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55th Annual “Celebrate Israel” Parade to Highlight the Rich & Vibrant Culture of the Jewish State

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More than 30 floats with musical performers, 15 world-class marching bands, and 40,000 marchers will march along Fifth Avenue, from 57th Street to 74th Street, and entertain hundreds of thousands of spectators. This year’s creative theme for marching groups and floats is “Only in Israel” from the renowned hebrew song Rak B'Yisrael.

The Jewish Community Relations Council of New York (JCRC-NY) announced recently that Edward A. Mermelstein will lead the 2019 Celebrate Israel Parade as its Grand Marshal up Fifth Avenue in Manhattan on Sunday, June 2 in front of hundreds of thousands of spectators.  The parade is scheduled to kick off at 12 noon. Joining him in leading the Parade as Honorary Grand Marshals will be Ted Comet, Founder of the Celebrate Israel Parade; Siggy Flicker, Author and TV personality; Liel Leibovitz and Stephanie Butnick, Co-Hosts of the Unorthodox podcast, Sid Rosenberg, Co-Host of Bernie & Sid in the Morning.

 Edited by: JV Staff

The Parade is the largest public event celebrating Israel in the world highlighting Israel’s rich heritage, vibrant culture, and the positive impact the Jewish and democratic state of Israel has on the lives of people around the world. 

More than 30 floats with musical performers, 15 world-class marching bands, and 40,000 marchers will march along Fifth Avenue, from 57th Street to 74th Street, and entertain hundreds of thousands of spectators. This year’s creative theme for marching groups and floats is “Only in Israel” from the renowned hebrew song Rak B’Yisrael.

A selection from the off-Broadway hit musical Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish, will be performed live by cast members at this year’s Parade. Directed by Oscar and Tony Award-winner Joel Grey, the rich Yiddish translation of Fiddler on the Roof by Shraga Friedman, adds new depth and dimension to the most well-known Jewish musical in the world, telling the beloved story of a community and its struggle to balance traditions and desires in a changing world.

 Grand Marshal Edward A. Mermelstein – Edward A. Mermelstein is an accomplished top-tier legal strategist, businessman, consultant, investor, and developer in NYC. He is founding partner of One & Only Holdings, LLC, which includes One & Only Realty, and former partner at Rheem Bell & Mermelstein, LLP.  As Chairman of COJECO, Edward helps facilitate the integration of Russian-speaking Jews into the greater American Jewish community while preserving their cultural heritage. As President of Zaka Search and Rescue, Edward leads an UN-recognized NGO, with thousands of volunteers, on call to respond to man-made or natural disasters. Edward has served on the Boards of UJA-Federation of New York, RAJE, and other charitable organizations. Fluent in English and Russian, Edward emigrated to the U.S. in 1976. In addition to his work, he is involved in numerous charitable organizations supporting local as well as national causes rooted in culture, politics, education and the arts. Edward lives in NYC with his wife, Rose, a Broadway producer and five-time Tony award winner, and his two sons.

 Honorary Grand Marshal Ted Comet – Ted Comet is a Founder of the Celebrate Israel Parade and was Chairman of the Parade (1966-68).  Comet, a veteran Jewish community leader, was director of the American Zionist Youth Federation at the time the Parade was created in 1965 and was seeking ways to express support for the Jewish state. He was also a key official of the Council of Jewish Federations and the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee. 

 Honorary Grand Marshal Siggy Flicker – Sigalit “Siggy” Flicker is a relationship specialist, matchmaker, author, and former cast member on reality-TV show The Real Housewives of New Jersey. Flicker was born in Israel to Jewish parents and was named after the Hebrew word for “violet.”

 Honorary Grand Marshal Sid Rosenberg – Rosenberg is a radio personality and one of the most celebrated names in sports broadcasting.  He is currently co-host of Bernie and Sid in the Morning on 77 WABC Radio. He also hosts Sid Sports Sunday, on which he delivers sports news, reviews the games of the week, interviews big names from the sports industry, and provides the best picks for fantasy teams.

 Honorary Grand Marshal Stephanie Butnick – Stephanie Butnick is a deputy editor for Tablet Magazine and co-host of Unorthodox. She has a bachelor’s degree in religion from Duke and a master’s in religious studies from NYU. She lives in New York with her husband and their cat, Cat Stevens.

 Honorary Grand Marshal Liel Leibovitz – Liel Liebovitz is a senior writer for Tablet Magazine and co-host of Unorthodox, the world’s leading Jewish podcast. He is also the author or co-author of seven books, including, most recently, A Broken Hallelujah: Rock n’ Roll, Redemption, and the Life of Leonard Cohen. A native of Tel Aviv and a veteran of the Israel Defense Forces, Liel lives in Manhattan with his wife Lisa, a senior editor at Scholastic, and their two children.

 Among the many bands and entertainers joining the Parade this year, featured guests include:

 

∙         DJ Itay Galo – Dj Itay Galo is an electronic musician, DJ, and producer whose music has erupted in the Israeli market. For the past ten years, he has been known to be the number one DJ in Tel Aviv. Galo is the CEO and founder of Atisuto, which is one of the most recognized and well respected music production company’s in Israel. 

∙         The Moshav Band – Internationally acclaimed American/Israeli rock band The Moshav Band began when childhood friends Yehuda and Duvid made music together on Moshav Mevo Modiin in Israel. The group was initially discovered by a group of American students traveling in Israel who heard the band play and raised money to bring them to the states for a college tour in the late 1990s. Soon after, The Moshav Band relocated to Los Angeles where they continued to grow their fan base and began recording with some of the industry’s best.

 

∙         Young Gravy – Young Gravy’s African American, Jewish identity is a foundation to his music as a rapper. The music video for his hit, “Diaspora,” was filmed in Jerusalem in which he raps in Hebrew. Young Gravy has been heavily influenced by West Coast hip hop artists, but he has found inspirations in various other facets of rap including modern trap music. From old school West Coast tracks to contemporary rap, Young Gravy has been able to bring his own unique style to the diverse genre of hip hop.

 

∙         Omri Anghel – Anghel is a NYC-based Israeli DJ and producer. For the past two decades, Anghel has been releasing music for labels like Jellybean, Eightball, Twisted, Whoop, and Tommy Boy and working with artists including Celeda, RuPaul, Assaf Amdursky, Dana International, and Darrell Martin. He served as music producer, sound designer, and video editor at Interlude, New York tech and media company, creating interactive video experiences for clients including Coca Cola, Sony Music, Warner Music, NBA, MTV, and Nickelodeon. Anghel is also the creator of comedy shorts for Israel’s prime time show “Future TV” on the Reshet Network. Omri spends his time combining the worlds of sound and vision with works of art and entertainment for many clients and his own repertoire.

 

∙         Kosha Dillz – American rapper, Rami Matan Even-Esh, has toured and performed with a variety of artists, including Ghostface Killah, Snoop Dogg, Matisyahu, Cage the Elephant, C-Rayz Walz, Yak Ballz and Aesop Rock. He has become a mainstay in the Hip Hop World and beyond, playing at the Paid Dues Festival, BK Hip Hop Festival, SXSW, CMJ, Rock The Bells, and Vans Warped Tour. Kosha was honored as one of The Jewish Week’s 2013 36 Under 36.  

∙         SOULFARM – Founded in Israel by Grammy Award winner lead guitarist C Lanzbom and guitarist and lead singer Noah Solomon Chase, their sound has been dubbed as New American music, full melodic song writing and progressive modern arrangements. Together with drummer Ben Antelis and bassist Daniel Ori, their live shows are full of Mediterranean flavor with captivating guitar leads, dance rhythms and strong percussion breaks. SOULFARM serves as the Parade’s official House Band.

 

∙         Milk & Honeys – An Afro Hebrew NYC-based band that brings a unique and refreshing blend of Israeli music with a wide range of influences, such as Afro-beat, Ethiopian music, R&B and Funk.

 

∙         Barynya Entertainment – Barynya Entertainment is a world renowned group that enjoys exalting stature as the premier Russian folk ensemble outside of Russia. Barynya Entertainment agency was established in 1991 by owner Mikhail Smirnov. Performers include a wide-range of comedians, dancers, singers, and musicians of all kinds.

 

∙         Holocaust Survivor Band – Founded by Saul Dreier, 93-year-old Holocaust Survivor, this klezmer group was created to revive the songs Dreier grew up listening to while he was imprisoned in the Krakow-Plaszow and Mauthausen concentration camps. Their intention is to preserve and share Jewish music and culture and to spread the message for World Peace.

 The Parade will be televised live from 12-3pm on FOX affiliate, WWOR-TV My9 and for the first time on Jewish Broadcasting Service on cable TV. The Parade will also be streamed online at celebrateisraelny.org so that Israelis and Israel supporters throughout the world can tune in.  The Celebrate Israel Parade Broadcast is sponsored by Friends of Maimonides Medical Center.

 For the latest information, please visit the Parade website at celebrateisraelny.org, follow us on Twitter @celebrateisrael, visit our Facebook page: Celebrate Israel Parade and subscribe to our YouTube Channel:www.YouTube.com/CelebrateIsraelNY.

 About the Celebrate Israel Parade

The Celebrate Israel Parade highlights the vibrant and diverse State of Israel. The Parade features over 40,000 marchers from many organizations. Hundreds of thousands enthusiastic spectators watch American and Israeli community leaders and dignitaries, entertainers, artists, musicians, dancers, celebrities, floats and marching bands. Many more watch on the live broadcast via television or live-stream. The Parade is produced by the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York (JCRC-NY), in cooperation with UJA-Federation of New York and the State of Israel.

 

 

How Safe is the Ice Cream You are Eating This Summer?

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By: Fern Sidman

As Memorial Day weekend of 2019 fades into glorious memories of welcoming the official start of summer with traditional barb-b-ques, picnics and the compulsory trip to the beach, we often look forward to increasing our intake of America’s favorite summer treat. You guessed it folks!! We all scream for ice cream in practically every flavor the mind can conjure up, but now it appears that we may be screaming for reasons other than joy.

According to the findings of a recent Food & Drug Administration study of ice cream production facilities, the chances of contracting bacteria that can lead to food-borne illness is higher than we could possibly imagine. According to a Miami Herald report in April, the FDA study indicated that 21.3 percent of ice cream plants has listeria and 50.6 percent had “objectionable conditions or practices.”

The FDA was prompted to initiate this study, according to the Miami Herald report in the aftermath of  the recall of16 ice cream products from 2013 to 2016. According to the report, pathogens were discovered and three people lost their lives in the 2015 outbreak of listeria in Blue Bell Ice Cream. Subsequently, during the years of 2016 and 2017 the FDA sent out inspectors to take environmental samples from 89 ice cream production plants in 32 states, according to the Miami Herald report.

According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) approximately 1600 people are adversely affected by listeria each year and about 260 die of this food borne illness.

The CDC reports that people who are most vulnerable to the inherent dangers of listeria are those with already weakened immune systems. It was reported that listeria can cause stillbirths and miscarriages in pregnant women and can be harmful for babies and senior citizens. Symptoms include headaches, stiff necks, fever, muscle aches and convulsions. The symptoms usually emerge anywhere between one to four weeks after eating contaminated food.  

One particular ice cream production plant known as Working Cow Homemade in St. Petersburg had its registration as a food facility suspended by the FDA. According to the Miami Herald report, the company shuttered its doors but then reopened for ice cream storage and distribution purposes.

In a statement, the FDA said, “In selecting facilities for inclusion in the assignment, the agency sought to ensure representation from throughout the country and favored larger establishments whose product would be expected to reach greater numbers of consumers. They added that, “At the time the assignment was conducted, the 89 ice cream production facilities inspected accounted for about 16 percent of the domestic ice cream manufacturers in the FDA’s inventory.”  

On May 29, the Newark Advocate reported that according to a letter from FDA Division Director Steven Barber, federal inspectors found “serious violations” at Velvet Ice Cream’s manufacturing center in Utica, Ohio including the presence of Listeria.

In the letter, which was addressed to Velvet President Luconda Dager, Barber states that samples taken from the processing facility between Jan. 23 and Feb. 14 found the presence of Listeria monocytogenes.

Listeria monocytogenes is a disease-causing bacteria that can be found in moist environments, soil, water, decaying vegetation and animals, and can survive and even grow under refrigeration and other food preservation measures, according to the FDA.

According to a report on the Food Safety News web site, based on the FDA’s inspectional findings, and the analytical results for the environmental samples, the FDA determined that the ice cream manufactured in the firm’s facility is adulterated, in that it was prepared, packed or held under insanitary conditions whereby it may have been rendered injurious to health.

“It is essential to identify the areas of the food processing plant where this organism is able to survive and grow to take such corrective actions as necessary to eradicate the organism by rendering these areas unable to support the survival and growth of the organism and prevent the organism from being re-established in such sites,” said the FDA.

“You should take prompt action to correct the violations noted in this letter,” the FDA advised, “Failure to do so may result in regulatory action by the FDA without further notice, including, without limitation, seizure and injunction.”

Companies are allowed 15 working days to respond to FDA warning letters. Failure to promptly correct violations can result in legal action without further notice, including, without limitation, seizure and injunction.

According to the Newark Advocate report, Dager said she has no concerns about the safety of the company’s product and that steps were taken to ensure that none of the ice cream was contaminated.

“We have addressed all the issues,” she said on Wednesday. “We’re still continuing to make a very safe, quality product.”

Dager said the Listeria was found in some drains in the plant. Since that time the company has replaced numerous drains and much of the brick floor in the production area. She said the company regularly tests its ice cream for listeria, according to the report in the Newark Advocate.

“At no time has there been any food contact area with this listeria,” she said.

Consumers who are worried about bacterial contamination in their food are encouraged to contact the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) with any concerning issues they experience.”

You can also visit the Consumer Safety web site at: https://www.consumersafety.org/resources/report-unsafe-products/

Friedman Slams Obama’s Israel Policies in YU Graduation Speech

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Speaking at a Yeshiva University graduation event this week, U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman blasted Barack Obama’s approach to Israel.

Edited by: JV Staff

In a commencement speech on Thursday to Yeshiva University (YU)  graduating students, U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman slammed the Obama administration’s treatment of Israel compared to that of the current one.

“Should Israel still negotiate with the Palestinians even though Israel did not steal their land? Of course, it should, precisely because we are not suggesting, as our predecessor did—that Israel return to the bargaining table as a thief returning to the scene of a crime,” he said. “Precisely for that reason, there is a basis for discussion.”

Friedman said “the overwhelming majority of Palestinians are not consumed by hatred nor are unwilling to live in peace. Many are well-educated, many of them want what everyone wants—peace, security, good schools, and a better and more dignified way of life. We need to help them get there—not by perpetual handouts that create a culture of dependency and corruption.”

The ambassador announced that he will be part of next month’s economic summit in Bahrain as part of the Trump administration’s rollout of the Mideast peace plan.

U.S. special envoy to the Middle East Jason Greenblatt is a YU alum.

As was previously reported by the Jewish Voice, the upcoming conference in Bahrain has received fierce pushback from the Palestinians with indications from leading spokesmen that they will not attend.

In a statement issued last Sunday by the White House announcing the upcoming economic workshop to be held in Manama in Bahrain on June 25th and 26th, the conference billed as “Peace to Prosperity” will serve as a “pivotal opportunity to convene government, civil society, and business leaders to share ideas, discuss strategies, and galvanize support for potential economic investments and initiatives that could be made possible by a peace agreement.”

According to the White House, the “Peace to Prosperity” forum will facilitate discussions on an ambitious, achievable vision and framework for a prosperous future for the Palestinian people and the region, including enhancements to economic governance, development of human capital, and facilitation of rapid private-sector growth. If implemented, this vision has the potential to radically transform lives and put the region on a path toward a brighter future.

“I look forward to these important discussions about a vision that will offer Palestinians exciting new opportunities to realize their full potential. This workshop will engage leaders from across the entire Middle East to promote economic growth and opportunity for the people in this important region,” said United States Secretary of the Treasury Steven T. Mnuchin.

Saeb Erekat, secretary general of the Palestine Liberation Organization said,.“We were not consulted by any party on the announced meeting to take place in Manama, Bahrain. We have not mandated any party to negotiate on our behalf.

He added that, “Attempts at promoting an economic normalization of the Israeli occupation of Palestine will be rejected.”

The Palestinians, who severed ties with the United States more than a year ago, have repeatedly expressed fears that the White House would try to buy them off with large sums of investment in exchange for freezing their demands for an independent state. They have also expressed concerns that Washington is trying to rally support from other Arab countries to pressure them into accepting a plan they see as unacceptable.

Al Jazeera reported that Social Development Minister Ahmed Majdalani, meanwhile, said Palestinian officials would not attend the June meeting.

“There will be no Palestinian participation in the Manama workshop,” Majdalani, who is also a member of the executive committee of the umbrella Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), told Reuters news agency.

“Any Palestinian who would take part would be nothing but a collaborator for the Americans and Israel.”

On that note, the Times of Israel has reported that Bashar Masri, a Palestinian industrialist with vast business holdings throughout Judea and Samaria, has said he had turned down an invitation to the conference.

“I will not participate in this conference, and none of the representatives of our companies will participate,” he wrote on Facebook. “We reaffirm our clear position: We will not deal with any event outside the Palestinian national consensus.”

 

 

Lawsuit Claims Elite Manhattan Prep School Smeared Its Student as Racist

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A Manhattan couple is suing their daughter’s elite all-girls prep school, claiming their daughter’s peers tricked the school’s administration into smearing her as thoughtless and racist.

By: David Rutz

Adam and Michelle Parker filed suit Thursday against Spence School in Manhattan Supreme Court, and the complaint alleges shocking behavior by their 16-year-old’s classmates and a clueless administration trying to cover its behind, the New York Post reports.

The story centers around what the Parkers say was a harmless, private Instagram post about Halloween costumes by their daughter, whom the lawsuit refers to  as “D.P.” In a post shared with two friends, D.P. joked about trios of costumes she didn’t want to dress up as: “Slaves, indigenous people, white settlers?” “Hitler, mussolini, stalin?” “Racism, sexism, anti-semitism?” “Sin, cos, tan?” and “American idealism, American intentions, the reality of America?”

According to the Post, “two daughters of two prominent, high-profile families lauded in the Spence community and beyond” confronted D.P. and “claimed they were offended.” In an effort to be sensitive, D.P. hugged them both and apologized for any offense given. However, the suit then charges that the two girls engaged in a cruel plan to smear her, telling a separate student about the post and attempting to get her reported to the school’s administration on false pretenses:

Three of those other students — none of whom had seen the post themselves — then reported D.P. to school administrators, saying she’d “made a post on Instagram that joked about dressing up as slaves and slaveholders, Jews and Hitler, and indigenous people” and that a black student had been offended by it, the suit charges.

Administrators then “ambushed” D.P. and “accused her of an act of racism and anti-Semitism,” ordering her to apologize to the offended student — who had herself admitted she hadn’t seen the post, but “just hearing about it was so hurtful and offensive.”

A bawling D.P. was ordered to apologize multiple times until she “racialized” her language in accordance with the school’s race an diversity training, finally saying “’as a white girl’ she was sorry that she undermined the oppression of black people and slavery,” the suit claims.

The school had an assembly about the post that falsely characterized her original post and ultimately suspended D.P. for a day, the suit said. When the Parkers confronted Head of Upper School Michèle Krauthamer about whether she’d seen the original post, she admitted she hadn’t and her punishment was shortened to a half-day of “in-home reflection.”

Head of School Ellanor Brizendine also told the parents the school didn’t have the actual post when it suspended D.P. The suit goes on to claim the school has refused to apologize for its handling of the situation or discipline any of her classmates, even those who operated an Instagram account called “ladymemers” that included “racist, homophobic, sexually explicit and other vulgar content.”

The Spence School criticized the lawsuit in a statement, saying it “destroys the community values we strive to embrace at the Spence School.”

Famous alumni of the school, which was founded in 1892, include Gwyneth Paltrow, Kerry Washington, and Emmy Rossum. (Washington Free Beacon)

Ahead of UK Trip, Trump Refers to American Royal Meghan Markle as “Nasty” in Tabloid Interview

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Queen Elizabeth II of England, the longest reigning monarch in the country’s history, is scheduled to host President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump this week in an official state visit. Due to a controversial comment Trump made to a British interviewer, however, media pundits have speculated that this could taint his trip.  

Edited by: JV Staff

CNN reported that during an interview with the London tabloid “The Sun,” Trump was asked about comments made by Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, (who is an American actress from Los Angeles) ahead of the 2016 election. Speaking on “The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore” in 2016, Markle called Trump misogynistic and said his politics are divisive, saying she would move to Canada if he won the presidency.

Trump responded, “I didn’t know that she was nasty. I hope she is OK,” later adding, “I am sure she will go excellently (as a royal). She will be very good.” Buckingham Palace had no comment on Trump’s interview regarding Markle, according to the CNN report.

The Trumps previously met with the Queen at Windsor Castle last June, a more informal meeting over tea.

The trip comes amid a blitz of foreign travel for the President and will be the Trumps’ second state visit in less than two weeks. In May, they were Japanese Emperor Naruhito’s first state guests since he ascended to the Chrysanthemum Throne earlier that month.

On the political and diplomatic front, President Trump and Britain’s Theresa May will want a strife-free, three-day state visit to London starting Monday, their aides say.

VOA News reported that to reduce the possibility of mishaps, with protesters getting too close to Trump,, the traditional ride in a horse-drawn carriage down the tree-lined Mall to Buckingham Palace for visiting heads of state has been axed — although Trump’s predecessor, Barack Obama, also dropped the jaunt because of “security concerns.”

A huge London police operation is being planned to try to ensure the state visit goes off without a hitch.

But aside from protests, there will be other risks on this presidential trip that British officials are keen to contain as they press the U.S. leader for more details on a possible post-Brexit trade deal, and as they seek to ease strains in what British politicians especially like to dub the “special relationship” between Britain and the U.S.

London and Washington are at odds on a range of global issues, including climate change, policy toward Iran and Britain’s trade dealings with China.

The differences haven’t been helped by the lack of personal chemistry between the two leaders; Trump once complained May was too “politically correct,” triggering a transatlantic spat, and his aides have confided in the past that her “school mistress” manner makes the U.S. leader bristle. The two leaders have clashed publicly over several of Trump’s tweets, and in 2018 the U.S. President declined to have a one-on-one meeting with her at the G7 summit.

The U.S. leader’s free-wheeling style contrasts with May’s cautious, risk-averse and detail-oriented approach. (VOA)

Pelosi Attacks Facebook As ‘Willing Enabler’ of Russia, Still Owns Up to $1M In Company Stock

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Pelosi family has owned Facebook stock since 2012, increased investment in 2018

By: Brent Scher

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) has up to $1 million in Facebook, a company she said on Wednesday was a “willing enabler of Russian interference” in the 2016 election.

Pelosi’s sharp criticism of the social media giant was a direct response to its decision to flag an altered video of her as false rather than remove it altogether. She told a local California radio station the decision calls into question whether they “wittingly” conspired with Russians to interfere in the 2016 election.

“We have said all along, poor Facebook, they were unwittingly exploited by the Russians,” Pelosi said. “I think wittingly, because right now they are putting up something that they know is false.”

“I think they have proven—by not taking down something they know is false—that they were willing enablers of the Russian interference in our election,” Pelosi said.

Pelosi has been an investor in Facebook since shortly after its initial public offering on May 23, 2012, when her husband purchased between $100,001 and $250,000 worth of stock, according to financial disclosures.

It has been a good investment for Pelosi. The closing share price of Facebook stock on the date of the initial purchase was $32, a fraction of the $183.50 opening share price Wednesday when Pelosi attacked it as a “willing enabler” of Russia.

In her most recent annual disclosure, covering 2017, the investment in Facebook was valued between $500,001 and $1,000,000.

Though Pelosi is yet to file her disclosure for 2018, required periodic transaction reports show her husband significantly increased his Facebook investment last year.

Reports show two purchases of long-term call options on Facebook stock—the first one valued between $50,001 and $100,000 on July 27, 2018, and then a larger $100,001 to $250,000 purchase on October 9, 2018. Both options expire on January 17, 2020, according to the disclosures.

Advertising information now available on Facebook shows that Pelosi has also been an active user of the social media platform, spending nearly $100,000 to run Facebook ads through her campaign and official office.

Pelosi’s office did not respond to an inquiry into whether her husband plans to divest from Facebook.

NetChoice, an association of internet companies including Facebook, objected to Pelosi’s “false and over-the-top” accusation.

“Speaker Pelosi’s accusation that Facebook is a ‘willing enabler’ of Russian interference in our elections is completely false and appears to be an attempt to use an important national discussion for her own political gamesmanship,” said Carl Szabo, the group’s vice president.

Szabo also said Pelosi’s true aim appeared to be “to frighten platforms into removing any content she feels is unflattering.”

Facebook has thus far stood firm on its decision not to remove the video of Pelosi, despite objections from both the Democratic leader and two-time failed presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. (Washington Free Beacon)

 

‘Deal of the Century’ in Question as Kushner Meets with Israel’s Prime Minister With Israel facing new elections, the success of the “Deal of the Century” is in question.

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(from left to right: Brian Hook, Jared Kushner, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Jason Greenblatt and Ron Dermer. Credit for photo is: Kobi Gideon (GPO)

Jared Kushner, President Trump’s senior adviser and son-in-law, met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday afternoon. Kushner is in Israel to build momentum toward next month’s “economic workshop” in Bahrain.

By: WIN Staff

Also attending the meeting were U.S. Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook and Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Ron Dermer.

Trump negotiator Jason Greenblatt is part of the delegation, which arrived in Israel on Wednesday.

“It’s always a great pleasure to welcome Jared Kushner and Jason Greenblatt to Israel, to Jerusalem, and to discuss our common efforts for prosperity, security and peace,” Netanyahu said. “I’m tremendously encouraged by how the United States, under President Trump, is working to bring allies together in this region against common challenges, but also to seize common opportunities.”

The Bahrain conference is expected to focus on economic aspects of the “Deal of the Century.” It will run from June 25-26.

However, with Netanyahu unable to form a governing coalition, the future of the Trump plan is in question. Ironically, the Trump administration waited to present its peace plan until after Israel had a new government in place.

Israel will return to the voting booth in September.

Israel is the third and final stop for the team working to garner support for a Middle East peace plan. The envoys first stopped in Morocco, where they met with King Mohammed VI, Crown Prince Moulay Hassan and Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita. They then went to Jordan to meet with King Abdullah II.

Following his meeting with King Abdullah II, Greenblatt tweeted: “Constructive meeting with @KingAbdullahII in Jordan today including a good conversation about regional dynamics and our administration’s efforts to help Israel and the Palestinians achieve a brighter future.”

Though Moroccan officials have declined commenting on the visit, the official Petra news agency reported that the Jordanian visit involved discussing, “regional developments, especially efforts to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.”

The King also “stressed the need to step up all efforts to achieve comprehensive and lasting peace on the basis of the two-state solution, guaranteeing the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the 4 June 1967 lines, with east Jerusalem as its capital, living side by side with solidarity with the Palestinians.

The Bahrain conference will discuss economic incentives to bring peace between Israel and the Palestinians. However, it has been made clear that Palestinian statehood is not on the agenda. Therefore, Palestinian political leaders as well as representatives from China and Russia will boycott the event.

Kushner has signaled that the White House may be pulling back from America’s previous support for a two-state solution.

Earlier this month, he said “If you say ‘two-state,’ it means one thing to the Israelis, it means one thing to the Palestinians. We said, ‘you know, let’s just not say it. Let’s just say, let’s work on the details of what this means.’”

However, he has billed the economic workshop as “a pivotal opportunity… to share ideas, discuss strategies and galvanize support for potential economic investments and initiatives that could be made possible by a peace agreement.”

After meeting the prime minister, Kushner affirmed Trump’s commitment to Israel’s security. “The security of Israel is something that’s critical to the relations between America and Israel, and also very important to the President, and we appreciate all your efforts to strengthen the relationship between our two countries.

“It’s never been stronger, and we’re very excited about all the potential that lies ahead for Israel, for the relationship, and for the future.” (World Israel News)

Read more at: worldisraelnews.com

 

IDF Completes Destruction of Main Hezbollah Attack Tunnel

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IDF announces ‘flagship’ attack tunnel dug by Hezbollah to infiltrate Israeli communities has been sealed

By: A7 Staff

The IDF, in an effort led by the Northern Command and the 91st Division, completed the destruction of an attack tunnel that was dug by the Hezbollah terror organization, crossing into Israeli territory from Lebanon. The attack tunnel was dug from the Shi’ite village of Ramiyeh and was exposed by the IDF last January as part of Operation “Northern Shield”. In addition, the IDF released footage of their operations to locate the last found cross-border attack tunnel

Hezbollah planned to infiltrate Israel through the attack tunnel into Israeli communities near the border in order to harm civilians as part of its war plans.

The attack tunnel was neutralized by pumping sealants after the tunnel was thoroughly investigated in recent months. The portion of the attack tunnel in Lebanese territory was destroyed and the whole structure was rendered useless.

This was a cross border attack tunnel belonging to the Hezbollah terror organization and neutralized by the IDF, following the other attack tunnels that were neutralized and destroyed in Operation “Northern Shield”.

“One of our most important responsibilities is to keep an ongoing battle against tunnels both in the Southern and Northern frontier,” An IDF officer told Fox News.

This tunnel was the flagship tunnel of the Hezbollah terror organization tunneling effort, in which Hezbollah invested the most resources and efforts. Infrastructure was installed in it that allowed for a prolonged stay of terrorists inside, efficient excavation capabilities and mobility of operatives.

The UN force in Lebanon, UNIFIL, investigated the tunnel and confirmed it was dug from Lebanon into Israel, in violation of UNSCR 1701.

The IDF estimates that there are no more tunnels penetrating Israeli territory, and that there are only a few more tunnels inside Lebanese territory at a depth of several hundred meters.

The last tunnel, which was also the largest tunnel dug to a depth of eighty meters near the village of Ramiyeh in the center of the northern sector near Zarit, was the last of the tunnels through which Hezbollah intended to break into Israel and carry out a series of attacks along the fence.

The IDF says that the probability of war being initiated by Hezbollah is low, and that Operation Northern Shield has strengthened deterrence.

Fox News reported that Amid new regional tension with Iran, reports indicate these tunnels were meant to be used by the Iranian proxy Hezbollah in a ground operation against Israel.

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah confirmed they were supposed to be used as a tool for war.

“If there is a war, and I say if we decide to enter the Galilee, the tunnels will partially help. An operation like this one needs the whole border area. I say to them: ‘You will never know how we will go in; on the ground, underground from the sky,’” Nasrallah said.

While the army is completing the neutralization of the Ramiyeh tunnel, the same tunnel continues to be used to locate tunnels and other means used by the organization against the IDF, such as drones, photographs and information gathering. (INN)

PM Netanyahu Meets with Senior US Presidential Envoy Jared Kushner and US Envoy to the Middle East Jason Greenblatt

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(from left to right: Brian Hook, Jared Kushner, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Jason Greenblatt and Ron Dermer. Credit for photo is: Kobi Gideon (GPO)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with senior US Presidential envoy Jared Kushner and US envoy to the Middle East Jason Greenblatt on Thursday at the Prime Minister’s residence in Jerusalem. Also attending the meeting were US Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook and Israeli Ambassador to the US Ron Dermer.

“It’s always a great pleasure to welcome Jared Kushner and Jason Greenblatt to Israel, to Jerusalem, and to discuss our common efforts for prosperity, security and peace. I’m tremendously encouraged by how the United States, under President Trump, is working to bring allies together in this region against common challenges, but also to seize common opportunities, “ said Prime Minister Netanyahu.  

He added: “And, you know, we had a little event last night. That’s not going to stop us. We’re going to continue working together. We had a great, productive meeting, which reaffirms that the alliance between the United States of America and Israel has never been stronger, and it’s going to get even stronger.”

Jared Kushner said, “I want to thank Prime Minister Netanyahu for his gracious hospitality. I send greetings from President Trump for you and for all people of Israel. This was my first time in Israel since the President recognized the Golan Heights, which was a very important announcement. The security of Israel is something that’s critical to the relations between America and Israel, and also very important to the President, and we appreciate all your efforts to strengthen the relationship between our two countries. It’s never been stronger, and we’re very excited about all the potential that lies ahead for Israel, for the relationship, and for the future.”

Bolton: Iran is Backing Out of Deal Because it Wants Nukes

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Donald Trump’s national security adviser said Wednesday there was “no reason” for Iran to back out of its nuclear deal with world powers other than to seek atomic weapons, a year after the U.S. president unilaterally withdrew America from the accord. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Tensions have soared as the U.S. beefed up its military presence in the Persian Gulf in response to a threat from Iran.

By: WIN Staff

Donald Trump’s national security adviser said Wednesday there was “no reason” for Iran to back out of its nuclear deal with world powers other than to seek atomic weapons, a year after the U.S. president unilaterally withdrew America from the accord.

John Bolton also claimed that the alleged sabotage of four oil tankers off the coast of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) came from naval mines placed “almost certainly by Iran.”

Speaking in Abu Dhabi, the Emirati capital, Bolton told journalists that there had been a previously unknown attempt to attack the Saudi oil port of Yanbu as well.

However, Bolton stressed that the U.S. has not seen any further Iranian attacks in the time since, something he attributed to military deployments. America recently sent an aircraft carrier and B-52 bombers to the Persian Gulf.

He warned the U.S. would strike back if attacked.

“The point is to make it very clear to Iran and its surrogates that these kinds of action risk a very strong response from the United States,” Bolton threatened, without elaborating.

Saudi officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment about Bolton’s claim on Yanbu, which is the terminus, or end point, of the kingdom’s East-West Pipeline. That pipeline was attacked in recent days in a coordinated drone assault launched by Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi rebels.

In recent weeks, tensions have soared as the U.S. beefed up its military presence in the Persian Gulf in response to a still-unexplained threat from Iran.

The U.S. has also accused Iran of being behind a string of incidents, including the alleged sabotage of oil tankers near the UAE coast and a rocket that landed near the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, while Yemen’s Iranian-aligned Houthi rebels have launched a string of drone attacks targeting Saudi Arabia.

Netanyahu says he won’t let Iran attain a nuclear bomb

Iran, meanwhile, has announced it was backing away from the 2015 nuclear deal, which saw it limit its enrichment of uranium in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions. Trump withdrew the U.S. from the accord as he believes it didn’t go far enough in limiting the Iranian nuclear program, nor did it address Iran’s ballistic missile program.

Bolton said that without more nuclear power plants, it made no sense for Iran to stockpile more low-enriched uranium as it now plans to do.

Reacting to the Iranian announcement that it would resume higher enrichment of uranium, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu renewed his vow not to allow Iran to attain a nuclear bomb.

“I heard that Iran intends to continue its nuclear program and we will not allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons,” said the prime minister, in an address earlier this month.

Iran has set a July 7 deadline for Europe to offer better terms to the unraveling nuclear deal, otherwise it will resume enrichment closer to weapons level.

Bolton declined to say what the U.S. would do in response to that but he criticized Iran’s actions.

“There’s no reason for them to do any of that unless that’s part of an effort to reduce the breakout time to produce nuclear weapons,” Bolton said. “That’s a very serious issue if they continue to do that.”

Iran has long insisted that its nuclear program is only for peaceful purposes. However, Western powers pushed for the nuclear deal to limit Iran’s ability to seek atomic weapons.

“This is just more graphic evidence that it hasn’t constrained their continuing desire to have nuclear weapons,” Bolton added. “It certainly hasn’t reduced their terrorist activities in the region that we just discussed or their other malign behavior in their use of conventional forces.”

In addition to the nuclear threat, Iran also backs terror groups in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon that do not recognize Israel’s right to exist. (World Israel News)

Read more at: worldisraelnews.com

One Trillion Dollars Arrives in Hamptons for Memorial Day Weekend

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The East Hampton Beach. (Credit for all photos: Lieba Nesis)

The Hamptons started off Memorial Day swinging as thousands gathered for the beginning of what is sure to be the most crowded and exciting season yet. If you didn’t book the $35 Jitney a week in advance you were out of luck as nearly every bus on Thursday and Friday was occupied from morning until night.

By: Lieba Nesis

There are other ways to get to the Hamptons including chartering a private helicopter which takes 45 minutes to East Hampton with prices starting at $795 a seat. If you are too harried to carry your bags there is a courier service entitled “Tote Taxi” that will pick up and drop off your bags for the reasonable price of $39 for weekend bags and $49 for suitcases. Danielle Candela founded the company in 2016 with $15,000 seed money awarded on Shark Tank and has continued to expand at a record pace as guests participating in weddings, and bachelorette parties are able to get wares to their destination with minimal bother. I took the Friday afternoon Jitney and arrived in East Hampton four-hours-and-fifteen minutes later.

My first stop was to ice cream store Scoop Du Jour open from 7 AM to 11 PM on weekends with crowds down the block patiently waiting on line during the three-day-weekend. The flavors include Vanilla Peanut Butter, S’mores and Butter Pecan with an equally delicious option of fat-free yogurts such as Coffee Chip, and Heath Bar. While Scoop has started serving burgers and food how can you order a sandwich when you have dozens of magnificent flavors staring you in the eye. There are other new places opening with full course meals including Blu Mar and Silver Lining Diner in Southampton, Armin and Judy in Bridgehampton, Coche Comedor in Amagansett, Bostwick’s on the Harbor in East Hampton and Showfish in Montauk. Unfortunately a few of these restaurants including Blu Mar and Paola’s were unable to get their liquor licenses in time for Memorial Day Weekend which led to a loss of close to $125,000 according to owner of Blu Mar Zach Erdem. Since the rents have soared over the past year many eateries have emptied out allowing others to grab the spots at discounted prices during an eleven-day period in April. However, this was an insufficient amount of time to get licenses with Erdem acknowledging he is fearful he will be unable to recoup his $450,000 in annual rent.

Thankfully, the Great Rose Shortage of 2014 won’t be repeated this year as California wineries have amped up their production for the summer. Hamptonites still discuss in hushed tones the weeks before Labor Day in 2014 where empty shelves in multiple wine stores abounded. Rose sales increased 50% globally last year and the Wolffer Estate has taken advantage of this trend by marking up a $31 bottle of Grandioso to $54 as cars line up every Friday afternoon to guzzle the delicacy. The best place to imbibe your rose is a difficult choice as exorbitantly priced inns such as The Baker House 1650, The Maidstone and Baron’s Cove start at $800 with a three-day minimum. Enter “glamping”, which offers roomy tents with a full-service concierge at various locations. Along with 30 sleeping tents available at $300 on TerraGlamping.com, lounge tents, a dining tent and a fire pit for s’mores and grilling will be accessible along with bathrooms located in luxury trailers.

People frequently ponder why the wealthiest people in the world choose to plop down in Long Island during the most coveted part of the year-when an array of options exist. Speaking with Southampton broker Joe Piccininni was enlightening as he remarked that more than $1 trillion in wealth had settled into the Hamptons for Memorial Day weekend. After carefully contemplating the answer to why the wealthiest flock to this hotspot I have concluded the appeal of the Hamptons is largely due to its close proximity to New York, the unrivaled variety of restaurants and stores in East and Southampton along with Montauk and Sag Harbor, the magnificent and impeccably kept beaches and towns, and finally and most importantly the highly sophisticated and urbane clientele that continues to come year after year to this oasis located on the East End of Long Island.

Mueller: Charging Trump With Obstruction ‘Was Not an Option’

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(Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Special counsel Robert Mueller reiterated Wednesday that charging President Trump with obstruction of justice was not an option his office could consider under Justice Department guidelines.

By: Masood Farivar

Mueller also announced the closure of his office after concluding in late March a two-year probe into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and whether Trump had obstructed justice.

Explaining his decision not to bring formal charges against Trump despite uncovering nearly a dozen instances of possible obstruction of justice, Mueller said he was barred by a long-standing Justice Department legal opinion that says a sitting president can’t be indicted.

“The special counsel’s office is part of the Department of Justice and, by regulation, it was bound by that department policy,” Mueller said in his first public remarks since his appointment more than two years ago. “Charging the president with a crime, therefore, was not an option we could consider.”

The former FBI director was appointed as special counsel in May 2017 after Trump fired then-FBI Director James Comey. Mueller was tasked with investigating any links or coordination between the Trump campaign and Russia, and whether Trump later interfered with the investigation.

Speaking from a podium at the Justice Department, Mueller said his decision not to charge Trump was informed in part by the view that the U.S. Constitution provides for a separate process for accusing a sitting president of wrongdoing, an apparent reference to the constitutional process of impeaching and removing a president.

“And beyond department policy, we were guided by principles of fairness,” Mueller said. “It would be unfair to potentially accuse somebody of a crime when there can be no court resolution of an actual charge.”

However, Mueller said that while there was “insufficient evidence” to charge Trump with a “broader conspiracy” during the election, he stressed that his investigation had not exonerated the president of wrongdoing, saying “if we had confidence that the president clearly did not commit a crime, we would have said that.”

Mueller’s final statement as special counsel appeared in part intended as a defense of his investigation against renewed criticism from Trump and his Republican allies.

Trump continues to deride the investigation as a “witch hunt” and a waste of money, while Attorney General William Barr has questioned the constitutionality of investigating Trump for obstruction of justice and launched a review to determine whether intelligence agencies engaged in improper “spying” of the Trump campaign.

Mueller rebutted those criticisms by noting that his investigation had gathered evidence of Russian efforts to “interfere in our political system.”

“They needed to be investigated and understood,” Mueller said of the Russian election meddling.

Because of the “paramount importance” of the investigation, Mueller said, it was critical for investigators to “obtain full and accurate information from every person we questioned.”

“When a subject of an investigation obstructs that investigation or lies to investigators, it strikes at the core of the government’s effort to find the truth and hold wrongdoers accountable,” he said.

In his 448-page confidential report on the investigation, Mueller wrote that he’d found insufficient evidence of a criminal conspiracy between the Trump presidential campaign and Moscow. As to whether Trump criminally obstructed the investigation, the special counsel wrote that while he could not charge the president, he could not exonerate him either.

That left it to the attorney general, who, in a controversial decision made in consultation with senior Justice Department officials, determined that Trump could not be charged with obstruction based on the evidence uncovered by Mueller. Barr said he made the determination irrespective of the Justice Department policy against charging a sitting president, even though Mueller suggested that it would have been inappropriate to do so.

Barr’s decision outraged Democrats, who have accused the attorney general of misrepresenting Mueller’s conclusions and had been pressing for the special counsel to testify before Congress. While not ruling out a congressional appearance, Mueller said, to the disappointment of many Democrats, that he would not go beyond the report if he were to testify.

“The report is my testimony,” he said. “I would not provide information beyond that which is already public in any appearance before Congress.”

In his statement, Mueller sought to play down reported friction with the attorney general over the manner in which the report was released to Congress and the public.

Barr initially sent a four-page summary of the report’s principal conclusions to Congress, followed by a redacted version of the full report last month. The Democratic-controlled House Judiciary Committee later voted to hold Barr in contempt of Congress for failing to release the full report along with the underlying evidence used to prepare it.

Mueller said that while he asked the attorney general to release “certain portions of the report” to Congress early on, he did “not question the attorney general’s good faith” in deciding to make the entire report public at a later date.

In a statement, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said, “Mr. Mueller explicitly said that he has nothing to add beyond the report, and therefore, does not plan to testify before Congress.”

“The report was clear — there was no collusion, no conspiracy — and the Department of Justice confirmed there was no obstruction. Special counsel Mueller also stated that Attorney General Barr acted in good faith in his handling of the report,” Sanders said. “After two years, the special counsel is moving on with his life, and everyone else should do the same.”

In a tweet after Mueller’s statement, Trump wrote: “Nothing changes from the Mueller Report. There was insufficient evidence and therefore, in our Country, a person is innocent. The case is closed! Thank you.”

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., responded to Mueller’s remarks, saying, “It falls to Congress to respond to the crimes, lies and other wrongdoings of President Trump — and we will do so.” (VOA)

 

Déjà Vu All Over Again as Israel Heads to Elections for the Second Time This Year

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shutterstock

After a 12-hour debate, lawmakers approved a measure by a vote of 74 to 45 to dissolve the 21st Knesset and hold new elections on September 17

By: JNS Staff

Israeli lawmakers took an unprecedented step on Wednesday to dissolve the Knesset, throwing the country back into another election season just weeks after a national election.

After a 12-hour debate, lawmakers approved a measure by a vote of 74 to 45 to dissolve the 21st Knesset and hold new elections on September 17. The Likud-sponsored bill was supported by fellow right-wing parties Yisrael Beitenu, United Torah Judaism, Shas and the Union of Right-Wing Parties as well as two Israeli Arab parties, Ra’am Balad and Hadash Ta’al.

As one of the only acts of the 21st Knesset, the decision to dissolve the parliament came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was unable to form a governing coalition.

The failure largely came as a result of an impasse between former defense minister and Yisrael Beiteinu party leader Avigdor Lieberman and the ultra-Orthodox parties – Shas and United Torah Judaism over a military draft bill.

Netanyahu needed 61 seats to form a governing coalition. Without Yisrael Beiteinu’s five seats, the Israeli premier would only have 60 seats in his right-wing coalition. As such, the move to dissolve the Knesset was set to preempt Israeli President Reuven Rivlin from choosing someone else to form a governing coalition after the May 30 deadline.

Lieberman, whose party draws support from Israel’s largely secular Russian immigrant community, refused to join the government unless the draft bill, which was crafted in the last Knesset, would be passed unaltered, which the ultra-Orthodox parties dismissed outright.

“To my sorrow, the state of Israel is going to elections,” Lieberman told reporters at the Knesset. “We are natural partners in a right-wing government; we won’t be partners in a halachic government.”

“The Likud failed in this work of building a coalition… and they and the Haredim are to blame for Israel going to elections.”

In a statement, Netanyahu largely blamed Lieberman for the failure to form a government.

“The public in Israel made a clear decision. It decided that I will be prime minister, that the Likud will lead the government, a right-wing government,” said Netanyahu. “The public voted for me to lead the state of Israel.”

“All of the requests and demands of Yisrael Beitenu were repeatedly rejected,” continued Netanyahu. “I presented a proposal. He rejected it. He wanted, in the clearest way, to bring down the government.”

“Avigdor Liberman is now part of the left. He brings down right-wing governments. Don’t believe him again,” he said.

The dissolution of the Knesset comes after a frantic day of political offers and horse trading that saw Likud negotiators offer a wide range of ministries and legislative promises to members of the Labor Party and Blue and White Party, who are both set to sit in the opposition.

As one of the biggest possible political bombshells, Likud offered Labor to join the coalition in exchange for possible portfolios such as Finance and Justice. Even senior Labor MK Amir Peretz was reportedly offered the presidency following the end of Rivlin’s term. The reports also suggested that the government would nix legislation to override the Supreme Court and immunity for Netanyahu.

However, Labor reportedly rejected these offers after serious consideration.

Additionally, reports indicated that Likud negotiators looked into the possibility of bringing in some members of the Blue and White Party into the coalition. MKs were offered a range of portfolios from Defense and Finance, to Justice, Culture and Communications. Others were also offered future appointments as ambassadors or favorable legislation for specific MKs such as addressing Druze concerns over the nation-state law or speeding up the immigration of Ethiopia’s Falash Mura community.

In the hours before the vote to dissolve parliament, reports also surfaced of a compromise deal between Lieberman and the ultra-Orthodox parties whereas the military draft bill would get a first reading and afterwards would proceed for a second and third reading by “mutual consent.”

Likud purportedly pressured the ultra-Orthodox parties to back the proposal or risk going back to the original military draft law, which would mean thousands of a ultra-Orthodox men would be liable to be drafted.

In the end, all the negotiations and proposals were rejected.

In his comments following the dissolution, Netanyahu declared that Likud “will run a sharp and clear election campaign, and we will win.” (JNS.org)

 

Rally After Anti-Semitic Vandalism on Staten Island Calls for “Re-Doubling Acts of Kindness” in the Face of Evil

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Sholom Schreirber
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Left to Right: Borough President James Oddo; Congressman Max Rose; COJO-SI CEO and Executive Vice-President Scott Maurer; District Attorney Michael McMahon; COJO-SI President Mendy Mirocznik; Councilman Joe Borelli; and Assemblyman Mike Reilly.

Less than a week after hate speech was written on a yeshiva wall in Meiers Corners, nearly 100 Staten Islanders, including religious and community leaders, gathered at a unity rally on Tuesday to denounce hate and encourage peace and kindness.

The unity rally was organized by Staten Island District Attorney Michael E. McMahon and his Hate Crimes Task Force which is Co-Chaired by Scott Maurer, the CEO and Executive Vice-President of the Staten Island Council of Jewish Organizations.  The press-conference was held at the Chabad of Staten Island on Tuesday.

The graffiti was discovered on the side of the building Thursday morning, the eve of Lag B’Omer, a Jewish holiday celebrating unity and freedom from persecution.

The words, “Synagogue of Satan,” were written on the Chabad of Staten Island, while across the street, the letters “SOS” were written on the Yeshiva Zichron Paltiel of Staten Island, referencing the aforementioned phrase.

Residents and members of the Jewish community were joined by local elected officials, NYPD Assistant Chief Kenneth Corey, borough commander of Staten Island, and the Staten Island Hate Crimes Task Force.

Rabbi Moshe Katzman told the crowd that when he first learned of the graffiti on Thursday morning, he wanted to keep the vandalism quiet, and not make it a big deal. After people started to reach out to him, and photos of the hate speech on social media, he made the decision to use this hateful crime as a way to spread kindness. “Every act of evil, we need to redouble our acts of kindness,” Rabbi Moshe Katzman said. “And this is the only way we can continue in life. “Rep. Max Rose, District Attorney Michael McMahon, Borough President James Oddo, Assemblymembers Michael Cusick, Nicole Malliotakis, and Michael Reilly, and Councilmembers Joseph Borelli and Steve Matteo, spoke at the unity rally as well as COJO CEO and Executive Vice-President Scott Maurer to encourage kindness and push back against hate.

At the event Tuesday morning on Harold Street, officials themselves grabbed paint rollers and removed a message of hate written on the side of the Chabad of Staten Island. “We’re taking a stand for light, because only light can defeat darkness,” District Attorney Michael McMahon said. “We’re taking a stand for love, because only love can defeat hate. “Officials from the NYPD were also on hand to discuss the crimes.

“Someone out there knows who perpetrated this crime,” NYPD Assistant Chief and Staten Island Borough Commander Ken Corey said. “Tell us. Help us keep you safe. “There has been a rise in anti-Semitic crimes, and there have been calls to address the issue before it gets any uglier.

Mendy Mirocznik, president of the Staten Island Council of Jewish Organization thanked District Attorney Michael McMahon for putting together this important press-conference. “In these trying times the key is communication and confidence building.” Mirocznik added, “We at COJO value the direct line of communication that we have with District Attorney McMahon, Chief Kenneth Corey and members of the broader Staten Island community. We at COJO appreciate that both District Attorney McMahon and Chief Corey are taking a strong vigilant stand against hate and anti-Semitism and these measures are giving the residents of Staten Island the fortitude and courage not to surrender to fear and hate.  Our prayer is that we should no longer know of the evil of anti-Semitism, hate and bigotry.”

Trump Tweets for Stronger US-Israel Alliance as New Israeli Elections Loom

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Sholom Schreirber
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Avigdor Liberman, left, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his swearing-in ceremony on May 30, 2016–Photo Credit: Haim Zach/GPO

Netanyahu thinks that Liberman may respond to pressure from the U.S., Israeli officials say.

In a brief speech to the press on Monday at the Knesset, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned against “unnecessary elections” and called for all parties to act responsibly. To bolster his argument, he noted that President Donald Trump himself had expressed his hopes that a coalition would be formed, according to a World Israel News report.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is pictured hear with Gilad Erdan, the Minister of Public Security & Strategic Affairs in a group shot with the Shaldag unit of the Israel Defense Forces. It is an elite Israeli Air Force commando unit and one of the main Israeli special forces units. Photo Credit: Israel GPO

NBC News reported that Netanyahu delivered a primetime statement on Monday calling on his potential partners to put “the good of the nation above every other interest” in order to avoid sending the country once again to “expensive, wasteful” elections. He placed the blame on Israel Beitenu chairman Avigdor Liberman for creating the crisis, but said he was hopeful his efforts to salvage a compromise in the next 48 hours would succeed.

Netanyahu stated Sunday night that he had proposed a solution in the last effort to prevent elections, as was reported by TPS. “I am now making a final effort to establish a right-wing government and to prevent unnecessary elections. I gave the partners a proposal for a solution. It is based on the principles established by the army and on the data that the army has compiled – there is no reason to reject this. I’m going to invite all party leaders tonight, I want to talk to them and try together to prevent unnecessary elections,” he stated.

A strong U.S.-Israel relationship carries weight with the Israeli public as was previously proven. According to Maariv, Netanyahu wants members of the Trump administration to step in and pressure Liberman to join the coalition.

Liberman, thus far has stubbornly refused to do so. Though Netanyahu’s Likud party increased its power to 35 seats in parliament in the April 9 vote, it can’t muster a 61-seat majority without Lieberman’s party. WIN reported that failure to form a government means the country would again go to elections, an unheard-of event in Israel.

The crisis ostensibly revolves around Lieberman’s insistence that current legislation mandating that young ultra-Orthodox men be drafted into the military goes through the Knesset voting process without a single modification or alteration to the bill, as was reported by World Israel News.

Haredi, or Orthodox parties consider conscription a taboo, fearing that military service will lead to immersion in secularism. Although exemptions have led to widespread resentment among non-religious Israelis, the haredi parties insist they stay in place.

Tazpit Press Service reported that the Shas and United Torah Judaism parties, with 16 seats, have made concessions regarding the draft law, but are unwilling to adopt the formula that Liberman is demanding.

The Likud stated that the Moetzet Gedolei Ha-Torah, its supreme leadership committee, has accepted Netanyahu’s proposal regarding the IDF draft law.

“The draft law has become a symbol and we will not capitulate on our symbols,” Liberman defiantly said, vowing to press for new elections if his demands are not met.

NBC News reported that Netanyahu’s Likud party has traditionally had an alliance with Orthodox and nationalist parties. But Liberman, a former top Netanyahu aide, is a wild card. Though stanchly nationalist, he also champions a secular agenda aimed toward his political base of immigrants from the former Soviet Union, according to the NBC News report.

“I will not be a partner to a Halachic state,” he said, using the word for Jewish law.

However, Israeli officials told Maariv that Netanyahu thinks the Trump card may work with Liberman, who will be asked to join the government out of “national responsibility.”

On Monday, Trump tweeted his hopes “things will work out with Israel’s coalition formation and Bibi and I can continue to make the alliance between America and Israel stronger than ever. A lot more to do!”

Netanyahu referred to Trump’s tweet in a statement that was broadcasted live on all the television channels in Israel, according to Axios.com. He thanked the US leader for his tweet and said: “Trump is right – we still have a lot of work to do.”

Netanyahu is one of Trump’s main allies around the world. During the last election in Israel, Trump intervened in favor of Netanyahu and Netanyahu used Trump in his TV ads and on billboards around Israel, as was reported by Axios.

Two weeks before the election, Trump recognized the Golan Heights as part of Israel. This decision was a huge win for Netanyahu and had an influence on Israeli public opinion.

On the Israeli political front, World Israel News reported that the Likud has assailed Liberman in recent days for undermining the people’s will for a right-wing government and accused him of acting out of personal spite for Netanyahu. The prime minister himself said Lieberman would be fully responsible for dragging the country into a major crisis and that his people have vowed to aggressively go after Lieberman’s core supporters in response.

But the mercurial Liberman seems to be holding his ground, according to the WIN report.

“The only motivation of Israel Beiteinu is to stand by our principles and our commitments,” he said in a Facebook post. “We are not looking to topple Netanyahu and are not looking for an alternative candidate, but we will not compromise.”

New Right party officials say they’re ready for a second go if the country goes to unprecedented back-to-back elections, according to a WIN report. The party narrowly failed to meet the minimum required threshold by about 1,400 votes in the last elections held in April.

When a party doesn’t pass the electoral threshold all of its votes are discounted. In the New Right’s case it cost Israel’s right-wing bloc over 138,000 votes, which went up in smoke when the party failed to make it into the Knesset, as was reported by World Israel News.

But now it appears the party may get a second chance. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has encountered unexpected difficulties in forming a government coalition. In mid-May, he requested a two-week extension. It expires on Wednesday night.

Netanyahu’s best efforts have not been able to bring together coalition partners who stand at opposite ends of the debate over the conscription law.

On Monday, the Likud brought a motion to dissolve the Knesset, a first-step toward heading to new elections, according to the World Israel News report.

The New Right was founded by Education Minister Naftali Bennett and Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked. It’s not clear if Shaked will run again.

According to party officials, “The party will run in the elections and make connections, with Shaked or without her.”

The World Israel News report observed that this may be a disadvantage for the New Right as Shaked is popular, a fact known to the party and indicated by the fact that her name came first on campaign posters despite Bennett being the party’s leading figure.

Prior to the sudden possibility of new elections, it appeared that Bennett would move on from politics or at least take a long hiatus.

At the International Bible Competition on May 9, during his final speech as education minister at an official event, Bennett said “You try as long as you can, don’t give up as long as there’s any chance. Once you’re hit – get up, learn from your mistakes and move on. I did the best I could. There’s so much work yet to be done, and people at least as good as me to do it. Wherever I’ll be, I’ll never stop giving everything I can for the Israeli people.”

A Monday poll published by the Maariv newspaper shows that the right would gain further power if elections were held today, as was reported by TPS. Netanyahu’s Likud would maintain its 35 seats, Benny Gantz’s Blue and White party, the main opposition party, would lose one seat and get 34 mandates, and the right-wing parties in total would get 68 seats, three more than their current 65 seats.

On Tuesday, INN reported that the special committee for the bill to dissolve the Knesset approved the motion for second and third reading. On Wednesday, at noon, the Knesset will begin its deliberations on the bill.

Meanwhile, a source in the Likud who has been involved in the negotiations told Channel 13 News in Israel that if an agreement is reached at the last minute to form a coalition then National Union chairman Bezalel Smotrich would have to be given the justice portfolio.

The official stated that Smotrich would be made Justice Minister despite Prime Minister Netanyahu’s preference to give the portfolio to Likud MK Yariv Levin due to the lack of time before tomorrow’s deadline to form the coalition, as was reported by Israel National News.

Also on Tuesday, INN reported that Netanyahu had met with Supreme Court Chief Justice Esther Hayut and her deputy Hanan Meltzer at the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem, at his request.

Chief Justice Hayut and Deputy Chief Justice Meltzer stressed the importance of maintaining the independence of the judicial authority. Prime Minister Netanyahu emphasized the need for balance between the branches of government.

INN reported that at the end of the meeting, Netanyahu’s office issued a statement saying, “The participants noted the importance of substantive and respectful dialogue between the branches of government.”

In her speech, Hayut claimed that Netanyahu did not address the issues he himself committed to in his inaugural address to the Supreme Court, in which he emphasized the need for a strong and independent judicial system.

                                                (WIN, TPS, NBC)

Trump: Japan-Mediated Iran Talks ‘Would Be Fine’

By
Sholom Schreirber
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0
President Donald Trump says he would be fine with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe serving as a mediator between the United States and Iran. Photo Credit–Shealah Craighead–White House photo

President Donald Trump says he would be fine with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe serving as a mediator between the United States and Iran.

“The prime minister has already spoken to me about that,” Trump said in response to a question from VOA.” And I do believe that Iran would like to talk and if they’d like to talk we’d like to talk also. We’ll see what happens. But I know for a fact that the prime minister is very close with the leadership of Iran.”

Trump spoke as he and Abe opened a meeting Monday at the Japanese state guest house.

U.S.–Iran tensions escalated in recent weeks as Trump ended waivers that had allowed some of Iran’s biggest oil buyers to continue making purchases despite new U.S. sanctions, and as he increased the U.S. military presence in the Gulf in response to what he said were Iranian threats.

Trump and Abe are scheduled to hold a news conference Monday afternoon after their talks that were to include military and trade matters.

No quick breakthrough on trade is expected although both leaders have expressed a desire for a bilateral trade pact after Trump pulled the United States out of the comprehensive 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership, which Tokyo had spearheaded with Washington under Trump’s predecessor, Barack Obama.

Trump said there would be an announcement on trade coming probably in August “that will be very good for both countries,” and reiterated his desire to see a better trade balance between them.

Earlier Monday, Trump became the first foreign leader to meet with Emperor Naruhito, who ascended to the throne May 1.

Trump and first lady Melania Trump took part in an elaborate welcoming ceremony at the Imperial Palace.

The U.S. delegation was greeted at the palace by several dozen elementary schoolchildren waving Japanese and American flags. A military band played the U.S. “Star Spangled Banner” and Kimigayo anthems.

The emperor is hosting an imperial banquet at the palace Monday night.

On Sunday, Trump and National Security Advisor John Bolton were publicly at odds about the seriousness of the threat currently posed by North Korea.

In a Sunday morning tweet from Tokyo, Trump issued a retort to Bolton who the previous day here had told reporters that there was “no doubt” North Korea’s recent test firing of short-range ballistic missiles violated a United Nations resolution.

Bolton’s remark was the first by a U.S. official describing the North Korean launches as a violation of U.N. resolutions.

“North Korea fired off some small weapons which disturbed some of my people and others, but not me,” said Trump in his tweet.

Trump’s tweet on North Korea caused confusion and consternation, not only within the administration but also among America’s allies in the region, acknowledged senior White House officials traveling with the president

Some analysts say the missile launches are indeed a concern.

        (VOA)

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