(AP) — Berlin’s government is offering to give away a villa once owned by Adolf Hitler’s propaganda minister, Joseph Goebbels, hoping to end a decades-long debate on whether to repurpose or bulldoze a sprawling disused site in the countryside north of the German capital.
“I offer to anyone who would like to take over the site, to take it over as a gift from the state of Berlin,” Berlin’s finance minister, Stefan Evers, told the state parliament on Thursday, dpa reported.
Berlin has repeatedly tried to hand off the site to federal authorities or the state of Brandenburg, where the villa lies, rather than continue to pay for maintenance and security at the complex, which has become overgrown and fallen into disrepair.
Evers renewed that offer on Thursday, calling for proposals that reflected the site’s history. He didn’t say if proposals from private individuals would also be considered.
“If we fail again, as in the past decades, then Berlin has no other option but to carry out the demolition that we have already prepared for,” Evers said.
Goebbels, one of Hitler’s closest allies, had the luxury villa built in 1939 on a wooded site overlooking the Bogensee lake near the town of Wandlitz, about 40 kilometers (25 miles) north of Berlin.
A retreat from Berlin, where he lived with his wife and six children, Goebbels used the villa and an earlier house on the site to entertain Nazi leaders, artists and actors — and reputedly as a love-nest for secret affairs.
After the war, the 17-hectare (42-acre) site was used briefly as a hospital, then taken over by the youth wing of the East German communist party, which constructed a training center, including several large accommodation blocks.
After German reunification in 1990, ownership of the site returned to the state of Berlin. However, the city found no use for it. The site has since become an attraction for day-trippers who can pick their way through the overgrown grounds and peer through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the villa.
Goebbels moved back to Berlin in the final phase of the Second World War. He and his wife killed themselves and their children with cyanide capsules in Hitler’s bunker as Soviet troops closed in.
The family’s opulent home on an island in Berlin was sold at auction in 2011.
Tensions Rise Among NY Jewish Dems Over Brad Lander’s Fundraiser with Rep. Jamaal Bowman
Edited by: TJVNews.com
In what is becoming a divisive issue within the Democratic Party in New York, Jewish Democrats have sharply criticized NYC Comptroller Brad Lander for participating in a fundraiser with Congressman Jamaal Bowman. According to a recently published report in the New York Post, the event, hosted at the Manhattan residence of a Columbia professor, has stoked the fires of an ongoing debate over Israel and its policies.
The fundraiser, attended by both Comptroller Lander and Rep. Bowman, has drawn ire from several Jewish Democrats, including Councilman Kalman Yeger of Brooklyn. As was reported by the Post, Yeger, representing a district with a significant pro-Israel Jewish population, labeled Bowman as a “vile anti-Semite” due to his past remarks and positions regarding Israel. The Post report added that Yeger expressed profound disappointment in Lander’s decision to align with Bowman, stating that it was “sick and hateful” and a move to secure a “checkmark on his woke card.”
Rep. Jamaal Bowman has been a controversial figure among pro-Israel Democrats due to his critical stance on Israel. Recently, he described Israel as an “apartheid” state and dismissed reports of atrocities during Hamas’ October terror attacks as “lies” and “propaganda,” as was indicated in the Post report. These statements have further fueled accusations of anti-Semitism and deepened the rift within certain segments of the Democratic Party. Furthermore, the report in the Post said that Bowman’s condemnation of the mass arrests at Columbia University, where he advocated for Palestinian liberation and broader global freedoms, has positioned him as a polarizing figure on the issue of Middle Eastern politics.
The incident has not only exposed underlying tensions within the Democratic Party but also highlighted the broader national debate over U.S. foreign policy towards Israel and Hamas. The Post also noted that for politicians like Brad Lander, association with figures like Bowman can have significant political implications, especially in areas with active and engaged Jewish communities.
The backlash from Jewish Democrats signals a potentially challenging road ahead for Lander and others who may seek to balance progressive credentials with support from traditionally pro-Israel constituencies. The controversy also calls attention to the challenges Democratic leaders face in addressing the diverse and sometimes conflicting views within their base on sensitive international issues.
Michael Nussbaum, the former president of the Queens Jewish Community Council, expressed a sentiment that is gaining traction among many pro-Israel advocates, stating that “Lander has crossed a red line” by aligning himself with Bowman, as was pointed out in the Post report. Hank Sheinkopf, a respected Orthodox Jew, ordained rabbi, and seasoned political consultant, also voiced stern disapproval. He spoke to the Post about a particularly contentious point concerning Bowman’s past actions, notably his decision to honor convicted cop-killer Joanne Chesimard during his tenure as a middle school principal, which Bowman continues to defend. The Post reported that according to Sheinkopf, this positions Lander as a “cop-hater and a Jew-hater,” despite Lander being Jewish himself.
Amidst this brewing controversy, Jamaal Bowman faces significant political challenges. He is currently battling for reelection in New York’s 16th Congressional District, a race that includes southern Westchester County and parts of northeastern Bronx. His opponent, Westchester County Executive George Latimer, supported by pro-Israel groups and well-known within the county, appears to have a substantial lead, according to the information provided in the Post report. A recent poll suggested that Latimer holds a double-digit advantage over Bowman among likely Democratic voters in the upcoming June 25 primary, indicating that Bowman’s controversial stances may be impacting his political viability.
The discord surrounding Lander’s support for Bowman is emblematic of the broader ideological rifts within the Democratic Party, particularly on issues related to foreign policy and community relations. The information contained in the Post report also noted that for many Jewish Americans and other observers, the alignment of certain Democratic leaders with figures perceived as anti-Israel or anti-police raises profound concerns about the direction of the party and its implications for various constituencies, including Jewish communities.
Known for his progressive stances and as a member of the “Squad,” Bowman’s actions and affiliations are drawing intense scrutiny and debate.
Bowman, a key figure in the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, enjoys the backing of high-profile progressives, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and endorsements from influential groups such as the Working Families Party, as was explained in the Post report.
Amidst his progressive advocacy, Bowman has faced severe criticism for his conduct in a highly publicized incident last year, where he pulled a fire alarm in a Capitol office building. This act was an attempt to delay a crucial vote intended to avert a government shutdown. Noted in the Post report was that the consequences of this action were significant: Bowman pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count related to the incident, highlighting a moment of controversy that has raised questions about his judgment and methods of protest.
Following this incident, the Republican-led House of Representatives censured Bowman, marking a formal expression of disapproval that adds a layer of controversy to his record. The Post report suggested that this censure is particularly notable as it reflects not only on his personal actions but also potentially affects his reputation and effectiveness in Congress.
His opponent, Westchester County Executive George Latimer, appears to be gaining traction, supported by pro-Israel groups and leveraging Bowman’s controversies to consolidate a substantial lead among likely Democratic voters, according to the Post report. The primary contest is shaping up to be a significant battle, with Bowman’s progressive credentials being tested against broader electorate concerns and the fallout from his past actions.
FILE - Berkshire Hathaway Vice Chairman Greg Abel is seen at the CenturyLink Center, May 5, 2018, in Omaha, Neb. Everyone knows Warren Buffett's successor won't be able to match the legendary investor, but Berkshire Hathaway's board remains confident that Abel is the right guy to one day lead the conglomerate into the future. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik, File)
(AP) — Everyone knows Warren Buffett ‘s successor won’t be able to match the legendary investor, but Berkshire Hathaway ‘s board remains confident Greg Abel is the right guy to one day lead the conglomerate into the future.
Longtime Berkshire board member Ron Olson told investors gathered Thursday at a conference two days ahead of the company’s annual shareholders meeting that Abel understands all the fundamental principles that guided Buffett, like letting Berkshire’s companies largely run themselves. And Abel will be committed to running Berkshire in a conservative way that will protect the company that’s known for it financial strength, he said.
“Greg is not somebody who is going to be as likely to create the kind of following in the press that I think Warren has had,” Olson said. “On the other hand. I have every reason to believe that he will run the companies that we have the responsibility for in the same way that Warren ran them.”
Olson said he’s confident business owners will still be willing to sell their companies to Berkshire once the Canadian utility executive takes over after the 93-year-old Buffett is gone.
Olson said he doesn’t think last year’s public legal fight with the billionaire Haslam family over how much Berkshire would ultimately pay for the last 20% of the Pilot truck stop chain the family agreed to sell to Buffett will be a deterrent to future deals either. Both the Haslams and Berkshire accused each other of trying to manipulate Pilot’s earnings to affect the final $2.6 billion price.
Business owners considering selling can see all the positive and respectful relationships Berkshire has with its dozens of other subsidiaries on display in the 200,000-square-foot exhibit hall adjoining the arena where Saturday’s meeting will be held, Olson said.
In fact the legal battle gave Olson, who is a partner at Berkshire’s primary law firm, the chance to work closely with Abel, giving him even more confidence in the board’s chosen successor.
“I could tell you that his preparation and thinking was impressive. He is strategic in his thinking. And he is decisive in his judgement,” Olson said.
Plus, Berkshire is sitting on more than $167 billion cash, so it has ample resources to do deals and, Olson said, “people generally like to be paid in cash.”
Abel, who keeps a low profile and doesn’t typically grant interviews, will be answering questions alongside Buffett for hours Saturday, trying to help fill the role Buffett’s longtime partner Charlie Munger held for decades before he died last fall. Abel has been overseeing all of Berkshire’s varied non-insurance businesses for several years while another vice chairman, Ajit Jain, oversees the insurance businesses, including Geico and General Reinsurance.
Olson said Abel is a numbers guy who can dissect a business’ balance sheet as quickly and well as Buffett, and he’s also a great listener that people like to work with.
But, Olson said, “Greg is not going to be as entertaining as Warren and Charlie have been through the years.”
So Munger’s absence will be felt acutely on Saturday by all the thousands of people attending the meeting. There simply is no way to replace the expertise, advice and friendship Munger offered to Buffett for more than six decades.
Professor Lawrence Cunningham, who has written several books about Berkshire, said he thinks even with the profound loss of Munger the company he helped build will endure.
“The chair is empty. There’s no way to fill it. But I’m also confident that Warren — and especially Greg and Ajit — will carry on the torch,” Cunningham said.
Berkshire has been grappling with succession questions for decades, but Cunningham said he thinks Buffett and Munger built an organization bigger than themselves that will endure.
Olson said Berkshire’s board knows there just isn’t another Warren Buffett or Charlie Munger out there to replace those two men.
After Buffett dies, Berkshire will face pressure as the shareholder base evolves to include more index and activist investors. One of the things investors may demand is that Berkshire change its longstanding policy and start paying a dividend if it can’t find a good use for all that cash.
Olson said the board hasn’t ruled out paying a dividend at some point in the future, but it also hasn’t seriously considering approving one now with Buffett still at the helm.
- Aidan Parisi, 27, a student at Columbia’s School of Social Work, was suspended after the “Resistance 101” event but has remained defiantly on campus, continuing to take part in the protests. Credit: twitter @itsaidanbitch
Jewish Voice Exclusive: List of Columbia Protesters & Agitators Exposed
Controversy Swirls Around External Agitators Arrested at Columbia & CCNY After Campus Occupation
Edited by: TJVNews.com
In the wake of a significant police operation to clear pro-Hamas protesters from Hamilton Hall at Columbia University earlier this week, new details have emerged regarding the identities of those arrested. According to the NYPD, more than a quarter of the individuals detained during Tuesday night’s action were not affiliated with the university, highlighting concerns about external involvement in campus protests.
The operation, which resulted in the arrest of 112 individuals, was initiated after it became evident that a significant number of participants were not students or faculty. As was reported by The New York Jewish Week on Thursday, the NYPD’s initial analysis indicated that 80 of those arrested were associated with Columbia, while the remaining 32 had no official ties to the institution. This distinction has become a critical point in discussions surrounding the protest, with New York City Mayor Eric Adams citing the involvement of “outside agitators” as a key justification for the police intervention.
The protesters arrested ranged widely in age, from 18 to 64, illustrating the diverse appeal of the cause beyond typical college-aged individuals. It was also reported that they face several charges, including burglary, criminal mischief, resisting arrest, trespassing, and disorderly conduct.
The pattern of non-student involvement in university protests is not unique to Columbia. At the City College of New York, out of 102 protesters arrested, 68 were not students, accounting for approximately 60% of those detained, as was highlighted in the New York Jewish Week report.
The Jewish News Syndicate reported that less than half of the pro-Hamas protesters arrested at New York University last week after refusing to vacate the campus were members of the academic institution, the university said on Wednesday. Of the 133 protesters arrested on April 22 at Gould Plaza on campus, 65 were students, faculty or other employees of NYU which is located in Greenwich Village.
Below, please find a complete list of those arrested this past Tuesday at both Columbia University and the City College of New York. Included here are their addresses, ages and the charges against them.
On Tuesday, April 30, 2024, police responded to demonstrations at Columbia University and City College of New York. 282 individuals were taken into custody. 192 individuals were released with summonses.
On Tuesday, April 30, 2024, police responded to a demonstration at West 116 Street and Broadway (Columbia University):
The following individuals were arrested and charged:
Pflugfelder, Gregory M (DAT)
64-year-old male
514 West 114 Street
New York, NY
Charges:
Obstruction of Governmental Administration
Gomez, Sebastian
22-year-old male
1 Butternut Way
Sparta, NJ
Charges:
Burglary
Reckless Endangerment
Criminal Mischief
Conspiracy
Criminal Trespass
Tanaka, Peter
35-year-old male
3041 Broadway
New York, NY
Charges:
Burglary
Reckless Endangerment
Criminal Mischief
Conspiracy
Criminal Trespass
Sadowski, Charles
23-year-old male
196 Leete Street
West Haven, CT
Charges:
Burglary
Reckless Endangerment
Obstruction of Governmental Administration
Criminal Mischief
Conspiracy
Criminal Trespass
Lee, Taylor
29-year-old female
1548 Fulton Street
Brooklyn, NY
Charges:
Burglary
Reckless Endangerment
Criminal Mischief
Conspiracy
Criminal Trespass
Ricaurte, Sophia
21-year-old female
3770 Willow Run
Westlake, OH
Charges:
Burglary
Reckless Endangerment
Criminal Mischief
Criminal Solicitation
Criminal Trespass
Berman, Zachary
23-year-old male
1470 Hewlett Avenue
Hewlett, NY
Charges:
Burglary
Reckless Endangerment
Criminal Mischief
Obstructing Governmental Administration
Conspiracy
Criminal Trespass
– Maryam Alwan Credit: Twitter @maryamalwan
Reade, Elizabeth
37-year-old female
367 Wadsworth Avenue
New York, NY
Charges:
Burglary
Criminal Mischief
Reckless Endangerment
Carlson, James
40-year-old male
237 14 Street
Brooklyn, NY
Charges:
Burglary
Reckless Endangerment
Criminal Mischief
Conspiracy
Criminal Trespass
Miner, Grant
27-year-old male
2215 1 Avenue
Sacramento, CA
Charges:
Burglary
Criminal Mischief
Conspiracy
Criminal Trespass
Smith, Jackson
25-year-old male
251 Wyckoff Avenue
Brooklyn, NY
Charges:
Burglary
Reckless Endangerment
Criminal Mischief
(TJVNews.com)
Bottorf, Rose
21-year-old female
95 Alban Street
Dorchester, MA
Charges:
Burglary
Reckless Endangerment
Criminal Mischief
Conspiracy
Holmes, Christopher
25-year-old male
5294 Millcreek Circle
Independence, Kentucky
Charges:
Burglary
Reckless Endangerment
Criminal Mischief
Conspiracy
Parisi, Aidan
27-year-old male
434 West 120 Street
New York, NY
Charges:
Burglary
Reckless Endangerment
Criminal Mischief
Conspiracy
Layla Saliba. Columbia graduate student Layla Saliba was also an organizer of the Columbia University Apartheid Divest group. Credit: twitter @itslaylas
Maybank, Eloise
21-year-old female
110 Morningside Drive
New York, NY
Charges:
Burglary
Reckless Endangerment
Criminal Mischief
Salamanca, Andrea
23-year-old female
1337 Park Place
Brooklyn, NY
Charges:
Burglary
Reckless Endangerment
Criminal Mischief
Conspiracy
Sankar, Samarra
21-year-old female
3083 Timothy Road
Bellmore, NY
Charges:
Burglary
Reckless Endangerment
Criminal Mischief
Conspiracy
Almero, Marianne
31-year-old female
106 Fort Washington Avenue
New York, NY
Charges:
Burglary
Criminal Mischief
Reckless Endangerment
Criminal Mischief Intent to Damage Property
McGuigan, Madelyn
23-year-old female
503 West 122 Street
New York, NY
Charges:
Burglary
Reckless Endangerment
Criminal Mischief
Conspiracy
Saha, Atish
34-year-old male
597 Central Avenue
Brooklyn, NY
Charges:
Burglary
Criminal Mischief 2
Reckless Endangerment
Criminal Mischief Intent to Damage Property
Conspiracy
Lee, Franziska
21-year-old female
152 Waite Street
Hamden, CT
Charges:
Burglary
Reckless Endangerment
Criminal Mischief
Conspiracy
(TJVNews.com)
Malley, Ibtihal M
24-year-old female
5335 Rappahannock Drive
Memphis, Tennessee
Charges:
Burglary
Criminal Mischief 2
Reckless Endangerment
Criminal Mischief Intent to Damage Property
Conspiracy
Sharifi, Layla
28-year-old female
2109 Broadway
New York, NY
Charges:
Burglary
Criminal Mischief
Criminal Trespass
Idriss, Naay
25-year-old female
45 Jefferson Avenue
Brooklyn, NY
Charges:
Burglary
Reckless Endangerment
Criminal Mischief
Conspiracy
Menard, Rachel
27-year-old male
650 East 21 Street
Brooklyn, NY
Charges:
Burglary
Criminal Mischief 2
Reckless Endangerment
Conspiracy
Maryam Iqbal, a student at Barnard College, was also arrested during the initial police raid on April 18
Bonnet, Benjamin
29-year-old male
3041 Broadway
New York, NY
Charges:
Burglary
Reckless Endangerment
Criminal Mischief
Conspiracy
Yang, Tiffany
31-year-old female
244 Franklin Avenue
Brooklyn, NY
Charges:
Burglary
Reckless Endangerment
Criminal Mischief
Conspiracy
Murphy, Brandon
23-year-old male
1120 Alaska Avenue
Brick, New Jersey
Charges:
Burglary
Criminal Mischief 2
Reckless Endangerment
Criminal Mischief Intent to Damage Property
Conspiracy
Steindorf, Molly
27-year-old female
515 West 110 Street
New York, NY
Charges:
Criminal Mischief
Reckless Endangerment
Hate Crime Trespass
Conspiracy
Romero, Allessandro
26-year-old male
245 West 113 Street
New York, NY
Charges:
Burglary
Criminal Mischief 2
Criminal Mischief Intent to Damage Property
Conspiracy
Choi, Ethan
21-year-old male
521 Seminary Row
New York, NY
Charges:
Burglary
Criminal Mischief 2
Criminal Mischief Intent to Damage Property
Conspiracy
(TJVNews.com)
Raju, Anika
26-year-old female
3815 Haywood Drive
Mechanicsburg, PA
Charges:
Burglary
Reckless Endangerment
Criminal Mischief
Conspiracy
Jackson, Julia
26-year-old female
817 Colony Circle
Lancaster, PA
Charges:
Burglary
Reckless Endangerment
Criminal Mischief
Conspiracy
(TJVNews.com)
Aryan, Aya
20-year-old female
2098 East Queens Gate Way
Fresno, CA
Charges:
Burglary
Reckless Endangerment
Criminal Mischief
Conspiracy
Lin, Jingying
21-year-old male
7801 Hispanola Avenue
Miami, Florida
Charges:
Burglary
Criminal Mischief 2
Reckless Endangerment
Criminal Mischief Intent to Damage Property
Conspiracy
Jimenez, Sebastian
21-year-old male
307 Chestnut Place
Piscataway, NJ
Charges:
Hate Crime Burglary
Criminal Mischief
Reckless Endangerment
Conspiracy
Pavelcik, Derek (DAT)
28-year-old male
34 East 7 Street
New York, NY
Charges:
Obstruction of Governmental Administration
Choi, Eliot
25-year-old male
1130 Amsterdam Avenue
New York, NY
Charges:
Burglary
Reckless Endangerment
Criminal Mischief
Conspiracy
Bupp-Chickering, Violet
24-year-old female
7 Grove Street
Saxton River, VT
Charges:
Burglary
Criminal Mischief
Reckless Endangerment
Conspiracy
Sabnam, Rebecca
21-year-old female
1223 FDR Drive
New York, NY
Charges:
Burglary
Criminal Mischief
Reckless Endangerment
Conspiracy
(TJVNews.com)
Brown, Laura
36-year-old female
101 Duck Cove Lane
North Kingston, RI
Charges:
Burglary
Criminal Mischief
Reckless Endangerment
Conspiracy
Yancy, Gabriel
24-year-old male
403 East 3 Street
Brooklyn, NY
Charges:
Burglary
Criminal Mischief
Reckless Endangerment
Conspiracy
Connerty, Joshua
25-year-old male
2466 State Road
Plymouth, MA
Charges:
Burglary
Criminal Mischief
Reckless Endangerment
Conspiracy
Hong, Aaliya
31-year-old female
3118 Keswick Road
Baltimore, MD
Charges:
Burglary
Criminal Mischief
Reckless Endangerment
Criminal Mischief
Conspiracy
(TJVNews.com)
Thomas, Dylan
18-year-old female
16 Sherborne Road
Rehoboth Beach, DE
Charges:
Burglary
Criminal Mischief
Reckless Endangerment
Conspiracy
– Jesse Pape had been previously arrested in a pro-Palestinian rally outside Columbia in February. Photo Credit: Instagram
Al-nsour, Raiya
26-year-old female
140 Franklin Avenue
Brooklyn, NY
Charges:
Burglary
Criminal Mischief
Reckless Endangerment
Criminal Mischief
Conspiracy
Squitire, Bridget
25-year-old female
22 Brancatelli Court
West Islip, NY
Charges:
Burglary
Criminal Mischief
Reckless Endangerment
Criminal Mischief
Conspiracy
Curran-Groome, Catherine
26-year-old female
32 Academy Street
Princeton, NJ
Charges:
Burglary
Resisting Arrest
Reckless Endangerment
Obstruction of Governmental Administration
Criminal Mischief
Conspiracy
Criminal Trespass
(TJVNews.com)
On Tuesday, April 30, 2024, police responded to a demonstration at 160 Convent Avenue (City College of New York):
The following individuals were arrested and charged by NYPD:
Liu, Evan (DAT)
20-year-old female
406 West 31 Street
New York, NY
Charges:
Obstruct Governmental Administration
Disorderly Conduct Fight/Violent Behavior
Khan, Zulqarnain
30-year-old male
103-30 Street
Queens, NY
Charges:
Resisting Arrest
Obstruction of Governmental Administration
Disorderly Conduct
Ibrahim Mohammed, Abdel Nabi (DAT)
24-year-old male
6741 Woods Island
Port St. Lucie, Florida
Charges:
Obstruction of Governmental Administration
Disorderly Conduct
Kuebler, Wyatt S (DAT)
22-year-old male
65 Zimmerman Street
N Tonawanda, New York
Charges:
Resisting Arrest
Obstruct Governmental Administration
2X Disorderly Conduct Obstructing Traffic
Disorderly Conduct Refusing to Move on
Kidd, Chad (DAT)
43-year-old male
39 West 129 Street
New York, NY
Charges:
Resisting Arrest
Obstruct Governmental Administration
Disorderly Conduct Refusing to Move On
Pedestrian Fld to Use Sidewalk (VTL 1156 OA)
Geer, Justin
41-year-old male
115 Hamilton Place
New York, NY
Charges:
Assault Felony
Resisting Arrest
Obstructing Governmental Administration
Disorderly Conduct Refusing to Move On
Pedestrian FLD to use Sidewalk VTL 1156 OA
(TJVNews.com)
Pape, Jesse
47-year-old male
7 Spring Street
New York, NY
Charges:
Assault Felony
Obstructing Governmental Administration
Assault 3
Disorderly Conduct Fight/Violent Behavior
Harassment Physical Contact
Yu, Patrick (DAT)
19-year-old male
425 East 25 Street
New York, NY
Charges:
Obstruction of Governmental Administration
Assault
Disorderly Conduct
Harassment
Richter, Sarah (DAT)
33-year-old female
1616 Beverley Road
Brooklyn, NY
Charges:
Resisting Arrest
Obstruction of Governmental Administration
Disorderly Conduct
Steadman, Hilary (DAT)
30-year-old female
1520 Fulton Street
Brooklyn, NY
Charges:
Obstruction of Governmental Administration
Failure to Use Sidewalk
Demasi, Liana (DAT)
29-year-old female
778 Park Avenue
Brooklyn, NY
Charges:
Resisting Arrest
Malik, Samir
21-year-old male
118 Avenue D
New York, NY
Charges:
Grand Larceny
The pattern of non-student involvement in university protests is not unique to Columbia
Criminal Possession of Stolen Property
(TJVNews.com)
Sanzgiri, James
35-year-old male
166 Meserole Avenue
Brooklyn, NY
Charges:
Resisting Arrest
Obstruction of Governmental Administration
Disorderly Conduct
Russo, Kai D
26-year-old male
24-27 26 Street
Queens, NY
Charges:
Assault
Resisting Arrest
Obstruction of Governmental Administration
Disorderly Conduct
Harassment
Campbell, Madeleine (DAT)
23-year-old female
16 Knoll View
Ossining, NY
Charges:
Resisting Arrest
Obstruction of Governmental Administration
Symone, Anastacia
29-year-old male
3529 Willett Avenue
Bronx, NY
Charges:
Assault
Resisting Arrest
Obstruction of Governmental Administration
Disorderly Conduct
Harassment
Mandell, Aaron (DAT)
29-year-old male
1021 President Street
Brooklyn, NY
Charge:
Obstruction of Governmental Administration
Dunkl, Dyson (DAT)
24-year-old male
130 West 24 Street
New York, NY
Charges:
Resisting Arrest
Obstruction of Governmental Administration
Disorderly Conduct
(TJVNews.com)
Malukoff, Gregory L
22-year-old male
91 Ocean Parkway
Brooklyn, NY
Charges:
2x Assault Felony
Resisting Arrest
Obstructing Governmental Administration
Criminal Mischief
Disorderly Conduct Refusing to Move On
Pedestrian Fld To use Sidewalk
Nunez, Anthony (DAT)
29-year-old male
201 West 145 Street
New York, NY
Charges:
Criminal Mischief
The following individuals were arrested and charged by CUNY Public Safety Department:
Terrazas, Astrid
28-year-old female
73-08 Forest Avenue
Queens, NY
Charges:
Burglary
Reckless Endangerment
Obstruction of Governmental Administration
Criminal Mischief
Conspiracy
Trespass
Calvin, Edward
31-year-old male
6922 4 Avenue
Brooklyn, NY
Charges:
Burglary
Reckless Endangerment
Obstruction of Governmental Administration
Criminal Mischief
Conspiracy
Criminal Trespass
Martinez, Rudy
32-year-old male
1708 Madison Avenue
Queens, NY
Charges:
Burglary
Reckless Endangerment
Obstruction of Governmental Administration
Criminal Mischief
Conspiracy
Trespass
Baskota, Sudhansu
27-year-old male
699 Myrtle Avenue
Brooklyn, NY
Charges:
Burglary
Reckless Endangerment
Obstruction of Governmental Administration
Criminal Mischief
Conspiracy
Rampagoa, Jonathan
19-year-old male
57-43 Vanhorn Street
Queens, NY
Charges:
Burglary
Reckless Endangerment
Obstruction of Governmental Administration
Criminal Mischief
Conspiracy
Criminal Trespass
(TJVNews.com)
Thompson, Marvin
29-year-old male
66-23 Austin Street
Queens, NY
Charges:
Burglary
Reckless Endangerment
Obstruction of Governmental Administration
Criminal Mischief
Conspiracy
Criminal Trespass
Boyle, John
29-year-old male
229 West 115 Street
New York, NY
Charges:
Burglary
Reckless Endangerment
Obstruction of Governmental Administration
Criminal Mischief
Conspiracy
Criminal Trespass
Fuller, Amelia
23-year-old female
376 8 Street
Brooklyn, NY
Charges:
Burglary
Reckless Endangerment
Obstruction of Governmental Administration
Criminal Mischief
Conspiracy
Criminal Trespass
Gabriel, Jacob
27-year-old male
1708 Madison Avenue
Queens, NY
Charges:
Burglary
Reckless Endangerment
Obstruction of Governmental Administration
Criminal Mischief
Conspiracy
Criminal Trespass
Bellusci, Sara
25-year-old female
202 East 110 Street
New York, NY
Charges:
Burglary
Reckless Endangerment
Obstruction of Governmental Administration
Criminal Mischief
Conspiracy
Criminal Trespass
Cencula, Megan
30-year-old female
43-32 Queens Street
Queens, NY
Charges:
Burglary
Reckless Endangerment
Obstruct Governmental Administration
Criminal Mischief: Intent to Damage Property
Conspiracy
Criminal Trespass
Pinet-Sanchez, Valeria
23-year-old female
116 East 235 Street
Bronx, NY
Charges:
Burglary
Reckless Endangerment
Obstruct Governmental Administration
Criminal Mischief: Intent to Damage Property
Conspiracy
Criminal Trespass
Levine, Miranda
26-year-old female
242 Menahan Street
Brooklyn, NY
Charges:
Burglary
Reckless Endangerment
Obstruct Governmental Administration
Criminal Mischief: Intent to Damage Property
Criminal Trespass
(TJVNews.com)
Fayad, Nora
22-year-old female
372 Palmetto Street
Brooklyn, NY
Charges:
Burglary
Reckless Endangerment
Obstruct Governmental Administration
Criminal Mischief: Intent to Damage Property
Conspiracy
Criminal Trespass
Fukui, Tomoki
33-year-old male
905 Ditmas Avenue
Brooklyn, NY
Charges:
Burglary
Reckless Endangerment
Obstruct Governmental Administration
Criminal Mischief: Intent to Damage Property
Conspiracy
Criminal Trespass
Long, Huan Huan
27-year-old female
46 Terrace Circle
Great Neck, NY
Charges:
Burglary
Reckless Endangerment
Obstruct Governmental Administration
Criminal Mischief: Intent to Damage Property
Conspiracy
Criminal Trespass
Cadena, Luis Alberto
28-year-old male
37924 Beryl Court
Palmdale, CA
Charges:
Burglary
Reckless Endangerment
Obstruct Governmental Administration
Criminal Mischief: Intent to Damage Property
Conspiracy
Criminal Trespass
Taveras, Carina
34-year-old female
66-01 Austin Street
Queens, NY
Charges:
Burglary
Reckless Endangerment
Criminal Mischief: Intent to Damage Property
Conspiracy
Criminal Trespass
Chou, Patricia
33-year-old female
70-03 Woodside Avenue
Queens, NY
Charges:
Burglary
Reckless Endangerment
Obstruct Governmental Administration
Criminal Mischief: Intent to Damage Property
Conspiracy
Criminal Trespass
Atahualpa, Josselyn
32-year-old female
138-00 Lakeview Street
Queens, NY
Charges:
Burglary
Criminal Trespass
Ayala, Jacquline
26-year-old female
500 West 183 Street
New York, NY
Charges:
Burglary
Reckless Endangerment
Obstruct Governmental Administration
Criminal Mischief: Intent to Damage Property
Conspiracy
Criminal Trespass
Dowdy, Sophie
24-year-old female
138 West 138 street
New York, NY
Charges:
Burglary
Reckless Endangerment
Obstruct Governmental Administration
Criminal Mischief: Intent to Damage Property
Conspiracy
Criminal Trespass
(TJVNews.com)
On Wednesday, May 1, 2024, police responded to a demonstration at West 60 Street and Columbus Avenue (Fordham University):
15 individuals were taken into custody and released with summonses.
Posters with photos of people kidnapped by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023. (Shutterstock)
Edited by: TJVNews.com
Representing a group of victims of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas terror attack on Israel, global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP, the National Jewish Advocacy Center, the Schoen Law Firm, and the Holtzman Vogel law firm have filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern Division of Virginia, Alexandria Division, against AJP Educational Foundation Inc. a/k/a American Muslims for Palestine (AMP) and National Students for Justice in Palestine (NSJP).
The lawsuit, which seeks compensatory damages for nine American and Israeli victims of the attack in which Hamas killed 1,200 people and took 240 people hostage, alleges that AMP and NSJP work in the United States as collaborators and propagandists for Hamas. Hamas is a United States designated Foreign Terrorist Organization. The suit also notes that AMP and NSJP are merely the current version of several prior entities that were already determined by the U.S. government to be supporters of Hamas.
“I couldn’t be prouder of our firm for taking on this important representation. It is an honor to lend our voice and resources to this fight in support of plaintiffs who have suffered greatly at the hands of terrorists,” said Richard A. Rosenbaum, Executive Chairman of Greenberg Traurig. “We have assembled a formidable team who will make certain that the strong evidence showing the defendants have violated the rule of law is presented in an American courtroom. Our team will work tirelessly to hold these organizations accountable for their actions carried out in concert with terrorists.”
The suit alleges AMP and NSJP responded on Oct. 8, 2023, the day after the horrific atrocities perpetrated by Hamas, by participating in the terrorist’s propaganda to justify its appalling brutalities. AMP and NSJP answered Hamas’s “call for mass mobilization” by disseminating a manifesto and plan of attack. This manifesto confirms that “AMP and NSJP are not merely organizing to assist Hamas’s ongoing terror campaign abroad—they are intentionally extending their aid to fomenting chaos, violence, and terror in the United States.” In this manner, the groups acted to support and further the goals and directives of Hamas.
Further, the lawsuit states that “Plaintiffs—survivors of Hamas’s October 7 terrorist attack, family members of those murdered by Hamas, civilians still under fire from Hamas’s ongoing terrorism, and persons displaced by Hamas’s ongoing terrorism—have been, and continue to be, injured because AMP and NSJP knowingly provide continuous, systematic, and substantial assistance to Hamas and its affiliates’ acts of international terrorism. AMP and NSJP are thus liable to Plaintiffs for the damages they incurred because AMP and NSJP aid and abet Hamas’s terrorism.”
“Since Oct. 7, our country has witnessed a shocking rise in anti-Semitism, verbal and physical threats against Jews on our campuses and in our streets, vandalism, blockades, economic disruption, illegal encampments, and hostile takeovers of academic buildings—largely and concertedly directed by Hamas and its collaborators, American Muslims for Palestine and National Students for Justice in Palestine. Until now, they have seemingly operated in a world without consequence. With this lawsuit, we will hold Hamas’s collaborators accountable for their actions and show them and those in sympathy with them that no one is above, or beyond, the rule of law. As the son of one of the youngest survivors of Auschwitz, I am proud to be part of the team seeking vindication for our clients. We look forward to presenting the evidence to the judge and jury,” said Scott J. Bornstein, Senior Vice President of Greenberg Traurig.
Richard A. Edlin, Vice Chair of Greenberg Traurig, notes: “It is deeply ironic that the same people carrying signs saying ‘Death to America’ and ‘Death to Jews’ claim they are protected by free speech. They are not. Free speech has never included the active support of terrorism, and it has never protected the destruction of private property or the brutalization of innocent men, women, and children of many faiths, not just Jews. In the defendants, we confront an American problem, as well as a Jewish problem. We cannot—and through this lawsuit, we are saying we will not—allow the infiltration of Hamas-directed hatred, violence, and intimidation anywhere we can prevent it. If the defendants believe they can set up operations in America to create a mass culture of fear, threats, violence, and intimidation to undermine our cherished educational institutions, affect our governmental policies, and force Hamas’s evil ideology on American or Israeli soil, they are about to find out how mistaken they are.”
“As a lawyer with a long history of fighting antisemitism, I am proud to sign my name to this important lawsuit,” said Brad Kaufman, Co-President of Greenberg Traurig.
According to Mark Goldfeder, the CEO and director of the National Jewish Advocacy Center, “This case is very simple: When someone tells you they are aiding and abetting terrorists—believe them.”
Jason Torchinsky, a partner at Holtzman Vogel who also represents the victims, emphasized that “[t]he chaos we are seeing at American colleges and universities has been well planned and organized, and National SJP’s work to support the end goals of Hamas needs to be exposed and stopped. We hope this lawsuit sees justice for our clients.”
The group of American and Israeli victims have experienced a wide spectrum of physical and emotional injuries.
“It is time that Hamas and all of its agents, like AMP and NSJP, be held responsible for their horrific actions,” the victims said in a joint statement. “We want to go on record to expose these groups for the terrorists they are and make certain that they are stopped from operating in the United States and other countries they infiltrate.”
Professor Anat Alon-Beck’s decision to join the lawsuit was motivated by personal experiences of harassment as an Israeli American corporate law professor. She wants to prevent this from happening to others on campuses. She is concerned about the alarming rise in antisemitism, demonization, delegitimization and dehumanization of Israel and the United States.
About Greenberg Traurig: Greenberg Traurig, LLP has more than 2750 attorneys in 47 locations in the United States, Europe and the Middle East, Latin America, and Asia. The firm is a 2022 BTI “Highly Recommended Law Firm” for superior client service and is consistently among the top firms on the Am Law Global 100 and NLJ 500. Greenberg Traurig is Mansfield Rule 6.0 Certified Plus by The Diversity Lab. The firm is recognized for powering its U.S. offices with 100% renewable energy as certified by the Center for Resource Solutions Green-e® Energy program and is a member of the U.S. EPA’s Green Power Partnership Program. The firm is known for its philanthropic giving, innovation, diversity, and pro bono. Web: www.gtlaw.com.
About the National Jewish Advocacy Center: The National Jewish Advocacy Center, Inc. is a nonprofit organization committed to our mission to advocate for the Jewish nation and the Jewish state as prisms through which people from all walks of life can learn about the dignity of difference, the power of coexistence, and the strength that comes from tolerance. NJAC is a thought leader in the field of combatting antisemitism with a demonstrated ability to innovate creative legal solutions and substantively support them. Web: https://jewishadvocacycenter.org/.
About Schoen Law Firm: David Schoen is a solo practitioner focusing on civil rights litigation and criminal defense work and has for many years represented victims of terrorism. David is the recipient of the American Bar Association’s national Pro Bono Publico award and the U.S. District Judge David Nelson public interest award for his civil rights work. Web: https://schoenlawfirm.com/.
About Holtzman Vogel: Holtzman Vogel specializes in navigating sensitive, high-stakes regulatory and litigation matters for the country’s most prominent individuals, corporations, and advocacy organizations. The firm is headquartered in Washington, D.C., with offices strategically located in Virginia, Florida, and Arizona. The firm and its lawyers are continuously ranked by the nation’s most trusted legal guides including Chambers USA, Best Lawyers and Best Law Firms, Super Lawyers, POLITICO, Washingtonian, among others. For more information, visit www.holtzmanvogel.com
NY Times Admits: Palestinian State Already Exists (In All But Name)
By: Moshe Phillips
It was just a throwaway line in a recent New York Times article about developments in the Arab world. But boy did those eight words pack a wallop—about Israel, the Palestinian Arabs, and the entire Arab-Israeli conflict.
On April 29, three Times correspondents—Vivian Yee, Vivian Nereim, and Emad Mekay—were reporting from multiple Arab capitals about pro-Hamas rallies held in different countries. When they reached the subject of Jordan, in the sixth paragraph, they wrote that “Jordan’s government [is] caught between its majority-Palestinian population” and its relations with the United States and Israel.
Wait a minute! Jordan has a “majority-Palestinian population”?
This is not the first time that the New York Times has mentioned this fact. But it’s an important reminder that this little fact is actually a very big deal.
Our media and academic elites never define terms when doing so would be politically inconvenient. So we don’t know exactly how the Times defines “Palestinian” when it comes to residents of Jordan. But let’s just take it at face value: it must mean a person who considers himself “Palestinian,” based on the fact that he or his grandparents or his great grandparents once lived in a country called “Palestine.”
For the sake of this discussion, let’s leave aside some of the more controversial aspects of being “Palestinian.” Like the fact that there is nothing—historically, culturally, religiously, or linguistically—that makes a “Palestinian” different from a Syrian. Like the fact that for many decades, the people now called “Palestinians” insisted that they were not Palestinians, just Arabs or Southern Syrians. Or like the fact that “Palestinian” nationalism arose only as an anti-nationalism, that is, a way to fight Israel and Zionism.
Let’s just focus, for now, on the simple question of how Jordan could have a “majority-Palestinian population,” and what that means. During the period of the British Mandate, from 1917 to 1948, the country was called “Palestine” in English, and “Eretz Yisrael” in Hebrew. (That was also true for some years prior to 1917, but I’m speaking here about the modern era.)
So technically, anybody who lived there could have been called “Palestinian.”
Then in 1922, the British decided to unilaterally alter the region’s geography. They sliced off the eastern 78% of the Palestine Mandate and proclaimed the existence of a new country, called “Transjordan,” that is, The Other Side of the Jordan.
The very fact that its name is based on negative—that it’s not on That Side of the river—instead of on something having to do with the nature of its residents, illustrates how arbitrary and artificial the country’s creation was. Later, the Saudi tribe that the British installed as the country’s rulers, the Hashemites, decided to change name again, this time to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Again, the willy-nilly changing of its name shows how inauthentic the country was, and is.
So the people who were “Palestinian” from 1917 to 1922 suddenly became “Trans-Jordanian” in 1923. Then later they became “Jordanian.” But then again, maybe not—because according to the Times, the majority of the country’s population is still “Palestinian,” for some unexplained reason.
Why does any of this matter? Because it all goes to the heart of the concept of nationalism. Why is France called “France”? Because the majority of the people there have a common, and unique, history, and language.
Why is Germany called “Germany”? Because most of its residents likewise have a unique history and language.
If the majority of people in France were not ethnically Frenchmen, there would be no reason to call it France. If the majority of people in Germany were not ethnic Germans, it wouldn’t be Germany.
So how is it that Jordan has a majority of a different ethnicity, Palestinian, yet the country is still “Jordanian”?
The answer is that it’s all a big word-game. “Jordanian” and “Palestinian” are both inauthentic terms. Neither group has a genuine national history in the country—when the British took over, they found a hodgepodge of local tribes with no unifying national identity, and no linguistic bond any different from the language spoken in all the surrounding countries.
There was never any substantive difference between being Jordanian and being Palestinian. Both countries, and both identities, were created for reasons of political convenience and advantage. And if a “Palestinian” state were to be established, that would also be for a narrow political purpose—the purpose of putting a deadly time-bomb right on Israel’s border.
But there’s no reason to create a Palestinian state when one already exists. According to the New York Times, Jordan, which used to be called Palestine, still has a majority of “Palestinians.” Well, that’s the central ingredient for statehood. All they need is one democratic election for the majority to choose a leader who would call the country according to the self-identification of the majority of its residents.
Of course that’s not going to happen, because the king of Jordan will never permit an election. Kings don’t do that sort of thing. Democracy is like poison to monarchies and dictatorships.
But whether or not the disenfranchised “Palestinian majority” in Jordan is ever granted democratic rights, the fact remains that they already have a large, independent, sovereign Palestinian state. It just happens to go by a different name.
(Moshe Phillips is a commentator on Jewish affairs whose writings appear regularly in the American and Israeli press.)
Members of a negotiation team speak during a press conference on Friday, April 26th near a pro-Hamas encampment at Columbia University. Credit: AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura
By Joel B. Pollak
New York Police Department (NYPD) Deputy Commissioner of Public Information Tarik Sheppard told Fox News‘ Neil Cavuto on Thursday that pro-Palestinian “encampments” at many universities are run by “outside agitators” with funds from “around the world.”
Sheppard said that the NYPD was “very confident” that “outside agitators and influencers” have been present at protests in the city. Often, these “professionals” manage to escape arrest.
“They may just fly in for a day or two, and leave,” he said, adding that they “travel around the country” between protests.
Sheppard added: “And they have funding. They are funded by private individuals around the world sometimes.” He said that students are often easily manipulated by the professional activists to join radical, often illegal, protests.
As Breitbart News noted, one veteran activist, Lisa Fithian, was allegedly seen this week at the site of the Columbia University protests, which ended with a violent occupation of a university building, and intervention by the NYPD.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has been silent about the organizations, activists, and donors behind the protests. A lawsuit filed this week alleges that some of the organizations involved, such as Students for Justice in Palestine, are acting as propaganda arms for the Hamas terrorist organization that carried out the October 7 terror attacks in Israel.
Sheppard said that local officials have been in contact with different universities, but did not mention the DOJ.
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.
(JNS) The Turkish terrorist who carried out an attack in Jerusalem this week, moderately injuring an Israeli policeman, was visiting the Jewish state as part of an official delegation organized by Ankara’s Ministry of Religion, the HaKol HaYehudi news outlet reported on Thursday.
Hassan Saklana, 34, an imam (Muslim prayer leader) from Urfa in southeastern Turkey, stabbed a Border Police officer outside the Old City’s Herod’s Gate on Tuesday after entering Israel through Jordan a day earlier, according to reports.
Urfa, a city of almost 600,000 people near the Syrian border once known as Edessa, is known as a hotbed of Islamic radicalism.
HaKol HaYehudi said Saklana left the delegation, which was staying at the New Capitol Hotel in eastern Jerusalem, and carried out his attack.
Ankara’s Ministry of Religion regularly sends official delegations to Israel as a way to establish a Turkish presence throughout the country’s capital, including in the Old City, the Temple Mount and the nearby Tomb of Samuel.
Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding the future of such tours in the wake of the attack.
Turkey’s Minister of Religious Affairs, Ali Erbaş, in March called on Muslims to boycott Israeli products in solidarity with “our brothers and sisters” in Gaza, where the Israel Defense Forces are fighting Hamas.
The top cleric also claimed that “grandchildren of Holocaust survivors are massacring Muslims” in Gaza and called on the entire Islamic world to unite against the Jewish state, according to Turkish media reports.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has shown extreme hostility to Israel since the Hamas-led massacre of Oct. 7 in which thousands of Israelis and foreign nationals were killed, wounded and kidnapped, with widespread atrocities documented.
An anti-Israel encampment at NYU. (Twitter Screenshot)
By Robert Spencer, Frontpage Magazine
Campus fads come and go, but we’ve come a long way from swallowing goldfish, stuffing as many people as possible into phone booths, and the ever-popular drinking until you pass out.
The latest craze among college kids is, as Sen. John Fetterman (D-Penn.) indelibly put it, “living in a pup tent for Hamas.”
No sooner do cops clear out one encampment than another one springs up, and it looks as if they’re going to be with us for the rest of this semester and may even be revived once the universities reconvene next fall.
This is, however, not even close to being a spontaneous phenomenon. The groundwork for what we’re seeing now has been laid for years.
Not only is it not spontaneous, it’s clearly orchestrated from outside the colleges and universities where the encampments have sprung up.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams has acknowledged that “professionals” were involved in the Columbia University encampment.
Another sign that this isn’t exactly a grass-roots movement is the fact that a large number of the pro-Hamas protesters have identical tents.
Which well-heeled leftist bought them? We don’t know and may never know, but someone certainly appears to have done some buying in bulk.
Still, the movement needed foot soldiers. The cadres had to be recruited and indoctrinated.
That has been the work of the Middle East Studies Association (MESA), the professional organization of Middle East Studies professors at colleges and universities nationwide.
MESA, whose members dominate the Middle East Studies faculties of most colleges and universities in the United States, says that it is “a non-profit association that fosters the study of the Middle East, promotes high standards of scholarship and teaching, and encourages public understanding of the region and its peoples through programs, publications and services that enhance education, further intellectual exchange, recognize professional distinction, and defend academic freedom.”
That strikes all the right notes, but as you likely suspect, the reality is not so noble and high-minded.
MESA is a far-left, pro-jihad activist organization that is dedicated to providing an academic sheen to Marxist agitprop and Palestinian jihad propaganda.
To see what MESA busies itself with doing, scan the 25 items that are currently on the front page of the news section of the MESA website.
Two stories are pinned to the top of the page; one of them is actually on the side of genuine justice and human rights, decrying the Iranian Islamic regime’s dismissal of professors who supported the recent Woman, Life, Freedom protests in Iran.
The other pinned story, however, is entitled “Campus Climate Resources,” which gives the initial impression that it’s propaganda about the myth of human-caused climate change; it’s actually about the “climate” on campus regarding support for the Palestinian jihad against Israel.
MESA here offers an assortment of links to this article denouncing the alleged “repression of protest on campuses,” the alleged “targeting of Palestinian students in Israeli universities,” and the like.
One of these linked articles carries this headline: “MESA Board Joint Statement with CAF [MESA’s Committee on Academic Freedom] regarding the ongoing genocidal violence against the Palestinian people and their cultural heritage in Gaza.”
The first of Donald Trump’s four criminal trials will begin April 15, a Manhattan judge ruled Monday.
By Rich Berdan
President Joe Biden finds himself in the corner of the sandbox when the mainstream media calls him out for his dithering on the anti-Semitic demonstrations across universities in America by politically conflating Islamophobia on the same level. The escape hatch for Biden’s media friends to prop him up is a growing narrative that if you do not like Biden’s bungling policy in supporting both Israel and Gaza, then you will be aghast on what former President Donald Trump will do to inflict pain on the Palestinians if he is elected.
Let’s seriously look at the two leaders who have a track record as President on who will be best to solve the tinderbox in the Middle East. It is clear that there are two very different approaches by both presidents.
Trump had removed the ISIS caliphate threat, tightened the noose on Iran through sanctions that cut off weapons flowing to their terrorist proxies and significantly reduced Iranian regimes pursuit of nuclear weapons, he swiftly authorized 51 tomahawk missile strikes against Syrian and Russian military infrastructure in Syria for the use of chemical weapons, he cut off funding to the Palestinians for rewarding families of suicide terrorists and their unwillingness to recognize Israel, his first visit abroad was to Saudi Arabia to solidify relations with America, and he moved the embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.
Trump’s actions resulted in four Arab countries entering into an unprecedented economic and cultural relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords. The former president did not waver on principle and was resolute in carrying a big stick to protect American interests while ensuring change took place in the Middle East that culminated in a relatively peaceful presidential term. Trump was not the warmonger that many touted and nor should American’s be manipulated into thinking he will be if elected again.
On the other hand, President Biden reversed much of the Trump foreign policy by reinstituting aid to the Palestinians that essentially propped up Hamas terrorists, he allowed for billions of dollars held up in foreign banks to be released to Iran along with removing Trump’s sanctions on Iranian oil to fund Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis, he interfered in Israeli politics in an attempt to remove Prime Minister Netanyahu, shipping routes to the Suez Canal are threatened, he ruined strategic relations with Saudi Arabia, and overseen a complete mess of America’s withdraw from Afghanistan. Biden’s actions sent a sent a clear signal to Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran that America is weak under this president and now is the optimal time to move against Israel and the West.
Hamas now had the means and support from Iran to inflict a gruesome attack on Israel that has culminated in the poor people of Gaza suffering the consequences for their actions, and the rise of a disgusting, well funded, and orchestrated anti-Semitic
demonstrations throughout American campuses. Not only did Biden’s actions cause war to break out during his term, but mayhem on the home front not unlike the Nazi brownshirt youth persecuting Jews in Germany.
Regardless of who is running against Biden’s, his dismal leadership and miscalculated political decisions should essentially disqualify him from winning the general election. Throw in inflation and cost of living, an open border bringing in drugs killing Americans and potential terrorists, and billions of dollars being sent to Ukraine to fight a war of his own doing; and he should not even be considered as the Democrat presumptive nominee. Good for Republicans but at what cost to the country. Democrats still have a chance to throw him out before their convention.
Well, who would be better to lead peace in the Middle East and see the war between Israel and Hamas come to an end that leads to Israeli security and the rebuilding of Gaza? If any reasonable person seriously weighs the results of the past two administrations, it is not even close. The narrative by some in the media that Trump would be worse for the Palestinians living in Gaza than a vacillating Biden holds no water.
What would Trump do on day one? He would likely begin to telegraph his expectations prior to taking office in a similar manner to former president Ronald Reagan who made it clear to the Iranians that he would start bombing upon taking office if the American hostages were not released by Iran in 1980.
Conventional wisdom must be thrown out under Trump. Perhaps he will have a plan that leverages a Marine Strikeforce being sent into Gaza to rescue the hostages or see the belligerents take up a one-time offer that removes the terrorist threat without being annihilated, rebuild the Gaza Strip with Middle East countries lined up with oil revenues, and Saudi Arabia brought into the Abraham Accords while isolating Iran. Trump will provide Israel with the assurance to stand down and the loss of life in Gaza will cease.
One can only hope that this situation will be resolved before the election however under Biden, one should expect further conflict in the region. Trump’s hard negotiations is best for a Palestinian and Israeli future.
Israel is preparing to escalate its military campaign against the Hamas organization in the Gaza Strip, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. Credit: AP
By Yaakiov Katz
He has been known as the “Teflon prime minister’ and the politician who seems to always find a way back from the clutches of defeat. And while Israel’s longest-serving prime minister has faced numerous challenges over the last 30 years since he catapulted to the top of the Likud list, none have been as dire as the situation Benjamin Netanyahu faces right now.
Yes, he has lost elections, but none of them had the potential to end with the establishment of a state commission of inquiry that would most definitely find him responsible for some of the failures that led to the October 7 Hamas massacre. Yes, he has faced tough decisions in the past, but none had the potential to bring down his government while he is at his weakest point in the polls, on trial for corruption charges, will soon need to take the stand himself, and is about to face street protests never seen before in Israel.
He has been through a lot, but nothing like this.
The dilemma he and the government face is not one to envy. One option is to make a deal (assuming it is even possible) with Hamas to save as many of the hostages as possible and, in exchange, postpone an offensive in Rafah, potentially losing the coalition at the same time. The other option is to find a way to prevent a hostage deal (assuming Hamas doesn’t reject it first) and enter Rafah, raising the ire of the public that wants to see the hostages return as well as the international community, which has already said it will not support such an operation.
While the coalition will remain intact in such a case, National Unity leaders Benny Gantz and Gadi Eisenkot will quit the government, setting off a spark that will lead to unprecedented street protests against the government, making what we saw during the judicial reform look like child’s play. This, too, will be hard to overcome.
Each option has its advantages and disadvantages. Agreeing to the hostage deal will come at a steep price. It will include the release of thousands of Palestinian prisoners and a suspension of the war for an extended period. Nevertheless, it is the right decision, it is the just decision, and it will bring Israel some closure that it desperately needs. While the world has moved on from October 7, Israelis have not. Every day, when they look at the pictures of the hostages it is a reminder of the gaping hole that is still open in their hearts.
On the other hand, not going into Rafah will keep Hamas strong and potentially in power in the Gaza Strip. According to IDF estimates, Hamas has approximately four or five battalions that are still standing in Rafah, amounting to about 15,000 armed men. This is in addition to the terrorist infrastructure it has there – command centers, arms caches, and, of course, the tunnels it operates along the border with Egypt, which until a few months ago were still bringing in advanced weaponry into the Strip.
Not damaging that infrastructure or eliminating those fighters almost definitely means that Hamas will remain in control of Gaza. It will have the weapons and the men enabling the terrorist organization to restore its control over the parts of Gaza that Israel will vacate, as seen recently in the north, where, after Israel pulled back its forces, Hamas returned and fired rockets.
Netanyahu is trying to keep it all together without letting either side down – his political base, which wants a continued offensive in Gaza and for the IDF to enter Rafah, and the public, which wants to see the hostages released – as well as the Americans, who want this war to be over. It is a hard balancing act that no one in his shoes has ever had to do because no prime minister had overseen such a disaster while on trial, tanking in the polls, and facing street protests for more than a year.
The one recent comparison would be to Ehud Olmert, who, in the aftermath of the Second Lebanon War, faced calls from reservists to resign and established a state commission of inquiry and then police investigations, which eventually forced him to step down. But Olmert was not indicted and not on trial while in office. On the other hand, what Olmert showed was the ability of a prime minister to remain in power even after a war that was viewed as a failure. He stayed on for another two and a half years.
That is why, despite everything that is happening, it would be a mistake to write off Netanyahu. It is hard now to see how he can overcome this struggle, but his political demise is not at all a done deal. With that said, there is no underestimating the challenges he now faces. The keys to his political future and his potential freedom lie in the hands of two people who cannot exactly be counted on – Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir, a pair for whom rational political thinking does not always apply. However, there is no reason to feel sorry for Netanyahu. He created this mess. He legitimized Ben-Gvir as a cabinet minister and a coalition partner. Yes, he would not have had a government without the former Kach rabble-rouser, but he was warned plenty of what to expect if he got into bed with him.
At the end, though, this should not really matter. Instead, what should matter is the future of the State of Israel, the resilience of its people, and the message that will be sent in both cases – if we, as a nation, prioritize the return of the hostages or if we do not and prioritize an operation in Rafah.
These are the kinds of decisions that showcase the ethical standard of a nation and will not only go down in history but also send a message that will resonate globally. As the son of a historian, Netanyahu, a history enthusiast himself, knows this. He knows that Ben-Gvir and Smotrich are unlikely to take up more than a few paragraphs when this period of Israeli history is chronicled for the generations to come.
However, the choices he makes now possess the potential to create ripple effects throughout the military, Israeli society, and the broader Jewish community for decades to come. The responsibility rests squarely on his shoulders.
Brown University caved to radical anti-Israel demonstrators this week, promising that the university’s governing body would consider voting on divestment from Israel if the activists would dismantle their encampment on campus.
According to the Jerusalem Post, that makes Brown the first university to consider divestment from Israel.
In December, 41 anti-Israel activists were arrested after occupying an administration building. In April, activists took over an area of campus known as the Main Green, prompting concern from local Jewish leaders and clergy, who noted that some chants used by activists on and off campus were antisemitic, calling for the elimination of Israel.
Instead of enforcing university policies, Brown — like Northwestern University — decided to capitulate to the mob.
The Brown Daily Herald reported:
The Corporation, Brown’s highest governing body, will vote on divestment from companies affiliated with Israel at its October meeting following an agreement between encampment organizers and University administrators this afternoon. Organizers announced the agreement at a rally.
Organizers have agreed to clear the Main Green encampment by 5 p.m. today and not hold any unauthorized protests through Commencement, which ends May 26. Students in the encampment, which began last Wednesday, have been calling on the University to divest from companies with ties to the Israeli government and drop the charges against the 41 students arrested in a Dec. 11 University Hall sit-in. Charges against the 41 arrested students will not be dropped at this time.
…
Students will still face disciplinary proceedings for their involvement in the encampment, the agreement states.
While campus rabbis expressed relief that the encampment was being dismantled, other local Jewish groups reacted in alarm. Rabbi Ron Fish of the Anti-Defamation League’s New England chapter accused Brown of “validating a movement rife with antisemitism and hate.” Noting that Brown had opposed divestment in the past, he said that Brown’s deal would simply create incentives for more radical protest and “antisemitic harassment” of Jews.
“This story is not yet over but this is a sad chapter and a dark day for Brown University,” he concluded.
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.
Two Jewish students at Stanford University took a picture of an anti-Israel protester wearing a Hamas headband outside of the demonstrators’ encampment.
The green headband with white Arabic letters is identical to those worn by Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas.
As the photo went viral, the Jewish students spoke to Fox News Digital, but on condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation.
“We were just in shock that somebody could be like that in the middle of our campus,” one of them said.
“I only went up to take the photo because I was there with my friend,” they continued.
“We thought about going up to him and saying something, but then we figured it wasn’t worth it and, if anything, it might just be dangerous,” they stated.
In a statement on Wednesday, Stanford University said, “We have received many expressions of concern about a photo circulating on social media of an individual on White Plaza who appeared to be wearing a green headband similar to those worn by members of Hamas.”
It continued, “We find this deeply disturbing, as Hamas is designated a terrorist organization by the United States government. We have not been able to identify the individual but have forwarded the photo to the FBI.”
WATCH: NETANYAHU COMPARES CURRENT ANTISEMITIC COLLEGE MOBS TO NAZI GERMANY
Stanford, like many university campuses in the United States, has been hit with anti-Israel demonstrations and an encampment has been set up in the White Plaza located on campus.
Just days after Hamas invaded Israel, murdered 1,200 Israelis, kidnapped 250, and raped and tortured many others, Stanford University students hung bedsheets outside of their windows with signs expressing support for Hamas.
On the sheets were written the words “the illusion of Israel is burning,” and slogans urging Hamas to defeat Israel “by any means necessary.”
The Columbia University student groups behind the “Gaza Solidarity” encampment held what they called an “autonomous rally” outside campus, where they projected the words “Escalate for Gaza” on the side of Hamilton Hall, the building protesters stormed and occupied earlier in the week.
“Palestine Organizers” from Columbia and City University of New York held a Wednesday night press conference outside of CUNY’s campus, where they shared their “experiences” from the police sweeps that occurred on both campuses roughly 24 hours prior.
Columbia University right now: Within Our Lifetime organizer Nerdeen Kiswani has somehow made it onto campus and is encouraging students to keep going.
Protesters then traveled a mile down Amsterdam Avenue to Columbia’s campus, where keffiyeh-clad individuals lit flares, waved Palestinian flags, and chanted “Gaza” and “free, free, free Palestine.” One attendee was filmed holding a sign that read, “Resistance by any means necessary.” Later on in the evening, protesters projected images onto the side of Columbia Hall, reading, “Escalate for Gaza,” “Israel bombs Columbia pays,” and “Columbia funds genocide.”
The demonstration shows that Columbia president Minouche Shafik’s battle with unauthorized student protesters is far from over, even after Shafik deployed New York City police to break up the “Gaza Solidarity” encampment and to remove those who seized and occupied Hamilton Hall.
The morning after Tuesday night’s sweep, Columbia University Apartheid Divest issued a statement pledging to come back “stronger, smarter, and better prepared to stand our ground” and to “continue building a student movement that will take back our campuses.”
“Our people arrested today will soon be free and ready to fight again with even greater insight into the oppressor’s tools and weaknesses,” the group wrote. Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine issued a similar statement, which called to continue “the struggle for Palestinian liberation.”
“The student intifada will live on,” the statement said.
Both groups were behind the “Gaza Solidarity” encampment that plagued the school for roughly two weeks. They were also behind the Wednesday night rally.
Columbia did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The student groups had help in organizing the rally from Within Our Lifetime, the anti-Semitic activist organization based in New York City that was banned from Instagram over posts that lauded terrorism against Jews.
Within Our Lifetime promoted the rally on X, formerly Twitter, sharing a flyer with the event’s details under the caption “ALL OUT TONIGHT FOR CUNY & COLUMBIA.” Footage from the rally also shows Within Our Lifetime organizer and Harvard University graduate student Abdullah Akl leading chants.
During a Palestinian “Land Day” protest in New York City last month, Akl led a chant to “strike, strike Tel Aviv. Abu Obeida, our beloved.” Obeida, a Hamas terrorist, is the spokesman for the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the Hamas military wing that led the Oct. 7 terror attack on Israel.
Akl has also used his social media accounts to call for “intifada” against Jews, contend that “there is no state called Israel,” and encourage his followers to “teach your children that the Zionist entity is an enemy,” the Washington Free Beacon reported in January.
In addition to Akl, Columbia University Apartheid Divest has long collaborated with Within Our Lifetime’s founder, Nerdeen Kiswani.
Kiswani was one of three featured speakers at the infamous “Palestinian Resistance 101” event held on Columbia’s campus in March. Kiswani and other speakers routinely called for violence against Jews and praised Hamas and Hezbollah. At one point, Kiswani urged students to openly laud Oct. 7 and Palestinian “resistance,” even as she acknowledged that Hamas is “considered a terrorist organization.”
“Don’t acquiesce to the idea [of], well, ‘Oh, they’re considered a terrorist organization, so we shouldn’t talk about resistance,” Kiswani said. “We’re kind of like the test subjects or the guinea pigs. We’re going to put ourselves out on the line, and you know, if people are okay with it, then they’ll jump on it later.”
“We have the right to return home,” she said, “and we will get that right by any means necessary.”
Columbia banned Kiswani from campus over her participation in the event. Weeks later, however, she made it through the university gates to give a speech to student protesters in the Columbia encampment.
Last year: Denny Hamlin won after starting eighth.
Last race: Hamlin held off a hard-charging Kyle Larson over the final, thrilling laps and wiggled through lapped traffic to win by about a quarter of a second Sunday at Dover.
Fast facts: The victory was the third of this season for Hamlin, tying William Byron for the most this year, and fourth if you count the exhibition race in Los Angeles. … Hamlin led 136 of the 400 laps but remains just fourth in points, trailing Kyle Larson of Hendrick Motorsports by 49, Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Martin Truex Jr. by 18 and Hendrick’s Chase Elliott by 16. … Byron is sixth, 62 points behind Larson. … Larson was second, followed by Truex., Kyle Busch and Elliott. … Hendrick drivers (five) and Gibbs drivers (four) have won nine of 11 races thus far. Ford remains winless through 11 races.
Next race: May 12, Darlington, South Carolina.
NASCAR XFINITY SERIES
Last race: Ryan Truex won at Dover for the second straight year, giving the younger brother of Martin Truex Jr. the only NASCAR victories of his career. He now has two wins in 194 career starts over the three national series.
Last year: Grant Enfinger won after starting 11th.
Last race: Kyle Busch overcame a series of late restarts and led 112 of 167 laps to win for the sixth time in the truck series at Texas and the 20th time overall on the 1.5-mile layout.
Fast facts: Points leader Christian Eckes and non-title contender Kyle Busch are the lone multiple race winners through seven events. … Eckes leads Corey Heim by two points and Ty Majeski by 12 in the points race. … Heim is the only driver to have finished in the Top 10 in all seven races. He also leads with five top-five finishes.
Last year: Max Verstappen won after starting ninth.
Last race: Verstappen, the three-time defending champion, started from pole for his fourth victory in five races this season and his 23rd in the last 27 extending through last season.
Fast facts: Verstappen has started on the pole in all five races this year. … He’s led 202 of the 219 laps he’s raced. … Carlos Sainz Jr. won the only race Verstappen didn’t.
Next race: May 19, Imola, Italy.
Online: http://www.formula1.com
INDYCAR
Last race: Scott McLaughlin won his second straight race at Barber Motorsports Park, giving Team Penske a much-needed triumph just days after IndyCar erased Josef Newgarden’s victory and disqualified McLaughlin from the season opener.
Next race: May 11, Indianapolis, Indiana.
Online: http://www.indycar.com
NHRA DRAG RACING
Last event: Justin Ashley won in Top Fuel and Matt Hagan won in Funny Car in Concord.
Next event: May 19, Elwood, Illinois.
Online: http://www.nhra.com
WORLD OF OUTLAWS
Next events: May 1, Jacksonville, Illinois; May 3 & 4, Rossburg, Ohio.
Online: http://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars
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This story deletes reference to Xfinity racing in Kansas.
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AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/AutoRacing
West Yorkshire Police officer Mohammed Adil, 26, leaves Westminster Magistrates' Court in central London, Thursday May 2, 2024, after he admitted two counts of publishing an image in support of Hamas, which is banned and designated a terror group in the U.K., the Independent Office for Police Conduct said. (Victoria Jones/PA via AP)
(AP) — A British police officer pleaded guilty Thursday to terror charges for showing support on social media for Hamas, which is designated a terror group and banned in the U.K.
West Yorkshire constable Mohammed Adil admitted sharing two images on WhatsApp supporting the group three weeks after Hamas and other Palestinian militants stormed into Israel on Oct. 7 and killed about 1,200 people and seized some 250 hostages.
Adil, 26, pleaded guilty in Westminster Magistrates’ Court to two counts of publishing an image in support of a proscribed organization in violation of the Terrorism Act.
In messages shared on WhatsApp stories with nearly 1,100 contacts, Adil posted images of a fighter wearing a Hamas headband, prosecutor Bridget Fitzpatrick said.
“Today is the time for the Palestinian people to rise, set their paths straight and establish an independent Palestinian state,” an Oct. 31 post said, apparently quoting the leader of Hamas’ military wing.
A second post on Nov. 4 was said to quote a Hamas military spokesperson.
Two other police officers who were concerned by the images reported Adil to superiors, Fitzpatrick said. He was arrested in November and has been suspended from the force.
“I accept that at the time of the offending you were of good character,” Chief magistrate Paul Goldspring told Adil, though he said he may impose a prison term when he is sentenced June 4.
