Jewish Insider

Indonesia’s recent expressions of support for Iran and the Palestinian cause have raised about questions whether Jakarta is once again becoming more hostile towards Israel and engaging in closer ties with Tehran, or continuing its diplomatic balancing act.

Differing economic and security initiatives are reshaping regional alignments in the Middle East, raising questions about how the U.S. will manage growing competition between Israel, Turkey and other U.S. allies, experts said.

SCOOP | David Kramer, a prominent Michigan Democratic fundraiser who served as the chair of Rep. Haley Stevens’ Senate campaign, told Jewish Insider that, despite reservations, he plans to support Republican former Rep. Mike Rogers in next week’s Michigan Senate election.

Election Day is only the beginning of a long process in Israel, which starts with parties recommending a candidate for PM, and continues with negotiations between the parties. It will be weeks before a governing coalition is formed — if one is formed at all. @lahavharkov.bsky.social reports:

Read today's #DailyKickoff: 👋 Another Democrat defects to Rogers Full briefing 👇 ji.news/5q66i

Rep. Dan Goldman, who co-chairs the House antisemitism task force, said Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed needs to more forcefully condemn an antisemitic ad being run by an outside group promoting his campaign or “he’s full of s***.”

The bond between American and Israeli Jews has strengthened significantly over the past five years, with a growing number of Americans now viewing Israelis as an extension of their own family, according to a recently commissioned survey by the Jewish Federations of North America.

Democratic Michigan Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed’s campaign disavowed an ad circulated by anti-Israel commentator Cenk Uygur and an affiliated PAC supporting El-Sayed, as the ad faced widespread condemnation over what critics said was a blatantly antisemitic message.

Tom Stillman, the St. Louis Blues chairman, issued a statement on Monday condemning an antisemitic protest that occurred during the NHL team’s home game last week. @mattsheareports: ji.news/5q369

The L.A. Unified School District substantiated and ordered corrective action to a Jewish advocacy group’s complaint accusing Canoga Park High staff of promoting one-sided views on Israel and Gaza. Haley Cohen reports: ji.news/5q33x

Angela Gonzales-Torres, a Democratic Socialists of America member and anti-Israel activist running against Rep. Jimmy Gomez in a Los Angeles-based district, became the latest candidate to appear with antisemitic influencer Hasan Piker, joining his livestream on Friday.

Israel does not plan to strike Iran before its election, Defense Minister Israel Katz said, responding to a reported rift between Netanyahu and the IDF chief of staff over the former giving an order to prepare to attack Iran. Lahav Harkov reports: ji.news/5p2id

Shelley Greenspan, who served as White House liaison to the Jewish community under President Joe Biden, joined the Trump administration’s Board of Peace, where she will oversee the U.S.-led body’s external affairs. Emily Jacobs reports: ji.news/5p2i5

Regardless of how Israel’s election tomorrow turns out, Israel’s U.S. critics on the American left are already laying the groundwork to frame any Israeli government that forms as problematic — even if Netanyahu is defeated.

Sen. Rick Scott said his recent trip to Israel, Greece and Cyprus reinforced his critical stance against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Emily Jacobs reports: ji.news/5p24q

A new ad by Abdul El-Sayed’s campaign features far-right influencer Tucker Carlson, who has increasingly engaged in antisemitic rhetoric and hosted a series of extremist guests on his podcast.

Michigan Senate candidate Mike Rogers clashed with NBC's Kristen Welker over his campaign's attacks over Democratic opponent Abdul El-Sayed's ties to the Muslim Brotherhood.

Israel should try to prevent sanctions rather than circumvent them, the Bank of Israel said in a statement, after Netanyahu said Israel may need to use cryptocurrency if it faces further sanctions. @lahavharkov.bsky.social reports:

Read today's #DailyKickoff: 🎯 Bibi or no Bibi, Israel’s critics vow not to budge Full briefing 👇 ji.news/5pzdw

Rep. Haley Stevens declined to directly answer whether she is "still fully behind Abdul El-Sayed" in the Michigan Senate race. "You had still asked me if I'm still on the team," Stevens said when asked by CNN's Dana Bash to clarify. "Well, I'm on the team."

On CNN, Haley Stevens said Abdul El-Sayed needs to do more to reach out to Black voters in Michigan.

Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Jewish Democrat and potential 2028 presidential candidate, declined to say whether he will serve out a full second term if reelected as Pennsylvania governor.

Netanyahu warned that American military assistance to Israel would eventually end, adding that the Jewish state would need to prepare an “alternate economy” in the face of potential sanctions. AJ Rodriguez reports: ji.news/5pqk3

Georgetown University law school’s Student Bar Association condemned a Jewish attorney on Sen. Ted Cruz’s team and accused her of Islamophobia after she appeared on campus to discuss the Muslim Brotherhood and her work representing victims of terrorism. Emily Jacobs reports: ji.news/5pqih

Jewish groups are raising concerns about the American Studies Association’s annual meeting, which includes sessions titled “Zionism Is Racism: Introducing the Critical Zionism Studies Syllabus” and “Dezionizing the U.S. University.” Haley Cohen reports: ji.news/5pqai

SCOOP | Rep. Ro Khanna and a group of at least 30 Democratic colleagues in the House and Senate are set to urge House and Senate leaders negotiating the 2027 NDAA to strip out a provision regarding U.S.-Israel cooperation that has drawn backlash from the far left and far right.

In a meeting at the Vatican with American Jewish Committee CEO Ted Deutch and other AJC leaders from around the country, Pope Leo XIV pledged to combat antisemitism.

Several candidates in Tuesday’s elections in Israel have ties to the U.S., a trend that goes back to the beginning of the Jewish state. @lahavharkov.bsky.social talked to some of them this week. Read the interviews here:

Read today's #DailyKickoff: 💄 Makeup breakup for Lauder, Bibi Full briefing 👇 ji.news/5pn6p

Israel has "one of the best" and "most innovative economies in the world," Bill Ackman, CEO of Pershing Square, told CNBC's Sara Eisen from the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange.

Rep. Jared Moskowitz said a constituent had been arrested in Boca Raton for making a death threat directed at the Florida congressman, the second such arrest since 2024.

Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed hired a veteran political consultant, Lenore Goldman, as a Jewish outreach director for his campaign. Goldman reportedly said she had joined the campaign in September, but the campaign has made no public announcement.

The likeliest outcome of Israel’s upcoming election is a stalemate, according to the final polls ahead of next Tuesday’s election, with neither Netanyahu nor Gadi Eisenkot projected to reach a majority of the Knesset. Lahav Harkov reports: ji.news/5pjf3

Middle East policy experts offered differing assessments of Netanyahu’s prospects in next week’s election. Matthew Shea's full story: ji.news/5pjdc

EXCLUSIVE | A coalition of Jewish groups wrote letters to Scott Bessent and Marco Rubio urging them to clarify their response to European governments’ new sanctions on businesses in territories they deem occupied by Israel.

Barak Ravid told "The Long Game" podcast he speaks to President Trump about "once or twice a week." "I think people should know what the president has to say," the Axios reporter said.

"The tensions that permeate the West Bank — an area where truth and the law can often come second to the realities on the ground — run deep, and activist efforts have the potential to serve as a lit match in a haystack." Full analysis by Melissa Weiss:

Democratic Majority for Israel’s PAC announced on Thursday that it will spend $7 million to fund digital, television and radio ads supporting Reps. Don Davis and Shomari Figures. Marc Rod reports: ji.news/5piqe

Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE), a co-chair of the House antisemitism task force, blasted independent Nebraska Senate nominee Dan Osborn over a new ad targeting Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-NE) for receiving support from AIPAC. Marc Rod reports: ji.news/5pihr

Mike Rogers doubled down on his attacks linking Abdul El-Sayed to the Muslim Brotherhood during the final Michigan Senate debate. "It's actually really quite beneath you, Mike," El-Sayed responded. Read more: ji.news/5phsh

Mike Rogers called Abdul El-Sayed "a risk to our national security" during the final Michigan Senate debate, accusing the Democratic nominee of being "bought off by the Muslim Brotherhood" and having donors who support Hamas and Hezbollah.

Manhattan’s Waldorf Astoria was basking in blue light as more than 800 guests gathered for the inaugural benefit gala of Robert Kraft’s Blue Square Alliance Against Hate. The sold-out event raised more than $32 million to combat antisemitism and discrimination, according to the organizers.

Read today's #DailyKickoff: 🔌 AIPAC pulls plug on candidate endorsements Full briefing 👇 ji.news/5pgpv

Michigan Republican Senate nominee Mike Rogers described his Democratic opponent, Abdul El-Sayed, as a national security threat in their second and final debate, while appealing to Jewish and other disaffected Democratic voters to support him.

New York Democratic congressional nominee Brad Lander announced on a Zoom call with reporters on Wednesday that he would sign on to a new bill to impose sanctions on Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Will Bredderman and Marc Rod report: ji.news/5pf6e

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, Rep. Betty McCollum and Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon joined the chorus of Democrats speaking out against Ilhan Omar and state Sen. Omar Fateh’s planned event in Minneapolis with Hasan Piker. Marc Rod reports: ji.news/5pf68

A House Education & Workforce Committee investigation of K-12 schools found widespread issues with antisemitism and anti-Israel advocacy in school curricula in the Philadelphia and Berkeley school districts. Marc Rod reports: ji.news/5pekp

A review of 130 textbooks by IMPACT-se found antisemitic depictions of Jews and glorified violence, despite al-Sharaa casting himself as a pragmatic statesman. Matthew Shea reports: ji.news/5pejw

SCOOP | After three cycles of direct political involvement through its political action committee, AIPAC announced it will no longer issue endorsements or directly earmark contributions to candidates. Marc Rod reports: ji.news/5pegt

A new publishing house made its New York City debut with a pitch for a different kind of literary establishment: one where Jewish and Israeli writers don’t have to worry that their identities or perspectives will keep their books off the shelves. Haley Cohen reports: ji.news/5pe9k