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‘Everyone Is Afraid’: Haiti’s Armed Militias Terrorize Christians in Barbecue’s ‘Bloody Revolution’

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AP

Christian K. Caruzo(Breitbart)

Violent gangs in Haiti have kidnapped “a lot” of Catholic priests and churchgoers in the past week as the Caribbean nation descends deeper into gang-led chaos, Christian outlets reported on Monday.

Catholic organizations have urged the faithful to pray for “restored order” in Haiti as organized armed militias led by Jimmy “Barbecue” Cherizier take control of the country. Cherizier, who in recent years has repeatedly demanded the ouster of all Haitian politicians, publicly made calls for a “bloody revolution” on Monday.

“We’re not in a peaceful revolution. We are making a bloody revolution in the country because this system is an apartheid system, a wicked system,” Cherizier said.

Prime Minister Ariel Henry, stranded in Puerto Rico as the gangs surrounded the Port-au-Prince airport, announced his planned resignation on Monday.

Amy Balog, a member of the Aid to the Church in Need, a Catholic charity organization, recounted the ongoing desperation faced by Christians in Haiti to Premier Christian News on Monday.

“There have been a lot of abductions of church personnel, priests religious [sic] in the last few months,” Boleg said. “And sometimes these people are kidnapped and then released a few days later, but a number of religious kidnapped last month are still in captivity.”

“They were kidnapped by an armed gang, but no one knows where they are being kept,” Boleg explained, “and the motivation for these abductions is not clear, either.”

“There is this general sense of insecurity, people are just not feeling safe, roads are blocked, it’s impossible to get in and out of the capital,” she continued. “So it’s complete chaos.”

The Vatican News reported on Monday that five of the seven members of the Congregation of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart abducted in Port-au-Prince in February were released. The seven men were kidnapped on February 23 as they traveled to the Jean XXIII School, located in Port-au-Prince’s gang-controlled Bicentenary neighborhood.

“The struggle is not over because Brothers Pierre Isaac Valmeus and Adam Montclaison Marius are still held captive,” a statement issued by the organization reads.

Archbishop Max Leroy Mésidor of Port-au-Prince told Aid to the Church in Need on Friday that pastoral work has been “very badly affected” by the ongoing wave of violence, and that “no place in the country is safe.”

“There is a real danger of civil war breaking out,” Mésidor said. “The armed gangs act like an organized army. The police cannot keep up with them.”

The Archbishop, who also serves as president of the Haitian Bishops’ Conference, said that the charity organization has reported several kidnappings of clergymen and religious figures in 2024.

“There are kidnappings everywhere,” Mésidor said. “Everyone is afraid, including the religious. As soon as you leave Port-au-Prince, you are in danger. The gangs even come into the churches to kidnap the people there.”

The Clergyman stressed that he has not been able to visit two-thirds of his diocese because the roads remain blocked.

“To reach the south of the diocese, I must take a plane. I have not been to the cathedral for two years,” he explained.

“The last celebration I was able to do in the cathedral was the Chrism Mass. It was full,” he continued. “But from the Agnus Dei until the end of the service shots were ringing out. We could see the smoke rising nearby.”

The archbishop remarked that the faithful have shown “resilience despite their suffering.”

“They are used to suffering – even when, as now, the suffering is on a terrible scale,” he said.

Pope Francis offered prayers for the people of Haiti during Sunday’s Angelus, adding that he is following the Caribbean nation’s ongoing situation with worry and sorrow.

Christian K. Caruzo is a Venezuelan writer and documents life under socialism.

 

Israeli official says US should help ‘bring down Hamas, not the Israeli government’

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Palestinians hold a Hamas flag, rallying in support of terrorism at the Temple Mount in the Old City of Jerusalem on Jan. 27, 2023. Photo by Jamal Awad/Flash90.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

An Israeli official responded sharply to a US intelligence report saying that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is in “jeopardy” and predicting Israel would have trouble destroying Hamas.

The official said, “We expect our friends to work to bring down the terror regime of Hamas and not the elected government in Israel.”

They added, “Those who elect the prime minister of Israel are the citizens of Israel and no one else.”

“Israel is not a protectorate of the U.S. but rather an independent and democratic country whose citizens are the ones who elect the government,” they said.

The US’s 2024 Annual Threat Assessment predicted the Netanyahu government “may be in jeopardy” citing protests against the Prime Minister over judicial reform before the war and speculating that the Israeli public would increasingly blame Netanyahu for security failures leading to the Hamas invasion on October 7th.

The report said, “Distrust of Netanyahu’s ability to rule has deepened and broadened across the public from its already high levels before the war, and we expect large protests demanding his resignation and new elections.”The report added, “A different, more moderate government is a possibility.”

In addition, the report expressed skepticism that Israel would fully achieve its goal of destroying Hamas and may face armed struggle for years.

“Israel probably will face lingering armed resistance from Hamas for years to come, and the military will struggle to neutralize Hamas’s underground infrastructure, which allows insurgents to hide, regain strength and surprise Israeli forces,” the report said.

Speaking through live hook-up at an AIPAC conference, Netanyahu emphasized that the IDF needs to operate in Rafah to complete the destruction of Hamas military infrastructure and to win the war despite the objections from the Biden Administration.

He said, “I greatly appreciate the support we received from President Biden and the administration and I hope it continues. But let me be clear – Israel will win this war, no matter what.”

New York City’s Woke Fire Chief Launches Effort to ‘Hunt Down’ Firefighters Who Booed Letitia James

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By (American Greatness)
New York City’s woke Fire Commissioner has reportedly launched an investigation to “hunt down” the firefighters who loudly booed New York Attorney General Letitia James and chanted in support of Donald Trump during a department promotion ceremony last week.

The incident took place last Thursday at the Christian Cultural Center, a black megachurch in Brooklyn.  James spoke at the event to honor her friend, Rev. Pamela Holmes, who was being sworn in as FDNY’s first black female chaplain.

According to the New York Post, the crowd was “made up of the families of captains, battalion chiefs and civilians up for promotion, as well as the firefighters who work beside them.”

The FDNY firefighters and staffers broke out in lusty boos as James approached the podium, and later chanted, “Trump! Trump! Trump!”

 

The crowd’s jeers came after James’ office last month won a punishing $454 million civil fraud judgment against Trump for allegedly inflating his wealth to bankers and investors.

An appeals court has allowed Trump to stay at the helm of the family company and apply for loans from Empire State banks to help post the bond.
But James has already vowed to ask a judge to seize Trump’s assets — including some of his prized Big Apple properties — if he fails to get the judgment stayed, and doesn’t cough up what he owes.

FDNY Chief of Department John Hodges sent an email to colleagues on Saturday explaining what steps were being taken to round up the suspects. Hodges said the Bureau of Investigations and Trials (BITS) was on the case working to identify the members who heckled James.

“I recommend they come forward. I have been told by the commissioner it will be better for them if they come forward and we don’t have to hunt them down,” he said.

“The [deputy chiefs] shall direct the captain of the company to make a list of those who come forward and send it directly to [FDNY operations]. I realize members might not come forward but they should know that there is clear video of the entire incident and they will be contacted by BITS if they don’t,” Hodges wrote.

Viral News NYC obtained a list of FDNY talking points for deputy chiefs investigating the incident, and posted it on X. The talking points stressed such behavior during a ceremony honoring members who made sacrifices was “grossly inappropriate” and “simply unacceptable.”

“Members have a right to political beliefs but you don’t have a right to make a job-related ceremony political in nature,” the chief said. “We want the members to come forward. They will come to headquarters to be educated why their behavior is unacceptable.”

The Uniformed Fire Officers Association sent out a message to its members on Saturday warning them of the directive and that the department is in “possession of video footage of the event.”

“As part of this discussion, questions may be asked to specific UFOA members over their actions or their recollections,” the message said.

The union advised members to follow FDNY regulations but to contact the UFOA for legal representation if they feel they are the subject of an investigation.

 

FDNY Fire Commissioner, Laura Kavanagh, who has never been a firefighter herself, issued an apology to the Christian Cultural Center on Sunday.

“We have decades of training and discipline that none of us want to see tarnished by the unprofessional behavior of a few,” she said. “On behalf of the New York City Fire Department, I’m sorry.”

Before becoming New York’s fire commissioner, Kavanagh was a Democrat activist and community organizer.

In 2004, she graduated from Whittier College with bachelor’s degree in Political Science and International Relations.

Kavanagh went on to work “in campaign consulting with non-profits, community-based organizations and unions to advance their organizational goals,” according to her 2018 bio at Women’s Activism NYC.

She has worked on multiple Democrat election campaigns, including Barack Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign and Bill de Blasio’s first mayoral campaign in 2013.

Kavanagh served as a special assistant to Mayor de Blasio until she joined the FDNY in 2014, first as Director of External Affairs and then as Assistant Commissioner for External Affairs. She rose quickly up the ranks at the FDNY,  being appointed Deputy Commissioner for Government Affairs and Special Programs in 2015, and then First Deputy Commissioner in 2017.

During this period, Kavanagh spearheaded DEI policy initiatives for FDNY, directing “a firefighter recruitment campaign that yielded the most diverse applicant pool in the department’s history and has led to more women serving as FDNY Firefighters than ever before,” according to NYC.gov.

She served as acting Fire Commissioner in February of 2022 after the retirement of Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro, and was appointed Fire Commissioner by Mayor Eric Adams in October 2022.

A spokesperson for the department confirmed on Sunday that the FDNY was investigating the incident.

“We’re looking into those who clearly broke department regulations. It has nothing to do with politics. It’s about professionalism at an official event held in a house of worship,” the spokesman said.

Some New Yorkers are disgusted with the Department’s “heavy-handed response,” according to the Post.

“It was a political stunt for the city to have the AG there,” an FDNY retiree fumed.  “When it backfired, they sent their fascist pit bulls after guys for exercising their First Amendment rights,” he added. “Most were off-duty and not in FDNY uniform.”

Famed criminal law attorney Alan Dershowitz also blasted the FDNY’s draconian response.

“Firefighters have an absolute constitutional right to boo the attorney general, and the government has no power to punish them for it,” Dershowitz told the Post. “So efforts to get the names of the booers is an effort by the government to chill free speech and is unconstitutional.”

NY Councilwoman Vickie Paladino weighed in on X.

“Hunting down firefighters who heckled Letitia James? It’ll be ‘better for them’ if they turn themselves in?” Paladino wrote. “I’m sorry but what?”

Paladino, who represents District 19 in Queens, added: “Letitia James isn’t the Queen, and we have a first amendment. These men were not in uniform, they were not violent or disruptive, and they had every right to express themselves to an elected official in that setting. Period.”

Paladino argued that “any recriminations or disciplinary action” against the Firefighter protesters would be illegal, “and should be met with fierce condemnation and legal action.”

“Not even a Bill DeBlasio went after the NYPD officers who turned their backs on him in protest. This is no different,” she wrote, adding that she has a “hunch” that the threats originated with Letitia James herself.

“Yet we’re supposed to believe Democrats like her are out there saving ‘democracy’ for us,” Paladino wrote. “Yeah right.”

The FDNY defended its response to the incident.

“Nobody is hunting anyone down. We’re looking into those who clearly broke department regulations,” said spokesman Jim Long. “It has nothing to do with politics. It’s about professionalism at an official event held in a house of worship.”

Biden’s problem is with Democrats who hate Israel, not Netanyahu

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (right) meets with U.S. President Joe Biden on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly on Sept. 20, 2023 in New York. Photo by Avi Ohayon/GPO.

Jonathan S. Tobin(JNS)

It seems that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is feuding with another American president. That’s what the White House and its corporate-media echo chamber cheerleaders at publications at The New York Times and broadcast outlets like MSNBC would like you to believe. As was the case during the administrations of Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, Netanyahu has become the foreign leader mostly likely to be bashed by President Joe Biden and his foreign-policy team. They see him as an obstacle to the policies they wish to pursue, as well as a political problem heading towards the November election.

And they’re employing the same tactics that official Washington always uses when it comes to undermining Israeli leaders it doesn’t like or can’t seem to work with. But this time, it isn’t limited to presidential sniping at the prime minister in interviews, “hot mic” moments, and leaks aimed at discrediting and toppling his government. The administration is determined to make it appear that Netanyahu is conducting a brutal and losing war effort, trying to blow up the U.S.-Israel alliance and is on the brink of being tossed out of power by his own people.

 

It is entirely true that—as with Clinton and Obama, and despite Biden’s protestations that his feelings about the prime minister are not personal—Netanyahu is regarded with deep-seated animosity by the president and his aides. But it’s not a personal feud. Nor, unlike the problems with Clinton and Obama, is the animosity primarily driven by policy differences, though those certainly exist.

This time it’s not about Bibi

Instead, the dispute, which is rapidly taking on all the signs of a major crisis between the two countries, is something unprecedented in the 75 years of a relationship that has fluctuated between fractious and warm for decades. This time, it’s almost entirely driven by domestic American politics.

That is a first—and actually the opposite of the usual Washington spin about Netanyahu, which often portrays problems as the result of the prime minister’s domestic priorities and his endless scheming to hold onto power. After three separate terms as premier covering a record total of nearly 17 years, it’s never unreasonable to suspect him of playing politics. But for all of his hostility to domestic critics and political rivals, as well as his endless suspicions about his coalition partners and cabinet colleagues, his post-Oct. 7 policies aren’t about that.

His standing in the polls has improved since his most challenging times during the 2023 debates over judicial reform and then the immediate aftermath of Oct. 7. Yet Israelis remain divided about whether he should continue in office, especially after presiding over one of the country’s greatest military and intelligence disasters five months ago. Despite the calumnies being spewed at him by Biden and congressional Democrats, Netanyahu’s basic approach to the war against Hamas has the support of the overwhelming majority of Israelis. There is wall-to-wall backing for his goal of eradicating the Hamas terrorists who ruled Gaza as an independent Palestinian state in all but name. And there is no support for Biden’s plans to push for a Palestinian state in Judea, Samaria and Jerusalem, as well as in the Gaza Strip, once the war ends.

That means that like the prime minister’s skirmishes with Obama, this fight is likely to help rather than hurt him. His political fate may ultimately be decided by a postwar commission that could demand his resignation, as well as those of the generals and heads of the intelligence services that failed so badly to anticipate and prepare for the Hamas assault on southern Israel. The Biden attacks on the prime minister, however, might lead to Netanyahu remaining in office indefinitely—something that most observers believed to be unthinkable after Oct. 7.

Hamas propaganda

Despite the drumbeat of criticisms lobbed towards Netanyahu, his government, and the strategies and tactics being used by the Israel Defense Forces in the war against Hamas, comes the rising tensions in the alliance that is the product of the Jewish state’s interests being at odds with those of the United States. In fact, since Oct. 7, the two countries’ common interest in decisively defeating Hamas—and deterring Iran and its other proxies and auxiliaries from further destabilizing the region—has never been more obvious or necessary.

 

Nor are Biden’s claims that Israel’s campaign against Hamas is “over the top” or “indiscriminate” remotely accurate. As Avraham Wyner, a professor of statistics and data science at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania discussed in a seminal article in Tablet, the Palestinian casualty figures provided by Hamas that are cited by Biden and the corporate media appear to be not just exaggerated but fraudulent. A more accurate assessment of the situation may bear out the claim that the ratio of non-combatant Palestinian casualties to combatants may be as low as 1 to 1. That is unprecedented in the history of urban warfare, especially because Hamas deliberately embeds its terrorist forces among Palestinian civilians—men, women and children.

Taken in context, that would mean that Biden isn’t just venting his pique at the hard-to-like prime minister but is knowingly recirculating the terrorist group’s propaganda talking points, despite his condemnations of Hamas and the Oct. 7 massacres.

So why then, did the president have far more harsh words for Netanyahu in his State of the Union address last week than he did for Hamas? And why did he double down on that in a subsequent interview on MSNBC in which he slammed Netanyahu, saying that the prime minister was “hurting Israel more than helping Israel,” and claiming the military strategy being used in the war against Hamas is “contrary to what Israel stands for, and I think it’s a big mistake. So I want to see a ceasefire.”

That was accentuated by the leaks intended to back up the belief that Biden will condition military aid to the Jewish state on a demand that the Israelis allow Hamas to remain in Rafah, the terrorist organization’s last remaining enclave in Gaza.

And if those verbal attacks, which went even further than the brickbats thrown at Jerusalem from Washington in the months since Oct. 7, were not enough, the administration also made sure that a new “Threat Assessment” report from the CIA was released in order to have its claims that a defeat of Hamas is probably impossible and that Netanyahu’s coalition is in “jeopardy.”

The reason for this campaign was made obvious by the tone and intended audience of Biden’s rhetoric in his State of the Union address. The president and his staff clearly believe that their dire political situation, in which he now trails former President Donald Trump, in battleground states like Michigan with its high proportion of Arab residents, as well as in national polls, require him to rally a faltering Democratic base to his cause. Love it or hate it, the speech was not pitched at winning over independents or those Republicans who are not thrilled with the prospect of voting for Trump. Instead, it was a combative and unusually partisan effort aimed at left-wing Democratic voters whose enthusiasm for the president has been waning in no small measure because of the Israel-Hamas war.

Biden’s falling poll numbers

 

While many in the pro-Israel community are focused on Biden’s threats to Israel, the intersectional activist wing of his party has swallowed Hamas’s lies about the Gaza campaign being “genocide” and the current conflict being due to Israel’s “occupation.” The mobs chanting for Israel’s destruction and in favor of Palestinian terrorism on college campuses and in the streets of American cities illustrate the way woke ideologies like critical race theory and intersectionality are not only dividing American society but also granting a permission slip for antisemitism. The supporters of these toxic ideas have real power within a Democratic Party that is trending more to the left, especially among younger voters.

This goes beyond his efforts to appease antisemitic Arab-American voters in Michigan. While Biden and his team can publicly dismiss the worries that leftist voters will stay home in November or vote for a third-party candidate, there is no question that his party base lacks enthusiasm for his re-election campaign. What’s more, these voters want an immediate and permanent ceasefire that would allow Hamas to get away with the largest mass slaughter of Jews since the Holocaust.

That is the only explanation for the clear shift in U.S. policy away from a position calling for Hamas’s eradication in favor of one that would, as Biden seemed to let slip in his MSNBC interview, let it survive. That is what an administration “red line” opposing an Israeli offensive into Rafah to finish off Hamas would mean in practice.

His strategy to win over leftist and anti-Israel voters may not be as smart as he and his handlers think it is. An equivocal policy towards Israel—or even one that is overtly critical—isn’t going to be enough to win over those indoctrinated in critical theory who believe Israel and its Jewish supporters are “white” oppressors. They want a more overt pro-Hamas stand rather than one that is tacitly aimed at benefiting the terrorist group. And it is likely to alienate more moderate and independent voters who support Israel than it will win over stragglers from the activist base.

Helping, not hurting Netanyahu

America’s interests are not served by such a policy since Hamas’s survival will be an enormous win for Hamas and a defeat for moderate Arabs and Muslims that will ensure that there will be more violence and bloodshed, both Israeli and Palestinian.

On top of that, it will only strengthen Netanyahu because it will allow him to make a stand on an issue on which there is a political consensus in Israel: defeating Hamas and preventing it or other Palestinian factions from ever being able to repeat the horrors of Oct. 7. As much as Biden may try to pretend that he is in sync with the Israel people, the opposite is true. As controversial as he may be, Netanyahu is on solid political ground when it comes to finishing off Hamas and stopping the creation of a Palestinian state.

 

For a brief moment after Oct. 7, Biden’s pro-Israel stand, his visit to Israel during wartime and his commitment to Hamas’s total defeat brought an administration that had previously been bent on appeasing Iran back to sanity and a defense of U.S. interests. But the president’s sinking poll numbers and pressure from his intersectional base and liberal media outlets have sent him in the opposite direction. His problem is not so much with Netanyahu as it is with Democrats who hate Israel. Vainly seeking their approval will have grievous implications for the U.S.-Israel relationship, Israeli security and the fight against terror in the Middle East.

Jonathan S. Tobin is editor-in-chief of JNS (Jewish News Syndicate). Follow him: @jonathans_tobin.

 

Biden Lied About Beau Exchange With Robert Hur During Angry Press Conference, Transcript Confirms

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screenshot BBC
By Reagan Reese (Daily Caller)

President Joe Biden lied about an exchange with special counsel Robert Hur regarding his son Beau during an angry press conference following the release of Hur’s report last month, a transcript of their five-hour interview confirms.

Hur’s report detailing the president’s handling of classified documents made several notes about Biden’s memory, including that he forgot the date of his son’s death and when his vice presidency began and ended. Biden held an unexpected press conference a few hours after the release of the report, criticizing Hur for questioning his late son’s death. The president, however, was the one who raised the date of his son’s death, according to the transcript the Daily Caller obtained .

Rather than pushing Biden about the date of Beau Biden’s death, Hur questioned the president on where work-related papers were being kept following the conclusion of his vice presidency in January of 2017.

“Well, um … I, I, I, I, I don’t know. This is, what, 2017, 2018, that area?” Biden began.

“Yes, sir,” Hur responded.

“Remember, in this time frame, my son is — either been deployed or is dying, and, and so it was — and by the way, there were still a lot of people at the time when I got out of the Senate that were encouraging me to run in this period, except the president. I’m not — and not a mean thing to say. He just thought that she had a better shot of winning the presidency than I did,” Biden began. “And so I hadn’t, I hadn’t, at this point — even though I’m at Penn, I hadn’t walked away from the idea that I may run for office again. But if I ran again, I’d be running for president. And, and so what was happening, though — what month did Beau die? Oh, God, May 30 —”

“2015,” Rachel Cotton, a White House lawyer, interjected.

“2015,” an unidentified male confirmed.

“Was it 2015 he had died?” Biden asked.

“It was May of 2015,” an unidentified male reiterated.

“It was 2015,” Biden responded.

“Or — I’m not sure of the month, sir, but I think that was the year,” Robert Bauer, the president’s personal lawyer, weighed in.

During his post-release press conference, Biden blasted Hur for asking him about his son’s death, despite the report revealing that did not happen. “How in the hell dare he raise that?” Biden told reporters. “Frankly, when I was asked the question, I thought to myself, it wasn’t any of their damn business.”

During the Hur interview, the president went on to ask when former President Donald Trump was elected, and several speakers correct the president when he asks if it was November of 2017. The unidentified speakers tell the president that he left the vice presidency in January of 2017, which is why the year is coming up.

“OK, yeah,” Biden confirms. “And in 2017, Beau had passed and — this is personal …” the president continues, appearing to forget the year of his late son’s death again.

In his report, Hur noted that Biden willfully kept classified documents, but declined to pursue charges. The special counsel justified his decision by citing the memory lapses and adding that the jury might see Biden as “a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory.” (RELATED: FLASHBACK: Democrats Had No Problem With Robert Hur Until He Became A Thorn For Joe Biden)

The White House rebuked Hur, calling the report “flatly wrong,” “inappropriate” and “politically motivated.” The special counsel is now set to testify in front of Congress on Tuesday about his investigation.

The transcript provides new insight into a number of key moments from Biden’s interview with Hur beyond the Beau and vice presidential exchanges.

Biden repeatedly throws his own staff under the bus, as he did during the post-report press conference, failing to take personal ownership for the mishandling of classified documents.

“I don’t want to hold them responsible or get them in trouble, but I believe they were the ones who were packing up … and were deciding, you know, where, where things were going, to the best of my knowledge,” Biden said of his staff. He added he had “no goddamn idea” what was in one set of files shipped to his house.

The president claimed to not recall or struggled to recount certain details he was asked about on a number of occasions. Biden said he had no memory of a comment he made about a 2009 memo to then-President Barack Obama about surging troops to Afghanistan. Biden had told the ghostwriter for his memoir that he found the memo amongst classified documents downstairs.

“It has nothing to do with the investigation, you’ll understand why this is sensitive,” Biden said. “The president thought that I knew a lot more about Afghanistan than he did, and other members of the administration.”

Biden added that the memo was handwritten because it would have taken him five times as long to type it. In a separate exchange, Biden remarked that Obama didn’t want him to run for president in 2016 because he believed that former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had a better chance of winning the election.

Despite claiming that his staff was ultimately responsible for moving around classified documents and moving items in and out of his residence, Biden displayed a highly-detailed knowledge of the architecture of his home and said he participated in moving his belongings in and out as well.

“I’m a frustrated architect,” Biden said, while explaining that his home had seven different types of molding. “In order to try to convince me not to run for Senate for the 19th time, my wife said, ‘Look, you don’t run, I’ll pay for architectural school for you.”

At one point, Hur remarked that Biden had “a photographic understanding and, and recall of the house.”

Biden also stated “I remember moving boxes, literally physically moving them, with help, one side to the other so I could get the Corvette in that garage on the left.”

At various times during the interview, Hur had to implore Biden to answer his questions rather than go off on unrelated tangents. Biden once blew past Hur’s attempt to re-focus the interview to explain to him how the torque on electric cars worked, complete with “car noises.”

“You step your foot on the accelerator all the way down until it gets about six, seven grand,” Biden said. “Then all the sudden it will say ‘launch.’ All you do is take your foot off the brake.”

Biden then made a car engine sound, according to the transcript.

The president also digressed about solar panels in Angola, investigators finding swimsuit photos of his wife amongst his documents and the archery skills he displayed on a trip to Mongolia, according to the transcript.

Nevertheless, the White House reacted defiantly to the release of the transcript Tuesday morning. It was delivered to Congress by the Department of Justice just hours before Hur was slated to testify about his findings.

“You can’t make this up. On page 72 of the transcript, it is not President Biden who admits to “misremembering” things from just moments earlier. It’s the Special Counsel himself,” White House spokesperson Ian Sams tweeted, after retweeting a number of other posts defending the president from Hur’s claims about his memory.

12 terror attacks foiled in Jerusalem ahead of Ramadan

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Western wall and the Temple Mount Mati Amar/TPS

(A7) The police this evening (Tuesday) published data on the terrorist attacks that were thwarted in the Jerusalem sector and the arrest of terrorist subjects ahead of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Since the beginning of 2024, 12 terrorist attacks have been foiled in the Jerusalem area, and since October 7, 38 terrorist attacks have been foiled – most of them through intelligence information or reports received by the police. In addition, from the beginning of the war until Ramadan, about 100 indictments have been filed.

In the last day alone, a bag with six pipe bombs was seized in the eastern part of Jerusalem. The police also acted against instigators of violence before Ramadan and arrested 21 suspects on suspicion of this offense in the last two weeks. Charges were filed against six of them at the end of their investigation.

Jerusalem police chief Doron Turgeman said that this has been “a very significant period since the beginning of the war, leaving Jerusalem and the Temple Mount out of the war in view of professional activity and zero tolerance for Hamas’ efforts to create an incident. We are entering a particularly historically complex Ramadan, and we have great influence and responsibility.”

According to him, “It is clear to us that Hamas is trying with all its might to create a significant escalation, whether in the PA or in the escalating incident in the Temple Mount, and some call it ‘the last bullet.’ We must not allow this. There is a lot of background noise around Ramadan and we will not be included in it. We will not forget October 7th, it must not affect the houses of worship with regard to the regular worshipers who come, we did not come to punish those who are not involved.”

Antisemitism ad that runs during Oscars draws criticism

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(JNS)
An ad purchased by the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism that ran during the Academy Awards on Sunday is drawing criticism for depicting a bar mitzvah celebrated in a church.

“I’m sure they had decent intentions but this ad sends a poor message,” wrote Dovid Bashevkin, director of education for NCSY. “We are grateful to our non-Jewish neighbors, but we don’t take kindly to seeing a bar mitzvah in a church.”

“Our history of forced conversion and assimilation makes such imagery honestly too painful to bear,” he added.

Rabbi Shlomo Litvin, a Chabad rabbi in Kentucky called the ad “absolutely moronic.”

“A bar mitzvah takes place in the middle of the night and gets a bomb threat, so they go next door to a church to finish the ceremony,” he wrote. “What in the ignorant savior foolishness motivated the script? Maybe stop Jew-hatred by meeting a Jew.”

The ad states that “895 Jewish temples received bomb threats last year,” adding that “this is one of those stories.”

Police cars rush to the synagogue and officers interrupt the service. The rabbi and congregants retreat to an adjacent church, as a SWAT team searches the building.

The commercial concludes with the rabbi stating in the church sanctuary, “Thank you for welcoming us,” before continuing with the bar mitzvah celebration.

“Hate loses when we stand together,” the ad states.

Bidenflation Resurgent: Consumer Prices Rising Faster Than Expected

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. Credit: AP

John Carney(Breitbart)

American households were hit with a second month of rapidly rising prices in February, undermining the Biden administration’s claims that its policies were reducing inflation and dampening hopes for a Fed rate cut in the next few months.

The consumer price index rose 0.4 percent in February, faster than the January increase and the fourth consecutive monthly increase. Compared with 12 months earlier, the headline index is up 3.2 percent, a larger increase than the 3.1 percent annual gain recorded in January.

Economists had forecast a 0.4 percent increase in the month-t0-month figure but thought the annual figure would come in a tick lower at 3.1 percent.

The Federal Reserve has said that it is looking for data to give it more confidence that inflation is coming down to two percent. The rise of inflation in February casts doubt on the idea that the pace of price increases will continue to decline. The data make it more likely that Fed officials will hold off on cutting rates until this summer and possibly longer.

The core consumer price index, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, rose by 0.4 percent. That matched the January figure and exceeded the consensus forecast for a decline to 0.3 percent. Compared with a year ago, core prices are up 3.8 percent. That is lower than January’s 3.9 percent but above the forecast for 3.7 percent.

Core services prices, which exclude energy related services, rose 0.5 percent. That matched expectations and was lower than the 0.7 percent recorded in January. For the year, core services prices are up 5.2 percent.

Core goods prices had been declining last year, holding down overall inflation. The index of goods excluding food and energy fell on a month-to-month basis from June through January. In February, however, core goods prices rose 0.1 percent. That was not forecast by most analysts. Compared with a year ago, goods prices are down 0.3 percent.

The second straight month of 0.4 percent core inflation suggests that the January shift higher was not an anomaly but a sign that underlying inflationary pressures remain strong.

One silver lining of the report is that food prices were flat for the month. Grocery prices were unchanged after rising by a very hot 0.4 percent in January. Restaurant prices edged up 0.1 percent, a slowdown from the 0.5 percent increase in January.

Fed chair Jerome Powell has mentioned that he pays attention to a slice of the index that has come to be called “supercore” inflation: core services excluding shelter. This rose 0.5 percent (0.47 percent unrounded), down from 0.85 percent in January but still likely too high to give much comfort to Powell.

Housing prices rose at a rapid pace, pushing the shelter index up 0.4 percent for the month and 5.7 percent compared with a year ago. This was, however, a slowdown from the 0.6 percent rise in January. Rent inflation accelerated to 0.5 percent from 0.4 percent while a measure called “owners equivalent of rent” slowed to 0.4 percent from 0.6 percent

‘You cannot back Israel’s right to exist while opposing Rafah operation,’ Netanyahu tells AIPAC conference

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The only one that President Biden should not ask about Qatar is Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, (pictured above) who shrewdly allowed Qatar to build Hamas with billions of dollars over a decade. He did this to allow the growth of a power that would counter the P.A. so that he himself would not need to negotiate with it. Photo Credit: AlJazeera.com

By David Rosenberg, World Israel News

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed that the IDF will operate in the Gaza border town of Rafah, and will not be deterred by criticism and warnings from foreign allies.

Speaking at the 2024 American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) conference in Washington D.C. Tuesday, Netanyahu offered veiled criticism of the Biden administration and other Western governments which have pressure Jerusalem not to carry out its much-anticipated ground operation in Rafah.

Located on the border with Egypt, Rafah is the last remaining Hamas stronghold in the Gaza Strip.

Complicating a potential IDF operation is the presence of over one million internally displaced Gazans, who have swelled Rafah’s population roughly ten-fold, from roughly 170,000 before the war to 1.7 million.

 

The U.S., France, and Britain have urged Israel not to make any armed incursion into Rafah, with the Biden administration reportedly considering imposing conditions are arms sales to Israel should the IDF enter the border town.

In his address at the AIPAC conference Tuesday, Netanyahu reiterated his government’s determination to clear out Hamas forces in Rafah, warning that failure to destroy the terrorist infrastructure in the city would enable Hamas to eventually retake the Gaza Strip.

“Let me be clear, Israel will win this war no matter what,” Netanyahu said.

“To win this war, we must destroy the remaining Hamas battalions in Rafah. If not, Hamas will regroup, rearm and reconquer Gaza and then we’re back to square one. And that’s an intolerable threat that we cannot accept.”

“We will destroy Hamas, free our hostages and ensure that Gaza doesn’t ever pose a threat to Israel again.”

Israel will create a safe passageway for civilians to leave combat zones in Rafah, Netanyahu emphasized.

“We will finish the job in Rafah while enabling the civilian population to get out of harm’s way. We’ve taken measures to minimize civilian casualties that no other army has taken in history. Just ask Colonel John Spencer, a world expert on urban warfare, in charge of urban warfare at West Point. We have taken measures to minimize civilian casualties that no other army has taken in history.”

The Israeli premier chastised allied governments who have criticized the IDF’s use of force in Gaza against Hamas, and called on Israel not to enter Rafah.

“To our friends in the international community, I say this: you cannot say you support Israel’s right to exist and to defend itself and then oppose Israel when it exercises that right.”

“You cannot say you support Israel’s goal of destroying Hamas and then oppose Israel when it takes the actions necessary to achieve that goal. You cannot say that you oppose Hamas’s strategy of using civilians as human shields and then blame Israel for the civilian casualties that result from this Hamas cynical strategy.”

“For Israel, every civilian death is a tragedy. For Hamas, every civilian death is a strategy. So it is wrong and immoral to hold Israel to a standard for avoiding civilian casualties that no other country on earth is held to.”

More Than 20 “Progressive” Groups Form a Coalition to Counter Pro-israel Groups Before the Election

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FILE - Rep. Jamaal Bowman, D-N.Y., from left, speaks alongside, Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., Rep. Jonathan Jackson, D-Ill., and Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo., during a vigil with state legislators and faith leaders currently on hunger strike outside the White House to demand that President Joe Biden call for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza on Nov. 29, 2023. (AP Photo/Nathan Howard, File)

(AP) — Facing a barrage of super PAC money, more than 20 progressive groups are coming together to forcefully counter pro-Israel groups’ efforts to primary challenge liberal members who’ve been critics of Israel’s blistering military offensive in Gaza.

The coalition, called Reject AIPAC, includes Jewish peace organizations and Arab American and Muslim groups that have been organizing in record numbers since the Israel-Hamas war began in October.

Their efforts are a direct response to pro-Israel political action committees like the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, better known as AIPAC, that are pledging or planning to spend tens of millions of dollars to try to defeat Democratic members of the so-called “squad” in primaries and the general election this year. That campaign has turned the otherwise safely Democratic districts into election battlegrounds.

“These are a handful of Black and brown progressive incumbents who are under attack from a threat of $100 million in spending and usually Democratic leadership and establishment is up in arms anytime someone primaries an incumbent,” said Usamah Andrabi, communications director for Justice Democrats, one the groups leading the coalition. “But the energy is a little lighter when it comes to some of these progressives and so we are coming together to ensure that they have the resources to defend themselves against AIPAC.”

Editors Note: AP uses the term “progressive” ; in reality, these  incumbents are radical, far left, anti-semitic,  regressive destroyers of humanity

The strategy, according to Andrabi, is to link up the grassroots organizations behind a seven-figure “electoral defense campaign” that aims to not only protect members of Congress being targeted by AIPAC but also to bring light to what they see as the group’s divergence from the longstanding values of the Democratic Party.

AIPAC has defended its track record, telling The Associated Press last month that “it is entirely consistent with progressive values to stand with the Jewish state” and that the group has a history of supporting members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

Nonetheless, the coalition’s lobbying effort will focus on promoting pro-Palestinian members and candidates as well as highlighting national polling that shows that the majority of Democratic voters are aligned with their stances, including increasing calls for a cease-fire in Gaza and conditioning U.S. aid to Israel as the number of civilian casualties rises above 30,000 Palestinians in just five months of war.

Part of the strategy of the new coalition is to force those fissures into the open by requiring any candidate or member aligned with them to sign a pledge, outright rejecting any campaign money from groups like AIPAC, which has historically yielded immense clout in Washington.

This comes as AIPAC shifted in its own strategy in the last several years, transitioning from strictly a lobbying organization to helping elect centrist, pro-Israel Democrats. In 2022, it began challenging Democratic incumbents in primaries.

Before November, the group and PACs connected to its ethos have once again begun contributing to candidates running against members of the squad. The Democrats facing challengers include Jamaal Bowman of New York, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Summer Lee of Pennsylvania and Cori Bush of Missouri, all of whom have not only called for a cease-fire but have demanded an end to U.S. aid to Israel.

In 2022, AIPAC spent around $27 million targeting progressive candidates. Its war chest this cycle is expected to be more than twice that amount.

“We will never be at parity and that’s the reality of this,” Andrabi said. “This has always been a David vs. Goliath conflict and it will continue to be but the most we can do is organize now in a concerted way and take them on head-on in a way that folks haven’t in past cycles.”

Most Teens Report Feeling Happy or Peaceful When They Go Without Smartphones, Pew Survey Finds

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FILE- In this March 13, 2019, file photo Facebook, Messenger and Instagram apps are are displayed on an iPhone in New York. A group of 40 state attorneys general sent a letter to Instagram and Facebook parent company Meta expressing concern over what they say is dramatic uptick of consumer complaints about account takeovers and lockouts. The AGs called on Meta to do a better job preventing account takeovers. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane, File)

(AP) – Nearly three-quarters of U.S. teens say they feel happy or peaceful when they don’t have their phones with them, according to a new report from the Pew Research Center.

In a survey published Monday, Pew also found that despite the positive associations with going phone-free, most teens have not limited their phone or social media use.

The survey comes as policymakers and children’s advocates are growing increasingly concerned with teens’ relationships with their phones and social media. Last fall, dozens of states, including California and New York, sued Instagram and Facebook owner Meta Platforms Inc. for harming young people and contributing to the youth mental health crisis by knowingly and deliberately designing features that addict children. In January, the CEOs of Meta, TikTok, X and other social media companies went before the Senate Judiciary Committee to testify about their platforms’ harms to young people.

Despite the increasing concerns, most teens say smartphones make it easier be creative and pursue hobbies, while 45% said it helps them do well in school. Most teens said the benefits of having a smartphone outweigh the harms for people their age. Nearly all U.S. teens (95%) have access to a smartphone, according to Pew.

Majorities of teens say smartphones make it a little or a lot easier for people their age to pursue hobbies and interests (69%) and be creative (65%). Close to half (45%) say these devices have made it easier for youth to do well in school.

The poll was conducted from Sept. 26-Oct. 23, 2023, among a sample of 1,453 pairs of teens with one parent and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.2 percentage points.

Here are some of the survey’s other findings:

— About half of parents (47%) say they limit the amount of time their teen can be on their phone, while a similar share (48%) don’t do this.

— Roughly four in ten parents and teens (38% each) say they at least sometimes argue with each other about how much time their teen spends on the phone. Ten percent in each group said this happens often, with Hispanic Americans the most likely to say they often argue about phone use.

— Nearly two-thirds (64%) of parents of 13- to 14-year-olds say they look through their teen’s smartphone, compared with 41% among parents of 15- to 17-year-olds.

— Forty-two percent of teens say smartphones make learning good social skills harder, while 30% said it makes it easier.

— About half of the parents said they spend too much time on their phone. Higher-income parents were more likely to say this than those in lower income buckets, and white parents were more likely to report spending too much time on their phone than Hispanic or Black parents.

Shabbat-Friendly Luxury Travel Destinations

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If you’re staying in a European hotel, you might be met with a confused expression when you ask for kosher wine, challah and candles. Photo Credit: Pixabay

Shabbat-Friendly Luxury Travel Destinations

By: Iris Hami

Shabbat or Shabbos is a special time of the week that has its own magic. Exactly how you observe Shabbat will depend on how religious you are and how you interpret Shabbat rules and traditions. Even many secular Jews find pleasure and comfort in observing (or at least acknowledging) cultural traditions that go back thousands of years.

The average American Jew lives in a crazy 24 hour economy. We’re hit with information and stimulation from every direction – most of it’s either trivial, unnecessary or irritating. It’s not great for our mental health, but we’ve come to regard it as normal. Shabbat provided our ancestors with a break from five and a half days of hard work, it also gives us a vital opportunity to disconnect from the online and media world and slow the pace of life. Just switching your phone off, or putting it on silent is a significant act – and not just for Generation Z.

The ritual of candle lighting, bringing family and friends together around the dinner table and sanctifying Shabbat with the Kiddush blessing is a spiritual act. There’s a beauty and simplicity that can move even the most determinedly secular free thinker. Shabbat rituals are a thread that runs right through Jewish history and connect us to our earliest ancestors in the biblical Kingdom of Israel.

For many families, Erev Shabbat is the only time that they will actually sit together as a family and share a properly cooked meal. Whether you’re religious or not, a sanctified day of rest that emphasizes food and family is a very deep human need.

Keeping Shabbat During Travel and Vacations

When you’re at home, keeping Shabbat is usually pretty straightforward. We have a routine that includes weekly shopping and cooking, picking up the wine and the challah, maybe inviting guests and chasing up the kids to make sure that they’ll be on time. If you’re not stressed or under pressure with the preparations, there’s usually a feeling of pleasant anticipation as the end of the week approaches.

When we’re traveling, especially in a place that doesn’t have a big Jewish community, keeping Shabbat becomes a bit more awkward for observant Jews. If you’re staying in a hotel or a guesthouse in Europe, or you need to create a travel itinerary that doesn’t include flying or driving on Shabbat, you may be dependent on other people’s willingness to accommodate your needs. Quite often, they simply won’t be aware of the ins and outs of Shabbat observance – or understand its importance to you and your family.

When tourist and hospitality businesses and caterers operate with very tight overheads, or work under pressure, it can be a challenge to adjust well oiled routines and create special conditions for a single guest or just one family. Even where there’s plenty of hospitable goodwill and flexibility, there’s a lot of potential for inadvertent mistakes that will violate Shabbat or kashrut. Unless you’re self-catering or renting a vacation apartment, you’ll have a problem.

One solution is to book a kosher trip with Gil Travel and enjoy all the perks of luxury travel – and keep Shabbat. There are plenty of amazing kosher travel destinations, ranging from ski vacations in the Nevada mountains to Jewish heritage tours of Poland, and historical Jewish districts in European or South American cities. It’s even possible to arrange private Jewish art tours of European capitals with an itinerary and luxury accommodation that allows you to observe Shabbat correctly.

What is a Kosher Trip?

A kosher trip is a tour or a vacation organized by a Jewish travel company. It basically guarantees that travelers will be able to keep kosher and observe Shabbat from the moment they leave home, until the moment they return. It’s possible to create custom designed luxury travel itineraries that accommodate for every level of religious observance. Shabbat keeping travel arrangements are opening up all kinds of exciting new destinations for religious Jews, and are taking a lot of the headaches out of international travel.

A kosher trip begins with selecting travel dates that won’t conflict with Shabbat or any of the high holidays or even minor religious holidays. It also means ensuring that the airline serves properly certified kosher food (preferably kosher food that’s also reasonably appetizing). If tzniut (modesty) is also an issue, there may also be an option to request a convenient seating plan on the flight.

Kosher travel destinations always have good hotels that are used to welcoming Jewish guests and cook kosher food under the supervision of a recognized mashgiach. This supervision should include every aspect of food sourcing, storage, handling, preparation and dining. There are a lot of opportunities for accidental violation of kashrut in a busy commercial kitchen, or with untrained waiting staff, so strict supervision is essential (even in Jewish owned hotels and restaurants).

If you’re self catering, or planning picnics, packed lunches or snacks, you’ll need access to the best Jewish delis and food stores. One of the best things about travel is when you can turn a trip into a gastronomical adventure. When you book a private luxury travel tour, your guide will give you the full run down on local cuisine and traditional Jewish foods from that area. Nothing beats local knowledge when it comes to good food and drink.

A Quick Checklist for Shabbat-Friendly Travel

The availability of (correct) kosher food is the single biggest issue for observant Jewish travelers, but there are plenty of other things to check with your tour operator before you book a trip.

  • Kosher Wine, Challah and Candles

It might be something that you take for granted, but if you’re staying in a European hotel, you might be met with a confused expression when you ask for kosher wine, challah and candles – or a Shabbat hot plate. The same will apply if you ask for wine and besamim for havdalah. If you require grape juice instead of wine, check that there’s a kosher version available.

  • Shabbat Elevators

If you need a Shabbat elevator, you’ll definitely need to let your tour operator know up front. Some hotels have them, or can arrange for someone to operate the elevator for you. If not, a ground floor or first floor room may be essential. Depending on your level of observance, other electrical items like thermostats, electronic room keys and motion sensors could be problematic. Liaise with your tour company and don’t get caught out.

  • Synagogues and Prayer

Ideally, your hotel will be a short walk from a suitable synagogue. Again, this is something that you can discuss with your tour provider. Local knowledge and personal connections can be a great help if you want to attend a Shabbat service.

  • Suitable Shabbat Activities

If you traveled halfway across the world on a Jewish heritage tour, you probably don’t want to spend an entire Shabbat sitting in a hotel room – especially if you have young children. Every family has their own concept of what constitutes acceptable activity on Shabbat, but even a gentle stroll through a local park or garden can be a very welcome diversion. Your tour guide can put together a list of activities that match your needs.

Gil Travel has decades of experience when it comes to arranging trips and tours to Shabbat-friendly destinations. If you’re looking for exciting kosher travel destinations for your next vacation, we’ll be happy to help. We also specialize in tailored Jewish heritage tours that help you to explore your family background and history, or any area of special interest. If you have to travel somewhere on business, or for any other reason, we may also be able to help with luxury travel and Shabbat-friendly hotels.

Author Bio

Iris Hami is President of Gil Travel Group, the largest travel management firm sending people to Israel. She has over 40 years of experience in the travel industry, and uses that knowledge to craft unique Jewish journeys around the world. Her company has won multiple awards, including one from State of Israel Bonds for Extraordinary Achievements Promoting the State of Israel. They send over 40,000 travelers to Israel and other international locations each year.

Israeli FM: Guterres Doesn’t Care About Oct 7th Victims Because They Were Jewish

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Israel castigated United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres Monday, ahead of an emergency meeting of the UNSCl. “UNRWA, under your oversight, has been implicated in the massacre, with thousands of its staff entwined with Hamas’ terrorist activities,” said Israeli FM Katz. He added that Guterres had allowed the UN to become an epicenter of anti-Semitism. (United Nations)

Israeli FM: Guterres Doesn’t Care About Oct 7th Victims Because They Were Jewish

UN has fallen to ‘all-time low,’ Israel’s FM charges

By:  David Rosenberg – worldisraelnews.com

Israel castigated United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres Monday, ahead of an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council.

The Security Council was set to convene its emergency session – called by the U.S., U.K., Japan, and France – Monday afternoon to review the findings of a UN probe, conducted by Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict Pramila Patten on the use of rape by Gaza terrorists on Israelis on October 7th.

Patten and her team submitted their 24-page report to the UN last week. The report found that there are “reasonable grounds” to believe that Gaza terrorists used sexual violence against Israelis on October 7th.

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz (Likud), who traveled to New York along with 40 relatives of Israeli hostages held in Gaza for Monday’s hearing, blasted the UN Secretary-General over his response to the October 7th attacks and the subsequent war with Gaza.

Katz accused Guterres of not only an anti-Israel but also an anti-Jewish bias, claiming the Secretary-General would have responded differently to the October 7th attacks had the victims not been Jewish.

“Your response to the atrocities committed by Hamas is unacceptable,” wrote Katz in a letter to Guterres Monday.

“Your dismissal of the heinous acts as documented in the recent UN report – acts which are still being perpetrated – is not only inadequate but also offensive.”

The Israeli Foreign Minister blasted Guterres for failing to “lead a decisive international stances against” the October 7th atrocities, “instead fixating criticism on Israel,” saying this signalled a “distressing bias.”

“If the victims would not have been of Jewish or Israeli descent, your office would have responded in a much [sic] vigorous way.”

“The indifference displayed towards the report on Hamas’ sexual violence…is deplorable.”

Katz also took Guterres to task over The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East’s (UNRWA) ties to the Hamas terror organization.

“UNRWA, under your oversight, has been implicated in the massacre, with thousands of its staff entwined with Hamas’ terrorist activities.”

“Your tenure at the UN is set to be remembered for diminish the organizations stature to an all-time low, allowing it to become an epicenter of anti-Semitism and anti-Israel incitement.” (WorldIsraelNews.com)

Israeli Hostages Were Raped, Subjected to Sexual Torture, UN Envoy Say

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Pramila Patten speaks during Security Council meeting on Women and peace and security at UN Headquarters in New York on July 14, 2023. (Shutterstock)

Israeli Hostages Were Raped, Subjected to Sexual Torture, UN Envoy Says

By: World Israel News Staff

Israeli hostages held captive by Gaza terrorists during and after the October 7th invasion were subjected to rape and sexualized torture, a United Nations envoy told the UN Security Council Monday, sharing findings from a recent report.

The United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Pramilla Patten, addressed an emergency hearing of the Security Council called Monday by the delegations of Japan, France, Britain, and the U.S., following the filing of a report last week by Patten and her team.

In her 24-page report, summarizing her findings during an investigatory trip to Israel, Patten wrote that there are “reasonable grounds” to believe that Gaza terrorists used sexual violence against Israelis on October 7th.

Speaking at Monday’s hearing, Patten said that there was ample evidence that Israelis held hostage by Gaza terrorists were not only sexually assaulted and raped, but also tortured.

“What I witnessed in Israel were scenes of unspeakable violence perpetrated with shocking brutality resulting in intense human suffering,” Patten told the Security Council.

“I saw the pain in their eyes,” Patten continued. “It was a catalogue of the most extreme and inhumane forms of killing, torture and other horrors.”

“We found clear and convincing information that sexual violence, including rape, sexualized torture, and cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment, has been committed against hostages, and we have reasonable grounds to believe that such violence may still be ongoing against those in captivity.”

Patten and her team interviewed 34 people – including survivors of the October 7th attacks – during the fact-finding mission to Israel. The team visited the scenes of four massacres, and reviewed over 50 hours of footage and more than 5,000 photographs.

Russia’s representative, Maria Zabolotskaya, downplayed Patten’s report, noting that the UN team had not met with rape victims themselves.

“Only after a comprehensive and objective study of the situation in its entire geographical extent will it be possible to draw any conclusions,” Zabolotskaya said, adding that Russia rejected the “collective punishment” of Gazans which followed the massacre and rape of Israelis on October 7th.

“We consider it unacceptable that the suffering of people who have experienced sexual violence or accusations of this serious crime become a ‘bargaining chip’ in political games.”

Also, on Monday, World Israel News reported that Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz, along with 40 relatives of Israeli hostages held in Gaza, traveled to the United Nations in New York to advocate on behalf of captives in Gaza and to demand action in response to Hamas’s sexual crimes.

The delegates attended the UN Security Council’s session on the findings of the investigation into the sexual atrocities Hamas committed on October 7th and afterward.

The session followed Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict Pramila Patten’s 24-page report submitted to the UN last week.

Patten’s team visited the devastated kibbutzim targeted on October 7th, spoke with forensic experts about evidence of sexual crimes and mutilation of the bodies of the deceased, viewed footage of the atrocities committed by Hamas terrorists, and spoke with survivors and witnesses of the crimes.

Yarden Gonen, a delegate whose 23-year old sister Romi was abducted from the Nova festival said: “This session is critical and may have an effect that would finally prompt the UN to use its mandate and its forces for good. For the benefit of the hostages.” (worldisraelnews.com)

Pro-Palestinian Backlash Against Gaza War Sparks Fear Among British Lawmakers

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Pro-Palestinian Backlash Against Gaza War Sparks Fear Among British Lawmakers

Edited by:  Fern Sidman

The war in Gaza has not only ignited intense debates and discussions across the globe but has also reverberated through the halls of British politics, leading to a climate of fear and intimidation among lawmakers, as was reported in the Wall Street Journal.  Recent incidents, including protests outside lawmakers’ homes and acts of vandalism, have raised concerns about the erosion of democratic principles and the safety of elected officials.

Conservative Party lawmaker Tobias Ellwood experienced firsthand the intensity of the backlash when around 80 pro-Palestinian protesters gathered outside his house, chanting slogans accusing him of complicity in genocide, according to the information provided in the WSJ report. Similarly, Jo Stevens, a Labour Party lawmaker who didn’t support an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, found her office vandalized with red paint and posters, leading her to express her concerns about the intimidating nature of such acts.

“If you have someone write murder across your door, it is intimidating,” Stevens remarked, according to the WSJ, highlighting the distress caused by these incidents.

The British government has condemned these actions, labeling them as attempts to subvert the democratic process and instill fear among lawmakers. The report in the WSJ indicated that UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak emphasized the need to address the escalating situation, warning against the exploitation of human angst for divisive ideological agendas.

“What started as protests on our streets has descended into intimidation, threats, and planned acts of violence,” Sunak stated, underscoring the urgency of the issue, as per the information in the WSJ.

Conservative Party lawmaker Mike Freer, representing a constituency with a sizable Jewish community, announced his decision to retire from politics following an arson attack on his office and threats against his life. The WSJ reported that despite the perpetrator claiming the attack was unrelated to politics, Freer has cited years of threats as contributing factors to his decision. He now wears protective vests to public events, reflecting the heightened security concerns among lawmakers.

While pro-Palestinian demonstrations advocating for a tougher stance against Israel have drawn large crowds in London, concerns have been raised about the presence of individuals openly promoting anti-Semitic slogans, as was noted in the WSJ report. The use of pro-Hamas slogans such “From the river to the sea,” projected onto the Houses of Parliament during a vote on Gaza, has sparked outrage among Jewish communities, who view it as a call for the destruction of Israel.

As the tensions surrounding the conflict continue to escalate, the British government faces mounting pressure to address the rising threats and ensure the safety and integrity of its democratic institutions, the report added.

As preparations are underway for a march in central London ending at the U.S. Embassy, protesters have emphasized the peaceful nature of their demonstrations. However, the WSJ report said that concerns have been raised about the increasing polarization and intimidation tactics employed in British politics, mirroring the turbulent landscape seen in the United States.

John Woodcock, a member of Britain’s House of Lords, expressed apprehension about the growing trend of abuse directed at lawmakers, warning that such practices aim to “grind people into submission.” The WSJ said that he emphasized the urgent need to address these polarizing tactics and reset the narrative to uphold democratic values.

The specter of political violence looms large in Britain, with tragic incidents such as the killings of Labour lawmaker Jo Cox and Tory lawmaker David Amess serving as stark reminders of the dangers posed by radical Islamic ideologies. These events have heightened anxieties among lawmakers and the public, prompting calls for greater vigilance and measures to combat extremism.

Across Europe, governments have adopted varying approaches to control pro-Palestinian marches, with some countries imposing outright bans on demonstrations. As was noted in the WSJ report, in Britain, the government has thus far refrained from such measures, sparking a contentious debate about the balance between freedom of expression and the need to counter extremism.

Robin Simcox, the U.K.’s counter-extremism czar, underscored the importance of challenging groups that propagate extremist narratives while remaining below the terrorism threshold. The report in the WSJ said that he emphasized the necessity of preventing London from becoming a “no-go zone” for Jews, highlighting the imperative to safeguard public safety and social cohesion.

Amidst growing concerns over potential violence, parliamentary proceedings have been disrupted, with Speaker of the House Lindsay Hoyle making unprecedented decisions to ensure the safety of lawmakers, according to the information in the WSJ report. During a debate on a ceasefire in Gaza, Hoyle intervened to allow opposition lawmakers to abstain from voting, citing concerns about their safety.

The majority of the U.K. population aligns with the call for a ceasefire in Gaza, reflecting a nuanced shift in the positions of both major political parties—the Conservatives and Labour. The WSJ also reported that recent months have witnessed a transition from unequivocal support for Israel’s right to self-defense to calls for a humanitarian pause or ceasefire, underscoring the evolving nature of the discourse surrounding the conflict.

Labour leader Keir Starmer, poised to contend in the upcoming election for prime minister, faces internal pressure to adopt a more robust stance on Gaza. The internal dynamics of the Labour Party are underscored by the recent special election in Rochdale, where independent candidate George Galloway secured victory on an anti-Israel platform, as was pointed out in the WSJ report. Galloway’s electoral win, marked by symbolism tied to the Palestinian cause, highlights the challenges faced by mainstream political figures in navigating the nuanced landscape of public opinion.

During his recent engagement with law enforcement, Rishi Sunak urged stronger action against protesters displaying banners supportive of Hamas, a designated terror organization in the U.K, the WSJ said.  Sunak’s call for proactive measures against potential threats targeting lawmakers’ residences underscores the government’s commitment to maintaining public safety amid heightened tensions.

The Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), a prominent organizer of demonstrations in the U.K., has emphasized its commitment to non-violence. While the campaign rejects violence, it contends that chanting “From the river to the sea” represents a call for freedom rather than an incitement to violence, the report added. The PSC’s stance reflects the complexity of interpreting slogans and symbols within the broader context of political activism.

Sunder Katwala, Director of British Future, a think tank focused on race and immigration, underscored the fundamental need for all Londoners to feel safe. “I think it’s a real problem,” he remarked, as was noted in the WSJ report, encapsulating the growing apprehensions surrounding public demonstrations and their potential impact on community well-being.

According to David Mead, Professor of U.K. Human Rights Law at the University of East Anglia, the British police possess an array of legal tools to manage protests effectively. “This is largely a matter of police discretion,” he stated in the WSJ report, highlighting the critical role of law enforcement agencies in enforcing existing laws while acknowledging the challenge of resource constraints.

London Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mark Rowley’s recent remarks underscore the multifaceted nature of criticism facing law enforcement. Rowley acknowledged the delicate balance between upholding the right to protest and ensuring public safety, navigating between accusations of both excessive suppression and inadequate intervention.

In response to mounting concerns, the government is exploring avenues to refine its definition of “extremism” and delineate stricter parameters for engagement with extremist groups, the report added. John Woodcock’s review proposes restricting interactions between such groups and lawmakers, signaling a shift towards a more stringent approach to curbing extremist influence. As per the WSJ report, Woodcock argued against enabling groups like the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), emphasizing the need to safeguard democratic processes from external disruptions.

Toby Young, founder of the Free Speech Union, advocated for measured restrictions on protests, advocating for uniform criteria applied across various groups. The WSJ said that Young opposes broadening the definition of extremism, cautioning against encroachments on free speech rights in the pursuit of preventing extremism. He argued that targeting specific expressions, such as slogans or flags, may prove ineffective in addressing underlying radicalization.

Middlebury Students Tried To Host a Vigil for Victims of Oct. 7 Attack. Administrators Told Them To Remove the Word ‘Jewish.’

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Middlebury's Dean of Students Derek Doucet and the Old Chapel (Middlebury College, Wikimedia)

Aaron Sibarium-Free Beacon

It was October 10, three days after Hamas had murdered 1,200 Israelis and abducted hundreds more, and Jewish students at Middlebury College were trying to organize a vigil for the victims. They reached out to Middlebury’s dean of students, Derek Doucet, with a draft poster promoting the event, which they invited administrators at the elite liberal arts school to attend.

“Stand in Solidarity With the Jewish People,” the poster read. “This will be an opportunity to honor the innocent lives lost in the tragic events that have struck Israel in the past days.”

It didn’t go over well.

In an email to students reviewed by the Washington Free Beacon, Doucet, who has oversight of student activities, pushed to rename the vigil and strip it of references to Judaism so as to make it “as inclusive as possible.”

“Some suggestions that might help are stating that this gathering is to honor ‘all the innocent lives lost,’” Doucet wrote, and including a reference to the “tragedies that have struck Israel and Gaza.” He added that calls for solidarity with Jews could trigger “unhelpful reactions.”

“I recognize and deeply respect that there has to be a place for purely Jewish grief and sorrow,” Doucet said, “and yet I wonder if … such a public gathering in such a charged moment might be more inclusive with edits such as these.”

The need to include all groups—in a vigil mourning the losses of one—was selective and short-lived. Less than a month later, Doucet’s office approved a “Vigil for Palestine,” hosted by the Muslim Students Association, that began with an Islamic prayer and featured remarks from the school’s vice president of equity and inclusion, Khuram Hussain, who did not attend the Jewish vigil.

“Standing in solidarity,” the Muslim student group wrote in an Instagram post promoting the event. “Together, we honor Palestine.”

The divergent reaction to the two events is one of the most shocking examples of discrimination outlined in a federal civil rights complaint against Middlebury, one of the top liberal arts colleges in the country. Filed last month by the StandWithUs Center for Legal Justice, a pro-Israel nonprofit that has sued other elite schools over anti-Semitism, the complaint alleges that Middlebury created a hostile environment for its Jewish students by ignoring and at times impeding their efforts to combat campus anti-Semitism.

On Tuesday, the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights told StandWithUS that it had opened an investigation into Middlebury based on the complaint. The office will review the allegations and, if it finds that discrimination has occurred, provide a list of remedial actions for Middlebury to take. Such probes can range from a few months to several years, depending on the office’s case load.

Colleges across the country have been accused of violating Title VI, the civil rights law governing recipients of federal funds, by turning a blind eye to the harassment of Jews on campus in the wake of Oct. 7. The Middlebury complaint goes further, arguing that the school has not only tolerated anti-Semitism but actively discriminated against its Jewish students, in part by denying them the same accommodations as their Muslim and Christian peers.

Middlebury funds and recognizes six Christian clubs on campus, for example, along with both the Muslim Students Association and Students for Justice in Palestine. But it has refused to recognize Chabad, an orthodox campus organization with chapters across the country, on the grounds that Jewish students already have access to Hillel, the only space at Middlebury with a Kosher kitchen.

“The funding request for food replicates programming already funded and offered by Hillel for Shabbat dinners,” Middlebury’s student activities office wrote in a February email rejecting Chabad’s bid for recognition. It was at least the second time since 2018 that the school has denied an application from Chabad.

“Middlebury believes it has legitimate grounds to deny a Jewish club’s recognition simply on the grounds that one Jewish group is more than enough for the campus,” the complaint reads. “It appears that Chabad’s rejection was at least in part based on a disturbing reluctance by Middlebury to provide kosher food options to its Jewish students.”

The school also resisted calls for a police presence at the Jewish vigil in October, citing concerns that the officers could upset students, and asked the organizers of the event not to display Israeli flags, according to meetings described in the complaint.

The Palestinian vigil appears to have faced fewer hurdles. Not only did Middlebury station a police car outside the event, according to a report in the school’s student newspaper, it offered up Middlebury Chapel, one of the largest event spaces on campus, to the Muslim group after interest in the vigil surged. The chapel was not made available for the Jewish vigil, which was held outside, even though it drew a larger crowd than the pro-Palestinian event.

“What makes Middlebury different from our other Title VI complaints is that there’s not just a hostile environment for Jewish students; the administration also seems to be directly complicit,” Yael Lerman, the director of the StandWithUs Center for Legal Justice, told the Free Beacon. “The Middlebury administration seems to think they’re off the radar and can get away with disparate treatment of Jewish students because everyone is focused on Harvard, MIT, and Penn.”

That disparate treatment appears to reflect the ideological sympathies of at least some administrators. On Feb. 16, the same day StandWithUs’s complaint was filed, Middlebury released a statement, “How Middlebury is Handling the Tensions Surrounding the Israel/Gaza War,” that appeared to endorse the Palestinian “struggle for liberation.”

“Student Affairs, Public Safety, and the Events offices supported a vigil honoring the Palestinian people and their struggle for liberation at Middlebury Chapel on November 9,” the statement said.

It also touted an “Anti-Oppression Reading Group Discussion of Islamophobia” with Renee Wells, Middlebury’s director of education for equity and inclusion, and a “teach-in” hosted by Students for Justice in Palestine, the group behind some of the most aggressive anti-Semitic protests nationally.

Middlebury has since stealth-edited the statement to remove those references, based on multiple versions of the webpage archived by StandWithUs Center For Legal Justice. The school did not respond to a request for comment about whether it supports Palestinian “liberation” or has an official view on the Israel-Hamas conflict.

 

The efforts to rewrite history extend to the college’s dealings with students, who have been discouraged from creating a record of their conversations with administrators. After a Jewish student met with Middlebury’s provost, Michelle McCauley, to discuss a slew of anti-Semitic Yik Yak posts, the student sent an email recapping the meeting.

McCauley responded that the recap was “not as I understood the conversation” and, in a follow-up meeting, castigated the student for putting the discussion in writing, according to emails reviewed by the Free Beacon and meetings described in the complaint. She then had Hussain, the diversity official who spoke at the Gaza vigil, produce his own recap of the meeting, which omitted key parts of the conversation and downplayed the student’s concerns, according to the complaint.

“Rather than address its antisemitism problem, Middlebury’s administration has attempted to hide and deny its existence,” the complaint reads. “Middlebury is a leading example of a campus where hostility towards Jews and Israelis thrives.”

Update 03/11/24, 3:00 p.m.: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that the complaint was filed by StandWithUs. It was filed by the StandWithUs Center For Legal Justice, a separate legal entity.