Qassim Hamadeh woke to the sounds of gunfire and explosions in his village of Beit Jin in southwestern Syria last month.

At about 4:20 p.m. on a cold Rhode Island Saturday, a message from Brown University flashed up on cellphones all over campus — everyone should run or take cover from an active shooter.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insists an Australian decision to recognise a Palestinian state "pours fuel on the ...