Billionaire Mets Owner, Steve Cohen, is working to garner support for his bid to build a casino at Willets Point adjacent Citi Field.
As reported by the NY Post, on Monday hundreds of civic leaders, small business owners and residents rallied in Queens to support the $8 billion “Metropolitan Park” plan.
The 66-year-old founder of Point72 Asset Management has been eager to submit a casino bid, having teamed up with gaming giant Hard Rock International. Cohen owns the land and would like to turn the vacant lot at Willets Point into a year-round, all-weather entertainment haven. Cohen’s $8 billion casino plan, however, needs to be approved for land-use changes, allowing commercial development there, before it can be considered. Before he can even submit his bid, he needs state Senators and Gov. Kathy Hochul to move legislation in Albany to re-designate the parking lots and other property around the Mets ballpark from parkland to commercial use.
For over a year now, he has been working to woo support for the project. Queens officials including Councilman Francisco Moya and Assemblyman Jeffry Aubry, who represents the neighborhoods around Citi Field, have pledged their support, as well as Queens Borough President Donovan Richards. There are now only a few weeks left in the 2024 legislative session, however, and state Sen. Jessica Ramos, who also represents the area, is still resistant to support the project. “Why would you want to lose $8 billion inside your backyard? It’s ridiculous,” one Queens political insider told the Post, requesting anonymity.
Ramos commented in a text statement saying, “Steve Cohen is doing his job trying to win support for his casino bid, and I’m doing mine in Albany representing my constituents.”
Per the Post, Monday’s rally supporting the Queens casino was organized by the Coalition for Queens Advancement, and was held in Diversity Park in Jackson Heights near Ramos’ district office. Supporters at the rally included parishioners of First Baptist Church of Corona, who said the project would generate job opportunities and provide entertainment for local Queens residents. Cohen has said the project would generate some 15,000 permanent and construction jobs in the coming years.
The plans for “Metropolitan Park”, unveiled last November, include a sprawling gaming center, hotel, and music venue near the Mets ball park. The proposed entertainment complex, which will be operated with Cohen by Hard Rock International, has promised community perks such as 20 acres of green space and access to Flushing Bay. The green space includes new park space and 5 acres of community athletic fields, bike paths, playgrounds, and climate-ready infrastructure including solar, green roofs, and flood mitigation. “It’s time the world’s greatest city got the sports and entertainment park it deserves,” said Cohen. “When I bought this team, fans and the community kept saying we needed to do better. Metropolitan Park delivers on the promise of a shared space that people will not only want to come to and enjoy but can be truly proud of.” Cohen also has plans to build a soccer stadium for New York City FC on the Willets Point property.
The Willets Point Casino bid faces stiff competition, including other bids from Related Companies and Wynn Resorts for a casino in Hudson Yards, Bally’s at Ferry Point in The Bronx, Silverstein Properties in Hell’s Kitchen, Thor Equity on the Coney Island boardwalk and the Sands casino at the Nassau Coliseum hub in Uniondale.
David Vranicar, CEO of Fortified and Ballistic Security, has witnessed a significant uptick in business, particularly from residents in Queens and Brooklyn, who recognize the importance of fortifying their homes against potential threats. Credit: bitbean.com
By: Hal C Clarke
In the bustling metropolis of New York City, a new trend is emerging among its residents, one that transcends socioeconomic boundaries and speaks to a collective unease gripping the populace. Across the city’s diverse neighborhoods, from the affluent enclaves of Manhattan to the more modest boroughs of Queens and Brooklyn, homeowners are fortifying their residences like never before, driven by concerns over escalating crime rates, political unrest, and anxieties surrounding immigration.
The NY Post reported extensively on this phenomenon.
At the forefront of this phenomenon are individuals like Steve Humble, founder of Creative Home Engineering, a home-defense contractor specializing in covert security solutions. Humble notes a surge in demand for his services, attributing much of it to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which exacerbated existing fears and heightened the urgency to secure one’s home. Contrary to popular belief, Humble emphasizes that his clientele isn’t solely composed of the ultra-wealthy elite but includes middle-class families seeking peace of mind in uncertain times.
Similarly, David Vranicar, CEO of Fortified and Ballistic Security, has witnessed a significant uptick in business, particularly from residents in Queens and Brooklyn, who recognize the importance of fortifying their homes against potential threats. Vranicar underscores the psychological impact of recent events, such as the pandemic-induced societal breakdown, which has prompted individuals to contemplate worst-case scenarios and take proactive measures to protect their loved ones.
The driving force behind this surge in demand is a palpable decline in New Yorkers’ sense of safety, underscored by a record-high number of assaults in the city. This pervasive feeling of vulnerability is compounded by a broader perception of societal instability, fueled by political divisiveness and a sense of economic disparity. As Humble observes, whether real or perceived, the prevailing sentiment is that crime is on the rise, prompting residents to invest in comprehensive security solutions for their homes.
Vranicar’s approach to home defense focuses on fortifying entry points such as doors and windows, rendering them impenetrable to potential intruders. By bolstering these vulnerable areas, homeowners can deter would-be assailants and buy precious time to alert authorities or seek refuge in secure locations within their homes. Moreover, Vranicar underscores the importance of securing bedrooms, where occupants are most vulnerable, particularly during periods of rest or sleep.
While custom security projects can command hefty price tags, both Humble and Vranicar offer a range of products tailored to diverse budgets. From concealed safe rooms to bulletproof doors, these solutions cater to the varying needs and financial constraints of New York’s residents. Despite the luxury associated with some of these offerings, average homeowners are increasingly prioritizing safety and security, making New York City one of the most lucrative markets for home-defense contractors.
However, for a select few, like Bill Rigdon of Panic Room Builders, the stakes are even higher. Rigdon caters to affluent clients with homes valued at millions of dollars, offering bespoke panic rooms equipped with state-of-the-art security features. These fortified sanctuaries serve as a last line of defense against external threats, providing occupants with essential provisions and communication systems to weather prolonged periods of turmoil.
The prevailing atmosphere of uncertainty, exacerbated by recent headlines and geopolitical tensions, has driven many New Yorkers to reassess their vulnerability and take proactive steps to safeguard their homes and loved ones.
In a high-stakes debate on Monday night, Rep. Jamaal Bowman found himself entangled in a contentious discussion over the phrase “From the river to the sea.” Credit: AP
By: Mario Manici
In a high-stakes debate on Monday night, Rep. Jamaal Bowman found himself entangled in a contentious discussion over the phrase “From the river to the sea.” This slogan, often associated with anti-Israel sentiment, has faced condemnation as anti-Semitic for its implied call for the eradication of Israel. Despite mounting criticism, Bowman stood firm in his defense of the phrase, aligning with anti-Israel protesters who employ it, while diverging from the Anti-Defamation League’s characterization of it as hate speech.
During the News 12 debate against Westchester County Executive George Latimer, Bowman faced a direct question from an audience member regarding the phrase’s implications. In response, Bowman stated, “I know some do, others don’t, I do not,” suggesting his personal interpretation differs from those who perceive it as hateful. However, Latimer vehemently contested this assertion, unequivocally labeling the phrase as hate speech and referencing its historical association with calls for the destruction of Israel’s Jewish population.
The phrase “From the river to the sea” has long been a subject of contention, with critics often interpreting it as a rallying cry for the elimination of Israel and the establishment of a Palestinian state spanning from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea. This interpretation stems from its frequent usage by anti-Israel groups advocating for the expulsion or subjugation of the Jewish population in the region.
Historically, the phrase traces back to the late 1960s and early 1970s, gaining prominence during the Arab-Israeli conflict. It was employed by Palestinian nationalists and their supporters to express their aspiration for a Palestinian state from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea, encompassing all of historic Palestine, including modern-day Israel. Over time, it has become synonymous with the rejection of Israel’s legitimacy and sovereignty, fueling tensions and controversy in the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Furthermore, the Anti-Defamation League has highlighted the phrase’s inherent anti-Semitic connotations, noting its frequent appearance in chants and slogans at anti-Israel demonstrations. The organization has emphasized the imperative to confront and denounce such rhetoric, citing its role in fostering a hostile environment for Jewish communities and perpetuating anti-Semitic attitudes.
Despite mounting criticisms and concerns, Bowman has remained steadfast in his support for anti-Israel activists who employ the phrase, aligning himself with their cause while reaffirming his belief in Israel’s right to exist and his advocacy for a two-state solution, underneath this veneer lies a clearly anti-Semitic, radical politician, on the wrong side of every issue and overflowing with woke insanity and Marxism.
His stance has drawn sharp rebuke from opponents like Latimer, who perceive the phrase as emblematic of a broader campaign to delegitimize Israel and undermine its sovereignty.
As the debate unfolded, tensions escalated between the candidates, underscoring the deep divisions surrounding the Israel-Palestine conflict and its implications for domestic politics. The divergent viewpoints of Bowman and Latimer on this issue have emerged as a focal point in the upcoming primary election, highlighting the complex interplay between foreign policy debates and domestic political dynamics.
Additionally, New York’s 16th congressional district, where Bowman serves as the representative, covers a diverse area including parts of the Bronx and Westchester County. It includes a mix of urban and suburban communities, with a population representing various socio-economic backgrounds and cultural identities. The district has historically been a Democratic stronghold, with a focus on issues such as affordable housing, education, and healthcare access for all residents.
The public spat between Rudy Giuliani and WABC owner John Catsimatidis has evolved into a multi-day saga, showcasing a clash of personalities. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)
By: Jared Evan
The public spat between Rudy Giuliani and WABC owner John Catsimatidis has evolved into a multi-day saga, showcasing a clash of personalities, principles, and power dynamics. From diva-like demands to accusations of partisan bias, each revelation adds fuel to the fiery exchange, offering a glimpse into the complexities of media ownership and free speech.
The former mayor was suspended from the air by the grocery store and real estate tycoon, turned media mogul, Catsimatidis, after refusing to stop talking about the 2020 election results. Catsimatidis is presumably concerned with lawsuits which voting machine technology companies Dominion and Smartmatic have levied against news entities reporting the common belief that the 2020 election was “stolen”.
Catsimatidis wasted no time in unveiling Giuliani’s demands, painting a picture of the former mayor’s unwavering stance on increased airtime and compensation. Giuliani’s insistence, conveyed through text messages, set the stage for a battle of wills between two formidable figures accustomed to getting their way.
However, this conflict transcended mere contractual negotiations. It became a battleground for ideological supremacy, with Giuliani lambasting Catsimatidis for perceived bias while Catsimatidis retaliated, accusing Giuliani of disregarding station policies and jeopardizing WABC’s reputation. The tension reached a crescendo as Giuliani hinted at revisiting contentious topics on air, prompting Catsimatidis to take preemptive measures to protect the station against these lawsuits, which many consider legal warfare against free speech.
The climax occurred when Giuliani defied station directives on air, and ranted about the election being stolen from Trump in 2020, prompting WABC to abruptly end his show, escalating the conflict to new heights. Despite Catsimatidis extending olive branches in attempts to reconcile, Giuliani remained steadfast in his defiance, intensifying the standoff.
In response, WABC suspended Giuliani, plunging the saga into deeper turmoil. Giuliani’s counteroffensive, aired through alternative media channels, portrayed him as a victim of censorship and betrayal, amplifying the discord.
Catsimatidis, however, stood firm, invoking his duties as an FCC licensee and emphasizing his commitment to truth and integrity in broadcasting. His measured responses underscored the complexity of the rift, contrasting sharply with Giuliani’s bombastic rhetoric.
As the controversy unfolded, it became evident that this clash transcended individual egos. It symbolized broader debates about media responsibility, free speech, and the intersection of personal and professional allegiances. Giuliani’s journey, from revered figure to embattled pundit, epitomized the challenges of navigating post-political life in an era of heightened scrutiny.
In the court of public opinion, both Giuliani and Catsimatidis emerged as emblematic figures, each representing divergent visions of truth and accountability. Their saga serves as a cautionary tale, highlighting the fragility of reputations and the high costs of unchecked ambition in the realm of media influence.
Ultimately, the Giuliani-Catsimatidis saga reminds us of the enduring complexities inherent in media ownership and the delicate balance between exercising free speech while protecting yourself from egregious lawsuits.
WABC 770AM holds a storied history as one of America’s oldest radio stations, dating back to its founding in 1921. Over the decades, it has been a bastion of news, talk, and entertainment, playing a pivotal role in shaping the media landscape of New York City and beyond. In 2019, billionaire businessman John Catsimatidis acquired the station, marking a significant milestone in its journey. Catsimatidis, known for his diverse business ventures including Gristedes and D’Agostino supermarkets, brought his vision and resources to WABC
The Salute to Israel Parade, a cherished tradition in the Big Apple since its inception in 1964, has long served as a vibrant expression of solidarity with Israel and its people
By: Jared Evan
In defiance of recent outbreaks of anti-Semitic violence, organizers of New York City’s annual Salute to Israel Parade have steadfastly declared that the event will proceed as planned this year, reaffirming their commitment to celebrating the Jewish state, NY Post confirmed,
Scheduled to dominate Fifth Avenue on June 2, the parade is anticipated to draw thousands of supporters to Manhattan, accompanied by an augmented police presence amidst heightened tensions stemming from the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
The Salute to Israel Parade, a cherished tradition in the Big Apple since its inception in 1964, has long served as a vibrant expression of solidarity with Israel and its people. Over the years, it has evolved into a hallmark event within the Jewish community, symbolizing resilience, unity, and unwavering support for the Jewish state. Despite occasional challenges and controversies, the parade has endured as a testament to the enduring bonds between New York City and Israel.
Amidst a surge in anti-Semitic demonstrations across the city, the decision to proceed with the parade underscores the resilience and determination of its organizers. Mark Treyger, executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Board, emphasized meticulous safety preparations, assuring participants of a secure environment for the event. “We are dotting every I and every T in terms of safety,” Treyger told local media, underscoring the paramount importance of ensuring the well-being of attendees.
The significance of the parade extends beyond mere festivities; it serves as a powerful reaffirmation of solidarity with Israel amidst challenging times. Relatives of Israeli hostages still held by Palestinian Hamas terrorists are expected to join the procession, adding poignancy to the event. In anticipation of potential disruptions from anti-Israeli demonstrators, the NYPD has announced plans to bolster its usual deployment of approximately 700 officers along the parade route, affirming its commitment to maintaining order and safety.
Mayor Eric Adams voiced unequivocal support for the parade, denouncing attempts to sow division and emphasizing the city’s unwavering stance against anti-Semitism, NY Post reported.
His reassurance echoed sentiments echoed by Treyger, himself a descendant of Holocaust survivors, who underscored the parade’s importance as a symbol of solidarity with Israel and its people.
Under the theme “One People, One Heart,” the parade serves as a poignant reminder of the shared values and aspirations uniting supporters of Israel. As calls for peace resonate amidst the conflict, the event takes on added significance, embodying hopes for a future of safety and security for all inhabitants of the region.
In the face of adversity, the Salute to Israel Parade emerges as a beacon of resilience, a testament to the unwavering spirit of its participants, and a reaffirmation of the enduring bonds between New York City and the State of Israel. The parade’s steadfast continuation underscores the resilience of the Jewish community and its allies in the face of rising anti-Semitism.
Modern anti-Semitism, which is rising among the “progressive” political set, is mimicking long-established right-wing conspiracy theories about “Zionist plots” and “Zionists secretly controlling the world”. Anti-Zionism serves as a guise for anti-Semitism, targeting Jews as a collective under the guise of political opposition to the State of Israel. Anti-Zionism crosses the line into anti-Semitism when it denies the Jewish people’s right to self-determination or perpetuates harmful stereotypes and conspiracy theories about Jews.
This year NYC Jews will march even as deranged leftists and right-wing Nazis antagonize them with their Anti-Zionist chants, making this year’s parade more important than ever.
Bain & Co., a top management consulting firm, has signed an impressive new office lease at 22 Vanderbilt Ave. Credit: Wikimapia.org
By: Benyamin Davidsons
Bain & Co., a top management consulting firm, has signed an impressive new office lease at 22 Vanderbilt Ave., one of the rare Manhattan buildings to offer direct access to Grand Central Terminal.
As reported by Crain’s NY, the Boston-based giant in management consulting, is taking on roughly 235,000 square feet of space at the Midtown office tower, landlord and developer Milstein Properties announced on Monday. Bain & Co will move into the building in 2026, initially occupying four floors. The deal will effectively double Bain’s office footprint. Bain is currently leasing 126,000 square feet of space at the Grace Building at 1114 Sixth Ave., the 49-story Class A office building near Bryant Park owned by Brookfield Properties. The space Bain & Co is vacating at the 1.6 million square foot Grace Building will be taken over by advertising firm Trade Desk, which is expanding its footprint as well, per Brookfield.
Per the Post, Bain was repped in the deal by CBRE’s John Maher, Chris Corrinet and Paul Myers. TD was repped by CBRE’s Ryan Alexander, Matthew Saker and Nicole Marshall. Landlord Milstein was repped by CBRE’s Paul Amrich, Neil King, Jeffrey Fischer, Sacha Zarba and Meghan Allen, with Brookfield Properties’ Duncan McCuaig, David Caperna and PJ Massey.
The 29-story, Class A building, formerly known as 335 Madison Ave. and situated between East 43rd and 44th streets, boasts 1.1 million square feet of office and retail space. About a decade ago, 22 Vanderbilt had been in a difficult spot, when its largest tenant, Bank of America had left. The building, built in 1984, underwent a sprawling quarter-billion-dollar renovation, which also installed 275,000 square feet of new amenities. The upgrade was spearheaded by Michael Milstein, son of company founder Howard Milstein.
Per Crain’s, the building now boasts a redesigned lobby, a fitness center, a landscaped block-long outdoor terrace, a specialty coffee shop, a cocktail lounge, a 3-story dining hall, and of course direct access to Grand Central Terminal. The tenants-only conference rooms and wellness centers span 80,000 square feet. Asking rents for space at the top-notch building range from $105 to $120 per square foot, according to Brookfield, which works with leasing out the property.
Recently, 22 Vanderbilt also inked other new impressive leases totaling another 225,000 square feet. Per the Post, these deals include: law firm Duane Morris which took on 80,000 square feet; wealth manager AlTi Tiedemann Global for 40,000 sf; and global law firm Kennedys for 25,000 sf of space. The new lease by Bain, along with other new leases, brings the office building at 22 Vanderbilt Ave. to an impressive 91% occupancy, per family-run real estate developer Milstein.
Commercial office space in Manhattan is still trying to recover from Covid. Leasing activity was fairly strong in April, per Colliers. Overall, companies leased roughly 2.7 million square feet of space, including around 1.1 million square feet of space in Midtown Manhattan.
Milstein COO Damon Lopez-O’Dwyer said the firm’s success in leasing, even during these tough times for commercial real estate, is attributed to its “setting a new standard for the modern office” and the building being one of only six office building,
Cornell University’s medical school is moving out of lab space on the Upper East Side, leased by the landlord formerly named New York City REIT. The 30,000 square foot of space may not seem like much, but it’s yet another blow to the landlord. Credit: Courtesy
By: Hadassa Kalatizadeh
Cornell University’s medical school is moving out of lab space on the Upper East Side, leased by the landlord formerly named New York City REIT.
As reported by Crain’s NY, the 30,000 square foot of space may not seem like much, but it’s yet another blow to the landlord.
The vacating space at 400 E. 67th St., at which Weill Cornell Medicine’s lease expires next month, was disclosed in a report on Friday by bond-rater KBRA. The University had rented space in the first two floors of the condominium tower, but is moving out with the expiring lease. Sarah Smith, executive director of public relations, said Weill Cornell is “considering consolidating some of our locations into other currently leased or owned building space to maximize these other properties by the end of the year.”
The building, known as the Laurel, is a 31-story condo. The commercial space is owned by NYC REIT, a firm which changed its name last year to American Strategic Investment Co, highlighting its adding other businesses to its portfolio besides for NY real estate.
At the end of April, American Strategic announced that it is putting three Manhattan properties on the auction block: The 165,000square foot office building at 9 Times Square, which is 30 percent vacant; the office building at 123 William St. in the Financial District; and the 11-story condo building at 196 Orchard St. “These strategic dispositions are in furtherance of the company’s previously announced repositioning of the company’s investment portfolio and expanded business plan to invest in assets beyond Manhattan real estate,” said the REIT, which trades under the “NYC” stock ticker on the New York Stock Exchange.
Per Crain’s, a decade ago, American Strategic had started amassing Manhattan office and residential space, when interest rates were super low and when optimism was high regarding NYC real estate. Their portfolio grew to span roughly 1.2 million square feet in Manhattan buildings. Most of the acquired office buildings, however, are Class B and have struggled to retain tenants since 2020, when the pandemic hit, which left commercial real estate ailing.
In 2014, American Strategic had purchased the Laurel’s commercial space, and a parking garage in the Upper West Side condominium complex formerly known as Trump Place, for $85 million, which came to about $707 per square foot. KBRA’s new estimate for the property values it at a combined $323 per square foot, and the bond-rating firm lowered its outlook for the properties’ $50 million mortgage to “underperform.” In its report Friday, KBRA noted Cornell’s upcoming exit from the fully occupied building and the overall difficulty faced by commercial space in today’s market.
On an earnings call Friday, American Strategic Investment CEO Michael Anderson said he has had “some unsolicited interest in recent months on 9 Times Square and think that there will be similar interest at 123 William.” He also noted that the company is seeing “some increased leasing interest” at 1140 Sixth, the 250,000 square-foot building which the company acquired in 2016. That building is newer and centrally located at West 44th Street, but it is still struggling with 23 percent vacancy. As to the future, “I would say that the focus is probably outside of New York,” the CEO said.
Under the leadership of co-founder and CEO Assaf Rappaport, Wiz is positioning itself for a pivotal year in 2024, which Rappaport anticipates will be a period of consolidation in the cybersecurity industry. The company plans to use the newly acquired funds to pursue acquisitions that will strengthen its service offerings, as well as to enhance product development and expand its talent pool. Photo Credit: LinkedIn
In an impressive financial move underscoring its rapid growth and robust market confidence, cloud security startup Wiz announced on Tuesday that it has raised $1 billion in a funding round, catapulting its valuation to an impressive $12 billion, as was reported in The Wall Street Journal. Wiz is a New York-based startup with additional offices across the United States and Israel.
This new valuation not only reflects Wiz’s explosive growth but also its strategic positioning within the tech industry, particularly in the cybersecurity sector.
The recent funding round, which swells Wiz’s total funding to $1.9 billion, was spearheaded by major venture capital firms such as Andreessen Horowitz, Lightspeed Venture Partners, and Thrive Capital. According to the WSJ report, the round also saw participation from Greylock Partners, Wellington Management, and other existing investors including Cyberstarts, Greenoaks, Index Ventures, Salesforce Ventures, and Sequoia Capital. Notably, Howard Schultz, former Starbucks CEO, has also invested in this round, adding a high-profile name to Wiz’s diverse list of backers, the WSJ report indicated.
Under the leadership of co-founder and CEO Assaf Rappaport, Wiz is positioning itself for a pivotal year in 2024, which Rappaport anticipates will be a period of consolidation in the cybersecurity industry. As per the information provided in the WSJ report, the company plans to use the newly acquired funds to pursue acquisitions that will strengthen its service offerings, as well as to enhance product development and expand its talent pool.
Wiz’s aggressive growth strategy is underscored by its recent acquisition activities, including the purchase of Gem Security, a company specializing in cloud detection and response. Additionally, the WSJ reported that Wiz is reevaluating its intentions to acquire cybersecurity startup Lacework after a period of due diligence, showcasing its cautious yet assertive approach to expansion.
Under the guidance of Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer Ami Luttwak, Wiz is developing a platform that aims to secure the entire supply chain of cloud-based operations. Photo Credit: YouTube.com
Financially, Wiz has demonstrated remarkable success, achieving $100 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR) just 18 months after its inception. Indicated in the WSJ report was that by 2023, this figure soared to $350 million, illustrating rapid market penetration and a strong demand for its cloud security solutions. This robust financial performance positions Wiz favorably for a potential initial public offering (IPO), though Rappaport suggests that the company will not rush into going public, the WSJ report added. He indicated that Wiz would consider an IPO once it reaches $1 billion ARR, focusing for now on innovation and maximizing customer value.
The company’s reach extends globally, with hundreds of organizations and over 40 of the Fortune 100 companies utilizing its technology, the WSJ report affirmed. This widespread adoption is a testament to the effectiveness and essential nature of Wiz’s offerings in the increasingly crucial field of cloud security.
Under the guidance of Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer Ami Luttwak, Wiz is developing a platform that aims to secure the entire supply chain of cloud-based operations. The information contained in the WSJ report indicated that this includes protecting the code base of customers, their engineering departments, and other critical functions such as identity management, artificial intelligence, and data clouds. Luttwak’s vision is clear: to offer a security solution that encompasses the whole gamut of building and maintaining cloud infrastructures.
The goal of Wiz’s platform is to provide customers not only with tools to defend against threats but also with the contextual understanding necessary to identify and prioritize vulnerabilities, as was explained in the WSJ report. This approach allows organizations to be proactive rather than reactive, addressing potential security issues before they escalate into more significant problems.
From its inception, Wiz has been ambitious, aiming to become a major player in the cybersecurity field. CEO Assaf Rappaport has emphasized that achieving this goal involves a meticulous focus on maintaining high gross margins, optimizing sales efficiency, and leading the field in research and development, according to the WSJ report. Rappaport believes that these factors are essential for driving innovation and growth within the company.
Wiz’s commitment to excellence is evident in its operational strategy, which prioritizes expanding market share and venturing into new territories. The company recognizes the vast opportunities that lie ahead in the global market and is strategically positioning itself to seize these opportunities at the opportune moment.
The approach taken by Wiz represents a significant shift in how cybersecurity solutions are developed and deployed in cloud environments. By creating a platform that addresses the entire supply chain of cloud technology, Wiz is setting a new standard in the industry. This holistic approach not only enhances security but also improves the overall efficiency of cloud operations for their clients.
The implications of Wiz’s strategy extend beyond individual organizations, potentially influencing the broader cloud computing industry. As businesses increasingly rely on cloud services, the demand for comprehensive, integrated security solutions will continue to grow. Wiz’s platform aims to meet this demand by offering a scalable, efficient solution that can adapt to the diverse needs of its global clientele.
As Wiz continues to expand its footprint and refine its offerings, the company is well-positioned to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of cloud security. With a clear focus on innovation, customer needs, and market expansion, Wiz is not just responding to the current demands of the cybersecurity market but is actively anticipating future challenges and opportunities.
The longstanding relationship between President Joe Biden of the United States and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
has faced its most severe test yet amidst escalating tensions over the Gaza war. Credit: AP
In recent months, the longstanding relationship between President Joe Biden of the United States and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has faced its most severe test yet amidst escalating tensions over the Gaza war. As was reported by the Associated Press, the divergence in their views on the conflict and the pressures of their respective political landscapes are pushing the alliance to a tipping point.
Amidst the most recent Gaza crisis, the relationship appears increasingly strained. The White House’s decision to suspend a significant arms shipment, including 3,500 bombs to Israel, highlights a critical juncture. While White House National Security Spokesman John Kirby did not confirm if Netanyahu was directly informed of this decision during their recent communication, he emphasized that Biden has been “direct and forthright” about his concerns.
This decision comes against a backdrop of pro-Palestinian protests that have stirred significant factions within the Democratic Party, especially among the younger, more progressive members. These protests have not only influenced public sentiment but have also sparked discussions within Biden’s circle about the future of the Democratic Party’s stance on Israel.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre listening as White House national seciurity communications advisor John Kirby speaks during a press briefing at the White House. Credit: AP/Evan Vucci
Netanyahu’s response to the U.S. stance has been one of defiance. Brushing aside Biden’s cautions, he has emphasized Israel’s resolve to act independently if necessary. His statement, “If we have to stand alone, we will stand alone,” coupled with a fierce declaration of readiness to “fight with our fingernails,” calls attention to a deepening resolve against external pressures, highlighting a shift from reliance on diplomatic assurances to a rhetoric of self-reliance.
Historically, Biden has prided himself on his ability to manage international relations more with incentives than penalties. This approach, however, appears increasingly ineffective with Netanyahu. The friction has escalated over the past seven months, indicating that Biden’s diplomatic playbook may be outdated in the face of current challenges.
The president’s strategy has evolved in response to the shifting dynamics. His recent comments in a CNN interview reveal a firmer stance, threatening to suspend further military aid if Israeli forces proceed with operations in Rafah. This marks a significant shift from diplomacy to a more assertive pushback, reflecting Biden’s urgency to influence Israeli military strategy.
Despite this toughened stance, Biden’s aides stress that he is not willing to let the U.S.-Israel relationship fully deteriorate. The political necessity of maintaining this alliance is backed by a significant portion of the American populace that supports or even wishes to enhance U.S. backing of Israel.
Both leaders are also grappling with their domestic political challenges, which compound the international crisis. Netanyahu faces increasing scrutiny and pressure within his own government and from the Israeli public, pushing him to adopt a more hardline position. Conversely, Biden must navigate the complex landscape of U.S. politics where Palestinian voters, especially in Michigan have been critical of him for advocating for the $14 billion aid package to Israel.
The current situation between Biden and Netanyahu is a critical juncture in U.S.-Israel relations, shaped by a confluence of international conflict and political necessity. How these leaders navigate this crisis will not only affect their political legacies but also the future trajectory of Middle Eastern politics and the stability of global diplomatic relations. The unfolding events will require careful monitoring as each leader balances on a tightrope of domestic responsibilities and international exigencies.
Biden and Netanyahu are figures who have been central to their countries’ politics for decades, with a relationship that dates back to when Biden was a young senator and Netanyahu a senior official at Israel’s embassy in Washington. This long acquaintance has seen various tensions, notably during the Obama administration, when Biden as Vice President dealt with disagreements over Israeli settlement expansion. More recently, Netanyahu’s vehement opposition to Biden’s efforts to revive the Iran nuclear deal—which had been a hallmark of Obama’s foreign policy and was abandoned by Donald Trump—added layers to their complex relationship.
Waving blue and white Israeli flags and chanting “Jail now!”, a crowd in the hundreds on 4 November 2023 pushed through police barriers around Netanyahu’s residence in Jerusalem. [X, formerly Twitter]The frequent flashpoints have included Biden urging Netanyahu to de-escalate during the 2021 Gaza conflict with Hamas, showcasing the often divergent approaches the two leaders have towards regional security and diplomacy. These incidents are indicative of the broader, sometimes conflicting, visions
In the aftermath of the horrific October 7 attack by Hamas, which resulted in the death of 1,200 Israelis and the abduction of around 250, public sentiment in Israel has dramatically shifted. Initially, Netanyahu vowed to destroy Hamas, responding with a stern military stance.
Netanyahu’s strategy appears to be influenced by the need to maintain the support of his coalition partners to avert potential political fallout, including the possibility of early elections. The AP reported that according to Anshel Pfeffer, a noted columnist and author of a Netanyahu biography, maintaining the illusion of ‘total victory’ over Hamas is crucial for Netanyahu to keep his political allies from turning against him and to prevent a further erosion of his public image.
Also speaking to the AP was Aviv Bushinsky, a former spokesman and chief of staff for Netanyahu, who suggested that despite the multifaceted pressures, Netanyahu remains focused on the broader goal of defeating Hamas, driven by concerns over the long-term security of Israel. This focus, however, must contend with the immediate humanitarian and political realities that a continued military offensive in Rafah might exacerbate.
Many have noticed a marked change in US-Israel relations that started with the Obama administration and took a hiatus during the Trump era. Others feel that Israel is being roundly demonized now as the beginnings of a potential socialist revolution have permeated a large sector of the Western world. As one observer put it, “The Jew (and that means Israel) is now the bogeyman of the world. He represents the “establishment” and he is pigeon holed as the “colonialist,” the “oppressor”, the “occupier”, and the “exploiter” of the masses. And let’s not forget that to the new alliance of the Marxists and the radical Islamists, their mantra continues to be that the Jews are in possession of all of the world’s wealth and that they have masterminded some kind of sinister cabal.”
On that note, it was recently revealed by Fox News television talk show host, Mark Levin, that the Biden administration has created their own enigmatic plot to oust Netanyahu from office in favor of a regime change that would place a far-left candidate in the prime minister’s seat. Recently, the White House summoned Netanyahu rival Benny Gantz to meet with them and now Gantz has called for new elections Israel in a few short months.
More to the point, Levin referenced an eye opening article written by renowned columnist Caroline Glick which offers concrete details about Biden’s nefarious plan to find a new leader for Israel and certainly one who is more amenable to marching lock step with the US political agenda in the Middle East which would, of course, feature an independent, sovereign Palestinian state, that would most likely be funded by Iran and operated by one of its terrorist proxies.
In an April 1st article that appeared on the Jewish News Syndicate (JNS) web site titled: “The Biden administration’s war against the government of Israel,” Ms, Glick wrote that “Israel’s far left is reinstating the anti-government riots that occurred regularly through the first three-quarters of 2023.” She added that demonstrations are followed by riots in which a few dozen participate.
She added that, “riots feature bonfires along major traffic arteries, assaults on police and ultra-Orthodox Jews, threats to murder Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and storming police barricades protecting the premier’s home.”
Ms. Glick writes that there are a number of reasons that this is happening but unloads a bombshell that must be taken seriously. She said that, “perhaps the main one was revealed on March 17 by riot leader Ami Dror in a WhatsApp group chat with his colleagues. The communication, which Dror authenticated in an interview with Channel 14, was first reported on X by a poster who operates under the handle, Arbelu the Tuna Hunter.
Smoke rises following an Israeli bombardment in the Gaza strip as seen from southern Israel on May 13th. Credit: AP/Leo Correa
In that communication, Dror told his colleagues that the White House was asking them to reinstate the riots.
Based on what he referred to as a conversation with his contacts in the White House, Dror set out in granular detail the White House’s four-part plan to overthrow the government. The components involved actions on the ground in Gaza; the use of the U.N. Security Council; extortion of government ministers; and mass protests.
Dror called his report: “An important update from the American administration.”
He explained that his update followed an earlier text he sent out on March 6 on the same topic. “The American plan, as I published it on March 6 remains unchanged. The day after my publication, the Biden administration announced the establishment of an American port [in Gaza] that will seize from Israel the ability to rule the Strip—the port will be used initially to provide food, but the central purpose of the port is to rebuild Gaza.”
The purpose of the U.S. campaign for humanitarian aid, he explained, was twofold: undermining the control of the Israeli Defense Forces in Gaza and blackmailing government ministers.
In his words, “Government ministers are receiving messages from ‘American friends’ that they will be accused of war crimes. Under our radar, the U.S. and the E.U. have framed the hunger in northern Gaza as a war crime. This is an excuse for seizing control over the territory from Israel (parachuting food continuously, including by the German military, and building a port), but the words “potential indictment” for all members of the government of destruction is the clincher. How does it work? There are many members of the government that don’t want to lose their physical or economic freedom. The immediate targets are [billionaire Economy Minister Nir] Barkat (by freezing assets and turning the millionaire into a wanted man) [and] the Haredi parties … they and their communities worldwide have many properties. … Ministers in the government will become potential fugitives if they don’t enable the formation of a government without Kahanists. … Don’t be surprised if [Shas party leader Aryeh] Deri and [Agudat Israel head Minister Yitzhak] Goldknopf bring down the government soon. The Hareidi draft is just an excuse—their Hareidi cronies in America don’t want to get in trouble with Uncle Sam.”
So it would appear that the Biden administration, in a desperate attempt to resolve the war in Gaza lest they risk losing the upcoming presidential election actually are executing a plan to remove Netanyahu from office. To many this was obvious when Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer took the Senate floor and did the bidding of the administration by calling for new elections in Israel while he delivered a scathing address critiquing his erstwhile “friend” Benjamin Netanyahu.
The United Nations has recently made a significant adjustment to its previously published data regarding the number of women and children killed in Gaza, leading to serious questions about data accuracy and the processes used to verify such critical information. Credit: AP
Edited by: Fern Sidman
The United Nations has recently made a significant adjustment to its previously published data regarding the number of women and children killed in Gaza, leading to serious questions about data accuracy and the processes used to verify such critical information, according to a report published on Saturday in The Jerusalem Post. This change in reported fatalities raises concerns about the reliability of the data provided by local sources and highlights the challenges in obtaining accurate casualty figures in conflict zones.
On May 6, the UN reported that 34,735 people had been killed in Gaza, including over 9,500 women and over 14,500 children. These figures were based on data collected from the Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health and the Government Media Office in Gaza, as well as Israeli authorities, as was reported by the JPost. Just two days later, on May 8, the numbers were revised. The updated data showed a total of 34,844 fatalities, but the number of women and children reported killed was significantly lower, with 4,959 women and 7,797 children listed.
The initial and revised figures were drawn from local administrative sources within Gaza and corroborative data from Israeli sources. The UN itself included a disclaimer below the data: “The UN has so far not been able to produce independent, comprehensive, and verified casualty figures,” as per the information provided in the JPost report.
The revised figures indicate that as of April 30, a total of 24,686 deaths had been identified. Among these, 10,006 were men, and 1,924 were elderly, the JPost report explained. The distribution of fatalities, according to the latest data, shows that men constituted 40% of the identified deaths, children 32%, and women 20%.
The integrity of casualty figures reported by Gazan authorities has been a subject of intense scrutiny and controversy, culminating in significant international criticism and accusations of data manipulation. The recent UN revision of the number of women and children killed in Gaza, which saw a dramatic halving of the previously reported figures, further fuels the ongoing debate about the accuracy of the data provided by Hamas officials at the Gaza Health Ministry.
For several months, prominent statisticians and policy analysts have questioned the casualty figures released by the Hamas operated health ministry in Gaza. Criticism peaked with the release of a report by the Washington Institute for Near East Policy in January, which pointed out major discrepancies in the fatality reports attributed to the Hamas authorities in Gaza, the JPost report pointed out. The institute’s analysis suggested that these discrepancies were likely due to deliberate manipulation of data.
Professor Abraham Wyner’s research that was published in Tablet Magazine further elucidates the statistical improbabilities found in the Hamas supplied data. The JPost reported that according to Wyner, the pattern of reported deaths was unnaturally consistent, showing a regular increase by approximately 270 plus or minus 15 percent. Wyner argued that such regularity is statistically impossible in the context of warfare, where the intensity and thus the fatalities should be highly irregular, as was indicated in the JPost report. His analysis implies that the figures might have been altered to present a misleading narrative or to serve specific political or humanitarian agendas.
Critics argue that the numbers reported by the Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry are inflated or misrepresented, suggesting a strategic motive to garner international sympathy and support by portraying the conflict as disproportionately affecting civilians. The assertion that the majority of the casualties are women and children conflicts with other reports that suggest a significant portion of the deaths may be combatants from Hamas, an organization known for its military engagements with Israel.
The challenge in verifying these figures is compounded by the restricted access to Gaza, making independent verification nearly impossible. However, some statistical analysis of the casualty reports released by the Gaza Health Ministry from October 26 to November 10, 2023, offers potential insights. By analyzing the daily casualty figures, including specific counts of women and children, researchers can employ forensic statistical methods to detect anomalies or patterns that might indicate manipulation or exaggeration of data.
It is crucial to consider that while the international community relies heavily on these figures to understand the scope of the tragedy, the inherent bias and potential manipulation of data by a party directly involved in the conflict must be critically evaluated. The implications of these casualty figures are profound, impacting humanitarian aid, international relations, and policy decisions. As such, the integrity of this data is not just a matter of academic interest but of international ethical concern, highlighting the need for continued scrutiny and the pursuit of independent verification wherever possible.
The potential manipulation of casualty data has profound implications. Accurate and reliable data are crucial for:
Humanitarian Response: Misrepresentation of death tolls can lead to misallocation of international aid and resources, potentially diverting assistance away from other urgent needs.
Political Repercussions: Inflated or manipulated casualty figures can influence international opinion and policy decisions, possibly leading to escalations in conflict or affecting peace negotiations.
Public Perception: Accuracy in reporting affects public perception both locally and internationally. Inaccurate reporting can fuel propaganda and mistrust among the international community.
Verifying casualty figures in a conflict zone is fraught with challenges. The primary issues include:
Access Restrictions: Often, conflict zones are inaccessible to international observers, making independent verification difficult.
Reliability of Sources: In many cases, the only available sources are local authorities or organizations with potential biases.
Technological and Methodological Limitations: In the chaos of conflict, collecting precise data is often not feasible. Methods used may lack the necessary sophistication to ensure accuracy.
In recent research published in Fathom Journal, a detailed analysis by Dr. Tom Simpson, Prof. Lewi Stone, and Prof. Gregory Rose scrutinizes the categorization of fatality data by the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, according to a report that appeared on Monday on The Times of Israel web site.
Dr. Simpson, an economist with a background from the University of Western Australia, together with Prof. Stone, a biomathematician associated with Tel Aviv University and RMIT University, and Prof. Rose, an international law expert at the University of Wollongong, have brought their diverse expertise to bear on this issue. The TOI reported that their analysis focuses on the ministry’s division of casualty data into “identified” deaths, those confirmed in hospitals, and “unregistered” deaths, which are based on reports from what the ministry calls “reliable media sources.”
This differentiation is critical because it sheds light on the discrepancies in the reported data. The researchers point out that the proportion of women and children in the recorded deaths is vastly different between these two categories, the TOI report said. For instance, from October 7 to December 31, the Gaza Health Ministry reported 21,978 deaths, with 15,349 being hospital-registered and 6,629 unregistered. According to the ministry, 60% of the hospital-registered fatalities were women and children. To claim that 70% of all deaths were women and children, an improbable 92% of the unregistered deaths would need to be women and children—a statistic the researchers argue is “statistically absurd.”
This analysis raises substantial concerns about the reliability of the unregistered data and suggests potential inflation or misrepresentation of the figures reported through media sources. Indicated in the TOI report is that this issue is compounded by the lack of clarity from the ministry on how these categories were determined and what sources were deemed reliable.
Furthermore, as noted by David Adesnik from the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, the Gaza Health Ministry later adjusted its categorization to distinguish between cases with “complete data” and those with only “incomplete data,” affecting some 11,300 of the reported 33,000 fatalities at the time, according to the information provided in the TOI report.
In addition to the research published in the Fathom Journal, HonestReporting.com indicated that in his analysis for the Washington Institute, Gabriel Epstein observed an identical trend, with the number of total men killed in northern Gaza decreasing by 22 over five days in March 2024.
Epstein’s analysis points to a notable decrease in male casualties over a specific period in March 2024, which he correlates with a simultaneous increase in female casualties as noted by Wyner in October 2023. This pattern suggests potential manipulation of the data.
Wyner’s assertion that the statistical anomalies indicate a process “unconnected or loosely connected to reality” used in reporting these numbers highlights a critical issue. Such inconsistencies could indeed suggest that the figures are being manipulated. This manipulation could serve various purposes, including influencing public perception and international response.
The potential reasons behind the manipulation of these figures are complex. One plausible explanation is that male fighters, often away from civilian areas, might be underreported by Hamas. This underreporting could stem from several factors, including the strategic considerations of Hamas to not disclose actual militant casualties, possibly due to fears of retaliation or to maintain operational secrecy.
Furthermore, the manipulation of casualty figures could also be aimed at drawing international scrutiny towards Israel’s military actions, portraying them in a negative light to pressure Israel to reduce or cease its military operations. This strategy appears to be part of broader efforts by Hamas to sway public opinion and gain international sympathy by presenting an image of disproportionate aggression against Palestinians.
Today, Israel marked its 76th Independence Day. Usually a day filled with parades and fireworks, the Israeli people will instead buckle down to the grim business of being at war.
Too much of the population is either deployed in the field or may soon be, displaced from their homes near the Gaza border or aware that at any moment rocket alerts could sound for incoming missiles from Gaza, Lebanon, Yemen or Iran.
This year, Yom HaZikaron, Memorial Day annually observed for the fallen, will overshadow Yom Ha’atzmaut or Independence Day.
Much like America’s Greatest Generation, the men and women who scrappily fought for Israel’s independence using crude weapons and WWII surplus gear are passing out of history.
Few now remember a time when Israel did not exist and some have come to take it for granted. While Israeli Air Force jets won’t be doing flyovers for the 76th, the leftist protesters, some backed by foreign interests, will still continue their rallies and riots that only serve to aid Hamas.
And yet Israel did declare a new kind of independence before its latest Yom Ha’atzmaut.
After nearly half a year of pressure campaigns to end the war, the Biden administration followed through by announcing an embargo on offensive weapons to Israel. It’s not the first time.
In 1947, the Truman administration had imposed an arms embargo on Israel. Truman, like the current Democrat in the White House, had played a familiar double game, offering diplomatic recognition to Israel and enthusiastic speeches to Jewish voters, even while privately promising Muslims the opposite and making sure that Israel would not have the weapons to defend itself.
When the Republican Party platform declared that it took “pride in the fact that the Republican Party was the first to call for the establishment of a free and independent Jewish Commonwealth” and condemned the “vacillation of the Democrat Administration”, Truman shot back angrily claiming that he supported the Democratic platform and its call for “the revision of the arms embargo to accord to the State of Israel the right of self-defense.” This was a lie.
Truman had supported the arms embargo from the beginning. Three months before the Democrat platform had been adopted, the administration had backed a UN resolution that included an arms embargo.
Truman was saying one thing and doing another. Like Biden, Truman had been following political considerations.
That was why diplomats had been warned to stay away from making any anti-Israel moves at the United Nations before Election Day.
Even under the arms embargo, Israel survived an invasion by five Muslim nations.
“You just don’t understand. Forty million Arabs are going to push four hundred thousand Jews into the sea. And that’s all there is to it,” Secretary of Defense James Forrestal had predicted.
Three generations later, Israel is still here.
Israel’s 76th Independence Day has come around again. Once again the Jewish State is fighting for its survival against Islamic genocidal violence and a corrupt political class in Washington D.C.
It’s relearning the old lesson that presidents say one thing for public consumption and do another. And that independence is not just aspirational, it’s a simple matter of survival.
Biden’s betrayal of Israel was inevitable. The blindness of Israeli leaders to that eventuality, their conviction that if they followed every single guideline from the White House, they would have the support they needed to finish off Hamas in Gaza was a delusional fantasy.
Israel’s best bet lay in quickly doing what it needed to do. Everything the Biden administration wanted only slowed down the war effort and doomed the very support that Israel had been counting on.
A day after delivering a speech at the Holocaust Museum about his support for Israel, Biden told CNN that the support was gone.
But Truman had pulled a similar trick with a rally at Madison Square Garden when he told New York’s Jewish voters that he was responsible for setting up Israel “as a free and independent political state” even while it was fighting for its survival.
The Truman administration continued backing worthless UN truces (the predecessors of today’s equally duplicitous ceasefires) which allowed the Islamic terrorists of the Muslim Brotherhood (the parent organization of Hamas) to continue attacking Jewish towns and massacring Jews.
While Truman was telling one thing to Jewish voters in New York City ahead of Election Day, Israel was evacuating children as part of ‘Operation Baby’ from front line communities under siege by terrorists during the latest ‘truce’. In Kibbutz Manara, the children had to be evacuated from the mountaintop in vegetable crates in a scene later recreated in the movie ‘Exodus’.
Manara had to be evacuated again after the Hamas attacks of Oct 7 and it’s estimated that half the homes in the community have been destroyed after Hezbollah Islamic terrorists have shot a rocket every day at the village. The people living there can’t go home. But unlike the Hamas supporters crying in Gaza, you won’t see their faces on the evening news.
After the 1948 election, not only weren’t there any arms sales, but the White House was upset that Israel had begun winning. The Egyptians had not only failed to push the Jews into the sea, but the Jews were now pushing them back into the Sinai.
A month after the election, in which 75% of Jews had voted for him, Truman demanded that Israel immediately withdraw or his administration would “re-examine” its mostly non-existent relations.
Truman, who would later claim credit for creating Israel, had done little more than provide de facto (not de jure) recognition to Israel, while still maintaining the arms embargo.
Truman’s move allowed Egypt to control Gaza and turn it over to the Muslim Brotherhood for regular terror raids on Israel. And that led directly to the rise of Hamas and the current war.
It’s also why Truman ought to get more credit for creating Hamas than for creating Israel.
Truman did not actually begin selling weapons to Israel until 1950, well after it had survived the war, and only in order to also be able to sell weapons to its Arab Muslim enemies as part of an agreement with the UK to “maintain a rough balance of power between Israel and the Arab states.“
American Jews have long lived with the comforting “Eddie Jacobson” myth that Truman had intervened on behalf of Israel because of a plea from his longtime friend and business partner.
The truth is that the Truman administration had opposed statehood, until Israel had gone ahead and declared it, had opposed any Israeli presence in Jerusalem, and blocked the pathway to victory, until Israel had gone ahead and won not because of Truman, but despite him.
Since then history has repeated itself again and again. And too many Israelis, who used to know better, bought into the silly myth that their country existed because Truman “liked” them.
Millions of Jews were murdered in Europe despite all the politicians who claimed to like them, but then did nothing for them. Hundreds of thousands of Jews in Israel held off armies and built a state, not because politicians liked them, but because they fought for their independence.
The Oslo Accords, made so that Israel would be liked, brought it to the brink of destruction. If Israel is going to undo that and the entire ‘palestinian’ colonial project, it has a limited time in which to act. Even after Oct 7, it was too consumed with being liked to do what had to be done.
Like America, Israel wants to be liked after Islamic terror attacks, when what it needs is to win.
On the 76th anniversary of its independence, Israel has once again been forced to declare its independence from a White House Democrat who publicly promised support while privately stabbing it in the back. Going into Rafah and finishing off Hamas will be a more meaningful celebration of Yom Ha’atzmaut or Independence Day than any flag-waving parades.
Independence is not in the fireworks you shoot off, it’s in taking independent action.
Contrary to popular myth, foreign aid to Israel isn’t proof that Jerusalem controls D.C. but that D.C. controls Jerusalem. What’s often misleadingly described as aid isn’t a big check, it’s an entanglement with the U.S. defense industry that prevents Israel from fighting an extended war without permission.
Since the War of Independence and the 1956 Suez Canal War, the priority has been to make sure that Israel won’t be able to unilaterally pursue a military campaign. Once denied weapons, Israel has been given them in exchange for being put on a leash out of D.C.
Oct 7 has become the ultimate test of Israel’s independence. And this Memorial Day and Independence Day will determine whether a nation of nearly 10 million is truly free to do more than mourn its dead, but once again take independent action to protect its living future.
Lighting the Rescuers’ Torch during the Israeli Independence Day ceremony, May 13, 2024 (GPO/YouTube)
Protesters government held an alternative, torch-extinguishing ceremony in Binyamina.
By: Batya Jerenberg–World Israel News
The official ceremony marking Israel’s 76th birthday was different than any previous Independence Day Monday night, being pre-taped and displayed to no live audience, with content that was more moving than celebratory.
As the transition from Israel’s Remembrance Day, twelve memorial torches were first shown being lit at twelve sites that Hamas terrorists overran on October 7 during their invasion in which they massacred 1,200 people and abducted 253 back to the Gaza Strip.
In his brief speech, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu referred to the 132 remaining captives, promising to bring them all home, even the dead.
Mentioning Israel’s “secret weapon” – its “spirit of the ages,” that allowed the Jewish nation to defeat its enemies in 1948 – he reiterated his vow to defeat Hamas and praised the IDF soldiers who “fell in heroic battles” in the ongoing war.
Instead of honoring individuals for their contributions to the Jewish state in various fields, 44 people lit six torches as representatives of groups that have led the way in defending the country over the last seven months.
There were beacons honoring the Security Services, Rescue Forces, Civilian Rescuers, Communities’ Emergency Response Teams, Israel (online) Advocates, and Air Defense.
A seventh beacon was reserved for Diaspora Jewry, who rushed to help their brethren in Israel as soon as the war began. While the leading Jewish organizations raised hundreds of millions of dollars, dozens of grassroots initiatives began to bring in tons of items that IDF soldiers needed because Israel had never called up over 300,000 reservists at the same time before.
The final beacon was that of hope. Iris Haim raised it together with three musicians and the oldest IDF reservist, Ezra Yachin, 95, a member of the Lechi underground who fought the British in pre-state Palestine and has gone around the country’s bases during the war to instill his still-indomitable spirit in the soldiers of today.
Haim’s son Yotam, kidnapped on October 7, managed to escape his Hamas captors in December along with two other Israelis but all three were accidentally killed by IDF troops who feared they were terrorists in disguise. Haim inspired the country with her immediate, public message of love and understanding for those soldiers, and her call for national harmony.
She raised the torch and said, “In honor of my Yotam, in honor of the nation’s spirit that will never be broken, the ability to believe and to see the good in Israeli society. In honor of unity.”
In contrast to the state ceremony, others who oppose the government and blame it instead of Hamas for the continued captivity of the hostages, carried out a torch-extinguishing ceremony in an amphitheater in Binyamina.
Members of some hostages’ and bereaved families, survivors of the Hamas slaughter, evacuees and others put out such beacons as the “Security Breach” torch, the “Beacon of the Desolation of the Surrounding Settlements,” and “Abandonment of the Kidnapped.”
Some of the others that were extinguished were called beacons of “Arrogance,” of “Loss of Personal Security for Women,” of “Neglecting Mental Health,” and “Abandonment of the Citizens to their Fate.”
There was also one for the “Displaced Persons,” 80,000 residents who were told to leave their homes both in the south and north to keep them safe from both the aerial threat from Hamas and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The speakers expressed their bitterness and pain over the horrific events of October 7 and harshly criticized the government’s conduct of the war and “abdication of responsibility” in not taking proper care of the needs of all those affected by it, whether directly or indirectly.
At the end, Iris Zangauker, the mother of 24-year-old hostage Matan from Kibbutz Nir Oz lit the Beacon of Hope.
While saying that “we have a nation but the country has been hijacked” and has “no leaders,” she stated that the people “who understand that what is most important is human life” will instead lead the way and not rest until all the hostages are returned.
“I light this beacon of mutual responsibility and hope for the rescue of the kidnapped [which] is the rescue of the country. Now!” she exclaimed.
Thousands watched the ceremony broadcast in HaBima Square in Tel Aviv, and after it ended they marched to the site where David Ben Gurion declared Israel’s independence, chanting, “It’s not independence without the hostages.”
“These are difficult times, but we have to hold our heads up high,” says Ezequiel Pachter, who immigrated to Israel from Argentina in 2022 with the aim of joining the IDF.
By: Josh Hasten
On Yom Ha’atzmaut (Independence Day), Israelis celebrate the bravery and heroism of those who fought in the 1948 War of Independence to ensure the survival of the fledgling Jewish state.
In the wake of Hamas’s brutal Oct. 7 invasion of southern Israel, the country now has many more heroes to celebrate. Included in that group are immigrant “lone soldiers” (soldiers without family in Israel) who were forced to fight for the country’s survival very nearly “fresh off the boat,” just as their predecessors did 76 years ago.
Some of these soldiers immigrated from countries including Argentina with the assistance of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ), an organization committed to helping Jews escape poverty and anti-Semitism and assist in their return to their biblical homeland.
Ezequiel Pachter, 22, immigrated from Buenos Aires, Argentina in 2022, and lives in Netanya. In Argentina, he was very active as a freestyle wrestler at the local Maccabi sports center and was also involved in serving as a security guard to protect the Jewish community.
He told JNS he decided to move to Israel “because I wanted something more important in my life,” namely to join the Israel Defense Forces. Upon arrival, Pachter enlisted and is now a commander in the IDF’s Search and Rescue unit. On Oct. 7, he was at home in Netanya when he got the call to head into battle against Hamas at the IDF’s Zikim base, just north of Gaza..
Pachter and his fellow soldiers succeeded in beating back the terrorists, but that “was the beginning of a very difficult and intense month of fighting,” in which he lost several friends.
“It’s tough to be a fighter, there’s a lot of responsibility but this is what I chose.” The key, he said, is “don’t think, just do,” as your training and experience take over. “The first time you stop to think, that’s when you can get hurt,” he said.
In about a month and a half, Patcher is set to become a commander leading a basic training course for new recruits. He said that his parents back in Argentina are very supportive and proud of him. His girlfriend, who is also a lone soldier from Argentina, has started her official immigration process.
Concerning the upcoming holiday, said Patcher, “These are difficult times, but we have to hold our heads up high. It will be challenging to celebrate Yom Ha’atzmaut this year, but we have to continue the fight and maintain our determination until there is peace.”
Uriel Ruetter, 25, immigrated as a lone soldier from Buenos Aires in 2022, settling in Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak along the border with Gaza. Ruetter, who has a degree in international relations from Argentina, serves in the Paratroopers Brigade.
On Oct. 7, Reutter was on leave at a friend’s house in Tel Aviv when Hamas terrorists attacked his community. He got a message from his commander telling him to head to base and pick up his equipment, as his unit was being sent into Sderot to fight the terrorists that had infiltrated that town.
“We were in the last phases of training when the war started,” he told JNS. “But once we entered Sderot, we had to make the switch from trainees to fighters.”
Ruetter’s commander, Itay-Eliahu Marchiano, was the first of the unit to fall that day, during the first hours of fighting. “He was the one who pushed us, but when he fell, we were forced to make that push instead of him, and we had to gain strength from him,” he said.
After the battle for Sderot, Ruetter and his unit were sent to the area of Kibbutz Re’im, where they witnessed the carnage Hamas had left at the Nova Music Festival. He recalls being shocked by the destruction. His unit was then deployed to Gaza for more than 30 days to continue the fight against Hamas. Ruetter said his parents back in Argentina are worried about him but very proud.
He is scheduled to complete his army service, after which he plans to pursue a career in his chosen field.
Ruetter reflected on this week’s Yom Hashoah—Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Remembrance Day—saying, “Whether the Holocaust or Oct. 7, and witnessing what’s going on here in Israel, and the anti-Semitism all over the world, we must explore what can take away from it. We must push forward with strength and not weakness. That’s the only way.”
With regard to Independence Day, Ruetter said, “I feel I made the right decision to come to Israel. A few years ago, I had to explain and justify why I moved here. Now, people understand the dangers of living as a Jew abroad. [Since Oct. 7] I feel even more satisfied with my decision.”
Roman Karlin, 26, immigrated to Israel in 2019 from Rosario, also in Argentina. Karlin told JNS he was inspired to move to Israel after attending a year-long youth study program in Israel at the age of 18.
“I realized I wanted to live here and also to serve in the army. I felt I wanted to contribute to the country as much as I could, and that I wanted to give back some of what the country has given me,” he told JNS.
Upon arrival, he spent six months learning Hebrew in Jerusalem, before joining an elite Paratrooper Brigade unit in 2020 as a lone soldier.
He completed his army service at the end of 2022 but was called in for his first reserve duty stint just months later following the Oct. 7 massacre. Karlin spent 55 days in Gaza fighting against Hamas in Beit Hanoun, Jabalia and Gaza City, which he said was extremely difficult.
“It was hard, but I knew my mission was to protect Israel. I knew this was necessary to guarantee Israel’s security and to fight terror. That is why I made aliyah, to protect the place that I love,” he said, adding, “This is not a war we chose, but it is one we are forced to fight.”
In the midst of the war, on Dec. 9, while on leave, Roman decided to propose to his girlfriend Daniela, an immigrant from Bahía Blanca, Argentina. The couple has not set a date.
In January, Karlin was discharged from reserve duty (“for now,” he said), and returned to his job as a store manager in Tel Aviv.
Karlin feels Israel’s top priority must be to secure the release of the hostages still being held by Hamas in Gaza.
“The most important thing is to bring back the hostages ASAP. The Rafah operation will speed things up,” he said, referring to Gaza’s southernmost city, Hamas’s last stronghold in the Strip. “There is still work to do [fighting against terrorists] in the south of the country and in the north. But we must bring back the hostages. I’m always hoping for the best,” he said.
All three new immigrants expressed gratitude to the IFCJ for providing them with the support they needed from the minute they started the aliyah process, through arrival and integration into society and throughout their army service.
IFCJ President Yael Eckstein told JNS, “Throughout Israel’s modern history, our nation’s miraculous growth can be credited in large part to the successful ingathering of the Jewish people from all corners of the world, something the IFCJ is very proud and honored to be a part of.”
She added that “today, as our country faces one of its darkest and most challenging hours, the spirit of selfless love for Israel being put forth by these soldiers who are serving their new homeland, is something that is deeply inspiring and proves that whatever difficulties we face, the bond between our people and our land remains as strong as ever.”
The recent surge of campus protests, where masks have obscured the identities of those pro-Hamas, pro-terror protesters who spout anti-Semitic rhetoric, calls attention to the urgent need for such legislative measures. Photo Credit: AP
In the spirited debate surrounding the right to protest and the manner in which it is conducted, recent directives by Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost serve as a poignant reminder of the delicate balance between freedom of expression and public safety. The invocation of Ohio’s 1953 anti-masking law, originally crafted to combat the clandestine terrors wrought by the Ku Klux Klan, underscores a broader, often overlooked, principle: the safety of the community and the transparency of those within it are paramount.
The law, which prohibits the uniting of individuals committing misdemeanors while disguised, including the wearing of masks, was a direct response to a dark chapter in our nation’s history where masks served as shields for perpetrators of racial terror and hatred. This historical context is not merely an anecdotal backdrop but the foundation upon which the law rests, ensuring that such acts of masked intimidation are never normalized or allowed to fester unchecked in our society.
Attorney General Yost’s reminder to university presidents is timely and critical. It comes at a moment when the lines between peaceful protest and disruptive, sometimes dangerous, activism begin to blur. Protesting—indeed, a fundamental right and often a catalyst for necessary societal shifts—must not be a veil for illegal acts. The clarity provided by unmasked protest ensures accountability on all sides: protesters remain free to express their views openly, and law enforcement can appropriately differentiate peaceful demonstrators from potential agitators.
This law is not an anachronism but a bulwark against the resurgence of masked intimidation, irrespective of the cause it purports to support. The precedent set by the Georgia Supreme Court in upholding a similar statute in 1990 exemplifies this stance—not as an infringement on free speech but as a reinforcement of public safety and a counter to anonymous terrorism. The timeless words of the Rev. C.T. Vivian resonate with profound relevance today, highlighting how the court’s decision safeguarded Georgians from the “anonymous terrorism motivated by the bigotry of the Ku Klux Klan.” This historical context is essential in understanding why such laws are not relics of a bygone era but necessary instruments in our ongoing battle against hate-fueled violence. Masks, which have historically enabled perpetrators of hate crimes to evade accountability, must not be allowed to serve the same purpose in today’s protests.
This law, championed as a bulwark against hate, has stood the test of time, proving its worth as not only a legal measure but also a moral stance against the anonymity that fuels acts of terror and discrimination.
Critics may argue that such laws are a hindrance to the modern protester’s toolkit, particularly under circumstances where anonymity could protect demonstrators from potential retaliation. However, this perspective misses the crucial point: transparency in protest not only demarcates the boundary of lawful demonstration but also protects the integrity of the cause itself. It assures the public that protesters are willing to stand openly for their convictions, fostering a more honest and impactful dialogue.
The recent surge of campus protests, where masks have obscured the identities of those pro-Hamas, pro-terror protesters who spout anti-Semitic rhetoric, calls attention to the urgent need for such legislative measures. These masks do not merely hide identities; they embolden actions that, if conducted openly, might otherwise be self-censored. The disturbing trend of masked pro-Hamas protesters not only intimidates those on the receiving end of their vitriol but also erodes the integrity of the protest itself.
When one chooses to hide their face, they cast a shadow over their cause, miring it in suspicion and fear rather than framing it as a legitimate expression of dissent. The reality, however, is that these anti-Israel protesters are not orchestrated to express dissent but these protests are used as a platform to promulgate mendacious accusations against Israel and to extol a spurious narrative about the Jewish state in order to gain the world’s sympathy and support.
Ohio’s reaffirmation of this law is a necessary stance in an era where faceless actions increasingly cloud public perception and discourse. The First Amendment should indeed serve as a shield, protecting individuals against government overreach, not as a sword wielded to obscure accountability. By upholding this law, Ohio reinforces a commitment to civil discourse conducted in the open, free from the shadows of anonymity that have historically been used to foster fear rather than to facilitate freedom.
Thus, as campus protesters wave their flags—whether they be Palestinian or otherwise—they should do so unmasked, lest it be concluded that their objective is indeed intimidation, very much like that of the Ku Klux Klan. But then again, these are pro-Hamas demonstrators who laud terrorism, especially when the target are Jews and Israelis as was illustrated in the brutal massacre that the Iranian proxy group Hamas conducted on October 7th when 1200 Israelis were sadistically slaughtered. Just like the terrorists they claim to defend, these protesters also possess the predilection to hide behind masks to conceal the evil that lurks within them.
In this, Ohio leads not only in safeguarding public safety but in fortifying the very principles of transparency and accountability that form the bedrock of effective, democratic protest.
Furthermore, the presence of masks on campuses has created a logistical nightmare for university administrations. The inability to distinguish between genuine students and external agitators complicates efforts to maintain a safe and inclusive educational environment. It is one thing to protest; it is quite another to do so in a manner that allows for potential chaos instigated by those who do not belong to the campus community.
Attorney General Dave Yost’s exhortation for protesters to “own their advocacy” is not just a call for accountability but a reminder of the courage true activism requires.
Indeed, masks can dangerously embolden individuals, creating a false sense of impunity that can lead to criminal behaviors and violent acts under the guise of advocacy. By enforcing Ohio’s anti-masking law, Yost is not curtailing freedom of expression but reinforcing the principle that true courage in advocacy comes from standing openly for one’s beliefs.
In essence, the enforcement of anti-masking laws like those in Georgia and Ohio should be seen not as a restriction on civil liberties but as a reinforcement of them. It ensures that all individuals are held to the same standard of accountability, crucial in a society that values justice and equality. Let us then heed the wisdom of the past and the clarity of the present to forge a future where protests are powerful not because they are masked, but because they are brave. Kudos indeed to Mr. Yost for his steadfast commitment to these principles, serving as a reminder that in the fight for justice, transparency is not just beneficial; it is essential.
Biden Says U.S. Will Not Supply Israel With Weapons
Dear Editor:
When in the 5,000 years of recorded history has there ever been a more compassionate army than the IDF (Israeli Defense Forces)?
Hamas started a war with Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. They violated the 1949 Geneva Conventions by obliterating the lines between combatants and civilians. The Convention explicitly forbids rape or other forms of sexual violence, which were proudly documented by Hamas and celebrated throughout radical Islam’s sphere of influence.
By contrast, no other state has ever recognized the right of civilians to be protected from the dangers of war and to receive the help they need. Only Israel advises civilians to vacate areas where there will be fighting. Hamas does its best to force civilians to remain, to use them as human shields and to increase the death count for propaganda purposes.
Islamists are laser-focused in a manner the West will never be. For almost a hundred years the Muslim Brotherhood has worked to replace us with a Caliphate. Their vision is of the collective, the Ummah, a community of believers bound together to worship Allah and advance the cause of Islam.
Western societies are based on the individual. We believe in “Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” or “Peace, order and good government”. Our governments serve the people who elect them. In dictatorships, the people acquiesce to their masters. Islam means submission.
So, why do we have tent encampment polluting some of our most prestigious campuses? While they are being well-financed and organized by forces attempting to bring us down, part of the problem is of our own making.
We sold out to radical Islam’s oil dollars. We welcomed Saudi and Qatari billions into academia. We allowed them to buy chairs of learning. They started with Middle Eastern studies and then migrated to the social sciences and beyond. They filled the chairs with compliant professors. They sponsored thousands of students on visas to populate our classrooms and create a core Islamic belief system that goes unchallenged by pliable immature Western minds.
In the tent parks, the Great Satan is the villain because it won’t crush the Small Satan. Israel is denied the right of self-defense. Hamas is the hero for gang-raping, mutilating and murdering Jewish women, girls and babies. The Palestinians, created in 1964 by the Soviet KGB, are the victims and the rationale for anti-Semitism. Harassing students and interfering with the functioning of the university are merely collateral damage.
Will we ever take appropriate action to reverse the damage to our democracy? Can we reclaim our hallowed halls of learning? It is not likely while Biden is working to keep Hamas in power.
Sincerely Len Bennett, Author of ‘Unfinished Work’ Deerfield Beach, Florida
Stop Playing by Everybody Else’s Rules
Dear Editor:
So now Hamas wants to trade the bodies of dead Jews for the release of live Palestinian terrorists who are in Israeli prisons. Well, here’s an idea: maybe Israel should give them the bodies of dead Palestinian terrorists in exchange for dead Jews. Why do Israel and the Jewish people always have to play by everybody else’s rules? Why do we always have to accept their term and their demands?
Sincerely, George Stern Boro Park
Released Terrorists Will Murder Again
Dear Editor:
I’m horrified by the thought that Israel is going to release hundreds, or even thousands of terrorists in exchange for a handful of hostages, some of whom will be dead. We know from past experience that many of the released terrorists will go out and murder more Jews. So releasing them will lead directly to the deaths others. How can the lives of the Israeli public be sacrificed in this way?
Sincerely, Ned Kahn Flatbush
National Waitress Day
Dear Editor:
Tuesday, May 21st is National Waitress Day. Your neighborhood restaurant waitress is on her feet all day long working long hours. She has to take and deliver meal orders, follow up to make sure your meal is up to expectations, refill your coffee, tea or water glass, box any leftovers you want to take home and prepare the check — all with a smile and friendly disposition.
On this day, why not show your appreciation and honor your favorite waitress? Leave a 25 percent tip against the total bill including taxes. Remember that they usually have to share the tips with the bus boys. Drop off some flowers, a box of candy or some cookies as well.
Sincerely, Larry Penner
Schumer is a Fraud
Dear Editor:
Your May 9 article about Senator Schumer supporting Biden’s cut-off of weapons to Israel shows what a fraud he is. When Schumer recently made that speech calling for the ouster of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, he pretended that he wasn’t turning against all of Israel, “only against Netanyahu.” Well, now the mask is off. Biden isn’t cutting off weapons just to Netanyahu—he is stopping them from going to Israel, and Schumer is supporting it. This disgraceful senator has truly abandoned Israel.
Sincerely, David Steinberg Brooklyn
The Marxist Revolution Has Begun
Dear Editor:
I have been scrupulously monitoring your coverage of the pro-Hamas demonstrations at college campuses across the United States and the entire world, for that matter. Allow me to say that reporters have been doing an outstanding job in terms of capturing the dangerous nature of this frightening phenomenon. So, thank you Fern Sidman, Jared Evan and the other cracker jack writers at your fine publication for producing such detailed and exceptionally informative articles.
Having said this, I think that anyone who has eyes to see and ears that hear knows that we are witnessing a Marxist revolution, not only on our campuses but it has permeated our media and our lives. Let’s remember that historically, such revolutions were never built by the “numb and the dumb” as Rabbi Meir Kahane, of blessed memory would always say. So, there is no reason to be surprised that the ivy league universities are the ones leading the way on this pernicious political trajectory.
In my opinion, the Jew is the canary in the coal mine. It always begins with the Jew but never ends there. The ultimate goal of this campus protest movement is to not only eradicate Israel but to bring down the United States. Yes, folks, the future does not bode well for us unless we speak out and offer some concrete pushback.
The campuses of several American and European universities — including, among other places, Yale, Harvard, Princeton, Columbia and New York University — became sites of acts of pure anti-Israeli and anti-Semitic violence, under the guise of “free speech.” Credit: AP
By: Guy Millière
The genocidal anti-Semitic attack on October 7, 2023 by the Islamic terrorists of Hamas at first aroused horror throughout the Western world. It took only a few hours, however for the horror to fade — long before Israel had even begun to respond. Demonstrations against Israel, and in support of the terrorist group, Hamas — sometimes “cleaned up” to be labeled “pro-Palestinian” — exploded just hours later on October 8, before hundreds of charred bodies had been removed from their homes. These well-planned and well-funded professional demonstrations, complete with instant Palestinian flags and, later, instant identical tents — rapidly metastasized throughout North America and Europe.
The slogan, “From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be free” — calls for the total destruction of Israel, which, by coincidence, happens to be located between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea – and “Death to America” were chanted by tens of thousands of self-described “progressives,” Muslims and their followers. The campuses of several American and European universities — including, among other places, Yale, Harvard, Princeton, Columbia and New York University — became sites of acts of pure anti-Israeli and anti-Semitic violence, under the guise of “free speech.” If the demonstrations had been against gays or Blacks, does anyone think that “free speech,” or violence masquerading as “free speech, would have lasted five minutes? Whatever happened to all those demonstrations against China’s genocide of the Uyghurs, or crushing Hong Kong; or Russia’s scorched-earth war in Ukraine; or Iran’s rape, torture and execution of women, children and, now, rappers, or North Korea’s “murder, enslavement, torture, [and] enforced disappearances”?
“Stop Calling Them ‘Pro-Palestine’ Rallies,'” wrote the Rochester Institute of Technology’s A.J. Caschetta. In blunt Australia, euphemisms were dispensed with altogether in favor of “Gas the Jews” and “F—-k the Jews.”
The whitewash of the terrorist group Hamas had begun. European politicians in France and Belgium, supporting Hamas, call it a “resistance movement.”
As Israel’s military response in the Gaza Strip progressed — meticulously crafted to avoid harming Palestinian civilians — many European leaders turned on Israel. They falsely accused it of acting “disproportionately” while Hamas’s widespread use of its own civilians as human shields was almost totally ignored. As Hamas also meticulously plans, the gullible international community accuses Israel of killing innocent civilians, not the Palestinian officials in Gaza who intentionally place them in harm’s way, even shooting at them to keep them from fleeing to safety in the south as the Israelis were urging them to do.
As early as March 19, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, like so many European political leaders, falsely accused Israel, not Hamas, of “causing a famine” in Gaza. He even added that “100 percent of the population in Gaza is at severe levels of acute food insecurity”. Credit: AP
Also ignored is that Hamas officials seize virtually all of the free humanitarian aid, then give it to their terrorists or sell it to civilians on the black market for extortionate prices.
Although there is “‘no food shortage’ in Gaza,” several of Israel’s most steadfastly hostile critics, such as EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell, nevertheless falsely accuse Israel of causing a “famine” in Gaza.
As early as March 19, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, like so many European political leaders, falsely accused Israel, not Hamas, of “causing a famine” in Gaza. He even added that “100 percent of the population in Gaza is at severe levels of acute food insecurity”. Israel is now forced to allow hundreds of trucks into Gaza that Israeli soldiers escort. Gaza, in fact, reportedly receives far more food than the population of Gaza needs. Gee, what could be happening to it?
Soon, all the mainstream European media stopped talking about the horrors of Hamas and instead turned their attention to the suffering Palestinians of Gaza – without noting that the people responsible for their fate and the death count are Hamas. Hamas even freely admits that its strategy is to use human shields. As far as Hamas is concerned, the higher the Palestinian death-count, the better.
The United States has been Israel’s main ally for decades, discounting occasional fluctuations here and there. Historically, American leaders’ support for Israel has been unwavering – until now. In February, America’s Democrat politicians voted to block aid to Israel. As the Israeli author and historian Gadi Taub noted last week:
“The U.S. is holding Israel on a leash by rationing the American-made ammunition on which the war effort depends; it has forced us to supply our enemies with ‘humanitarian aid’ which Hamas controls and which sustains its ability to fight; the U.S. is building a port to subvert our control of the flow of goods into Gaza; it refrained from vetoing an anti-Israel decision at the U.N. Security Council at the end of March; it leaked its intention to recognize a Palestinian state unilaterally; it allowed Iran to attack us directly with a barrage of over 300 rockets and drones without paying any price whatsoever; and then told us that Israel’s successful defense against that strike (which was mostly stopped by a combination of superior Israeli tech and faulty Iranian missiles that crashed all over the Middle East, and to some extent by U.S. interceptors) should be considered “victory”; it consistently protects Hezbollah from a full-fledged Israeli attack; it did all it can to prevent the ground invasion of Rafah, which is necessary for winning the war; it is trying to stop the war with a hostage deal that would ensure Hamas’ survival.
“The U.S. is not protecting Israel from the kangaroo courts in The Hague which now threaten to issue arrest warrants against Netanyahu and others. Instead, it is goosing those warrants, in part by itself threatening to impose sanctions on a unit of the IDF, thus subverting the chain of command and pressuring IDF units to comply with American demands rather than with orders from their superiors. ”
By now, most mainstream American media are as negative towards Israel as most mainstream European media.
In the days that followed October 7, the Biden administration generously provided arms and ammunition to Israel, as well as positioning several warships in the area, presumably to keep the conflict from spreading. Yet even then, pressure was put on Israel’s government. US President Joe Biden bizarrely asked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “not to be consumed by rage”. Soon, as the Israeli military countered the terrorist threat in Gaza, US pressure on Israel was accompanied by harsh –and curiously public — criticism.
On January 9, despite unprecedented Israeli precautions to avoid harming civilians, Blinken announced, “the daily toll of war on civilians in Gaza is far too high”, and accused the Israeli Defense Forces of “indiscriminate bombing” — an accusation, as Blinken must have known, that could not have been less accurate.
Senator Chuck Schumer, after declaring himself a friend and defender of Israel, suggested overthrowing Israel’s democratically elected prime minister, and — as if Israel, and not America, were within his jurisdiction — called for new elections. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
John Spencer, chair of urban warfare studies at the Modern War Institute (MWI) at West Point, wrote:
“The Israel Defense Forces conducted an operation at al-Shifa hospital in the Gaza Strip to root out Hamas terrorists recently, once again taking unique precautions as it entered the facility to protect the innocent; Israeli media reported that doctors accompanied the forces to help Palestinian patients if needed. They were also reported to be carrying food, water and medical supplies for the civilians inside
“None of this meant anything to Israel’s critics, of course, who immediately pounced. The critics, as usual, didn’t call out Hamas for using protected facilities like hospitals for its military activity. Nor did they mention the efforts of the IDF to minimize civilian casualties.”
Not only were Blinken’s comments untrue, they seemed intended to give arguments to Israel’s enemies.
On February 7, Blinken went further and said that the October 7 massacre did not give Israel — trying to defend itself in a war it did not start — a “license to dehumanize others.” Unfortunately for Blinken, that is the last thing Israel is doing, but the main thing Hamas, Hezbollah, Qatar and Iran are doing.
On February 8, Biden himself said abruptly, “A lot of innocent people are starving. A lot of innocent people are in trouble and dying. And it’s got to stop.”
All right. If it has “got to stop”, why not demand that Hamas, Iran and Qatar stop it?
On March 25, the Biden administration refused to use the American veto and allowed the United Nations Security Council to adopt a resolution, proposed by Algeria, demanding an immediate unilateral ceasefire from Israel — with no condemnation of Hamas.
On April 4, Blinken tried to create a false moral equivalence between a terrorist group and a liberal democracy by charging that Israel had no reverence for human life and that if Israel did not do more to protect civilians in Gaza, Hamas and Israel could become “indistinguishable”. He then cited an old Jewish saying — that “whoever saves a life, saves the entire world” – contortedly, grotesquely implying that the Israel’s attempt to defend its own country and people is in contravention of the values of Judaism itself.
On April 4, according to journalist Barak Ravid:
“President Biden laid out an ultimatum to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in their call on Thursday: If Israel doesn’t change course in Gaza, ‘we won’t be able to support you,’ he said, according to three sources with knowledge of the call.”
According to the Times of Israel:
“During a security cabinet meeting after the call, Netanyahu noted that the White House readout similarly didn’t explicitly condition a ceasefire on a hostage deal. It said that Biden told the Israeli premier ‘that an immediate ceasefire is essential to stabilize and improve the humanitarian situation and protect innocent civilians…'”
The Biden administration does not appear ever to have issued the slightest threat, warning or ultimatum to the authors of the war: Hamas, Iran or Qatar. Hamas in Gaza, like the Taliban in Afghanistan, is now most likely seen universally as the tail wagging the American dog.
Although the UN Security Council resolution of March 25 was not binding, any further ceasefire would mean Hamas won the war, simply by surviving to repeat the October 7 attack, time and again, until Israel is annihilated, as Hamas official Ghazi Hamad said.
Hamas, on October 6, 2023, had a ceasefire with Israel. On October 7, Hamas violated it. Hamas did accept a second ceasefire a few weeks into the war and exchanged nearly half the hostages it held. A ceasefire now, especially a “temporary” one that would surely be pressured into becoming permanent, would just enable Hamas to regroup, rearm, and replenish its supply of terrorists from Israeli prisons.
US Senator Chuck Schumer, after declaring himself a friend and defender of Israel, suggested overthrowing Israel’s democratically elected prime minister, and — as if Israel, and not America, were within his jurisdiction — called for new elections:
“If Prime Minister Netanyahu’s current coalition remains in power after the war begins to wind down and continues to pursue dangerous and inflammatory policies that test existing US standards for assistance, then the United States will have no choice but to play a more active role in shaping Israeli policy by using our leverage to change the present course.”
Schumer’s speech, yet again putting America’s outsized foot in the middle of Israel’s domestic policy, and ordering its ally to take direction from the Biden administration — including accepting a terrorist Palestinian state on its borders — and effectively disregard what the Israeli people have democratically chosen — was seen by most in Israel as a vicious blow.
Biden immediately backed Schumer up. “He made a good speech,” the president said in the Oval Office during a meeting with Ireland’s prime minister. “I think he expressed serious concerns shared not only by him but by many Americans”.
Biden, it seems, is frustrated that Netanyahu is objecting to humanitarian aid — which basically resupplies Hamas. Hamas, Israel’s argument goes, released hostages only after unremitting pressure. Relieving that pressure by backing Hamas makes the probability of seeing any more hostages released less likely. Biden is also reportedly frustrated that Netanyahu, for some inexplicable reason, objects to the creation of a terrorist Palestinian state next door.
Hamas would doubtless love as many humanitarian aid workers in Gaza as possible; they would provide Hamas with a fresh batch of human shields to prevent Israel from entering Rafah and removing Hamas’s remaining four battalions and terrorist leaders. Hamas is apparently already killing aid workers to steal food. How much better if they could be used to obstruct Israeli soldiers from entering the tunnels where the remaining hostages are believed hidden.
Netanyahu, accused by his adversaries of needing a war to avoid new elections, is being praised by others as “Israel’s Churchill.” Israelis remember that he was the leader who had the courage to address the US Congress in 2015 to counter President Barack Obama lethal, illegitimate “Iran nuclear deal,” officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
Netanyahu, who has not been short on courage, either in combat or in refusing to submit to US pressure to go along with the JCPOA — despite the Obama administration’s interference in an Israeli election — may feel an overriding obligation, as he has said from the beginning, to make sure that Hamas will never again be able to launch another October 7; to take out the terrorist leaders presumed to be concealed in tunnels, as well as the four remaining Hamas battalions in Rafah, and above all, to rescue the hostages — many of whom may have since been murdered.
