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The real reason Hamas and Egypt oppose Israel’s control of Rafah, the only border out of Gaza

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The Rafah border crossing with Egypt, southern Gaza Strip, Feb. 9, 2021. (Flash90/Abed Rahim Khatib)

By Bassam Tawil, Gatestone Institute

On May 6, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) captured the Palestinian side of the Rafah border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, drawing condemnations from the Iran-backed Hamas terrorist group and Egypt.

The IDF said it had “intelligence that terrorists were using the border crossing for terror purposes.”

A day earlier, Hamas terrorists fired rockets from near the Rafah terminal toward the Kerem Shalom area (near the Israel-Gaza border), killing four Israeli soldiers and wounding several others.

In response to the Israeli military operation, Hamas and Egypt were quick to issue statements denouncing the capture of the Rafah border crossing, claiming that the move would “threaten” the lives of the Palestinians and hinder the entry of humanitarian and relief aid into the Gaza Strip.

“Egypt condemns in the strongest terms the Israeli military operations in the Palestinian city of Rafah, and the resulting Israeli control over the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing,” read a statement by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“This dangerous escalation threatens the lives of more than a million Palestinians who depend primarily on this crossing as it is the main lifeline of the Gaza Strip, and the safe outlet for the wounded and sick to exit to receive treatment, and for the entry of humanitarian and relief aid to our Palestinian brothers in Gaza.”

Hamas and other Palestinian terrorist groups in the Gaza Strip also expressed outrage over the Israeli move and said they would not accept the presence of any non-Palestinian party on the Palestinian side of their terminal.

“We will not accept from any party the imposition of any form of guardianship over the Rafah crossing,” the terrorist groups cautioned. They urged the Arab and Islamic states “to reject any plans and attempts that affect Palestinian-Egyptian sovereignty over the Rafah crossing.”

The Egyptians and Hamas have good reason to be angry with the presence of the IDF at the Palestinian side of the Rafah border crossing.

For several years, Palestinians who wanted to exit the Gaza Strip via the terminal have alleged that they had to bribe Hamas and officials.

Hamas and Egypt are now afraid of losing the Palestinian milk-cow.

In 2015, Egyptian journalist Ahmed Moussa revealed that Hamas received bribes worth $6,000 from Palestinians for passing through the Rafah border crossing.

A year later, Palestinian journalist Noha Abu Amr wrote on her Facebook page about the plight of her 50-year-old mother, who was unable to travel through the Rafah crossing, but she did not pay a bribe to Hamas officials.

She said that her mother sat on the floor and kissed the hands and legs of the crossing officials in full view of the people and begged them to allow her to travel. “They treated her like animals,” Abu Amr recounted.

“It is our right to travel without bribes and without corruption. We are living under a [Hamas] dictatorship.” Abu Amr was later arrested by Hamas security officers, who confiscated her mobile phone and ordered her to delete the Facebook post.

Arab and Western media outlets have reported that since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023, Palestinians who want to leave the Gaza Strip through the Rafah terminal are being compelled to bribe Egyptian officials with thousands of dollars.

The war erupted after Hamas terrorists invaded Israel and massacred, decapitated, raped and dismembered 1,200 Israelis on October 7.

Additionally, more than 240 Israelis were abducted by the terrorists and taken to the Gaza Strip; 132 hostages, many of whom are believed to have been killed, are still being held there by the terrorist group.

“To leave Gaza, people are paying a $5,000 bribe to Egypt,” the Gaza-based Palestinian journalist Hind Khoudary wrote on X on November 23, 2023.

Palestinians who try to leave the Gaza Strip through the Rafah border crossing have to pay bribes to brokers of up to $10,000, the British newspaper The Guardian reported on January 8, 2024.

“Very few Palestinians have been able to leave Gaza through the Rafah border crossing but those trying to get their names on the list of people permitted to exit daily say they are being asked to pay large ‘coordination fees’ by a network of brokers and couriers with alleged links to the Egyptian intelligence services.”

It quoted a Palestinian man in the US as saying he paid $9,000 to get his wife and children on the list.

On the day of travel, he was told his children’s names were not listed and he would have to pay an extra $3,000.

He said the brokers were “trying to trade in the blood of Gazans”.

“It’s very frustrating and saddening,” he said. “They are trying to exploit people who are suffering, who are trying to get out of the hell in Gaza.”

FORMER ISRAELI COMMANDER HIGHLIGHTS NECESSARY IMPROVEMENTS FOR GAZA BORDER DEFENSE
According to The Guardian:

“A network of brokers, based in Cairo, helping Palestinians leave Gaza has operated around the Rafah border for years. But prices have surged since the start of the war, from $500 for each person.”

The Guardian interviewed a number of Palestinians who have been told they would have to pay between $5,000 and $10,000 each to leave the Gaza Strip, with some launching crowdfunding campaigns to raise the money.

A Palestinian living in the UK was quoted as saying:

“People are making money off the misery of others. They’re desperate to get out to save their lives and instead of helping they’re trying to make money. If there’s a way to get people out, then why not just help?”

A company owned by an influential Egyptian businessman and ally of President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi is making around $2 million a day from Palestinians fleeing the Gaza Strip, according to the Middle East Eye (MEE), a UK-based news website, on May 1, 2024

“Hala Consulting and Tourism Services, a firm owned by Sinai tribal leader and business tycoon Ibrahim al-Organi, has been charging Palestinians crossing from Gaza’s Rafah to Egypt at least $5,000 per adult and $2,500 for children under 16.

“It has a monopoly on providing transfer services at the Rafah crossing, the only Gaza exit not bordered with Israel and the single route out of the coastal enclave for Palestinians.”

In the past three months alone, the company is estimated to have made a minimum of $118 million from desperate Palestinians trying to leave the Gaza Strip, according to MEE.

“By the end of this year, if the April average continues, the company may earn well over half a billion dollars from the so-called VIP list of people Hala is transferring across the Gaza-Egypt border…

“Palestinian and Egyptian sources told MEE that several intermediaries were involved in coordinating the exit of Palestinians in a haphazard, decentralised way.

“Before February, Palestinians were charged up to $11,000 per adult to leave Gaza, until Hala monopolised the business and standardised fees.

“Prior to the war, Hala charged everyone exiting Gaza via the Rafah crossing $350 per person, but the price has increased 14-fold for Palestinians.”

According to the Palestinian ambassador in Cairo, Diab Allouh, an estimated 80,000-100,000 Palestinians have fled Gaza via Egypt since the war began.

Earlier this year, MEE reported that an international charity with extensive experience in providing emergency aid in wars, famines and earthquakes throughout the Middle East and in Afghanistan is also being forced to pay $5,000 per truck to a company linked to Egypt’s General Intelligence Service to get aid into the Gaza Strip.

“The charity, which does not want to be named to avoid obstruction to its relief efforts in Gaza, spoke to Middle East Eye in outrage at having to pay what it openly describes as a bribe to a state-linked agent.”

MEE quoted a spokesman for the charity as saying:

“We have worked around the world in times of war, earthquakes and other disasters, but we have never been treated like this by a state that is profiteering from the dispatch of humanitarian goods. It’s draining a lot of our resources and the bribe being paid is per truck.”

According to MEE:

“The charity’s statement to MEE is the first concrete evidence of Egypt or Egyptian government-linked parties demanding a cut from the humanitarian aid going into Gaza…”

MEE said it spoke to five Palestinian families who all confirmed that they had paid fees in the thousands, mostly in US dollars or euros, to mediators who then facilitated their exit from Gaza.

Nadia Atawy, an Egyptian woman trapped in the Gaza Strip since the beginning of the war, said in a video that she is unable to pay a $650 bribe to return to her family in Egypt though the Rafah border crossing.

“I don’t have the money to pay,” Atawy complained. “I have children with me and I can’t afford to pay [the bribe]. I don’t know what to do.”

The Palestinians actually owe Israel a huge debt of gratitude for finally driving Hamas out of the Palestinian side of the Rafah border crossing.

Since the terrorist organization took over the Gaza Strip in 2007, the crossing has been under its control.

Hamas used the crossing to collect money for its corrupt officials and their families.

In a similar vein, Palestinians are now being forced to pay thousands of dollars to Egyptians to escape the Gaza Strip.

One can understand why Egypt and Hamas strongly oppose having the IDF stationed at the border crossing: the millions of dollars they have been receiving may disappear.

Egypt and Hamas are, it seems, indifferent to the pain endured by the Palestinians they are effectively imprisoning.

All that matters to them is making more money off anyone desperate to leave the Gaza Strip.

Source: Biden’s Bomb ‘Pause’ Will Cause Israeli Soldiers to Die in Booby-trapped Buildings

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idf

By Joel B. Pollak (Breitbart)

 

President Joe Biden’s decision to withhold bombs from Israel will cause more Israeli soldiers to die in booby-trapped buildings that would otherwise have been destroyed from the air, according to a military source in Israel.

As Breitbart News reported, the Biden administration confirmed this week that it had withheld 2,500-lb. and 500-lb. bombs, and would also withhold artillery rounds, in opposition to Israel’s decision to attack Hamas’s last stronghold in Rafah.

Israel, which views the defeat of Hamas in Rafah as a military necessity, has decided to continue its operation. But in order to avoid antagonizing Biden, or running out of bombs, Israel will have to send soldiers directly into buildings.

“Everything is rigged to blow [in Rafah],” a military source said. “We are being engaged in numerous buildings, and tunnels rigged in a manner we have not yet encountered. Hamas is organized, and was waiting ready for the IDF to enter Rafah.”

Hamas had plenty of time to prepare, after Biden’s opposition forced Israel to delay an operation in Rafah for three months.

Israel acted after Hamas refused to budge in hostage talks, and attacked the Keren Shalom border crossing, a key entry point for humanitarian aid. Four soldiers died in the attack and several more were wounded.

Since Monday, Israel has held the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt, as well as the Philadelphi corridor road that runs along the Gaza-Egypt border. It has also undertaken limited operations against Hamas terrorists in Rafah.

On Friday evening local time, Hamas launched five rockets that reached the Israeli city of Be’er Sheva in the central Negev desert, marking the first such attack on the city in months, and underlining the need for the Rafah campaign.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) practice in Gaza has often been to identify buildings where Hamas has hidden, warn residents to leave, then bomb the buildings. Dozens of soldiers died earlier in the war in booby-trapped buildings.

IDF soldiers have engaged in more face-to-face combat in counter-terror operations in the West Bank during the war, where Hamas is not in control of the area and therefore has not operated with the same degree of freedom as in Gaza.

The IDF is prepared for a slow, methodical campaign in Rafah. But that also means Israel will have to accept a higher number of military casualties than it otherwise would have.

And it means many Israelis are angry at President Biden.

Joel B. Pollak is Senior Editor-at-Large at Breitbart News and the host of Breitbart News Sunday on Sirius XM Patriot on Sunday evenings from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. ET (4 p.m. to 7 p.m. PT). He is the author of the recent e-book, “The Zionist Conspiracy (and how to join it),” now available on Audible. He is also the author of the e-book, Neither Free nor Fair: The 2020 U.S. Presidential Election. He is a winner of the 2018 Robert Novak Journalism Alumni Fellowship. Follow him on Twitter at @joelpollak.

Special Shabbos at Masbia in honor of the yahrzeit of R’ Shayala Kerestirer 

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Special Shabbos at Masbia in honor of the yahrzeit of R’ Shayala Kerestirer 
Boro Park, Brooklyn — During Shabbos Parshas Kedoshim. (May 10 & 11) The third of Iyar falls the yahrzeit of R’ Shayala Kerestirer. In his honor and to follow his teachings, Masbia of Boro Park will conduct a very special Shabbos for their regular guests and Masbia is inviting the public to join them Friday night for a “buttah” after the meal, and Shabbos morning for an elaborate Kiddush before the meal. The famous vocal choir “Chevraya” will be there the entire Shabbos with exciting Shabbos zmiros.
“Masbia tries to follow in the footsteps of the big tzaddik R’ Shayala all year round.
we always felt it’s appropriate to do something special on the day of his yahrtzeit. I remember going to the tish of the Burshtiner Rebbe shilta, and he would tell fascinating stories about the tzedakah R’ Shayala did, and it had a huge impact on me” said Alexander Rapapert, director of Masbia.

Masbia is open throughout the year for Shabbos and Yom Tov as a place for anyone in Boro Park who couldn’t find themselves to be invited for a shabbos-meal. Different Boro Park baalei batim volunteered to lead the Shabbos meals MAsbia to give the guests a full Shabbos Seudah experience. This week’s seudah will be led by Reb Mendel Teitelbaum, who also led the sedarim and the entire Pesach at Masbia.
Masbia
Brooklyn NY
photo by Stefano Giovannini
Lipa Schmeltzer volunteering at Masbia seving ribstake during the yahrzeit of R’ Shayala Kerestirer, 2008. 1
It is not new for Masbia to hold a special event during the yahrtzeit. Sixteen years ago The New York Times featured Masbia as a charity soup kitchen that served one night steak for all the guests because of the great tzaddik. That year we also had a special volunteer helping to serve the crowd. It was the famous singer Lipa Schmeltzer. Operating on Shabbos is extremely costly. Masbia is seeking help from the public, and is asking people to sponsor the Seudos-Shabbos. “There’s actually a special segulah for giving people wine for kiddush and challos for lechem mishna because of the mi-shebeirach we say every Shabbos before we put back the sefer torah. Please go to: https://www.masbia.org/shabbos

Should Deborah Lipstadt, resign in protest?

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By Moshe Phillips i
(JNS) U.S. President Biden’s suspension of weapons deliveries to Israel places Deborah Lipstadt, the most prominent Jewish member of his administration, in quite a bind. How will she respond?

Let us recall the example set by Mark Siegel in 1978. He was the Carter administration’s liaison to the Jewish community when President Jimmy Carter decided to provide deadly fighter jets to Saudi Arabia and Egypt. The president expected Siegel to convince American Jews to accept the weapons deal.

In early March 1978, Siegel addressed 900 young leaders of the United Jewish Appeal. Delegates began booing him. Siegel was a loyal member of the Carter administration, but he had a conscience.

Discarding his prepared text (according to The New York Times), he proceeded to deliver “an emotional statement of his own commitment to Israel.” He said that he wanted to “take off my White House hat and tell you what I feel as an American, a Jew and a committed Zionist,” speaking at length about “a recent visit to Israel, the strong emotions it aroused in him and his determination to do nothing to harm Israel.”

But you can’t “take off your White House hat” when you are still doing the White House’s dirty work of selling the arms deal to American Jews. “Mark found himself in the excruciating position of defending a policy he did not really believe in,” one of his friends told the Times.

And so Siegel did the honorable thing: He resigned.

Also, let’s remember the example set by Professor Walter Reich in 1998. The Clinton administration tried to orchestrate a visit by mass murderer Yasser Arafat to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. The idea was to “sell” Arafat to the Jewish community. The museum’s leaders went along with this insulting farce; they demanded that Reich escort the arch-terrorist on his visit. Reich refused—in effect resigning, because he knew that would be pushed out as a result.

“We have differed on the use of the museum, and of the memory of the Holocaust, in the context of political or diplomatic circumstances or negotiations,” Reich wrote in his ultra-polite resignation letter. Translation: The White House, and the museum’s leaders, wanted to use the memory of the Holocaust for their political purposes; Reich had the decency to disagree and to give up his job rather than violate his conscience.

When Deborah Lipstadt accepted the position of special U.S. envoy to monitor and combat antisemitism, she must have realized there was a danger that the Biden administration might one day adopt some policy or position that would conflict with her bedrock beliefs.

That day has arrived. President Joe Biden has openly held back thousands of bombs that Israel needs to strike Hamas terrorists who are holding American and Israeli hostages in the Gaza Strip. And in an interview on CNN, Biden has openly threatened to withhold additional military aid if Israel attempts to defeat the Hamas leadership in Rafah, and liberate the American and Israeli hostages.

How can Lipstadt possibly defend this morally reprehensible position?

How can she defend this outrageous abandonment of Israel?

She can’t, and she shouldn’t.

Clearly, Ambassador Lipstadt will be making a significant sacrifice if she resigns in protest over Biden’s abandonment of Israel. Right now, she has a top position in the halls of power, in foreign capitals and in the American Jewish community. She is the guest of honor at all the most prestigious events. She is praised and quoted and greeted with standing ovations.

If she resigns now, Lipstadt will still get standing ovations—but this time, the ovations will come from the millions of American Jewish and Christian supporters of Israel who oppose the murderers and rapists of Hamas, who will praise and admire her for standing up for what’s right.

This is Deborah Lipstadt’s moment. She has the opportunity to be remembered as a true heroine—someone who defended the Jewish state in its hour of need. Or she could be remembered as someone who buried her own conscience in order to retain her position of prestige. The choice is before her.

Brooklyn Gay Bar Sparks Controversy by Canceling Eurovision Viewing Over Israeli Singer, Ritchie Torres Condemns The Jew Hate

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“As we have seen over the last half a year since October 7, campus anti-Semitism is at an all-time high, and American universities are not capable of handling it when left to their own devices. My office and I have spoken with countless Jewish students from campuses across America who feel deeply unsafe ,” Ritchie Torres said in the release. (AP/Mariam Zuhaib)

By Jared Evan

A Gay bar in Brooklyn is bound to become the hot spot for same-sex Nazi couples, as they have seemed to have adopted a ” No Jews on our TV” policy.

A Brooklyn bar, 3 Dollar Bill, situated in East Williamsburg, finds itself embroiled in a firestorm of criticism after it abruptly scrapped plans to host a viewing party for the Eurovision Song Contest, NY Post noted.

The decision came to light following the inclusion of Israeli singer Eden Golan in the lineup, prompting accusations of antisemitism and discrimination.

Initially slated to screen the international song competition, which features talents from across the globe, the bar made a sudden U-turn, citing a desire to provide a “safe space to ALL our patrons.” This move, communicated via an Instagram post, triggered a cascade of reactions, with some applauding the decision while others condemned it as discriminatory.

So in plain English, a Gay Bar in Brooklyn canceled an event because a Jew was set to appear on stage singing. 

“Cool, they have a no Jew on TV policy, I’m going to tell all my Gay Nazi friends this is the new party spot”, a gay Jewish Broadway worker told TJV News sarcastically after hearing about this news.

Congressman Ritchie Torres of the Bronx wasted no time in condemning the bar’s action, labeling it as clear-cut antisemitism. He underscored the inherent bigotry in boycotting Golan not for her actions but simply for her identity as an Israeli. Torres further criticized the notion that such actions were merely anti-Zionist, arguing that they ultimately amounted to antisemitism.

Golan, a 20-year-old performer representing Israel, found herself at the center of a heated debate that extended far beyond the confines of the bar. Pro-Palestinian groups, along with certain factions of fans, had vehemently campaigned for her exclusion from the competition due to Israel’s conflict in Gaza. The controversy reached a crescendo when Golan’s entry song, initially titled “October Rain,” stirred further unrest for its perceived allusions to the conflict. The lyrics were later altered, and the song was rechristened “Hurricane.”

Undeterred by the uproar, Golan remained resolute in her commitment to her art and her country. Expressing defiance in the face of adversity, she emphasized her mission to represent her nation’s voice on the global stage.

The bar’s decision drew a sharp rebuke from various quarters, with patrons and observers alike accusing it of virtue signaling and discrimination. Many voiced their discontent on social media platforms, decrying the exclusionary stance adopted by the establishment.

Amidst the controversy, the saga surrounding 3 Dollar Bill serves as a stark reminder of the complexities inherent in navigating political sensitivities within the realm of entertainment and cultural exchange. As the Eurovision Song Contest unfolds, it remains to be seen how this episode will shape the broader discourse surrounding inclusivity and representation in the arts.

Hamas Continues to Attack Humanitarian Aid Crossing at Kerem Shalom

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Man at Stanford University wears Hamas headgear (X screenshot)

By Joel B. Pollak (Breitbart)

Hamas fired rockets Friday at the Kerem Shalom border crossing, one of several points at which humanitarian aid enters the Gaza Strip from Israel.

It was just the latest such attack, after a barrage of rockets hit the crossing last weekend, killing four Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers and wounding others.

The IDF released a statement:

Following the sirens that sounded earlier today (Friday) in the area of Kerem Shalom, one launch was identified crossing from the Rafah area into Israel. The launch was successfully intercepted by the IDF Aerial Defense Array.

A short while ago, sirens again sounded in the area of Kerem Shalom. The IDF Aerial Defense Array intercepted an additional launch from the Rafah area.

The Biden administration insisted that Israel reopen the crossing almost immediately, despite the threat to Israeli troops and to humanitarian aid convoys. Israel agreed and began preparing the crossing for reopening. On Wednesday, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller accused Israel of not having opened the crossing, but the IDF released video of trucks passing through the crossing and entering Gaza.

There have also been reports of sporadic mortar fire at the site of a humanitarian pier that the U.S. military is constructing off the coast of Gaza.

Joel B. Pollak is Senior Editor-at-Large at Breitbart News and the host of Breitbart News Sunday on Sirius XM Patriot on Sunday evenings from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. ET (4 p.m. to 7 p.m. PT). He is the author of the recent e-book, “The Zionist Conspiracy (and how to join it),” now available on Audible. He is also the author of the e-book, Neither Free nor Fair: The 2020 U.S. Presidential Election. He is a winner of the 2018 Robert Novak Journalism Alumni Fellowship. Follow him on Twitter at @joelpollak.

Israeli Singer Eden Golan Advances to Eurovision 2024 Grand Final , Hamas Supporters Jeer Performance in Sweden

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In the electrifying journey towards the Eurovision 2024 Grand Final, the spotlight pivots sharply onto Israeli contestant, Eden Golan. Amidst the pulsating rhythms and dazzling performances, Golan emerged triumphant, securing her coveted spot in the finals. However, her journey is not just one of musical prowess, but also of navigating a tumultuous geopolitical landscape.

Even as rabid anti-semitic degenerates booed her performance, she impressed the world

in the video above you can hear Nazi Hamas lovers booing the Israeli star

Set against the backdrop of the Israel-Hamas war, Golan’s advancement ignited.s a fervent debate over Israel’s participation in the contest. The controversy simmers as critics and supporters alike weigh in on the intersection of music and politics.

Yet, amidst the. fray, Golan stands poised to make her mark on the Eurovision stage, representing her nation with pride and passion.

Alongside her stands Irish contestant Bambi Thug, an anti-Israel zealot. Thug’s attempts to convey a pro-Palestinian message in Old Irish were met with resistance, underscoring the complexities woven into the fabric of this global event.

As the finalists are chosen through a fan vote spanning participating and non-participating countries alike, the anticipation mounts. Each performer brings their own unique story and message, transcending borders and barriers.

Meanwhile, automatic bids secure Germany, Sweden, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, and Spain’s presence in the Grand Final, adding to the diversity and vibrancy of the event.

In the heart of the Eurovision spectacle, amidst the glittering lights and pulsating beats, the stage is set for a showdown of talent, passion, and unity. And at its center stands Eden Golan, a beacon of Israeli pride amidst the storm of controversy.

 

Country Performer Song
Greece Marina Satti ZARI
Switzerland Nemo The Code
Austria Kaleen We Will Rave
Armenia LADANIVA Jako
Latvia Dons Hollow
Georgia Nutsa Buzaladze Firefighter
Estonia 5MIINUST x Puuluup (nendest) narkootikumidest ei tea me (küll) midagi
Israel Eden Golan Hurricane
Norway Gåte Ulveham
Netherlands Joost Klein Europapa

Columbia U Jewish Students Call for Unity Amid Campus Tensions in Open Letter

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An anti-Israel "apartheid wall" on display at Columbia University during "Israeli Apartheid Week" in 2017. Source: Facebook.

Columbia U Jewish Students Call for Unity Amid Campus Tensions in Open Letter

Edited by: Fern Sidman

In the midst of ongoing campus unrest at Columbia University, a group of Jewish students has issued a heartfelt plea for understanding and dialogue through an open letter addressed to anti-Israel protesters. According to a report on Wednesday in the New York Post, the letter, signed by over 250 students, illustrates a critical juncture in campus dynamics, as tensions have escalated into weeks of protests and, recently, a significant police intervention.

The Jewish students’ letter articulates their thrust into the political spotlight, a role they claim was forced upon them by others at the university who “demonize us under the cloak of anti-Zionism,” as was reported by the Post.  The letter paints a picture of students caught between their academic responsibilities and the turbulent political atmosphere on campus: “We are average students, just trying to make it through finals much like the rest of you.”

Highlighting a broader misunderstanding of Zionism and its significance to the Jewish people, the students expressed frustration over the mischaracterizations and the anti-Semitic sentiments they have faced. “If the last six months on campus have taught us anything, it is that a large and vocal population of the Columbia community does not understand the meaning of Zionism, and subsequently does not understand the essence of the Jewish People,” the letter states, as was revealed in the Post report. This misunderstanding, according to the students, has led to their concerns being “brushed off and invalidated” despite vocal efforts to call attention to their experiences.

The backdrop to this open letter is a series of intense anti-Israel protests at Columbia, culminating in an incident where rioters barricaded themselves inside Hamilton Hall. This led to NYPD intervention to clear out a massive tent encampment and disperse protesters who had occupied the historic building, as per the information provided in the Post report. This level of unrest has marked Columbia as a focal point for pro-Hamas and virulently anti-Semitic demonstrations.

Yet, despite these challenges, the Jewish students’ message remains one of hope and reconciliation. The report in the Post indicated that they cited their cultural and religious teachings, emphasizing peace and unity: “Our tradition tells us, ‘Love peace and pursue peace.’” The students also expressed a desire to bridge divides and foster understanding across the campus community, inviting their peers to join in “earnestly pursuing peace, truth, and empathy.”

The students detailed several incidents of anti-Semitism that they say stemmed directly from ongoing protests. These incidents not only disrupted their academic lives but also blocked their access to shared campus spaces, contributing to a palpable sense of helplessness among the Jewish student body. “We know all too well that anti-Semitism is shape shifting,” the letter stated, expressing a deep-seated frustration with the persistent undercurrent of discrimination that often goes unaddressed, as was noted in the Post report. “The silence is familiar. We will never forget,” it continued, highlighting a feeling of abandonment in their calls for a more inclusive campus environment.

Yet, despite these challenges, the letter conveys a resolute commitment to self-advocacy and pride in their Jewish and Zionist identities. “One thing is for sure. We will not stop standing up for ourselves,” the students declared. The Post also reported that they emphasized that while they are unified in their support for Israel, their individual visions for the country’s future are diverse and nuanced. “Our love for Israel does not necessitate blind political conformity. It’s quite the opposite,” the letter explains, suggesting that true support for Israel involves a willingness to engage in critical and open-ended discussions about its policies and direction.

Israeli political disagreement, they argue, is “an inherently Zionist activity,” inviting their peers to engage in conversations that could reveal the broad spectrum of opinions and hopes they hold for Israel’s future, according to the Post report. This diversity of views is framed not as a point of contention but as a strength that fosters dynamic discourse and a deeper understanding of the issues at hand.

The students’ letter also reflects a broader aspiration for peace and improved relations between Israelis and Palestinians, pointing to a common desire for a better future for all involved. “Yet we all come from a place of love and an aspiration for a better future for Israelis and Palestinians alike,” the letter reads.

 

Staten Island Teen Arrested for Vandalizing WWI Memorial in Anti-Israel Protest; Father Turns Him In

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cbs2 screenshot

Staten Island Teen Arrested for Vandalizing WWI Memorial in Anti-Israel Protest; Father Turns Him In

Edited by: Fern Sidman

In a notable act of parental responsibility intersecting with law enforcement, a 16-year-old boy was arrested for vandalizing a World War I memorial in New York City’s Central Park. According to a report in the New York Post on Thursday, the arrest occurred after the teenager’s father took the decisive step of turning him over to the police, highlighting a complex mix of familial duty and civic responsibility.

The incident unfolded during a chaotic demonstration on Monday night, orchestrated by the anti-Israel group Within Our Lifetime. The young protester, a familiar face at such rallies, was charged with third-degree criminal mischief, a felony, and making graffiti, a misdemeanor, according to the information provided in the Post report. This legal action stems from his alleged involvement in defacing the 107th Infantry Memorial, which commemorates the sacrifices of soldiers who fought in World War I.

The memorial suffered considerable disrespect during the protest, with vandals scrawling “Gaza” and “Free Palestine” on its base and affixing anti-Israel stickers to the statue, which poignantly depicts seven foot soldiers in the heat of battle, the Post report said. The episode of vandalism did not end with graffiti; another protester escalated the act by setting an American flag on fire in front of the memorial.

NYPD Deputy Commissioner Kaz Daughtry responded to the incident with a firm public statement, conveyed through a post on the social media platform X. The post included a blurred photo of the young suspect in handcuffs, sitting on a bench at a police station. As per the information contained in the Post report, Daughtry expressed his condemnation of the vandalism: “The despicable vandalism we saw earlier this week on the WWI Memorial will not be ignored, and will not go unpunished. This isn’t simply juvenile hijinks — it’s an act of desecration that undermines the freedoms our heroes fought and died for.”

The teenager, identified as a student at Tottenville High School with no prior arrests, now faces serious charges that call attention to the gravity of the actions against a revered historical monument. His arrest marks a significant moment in the ongoing discussions about the limits of protest and the preservation of public historical sites. It also raises questions about youth involvement in political movements and the responsibilities of guardians in guiding their actions.

Michael Skol, a long-time resident of the area, expressed his disbelief and anger at the events. “Burning the flag is anti-American. It’s stupid,” Skol remarked to the Post. “It definitively doesn’t help Palestinians or the peace process. These are people who are not in the tradition of believing America is a good place. It’s disgusting.”

The sentiment was echoed by Ron Zucher, another local, who was dismayed by the disrespect shown to the memorial. “It’s horrible to treat a World War I memorial the way they did. It breaks your heart,” Zucher told the Post.  He emphasized that while everyone has the right to voice their opinion, destroying memorials that honor national heroes crosses a line of decency that should be respected.

In response to the vandalism, a clean-up crew was promptly dispatched to the site on Tuesday. They employed power washers and biodegradable chemicals to remove the graffiti, restoring the memorial to its original state, as was explained in the Post report.

Additionally, the nearby monument of Civil War General William Tecumseh Sherman at Grand Army Plaza was also targeted by vandals, presumably part of the same group of anti-Israel protesters, the Post report said. This has only added to the frustration and condemnation from New Yorkers, who see these acts as not only an attack on historical artifacts but also as a misdirected expression of political protest that harms rather than helps any advocacy efforts.

The overarching consensus among the locals is clear: acts of vandalism and disrespect towards national symbols only serve to undermine the causes they purportedly support, alienating potential allies and detracting from the pursuit of meaningful change.

 

 

Biden’s NSC Intel Director, Maher Bitar, Is a Former Radical Pro-Palestinian Activst

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Foreign Press Center / Flickr / CC / Cropped

Joel B. Pollak(Breitbart)

Maher Bitar, the White House Coordinator for Intelligence and Defense Policy at the U.S. National Security Council (NSC), was a radical pro-Palestinian activist and a leader within Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP).

The SJP is one of the most prominent groups involved in the pro-Hamas, antisemitic “encampment” protests that have taken over dozens of university campuses. Its parent group is also the target of a lawsuit by survivors and families of victims of the October 7 terror attack that alleges SJP is a propaganda front for Hamas in the U.S.

Bitar’s record is coming under closer scrutiny as President Joe Biden takes unprecedented action to undermine Israel’s war against the Hamas terrorists that attacked it on October 7, including withholding arms from Israel.

Biden’s decision was applauded Wednesday by Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), who has backed the radical protests, and whose daughter was suspended from Barnard College for her role in radical protests at nearby Columbia University.

Daniel Greenfield wrote about Bitar’s background in a 2021 article published by the Jewish News Syndicate:

At the PSM [Palestine Solidarity Movement] conference in Georgetown [in 2006], Bitar had run a session describing how to best demonize Israel. Next year, he facilitated a Palestinian Student Society summit addressed by Joseph Massad, who had called Israel a “Jewish supremacist state” and praised terrorism.
…
A few years later, Bitar could be found presenting at a Sabeel conference featuring some of the worst bigots like Rebecca Vilkomerson of JVP, who had invited a terrorist to address the BDS hate group, and Richard Falk, who had endorsed a book which wondered whether “Hitler might have been right after all.”
…
Bitar went to work for UNRWA, interned at the misnamed and militantly anti-Israel Foundation for Middle East Peace and studied at Oxford’s Refugee Studies Centre, writing papers on the so-called “Nakba” and on “Palestinian” activism. He appeared to describe Israel’s security barrier as a “segregation wall.”

UNRWA has been implicated in the October 7 attacks, and Massad, who teaches at Columbia, praised the attacks.

Columnist Caroline Glick wrote in Israel Hayom at the time of Bitar’s appointment:

This week the White House announced that Maher Bitar has been appointed to serve as the senior director for Intelligence at the National Security Council. The position is one of the most powerful posts in the US intelligence community. The senior director is the node to which all intelligence from all agencies flows. He decides what to share with the President. And in the name of the President, he determines priorities for intelligence operations and collection.
The senior director of intelligence also determines what information the US intelligence community will share with foreign intelligence services. Likewise, he decides how to relate to information that foreign intelligence agencies share with the Americans.
…
Usually, the sensitive position is reserved for a CIA officer who is detailed to the National Security Council. Bitar, however, is not an intelligence professional. He is an anti-Israel political activist.

Glick noted that Bitar’s master’s thesis at Oxford University was about the so-called Palestinian “Nakba,” which is how Palestinians now refer to the displacement of 700,000 people due to a war in which Arab states tried to destroy Israel at its founding.

The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA), the oldest pro-Israel group in the U.S., also warned at the time of Bitar’s appointment that Bitar’s his rise to a position of prominence at the White House meant that “anti-Israel hate occupies the top of the foreign policy establishment and is set to define the foreign policy of the Biden administration.”

Bitar also played a key role in the first impeachment of President Donald Trump, working for Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) on the House Intelligence Committee. Politico described Bitar as Schiff’s “top legal adviser,” and added:

He served as [National Security Council] director for Israeli and Palestinian affairs during the Obama administration and as a deputy to Samantha Power while she was at the NSC. He also worked as a foreign affairs officer at the State Department. Bitar is close with national security adviser Jake Sullivan from their time together at the State Department.

…

Bitar served as a senior member of the House impeachment team during Trump’s first impeachment, alongside Dan Goldman who worked as the impeachment manager’s top lawyer. Goldman called Bitar “a brilliant lawyer” and said his experience on the committee would give the new NSC insight into the changes in the intelligence community over the last four years.
The office of the senior director for intelligence receives sensitive information that comes in from the intelligence agencies, especially if it is in hard copy form, and coordinates covert action activities between the White House and the intelligence community. It’s also where the NSC houses the server that stores the most sensitive classified information.

Bitar’s current high-level intelligence position at the National Security Council does not require Senate confirmation.

Joel B. Pollak is Senior Editor-at-Large at Breitbart News and the host of Breitbart News Sunday on Sirius XM Patriot on Sunday evenings from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. ET (4 p.m. to 7 p.m. PT). He is the author of the recent e-book, “The Zionist Conspiracy (and how to join it),” now available on Audible. He is also the author of the e-book, Neither Free nor Fair: The 2020 U.S. Presidential Election. He is a winner of the 2018 Robert Novak Journalism Alumni Fellowship. Follow him on Twitter at @joelpollak.

Ohio Attorney General Warns Student Protesters in Masks Could Face Felony Charges Under Anti-kkk Law

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AP

(AP) — Ohio’s top lawyer has advised the state’s public universities that a law written to deter Ku Klux Klan demonstrations could be used to impose felony charges on students who wear face coverings while protesting the war in Gaza.

 

In a letter sent Monday, after weeks of pro-Palestinian campus protests around the country, Republican Attorney General Dave Yost advised the presidents of Ohio’s 14 public, four-year universities — which his office represents — to forewarn students about the 1953 law.

“In our society, there are few more significant career-wreckers than a felony charge,” the letter said. “I write to you today to inform your student bodies of an Ohio law that, in the context of some behavior during the recent pro-Palestinian protests, could have that effect.”

The law is contained in a single sentence: “No person shall unite with two or more others to commit a misdemeanor while wearing white caps, masks, or other disguise.” Violating this “anti-disguise” law is punishable by a fourth-degree felony charge, up to $5,000 in fines and five years on community control, Yost wrote.

Protesters around the U.S. and the world have increasingly taken steps to remain anonymous by wearing a combination of head and face coverings, in a world where facial-recognition software can easily lead to negative repercussions. Not all do so to hide their identities, however. Some wear religious hijabs or medical masks used to prevent exposure to COVID-19, or as a political statement on the virus’ ongoing impacts.

Yost, a fourth-term state official who is considering a run for governor in 2026, wrote that students should protest “within the bounds of the law,” not commit crimes, not use the First Amendment as “a sword against fellow students,” and “own their advocacy and avoid wearing masks.”

Among Ohio’s 34 public universities are Kent State, whose name is synonymous with clashes between Vietnam War protesters and National Guard members that left four dead in 1970, and Ohio State — a site of several protests in recent weeks where dozens have been arrested, most for criminal trespass.

Ohio State spokesperson Ben Johnson said the university had received Yost’s letter and was reviewing it. In a March 6 letter, Yost had told President Ted Carter that Ohio law prevents the university from divesting its interests in Israeli assets, one of the calls of protesters.

Kent State and several other universities contacted by The Associated Press had no immediate comment. Nor did the Inter-University Council, which represents universities’ interests, or the American Civil Liberties Union.

Bethany McCorkle, a spokesperson for Yost’s office, said the letter regarding the “disguise law” was not a response to any specific request for legal advice by the universities.

“The letter was proactive guidance to universities that he is counsel for to make sure no one becomes an unintentional felon,” she said in a text message.

Trump:  “If Any Jewish Person Voted for Joe Biden, They Should Be Ashamed of Themselves”

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Donald Trump posted a $175 million bond in his NY civil fraud case. Photo Credit: AP

Trump:  “If Any Jewish Person Voted for Joe Biden, They Should Be Ashamed of Themselves”

Edited by:  Fern Sidman

In a striking comment amid his ongoing legal proceedings, former President Donald Trump has sharply criticized Jewish voters who supported Joe Biden in the presidential elections. Trump’s remarks came in response to recent threats by President Biden to withhold U.S. arms shipments to Israel if it proceeds with a major military offensive in Rafah. Speaking to reporters outside the New York chambers where he is on trial for a hush-money case involving an alleged payment to a porn actress, Trump did not hold back his disdain.

“If any Jewish person voted for Joe Biden, they should be ashamed of themselves,” Trump stated emphatically, attributing Biden’s stance to political maneuvering rather than strategic policy-making. “What Biden is doing with respect to Israel is disgraceful. He’s totally abandoned Israel. I guess he feels good about it because he did it as a political decision. You have to do the right decision, not the political decision,” Trump added, reinforcing his view that Biden’s policies towards Israel are misguided and improperly influenced by political considerations.

This latest declaration from Trump illustrates his continued support for Israel, a cornerstone of his foreign policy during his tenure in the White House. Trump’s administration was marked by unequivocal support for Israeli initiatives, including the historic move of the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a decision that had been deferred by previous administrations due to fear of Arab reprisals.

Trump’s criticism of Biden’s approach to Israel highlights the stark contrast in their foreign policy priorities and the deeply polarized views on U.S. involvement in Middle Eastern politics. His remarks also tap into the broader discourse surrounding U.S. foreign aid to Israel, which has been a point of contention not only domestically within the United States but also internationally.

The timing and context of Trump’s remarks about Biden and Israel are telling, reflecting his ongoing engagement with national and international issues even as he faces legal scrutiny. These developments continue to fuel the political climate in the U.S., as Trump remains a central figure in American politics and the presumptive GOP nominee, signaling that he is far from stepping back despite the controversies surrounding him.

Left-Wing Groups and Islamic Organizations Lobby Against Anti-Terrorism Bill

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The horrific events at Columbia University where cries to “Kill Jews” and replay the October 7th Hamas massacre 10,000 times have sent shockwaves throughout the world, Credit: AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura

By Joseph Simonson (Free Beacon)

A cohort of left-wing activist groups and Islamic organizations are pressing senators to block a bipartisan proposal to strip tax-exempt status from nonprofits that provide material support to terrorist organizations.

In a letter obtained by the Washington Free Beacon, over 100 groups, including the pro-Hamas People’s Forum and the political arm of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, say the plan could “inflict economic harm, and legally burden a politically active nonprofit.” The signatories urge Senate Finance Committee chairman Ron Wyden (D., Ore.) and Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R., Idaho) to block the bill from leaving committee.

Sen. John Cornyn (R., Texas), who introduced the bill alongside Sen. Angus King (I., Maine), says it is “common sense legislation.”

“As tensions rise across the globe, terrorism must be rooted out at its source: money,” Cornyn said in a statement last month.

The groups opposed to the legislation allege that it is motivated by “anti-Palestinian bias aimed at stifling voices advocating for Palestinian human rights.” The organizations also say that, if enacted, the bill “would significantly undermine our nation’s democratic freedoms and principles.”

The pushback comes as many left-wing groups face scrutiny for their roles in illegal protests and potential ties to international terrorist organizations. Earlier this month, Jewish victims of Hamas’s Oct. 7 terror attacks sued two anti-Israel campus groups for their role “as collaborators and propagandists for Hamas.”

One of the signatories of the letter, American Muslims for Palestine, is a party in that lawsuit. The plaintiffs in the case allege American Muslims for Palestine “knowingly provide continuous, systematic, and substantial assistance to Hamas and its affiliates’ acts of international terrorism.”

Other signatories include groups behind the illegal blockading of bridges and occupation of college buildings. The People’s Forum encouraged attendees at an organizational meeting to re-create the violent protests of “the summer of 2020” just hours before demonstrators stormed a Columbia University building.

The People’s Forum receives most of its funding from Neville Singham, an American businessman who lives in China and works closely with the Chinese Communist Party to spread its propaganda worldwide. His wife, Jodie Evans, is the leader of the pro-China, anti-Israel activist group Code Pink

Federal law already states that designated terrorist organizations cannot receive tax-exempt status. Auxiliary or supportive organizations are not covered by that ban.

Rep. David Kustoff (R., Tenn.) introduced a version of the Cornyn-King legislation in the House. Both bills empower the Secretary of the Treasury to determine whether a domestic nonprofit has provided “material support or resources to a terrorist organization.”

“Across the world, we are witnessing terrorist groups, fueled by intolerance and financial support, use violence and intimidation against civilians to sow chaos and disrupt the geopolitical order,” King said in an April statement. “This bill will ensure that groups like Hamas, Hezbollah, and Al Qaeda are cut off from critical resources as organizations and individuals looking to support these extremist organizations will no longer receive tax-exempt status.”

There is evidence that some international terrorist organizations operate in the United States and use their nonprofit status as a shield. Samidoun, an organization behind dozens of the anti-Israel protests staged since Oct. 7 and a subsidiary of the charity the Alliance for Global Justice, is allegedly a front for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, a Syria-based terrorist group.

Samidoun is banned from operating in Germany, and its leaders are barred from entering the European Union over their ties to terrorists. Online fundraising platforms PayPal and Stripe kicked Samidoun off their platforms in October amid congressional scrutiny.

As of this writing, Samidoun supporters can mail a tax-deductible donation to their offices in Tucson, Arizona.

Biden reportedly delayed saying he withheld arms from Israel until after Holocaust speech

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U.S. President Joe Biden delivers the keynote address at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum’s Annual Days of Remembrance ceremony at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on May 7, 2024. Credit: Adam Schultz/White House.

(JNS) U.S. President Joe Biden delayed revealing that he ordered an arms shipment to Israel be paused last week until after he delivered a Holocaust remembrance day address at the U.S. Capitol, the Associated Press reported.

“There seem to be two Bidens,” wrote Abe Foxman, director emeritus of the Anti-Defamation League, the one who “spoke at the Holocaust event, who flew to Israel during war against Israel” and who supported Israel militarily and financially,” and the “political Biden, who engages in party politics—telling Israel it has [a] right to defend itself—but we will tell you when and how.”

“What is so egregiously offensive is that Biden thought that his antisemitism and Holocaust speech would make his abandonment of Israel more tolerable,” wrote Mark Dubowitz, CEO of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin confirmed in congressional testimony on Wednesday that the Biden administration paused a “shipment of high payload munitions” to Israel, amid objections from Washington to a proposed Israeli ground operation against Hamas in the southern Gaza city of Rafah.

The AP reported that the shipment consisted of 3,500 bombs weighing 2,000 and 500 pounds.

Biden told CNN in an interview on Wednesday that he would cut off American-supplied munitions to Israel if it went into Rafah. “I made it clear that if they go into Rafah—they haven’t gone in Rafah yet—if they go into Rafah, I’m not supplying the weapons that have been used historically to deal with Rafah, to deal with the cities—that deal with that problem,” Biden said.

The paused arms shipment was first reported on Sunday, but the AP reported that the National Security Council sought to keep the news from the public “until it had a better understanding of the scope of Israel’s intensified military operations in Rafah and until Biden could deliver a long-planned speech on Tuesday to mark Holocaust Remembrance Day.”

During that speech, Biden repeated his claim that his support for Israel’s security was “ironclad.”

Disappointment and dismay

Ted Deutch, CEO of the American Jewish Committee, wrote that Biden “should not take steps that could impair Israel’s ability to prevent Hamas from attacking it again and again—as its leaders have promised.”

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The leadership of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations stated that it is “deeply disappointed and dismayed by President Biden’s counterproductive remarks regarding the potential cessation of congressionally mandated aid to our ally Israel.”

“Congress recently approved this aid with a bipartisan supermajority, which should signal to the Biden administration that support for Israel in her existential war remains strong,” added Harriet Schleifer and William Daroff, chair and CEO, respectively, of the Conference of Presidents.

The Jewish Federations of North America had not commented at press time.

“Yesterday, I commended the president for his speech; he stressed that ‘it was Hamas that unleashed this terror’ and started the war. But today’s threat to withhold arms from Israel betrays this truth,” wrote Nathan Diament, executive director for public policy at the Orthodox Union. “It undermines Israel’s ability to defeat Hamas and gives Hamas leverage and hope to survive.”

“It also puts a deal to free the hostages, including American hostages, further out of reach and potentially prolongs the war,” he added.

‘Mockery of our credibility’

Republicans and some Democrats have sharply criticized Biden for pausing the arms shipment during Israel’s ongoing war against Hamas.

“We’ve seen that iron bend under the heat of domestic political pressure from his party’s anti-Israel base and the campus communists who decided to wrap themselves in the flags of Hamas and Hezbollah,” said Senate minority leader MitchMcConnell (R-Ky.) on Wednesday.

“We stand by allies. We don’t second guess them,” Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) wrote. “Biden’s dithering on Israel weapons is bad policy and a terrible message to Israel, our allies and the world.”

“As the leader of the free world, America cannot claim that its commitment to Israel is ‘iron-clad’ and then proceed to withhold aid from Israel,” wrote Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.). “The mixed messaging makes a mockery of our credibility as an ally. No one will take our word seriously.”

“How in the hell do you criticize Israel for being imprecise in its bombing and then refuse to deliver them what they’re willing to pay for to make the bombs precise?” Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.) told Jewish Insider after Biden’s interview. “I mean, my God.”

“The Biden decision to halt weapons transfer to Israel over Rafah was made some time ago. But Biden didn’t announce [it] before, because he didn’t want it to get in [the] way of his big Holocaust Remembrance Day speech,” wrote Arsen Ostrovsky, the CEO of the International Legal Forum. “This is just below contempt. Unconscionable. Inexcusable.”

Kirby: Rafah operation benefits Hamas’s negotiating position

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U.S. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby (AP/Alex Brandon)

By Andrew Bernard, JNS

Despite the apparent collapse of a ceasefire-for-hostages deal with Hamas, the White House believes a ground operation in Rafah would benefit Hamas, John Kirby, the White House national security communications advisor, told reporters on Thursday.

“Our view is that Rafah operations—certainly any kind of major Rafah ground operation—would actually strengthen Hamas’s hands at the negotiating table, not Israel’s,” Kirby said. “That’s our view.”

“If I’m Mr. Sinwar and I’m sitting down in my tunnel—I think that’s where he is—and I’m seeing innocent people falling victim to major significant combat operations in Rafah, then I have less and less incentive to want to come to the negotiating table and deal,” Kirby said, of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.

“I can cast Israel in the worst possible way because of the way they’re behaving and I can just say, well, clearly they’re just not interested in a good faith way to get to a ceasefire, look at what they’re doing inside Rafah,” Kirby added, channeling Sinwar. “It just gives him more ammunition for his twisted narrative.”

Kirby told reporters about the Biden administration’s conditions on providing U.S. munitions and what it wants to see Israel do instead of a military operation against the Hamas-held enclave.

“The president has tasked his team to continue to work with Israel to refine their strategy to inflict an enduring defeat on Hamas,” Kirby said. “An enduring defeat of Hamas certainly remains the Israeli goal, and we share that goal with them.”

In U.S. President Joe Biden’s view, “smashing” into Rafah “will not advance that objective, will not get to that sustainable, enduring defeat of Hamas,” Kirby said.

Washington and Jerusalem can work together “to help Israel make sure that the border between Gaza and Egypt can’t be used for a smuggling of arms and weapons into Hamas,” Kirby added.

Kirby added that the United States could also help Israel target Hamas commanders, including Sinwar, Hamas’s leader in Gaza who orchestrated the Oct. 7 attacks.

He also said that Washington is providing Israel with assistance to do so on an ongoing basis.

The Biden administration could work with Israel on “standing up an alternative governance structure to Hamas” in Gaza, Kirby said.

JNS sought comment from the White House about who the administration thinks should govern Gaza and how the United States would assist in setting up a new government.

‘This was a horrible mistake’

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin testified before a congressional committee on Wednesday that the administration paused a “shipment of high payload munitions” to Israel amid concerns from Washington about Israel launching a ground operation in Rafah.

Study Reveals New York as the U.S. Hub for the Largest Jewish Population

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redit: pfnyc.org

Study Reveals New York as the U.S. Hub for the Largest Jewish Population

Edited by:  TJVNews.com

The New York metropolitan area remains the most populous Jewish hub in the United States, housing the largest concentration of Jewish people of any metropolitan area nationwide. This is according to the latest findings from the Jewish Community Study of New York 2023, which was released on Thursday by the UJA-Federation of New York. The comprehensive study draws on data collected from nearly 6,000 questionnaires completed in the spring of 2023, providing vital insights into the community’s size, demographics, economic conditions, mental health, religious observance, and participation in Jewish programs.

Eric S. Goldstein, CEO of the UJA-Federation of New York, highlighted the significance of the study, especially in current times. “The 2023 Jewish Community Study of New York offers a comprehensive snapshot of our community. Particularly in this challenging moment, these insights will help guide funding decisions so we can reach people where they are and ensure the strength of our Jewish community and the institutions serving them,” Goldstein explained.

Unlike previous studies, the 2023 report does not draw direct comparisons with the 2011 data due to methodological differences in how the surveys were conducted, including changes from telephone interviews to web-based surveys, variations in survey identification processes, and adjustments in weighting procedures. This approach has been designed to avoid potentially misleading comparisons due to these methodological shifts.

Instead, the study offers a broader historical perspective by looking back at data from 1991 and 2002, thus providing insights into long-term population trends. Over the past three decades, the Jewish population in the eight-county New York area has shown remarkable stability, consistently hovering around 1.4 million people. This stable demographic trend underscores the deep-rooted presence and ongoing vitality of the Jewish community in the region.

The study’s findings are pivotal for community leaders and stakeholders in planning and allocating resources effectively. This strategic approach is crucial, especially in addressing challenges related to poverty and mental health, which are significant concerns for the community according to the study.

One of the most striking findings from the study is that nearly 20% of Jewish households in the New York area are classified as poor or near-poor, living with incomes below 250% of the federal poverty guideline. This translates to approximately 147,000 households, or about 428,000 individuals, grappling with financial hardship. Moreover, a significant proportion of children in Jewish households, 36%, live in or near poverty, calling attention to the impact of economic struggles on the younger members of the community.

 

Poverty within the Jewish community is notably concentrated in specific boroughs, with Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Staten Island identified as the areas where these challenges are most prevalent. Additionally, about a third of Jewish households (33%) receive some form of government benefits, indicating a reliance on public assistance amid these economic difficulties.

The study also provides insights into the denominational landscape of the Jewish community in New York. According to the survey:

20% of Jewish households identify as Reform, reflecting a liberal strand of Judaism that emphasizes personal choice and ethical living as central components of Jewish belief.

19% of Jewish households identify as Orthodox, a denomination that adheres to a strict interpretation of Jewish law and tradition.

15% report affiliation with the Conservative movement, which seeks a middle ground between the traditional observances of Orthodox Judaism and the liberal approaches of Reform Judaism.

A significant 47% of Jewish households report no specific denominational affiliation or identify with other less common denominational strands.

The study estimates that there are approximately 430,000 Jews living in Orthodox households, which includes about 249,000 adults and 181,000 children. This demographic detail highlights the significant presence of Orthodox Judaism within the New York Jewish community, alongside a considerable portion of the population that either disassociates from traditional denominational labels or aligns with less predominant ones.

These findings underscore the diverse and complex nature of the Jewish community in New York. The significant rates of poverty and the diverse denominational affiliations present both challenges and opportunities for community leaders and organizations. Addressing the economic needs while respecting the varied religious perspectives requires nuanced strategies and targeted interventions.

One of the more poignant findings from the study is the estimated presence of 13,000 Holocaust survivors living within Jewish households in the region, with a staggering 92% residing in New York City. Brooklyn, in particular, is home to the largest number of these survivors, accounting for 65% of the total survivor population in the surveyed area. This significant concentration highlights the city’s role as a critical hub for Holocaust survivor communities, offering unique challenges and responsibilities for local Jewish organizations.

The study also sheds light on the inclusivity of the Jewish community, noting that 14% of Jewish households include a person who identifies as LGBTQ+. This statistic underscores a growing acknowledgment and integration of LGBTQ+ individuals within the Jewish community, reflecting broader social trends towards inclusivity and diversity.

 

In terms of family structures, the survey reveals that 37% of married Jewish couples are intermarried, illustrating the blending of Jewish individuals with partners from different cultural or religious backgrounds. This rate of intermarriage indicates significant integration within the broader societal fabric and points to evolving attitudes towards marriage and identity in the Jewish community.

Moreover, the aging demographic is particularly notable, with 28% of Jewish adults over the age of 65. This substantial senior population presents specific needs and opportunities for targeted community services and support systems, especially in areas with high concentrations of older adults.

Adding to the demographic complexity, the study found that one in eight Jewish adults (12%) identifies as non-white (including Black, Asian, multiracial, and other) and/or Hispanic. This includes 7% who do not identify as white, plus an additional 5% who identify as both white and Hispanic. These figures highlight the racial and ethnic diversity within the Jewish community, challenging monolithic perceptions and showcasing a multifaceted population.

 

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