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The Fruits of the Abraham Accords // Department of Political Science // University of Notre Dame – nd.edu

Posted By on February 13, 2022

A new era of Peace, Hope and Prosperity in the Middle East

The Abraham Accords have shifted the geopolitical order in the Middle East. It has proven to show great benefits to the government, private sectors and the peoples of the Abraham Accords countries even during one of the most challenging pandemics of our lives. This proves that with strong leadership and commitment, anything is possible.

Notre Dame International, the Jewish Student Club of Notre Dame, and the Jewish Federation of St. Joseph Valley jointly invite all members of the Notre Dame community and friends of the University to a panel discussion featuring Sharaka NGO representatives sharing their work to promote people-to-people peace initiatives in the Middle East.

This event will be presented in person and via Zoom.

Register here

Omar Al Busaidy, CEO at Sharaka,is a Fulbright Scholar and Author. With a masters degree in International Affairs & Intelligence at Florida State University, Omar is also a Non-Resident fellow at Trends Research & Advisory a geo-political think tank based in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

His multiple roles have allowed him to achieve several accomplishments, from publishing his self-help book Just Read It and his upcoming book on futurism titled Why Jobs are Robots and Life is for People, to investing in start ups in the tech sector.

A former Global Shaper at the World Economic Forum and an alumni of the State Departments IVLP, Omar has been invited to mentor students on entrepreneurship, communication and leadership at several universities and conferences across the UAE and around the world.ery.

Dan Fefermanis an Israeli-American author, speaker, researcher, and thought leader who focuses on Israel, the Jewish world, and the Middle East. He publishes and speaks regularly in Israel and around the world, and is co-host of the Jewanced Podcast. He also consults on international intelligence and public relations campaigns.

Dan is a fellow at the Jewish People Policy Institute, a leading think-tank that focuses on issues of importance to Israel and the Jewish people. In this capacity, he is the author of the groundbreaking Rising Streams: Reform and Conservative Judaism in Israel, and a forthcoming book on changing dynamics in the American Jewish community.

Dan is director of communications and global affairs at Sharaka, where he helps forge people-to-people peace between Israel and the Arab world. He is also a founding member of the UAE-Israel Business Council.

Dan is a Major (res.) in the Israel Defense Forces, where he served in various national security and foreign policy roles. He holds a BA in International Politics and Middle East Studies from the American University in Washington DC and an MA in Security Studies from Tel Aviv University.

Originally published at international.nd.edu.

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The Fruits of the Abraham Accords // Department of Political Science // University of Notre Dame - nd.edu

Sudan: Burhan dismisses sanctions threats, lauds ties with Israel – Al Jazeera English

Posted By on February 13, 2022

Military leader says intelligence sharing between Tel Aviv and Khartoum helped arrest suspected fighters in Sudan.

Sudans military leader General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan has made comments in which he dismissed Western threats of sanctions tied to protests in the country and discussed meetings between Sudanese and Israeli officials he said were for security cooperation, not politics.

In his first interview on state television since the coup, Burhan said on Saturday that Washington was receiving inaccurate information.

He also lauded ties with Israel, saying intelligence sharing between the two former adversaries helped arrest suspected fighters in his country.

Protesters have been on the streets for months since Burhan led a military coup in October last year that ended a civilian-military partnership that was meant to lead to democratic elections, a move that was also widely condemned by the international community.

US officials have said they are looking into options to respond to the killing of at least 79 protesters, according to a toll by medics, and to moves to impede civilian-led government.

Sanctions and the threat of them are not useful, Burhan said in the interview, adding that he took personal responsibility for investigations of protester deaths and that five or six were ongoing.

He also said there were suspicions of involvement by outside groups, without elaborating.

Sudan and Israel normalised relations in 2020 as part of a series of US-brokered deals between Israel and four Arab countries.

The two countries have since crafted security and intelligence relationships that have seen officials meet often in unannounced trips.

The head of the ruling Sovereign Council said the intelligence exchange has enabled Sudan to dismantle and arrest suspected armed groups that could have undermined the security of Sudan and the region.

Israel has been silent on the October military coup and the ensuing unrest, indicating it intends to maintain normalised ties with Sudan.

Sudanese and Israeli officials exchanged unannounced visits in recent weeks. Most recently, a Sudanese security delegation visited Tel Aviv last week, following a visit by Israeli officials, including Mossad intelligence officers, to Khartoum in January.

In October, the then-Sudanese justice minister, Nasredeen Abdulbari, and Israeli cabinet ministers Idan Roll and Edawi Frej held a rare public meeting in Abu Dhabi.

The normalisation of ties with Israel paved the way for Sudan to reintegrate into the international community after two decades of isolation under former President Omar al-Bashir.

Sudan was once one of Israels fiercest rivals in the Arab world. It hosted the landmark Arab conference after the 1967 Middle East war at which eight Arab countries vowed never to make peace with Israel.

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Sudan: Burhan dismisses sanctions threats, lauds ties with Israel - Al Jazeera English

Israel could evacuate Israelis and Jews from Ukraine over land Lapid – The Times of Israel

Posted By on February 13, 2022

Prosecution tells court there was no illicit hacking by police in Netanyahu cases

State prosecutors announce that they have not found any evidence of illicit phone hacking during the police investigations into alleged misdeeds by former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

No actions were taken when there was no court order, the prosecution tells the Jerusalem District Court, which had ordered a hiatus in the trial proceedings in order to investigate claims of widespread illicit hacking by police using NSO Groups powerful Pegasus software.

The prosecution presented to the court the interim findings of an investigation into the issue led by Deputy Attorney General Amit Marari, along with former officials from the Shin Bet and Mossad.

However, the investigators ask the court for three more days to complete their probe.

Judges are set to deliberate when to resume proceedings in the case.

According to an explosive report last week, police used Pegasus software to hack into dozens of phones without a court order, including that of Ilan Yeshua, the former CEO of Walla and currently a top witness in Case 4000 against Netanyahu; Avner Netanyahu, the son of the former prime minister; Shlomo Filber, a former Communications Ministry director general; Iris Elovitch, the wife of Shaul Elovitch, the former controlling shareholder of Bezeq (both are defendants in Case 4000); former Bezeq CEOs Dudu Mizrachi and Stella Hendler; former Walla editor-in-chief Aviram Elad, and other journalists at the news site.

In that case, one of the three graft cases for which the former prime minister is on trial, Netanyahu is alleged to have advanced regulatory decisions as communications minister and prime minister that immensely benefited Elovitch. In exchange, Netanyahu allegedly was given what amounted to editorial control over Elovitchs Walla news site. The former premier denies the charges against him.

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Israel could evacuate Israelis and Jews from Ukraine over land Lapid - The Times of Israel

Integrating Israel into Middle East security involves opportunities and pitfalls | TheHill – The Hill

Posted By on February 13, 2022

Growing defense cooperation between Israel and the Persian Gulf states is one of a few promising security developments in the troubled Middle East. In his testimony this week, Army Lt. Gen. Michael Kurilla, nominated to lead U.S. Central Command, mentioned cyber and missile defense integration, in particular, as areas he may focus on.

There is solid support in Congress for bringing Israel deeper into the regions security architecture. Nearly every member of the Senate Armed Services Committee who asked Kurilla a question about Israel and threats from Iran supported moving in this direction.

The question going forward is not whether, but how. Kurilla noted that the various Gulf states have different capabilities and priorities and that he would visit each country before deciding upon a way ahead. What he did not say is that these countries are divided and distrustful of one another, and that Israels military role in the region remains complicated and perilous. There will be many opportunities, but also pitfalls.

The opportunities

The potential for overt engagement between the Gulf states and Israel promises to bring Tel Avivs pursuit of its own security, not to mention its extraordinary reach and capability, into closer alignment with governments in the region that face similar threats from Iran and its proxies. There will be opportunities to gradually deepen defense cooperation and interoperability across a range of sectors.

Decades of political isolation in the region and imminent and existential threats from nearby militaries has led Israel to act unilaterally as a matter of course. Nonetheless, Israeli operations against Iranian weapons proliferation and militia networks, as well as chemical and nuclear weapons sites in Iraq and Syria, have benefitted regional governments, especially the vulnerable Persian Gulf states.

The Israeli Defense Force is among the most capable and professional militaries in the world, particularly in areas such as air power, precision strike, intelligence and special activities. Other regional militaries tend to significantly underperform, despite substantial material investments and cutting-edge equipment.

Israel also has demonstrated unsurpassed political will to confront Iran. Israeli forces have taken the lead in direct action against Irans destabilizing activities, especially its weapons smuggling and militia-building operations in Syria. Israel has carried out hundreds of airstrikes against arms depots and weapons convoys linked to Iran and Hezbollah. These strikes have not led to significant retaliation or escalation by Iran.

The U.S. military, including naval forces in the Persian Gulf, can cooperate openly with Israeli forces with less risk to relationships with regional partners. U.S. forces may for the first time bring Israel into multilateral exercises and planning efforts, subject to the political sensitivities of individual partners. It will be complicated, and difficult at times, to make this work; nothing in the Middle East is ever easy.

The lifting of political taboos against cooperation with Israel will open the door to interoperability and even outright integration with advanced Persian Gulf militaries, particularly in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), but also Saudi Arabia, possibly, at some point. Many of Israels most advanced capabilities are American made, chief among them the F-35, as is much of the Gulf states weapons inventory. The UAE eventually may buy the F-35, despite recent hiccups. Doing so would open many opportunities to improve interoperability with Israel.

The Gulf States now can consider purchasing Israeli air defense platforms and other systems, which was inconceivable just a few years ago. Cooperation on missile defense could greatly improve Persian Gulf security, given the enormous shortfalls in this sector. Unlike U.S.-made platforms, Israels Iron Dome and Davids Sling air defense systems were designed to counter the short-range missiles, rockets, and UAVs that plague the region.

Israeli air defense systems are reportedly more cost effective and therefore can be purchased in greater quantities by wealthy Persian Gulf states facing a growing quantity of missile and UAV threats from multiple trajectories. Gulf States that operate Israeli systems one day may share data with Israeli forces, and vice versa, contributing to a more integrated and resilient air defense architecture.

The pitfalls

Iran may begin holding the Gulf states responsible for aggressive military actions and intelligence operations by Israel, now that there is overt cooperation or even the perception of such in the minds of Iranian leaders. Tehran might retaliate against countries such as the UAE or Bahrain to coerce them into limiting cooperation with Tel Aviv, or simply because the Gulf countries are soft targets compared to Israel.

Either way, governments in the region that choose to recognize Israel or merely cooperate behind the scenes may find themselves assuming risk for Israeli activities from which they long have benefitted for free.

Bringing Israel into multilateral exercises and other forums could prove controversial with countries that have yet to recognize Israel diplomatically, such as Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Israels participation could create divisions or cause certain countries to withhold support or behave with greater caution. Iran likely would react with extreme prejudice to the idea of Israel operating in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, which would complicate multilateral exercises and joint operations.

U.S. interlocutors will have to anticipate these sensitivities for example, which countries in the region may be reluctant to discuss Israels role openly, or at all and be prepared to quietly advise Israeli officials to either remain on the sidelines or keep their involvement secret.

Israel is a small country that faces enormous threats to its security. It has limited capacity for cooperative endeavors and little leeway for compromise when it comes to unilateral operations against imminent threats from Iran and other actors.

Too much cheerleading and too little realism could lead to disappointment and misunderstanding that inhibits further cooperation. Governments in the region, for example, might interpret continued Israeli unilateralism as cavalier disregard for regional security, or even as a cynical ploy to draw the Gulf states into a war with Iran. U.S. policymakers should enable Israels gradual integration into regional security arrangements but avoid making too much of these developments.

The implications

The benefits of regional cooperation with Israel largely outweigh the risks, many of which seem manageable. Yet, tensions will continue and views on regional security will diverge in various ways, which will constrain cooperation and create new risks. U.S. officials should take it slowly and follow a measured, pragmatic approach to Israels involvement in the region that will not fall victim to unrealistic expectations.

Jerry Meyerle is a principal defense analyst at CNA, a nonprofit research institute. He has served as an embedded adviser in the U.S. Central Command, with U.S. Marine and Special Operations Forces in Afghanistan, and on the USS Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group in the Persian Gulf.The views in this article are those of the author alone and do not reflect those of CNA or the Department of Defense.

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Integrating Israel into Middle East security involves opportunities and pitfalls | TheHill - The Hill

OECD tells Israel to cut red tape in non-tech sectors to boost productivity – Reuters

Posted By on February 13, 2022

JERUSALEM, Feb 13 (Reuters) - Israel needs to cut red tape in traditional industries so they can boost productivity and catch up with the country's booming high-tech sector, the head of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) said on Sunday.

Joining Israel's weekly cabinet meeting, OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann praised much of Israel's economic progress since joining the OECD in 2010, particularly a robust technology sector, as well as its handling of the latest waves of the COVID-19 crisis without needing lockdowns.

He projected Israel's strong economic growth would continue in 2022 but told Prime Minister Naftali Bennett the country faces structural challenges and wide socio-economic gaps due to a "two-speed economy".

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"The remarkable productivity of Israel's vibrant high-tech sector stands in stark contrast to the lower productivity levels in more traditional lagging sectors which actually employ most of the workforce in Israel," said Cormann, a former Australian finance minister. "This continues to lead to slower gains in aggregate productivity."

High-tech jobs account for about 10% of the labour force and the sector is highly efficient unlike manufacturing, agriculture and other traditional sectors that are subject to heavy regulations.

"So Prime Minister, the OECD's assessment is that if Israel were to reduce its level of bureaucracy and over-regulation in some of those sectors that has accumulated throughout the years, that will certainly help boost competition, help boost performance and help lower prices moving forward," Cormann said.

Bennett and his government have come under fire in recent weeks amid rising food and other living costs. The government last week announced a $1.3 billion plan to reduce the cost of living, including tax cuts for working families, child-care subsidies and streamlined regulation to stimulate price-cutting competition for products.

"We've got to reform the stagnant parts of our economy and we need to increase competition," Bennett told Cormann. "We don't have enough domestic competition and that's something that's always tough because there is always a good reason on why you need to slow down on that. And we need to have the courage to take these actions."

Israel's economy grew by an estimated 6.5% in 2021 and is projected to grow 5.5% in 2022, according to the central bank.

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Reporting by Steven Scheer; Editing by Susan Fenton

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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OECD tells Israel to cut red tape in non-tech sectors to boost productivity - Reuters

Bahrain confirms Israeli officer to be stationed in the country – Al Jazeera English

Posted By on February 13, 2022

Foreign ministry says the appointment relates to an international coalition to secure the freedom of navigation in the region.

Bahrain has confirmed that an Israeli naval officer will be stationed in the Gulf state, the first time an Israeli military officer is being posted to an Arab country.

In a statement on Saturday, the Bahraini Foreign Ministry said the appointment of the Israeli officer is related to an international coalition to secure the freedom of navigation in the region.

On Friday, media reports said an Israeli officer had been appointed in Bahrain to serve as a liaison officer for the US Fifth Fleet.

What has been circulated in some foreign media about the appointment of an Israeli officer is part of arrangements related to an international coalition that includes more than 34 countries, said the statement cited by the state news agency.

It said the coalition seeks to secure freedom of navigation in territorial waters, protect international trade, and confront acts of piracy and terrorism in the region.

Gulf countries, including Bahrain, often accuse Iran of threatening the security of maritime navigation in the region. Tehran denies the accusations.

The ministry stopped short of giving more details about the coalition and the role of the Israeli officer.

However, local and Israeli media said the officer will be stationed in Manama permanently in the coming weeks citing an agreement reached during Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantzs visit to the kingdom earlier this month.

Bahrain is among the four Arab countries along with the United Arab Emirates, Sudan, and Morocco that signed US-sponsored agreements to normalise their relations with Israel in 2020.

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Bahrain confirms Israeli officer to be stationed in the country - Al Jazeera English

Sledgehammer review: David Friedman comes out swinging on Trump and Israel – The Guardian

Posted By on February 13, 2022

David Friedman was Donald Trumps ambassador to Israel. But that job title alone fails to adequately convey his proximity to the 45th president and his impact on US policy. Their time together marked a repudiation of Barack Obamas vision for the Middle East. Sledgehammer, Friedmans memoir, reminds the reader of all of this as insistently as its title suggests.

With Friedmans assistance, the US helped forge the Abraham Accords, normalizing relations between Israel and four Arab countries. The US also moved its embassy to Jerusalem and left the Iran nuclear deal. As for the Palestinians, put it this way: they no longer occupy rent-free space in the Republican conscience.

Unlike other Trump appointees, Friedman was often in the room when it happened. To all intents and purposes, he was not subordinate to Rex Tillerson, Trumps first secretary of state. And as an enthusiastic backer of Israeli settlements in occupied territories, he had little interest in preserving the status quo.

More than a half-century had elapsed since 1967 and the six-day war. Israels hold on the West Bank had grown organic. The Oslo Accords gave way to the second intifada and Gaza continued to smolder, despite Israels withdrawal more than a decade before. Godot had failed to arrive. Friedmans book with its unsubtle title has a subtitle too: How Breaking with the Past Brought Peace to the Middle East.

Obviously, he overstates. The Palestinians are not, of course, content. War rages in Yemen. Drones and missiles hit the Emirates. Things between Israel and Iran can get worse and probably will.

Friedman was Trumps bankruptcy lawyer. When Trump announced his presidential campaign, Friedman was doubtful. Both men venerated their fathers but, as Friedman acknowledges, they had little else in common. The author is still married to his first wife. Religion is central to his life. He is an Orthodox Jew, the son of a rabbi. While ambassador, his daughter made aliyah. That is, she moved to Israel and became a citizen.

Friedman quotes a senior but unidentified state department aide as telling him: Dont be so Jewish. You represent the United States of America Just a free word of advice. Suffice to say, Friedman was not amused. Although he held a presidential appointment, he was not part of the club.

Sledgehammer is also about ethnic grievance and expectations of Jewish solidarity perhaps misplaced. Before joining the Trump administration, Friedman branded Obama antisemitic and trashed J Street, a liberal Jewish group, as worse than kapos Jewish prisoners who worked as guards in Nazi concentration camps. Such intemperate comments came with a political cost. The Senate confirmed him by the narrowest of margins, 52-46.

On the page, Friedman says those were sincere expressions. He used the term kapos, he says, because he felt J Street had betrayed the Jewish people. Elsewhere, he admonishes American Jews against criticizing the Israeli government. He laments a growing schism among US Jews, even while describing his own testy relationship with the Reform movement.

In 2020, American Jews went for Joe Biden by nearly 40 points but Trump was the clear favorite in Orthodox enclaves. In Israel, Trump is lionized. Loved is Friedmans word.

He likes wielding his sledgehammer at the left. The right, not so much.

He castigates Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, progressive Democratic congresswomen, for hostility to Israel. As ambassador, he was fine with an attempt to stop them entering Israel as part of a congressional delegation.

On the other hand, he has nothing to say about Charlottesville in August 2017, its tiki torches and cries of Jews will not replace us and Trumps view that there were very fine people on the neo-Nazi side on that day of violence and shame.

Friedmans outrage appears selective.

He is also silent on Trump delivering a tart fuck him to Benjamin Netanyahu Israels former prime minister and a Friedman friend in an interview memorialized in Barak Ravids book, Trumps Peace.

Instead, Friedman swings repeatedly at Mahmoud Abbas, challenging the Palestinian leaders desire to reach an agreement with Israel.

Once again, Trump might well disagree. Trump told Ravid he believed Netanyahu did not want to make peace. Never did. As for Abbas, We spent a lot of time together, talking about many things. And it was almost like a father. I mean, he was so nice, couldnt have been nicer.

Friedman was particularly close to Netanyahu, so much so that lines could blur. According to Ravid, Friedman sat in on Israeli government meetings until he was tossed out by cabinet members. Friedmans memoir does nothing to dispel that report.

He describes his efforts to help Netanyahu cobble together a government. He zings Avigdor Lieberman, former Netanyahu confidant and current Israeli finance minister, for refusing to come to the struggling prime ministers rescue. The fact Netanyahu was then under a legal cloud and now stands on trial for corruption escapes real mention.

Elsewhere, Friedman criticizes Benny Gantz, Israels defense minister and Netanyahus jilted coalition partner. Although Gantz had been chief of staff of Israels military, says Friedman, he was not the politician Netanyahu was. Then again, Friedman also expresses his gratitude for his relationship with Gantz, who he describes as 6ft 4in and ruggedly handsome, an unusual look for an Israeli politician. Trump too has praised Gantz, albeit at Netanyahus expense.

What Friedman does next will be interesting. Like Trump, he has left New York for Florida. His book jacket posts a blurb from Nikki Haley, formerly governor of South Carolina and a potential candidate for the Republican nomination if Trump does not seek it. Friedman has also described Ron DeSantis, of Florida, as Israels greatest friend among all 50 current governors.

Friedman is far from finished. Sledgehammer is not just a memoir. It is a well-written audition for 2024 and beyond.

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Sledgehammer review: David Friedman comes out swinging on Trump and Israel - The Guardian

Basketball player converted to Judaism by Bidens Rabbi denied Israeli citizenship – The Times of Israel

Posted By on February 13, 2022

JTA Jared Armstrong traveled to Israel on Birthright last year. He also spent months studying with an American conservative rabbi in order to formally convert to Judaism, a step he wanted to take so he could move to Israel to play for the Hapoel Haifa basketball team.

That ambition suffered a serious setback Wednesday after Israeli officials for the second time rejected his application for citizenship.

According toHaaretz, which first reported on the denial of Armstrongs appeal,the Interior Ministry told Armstrong in a letter that they believed he was converting only to play on the team. It also cited the fact that his conversion classes were held via Zoom.

It makes me crazy. Hasnt Israel experienced COVID as well? I mean this decision shows so much disconnect, Rabbi Michael Beals, the Wilmington, Delaware, rabbi who supervised Armstrongs conversion, told Haaretz.

Beals, who has a longtime relationship with United States President Joe Biden, called the decision by Israels government racist. Armstrong is Black.

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The rejection of Armstrongs conversion comes amid a string of high-profile cases in which Israeli authorities have rejected citizenship applications from Black Jews who have converted outside of Orthodox Judaism.

Rabbi Michael Beals with Joe Biden. (File/Courtesy)

In December, the Interior Ministry denied an application for citizenship by a Ugandan man who converted with the Conservative Movement, despite an Israeli Supreme Court ruling last year recognizing non-Orthodox conversions performed in Israel.

And last month, a Black Jew originally from the US won a promise of citizenship after beginning a hunger strike to call attention to his experience with Israels immigration bureaucracy.

First, David Ben Moshes conversion was rejected on the oft-ignored grounds that he had not spent adequate time in the community where he converted after he became Jewish, the Jerusalem Post reported. The Interior Ministry reversed that decision amid an outcry but then rejected his citizenship because he had been convicted of a crime in the US. Now, Ben Moshe, who is married to an Israeli and has two Israeli children, will be able to become a citizen in 2023.

Armstrong, 24, is originally from Philadelphia and was previously a member of the basketball team at Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania. His father is not Jewish, and his mother underwent a conversion through Congregation Beth El,a predominantly Black community in Philadelphia that is not affiliated with any Jewish denomination.

Israeli basketball teams often recruit players from outside of Israel who are Jewish and can therefore become citizens. But because Israel only accepts conversions performed through recognized denominations for the purposes of immigration to Israel under the Law of Return, which guarantees Israeli citizenship to all Jews who apply for it, Armstrong had to convert.

He began the process of studying for a formal conversion with Beals, a Conservative rabbi, and began applying for citizenship while in Israel where he first arrived for his Birthright trip last year and later began playing for Hapoel Haifa. After the Interior Ministry rejected his appeal for citizenship, Armstrong will no longer be able to play for Hapoel Haifa.

Not all basketball players in Israel are Jewish. Amare Stoudemire was not when he played for the Hapoel Jerusalem team. He began the process of conversion after leaving the team in 2018 and formally converted to Judaism while living in Israel in August 2020. Now a coach for the Brooklyn Nets, he was recently featured in an HBO documentary speaking about his journey to Orthodox Judaism.

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Basketball player converted to Judaism by Bidens Rabbi denied Israeli citizenship - The Times of Israel

WATCH: Teary-Eyed Israel Adesanya Gets Emotional Seeing His Friend Blood Diamond in the UFC Octagon – EssentiallySports

Posted By on February 13, 2022

Israel The Last Stylebender Adesanya made his fourth UFC title defense at UFC 271 against the former champion, Robert Whittaker. Even though it was a close fight, this contest made it clear how far ahead Adesanya is of his competition.

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The fighter was extremely skillful and calm throughout the fight and won the bout by unanimous decision.

Adesanya recently posted a video that showcased his behind-the-scenes journey for his fight at UFC 271. In the video, we can see how Adesanya got extremely emotional when he saw his best friend, Blood Diamond, in the UFC octagon.

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The middleweight champion shed a tear when the announcer called out his best friends name and he was up on the big screens of the arena. Blood Diamond made his UFC debut at UFC 271, and his best friend, Adesanya, was headlining the event.

His best friend, Blood Diamond, is also from New Zealand. The fighter took on Jeremiah Wells at UFC 271 and lost his UFC debut fight via first-round submission.

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Israel Adesanya1 Round Im Gonna Kill Him- Dwayne The Rock Johnson,Chimaev, Ngannou Among Others React to UFC 271 Main Event

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After his victory over Bobby Knuckles, Israel Adesanya proved himself as the greatest middleweight in the world once again. Even though Robert Whittaker seemed extremely sharp with his striking and takedowns, it was not enough to take the Nigerian fighter out.

Middleweight fighter Jared Cannonier also bagged himself a win at UFC 271 against Derek Brunson. The fighter stands third in the UFC rankings and is most likely to be a title challenger next.

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Jared Cannonier has won five of his past six bouts, with the only loss coming to the first ranked middleweight in the world in Robert Whittaker.

The fact that he ended the fight via a knockout finish, just strengthens his case to be next in line to take on Adesanya.

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Who do you think The Last Stylebender will face in his next bout? Let us know in the comments section below.

WATCH THIS STORY: Five Times Israel Adesanya Obliterated His Opponents Inside The UFC Octagon

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WATCH: Teary-Eyed Israel Adesanya Gets Emotional Seeing His Friend Blood Diamond in the UFC Octagon - EssentiallySports

Teen Charged With Hate Crime In Attack On Man In Brooklyn – CBS New York

Posted By on February 11, 2022

First Alert Weather: CBS2's 2/11 Friday Afternoon UpdateElise Finch has the Tri-State Area's updated forecast on CBS2 News At Noon.

Groundbreaking For First Offshore Wind Project In New YorkThe project will include 12 offshore wind turbines 35 miles east of Montauk Point.

President Biden To Release Billions In Frozen Funds For 9/11 VictimsThe money would fund humanitarian relief in Afghanistan and compensate victims of the terror attacks.

Shooting On Major Deegan ExpresswayPolice said a gunman in a black sedan opened fire on another car near Cedar Avenue in University Heights.

VP Kamala Harris Highlights Newark's Successful Lead Pipe Replacement ProjectHarris is highlighting a project that has been replacing dangerous lead pipes and talking about how other communities can do the same. CBS2's John Dias reports.

Unvaccinated City Employees Rally Against Mandate, Expected To Lose JobsOutraged workers rallied Friday against New York City's deadline for municipal workers to be vaccinated. CBS2's Elijah Westbrook reports.

Dixon's Bike Shop: A Family Repair Business Keeps Park Slope Moving For Over 50 Years"I appreciate that I have people that will pass other bike shops to come here," co-owner Chris Dixon told CBS2's Elle McLogan.

Caught On Video: Suspect Smashes Window, Steals Clothes From Bronx StoreAdditional video appears to show two suspects returned to the store the next day.

Shooting Investigation On Major Deegan ExpresswayJim Smith reports from Chopper 2.

Manhattan DA Upgrades Charges Against Man Accused Of Deadly Assault In East Harlem61-year-old Yao Pan Ma died months after being assaulted while collecting cans last year.

Friday Deadline For NYC Municipal Workers To Be VaccinatedThe plan was announced by then-Mayor Bill de Blasio in October. Mayor Eric Adams said he's ready to enforce it. CBS2's Elijah Westbrook reports.

VP Harris To Arrive In Newark To Discuss Lead Pipe Replacement ProjectHarris will attend a roundtable discussion to explore how city leaders were able to complete the project quickly and how it could be applied to other communities. CBS2's John Dias reports.

First Alert Weather: CBS2's 2/11 Friday Morning UpdateElise Finch has the Tri-State Area's updated First Alert forecast on CBS2 News This Morning.

New York Weather: CBS2 2/10 Nightly Forecast at 11PMCBS2's Lonnie Quinn has your weather forecast for February 10 at 11 p.m.

Sneaker Collection By Designer Virgil Abloh Sells For $25.3MA sneaker collection set an auction record at Sotheby's.

Broadway Revival Of 'The Music Man' OpensBroadway was singing a happy tune as "The Music Man" officially opened Thursday. Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster lead the cast in the revival of the beloved musical; CBS2's Ali Bauman reports.

BK Open Street Barricade Back After 'Miscommunication'A road for pedestrians and bicyclists in Brooklyn was unexpectedly opened up to vehicular traffic Thursday.

Emotional Mayor Eric Adams Demands New Yorkers Do More To Help Young People Avoid Falling Victim To Gun ViolenceMayor Eric Adams got emotional Thursday while addressing the issue of gun violence in the city. He made a personal plea for change, challenging all stakeholders to fix a broken system that he says has failed an entire generation; CBS2's Maurice DuBois reports.

New York City Workers Who Declined COVID Vaccine Mandate Face Termination Friday As Deadline PassesAs many as 3,000 New York City workers are set to be fired because they are not fully vaccinated. While that number makes up less than 1% of the city's workforce, it could still wind up being one of the largest termination of workers because of a mandate we've seen so far; CBS2's Tony Aiello reports.

Man Critically Injured In Hit-And-Run Crash In BrooklynPolice are searching for a driver who they say hit a man with his car and then took off in Brooklyn on Thursday.

As Many As 3,000 NYC Public Employees Expected To Be Fired For Failing To Obey Vaccine MandateAs many as 3,000 New York City public employees are expected to be fired Friday for failing to obey the COVID vaccine mandate. It was put in place by Mayor Bill de Blasio and kept in place by Mayor Eric Adams; CBS2's Tony Aiello reports.

Mayor Eric Adams Addresses Gun Violence In Speech At City HallMayor Eric Adams spoke at City Hall on Thursday, addressing gun violence and how society is failing too many city youth and has betrayed children of color.

Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin Takes Stand For Day 2 Of New York Times Trial: 'I Hope That There Is Justice'Former Alaska governor Sarah Palin was back in court Thursday taking on the New York Times; CBS2's Jenna DeAngelis reports.

Mayor Eric Adams Addresses Interfaith CommunityMayor Eric Adams addressed the interfaith community and religious leaders at a breakfast Thursday and spoke about finding common ground to help make the city a safer and more inclusive place.

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Teen Charged With Hate Crime In Attack On Man In Brooklyn - CBS New York


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