Pages

▼

Saturday, May 18, 2024

05/18 Links: Who benefits from the destabilization of the US?; How Hamas became radical chic; Rewarding Hamas’s Publicists; Body of hostage Ron Binyamin recovered from Gaza

From Ian:

Who benefits from the destabilization of the US?
No organization has done more to dismantle America as it is presently constituted than BLM. And to the surprise of no one paying attention, BLM chapters were an early and enthusiastic supporter of Hamas’s terroristic and orgiastic attack on Israel on Oct. 7.

Nor should it be surprising that the fiscal sponsors of the groups organizing today’s campus protests, such as Students for Justice in Palestine and Samidoun, are also philosophical and even fiscal backers of the different BLM entities.

But U.S. enemies supporting and benefiting from the street mayhem are not all domestic. China, America’s rising 21st-century adversary, and Cuba, whose sclerotic revolutionary rulers have been consumed with anti-American resentment for more than six decades, are two communist outposts implicated in the protests.

A new report by the Network Contagion Research Institute analyzed “the activities and foreign connections” of the Shut It Down for Palestine movement, “an anti-capitalist, anti-police, and anti-government protest movement that emerged after October 7,” the day of the Hamas massacre in Israel. Organizations “operating under the SID4P umbrella are members of the ‘Singham Network’ donor portfolio.”

That network is tied to Neville Roy Singham, a half Cuban, half Sri Lankan tech entrepreneur who was born in the U.S. and resides in Shanghai. A former member of radical Marxist groups, he sold his software company for $785 million in 2017 and now donates generously to Marxist causes.

Various publications, from the New York Times to the Free Press, say he has close connections to the Chinese Communist Party — something Singham denies.

But the NCRI report says that three of the Singham Network’s affiliates — the People’s Forum, the International People’s Assembly, and the ANSWER coalition — “serve as the conduit through which CCP-affiliated entities have effectively co-opted pro-Palestinian activism in the U.S., advancing a broader anti-American, anti-democratic, and anti-capitalist agenda.”

One of the leaders of the People’s Forum, the Dominican Republic-born Manolo De Los Santos, has received training in Cuba and meets regularly with the regime’s nominal president, Miguel Diaz-Canel, writes Mary O’Grady at the Wall Street Journal.

De Los Santos gave a rousing speech to more than 100 “masked and keffiyeh-clad activists” at the People’s Forum Manhattan office hours before they headed to Columbia to take over Hamilton Hall, according to Washington Free Beacon reporter Joseph Simonson, who attended via Zoom. De Los Santos urged the demonstrators to “give Joe Biden a hot summer” and “make it untenable for the politics of usual to take place in this country.”

The activists were then trained on “new methods of resistance” in a breakout session. “A few hours later, activists smashed the windows of Columbia’s Hamilton Hall and barricaded themselves inside,” noted Simonson.

We are constantly reminded that peaceful protests are constitutionally protected speech. But we should be equally reminded to ask of those subverting our peace and undermining our institutions: “Cui bono?” It’s not people who wish us well.
How Hamas became radical chic
Dostoevsky maintained that the suffering of Russian peasants before the elimination of serfdom exceeded any misery the Jews had ever experienced. His elevation of the Russians and demotion of the Jews reflects the zero-sum logic of the victimisation sweepstakes, in which every winner entails a loser, every plus a minus. Identity politics involves a similar logic. The theory of intersectionality recycles Marx’s idea that all forms of injustice are systemically interconnected. This means that no single category of oppression can be eliminated unless all are. And as with capitalists and the proletariat, opposed groups epitomise both injustice and its antithesis, sacrificial suffering in the cause of human liberation. A popular diagram explaining intersectionality contrasts categories of “Privilege” with those of “Oppression/Resistance” — a phrase that suggests noble opposition to tyrannical injustice. The diagram lists among the privileged those who are “white”, “European”, “credentialed”, “upper and upper-middle class”, “anglophones”, and “light, pale”. Most Jews in the West, where intersectionality originated, are all of these things, while almost all Palestinians are none of them.

This analytical framework binds the people of Israel with the Palestinians in a fateful struggle. Other Western groups (e.g. Episcopalians) are by the measures of intersectionality also highly privileged. But none threaten the Palestinians’ attempt to be seen by Westerners as the new proletariat — the Chosen People of cultural Marxism — as do the Jews, whose ancient claim to divine election has subjected them to endless persecution. This is why Hamas finds it necessary to deny both the Holocaust and the Jews’ historical connection to the land of Israel — a denial echoed in the charge of “settler-colonialism” that is falsely and uniquely level against the Israelis.

With calls to “globalise the intifada” echoing on the campuses of the West, it’s become clear that today’s cultural Marxists are playacting in the only drama they’ve been taught by their radicalised professors. Unburdened by knowledge of the past, unfamiliar with the sacrifices laid by so many on the altar of freedom and ordered liberty, unacquainted with any but anti-heroes, these anarchists, schooled in the likes of Herbert Marcuse, Edward Said, and Frantz Fanon, have learned to regard civilisation as little more than a set of unreasonable constraints on their appetites. Their feverish imaginations transform perpetrators of unspeakable evil, washed not in the blood of the lamb but that of slaughtered Jews, into innocent martyrs in the cause of human liberation.

And it’s not just Hamas that benefits from this demonic alchemy. Marx’s knowledge that he belonged to the “small section of the ruling class [that] cuts itself adrift and joins the revolutionary class”, and that he effectively called the proletariat into being as a revolutionary agent by endowing it with class consciousness, must have considerably assuaged his bourgeois guilt. Hamas’s supporters, including many students and faculty at expensive, elite universities, are buoyed by a similar knowledge as they attempt to launch the “intifada revolution”. (Perhaps some of them, having embraced antisemitic conspiracy theories, figure that if any cabal controls society, it should be them.) Glamping undergraduates who complain that “finger painting for Palestine is cancelled; these people are animals!” — a remark recently overheard at the University of Texas, as police broke up a demonstration — have taken the torch from jihadis and are trying to set the world aflame with it. In doing so, they confirm the truth of Marx’s observation that “history repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as farce”.
Shani Louk’s parents describe seeing daughter’s body 7 months after she was murdered and paraded through Gaza
The parents of Shani Louk, the 23-year-old tattoo artist killed by Hamas and paraded half-naked through Gaza like a trophy, described identifying their daughter’s body seven months after she was murdered by terrorists — hours after her remains were recovered in Rafah by Israeli soldiers.

“The body that we have now is complete and beautiful and looks like she’s alive actually,” said Shani’s father, Nissim Louk, telling The Post Friday that the condition of her body was “a miracle.”

“I think she’d been in one of the tunnels which was very, very cold…that’s why the body is complete and beautiful and the skin is still the same color, you still see the tattoos, it’s amazing,” he told The Post as part of a conversation with Rabbi Shmuley Boteach.

Shani’s parents expressed relief that their daughter’s remains are back in Israel following the horrific Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel — which included a massacre at the Super Nova music festival Shani was attending.

“The army came and told us that the body of Shani was found and brought back to Israel…we’re happy that she’s back and can bury her properly,” said Shani’s mother Ricarda Louk.

“The body is back, we can bury her. It’s a little bit of relief we know where her body is and that she will be here in Israel buried,” she said, noting that they had been in the process of building a memorial statue in their honor when they learned she was coming home.

“So we feel she is always with us. We feel her. She is happy to come back to Israel and close the circle. I’m happy to have her close by.”


US Administration Abandons Israel, Empowers Enemies
Worse, abandoning Israel sends a troubling message to U.S. allies worldwide: in times of crisis, do not rely on American support.

The Biden administration has eroded trust and damaged U.S. credibility on the global stage even further than it already had done after surrendering Afghanistan and allowing China to kill more than a million Americans with Covid-19, or poisoning to death more than 80,000 Americans each year with fentanyl, or permitting China to commit massive espionage and intellectual property theft with no consequences at all.

Biden's decision has projected an image of weakness rather than leadership, further tarnishing America's reputation as a steadfast defender of the free world. Instead, the Biden administration is seen globally as siding with terrorists -- the Taliban in Afghanistan, the terror-funding Qataris, the genocidal Communist government of China, and the annual winner of the world's top, largest, leading "state sponsor of terrorism," Iran.

Such a milestone shift in U.S. foreign policy displays a concerning departure from longstanding principles of backing the Free World. Overall, the development is deeply detrimental to U.S. interests. It threatens the stability of international relations, and for the perception of America's role as a leading global power, it is nothing short of devastating.
Israel Lifts the Veil on Gaza-Egypt Terror Tunnel Network
Israel announced on Friday that close to 700 tunnel shafts have been found in the final Hamas stronghold of Rafah along with 50 Hamas terrorist tunnels between Gaza and Egypt.

The disclosure came as part of attorney Gilad Noam’s defense of Israel before the International Court of Justice against false allegations of genocide brought by South Africa.

“These tunnels are used by Hamas to supply itself with weapons and ammunition, and could potentially be used to smuggle out of Gaza hostages or Hamas senior operatives,” Gilad explained. Watch:

A Flash Brief on the development — which confirmed what most experts expected to find — from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) characterized the situation as one where Israel “finally lifted the veil on one of the region’s open secrets” and “comes not a moment too soon.”

The secret: “that the Egyptians, while cracking down on the Muslim Brotherhood in their midst, have been turning a blind eye and likely making a handsome profit off gun-running to Hamas, the Brotherhood’s Palestinian affiliate,” explained FDD CEO Mark Dubowitz.

“There are potentially dozens of hostages in Rafah — Americans among them, perhaps — who now face the prospect of being transported into the Egyptian Sinai, never to be seen again,” Dubowitz warned. “The United States must use its diplomatic and military aid to Cairo to stop Cairo’s double game.”

Joe Truzman, senior research analyst for FDD’s “Long War Journal,” emphasized that “Israel has been nothing but patient with Egypt playing spoiler during this crisis,” including Cairo’s refusal to accept refugees from Gaza — “a temporary measure that would have shortened the Gaza war” — as Egypt fortified its above-ground border with Gaza.

“All the Israelis have got in return has been vitriol and, most recently, Egyptian support for the foul allegations being leveled against them at The Hague,” added Truzman. “President Sisi is supposed to be a pragmatist rather than a populist. This cannot continue.”


John Kirby: White House still has no information on unaccounted American hostages
Five of the eight American hostages in Gaza remain unaccounted for and the White House has no information on their status or whereabouts, White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby said on Friday.

Kirby said the approximately 130 remaining hostages are not all believed to be alive but the exact breakdown is unknown.

While there is no information to conclude the five American hostages are no longer alive, Kirby said there is no additional context "whatsoever."

Kirby, acknowledging the bodies of three hostages who the IDF announced it recovered on Friday, said his heart goes out to the families who are having to deal with this terrible news.

The White House has not received additional information or context from the Israelis since the bodies were recovered.

No major effect on hostage negotiations
Kirby seemed assured that the recovery of the three hostages will not have a major effect on the hostage negotiations.

"As you know, the talks didn't go anywhere last week," Kirby. "Unfortunately, we just didn't get to a successful conclusion."


Gantz sets June 8 deadline for PM to make post-war plan, or he’ll bolt coalition
War cabinet minister Benny Gantz issued an ultimatum to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday night, demanding the premier commit to an agreed vision for the Gaza conflict that would include stipulating who might rule the territory after Hamas’s defeat, warning that he would bolt the coalition should this not happen.

In a statement that provoked swift outrage from other members of the government,, Gantz said he believed that in recent months, the war triggered by the Hamas-led October 7 massacre was drifting off course due to the cowardice of some of Israel’s leaders.

“While Israeli soldiers are displaying incredible bravery on the front, some of the people who sent them to battle are acting with cowardice and a lack of responsibility,” said Gantz, who brought his National Unity party into the governing coalition in the immediate aftermath of the terror onslaught.

“While in the dark tunnels of Gaza, the hostages are undergoing the agonies of hell, there are some who are involved in nonsense,” he said. “While the Israeli public is outdoing itself, some of the politicians are thinking of themselves.”

Lamenting that “within the holy of holies of Israeli security, personal and political considerations have begun to penetrate,” Gantz appeared to take a shot at the slow pace of the war in recent months and at Netanyahu’s unwillingness to lay out a plan for a post-Hamas Gaza Strip.

“A war is only won with a clear and realistic strategic compass,” he said.

To this end, Gantz warned that if no clear plan of action has been set in motion by June 8, he will pull his centrist party from government and return to the opposition.


IDF kills over 80 terrorists, seizes anti-aircraft guns in eastern Rafah
The combat team of the IDF’s Givati Brigade has killed more than 80 terrorists during operational activities in eastern Rafah, the military said on Saturday afternoon.

The Givati Brigade has been operating in the area for several weeks.

In one of the raids, the “Tzabar” Infantry Battalion located numerous weapons, including dozens of rifles, grenades, and magazines.

During an assault conducted by the brigade’s 9th Battalion, troops found many anti-aircraft machine guns, the IDF reported.

Destroying terrorist infrastructure in Rafah
The Givati fire array, along with the air force and others, also destroyed dozens of terrorist infrastructures in the area, the military added.

Earlier, ABC News reported that, since May 4, roughly 1,400 buildings in Rafah have been destroyed.


White House: US soldiers protecting Gaza pier will ‘fire back’ if ‘fired upon’
The Biden White House confirmed that U.S. service members supporting a temporary pier constructed in Gaza would “100%” fire back if attacked.

The administration announced Friday that the pier, aimed at funneling humanitarian aid into Gaza, had finally been completed, and National Security Council spokesman John Kirby briefed reporters on operational details at Friday’s White House press briefing.

President Joe Biden has maintained that the United States would not put troops in Gaza, and Kirby stressed to reporters that a “small component of U.S. service members” will take part in “force protection” and assist in unloading cargo on the pier, which is not technically located in Gaza.

“There are no U.S. service members in Gaza. There is a small U.S. military component on the pier itself,” he stated. “They’re there really to do sort of two things. One is to provide a modicum of security for it, but also to assist with the logistics.”

Earlier this spring, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin suggested that U.S. troops protecting the pier would fire back on attackers if fired upon first.

Asked about Austin’s comments on Friday, Kirby responded that was “100%” still the plan.

According to the White House, the United Nations is facilitating the distribution of aid brought into Gaza through the U.S. temporary pier, some 300 pallets of which were distributed Friday in its first day of operation.

“This is a humanitarian effort, and contrary to what we’ve been seeing out there in the information space, particularly in the region, it is designed solely only for the delivery of humanitarian assistance,” Kirby told reporters. “There’s no other purpose for this than humanitarian assistance.”


Shani Louk, symbol of Oct. 7 Hamas savagery, found dead in Rafah along with bodies of 2 other Israeli hostages
The body of Shani Louk has been found in Rafah, along with two other dead Israeli hostages — seven months after the 22-year-old tattoo artist was kidnapped from a music festival and then paraded half-naked through Gaza on Oct. 7, turning her into an international symbol of Hamas’ savagery.

“It’s really closing the circle. The body is back, we can bury her. It’s a little bit of relief that we know where her body is and that she will be here in Israel buried,” Shani’s mother Ricarda told The Post as part of a conversation with Rabbi Shmuley Boteach.

The Israeli military announced Friday that troops found Shani and the bodies of Amit Buskila, 28, and Itzik Gelernter, 58, during an overnight operation in Hamas’ last remaining stronghold city.

Israeli troops are moving forward with operations in Rafah — where over one million Palestinians took shelter from the Gaza war — in an effort to wipe out the terrorist organization that launched the surprise attack on southern Israel.

Shani’s family learned she had been found Friday morning. Her father, Nissim Louk, said that her body was discovered in a cool, deep tunnel and was in excellent condition when she was brought home.

“That’s why the body is complete and beautiful and the skin is still the same color, you still see the tattoos, it’s amazing. The body we have now…looks like she’s alive,” said the grieving but grateful dad.

He said it was a “gift” that they were able to give their daughter a peaceful burial in Israel.

The Louks have not shied away from sharing the horrific images of their daughter’s last moments. At a pro-Israel event in Times Square on Tuesday, Nissim Louk, told The Post that the contrasting images of his daughter circulating in media reports have showed the world the “darkness” Israel is up against in its war with the terror group.

“This picture is very important because this picture shows from one side, Shani — beautiful, amazing, bright light to the world, and from the other side you see these militants in the pickup with machine guns that bring trouble and pain to the world and nobody can mix these two pictures,” the heartbroken father said in an exclusive interview.


IDF confirms: Body of hostage Ron Binyamin recovered from Gaza
The body of Ron Binyamin, 52, was recovered from Gaza by the IDF after being held there since his murder by Hamas on October 7, the IDF confirmed on Saturday, one day after the military announced the recovery of three other Israeli hostages’ bodies.

IDF spokesperson, R.-Adm. Daniel Hagari announced that Binyamin’s body was recovered at the same time as the three other hostages’ bodies rescued on Friday, but the process of identification and notification of the family took longer.

“Based on verified intelligence in our possession, Ron Benjamin was murdered during the October 7 Massacre at the Mefalsim Intersection, and his body was seized and brought to Gaza by Hamas terrorists,” Hagari said.The operation was “based on precise Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) intelligence obtained during the interrogations of terrorists who were apprehended in the Gaza Strip, as well as intelligence from the IDF Intelligence Directorate,” he said.

Comments on the recovery
Shortly afterward, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum provided the following statement:“The Families Forum bows its head and mourns upon receiving the difficult news of the murder of Ron Benjamin by Hamas terrorists and the taking of his body to Gaza as a hostage.”

“Returning his body to Israel is a sacred mission that allows his family to grant him eternal rest in the land of Israel.”The Families Forum added that “128 hostages have been waiting to be released and returned to Israel for 225 long days and nights already.


Ambassadors, musicians headline rally highlighting plight of international hostages
The families of hostages held in Gaza rallied in Tel Aviv on Saturday night, with a high-profile lineup of international speakers and musicians to demand the release of the 125 hostages still held by Hamas since October 7, who hold citizenship from 24 countries.

Video messages from former United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Dr. Phil were screened for the crowd at the event.

There were also speeches by US Ambassador to Israel Jack Lew, UK Ambassador to Israel Simon Walters, German Ambassador to Israel Steffen Seibert and Austrian Ambassador to Israel Nikolaus Lutterotti.

The rally featured musical performances by Eurovision 2024 Israeli representative Eden Golan, as well as Montana Tucker, Noga Erez, Netta Barzilai and Lola Marsh.

Family members of hostages tapped to speak included Rachel Goldberg-Polin, the mother of American-Israeli Hersh Goldberg-Polin; Yael Alexander, the mother of American-Israeli Edan Alexander; Itzik Horn, the father of Argentinian-Israeli brothers Eitan and Yair Horn; Ayala Yahalomi, the sister of French-Israeli Ohad Yahalomi; Evgenia Kozlov, the mother of Russian-Israeli Andrey Kozlov.

The event was compered by former government spokesperson Eylon Levy and began at 8 p.m. in Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square.

The rally comes as hopes fade for a hostage and truce deal between Israel and Hamas, and the day after the military announced that soldiers recovered the bodies of three hostages from the Gaza Strip, as intensive fighting raged there between Israeli forces and the terror group.

The three, who were murdered by Hamas terrorists on October 7 and their bodies abducted to Gaza, were named as Itzhak Gelerenter, Amit Buskila and Shani Louk.


Trump says Ilhan Omar hates Jewish people and Israel at levels ‘rarely seen before’
Former President Donald Trump criticized Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) over her stance on Israel, stating she hates the country and Jewish people at levels “rarely seen.”

The Minnesota congresswoman has been critical of Israel amid the war in Gaza, which has gained global attention since the Hamas terrorist group attacked Israel on Oct. 7. When asked about Omar’s criticism of Israel, Trump stated there is “no question” she hates Jewish people and that she does “a terrible job” as a congresswoman.

“Perhaps there’s a little group or a small group in there that likes her and likes that philosophy, but it’s not right, and it’s not good for our country,” Trump said on Alpha News, a Minnesota-based independent news outlet. “She’s a hater, and she hates at levels rarely seen before.”

Trump claimed that while Omar may be favorable within her district, she is widely disliked across the nation. Omar is facing a primary challenge from Don Samuels, though the congresswoman received the endorsement from the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party this month.

Omar has since responded to Trump’s statements by saying that she is “a hater,” though clarified that she is “a hater” of the former president. She also accused Trump of having “a history of sexually assaulting women.”

“Miss me with your faux outrage, while I keep delivering for my district,” Omar wrote on X.
Biden staffer who resigned over White House’s ‘disastrous’ support for ‘genocide’ is daughter of weapons exec helping Israel
The dad of the Department of Interior staffer who dramatically resigned this week to protest the Biden administration’s support for Israel is a senior executive at a defense giant that supplies American weapons to the Land of Milk and Honey.

Lily Greenberg-Call, a special assistant to the chief of staff in the Interior Department, went out with a bang Wednesday with a red-hot resignation letter to Interior Secretary Deb Haaland.

“I can no longer in good conscience continue to represent this administration amidst President Biden’s disastrous, continued support for Israel’s genocide,” wrote Greenberg-Call, 26 who additionally condemned Israel’s “violations of international law” perpetrated with “American weapons.”

Greenberg-Call is the daughter of Thomas Call, a senior executive at a division of RTX Corp., formerly Raytheon Technologies Corp., one of the biggest arms dealers in the world, according to his LinkedIn.

Her mother Aimee Greenberg, is a successful theater producer.

Call, 64, is a chief engineer at Raytheon Applied Signal Technology, which was acquired by Raytheon in 2010 and was a “market leader in advanced intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance,” according to a press release.

The weapons behemoth regularly stocks Israel’s Iron Dome anti-missile system, something the company proudly notes on its website.
House staffers organize anti-Israel protest at US Capitol and urge attendees to cover faces
House staffers are going to gather on Capitol Hill Thursday afternoon to protest the chamber’s override vote of President Joe Biden’s halting of a shipment of arms to Israel.

They’re also being told to cover their faces with masks and to “remove identifiable clothing” in fear they will be identified. Staff are being encouraged to hide their staff IDs as well.

An anonymous organizer with the “M” moniker told the Washington Examiner why protesters were protecting their identities.

“We understand there is an inherent risk in speaking out, which is why we are encouraging staff to remove identifiable clothing and wear masks to protect their identities as best they can,” they said.

“We know the fear of identification and retaliation has led some staffers to reconsider their ability to participate, but we hope and expect a good number to show anyway in a display of bravery in standing up to our bosses who continue to ignore the will of their constituents each and every day.”

The protest is being organized by “Congressional staff for a Ceasefire Now,” a group that has previously had its members demonstrate and describes themselves as having “150+” members who are staffers.

“Today, we are once again gathered as congressional staff because too many of our bosses have failed to act,” a statement said. “The American people are calling their Members of Congress every day to demand the United States take steps to stop Israel’s assault on Gaza and lead with the moral clarity that saves lives. We are the staffers taking their calls.”

“We have answered hundreds of thousands of messages from constituents demanding an immediate ceasefire, a surge of humanitarian aid, and the release of all hostages,” the statement added. “Instead, disclosures indicate the Biden administration is sending an additional $1 billion of weapons to Israel and has yet to commit to a meaningful freeze on future weapons transfers despite acknowledging just last week that U.S. weapons are likely being used to commit war crimes.”

The group has a “protest safety tips” section which includes many pieces of information for how staffers can hide their identity like hiding tattoos, wearing shoes and clothes they don’t normally wear, and turning off identifying phone settings.

“After fueling this war with billions of taxpayer dollars in weapons for Israel, Members of Congress are about to hold a vote to override the Biden administration’s meager steps toward civilian protection. As over one million Palestinian civilians await a brutal invasion of Rafah, as Gazan children starve from a man-made famine, and as over 100 unaccounted-for Israeli hostages may be in the line of fire, we are calling on President Biden and Congress to listen to their constituents as we have and immediately end U.S. support for Israel’s assault on the civilians of Gaza before it is too late.”


US Visa Denials Target Four Israeli Performing Artists
The United States is once again treating Israel as the enemy. This time the State Department is targeting four Israeli performing artists, including a children’s performer, a male vocalist and a hip hop duo who released the song “Harbu Darbu” at the start of the October 7 war. The song, which went viral, calls for victory against the Hamas barbarians who tortured, mutilated, kidnapped and slaughtered some 1,200 people on one of Judaism’s holiest days.

The words “harbu darbu” come from an Arabic war cry in Syria that has become part of the Israeli slang culture: they mean, “war and punches.”

In the song Ness and Stila (Nesia Levy and Dor Soroker) refer to the terrorists as the children of Amalek (those who attacked and slaughtered the weakest among the Jewish population as they were fleeing Egypt), and call upon all the various IDF military units to crush the enemy.

The artists were scheduled to appear at a performance in Miami, Florida, but in order to do so, they needed artists’ visas. The State Department has declined to issue those visas.

Israeli children’s performer Dod Haim (Haim Osadon) and vocalist Lior Narkis also did not receive the required visas. Both were to appear at the concert as well.

“My dear and beloved audience, although the show in Miami was closed several months ago, my team and I prepared for the show in a special way. Unfortunately I was unable to perform for you because until this moment, the production has not been able to obtain for me and for other artists who were invited to participate in the event the artist visa that is required in order to legally perform in the United States,” Osadon wrote on his Instagram account.

“I hoped until the last moment that the bureaucratic matter would be sorted out, but unfortunately because the performance will take place on Sunday and it is now Friday morning Israel time, I am forced to announce that I will not be able to make it to this performance as a law-abiding person.

“I apologize to everyone who waited for me and wrote to me. It was important for me to clarify the real reason why I didn’t make it to the show,” he added.


‘Pro-Hamas’: Sky News host blasts ‘anti-Semitic’ campus protests in US
Sky News host James Morrow has blasted pro-Palestine campus protests in the United States as “anti-Semitic” and “pro-Hamas”.

Pro-Palestine protests on university campuses escalated in April following mass arrests at the Columbia University encampment.

“These anti-Semitic, anti-Israel, and, frankly, seemingly pro-Hamas campus protests … just don’t seem to want to quit,” Mr Morrow said.


Mohamed Hadid: Israeli Jews have no genetic connection to ancient Hebrews
Real estate Mogul Mohamed Hadid claimed on Instagram on Friday that Israeli Jews have no Levantine genetic ancestry, adding that they are being antisemitic to a true Semitic people, those of Palestinian origin.

Hadid had shared an Instagram story entitled “identity theft” by an unnamed artist and published it as a social media post.

“John Hopkins genetic study shows 97.5% of Judaics living in Israel have absolutely no ancient Hebrew DNA, are therefore not semites, and have no ancient blood ties to the land of Palestine at all,” read the image. “Whereas 80% of Palestinians carry ancient Hebrew DNA and thus are real semites.”

Hadid said that Israeli Jews should show their ancestry for comparison to his.

Hadid: "We are the Semitic people"
“We are the Semitic people,” said Hadid. “All these clowns are Eastern Europeans Zionists calling everyone antisemitic, when they are antisemitic against us.”

The Nazareth-born American developer and father of models Bella and Gigi Hadid has been vocal on social media since the beginning of the October 7 war, often posting controversial content.

On Thursday night, he shared an image of the red triangle used in Hamas propaganda to denote targeting of a vehicle or person, with the text declaring “you entered our land with the Balfour Declaration, and you will leave it with God’s promise.”


Russia and China ‘manipulating UK public opinion by promoting pro-Palestinian influencers’
Russia and China are “manipulating” public opinion in Britain by promoting pro-Palestinian influencers online in an effort to stoke division, Whitehall sources have told The Telegraph.

Senior Government figures fear rogue states are promoting polarising online narratives about the Israel-Hamas conflict using an army of fake social media accounts.

Analysis of some of the leading pro-Palestinian social media influencers in the UK, who have ballooned in popularity in the wake of the Oct 7 Hamas attacks on Israel, has revealed that many of their followers are fake.

Experts said such a boost from fake profiles would disproportionately amplify pro-Palestinian voices – the more bots that engage with them and promote them, the more platform algorithms are likely to ensure that other social media users see them.

Security services are also understood to be concerned about the threat of disinformation about the war in Gaza circulating online, as well as the possibility of hostile state involvement.

A Government source said: “It’s clear that foreign states are engaged in trying to manipulate public opinion by skewing the way we interact online. They hope to destabilise and undermine our institutions.

“It’s the role of the defending democracy taskforce to work across Government and the security services to understand and combat those threats.”

A second senior Whitehall official said: “Oct 7 and the conflict in Gaza are exactly the kind of issues that Russia tries to exploit to spread disinformation and division here in the UK.”

Defending Democracy Taskforce
A taskforce launched by the Government last year, aimed at protecting the democratic integrity of the UK from threats of interference by nations such as Russia and China, is looking at ways to tackle the spread of online disinformation and conspiracy theories.

The Defending Democracy Taskforce, chaired by Tom Tugendhat, the security minister, and including members of the security services, focuses on the role of rogue state actors in spreading disinformation.

Officials in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) have been concerned about disinformation about the war in Gaza circulating online and are understood to be in close contact with social media firms about it.


Anti-Israel uprisings hit dangerous new extreme in Michigan
This is not normal.

The anti-Israel uprisings at colleges across the country have featured violence (from both sides), vandalism, unlawful occupations known as “encampments,” and many other acts that go well beyond free speech. And now, at the University of Michigan, this radical protest movement just crossed the line into dangerous new territory.

This week, agitators reportedly showed up at the homes of University of Michigan Board of Regents members in the middle of the night, invading their private property. They chanted on their lawns and brought with them fake corpses, faux bloodied sheets, and lists of demands, including, bizarrely, completely unrelated desires such as “defunding the police.”

“As you have refused to come to the encampment, we are now bringing the encampment to you,” video shows protesters yelling with a loudspeaker on the property of one Board of Regents member’s home in the very early hours of the morning.

This was, understandably, frightening and intimidating for the targeted public officials.

“Around 4:40 A.M., a masked intruder came to the door of my family’s home with a list of demands, including defunding the police,” Regent Jordan Acker recounted on X. “My three daughters were asleep in their beds, and thankfully unaware of what transpired.”

“This form of protest is not peaceful,” he concluded. “Public officials should not be subject to this sort of intimidating conduct, and this behavior is unacceptable from any Michigan community member.”

Acker is absolutely right.

No matter how one feels about the Israel-Palestinian conflict, no one should support this kind of extremist behavior. People’s homes should always be off-limits, but especially in the middle of the night and especially with such intimidating tactics and props used.

Unfortunately, while the protests were dispersed after law enforcement arrived at the scene, no one was arrested. This sends the message that trespassing and intimidation are actually fine, so don’t be surprised when campus extremists return to this tactic in the future.

But they really shouldn’t, even from the pro-Palestinian point of view.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan “disgusted” by violent protesters outside state Labor conference
The Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan is “disgusted” by the actions of pro-Palestine protesters who brought “violence, homophobia and anti-Semitism” to Victoria’s Labor Conference on Saturday.

Taking to X (formerly known as Twitter) the premier said no one should be cowered by these bullies.

Delegates were pushed, shoved and hurled abuse as they arrived at the conference being held at the Moonee Valley Racecourse they

Some delegates had to be escorted to the conference, which went into lockdown when protesters stormed the building.

People responded to the Premier’s post disagreeing with her sentiments with one person saying, “As someone who was there and listened to speeches, I heard no antisemitism or homophobia and saw no violence,” they said.

“What I heard were Victorians calling on the Victorian and federal governments to comply with international law and end their complicity in genocide.”Prime Minister Anthony Albanese made an appearance at the Victoria ALP Conference after ugly confrontations between pro-Palestine protesters, police and delegates which sent the venue into lockdown.


London pro-Palestine marchers call for 'Intifada, Revolution!', London Police investigating
Londoners held a pro-Palestine march through central London on Saturday, calling for the UK government to change its position on Gaza and chanting other slogans, according to social media posts.

The march, which will start at approximately noon and end at 5 p.m. (BST), will start in central London and end at Westminister.

The London Metropolitan Police announced the restrictions and regulations the protestors must obey ahead of time.

“London has no tolerance for hate crime, and we will take swift enforcement action against anyone who crosses the line," the Met Police said.

However, marchers largely ignored the police's warnings, calling for "Intifada, revolution!" London Police responded quickly, saying, "We're aware, and officers are assessing this. Updates will follow."

About 30 minutes later, Westminister Police updated that "Officers quickly located and arrested the man on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offense and suspected criminal damage."

"Zionist puppet masters"
Other protestors were seen carrying signs saying, "The Western Zionist puppet masters instruct their evil scum puppets in Tel Aviv to do their dirty work."


Jewish Teacher Hides from Bronx Mob
A Jewish teacher in the Bronx has told The Free Press how “terrified” staff and students had to hide in locked classrooms Thursday afternoon as 400 anti-Israel protesters charged through her school for two hours.

The teacher, who did not wish to be named out of fear of retaliation from students and administrators, said she sheltered in her own locked office with pupils as other students—chanting “Free Gaza” and banging on the walls—ignored announcements ordering the school to lock down.

“I was terrified,” the teacher told The Free Press. “They sounded really, really angry and really out of control. It just felt like complete chaos. And when things are completely out of control, who knows what’ll happen?”

She said school safety officers “tried to block the stairwells,” but were overwhelmed by protesters at the Christopher Columbus campus—which houses five different high schools and more than 2,000 students—on Thursday. The majority of students at all five schools are Hispanic and black and the vast majority are classified by the Department of Education as being in “economic need.”

In her five years at the school, the teacher said she had never disclosed her Jewish identity because she was concerned about how pupils might react. “Even though they weren’t necessarily coming for me, it felt that way,” she said of her experience on Thursday. “It felt like I’m not wanted here.”

Videos on social media show student protesters surging through packed school corridors carrying signs, some with fake blood on their hands and faces, chanting and clapping.

Tova Plaut, a public school teacher in New York City and head of an advocacy group of Jewish NYC teachers and parents, told The Free Press the red-stained hands reminded her of the famous photo of a Palestinian holding two bloody hands outside a window in Ramallah in 2000 after lynching two Israeli reservist soldiers.

“Seeing those red hands had a visceral effect,” she said. “It’s a direct threat to Jewish life. Those red hands say to the world ‘we celebrate the murder of Jews and we will do it again.’ ”

The protest came almost precisely a week after New York City Schools Chancellor David Banks told Congress that “antisemitism will not stand on my watch.”


Hamas attacks CAN be justified, students say: Shock poll of top UK universities finds that more than a third of pupils think the terrorist atrocities committed on October 7 were an 'understandable act of resistance'
Almost 40 per cent of students at Russell Group universities believe the October 7 terror attacks on Israel were an 'understandable act of resistance'.

A poll of university students by Stand With Us UK also found that only a third consider the Hamas massacre that sparked a new war in the region a 'terrorist attack'.

The findings come amidst an unprecedented surge of anti-Semitism – with the Union of Jewish Students (UJS) fielding more than 700 calls about anti-Semitism from frightened students since October 7 and Israeli students warning they are 'terrified' of being targeted on campus.

Today, Cambridge University was forced to move its graduation ceremonies from the Senate House, where they have taken place since the 18th century, to Downing College due to pro-Palestine protests.

Earlier this week anti-Israel campaigners pitched tents on the Senate House lawn – forcing the university to make an unprecedented and 'difficult' decision to move graduation ceremonies for today and tomorrow. The protesters left on Thursday night, declaring their goal of disruption had been accomplished.

It is the first time graduation has been held at Downing College – with students finding out less than 24 hours before and university porters given only eight hours' notice to prepare in order to keep away the protesters.

Professor Marek Ziebert, 62, a lecturer at UCL who was celebrating his daughter's graduation said: 'I think it is a shame and completely disrespectful that protesters disrupted this historic ceremony in this way.

'For many, graduation ceremonies are the outcomes of decades of hard work.'

Last night Education Secretary Gillian Keegan stressed that Jewish students must be protected and welcomed at British universities.


Eitan Fischberger: Rewarding Hamas’s Publicists
Photojournalists play an indispensable role in conflict zones. Their visual storytelling captures the stark realities of war in ways that words alone cannot. The images they capture transcend language barriers and evoke powerful responses from viewers. It’s concerning, then, that so many Gaza-based photojournalists seem to use their work and skills to benefit Palestinian terror groups—and that reputable journalistic institutions so often give them awards.

On Monday, for example, several Reuters photojournalists received the Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Photography for their coverage of the Israel-Hamas war. The celebrated team includes Yasser Qudih, a member of the Reuters team in Gaza who allegedly crossed into Israel illegally on October 7.

The Pulitzer Prize Board also awarded a “special citation” to journalists covering the war in Gaza, noting that an “extraordinary number of journalists have died in the effort to tell the stories of Palestinians and others in Gaza.” Some of those journalists, however, appear not to have been innocent bystanders.

Take Yousef Masoud, for example, the New York Times freelance photographer who won the George Polk Award earlier this year for his Gaza coverage. HonestReporting, a pro-Israel media watchdog, says he illegally infiltrated southern Israel on October 7 to document the carnage. According to Tablet, Masoud once posted on his Facebook, in Arabic: “Hitler said, give me a Palestinian soldier and a German weapon, and I will make Europe crawl on its fingertips.”

Another individual who received international acclaim is AP photographer Ali Mahmud, to whom the Reynolds Journalism Institute co-awarded its “Pictures of the Year” for the image he captured (after he, too, illegally entered Israel on October 7) of the mangled, nearly nude corpse of Israeli-German citizen Shani Louk strewn in a Hamas pickup on October 7.

Then there is photojournalist Motaz Azaiza, whom Time named one of its top 100 most influential people of 2024 for having “acted as the world’s eyes and ears in his native Gaza.” On October 7, Motaz posted a video showing Hamas terrorists inside Israel with a triumphant caption reading in Arabic: “The Gazans entered the settlements!!!!!!!! With jeeps we see in the streets of Gaza.”

These photojournalists are not alone. Since October 7, several print and digital journalists have been revealed to have ties to terrorism or to support violence. For example, the Israel Defense Forces disclosed that Al Jazeera journalist Ismail Abu Omar, wounded by a drone strike in February, had been simultaneously serving as a deputy company commander for Hamas’s eastern battalion in the southern city of Khan Younis. On the morning of October 7, Abu Omar posted that “[o]ur children will play with their heads,” referring to the Israelis about to be massacred.

The most concerning case, however, involves freelance photojournalist Samar Abu Elouf. In early April, the International Women’s Media Foundation gave Abu Elouf its Anja Niedringhaus Courage in Photojournalism Award. Abu Elouf, along with Yousef Masoud, was also a co-winner of the George Polk Award.


After 7 months of war, Hezbollah's elite force still lurking on Israeli border
Thousands of highly trained fighters, advanced weaponry, and rigorous training: Hezbollah's "Radwan Force" was primarily established for a large-scale invasion of Israel. Although the surprise attack by Hamas and ongoing skirmishes in the north have slightly altered their plans, the objective and the threat remain unchanged.

Hezbollah's elite unit was founded by Imad Mughniyeh, the head of the military wing and the organization's second-in-command, initially named the "Rapid Intervention Forces." From its inception, the mission was clear: to prepare for a massive invasion of Israel and the capture of communities in the Galilee.

The Radwan Force has been involved in numerous incidents along the northern border, including the 2006 kidnapping of soldiers Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev, which triggered the Second Lebanon War. In 2008, Mughniyeh was assassinated in a mysterious explosion in Damascus, reportedly a joint operation by Mossad and the CIA. Following his assassination, the unit underwent structural changes and was renamed after Mughniyeh's nickname, "al-Hajj Radwan."

Mughniyeh's assassination did not slow Hezbollah down; instead, it spurred them on. Shortly after, Hezbollah's Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah declared, "Mughniyeh's blood will erase Israel from existence, and his brothers will continue his path, making the enemy understand they made a grave mistake. Since 2006, we have been preparing for another day, knowing that Israel, with its aggressive nature, will attack Lebanon and initiate a regional war."

According to various reports, the unit is currently commanded by Ali Tabataba'i. Foreign publications indicate that Israel attempted to assassinate him in 2005 by attacking two of the organization's vehicles in the Al-Quneitra area of Syria.

The selection process is rigorous, involving special training, numerous tests, and absolute secrecy. Reports suggest that operatives accepted into Hezbollah's "elite force" undergo training in Lebanon and abroad, using weapons and tools unfamiliar to other operatives in the organization. According to the Israeli Alma Research and Education Center, the training of new operatives also involves members of the IRGC's commando unit.
Jewish Iranian set to be executed Monday for allegedly killing man in self-defense
A Jewish Iranian man is set to be executed on Monday for killing a man in a brawl two years ago, an Iranian human rights group said.

The opposition linked Iran International news website said that Arvin Nathaniel Ghahremani was allegedly defending himself after being attacked with a knife, and that the sentence came under the penal code for “retributive justice.”

According to the Oslo-based group Iran Human Rights (IHR) Ghahremani, 20, from the southwestern city of Kermanshah was set to be executed on Saturday, but his family was informed the execution will now take place on Monday.

Ghahremani was convicted of the “intentional murder” of Amir Shokri for his role in the fight two years ago.

The reports said that his only hope of being spared under Iran’s Islamic code is if the family of the dead man agree to forgive him, something they have so far refused to do.

IHR carried a voice recording from Ghahremani’s mother pleading for people to pray for her son to be saved.

Video circulated on social media apparently showed prayers being held for Ghahremani this week at the Rachel’s Tomb pilgrimage site in the central West Bank city of Bethlehem.

Prior to the Islamic Revolution in 1979, there were some 100,000 Jews in Iran; by 2016, according to an Iranian census, that number had fallen to below 10,000.


Nick Fuentes streams 'gay porn,' claims it was pro-Israel hack
Famed white supremacist Nick Fuentes, who Elon Musk recently allowed to return to X, formerly Twitter, streamed LGBT pornography on his personal account but later suggested that a pro-Israel Telegram channel hacked his cozy channel.

In response to footage of the incident posted on X, Fuentes wrote, “This is getting desperate.

“My proprietary livestreaming site was hacked after my stream went offline by someone claiming to be IDF Unit 8200.

“The hacker took credit by [watermarking] the porn and leaving messages on the back end of the site.

“Easily disprovable nonsense,” he added.

In a statement, Fuentes claimed that the hackers had targeted other streamers in similar attacks.

Fuentes acknowledged that the hack was likely not by the IDF but was connected to a Telegram account called “Am Israel Chai.”

IDF Unit 8200 is an intelligence unit that engages in cyber warfare. However, the unit has not taken responsibility for the broadcasting of the pornography on Fuentes's stream.
State Department issues worldwide alert, warns of violence against LGBTQ community
The State Department on Friday issued a worldwide caution security alert, warning of "the potential for terrorist attacks, demonstrations, or violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests."

The threat warning is a result of intelligence citing threats by ISIS against Pride events in parts of Europe, three sources told CBS News.

The State Department bulletin cites "increased potential for foreign terrorist organization-inspired violence against LGBTQI+ persons and events." The last such global threat warning was issued in October 2023.

Friday's alert follows one from the FBI and Department of Homeland Security last week that warned of the "potential targeting of LGBTQIA+-related events and venues."

"Foreign terrorist organizations or supporters may seek to exploit increased gatherings associated with the upcoming June 2024 Pride Month," it said.
Docu highlighting plight, bravery of Palestinian trans women in Israel debuts at Cannes
An intimate documentary about Palestinian transsexual women in Israel, filmed before the start of the war between Israel and Hamas, screened at the Cannes Film Festival on Friday.

In “The Belle From Gaza,” French filmmaker Yolande Zauberman delves into Tel Aviv nightlife, camera in hand, in search of a trans woman rumored to have walked on foot all the way from the Gaza Strip.

On her quest to find the mythical figure, Zauberman meets others who candidly recount running away from their families, the struggle to affirm their gender identity, and their romantic dreams.

“They’re real warriors of their own destiny,” she told AFP ahead the premiere at Cannes, where she was joined by some of the film’s subjects on the red carpet.

“Trans women were once viewed as goddesses and demi-goddesses. I wanted to give them that place in the film.”

“Gaza at the time was already a jail for people,” she told The Guardian. “For somebody to manage to escape that jail is already an achievement. And then to be or to become a trans woman?”

“After a while I thought, maybe it’s better not to find her, because what would we do if we find the Belle from Gaza?”, Zauberman said. “Isn’t it going to be too dangerous for her?”

Zauberman told the British newspaper that at one stage after the October 7 onslaught that sparked the ongoing war between Israel and the terror group that rules Gaza, she considered withdrawing the film.

“I thought maybe we should not show this movie for the moment, because what’s happening is so big, so huge,” she said, adding that after the film was received positively in screenings with Jewish and Arab test audiences, she decided to go ahead with it.
Back from IDF reserves, TV chef reopens beloved Sderot cafe, giving terror just desserts
A 6-year-old child taught thousands of adults this week a lesson in love and respect.

NYU School of Law’s commencement Thursday in Madison Square Garden was marred by hateful chants and Palestinian flag-waving protesters who refused to leave the stage, but there was one shining light during the chaotic ceremony — little Eden Rose Neiger.

She bravely walked on stage with her graduating mom and raised a picture of a heart she drew while sitting in the crowd amid the despicable din.

The daughter of Devorah Neiger, flanked on stage by her two siblings, then handed the heart — drawn in the school color, purple — to law school Dean Troy McKenzie.

“The mood and energy completely changed – she got the biggest applause of the whole ceremony,” said proud dad Edward Neiger.

“There was tension in the room – you didn’t know what was going to happen next. While some students disrupted the ceremony with symbols of hate, Eden drew a purple heart as a symbol of love,” added the dad, whose family is Jewish and pro-Israel.

The 10:30 am ceremony included keynote speaker, ex-Twitter exec Vijaya Gadde – who reportedly played a key role in censoring The Post’s Hunter Biden story before the 2020 election — and was plagued by disruptions as soon as grads from the 900-student class filed into the 5,570-capacity Theater at MSG.

Some hoisted signs such as “NYU funds genocide.”

Other chanted “Disclose, divest – we will not stop, we will not rest” and “Over 40,000 dead, NYU, your hands are red.”

Others refused to shake hands with the dean.

The anti-Israel antics were a continuation of the controversy that dogged the elite school since Oct. 7, when the president of the school’s student bar association said that Israel “bears full responsibility” for the savage Hamas attack.

She was booted from the post in November.
6-year-old girl bravely saves NYU Law commencement with hand-drawn heart after anti-Israel protesters refuse to leave stage: 'She got the biggest applause'
At the ORYOSSS cafe in Sderot, a server with a handgun strapped to her hip dashed between indoor and outdoor tables with a wide-eyed new hire-in-training in tow.

Reopened on May 1, the cafe had been closed for over half a year after the October 7 massacre that ravaged the southern city and the mass evacuation of residents that followed. Just recently locals have begun to trickle back.

Proprietor Or Shocron only returned from IDF reserve duty the day before the reopening. A retired army major and mother of two, Shocron had rushed to volunteer for the reserves as Israel prepared for its ongoing offensive against Hamas and stayed in uniform for months.

The Sderot cafe initially opened in August 2023 following the success of a first location in Kibbutz Erez, where Shocron lives with her family. She and the rest of the kibbutz residents were evacuated from their homes at the beginning of the war, though unlike Sderot, the kibbutz has not yet been deemed safe for them to return home.

“The one who really encouraged me to open this place [in Sderot] was a man called Kobi Paryante, who owned the building,” Shocron told The Times of Israel a week after the grand reopening.

Paryante was a regular at Shocron’s cafe in Kibbutz Erez — which is still closed — and strongly encouraged her to open a second location. He suggested she use his building, which was already painted the same dark green shade as the ORYOSSS logo.

Paryante was murdered by Hamas while out for a morning run just outside Sderot.

The cafe has a full menu, but Shocron is known best for her desserts. In 2021, Shocron gained nationwide recognition for her creativity and talent when she reached the finals of “The Perfect Dessert,” a popular baking competition on Channel 12.




Buy the EoZ book, PROTOCOLS: Exposing Modern Antisemitism  today at Amazon!

Or order from your favorite bookseller, using ISBN 9798985708424. 

Read all about it here!
 

 

at