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Largest Township in US Creates Antisemitism Task Force for Second Biggest Jewish Population in the Nation
Antisemitic graffiti daubed outside Miriam, an Israeli-owned restaurant on New York City’s Upper West Side. Photo: The Algemeiner.
The Town of Hempstead in New York, which is the largest township in America, has a new task force to combat antisemitism and help keep its local Jewish community safe.
Hempstead Town Supervisor Don Clavin announced on Thursday the creation of The Antisemitism Task Force. The newly formed group of local community and spiritual leaders will take a number of approaches to combat hate and intolerance in the Town of Hempstead.
“Education and community outreach will include various methods such as partnering with local educational institutions to host historical programs, implementing Holocaust education programs, working with local villages within Hempstead Town to adopt the IHRA working definition of antisemitism, supporting interfaith and multicultural initiatives to promote tolerance, and enhancing security for Jewish community centers by working with local law enforcement, to name a few,” read a statement about the task force published by the town and shared by the Combat Antisemitism Movement.
Clavin made the announcement about the new task force in front of West Hempstead’s Hebrew Academy of Nassau County Samuel and Elizabeth Bass Golding Elementary School.
The Town of Hempstead reportedly has the second largest Jewish population in the US, following New York City. In 2021, it become the first municipality in its region to adopt legislation against the boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel.
Hempstead also adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) definition of antisemitism. Beyond classic antisemitic behavior associated with the likes of the medieval period and Nazi Germany, the IHRA definition includes denial of the Holocaust and newer forms of antisemitism targeting Israel such as demonizing the Jewish state, denying its right to exist, and holding it to standards not expected of any other democratic state.
In April, Clavin and other local leaders denounced anti-Israel and antisemitic graffiti that was spray painted on an elementary school and over posters of the hostages taken from Israel by Hamas terrorists during their deadly rampage on Oct. 7. One of the American hostages still held in captivity in the Gaza Strip, Omer Neutra, is from Plainview in Long Island.
Sebastian Patino Caceres, 23, was arrested in connection to the incident and charged with seven counts of criminal mischief, possession of graffiti instruments, and seven counts of making graffiti.
“The Town of Hempstead has a zero-tolerance policy against hate and intolerance of all kinds,” Clavin said on Thursday. “We are quick to publicly denounce any and all acts of intolerance within our township, however there is a growing trend of antisemitism ramping up through the nation. It is our responsibility to be proactive against this disturbing trend and the creation of an Antisemitism Task Force is the first step towards making this defense a reality.”
“As the holy days of the Jewish faith approach, I am proud that the Town of Hempstead is a home where residents from all walks of life can practice religion freely and without concern,” he added. “I remain committed to combating hatred and intolerance in all forms, and I thank the spiritual leaders and global activists who have joined me today for this important announcement.”
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) reported earlier this year that antisemitic incidents in New York jumped 110 percent in 2023, which is the highest number ADL has ever recorded in the state and the second-highest number reported in any state across the US last year.
Last week, a Pakistani national was arrested and charged for planning to carry out an ISIS-inspired, mass shooting terrorist attack at a Jewish center in New York City.
The post Largest Township in US Creates Antisemitism Task Force for Second Biggest Jewish Population in the Nation first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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Israel Says Missile Launched by Yemen’s Houthis ‘Most Likely’ Intercepted
Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi addresses followers via a video link at the al-Shaab Mosque, formerly al-Saleh Mosque, in Sanaa, Yemen, Feb. 6, 2024. Photo: REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah
The Israeli army said on Saturday that a missile fired from Yemen towards Israeli territory had been “most likely successfully intercepted,” while Yemen’s Houthi forces claimed responsibility for the launch.
Israel has threatened Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement – which has been attacking Israel in what it says is solidarity with Gaza – with a naval and air blockade if its attacks on Israel persist.
The Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the group was responsible for Saturday’s attack, adding that it fired a missile towards the southern Israeli city of Beersheba.
Since the start of Israel’s war in Gaza in October 2023, the Houthis, who control most of Yemen, have been firing at Israel and at shipping in the Red Sea, disrupting global trade.
Most of the dozens of missiles and drones they have launched have been intercepted or fallen short. Israel has carried out a series of retaliatory strikes.
The post Israel Says Missile Launched by Yemen’s Houthis ‘Most Likely’ Intercepted first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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Iran Holds Funeral for Commanders and Scientists Killed in War with Israel
People attend the funeral procession of Iranian military commanders, nuclear scientists and others killed in Israeli strikes, in Tehran, Iran, June 28, 2025. Photo: Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS
Large crowds of mourners dressed in black lined streets in Iran’s capital Tehran as the country held a funeral on Saturday for top military commanders, nuclear scientists and some of the civilians killed during this month’s aerial war with Israel.
At least 16 scientists and 10 senior commanders were among those mourned at the funeral, according to state media, including armed forces chief Major General Mohammad Bagheri, Revolutionary Guards commander General Hossein Salami, and Guards Aerospace Force chief General Amir Ali Hajizadeh.
Their coffins were driven into Tehran’s Azadi Square adorned with their photos and national flags, as crowds waved flags and some reached out to touch the caskets and throw rose petals onto them. State-run Press TV showed an image of ballistic missiles on display.
Mass prayers were later held in the square.
State TV said the funeral, dubbed the “procession of the Martyrs of Power,” was held for a total of 60 people killed in the war, including four women and four children.
In attendance were President Masoud Pezeshkian and other senior figures including Ali Shamkhani, who was seriously wounded during the conflict and is an adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as well as Khamenei’s son Mojtaba.
“Today, Iranians, through heroic resistance against two regimes armed with nuclear weapons, protected their honor and dignity, and look to the future prouder, more dignified, and more resolute than ever,” Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, who also attended the funeral, said in a Telegram post.
There was no immediate statement from Khamenei, who has not appeared publicly since the conflict began. In past funerals, he led prayers over the coffins of senior commanders ahead of public ceremonies broadcast on state television.
Israel launched the air war on June 13, attacking Iranian nuclear facilities and killing top military commanders as well as civilians in the worst blow to the Islamic Republic since the 1980s war with Iraq.
Iran retaliated with barrages of missiles on Israeli military sites, infrastructure and cities. The United States entered the war on June 22 with strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
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Israel, the only Middle Eastern country widely believed to have nuclear weapons, said it aimed to prevent Tehran from developing its own nuclear weapons.
Iran denies having a nuclear weapons program. The U.N. nuclear watchdog has said it has “no credible indication” of an active, coordinated weapons program in Iran.
Bagheri, Salami and Hajizadeh were killed on June 13, the first day of the war. Bagheri was being buried at the Behesht Zahra cemetery outside Tehran mid-afternoon on Saturday. Salami and Hajizadeh were due to be buried on Sunday.
US President Donald Trump said on Friday that he would consider bombing Iran again, while Khamenei, who has appeared in two pre-recorded video messages since the start of the war, has said Iran would respond to any future US attack by striking US military bases in the Middle East.
A senior Israeli military official said on Friday that Israel had delivered a “major blow” to Iran’s nuclear project. On Saturday, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said in a statement that Israel and the US “failed to achieve their stated objectives” in the war.
According to Iranian health ministry figures, 610 people were killed on the Iranian side in the war before a ceasefire went into effect on Tuesday. More than 4,700 were injured.
Activist news agency HRANA put the number of killed at 974, including 387 civilians.
Israel’s health ministry said 28 were killed in Israel and 3,238 injured.
The post Iran Holds Funeral for Commanders and Scientists Killed in War with Israel first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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Pro-Palestinian Rapper Leads ‘Death to the IDF’ Chant at English Music festival
Revellers dance as Avril Lavigne performs on the Other Stage during the Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm, in Pilton, Somerset, Britain, June 30, 2024. Photo: REUTERS/Dylan Martinez
i24 News – Chants of “death to the IDF” were heard during the English Glastonbury music festival on Saturday ahead of the appearance of the pro-Palestinian Irish rappers Kneecap.
One half of punk duo based Bob Vylan (who both use aliases to protect their privacy) shouted out during a section of their show “Death to the IDF” – the Israeli military. Videos posted on X (formerly Twitter) show the crowd responding to and repeating the cheer.
This comes after officials had petitioned the music festival to drop the band. The rap duo also expressed support for the following act, Kneecap, who the BCC refused to show live after one of its members, Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh – better known by stage name Mo Chara – was charged with a terror offense.
The post Pro-Palestinian Rapper Leads ‘Death to the IDF’ Chant at English Music festival first appeared on Algemeiner.com.