, Bryce Mitchell, Guy Christensen, and Stew Peters.
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Rahmanullah Lakanwal, the suspect accused of murdering National Guard personnel Sarah Beckstrom and wounding Andrew Wolfe, yelled Allahu akbar during the attack, according to The New York Post which cited court documents, Jewish News Syndicate (JNS) reported.
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Marc Rowan, chair of the UJA-Federation of New York, described New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani as an “enemy” of the Jewish people, Jewish Philanthropy reports. He said, “Someone who uses antisemitism in their campaign and normalizes antisemitism, he is our enemy. We need to be the ones to call him out. We need to say it. And I know that UJA, as it relates to the Jewish community, is going to do that.”
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Rabbi Rear Adm. Harold Robinson supports a bill by U.S. Sen. Jim Banks (R-Indiana) to add the names of 85 chaplains who died in service to the monuments at Arlington National Cemetery. “The effort to honor our fallen chaplains is long past due. It is time that we embrace those who have supported our troops and paid the ultimate sacrifice.”
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Congressman Ro Khanna (D-California) is the target of advertising on Facebook and other media by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. He cosponsored HR 876, titled “Recognizing the genocide of the Palestinian people in Gaza.” In the ad, AIPAC says “claims of genocide are a dangerous attempt to distort facts and rewrite history … Tell Rep. Ro Khanna you stand with our ally Israel.” In his response, Khanna said, “I will not be intimidated. I will continue to advocate for the recognition of Palestinian statehood and peace in the Middle East. That is what real leadership requires: courage to say what’s right even when the pressure is enormous.” The resolution, introduced on Nov. 13 by Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (D-Michigan) drew 21 cosponsors including Khanna and one Jewish member of the House of Representatives: Becca Balint (D-Michigan).
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Carrie Lipton, formerly vice president of finance for the 92nd Street Y in New York City, has been appointed chief financial and administrative officer of the JCC Association of North America.
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Attorneys Norm Eisen, Abbe Lowell, and Gerry Krovatin, who represented the prevailing side in Monday’s decision by an appellate court to disqualify Alina Habba as Acting U.S. Attorney in New Jersey, commented: “We will continue to challenge President Trump’s unlawful appointments of purported U.S. Attorneys wherever appropriate.” Habba, who had previously served as Trump’s personal lawyer, failed to receive U.S. Senate confirmation and her interim appointment expired.
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Donald H. Harrison is publisher and editor of San Diego Jewish World.