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Saturday, April 06, 2024

04/06 Links: Pres. Herzog: 'We will heal, build, and rise again'; Howard Jacobson: Jews are starting to lose faith; After Damascus strike, Iran’s goal: Isolate Israel, deter the US

From Ian:

Pres. Herzog: 'We will heal, build, and rise again'
Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Saturday marked six months since the brutal Hamas attack on Israel, which sparked the war dubbed "Swords of Iron."

"Tomorrow at 6:29am, we mark six months since the cruel terror attack and the horrific massacre," he noted. "Half a year since this crime against our sisters and brothers, against our state, this crime against humanity. Six months of a bloody and difficult war."

"Today we received the bitter news of the discovery and retrieval from the Gaza Strip of the body of Elad Katzir from Kibbutz Nir Oz. We met his beloved mother, Chana - whose husband Rami was murdered on that fateful morning - at the hospital after she returned from Hamas captivity. A noble soul. I send my heartfelt condolences to her entire family and especially to his kindhearted and caring sister Carmit Palty Katzir."

Herzog continued, "Half a year our sisters and brothers have been held by a cruel enemy, our hearts falter, day after day, minute after minute – with them, there. Half a year we, the entire people, accompany, support, embrace the families of the hostages. We never forget them or their loved ones."

"The terrible suffering of the hostages and their families inconsolably rocks our souls. Michal and I see this almost every day, when we meet families of those held in captivity, and make every effort to assist them, to offer them strength in their all-encompassing struggle, to open doors for them and to introduce them to leaders of the family of nations and international organizations. For half a year we have been moved by the strength and unwavering faith of these heroic families. The most fundamental covenant between a state and its citizens obliges us to do everything – with creativity, perseverance, determination – to act in every way to bring them home.

"For half a year the IDF and our security forces, in regular and reserve duty, have been operating in every arena, on every front, with all their might – to bring back the hostages and to fight terrorism. Half a year into the war, and even in these tense days, we know we have an army that will stand against every enemy, near and far. We hope for the success and safe return of the soldiers, embrace the bereaved families, and pray for the recovery of the wounded in body and soul."

Noting that not all Israelis have returned home, Herzog said, "For half a year many Israeli citizens in the north and south have not yet returned to their homes. It is imperative not to forget that this is a supreme national priority - to return them to their homes, and to assist them in rehabilitation and in building a life of security, prosperity, and peace."

"Half a year, and despite the pain and turmoil, I am full of hope and faith in us. For half a year I have seen Israeli society in all its glory: The mutual responsibility on the front and at home - despite all the disagreements - the commitment to life, the closeness to others, the unique Israeli resilience. For half a year I have seen so many Israelis doing everything for the better of us all. Half a year, and every day, I feel anew immense pride in being part of this people."

He concluded, "Half a year has passed, and it is difficult to know what challenges still lie ahead of us. But despite the long and difficult journey, I look at you, citizens of Israel, and I know - we will rise again, we will heal and build, we will plant, we will reap with joy what we sowed in tears, and we will prove to the whole world: Am Yisrael Chai!"
Howard Jacobson: Is this the end of Israel? Six months on, Jews are starting to lose faith
In defence of last year’s massacre, it was argued that it could not be understood independently of the circumstances that led to it. Hamas’s attack, its apologists insisted, was the child of the Israeli occupation. I have always resisted the word “occupation” because it suggests a pre-planned policy, rather than — as I see it — the consequence of all the wars between the two people, most of them instigated by the Palestinians, after which Israel found itself with territory it needed to demilitarise for its own safety. But alright — an occupation it became. After which, what were Palestinians expected to do?

The elusive two-state solution was presented to them several times. Not equitable enough, they said, even when it was the United Nations that had done the divvying up. “Don’t accept,” the cosmopolitan Palestinian writer Edward Said urged from the comfort of his home in North America. “Demand more.” Was he right? Wouldn’t an inequitable divvying up have given Palestinians better if not perfect lives? Well, it’s not for one person to tell another what’s fair. But right or wrong, there was to be no deal. And so the bloody impasse — a tragedy, as Amos Oz saw it, of two rights. Later, a tragedy of two wrongs. For calling it a tragedy, Oz’s erstwhile Palestinian supporters deserted him. Tragedy meant there was no villain. And the Palestinians needed a villain.

Netanyahu fitted the bill. Netanyahu put his hand out and took. In retaliation for which — though nothing in the history of the two people would ever justify its extreme and twisted violence — the massacre of October 7. But if Israel must take some blame for the massacre, the Palestinians must, by the same token, take some blame for Netanyahu, the lumbering, unsubtle child of unrelenting war, a man hardened in suspicion and fear who does not know the difference between justice and revenge.

To hold out against the Palestinian narrative of dispossession, while allowing that not all of it is fantasy or self-pity, has necessitated, these last few years, more flexibility of mind than dedicated anti-Zionists are willing to try. That’s how we know they are wrong: they do not attempt to understand their enemy and do not cry for him. Did Gazans — educated in their schoolbooks to loathe Jews — dance in the streets on October 7? Whatever the truth, may Israelis never dance the dance of blood.

The heart breaks, seeing the destruction of Gaza. But seeing the destruction of Tel Aviv will hurt no less. Do I fear that? Yes. I sense a change of mood. The constant chanting on the streets of London and elsewhere has, to a degree, contributed to that change. One lie, endlessly retold, can weaken the cause of truth eventually. But, all on his own, Netanyahu is enough to try the patience of the West whose leaders have little appetite for sticking to a mission. There is a flaw in our natures that leads to our growing bored with even the noblest causes, let alone those grown stale in their own complacency. Oh, what the hell. Enough of them. So those are swastikas. So what? It’s all just a matter of context.

I fear they — papers and commentators and politicians — are losing interest and sympathy at the same rate. They’ve heard it all before. We Jews need to find other ways to make our harrowing history compelling. We’ve tried losing. We’ve tried winning. I’m not sure what’s left.
Nations Aren’t People
There’s no need to revisit the “genocide” canard, but I will note that these are not the procedures a country takes when it’s looking to wipe out a whole population.

More to the point, it just seems improbable that a military willing to forgo the element of surprise to spare Palestinian lives would suspend all of its safeguards for the express purpose of killing non-Palestinians (including one American).

I generally don’t like cui bono arguments, but how could it possibly benefit Israel to do so? Who in command would say, “I know the Americans and EU are going to come down on us like a ton of bricks if we kill these aid workers, but it’s worth it”?

How this could possibly benefit Israel is an utter mystery to me. The only attempt at an answer I’ve seen—other than Israelis are monsters—is that they want to “starve” Palestinians, and so this was an extension of that alleged policy. Among the problems with this theory is that according to the people offering it, WCK wasn’t making much of a difference, given the scope of the food crisis in Gaza. If that’s true, surely it makes little sense to kill these people given the foreseeable blowback.

Again, I think it’s obvious this was the kind of mistake that happens in war, especially urban war, and particularly an urban war when one side—that would be Hamas—rejects all laws of war and has an open and admitted policy of trying to maximize civilian deaths on their own side.

This is the amazing thing about this war and why it confuses so many people. Normally when two countries fight a war, each side takes responsibility for taking care of its own people. In this war, Israel is expected to protect its own civilians but also be responsible for protecting—and feeding—Palestinian civilians. I’m not saying that they shouldn’t protect Palestinian civilians as best they can, nor am I saying they shouldn’t feed them as best they can. But a little recognition of the fact that this is a burden the “international community” imposes on exactly one country.

From the Biden administration and much of the media, there’s this amazing, twisted, morally deformed assumption that Hamas should not be blamed for anything that happens in Gaza. In the fringier corners of academia and activism, this belief extends so far as to make October 7 Israel’s fault, because raping and mass murder are inevitable acts of resistance to “occupation.” (Never mind that Gaza was not “occupied” on October 7.)

Mousa Abu Marzouk, a Hamas leader, explained that because the tunnels and shelters underneath Gaza were built for Hamas fighters, the civilians on the surface are somebody else’s problem. More specifically, Hamas considers Palestinian civilian deaths to be a necessary sacrifice in the effort to bring international condemnation down on Israel and its allies. After six months of war, Hamas has not budged from its original negotiating position. But, yeah, Israel is being unreasonable.

I want to get off this subject, but it’s worth noting that despite getting its ass handed to it militarily, its territory pulverized, and watching thousands of civilians get killed, Hamas looks at the international climate, and the political climate in America, and thinks time is on its side. In other words, they think their strategy is working. They could only think this if they held the lives of Palestinians cheap, far cheaper than Israelis do.

Given how the Biden administration is wavering in its supposed “unwavering support,” Hamas may be right about its strategy working.


The Obama and Biden Administrations' Betrayal of America's Closest Ally in the Middle East: Israel
What onlookers see, including terrorists and America's enemies and adversaries – when they also factor in the open US southern border across which millions of illegal immigrants have recently poured, including 46,000 Chinese, many of whom are military-aged men possibly "building an army from within" – is that the Biden administration is perfectly content to welcome and support terrorists.

The White House actions have bolstered America's adversaries and pretty much extinguished America's credibility as an ally. The universal "optics" are that if America will throw its closest ally, Israel, under the bus, what chance has anyone else got?

Many people in Israel call to "Bring the Hostages Home." The request is wrong, because it is addressed to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has been doing his best to do free the hostages, while preventing Hamas ever to be able to strike Israel again – and standing up to US pressure, as he did during the fraudulent Iran nuclear deal. But the hostages are not his to bring home. The cry should be: "Release the Hostages" -- addressed, as well as calls for a ceasefire -- to the people who are holding them: Hamas, Qatar and Iran.

The US administration would clearly like to replace Netanyahu with new US-handpicked prime minister who would do whatever they tell him to, and appears to have launched a plan to do just that, using Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer as its mouthpiece. The Israelis must not fall for it. If they want to preserve Israel, preserve Netanyahu.

The Palestinian state, even if it were officially "demilitarized," would, of course, be free to enter into military alliances with any countries it wished -- perhaps Russia, China, Iran, North Korea?

Israel's new US puppet prime minister would presumably be happy to have Qatar – a country that has supported virtually every Islamic terrorist group -- including Hamas, ISIS, Hizballah, the Taliban, the al Nusra Front and Al Shabaab -- "operate" the Gaza pier now being built to bring "humanitarian aid" and Heaven knows what else into Gaza. Above all, of course, the new puppet would presumably agree to Iran being armed to the teeth with nuclear bombs.

The Biden administration would do far better, especially for November 5, instead of aligning itself with the terrorist groups and the countries that support them -- such as Hamas, Qatar and Iran -- to align itself with those in the Free World, fighting for freedom, human rights and civilization.
As Hamas sticks to demands, Israeli officials warn Cairo talks likely an ’empty show’
A Hamas delegation headed by the group’s deputy chief in Gaza, Khalil Al-Hayya, will go to Cairo on Sunday for Gaza ceasefire talks, in response to an invitation extended by Egyptian mediators, the group said in a statement.

CIA Director Bill Burns is expected to attend Sunday’s talks, along with Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and an Israeli delegation, Egypt’s Al Qahera news reported on Saturday.

Among the Israeli officials expected to attend the talks are Mossad chief David Barnea and Shin Bet head Ronen Bar.

Hamas on Saturday reiterated its demands issued in a March 14 proposal prior to a UN Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip that was passed on March 25.

“Hamas confirms its adherence to the position it presented on March 14 … and we will not back down from this position,” it said in a statement.

“The demands … are complete ceasefire, withdrawal of the occupation forces from Gaza, the return of the displaced to their residential areas, freedom of movement of the people, offering them aid and shelter, and a serious hostage exchange deal,” it said.

An Israeli diplomatic source told Channel 12 news Saturday that Hamas believes it can force a ceasefire on Israel without releasing hostages “because of the international pressure on us, and because of the internal crisis between Israel and the US.”

“The departure of a senior delegation to Cairo, without a compromise on Hamas’s part, will raise false hopes among the families and it will be an ’empty show,'” the source said.


Daniel Greenfield: Israel Takes Out Iranian Mastermind of Oct 7
The Biden administration insisted that Iran was not behind the Oct 7 attacks, but it was always unlikely that Hamas could have pulled off a precisely orchestrated operation that exploited technological vulnerabilities in Israel’s security.

Then earlier this week, Israel hit a building next to Iran’s diplomatic facility in Damascus where senior generals in Iran’s IRGC terrorist network were reportedly planning an assault.

One of those generals appears to have been the mastermind of Oct 7.

In a statement issued Wednesday, Coalition Council of Islamic Revolution Forces (also known by its Persian acronym SHANA) hailed Mohammad Reza Zahedi’s “strategic role in forming and strengthening the resistance front as well as in planning and executing the Al-Aqsa Storm.”

Zahedi, along with his deputy and five other IRGC forces, were killed Monday in an Israeli airstrike against Iran’s consulate building in the Syrian capital Damascus.

This is the closest that Iran has come to claiming responsibility for Oct 7, after multiple denials. But that’s not unusual for Islamic terrorists facing blowback. Osama bin Laden and Al Qaeda initially denied responsibility for 9/11.

The preferred tactic of Islamic terrorists is to sneak up on you and stab you in the back, and then wail piteously and cry that they’re the victims when they get punched in the face.

The Biden administration was invested in denying Iran’s responsibility because it all goes back to its foreign policy of appeasing and bailing out the regime in Tehran. Now as it’s all blowing up, it’s evading responsibility by blaming Israel.
Seth Frantzman: After Damascus strike, Iran’s goal: Isolate Israel, deter the US
As Iran tries to isolate Israel and still hold out the chance it could retaliate against the US for the Damascus incident, it also had a message for America. “Iran advises US not to fall into Israeli trap,” the same Fars News said on Saturday, October 6.

“Tehran has warned Washington to stay away from any potential clash between itself and the Zionist regime, while the United States has cautioned Iran against targeting American facilities and interests.”

Iran is trying to distance the US from Israel. In the wake of October 7, the US turned around an aircraft carrier and sent it back into the Eastern Mediterranean to deter Hezbollah, Iran or others from joining a major war against Israel. Hezbollah did join the war, but primarily by firing a small number of rockets per day. This has now become more than 2,500 rockets, but nevertheless, the full power of Iran’s proxies has generally been held back, their powder still dry.

Iran wants to isolate Israel, distance the US from it, or make the US feel deterred, and then it will be able to carry out more attacks on the Jewish state. Iran sees this as a “ring of fire” strategy to surround Israel and also to open multiple fronts.

It also thinks October 7 exposed Israel’s weaknesses. Iran’s long-term goal is to weaken the US in the region and get it to leave, but until that happens, it wants America deterred. Tehran challenged Washington via 200 attacks by proxies in Iraq and Syria and also killed three US service members in Jordan in January.

Iran is now portraying itself as being in dialogue with the US. It says it has warned the US, and says Washington has “asked Iran not to target American facilities.”

Tehran sees this as a major propaganda victory. Iranian propaganda has long been designed to put out messaging in the West that tries to characterize US backing of Israel as potentially leading to a US-Iran war.

For instance, in the lead-up to the Iran deal, pro-Tehran lobbyists in the West put out hundreds of messages about how the US had to choose between a deal or “war.”

Later, during the Trump administration, Iran’s foreign minister used to put out messages talking about the US and Israeli “B team” and portraying the Trump administration as being led by Israel into more war in the region.

As such, Iran seeks to prey on talking points in the US that prefer isolationism, or others also arguing that the “Israel lobby” has influenced US policy to be “anti-Iran.” Tehran is cognizant of how these messages play out and it uses them selectively. Now it calls the current conflict in the region an Israel “trap.” It knows US elections are coming and it would like to prey on this issue.

Iran wants the US-Israel rift to grow. It can then also invest in its nuclear project while it tries to distract the region with the Gaza war. Iran is exploiting US messaging after the Damascus attack as well, trying to show that there is daylight between the US and Israel. This is how Iran is angling to exploit the airstrike in Damascus to influence things in the region.
Noah Rothman: What Will Biden Do If Iran Attacks Israel?
How Israel would respond to an Iranian attack depends on the form it takes, but there should be little doubt that it would respond. The Biden administration is another matter. “You can’t act with impunity,” the president warned Iran within weeks of his inauguration. “Be careful.” That wasn’t just talk. The comments came after Biden approved a missile strike on a Syrian site used by Iranian proxy militias to execute attacks on American forces in the region. Shortly after the October 7 attacks, Biden dispatched a variety of U.S. Naval assets to the region in an effort to deter Iran and Hezbollah from engaging Israel directly. Biden’s message to Iran, the president said, was “don’t, don’t, don’t, don’t.” But Iran’s puppets in the region most certainly did.

What followed was a monthslong campaign in which Iran-aligned militia groups — from Kata’ib Hezbollah in Iraq and Syria to the Houthis in Yemen — executed attack after attack on American service personnel, naval and commercial assets, and those of its allies (one of which killed three U.S. troops and wounded scores more). Biden’s occasional and often belated counterstrikes have had varying degrees of success in restoring deterrence, but a direct Iranian attack on Israel would change everything. Or, at least, it should.

If the U.S. forces tasked with deterring Iran fail to sufficiently intimidate the Islamic Republic and its proxies, America’s mission must shift to one designed to restore stability to the region. The United States cannot accept a direct challenge to its deterrent posture unless it is willing to face similar challenges from potential adversaries all over the globe. Biden cannot make America into a paper tiger. He will have to act on the threat implicit in the position of its forces.

That would be no small undertaking. The risk to American interests that would be imperiled by a direct conflict with Iran or Hezbollah would be substantial. Indeed, substantial enough to possibly convince the president that he should do nothing — at least not directly. But the precedent set by Biden’s inaction in the face of such a brazen challenge to American reliability would haunt not just this administration but the next.

Hopefully, the response Iran and its allies execute will be a face-saving maneuver that the administration and Israel alike can absorb without committing themselves to further escalation. But if Iran miscalculates, Israel will have to respond in kind, and the United States shouldn’t be far behind. Such an attack would represent a challenge to American credibility. Biden’s failure to remind its adversaries all over the world that they “can’t act with impunity” would beget similar challenges. Here’s to hoping that the president understands the threat he may soon be forced to confront.


US Mulling Plans to Remove ‘Made in Israel’ from Judea-Samaria Products
The Biden Administration is working on a plan to reverse a policy enacted in 2020 under then-President Donald Trump that requires goods produced by Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria as “Made in Israel.”

The move comes as Israel is fighting for its survival in a multi-front war launched by Iranian proxies in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen.

According to a report by the Financial Times, the Biden Administration would remove the “Made in Israel” label from such goods.

US officials told the news outlet that a green light on the policy — and its timing — has not yet been approved.

Prior to 2020, the United States had maintained the discriminatory policy, along with the European Union which continues it to this day.

Earlier this year, the Biden Administration also declared that construction and expansion in Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria — including the extension of a pergola on a home in an existing Israeli town — is “inconsistent with international law.”

The move reversed another Trump-era policy approved by then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who announced on November 18, 2019 the “The establishment of Israeli civilian settlements in the West Bank is not per se inconsistent with international law.”

Known as the “Pompeo Doctrine,” the policy reversed the stance of prior American administrations that maintained Israeli cities and towns in Judea and Samaria were illegal.

The Biden Administration revoked the Pompeo Doctrine this past February, along with announcing sanctions against Jewish Israeli residents in Judea and Samaria accused by the Palestinian Authority of violence against its citizens.

The accusations were not substantiated, nor had they yet been taken through any legal process by the State of Israel.
Ireland divests millions from six Israeli companies, report says
The Irish government has pulled millions of euros of investment from several Israeli companies, Yahoo! News reported on Friday. According to the report, the Irish National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) confirmed that it had made the decision to divest almost three million euros from its global equity portfolio in the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF).

The decision to divest reportedly encompasses shareholdings valued at a total of 2.95 million euros in six entities: Bank Hapoalim BM, Bank Leumi-le Israel BM, Israel Discount Bank, Mizrahi Tefahot Bank Ltd, First International Bank and Rami Levi Chain Stores. Irish Finance Minister Michael McGrath called the move the “correct decision."

“ISIF has determined that the risk profile of these investments is no longer within its investment parameters and that the commercial objectives of these investments can be achieved via other investments. The decision will be implemented as soon as possible over the coming weeks,” he said.

“I am advised ISIF will keep under review the alignment of relevant investments within its investment parameters and commercial objectives.

“While recognising the independence of ISIF in the management of the investment portfolio, I believe this is the correct investment decision in respect of the assets it manages on behalf of the State.”

McGrath announced over the weekend the fund's decision to sell its holdings in companies engaged in certain activities in the "occupied Palestinian territories." The choice to withdraw investments from these companies stems from their mention in the UN database of companies operating in settlements.
Australia to appoint envoy to probe aid worker deaths, says Israeli steps insufficient
Australia’s government said on Saturday it would appoint a special adviser to work with Israel to ensure “full confidence” in investigations into an airstrike in Gaza that killed seven aid workers, including an Australian.

“The government will appoint a special adviser who we have requested the Israelis work with so we can be advised about the appropriateness of the process,” Foreign Minister Penny Wong said in a televised media conference in Adelaide.

“We want to have full confidence in the transparency and accountability of any investigation and we will continue to work to achieve that.”

The Israeli military on Friday dismissed two officers and formally reprimanded senior commanders after an inquiry into this week’s deadly airstrike on the aid workers, including Australian Zomi Frankcom, found serious errors and breaches of procedure.

After being briefed by Israeli authorities, Australia had “made clear that we have not yet received sufficient information to satisfy our expectations” about Frankcom’s death, Wong told reporters.

Wong described the dismissals as “necessary first steps” but said the government had told Israel in a letter sent overnight that “initial responses suggest that the gravity of the death of seven humanitarian workers is yet to be appreciated by the Israeli government.”


Israel ‘holding back’ to preserve civilians in Gaza despite ‘legal RIGHT’ to use force with Hamas
John Spencer, Chair of Urban Warfare Studies at the Modern War Institute, discusses Israeli ground operations in Gaza and their efforts to save civilian lives. Delving into the complexities of urban combat, Spencer highlights Israel's strategies to minimize civilian casualties amidst the ongoing conflict. Gain insights into the challenges faced by the IDF and their commitment to preserving human life amid the chaos of war.

The Sun delivers breaking news, latest gossip and incredible exclusives around the world with hubs in London, New York, Scotland and Ireland. Covering topics from news, money and sport along with our famous Fabulous Magazine, The Sun is the biggest news brand in the UK and one of the fastest growing news sites in the US.




Hen Mazzig: Why I agreed to debate Owen Jones
The question isn't just about accepting invitations to debate but about how we can ensure our voice isn't exploited by those looking to propagate hateful narratives.

The rise of antisemitism in the UK, reaching levels never seen in four decades, makes retreating an untenable option. My journey as a Jewish advocate has taught me the depth of antisemitism's roots, but also the importance of self-pride, confidence and resilience in the face of waves of hate.

We need to not only stand our ground but to also forge our own platforms for elevating our voices. The path isn't about seeking perfection in dialogue but about embodying an unwavering commitment to our identity and values, allowing us the freedom to exist as Jews.

Seeing Jones’ glib reactions and the smugness with which he debated such a serious topic reminded me that for him, this war isn’t personal. It’s something to fight about on Twitter, rather than a daily reality. My friends and family in Israel have no choice but to care.

Owen’s profile across social media has risen since October 7, and at times he appears to use this conflict not to educate for understanding and collaboration, (the sort of which that would lead to real peace) but to further his divisive brand of politics. In a world with two states and harmony, there would be no need for his anger.

My encounter with Jones wasn't just a debate on a news show; it was a testament to the enduring spirit of Jewish advocacy. It reinforced the idea that despite the obstacles, our presence and voices are indispensable.

In the fight against antisemitism and for a just peace, showing up is not just an option for Jews—it's a duty. Voices that spread division and encourage hate based on bad-faith readings of the events of war should not go unchallenged.

Our legacy and future depend on it.


The secrets behind the IDF's most successful operation in Gaza war
Inside the hospital as well, soldiers faced close-quarters combat amid a civilian population. Therefore, the core of the mission was carried out by more experienced fighters skilled in indoor exchanges of fire involving civilians and terrorists, from units such as Shayetet 13, Nahal Reconnaissance Unit and Duvdevan.

In many respects, the successful operation at Al Shifa, which included the arrest of approximately 500 terrorists and another 400 suspects, and the elimination of 200 terrorists, could serve as a "preview" for the forces in urban warfare in places like Rafah, where over a million Palestinians are sheltering in densely populated tent encampments, among them thousands of terrorists. This is under the assumption that the IDF will not be able to evacuate the entire population from Rafah, many of whom have already been displaced there from the north and center of the Gaza Strip.

"Most of the engagements in the Al Shifa operation occurred on the third day of action, after the enemy was initially in shock and needed some time to adjust to us," told Ynet Col. Daniel, commander of the 401st Brigade’s 52nd Battalion.

"They fired mortars at us, not just anti-tank and sniper fire. We powered the generators for the operation of the alternative field hospital we set up for Al Shifa, a significant humanitarian challenge that enabled the hospital to continue functioning."

"One day," he recounted, "a Palestinian man came to us with a shrapnel wound in his leg. After we checked him and confirmed he was not a terrorist, we provided first aid and directed him to the alternative field hospital. The fighters still don't grasp the magnitude of the achievement from this operation, all the intelligence we gathered, the significant number of weapons we seized and the high-ranking operatives we captured or eliminated."

In some encounters, suicide bombers attempted to detonate themselves on Israeli commandos with grenades attached to their bodies. The Armored Corps also welcomed an additional tank platoon, the third regular one in the battalion, instead of in the reserves, as part of an expansion of the armored brigades following lessons learned from the war. The 52nd Battalion is the first to expand in this manner.

Nahal's 932nd Battalion Deputy Commander Major Amiad, who operated in the Al Shifa area, describes the hospital as "a terror base that contains a hospital, not a hospital that contains a terror command."

Having so far operated in combat zones that have been cleared of civilians, Nahal troops were instructed to engage anyone they encountered in recent months, especially at the height of ground operations.


IDF destroys three Hamas terror tunnels in Khan Yunis
The IDF destroyed three terror tunnels in the area of the Khan Yunis Brigade, the IDF reported Saturday.

While Gaza’s underground tunnel infrastructure has been a challenge for the IDF since the "Swords of Iron War" began, IDF soldiers, led by the 98th Division and the Yahalom Unit, have been operating to locate, map, and destroy Hamas’s Khan Yunis Brigade’s tunnels, the military stated.

The tunnels that were destroyed had been under IDF intelligence and technological surveillance in the last few years. Following preliminary ground activity, the tunnels were mapped and destroyed. In addition to the 98th Division and the Yahalom Unit, the Southern Command's Engineering Array and the Gaza Division carried out the operation.

One of the three tunnels was uncovered approximately a decade ago. In 2021, during the Guardian of the Walls operation, it had been struck from the air, resulting in the elimination of several Hamas terrorists.

At the beginning of the current war, it was struck at several points to prevent offensive activity, and over the last weeks, engineering forces destroyed it.

Another tunnel destroyed was revealed in 2014 as a terror tunnel crossing into Israeli territory. Hamas has not restored the tunnel since then, and in recent weeks, another section of the tunnel deep inside Gaza was destroyed, the IDF added.


IDF says one of its drones was downed by Hezbollah missile over south Lebanon
The Israel Defense Forces said Saturday that one of its drones was downed by a Hezbollah surface-to-air missile over southern Lebanon amid ongoing fighting against the Iran-backed terror group.

The announcement came after Hezbollah said it shot down an Elbit Hermes 450 UAV over Lebanese airspace. Known in the military as the Zik, it is used by the air force as a surveillance and attack drone.

The IDF said the incident was under further investigation.

In February, Hezbollah managed to shoot down another Hermes 450 drone, prompting IDF strikes deep in Lebanon for the first time in years.

The military also said Saturday it carried out airstrikes on Hezbollah positions in Ayta ash-Shab, Arnoun and Tayr Harfa in southern Lebanon as the Iranian proxy repeatedly fired rockets at northern communities throughout the day.
Hostage Elad Katzir murdered, body returned to Israel
The IDF said on Saturday its special forces had recovered the body of a hostage killed while being held captive in Gaza.Elad Katzir, a 47-year-old farmer from Kibbutz Nir Oz, was murdered by Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ,) the army, and the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) said in a joint statement, citing credible intelligence sources.

Around a week ago, the IDF received new intelligence about the placement of the body. In addition, around Friday, the IDF received additional intelligence confirmation. Aspects of the confirmation appeared to be related to interrogations of Palestinian terror prisoners.

Within hours of the final confirmation, his body was unearthed on Friday in Khan Yunis' refugee camp by commandos from the Egoz unit.

IDF spokesperson R.-Adm. Daniel Hagari confirmed Katzir’s death, in a post on X Saturday afternoon.Katzir’s sister, Carmit, announced on Saturday that he was murdered in captivity in January after enduring physical and mental torture for months.

His father, Avraham, was killed in their kibbutz, and his mother, Hanna, was also taken hostage but freed on November 24 under a truce.


Israeli family forced to relive Hamas trauma as photo of murdered daughter wins award
An award given to a photo of Shani Louk’s dead body in the back of a Hamas truck has forced her family to “relive the pain” of her murder and abduction on Oct 7, her mother has told The Telegraph.

Ricarda Louk, 53, said that pictures of her Israeli-German daughter, 22, were “traumatic for all of us. Just try to imagine seeing your loved girl lying half-naked and lifeless on the truck with those savages around her.”

That trauma was raked up all over again, she said, when one of the photos was among those awarded “Team Picture Story of the Year” by the Missouri School of Journalism’s Reynolds Journalism Institute last month.

The picture, which was taken by freelance photographer Ali Mahmud and published by Associated Press, shows four triumphant-looking Hamas militants brandishing a rocket launcher and guns as they sit on top of Shani Louk’s body, lying face-down in the back of a pickup truck.

In the picture, she was still wearing the clubbing outfit she had on when she attended the Nova music festival. Blood and dirt can be seen on her skin.

Separate footage posted online later in the day showed her body being paraded around the streets of Gaza, with some spitting on her.

“Seeing those pictures again because of the contest makes our family relive the pain,” said Ms Louk.

She also highlighted the fact that the image can still be bought by news outlets, effectively generating profit from her daughter’s death.

“That’s really unimaginable, every day goes by they still earn money on those pictures... They’re still selling them and they’re still making lots of money from them,” she said.
'Photo of the Year' photographer of Shani Louk photo should be prosecuted
However, there is a fundamental difference between the symbolic photos to which Louk’s father refers and Mahmud’s photo of his daughter. A photojournalist who knew that a crime was likely to be committed and did nothing to prevent it, but instead, went along and took pictures as Mahmud did, is himself culpable.

On the other hand, the journalist who happened to be waiting in line at the bank when robbers burst in and demanded money could be said to have been in “the right place at the right time,” from a professional point of view. While some may consider it distasteful for that person to take pictures of the distressed victims as events unfolded, they can in no way be held responsible as they had no prior knowledge of what was about to happen.

THE SAME cannot be said for Mahmud who witnessed the ongoing atrocities as they were being carried out, thus compromising his position. Instead of extricating himself from the situation at that point, he stayed and took the “award-winning” photo, thus making him culpable along with the terrorists themselves. This also applies to the dozens of other photojournalists who joined Hamas on October 7.

Further, most legal jurisdictions in the democratic world assert that a criminal should not profit from his crime, which is precisely what has happened here. Instead of being awarded for his photograph, Mahmud should have been prosecuted.

This latest Photo of the Year award serves as an indicator of the amorality that has seeped into our society. No longer does a moral compass feature in the decisions of many, including Nikon, the main sponsor of the award, and the Reynolds Journalism Institute. Instead of calling terrorist enabler and supporter Mahmud to account for his criminal behavior, they, along with others, conspired to present him with a prestigious award.

It’s not enough simply to ask people to sign a petition to urge Nikon to take action in this matter. Instead, the governments and official bodies involved should round up all of the journalists who accompanied the terrorists on October 7 and prosecute them to the full extent of the law. The mere fact of holding a camera in their hands while the atrocities were being carried out does not absolve them of liability.

The “journalist’s cloak,” which many rely on to protect them from prosecution, should not provide immunity from criminal culpability.
October orphans: Who cares for Israeli kids whose parents were killed by Hamas?
THE WELFARE Ministry reported that each double orphan under age 18 in Israel has been adopted by a close family member like an aunt, uncle, or grandparent. Experts said this is the best route to success for youth who need to continue on after losing both parents. At first, the child goes into Family Foster Care, which is an arrangement made between the family and social services. With some guidance and time, if it’s the right fit, the family member will make an official adoption. Governmental bodies assist the family members with monthly compensation to lessen the financial burden. This includes access to a variety of treatments.

A grassroots organization started in the aftermath of Oct. 7 called the Israeli Children’s Fund has their own data. They estimate that 387 people under the age of 25 in Israel have lost one parent. They cite 29 children in that cohort who have lost both their parents, slightly less than the Welfare Ministry’s total of 31.

These numbers do not include those who lost a parent serving in Israel’s security forces. In the eyes of the state, local security agents working in the Gaza border communities on Oct. 7 were part of the army, even if they were volunteers.

In the aftermath, government agencies like the National Insurance Institute and the ministries of welfare, defense, and health kicked into high gear, pouring resources and funds into helping victims.

The Welfare Ministry received government funds to cover an additional 200,000 hours for social workers, plus more money for their expenses. Horev said his staff routinely put in more than their nine required daily hours and never asked for more pay.


At capitol in Albany, New York state senators call for Hamas to release hostages
A bipartisan group of New York’s political leaders participated in one of the weekly events led by an organization committed to the release of the 134 men, women and children being held in the Gaza Strip by Hamas since Oct. 7.

Run for Their Lives led an April 2 demonstration at the state capitol building in Albany, N.Y., where activists and state officials raised awareness about the importance of recovering the hostages still being held captive. As many as 20% are estimated not to be alive.

“We are rallying here today to demand the release of all the innocent men and women who are prisoners of war. Elected officials who support freedom must take action and call for an end to their captivity and their peaceful release back to their loved ones,” said State Sen. Rob Ortt.

Will Barclay, a Republican leader in the New York State House, said, “I remain unwavering in my support for Israel and the Jewish population, and demand the hostages be released immediately.”


British Jewish Actress Tracy-Ann Oberman Responds to ‘Downton Abbey’ Star ‘Jew-Baiting’ Her on X About Israel
On Tuesday, Bond — who played Miss Moneypenny in four James Bond films — tagged Oberman in a since-deleted post on X and asked the latter, “What is your response to Israel’s action today! A mistake? 7 people dead! Trying to feed the starving? X.” The tweet was posted in response to Oberman’s pinned tweet from January promoting a new adaption of Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice in London, in which she stars as a female Shylock.

Replying to Bond’s message, Oberman, who has received death threats for appearing in the The Merchant of Venice, wrote back: “As I am not a spokesperson for the Israeli government why on earth would you send me this tweet? Is it a political purity test? Do you want me to fail it? As a Jew do you hold me and my ‘kind’ collectively responsible? This is a deeply offensive tweet. I’d say this was Jew-baiting chaps.” Oberman also tagged the X accounts of the Community Security Trust and Campaign Against Antisemitism, both Jewish charities, to draw their attention to Bond’s comments.

Then on Wednesday, Bond messaged Oberman again, this time writing a “whole-hearted apology” for her remarks a day earlier. “Like many I am heartbroken and saddened by the ongoing lives lost, both in Israel and Gaza, and the further distressing news yesterday of those aid workers’ lives lost,” she told Oberman. “Again, my apologies.”

“You’ve known me for over 30 years,” Bond added. “You k now [sic] I am not, and never have been, anti-Semitic.”

However, Oberman was unsatisfied with Bond’s handling of the situation. She called out the actress for publicizing the matter on social media as opposed to discussing it with her privately offline.

“Yes, I have known you for over 30 years @SamanthaBond which is why I am deeply shocked that you are STILL doing this on social media and not contacting me directly on my phone number that you have had for 30 years,” Oberman told Bond in a post on X.

“You have my phone number so I hope you do the right thing privately,” she additionally wrote in a separate post. “All our hearts have broken since Oct 7. But virtue signalling by attacking a colleague is never a good look. Put your sadness into something positive — like many of us do — opening dialogue and trying to bridge communities to bring peace & better understanding.”

Oberman concluded by saying thanks for all the support she received online from fellow X users, who were also upset and disappointed by Bond’s remarks. “I have the most incredible followers on here,” she wrote in a post on X. “Thank you. For the support, laughs, love and … well everything x.”


Hillary Clinton is branded a 'super predator' while husband Bill is told he's a 'piece of s**t' to his face by anti-Israel protesters in NYC
Hillary Clinton was branded a 'super predator' while husband Bill was called a 'piece of s**t' during an ambush by pro-Palestine protesters in New York City.

The Clintons were accused of 'facilitating genocide' by the demonstrators who hurled abuse at the couple as they exited a Biden fundraiser on Wednesday.

Hillary was leaving the Music Box Theater where she and her husband were watching a preview of the show 'Suffs' for which she is a producer.

She and fellow host Hamilton writer Lin-Manuel Miranda used the occasion to stump for Biden.

But the Clintons were met by a hostile crowd blaming Hillary in particular for 'the deaths of millions'.

'Hillary, has anyone ever told you that you are the super predator?' One protester screamed as the former secretary of state approached her car.

'Bill Clinton, you're a genocide supporter. F*** you, you piece of s**t,' the demonstrator added as the ex-president followed her out.

But Hillary appeared unfazed raising a hand to wave and flashing a smile at the others who had gathered to see her even as the critique kept coming.

'You are responsible for genocides, you are responsible for atrocities. You're literally helping facilitate the genocide of Palestinian people,' the protester continued.

She continued bellowing even as Hillary got into the vehicle and shut the door.

'F***ing piece of s**t Hillary! Over 34,000 people are dead Hillary. Call yourself a feminist? Women are dying in Gaza.'


Rutgers University President Escorted Out of Town Hall by Police as Student Protesters Take Over
A Rutgers University town hall descended into anarchy Thursday evening as anti-Israel students chanted demands to "globalize the intifada," hurled anti-Semitic insults at Jewish students, and forced the school's president to end the event early, according to videos of the event and attendees who spoke to the Washington Free Beacon.

One video obtained by the Free Beacon shows the school's president, Jonathan Holloway, escorted out by police after cutting short the event.

"Globalize the intifada. Long live the intifada. Long live resistance. Resistance is justified when people are occupied," chanted the protesters. "We don't want two states. We want 48. Displacing lives since '48. There's nothing here to celebrate," they declared in another chant.

Rutgers University did not respond to a request for comment.

Thursday night's disruption was caused primarily by two student groups, the Endowment Justice Collective—a "coalition of Rutgers organizations advocating for an endowment fund that ISN'T invested in Israeli apartheid"—and Students for Justice in Palestine at Rutgers-New Brunswick. The latter is carrying out a one-year probation period following an investigation into several violations of university policy.

Joe Gindi, a Syrian Jew and sophomore at Rutgers University who spoke to the Free Beacon, said that Jewish students wanted to hear what the university's president had to say. Gindi said that after talking to police, Jewish students were told they could leave through the emergency exits. Nearly all of them did.

"I'm not going to let this mob take over my university. I'm not going to be told that we should leave through the emergency exits I refuse to. I refuse to be bullied by these people," said Gindi.

Gindi also commended Holloway for his support and refusal to end Rutgers's partnership with Tel Aviv University.

"I and many other members of the Jewish community really appreciate President Holloway for standing up against this mob and not cowering to the calls to join in a boycott of Israel," Gindi said. "I really respect that."


Scarborough: Netanyahu Wants An Israel 'From The River To The Sea'
Every time the issue of Israel's war with Hamas arises on the Morning Joe, Joe Scarborough touts his pro-Israel record.

But now that Biden's support for Israel is costing him in battleground states and among certain demographics, Scarborough has become a fierce critic of Israel's conduct of the war, and of Benjamin Netanyahu in particular.

During a long, angry, rant on Thursday's Morning Joe, Scarborough, in a grotesque variation of the slogan of those calling for the destruction of Israel, claimed that Netanyahu's vision is for "an Israel from the river to the sea." Careful, Joe: Rashida Tlaib might sue for copyright infringement!

And speaking of Squad members, Scarborough is sounding increasingly like them, as he also accused Israel of "the systematic killing of [Gaza] civilians." What's next, Joe: accusing Israel of genocide?

Macho Joe Scarborough also put in an appearance. First, after warning parents to put earmuffs on their kids, Scarborough declared that it is time for Biden and others to "call bull----" on the choice that Netanyahu is supposedly offering.

Next, Scarborough said that anyone disagreeing with his recommended approach on Israel "can go straight to Hell."


Anti-government protesters injured in hit and run in Tel Aviv
At least three anti-government protesters were injured after being run over by a driver during demonstrations in Tel Aviv on Saturday night, according to police.

One of the protesters was in moderate condition, while at least two others were lightly injured, according to Magen David Adom.

Footage from the scene showed the driver and passengers yelling at police and protesters before speeding forward and driving over several people. The driver was later arrested.

Earlier in the evening, police said that a group of rioters began illegally blocking roads at the end of a legal protest in Tel Aviv, lighting bonfires and attacking police officers. The police added that an officer was injured and required treatment after a protester was pushed at her. Initially, the police had asserted that the officer was punched in the face by a protester, but they corrected their statement after a video was published online showing a police officer swinging the protester directly toward the injured officer without any incident of the officer being punched.

"Unfortunately, a handful of demonstrators came with the aim of confronting the police with severe violence and not protesting legitimately," said Israel Police. "We take seriously the violations of the peace, which cause the police to divert forces that are engaged in security tasks and maintaining public safety. We will act with zero tolerance towards those who disrupt the order and behave violently towards police officers."
Jerusalem police say they thwarted suspected stabbing attack in Old City
A 17-year-old Palestinian from the West Bank was arrested near Jerusalem’s Old City on Saturday, suspected of intending to carry out a stabbing attack, police said.

Police frisked the young man due to his “suspicious behavior,” discovering a large knife taped to his body. After an interrogation, law enforcement concluded that the suspect intended to execute a terror plot, finding he had posted beforehand on social media: “The important thing is that I end my life content, because there is no satisfaction besides heaven.”

According to police, the terror suspect is from Birzeit, north of Ramallah, and was illegally in Israel.

A video released by police showed the suspect loitering in the shade at the top of a staircase, when a border police officer in full gear exited an adjacent building and drew close to the suspect. Three more officers moved in as the first one pulled the young man into a bind. The video then shows the suspect, face blurred, escorted into a police station.

The arrest on Saturday followed a tense but largely peaceful final weekend of Islam’s holy month of Ramadan. The final Friday of Ramadan saw some 120,000 people attend prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount.


California governor Newsom releases plan to combat record levels of antisemitism
The governor of California, Gavin Newsom, released The Golden State Plan To Counter Antisemitism on Friday, a report which illustrates action items the governor plans to take to combat this form of hate in his state, which has skyrocketed since October 7.

The plan highlights four strategies: increasing security for Jewish communities, taking preventative measures against antisemitism and all hate and violence, uplifting Jewish heritage and building tolerance, and advancing equity across society.

This plan is part of California’s anti-hate agenda, which was designed in response to rising hatred against a variety of minority communities in the state, including Asian Americans, Black Americans, Latinos, Arab Americans, LGBTQ+ individuals, and religious minorities, including acts of antisemitism and Islamophobia, among others.

While the report does discuss combating antisemitism, it also outlines how the administration will fight all forms of hate across California. Many of the action items designed to combat antisemitism are also intended to combat islamophobia and hate against Arab Americans.

According to the report, Jewish people are 3% of California’s population, but antisemitic hate crimes make up 62.4% of all reported hate crimes involving religious bias in the state in 2022.

According to the Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL) Audit of Antisemitic Incidents, which has tracked antisemitic incidents since 1979 in the US, a record high of 3,697 incidents was reached in 2022. In California, antisemitic incidents increased by 24.3% from 152 in 2021 to 189 in 2022, according to the report. Violence and threats in the state have escalated since the terrorist attacks in Israel on October 7.
Leading American medical journal faces down its own history of endorsing Nazi race science
A leading American medical journal praised the Nazi Party’s medical practices in the 1930s and was slow to acknowledge Nazi Germany’s antisemitic abuse, according to a historical retrospective the journal is publishing this week.

The article, which has been published online and will appear in the Thursday print edition of the New England Journal of Medicine, addresses the publication’s history of endorsing Nazi race science.

“We hope it will enable us to learn from our mistakes and prevent new ones,” write authors Joelle M. Abi-Rached and Allan M. Brandt, both historians of medicine affiliated with Harvard University.

Titled “Nazism and the Journal,” the article is part of a series written by independent historians that focuses on biases and injustices that NEJM has historically countenanced. Previous entries have addressed eugenics and racism in medicine as well as diversity in medical residency programs.

The article concludes that the journal “paid only superficial and idiosyncratic attention to the rise of the Nazi state” until the end of World War II, even as competitors dealt forthrightly with the health implications of the Nazis’ persecution of the Jews.

According to the article, NEJM first mentioned Adolf Hitler in a 1935 article by Michael M. Davis, a leading figure in American health policy, and Gertrud Kroeger, a preeminent German nurse who was later revealed to be a Nazi sympathizer. In that article, the two praised the reorganization of national health insurance in Nazi Germany uncritically and in a detached manner, Abi-Rached and Brandt write.

By that time, Jews were already banned from a range of prestigious jobs, including at public universities, and Jewish doctors faced restrictions on their ability to practice medicine.




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