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Jewish Groups Question Sincerity of Kanye West’s Apology to Jewish Community Over Antisemitic Comments
Kanye West, DJ Khaled, Lil Wayne, Ty Dolla Sign, Teyana Taylor and Zoey Dollaz at ‘LIV on Sunday’ as part of Art Basel on Dec. 11, 2023
Photo: Seth Browarnik/startraksphoto.com via Cover Media via Reuters Connect
The apology that rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, made earlier this week for his series of antisemitic comments has received mixed responses from Jewish groups, who are saying they need more than just words to believe the musician and fashion designer
On Tuesday, the Grammy winner and Yeezy designer uploaded a Hebrew-language message on Instagram addressed to the Jewish community.
“I sincerely apologize for any unintended outburst caused by my words or actions, it was not my intention to hurt or disrespect, and I deeply regret any pain I may have caused,” wrote the 46-year-old. “I am committed to starting with myself and learning from this experience to ensure greater sensitivity and understanding in the future. Your forgiveness is important to me, and I am committed to making amends and promoting unity.”
The apology was published shortly before Ye releases his new album, Vultures, on Jan. 12. In one of the songs on the upcoming album, he raps: “How I’m antisemitic? I just f**ked a Jewish b*tch.” Earlier this month, the Flashing Lights rapper went on an antisemitic rant at an album listening party in Las Vegas.
The rapper came under fire late last year after making a number of antisemitic remarks, sharing antisemitic tropes on social media, promoting antisemitic conspiracy theories and stereotypes, saying “I like Hitler,” and urging people to “stop dissing the Nazis.” Because of his comments targeting the Jewish community, he lost his Yeezy partnership with Adidas, as well as his partnerships with a number of other brands.
The Anti-Defamation League welcomed Ye’s apology this week but added that they hope to see his words backed by actions.
“After causing untold damage by using his vast influence and platform to poison countless minds with vicious antisemitism and hate, an apology in Hebrew may be the first step on a long journey towards making amends to the Jewish community and all those who he has hurt,” the ADL said in a released statement. “Ultimately, actions will speak louder than words but this initial act of contrition is welcome.”
The ADL revealed in its audit of antisemitic incidents in 2022 that Ye was directly referenced in 59 antisemitic cases tracked by the group from October through the end of that year, including 44 cases of harassment, 13 cases of vandalism and two cases of assault.
The American Jewish Committee criticized Ye for issuing the apology in Hebrew, saying that the rapper “intentionally” denied American Jews and non-Jews who don’t know Hebrew from being able to understand his apology.
The nonprofit organization StopAntisemitism said it wants to know what additional steps Ye is taking to make amends for offending the Jewish community with his past remarks. “Will he be deleting his vulgar lyrics referring to having sex with a Jewish woman? Has he committed to any mental health programs to prevent further antisemitic outbursts to his millions of followers?” the organization asked. It also wanted to know why the apology was in Hebrew.
Israeli activist Noa Tishby did not buy the apology at all and had some choice words for the rapper. In a video shared on social media on Wednesday, Tishby told Ye in Hebrew, “just shut up.”
“We don’t need your apology,” she further said in English. “We don’t want you to say anything. We don’t need you to speak about us at all. Every time you talk about the Jewish people, something bad happens. We basically need you and people like you, who know nothing about Israel or the Jewish people, to shut up. That’s it.”
The post Jewish Groups Question Sincerity of Kanye West’s Apology to Jewish Community Over Antisemitic Comments first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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Washington Warns UK, France Against Recognizing Palestinian Statehood
Britain’s Foreign Secretary David Lammy leaves Downing Street, following the results of the election, in London, Britain, July 5, 2024. Photo: REUTERS/Toby Melville
i24 News – The United States has warned the UK and France not to unilaterally recognize a Palestinian state at a UN conference scheduled for June 17 in New York, the Middle East Eye reported Tuesday.
France and Saudi Arabia will co-host this conference on the two-state solution, with Paris reportedly preparing to unilaterally recognize Palestine. France is also pressuring London to follow this path, according to sources from the British Foreign Office.
French media reports indicate that French authorities believe they have the agreement of the British government. Meanwhile, Arab states are encouraging this move, measuring the success of the conference by the recognitions obtained.
This initiative deeply divides Western allies. If France and the UK were to carry out this recognition, they would become the first G7 nations to take this step, causing a “political earthquake” according to observers, given their historical ties with Israel. The Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer threatened last week to annex parts of the West Bank if this recognition took place, according to a report in the Israeli newspaper Haaretz.
In the United Kingdom, Foreign Secretary David Lammy publicly opposes unilateral recognition, stating that London would only recognize a Palestinian state when we know that it is going to happen and that it is in view.
However, pressure is mounting within the Labour Party. MP Uma Kumaran, member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, said that the government was elected on a platform that promised to recognize Palestine as a step towards a just and lasting peace. Chris Doyle, director of the Council for Arab-British Understanding, believes that there is no legitimate reason for the United States to interfere in a sovereign decision of recognition, while highlighting the unpredictability of US President Donald Trump on this issue.
The post Washington Warns UK, France Against Recognizing Palestinian Statehood first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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Police, Shin Bet Thwart Suspected Iranian Attempt Perpetrate Terror Attack
A small number of Jewish worshipers pray during the priestly blessing, a traditional prayer which usually attracts thousands of worshipers at the Western Wall on the holiday of Passover during 2020, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Jerusalem’s Old City, April 12, 2020. Photo: Reuters / Ronen Zvulun.
i24 News – The Shin Bet security agency and Israel Police thwarted another Iranian attempt to recruit Israelis, according to a statement on Tuesday, arresting a resident of East Jerusalem for allegedly carrying out missions for the Islamic Republic.
Iranian agents recruited the suspect, who in turn recruited members of his family. He is a resident of the Isawiya neighborhood in his 30s, and is accused of maintaining contact with a hostile foreign entity to harm the state by carrying out a terrorist attack against Jews.
The suspect had already begun perpetrating acts of sabotage and espionage, including collecting intelligence about areas in Jerusalem, including the Western Wall and Mahane Yehuda Market. He also hung signs, burned Israeli army uniforms, and more in exchange for payment totaling thousands of shekels.
He was also charged with planning a terror attack in central Israel, including setting fire to a forest, and was told to transfer weapons to terrorist elements in the West Bank.
The suspect’s sought the help of family members, including his mother. A search at his home revealed sums of cash, a spray can used in some of his activities, airsoft guns, suspected illegal drugs, and more.
His indictment is expected to be filed by the Jerusalem District Attorney’s Office.
The statement said that the case is yet another example of Iranian efforts to recruit Israelis. “We will continue to coordinate efforts to thwart terrorism and terrorist elements, including those operating outside Israel, while attempting to mobilize local elements in order to protect the citizens of the State of Israel,” the Shin Bet and Police said.
The post Police, Shin Bet Thwart Suspected Iranian Attempt Perpetrate Terror Attack first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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Pro-Russian, Anti-Israeli Hackers Pose Biggest Cybercrime Threats in Germany
German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt holds a chart showing the development of antisemitic crime, during a press conference on Figures for Politically Motivated Crime in the Country, in Berlin, Germany, May 20, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Lisi Niesner
Cybercrime in Germany rose to a record level last year, driven by hacker attacks from pro-Russian and anti-Israeli groups, the BKA Federal Crime Office reported on Tuesday as the government said it would boost countermeasures to combat it.
“Cybercrime is an increasing threat to our security,” said Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt. “It is getting more aggressive but our counter-strategies are also becoming more professional,” he said.
Some 131,391 cases of cybercrime took place in Germany last year and a further 201,877 cases were committed from abroad or an unknown location, a BKA report said.
The actors behind the hacker attacks on German targets were primarily either pro-Russian or anti-Israeli, said the BKA, adding targets were mostly public and federal institutions.
Ransomware, when criminals copy and encrypt data, is one of the main threats, said the BKA, with 950 companies and institutes reporting cases in 2024.
German digital association Bitkom said damage caused by cyberattacks here totaled 178.6 billion euros ($203.87 billion) last year, some 30.4 billion euros more than in the previous year.
Dobrindt said the government planned to extend the legal capabilities authorities could use to combat cybercrime and set higher security standards for companies.
The post Pro-Russian, Anti-Israeli Hackers Pose Biggest Cybercrime Threats in Germany first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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