RSS
Kanye West apologizes to the Jewish community — in Hebrew
(JTA) – A year after a series of antisemitic tirades against the Jewish community, Kanye West, the rapper and fashion mogul who now goes by Ye, has posted what appears to be an apology, written entirely in Hebrew.
“I sincerely apologize to the Jewish community for any unintended outburst caused by my words or actions,” he posted in Hebrew to his 18 million followers on Instagram and nearly 32 million followers on X. “It was not my intention to hurt or disrespect, and I deeply regret any pain I may have caused.”
“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,” it continues.
The post raised some eyebrows, especially the fact that it was written in Hebrew with no English translation provided. One commenter wrote, “Takes a lot of chutzpah to google translate a weak-sauce apology into Hebrew,” before comparing the rapper to Amalek, an enemy of the Israelites in the Hebrew Bible.
Another Jewish user commented, “Lol. Using Hebrew to apologize so his fans can’t read it. Can’t even write in English anywhere on the post as he’s too embarrassed to be seen apologising to us Jews … coincidence his album is out soon? Give me a break.”
For others, the apology was cautiously well-received.
“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 Anti-Defamation League posted on X. “Ultimately, actions will speak louder than words but this initial act of contrition is welcome,” the organization, which tracks and combats antisemitic activity, wrote.
The short missive, currently the 46-year-old rapper’s only post on Instagram, has garnered over 1.2 million likes in just ten hours. West also posted the statement on X, one of just three posts there.
West made headlines last fall after a series of comments across social media and in public appearance alleging Jewish control of the music industry and for citing a baseless doctrine that Black Jews are the only authentic Jews. On X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, he vowed to “go death con 3” on Jewish critics of some of his antisemitic posts. During an appearance on the far-right show “InfoWars,” with Alex Jones, he said “I like Hitler” and “Hitler had a lot of redeeming qualities.” He also brought along the white supremacist Nick Fuentes to a dinner with Donald Trump at Mar-A-Lago and tweeted a photo of a swastika.
The posts lost him millions of dollars in sponsorships and briefly got him suspended from X.
The apology arrives just ahead of the release of his forthcoming album “Vultures,” made in collaboration with Ty Dolla $ign, which was originally supposed to arrive mid-December but was delayed until Jan. 12. The statement could be a way of getting in front of potential antisemitic allegations when the album is released. In a single for the album that was released on Nov. 17 — also titled “Vultures” — West raps, “How I’m antisemitic? I just f–d a Jewish b–h/I just f–d Scooter’s b–h and we ran up like Olympics.” The line is referring to West’s Jewish former manager Scooter Braun and possibly his ex-wife Yael Cohen.
West’s apology also arrives during a period of rising antisemitism in the United States and Europe as well as during the war between Israel and Hamas.
Some users suggested their own ideas for how West might make amends in light of recent events. “Start by going to ISRAEL immediately & speak to families of Hostages & witness the devastation with your own eyes,” wrote the actor and comedian Michael Rapaport.
The Jewish-Israeli rapper Rami Even-Esh, whose stage name is Kosha Dillz, suggested an “Album release in israel, switch all scooter lines, and donate $$ to Hatzalah,” the Jewish ambulance corps. He also suggested that Ye open forthcoming concerts with Israeli and Palestinian rappers.
—
The post Kanye West apologizes to the Jewish community — in Hebrew appeared first on Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
RSS
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.
RSS
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.
RSS
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.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login