Wake Up, Wimmera | Thursday, February 23, 2017

PIC OF THE DAY: Use the hashtag #wakeupWimmera on Instagram or email cass.dalgleish@fairfaxmedia.com.au to have your pic included! Photo: @reelfishmedia, via Instagram - Blue hour #reflections #taylorslake #horshamvic #wakeupwimmera A Northern Grampians family had been to hell and back before they faced another tragic blow when a father of two died in a motorcycle accident on Saturday. More here .

Trump denounces anti-Semitism in newly forceful condemnation

President Donald Trump on Tuesday condemned recent threats against Jewish community centres in the U.S. as "painful reminders" of lingering prejudice and evil, his first full-throated comments on the rise of anti-Semitic venom after pressure for him to speak out forcefully. With his somewhat delayed denunciation, Trump sought to reset his relationship with American Jews, which has been strained by a recent White House statement on the Holocaust, comments by some of his supporters and his own fractious exchange with a reporter for an Orthodox Jewish publication.

The Latest: Senators ask attorney general, FBI for briefing

The top Republican and Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee are asking the attorney general and FBI director for a briefing on the resignation of National Security Adviser Michael Flynn. Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa and Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California sent a letter late Wednesday to Attorney General Jeff Sessions and FBI Director James Comey requesting a briefing the week of Feb. 27. Congress is out of session next week for the Presidents' Day holiday.

Tensions over Trump deepen fractures among American Jews

The early weeks of the Trump Administration have widened divides between liberal and conservative Jews, setting off quarrels over anti-Semitism, Israel and the Holocaust. Well before the 2016 election, discussion over Israel had become so barbed among Jews that Jewish groups began organizing civility training so relationships and holidays wouldn't be ruined.

Report: Friedman will apologize for using a kapoa to describe liberal Jews

President Donald Trump's nominee for U.S. ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, is expected to apologize during his Senate confirmation hearing for derogatory statements he has made against liberal Jews. Representatives of the nominee told Sen. Benjamin Cardin, D-Md., who is the senior Democratic member of the Foreign Relations Committee that will hold the confirmation hearing, that Friedman will apologize for use of the term "kapo" to attack J Street, the liberal Jewish Middle East policy group, the New York Times reported on Tuesday.

Report: Trump’s Israel envoy pick to apologize for ‘kapo’ remarks

Letters from rabbis, Holocaust survivors decry David Friedman's use of term against J Street ahead of his Senate confirmation hearing Thursday for the position of US ambassador to Israel. President Donald Trump's nominee for US ambassador to Israel, David Friedman , was expected to apologize at his Senate confirmation hearing Thursday for contentious past remarks he made about the liberal Jewish lobbyist group J Street, The New York Times reported Tuesday.

Trump allegedly orders dossier on PM’s scandals after remark on his personality

US President Donald Trump signs an executive order as Chief of Staff Reince Priebus looks on in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, January 23, 2017. US President Donald Trump allegedly instructed White House staff to provide him with a report on the ongoing criminal investigations involving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following the publication of comments the prime minister is purported to have said about Trump's personality, the Hebrew daily Yedioth Ahronoth reported Wednesday.

Israel leader’s White House trip clouded in uncertainty

In this Sunday, Feb. 12, 2017, file photo, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu chairs the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem. Israel's prime minister heads to Washington this week for a high-profile meeting with President Donald Trump that is suddenly clouded in uncertainty.

On Trump’s National Security Team, Insecurity Over Michael Flynn and Policy

National Security Adviser Michael Flynn is currently under scrutiny for a phone call he had with Sergey Kislyak, the Russian ambassador to the U.S., in December. President Donald Trump's national security team reportedly is in a state of crisis, tied largely to suspicions National Security Adviser Michael Flynn discussed lifting sanctions with a Russian envoy and then hid the nature of those conversations from colleagues including Vice President Mike Pence .

Netanyahu leads the weekly cabinet meeting, February 12, 2017.

During his weekly Cabinet meeting Sunday Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded to the proposed appointment of former PA Prime Minister Salam Fayyad to sereve as the UN envoy to Libya: "Several days ago, I was informed of the possibility of the appointment of Salaam Fayyad to a UN position. I said that the time has come for reciprocity in the UN's relations with Israel and free gifts cannot be constantly given to the Palestinian side."

‘Trump’s government is waiting to see what Netanyahu wants’

At an event in Gush Etzion's Oz Vegaon, Co-chairman of Republicans Overseas Israel Marc Zell spoke about the steps US President Donald Trump is taking to change the US policy towards Israel, the Middle East, and the Arab-Israeli conflict. He also spoke about Trump's pre-election promises.

US does abrupt about face on Palestinian appointment to top UN post

After initially indicating it would accept a senior Palestinian leader for a top United Nations post, the Trump administration abruptly reversed course Friday over concern that the move would boost the Palestinian cause at the world body, sending shock and confusion through the diplomatic community. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres sent a letter to the Ukraine ambassador, who serves as president of the Security Council, informing the council of his intention to appoint former Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad to be his special representative for Libya, according a copy of the letter shown to CNN.

Trump says Israel settlement growth ‘not good for peace’

Jewish settlements in both the West Bank and east Jerusalem are viewed as illegal under international law and major stumbling blocks to peace. Photo: AFP US President Donald Trump does not believe Israeli settlement growth in Palestinian territories is "good for peace", he told a paper today, in his most direct comments on the matter since inauguration.

Israeli settler group shrugs off White House criticism

Israeli settlers on Friday shrugged off White House criticism of settlement construction, convinced they have the sympathies of US President Donald Trump. The Palestinians, still wary of Trump, warned that the settlers' hard-line stance could spell the end to a two-state solution to the conflict.

Israeli settler group brushes off Trump settlement warning

Israeli police evict settlers in the West Bank outpost Amona, Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2017. Israeli forces have begun evacuating a controversial settlement Amona, which is the largest of about 100 unauthorized outposts erected in the West Bank without permission but generally tolerated by the Israeli government.

White House cautions Israel on expanding settlements in West Bank

Israeli police evict settlers from the West Bank settlement of Ofra on Thursday following the evacuation of Amona outpost. Amona is the largest of about 100 unauthorized outposts erected in the West Bank without formal permission but with tacit Israeli government support.