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Jewish communities on high alert as Passover begins amid rising security threats nationwide
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As Jewish families across the United States celebrate Passover, an intensifying threat environment is shaping how communities approach the holiday and beyond. Tensions tied to the war with Iran, attacks against Jews and Jewish institutions have led to concerns over the community’s safety and security.
From Miami to New York, officials are responding to what they describe as a sustained and evolving threat landscape. At a pre-Passover security strategy briefing at the NYPD, Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch told Jewish community leaders, “It is clear that we will be in a heightened state of alert for the foreseeable future,” a warning that comes as policymakers and security experts point to a widening gap between the level of threat facing Jewish communities and the federal resources available to protect them.
Despite security fears, funding for houses of worship in the United States remains below what experts say is needed to meet the current threat, even as antisemitic incidents continue to rise.
NYC BOOSTS PATROLS AMID ‘HEIGHTENED THREAT ENVIRONMENT,’ AFTER GUNMAN RAMS TRUCK INTO MICHIGAN SYNAGOGUE
Aftermath of the attack on Temple Israel synagogue in West Bloomfield, Michigan. An attacker rammed into the building on Thursday, March 12, 2026. (Temple Israel)
According to data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, anti-Jewish hate crimes have consistently accounted for the largest share of religion-based crime incidents in the United States in recent years.
The gap between risk and resources has become a central concern for those working directly with affected communities. Scott Feltman, Preventative Security Analyst and Executive Vice President at One Israel Fund, said no religious group should have to choose between remaining open and ensuring safety.
“No one should feel unsafe walking into a synagogue, church, mosque or temple in New Jersey or anywhere in America,” Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N., told Fox News Digital, who in recent weeks has been advocating for an increase in federal Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) funding to $1 billion in fiscal year 2027, a proposal currently under consideration in Congress.
Recent attacks underscore the urgency. In Michigan, a man rammed a vehicle into a synagogue in West Bloomfield and opened fire while more than 100 preschool children were inside. In California, two Jewish men speaking Hebrew were reportedly assaulted in a restaurant while the attacker shouted antisemitic slurs.
Jesse Arm, Manhattan Institute vice president for external affairs, told Fox News Digital, “What the latest attempted massacre made clear — when an Islamist from Dearborn via Lebanon tried to ram an explosive-laden truck into a synagogue preschool in my hometown of West Bloomfield, Michigan — is that security works. The presence of trained, armed guards helped save the lives of 140 American children and their caretakers.
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“But the broader lesson for the Jewish community is that safety cannot be outsourced entirely to the federal government or to any administration. It requires a cultural shift: normalizing lawful firearm ownership and training, hardening facilities at every level, and investing in the day schools, camps and identity-forming institutions that build communities confident and rooted enough to defend themselves.”
Arm had praise for the administration in its fight against antisemitism: “President Trump has been a godsend for American Jewry. His administration has been unambiguous in its commitment to Jewish safety — naming antisemitism as a serious national security threat, taking a hard line on campus radicalism and prioritizing the kind of border security and counter-jihadist vigilance that the previous administration routinely soft-pedaled. American Jews should recognize that and be immensely grateful for it.”
Leo Terrell, chairman of the DOJ Task Force to Combat Antisemitism speaks during a reception for Black History Month in the East Room of the White House on Feb. 20, 2026. (Pool via AP)
JEWISH SUMMER CAMPS RAMPING UP SECURITY MEASURES AMID RISING ANTISEMITISM — AND PARENTS ARE FOOTING THE BILL
The federal Nonprofit Security Grant Program, administered by FEMA, currently allows at-risk institutions to apply for up to $200,000 per location. In practice, however, many organizations receive less than that amount, often after delays that can stretch one to three years, and demand for the program has exceeded available funding in recent years, with applications far outpacing the number of grants awarded, according to federal data.
Security experts add that the delay between identifying a threat and receiving funding can leave institutions without the protections recommended by security professionals during periods of heightened risk.
Antisemitic graffiti defaces Israeli-American Council HQ (The Israeli-American Council (IAC) national headquarters in Los Angeles)
To address those gaps, experts recommend layered security measures including trained personnel, reinforced entry points, surveillance systems, controlled access and emergency response training, which they estimate require between $400,000 and $500,000 in funding per location, roughly double the current federal cap. Security experts say both the funding level and the timeline for distribution have become central concerns as incidents continue to rise.
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Steven Ingber, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Detroit, said much of the financial burden for security continues to fall on the Jewish community itself rather than being fully addressed through government support.
As that debate continues, officials are urging institutions to remain vigilant and maintain close coordination with local law enforcement, particularly during periods of increased tension tied to global events.
Fox News Digital reached out to FEMA for comment but did not receive a response.
Price of petrol in US jumps by nearly 30 cents in one week amid Strait of Hormuz blockade and Iran diplomatic deadlock.
The average price of one gallon (3.8 litres) of gasoline in the United States has reached $4.30, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA), up from less than $3 before the February 28 start of the US-Israel war on Iran.
Thursday’s prices come as US President Donald Trump insists that time is on his side in the standoff with Iran, even as he refuses Tehran’s offers of a preliminary deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
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According to AAA, prices for gas or petrol went up by 27 cents over the past week amid the deepening impasse, with Iran blocking the strait and the US imposing a naval siege on Iranian ports.
“The national average is $1.12 higher than it was this time last year, as oil prices surge above $100/barrel with no indication of when the Strait of Hormuz will reopen,” AAA said in a brief report on Thursday.
“Gas prices are the highest they’ve been in four years, since late July 2022.”
California, home to nearly 40 million people, saw petrol prices hit more than $6 per gallon on Thursday.
The spike in energy prices has been fuelling inflation and economic uncertainty, adding to Trump’s political woes.
The US president’s approval rating is hitting record lows amid growing discontent with the conflict with Iran, recent public opinion polls show.
Since the start of the war, Trump and his allies have been trying to frame the hike in petrol prices as a temporary price worth paying to achieve the aims of the military campaign.
The US president reiterated that argument on Thursday when asked about the latest price increase.
“And you know what? And we’re not going to have a nuclear weapon in the hands of Iran,” the US president told reporters.
“The gas will go down. As soon as the war is over, it’ll drop like a rock.”
However, oil prices do not drop automatically after hostilities stop. Despite the ceasefire reached on April 8, the cost of gas in the US has continued to climb.
Iran denies seeking a nuclear weapon.
Although the US is one of the largest oil producers and is not heavily reliant on energy products from the Middle East, global prices affect what Americans pay at the pump.
On Thursday, Trump stressed that Iran is all but vanquished militarily and economically – a claim he has been repeating since the early days of the conflict.
“Iran is dying to make a deal,” he said, calling the naval blockade against the country “incredible”.
Tehran has projected defiance, refusing to hold direct talks with the US until the siege is lifted, even after Trump announced last week that he was dispatching his top envoys to Pakistan to negotiate with Iranian officials.
Earlier on Thursday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian suggested that Iran is running out of patience with the current situation of no war and no peace amid the US siege.
“The world has witnessed Iran’s tolerance and conciliation. What is being done under the guise of a naval blockade is an extension of military operations against a nation paying the price for its resistance and independence,” Pezeshkian said in a social media post.
“Continuation of this oppressive approach is intolerable.”
Olivia Rodrigo has announced dates for “The Unraveled Tour,” a huge 65-date run across North America, Europe, and the UK. The tour supports her third studio album, “You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love,” out June 12, 2026 via Geffen Records.
Promoted by Live Nation, the global tour kicks off Friday, September 25 in Hartford, CT at PeoplesBank Arena and features multi-night plays in cities around the world including Washington, DC, Chicago, Atlanta, Nashville, Vancouver, Oakland, Las Vegas, Stockholm, Paris, Milan, and more.
Opening acts include Devon Again, Die Spitz, Grace Ives, The Last Dinner Party, and Wolf Alice will join Olivia on select dates. Full dates appear below.
Rodrigo is set to appear on “The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon” tonight (April 30), and will make her hosting debut with double duty on “Saturday Night Live” this weekend on May 2.
American Express is partnering with Olivia Rodrigo for the tour. Eligible American Express Card Members will have access to Amex Presale Tickets for the North America, Europe and UK dates starting Tuesday, May 5 at 12pm local time through Wednesday, May 6 at 10pm local time, while supplies last. Presale dates and times vary by show.
NORTH AMERICA TICKETS: The general onsale will begin Thursday, May 7 at 12pm local time.
EUROPE TICKETS: For Europe dates, fans can also register for presale access by pre-ordering the new album by signing up — no purchase necessary. Those already preordered will automatically receive a code. The general onsale begins Thursday, May 7 at 12pm local time.
UK TICKETS: For UK dates, tickets will first be available via an O2 presale beginning Tuesday, May 5 at 10am local time. Fans can also register for presale access by pre-ordering the new album or by signing up — no purchase necessary. Those who already preordered will automatically receive a code. The general onsale begins Thursday, May 7 at 12pm local time.
VIP: The Unraveled Tour will also offer VIP packages and experiences.
SILVER STAR TICKETS: Olivia Rodrigo will once again offer Silver Star Tickets on her upcoming tour, with a limited number of $20 USD tickets (or local currency equivalent, plus taxes where applicable) available at a later date. Originally introduced during the “Guts” world tour, the program is designed to make attending shows more accessible and affordable for fans. Tickets must be purchased in pairs, with a maximum of two per order. Seats will be assigned together, with locations revealed on the day of show at venue box office pickup. Ticket locations may include limited view, lower and upper levels, as well as floor seating.
OLIVIA RODRIGO’S FUND 4 GOOD: Fund 4 Good is a global initiative that supports community-based nonprofits to build an equitable and just future for all women and girls. Past donations supported organizations championing girls’ education, reproductive rights, and the prevention of gender-based violence. A portion of Olivia’s proceeds from ticket sales will benefit the fund.
THE UNRAVELED TOUR 2026/2027 DATES:
Fri, Sep 25—Hartford, CT—PeoplesBank Arena+
Sat, Sep 26—Hartford, CT—PeoplesBank Arena+
Tue, Sep 29—Pittsburgh, PA—PPG Paints Arena+
Wed, Sep 30—Pittsburgh, PA—PPG Paints Arena+
Sat, Oct 3—Washington, DC—Capital One Arena+
Sun, Oct 4—Washington, DC—Capital One Arena+
Wed, Oct 7—Charlotte, NC—Spectrum Center+
Thu, Oct 8—Charlotte, NC—Spectrum Center+
Sun, Oct 11—Chicago, IL—United Center+
Mon, Oct 12—Chicago, IL—United Center+
Thu, Oct 15—Boston, MA—TD Garden+
Sat, Oct 17—Boston, MA—TD Garden+
Wed, Oct 21—Montreal, QC—Bell Centre+
Thu, Oct 22—Montreal, QC—Bell Centre+
Mon, Oct 26—Toronto, ON—Scotiabank Arena+
Tue, Oct 27—Toronto, ON—Scotiabank Arena+
Thu, Oct 29—Columbus, OH—Schottenstein Center+
Fri, Oct 30—Columbus, OH—Schottenstein Center+
Sat, Nov 7—Philadelphia, PA—Xfinity Mobile Arena^
Sun, Nov 8—Philadelphia, PA—Xfinity Mobile Arena^
Wed, Nov 11—Atlanta, GA—State Farm Arena^
Thu, Nov 12—Atlanta, GA—State Farm Arena^
Sun, Nov 15—Orlando, FL—Kia Center^
Mon, Nov 16—Orlando, FL—Kia Center^
Thu, Nov 19—Sunrise, FL—Amerant Bank Arena^
Fri, Nov 20—Sunrise, FL—Amerant Bank Arena^
Mon, Nov 23—Nashville, TN—Bridgestone Arena^
Tue, Nov 24—Nashville, TN—Bridgestone Arena^
Tue, Dec 1—Vancouver, BC—Rogers Arena^
Wed, Dec 2—Vancouver, BC—Rogers Arena^
Mon, Dec 7—Seattle, WA—Climate Pledge Arena^
Tue, Dec 8—Seattle, WA—Climate Pledge Arena^
Fri, Dec 11—Oakland, CA—Oakland Arena^
Sat, Dec 12—Oakland, CA—Oakland Arena^
Tue, Dec 15—Sacramento, CA—Golden 1 Center^
Wed, Dec 16—Sacramento, CA—Golden 1 Center^
Sat, Dec 19—Las Vegas, NV—T-Mobile Arena^
Sun, Dec 20—Las Vegas, NV—T-Mobile Arena^
Tue, Jan 12—Los Angeles, CA—Intuit Dome#^
Wed, Jan 13—Los Angeles, CA—Intuit Dome#^
Sat, Jan 16—Los Angeles, CA—Intuit Dome#^
Sun, Jan 17—Los Angeles, CA—Intuit Dome#^
Thu, Feb 11—Brooklyn, NY—Barclays Center#^
Fri, Feb 12—Brooklyn, NY—Barclays Center#^
Mon, Feb 15—Brooklyn, NY—Barclays Center#^
Tue, Feb 16—Brooklyn, NY—Barclays Center#^
Fri Mar 19—Stockholm, Sweden—Avicii Arena~
Sat Mar 20—Stockholm, Sweden—Avicii Arena~
Tue Mar 23—Amsterdam, Netherlands—Ziggo Dome~
Wed Mar 24—Amsterdam, Netherlands—Ziggo Dome~
Thu Apr 1—Munich, Germany—Olympiahalle~
Fri Apr 2—Munich, Germany—Olympiahalle~
Mon Apr 5—London, UK—The O2~
Tue Apr 6—London, UK—The O2~
Thu Apr 8—London, UK—The O2~
Fri Apr 9—London, UK—The O2~
Fri Apr 23—Paris, France—La Defense Arena=
Tue Apr 27—Milan, Italy—Unipol Dome=
Wed Apr 28—Milan, Italy—Unipol Dome=
Sat May 1—Barcelona, Spain—Palau Sant Jordi=
Sun May 2—Barcelona, Spain—Palau Sant Jordi=
Support:
+ Wolf Alice
^ Devon Again
# The Last Dinner Party
~ Grace Ives
= Die Spitz
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Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned China that “the sovereignty of our hemisphere is non-negotiable” after the U.S. and regional allies accused Beijing of detaining Panama-flagged ships in a dispute tied to canal port control.
In a joint statement with Bolivia, Costa Rica, Guyana, Paraguay and Trinidad and Tobago, the U.S. said China’s actions targeting Panama-flagged vessels were a “blatant attempt to politicize maritime trade” and infringe on regional sovereignty, framing the dispute as a broader strategic test over control of one of the world’s most critical commercial arteries.
While the Panama dispute centers on shipping detentions rather than a physical blockade, critics increasingly view it alongside battles over other strategic choke points, such as the Strait of Hormuz, as part of a widening contest over whether Beijing or Washington will shape the rules governing global trade and energy corridors.
IRAN’S $800M OIL SMUGGLING SCHEME USES TANKERS POSING AS IRAQI SHIPS TO DODGE BLOCKADE
Containers and cranes at the Port of Balboa at the Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal in Panama City, Panama, Feb. 25, 2025.
The confrontation follows Panama’s Supreme Court decision earlier in 2026 to invalidate the legal framework behind Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison’s long-held control of the Balboa and Cristobal terminals flanking the Panama Canal, a choke point that handles roughly 5% of global maritime trade.
U.S. regulators have monitored nearly 70 Panama-flagged vessels detained by Chinese authorities since March 8, according to Reuters — a surge American officials say appears designed to retaliate against Panama and pressure global shipping.
“China has used Iran to destabilize the Middle East. In effect, Iran has been China’s proxy,” China expert Gordon Chang told Fox News Digital, arguing Beijing’s actions in Panama fit a broader global pattern in which China uses economic leverage, trade pressure and regional partners to expand influence while condemning similar tactics from Washington.
Chang said Beijing is now facing growing resistance as the U.S. increasingly moves not only against China directly, but also against governments and geopolitical flashpoints he argues have strengthened Beijing’s hand.
“Trump apparently decided that he would counter this sly tactic by taking China’s proxies — Venezuela, Cuba, and Iran — off the board,” Chang said.
HOUSE REPUBLICANS INTRODUCE BILL TO REPURCHASE PANAMA CANAL AFTER TRUMP RAISES CONCERNS OF CHINESE CONTROL
An aerial view shows the port of Rodman in Panama City Jan. 30, 2026. (Martin Bernetti/AFP)
He also framed pressure on Iran and threats to the Strait of Hormuz as part of a larger strategic effort aimed at both Tehran and Beijing.
“Closing the Strait of Hormuz is a two-fer, starving Iran’s regime and shaking China’s already fragile economy,” Chang said. “Trump is using energy to reorder the world.”
Chang also accused Beijing of hypocrisy over trade.
“China’s Communists invented hypocrisy. Nobody does hypocrisy better than the Chinese Communists,” he said, arguing China long benefited from a global trading system it increasingly weaponized for geopolitical purposes.
“The elemental truth is that China started this cycle of action and retaliation,” Chang said. “If China had not threatened America, America would not have leaned on Panama. If America had not leaned on Panama, China would not have detained Panamanian vessels.”
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Two cargo ships enter the Miraflores Locks of the Panama Canal in Panama City on Jan. 22. (Martin Bernetti/AFP)
China has rejected accusations that it is politicizing trade, with its foreign ministry arguing U.S. criticism reflects Washington’s own strategic ambitions around the canal.
China’s foreign ministry called the statement on Wednesday “entirely baseless and misleading”, said it would take steps to safeguard China’s interests in Panama, and accused the United States of politicizing ports, according to Reuters.
“China also urges the relevant countries not to be deceived or exploited by malevolent forces,” added Lin Jian, a foreign ministry spokesperson.
Fox News Digital reached out to the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C., for comment but did not receive a response in time for publication.
Reuters contributed to this article.
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