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Actor Michael Rapaport Stars in Israeli Satire of US College Presidents’ Antisemitism Testimony
Michael Rapaport, left, portraying Professor Dumbledore from the ‘Harry Potter’ series in an episode of ‘Eretz Nehederet.’ Photo: Screenshot
Comedian and actor Michael Rapaport was a guest star in the latest episode of the Israeli comedy satire show Eretz Nehederet on Tuesday, taking part in a Harry Potter-inspired parody that addressed the recent and widely derided congressional testimonies given by top American college presidents about antisemitism at their universities.
Rapaport, who arrived in Israel early Tuesday, portrayed the famed character Professor Dumbledore overseeing a hearing of the heads of houses at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry to discuss the issue of “anti-mudbloodism” in the school. He pressured the heads of Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin to answer if “advocating for the genocide of mudbloods violates the code of conduct on bullying and harassment” at the school’s different houses.
On behalf of Gryffindor, Professor McGonagall answered, “It’s a context-dependent decision … Context. It’s a new spell that makes everything wrong, right.” Professor Sprout, from Hufflepuff, replied, “Yes. Or no … If speech turns into conduct, it can be harassment.”
“It’s just words, not even the N-word,” Sprout added. “When they start killing mudbloods, then, yes, that would be harassment.”
“If they kill all of them, it’s classified as bullying, and we might take action, depending on the context,” McGonagall added.
Professor Snape, from the house of Slytherin, finally replied to Rapaport’s question by satirically saying, “As a Slytherin professor, I do have some feelings against them [mudbloods]. But on the other hand, as a half-blood myself, I think calling for their genocide is perfectly all right.”
Rapaport, as a frustrated Professor Dumbledore, said in reply, “I wanna Avada Kedavra myself in the f—king head,” referencing a spell that kills. “What happened to you all? This used to be a good school. Have the dark forces penetrated the castle walls?!”
At the end of the skit, Rapaport looked into the camera and said, “If you didn’t get the metaphor, that’s because you’re as stupid as a Harvard graduate.”
The Hogwarts professors offered similar responses given by the presidents of Harvard, the University of Pennsylvania (Penn), and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) when asked by US Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) in a hearing last week whether calls for the genocide of Jews violated each university’s code of conduct. The presidents did not directly answer the question.
“We embrace a commitment to free expression even of views that are objectionable, offensive, hateful — it’s when that speech crosses into conduct that violates our policies against bullying, harassment, and intimidation,” Harvard President Claudine Gay said, refusing to provide a definitive answer.
“Does that speech not cross that barrier? Does that speech not call for the genocide of Jews and the elimination of Israel?” Stefanik asked, visibly disturbed by Gay’s answer.
“We embrace a commitment to free expression and give a wide berth to free expression even of views that are objectionable, outrageous, and offensive,” Gay responded. She also said that calls implying the genocide of Jews and Israelis “can be [considered bullying or harassment] depending on the context.”
Penn President Elizabeth Magill had a similar exchange with Stefanik.
“It is a context-dependent decision, congresswoman,” Magill said. “If the speech becomes conduct, it can be harassment, yes.”
“Conduct meaning committing the act of genocide?” Stefanik asked. “The speech is not harassment? This is unacceptable Ms. Magill.”
MIT President Sally Kornbluth said calling for the genocide of Jews violates the university’s code of conduct regarding bullying and harassment “if targeting individuals, not making public statements.”
The school presidents’ equivocating sparked widespread outrage, with Jewish leaders and non-Jewish allies lambasting the administrators and calling for them to resign.
Magill resigned from her position over the weekend.
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Iran’s Atomic Chief Vows Regime Will Revive Nuclear Program
Head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization Mohammad Eslami speaks during a press conference in Tehran, Iran, Nov. 14, 2024. Photo: Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia press Agency) via REUTERS
Iran plans to restore its nuclear program despite a newly brokered ceasefire with Israel and US President Donald Trump’s vow that the regime will “never rebuild” its nuclear facilities, according to the head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization.
“We planned to avoid any interruption in the nuclear industry process,” Iranian nuclear chief Mohammad Eslami said in an interview with the state-run Mehr news agency. “Preparations for the revival [of the country’s nuclear program] were foreseen in advance, and our plan is to not allow any interruption in the production and service process.”
Eslami’s comments were published on the same day that Trump wrote in a social media post on Truth Social that “IRAN WILL NEVER REBUILD THEIR NUCLEAR FACILITIES!”
Experts and Western governments have long warned that Iran’s nuclear program is ultimately meant to build weapons; Tehran has claimed its nuclear activities are for peaceful purposes.
Earlier this month, Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, a sweeping military campaign aimed at dismantling Iran’s nuclear capabilities and neutralizing what officials described as an imminent nuclear threat.
Israel’s campaign of airstrikes and covert sabotage from within Iran came on the 61st day of the 60-day deadline set by Trump for Tehran to secure a deal through diplomacy to curb Iran’s nuclear activities.
After five rounds of negotiations with Washington, a potential agreement fell through when Iran announced it would continue its uranium enrichment and expand its nuclear program. Since then, the regime has faced mounting pressure to return to the negotiating table.
On Monday, Trump announced a “complete and total” ceasefire between Tehran and Jerusalem, bringing an end to the 12-day war between the two Middle Eastern adversaries.
Trump’s announcement came just a few hours after Iran launched missile strikes on the Al Udeid US airbase in Qatar, retaliating against American attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend.
On Saturday night, the US joined Israel’s airstrike campaign against the Islamist regime by launching a large-scale military strike against Iran, destroying three key nuclear enrichment facilities, including the heavily fortified Fordow site.
In a public address, Trump said that the operation had “completely and totally obliterated” Iran’s nuclear capabilities and urged Tehran to “make peace,” warning that any future aggression would be met with even greater force.
However, Tehran broke the nascent ceasefire within minutes of it starting. Israeli officials said that three Iranian missiles were launched within the first three hours of the truce. The first came just six minutes in, with two more following later. All were either intercepted or landed in open areas. In response, Israeli warplanes struck a single radar installation north of Tehran, a strike that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office described as a proportional reply to Iran’s violations of the agreement.
As Israeli jets responded, however, an incensed Trump told reporters on the White House lawn: “I’m not happy that Israel’s going out now.” He added that the two sides had “been fighting so long and so hard that they don’t know what the f—k they’re doing.”
Meanwhile, Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the UN nuclear watchdog, praised the ceasefire announcement and urged Iran to resume negotiations and cooperation with the agency.
“I welcome announcements on the Iran situation. Resuming cooperation with the IAEA is key to a successful agreement,” Grossi wrote in a post on X.
He also said he had reached out to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to discuss a potential meeting aimed at resuming negotiations, “stressing this step can lead to a diplomatic solution to the long-standing controversy over Iran’s nuclear program.”
Grossi’s comments followed an announcement from Iran’s parliament on Tuesday that its national security committee had approved a bill outlining the full suspension of Tehran’s cooperation with the agency.
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Syrian Christian Leader Chides President Over Deadly Church Bombing
People attend the funeral of victims of a suicide bombing at the Mar Elias Church on Sunday, in Damascus, Syria, June 24, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi
Syria’s top Christian leader said on Tuesday at the funeral for victims of a deadly church bombing that President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s government bore responsibility for not protecting minorities and his condolences were insufficient.
At least 25 worshippers died on Sunday when a suicide bomber blew himself up at the Mar Elias Church in Damascus, the first such attack since Sharaa’s Islamist-led government seized power in December after the Assad family dynasty’s toppling.
The attack, which the government blamed on the Islamic State terrorist group, reinforced doubts among minorities about whether they can rely on government assurances of protection.
“With love and with all due respect Mr. President, you spoke yesterday by phone … to express your condolences. That is not enough for us,” the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch, John (X) Yazigi, said at the funeral, drawing applause.
“We are grateful for the phone call. But the crime that took place is a little bigger than that.”
Christians made up around 10 percent of Syria’s pre-war population of 22 million, but their numbers shrunk significantly during the 14-year conflict, mainly through emigration. Only a few hundred thousand are now estimated to be living in Syria.
Yazigi said the government must prioritize protection for all. “What is important to me – and I will say it – is that the government bears responsibility in full,” Yazigi said of the church attack.
Hundreds were at the service in the nearby Church of the Holy Cross to bury nine of the victims, whose bodies were placed in simple white coffins adorned with white flowers.
Social affairs minister Hind Kabawat – the only Christian and only woman in Syria’s new government – attended.
On Monday, Sharaa said the attack was a crime hurting all Syrians but did not use the word “Christians” or “church.”
The government said security forces raided hideouts used by Islamic State, killing two of its members including one who facilitated the suicide bomber’s entry into Mar Elias Church.
IS did not issue a statement of responsibility.
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Montana Tucker Honors Israeli Courage, Resilience in New Dance Video Filmed on Masada
Montana Tucker at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 4, 2024. Photo: Dan MacMedan / USA TODAY NETWORK via Reuters Connect
Jewish-American activist, dancer, and social media influencer Montana Tucker released on Monday a dance video filmed at Masada that honors the bravery and resilience of Jewish people throughout history and Israelis amid the Israel-Iran war.
The video, produced by the Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM), was filmed during Tucker’s solidarity trip to Israel in May, which was her sixth visit to the Jewish state since the deadly Hamas terrorist attack more than a year and a half ago on Oct. 7, 2023. Tucker shared the dance video on social media.
“From the Romans and Persians, to the Nazis, Hamas, Hezbollah, and now the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Jewish people have faced countless enemies. And yet, we endure. We rise,” she wrote in the caption. “Today, I dance at Masada — a symbol of Jewish courage and defiance. I dedicate this moment to the heroes of Israel: the pilots defending the skies, the soldiers guarding the borders, and the millions standing strong in bomb shelters. Am Yisrael Chai. We WILL rise again.”
Masada was a mountain-top fortress complex in the Judaean Desert in southeastern Israel. It became a final holdout of Jewish rebels standing against the Roman Empire following the destruction of Jerusalem
Tucker and a group of dancers from the Lilach Friedman Dance Center in Israel danced on Masada to a track that included lyrics of “Rise Again” by EV!
“Break down my walls/but I will rise again. Cuz I stand tall/ in my environment,” the artist sings. “How could I ever close my eyes/ and stay silent since/they tried to take me down/with their violence.”
Tucker and CAM have collaborated on a number of projects since the Oct. 7 attacks, including the video “We Can Dance Again,” filmed at the site of the Nova music festival massacre in memory of the 364 music lovers murdered at the event, “I’m a Survivor,” drawing awareness to hostages still held in Gaza by Hamas, “Woman, Life, Freedom,” about Iranian women resisting oppression, and “The Music Never Stopped,” which marked Israel’s 77th Independence Day.
During her most recent trip to Israel, Tucker met with former Hamas hostages Emily Damari and Romi Gonen, who each spent 471 days in captivity after being abducted on Oct. 7, 2023.
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