Sen. Michelle Hinchey quietly introduced a bill which would allow liquor stores and distributors to sell “non-alcoholic versions of alcoholic beverages”. Credit: nysenate.gov
By: Serach Nissim
A pair of state lawmakers are introducing a bill that would prop up New York wine and liquor stores to help their businesses.
As reported by the NY Post, NYS Sen. Michelle Hinchey quietly introduced a controversial bill which would allow wine and liquor stores and their distributors to sell “non-alcoholic versions of alcoholic beverages”. This is a small but quickly growing niche that liquor store owners say could help sales, which have slowed since the end of the pandemic. The bill, however, is sure to be unpopular with grocers and their supporters. NYS is among only 17 states that don’t allow wine and liquor stores to sell non-alcoholic beer, wine and spirits. It is also, however, one of only 10 states which does not allow grocery stores to sell wine or liquor. Supermarkets and grocers, which are only allowed to sell beer in NY, have been lobbying heavily against this law, which has been untouched since the Prohibition era.
Last year, grocers pushed a bill to grant them the right to sell alcohol, but it failed to pass due to strong opposition from liquor stores, per the Post.
Over the past 12 months, sales of alcoholic beverages in the United States inched up just 0.8% to $105 billion. During that same timeframe, sales of non-alcoholic booze jumped an impressive 34% to $620.4 million, according to NielsenIQ. So, although still modest in market size, the non-alcoholic booze is becoming a significant niche worth fighting for. Currently, grocers and convenience stores are the ones legally allowed to sell non-alcoholic wines, spirits and mocktails, along with specialty stores which sell only non-alcoholic beverages.
Wine and liquor store owners say their sales are down by more than 10 percent over the past year, per members of the Albany-based Metropolitan Package Store Association, which represents 3,500 liquor stores. “2023 was a difficult year for us,” Daniel Posner, owner of Grapes the Wine Company of White Plains, told The Post. “Most retailers’ sales were off anywhere from 15% to 35%.”
“Consumers are not purchasing as much alcohol for at-home consumption,” noted Kaleigh Theriault, NielsonIQ’s director of beverage alcohol thought leadership. Michael Correra, a Brooklyn liquor store owner who is executive director of the Metropolitan Package Store Association, suggested “I think the legalization of marijuana is taking business away.” Correra added, “And Ozempic is an issue for us because people are not drinking when they are taking those drugs.”
“It’s incredibly important to us to support our liquor stores,” Hinchey told The Post. “They are family owned, local small businesses that are on our main streets and this could be a new revenue stream for them.” State Assemblyman Al Stirpe has put forth a companion bill in the lower house. So far, the bills haven’t garnered too much opposition. “There hasn’t been a big push yet,” Hinchey said.
“It’s a new bill.”
Many, however, expect severe backlash from grocery stores. Nelson Eusebio, who heads government relations for the National Supermarket Association, which represents 600 independent stores in NYC, said he hadn’t heard about the bill before he was contacted for comment by the Post. “It’s a fair trade provided that we get to sell the wine,” Eusebio said. “We would block their bill if they don’t allow us to get wine. They keep making a scene about us selling wine, so why would we give them even potato chips?”
The Square Hotel in NYC’s theater district, across the street from Gershwin Theatre, has been converted into a shelter. Credit: squarehotelnyc.com
By: Ilana Siyance
In the latest sign of the looming migrant crisis, another posh hotel in the center of Broadway is reportedly being utilized as a shelter.
As reported by the New York Post, The Square Hotel, located at 226 West 50th Street between Eighth Avenue and Broadway, across the street from Gershwin Theatre, has been converted into a shelter. The Square Hotel posted a message on its Facebook page saying: “To our valued guests: it is with great sadness that we announce the Square Hotel will be closed for the foreseeable future. We appreciate your patronage and hope to welcome you back someday soon.” The hotel’s website has a similarly cryptic post, making no reference to its use as a shelter, saying: “Please pardon our appearance as we slip into something new! We look forward to welcoming you in the future.”
The 141-room boutique hotel, centrally located in the theatre district and less than 10 minutes’ walk to Rockefeller Center, was built in 1904 and last renovated in 2017. The 7-story hotel boasts “Art Nouveau styled hotel rooms” with “sophisticated furniture, plush beds with down comforters and deluxe linens, flat-screen televisions with cable”, and a rooftop terrace. It still features a Japanese restaurant and bar in its lobby. According to the information in the Post report however, the scene inside the hotel has completely changed. There is now a National Guard soldier stationed at the entrance of the lobby. A couple signing in with luggage was escorted by National Guard troops.
Critics were disappointed that the hotel would convert into a shelter. “These hotels could be doing a fine tourist business right now, but they are being lazy, and a sure-thing 100-percent occupancy on the city dime, and without having to provide traditional hotel services, is just too good a deal to pass up,” said Nicole Gelinas, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute in a highly astute comment.
Other pro-business advocates said it’s sad that the city and the hotel industry are turning the iconic Broadway District into a hub for illegal migrants. “We consider the Broadway District a key to the city’s economy. There is only one Broadway —in the entire world!” said state Conservative Party Chairman Gerard Kassar, who seeks to preserve the legacy of the “Great White Way” and what it means for New York City.
The head of the Hotel Association of New York City said hotels are helping the city deal with the migrant crisis. “The hotels make their own choices as to whether or not to participate. During the Covid crisis, hotels stepped up to the plate, and when it ended they went back to their normal course of tourism business,” Hotel Association CEO Vijay Dandapani said, in a statement, according to the Post report.
For their part, the migrants say the shelters are their only hope as they flee their homelands, which are in upheaval and where poverty is the only option. They say the shelters act as a lifeline while they adjust and find work to become self-sufficient. “We all pay the price for one or two bad guys. One guy goes to do something bad and then they say all Venezuelans are bad,” Jesus Delber, 27, told The Post. “But not everyone is like that. I came to work. I didn’t find work for three months. But I didn’t give up,” added Delbert.
A Nazi swastika was found at Ignacio’s Tailor shop on East 60th Street on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Credit: Instagram
By: Rob Otto
The tranquil streets of the Upper East Side were jolted into a state of disquiet as news spread of a disturbing sight within the confines of Ignacio’s Tailor shop on East 60th Street. A Nazi swastika, a potent emblem of hate and persecution, hung in plain view, sending shockwaves through the community and eliciting a chorus of condemnation from patrons and neighbors alike. What followed was a tumultuous saga of apologies, investigations, and soul-searching, as the shop found itself at the center of an unexpected storm.
The NY Post reported extensively on this local story, which displays Jew hatred in permeating NYC.
The management of Ignacio’s Tailor shop wasted no time in addressing the incendiary situation. In a public statement, Jorge Hernandez, a manager at the establishment, expressed profound dismay, characterizing the incident as a malicious attempt to harm the business. “For me, I feel like it’s a hate situation. It’s the first time we had this situation… they want to hurt the business,” Hernandez lamented, his words laden with frustration and disbelief.
City Councilwoman Julie Menin, upon learning of the distressing display, took swift action, sharing a photograph of the offensive symbol on social media. “A constituent in my district alerted me to the fact that a tailor on the UES has this hanging in his queue to be tailored. I have reached out to this business and they will not be tailoring this item and @NYPDnews is currently investigating,” Menin declared, amplifying the public outcry and signaling the commencement of an official inquiry into the matter.
Amidst the furor, Jewish activist Lizzy Savetsky emerged as a vocal critic of the shop’s involvement in handling the swastika-adorned garment. Drawing from her family’s harrowing history in the Holocaust, Savetsky underscored the profound significance of the symbol and demanded accountability from those responsible. “The tailor allegedly knew what the symbol was and took the job anyway,” Savetsky asserted, her words resonating with a potent mix of anger and sorrow.
As the spotlight intensified, questions emerged regarding the circumstances surrounding the presence of the offensive symbol within the shop’s premises. Hernandez provided insights into the sequence of events, detailing how a photograph of the swastika surfaced before the management was made aware of the situation, leading to widespread public outcry and a flurry of negative reviews.
Efforts to trace the origins of the garment revealed a perplexing scenario involving a couple who purportedly dropped off the offending item. “I say, ‘what is this?’ I have to do [my job]. It’s very disgusting, very bad. It’s a very bad thing that happened,” Hernandez lamented, reflecting on the disturbing turn of events and the toll it had taken on the shop’s reputation.
In the aftermath of the incident, Ignacio’s Tailor shop found itself besieged by irate phone calls and negative reviews, its once-pristine image tarnished by association with the abhorrent symbol of hate. However, amidst the tumult, a voice of compassion emerged from a granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, who recognized the shop as a victim rather than a willing participant in the distressing episode.
As investigations continue and the community grapples with the far-reaching repercussions of this unsettling event, profound questions linger about the prevalence of hate symbols and the responsibilities of businesses in confronting such manifestations of bigotry. The saga serves as a stark reminder of the enduring power of symbols and the urgent need for vigilance.
In the widely circulated footage, the unidentified woman, reportedly a student, passionately extols North Korea’s purported support for the Palestinian cause. Credit: X.com
By: Don Driggers
In a curious twist of fate, a young woman’s unexpected endorsement of North Korea’s purported solidarity with Palestinians during an anti-Israel protest at New York University (NYU) has stirred a whirlwind of controversy. The incident, captured in a viral clip shared across social media platforms, has not only thrust the individual into the spotlight but has also reignited debates about the boundaries of activism and the perils of ideological extremism on college campuses.
The NY Post, pointed this one out in a recent article
In the widely circulated footage, the unidentified woman, reportedly a student, passionately extols North Korea’s purported support for the Palestinian cause during what appears to be a “teach-in” session at the protest. Her remarks, laden with fervor and conviction, highlight the regime’s alleged backing of Palestinian resistance efforts, juxtaposed against the backdrop of its longstanding dictatorship under the rule of Kim Jong-Un.
The video, viewed over 2 million times and counting, swiftly sparked a torrent of criticism and condemnation. Many were quick to denounce the woman’s assertions as “deranged” and “deluded,” questioning the rationale behind glorifying a regime notorious for its repressive policies and egregious human rights abuses.
Among the chorus of disapproval was GOP Queens Councilwoman Vickie Paladino, who took to Twitter to express her incredulity. “Any educational institution that produces this kind of deranged thinking should be completely dismantled. These are not the good guys,” she declared, echoing the sentiments of many who found the woman’s remarks deeply troubling.
Tina Forte, a Republican candidate for New York’s 14th Congressional District, chimed in with a pointed jab, suggesting that supporters of Hamas, the Palestinian militant group, should experience life in North Korea firsthand. Her sarcastic hashtag, “#EnjoyNorthKorea,” underscored the absurdity of the woman’s praise for a regime diametrically opposed to the values of freedom and democracy.
The backlash against the woman’s comments reverberated far beyond the confines of social media, drawing attention from prominent personalities and commentators. Piers Morgan, known for his unfiltered opinions, minced no words in his assessment, bluntly labeling the woman’s statements as “dumb” and “deluded.” Meanwhile, veteran journalist Andrew Neil seized upon the irony of Hamas finding an ally in one of the world’s most repressive regimes, highlighting the absurdity of the situation.
As the controversy unfolded, questions arose about the broader implications of the woman’s remarks and the prevalence of radical ideologies on college campuses. The incident served as a sobering reminder of the dangers of unchecked extremism and the importance of critical thinking in navigating complex geopolitical issues.
Despite efforts to solicit a response from NYU regarding the incident, the university has remained tight-lipped thus far, leaving many to speculate about the institution’s stance on the matter. As the fallout from the incident continues to reverberate, it serves as a cautionary tale about the power of words and the need for vigilance against the insidious influence of extremist ideologies in educational settings.
Frank Carone was Mayor Adams’ political fixer and former chief of staff. Credit: abramslaw.com
By: Benyamin Davidsons
Mayor Eric Adams appeared in a video promoting the upcoming Smart City Expo USA, released by the conference in April. Also, his administration poured $250,000 in city funds to sponsor the conference. As reported by Crain’s NY, the conference’s organizer recently worked for and has close ties with Frank Carone, Adams’ political fixer and former chief of staff.
The Smart City Expo USA is slated to be held on May 22 to 23 in Lower Manhattan. The conference has proudly booked Adams and over a dozen other top city officials as speakers. The tech expo had originally been scheduled for October 2023, but had been cancelled by organizers just four days before its start date. The delay was publicly blamed on heavy rainfall, but five sources told Crain’s NY Business that the postponement was actually due to a lack of corporate sponsorships and poor ticket sales. Apparently, Mayor Adam’s administration stepped in to give the expo a boost. Mayor Adams promoted the revived Expo as an opportunity to explore ways of addressing climate change and public safety. “As the tech mayor, I am committed to pushing our city forward,”
Adams said in the video message, which first posted in April on the conference’s YouTube page. He did not, however, publicly note his administration’s financial support for the event, nor mention the organizer’s ties to his chief of staff.
Per Crain’s, Aarti Tandon has been the CEO of the for-profit company that runs the Smart City Expo USA since 2019. Last year, Tandon worked for Carone’s lobbying and consulting firm, named Oaktree Solutions. She left Oaktree solutions last year, but remains on amicable terms with Carone. Carone and one of his current employees, Matthew Quinonez, were both copied on an outreach email that Tandon had sent out last year to prospective speakers and sponsors.
Some critics are saying the Adams administration’s $250,000 commitment is unusually generous for a city sponsorship of a privately produced event. “It is a concern when the city is directly subsidizing events for vendors whose goal is to sell stuff to the city,” said John Kaehny, executive director of the watchdog group Reinvent Albany. “That’s taxpayer money, and you have to say, what is the point of that expenditure given that the city is already hosting?”
The Adams administration initially committed the one-time $250,000 “sponsorship contribution” to last year’s event through a June 2023 vote by the board of the Economic Development Corp., whose members are appointed by the mayor. Those funds are being used to fund this year’s expo, Office of Technology and Innovation spokesman Legendre told Crain’s in an email.
The mayor’s office and EDC declined to answer Crain’s queries about how the administration became involved in the conference and whether Carone had pushed the sponsorship. They pointed to a statement by the Office of Technology and Innovation. “As we continue to build New York City’s tech sector and our future-focused sectors, like green economy and life sciences, the city has proudly supported a broad range of economic development efforts, including events like the Smart City Expo, which attract visitors from around the world,” wrote spokesman Ray Legendre. “We look forward to welcoming attendees to help bolster our city’s economy and advance innovation to improve life for New Yorkers.”
Tandon declined to comment on her affiliation with Oaktree, and Carone told Crain’s that he “was never involved in it in any iteration, ever.”
Tova Friedman, 86, Holocaust survivor and star of Tik-Tok, speaks at a Yom HaShoah event in Manhattan on May 6, 2024, as (seated from far right) Israeli ambassador to the United Nations Gilad Erdan, Israeli-American Council CEO Elan Carr and Israeli Consul General to New York Ofir Akunis look on. Photo by Mike Wagenheim.
“We owe it to every future generation of Jews to take these threats and chants that we hear today on our campuses, on our streets and through the media seriously,” a Columbia University student said.
By: Mike Wagenheim
Holocaust Remembrance Day, Yom Hashoah, generally focuses only on the slaughter of 6 million Jews without comparing it to anything else.
But a memorial ceremony marking the day on Monday in New York City near Columbia University turned out to be many things. It was part memorial, part condemnation of Hamas’s Oct. 7 terror attack on Israel—and the global reaction to that massacre—part rally for the release of hostages Hamas holds in Gaza and part lamentation of the waywardness across U.S. college campuses.
Gilad Erdan, the Israeli ambassador to the United Nations, told the some 1,000 people in attendance along Manhattan’s Riverside Drive that the Holocaust started not with the gas chambers but with the creation of an atmosphere through which to delegitimize Jewish existence.
It has become “prevalent to delegitimize the existence of the one and only Jewish state,” he said. “That’s because they prepared the ground for the extermination and the justification of the extermination of Jews, as was seen on Oct. 7, and through today.”
Those in attendance came to “stand together and convey a powerful message that we will not tolerate these hateful and shameful words, and will not tolerate the delegitimization of the Jewish people,” Erdan said.
The Israeli envoy noted that the hate and delegitimization can be heard on college campuses, including at Columbia, and called on elected officials to make antisemites “pay a heavy price.”
Ofir Akunis, Israel’s newly installed consul general to New York, said the evening’s message was simple. “No one will succeed in defeating us,” he said. “No one will erase the power of the Star of David.”
The Israeli-American Council organized the event, billed as “Never Again Is Now.”
It featured a mix of songs and speakers, including diplomats, IAC executives, Jewish personalities, Columbia University students and the prominent Holocaust survivor Tova Friedman. Speakers delivered messages of anger and of hope to an Israeli- and American flag-waving crowd, flanked by a noticeable security presence.
Too laid back
An 86-year-old TikTok star (with more than half a million followers), Friedman told JNS that it was critical to keep her stories of Holocaust pain and survival alive.
“If I didn’t, Hitler would win,” she told JNS. “He wanted us to die, and I’m alive. I’ve got four children and eight grandchildren. I don’t want to just survive. The only way you can win is that you thrive.”
Despite fears that another genocide of Jews worldwide may loom, Friedman is convinced another Holocaust isn’t instore.
“I don’t feel that. I was in Washington, D.C., this morning. They are very upset about what’s going on in our country,” she told JNS of her meetings in Congress.
“I think the American youth has been very laid back. They don’t know so much about Judaism,” she said. “I think we have to strengthen them.”
History repeats
Jewish influencer and activist Lizzy Savetsky said that history inevitably repeats itself when it isn’t remembered and its lessons aren’t learned.
In 1933, Germans barred Jewish students from entering campus. Hitler had started his propaganda organization accusing Jews of conspiracies and blood libels.
“We’re seeing the same exact thing today,” Savetsky told JNS. “If you don’t wake up and open your eyes and pay attention, we could very easily end up back there.”
Savetsky, who is active on social media, said that many pro-Israel activists are suffering from burnout. Supporting Israel is a “marathon,” she said.
Being “outwardly Jewish” is the best way to fight antisemitism, Savetsky believes.
“The most important thing that we can do is continue to spread the truth. Education is our best weapon,” she told JNS. “We are up against people, who have no problem telling whatever lie that they need to tell in order to perpetuate their narrative. Nonetheless, we can’t afford to be silent.”
As difficult a time as the Israeli people are enduring, Knesset member Simcha Rothman, who attended the New York memorial, said that they must support their Jewish brothers and sisters abroad.
Many Jews in the Diaspora whom Rothman has met are “very worried” and “see some similarities to what happened in Germany” prior to World War II, he said.
“We’re fighting not only for ourselves. We’re fighting to keep the State of Israel as a safe haven for the Jews in Israel and in the world, at large,” and to apply “political and international pressure” on the Biden administration to address it, he told JNS.
Three students at Columbia University, which has been the target of coordinated Jew-hatred that has also spread to other campuses throughout the country, shared their experiences with attendees on Monday.
Sonya Poznansky, a senior studying biology in Columbia’s dual-degree program with Tel Aviv University, said that she has learned since Oct. 7 that when people say that “they want Jews dead, it is our moral responsibility to believe them.”
Poznansky shuffled in and out of bomb shelters during Hamas’s rocket attacks in 2021, escaped a terror attack in Tel Aviv in 2022, had three friends murdered on Oct. 7 at the Nova music festival and “turned page after page of dead Poznanskys” in the Book of Names of Holocaust victims.
She said the recent calls for the murder of Jews in the streets of New York City finally drove home the point for her.
“We owe it to every future generation of Jews to take these threats and chants that we hear today on our campuses, on our streets and through the media seriously, and to promise ‘Never Again,’ she said.
“I am so grateful to be here today,” she added. “To be alive to tell my family’s story and to remember those who had their lives and their potential future generations so viciously taken from them.”
An NYPD patrol car is parked outside a synagogue on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, Oct. 7, 2023. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
Edited by: Fern Sidman
In a significant move to bolster security at places of worship, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced a substantial $400 million boost in federal funding. According to an Associated Press report, this announcement, made on Sunday in New York City, reflects a proactive effort to address the escalating threats faced by Jewish and Muslim communities, particularly in the wake of the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict.
The increase in funds is earmarked for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, a federal initiative designed to help religious and nonprofit organizations fortify their facilities against potential attacks, as was reported by the AP. This year’s allocation represents a significant rise from the $305 million distributed last year, calling attention to the urgency and gravity of the current threat landscape.
The decision to augment the funding comes at a time when anti-Semitic and anti-Muslim incidents are on the rise, a surge largely attributed to the fallout from the Israel-Gaza war that began in October. The AP reported that the Anti-Defamation League’s recent report highlights a troubling spike, noting that incidents of assault, vandalism, and harassment targeting Jews more than doubled last year, reaching a record high. This alarming trend underscores a dire need for enhanced protective measures at religious sites.
Places of worship, including synagogues and mosques, now have the opportunity to apply for funding to cover essential security measures such as hiring security personnel and installing surveillance cameras, as was indicated in the AP report.
Applicants seeking to secure a portion of this funding must submit their requests by May 21, emphasizing the need for swift action and readiness among communities at risk. Schumer’s commitment is clear: “We’re going to keep funding so that no synagogue or other religious institution is going to have to live in the fear that they now live with,” as was noted in the AP report.
This past Saturday in New York City, a chilling wave of bomb threats targeting at least three synagogues and a museum stirred anxieties within the Jewish community, though authorities later deemed these threats non-credible, the AP report added.
Governor Kathy Hochul took to social media platform X to express her stance on the issue, stating that state officials were “actively monitoring a number of bomb threats at synagogues in New York,” the AP reported. Hochul’s quick declaration that the threats had been found not credible did not mask her stern resolve against the perpetrators: “We will not tolerate individuals sowing fear & anti-Semitism. Those responsible must be held accountable for their despicable actions.”
Similarly, Manhattan Borough President Mark D. Levine characterized the threats as a hate crime and linked them to a disturbing trend of ‘swatting’—the act of making hoax calls to bring about a large police presence at a location. Levine emphasized on X, “This is a clear effort to sow fear in the Jewish community. Cannot be accepted.”
The bomb threats against New York’s synagogues may have been hoaxes, but the fear they instilled was real. These incidents are a stark reminder of the challenges that the Jewish community continues to face. As New York’s officials and community leaders rally to secure and support those targeted, there is also a broader call to the public: t
Former President Donald J. Trump vowed to resolve the migrant crisis via mass deportations. Photo Credit: AP
By: Ilana Siyance
As the 2024 Presidential election heats up, former President Donald J. Trump, the Republican candidate, vowed to resolve the migrant crisis via mass deportations.
As reported by the NY Post, Mr. Trump has frequently spoken about his deportation plans, and recently said in a TIME Magazine interview that he would utilize local law enforcement as well as the National Guard and the military to move his plan forward to fruition. The Trump campaign has said there are “nearly 20 million” illegal migrants currently in the United States, potentially ripe for the “largest” deportation operation in American history. Such an initiative would follow on the heels of former President Dwight Eisenhower’s “Operation Wetback”, during which over 1 million migrants were shipped out of the country in 1954.
The Trump campaign has not specified the details of what resources would be needed to identify, detain and deport the illegal immigrants, but clearly such a big operation would require a massive expansion of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, generous funding from congress, and collaboration with the State Department, former ICE officials told The Post.
Experts have backed the Trump campaigns’ estimate figure of migrants. The 20 million stated from the Trump campaign is “not an unreasonable estimate” given the record-breaking number of migrants entering the country under the Biden administration, Eric Ruark, NumbersUSA’s director of research, told The Post. “There’s probably between 15 and 20 million, given the number of people we’ve seen coming over,” Ruark said, in stark contrast with the US Census Bureau’s official estimate of 11 million.
Tom Homan, former acting director of ICE under former President Trump, said the agency has “systems in place that are very good at identifying people,” but that the speed of the deportations would depend on the resources allowed and cooperation from other branches of government. “A lot of that is going to be up to Congress … We need officers, we need detention beds, we need transportation contracts … because [we would have] more flights heading out of the country and more bus removals down to the border,” Homan said.
“We would still prioritize criminals and national security threats first, they are the most dangerous for the country.” he added. “But I would say no one is off the table. If you’re in this country illegally… then we’ll remove you.” Asked by The Post if he would return to work under Trump term if reelected, Homan said he would “strongly consider” taking a job if asked.
Jon Feere, former ICE chief of staff under Trump, said ICE already has the capacity to detain more migrants than are currently being held by the Biden administration. Still, he said “there’s no doubt that ICE would benefit from a significant increase in officers, agents and detention space” and that if elected Trump would “undoubtedly” make that request of Congress.
Feere told the Post, “I’m sure I will be” involved “in some capacity” if Trump takes office, but he stopped short of specifying what role he might take on.
Aside from potential resistance from the Democratic-led congress and reluctance to cooperate from sanctuary cities, such a massive plan for deportation would also run into obstacles if the countries of origin refuse to allow reentry to their migrants. Such a situation would need to be handled by the State Department, which would need to take on a hard line foreign policy, the former officials told The Post.
In the vast landscape of technology and innovation, Palantir Technologies stands out not just for its intriguing name borrowed from J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantasy epic “The Lord of the Rings,” but also for its robust growth and expanding influence across both governmental and commercial sectors. Credit: yahoo.finance.com
In the vast landscape of technology and innovation, Palantir Technologies stands out not just for its intriguing name borrowed from J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantasy epic “The Lord of the Rings,” but also for its robust growth and expanding influence across both governmental and commercial sectors. Founded in 2003 by Peter Thiel, the company has carved a niche for itself with its advanced software platforms that manage, interpret, and report data.
The name “Palantir” comes from the magical crystal balls used in Tolkien’s universe for communication and seeing events afar, symbolizing the company’s core mission to harness the power of big data for insightful foresight and decision-making, as was reported on Thursday in an article that appeared on TheStreet.com web site. This imaginative foundation has translated into a reality where Palantir’s technologies play a pivotal role in addressing complex data analysis challenges.
Originally focused on counterterrorism applications for the U.S. government, Palantir has significantly broadened its horizon. It now engages extensively with large corporations, diving deep into the realms of data management and artificial intelligence (AI). According to the information provided in the report on TheStreet.com, this shift is not just an expansion but a transformation, leveraging their sophisticated analytics capabilities across diverse sectors from public safety to global finance.
The advent of AI technologies such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT in December 2022 has been a boon for companies such as Palantir, which are poised at the intersection of large-scale data analytics and AI. As per the information contained in TheStreet.com report, Palantir’s involvement in these technologies has seen their revenues surge, reflecting the growing demand for AI-driven insights. In the fourth quarter alone, the company reported earnings that surpassed expectations, with $608.4 million in sales against analysts’ projections of $602.9 million.
This performance is a testament to Palantir’s strategic positioning and adaptability in the fast-evolving tech landscape. Indicated in TheStreet.com article was that the reported 70% year-on-year growth in the fourth quarter sheds light on a dynamic expansion in its commercial operations, signaling a robust uptake of its offerings beyond its traditional government contracts.
CEO Alex Karp’s commentary during the earnings call highlighted an “extraordinary” performance in the U.S. commercial sector, describing it as “bombastic,” according to TheStreet.com report. This reflects not only the company’s successful financial outcomes but also its growing influence in the tech sector. The ability to secure over 100 contracts within a single quarter illustrates a significant leap from its earlier days, showcasing enhanced scalability and the increasing trust that enterprises place in Palantir’s technology solutions.
Karp also highlighted the significant strides the company has made in enhancing the usability and appeal of its products, specifically through the integration of advanced AI and large language models. As was reported in TheStreet.com, these enhancements have made Palantir’s platforms—Foundry and Gotham—more accessible and attractive to a broader market. Foundry, known for its robust data integration capabilities, has been particularly tailored to meet the diverse needs of corporate clients, making complex data more approachable and actionable.
A noteworthy aspect of Palantir’s recent operations includes its support for the U.S. military and its active involvement in critical international affairs. As was detailed in TheStreet.com report, Karp expressed pride in Palantir’s operational role, notably its quick deployment in Israel following the conflict escalation on October 7, 2023. Palantir’s responsiveness and the strategic use of its technology in conflict zones illustrate its importance as a tool for real-time intelligence and decision-making.
Further expanding its technological and market footprint, Palantir announced a new partnership with Oracle this month. This collaboration is set to coalesce Palantir’s advanced AI and data analysis tools with Oracle’s robust cloud infrastructure. The report on TheStreet.com also noted that as part of this agreement, Palantir will transition its Foundry workloads to Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, enhancing performance and scalability. Additionally, Palantir’s Gotham platform, which is pivotal for military and counter-terrorism applications, will also be deployable across Oracle’s distributed cloud, potentially increasing its efficacy and reach.
Oracle, standing as one of the top ten largest cloud providers and a longstanding leader in data management, brings a wealth of experience and a global reach to this partnership. This collaboration is not just a merger of technologies but a fusion of expertise and capabilities that could redefine possibilities within the cloud and AI spaces, as suggested in TheStreet.com report. For Palantir, this translates into an opportunity to supercharge its offerings, leveraging Oracle’s infrastructure to enhance the performance and reliability of its applications.
Palantir Technologies recently achieved a significant milestone by being designated as an Awardable vendor for the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office’s Tradewinds Solutions Marketplace. TheStreet.com affirmed that this designation marks a pivotal moment for Palantir, reinforcing its role as a crucial player in the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data analytics within the Department of Defense (DoD).
The Tradewinds Solutions Marketplace serves as a digital repository where the DoD can access advanced technological solutions that address specific challenges related to artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, as was explained in the report on TheStreet.com. Palantir’s inclusion as an Awardable vendor calls attention to the company’s expertise and proven track record in these fields, particularly highlighting its advanced AI Mission Command Capability and its Predictive Maintenance & Precision Sustainment Suite.
These tools from Palantir are designed to enhance the operational capabilities of the Defense Department by allowing for more precise and predictive maintenance strategies and improving mission command through advanced AI-driven analytics. The report on TheStreet.com said that the availability of these solutions in the Marketplace means that various sectors of the DoD can now more easily integrate Palantir’s technologies into their operations, potentially leading to enhanced efficiency, reduced costs, and improved outcomes on critical missions.
As Palantir prepares to report its first-quarter earnings on May 6, the market’s anticipation is palpable. Analysts surveyed by FactSet are projecting that the company will report a profit of 8 cents per share on revenues amounting to $615.3 million, TheStreet.com reported. This expected performance represents significant growth compared to the same quarter last year, where Palantir earned 5 cents a share on $525 million of revenue.
This projected increase in earnings and revenue not only reflects Palantir’s expanding role within governmental and defense sectors but also signals robust growth and market confidence in its broader commercial strategies. As noted by TheStreet.com report, these figures suggest that Palantir’s investments in enhancing its AI and analytics capabilities are yielding tangible financial returns, positioning the company as a formidable entity in the tech sector.
The optimism surrounding Palantir’s future is not limited to market analysts. TheStreet Pro’s Stephen Guilfoyle expressed a particularly bullish stance on Palantir’s long-term potential, stating that it is a company he invests in “for the future generations of my bloodline.”
An Israeli mobile artillery unit fires a shell from southern Israel towards the Gaza strip on May 7th, in a position near the Israel-Gaza border. Photo Credit: AP/Leo Correa
Edited by: Fern Sidman
In a significant escalation of tensions, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday outright rejected a counterproposal from Hamas regarding a hostage deal, setting the stage for a more intensive military engagement in the Gaza Strip. According to a report on Tuesday on the World Israel News web site, the rejected proposal came on the heels of negotiations that saw Israeli and Egyptian negotiators reaching an initial draft agreement, which was subsequently modified by Hamas, eliciting a firm response from the Israeli leadership.
The origins of this confrontation can be traced back to the differing interpretations of the draft agreement by the involved parties. Hamas’ leader-in-exile, Ismail Haniyeh, announced that his organization had accepted what he claimed was an Israeli-Egyptian framework for a deal, as was reported by WIN, However, the reality was that the proposal forwarded by Hamas through Egyptian and Qatari intermediaries contained substantive amendments, deviating significantly from the original terms agreed upon by Israeli and Egyptian negotiators.
Palestinians in Gaza look at the destruction of a Hamas occupied building after an Israeli airstrike. Credit: Ismael Abu Dayyah
These amendments introduced by Hamas included clauses that Netanyahu and his cabinet found unacceptable, with potential implications that could demand an end to ongoing hostilities under terms unfavorable to Israel. Indicated in the WIN report was that such stipulations were seen by Israel as a strategic maneuver by Hamas to forestall Israeli military actions, particularly the planned comprehensive ground operation in Rafah. This operation is aimed at dismantling Hamas’ operational capabilities in what is considered its last significant stronghold in the Gaza Strip.
Adding to the complexity of the situation, there was a disturbing revelation from Hamas indicating that some of the 33 Israeli hostages, expected to be part of the exchange deal, might no longer be alive. This claim has not only inflamed public sentiment in Israel but also hardened the Israeli government’s stance on the necessity of military pressure to secure the return of hostages, according to the information in the WIN report. Netanyahu, emphasizing the unity and resolve of his War Cabinet, described the Hamas counterproposal as a tactical ploy designed to “torpedo” Israel’s military objectives in Rafah.
In his video statement, Netanyahu reiterated the Israeli government’s position that past experiences with hostage negotiations had demonstrated the efficacy of military pressure on Hamas in facilitating the return of captives, the WIN report said. He emphasized that any deviation from Israel’s core demands in the negotiation process was unacceptable and that the military plans for Rafah would proceed as a critical component of Israel’s strategy to counter Hamas.
This photo provided by the Israel Defense Forces shows a tank with an Israeli flag on it entering the Gazan side of the Rafah border crossing on May 7th. Photo Credit: Israel Defense Forces via AP
“As the War Cabinet unanimously determined, the Hamas proposal was very far from Israel’s core demands,” Netanyahu said, according to the WIN report. “We have already proven, in the previous release of hostages, that military pressure on Hamas is an essential condition for the return of our hostages. The Hamas proposal yesterday was designed to torpedo the entry of our forces into Rafah. That did not happen.”
“Israel will not allow Hamas to restore its regime of evil in the Strip. Israel will not allow it to rebuild its military capabilities in order to continue striving for our destruction. Israel cannot accept a proposal that endangers the security of our citizens and the future of our state.”
“The taking of the Rafah Crossing today is a very important step, an important step on the way to destroying Hamas’s remaining military capabilities, including the elimination of the four terrorist battalions in Rafah, and an important step to damaging Hamas’s governing capabilities, because as of this morning, we have denied Hamas the crossing that was vital to establishing its terrorist regime in the Strip.”
Brig. Gen. (res.) Yossi Kuperwasser, formerly the head of the Research and Assessment Division of IDF Military Intelligence and now a senior researcher at the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, provided insight into the complexities of gaining international legitimacy for military operations. The Jewish News Syndicate reported that according to Kuperwasser, the decision to commence evacuation from Rafah was not abrupt but followed a comprehensive process aimed at “accumulating legitimacy.” This effort was significantly influenced by the recent actions of Hamas during hostage negotiations and their method of engagement in hostile activities, such as the mortar barrage that tragically killed four IDF soldiers, the JNS report added. This attack, notably launched from a location near civilian populations and close to the Rafah Crossing, called attention to the challenges of engaging militarily in such densely populated areas.
Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike east of Rafah. Photo Credit: AP Photo/Ismael Abu Dayyah
Kuperwasser suggested that the international community’s partial acknowledgment of the legitimacy of the Israeli response is partly due to Hamas’s tactics, which have not only prolonged the conflict but also placed civilians at risk. As per the information in the JNS report, the strategic response by Israel, therefore, involves a phased operation beginning with the evacuation of civilians from eastern Rafah. This initial step is crucial as it aims to mitigate civilian casualties and uphold the moral and ethical standards expected in international combat scenarios.
Describing the operation as a “pilot,” Kuperwasser highlighted the delicate balance Israel must maintain in executing military objectives while minimizing harm to civilians. Success in these early stages could potentially pave the way for a broader operational scope, should conditions on the ground justify an escalation, as was explained in the JNS report. The presence of four Hamas battalions in Rafah represents a direct challenge, similar yet distinct from other terrorist groups Israel has confronted since the commencement of its ground offensive in Gaza on October 27. The proximity of Egypt and numerous civilian aid agencies further complicates the operational environment, necessitating a carefully calibrated approach by the IDF.
Kuperwasser emphasized the anticipated ferocity of the defense Hamas is likely to mount in Rafah. He warned of the presence of more terrorists beyond the originally estimated four battalions, suggesting a significant concentration of Hamas forces, the JNS report noted. This scenario poses considerable challenges similar to those encountered by the IDF in other parts of Gaza, such as Gaza City and Khan Yunis. The JNS report added that these areas were marked by complex engagements with entrenched terrorists amid dense civilian populations and a robust underground infrastructure, including a network of tunnels that have been a hallmark of Hamas’ military strategy.
A unique tactical complication in Rafah is its proximity to Egypt, coupled with existing tunnels that could potentially facilitate the escape of Hamas leadership to Sinai, as was detailed in the JNS report. This geographical and infrastructural dynamic poses a security challenge not only to Israel but also to Egypt, complicating the regional security landscape and potentially undermining efforts to stabilize the area.
As the IDF prepares to intensify its operations in Rafah, Kuperwasser noted the broader implications of the military strategy. If the Israeli forces manage to conduct the operation with minimal civilian casualties and demonstrate effective control over the situation, it could significantly alter the dynamics of the conflict, particularly in the realm of hostage negotiations, according to the information provided in the JNS report. The successful execution of this operation could pressure Hamas by diminishing its control over Gaza and weakening its negotiating position regarding the release of hostages.
IDF Spokesman to the international media, Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani, reinforced this perspective, indicating that the latest military maneuvers are part of a carefully considered operational plan approved by the Israeli War Cabinet, the JNS report said. These plans include situational assessments and a phased approach to dismantling Hamas’ military capabilities, particularly those manifesting from Rafah.
As the IDF intensify operations in the Gaza Strip, the Southern Command’s Population Evacuation Unit plays a pivotal role in managing civilian safety amidst escalating military actions. The unit leverages sophisticated technological tools, including an advanced digital mapping system that segments Gaza into over 600 detailed polygons, as was pointed out in the JNS report. This technology enables precise and targeted evacuations, minimizing civilian presence in conflict zones and allowing military operations to proceed with reduced risk to non-combatants.
A significant feature of this system is the color-coded status of each polygon. For instance, a green polygon indicates that over 75% of the population in that area has evacuated, thereby clearing the way for ground forces to engage without the high risk of civilian casualties, the JNS report explained. This methodical approach to civilian evacuation is critical in densely populated areas such as Rafah, where the military operation is expected to intensify.
Rafah, located at the southern edge of the Gaza Strip, has been the focus of considerable military planning due to its strategic importance and proximity to the Egyptian border. The military operations planned for this area involve substantial air and artillery strikes, supplemented by tank movements, making the evacuation of civilians paramount, JNS reported. The IDF has employed a multi-channel communication strategy to urge the residents of Rafah, especially in the eastern parts, to move to designated humanitarian areas. This includes airdropped flyers, text messages, phone calls, and broadcasts in Arabic, all aimed at maximizing outreach and ensuring the safety of civilians.
Moreover, Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani of the IDF has clarified that the evacuation is specifically targeted at the eastern parts of Rafah and is not indicative of a wider city evacuation, the JNS report said.
The operation is expected to involve the 98th Paratroopers Division, which led the four-month operation in Khan Yunis, and the 162nd Armored Division, which spent six months fighting in central Gaza and setting up the Netzarim Corridor separating northern and southern Gaza.
In terms of humanitarian aid, despite the ongoing conflict and specific incidents like the recent deadly mortar attack from Rafah that led to the temporary closure of the Kerem Shalom Crossing, the flow of aid into Gaza remains constant, JNS reported. Route 96, a critical supply line built by Israel in March, facilitates the direct entry of trucks from Israel into northern Gaza. This route, along with airdrops and maritime deliveries from Ashdod Port, ensures a steady supply of essentials to the civilian population amidst the turmoil.
As Israeli tanks patrol the area, the local population harbors mixed feelings and speculations about the future of their city, which has become a focal point of military and humanitarian activities.
Residents of Rafah expressed concerns to The Press of Service of Israel about the prolonged presence of the IDF along the border. They fear this could lead to a long-term blockade aimed at preventing Hamas from smuggling weapons through the network of underground tunnels that connect Gaza to the Sinai Peninsula. This complex tunnel system has been a significant conduit for arms trafficking, which the IDF’s control over the border aims to disrupt.
Amidst these strategic military actions, there are conflicting expectations about the distribution of aid. One resident, seeking refuge in a hospital, shared a poignant reflection with TPS on the situation, suggesting that although the IDF’s oversight might prevent Hamas from commandeering supplies, it could also hinder the flow of much-needed humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza.
The sentiment among the displaced is turning increasingly bitter towards Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas in Gaza, who they blame for their current plight, the TPS report said. Described as the “greatest nakba in the history of the Palestinian people,” the term ‘nakba’—meaning catastrophe—evokes the profound distress and upheaval experienced by the residents.
President Joe Biden in Tel Aviv, Oct. 18, 2023. Photo by Miriam Alster/Flash90.
“We are at a critical moment in the campaign. If the Americans turn their backs on Israel, the implications for the entire region will be severe.”
By: Ariel Kahana – JNS Staff
An Israeli diplomatic source expressed concern on Monday that U.S. President Joe Biden could “throw Israel under the bus” amid the Israel Defense Forces operation against Hamas’s final Gaza stronghold of Rafah, which got underway overnight Monday.
“The Biden administration says it is committed to eliminating Hamas, but in practice it is pressing to avoid action in the last major stronghold of the terrorist organization, against the backdrop of elections there,” according to the source in Jerusalem.
“But the Americans need to understand that the factor that wants to delay Rafah is Iran, for whom keeping Hamas on its feet is in its interest,” he added.
The comment comes after Biden told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a phone call on Monday that a ceasefire deal with Hamas is the best way to protect the lives of the 132 hostages being held by the terrorist organization in Gaza.
During the half-hour call, which the source described as “difficult,” Biden expressed his concerns over the looming Rafah operation.
According to a White House readout, the president “reiterated his clear position on Rafah” and updated Netanyahu on “efforts to secure a hostage deal, including through ongoing talks today in Doha, Qatar.”
The Israel Defense Forces took control of the Gaza side of the Rafah crossing with Egypt on Tuesday morning, as tanks from the 401st Armored Brigade of the 162nd Division rolled right up to the station.
Separately, the IDF’s Givati Brigade captured the Salah a-Din road in eastern Rafah in an overnight offensive.
The capture of the crossing comes after the IDF announced on Monday night that it was conducting strikes against Hamas targets in eastern Rafah. More than 100 sites were hit in the city, where the majority of the terror group’s remaining forces are located.
Israel’s War Cabinet on Monday night decided unanimously to “continue the operation in Rafah to exert military pressure on Hamas in order to promote the release of our hostages and the other goals of the war,” per the Prime Minister’s Office.
Earlier Monday, the IDF called on residents of eastern Rafah to evacuate to newly established humanitarian zones.
The Israeli source went on to say that, “We are at a critical moment in the campaign. If the Americans turn their backs on Israel, the implications for the entire region will be severe. The initiation of the operation in Rafah is the only leverage that could cause Hamas leader [in Gaza] Yahya Sinwar to agree to a prisoner exchange deal, which is the only way to reach a larger deal with Saudi Arabia.”
The source also revealed that the decision to press forward in Rafah was approved by the Cabinet after all its members agreed that the chances of a deal are currently nonexistent.
An Israeli F-35I of the 5601 Testing Squadron, bearing Mk-84 bombs fitted with GBU-31 JDAM kit, before bunker-buster bombs dropping test, July 2023. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
The Biden administration is effectively delaying the delivery of up to 6,500 Joint Direct Attack Munitions, according to The Wall Street Journal.
By: Joshua Marks
The Biden administration has held up the delivery of thousands of precision weapons to Israel amid the Jewish state’s war against Hamas in Gaza, which entered a new phase overnight Monday as Israeli forces began to push into Rafah city.
According to a Wall Street Journal report on Monday, citing officials familiar with the deal, at issue is the sale of up to 6,500 Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAMs)—a guidance kit that converts “dumb bombs” into “smart” precision-guided munitions.
Congress was first informed of the proposed sale, worth some $269 million, in January. However, since then, the Biden administration has not moved forward with the deal.
White House National Security Council Spokesman John Kirby on Monday declined to comment on whether any arms sales had been postponed, telling reporters at the White House press briefing that “our security commitments to Israel are ironclad.”
The State Department must notify Congress of an arms sale to a foreign country when the sale’s dollar amount rises above a certain level, but the administration never followed up with the official notification of the JDAMs sale, the Journal reported. This caused “an effective pause” in the deal, current and former U.S. officials said.
“It’s unusual, especially for Israel, especially during a war,” a congressional official familiar with the arms sales process told the Journal.
The reason for the delay is unknown, but the Biden administration opposes a full-scale invasion of Rafah, citing humanitarian concerns.
The IDF began a targeted operation in Gaza’s southernmost city overnight Monday, taking control of the Rafah border crossing, which was preceded by evacuation notices for noncombatants in eastern Rafah, who were directed to a new, expanded humanitarian zone at Al-Mawasi.
The Journal report comes after Axios reported on Sunday that the Biden administration had halted a shipment of ammunition to Israel.
According to the U.S. news outlet, last week’s decision to place the shipment on hold left the Israeli government concerned, as it marked the first time since Hamas’s Oct. 7 massacre that the United States had halted military aid to the Israel Defense Forces.
The White House reportedly declined to comment on the report, while the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. State Department and the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office didn’t immediately respond to questions from Axios.
An unnamed Israeli official downplayed the report, telling the Israeli news website Ynet that “the flow continues” and Jerusalem was “not aware of a policy decision to stop it.”
“Even now, a continued series of defense shipments are being sent from the United States to Israel,” the official stated, while acknowledging that “one shipment or another may be delayed.”
Republican leaders responded to the Axios report, with House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana calling it “wholly unacceptable.”
“Israel, our closest ally in the Middle East, is under attack, but the Biden Administration is yet again caving to the pro-Hamas wing of his party. The administration must end this pause immediately,” Johnson wrote.
Former vice president Mike Pence wrote that it “better not be true. America stands with Israel.” While former secretary of state Mike Pompeo wrote that “cutting off military aid to Israel would be indefensible. It would be a betrayal of a close ally fighting a defensive war.”
A Palestinian man outside an UNRWA office in Gaza City protests cuts to aid, June 20, 2023. Photo by Anas-Mohammed/Shutterstock.
“Hamas intentionally positioned the command and control position within the vicinity of an active UNRWA location, jeopardizing the Gazan civilians taking refuge there,” the IDF said.
Israeli Air Force fighter jets attacked a Hamas command and control center inside a United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) complex in central Gaza on Saturday, the military said.
According to the Israel Defense Forces, which provided intelligence for the strike along with the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet), the Hamas center “served as central terrorist infrastructure” that was used as a staging ground for attacks on IDF troops in the central Strip in recent weeks.
The strike was “carefully planned and carried out using precise munition to minimize harm to uninvolved civilians,” the military emphasized.
Furthermore, the Hamas base was used to carry out attacks on efforts to increase the distribution of humanitarian aid to Gaza civilians and Hamas oversaw the supply of weapons to dozens of Hamas terrorists from inside the command and control center, including terrorists operating in underground tunnels.
“Hamas intentionally positioned the command and control position within the vicinity of an active UNRWA location, jeopardizing the Gazan civilians taking refuge there,” the IDF said.
The strikes destroyed the operational capabilities of the Hamas command and control center at the UNRWA compound.
UNRWA refuses to evacuate from Rafah
Meanwhile, UNRWA said that it will not heed Israeli calls to evacuate parts of the Rafah in southernmost Gaza ahead of a planned military offensive against the last Hamas stronghold.
Juliette Touma, communications director for UNRWA, said that the agency has not evacuated the area and has no plans to do so.
On Sunday, four soldiers were killed and 10 others were wounded when Hamas terrorists fired 14 mortar shells from the Rafah area at Kibbutz Kerem Shalom.
The attack forced the closure of the Kerem Shalom crossing, a major entry point for humanitarian aid trucks in the Gaza Strip.
The military noted that “the launches were carried out by the Hamas terrorist organization near the Rafah Crossing, around 350 meters from civilian shelters. This is another clear example of the systematic exploitation by Hamas of humanitarian facilities and areas for terrorist purposes, while using the civilian population as a human shield.”
In other news, JNS also reported that the head of the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog arrived in Tehran on Monday, where he is expected to speak at a conference and meet officials for talks on Iran’s nuclear expansion.
According to the semi-official Tasnim News Agency, International Atomic Energy Agency Director Rafael Grossi was scheduled to “participate in the nuclear conference and negotiate with top nuclear and political officials.”
Grossi was expected to meet with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian as well as Mohammad Eslami, head of the Islamic Republic’s Atomic Energy Organization.
Grossi’s visit comes on the background of heightened regional tensions in the wake of Iran‘s April 14 direct attack on Israel and with the IAEA criticizing Tehran for its lack of cooperation on inspections and other outstanding nuclear issues.
Grossi told German media last month that Iran was “weeks rather than months” away from having enough enriched uranium to build a bomb.
The judges and guests of the International Criminal Court at the opening of the ICC judicial year on Jan. 18, 2019, in The Hague. Credit: International Criminal Court.
“This is a case that has nothing to do with international law and everything to do with political interests,” legal expert tells JNS.
By: Shimon Sherman
For the past several months Israel has been fighting on multiple fronts. One of the most critical theaters of the current war, however, has increasingly been not Lebanon or Gaza, but The Hague.
Increasingly, anti-Israel activists have been investing in lawfare as one of the most effective weapons with which to weaken and delegitimize Israel. According to recent reports, the International Criminal Court is now considering issuing arrest warrants against various high-ranking Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi.
This move is being egged on by a series of countries in the anti-Israel coalition including, most notably, South Africa and Turkey.
“This is a case that has nothing to do with international law and everything to do with political interests,” Avraham Shalev, an expert in public law for the Kohelet Policy Forum, told JNS.
The ICC has never issued an arrest warrant against the leader of a democratic country, and if it follows through, Netanyahu would find himself in the undesirable company of Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir, former Libyan ruler Muammar Gaddafi and Russian President Vladimir Putin, the only national leaders with arrest warrants from the ICC.
There is currently no concrete statement from the ICC regarding the legal details surrounding a potential indictment of Israeli officials. In 2021, then-chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda opened an investigation into “possible crimes committed in the West Bank and Gaza” by Israel. Notably, Bensouda decided to set the chronological limit of the investigation at June 13, exactly one day after Palestinian terrorists kidnapped and murdered three Israeli teenagers, thereby launching “Operation Brother’s Keeper” and “Operation Protective Edge.”
In this way, the ICC probe initially sought to “probe Israeli attacks on civilian populations and violations of international law during Operation Protective Edge” without the context of the terrorist activity that sparked the 2014 Gaza war. “In the very setup of the case you can see an inbuilt bias against Israel,” said Shalev.
The current case against Israeli officials is quite broad and will likely look at “Israeli settlement activity, and use of disproportionate force during Protective Edge,” with alleged transgressions from the ongoing conflict likely being tagged onto the already existing case, he explained.
The ICC’s prosecutor, Karim Khan, has made statements regarding Israel’s provision of humanitarian aid and targeting of civilian infrastructure, implying that both might play a role in a future criminal prosecution. In a speech on Oct. 30 Khan said, “ I want to underline clearly to Israel that supplies must get to the civilians of Gaza without delay,” and cautioned Israel to “demonstrate the proper application of the principles of distinction, precaution and of proportionality.”
According to the laws of war, countries are required to allow humanitarian aid into affected areas under the condition that the aid reaches the civilian population and is not being seized by enemy forces.
“There is absolute documentation of Hamas taking over humanitarian convoys and preventing the aid from getting to civilians. This removes the legal necessity for Israel to participate or allow humanitarian aid,” Shalev told JNS.
Furthermore, even if Israel were to enforce a full siege of Gaza, this could still be a legal method of warfare under international law, he said. According to the Geneva Convention and International Humanitarian Law (IHL), “The prohibition of starvation as a method of warfare does not prohibit siege warfare as long as the purpose is to achieve a military objective and not to starve a civilian population.”
Israel’s rejection of ICC jurisdiction, including the territory of Gaza, Judea and Samaria, presents a further legal hurdle, he explained.
The ICC’s jurisdiction extends over crimes committed “on the territory of a State Party [to the Rome Statute] or by one of its nationals,” which does not include Israel but according to the ICC does include “Palestine,” as the Palestinian Authority did sign on to the Rome Statute in its capacity as a U.N. observer state.
The ICC has sought to legitimize its shaky claims of jurisdiction by passively going after Palestinian terror groups in tandem with its case against Israeli officials. Following a visit to Israel in December 2023, Khan said that the ICC was investigating the crimes against Israeli civilians as “some of the most serious international crimes that shock the conscience of humanity.”
A source close to the ICC prosecutor’s office told JNS that “any arrest warrant against Israeli officials will likely come together with warrants against members of Hamas and Islamic Jihad to give the court a balanced image.”
However, the impact of an indictment will likely be far greater on Israel than on Hamas.
“The effect on Israel’s reputation as a democratic country will be much worse than for a fundamentalist terror group like Hamas,” said Shalev.
The case before the ICC is also legally problematic due to the issue of complementarity. The principle of complementarity indicates that “a case is inadmissible before the ICC if it is currently under investigation by a state with jurisdiction over it,” as stated in the Rome Statute.
Multiple cases of alleged international law violations are being tried in Israeli military courts. Khan himself has previously recognized that “Israel has a professional and well-trained military with military advocate generals and a system that is intended to ensure their compliance with international humanitarian law, and lawyers advising on targeting decisions.” Therefore, any case brought against Israeli nationals would first have to prove that the Israeli legal system is incapable of or unwilling to probe the alleged violation fairly.
According to experts, the recent displays of anti-Israel bias at the ICC are not a bug but a feature.
“From the very beginning, the Rome Statute was designed to go after Israel,” Shalev explained. When the statute was being formulated, most of the clauses were taken almost verbatim from the Geneva Convention, with the exception of the section involving the laws regarding population transfer.
Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention specifically forbids the forced transfer of populations to or from an occupied territory. However, at the request of various Arab states at the Rome conference, this definition was expanded to “the transfer, directly or indirectly, by the Occupying Power of parts of its civilian population into the territory it occupies.” Though this expanded definition could have been applied in several cases, including Turkey’s settlement policy in Cyprus and Russia’s transfer of population into Ukraine, this clause has only been used to go after Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria.
“The very formulation of the Rome Statute was designed to criminalize the presence of Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria. Under these terms, building roads, allowing Jews to own property and many other things can be called ‘indirect population transfer,’” said Shalev. “This clause has Israel’s name on it,” he added.
Though ICC arrest warrants would certainly negatively affect Israel’s international standing, it is important not to overstate the legal implications. In its 22 years, the ICC has never had a single successful conviction and arrest without cooperation from the defendant’s host nation. While technically signatories to the Rome Statute, including most European countries, would have an obligation to carry out such warrants, there is a long-standing precedent for diplomatic arrangements being made to skirt ICC rulings.
In other words, even if a warrant is issued, “There won’t be police on the tarmac in Europe if Netanyahu goes abroad,” Shalev explained. “There is a lot of leeway in reality,” he added.
The current conflict with the ICC has led to various methodologies being advanced to counter the growing threat of lawfare. Former deputy attorney-general Roy Schondorf, who led Israel’s efforts to defend itself against war crimes accusations and the ICC for about 13 years until mid-2022, has strongly advocated leaning on complementarity as a legal shield.
Israel can protect itself by “opening an external, independent Israeli state inquiry, to be led by a former judge,” he said. This model was successfully used in 2008-9 by the Turkel Commission, which Israel used to block investigations by the ICC and the U.N. Goldstone Commission Inquiry. Other experts have proposed a more aggressive approach to dealing with the ICC.
“We shouldn’t fall into the trap of thinking that if we cooperate and we show the world we are playing by the rules then sooner or later they will see our perspective,” said Shalev. “Ultimately this is not a question of law; by every metric the legal arguments are flawed. There is a clear political angle and our best bet is to stonewall. Don’t talk to them, don’t release documents and don’t engage,” he added.
Eden Golan, winner of the reality show “The Next Star to Eurovision,” during the final competition on the show, Feb. 6, 2024. Photo by Koko/Flash90.
By: Tia Goldenberg and Jon Gambrell
Israel ordered the local offices of Qatar’s Al Jazeera satellite news network to close Sunday, escalating a long-running feud between the broadcaster and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s hard-line government as Doha-mediated cease-fire negotiations with Hamas hang in the balance.
The extraordinary order, which includes confiscating broadcast equipment, preventing the broadcast of the channel’s reports and blocking its websites, is believed to be the first time Israel has ever shuttered a foreign news outlet operating in the country.
Al Jazeera went off Israel’s main cable and satellite providers in the hours after the order. However, its website and multiple online streaming links still operated Sunday.
The network has reported the Israeli-Hamas war nonstop since the militants’ initial cross-border attack Oct. 7 and has maintained 24-hour coverage in the Gaza Strip amid Israel’s grinding ground offensive that has killed and wounded members of its staff. While including on-the-ground reporting of the war’s casualties, its Arabic arm often publishes verbatim video statements from Hamas and other regional militant groups.
“Al Jazeera reporters harmed Israel’s security and incited against soldiers,” Netanyahu said in a statement. “It’s time to remove the Hamas mouthpiece from our country.”
Al Jazeera issued a statement vowing it will “pursue all available legal channels through international legal institutions in its quest to protect both its rights and journalists, as well as the public’s right to information.”
“Israel’s ongoing suppression of the free press, seen as an effort to conceal its actions in the Gaza Strip, stands in contravention of international and humanitarian law,” the network said. “Israel’s direct targeting and killing of journalists, arrests, intimidation and threats will not deter Al Jazeera.”
The Israeli government has taken action against individual reporters over the decades since its founding in 1948, but broadly allows for a rambunctious media scene that includes foreign bureaus from around the world, even from Arab nations. It also blocked the foreign broadcasts of the Hezbollah-affiliated, Beirut-based Al Mayadeen news channel at the start of the war.
A law passed last month allows the government to take action against Al Jazeera, Netanyahu’s office said.
Israeli Communication Minister Shlomo Karhi later published footage online of authorities raiding a hotel room Al Jazeera had been broadcasting from in east Jerusalem, which the Palestinians hope to one day have for their future state. He said officials seized some of the channel’s equipment there.
“We finally are able to stop Al Jazeera’s well-oiled incitement machine that harms the security of the country,” Karhi said. His office said it would bar Al Jazeera from operating in Israel for at least 45 days, a measure that can be renewed.
The ban did not appear to affect the channel’s operations in the occupied West Bank or Gaza Strip, where Israel wields control but which are not sovereign Israeli territory.
The decision threatens to heighten tensions with Qatar at a time when the Doha government is playing a key role in mediation efforts to halt the war in Gaza, along with Egypt and the United States.
Qatar has had strained ties with Netanyahu in particular since he made comments suggesting that Qatar is not exerting enough pressure on Hamas to prompt it to relent in its terms for a truce deal. Qatar hosts Hamas leaders in exile in Doha.
The sides appear to be close to striking a deal, but multiple previous rounds of talks have ended with no agreement.
Israel ordered the local offices of Qatar’s Al Jazeera network to close Sunday. Credit: AP/Nasser Nasser
By: Tia Goldenberg and Jon Gambrell
Israel ordered the local offices of Qatar’s Al Jazeera satellite news network to close Sunday, escalating a long-running feud between the broadcaster and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s hard-line government as Doha-mediated cease-fire negotiations with Hamas hang in the balance.
The extraordinary order, which includes confiscating broadcast equipment, preventing the broadcast of the channel’s reports and blocking its websites, is believed to be the first time Israel has ever shuttered a foreign news outlet operating in the country.
Al Jazeera went off Israel’s main cable and satellite providers in the hours after the order. However, its website and multiple online streaming links still operated Sunday.
The network has reported the Israeli-Hamas war nonstop since the militants’ initial cross-border attack Oct. 7 and has maintained 24-hour coverage in the Gaza Strip amid Israel’s grinding ground offensive that has killed and wounded members of its staff. While including on-the-ground reporting of the war’s casualties, its Arabic arm often publishes verbatim video statements from Hamas and other regional militant groups.
“Al Jazeera reporters harmed Israel’s security and incited against soldiers,” Netanyahu said in a statement. “It’s time to remove the Hamas mouthpiece from our country.”
Al Jazeera issued a statement vowing it will “pursue all available legal channels through international legal institutions in its quest to protect both its rights and journalists, as well as the public’s right to information.”
“Israel’s ongoing suppression of the free press, seen as an effort to conceal its actions in the Gaza Strip, stands in contravention of international and humanitarian law,” the network said. “Israel’s direct targeting and killing of journalists, arrests, intimidation and threats will not deter Al Jazeera.”
The Israeli government has taken action against individual reporters over the decades since its founding in 1948, but broadly allows for a rambunctious media scene that includes foreign bureaus from around the world, even from Arab nations. It also blocked the foreign broadcasts of the Hezbollah-affiliated, Beirut-based Al Mayadeen news channel at the start of the war.
A law passed last month allows the government to take action against Al Jazeera, Netanyahu’s office said.
Israeli Communication Minister Shlomo Karhi later published footage online of authorities raiding a hotel room Al Jazeera had been broadcasting from in east Jerusalem, which the Palestinians hope to one day have for their future state. He said officials seized some of the channel’s equipment there.
“We finally are able to stop Al Jazeera’s well-oiled incitement machine that harms the security of the country,” Karhi said. His office said it would bar Al Jazeera from operating in Israel for at least 45 days, a measure that can be renewed.
The ban did not appear to affect the channel’s operations in the occupied West Bank or Gaza Strip, where Israel wields control but which are not sovereign Israeli territory.
The decision threatens to heighten tensions with Qatar at a time when the Doha government is playing a key role in mediation efforts to halt the war in Gaza, along with Egypt and the United States.
Qatar has had strained ties with Netanyahu in particular since he made comments suggesting that Qatar is not exerting enough pressure on Hamas to prompt it to relent in its terms for a truce deal. Qatar hosts Hamas leaders in exile in Doha.
The sides appear to be close to striking a deal, but multiple previous rounds of talks have ended with no agreement.
