Among the victims seriously wounded in last week's terrorist shooting attack at Tel Aviv's Sarona Market, Assaf Bar considers himself particularly fortunate to be alive. Shot twice in the head and left for dead by the Islamist attackers, one of the bullets still remains lodged in his skull. But miraculously, Assaf has made a rapid recovery since being hospitalized in critical condition and is now fully conscious and communicating. "The fact that I am alive now, is not to be taken for granted," he said. "I went out with my girlfriend to the Sharona complex to eat dinner, and I remember the two terrorists came in and sat at the table next to us. After they began firing. I took two bullets," he added. "I received the shots very quickly in the head, and I fell flat towards the table." But despite being shot at point-blank range, he is now in good spirits. "Thank God, I feel better. There's still some headaches, some hearing problems, but I hope to persevere. Every day I feel stronger and I'm really looking forward to leaving here. I'll be happy to return to Haifa, to my studies, work, friends, girlfriend." Bar also expressed his sadness over the four people murdered in the attack. "For me, as part of the nation of Israel, I'm fed up with losing people dear to me every month. My heart is with the families of those murdered. May you know no more sorrow." (Arutz-7) Pray that Assaf Bar’s recognition that his spared life is a miracle for which to "thank God,” will lead to a complete surrender of his life to the One who saved it. Pray also for his complete recovery physically. [Comment]

Following the terrorist attack in Orlando, Florida, Facebook was quick to delete "Stop Islamization Of America,” a group with over 50,000 members run by outspoken free-speech activist Pamela Geller, known for longstanding struggle against radical Islam. The message sent by Facebook administrators group stated that the aforementioned Facebook page violated the Terms of Use, "Among other things, groups that are hateful, threatening, or obscene are not allowed.” According to Geller, the group was established six years ago but only now has the page been taken down. "The group has been live since 2010. This is an outrage. Sharia enforcement in the wake of jihad slaughter?” wrote Geller on her website. (Arutz-7) [Comment]

Donald Trump on Sunday 12 June 2016, lambasted President Obama for not mentioning "radical Islam” in his address to the nation after the mass shooting in Orlando - a massacre the mogul said was "only the beginning,” and the result of weak leadership. "In his remarks today, President Obama disgracefully refused to even say the words ‘Radical Islam,’” the presumptive presidential GOP nominee said. "For that reason alone, he should step down. If Hillary Clinton, after this attack, still cannot say the two words ‘Radical Islam’ she should get out of this race for the Presidency. If we do not get tough and smart real fast, we are not going to have a country anymore. Because our leaders are weak, I said this was going to happen – and it is only going to get worse. I am trying to save lives and prevent the next terrorist attack. We can’t afford to be politically correct anymore,” he continued. Trump, who has called for a ban on Muslims from entering the USA and the destruction of ISIS, said all Americans need to be protected from "Radical Islamic Terrorism – which has no place in an open and tolerant society.” Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton on Sunday called the shooting an "act of terror." The presumptive Democratic nominee also urged more gun control. Clinton did not reference radical Islam. (NY Post) This article does not reflect an endorsement of any USA presidential candidate on the part of our C4i team. [Comment]

Omar Mateen called 911 to pledge his fealty to ISIS as he was carrying out his mass murderer in Orlando Sunday 12 June 2016. Twelve hours later, the president of the United States declared that "we have no definitive assessment on the motivation” of Omar Mateen but that "we know he was a person filled with hate.” So I guess the president thinks Mateen didn’t mean it? Here again, and horribly, we have an unmistakable indication that Obama finds it astonishingly easy to divorce himself from a reality he doesn’t like - the reality of the Islamist terror war against the United States and how it is moving to our shores in the form of lone-wolf attacks. He called it "terror,” which it is. But using the word "terror” without a limiting and defining adjective is like a doctor calling a disease "cancer” without making note of the affected area of the body. If he doesn’t know where the cancer is and what form it takes, he cannot attack it effectively and seek to extirpate it. So determined is the president to avoid the subject of Islamist, ISIS-inspired or ISIS-directed terrorism that he concluded his remarks with an astonishing insistence that "we need the strength and courage to change” our attitudes toward the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community. That’s just disgusting. There’s no other word for it. (NY Post) "If My people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2 Chron 7:14 [Comment]

PM Binyamin Netanyahu opened the weekly Cabinet meeting with a remark about Sunday’s massacre in Florida. "We are all shocked at the horrific massacre in Orlando. On behalf of the government and people of Israel, I would like to again express our condolences to the American people and the families at this especially difficult time," he said. "This terror threatens the entire world and it is necessary – first of all – that enlightened countries urgently unite to fight it. We stand shoulder to shoulder with the American people." (Arutz-7) [Comment]

The Austrian financial giant Bawag closed the bank account of the pro-BDS Austrian-Arab cultural center (OKAZ), which hosted a Palestinian terrorist in Vienna in April 2016. A spokesman for NY-based investment firm Cerberus - the principal owner of the Bawag bank - told Israeli media sources on 7 June 2016, that the account was closed. OKAZ is part of the BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) movement targeting the Jewish state. Georgia Schütz, a spokeswoman for Bawag's headquarters in Vienna, confirmed Wednesday: "We can verify that there are no customer relationships with OKAZ anymore. Due to Austrian banking secrecy we are not able to disclose any reasons or background." OKAZ held an April 2016 event with the convicted Palestinian terrorist Leila Khaled, who is a member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). The EU and the USA both classify the PFLP as a terrorist organization. Khaled hijacked American TWA flight 840 in 1969. A year later, she hijacked EL AL flight 219. (J.Post) [Comment]

 A Swedish nun who saved Jewish families from the Nazis during the Holocaust was made a saint. Mary Elizabeth Hesselblad was canonized on Sunday 5 June 2016, by Pope Francis during a ceremony at St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican. She becomes the first Swedish saint in more than 600 years. Hesselblad converted to Catholicism after being born a Lutheran. She saved at least 12 Jews during the Holocaust, hiding them in the convent in Rome where she served as mother superior. The Jews remained hidden for about six months, until the end of the war. She was recognized as a Righteous Among the Nations by Israel’s Yad VaShem in 2004. Hesselblad died in Rome in 1957 at 87. (J.Post) [Comment]

Legislation granting Holocaust survivors greater monthly benefits from the government passed a preliminary reading 8 June 2016. There are about 15,000 Holocaust survivors who came to Israel after 1953, who each receive 960 Euros per quarter from Germany. Of those, about 6,000 receive a guaranteed monthly income of NIS 2,200 ($575) from the state. However, the monthly 320 Euros from Germany is subtracted from that sum. The bill proposed by MK Tali Ploskov would have the state no longer subtract the amount of reparations survivors receive from Germany from their monthly guaranteed income from the state, such that about 6,000 survivors will receive an additional NIS 1200 ($313) per month. Holocaust survivors who arrived in Israel before 1953 already receive the full NIS 2200 per month, and many get more in disability benefits. Ploskov has Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon's support, so the proposal is likely to pass into law. "I'm happy to have such a significant achievement," she said. "We owe them." Ploskov said the next thing she plans to do to help Holocaust survivors is to pass a law to give them free public transportation. The proposal passed with 44 in favor and none opposed. (J.Post) [Comment]

A nascent Jewish community was officially born in Madagascar last month when 121 men, women and children underwent Orthodox conversions on the remote Indian Ocean island nation better known for lemurs, chameleons, dense rain forests and vanilla. The conversion took place over a 10-day period, were the climax of a process that arose organically five to six years ago when the community began to study Torah. Through self-study and with guidance from Jewish internet sources and correspondence with rabbis in Israel, they now pray in Sephardic-accented Hebrew and strictly observe the Sabbath and holidays. The conversions were facilitated by Kulanu, a New York-based organization that specializes in supporting isolated and emerging Jewish communities, but were initiated by the residents. "Now that we’ve re-established the State of Israel, it is time to re-establish the Jewish people, especially in the Diaspora,” said Bonita Sussman, vice president of Kulanu. (JTA) [Comment]