AGP Executive Report

Israeli Film: A new KAN documentary revisits Soroka Medical Center’s response to October 7, following staff who treated 674 people while worrying about loved ones and colleagues. Culture and Boycott: A Swiss queer film festival removed the award-winning Israeli film Tell Me Everything after boycott threats. Jewish Community: Rachel Goldberg-Polin and Jon Polin, parents of slain hostage Hersh, are set to speak in Sarasota on Nov. 17; more than 1,300 people registered, prompting a move to a larger venue. Volunteering: Sixty Israelis with Heroes for Life completed a program in Nepal, leading creative activities and school renovation projects across Kathmandu and Lalitpur.

Film: Geneva’s Everyone’s Perfect queer film festival has removed Israeli drama Tell Me Everything after boycott threats. The Ophir Award-winning film, Israel’s Oscar submission, follows a boy discovering his father is gay during the AIDS epidemic. Live Music: Boy George has announced a second concert in Israel, dedicated to survivors of the Nova music festival. Jerusalem Arts: The Jerusalem Biennale includes Into My Fall That Is Endless, a group exhibition at Marie Gallery running through November 15. The city’s cultural calendar also features a new production of Martin McDonagh’s The Pillowman at Mikro Theater, with English and Russian subtitles.

Jewish Public Life: New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he was proud to attend an Oct. 7 vigil, where protesters called him a “traitor” and disrupted the gathering. His anniversary statement, which focused heavily on Gaza, drew criticism from Jewish groups. Screen & Stage: Israeli actress Noa Cohen defended artists who support Israel and urged Hollywood not to shut down discussion, as she promotes Our Loves, a drama set during the Oct. 7 attacks. Boy George has announced a second Israel concert, dedicated to Nova festival survivors. Art & Memory: The Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles is lit blue for 72 hours to remember Oct. 7 victims. In Winnipeg, a memorial installation of 1,400 crocheted anemones honored the dead. Jerusalem Biennale artists are exploring Jewish memory, while a new Tel Aviv exhibition reveals private works by six Israeli artists. An international LGBT film festival is also bringing screenings to the Tel Aviv Cinematheque.

Music and Remembrance: Boy George has added a November 7 Tel Aviv concert dedicated to Nova festival survivors and families after his first show sold out. The title, “We Will Dance Again,” echoes his tribute song. Archaeology: A 2,000-year-old mikveh was lifted intact from Kiryat Gat, revealing evidence of a previously unknown Second Temple-era Jewish settlement. Jewish Heritage: A new feature revisits Persian Jewish poet Shahin Shirazi, whose Genesis-Nama blends Jewish tradition with Persian epic storytelling. Arts in Tel Aviv: A new exhibition presents private works by six Israeli artists, while the Tel Aviv Cinematheque is set to host an international LGBTQ film festival. Community Life: A Jewish Federations of North America survey found 38% of Jewish respondents had deepened their engagement with Jewish life since October 7, suggesting the post-attack surge has endured.

Anniversary and Memory: Israelis marked three years since the October 7 attacks with memorials and gatherings, as survivors and communities continue to rebuild. At Sapir College, where 50 people were lost that day, the campus is rebuilding too. Film and Healing: Israeli actress Noa Cohen says making Our Loves, a drama about the attacks directed by Avi Nesher, became a form of therapy. The film follows diverse Israelis whose lives were upended that day. Art and Resilience: Jerusalem’s Biennale is turning trauma into art and reflection, while a new Tel Aviv exhibition reveals previously unseen work by six Israeli artists.

October 7, Three Years On: Israeli schools held memorials and age-appropriate discussions, while protests across the country demanded a state inquiry into the failures behind the Hamas attack. Arts Under Pressure: Israeli novelist and playwright Naomi Ragen says a Chicago theater company dropped its planned revival of Women’s Minyan after performers reportedly feared professional backlash over working with a pro-Israel Israeli writer. A Stage Legend Remembered: Illy Gorlitzky, a defining figure in Israeli theater, film and Hebrew song, has died at 91. His landmark musical King Solomon and Shalmai the Cobbler played more than 1,000 times. Nature’s Return: The first cranes of the autumn migration have arrived at Hula Lake in northern Israel, with tens of thousands more expected in the coming weeks.

Arts & Identity: Azealia Banks says she’s moved to Tel Aviv to work on new music, praising Israel’s “mature” arts scene and local creative camaraderie. Security & Society: Shin Bet chief David Zini warned of “quasi-military battalions” being built in Negev Bedouin communities amid weapons smuggling and radicalization. Diaspora Culture & Memory: In Vancouver, Boy George debuted his pro-Israel song “We Will Dance Again” at Temple Sholom for Rosh Hashanah, with security limits on recording. Campus Tensions: Oregon lawmakers and university officials condemned antisemitic posters targeting Oregon Hillel’s director; in New York City, NYPD data shows antisemitic hate crimes rising even as overall crime falls. Education Under Fire: New York’s DOE is investigating alleged antisemitic comments by a Park Slope teacher tied to praise for Hamas leader Yahya al-Sinwar. Global Commemoration: Leaders across Australia and Germany marked the Oct. 7 anniversary, reiterating support for Israel while warning of rising antisemitism.

Diplomacy & Culture Clash: The UK may expel up to 27 Israeli diplomats after Israel threatens to close the UK consulate in East Jerusalem, a move tied to UK sanctions on West Bank settlement goods. Politics & Identity: In Britain, the Green Party’s “Zionism is racism” vote is triggering resignations and fears among Jewish members, while Zohran Mamdani faces fresh pressure over antisemitism claims. Security & Travel: Israel denied entry to 33 Chinese nationals using forged Japanese passports at Allenby Crossing. Gaza & Media: Gaza strikes continue, while a new report says Israel has killed about 250 journalists since Oct. 7—an unprecedented toll. West Bank Tensions: Settler attacks near Hebron and Jerusalem reportedly set homes and livestock shelters on fire. Heritage & Tourism: Renovation begins on Herod’s Pools in the West Bank, framed as strengthening Jewish heritage and boosting tourism. International Spotlight: A CIA assessment reportedly warns Israel could face civil-war or state-collapse risks ahead of the Oct. 27 election.

UK Green Party Fallout: Britain’s Green Party voted to define “Zionism is racism,” triggering backlash from Jewish leaders and prompting Israel to ban party leader Zack Polanski from entering the country. Community & Education: Across the US, Jewish families say Oct. 7-era antisemitism is pushing kids out of public schools, while Jewish students build alliances and organize to face campus hostility. Flydubai Security & Culture: The attempted hijacking plot tied to Israel’s election spotlighted aviation failures and radicalization claims, with debate over how media describe “Islamist” motives. Gaza Christian Losses: Two women from Gaza’s small Greek Orthodox community were killed in an Israeli strike, underscoring how war reshapes religious life and funerals. Jerusalem & Holy Sites: Dozens of settlers stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque under police protection, raising fears of changing the site’s status quo. Politics & Risk: A CIA-linked warning says Israel could face internal fracture or civil conflict, with ultra-Orthodox draft exemptions at the center. Arts & Memory: Tel Aviv unveiled a mural turning Bart Simpson into a Hamas figure, while Jerusalem dedicated a Teddy Stadium mural honoring returned hostages Ori Danino and Hersh Goldberg-Polin.

UK Politics & Antisemitism: The UK Green Party voted to define Zionism as racism, triggering backlash and prompting Israel to ban party leader Zack Polanski from entering the country. Israeli Culture & Film: Haifa’s film festival crowned Shmuel Beru’s “Hager (Land)” as Best Israeli Film, spotlighting Ethiopian Jewish journeys to Israel. West Bank Human Stories: Israeli forces demolished a Birzeit University memorial and arrested 12 Palestinians, while raids across the West Bank targeted families and olive harvesters. Gaza & Faith: The Pope sent a personal condolence message to Gaza’s Catholic parish after an Israeli strike killed a Christian mother and daughter. Aviation & Security: Australia launched a probe into the FlyDubai co-pilot’s past after an alleged attempt to seize an Israel-bound plane; the incident is being treated as terrorism. German Jewish Life: Germany’s Jewish community faces a “new anti-Semitic normality,” a federal report says, with discrimination spreading across housing, work, and schools. Opinion & Identity: Writers debate Zionism, anti-Zionism, and how campus and political rhetoric fuels antisemitism.

IDF Overhaul After Oct. 7: The IDF says it will reshape readiness around what enemies can do, expanding alert forces, boosting border defense, and overhauling intelligence after internal investigations. UK Green Party Clash: Israel barred UK Green leader Zack Polanski after the party voted to define Zionism as racism and back a single Palestinian state; Israel called it “legitimising terrorism,” while critics warn it conflates anti-Zionism with antisemitism. Aviation Security Shock: After an Omani co-pilot’s attempted crash on a Flydubai flight to Israel, Netanyahu ordered a security review of foreign civil aviation to Israel, as questions swirl around vetting and accountability. Education & Antisemitism Abroad: Twelve Jewish Ontario teachers filed human rights applications against school boards and unions, citing antisemitic incidents and mishandled complaints. Culture & Identity: Time Magazine highlighted Jewish figures in its “Time100 Next” list, with several discussing Jewish identity as inspiration and activism. Humanitarian Reality: Reports and tributes continue around Gaza’s ongoing destruction, including the killing of Palestinian Christian mother and daughter in a Gaza City strike.

Aviation & Security: The Flydubai FZ1073 cockpit attack remains in focus as investigators weigh the background of Omani co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami and the wider security vetting failures around Israel-bound commercial flights, while Al-Qaeda supporters have urged copycat plane attacks. Culture & Memory: Israeli filmmakers are pushing back on the global conversation around Oct. 7 with NAZA: The Real Story, a counter-documentary aimed at shaping how the Gaza war is understood abroad. Religion & Community: The Serbian Orthodox Church warns that Christians in Palestine face growing persecution and discrimination, urging protection of the community’s 2,000-year presence. Politics & Identity: Ahead of Oct. 27, a resurfaced interview has reignited debate inside Israel’s right-wing “People of Israel” party over whether a Palestinian state should exist. Lifestyle & Faith in Public Life: In the U.S., a Texas judge ordered Ten Commandments posters in classrooms, a reminder of how religion keeps colliding with everyday public spaces. West Bank Daily Life: Witnesses report settlers’ increasing use of drones and renewed violence around olive harvest season.

Flydubai Terror Probe: Australian counter-terror teams are investigating alleged links to Omani co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami, accused of attacking the captain with a crash axe on a Tel Aviv-bound flight, as reports also focus on his UK education and extremist online trail. Gaza Civilian Toll: Israeli strikes on Gaza City killed at least five Palestinians, including four women, destroying an apartment building and sparking a fire, with funerals held in the local Christian community. Simchat Torah at Nova Site: Despite a police and KKL-JNF ban, Israelis held a Simchat Torah gathering near the Nova memorial, reigniting debate over remembrance, public space, and security rules. Jerusalem Culture & Community: Second hakafot celebrations drew crowds across Israel, including hospital visits by students and Torah dancing in major cities. Sports & Identity: In Jerusalem, an American-born baseball mom is pushing for baseball’s growth, aiming to make it part of Israel’s broader cultural life. Culture in the Courts: Israel’s Supreme Court overturned a disqualification of Arab parties, reshaping the political landscape ahead of elections. LGBTQ+ Film: Tel Aviv Cinematheque is hosting an international LGBT film festival with screenings. Religion & Rights Abroad: CAIR and CAIR-Florida urged a US court to block Florida’s move to designate them “domestic terrorists,” warning it threatens free speech and civil rights.

Flydubai Terror Attempt: UAE prosecutors confirmed the Dubai–Tel Aviv co-pilot, Omani national Hamam al-Hammami, attacked the captain with a cockpit crash axe in a “terrorist act,” prompting an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia; Israel says he was “Islamist radical” and questions screening, while reports add links to extremist social media. Gaza Civilian Toll: An Israeli strike in Gaza City killed at least five Palestinians, including four women and a Christian mother and daughter, destroying an apartment building and sparking a fire amid stalled ceasefire reconstruction. West Bank Olive Season Violence: Settlers, under army protection, attacked olive pickers and homes in areas including Beita and Abu Dis, with reports of detentions of farmers and journalists. Al-Aqsa Under Strain: Palestinian sources say thousands of settlers stormed Al-Aqsa during Sukkot, with tightened access rules and clashes around worshippers. US Rights Pressure: CAIR urged the White House and Congress to demand release of an American teen held in an Israeli prison without charge for nearly four months. UK Court Terror Charges: Two Iranian nationals appeared in a London court charged over a plot targeting Manchester’s Jewish community, including alleged surveillance and a homemade bomb plan. Culture & City Life: Acre’s Old City hosted the Israel Fringe Theater Festival, turning historic streets into a stage for street art, circus, dance, and immersive performances.

Flydubai Hijacking Aftermath: Israel is investigating how an Omani co-pilot allegedly tried to crash an Israel-bound flight, with reports claiming he was radicalized and had posted “killing Jews” content; the captain survived after passengers stormed the cockpit, and Israel says it found a “loophole” that let pilots from non-diplomatic countries work on the route. Supreme Court & Arab Politics: Israel’s top court overturned a ban on Arab lists, clearing the way for the Joint List and United Arab List to run, while Balad leader Sami Abu Shehadeh withdrew after court pressure. Culture & Faith: The Jerusalem Biennale 2026 opens under the theme “De Profundis,” framing art as prayer and healing after Oct. 7; Simchat Torah coverage also highlights the tradition of restarting Torah reading immediately. Lifestyle & Learning: A Vermont farm stay is spotlighted as a modern take on kibbutz life and Sukkot’s agrarian roots. Culture Wars in Academia: Multiple opinion pieces and essays debate academic freedom amid Israel/Palestine tensions, including claims that universities are tightening “legitimate expression” through governance and reputation. Global Cultural Diplomacy: Qatar’s Season of Seminars convenes researchers and diplomats to discuss identity, politics, and the Palestinian issue.

Flydubai Hijacking Aftermath: A co-pilot allegedly stabbed the captain on an Israel-bound flight, forcing an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia; Saudi authorities have handed the suspect to the UAE as investigators weigh motives and possible links to Iran, while Israeli officials and US leaders warn of “very hard” retaliation if Iran is involved. Gaza & West Bank Violence: An Israeli drone strike killed a Palestinian man in southern Gaza and settlers shot dead another Palestinian near Ramallah, as Gaza’s reported death toll since the October 2025 ceasefire continues to climb. IDF vs. Documentary “NAZA”: The IDF released a detailed rebuttal to the Gaza-focused film, calling it manipulative and factually distorted, after the documentary sparked major public confrontations. Arts, Protest & Antisemitism: The ADL kicked off its “State of the Arts” push amid claims of systemic exclusion of Jewish and Israeli artists, while US courts weigh cases tied to anti-Israel protests at synagogues and universities. Community & Culture: EarlyJ expanded Jewish parenting centers in California, and Israeli President Herzog criticized UK settlement sanctions as election interference. Religion & Identity: A Dearborn imam drew backlash after a video circulated denying 9/11’s legitimacy, reigniting debate over Muslim public discourse and extremism.