Saturday, November 30, 2024

11/30 Links: Biden spotted with book that claims Israel shouldn't exist; IDF strikes World Central Kitchen employee who participated in Oct. 7 attack

From Ian:

Biden spotted with book that accuses Israel of settler-colonialism, apartheid
US President Joe Biden was spotted leaving a bookstore in Nantucket, Massachusetts, on Friday with a copy of The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine: A History of Settler Colonialism and Resistance, 1917–2017, by Palestinian-American historian Rashid Khalidi.

The purchase occurred during a holiday visit with his family as the nation kicked off the Black Friday shopping season following Thanksgiving. Photos of the outing have circulated all over X/Twitter and international media outlets.

It is unclear if Biden purchased the book or if it was handed to him. Multiple media outlets, including Fox News and The New York Post, have reached out to the White House for comment, but so far, there has been no response.

The Post also asked Khalidi about his reaction to the president holding his book.

“I do not speak to the Post (or the Times, for that matter), so this is not for publication, but my reaction is that this is four years too late,” Khalidi told the newspaper, which clarified that it did not offer or agree to any terms conditioning that response as off the record.

Khalidi’s book, first published in 2020, presents a controversial perspective on the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. The historian, known for his outspoken critique of Israeli policies, describes Palestine’s modern history as “a colonial war waged against the indigenous population by various parties to force them to relinquish their homeland.” His framing has drawn both praise and criticism for its sharp departure from traditional narratives.

The book highlights key moments such as the 1917 Balfour Declaration, the 1948 establishment of Israel – referred to as “the destruction of Palestine” – Israel’s 1982 invasion of Lebanon, and the “endless, futile peace process.”

Khalidi has previously criticized former president Donald Trump’s policies, such as relocating the US Embassy to Jerusalem and recognizing the Golan Heights as Israeli territory, calling them discriminatory toward Palestinians.

“Conflicts between settlers and indigenous peoples have ended in only three ways,” Khalidi writes, likening Israel’s policies to historical settler-colonial conflicts in North America, Algeria, and South Africa.

The historian also discusses moments of Palestinian resistance and terrorism. He praises the First Intifada as “an extraordinary example of popular resistance against oppression.”

Still, he labels the Second Intifada (2000-05) “a major failure” that contributed to the construction of Israel’s security barrier. Khalidi predicts that “popular resistance will continue to rise,” framing the Palestinian struggle as an enduring battle against colonialism.

Since the October 7 Hamas attacks and the resulting war, he has intensified his criticism of Israel. In recent interviews, the author accused Israel of conducting “ethnic cleansing” in Gaza, stating: “It is completely unclear what Israel’s political objective is. They are conducting ethnic cleansing, pushing the population of northern Gaza into the southern part of the Strip. But their political goal is entirely unclear to me.”




Notoriously anti-Israel human rights group set to accuse Jewish state of ‘genocide’ — with experts ripping claim as ‘fabricated’
Notoriously anti-Israel human rights group Amnesty International is set to issue a report accusing the Jewish state of “genocide” next month — a claim experts and Israel alike ripped as “fabricated.”

“Israel has committed and is continuing to commit genocide against the Palestinians in the occupied Gaza Strip,” the group, which critics say has a long history of anti-Israel bias, said in the report due out Dec. 5.

Israel has long maintained its offensive in Gaza is solely to eliminate Hamas terrorists who killed 1,200 and kidnapped 251 Israelis during the Oct. 7 massacre, and has said it takes great care to avoid civilian casualties with pinpoint strikes.

But genocidal intent can “co-exist” with Israel’s stated military goals, claimed Amnesty, which critics say has a long history of anti-Israel bias.

Experts said Amnesty is confused as to what a genocide really is.

“If Israel’s defense against Hamas constitutes genocide, then American wars from World War II to Obama’s campaign against ISIS do as well,” said George Mason Law Professor Eugene Kontorovich.

“An actual genocide looks completely different: In the early 2000s the Sudanese government armed Arab militias to ethnically cleanse all African groups in the Darfur region through a campaign of mass murder, rape and persecution based on the victims’ race,” said National Jewish Advocacy Center director Mark Geldfeder.

The Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health has claimed more than 40,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began. At least 17,000 of them were terrorists, according to the Israeli Defense Forces.

“Amnesty cannot point to a single instance in which Israel has purposely targeted a civilian,” Geldfeder said.

Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Oren Marmorstein told The Post: “The deplorable and fanatical organization Amnesty International has produced a fabricated report entirely based on lies.”
Justin Trudeau dances while Montreal burns with Jew-hatred
The Roman Emperor Nero is said to have “fiddled” while Rome burned.

That’s not wholly true.

Rome did catch fire during Nero’s reign, but there were no fiddles or bowed instruments of any kind. As antisemitic violence surges in Canada, Trudeau should:

The original story, as reported by the historian Suetonius, is that Nero put on a stage costume, climbed to the top of a tower, and sang about the fall of Troy as Rome went up in flames beneath him.

But here in Canada we don’t need Nero.

We have Justin Trudeau, he of the strange fondness for costumes and blackface, dancing while Montreal burns.

Anti-NATO, pro-Palestinian protests in Montreal turned violent on Nov. 22.

Protesters hurled small explosive devices and smoke bombs at police, smashed shop windows, and burned cars.

A coffee-shop franchisee was seen giving the Nazi salute and announcing an imminent “final solution” to a group of Jewish counter-protesters.

Police dispersed the rioters with tear gas and pepper spray.

Meantime, Trudeau was in Toronto, waiting for a Taylor Swift concert to begin, where he was spotted dancing like a teenybopper.

The next day, Trudeau and his ministers issued bland statements condemning the rioting: The protesters’ destructive behavior and antisemitism “must be condemned,” “there must be consequences,” rioters must be “held accountable,” rioting “has no place in Montreal” and so on.

No particular action was demanded.

Regrettably, rioting, deliberately intimidating demonstrations and threats of violence have found a place in Montreal and Canada.

They have been happening since Hamas’s Oct. 7 attacks on Israel.
Gad Saad: How Montreal became the antisemitism capital of North America
Trudeau’s desire to exhibit Islamophilic tendencies is so pronounced that whenever a grave antisemitic incident takes place, he is quick to remind us that we must combat Islamophobia (such as he did after shots were fired at a pair of Jewish schools in Montreal last year.)

But it’s actually antisemitism that is running rampant across Montreal, a city now filled with intimidating protests against “Zionism.”

These are taking place on campuses, on the streets, across from synagogues, and in shopping malls.

Everywhere that you turn, masked individuals wearing keffiyehs can be seen uttering the usual chants of “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” and “globalize the intifada.”

Montreal Mayor Valerie Plante did not think that the protests from this past week were antisemitic, condemning them instead as “pro-Palestinian” and “anti-NATO.”

A senior administrator at Concordia recently told me that there was no Jew hatred despite the fact that university president Graham Carr, testified on Parliament Hill about the endemic Jew hatred on campus. Ignoring the problem is not going to cause it to go away.

Incidentally, as the city was burning last week, Trudeau was unable to address the violence because was busy attending a Taylor Swift concert.

Meanwhile, this past Sunday a Montreal rabbi was asked to leave the downtown area as his open Jewishness (wearing a kippah) might be viewed as provocative.

This is the reality that I grew up with in Lebanon: “Please don’t flaunt your Jewishness. It might incite violence.” Unchecked immigration from societies endemically hostile to Jews — along with a weak host society parasitized by ideological rapture — create the perfect mix for Jew hatred to flourish in an ecosystem of cowardice and apathy.

The United States dodged an immeasurable existential bullet by electing Donald Trump. Had Kamala Harris won (she also grew up in Montreal), the United States would have headed down the path of many European countries and Canada, namely an increasingly more dangerous environment for Jews.

Do not make the mistakes that we have made in Canada. Be vigilant in protecting American exceptionalism and offer zero tolerance for such hate to fester, for I can assure you that it will otherwise metastasize into an incurable societal malady.

In the Middle East, there is an old expression “First the Saturday people then the Sunday people,” (or a variant such as “After Saturday Comes Sunday”) — namely that the Jews might be the first to be targeted but Christians are inevitably next.

Do not allow these realities from which many of us escaped to set root in the US.

Do not tolerate belief systems that are antithetical to the fundamental principles on which the United States was founded.
Congressman Gosar’s newsletter features a conspiracy theory tied to antisemitism
Republican Congressman from Arizona Paul Gosar shared a number of conspiracy theories in his official House of Representatives newsletter this week, including one with antisemitic ties.

This isn’t the first time Gosar’s newsletter has courted controversy as twice he has used it to promote websites that shared antisemitic messages like Holocaust denialism.

In the Prescott Republican’s weekly newsletter to constituents, Gosar responded to an email from a Surprise man who said he opposed President-elect Donald Trump’s nominations of Robert F. Kenney Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard to positions in his new administration.

Gosar defended former Congresswoman Gabbard, who has been criticized for her lack of experience working with the intelligence community, something Gosar believes makes her right for the job.

“Many are saying that she has no background in the so-called ‘intelligence community’ that was famously responsible for quashing the Hunter Biden laptop story, fabricating Russia-Gate, replacing Ukraine’s government in 2014, launching a false flag operation on a U.S. naval vessel in coordination with the Israeli government in 1967, perpetrating the Bay of Pigs fiasco, and perhaps even killing President John F. Kennedy,” Gosar said in the newsletter.

Gosar’s defense of Gabbard is full of conspiracy theories such as Hunter Biden’s alleged involvement in a bribery scandal with connections to Russia as well as myths about the assassination of President Kennedy.

His mention of the sinking of the U.S.S. Liberty ties to an antisemitic conspiracy theory.

“Congressman Gosar’s reference to the USS Liberty incident as part of a broader critique of the intelligence community in his newsletter is misguided at best and antisemitic at worst,” Sarah Kader, deputy regional director of the Anti-Defamation League’s Arizona chapter said in a statement to the Arizona Mirror.

“The USS Liberty incident has been historically misused by conspiracy theorists and antisemites to promote harmful narratives targeting the Jewish community and the U.S.-Israel relationship,” Kader said. “Longstanding conspiracy theories about the USS Liberty have been repeatedly debunked and by referencing it in this context, Gosar perpetuates falsehoods that feed into antisemitic tropes and undermines public discourse.”

Gosar’s office did not respond to a request for comment for the story or answer questions about who wrote the Congressman’s reply in the newsletter.


UKLFI: ICC's Timeline of Deception
On 3/12/2023, following a visit to Israel, the ICC Prosecutor stated “I also stand ready to engage with relevant national authorities in line with the principle of complementarity at the heart of the Rome Statute.”

Israeli authorities arranged a further visit to Israel to start on 27/5/2024. ICC & Israeli officials were due to meet in Jerusalem on 20/5/2024 to finalise arrangements.

But on 20/5/2024, the Prosecutor abruptly announced in a pre-prepared statement that he was filing applications for arrest warrants. The meetings in Israel were cancelled without notice.

In this statement the Prosecutor relied on allegations of famine in the north of the Gaza Strip in reports published on 18/3/2024 and cited by the UN Secretary General.

These reports were wrong. Israeli experts and officials were preparing responses showing how wrong they were. But they wanted to make sure they got everything right and peer-approved.

Had they known the Prosecutor was about to apply for arrest warrants based on the false reports they might well have published their analyses earlier.

The Israeli experts released a Working Paper on 24/5/2024 and the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs published a separate critique on 29/5/2024, both showing that the reports of 18/3/2024 were wrong.


IDF announces death of St.-Sgt. Zamir Burke in northern Gaza
IDF Staff Sergeant (St.-Sgt.) Zamir Burke, 20, was killed in combat in northern Gaza, the IDF announced Saturday evening.

Burke, from Beit Shemesh, was a combat engineering squad commander in the 601st Engineering Battalion in the 401st Brigade.

Burke was posthumously promoted from Sergeant to Staff-Sergeant.

An equipment operator from the same battalion and brigade was also severely wounded in the incident in which Burke was killed.

Wounded soldiers
In another incident, a soldier in the Armored Corps in the 46th Battalion and 7th Brigade was severely wounded in combat in southern Gaza.

In a third incident, a soldier from the 82nd Battalion in the 401st Brigade was severely wounded during operational activity in northern Israel.

The wounded soldiers have been evacuated to receive medical treatment, and their families have been informed.


IDF strikes World Central Kitchen employee who participated in Oct. 7 attack
The IDF struck a vehicle on Saturday morning containing terrorist and World Central Kitchen (WCK) employee Ahed Azmi Qudeih, who took part in the murderous October 7 massacre at Kibbutz Nir Oz, the military announced that afternoon.

The terrorist was monitored for a while by IDF intelligence and was struck following credible information regarding his real-time location.

The IDF emphasized that it was a civilian unmarked vehicle, and its movement on the route was not coordinated for transporting aid.

Following this incident, Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) representatives demanded immediate clarification and an investigation from international community leaders and WCK as to why the organization employed an individual who participated in the October 7 massacre and was involved in terrorist activities.

COGAT is also calling on international organizations operating in Gaza to provide Israeli authorities with details of their staff in Gaza to ensure terrorists are not "exploiting existing humanitarian frameworks," the IDF statement said.

The IDF noted that there is no link between the terrorist and any kidnapping incident.

The WCK later issued a statement saying it will pause their operations in the Gaza Strip after the incident. They also said they had no knowledge of any individual in the vehicle having ties to the October 7 massacre.


NBC's Tur Asks Israeli Gov't Spox If Israel Would Break Deal by Re-Arming for 'Future Escalation'
On Tuesday’s broadcast of MSNBC’s “Katy Tur Reports,” host and NBC News Correspondent Katy Tur asked Israeli Government Spokesman David Mencer if it would be a violation of the ceasefire deal if Israel “re-arms itself and resets for a possible future escalation” within Lebanon.

After Mencher stated that Israel will respond to any violations of the deal and will attack if Hezbollah attempts to re-arm, Tur asked, “Does that go for the other side as well? If Israel comes back and re-arms itself and resets for a possible future escalation in Lebanon, is that a violation of the agreement?”

Mencer responded, “Of course not, Katy. Israel is a sovereign country, not a terrorist organization. We’re talking about Hezbollah, a terrorist organization, in my country, but, also, the last time I checked, in your country, too, Katy, they’re a terrorist organization. They’re our enemy. But make no mistake, they’re your enemy in the States as well. So, of course, Israel will defend [itself]. That’s our right, like any other country in the world, to defend ourselves. But if this terrorist organization begins to prepare another attack against us, we will defend ourselves. Israel reserves that right.”




Hezbollah chief Qassem declares victory against Israel in televised speech
“We are meeting today in an atmosphere of divine victory,” Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem said in a televised speech Friday, adding that the “victory” achieved is greater than the one in 2006.

“We won because we prevented the enemy from destroying Hezbollah, stopped them from ending the resistance, and defeated them because the enemy was forced to justify the agreement,” the new 71-year-old Hezbollah leader said.

One of the signs of Israel’s defeat is “the image of the return of our people and the absence of the settlers on the opposite side,” he said, referring to the Israeli evacuees who have not returned to their homes.

“Israel expected to achieve its goals in a short time after striking the command system and capabilities,” Qassem said, alluding to the pager attack the Jewish state carried out in September.

“Hezbollah was able to stand firm on the frontlines and began targeting the enemy's home front, which put the situation into a significant defensive position,” he continued.

Cease-fire arrangements
Qassem also discussed the cease-fire arrangements in his speech, saying that there will be “high-level coordination” between the Lebanese army and Hezbollah to implement the deal. “We approved the deal with our heads held high,” he said.

He stressed that the main point of the agreement was the withdrawal of the Israeli military from all parts of southern Lebanon below the Litani River.

“For those that bet that Hezbollah would be weakened, their bet has failed,” he said.
Why Naim Qassem is opting for a more uncompromising stance than Nasrallah
In summary, Naim Qassem appears more hardline and uncompromising than his predecessor, who often delivered propaganda-laden speeches devoid of clear strategy. Qassem seeks to fill the leadership void left by Nasrallah by adopting a more aggressive posture and authorizing bold actions against Israel.

These moves are likely intended to assert his leadership capabilities and instill confidence among Hezbollah’s ranks. Israel, however, is undoubtedly monitoring him closely, making him a prime target for elimination when the opportunity arises.

Currently, we are going through a new phase in which the durability of the ceasefire agreement, which was supervised by the United States as a guarantor and observer at the same time, is being tested.

Of course, Hezbollah will suffer from internal challenges that may hinder its full commitment to the agreement, especially from the wing of hawks who demand bombing Tel Aviv or rejecting some conditions such as freedom of movement for the Israel Defense Forces against targets that pose a threat in Lebanese territory.

Ironically or from the consequences of the ceasefire, Hamas announced that it had informed the mediators that it is ready for a ceasefire agreement and a “serious” deal for the exchange of hostages.

In general, the coming days will reveal a lot.


Edan Alexander’s parents urge Trump to help secure hostage deal following
Parents of American hostage Edan Alexander reiterated their pleas for President-elect Trump to work with President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to secure a hostage release deal in a statement on Saturday afternoon after Hamas released a video showing Edan alive.

“While this video confirms our son, Edan, is alive, it also stands as a haunting reminder that 101 innocent people remain in the clutches of Hamas,” Yael and Adi Alexander said.

“Every passing hour dims the prospect of their survival."

Trump can't wait until inauguration to reach a deal
President-elect Trump must not wait until he is inaugurated to help reach a deal that secures the freedom for Edan, six other Americans, and the rest of the hostages," the Alexanders said.

“Their liberation depends on swift, decisive action. Bring them home now, before it's too late."
Hamas publishes video with hostage, White House calls it 'cruel reminder' of terror
Hamas published a video on Saturday of Israeli-American hostage Eden Alexander entitled "Soon...Time is running out" on the Telegram channel of its military wing, the Izzadin al-Qassam Brigades.

The White House responded to the video on Saturday evening, calling it a "cruel reminder of Hamas's terror against citizens," in an official statement.

It also added that it has "been in touch with Eden's family" and said that the "suffering of Gazans would end immediately — and would have ended months ago — if Hamas agreed to release the hostages."

While it noted that Hamas has refused to release the hostages, it also emphasized that US President Joe Biden said last week, "We have a critical opportunity to conclude the deal to release, stop the war, and surge humanitarian assistance into Gaza."

The White House continued, saying that a hostage deal was currently on the table and that Biden and the US would "continue to work around the clock to secure the release of our citizens, including through diplomatic efforts and by increasing pressure on Hamas terrorists through sanctions, law enforcement actions, and other measures."

"On behalf of the Alexanders and all the families of the hostages still being held by Hamas, we will never cease in our efforts to secure their immediate release," the statement concluded.

The content of the released video
Alexander speaks in the video in a mix of Hebrew and English. There are subtitles in Arabic and in English or Hebrew, depending on the language he is speaking.

The video begins with Alexander introducing himself and stating that he has been a prisoner of Hamas for over 420 days.

It then switches to footage of Alexander covering his face with his hands and crying.

In a message to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Hebrew, Alexander says, “I heard you speaking to the people of Israel on the news, and I am very disappointed. I heard that you will give $5 million to whoever brings us back alive. The prime minister is supposed to protect his citizens and soldiers, and you neglected us.”

He says that their guards gave them instructions in case the Israeli military reaches them.

“The fear is at its peak, and we are dying a thousand times every day that passes, and no one feels for us. The people of Israel: Do not neglect us. We want to return home with a full mind,” Alexander continues.

“Fear and isolation are killing us. Please do not forget us. It is unreasonable that we pay the price for a mistake made by the government. Please, people of Israel, go out to demonstrate every day and pressure the government. It is time to put an end to this nightmare.”

Message to Trump
In a message to “President Trump” in English, Alexander says, “Please use your influence and the full power of the United States to negotiate for our freedom. Every day here feels like an eternity, and the pain from inside grows from day to day. Please do not make the mistake Biden has been doing. The weapons he has sent are now killing us, and the unlawful sieges are now starving us. I do not want to end up dead like my fellow US citizen Hersh [Goldberg-Polin].”

The video concludes with Alexander telling his parents and grandparents to be strong and that it is only “a matter of time until this nightmare ends.”


Freed captive Emily Hand, father address rally marking year since November 2023 deal
Some 2,000 people attend the Hostages Families Forum central weekly rally at Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square, marking a year since the hostage deal last November, which negotiators have failed to replicate despite intensive efforts.

The rally features speeches from several people freed in last November’s deal, as well as Thomas Hand, father of 9-year-old Emily, who was kidnapped from Kibbutz Be’eri and released on the second day of the week-long deal deal.

Hand, who is Irish, speaks in English.

“I am extremely lucky to have got my little Emily back in one piece,” he says to applause. “I cannot imagine how terrified she must have been.”

“When being taken from Be’eri, Emily saw dead people — people she knew and recognized, lying on the road,” he continues. “It was so bad she thought that everyone she knew — including me — were killed or being killed.”

Hand says his daughter told him the water she was given in captivity was putrid; that the hostages were forced to use the bathroom with the door open while a male terrorist watched them; and that “they were told to repeat words in Arabic, and at the end, they were told: ‘you’re Muslim now.'”

He urges Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reach a hostage deal.

“Make a deal, Bibi,” he says, using the premier’s nickname. “You have had more than enough time to get the job done.”

His speech is followed by brief comments in Hebrew by Emily herself.

“I know what it’s like to be there so I don’t want to imagine what it’s like for those who are there now,” she says.

The captivity survivor says she was held along with slain hostage Itai Svirsky and with Noa Argamani, who was rescued in June by security forces.

“Noa came back, but Itai won’t,” she says. “We have to bring the hostages back before it’s too late.” In English, she shouts: “Bring them home now!”


One year after deal, Schneider Medical Center waits for rest of hostages to return
It’s been a year since Schneider Medical Center received 26 hostages, 19 of them children. The hospital still waits for the rest to return

Ten days after the October 7 attacks, Dr. Efrat Bron-Harlev contacted the government of Israel. “We want to prepare for the optimistic moment when the children will come back,” she wrote to the Health Ministry. “We want them to come here.”

By “here” she meant Schneider Children’s Medical Center of Israel, the first dedicated pediatric hospital and research center in Israel. Back in October 2023, there was no talk of ceasefire, no talk of hostage deals, and many people thought that Bron-Harlev, Schneider’s CEO and an ICU doctor, was crazy.

This week marks a year since the November 2023 ceasefires, when the medical center welcomed 26 freed hostages – 19 children, 6 mothers, and one grandmother – the largest number of children sent to any hospital. Now, doctors and patients recall that difficult and hopeful time.

“I had an empty ward,” in the new glass building in Petah Tikva, “and a team of professionals – psychiatrists, psychologists, pediatricians, surgeons, dietitians, and more – so we started secretly planning,” said Bron-Harlev, not knowing when, or if, anyone was coming back. “We still wanted to prepare to receive children hostages from captivity.”

But how? Nothing like a mass kidnapping had ever occurred, and there was no real research on how to treat civilians en masse who had been in captivity.

“We didn’t have enough knowledge,” said Prof. Silvana Fennig, the director of the department of psychological medicine at the time. The only research on hostages was from the Yom Kippur War 50 years ago, or anecdotal information on kidnapped children in Chowchilla [California, in 1976 when a bus with 26 kids was hijacked], “but that was for a few hours, not 50 days, and that’s not the same,” Fennig said. “We were trying to understand how kids and families will react,” she said, noting that the only guideline was the United Nations Operational Guidelines on the Protection of Persons in Situations of Natural Disasters.

They studied PTSD research and understood their mission was first, to do no harm. They had to draw from existing frameworks like Psychological First Aid, emphasizing safety, calming, connectedness, efficacy, and hope. They had three weeks to prepare the unit (“We had the time, sadly, because the kids weren’t back,” Fennig said) with a multidisciplinary team.


Visegrad24: Iran Is The Greatest Threat To World Peace | Jonathan Conricus
Visegrad24 presents a new in-depth series covering the war in the Middle East.

This comprehensive series features on-the-ground interviews, bringing firsthand insights from a diverse range of voices, including politicians, professors, journalists and experts.

Our guest today is Jonathan Conricus.

Jonathan is the former Spokesman of the Israel Defense Forces and Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) in Washington D.C.

In the months following the October 7th Massacre, Jonathan became in many ways the face of the IDF to a foreign audience, presenting Israel's perspective in numerous interviews with the international media.

Jonathan was born in Jerusalem but grew up in Malmö, Sweden. His family returned to Israel when he was 13 years old. A few years later he joined the Israeli Defense Forces, eventually rising to the rank of lieutenant colonel.

He served in the IDF for 24 years as a combat commander in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip. He also served as a military diplomat, foreign relations expert, and the IDF's International Spokesperson.

Jonathan was the first Israeli officer to be seconded to the United Nations (UN), during which he provided military and strategic analysis for UN peacekeeping forces.

00:00 - Introduction
1:30 - How can Hamas fight for this long?
3:31 - International interference
6:35 - U.S. and Egyptian pressure on Israel
10:00 - How important is USA for Israel?
13:10 - Is the regime in Iran a threat to the West?
17:40 - Iran's missile attacks against Israel
21:10 - Overthrowing the regime in Iran
22:40 - Iranian nuclear weapons
28:26 - How to overthrow the regime in Iran
33:41 - Can there be peace in the Middle East?




NYC staffer paid to promote diversity caught ripping down Israel hostage poster, allegedly assaulting person filming it
An Adams administration staffer whose mission includes fostering “unity” and bridging “cultural divides,” is under fire for ripping down an Israeli hostage poster — and then allegedly assaulting an outraged eyewitness, The Post has learned.

Nallah Sutherland, a special event coordinator for the Mayor’s Office of Special Projects and Community Events, was spotted earlier this month tearing down the poster from an Upper East Side light pole, ripping it up and dumping it in a trash bin, according to video posted online by the social media platform Jews of NY and nonprofit StopAntisemetism.

“It’s an appalling act of antisemitism,” said the nonprofit’s founder Liora Rez, who demanded Adams immediately fire Sutherland.

But Sutherland, 25, only got a slap on the wrist by her bosses — who merely required her to take “multicultural training” and added a disciplinary note to her permanent work file, a City Hall source told The Post.

Footage of the Nov. 2 incident at the corner of York Ave and East 84th Street begins with Sutherland tearing off the poster and tossing it in the trash.

But Sutherland, 25, only got a slap on the wrist by her bosses — who merely required her to take “multicultural training” and added a disciplinary note to her permanent work file, a City Hall source told The Post.

Footage of the Nov. 2 incident at the corner of York Ave and East 84th Street begins with Sutherland tearing off the poster and tossing it in the trash.

“Is there a reason you’re taking those down?” asks an eyewitness about the poster, part of a public art campaign to raise awareness of Israeli and American hostages taken captive by Hamas during its Oct. 7, 2023 terror attack on the Jewish state.

Sutherland, 25, only got a slap on the wrist by her bosses after they learned she ripped down the Israeli poster. She was merely required her to take “multicultural training” and had a disciplinary note added to her permanent work file, a City Hall source told The Post. instagram @stop_antisemitism

“Those were hostages. They were taken by terrorists,” adds the eyewitness, according to the 20-second clip he recorded.

Sutherland then walks toward the man and swipes his phone with her right hand, briefly knocking it out of focus, the video shows.


UK Jewish philanthropist quits volunteer art work over ‘alarming rise of antisemitism”
A prominent Jewish philanthropist announced she was immediately resigning from all voluntary positions within British art institutions in protest over antisemitism and the “normalization of hate” following campaigns against her art fund over its links to Israel, art journals reported Friday.

Candida Gertler, co-founder of the Outset Contemporary Art Fund, announced the move after Goldsmiths’ Centre for Contemporary Art at the University of London said Monday that it would remove her and her husband’s names from one of its galleries and its donor board, ending a months-long boycott by pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel activists.

Gertler said her her decision “comes not out of fear, weakness, or defeat, but as an act of principled protest against the alarming rise of antisemitism.”

“The failure to confront such hate compromises the very essence of what art stands for — a medium for empathy, exploration and shared humanity,” she said, adding that “this is not a goodbye to art but a reimagining of how it can be a force for true societal change.” Candida Gertler (Courtesy: Outset Contemporary Art Fund)

Outset, which Gertler co-founded in 2003, has raised over 16 million pounds ($20.3 million) for the arts, earning her royal recognition, according to the Art Review. The fund also contributes to Israeli art institutions, and Gertler is a committee member of the British Friends of Art Museums in Israel.

Gertler is married to billionaire German-British real estate developer Zak Gertler, who hosted Benjamin Netanyahu’s 70th birthday party in 2019 and has donated handsomely to the prime minister’s political campaigns, according to Hebrew media.

The Gertlers’ ties to Netanyahu, and Outset’s support for Israeli museums that offer “art programs for Israeli soldiers,” are cited by the Strike Outset campaign, which calls for a boycott on the fund.
Blacklisted for Israel support, author draws strength from Holocaust survivor grandma
Bestselling author Lisa Barr never expected to call her newest novel “eerily relevant” to modern times. Historical fiction, “The Goddess of Warsaw” is a compelling tale of Warsaw Ghetto resistance, old Hollywood and revenge as a final means toward justice.

In the wake of the October 7, 2023 Hamas onslaught on southern Israel, Barr, a former Jerusalem Post reporter, found herself on a list of “Zionist authors” to be blacklisted and the subject of heckling detractors. Over a year later, Barr said she sees common denominators between the past and present on a daily basis.

“When October 7 happened and I was in the throes of edits for this book… Well, a lot of writers get to escape in their work, but for me, there was no escape,” Barr said in a phone interview with The Times of Israel.

In recent months, there has been a veritable crescendo of antisemitism within the literary establishment. Author Sally Rooney and more than 1,000 writers and publishing professionals recently signed a letter pledging to boycott Israeli cultural institutions that “are complicit or have remained silent observers of the overwhelming oppression of Palestinians.”

Signatories pledge to not work with Israeli publishers, festivals, literary agencies and publications that are “complicit in violating Palestinian rights,” including operating “discriminatory policies and practices” or “whitewashing and justifying Israel’s occupation, apartheid or genocide.”

Unexpectedly, Barr said she found herself taking strength from the character she’d created.

“The Goddess of Warsaw” is a page-turner telling the fictional story of Bina Blonski, a Jewish actress-turned-resistance fighter in the Warsaw Ghetto, and her transformation into Lena Browning, a Hollywood femme fatale with a secret past who uses her time off-screen to hunt Nazis and execute vigilante justice.

“I have drawn strength from Lena, born Bina,” Barr said. “I’ve drawn strength from her in everything, from what I am writing to what I am living in my real life. I am choosing not to be silent about what is going on now, just like my character made those same choices.”
Trinity College Rejects Divestment Proposal Pushed by Anti-Israel Activists
Trinity College in Connecticut has rejected a proposal to adopt the boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) movement — which aims to isolate Israel from the international community as a step toward its eventual elimination.

“Guided by its fiduciary responsibilities, the board of trustees has chosen not to change or revise Trinity College’s investment policies,” a statement issued by the school on Monday said. “We will continue with our primary objective of maintaining the endowment’s intergeneration equity to support current and future generations of students.”

It continued, “The long-term and practical challenges of divesting or utilizing the endowment to exert political influence would create too much risk for the institution and potentially compromise its ability to carry out its primary educational mission. The college’s faculty, staff, students, and future students depend upon a strong and growing endowment to support our critical operations.”

In its communication, the college pointed to three groups which demanded divestment from Israel or “disclosure” of the extent of its financial ties to Israel or companies with which it does business, including manufacturers of armaments. Those groups include the Palestine Solidarity Encampment at Trinity College, TrinDivests, and a faction within the college faculty which called on school officials to comply with the students’ demands.

It also noted that acceding to demands for divestment for the sake of “utilizing the endowment to exert political influence” would injure the college financially, stressing that doing so would “compromise our access to fund managers, in turn undermining the board’s ability to perform its fiduciary obligation.”

As The Algemeiner has previously reported, American universities are largely rejecting demands to divest from Israel and entities at all linked to the Jewish state, delivering further blows to the pro-Hamas protest movement, which students and faculty pushed with dozens of illegal demonstrations to coerce officials into enacting the policy.
By giving in to threats, McGill sends a chilling message
I was excited to attend a guest lecture at McGill University featuring Mosab Hassan Yousef, also known as the “Son of Hamas,” that was to take place Nov. 26. Yousef, who was raised in the West Bank by a Hamas leader before defecting, has a unique and deeply personal perspective on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and his expertise has been featured on CNN, MSNBC and The New York Times.

However, I received an email the night before the event that the lecture would have to be moved online due to threats and social media anger. McGill said it made this decision to address safety concerns, but in my view the university is less safe by signalling that online intimidation and harassment can achieve their goals.

McGill’s capitulation sends a clear and ominous message that threats and coercion are more effective than civil discourse. When universities allow violence to dictate the boundaries of acceptable speech, they empower those who oppose dialogue to escalate their rhetoric and actions. I predict bad actors will exploit this precedent to enforce a chilling effect on future speakers with whom they ideologically disagree.

In fact, Montreal4Palestine, among the groups behind the cancellation, revelled in their victory, announcing, “This outcome reflects the power of our community’s unwavering commitment to fostering a safe, inclusive, and respectful environment for everyone.” This statement is cruelly ironic as Montreal4Palestine promoted the viral rallies last week that featured calls for Hitler’s “final solution” and resulted in vandalism at the Palais des congrès.

This cancellation seems part of a troubling trend where those who wield threats of violence seem to benefit from a dangerous double standard. For example, when some pro-Israel students objected to Francesca Albanese’s lecture at McGill this month, the university correctly defended its commitment to free speech and allowed the controversial event to proceed. Yet, when pro-Palestine students and external groups mobilized to shut down Yousef’s event, McGill folded under the pressure.

Universities must remain a place for the safe and free exchange of ideas, even those that we disagree with. They lose all credibility when particular ideologies are permitted to speak on campus, while opposing voices are forced to stay home and host their events online.


Chatelaine Magazine Prints Grotesque Column From Red Triangle-Wearing Writer Connecting Challah To Her Opposition To Israel
The Winter 2024 edition of Chatelaine Magazine betrayed and alienated countless of its own readers across Canada by voluntarily and unprovokedly allowing its pages to be used to spread misinformation and inflammatory, hateful propaganda that flies in the face of the values of the majority of Canadian society.

The article entitled: “Challah Is For Lovers,” by Jennifer E. Crawford, obscenely displayed the extremely offensive image of the author brandishing the traditional Jewish Sabbath bread while simultaneously wearing an openly violent hate symbol — the inverted red triangle that Palestinian terrorist organizations use to mark their murder targets during their attacks on civilians.

For its part, Chatelaine Editor-In-Chief Maureen Halushak issued a mea culpa of sorts in correspondence with the Canadian Jewish News after complaints were launched. She said: “After the issue went to print, a reader noted the symbol on the writer’s shirt could be seen as pro-Hamas, which we were unaware of. So we pulled the memoir from our digital platforms to update the image.” I also confirmed with Halushak that the article itself will return online, just not with the same image. (A different page of the same Winter 2024 holiday issue, spotlighting fashionable menorahs for Hanukkah, has survived intact.)”

There’s No Place In Journalism For Terror Glorification
With respect to Crawford’s article, the content consisted of the author’s personal musings about the experience of making challah. Under this guise, the author then cynically snuck in opportunities to baselessly bash and slander Israel, launching into fanatical political diatribes and peddling false narratives that have nothing to do with what this magazine is supposed to be about.

Abruptly, in between various statements about the baking process, readers were falsely told that Israel is “blocking humanitarian aid” and “den[ying]…basic ingredient[s] to Palestinians,” that the death toll from the conflict is “likely four times as high” as the already unsubstantiated estimate of “49,032” cited in this article, and that “No one person can do it all, but we can all do something…until Palestine is free.”

Readers were told that Crawford harasses politicians “over and over, urging them to support an arms embargo” to deny Israel the ability to defend its population against the terrorist groups who attacked them and are actively seeking genocide against them.

Crawford also lectured readers on unrelated issues, like the fact that “global capitalism…concentrate[s] wealth for the elite and subjugate[s] the rest of us” and that the “Challah for Ceasefire” workshop is “COVID-cautious.”


Seth Frantzman: Syrian regime may lose Aleppo due to Iran’s failures
UP UNTIL a week ago, the Syrian regime thought history was going its way. It had normalized ties with Egypt and several key Gulf states. Iran’s diplomats were making major inroads in the region, including in Egypt and the Gulf. Iran had joined BRICS and was working closely with Russia. Tehran was sending Russia drones and had also prodded militias in Iraq and Yemen to attack Israel.

Iran believed Israel was isolated, but now Tehran may be struggling. Syria’s regime is the jewel in Iran’s crown. It is a major asset, and its weakness makes the Islamic Republic vulnerable.

Tehran uses Syria to move weapons to Hezbollah. Israel has vowed not to let Hezbollah rearm. Iraqi militias, backed by Iran, are also key to Tehran’s strategy. They may move to Syria now to help the regime in the Aleppo battle. These militias include Kataib Hezbollah, Asaib Ahl al-Haq, Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba, and others. They have an influence in the middle of the Euphrates River Valley, which is called the MERV. On the eastern side of the MERV are US forces and the SDF. The SDF is the main group that controls eastern Syria and is backed by the US in the fight against ISIS.

The crisis in Aleppo could force the Syrian regime to strip defenses elsewhere in the country. This could help ISIS or could lead Iraqi militias to move into areas of Syria.

Those militias could end up threatening the Golan as well as US forces in Syria, as they have in the past. This is important and comes as incoming US President-elect Donald Trump is preparing to take office. Trump had sought to withdraw American forces from Syria in 2018 and 2019. This means many fronts are in play in the region.

What began on October 7 with the Hamas attack and Iran mobilizing militias for a seven-front war against Israel could backfire for Iran. However, Tehran is still trying to harm Israel, especially by moving weapons to the West Bank to help its proxies there. Israel thwarted one Iranian-backed smuggling attempt over the past week. This means that the Islamic Republic is still trying to set things aflame. However, Iran must now watch what is happening in Aleppo.
Attacks in Aleppo 'ostensibly good news for Israel,' JISS senior research fellow says
The Islamist attack on Aleppo is “ostensibly good news for Israel,” Daniel Rakov, a senior research fellow for the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security, said in a Saturday post to X/Twitter.

Rakov is known in the JISS for being an expert on Russian policy in the Middle East and is also a reserve lieutenant-colonel in the IDF. In his post on X, he said that “the fall of northern Syria to the rebels damages the infrastructure of the Iranians and Hezbollah there and will make it difficult for them to work to restore Hezbollah.”

Syrian President Bashar “Assad will be more defensive, and as he fights for the survival of his regime, ostensibly helping Iran and Hezbollah in Lebanon are of secondary interest,” Rakov said, implying that Israeli freedom of action in Syria will likely expand.

He also said that the attacks were “very embarrassing for Moscow,

the Russians were surprised by the rapid advance of the rebels from Idlib, and that the few military sources Russia has in the country will also serve its best interests, as opposed to assisting Iran and Hezbollah.”

Rakov said that Russian forces in Syria “have tried to make moves that they are used to making – attacking from the air, applying diplomatic pressure on the Turks to restrain the rebels, and spreading information that minimizes the incident and exaggerates...Assad's ability to deal with it."

The Russian policy expert also claims that Moscow is not addressing recent reports that Assad met with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Moscow to ask him for help, and then cites another report saying that glide bombs have been transferred to the Russian-operated Khmeimim Air Base in Syria.

The Israeli researcher also stated that Russian state media is largely ignoring the conflict in Aleppo while claiming that Russian commentators on global conflicts said that Moscow is not responsible for the defense failure of the Syrian city, saying that Russia had very few forces there and the incident was a huge failure for the Assad regime.

Rakov notes that Russian commentators have also said that Turkey is not responsible for Aleppo’s security failure either and that the security arrangements in northern Syria were based on agreements between Russia and Turkey but that the latter country had been distancing itself from the former.

Additionally, Ukraine, while fighting against Russia and its invasion of the country, reportedly sent aid to Syrian rebels in recent months, but it was difficult to determine how significant that aid was, he noted.
Seth Frantzman: Key factors to watch in Syria amid the rapid developments.
1. HTS advances: HTS is heading south toward Damascus along the road that links major cities such as Hama and Homs. If it continues on this route that is important. Others factors may try to divert its advance

HTS manpower: HTS has put in the field what appears to be a well trained force that waited for this for years. As it takes over swaths of Syria this could be strained

Russia’s moves: Russia has forces in Syria and could move more but it is focused on Ukraine. It may try to bring in Turkey and Iran as part of the Astana process

Southern Syria former rebels: these groups were defeated in 2018. They never were fully defeated though, they could rise up in Daraa

Iran: having seen Hezbollah losses the IRGC has less to send to Syria. Will Iran do more? It did a bit more for Iraq in 2014

Iraq and its Iranian-backed militias: Iraqi militias such as KH, AAH and Nujaba could intervene in Syria; Sistani would likely look with skepticism on this,

Hezbollah: after losing 4,000 men at the hands of Israel its wings are clipped.

Turkey: it could unleash the SNA to help HTS or use them to fight the SDF.

The SDF: they have made some gains but they must be careful not to get sucked into a fight with HTS or the SNA or be used by the regime

ISIS: ISIS may exploit this to begin attacks in Syria


Jewish student attacked in Dublin nightclub in suspected hate crime amid fears of rising anti-Semitism
A Jewish student suffered a concussion after he was attacked by three men in a Dublin nightclub in a suspected anti-Semitic assault.

The victim (23), who is from the United States and studying in Ireland, said he was asked: “Are you Jewish?”. He said he confirmed that he was and was then attacked and beaten by the men in the early hours of Saturday, November 9th.

Gardaí have confirmed they are investigating the attack and treating it as a potential “hate-related” crime.

The attack is part of what Jewish leaders say is a growing trend of abuse and violence directed towards Ireland’s small Jewish population.

Israeli ambassador to Ireland Dana Erlich condemned the incident and said there has been an “alarming increase” in anti-Israel discourse in Ireland that frequently “mutates” into anti-Semitism.

The alleged assault occurred as the victim was out with friends in Flannery’s Nightclub on Camden Street in Dublin city centre after watching the Ireland-New Zealand rugby match on Friday, November 8th.

The young man, who asked not to be named due to safety concerns, was wearing a necklace depicting the Star of David. He said at around 2am three men followed him into the bathroom and asked him if he was Jewish, and that when he said that he was they started to attack him.

“I took multiple punches to the back of the head and back of the torso,” he told The Irish Times.

He said during the attack his knee gave out, causing him to collapse on the ground.

“I stumbled out of the door and hit the ground,

Security intervened and stopped the attack, he said, before bringing him to another area of the bar. Gardaí turned up a few minutes later and began taking witness statements.

The young man said one witness told gardaí it was an unprovoked assault. He said that as gardaí were speaking to people, another person, who had not witnessed the incident, interrupted and said: “The Jews in Amsterdam – they got what they deserved.”


Maccabi Tel Aviv Plays Soccer Game in Empty Hungarian Stadium Amid Security Concerns After Amsterdam Violence
The Israeli soccer team Maccabi Tel Aviv played a UEFA Europa League match on Thursday against their Turkish rivals Besiktas in an empty stadium in Hungary, which was closed to supporters likely due to security concerns following the recent attack on Israeli soccer fans in Amsterdam.

Maccabi won the match 3-1 in the Nagyerdei Stadium in Debrecen, Hungary, during the fifth week of the UEFA Europa League. Gavriel Kanichowsky secured Israel’s lead in the 23rd minute with a goal, but Besiktas struck back in the 38th minute with a goal by Rafa Silva to tie the score. Maccabi Tel Aviv took the lead again right before halftime by scoring another goal in added time. The Israeli club finished 3-1 with Weslley Patati’s goal in the 81st minute.

Groups of police patrolled outside the venue and the game concluded with no incident, according to the Associated Press.

On Nov. 11, days after the attack against Maccabi Tel Aviv fans in Amsterdam, the European soccer body UEFA announced that this week’s match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Besiktas, which was originally scheduled to take place in Istanbul, would be moved to Hungary “following a decision by the Turkish authorities not to stage it in Turkey.” Hungary, which has hosted several home games for Israel’s national soccer team since the start of the Israel-Hamas war last year, agreed to host the match and UEFA said it “will be played behind closed doors following a decision of the local Hungarian authorities.”

Maccabi Tel Aviv coach Zarko Lazetic said after Thursday’s match that playing in front of an empty stadium was hard for the team. “We play football because of the fans, to give them some pleasure, some excite(ment) and to be together,” he explained, as reported by the AP.
Israeli Wheelchair Dancing Duo Wins First Place in European Championship, Dedicates Routine to Hamas Hostages
Israeli wheelchair dancer Tomer Margalit and her dance partner Orel Chalaf won first place at the Para Dance Sport European Championship held in Prague on Friday with a combination freestyle routine that was set to Eden Golan‘s Eurovision song “October Rain.”

The dancing duo also dedicated their routine to the hostages still held captive by Hamas terrorists since being abducted on Oct. 7, 2023, during their deadly rampage across southern Israel. The dancers performed parts of their routine while blindfolded and tried to resemble the victims of the Oct. 7 attack by wearing garments that were torn, dirty, or appeared to be blood-stained.

A Ness Ziona native, Margalit, 29, has been in a wheelchair since the age of 14 after suffering from the disease transverse myelitis. Chalaf, 21, is a professional Latin dancer, according to Ynet. The two dancers said that many of their competitors in the Para Dance Sport European Championship, as well as others involved in the competition, asked them to explain their dance, costumes and the significance of the song, according to the Israel Paralympic Committee. They welcomed the opportunity to draw awareness to the Oct. 7 Hamas massacre, including the remaining hostages. Margalit and Chalaf said they hope that by the next para dance world championship, the hostages will be back home and there will be no longer a need to call for their return.

“October Rain” has lyrics that directly reference the Oct. 7 Hamas-led terrorist attack in Israel. The song was initially written for Golan to perform at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest in Malmo, Sweden. However, it was rejected by the European Broadcasting Union, which organizes the contest, for being too political. Golan instead competed in the Eurovision with a reworded version of the song, titled “Hurricane,” and finished in fifth place in the international competition.

The 2024 Para Dance Sport European Championship took place from Nov. 22-24. Margalit shared in an Instagram post that she won first place a total of three times in the competition this year, including in solo dances.


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