Israeli political and social leaders made comments following Tuesday’s historic meeting between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Singapore which analysts said largely reflected their own pre-disposed ideas about diplomacy and international relations. Those on the Right side of the political spectrum hailed the summit and the joint statement which emerged from it, as proof that an aggressive enemy regime could be persuaded to give up nuclear weapons. Leftist politicians were more disposed to take a lesson about peace being possible between previously implacable opponents.

UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov addressed the American Jewish Congress Global Forum on Monday, saying among other things that “We [the UN] need to work very closely with the Israelis, Palestinians and the Egyptians to put in place a set of measures to help people in Gaza survive and live a little bit better” and “to get from those responsible for the situation in Gaza [Hamas] a commitment to keep the situation quiet and to keep security and reduce the amount of rockets and attacks against Israel…people need an alternative to Hamas and radicalization and the ineptitude of those who should be delivering services to them but currently are not.”

The American Jewish Committee’s Global Forum being held in Jerusalem this week has featured lamentations by some senior Israeli officials and Diaspora leaders about the growing gaps in perceptions, priorities and ideological worldviews held by Israeli Jews and their brethren in North America. Israeli President Reuven Rivlin’s opening keynote speech included a reference to “gaps (that) are getting deeper and deeper,” between the two communities. Other speakers, however, said the tensions have been exaggerated by the media in both countries.

Visiting Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz expressed sympathy for Israel’s “unique” security needs during a joint press appearance with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday. Commenting that Israel lives in a “dangerous neighborhood” he added that his government will use its upcoming turn as the rotating president of the EU to “try to raise awareness in Europe for the special situation and the special security needs of Israel.” He also said that Austria “has a special responsibility towards Israel and the Jewish people.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was subjected to another round of questioning by police on Tuesday morning, this time in relation to Case 4000, known as the “Bezeq Affair” and involving accusations of illegal attempts by the PM to influence Israeli media coverage of him. The questioning follows testimony provided to the police by former Netanyahu family associate Nir Hefetz, who earlier this year agreed with police to offer such testimony in exchange for protection in any potential legal proceedings going forward.

It is important to acknowledge that a president who is appalling in so many ways has taken the right and necessary decision to restore the full weight of economic sanctions against Iran in hope of compelling the reactionaries in Tehran to change their policies. The evidence is before us that the JCPOA nuclear deal failed to bring about the desired changes in Iran’s behavior.

Since the 1960s, North Korea has armed, trained, and coordinated with Middle Eastern militaries for a variety of strategic, ideological, and commercial reasons. This cooperation has seen Pyongyang fly combat missions against Israel, support Palestinian terrorist groups, supply missile technology to Iran, and build nuclear and chemical weapons facilities for the Assad regime, among other dangerous activities. President Trump’s outreach to Kim Jong-un offers an opportunity to permanently sever this supply line through economic and diplomatic inducements.

Gather around the table to hear about this special Passover Seder meal, Ethiopian style! The ICEJ helped 1,308 Ethiopian Jews return to Israel this past year, and it was our great joy to help them celebrate their very first Passover Seder meal here in the land of Israel. The ICEJ is honoured to be a part of not only helping the Ethiopian Jews return to the land of Israel, but also helping them integrate into their new home.