Society & Politics

• Significant UK-Australia trade deal paves way for many more. A zero-tariffs free-trade deal between the UK and Australia was formally agreed this week; the first to be built from scratch since Brexit (many others were roll-overs from the UK's time in the EU). The move is seen as an important step towards the UK joining the wider Asia Pacific free-trade agreement, and paves the way for further deals, with plans already made for talks with the US, India, Canada, New Zealand, Mexico and India. “There's no shortage of countries who want to do deals with the UK”, said international trade secretary Liz Truss. Read also here and here.
• Germany bans killing chick embryos, but allows abortion of humans. Germany recently passed a law forbidding the killing of 6-day old chick embryos since they are “sensitive to pain”. However, the country still allows human abortions, which are allowed for any reason up to 12 weeks after conception (in some cases much later) – despite research showing that unborn babies may feel pain at 12 weeks. The news comes as official statistics in the UK reveal that the number and rate of abortions in England and Wales have reached an all-time high.
• One fifth of recent anti-Semitic incidents occurred in schools. May had the highest number of anti-Semitic incidents ever recorded in the UK. Shockingly, 20% of these have taken place in schools. Feeling increasingly intimidated, many Jewish teachers are leaving the teachers’ union, the NEU, for failing to support them. Some are leaving the profession altogether; not least a Jewish teacher who resigned from a non-Jewish school in London after being bullied by students. Ofsted say they are concerned by the findings, and insist that schools failing to act on anti-Semitism could be reproved in their inspection reports.
• Anti-Israeli activist now advising UK teachers. Meanwhile, an anti-Israel journalist who has committed anti-Semitic crimes, including vandalising a Warsaw ghetto, has been given access to influence British teachers to spread her anti-Israel agenda through the guise of tackling anti-Semitism. Read more here and here.
• Medical concerns about vaccinating children. The UK Medical Freedom Alliance has written an open letter to the MHRA – the UK regulating body which has recently granted approval for the Pfizer vaccine to be used for children age 12+ – expressing concern about their decision. Their reasons include the limited trial data for children, including a lack of understanding of any long-term impacts, the fact that this vaccine remains experimental, licensed on an emergency basis, with the Phase 3 trials yet to be completed, complications and deaths occurring in under-18s receiving the vaccine in the US, and the fact that children are at miniscule risk from Covid 19, meaning that the risks vastly outweigh the benefits for this group. While Chris Whitty believes children may need to get the jab to avoid disruption to education in schools, the MFA is clear that children play an insignificant role in the transmission of Covid-19. Read also.
• Concerns re Stonewall’s intimidation. Voice for Justice UK has sent an open letter to Boris Johnson expressing concern at accusations of unacceptable intimidation, bullying and harassment by LGBT rights group, Stonewall of anyone who disagrees with their views. The “charity” is accused of being overtly political and of taking an extremist stance and providing unlawful and highly inaccurate advice on equality law. VfJ calls for all government funding of the organisation to be withdrawn.

World News

• Thousands of persecuted Christians apply for Croatian scholarships. The Croatian government has been inundated with 5,500 applications for scholarships after earmarking about £172,000 for young persecuted Christians from developing countries in Asia, Africa and the Middle East to pursue university studies in Croatia. The aim is that they will acquire knowledge and then return to their own countries better equipped to contribute to shaping their communities along democratic and tolerant lines.
• US and Canadian Jews fear further anti-Semitic attacks. A nationwide survey conducted in America found a large minority of US Jews, 41%, is now more concerned about their personal safety than they were prior to the recent Israel-Hamas conflict. At times of such conflict, cases of anti-Semitism are common, but this year the surge was seen as particularly dramatic and violent. The same was true in Canada, where, at pro-Israel rallies in several cities, Jews were physically assaulted, verbally abused, spat upon, and pelted with rocks. Elsewhere, their businesses and neighbourhoods were targeted.
• Over 350,000 face famine in Ethiopia. Around 350,000 people are facing extreme scarcity of food in Ethiopia’s war-torn Tigray region. Ethiopia’s government has been locked in a bloody war with the Tigray region since last November, leading to the estimated displacement of more than two million people and increasing evidence of genocide and war crimes. Now, millions more require support in the war-torn region, according to the UN, “to avert further slides towards famine”.

Israel & The Middle East

• Benjamin Netanyahu forced out of office after 12 years. Israel’s Knesset has confirmed the nation’s new government – but only just. The new 8-party broad coalition was ratified by 60 votes to 59, with one abstention. A poll shows that very few Israelis expect the new government to last more than a couple of years. Naftali Bennett, leader of the Yamina party, will be prime minister for the next two years, as part of a power-sharing deal. Read also.
• Israel-Hamas conflict flares up again. A number of balloon-borne incendiary devices were launched from the Gaza Strip over the past three evenings, creating numerous fires in southern Israel. Israel’s response each night was to strike Hamas military targets in Gaza. The attacks come just three weeks after a ceasefire was agreed. For an insightful overview of the situation in Gaza, read here and here.
• Only 7% of Arab-Israelis call themselves ‘Palestinian’. According to a recent survey, only 7% of Israeli Arabs identify themselves as Palestinian, down from 18% this time last year. About a half (51%) self-identify as "Israeli-Arab", with a quarter (23%) defining themselves primarily as "Israeli" (a rise of 5% since last year). Meanwhile, a survey of Palestinians living in Judea, Samaria and Gaza found that 75% support Hamas in their fight against Israel, with 60% supporting armed conflict.

Upcoming Events

• New book by Dr Clifford Hill. Clifford Hill’s new book, ‘The Post Pandemic Church: Transformation and Hope for the Future’ is soon to be published by Wilberforce Publications. ‘The Post-Pandemic Church’ is the follow-up to Cliff’s, ‘Beyond the Pandemic’, released last year. The back-cover tells us that "This new book is a work of profound biblical scholarship which examines the words received from God by Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Isaiah in their historical contexts and applies these radical messages to the church and in the nation today". Priced at £10 + £2 p&p, there will be a special online book launch on Monday 28th June – details to follow next week.