Monday, March 21, 2022

03/21 Links Pt2: Bennett in Egypt for first-ever trilateral summit with Sissi and UAE crown prince; Terrorist who led murder of 37 is PA's "legend that never dies"

From Ian:

Bennett in Egypt for first-ever trilateral summit with Sissi and UAE crown prince
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett was in Egypt on Monday for the first-ever trilateral summit of Israeli, Egyptian and Emirati leaders, an Egyptian official told The Times of Israel, confirming the premier’s unannounced visit to the Sinai resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh.

Bennett first met with Sissi shortly after arriving in the city, the official said. The Prime Minister’s Office has yet to comment on the trip, which comes days after Israel announced the inauguration of a new flight route between Ben Gurion Airport and Sharm el-Sheikh.

Flights are expected to start as early as next month, during the week of the Passover holiday. The news was widely covered by Israeli media, though it was barely mentioned in the Egyptian press.

Bennett last met with Sissi in September, in what was the first such summit between Israeli and Egyptian leaders in more than a decade. The premier met with UAE Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in December, when he made the first-ever visit by an Israeli prime minister to the Gulf country.

Bin Zayed also landed in Sharm el-Sheikh Monday, days after hosting Syrian President Bashar Assad — a move harshly condemned by the Biden administration, which has thus far resisted joining efforts by a growing number of Mideast leaders to normalize the dictator.

The trilateral summit will mark the latest development in the Abraham Accords, which saw Israel normalize relations with the UAE, Bahrain, and Morocco in 2020 agreements brokered by the Trump administration. While the Biden administration so far has been unable to expand those accords, it has exerted effort in wrapping Egypt and Jordan — which already had ties with Israel — into them.


David Wurmser: The bride of the JCPOA and America’s regional collapse
So Israel is at a crossroads. It has three paths: It can accept its elimination; it can scramble like its Arab kin to grovel in front of Russia and China; or it can leverage its raw power to emerge as the region’s strongest tribe to become a strong horse itself. The second path will fail in violence—Israel’s fate is tied to the West inherently—leaving Israel only the choice of the first (accept death) or third (establish itself as a great regional power) paths.

For the moment, Arab tribes have only the choice of the first or second paths, which means that they face death, since, as in the case of Israel, the second path will eventually fail and leave only the other path.

But if Israel chooses the third path and emerges as the strong horse, then it opens for the Arabs a new path for survival with Israel’s becoming their new protective strong horse—but only if Israel chooses the third path. It can only get close to its Arab neighbors if it is useful for their survival. This means that Israel must act to prove it is the strong horse.

It is tempting to compare the faltering of the United States’s regional stature to the collapse of the British and French positions in the late 1950s and 1960s. That collapse indeed was catastrophic. It exposed the region to Soviet penetration and triggered a new age of indigenously inspired radical challenges to traditional leaderships (the long-term effects of which we continue to suffer).

And yet, even that cataclysm will pale in comparison to the current collapse of the U.S.’s position, since the British and French retreat six decades ago seamlessly transitioned into the parallel rise of American power, which, to a large extent, compensated for its negative effects.

The American retreat has no global force to replace it, other than our adversaries, China or Russia. Regionally, perhaps Israel can fill the void left by the U.S. and buffer the impending collapse of American power. Hopefully, it can help our jilted allies survive, preserve some of our regional interests, check our regional adversaries and prevent our global opponents from seizing full control of the region.

But while Israel is powerful, it is not a global superpower. It cannot replace the regaining of our senses. But the damage now being done will be the work of generations to repair. Let’s hope that the enterprise soon begins.
Iranian Drones Shot Down over Iraq in February Were Headed to Attack Israel
Two Iranian drones shot down over Iraq last month by American fighter jets were set to explode in Israeli territory, the defense establishment has confirmed.

The drones, which were downed by the international coalition close to Erbil in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, were said to be Shahed-136s.

Prior to the foiled attack, which occurred on February 14, Israeli security officials had been on high alert over fears of an Iranian response to a series of Israeli attacks on Iranian targets as part of the IDF’s war-between-wars campaign.

Last week, Hezbollah-affiliated al-Mayadeen reported that earlier in February Israel destroyed hundreds of Iranian drones in a strike that targeted the Kermanshah air base. In response to that attack, Iran fired 12 ballistic missiles toward Erbil targeting what they claimed to be an Israeli military base.

The confirmation of the reports comes a month after the Israel Air Force announced that two Iranian Shahed 197 drones heading toward Israel were downed by IAF F-35i fighter jets last year.

One drone, flying toward Israel from the south, was identified at around 1:44 a.m. and was shot down at 2:19 a.m. The second one, which was flying towards Israel from the east, was identified at 1:46 a.m. and downed at 2:16 a.m.
The Caroline Glick show Ep43 – What does Biden’s new nuclear deal with Iran say?
Biden and his team still say they are against Iran getting nuclear weapons, but their actions tell a different story. In this week’s Mideast News Hour, Caroline spoke with Gabriel Noronha, the former State Department Iran specialist who disclosed the scope of Biden’s concessions to Ayatollah Khamenei earlier this month. The two discussed the details of the concessions and what it means. They then considered what Trump’s Maximum Pressure strategy achieved and whether and how Russia’s invasion of Ukraine impacts Biden’s actions going forward.


Will the UAE bring change to the UN Security Council? - opinion
Whether or not the UAE’s position on the Security Council will alter the council’s dynamics remains to be seen, but what can be stated with more confidence is that the current composition of the council is quite favorable to Israel.

Opportunities could arise for Israel to work with the UAE on issues of common interest at the UN, from climate change to international security and pandemic readiness. Israel could also use this opportunity to share its concerns on the buildup of Hezbollah’s military capabilities in Lebanon, and the inaction of Lebanese authorities.

The big question going forward is whether the UAE’s new influence at the Security Council will, over the next two years, trickle down to the rest of the United Nations.

With three new Arab countries normalizing ties with Israel, the traditional tendency of Arab countries to vote with one another as a bloc might fade over time.

Greater sub-bloc cooperation between the UAE, Bahrain and Morocco, as well as possibly Saudi Arabia, could become a feature, and not only on issues related to Israel. The arrival of the UAE on the Security Council could help kick-start this process.

There is also the possibility that this process of change could affect the infamous UN Human Rights Council.

In November 2021, a joint statement was issued at the Human Rights Council on the role of women in peace and security as part of a joint initiative of the UAE, Bahrain, Israel and Morocco. Another 51 states signed on to this historic statement. Is this a small sign of change? Quite possibly.

At the same time, it is important to remember that the UAE is highly skilled at cultivating and maintaining good relations with everyone – including Turkey and Iran. The UAE does not cut off dialogue with anyone.

The UAE can be expected to figure out how to balance opposing pressures, whether at the regional or global levels, while promoting its interests. This could make for an interesting two years at the Security Council and the General Assembly.
Christian MPs: Israel's sovereign right to build in Jerusalem
Twenty parliamentarians from around the world signed a declaration in Atarot on Sunday supporting the “sovereign right of the State of Israel to build in its indivisible capital of Jerusalem.”

The parliamentarians visited Atarot as part of the Israel Allies Foundation’s Chairman’s Conference, which kicked off on Sunday and runs through March 23.

The Israel Allies Foundation (IAF) coordinates a network of more than 50 Israel Allies caucuses worldwide, including the Knesset Christian Allies Caucus, the Congressional Israel Allies Caucus, and caucuses in Europe, Latin America, Australia and Africa. Around 20 caucus chairs are on the trip and a handful of other caucus members and supporters.

The caucuses are focused on three key issues, according to Israel Allies Foundation President Josh Reinstein: fighting antisemitism and the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement; fighting against the threat of a nuclear Iran; and standing with an undivided Jerusalem.

The mission specifically visited Atarot “to make a statement” against a decision last year to shelve plans to build 9,000 housing units at the site of the abandoned Atarot airport amid pressure from Washington, Reinstein said.

Atarot is located south of the eastern Jerusalem neighborhood of Kafr 'Aqab, which although part of Jerusalem that was annexed in 1967, sits on the other side of the security border.

Israel stopped using the Atarot airport for civilian purposes due to security concerns during the second intifada. Today, it lays abandoned and in disarray, with shards of old glass and rubble carpeting its floor.

"This is a significant opportunity for us to convey a joint message with members of parliament from the Americas, Europe and Africa who are lovers of Israel in the hope of increasing the international support for Israel and the development of Jerusalem under Israeli sovereignty," said Chaim Silberstein, chairman of the "KeepJerusalem" organization, who helped initiate the visit to Atarot.
After 53 years of ties with Israel, Singapore to open embassy in Tel Aviv
Singapore will open an embassy in Tel Aviv, its foreign minister announced Monday, more than a half century after the two countries established diplomatic ties.

Singapore’s Vivian Balakrishnan notified Foreign Minister Yair Lapid of the decision during a meeting the two held in Jerusalem.

A statement from Singapore’s foreign ministry said the new embassy will “serve as a focal point and support Singapore companies seeking to expand their collaboration with potential Israeli partners.”

It did not provide a timeline for when the mission will open.

“I welcome the government of Singapore’s decision to open an embassy in Israel for the first time since the establishment of relations,” Lapid said in a statement. “This represents another testament to the good and unique relations between the countries.”

The two countries have had diplomatic relations since 1969, and have since developed close security and business ties. Israel already operates an embassy in Singapore.

Balakrishnan is in Israel as part of a Mideast tour that has included stops in the West Bank and Bahrain.


Antisemites overrun MK’s town hall aimed at mending Israel’s ties with Jews abroad
Knesset Member Alon Tal was forced to postpone a virtual town hall on Sunday night that was meant to help mend Israel’s ties with Jews abroad after antisemites took over the call, praising Nazi leader Adolf Hitler and writing profanities onscreen.

Tal’s office said he was rescheduling the meeting for next week.

“Antisemitism has not disappeared from the world, but we will not allow hate to win,” Tal wrote in a tweet about the incident.

Tal, a US-born member of the centrist Blue and White party, has emerged as a key voice in the Knesset on improving ties between Israel and Jewish communities abroad, specifically with American Jewry. Polls have identified a growing disconnect between Israel and American Jews, particularly those who belong to more progressive streams of Judaism.

Tal’s Zoom meeting, titled “How Israel can better represent Jews around the world,” was aimed at discussing those issues.

However, shortly after the open-access meeting began, a number of people signed onto the call in a form of harassment known as Zoombombing and began writing in the chat “Hitler was right” and other praise of the Nazi leader, and took over over the screen to write profanities.

Tal was forced to end the call early. He has rescheduled it for next Sunday evening, his office said.

“We will continue to strengthen our partnerships with our friends around the world. And most importantly, we will have no fear at all,” Tal said, referencing a famous Hebrew saying by the Hasidic Rabbi Nachman of Breslov.
Footage of Palestinian burning mezuzah sparks social media firestorm
A Palestinian youth sparked a social media firestorm on Monday when he posted footage of himself setting a mezuzah parchment on fire on TikTok.

The man, "Zuhir," is shown tearing the mezuzah off the doorframe, removing the parchment inside and setting it on fire, all while a big smile is plastered on his face.

The footage was found and posted three days ago by Jewish Voice reporter Elhanan Gruner. It is unclear when it was taken or where exactly. Gruner said the footage "is very difficult to watch."

It is believed "Zuhir" is a resident of the West Bank working as part of a crew working in a Jewish residence, although it is unclear how TikTok users derives this information. His social media presence shows he is clearly a Palestinian, as there are photos of him online with the Palestinian flag.

The video has so far garnered dozens of views and social media users did little to disguise their anger.

"We will find you and have some Shin Bet agents and border policemen educate you on how to behave," one user warned, while another threatened, "You'll never have a home. Start digging your grave. Your end is near."

It wasn't only Jewish social media users that were vexed by the footage, as some Arab viewers were made uneasy by it.

"We need to show compassion. We have to respect the religion of others if we want our religion respected," one wrote.


PMW: Terrorist who led murder of 37 is PA's "legend that never dies"
Do you know who Dalal Mughrabi was?
The PA and Fatah are making sure that every Palestinian does!

Dalal Mughrabi was a female Palestinian terrorist who led the most lethal terror attack in Israel’s history, known as the Coastal Road massacre, in which she and other Fatah terrorists hijacked a bus on Israel's Coastal Highway in 1978, murdering 37 civilians, 12 of them children, and wounding over 70.

As Palestinian Media Watch has exposed for decades, the PA and Fatah are not letting anyone forget about this “quality operation” and its “heroic” female leader Dalal Mughrabi. A columnist of the official PA daily explained the success of the PA’s brainwashing when he wrote that “any Palestinian” would mention Mughrabi’s attack “at lightning speed” when asked about “important” days in March:
“If you were to ask any Palestinian about the important dates in this month, at lightning speed they would list International Women’s Day, the operation of Dalal Mughrabi, and [Mughrabi’s] death as a Martyr together with her comrades in the operation.”

[Official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, March 14, 2022]

As part of its ongoing promotion of the murder of 37 Israeli civilians as a glorious deed, this year on the anniversary of the attack – and Mughrabi’s death – Fatah’s Nablus branch posted a video showing different photos and posters of murderer Mughrabi, accompanied by a song including the words “You are history and nobility, you are the sister of the men. You are the victory”:
Murderer who led killing of 37 glorified by PA as “legend that never dies”

Fatah glorifies murderer Mughrabi who led killing of 37 Israelis, including 12 children

International law permits terror, claims Palestinian professor of public law

PA libel: Israel targets children, adults, and the Dome of the Rock



The Saudi plan to contain Hezbollah, free it from Iranian influence - opinion
Finally, in the face of the escalating economic and humanitarian disaster in Lebanon, it is vital to find emergency solutions that will prevent the outbreak of a new war, which would only benefit Iran in terms of controlling Lebanon and deepening its presence there.

Leaders in Arab countries are concerned, especially Saudi Arabia. They have always demonstrated a genuine desire and willingness to support Lebanon. I believe that all actors in the region, whether local, regional or international, must seriously consider how to contain Hezbollah, measuring it with a scale tilted toward logic, common sense, common goals and politics.

Just as getting out of this situation requires efforts from all, it also requires resorting to various peaceful options – like picking up a phone and connecting the leader of Saudi Arabia with the leader of Hezbollah. Otherwise, Lebanon and the entire region will be consumed in the flames of war in which only Iran will reap the fruits borne of the bloodshed.

Finally, when Ibn Salman assumed his new duties as crown prince, he proved himself to be a firm Arab leader capable of thinking outside the box. Dealing with complex and delicate matters with the realism political pragmatism requires, MBS demonstrated his agility in finding creative solutions that serve the best interests of his region and kingdom.

It is this political acumen that fuels the hope of his people that MBS will rewrite the history of the kingdom, in particular, and the Arab region, in general. Rescuing Lebanon from its crises and convincing Hezbollah to fully embrace its Arab identity will be but a prelude to the crown prince’s successful leadership in curbing Iranian intransigence in the region, containing the Houthi group, preserving Yemen, and restoring normal Arab relations with Damascus and Baghdad. All these wishes will remain subject to the coming days.
Nasrallah Denies Sending Fighters to Ukraine to Battle Alongside Russia
The head of Lebanon’s Hezbollah terrorist group has denied reports that the group is sending fighters to Ukraine to battle alongside Russian forces, according to Reuters.

“No one from Hezbollah, neither a fighter nor an expert, went to this arena or any of the arenas of these wars,” said Nasrallah, according to the report.

Russian state media reported last weekend that recruitment offices had been opened across Syria, and that many Syrian soldiers and militia fighters had already volunteered. According to the report, the two countries have an agreement allowing active duty Syrian soldiers to fight in Ukraine.

At a meeting of Russia’s Security Council on March 11, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu told President Vladimir Putin that there were 16,000 volunteers “from the Middle East” prepared to join Russian forces in eastern Ukraine, according to Reuters.


The U.S. Is Determined to Return to the Dangerous Iran Deal at Any Cost: The Implications for Israel
If Iran decides to enrich its current stock of uranium to a military grade, within four months it could have enough for four nuclear devices.

In the current round of nuclear negotiations, the U.S. could have pressured Iran to renounce the dangerous advances it has made to produce nuclear weapons and demanded a much better agreement through a combination of sanctions and a credible threat to use force. However, recent reports indicated that the U.S. surrendered to Iranian demands on sanctions.

The Americans are focused on conflicts with Russia and China. The consolidation of Iran's position is not seen as a threat significant enough for the administration to mobilize to thwart it.

Even if American leaders declare their commitment to preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and they are convinced that a return to the agreement will contribute to this, in practice, the pact paves a safe path for Iran to becoming a nuclear power.

If the agreement does go into effect, Israel will have to advance a covert campaign to thwart Iran's nuclear program. If, in the immediate term, Iran will slightly back away from the nuclear threshold, Israel must use this additional time to develop the ability to thwart Iran's nuclear program.

At the same time, Israel must continue to tighten its ties with the pragmatic Arab states, which are deeply troubled by Iran's consolidation of forces and the U.S.'s apparent weakness.
EXCLUSIVE: IAEA Chief Rafael Grossi Talks Fate of Ukraine Nuclear Plants

Israeli PM: Removing Iran’s IRGC From Terror List ‘Too High a Price’ For Nuclear Deal
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said Sunday that Israel is “very concerned” about the United States’ intention to accede to Iran’s “outrageous” demand to remove the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ (IRGC) from its list of foreign terrorist organizations, as part of a side deal to clinch a nuclear agreement.

“Unfortunately, there is still determination to sign the nuclear deal with Iran at almost any cost — including saying that the world’s largest terrorist organization is not a terrorist organization,” Bennett said at a Sunday cabinet meeting. “This is too high a price.”

The comments follow media reports of US willingness to delist the IRGC — which Washington blacklisted in April 2019 for supporting terrorist groups in Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, the Gaza Strip, Bahrain, and the Gulf region — in exchange for a public commitment from Iran of de-escalation in the region. The discussions come as the US and world powers seek to wrap up indirect talks with Iran to revive the 2015 nuclear agreement that imposed temporary restrictions on Tehran’s nuclear program in return for billions of dollars in sanctions relief.

In response to media reports, the US State Department said no decision had been made on the IRGC designation and “any speculation to the contrary is simply uninformed.”

Bennett on Sunday called the IRGC the “largest and most murderous terrorist organization in the world,” which poses a threat to all US allies in the Middle East.

“In recent years, they have fired missiles at peaceful countries and launched UAVs at Israel and other countries,” he said. “Even now, the IRGC terrorist organization is trying to murder certain Israelis and Americans around the world.”
UAE ‘shocked’ as US considers removing IRGC from terrorist list
The United Arab Emirates is very unhappy with the US move toward removing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps from its Foreign Terrorist Organizations list, a source in Abu Dhabi said on Monday.

Some in Abu Dhabi “are in great shock,” and they view the possibility of the IRGC’s designation being removed in the same way as Israel does, the source said.

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid released a statement on Friday saying they “find it hard to believe that the IRGC’s designation... will be removed in exchange for a promise not to harm Americans.... We believe the [US] will not abandon its closest allies in exchange for empty promises from terrorists.”

It has been difficult for the UAE to work with the Biden administration on defense issues and the relationship has deteriorated, the source added.

Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed and Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman declined to take calls from US President Joe Biden to discuss energy issues stemming from US sanctions on Russia, because of their dismay with US policy in the Gulf, The Wall Street Journal reported. Prior to that, the UAE and Saudi Arabia did not sign on to a US-backed UN Security Council resolution last month condemning Russia for invading Ukraine for the same reason.

Saudi Arabia and the UAE have been repeatedly targeted by the Iran-backed Yemeni Houthi rebels in recent months, and were disappointed with the US response, which they view as too restrained. They are also concerned that the Iran nuclear deal the US is involved in negotiating does not address their security needs.

The US removed the Houthis from its list of foreign terrorist organizations last year.
The Houthis, Iran's 'Weapon of War' and Iran's IRGC Must Be on US Terrorist List
The Houthis are a dangerous and deadly terrorist group based in Yemen. Recently, senior Houthi leader Mohammed Ali al-Houthi went on an antisemitic tirade in support of Russia's invasion of Ukraine stating, "It is because its President is Jewish. Any country run by a Jew ends up going to war."

Does the Biden administration find such racist, slanderous statements acceptable? Will the Biden administration refute it? Or will they passively accept such slander the same way they passively accepted the Taliban taking over Afghanistan or Putin invading Ukraine?

The Biden administration would do well to make sure that something comes at a cost. It is this backwards and hateful way of thinking that underpins the atrocities being committed by the Houthis in Yemen every day.

The Houthis need to be put back on the List of Foreign Terrorist Organizations immediately -- instead of the US taking Iran's rapacious Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) off it. The IRGC, which just claimed credit for attacking the Kurds in Erbil, will simply, while the world is looking the other way, take over Erbil and the rest of Iraq.

"[S]aying that the world's largest terrorist organization is not a terrorist organization... This is too high a price" for "empty promises from terrorists" on a nuclear deal, according to Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.

If the US allows Iran to acquire nuclear weapons capability, you can kiss peace in the region goodbye. That will be President Joe Biden's legacy.

America's allies in the Middle East -- Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE -- are raising serious concerns about any new agreement between the U.S. and Iran. They see that embracing Iran comes from a false hope that it will lead to better behavior on the part of its regime and terrorist proxies.

Those statements by one of the Houthis' top officials give us a clear insight into what we can expect from Iran and its proxies. We should take them at their word.

Let us not make the same mistake the U.S. and Europe made by embracing Russia, or the mistake made in Asia by embracing China. We must recognize the Islamic Republic of Iran for the evil it is and redesignate the Houthis, who operate as a weapon of war for the Iranian regime, as the terrorist organization they are. The strategy of hope did not work for Russia or China, and it will not work with Iran.
Netanyahu: Iran Could "Take the Entire World Hostage" after New Nuke Deal
Former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned on Sunday against empowering the terrorist-supporting regime in Tehran by approving a new nuclear deal. He said that when the Iranian regime is armed with nuclear weapons, they can threaten anyone they want while having the boosted defense capabilities that nukes provide.

"First of all, they can take the entire world hostage. Once you have a predatory, and especially in a rogue theocratic regime like this, have nuclear weapons, they can use them in two ways: One, they can threaten you directly with atomic bombs. Secondly, they have a nuclear umbrella, which is...to threaten you with conventional weapons like regular missiles or terrorists or anything else."

"If you want to understand how bad this deal is, it not only gives Iran the freedom with an international legitimacy to enrich uranium and an unlimited quantity with much more sophisticated centrifuges in just a few years, it also gives them an enormous amount of money."

"Those people who are firing these missiles, those people who have murdered Americans left and right, those people who are responsible for more terrorism around the world than anyone else - those people are going to be lifted off sanctions....This is the kowtowing of the democratic world - unfortunately, of the rest of the world - to this rogue regime."


WSJ$: Clandestine Finance System Helped Iran Withstand Sanctions
Iran established a clandestine banking and finance system to handle tens of billions of dollars in annual trade banned under U.S.-led sanctions, enabling Tehran to endure the economic siege and giving it leverage in multilateral nuclear talks, according to Western diplomats, intelligence officials and documents.

The system involves Iranian proxy companies dealing with foreign banks in China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Turkey and the UAE.

Iran's success at circumventing trade and finance bans shows the limits of global financial sanctions.

"This is an unprecedented governmental money-laundering operation," said one Western official
. Iraqi oil tycoon reject Iran’s claims his destroyed mansion was a Mossad base
Once a lavish mansion, the sprawling home of an Iraqi Kurdish oil tycoon was laid to waste in a barrage of missiles that struck near a US consulate complex in the northern Iraqi city of Erbil earlier this week

Iran’s powerful Revolutionary Guard said it launched the attack last Sunday, firing off 12 cruise missiles at what it described as a “strategic center” of the Israeli spy agency Mossad — in retaliation for an alleged Israeli strike in Syria that killed two of the Iranian paramilitary force’s members the previous week.

Baz Karim Barzinji, CEO of the Iraqi Kurdish oil company KAR group, denies any links to Mossad. The missiles gutted his beautiful home, but he says he is grateful his family was unharmed.

The consulate was undamaged and no injuries were reported in the attack. The US said it did not believe it was the target. But the barrage marked a significant escalation between the US and Iran. Hostility between the longtime foes has often played out in Iraq, whose government is allied with both countries.

Barzinji pointed to a large crater where once his home office stood as he took The Associated Press on a tour of the ruins on Friday. The tycoon, his wife, and two teenage children were visiting a nearby farm when the attack took place, he said.


Neo-Orientalism: Deconstructing claims of apartheid in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict
Apartheid discourse is not merely criticism of or an attempt to improve Israeli policy. Rather, it is used by NGOs and UN officials to construct a narrative that presents Israel’s very existence as a Jewish state as illegitimate.

The NGO and UN reports present an ahistorical and decontextualized narrative to press the case of apartheid. The publications erase the international community’s endorsement of the creation of a Jewish State, alongside Arab States; Arab military aggression and the ongoing Palestinian rejection of any final settlement to date; Palestinian political divisions and the root causes of fragmentation; and how the ongoing armed conflict has shaped policy in the region.

NGO and UN publications overwhelmingly adopt an neo-orientalist approach towards Zionism and Judaism. Their claims rest on antisemitic caricatures and stereotypes, which trivialize how Jews have, for thousands of years, defined their peoplehood and their religion.

Claims that Israel imposes a single, institutionalised apartheid regime “from the river to the sea,” and has deliberately “fragmented” the Palestinians are false. The existing territorial and political division of the Palestinian population results not from Israeli policies of “domination,” but rather from geopolitical factors impacting the history of the conflict, including Arab rejectionism, the 1947 UN Partition Plan, Jordanian and Egyptian control over the West Bank and Gaza respectively, the Oslo Accords (mutually agreed to between Israel and the PLO and witnessed by representatives of the international community), and Palestinian political splits.

Contrary to NGO and UN rapporteurs’ claims, there is no fundamental incompatibility between Israel’s identity as a Jewish state and the protection of equality for all its citizens.

Israel’s Law of Return does not provide for “Jewish preferential citizenship,” nor does it make the citizenship of non-Jews in any way inferior. Its provisions are consistent with international norms.

Any reasonable assessment of Israel’s policies must be viewed through the lens of its security dilemma and the context of armed conflict within which they are implemented. NGO and UN reporting consistently fails to address these issues.

An intention to secure the right of a people to reside in their ancient homeland, alongside Palestinian communities, cannot be said to entail an intention to establish and maintain a relationship of “domination and oppression.” Click Here for Full Report
Israeli UN Envoy Denounces Report From Harvard Law Group, Palestinian NGO Alleging ‘Apartheid’ in West Bank
Israeli Ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan denounced the report on Saturday, pointing to Addameer’s connection to the PFLP.

“Harvard University published an antisemitic report together with the terrorists of the PFLP, a designated terror organization in Israel, the US, the EU & more,” he said.

“Those who wrote the report on behalf of Harvard don’t care about the oppression of women, minorities, and members of the LGBTQ community in the areas run by the Palestinian Authority,” Erdan charged. “They decided to delegitimize the Jewish state because of their antisemitic views.”

“I expect Harvard to unequivocally denounce this repugnant report and hold accountable those who wrote these lies against the only democracy in the Middle East where all its citizens enjoy full, equal rights,” he wrote.


New York Times Enrages Readers With ‘Ridiculous’ Subheadline on Obituary of Rabbi Kanievsky
A New York Times obituary of Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky is drawing furious complaints from the paper’s readers.

A subheadline emphasizing what the Times says was the rabbi’s initial response to the COVID-19 virus was one main source of reader anger.

“He initially insisted, ‘Canceling Torah study is more dangerous than the coronavirus.’ But he had a change of heart, even before testing positive,” the Times subheadline said. It struck many readers as snide or flippant.

“Phenomenally absurd subtitle,” tweeted Tzvi Alperowitz, the Chabad emissary on Martha’s Vineyard.

“A ridiculous subheadline in @nytimes obituary for an acclaimed Rabbi and leader of Orthodox Jewry,” tweeted Joel Petlin, superintendent of the Kiryas Joel School District.

“This subheadline from the @nytimes is absolutely despicable. At a certain point, we have to have an open conversation about the absurdity & Jew hatred that frequents this rag. Any Jewish person, or any person of good conscience should be embarrassed to work there or subscribe,” tweeted Rabbi Shlomo Litvin, chairman of the Kentucky Jewish Council.
Deja Vu: Journalist Transforms Palestinian Terrorist Into Victim … When Will ‘The Nation’ Draw Line?
The Nation, a publication with over 1.2 million followers on Twitter alone, prides itself on speaking “truth to power to build a more just society.”

According to the magazine’s mission statement, The Nation’s writers “value facts and transparency,” while seeking to provide their readers with a “deeper understanding of the world as it is — and as it could be.”

This applies to every issue — except, apparently, when it comes to reporting on the Arab-Israeli conflict.

On Saturday, a 35-year-old Israeli jogger was injured in a stabbing attack near Jerusalem’s First Station, a popular entertainment area that includes restaurants and shops. Video footage taken by witnesses shows how the runner fought off his attacker even while sustaining light injuries.

The Arab assailant — identified as a resident of the adjacent neighborhood of Abu Tor — was eventually shot by security forces, only after he had refused to back down. Both the attacker and his victim were taken by medics to Shaare Zedek Medical Center.

The Israeli police released a picture shortly after the incident, reportedly showing the knife used in the attack.
Palestinians Begin Campaign of Violence Against Israel Ahead of Muslim Holy Month



'Inexplicable antisemitism' still a worldwide problem - Herzog in France
Last Friday, presidential candidate Valerie Pecresse, while visiting Toulouse declared that France will never allow antisemitism to be ignored. "When you kill a French Jew, a Jewish child, it's France that is attacked," said Pecresse.

Details of Herzog's meetings with Macron in Paris before and after the Toulouse memorial ceremony were not made public, but in all probability, Herzog tried to impress on his host just how dangerous a new deal with Iran would be not only for Israel but for the whole world. It also stands to reason that the war in Ukraine was included in their discussions.

In his address, Macron said that he and Herzog came to support the people of Toulouse and "to remind everyone that France and Israel are determined together to defeat terrorism in all its forms and on every front; and that together, we are determined to eliminate antisemitism, including when it hides behind the mask of anti-Zionism."

Before leaving Paris on Monday to return to Jerusalem, Herzog met with Jewish community leaders, tweeting afterward: "Meeting the leadership of the warm and important historic French Jewish community which loves Israel and faces many challenges, including many cases of antisemitism. Glad to hear from Israeli reps and MKs joining us about efforts to improve educational ties and Aliyah absorption."

Prior to his election as President, Herzog was chairman of the Jewish Agency, and as such was active in promoting Jewish education and Aliyah.

In fact at his farewell ceremony when leaving the Jewish Agency, he was presented with a wedding invitation by a French immigrant couple who met at Ulpan Etzion in Jerusalem. One of Herzog's early engagements as president,was to attend the wedding.
German prosecutors confirm November train knife attacker had extremist motive
German prosecutors said Monday they now believe that the suspect in a knife attack on a train in November that left four people wounded had an Islamic extremist motive.

The attack took place on an ICE high-speed train traveling from Passau, on the Austrian border, to Hamburg on November 6. Authorities said that the man attacked his victims apparently at random and showed signs of mental illness, but initially said there was no immediate indication of a terror motive.

Munich prosecutors said a few weeks later that they were no longer ruling out an Islamic extremist motive.

On Monday, they said that investigations have produced “weighty indications” that the suspect’s actions were based on support for the Islamic State group’s ideology, though there was no evidence so far that he was involved with or “steered” by the group.

An expert has concluded that the man could be held criminally responsible for his actions, and he was sent to jail in January. Federal prosecutors, who handle terrorism and national security cases in Germany, have now taken over the investigation.

Police have said that the suspect, a Syrian citizen, came to Germany in 2014 and was granted asylum in 2016. He had been living in Passau.

Prosecutors say some of the victims suffered life-threatening injuries and accuse the suspect of attempted murder, attempted manslaughter and grievous bodily harm.

Germany remains on high alert for terror attacks from Islamists and far-right extremists after a series of deadly incidents in recent years.
SNP’s Wullie Graham in ‘disgusting’ anti-Semitic comment row
THE SNP has been urged to sack one of their candidates in May’s council election after The Herald uncovered an antisemitic post on his social media.

On Christmas Eve in 2015, Wullie Graham, who is running to be a councillor for the Pollok ward in Glasgow, shared a picture of a man wearing a yarmulke and a young girl, both holding guns, with the caption, “Bloody sickening that Israeli Jews bring up their kids to hate and kill.”

The comment has sparked anger from Jewish groups and opposition politicians.

Glasgow Conservatives group leader Cllr Thomas Kerr said: “It’s clear from his disgusting, antisemitic post that this candidate is not fit to stand for – still less hold – public office.

“These comments are so beyond the pale, that the SNP must sack him as a candidate immediately. Such hate-filled bigotry has no place in our political discourse.”

Labour’s leader on Glasgow City Council, Cllr Malcolm Cunning said: “Those with ambitions to elected office should not be parroting antisemitic tropes or spreading falsehoods on social media.

“Mr Graham must issue an unqualified apology or be deselected by his party immediately.”


2 IDF majors become first Ethiopian women named military court judges
Two female IDF majors have become the first Ethiopian women to be appointed IDF military court judges. On Sunday, Maj. Tamar Bekia Adgach and Maj. Mazi Mekonen were appointed to military courts in Judea and Samaria, and they are expected to assume their new roles soon.

Mekonen is also the prosecutor in the case against a Palestinian terrorist suspected of killing Golani soldier Staff Sgt. Amit Ben-Yigal.

In 2019, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Aviv Kochavi met with a group of 12 career Ethiopian-Israeli soldiers after he received a letter from Ethiopian-Israeli officers and non-commissioned officers about the prevalence of racism in the army.

Attendees conveyed their personal experiences and feelings on the matter with the chief of staff.

Kochavi said there was no place for racism in the Israel Defense Forces, and stringent measures must be implemented to ensure an end to it.

In 2016, Lt. Col. Dr. Avraham Yitzhak – who was the first Ethiopian-Israeli to graduate medical school in Israel and the first Ethiopian-Israeli to become an IDF doctor – was appointed chief medical officer for the IDF's Southern Command.

In 2018, Lt. "Y" became the first Ethiopian-Israeli to earn his wings as an Israeli Air Force pilot. Y. completed the pilots' course and was assigned to serve as navigator on fighter jets.






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