Wednesday, July 24, 2024

07/24 Links Pt1: Netanyahu’s Visit Is a Test for the Democrats; The Humiliating Cowardice of Schumer and Nadler; Kamala Harris is no friend of Israel

From Ian:

Michael Oren: Netanyahu’s Visit Is a Test for the Democrats
While many Americans would be hard-pressed to name the prime minister of Great Britain or the president of France, a very large number can identify—despise or admire—Netanyahu. His arrival in the United States, even in the midst of political chaos, will certainly be noted and his messages widely received.

In an address to a joint session of Congress (his fourth, breaking Churchill’s record), Netanyahu will certainly recall the horrors of October 7, along with the hostages’ continuing nightmare. He will describe northern Israel as a war zone rendered uninhabitable by Hezbollah. Most fervidly, the prime minister will return to his favorite theme: Iran. The world’s leading enabler of terror, he’ll say, Iran bears direct responsibility for the devastation of the past ten months. The same threshold-capable Iran, he’ll proclaim, is today only a decision away from producing nuclear weapons.

The speech, delivered in the shadow of Biden’s first public appearance since exiting the presidential race, might not attract the attention it might otherwise have garnered. But far greater attention will be focused on his three high-profile meetings—each for a different reason.

Sitting before the cameras with Netanyahu, Biden will have the opportunity to prove that he is still competent enough to complete his term. He can rebuff those calling on him to resign and allow Kamala Harris to run as an incumbent.

Should he receive Netanyahu, as planned, at Mar-a-Lago, Trump can smooth over his differences with him and reinforce the Republicans’ claim to be the true pro-Israel party.

Netanyahu’s most impactful meeting, though, will be with Harris. It will showcase her as a statesperson capable of interacting with a formidable foreign leader. It will facilitate her necessary movement from the progressive left to the moderate center. Ironically, one of Netanyahu’s most outspoken critics in Washington stands to benefit substantially from his visit.

The New York Times was wrong and so, too, was the State Department’s Office of the Chief of Protocol, which apparently failed to give Netanyahu a respectable welcome. No matter. His time in Washington will be nevertheless noteworthy and perhaps even fateful.
Seth Mandel: The Humiliating Cowardice of Schumer and Nadler
There are three things happening here, all of them deeply destructive. The first has nothing to do with the Jewish angle of this debacle. That is the diplomatic malpractice. America has a serious amount of power and lately an unserious way of wielding it.

Set aside the hysterical tone of Nadler’s post. Does anyone in Congress talk about any other ally this way? We have had a series of incompetent prime ministers in Britain over the past few years, one of whose term was outlived by a head of lettuce. We did not have members of Congress ranting about how Liz Truss was her country’s worst leader since Britain was Roman. That’s because they would look completely insane even publicly contemplating the question. If Nadler wants to retire to become a blogger at The Nation, he is more than welcome to. It’s a low bar, but more is expected of members of the United States Congress, especially those in senior positions.

Or we can turn to Canada, where the remedial-class prime minister likes to play dress-up more than think about politics, like some kind of ancient child-king. Is Schumer out on the floor ranting about how he loves Tim Hortons but the coffee will taste bitter to him until Justin Trudeau resigns to join the Ontario community theater?

The second and third problems here are related. The Democratic Party has made Israel so toxic that it is no longer possible to console ourselves with the fact that the overt anti-Semites are very few in number. Power is what matters, and Democratic floor leaders are terrified of the few but apparently scary bigmouths in the Squad and the legions of social media trolls they command. This, despite one Squad member losing his primary last month and another in danger of meeting the same fate next month. You don’t have to join them, you can just beat them.

Relatedly, it matters that Nadler and Schumer are high-profile Jews. Every time they dare to say anything nice about Israel or the Jewish people, they now caveat it to hell and back. The incentives are materially worsened by doing so, because those with even less power know they’ll be hung out to dry by leadership if and when they show a smidgen of Jewish pride.
Kamala Harris puts the ‘lie’ in allies when it comes to supporting Israel
Whatever Harris’ reason for missing the event, her record is full of harsh condemnation of Netanyahu’s prosecution of the war in Gaza.

Although Biden has run hot and cold in his support of Israel since the Oct. 7 terror attack by Hamas, Harris has been consistently critical.

As early as December, she said our ally “needed to do more” to protect Gaza civilians, saying in a Dubai speech: “The United States is unequivocal; international humanitarian law must be respected. Too many innocent Palestinians have been killed.”

Although she also said Israel had a right to defend itself, her remarks were widely regarded as coming close to accusing Israel of war crimes.

In March, she again went further than the White House by demanding an “immediate cease-fire.”

According to USA Today, she called the situation a “catastrophe” and claimed that “people in Gaza are starving.”

That is a false claim repeated endlessly by pro-Palestinian activists and Jew-haters at the United Nations.

The real problem in Gaza is that Hamas uses non-combatants as human shields and steals most of the international aid meant for civilians.

Oddly, Harris leveled that scurrilous attack in March while attending the 59th anniversary of Bloody Sunday in Selma, where Alabama troopers clubbed peaceful civil rights marchers as they tried to cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge.

The place and timing of her comments suggested she saw a similarity between Jim Crow racism and the absurd claims that Palestinians are victims of Israeli apartheid.

Indeed, her comments consistently echo those from the Dems’ far left wing, which is dominated by harsh criticism of Israel and, often, blatant antisemitism.

It’s not a coincidence that the most virulent anti-Israel protests on college campuses took place in elite institutions dominated by leftists.

The White House was mostly silent, and it was only because of tough questioning by House Republicans, notably Elise Stefanik from upstate New York, that we learned of the cowardly excuses the presidents at Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania used to duck their responsibility to protect Jewish students from threats and harassment.


‘Our victory will be your victory,’ Netanyahu tells US Congress
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received bursts of applause and frequent standing ovations—often from both sides of the aisle—as he delivered an address to a joint session of the U.S. Congress on Wednesday afternoon.

In his remarks, which ran about an hour, Netanyahu praised the longevity and closeness of the U.S.-Israeli relationship; called for a decisive victory over the Hamas terror group; and urged the United States to help defeat the Iranian regime that, he said, continues to threaten both the Jewish state and the rest of the world.

He also said it was a “profound honor to address this citadel of democracy for the fourth time.”

“In the Middle East, Iran’s axis of terror confronts Israel, America and our Arab friends,” Netanyahu said. “This is not a clash between civilizations. It’s a clash between barbarism and civilizations. It’s a clash between those who glorify death and those who sanctify life.”

Israel and the United must stand together “for the forces of civilization to triumph,” the Israeli prime minister said. “We will win.”

Oct. 7
When 3,000 Palestinian terrorists invaded the Jewish state on Oct. 7, “heaven turned into hell,” Netanyahu said.

“These monsters—they raped women, they beheaded men, they burned babies alive, killed parents in front of their children and children in front of their parents,” he added.

Netanyahu noted several guests in the Capitol who served heroically with distinction on and after Oct. 7, including Israeli soldiers of various backgrounds who were wounded. They and their colleagues deserve respect and admiration, not condemnation for war crimes, he said.

The prime minister also spoke to family members of hostages taken on Oct. 7 who joined him on the trip to Washington. He vowed not to rest until their loved ones were freed from the Gaza “dungeons.”
Netanyahu says Israel will retain security control of Gaza, calls for deradicalization of population like in Germany, Japan after WWII
Netanyahu says the war in Gaza would end tomorrow if Hamas “surrenders, disarms and returns all the hostages.

But if it doesn’t, “Israel will fight until we destroy Hamas’s military capabilities, end its rule in Gaza and bring all our hostages home.”

“That’s what total victory means and we will settle for nothing less,” he says.

The day after we defeat Hamas a new Gaza can emerge, he says. “My vision for that day is for a demilitarized and deradicalized Gaza.”

He says Israel “does not seek to resettle Gaza,” but must maintain overall security control for the foreseeable future to make sure Gaza never again poses a threat to Israel.

Gaza should have a civilian administration run by Palestinians who don’t seek to destroy Israel, he says. “That’s not too much to ask.”

The next generation of Palestinians must learn to live alongside Jews, he says, calling for deradicalization of the Palestinians in Gaza and comparing that imperative need to what happened in Japan and Germany after World War II.

The demilitarization and deradicalization of Gaza can lead to security, prosperity and peace, he says, saying that this is his “vision” for Gaza.
Netanyahu says anti-Israel protests funded by Iran, standing with Hamas rapists
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says “never again must never be an empty promise.”

“After October 7, never again is now,” he tells Congress.

“Incredibly, many anti-Israel protesters, many choose to stand with evil,” he says. “Many stand with Hamas. They stand with rapists.”

“They should be ashamed of themselves,” he says.

Netanyahu points out that Iran is “promoting and funding” anti-Israel protests in America. He salutes the fraternity members who defended a US flag from protesters, to chants of “USA.”

“For all we know, Iran is funding the anti-Israel protesters” outside the Capitol right now.

When the tyrants of Iran — who hang gays from cranes — are funding and promoting you, “you have officially become Iran’s useful idiots,” Netanyahu says as the GOP cheers.

He mocks protesters’ “Gays for Gaza” signs. “They might as well hold up signs, Chickens for KFC.”

He says that the protesters don’t know what river and what sea they are chanting about.

Meanwhile, Rashida Tlaib holds up a black-and-white sign that reads “war criminal” and “guilty of genocide” as Netanyahu discusses the Jewish people’s ancient connection to the land of Israel.

Denouncing those who Israel a colonial state, he says they don’t know their history. “For nearly 4,000 years, the land of Israel has been the homeland of the Jewish people. It has always been our home; it will always be our home,” he says.


JOHNSON: Netanyahu Speech Disruptors Will Be Arrested
House Speaker Mike Johnson is warning anyone who disrupts Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Wednesday address to Congress that they will be arrested.

In a letter to lawmakers, Johnson emphasized congressional decorum rules and said there is a “zero-tolerance” policy for disruptions from members’ guests.

“If any disturbance does occur, the Sergeant at Arms and Capitol Police will remove the offending visitor(s) from the gallery and subject them to arrest,” Johnson wrote.

If a lawmaker creates a disturbance, they will be asked to cease by the Sergeant at Arms.

Protestors are planning demonstrations outside the Capitol during Netanyahu’s visit, including a planned 5,000 person “march” demanding the Israeli prime minister’s arrest.

Vice President Kamala Harris, now the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, will not preside over Netanyahu’s speech, opting instead to attend an event for the historically-black Zeta Phi Beta sorority, the Times of Israel reported. Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman Ben Cardin will preside over the joint session instead.

House Speaker Mike Johnson accused Harris of “abandoning her seat” and called her absence “inexcusable.”


Ambassador David Friedman Reacts to Netanyahu's Visit to Washington
Ambassador David Friedman, who served as the Trump administration’s ambassador to Israel during the historic move of the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and the forging of the Abraham Accords, spoke with CBN News this week to discuss Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to a joint session of Congress, and his first meetings at the White House since beginning his sixth term as Israel’s leader in 2022.

"What he's trying to accomplish, you know, on this extremely large stage, maybe the biggest stage in the world is to really explain Israel's position, explain what happened to Israel on October 7th, the trauma this inflicted on the Jewish state, the Jewish people, the inhabitants of Israel. how Israel has done its best to minimize civilian casualties. But how Israel views this as an existential battle where victory is the only option. And I think, you know, he is uniquely qualified to make that case," Friedman told CBN News.

Friedman believes Netanyahu will be on a mission to reaffirm Israel’s deep ties with America and to address both sides of a huge political divide in the U.S. caused in part by the deadly Hamas attack on Israel last October 7th.


Here Are All The Lawmakers Skipping Netanyahu’s Congressional Address
Dozens of Democratic lawmakers have announced they will boycott Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Wednesday address to a joint session of Congress to protest Israel’s war against Hamas.

Boycotters include high-profile Democrats like Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, who said he stands by Israel but will “not stand and cheer its current Prime Minister.”

Also boycotting the speech: members of the far-left “Squad.”

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) said Wednesday is a “dark day,” and Rep. Rashida Tlaib called for Netanyahu to be arrested and sent to the International Criminal Court. Rep. Ilan Omar (D-MN) said she would be skipping the speech, but gave her ticket to family members of a hostage held in Gaza, Politico reported.

A group of progressive lawmakers is planning to attend a counter event in the Capitol, “Peace is Possible: An Alternative Vision for Israel and Palestine,” hosted by left-wing nonprofits. Democratic Reps. Pramila Jayapal (WA) and Jim McGovern (MA) will deliver remarks during the event in addition to various activists.

Vice President Kamala Harris, now the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, will also skip Netanyahu’s speech, opting to attend a convention for the historically-black Zeta Phi Beta sorority. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Ben Cardin will preside over the event in Harris’s stead.

Democrats aren’t alone in their boycott. Republican Rep. Thomas Massie (KY) also announced he will not attend the address, which he deemed “political theater.” In April, Massie voted against a resolution condemning Iran’s missile attack on Israel and the slogan “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” which calls for the elimination of the Jewish state.

Both Democrat Sen. Tim Kaine (VA) and Republican Vice Presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance voiced their support for Israel but will not be in attendance due to scheduling conflicts.

About 60 Democrats skipped Netanyahu’s last address about Iran to Congress in 2015, the Associated Press reported.
US-Israel relations bigger than politics, says Jewish senator presiding over Netanyahu speech
Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) said on Wednesday that he agreed to preside over the joint session of Congress, during which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will address lawmakers and the nation, to demonstrate his commitment to the “special relationship” between Israel and Israelis and the United States.

“The United States’s relationship with the State of Israel transcends politics and partisanship, and it transcends any one Israeli government or any one U.S. administration,” stated Cardin, who is Jewish and who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “Its foundation is cemented in the ties between our people.”

Cardin, who is presiding over the session in the absence of U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, who is the presumptive Democratic nominee for president, penned a letter with Sens. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and Mark Warner (D-Va.), chairs, respectively, of the Senate Armed Services Committee and Select Committee on Intelligence, on Wednesday to U.S. President Joe Biden.

“We write to express our strong support for the agreement that immediately would release the hostages, and end the conflict in Gaza,” the trio wrote. “We commend your focus on moving towards a sustainable and negotiated two-state outcome that ensures Israel’s long-term security as a Jewish and democratic state, living alongside a Palestinian state with equal measures of peace, dignity and prosperity.”

The three senators also referred in the letter to a “cycle of violence”—a phrase that seems to blame the Jewish state and terror groups for conflicts in the region—and said that there must be a “reformed, capable and accountable Palestinian Authority” in the “West Bank” that can “assume responsibility and security for all Palestinians and is ready and willing to fight terrorism in all its forms.” (The Biden administration and some U.S. and world leaders refer to Judea and Samaria as the “West Bank.”)


Capitol Police arrest 200 protesting military aid to Israel
U.S. Capitol Police on Tuesday arrested some 200 people protesting against U.S. military aid for Israel inside the congressional Cannon House Office Building.

Police said protesters violated a law against “crowding, obstructing, or incommoding,” adding that “demonstrations are not allowed inside the Congressional Buildings.”

“We told the people, who legally entered, to stop or they would be arrested. They did not stop, so we are arresting them,” added police.

Jewish Voice for Peace organized the protest.

“For 75 years, the Israeli government has illegally occupied Palestinian land and ethnically cleansed their communities. Now, Gaza is facing genocide with full support from the U.S.,” tweeted JVP about the protest. “We’re here as Jews to refuse to be complicit and say never again, for anyone. STOP ARMING ISRAEL!”

Mitchell Rivard, chief of staff for Rep. Dan Kildee (D-Mich.), said he called for intervention after the protesters “became disruptive, violently beating on the office doors, shouting loudly, and attempting to force entry into the office.”

Kildee told the Associated Press he was confused by his office being targeted as he voted against a supplemental military aid package to Israel earlier this year.


Bush, Tlaib Accuse Congress of Celebrating Genocide by Hosting Netanyahu as Mainstream Democrats Follow Squad's Lead in Boycotting Bibi Speech
Reps. Cori Bush (D., Mo.) and Rashida Tlaib (D., Mich.) accused Congress of celebrating genocide by hosting "war criminal" Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a Wednesday joint session.

The pair are among at least 80 Democrats expected to boycott Netanyahu, who was invited by House Speaker Mike Johnson (R., La.) and Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.). The "Squad" has been outspoken in pushing anti-Israel rhetoric and denouncing the prime minister.

"In solidarity with the Palestinian people and all oppressed people across the world, I will be boycotting Prime Minister Netanyahu's joint address to Congress," Bush said Tuesday. "By bestowing Prime Minister Netanyahu with a joint address, Congress is not only continuing to green-light genocide; it is actively celebrating the man at the forefront of that genocide."

"I urge my colleagues to boycott this war criminal and join us in the fight for a just and lasting peace that protects the right to self-determination for Palestinians and Israelis alike," she added.

Bush is facing a difficult primary challenge next month against a pro-Israel opponent in her St. Louis district, a race that's beginning to mirror Rep. Jamaal Bowman's (D., N.Y.) failed reelection campaign. Bush and Tlaib were the only two House members to vote against a January bill that aimed to bar Oct. 7 terrorists from entering the United States.

"Netanyahu is a war criminal commiting genocide against the Palestinian people," Tlaib said Tuesday. "It is utterly disgraceful that leaders from both parties have invited him to address Congress. He should be arrested and sent to the International Criminal Court."

"Make no mistake: this event is a celebration of the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians," she added. "It is a sad day for our democracy when my colleagues will smile for a photo op with a man who is actively committing genocide."

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.) made similar remarks.

"It is a dark day in US history when an authoritarian with warrant requests from the International Criminal Court is allowed to address a joint session of Congress," she said. "40k Palestinians are dead. Hostages aren't home. Netanyahu is a war criminal. I will be boycotting his address."
WATCH: Pennsylvania Rep Met With Hamas Supporters Before Boycotting Bibi’s Speech
Democratic Rep. Madeleine Dean (Pa.) met with the pro-Hamas advocacy group, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, before announcing her boycott of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s joint address to Congress, she said Wednesday.

In an interview on CNN, Dean said she met with Palestinian groups and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) regarding Netanyahu’s address, scheduled for 2 p.m. on Wednesday. "They are baffled by Mr. Netanyahu’s attendance today," she said. "How could he in the face of the inhumanity that is going on in Gaza and in the West Bank, how could he be here in this politically fraught moment?"

CAIR appeared to take credit for Dean’s decision, writing after the meeting that Dean "meets with CAIR representatives and says she will boycott Netanyahu's address to Congress."

Dean's consultations with CAIR come as other Democrats have distanced themselves from the group over its praise for Hamas. CAIR executive director Nihad Awad said in November he was "happy to see" Hamas’s invasion of Israel on October 7, and that Israel did not have a "right to self-defense." The White House denounced Awad’s "antisemitic" remarks, and kicked CAIR off of its "National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism."

Last week, Awad said reports that Iran planned to assassinate former president Donald Trump was actually an "Israeli plot" to rope the United States into another war in the Middle East.



Kamala Harris is no friend of Israel
A Harris administration would do more than offer woke platitudes: It would implement anti-Israel policies.

Harris has surrounded herself with people hostile to the Jewish state. Her closest foreign policy aide, the vice president’s National Security Advisor Philip Gordon, is a fierce critic of the Netanyahu government and was one of the architects of Barack Obama’s nuclear deal with Iran that handed billions of dollars to the mullahs. He would be a leading candidate for a top national security post in her administration.

Then there are the many young anti-Zionist progressives who would be the rank and file in a Harris administration. To them, Israel is an imperialist, white supremacist state rivaled in its wickedness only by the United States itself.

These are not the makings of an administration that would rightly back Israel to the hilt.

Harris shares none of the reflexive Zionism that President Joe Biden acquired over his half-century in public life. Rather she’s the harbinger of an anti-Israel consensus that has taken over the Democratic Party grassroots and is taking over the Democratic establishment.

Past Democratic presidents skeptical of Israel—namely, Barack Obama and Jimmy Carter—at least were tempered by Democratic lawmakers and administration officials who understood that a strong Israel was in America’s interest. That wouldn’t be the case during a Harris presidency. Congressional Democrats are increasingly turning on Israel, as are those who would staff a Harris administration. There would be few checks on Harris’s anti-Israel instincts.

Israel’s trials aren’t going away anytime soon. Once the war against Hamas ends, Israelis face an even greater threat to their north in the form of Hezbollah. The greatest threat of all is that of the Iranian theocrats racing for a nuke who would love nothing more than to wipe Israel off the map. This is not the time to cast doubt on America’s commitment to Israel.

The United States needs a commander-in-chief who will stand with our strongest ally in the Middle East. Harris promises to do the opposite.
Kamala Harris’s Record on Israel Raises Questions About Support for Jewish State if Elected US President
Some indicators suggest that Harris could adopt a more antagonistic approach to the Jewish state than Biden. For example, Harris urged the White House to be more “sympathetic” toward Palestinians and take a “tougher” stance against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to a Politico report in December. In March, White House aides forced Harris to tone down a speech that was too tough on Israel, according to NBC News.

Later, she did not rule out “consequences” for Israel if it launched a large-scale military offensive to root out Hamas battalions in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, citing humanitarian concerns for the civilian population.

Harris initially called for an “immediate ceasefire” before Biden and has often used more pointed language when discussing the war, Israel, and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. However, her advisers have sought to downplay the notion that she may be tougher on the Jewish state.

“The difference is not in substance but probably in tone,” one of Harris’s advisers told The Nation.

Meanwhile, Halie Soifer, who served as national security adviser to Harris during the then-senator’s first two years in Congress, said the current vice president’s support for Israel has been just as strong as Biden’s. “There really has been no daylight to be found” between the two, she told Reuters.

Still, Biden, 81, has a decades-long history of maintaining relationships with Israeli leaders and recently called himself a “Zionist.” Harris, 59, does not have such a connection to the Jewish state and maintains closer ties to Democratic progressives, many of whom have increasingly called for the US to turn away — or at least adopt a tougher approach toward — Israel

Former US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman suggested that Harris would be a far less reliable ally than Biden, pointing to her ideological alignment with the most progressive lawmakers in Congress.

“Biden made many mistakes regarding Israel, but he is miles ahead of Harris in terms of support for Israel,” Friedman told The Jerusalem Post. “She is on the fringe of the progressive wing of the party, which sympathizes more with the Palestinian cause.”

“This will move Jewish voters to the Republican side,” the former ambassador argued. “Harris lacks any affinity for Israel, and the Democratic Convention will highlight this contrast. This could lead to a historic shift of Jewish voters to the Republican side.”

Meanwhile, J Street, a progressive Zionist organization, eagerly endorsed Harris the day after Biden dropped out of the presidential race, citing her “nuanced, balanced approach” on the Israeli-Palestinian conflictt.

“Kamala Harris has been a powerful advocate for J Street’s values in the White House, from the fight against antisemitism to the need for a nuanced, balanced approach on Israel-Palestine,” J Street President Jeremy Ben-Ami said in a statement. “She’s been a steadfast supporter of hostage families and Israel’s security, while also being a leading voice for the protection of Palestinian civilians and the need to secure an urgent ceasefire.”


'She Can't Be Serious': RJC Launches Five-Figure Ad Slamming Harris for 'Snubbing Israel'
The Republican Jewish Coalition on Wednesday slammed Vice President and presumptive Democratic nominee Kamala Harris in a five-figure ad for "snubbing Israel" by refusing to attend Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's address to Congress Wednesday afternoon.

"Instead of supporting America’s strongest ally by attending Prime Minister Netanyahu's speech to Congress, Kamala Harris decides to go to a sorority luncheon," the Jewish group said in the ad, which will run in key battleground states, referring to the vice president’s decision to give a speech at a sorority event in Indiana rather than preside over the Israeli leader’s closely watched address before Congress.

"A sorority luncheon? She can’t be serious," the ad continued. "Kamala Harris—her priorities are not our priorities."

Harris became the Democratic front-runner for the presidency following President Joe Biden’s withdrawal on Sunday and is set to face Republican nominee Donald Trump, who secured his party’s nomination at the Republican National Convention last week.

"Harris has totally failed her first test as a candidate for President of the United States," RJC CEO Matt Brooks said in a statement, "and the RJC will hold her accountable."

The RJC also took aim at Harris’s failure as vice president to condemn anti-Semitic incidents nationwide, with the Wednesday ad saying, "Jewish Americans were rightly concerned when Kamala Harris sided with the pro-Hamas demonstrators shouting anti-Semitic and anti-Israel slogans, disrupting our campuses, and harassing Jewish students."

"Kamala Harris's priorities are not the Jewish community's priorities," Brooks said. "If you thought Joe Biden was bad, Kamala Harris is far worse on issues of top concern for pro-Israel voters."


Foreign policy ‘very much’ Kamala Harris’s forte, Blinken says
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken pushed back against a reporter’s suggestion during a press conference on Tuesday that “foreign policy is not Vice President Harris’s forte.”

“Has she been sort of learning on the job, basically?” the reporter asked, of U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, whom President Joe Biden has endorsed as the Democratic nominee for president.

“In my experience, it very much is her forte,” Blinken said. “I’ve seen her not only around the world but I’ve seen her on the most critical foreign policy questions of our time in the Situation Room at the White House, in the Oval Office with the president, and my observation is she’s very strong, very effected—effective and deeply respected voice for our country around the world.”

“When she speaks, she speaks on behalf of the United States, and what I’ve observed in meetings that we’ve had with world leaders,” Blinken said, “she really commands the room these past three years.” He added that “she’s been a leading voice in our administration.”

“What I’ve seen is someone who is already deeply experienced and very, very effective around the world,” Blinken said. “I’ve seen her command the room full of world leaders from not only across Europe but across the world.”


Seth Frantzman: Israel, CENTCOM ties have been essential mid Gaza war
Israel’s move from being part of the area of operations for US European Command to US Central Command in 2021 has been important amid the long war in Gaza and the growing Iranian threats in the region. This is important to examine because it will have implications in the future.

One of the key moments that showcases how important Israel-CENTCOM ties have become, was the defense against the Iranian attack on the evening of April 13-14. Several years of growing ties with Central Command helped bring together the necessary assets to defend against Iranian drones and missiles. While Israel has impressive air defenses, such as the Arrow 3, and Israel has numerous squadrons of advanced warplanes, such as F-35s, US Central Command also has close ties to regional countries and access to squadrons of planes and air defenses in the region, including on ships.

Another aspect of being closely involved in talks with US Central Command is the way in which this links Israel to countries in the region. Israel has peace with Jordan, Egypt, Bahrain and the UAE. These countries are also under CENTCOM. When Israel was under European Command, the only regional power also under European Command was Turkey, because Turkey is in NATO.

However, Israel was the odd-man out because it was the only country clearly in the Levant that was part of “Europe” as opposed to a US regional command centered in the Middle East. This was historical baggage from the Cold War era and a time when Israel didn’t have as many ties regionally. Today there are some of the twenty-one countries in US Central Command that don’t have ties with Israel, such as Saudi Arabia or Qatar.

However, Central Command’s view of the region is a net benefit for everyone involved.

To give an example of how important this is, consider the recent trip by the head of CENTCOM. US Central Command head General Michael Kurilla has been traveling in the region recently. He recently concluded a trip that included Qatar and Bahrain.
IDF soldier shares harrowing frontline experience in Gaza
Menachem Mendel, a former IDF combat engineer, has shared his gripping tale of survival and recovery after being severely injured during an operation in Gaza.

Mendel, who was honourably discharged due to his horrific injuries, described the chaos and danger he faced on the front lines following the October 7 attack by Hamas.

"I was in Gaza for almost a month, and it was just a massive explosion," Mendel recalled.

"I find myself in a situation I've never imagined. I got hit by an anti-tank missile. I can't get up; I have shrapnel in my left leg, left arm, and stomach. I see pieces of my friend, and it's just pure chaos."

Mendel, who was drafted to the IDF in March 2023, was eager to serve his country in its time of need months later.

"I wanted to join my brothers and sisters, not because I'm crazy, but because I wanted to do my part," he said. His unit was tasked with destroying tunnels and booby traps, work he described as dangerous but essential.

On December 12, while on a mission in Northern Gaza, Mendel and his team came under attack.

"We were crossing an open area when a massive explosion occurred. An anti-tank missile hit my good friend on his birthday. He died on the spot, and four of us were injured," he recounted.




IDF combat teams find tunnel, weapons in child's bedroom
IDF combat teams of Battalion 932 in Brigade 401 located a tunnel shaft, a large number of weapons, and night vision equipment inside a child's bedroom in a residential building in the Shabura Camp in Rafah, the IDF reported Wednesday.

After soldiers moved the child's bed, they found a tunnel shaft containing weapons, including AK-47s, munitions, and medical equipment. The child's room was painted pink and purple and had flowers and butterflies on the walls.

Separately, troops in the 52nd Battalion engaged in close-quarters combat with armed terrorists inside a building in Tel al-Sultan and the Shabura neighborhood in Rafah and killed the terrorists. IDF soldiers engaging in combat in Rafah

In body camera footage published by the IDF, soldiers with guns pointed ahead can be seen entering a room of a building that contained a destroyed bed. The video shows them making their way through the building and up the stairs to the roof.

Brigade 401 has been conducting operations in the Tel al-Sultan and Shabura neighborhoods in Rafah, Gaza Strip, over the past few weeks.

According to the IDF, they have been conducting intelligence-based operations against terrorist infrastructure and operatives in these areas.


IDF responds to Hezbollah publishing drone footage appearing
Reacting to Hezbollah publishing drone footage on Wednesday morning claiming to show the IDF Ramat David base, the IDF later stated that the video was filmed by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) solely for photography purposes and that the base's operations were not impacted.

The IDF and the Air Force within it are operating against Hezbollah's aerial array and have attacked hundreds of targets from this array in recent months, the IDF continued in its statement.

It added that the Israel Air Force is using all means available to protect the skies of the state of Israel and will continue to do so.

The Ramat David base is about 46 km (28.6 mi) from Israel's border with Lebanon. The video displays the base and its fallacies and presents information about the various systems within the base.

Hezbollah officials said to Lebanese media that the air base that the Ramat David Base is one of the most important air force bases in Israel and the only one in the North, Maariv reported. They added that they would distribute detailed information about the importance of the base, and that Hezbollah continues to collect new information all the time.

This is not Hezbollah's first time publishing drone footage of Israel
Earlier in July, Hezbollah published additional drone footage showing the Golan Heights and the northern coast of Israel, respectively.

In June, Hezbollah published a nine-minute video of what it described as surveillance footage of locations in Israel, which included Haifa's airport and sea ports.

In this instance, Hezbollah's media relations officer Muhammad Afif stated that "publishing this video sends a clear message to the enemy and its army."


Musk activates internet service in Gaza hospital with help of UAE, Israel
SpaceX Chief Executive Elon Musk said that his Starlink satellite internet service has been activated in a hospital in Gaza, where many medical facilities have been destroyed by the war, with the help of the United Arab Emirates and Israel.

The Gulf Arab state's foreign minister, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, thanked the billionaire entrepreneur for supporting the UAE field hospital in Gaza, where many medical facilities have been demolished and medicines are scarce.

"Starlink is now active in a Gaza hospital with the support of @UAEmediaoffice and @Israel," Musk posted on X, formerly Twitter. Israel aims to dismatle the last Hamas battalios in Egyptian border

The announcement came more than five months after the Israeli government gave approval for Starlink's use in the hospital in Rafah, a flashpoint city in southern Gaza.

Residents said on Tuesday that Israeli forces had blown up several homes in Rafah, near the Egyptian border, where Israel said its operation aimed to dismantle the last Hamas battalions.

The high speed internet would enable potentially life-saving medical consultations via real-time video calling, the UAE foreign ministry said in February.

The UAE, a major oil producer and regional finance and tourism hub, signed a normalization deal with Israel in 2020 along with Bahrain and Morocco. Sudan later sealed a normalization agreement with Israel.

The pacts were designed to bring stability and prosperity to the turbulent Middle East.


In first, male Oct. 7 survivor recounts rape at hands of Hamas terrorists
A survivor of the Hamas massacre at the Supernova music festival on October 7 speaks up about Hamas terrorists allegedly raping him during their attack, the first male victim of rape to recount their story in their own voice since most such victims ended up being murdered.

The man, only identified by his first Hebrew initial Dalet, tells Channel 12 news about how he was fleeing the onslaught on his own when forces from Hamas’s elite Nukhba unit caught up.

“They pin you to the ground, you try to resist, they take of your clothes, laugh at you, humiliate you, spit at you,” he says, his face blurred and his voice distorted to avoid recognition. “They touched [private] parts, they rape you.”

“There is a circle, [people] laugh, and you don’t know what to do in the moment, whether you should resist or let it pass, how to deal with the situation. There was a very difficult rape. At some point more people arrived and called for them and so they had to stop,” adds Dalet.

“It’s a very tough moment. Weakness in the entire body. As if your blood is cheap. They were wildly intoxicated, celebrating, laughing with their pistols, with their knives. You disassociate yourself from the situation, but on the other hand experience it very strongly. Very difficult,” he says.

The network says Dalet eventually managed to escape, with the help of Israeli forces that showed up.

Dalet’s testimony has been handed to a police unit investigating sexual crimes committed by the terrorists on October 7, after he filed a complaint, Channel 12 says.


Netanyahu slams ‘defamation campaign’ against rescued hostage for joining him in DC
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he is “horrified” by criticism aimed at rescued hostage Noa Argamani over her decision to accompany the premier to Washington.

“I am horrified by the defamation campaign directed against Noa Argamani. Noa went through atrocities in Hamas captivity,” Netanyahu says in Hebrew at the start of a meeting with US Christian Zionists.

“Is there no limit?” asks Netanyahu. “There is a limit. This is the limit. Enough.”

Argamani, who was rescued last month from captivity in Gaza along with three other hostages seized by terrorists during the Hamas-led October 7 massacre, is accompanying Netanyahu on his trip to the United States alongside her father Yaakov and other relatives of captives. Rescued hostage Noa Argamani is reunited with her father Yaakov Argamani at Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan, June 8, 2024. (Israel Defense Forces)

Explaining his remarks to the Christian leaders, Netanyahu says in English, “Now that she joined our delegation, there are voices who said how dare you go? You should have stayed in captivity.'”

“There is a fringe minority that is devoid of any scruples,” says Netanyahu. “Enough is enough.”

Argamani and her father have faced virulent criticism in Israel for agreeing to accompany Netanyahu on his visit to the US and during his speech to Congress tomorrow; both coalition and opposition lawmakers have condemned the pushback.

Family members of other hostages held by Hamas and others opposed to the premier claimed the Argamanis appearance would bolster Netanyahu, whom many blame for failing to secure a deal to free the hostages after more than nine months of war.

In a post on Facebook Monday, left-wing Haaretz pundit Uri Misgav — a vehement critic of Netanyahu — said that Argamani and her father “should be ashamed of agreeing to serve as decor” for Netanyahu and retired journalist Dan Margalit called Argamani’s presence in Netanyahu’s delegation a “disgrace,” in a tweet to his 164,000 followers.


The Israel Guys: The White House Forgot Israel’s Prime Minister Was Coming to Washington
Israel’s Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu and his wife touched down in Washington this morning after a pre-scheduled invitation to meet with Joe Biden and speak to Congress. But, no one was there to greet him other than the ambassador. It seems like in the midst of the political chaos in Washington right now, the White House kind of forgot he was coming. Is anyone actually running anything in the White House right now? Also China just brokered a surprise deal between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority. This is a crazy news cycle so hold on.


HAPPENING NOW: Bibi in Congress, Biden/Kamala and the Hostage Deal | The Quad
The Quad (Fleur Hassan-Nahoum, Emily Schrader, Vivian Berkovici and special guest host Ashley Waxman Bakshi) have a heated conversation about Netanyahu speaking to Congress, the hostage deal on the table and Bibi's handling of the ongoing efforts to free the hostages.

Chapters
0:00 Intro
4:00 The hostage deal
6:00 Debating Bibi’s trip to Washington
11:15 Did Bibi abandon the hostages?
20:00 Internal divisions




Can Left-Wing Zionism Survive Oct 7? | Fania Oz-Salzberger on the Israeli Left's vision
What’s left of the Israeli left, and what direction will it take now in a post-October 7 world? The Israeli Left, to put it lightly, is in crisis. One of those left-wing figures under attack for speaking up for Israel is Fania Oz-Salzberger, a renowned historian, writer, and history professor. Daughter of the stalwart of the early Israeli left, writer Amos Oz, Fania believes that the Zionist left still holds the keys to peace with our Palestinian neighbors.

Fania discusses her optimism rooted in her kibbutz education and resilience despite the challenges facing Israeli society. She believes that hope is a vital force, particularly in facing adversity. She describes the divisiveness in Israeli society as an illness. She emphasizes the importance of the Zionist left's role in pushing forward towards peace and a two-state solution. Despite the setbacks, including the October 7th attacks by Hamas, she remains committed to this pragmatic vision.

She criticizes both Hamas and Israeli policies that she believes have hindered the two-state solution. Salzberger advocates for a renewed effort towards peace, involving international and regional cooperation, and stresses the need for a political horizon to de-radicalize both Israeli and Palestinian societies.

Salzberger addresses the anti-Zionist left and the challenges posed by their views, emphasizing the importance of a moderate, pragmatic approach to Zionism that balances security with humanism. She also discusses the academic and social challenges faced by pro-Israel voices in the current global climate.

Throughout the interview, she underscores the need for nuanced, informed discussions and the importance of maintaining Israel's right to exist and defend itself while striving for a peaceful resolution with the Palestinians.




RISKS OF AUST GOVT SCHOLARSHIPS FOR PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY STAFF
AJA President Dr David Adler is interviewed by Peta Credlin on Sky News regarding the revelation that the Australian Labor Government is providing generous scholarships to staff of the Palestinian Authority.

David outlines some of the "ridiculous, dangerous and reckless" problems of this extraordinary policy.




Voight: My daughter Angelina Jolie was influenced by antisemitic people - regarding Gaza
Jon Voight, the 85-year-old Oscar-winning actor known for his outspoken support of Donald Trump, made headlines on Tuesday for his public disagreements with his daughter, actress Angelina Jolie, over the Israel-Palestine conflict.

"She has been exposed to propaganda," Voight told Variety. "She’s been influenced by antisemitic people. Angie has a connection to the UN, and she’s enjoyed speaking out for refugees. But these people are not refugees."

“I love my daughter. I don’t want to fight with my daughter. But the fact is, I think she has been influenced by the UN From the beginning, it’s been awful with human rights. They call it human rights, but it’s just anti-Israel bashing," he said.

Voight, who has a six-decade career in Hollywood with iconic roles in films such as 'Midnight Cowboy,' 'Coming Home,' and 'Deliverance,' remains a controversial figure due to his right-wing political views. He is an ardent supporter of Israel and its recent actions against Hamas, contrasting sharply with Jolie's advocacy for Palestinian refugees.

Voight stands firm on Israel
Voight’s relationship with his daughter has been strained over their differing political views. Despite their reconciliation, the actor continues to publicly challenge Jolie's position on the conflict.

Variety's feature highlighted Voight's unique lifestyle, his passion for acting, and his unwavering political beliefs. Despite Hollywood's general left-leaning stance, Voight remains active in the industry, recently starring in Francis Ford Coppola’s dystopian film "Megalopolis." Voight's portrayal of Crassus, a wine-addled emperor, has been met with mixed reviews, yet his dedication to his craft remains undisputed.

In a reflective moment, Voight shared his deep connection to the Jewish community, rooted in his upbringing in Yonkers. His father's work at a predominantly Jewish country club shaped Voight's understanding and empathy toward Jewish culture and struggles. This background, he believes, significantly influenced his staunch support for Israel.

Voight has often expressed his admiration for Jewish contributions to the world, citing their resilience and moral values as key influences on his life. He has visited Israel numerous times, showing support for settlements in the West Bank and engaging with local communities.
Candace Owens no longer attending Trump event following backlash
Candace Owens, a far-right pundit who has frequently broadcast antisemitic commentary, is no longer attending an event sponsored by the Trump campaign later this week, a source familiar with the event confirmed to Jewish Insider on Tuesday — after her scheduled participation faced backlash from conservative critics and Jewish allies of the former president.

Owens, 34, had been scheduled to appear with Donald Trump Jr. on Friday in Nashville, Tenn., for an event that will coincide with the annual Bitcoin Conference, according to an online promotional flier that listed her as a guest of the event until Tuesday afternoon, when her name was suddenly removed.

The inclusion of Owens — who has engaged in Holocaust denial and amplified blood libel in her commentary — had become a headache for former President Donald Trump on Tuesday, as his campaign privately faced pressure to remove her from the event.

Shabbos Kestenbaum, a recent Harvard graduate who voiced support for Trump’s policies to combat antisemitism during a speech at the Republican convention in Milwaukee last week, told JI earlier on Tuesday that Owens “is not merely intellectually challenged, but a Hitler-loving antisemite who should play no role in normative politics or the Republican Party.”

“It is simply outrageous, inexcusable, and deeply antisemitic that anyone in Trump’s orbit would associate with her,” Kestenbaum, who until recently identified as a progressive Democrat, told JI, adding that he “will continue to call out the far left and the far right for their antisemitism.”

In recent months, Owens has delivered a string of virulently antisemitic statements on Jews, Israel and the Holocaust. In one commentary on YouTube earlier this month, she called Holocaust education a form of Soviet indoctrination while also casting doubt on infamous Nazi doctor Josef Mengele’s experiments at Auschwitz, which she dismissed as “bizarre propaganda.”

In response to backlash over her comments, Owens shot back at what she called the “Zionist media” for trying to censor her. “The reason why this particular episode is so detrimental to Zionism,” she wrote on X, “is because they have polluted American minds to believe that we must defend Israel out of morality and the evils of the Holocaust.”

“It is inexplicable to me how you stand by Israel, stand against antisemitism, and stand with the execrable Candace Owens,” Danielle Pletka, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, said in an email to JI. “She is a Holocaust denier, an antisemite, and a loathsome bigot.”




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This blog may be a labor of love for me, but it takes a lot of effort, time and money. For 20 years and 40,000 articles I have been providing accurate, original news that would have remained unnoticed. I've written hundreds of scoops and sometimes my reporting ends up making a real difference. I appreciate any donations you can give to keep this blog going.

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