Friday, August 09, 2024

08/09 Links Pt1: Dealing with the devil’s apologists; Hamas demands release of Marwan Barghouti; The unravelling of UNRWA: A crisis of credibility and conscience

From Ian:

US warns Tehran of ruinous response to major attack on Israel
The United States has cautioned Iran that it could face a devastating response from Israel if it carries out a major attack against the Jewish state.

A U.S. official told The Wall Street Journal that the message has been conveyed both directly to Tehran and through intermediaries, the paper reported on Thursday.

The Islamic Republic has vowed revenge for the targeted killing of Hamas terrorist chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran last week. Reports have surfaced this week that the mullah regime may be reconsidering the level of its response amid intensive diplomatic pressure and military force buildup by the Americans.

“The United States has sent clear messaging to Iran that the risk of a major escalation if they do a significant retaliatory attack against Israel is extremely high,” the official said.

Tehran is now aware “that there is a serious risk of consequences for Iran’s economy and the stability of its newly elected government if it goes down that path,” the official continued.

Arab diplomats have also pressed the Iranian government in recent days to de-escalate the situation, passing along a similar warning to that of the Americans, according to the Journal. At a meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, this week, members condemned the Haniyeh killing but stopped short of collectively supporting an Iranian attack on Israel.

President Masoud Pezeshkian, who entered office on July 28, has pleaded with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to avoid a direct attack on Israel, warning that it could threaten his presidency and lead to devastation of Iran’s infrastructure, energy and economy, the London-based Iran International reported.

Pezeshkian told the supreme leader that a harsh Israeli counterattack could lead to the collapse of the regime.
Iran’s new president battles revolutionary guard to stop all-out war with Israel
Iran’s new president is battling against the hard-line Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in an attempt to prevent all-out war with Israel, The Telegraph has learned.

Tehran’s authorities are divided over how to respond to the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, the Hamas leader, in the Iranian capital on July 31.

Top generals within the IRGC are insisting on a direct strike on Tel Aviv and other Israeli cities, focusing on military bases to avoid civilian casualties.

But Masoud Pezeshkian, the newly elected president and a comparative moderate who defeated the IRGC’s candidate in elections last month, has suggested targeting secret Israeli bases in Iran’s neighbouring countries.

Iran has previously targeted what it refers to as “spy bases” of Mossad, the Israeli intelligence agency, in Iraqi Kurdistan.

The IRGC has been trying to undermine Mr Pezeshkian in its pursuit of a more aggressive retaliation against Israel, aides of the president told The Telegraph.

Founded after the 1979 Islamic Revolution to protect the new regime from domestic dissent, the IRGC has evolved into a sprawling organisation with significant influence over Iran’s military, economy and broader society.

The ultimate responsibility for deciding how Iran will respond rests with Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader.

“Mr Pezeshkian fears that any direct attack on Israel would have serious consequences,” said a close aide to the president.

“He mentioned that we were lucky that Iran did not go to an all-out war with Israel last time and maybe not this time,” they added, referring to the April 13 attack when Iran fired more than 300 suicide drones and missiles at Israel.

Tehran’s attack came after a suspected Israeli strike on Iran’s Damascus consulate on April 1 killed seven high-ranking members of the IRGC.

On July 31 the tensions between the two arch-enemies escalated once again when Haniyeh, the leader of Hamas’s political office, was assassinated in Tehran while attending Mr Pezeshkian’s inauguration.

The IRGC’s insistence on targeting Israel is “more about undermining his week-long presidency rather than covering the humiliation they have suffered,” said the presidential aide who spoke to The Telegraph from Tehran.
Ruthie Blum: Dealing with the devil’s apologists
In a statement released late Thursday night, the governments in Washington, Cairo and Doha performed a feat that’s been par for their course since Oct. 7: creating moral parity between Israel and the perpetrators of the worst atrocities against Jews since the Holocaust.

“There is no further time to waste, nor excuses from any party for further delay,” the trio asserted. “It is time to release the hostages, begin the ceasefire and implement this agreement.”

Excuses. From any party.

This bit of chutzpah—signed by U.S. President Joe Biden, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani—was characteristic of Hamas’s three stooges. Let’s look at this illustrious cast of characters.

First, there’s the cowering, absent leader of the free world, who’s been treating Benjamin Netanyahu as though he’s got the hostages chained up in the basement of the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem—and who reportedly admonished Bibi to “stop bullshi**ing” about moving forward with negotiations for their release.

Then there’s the head of Israel’s longtime peace partner state that’s been turning a not-so-blind eye to the above-ground and subterranean transfer of construction materials and weapons to the terrorist enclave on the other side of its border.

Topping off the triumvirate is Hamas’s chief benefactor in the Gulf.

Their declaration began as follows: “It is time to bring immediate relief both to the long-suffering people of Gaza as well as the long-suffering hostages and their families. The time has come to conclude the ceasefire and hostages and detainees release deal.”

It continued, “The three of us and our teams have worked tirelessly over many months to forge a framework agreement that is now on the table with only the details of implementation left to conclude. This agreement is based on the principles as outlined by President [Joe] Biden on May 31, 2024, and endorsed by U.N. Security Council Resolution 2735.”

It was here that the “no excuses from any party for further delay” clause was inserted. As if to stress that fussing over the “details” was unreasonable, especially after the contingents in the United States, Egypt and Qatar had toiled so diligently over them.

However, it emphasized: “As mediators, if necessary, we are prepared to present a final bridging proposal that resolves the remaining implementation issues in a manner that meets the expectations of all parties.”

It concluded by “call[ng] on both sides to resume urgent discussion on Thursday, Aug. 15 in Doha or Cairo to close all remaining gaps and commence implementation of the deal without further delay.”

Netanyahu promptly accepted the invitation.

“Pursuant to the proposal by the U.S. and the mediators, Israel will—on Aug. 15—send the negotiations team to a place to be determined in order to finalize the details of the implementation of the framework agreement,” his office announced early Friday morning.

Lo and behold, Hamas suddenly came up with a new condition—or, at least, this is what Sky News Arabia reported on Friday after Netanyahu agreed to dispatch a delegation to Cairo or Doha in the coming week.

According to the broadcast, based on—what else?—anonymous sources, the terrorist group, now led exclusively by Yahya Sinwar in Gaza, has demanded the release from Israeli prison of arch-terrorist Marwan Barghouti, former head of Fatah’s Tanzim faction. Barghouti is currently serving five life sentences for his role in the mass murder of Israelis during the Second Intifada.


Retired generals to ICC: Prosecutor has no evidence for allegations against Israel
A group of international retired generals and senior military officers have told the International Criminal Court that its chief prosecutor Karim Khan’s claims that Israel deliberately starved Palestinians and intentionally targeted civilians during the current war in Gaza lack evidence and do not stand up to scrutiny.

The High Level Military Group (HLMG) made its comments in an amicus brief filed to the ICC earlier this week, in which it argued that Khan’s request for arrest warrants against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant was unjustified owing to Israeli efforts to facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid to Gaza and what it described as the Israel Defense Forces’ rigorous efforts to avoid civilian casualties.

HLMG’s brief was one of dozens submitted to the ICC — arguing for and against Khan’s request for arrest warrants — after the court in June accepted a request from the United Kingdom to file an amicus brief challenging its jurisdiction.

The UK subsequently decided not to file the brief after the new Labour government took power, but numerous other states, organizations, elected officials and academics filed briefs to the court before the August 6 deadline.

The three judges of Pre-Trial Chamber I will now have to review the claims included in the briefs, as well as a response from Khan, before ruling on the various issues raised by the submissions.

The signatories to HLMG’s brief included the former head of the Italian armed forces, General Vincenzo Camporini; retired Lt. Gen. David Deptula of the US Air Force, who served as director of the Combined Air Operations Center during Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, among other command roles; retired UK Col. (ret.) Richard Kemp; and other generals and senior officers from the British and French armies.

HLMG focuses on the challenges facing Western democracies fighting terrorist armies and non-state actors and has produced several reports defending Israeli military campaigns.

“Should the court approve the requested arrest warrants it is our professional military opinion that this would set standards that are unbearable and unrealistic with regards to military operations and the facilitation of humanitarian activities during active hostilities, and standards which would be unacceptable for other democracies and their armed forces (including our own) that engage in urban warfare,” HLMG told the ICC panel that is considering Khan’s request.


Biden administration will uphold sanctions on Israelis for ‘settler violence’ amid lawsuit
The Biden administration will continue to enforce sanctions on Israelis after a federal lawsuit was filed alleging that the policy discriminates against Jews and American supporters of Israel, according to U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller.

“We have been quite clear that we expect Israel to take actions to crack down on settler violence, and if they don’t, we will,” Miller said at the department’s press briefing on Thursday. “We have taken those steps, and we will continue to do so as appropriate.”

Texans for Israel, an Amarillo-based, pro-Israel Christian group and other plaintiffs filed the suit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas on Wednesday. They allege that the sanctions on Israelis are religious discrimination and violate their First Amendment rights of expression and association.

Eugene Kontorovich, a professor at George Mason University Scalia Law School and an adviser to the plaintiffs and their legal team, told JNS that U.S. President Joe Biden’s February executive order on “persons undermining peace, security and stability in the West Bank” has been applied far beyond the “extremist settler violence” that prompted Biden to declare the national emergency.

“The administration talks about this as sanctions on ‘violent settlers,’ and people get some kind of picture in their mind,” Kontorovich said. “But as the administration has applied them, they have been applied to people who are clearly not accused of any particular acts of violence, like Reut Ben Chaim, and who are not even settlers, like Reut Ben Chaim.”

“This is not a sanction that is limited to violent settlers,” Kontorovich told JNS. “It’s a sanction on Israelis and like-minded American citizens who disagree with the Biden administration.”

The Biden administration sanctioned Ben Chaim, who lives in Netivot in southern Israel, in July for being a leader of the Israeli Tzav 9 protest movement, which opposes sending humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza since much of it is stolen by Hamas.

The Biden administration has sanctioned the group as a whole and Ben Chaim individually, alleging that it is a “violent extremist organization that opposes aid being sent to Gaza and has previously blocked humanitarian aid convoys traveling towards the Gaza strip.”
Judea and Samaria leaders demand PM act to remove US sanctions
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met in Tel Aviv on Thursday with the heads of the local councils in Judea and Samaria to discuss two main issues: sanctions against so-called “settlers” as well as the severe security situation in the region.

Israel Gantz, head of both the Binyamin Regional Council and the Yesha Council, told the prime minister that “we cannot wait until the U.S. elections to deal with the sanctions. The country already has a knife to its throat. Unfortunately, the State of Israel has not made an outright statement against the sanctions and did not formulate practical steps to put a stop to this threat, the aim of which is to establish a Palestinian state.”

Netanyahu promised to set up a team to deal with the sanctions. He reminded the heads of the councils that the U.S. is in an election period, so everything there is very sensitive, and asked them to wait until November.

The premier said that he views the sanctions very seriously and said that “we are working to stop it.” He then added, “This is a matter for the entire State of Israel and not just Judea and Samaria.”

Netanyahu said security in Judea and Samaria, and the communities along the Seam Line would be further strengthened.

Gantz implored him to take more decisive action.

Yossi Dagan, chairman of the Samaria Regional Council, said: “These brazen sanctions are a complete devastation of Israeli sovereignty, a personal injury to people who have never done a thing, some of whom are not even the subject of investigation—and without a prior hearing.

“This is a slippery slope that is clearly dangerous for the senior military officers, for government ministers and for the prime minister himself. The citizens of the State of Israel expect an answer.

“If foreign governments impose sanctions on citizens of the State of Israel as though there is no sovereign state in Israel, Israel has to completely stop sending funds to the Palestinian Authority for all it implies. I call on the prime minister to declare that if these brazen sanctions are not halted, the government can also take unilateral steps to apply sovereignty in Judea and Samaria,” Dagan said.
US will not impose sanctions on IDF's Netzah Yehuda over West Bank conduct
The United States has determined that alleged human rights violations by an Israeli Defense Force unit have been "effectively remediated" after reviewing new information provided by Israel, the State Department said on Friday.

Following the determination, spokesperson Matthew Miller said in an email that the unit involved, the Netzah Yehuda battalion, can continue to receive US security assistance.

The US had called for a criminal investigation after battalion soldiers were accused of being involved in the death of a 78-year-old Palestinian-American man.

Before receiving new information in April, Washington was reportedly intending to designate the unit under a US law that prohibits military assistance to those committing gross human rights violations.

Axios reported, citing two senior US and Israeli officials, that Secretary of State Antony Blinken told Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant of the change in a conversation on Friday.

Israeli media had previously reported that Washington would impose sanctions on the battalion over its treatment of Palestinians in the West Bank. Israel outraged by the plans

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lashed out at the United States in April for its plans to issue its first-ever sanctions against IDF units over alleged human rights violations, starting with the Netzah Yehuda Battalion, which in the past has been accused of mistreating Palestinians.

“I will fight this with all my powers,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the Israeli public in a video address.

Netanyahu wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that the US's initial plan to sanction the unit was “the height of absurdity and a moral low. In recent weeks, I have been working against the leveling of sanctions on Israeli citizens, including in my conversations with senior American government officials.”


FDD: Hamas taps Yahya Sinwar to replace slain leader Ismail Haniyeh
Hamas appointed Yahya Sinwar, aka Abu Ibrahim, as the new politburo chief and overall leader of the terrorist organization. A terse statement issued by Hamas on August 6 announced Sinwar’s selection, describing him as a successor to the late Ismail Haniyeh.

“The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) announces the selection of Leader Yahya Sinwar as head of the movement’s political bureau, succeeding its martyr and leader Ismail Haniyeh, may Allah have mercy on him,” said Hamas.

In response to Hamas’ announcement, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari reiterated Israel’s stance on Yahya Sinwar.

“Yahya Sinwar is a terrorist who is responsible for the most brutal terrorist attack in history—October 7th. There is only one place for Yahya Sinwar, and it is beside Mohammed Deif and the rest of the October 7th terrorists. That is the only place we’re preparing and intending for him,” said Hagari.

On August 2, Hamas issued a statement detailing that it was in the process of selecting a new leader to replace Haniyeh.

“The Hamas movement is known for its high institutionalism and firm consultation, which was reflected in the facts and events during the past decades that witnessed the martyrdom of a number of its leaders, as it was quick to choose alternatives for them according to the movement’s regulations and systems, and with the martyrdom of brother leader Haniyeh, the Hamas leadership began a broad consultation process within its leadership and Shura institutions to choose a new head for the movement,” the group stated.

The Shura Council is a confidential consultative group made up of officials chosen by Hamas members across four sectors: Gaza, the West Bank, the diaspora, and prisoners in Israeli prisons. Originally a primarily religious entity, it has also evolved to include influential political and social figures.

Following Sinwar’s appointment, Hezbollah and other terrorist groups allied with Hamas issued congratulatory statements to Yahya Sinwar.

Yahya Sinwar’s exact whereabouts are currently unknown, but he is likely hiding in the network of tunnels beneath Gaza.
IDF and Shin Bet closing in on Yahya Sinwar as assassinations take their toll - security official
Friday's operation in Khan Yunis, as well as the activity in the center of the Gaza Strip and Rafah, may advance the IDF and the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) to their primary goal: the elimination of senior Hamas leadership. In fact, one security source estimates that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar is running out of places to hide.

Sinwar is almost alone at the top of Hamas. His close friends in the senior military ranks of the organization, as well as the senior officials, have been eliminated or have disappeared: Mohammad Deif, Rafa'a Salama, Ahmed Ghandour, Raad Saad, and Ayman Nofal.

According to Arab media, the man closest to Sinwar, the minister in the Hamas government and his right-hand man, Rawhi Mushtaha, was also killed along with Sameh al-Siraj and three military commanders from the al-Qassam Brigades who accompanied them: Abdul Hadi Siam, Sami Odeh, and Muhammad Hadid.

Mushtaha, one of Hamas's senior members, is considered to be very close to the leader and is the figure that Sinwar relies on the most, both in the military and the political management of the organization.

The elimination of Rafa'a Salama is also significant for Sinwar's survival. Salama is from one of the most powerful and wealthy families in Khan Yunis, owns many properties, and was the operative factor in providing cover to senior officials, which helped enable the survival of the Hamas leadership.
Hamas demands release of Marwan Barghouti in hostage deal
Hamas demanded the release of Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti as part of the Hostage and prisoner exchange deal, according to a Friday Sky News Arabia report.

According to the report, there was an indication that the mediators and the US expressed support for Barghouti's release. The US has openly supported the idea of "renewed authority" over the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Does Barghouti have a future in Gaza?
The call for the Fatah leader's release was allegedly connected to Hamas's concerns that it would not be able to maintain power over the Gaza Strip and Barghouti would be a way to maintain a position of influence.

The 64-year-old reportedly has wide support in both the West Bank and Gaza.

In May, Maariv reported, citing the Saudi Asharq channel, that Israel no longer opposed Barghouti's release but had insisted he be released into Gaza instead of the West Bank.

Barghouti, former leader of the Tanzim, a militant faction of the Palestinian Fatah movement, was sentenced in 2004 by an Israeli court to five cumulative life sentences and 40 years in prison for terrorist acts in which five Israelis were murdered and many injured.


The unravelling of UNRWA: A crisis of credibility and conscience
THE IMPLICATIONS for UNRWA and the UN system are profound. As a cornerstone of international humanitarian aid, UNRWA’s potential involvement in terrorism fundamentally challenges its operational integrity.

If it is proven that UNRWA, through either active support or gross negligence, harbored individuals involved in terrorism, the agency’s credibility could be irrevocably damaged. This potential betrayal not only undermines UNRWA’s mission but also casts a dark shadow over the UN’s commitment to peace and stability.

The broader impact on the UN is equally concerning. The organization’s role in international diplomacy and humanitarian efforts relies on its ability to uphold principles of neutrality and impartiality. If UNRWA’s involvement in terrorism is substantiated, it raises alarming questions about the UN’s capacity to effectively monitor and manage its agencies. An organization designed to alleviate suffering cannot afford to be seen as exacerbating violence. This crisis calls for a thorough examination of the UN’s internal oversight mechanisms and demands a reassessment of how it addresses and rectifies allegations of misconduct.

In light of these revelations, the United Kingdom’s recent decision to resume funding for UNRWA is deeply troubling. The potential overlap between UNRWA’s activities and terrorist affiliations presents a serious dilemma for policymakers. The UK’s support for UNRWA, despite Hamas being a proscribed terror group under British law, appears increasingly contradictory. This situation necessitates a careful reevaluation of the UK’s foreign aid policies and a stringent review of how funds are allocated, to prevent indirect support for extremist activities.

The UK and other nations must prioritize safeguarding their financial contributions and restoring the credibility of international aid efforts.

The revelations about UNRWA’s alleged involvement in terrorism and the UK’s conflicting policies demand immediate and decisive action. The UN must launch a comprehensive investigation into UNRWA’s operations and implement corrective measures to restore its credibility. Transparency and accountability must be prioritized to prevent future breaches.

For the UK, this moment calls for a reassessment of its foreign aid policies. Continued funding for UNRWA in light of these revelations is untenable. The UK must align its financial support with its counterterrorism objectives and ensure that the taxpayer is not inadvertently supporting terrorism.

The scandal surrounding UNRWA and the broader implications for the UN and for UK policy represent a critical juncture. The integrity of international institutions is at stake, and the global community must address these issues with the seriousness they deserve. As Europe and the world grapple with the consequences, the focus must be on ensuring accountability, transparency, and a recommitment to the principles that underpin international aid and security.

The revelations of October 7 have exposed significant cracks in the international system’s ability to uphold its own standards. Now is the time for robust action to mend these fissures and restore trust in global institutions.


Naftali Bennett: Iran’s regime is ‘destined to fall’
Naftali Bennett said Iran’s regime is “destined to fall” in an interview with Piers Morgan last night.

“It is a corrupt, old, unconnected regime, incompetent, and despised by its people,” Bennett said, speaking on Piers Morgan Uncensored. “The Iranian people will be free again, the question is how soon”.

The Former Israeli Prime Minister also called on the West to help “accelerate” the demise of Iran’s “horrible regime” by “taking economic sanctions”. “The Iranian regime is the centre of terror,” Bennett said. “It has to be toppled”.

Speaking following the high-profile assassination of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, fears are growing internationally that all-out war will break out in the Middle East. Questioned by Morgan, Bennett said Israel was simply “hitting back” as part of a “defensive war”.

“Iran, Hamas, and Hezbollah want to annihilate Israel,” Bennett said, “we are fighting back on a war they started”. The former Prime Minister told Morgan Israel was the “wave-breaker” protecting the West from Iran-sponsored terror.

Piers Morgan also questioned Bennett on Israel’s prosecution of the war in Gaza, and the number of civilian casualties. Since October, Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry says deaths in the strip number almost 40,000. Bennett told Morgan that the “actual numbers [of those killed] are factually very low compared to other urban warfare”.

“We’re going to fight until we win,” Bennett stated. “I can tell you that we are resolute,” he said. “We're not going to sit with a stopwatch and say, you know, it's been 10 months now we stopped, and we let a genocidal regime continue trying to kill Israel”.

“We have to defeat Hamas,” Bennet explained. “We’re fighting a war against total evil that wants to annihilate us and wants to annihilate your way of living, the free world”.

Bennett also told Morgan his only criticism regarding Israel’s prosecution of the war in Gaza was its lack of intensity. “We’re not doing this quickly enough,” he said. “We should not give into that [international] pressure to slow down”.


Smoking is bad, but Hamas is worse: IDF airdrops cigarettes over Khan Yunis, Gaza
The IDF dropped cigarettes from the sky over the coastal area of Khan Yunis of the Gaza Strip on Thursday along with messages warning locals against the dangers Hamas, N12 reported on Friday.

While the IDF has been known to drop leaflets consistently before striking, requesting that the public evacuate the area immediately for their own safety, some have been used to offer rewards for Hamas leaders.

Unlike the previous leaflets, the ones dropped on Thursday by the IDF did not request that the Gazans evacuate or give up information, N12 noted. Instead, the residents were gifted with cigarettes.

Attached to the cigarette, various leaflets read, "Smoking is dangerous, but Hamas is more dangerous," and "Hamas is burning Gaza." Adjacent to the inscription, the IDF added a contact number to the 'Influence Department' for more information.

An additional leaflet offered an unspecified gift for every Gazan who collected five leaflets.

Since the beginning of the war, Hamas has taken full control over the supply and demand in Gaza, raising prices of produce, humanitarian aid, and cigarettes, sometimes by alarming numbers.

Hamas has stolen aid, produce, and cigarettes only to resell it all at exorbitant prices.

The current price of a single cigarette in the Gaza Strip is 27 USD, while packets are sold at 430 USD, N12 noted. This 'tax' has helped Hamas continue to fund its own survival throughout the war at the great expense of the Gazan residents.

A security official who spoke with N12 stated that the distribution of cigarettes with the announced messages was intended to convey a message against Hamas, which is unable to control governance in the strip.

According to the official, the intention was to promote defiance and condemnation of the terrorist organization and its lack of ability to create public order. "It is important to emphasize that cigarettes do not enter the strip and that this is a one-time occurrence," he expressed.

The alarming prices of cigarettes, inflated by Hamas, have caused a major crisis in the Gaza Strip, causing the residents to resort to solutions such as smuggling and alternative options in order to obtain the product.


Israeli strike kills senior Hamas commander Samer Mahmoud al-Haj in south Lebanon
An Israeli airstrike on a car deep inside Lebanon killed a senior Hamas commander on Friday evening, the IDF, Hamas, and security sources reported.

The strike, on the southern edges of the Lebanese port city of Sidon, some 60 kilometers (nearly 40 miles) from the frontier, killed Samer Mahmoud al-Haj, a Hamas security official who works in the nearby refugee camp for Palestinians, Ain al-Hilweh. His bodyguard was critically wounded, the three sources said.

Al-Haj was responsible for directing attacks against Israel, the IDF and Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) reported in a joint statement. He was also reportedly the commander of Hamas forces in Ain al-Hilweh and was responsible for recruiting and training more terrorists there.


Andrew Fox: Meet the brain expert making October 7 survivors smile again
“Despite this, life is beautiful,” are the words that haunted Guy. They were spoken by a friend at the Nova festival as the rockets began to fly overhead and people were ordered to disperse. They went separate ways. She was later kidnapped and murdered by Hamas on October 7.

Guy survived the next six hours. He and his friends were surrounded by Hamas terrorists who were slaughtering anyone they saw. They moved between trees and bushes, trying to find cover from endless incoming fire. Terrorists blew up Guy’s car with an RPG. In a prefiguring of the recent assassination attempt on Donald Trump, at one point Guy felt that he had to move. Just as he did so, a bullet passed so close he could feel it on his cheek, through the spot where his head had just been.

Guy encountered a terrified man with bulging eyes who could barely speak but managed to warn him that he had witnessed a beheading and other unspeakable atrocities.

As with so many other survivors of the Nova Festival, Guy has suffered painful and enduring Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) – and one person who has helped him is Los Angeles-based neuro-clinical psychologist Dr Orli Peter.

In the aftermath of October 7, Dr Peter has been giving pioneering treatment to survivors of the massacre. She has almost 30 years of clinical experience and three post-doctoral fellowships under her belt. She has helped restabilise survivors and witnesses of 9/11, Iranian refugees, Israeli victims of terrorist attacks and families who have fled war-torn countries.

In a nondescript office building in Beverly Hills, Dr Peter has a psychologist’s waiting room straight from Hollywood central casting. Her office, however, is loaded with cutting-edge psychological technology.

In the immediate aftermath of the October 7 massacre, Dr Peter, the American daughter of a Holocaust survivor, pulled together a team and flew to Israel to deliver emergency psychological care. Since then, she has been raising funds to fly the very worst affected survivors out to LA for intensive treatment with her team of neuropsychologists, neurologists and mental health providers.


Call Me Back: What’s the Iran strategy? – with Nadav Eyal and Matt Levitt
Hosted by Dan Senor
Tensions have been high in Israel over the past week, as Israelis brace for a response from Iran and Hezbollah, following last week’s assassinations of Ismail Haniyeh in Iran and Fuad Shukr in Lebanon.

This attack was anticipated to have already taken place, and may happen at any moment.

To help us understand the extent to which Israel and the U.S. have prepared for this new phase, we are joined by Nadav Eyal and Matt Levitt.

Nadav Eyal is a columnist for Yediot. He has been covering Middle-Eastern and international politics for the last two decades for Israeli radio, print and television news.

Dr. Matthew Levitt is the director of the Program on Counterterrorism and Intelligence at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. He served as deputy assistant secretary for intelligence and analysis at the U.S. Department of the Treasury. During his tenure at Treasury, he played a central role in efforts to protect the U.S. financial system from abuse and to deny terrorists, weapons proliferators, and other rogue actors the ability to finance threats to U.S. national security. He later served as a counterterrorism advisor to the special envoy for Middle East regional security. Previously, Matt was a counterterrorism intelligence analyst at the FBI, where he provided tactical and strategic analytical support for counterterrorism operations, focusing on fundraising and logistical support networks for Middle Eastern terrorist groups. He is the author of several books and monographs, including Hamas: Politics, Charity and Terrorism in the Service of Jihad (Yale University Press, 2006), and Hezbollah: The Global Footprint of Lebanon’s Party of God (Georgetown University Press, 2013). He is the host of the podcast series, Breaking Hezbollah’s Golden Rule.
Israel Undiplomatic: Waiting for the Apocalypse: Have Iran/Hezbollah Gotten Cold Feet?
How many Israelis need to be massacred to lend the Israel Defense Forces legitimacy to take action?

This question has been front and center as Jerusalem decides whether to strike Iran and Hezbollah first or to wait for Tehran to launch its assault.

While many Israelis insist that a wider war is necessary to neutralize the Iranian-led threat, some are saying that realism must prevail over idealism.

Chapters:
0:00 Preparing for battle
3:00 What are Israel’s goals?
8:30 Going on the offensive
12:30 Deterrence
21:00 Gaza goals
27:00 Realism Vs. Idealism


Here I Am With Shai Davidai: #jewish #comedian turned #activist speaks out | EP 04 Ami Kozak
Welcome to the fourth episode of "Here I Am with Shai Davidai," a podcast that delves into the rising tide of antisemitism through insightful discussions with top Jewish advocates.

In the podcast conversation between host Shai Davidai and guest Ami Kozak, several key topics were discussed. Ami Kozak, a modern Orthodox Jew, shared his background, including his upbringing in America with a strong religious and Zionist influence. He discussed his experiences in Israel, including studying in a yeshiva and living on a kibbutz, which shaped his connection to the country.

The conversation delved into the complexities of Jewish identity, particularly in the context of modern Orthodoxy and its engagement with secular culture while maintaining religious observance. Kozak emphasized the importance of Jewish education and community in forming a strong identity, especially in the diaspora where maintaining Jewish identity can be challenging.

The discussion also touched on the impact of the October 7th massacre on Jewish solidarity and the blurring of lines between different Jewish denominations in response to shared trauma. Kozak highlighted the moral clarity needed to address anti-Semitism and the importance of speaking out against it, regardless of one's knowledge of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

He also reflected on the historical and ongoing persecution of Jews and the necessity of a Jewish state for their protection. The conversation underscored the challenges and responsibilities of being a Jew in today's world, advocating for a united front in the face of adversity.


Comedy Cellar USA: Live from the Table: The Inside Story of the Bias at NPR with Uri Berliner
Noam Dworman, Dan Naturman and Periel Aschenbrand are joined by Uri Berliner. Berliner was a reporter at NPR for 25 years.

His work has been recognized with a Peabody Award, a Loeb Award, an Edward R. Murrow Award, and a Society of Professional Journalists New America Award, among others.




ISIS plan to bomb Taylor Swift concerts tied to post-Oct. 7 terror spike, Austrian authorities say
The terrorist threats leading Taylor Swift to cancel her concerts in Vienna is part of a spike in Islamic terrorism since Hamas attacked Israel last year, Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner said in a press conference on Thursday.

Austrian authorities arrested two suspects on Wednesday for planning an attack on one of the three concerts set to be held in the Ernst Happel Stadium on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

The concerts’ organizer, Barracuda Music, announced soon after: “With confirmation from government officials of a planned terrorist attack at Ernst Happel Stadium, we have no choice but to cancel the three scheduled shows for everyone’s safety.”

In a press conference the following day, Karner and the heads of Austria’s state police and domestic intelligence said that one suspect was a 19-year-old who swore allegiance to ISIS’ new leader and confessed to planning the attack on a Taylor Swift concert. He was reportedly the son of ethnic Albanian immigrants from Macedonia. He quit his job last month, saying he was “planning something big.” Police found bomb-making chemicals, explosives and machetes in his home.

The second suspect was a 17-year-old who worked at the concert site. A third person was detained for questioning, and police suspect that there were others involved.

“The situation was serious; the situation continues to be serious,” Karner said. “The threat of Islamic terrorism in Europe is on the rise after the attack by Hamas in Israel. Austria is no exception.”

Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer posted on X that “we live in a time in which violent means are being used to attack our Western way of life. Islamist terrorism threatens security and freedom in many Western countries. This is precisely why we will not give up our values such as freedom and democracy, but will defend them even more vehemently.”

Though Karner tied a rise in Islamist terrorist threats to Europe with the war in Gaza, Austrian lawmaker Martin Engelberg told Jewish Insider that “this has already been going on for several years.”
Iraqi teen is 3rd suspect held over ISIS plot to attack Taylor Swift concert in Vienna
Authorities in Austria have detained a third suspect in Vienna connected to an alleged plot to strike a Taylor Swift concert in the Austrian capital, the interior ministry said on Friday.

The 18-year-old Iraqi national is said to have come from the same circle as the main suspect, a 19-year-old Austrian with North Macedonian roots, according to the ministry.

More suspects will be questioned and properties searched as investigators continue to look into the plot, the ministry added.

The main suspect, who had vowed loyalty to Islamic State (IS), was planning a lethal assault among the estimated 20,000 “Swiftie” fans set to gather outside Vienna’s Ernst Happel Stadium.

The US popstar had planned concerts in Vienna on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. All three were canceled late Wednesday over security concerns.

Two other Austrian youths aged 17 and 15 were detained on Wednesday over the alleged plot. US singer Taylor Swift performs on stage at the Paris La Defense Arena as part of her The Eras Tour, in Nanterre, northwestern France, on May 9, 2024. (Julien de Rosa / AFP)

The 15-year-old has since been released and is being treated as a witness, the Kurier newspaper reported on Friday.


Pro-Palestinian activist Mohammad Sharab denied bail on kidnap, assault charges
A pro-Palestine demonstrator accused of kidnapping and assaulting a man with a hammer has been refused bail after allegedly breaching earlier bail conditions.

Mohammad Sharab, 37, and co-accused Laura Allam, a prominent human rights activist, were allegedly among four offenders who lured their male victim from his home in Melbourne’s west before he was bundled into a ute, wrapped in duct tape and bashed with a hammer.

Mr Sharab was granted bail after he was charged in February but remanded in custody last month after he allegedly spoke with a male co-offender and failed to report to police, which was in breach of his bail conditions.

In one instance, police allege Mr Sharab, wearing a scarf over his face, was recorded speaking with the man at a pro-Palestine rally outside the State Library on July 21.

Mr Sharab reapplied for bail at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Friday, where his barrister Tim Smurthwaite said his client was grieving the loss of up to 50 extended family members killed in the Israel-Palestine conflict and would abide by a ban from attending future rallies.

Senior Constable Daniel Rees opposed the application, saying he had no issue with Mr Sharab protesting and “fighting a good fight for his fellow people in Gaza”. “It’s within his right to be going to these rallies,” he said “The issue we have ... is him being in vicinity, being in contact with (his co-accused).”

Magistrate David Starvaggi refused bail saying he considered the alleged offending to be “extraordinarily and seriously violent” and he was not satisfied any conditions could lessen the risk of further breaches.

Mr Sharab will return to court later this year.
Jews are trapped between far left and far right, says Chief Rabbi
As rallies and riots become more and more frequent, many British Jews are feeling caught between the far right and the far left, the Chief Rabbi has said.

Wtiting on X/Twitter, Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis said: “Many iin the Britsh Jewish Community are feeling trapped between the anvil of the hateful far right and the hammer of the conspiratorial extreme left.”

He called upon all “decent people” to “reject hatred from wherever it comes”, adding: “That is what makes Britain truly great.”

Mirvis’ message came after an “anti-fascist” group tried to ban Zionists from a Finchley counter protest, following far-right riots across the UK last week. A group called “Finchley Against Fascism” published a leaflet calling for people to “Get Fascists, Racists, Zionists, and Islamophobes out of Finchley”.

In his tweet, the Chief Rabbi wrote: “It is in our DNA to be implacably opposed to ideologies which abhor diversity and which legitimise violence and vandalism against minority communities. Yet it has been made all too clear over recent days that Jews have been unwelcome at many of the counterprotests”.

“The speed with which some have expanded their attacks against fascists and racists, to include attacks on ‘Zionists’, betrays a complete ignorance of who Zionists are and indeed, who Jews are,” he continued.

The CST also condemned Finchely Against Fascism’s rhetoric. “To see these posts circulating in relation to a densely populated Jewish area like Finchley is completely wrong and threatening to the Jewish community,” a spokesperson told the JC. “There is no place for such hatred, especially at a time where we must all stand united against antisemitism and racism of all kinds.”

Sarah Sackman, the Jewish MP for Finchley and Golders Green, did not refer directly to Finchley Against Fascism, but posted to social media: “I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again. Whether it’s the far right or far left there can be zero tolerance for antisemitism, Islamophobia or racism in any form. There is no place for such hate in our community”.

Mirvis also condemned campaigners who have shifted blame for far-right protests onto “Zionist financiers abroad,” referring to a recent statement from the chair of the Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC).

In an open letter to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper published on Tuesday, Massoud Shadjareh said: “Enabled by their Zionist financiers abroad, far-right elements have weaponised the tragic murder of three young girls in Southport to incite the country into pogroms against Muslims and people of colour.”
Dave Rich: Finchley against Zionists
Altikriti doesn’t just say that the riots serve Israel’s interests, or that Robinson and Zionists are ideological bedfellows - he claims that Zionist capitalists, corporations and individuals have planned the riots from the beginning, as revenge for all the pro-Palestine demonstrations since October 7.

As I said, it’s insane. So insane, in fact, that American white nationalist Nicholas Fuentes came up with exactly the same theory, and he is definitely an antisemite. Hopefully most people on these counter-protests don’t go along with this, and it is notable and welcome that the organisers of the Finchley demo distanced themselves from it. Still, it shows how far some parts of the British anti-fascist movement have become detached from its mythological heritage of Cable St and the great anti-racist mobilisations of the 1970s. Anyone claiming at Cable St that Mosley’s Blackshirts were puppets of Zionist manipulators would have been run out of town. Today you get applause and a speaking slot.

On the other side of the barriers stand a far right that has a different conspiracy theory blaming Jews over this same issue. In their case it is the Great Replacement Theory, which accuses Jews of engineering mass immigration into western societies to undermine, dilute and ultimately destroy the white race. This belief is very widespread, found in diluted measures in mainstream right wing politics as well as its more extreme and overtly antisemitic version, and it can be lethal. This was the fantastical notion that motivated Robert Bowers to murder eleven Jews at prayer in the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh in 2018. The far right riots may not have targeted Jewish buildings or people (yet), but the online forums where they are planned are riddled with antisemitism.

Antisemitism might seem weird and stupid but it can sometimes also be appealing and useful. If Britain feels like it is tearing itself apart, with far right mobs attacking mosques and groups of young Muslims gathering to fight back, there’s an obvious utility in telling both sides to stop hating each other because it’s really the Jews who are to blame for everything. And framing these conspiracy myths as being about “Zionists” rather than Jews doesn’t remove the conspiratorial element. It just updates it to be as contemporary and relevant as possible, which is what antisemitism has always done.

Beyond the conspiracy theories, this also reflects the way that Jews in the past, and by extension Israel and Palestine today, are symbols of much broader political positions. A lot of the anti-fascist protests have featured Palestinian flags and chants of “Free Palestine”. The chant “From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be Free” was heard in Finchley, even though a lot of Jews consider it to be an antisemitic call for Israel to disappear. In Birmingham, when a gang of sinister, masked men threatened a Sky News journalist and slashed the tyres of her van, they kept shouting “Free Palestine” at the camera. It’s as if fighting fascism in Britain is the same as campaigning for Palestine, and a whole host of other issues as well, all merged together in one single stance against oppression. In late 19th/early 20th century German politics, ‘antisemitism’ and ‘philosemitism’ were labels used to denote entire political camps straddling a range of policy areas and positions, many of which had nothing to do with Jews. Perhaps something similar is happening with Zionist/anti-Zionist in British politics today.

I’ve written before about the symbolic power that Jews and Israel have in our world, and this is another example of it. None of the issues that led to the far right riots or the anti-fascist response have anything to do with Israel or with Jews. Nevertheless, both sides struggle to keep Israel and Palestine out of their discourse, and “Zionist” and “Free Palestine” are labels that have come to mean a whole set of things that have nothing to do with Zionism or Palestine. It is as if what they are arguing over doesn’t seem so important unless it can be linked to the great symbolic cause that overshadows all.


Suspended Labour councillor remanded in custody over call to ‘cut throats’ of rioters
A suspended Labour councillor accused of urging anti-fascist protesters to “cut the throats” of far-Right rioters has been remanded in custody.

Ricky Jones, 57, appeared in court on Friday charged with encouraging violent disorder at an anti-fascist demonstration on Wednesday.

He was arrested on Thursday and charged with encouraging violent disorder after a video emerged in which he appeared to call for far-Right protesters’ throats to be “cut” during a demonstration in Walthamstow, north-east London.

Although far-Right rioters have made up the majority of those appearing in court over the past few days, the first defendants to be sentenced on Friday were two Asian men from Leeds who, like Mr Jones, participated in counter-protests.

Sameer Ali, 21, and Adnan Ghafoor, 31, both from West Bank in Leeds, received sentences of 20 and 18 months respectively for their attack on “pro-EDL” protesters.

Meanwhile, in Birmingham, Habeeb Khan, 49, appeared in court accused of possessing an imitation AK-47 after a video circulated on social media.

Mr Jones was arrested on Thursday after footage of the alleged incident was shared online.

He had served as a Labour councillor in Dartford from 2019, before he was suspended by the party.

Mr Jones spoke in court only to confirm his name and date of birth. Members of his family were present.


Amnesty Claim Member Cheering On _Cut Their Throats_ Jones Couldn't Hear Speech
Spotted at former Labour councillor Ricky Jones’ “cut all their throats” speech on Wednesday was a woman ironically sporting an Amnesty shirt. As Jones has been charged by the police for “encouraging violent disorder”, one co-conspirator thought to contact Amnesty International on the concerning nature of a member cheering on Jones…

The charity that describes its mission as “exposing human rights abuses” responded in somewhat of a ‘nothing to see here’ way, claiming that the Amnesty activist in the video was “distracted and hadn’t heard the speaker’s comments when they applauded generally with the crowd.” Despite the fact Jones had a megaphone and was standing right next to her…

Read the full email below:
We appreciate you taking time to write in and raise your concerns. Members and supporters of Amnesty UK attended the mass rally in Walthamstow. The activist in the video has made clear to us that they were distracted and hadn’t heard the speaker’s comments when they applauded generally with the crowd.

The speaker at the event is not affiliated with Amnesty and we strongly oppose violence and any kind of hateful speech

I can, also, confirm that your comments have been logged in accordance with our Feedback Policy.

Kind Regards,

Supporter Communications Team




‘Hamas haven’: UK Pride event denies Jewish group’s participation
The Brighton & Hove Pride parade has been accused of being a “Hamas haven” following its decision to reject an application for Jewish and Proud’s participation in last week’s event, the Jewish Chronicle reported on Thursday.

Jewish and Proud, a group that contains 50-100 Jewish LGBTQ+-identifying individuals, told the JC they were left feeling devastated and completely betrayed.”

Jewish and Proud was reportedly denied an official place in the parade because its application “did not meet the criteria” of putting LGBT+ identity as the main focus of the group.

The Jewish “community activist group,” in response to the rejection, accused Brighton & Hove Pride of creating expectations on Jewish groups “that are not made of others.”

The accusation against the Pride organizers came as members of Jewish and Proud witnessed other groups participate in the event despite not centering their identities around being LGBTQ+.

The event organizers have also reportedly upset pro-Palestinian movements after refusing a request by Queers 4 Palestine to drop sponsors Coca-Cola and Costa Coffee and have no political parties or police presence at the parade.

The organizers wrote to Queers 4 Palestine, calling for the release of hostages and stating that they would review their sponsors at future parades.

The JC noted that the letter did not condemn Hamas’s October 7 massacre.

Despite Queers 4 Palestine threatening to boycott the event for failing to obey its demands, attendees were seen waving Palestinian flags and inverted triangles.

An Organizer for Jewish and Proud told the JC that the Pride organizers “did nothing” to stop the “Hamas apologists leading the convoy” - allowing them to march alongside the official delegations.

“I was surprised when I saw Palestinian flags and no attempt to remove them after organizers explicitly told us that no national flags would be allowed. But then it got even worse when we saw all the red triangles. It felt like a Hamas haven,” a Jewish and Proud attendee said. “It feels devastating and a complete betrayal that they would treat the Jewish delegation so poorly. Brighton Pride organizers have shown their clear bias, and it’s extremely hurtful to be turned away at a time of rampant antisemitism.”
Gay rave club backtracks from ‘No Zionists’ rule after accusations of ‘Nazi-level hate’
A queer nightclub in East London has been accused of "Nazi level hate" after it declared that "No Zionists" were allowed to attend its events.

Adonis, a queer rave in The Cause in London's Docklands, removed a description which declared “no f***ing Zionists” were allowed on its premises. The club told followers this week: “No G Zombies, circuit queens, basic pride/padam bitches and definitely no fucking Zionists.”

Later, the club doubled down, writing “Zionism has no place in queer spaces.”

Despite the club's anti-Zionist credentials, its promoter, Shay Malt, allegedly attended Tel Aviv Pride in June 2023.

After backlash on social media for the statements, which were branded discriminatory, the club removed the “no Zionist” rule and their Instagram description now reads: “no genocidal maniacs plz”.

It appears that the club made the anti-Zionist announcement on Instagram after an Israeli club-goer complained that a Palestinian flag had been flown during a party last weekend.

The email congratulated the club for hosting "one of the best events London has to offer", but said that the Palestinian flag was "disturbing".

“At one point someone was waving a huge Palestinian flag in the main dance floor outside,” wrote the Israeli in an email to the club.

“Regardless [of] the fact I don't believe such event (or any public party) should be political, as an Israeli I found it offensive and even threatening, considering the latest antisemitism attacks around the country.”

They are actively excluding LGBTQ+ Jews from an LGBTQ+ spaces. This is aggressive racism. They can dress it up by saying Zionism, we all know they mean Jews. This is disgusting, Nazi level hate and should be…

He asked for the club’s security team to “prevent people carrying noticeable props with political association.”




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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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