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Wednesday, December 11, 2024

12/11 Links Pt2: Why the world reveres Jewish victims but condemns Jewish sovereignty; What Happened When Oxford Anti-Semites Were Exposed to Facts

From Ian:

Why the world reveres Jewish victims but condemns Jewish sovereignty
WE ARE NOT witnessing a new phenomenon but rather the latest iteration of an ancient social pathology. Antisemitism always thrives in emotional contradiction and irrationality. Jews were vilified as both capitalists and communists, as both powerless parasites and dangerous overlords. Now, they are both the ultimate victims of history and the ultimate perpetrators of modern injustice, at the same time.

To those who gladly consume these contradictions: Who still cannot connect the dots? Who fails to see the link between these centuries’ old tropes and the modern demonization of Israel?

It is not ignorance that fuels this hypocrisy. It is willful blindness. It is far easier to condemn the sins of the past than to confront the prejudices of the present. It is more convenient to mourn dead Jews than to stand up for living ones. And it is politically expedient to single out Israel for criticism while ignoring the atrocities of its neighbors.

The dots are there for anyone willing to see them. But as long as society continues to indulge in selective morality, as long as it tolerates antisemitism disguised as political critique, the cycle of hypocrisy and hatred will persist.

The question remains: Who still cannot connect the dots?
The Explosion of Jew-Hate in Canada
For Sarah Rugheimer, a professor of astronomy at York University in Toronto, the first sign of the virulent strain of antisemitism now embedded in Justin Trudeau’s Canada appeared on a lamppost.

It was a few weeks after the Hamas massacre of last October 7. Rugheimer, 41, was walking in a park near her home in the city’s quiet Cedarvale neighborhood when she saw a poster of the Israeli hostage Elad Katzir, a 47-year-old farmer from Kibbutz Nir Oz, covered with swastikas.

In the days that followed, as the war raged in Gaza, swastikas turned up all over Cedarvale. They also started appearing on the York campus, where Rugheimer serves as the Allan I. Carswell Chair for the Public Understanding of Astronomy. As fall turned to winter, a swastika showed up in the snow outside the campus building where she works.

An astrophysicist with a particular interest in the origins of life on Earth and the possibility of life on other planets, Rugheimer tended to confine her worldly concerns to scientific matters. So the swastikas came as a shock. But worse was to come.

She grew up in Montana, and her academic career took her around the world—from a PhD in astronomy and astrophysics at Harvard University to Scotland, England, and now Canada. But until taking up her post at York University two years ago, Rugheimer said she’d never encountered any overt antisemitism. Nor had she given much thought to her identity as a Zionist: Like the vast majority of Jews around the world, Rugenheimer believes in Israel’s right to exist.

Jew-hatred was a phenomenon of the fringes, she reckoned. “It wasn’t on my radar,” she told me. Now, it’s everywhere. “Every week there is a major incident in Canada, and multiple minor ones every day in my neighborhood.”

It was what was happening inside her university that disturbed her the most.

York’s student unions issued a declaration just after the attack calling the barbarism of October 7 a “justified and necessary” act of resistance against settler colonialism, genocide, and apartheid. The student groups found widespread support among York’s professors—some of whom Rugheimer considered friends.

A politics department faculty committee demanded the university enforce a definition of “anti-Palestinian racism” that encompassed any expression of sympathy for the right of Israelis to exist within their own state: “Zionism is a settler colonial project and ethno-religious ideology in service of a system of Western imperialism that upholds global white supremacy.”
The modern misnomer of the Palestinian refugee
Of all the blood libels that have been spun against the Jewish people for thousands of years, the invention of Palestinian refugees is the most sophisticated and dangerous, and one that could lead to the destruction of the Jewish state and a second Holocaust.

Even at a time when it seems the truth has little value, it’s worthwhile to check the facts. When did the illegal Arab immigrants—the “Palestinians”—invade the Land of Israel?

Journalist Samuel Clemens, best known by his pen name Mark Twain, toured the Land of Israel in 1869 and wrote about it for his readers. Among his reflections, published in the book Innocents Abroad, he wrote that when traveling from the Sea of Galilee to Mount Tabor, “We never saw a human being on the whole route.”

Of Jerusalem, he said, it is “mournful and dreary, and lifeless. I would not desire to live here.” Summing up his visit, Twain wrote that the land “is desolate and unlovely.”

Research carried out by professor and demographer Mustafa Abbasi of Tel-Hai College found that in 1890, before the British Mandate was implemented, Jerusalem had an absolute Jewish majority with 25,000 Jewish residents, 9,000 Muslims and 8,000 Christians.

After they took over, the British authorities carried out repeated population surveys. According to a report submitted in 1937 by the Royal Palestine Commission, better known as the “Lord Peel Commission,” in just six years under British control, the Arab population in Haifa (where I reside) increased by 86%. In Jaffa, the population increased by 62%, and in Jerusalem, it increased by 37%.

Where did these masses of illegal Arab immigrants come from?

In minutes from the Permanent Committee of the League of Nations in June 1935, we find a partial answer to the origin of the “Palestinians.” It records an interview with Tewfik Bey El-Huriani, the governor of Hauran, a region in southern Syria, who said that “in the last few months, from 30,000 to 36,000 Hauranese had entered Palestine and settled there.”

The committee emphasized that these Hauranese had “actually settled” and were not just visiting. Just to get a perspective, the number of Arabs who illegally immigrated to the Land of Israel from just one area in just a few months exceeded immeasurably the number of Jews who immigrated to Mandatory Palestine during an entire year.

That wasn’t the world’s first inclination that the Arab population was rapidly and illegally coming to British Mandatory Palestine.
Yisrael Medad: The new truth
For Marx, “practical Judaism” equals “huckstering and money,” and if Christians engage in such practices, they “become Jews.” Judaism seeks to achieve “universal dominance.” It alienates men. Jews become the ultimate enemy, and humankind needs to emancipate itself from this Judaism.

Whether or not one accepts Marx’s analysis, what is relevant for today’s crusade of anti-Zionism is that a Jewish state is a pariah. Israel becomes the arch-agent of colonialism—the replacement evil of capitalism—or the true root generator of capitalism. Marx was Jewish and white, yet his theorizing concepts have been adapted, remixed and weaponized to destroy the movement of Jewish nationality—Zionism—and its fulfillment: the State of Israel.

There is, however, one more ingredient in this neo-Marxist framework that drives the assault on Israel and Zionism and it is racism. Marx was class-focused, and therefore, the social and economic oppressions of today, based on gender and race, were left untreated. I am unsure what Marx would think about professed transgender theory or the harassing of Nancy Mace at her congressional offices, and yet, thanks to the tool of intersectionality and the atmosphere of wokeism, his structure has been enthusiastically welcomed by pro-Arab propagandists.

Mehdi Hasan, for example, published an op-ed in The Guardian titled, “Israel is a rogue nation,” demanding that it should be removed from the United Nations. Hasan, a Shi’ite Muslim educated at Christ Church, Oxford, knows very well the difference between a state and a nation. He sought to undermine not only Israel’s membership in the United Nations but to cast doubt on its Jewish nationality.

In the piece he wrote, “Israel only exists today because of a U.N. general assembly resolution.”

Israel, of course, exists because it has succeeded in defending itself. And if, to any degree, that 1947 resolution possesses relevance, since the so-called Palestine Arabs rejected it they shouldn’t exist at all. Logic, though, is never a propagandist’s strong point. Mixing and melding elements of Marxism and wokeism with an underlying layer of anti-Semitism has resulted in a campaign to negate Jewish identity and the right of Jews to maintain a state. In lecture halls, the streets, television studios, theaters and social-media platforms, the cauldron is stirred to produce a counter-message in a fog of filthy air in which fair is foul, and foul is fair.


Seth Mandel: A Potent Combination of Radicalization and Bad Faith
I try to avoid the “imagine this was a white supremacist” counterfactual, but what happened at George Mason University recently is too perfect a case study to pass up.

Here are the details as reported by the Washington Post. In apparent connection with a campus vandalism investigation, the president of George Mason University’s chapter of the extremist group Students for Justice in Palestine was barred from campus along with her sister, a past president of SJP. The student group has also been temporarily suspended. A day earlier, university and local police searched the students’ family home and found four unsecured guns, “more than 20 magazines with 30 bullets each,” terrorist-organization flags, and arm patches calling for the death of Jews and stating “kill them where they stand” in Arabic. The guns and ammunition are owned by the students’ brother and father.

Given the wider SJP network’s history of support for violence and anti-Semitic incitement, this sounds like a story about a volatile and possibly dangerous situation that the campus police are trying to prevent from ending in tragedy.

The Post, however, frames it in an entirely different manner, as do other media outlets supportive of the accused. To them, this is a story about racial profiling, speech suppression, and academic injustice. The Post story is built around the following lede:

“A coalition of organizations representing faculty, staff, students and other advocacy groups at George Mason University and beyond is alleging that university police acted inappropriately in banning two pro-Palestinian student activists from campus and searching their family’s home for reasons authorities have yet to describe publicly.”

The next sentence describes the letter signed by faculty and activist organizations alleging the girls were targeted “for their advocacy for Palestinian human rights.”

The credence given to that rather insane and obviously false spin is dispiriting, to say the least. But a moment of levity comes when we hear the suspects’ lawyer give his excuse for the seemingly murder-y arm bands: In the Post’s phrasing, these were “cherry-picked out of a collection of hundreds.”

You see, they had tons of arm bands that didn’t implore people to kill the Jews.
Seth Mandel: What Happened When Oxford Anti-Semites Were Exposed to Facts
The British journalist Jonathan Sacerdoti has done the public a tremendous favor by releasing the video of his remarks at the recent Oxford Union debate on Israel and genocide. Oxford also released the video, but there’s a minor difference: In the Oxford version, available on their official YouTube page, the sound is cut at key moments.

Therein lies a tale perhaps as illuminating as the debate itself.

The esteemed Oxford Union held one of its famous debates on whether Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. Arguing against the proposition were Sacerdoti, Israeli-Arab commentator Yoseph Haddad, the attorney Natasha Hausdorff, and the ex-Hamas figure Mosab Hassan Yousef. I’ll get to the opposing team in a moment.

By now, news reports have made clear that the debate descended into madness as Sacerdoti’s team couldn’t even get through their statements without obscene screeching from the audience, and at one point Haddad—the target of constant abuse throughout the event—was asked to leave the hall for defending the honor of the hostages held by Hamas.

The whole thing was so embarrassing for Oxford and the Jew-baiters in the crowd that Oxford simply cut the audio out of parts of the debate it posted online. So Sacerdoti posted the uncensored video.

The point here is not just the behavior of anti-Israel maniacs at the union or the fact that Sacerdoti, representative of the pro-Israel side of the public debate more broadly, showed grace and respect while standing his ground. It’s that the parts that drove the crowd to the brink of insanity were merely Sacerdoti’s reciting of statistics—i.e., facts. The mob’s contact with reality produced a chemical reaction that ought to be studied for decades to come.

About eight minutes in, Sacerdoti notes, in objection to the idea that Israel is purposely starving Gazans: “Israel has provided 700,000 tons of food to Gaza during this war. That is a daily average of 3,200 calories per person.”

To which a woman in the audience yelled: “You sick motherf***er!”

I don’t know if I’ve seen an exchange that so perfectly encapsulates the public debate over this Israel-Hamas war.
“Occupied By EXTREMISTS” Yoseph Haddad Recalls ‘SHOCKING’ Abuse At Oxford Union Debate On Israel
Julia Hartley-Brewer and Arab-Israeli journalist, ‪@-yosephhaddad9088‬, discuss the Oxford Union debate about whether Israel is an apartheid state responsible for genocide.

Yoseph recalls the ‘hostile’ environment speaking at the debate and the need for bodyguards due to threats.

"What we saw there is not freedom of speech at all. It was completely terror supporting,” he tells Julia.

Yoseph argues that Israel is non an apartheid state, citing his own experience of living in the country.




Visegrad24: Inside Palestine: Life Under Occupation.
We spent a day in Ramallah, the de facto capital of Palestine to explore life under occupation.

Despite its challenges, the city was vibrant. The shopping malls were more impressive than in most European countries, luxury cars were seen on the streets and there was a jewellery store on almost every corner.

Our guide, the former stone-thrower and prisoner Mustafa, shared his personal experiences and the Palestinian perspective on the conflict with Israel. In light of the war in Gaza, we asked the people on the streets whether they are ready for peace with Israel.

00:00 - Introduction
01:32 - Palestinians don't talk to media
03:23 - Checkpoints and stone-throwers
06:50 - The Border Wall
07:29 - Banksy and Palestine
08:17 - An open-air prison?
11:01 - Asking them if they want peace
12:36 - "Jews run America"
13:27 - Al Jazeera and conspiracy theories
14:49 - Qatar spreading Islamism




Rebottled Jew-Hate: The Boycott of Jewish Genius
"Since October 7 [2023], a sort of quiet boycott of Israeli researchers has begun, of the kind that has never been seen before. This boycott is reflected in the cancellation of invitations to joint conferences, the rejection of articles for publication, the rejection of grants to Israeli researchers, and more." — Israel's National Council for Civilian Research and Development, December 2023.

"Antisemitism was always premised on redefining Jewish existence as unnatural and artificial. Jews were being denounced as colonizers as far back as the days of Pharaoh.... The Jews, being Semites, do not belong in Europe. The Jews, being European, do not belong in Israel. The Jews, being Zionists, do not belong at progressive institutions like Harvard or Columbia. And the Jews, being occupiers, do not belong in London.... it's not about Israel [but] has everything to do with the Jews." — Daniel Greenfield, journalist, JNS, August 24 2024.

At this time of international turmoil, the world needs expertise and wisdom from the finest minds and great statesmen, including the Jewish ones. It is to the detriment of Western civilization and society, should this millennia-old generational excellence be denied to the West at this dark time of post-truth, post-morality and spreading barbarism, especially in the West.
Gerald Steinberg: Human Rights Day is now Jew-Hatred Day
In the United Nations and many western capitals, December 10 is celebrated as “Human Rights Day.” In reality, it should be repackaged as Antisemitism Day, reflecting the systematic weaponization of the original values and principles in order to demonize Israel and justify attacks on the Jewish people.

To understand the travesty, it is necessary to begin 76 years ago, on December 10, 1948, when the members of the United Nations solemnly adopted two important statements – the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. Both were written in the shadow of the Holocaust, ostensibly to ensure that the horrors of Nazi Germany and its allies would not be repeated.

Now, these idealistic texts and the institutions created to implement them have been captured by haters, and the language of human rights is routinely exploited for the most vicious antisemitism since the Holocaust. Real and horrible human rights abuses in Russia, China, Iran, Venezuela, Afghanistan, Africa and elsewhere are relegated to minor concerns, while armies of haters march through university campuses and the city streets attacking Jews, burning synagogues, and chanting slogans declaring Israelis as guilty of war crimes, genocide and apartheid.

The UN Human Rights Council, the international courts and their powerful allies among corrupt non-governmental organizations (NGOs), led by Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Amnesty International, are the leaders in promoting 21st century blood libels. These organizations invent evidence (lies) painting Israel’s entirely legitimate defense as “apartheid,” and self-defense as “genocide.” Israelis who were brutally slaughtered and kidnapped as hostages by Hamas are erased or receive token mentions used to claim “balance,” and quickly forgotten. University programs advertised under the headings of “human rights and international law” are often staffed by propagandists who promote this form of hate.

Looking back over the past 76 years, the causes of this travesty are clearly visible. Not surprisingly, antisemitism is central, beginning with the Soviet Union and the Arab League. In UN debates on human rights and racism during the 1960s, when the US and Israel condemned the USSR for oppressing its 3 million Jewish citizens, the Kremlin countered with attacks against Zionism. These forces produced the infamously antisemitic 1975 “Zionism is Racism“ Resolution 3379 in the General Assembly. And although the resolution was repealed in 1991, the accompanying UN committees and funding mechanisms for demonizing Israel and any form of Jewish self-determination remain.
On the Anniversary of the United Nations’ Declaration of Human Rights, Attacks on Jews Are Increasingly Ignored
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the United Nations’ General Assembly following World War II and the Holocaust, was meant to eternalize the solemn vow “Never Again.” It was intended to create a world where all people, regardless of their background, would be protected from atrocities like those the Nazis committed against Jews and other minorities.

Yet today, December 10, the day when the international community celebrates the Declaration, there is one group whose rights are being systematically violated but excluded from consideration by the human rights community.

I refer, of course, to antisemitism. Despite the rising tide of hatred and violence against Jews since the October 7 massacre, antisemitism is still not treated as a major human rights concern by many.

From the October shooting of a Jewish man on his way to a synagogue in Chicago to the stabbing of a rabbi with a wooden stake in Maryland, antisemitic violence has become a frightening reality at unprecedented levels for Jewish communities across America. Some 61 percent of American Jews have experienced some form of antisemitism in the past year.

Globally, the threat is equally dire. In Europe, an antisemitic mob attacked Israeli soccer fans at Amsterdam. In Ireland, a Jewish student was beaten up in a bar; his crime — being Jewish. At Melbourne, a synagogue was set on fire in a chilling arson attack. In Abu Dhabi, Rabbi Zvi Kogan was kidnapped and murdered.

This last example illustrates the horrifying state of affairs within the international human rights community. While officials from the United Arab Emirates, Israel, and America condemned this heinous crime, leading human rights organizations like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International remained silent.

The reality is that for the past 30 years, these groups erased antisemitism, and their inaction on the issue has become blatantly obvious since the Hamas-led October 7 assault against Israel. Major human rights organizations, including international NGOs and UN agencies, barely acknowledged the murder, rape, and kidnapping of Israelis — and then only belatedly.
What the UN ignores on Francesca Albanese
During a press conference at Parliament Hill in the Canadian capital of Ottawa on Nov. 5, Francesca Albanese—the U.N. special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories—once again accused Israel of the usual. That means genocide in Gaza, apartheid, atrocities, tortures, occupation, mass arrests and even the execution of Palestinian children.

After citing the view of one of the founders of the Italian Communist Party—Antonio Gramsci—regarding the role of financial power in cultural hegemony, she accused the pro-Israel lobbies, quoted as being “very vocal, virulent and aggressive,” of pressuring governments to boycott her.

One of the journalists attending the press conference asked her for clarification. Did she really think that meetings and events were canceled because of pressure from pro-Israel groups?

Albanese replied that she could not tell what the causes behind the withdrawal of the invitations and meetings were and added, “I only know, I mean, I base myself on facts. It happened after pro-Israel groups and pro-Israel individuals started to accuse me of the usual, and I won’t repeat the accusations because they are extremely defamatory … .”

She then accused Israel of taking “the land of historical Palestine as it has been doing ever since, even before its existence.”

When asked by one of the reporters if she believed in the right of Israel to exist, Albanese dodged the question, saying: “Israel does exist, Israel is a recognized member of the U.N. Besides this, there is no such thing in international law as the right of a state to exist … It’s not up to us.”

Albanese provided a colorful example, saying that “Italy exists, but if tomorrow Italy and France merged and formed ‘Itafrance,’ fine.” She then brought the issue back to “the right of the Palestinians to exist.”

It is worth recalling that on Oct. 14, Albanese found herself at the center of a media storm after a series of aggressive anti-Israel posts published in the previous days on her social-media accounts, comparing Israel to Nazi Germany. It sparked immediate outrage from several Jewish organizations, including the World Jewish Congress, which called for her immediate dismissal from the United Nations.

Appointed in May 2022 as the special rapporteur, Albanese has used antisemitic stereotypes and legitimized support for terrorism in her criticism of Israel. In addition to regularly portraying Israelis as Nazis and reiterating that “Hamas has the right to resist,” since the terror group’s assault in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, she has systematically downplayed the atrocities committed by Palestinian terrorists by denying that the attack on Jews was a pogrom believing rather that it was a consequence of Israel’s aggressions.
MEMRI: UNRWA Commissioner-General, Qatari Education Minister Visit Palestinian Authority School In Doha Where Maps Show Palestine From River To Sea
On December 9, 2024 Philippe Lazzarini, the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), and Qatari Minister of Education Lolwah Al-Khater visited a school in Doha operated by the Palestinian Authority (PA) and built with Qatari funding.[1] Pictures of their tour posted in the Qatari press and on social media show that the classrooms are hung with maps showing Palestine stretching from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea, which disregard Israel’s existence.

It should be noted that maps of Palestine from the river to the sea are commonly used in various Qatari education frameworks, including in activities held in kindergartens, schools and universities.[2] They are also frequently used in PA educational frameworks, including in UNRWA schools.[3] Former Palestinian prime minister Muhammad Shtayeh said in January 2024 that "throughout its years of activity, UNRWA has been a source of hope for the Palestinian refugees – [hope] for aid and for returning to their homes [inside Israel]."[4]

It should also be noted that, since the beginning of the war in Gaza, there have been indications that UNRWA employees were members of Palestinian terrorist organizations and were even involved in Hamas’ October 7 attack, and that the agency has helped Hamas to seize humanitarian aid distributed in the Gaza Strip during the war. [5] Lazzarini himself met in May 2024, during a visit to Lebanon, with representatives of the Alliance of Palestinian Forces, which includes Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad and other Palestinian organizations.[6]

It is noteworthy that, in an April 2024 report, the European Parliament condemned the “problematic and hateful contents encouraging violence, spreading antisemitism and inciting hatred in Palestinian school textbooks... as well as in supplementary educational materials developed by UNRWA.” The report warned that “education to hatred [has] direct and dramatic consequences on the security of Israelis as well as on the perspectives of a better future for young Palestinians,” and called on the Palestinian Authority to modify its school curricula.[7]
GOP House reps urge defunding of UNRWA for fiscal year 2025
Republican members of the U.S. House of Representatives are demanding the prohibition of funding for the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in any upcoming fiscal year 2025 appropriations bill.

Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-Texas), along with eight other Republican representatives, sent a letter on Monday urging an end to UNRWA funding to Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-La.), Minority House Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).

“UNRWA, which had numerous employees participate in the horrific Oct. 7 attack on Israel, is more interested in fueling terror and supporting Hamas than it is in helping innocent civilians,” Jackson said. “The United States cannot be subsidizing an entity that unapologetically supports terrorist organizations like Hamas and works to destroy Israel.”

The representatives’ letter cited a report from The Times of Israel that showed Israel provided the United Nations and UNRWA with a list of more than 100 employees with ties to Hamas and other terror groups, insisting on their immediate firing. The letter stated that the “agency has failed to take any meaningful action.”

“The United Nations has an extensive history of systematically isolating and attacking the State of Israel,” the letter stated. “And UNRWA is deliberately working against Israel by refusing to share the identities of its employees and by employing terrorists and their affiliates.”

Co-signers of the letter included Reps. Randy Weber (R-Texas), Warren Davidson (R-Ohio), Keith Self (R-Texas), Diana Harshbarger (R-Tenn.), Tom Tiffany (R-Wis.), Dan Meuser (R-Pa.), Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) and Tom Kean Jr. (R-N.J.).

“Our greatest ally in the Middle East took action against UNRWA, and the United States must stand with Israel at this decisive moment by taking similar action,” Jackson said. “America must lead with principle and strength.”
The Israel Guys: Israel Just Found SHOCKING Evidence of the UN’s Involvement in October 7th
4 rockets were fired from Gaza into Israel this morning, thankfully two were intercepted by the Iron Dome and the other two fell into open areas causing no damage. The charity organization ‘World Central Kitchen’ just fired 62 of their workers accused of being affiliated with terrorists. The New York Times just published a report exposing just how terrible UNRWA actually is and ‘Amnesty International’ just took their Jew-hatred to the next level. Justin discusses all of this on today’s show.


FM Sa'ar congratulates Switzerland for designating Hamas as terror
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar congratulated Switzerland for independently designating Hamas as a terrorist organization through primary legislation in a post on X/Twitter on Wednesday.

"Switzerland has independently designated Hamas as a terrorist organization through primary legislation with overwhelming support. I commend Switzerland for this critical step and urge other nations to follow suit. Hamas is one of the most heinous terror organizations in history—it must be recognized as such worldwide," Sa'ar posted.

Swiss media reported that movements to ban Hamas as a terror organization began in 2017 when the Swiss parliament initially called for their ban. The Federal Council halted this action by claiming that Switzerland was "using its contacts with Hamas in Gaza to urge them to comply with international humanitarian law.”

Parliament members pushed for a Hamas ban, Swiss media reported Wednesday, noting that they practiced neutrality and had only adopted existing UN bans for sanctioning terrorist organizations, as per local law.

Still, Hamas has not officially been designated on the UN's terror list, leading the central European country to create new legislation to allow for this designation. Though Al Qaeda and the Islamic State were banned, Hamas would need alternative action.

Swiss diplomats raised concerns on how the ban could rely on political pressure from partner states.


Belfast MP claims Israel is guilty of ‘genocide’ at PMQs
A Northern Irish MP compared Israel to Vladimir Putin’s Russia and said it was guilty of “genocide” in Gaza.

At Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) on Wednesday, leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) Claire Hanna told MPs that relatives of her constituents in Belfast South and Mid Down had been killed by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza.

Hanna told the Commons: “None of us in this chamber can end their nightmare, but we can do more. And this government have rightly used every tool at their disposal: sanctions on arms and trade and officials against Putin's Russia.

“When will Israel be held to the same standards for genocide?”, she asked.

The SDLP leader urged the government to “confirm further sanctions, recognise the state of Palestine and offer some hope to beleaguered Gazans”.

Starmer responded by saying that he was “sorry to hear the dreadful loss of the families of her constituents” and that there had been “far too many examples like that.”

He went on to welcome the ceasefire agreement reached between Israel and Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah, adding: “We desperately need that now in Gaza” as it would “provide a space for the hostages to be allowed out”, noting they had been held in Hamas captivity “there for a very, very long time”.


The interplay between Articles 27 and 98 of the Rome Statute: A familiar friend makes a new appearance in the arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant
The issuance of the arrest warrants against Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant by the Pre-Trial Chamber (“PTC”) of the International Criminal Court (“ICC”) on 21 November 2024 has again given rise to a situation where the applicability and functionality of Articles 27(2) and 98(1) of the Rome Statute demands renewed scrutiny. As this is not a new phenomenon, it is prudent to begin this piece by briefly explaining the inconsistency between the provisions and how the ICC has dealt with that inconsistency thus far, before turning to the implications on States’ obligations pursuant to the recently issued arrest warrants.

The tension between Articles 27(2) and 98(1) of the Rome Statute
Article 27(2) of the Rome Statute provides that international immunities, such as those enjoyed by sitting senior officials of a State, cannot shield such officials from prosecution by the ICC. This provision addresses the position of state officials vis-à-vis the ICC. Article 98(1), conversely, provides that the ICC is prevented from requesting States Parties to arrest and/or surrender foreign state officials who enjoy immunity in their territory, unless the state in question has waived that immunity. This provision addresses the position of state officials vis-à-vis other States.

Initially, the tension, or perceived inconsistency, between these two provisions was interpreted with reference to the differing obligations that exist for parties to the Rome Statute when dealing with officials of other parties, as compared to non-party states. States who had voluntarily signed up to the Rome Statute had agreed, through Article 27(2), to waive the immunities otherwise enjoyed by their senior officials, in relation to conduct falling within the Court’s jurisdiction. Hence, where an arrest warrant was issued for a senior official of a state party, that state would have an obligation to arrest and surrender that official to the ICC and all other party states would have an obligation to do the same in their territory. Article 98(1), on the other hand, would apply in relation to officials from non-party States. It aimed to ensure that party-states would avoid situations where, by virtue of their membership of the ICC, they would need to violate their obligations under customary international law to respect the immunity of foreign state officials of countries who were not parties and had not waived their immunities.

This was emphasized by Dapo Akande in the ultimate paragraph of his 2004 article on the topic:
“It must equally be emphasized that that it is only parties to the ICC Statute that have waived the international law immunities (ratione personae) of their senior officials. Although the ICC may exercise jurisdiction over nationals and officials of nonparties, nothing in the Statute can affect the immunities that the officials of nonparties would otherwise enjoy. Accordingly, Article 98 of the Statute represents an instruction to the Court and to ICC parties not to interfere with those officials of nonparties who ordinarily possess immunity in international law.”

Akande asserted that even issuing an arrest warrant against an individual entitled to immunities would be a violation of such immunities and thus of customary international law, following from the International Court of Justice’s finding in the Arrest Warrant case (paras. 70-71).
Ireland to ask ICJ to expand genocide definition in S. Africa case against Israel
Ireland's Tanaiste and Foreign Affairs Minister Michael Martin received government approval for Ireland to intervene in South Africa's case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) under the Genocide Convention, Ireland's Foreign Affairs Department announced on Wednesday.

"By legally intervening in South Africa’s case, Ireland will be asking the ICJ to broaden its interpretation of what constitutes the commission of genocide by a State," the department said in a statement.

"We are concerned that a very narrow interpretation of what constitutes genocide leads to a culture of impunity in which the protection of civilians is minimized."

"There has been a collective punishment of the Palestinian people through the intent and impact of military actions of Israel in Gaza, leaving 44,000 dead and millions of civilians displaced," the statement read, citing an unconfirmed death toll provided by the Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry.

"Ireland’s view of the convention is broader and prioritizes the protection of civilian life," the statement continued, "Intervening in both cases demonstrates the consistency of Ireland’s approach to the interpretation and application of the Genocide Convention.”


Israel-bashing: Where logic does not apply
Do you remember when universities were institutions that taught us how to think critically rather than telling us what to think and when journalism schools emphasized ethics and the importance of truth-seeking? If those days ever existed, they seem long gone, particularly regarding coverage of the Middle East.

Amnesty International is mistaken for a human-rights organization when it is nothing more than a media whore engaged in National Enquirer-like sensationalism. It has mastered the art of generating headlines and stirring outrage with incendiary claims about Israel. These allegations aren’t about truth but about grabbing attention and securing donations to perpetuate and justify its existence. Amnesty can count on the media to uncritically parrot whatever conclusions it publishes, no matter how baseless.

The latest example of its deceit is the group’s accusation that Israel is engaged in “genocide,” which predictably provoked unthinking outrage by students, faculty and reporters. The report recycles an absurd charge that was leveled against Israel long before Oct. 7, 2023, and regurgitates it with an equal lack of evidence.

“Genocide” refers to the intentional destruction of a national, ethnic, racial or religious group. If Israel were committed to genocide, there would be no Palestinians left—yet we see the Palestinian population has grown significantly over the years, and there is no indication of a systematic effort to exterminate them.

Let’s look at the numbers.

In 1949, Israel’s Muslim population, which is almost entirely Palestinian, was around 112,000, making up less than 10% of the population. Today, that figure stands at 2.1 million, or more than 21% of the population.

What about the data for the disputed territories?

The accuracy of the population statistics is debated, but for the sake of argument, let’s use data from the United Nations. It indicates the Palestinian population has grown from less than 1.2 million in 1968 to nearly 5.5 million in 2024—an almost 400% increase. How does this align with the claim of genocide?

So much for the pre-Oct. 7 allegations. What about Amnesty’s assertion that Israel is now intent on the destruction of the Palestinian people? You can ignore the rhetoric in the report’s 296 pages and do some basic math.

Like the media, Amnesty International relies on the casualty statistics fabricated by the Hamas-run health ministry. We know with 100% certainty that these figures are bogus because they do not distinguish between civilians and terrorists. The agency admitted that it could not determine how many casualties were “fighters” (according to Amnesty, people who massacre Jews cannot be called terrorists).
Amnesty Australia grants ‘human rights’ award to Palestinian terrorists
Amnesty Australia awarded its Human Rights Defender Award on Wednesday to three self-proclaimed “journalists” from the Gaza Strip, two of whom are members of recognized terror groups proscribed by Canberra.

Anas Al-Sharif, Bisan Owda and Plestia Alaqad were honored alongside “all the journalists in Gaza” for their “extraordinary resilience, bravery and courage,” Amnesty Australia said in a statement on social media.

In October, the Israel Defense Forces identified an Al Jazeera reporter by the name of Anas Al-Sharif as a Hamas terrorist operative. According to the military, al-Sharif was the head of a rocket-launching squad and a member of the Nukhba Force, which led the Hamas terrorist attacks in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

During the attacks, in which 1,200 people were murdered, he wrote on his Telegram account, “Nine hours and the heroes are still roaming the country, killing and capturing. Allah, how great you are.”

Al-Sharif has been pictured with Mahmoud al-Zahar, a founder of the Hamas terrorist organization; Yahya Sinwar, the mastermind behind the Oct. 7 assault, who was eliminated by the Israel Defense Forces in October; and senior “political” official Fathi Hammad, who in 2021 urged Arabs to “cut off the heads of the Jews.”

Spreading misinformation and propaganda

Bisan Owda, described by Amnesty as a “Palestinian journalist, activist and filmmaker,” is reportedly an active member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, which participated in the Oct. 7 atrocities, and which Australia designated a terror group some two decades ago.

In 2015 and 2016, Owda is said to have led celebrations in the Strip for the group’s founding anniversary, appearing in full PFLP military garb.

In the aftermath of Oct. 7, Owda reportedly wrote on her social-media accounts, “For every action, there is a reaction. This means: What was expected after 75 years of occupation and 17 years of siege?”

Alaqad, an “aspiring journalist” who has been featured in various outlets since Oct. 7, including The Washington Post and The Guardian, has been known to spread pro-Hamas propaganda and anti-Israel libels.


Anti-Semitism, DEI, and Skyrocketing Costs: The Challenges Facing Incoming Education Secretary Linda McMahon
Over the past four years, colleges and universities have violated the civil rights of Jewish students. Transgender ideology has proliferated, threatening women's sports. And diversity, equity, and inclusion have increasingly trumped merit in the hiring and accreditation processes.

President-elect Donald Trump's pick to lead the Department of Education, Linda McMahon, will be tasked with addressing those problems and more. A litany of education experts spoke with the Washington Free Beacon to discuss how.

"The bottom line is that the next secretary of education will inherit a role that'll feel a lot like cleaning up a bankrupt, dysfunctional Fortune 500 company," said Frederick Hess, the director of education policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute.

Lawmakers and policy experts who spoke to the Free Beacon outlined the key challenges.

Combating Campus Anti-Semitism
The response of university administrators to anti-Semitic protests and encampments has left Jewish students vulnerable. Such protests exploded on college campuses in the wake of Hamas's Oct. 7 terror attack on Israel. At many elite schools, however, student participants faced either no discipline or minimal discipline, according to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

It was mostly lawmakers on that committee, rather than the Department of Education, who held elite university leaders like Harvard University’s Claudine Gay to account. Outgoing education secretary Miguel Cardona "did little to nothing to counter the disgusting anti-Semitic behavior that was fueling across U.S. campuses," said Parents Defending Education senior adviser Michelle Exner.

McMahon can reverse that posture. For one, she could take a more aggressive stance toward the department's civil rights investigations into schools accused of discriminating against Jewish students. While the Biden-Harris administration has 92 active investigations, several have been open for years with no resolution. Those that were resolved resulted in insignificant changes like employee training and anti-discrimination statements.

A more assertive approach would allow the Education Secretary to withhold federal funding and student loan access from schools that fail to protect Jewish students. The University of California, Los Angeles, for example, argued that it had no responsibility to protect Jewish students and their religious liberty after anti-Semitic protesters blocked them from accessing portions of campus. When a federal judge admonished the school and ordered its leaders to maintain equal campus access for all students, UCLA appealed the ruling before backing down.

McMahon can also push schools to adopt clear, enforceable codes that outline strict penalties for encampments and other campus disruptions, said American Council of Trustees and Alumni president Michael Poliakoff.
Gov. Youngkin says Students for Justice in Palestine poses ‘a clear and present threat to Jewish students and the Jewish community in Virginia’
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin warned that the campus group Students for Justice in Palestine “pose[s] a clear and present threat to Jewish students and the Jewish community in Virginia,” in a statement to Jewish Insider on Tuesday.

The comment from Youngkin, a Republican, follows a police search into the family home of George Mason University SJP leaders, where officers found firearms, scores of ammunition and pro-terror materials, including Hamas and Hezbollah flags and signs that read “death to America” and “death to Jews.”

Youngkin’s comment contrasted with prominent Democrats in the state, who have either remained silent or had muted reactions.

“These blatant and dangerous antisemitic acts pose a clear and present threat to Jewish students and the Jewish community in Virginia,” Youngkin told JI. The governor expressed “grave concerns about the role of organizations like Students for Justice in Palestine on our campuses,” and said he is “grateful for the thorough action by GMU campus police, and for the recent anti-semitism training for law enforcement across the Commonwealth which is critically important for protecting not only Jewish students but also all Virginians.”

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) told JI that the situation is “a matter for local law enforcement and George Mason University.”

“The incident is very concerning and raises a lot of questions about the search, particularly the discovery of weapons and whether they posed a danger to students and the community,” Kaine said. “I have confidence that the police will get to the bottom of the situation and I will continue to monitor for more developments.”

A spokesperson for Kaine did not respond to a follow-up question from JI about whether he agrees with Youngkin that SJP poses a threat to Jews in Virginia.
NYU, Columbia, UCLA, Georgetown, CUNY among worst anti-Zionists in AMCHA faculty barometer
New York University, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Columbia University and Barnard College, University of California (Santa Cruz), University of Washington, Georgetown University, University of California (UCLA), the Graduate School and University Center of the City University of New York, University of California (Irvine) and the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

In descending order, those 10 schools top the AMCHA Initiative’s new anti-Zionist faculty “barometer” of 725 schools, which the nonprofit released on Wednesday.

The nonprofit evaluated the worst offenders—of which NYU proved the most anti-Zionist—based on four factors: the number of professors who have publicly supported boycotting Israel, the presence of departments that have made anti-Israel statements, Faculty for Justice in Palestine groups on campus, and the number of events and statements from the school’s chapter of the anti-Israel faculty group.

Tammi Rossman-Benjamin, co-founder and director of AMCHA, told JNS that there were some surprises in the nonprofit findings and a lot that was to be expected.

“Skimming through the worst offenders, you will see many of them made recent headlines for antisemitic activity,” she said. “This aligns with our research—spanning more than a decade—which has consistently shown a strong correlation between the presence of anti-Zionist faculty and the incidence of behavior targeting Jewish students for harm, as well as demonstrated that anti-Zionist faculty are likely to inject their anti-Israel advocacy and activism into their classrooms, conference halls and departmental statements, helping to foment antisemitism.”

The nonprofit’s most recent study “demonstrated that over and above the contribution of individual anti-Zionist faculty to campus antisemitism, faculty members’ association with each other as part of the anti-Zionist group Faculty for Justice in Palestine has played a pivotal role in the surge of violent antisemitism gripping U.S. campuses since the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023,” Rossman-Benjamin told JNS.
Swarthmore College faces Title VI investigation following CAIR complaint
The U.S. Department of Education opened a Title VI investigation on Dec. 3 into complaints of anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian bias at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania.

The case includes complaints of denial of benefits, retaliation and national origin discrimination involving religion.

CAIR-Philadelphia and the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee announced on Oct. 29 the filing of a 32-page Title VI complaint against the school, alleging both anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian bigotry.

“It is sad that an institution with Swarthmore College’s caliber would repeatedly fail its community members and foster an unsafe environment,” CAIR-Philadelphia legal director Adam Alaa Attia said. “We hope this complaint serves as a solid reminder that Swarthmore’s own students and faculty are dedicated to help it overcome its anti-Muslim, anti-Palestinian bias.”

JNS contacted Swarthmore regarding the investigation but did not receive a response.

Swarthmore’s student population is about 7% Jewish, according to the Anti-Defamation League. A previous Title VI investigation began at the school in March over the college’s minimal response to increased antisemitic activity on campus following the Hamas-led terror attacks in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
Cambridge academic bragged about relishing Hamas attacks
A Cambridge University professor bragged to colleagues that he relished watching videos of Hamas terrorists killing Israeli soldiers.

The conversation was reported to this newspaper by a Jewish academic at the same college, who said he had removed outward signs of his identity over fears that his family would be in danger.

It comes as the JC reveals widespread antisemitism at Oxbridge, with Jewish students reporting being spat at and targeted with swastika graffiti while others have described feeling “muzzled” in seminars and afraid to voice their views.

The Jewish academic, who wished to remain anonymous, removed his mezuzah from their door after October 7 because of the possibility it could lead to the “endangering” of his “family and children”.

Shortly after October 7, he said, he was in college with fellow academics when he heard one professor remark that he had been relishing videos of Hamas attacking Israeli soldiers.

“He said the clips ‘gave him reassurance about the world’,” the Jewish academic recalled. “Whenever he felt down about the conflict, he went and watched videos of Israeli soldiers being wounded. I was repulsed that he could derive any type of gratification from human suffering.”

The academic, who lost a family member in the October 7 massacres, said there was “atmosphere of extremism that has come to surround this issue” at Cambridge, adding: “The voice of moderation, of civility, of co-existence between Israelis and Palestinians has been lost.

“In the most conspicuous of places, faculty members on social media will consistently lend credence to the view – it’s a view reiterated consistently – that Israel is a genocidal state, a pariah, indistinguishable from the Nazi regime”.


Socialist University of Pennsylvania prof apologizes for praising CEO-killer suspect, school condemns her post
A University of Pennsylvania professor who recently praised Luigi Mangione, the prime suspect accused of assassinating UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, has apologized for her statements, as did the university itself.

In an X statement posted on Tuesday that was shared with Campus Reform by a University of Pennsylvania spokesperson, Professor Julia Alekseyeva wrote: “Late last night I posted a TikTok, as well as several stories on my Instagram. These were completely insensitive and inappropriate, and I retract them wholly. I do not condone violence and I am genuinely regretful of any harm the posts have caused.”

On Monday, Alekseyeva made several social media posts lionizing Mangione, calling him “[t]he icon we all need and deserve” and apparently taking pride in the fact that Mangione graduated from the University of Pennsylvania.

The University of Pennsylvania spokesperson also told Campus Reform: “Much concern was raised by recent social media posts attributed to Assistant Professor Julia Alekseyeva. Her comments regarding the shooting of Brian Thompson in New York City were antithetical to the values of both the School of Arts and Sciences and the University of Pennsylvania, and they were not condoned by the School or the University.”

“Upon reflection, Assistant Professor Alekseyeva has concurred that the comments were insensitive and inappropriate and has retracted them. We welcome this correction and regret any dismay or concern this may have caused,” the spokesperson continued.

The story of Alekseyeva’s comments was reported on Tuesday by the X account Libs of TikTok, which later wrote that the professor’s TikTok profile has apparently been closed.


THE WASHINGTON POST HELPS HAMAS, AGAIN
Hamas is on the ropes. Israel is winning its war against the U.S.-designated terrorist organization. But the Washington Post is here to lend a helping hand to the Gaza-based group.

As CAMERA has documented, the Post’s coverage of the war has been flawed from the start. The newspaper has uncritically regurgitated Hamas-supplied casualty claims, minimized Iran’s culpability, and outright lied about Hamas’s well-documented tactic of using human shields. Time and again, Post columnists and reporters have portrayed Israel as uniquely evil, placing the onus for the war and its consequences on the Jewish state, and not on the Iranian-backed terror groups that started the conflict. To do so, they’ve ignored both key facts and important context.

If unintentionally, the Post, among other Western news outlets, has been aiding Hamas in its war against Israel. Indeed, the newspaper’s coverage of aid to Gaza has been replete with errors and omissions.

Take, for example, a November 18, 2024 report (“Gangs looting Gaza aid operate in areas under Israeli control”). This dispatch, by Loveday Morris, Claire Parker, Miriam Berger, Hazem Balousha, and Hajar Harb, featured five bylines and ample distortion.

Indeed, Harb’s byline is particularly problematic.

As CAMERA’s Arabic department revealed in an April 1, 2024 expose (“Washington Post Contributor Celebrates October 7 Massacre”), Harb cheered the Hamas-led invasion of Israel on October 7, 2023. On her social media posts, Harb called the largest slaughter of Jewish civilians since the Holocaust “beautiful.” Harb mocked the kidnapping of Yafa Adar, an eighty-five-year-old Israeli grandmother. Harb responded to footage of Adar being kidnapped by writing “See this place ma’am? Allah willing, you’ll remain inside with us for a while.” On Harb’s Facebook profile she lampooned Shiri Bibas, an Israeli mother who was kidnapped and brought into Gaza along with her two children, Ariel and Kfir. It is hard to imagine how terrified Shiri Bibas must have felt to be kidnapped with her two young children by a genocidal terrorist group. Any decent person would feel sympathy and revulsion at her plight. Harb had only mockery, writing “[this is] your home and your spot, you and your children.”
THE WASHINGTON POST GIVES AMNESTY AN ASSIST
As CAMERA readers know, last week Amnesty International published yet another biased anti-Israel screed. The Washington Post covered the report under the headline, “Amnesty says Israel committing acts of genocide in Gaza. Here’s what to know.” (December 4, 2024, by Louisa Loveluck and Missy Ryan.)

The Post story is replete with significant omissions, and the arrogant and presumptuous headline only serves to make these omissions even more egregious.

To start, take Paul O’Brien, the executive director of Amnesty International USA. The Post quotes him extensively:

Amnesty concluded that Israel’s stated strategy does not preclude acts of genocide.

Such acts “can be the means through which a military strategy is accomplished,” said Paul O’Brien, executive director of Amnesty International USA. “What the law requires is that we prove that there is sufficient evidence that there is [genocidal] intent, amongst all the other complex intents that are going to exist in warfare.”

O’Brien said the group’s finding, the first of its kind by a major rights organization, should compel policymakers to rethink their support for Israel.

The group is calling on the United States, Israel’s main financial and diplomatic backer, to halt arms sales. “It’s important because the genocide is ongoing and will continue unless steps are taken to stop what’s happening on the ground,” O’Brien said. But before this war even started, in 2022, this same Paul O’Brien has said that his organization doesn’t support the existence of Israel as a Jewish state, and he even had to apologize for claiming that American Jews don’t think that Israel needs to exist. Those comments should have disqualified him from working or opining on this issue. But for some reason, to the Post, that doesn’t qualify as “what to know,” and isn’t necessary to evaluate his claims.

Indeed, any information that would indicate Amnesty’s bias is missing from this article, including the fact that Amnesty’s own staff members in Israel rejected the report’s conclusion. One staffer told Haaretz (as quoted in Times of Israel), “from the outset, the report was referred to in international correspondence as the ‘genocide report,’ even when the research was still in its initial stages.” As that staffer indicated, this strongly suggests that the report’s conclusion was pre-determined.

The Post doesn’t tell its readers that Amnesty refers to Israel’s defensive war as an “offensive,” or that Hamas has promised that, if given the chance, it will repeat the October 7 attack. Instead, the Post tells readers, “Israel’s government says it is fighting a war of self-defense following the Hamas-led attacks on Oct. 7, when militants killed some 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and dragged another 250 hostages back to Gaza.” Israel’s government “says”? This is not a mere claim. It’s uncontestable that Israel was attacked on October 7, 2023. Israel is fighting a war of self-defense. This is historical revisionism happening in real time. Amnesty clearly wants people to forget who started this war – and, it would seem, the Post is happy to assist.


Israeli security officials fear PA collapse following Assad’s downfall
Israel’s defense establishment is monitoring the security situation across Judea and Samaria, fearing a domino effect that could lead to the collapse of the Palestinian Authority following the ouster of President Bashar Assad of Syria, Army Radio reported on Wednesday.

“We are closely and vigilantly monitoring what is happening. We fear unrest, rapid deterioration and a contagion effect like we saw in Syria,” unnamed security sources told the Israel Defense Forces radio station.

According to Army Radio’s sources, the P.A.’s collapse might cause “a wave of terrorism and a complete loss of stability in the area.”

Attention should be paid to the past week’s armed clashes between P.A. security forces and Iranian-backed terrorist groups in Samaria, including in Jenin, Tulkarem and Nablus, according to the security establishment.

Army Radio also noted increased efforts by the Islamic Republic to set the area on fire, noting Iran has set its eyes on Judea and Samaria after IDF offensives weakened its terrorist proxies in Gaza and Lebanon.

Meanwhile, Hamas in recent days called on Palestinians to take to the streets and demonstrate against the P.A.’s alleged crackdown on terrorism, with Jenin residents heeding the protest call, the report noted.

In a statement this week, the terrorist group condemned “the continued actions of the security services of the P.A. in pursuing resistance fighters and those wanted by the occupation, as well as the ongoing targeting of them in all governorates of the West Bank, especially in Jenin.”
PMW: Israeli hostages are treated “very well”; Israeli prisons are worse than “Nazi detention/prison camps” – Palestinian Authority TV The PA’s despicable dual narrative
The Palestinian Authority continues its odious campaign to demonize Israel and whitewash Palestinian atrocities. PA TV trumpets libels of Israel that are echoed by organizations such as Amnesty International while casting Israel as a Nazi-like regime. This despicable distortion abuses the memory of the Holocaust in order to vilify Israel on the global stage.

The lie that Hamas is "treating [hostages] very well" flies in the face of the reality of Hamas torturing and murdering hostages. It also completely ignores Hamas' use of psychological torture, such as coercing the hostages into making videos. One such video, that of Matan Zangauker, was released just earlier this week and is meant to torment the hostages' families and all of Israeli society:

Commentator As'ad Al-Awiwi: "We as Palestinians, as a Palestinian leadership, and as Palestinian non-governmental organizations dealing with human rights that have close connections with the international organizations and institutions – we must not despair but continue taking action, because our cause is just, and because our prisoners and captives – the best of our people – are living in difficult conditions that the captives of the peoples of Europe did not experience in the Nazi detention camps in World War II… Even the Israeli prisoners and captives (hostages) in the Gaza Strip, I think they are treating them very well, even though the one who is holding them captive is not a government but Palestinian organizations."

[Official PA TV, Nov. 26, 2024]

This dual revision—depicting Palestinian terrorists as oppressed on par with Holocaust victims, while casting Hamas as the benevolent one treating hostages "very well"—is a particularly vile attempt to turn history on its head.


Saudi Arabia to host 2034 soccer World Cup as human rights groups cry foul
Saudi Arabia was officially confirmed Wednesday by FIFA as host of the 2034 World Cup in men’s soccer, giving the oil-rich kingdom its biggest prize yet for massive spending on global sports driven by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

The Saudi bid was the only candidate and was acclaimed by the applause of more than 200 FIFA member federations. They took part remotely in an online meeting hosted in Zurich by the soccer body’s president Gianni Infantino.

“The vote of the congress is loud and clear,” said Infantino, who had asked officials on a bank of screens to clap their hands at head level to show their support.

The decision was combined with approving the only candidate to host the 2030 World Cup. Spain, Portugal, and Morocco will co-host a six-nation project, with Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay each getting one of the 104 games.

The South American connection will mark the centenary of Uruguay hosting the first World Cup in 1930.

The decisions complete a mostly opaque 15-month bid process which Infantino helped steer toward Saudi Arabia without a rival candidate, without taking questions, and which human rights groups warn will put the lives of migrant workers at risk.

FIFA and Saudi officials have said hosting the 2034 tournament can accelerate change, including more freedoms and rights for women, with Infantino on Wednesday calling the World Cup a “unique catalyst for positive social change and unity.”

“I fully trust our hosts to address all open points in this process, and deliver a World Cup that meets the world’s expectations,” the FIFA president said.
New Jersey mystery drones may be Iranian, congressman says
Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-N.J.) wrote a letter to U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday suggesting that recent sightings of unidentified drones over the Garden State may be the work of Iran.

The New Jersey congressman demanded that the president impose flight restrictions over the state and “neutralize” any drone that violates those restrictions, given the “circumstantial evidence that Iran” is responsible.

“We have information that a sea-based Iranian drone mothership is currently missing from port, and that its embarkation timeline would align with the appearances of the New Jersey drones,” Van Drew wrote. “While I remain open to alternate explanations, I have not been presented a single credible, cohesive narrative except for that Iran is controlling these drones from offshore.”

Van Drew, who switched parties and became a Republican in 2020, repeated the claim in an interview on Wednesday with Fox News and said that his information came from confidential “high sources.”

“These drones should be shot down,” he said. “Whether it was some crazy hobbyist that we can’t imagine or whether it is Iran, and I think it very possibly could be, they should be shot down.”

New Jersey residents first started reporting sightings of drones on Nov. 18, and the unidentified objects have now been seen over much of the state, prompting an FBI investigation.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat, has said that federal and state law enforcement agencies have determined that there is not “any concern for public safety” but described the situation as “frustrating” and said he was taking the matter “deadly seriously.”

Murphy also said he believes that some of the reported sightings were misidentified small aircraft or repeated observations of the same vehicle.


Vatican removes nativity display featuring baby Jesus lying on keffiyeh
Following a flurry of controversy, the Vatican chose to remove a nativity decoration that included a baby Jesus atop a black-and-white keffiyeh, a symbol often linked to Palestinian nationalism.

Artists Johny Andonia and Faten Nastas Mitwasi, Palestinians from Dar al-Kalima University in Bethlehem, designed the display in Rome.

On Sunday, the Palestinian Mission to the United Nations wrote on X that “the Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs in Palestine on behalf of the State of Palestine gifted the nativity scene made in Bethlehem to the Vatican and in the presence of the pope who prayed for peace.”

The backlash came almost immediately from religious entities and individuals worldwide.

On Monday, B’nai B’rith International described feeling “disturbed by the Vatican display of a Palestinian-made nativity scene featuring Jesus on a keffiyeh and the pope’s appearance with it.” The group said the display “isn’t just politicization, but revisionism. It presents (only) Palestinians as innocent victims—and Jesus as a Palestinian, not a Jew.”

Non-Jewish groups also had their say, protesting the politicization of a Christian religious symbol.

In response to the display’s removal, David Parsons, senior vice president and spokesman for the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, noted that “we are relieved at reports that the Vatican has decided to remove the provocative nativity display with an infant Jesus resting on a black-and-white keffiyeh, which is an unmistakable symbol of Palestinian nationalism.”
At Amsterdam attack trial, prosecutor claims violence ‘not motivated by antisemitism’
Prosecutors on Wednesday called for two years in jail for a man suspected of punching and kicking Israeli soccer fans in Amsterdam during the first day of the trial over the night of violence that sparked accusations of antisemitism.

The 22-year-old, identified as Sefa O, was one of five suspects appearing before an Amsterdam court on charges relating to the rampage following a November 7 match between Ajax Amsterdam and Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Dutch capital.

Maccabi supporters suffered “hit-and-run” attacks in the city center following calls on social media to target them, prompting allegations from Dutch and Israeli politicians of antisemitic motives.

Israeli officials said 10 people were injured in the violence, while hundreds more Israelis huddled in their hotels for hours, fearing they could be attacked. Many said that Dutch security forces were nowhere to be found, as the Israeli tourists were ambushed by gangs of masked assailants who shouted pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel slogans while they hunted, beat and harassed them.

Police said they were investigating at least 45 people over the violence. Some social media posts had included calls to “hunt Jews,” according to police. The attacks followed two days of skirmishes that also saw Maccabi fans chant anti-Arab songs, vandalize a taxi and burn a Palestinian flag.

The court saw images of a man alleged to be O kicking a person on the ground, chasing targets and punching people in the head and the body. The suspect played a “leading role” in the violence which “had little to do with football,” the prosecutor alleged.

However, the prosecutor averred: “In this case, there was no evidence of… a terrorist intent and the violence was not motivated by antisemitic sentiment.”

“The violence was influenced by the situation in Gaza, not by antisemitism,” claimed the prosecutor.


How Did a Japanese Diplomat Save Thousands of Jews in WW2? | Unpacked
Chiune Sugihara, a Japanese diplomat in WWII Lithuania, defied his government to save thousands of Jewish refugees. Risking his career and honor, he handwrote thousands of visas to grant desperate families the chance to escape Nazi and Soviet terror.

Sugihara’s selfless bravery saved countless lives, leaving a legacy of compassion and moral courage that inspired generations to come.

Chapters
00:00 Intro
00:38 Personal life and background
02:04 The plan to help Jews escape Europe
03:23 Defiance of the Japanese government
04:29 Writing the visas
05:52 Effects and repercussions
06:45 Recognition


Floyd Mayweather Announces New Initiative to Gift Israeli Orphans on Their Birthdays
Retired boxing legend Floyd Mayweather has announced a new initiative to help Israeli orphans celebrate their birthdays.

As part of the Mayweather Israel Initiative, the former undefeated boxing champion will gift every orphan in Israel birthday presents over the next year, and the gifts will be delivered by a truck Mayweather sponsored called the Floyd Mobile. Mayweather’s initiative was first announced on Sunday at an event in Israel hosted by Chessed V’Rachamim, also known as Standing Together, not long before he shared the news on social media.

“Over the next year, every orphan in Israel will be visited by the Floyd Mobile and receive special birthday gifts,” he wrote in an Instagram post on Monday. “To all the widows and orphans: keep your heads held high as we honor the cherished memories of those who have passed.”

Mayweather concluded his social media post by thanking Rabbi Shai Graucher, the founder of Chessed V’Rachamim. The organization has provided support to soldiers in the Israel Defense Forces and those impacted by the Oct. 7 Hamas-led terrorist attack that took place in southern Israel last year, including monetary assistance, provisions for soldiers, and packages of essentials and toys to displaced families.

Mayweather has made a number of contributions to help Israeli civilians and wounded soldiers since the start of the Israel-Hamas war. He visited teenagers whose families were murdered in the Hamas-led massacre, and in early October, Mayweather pledged $100,000 to United Hatzalah of Israel to help the emergency medical service organization purchase 100 bulletproof vests to keep its volunteers safe. At an event in late November for injured IDF soldiers, whom he recently visited, he talked about his unwavering support for the Jewish state.

“When I stood behind Israel … I felt I did what was right,” Mayweather said. “I take my hat off to the soldiers. Those warriors in Israel — I’m behind you guys, 100 percent. Since the war has started, I’ve been to Israel four, five times. And I will be back … It’s all about peace. I’m all about peace, love, and happiness.”
Birthright Israel Extends Age Limit to 50 for Volunteers Helping to Rebuild Gaza Border Areas Post-Oct. 7
Birthright Israel will raise the age limit for its subsidized volunteer program in Israel to 50 starting in 2025 in an effort to encourage more people to visit the Jewish state and help rebuild Gaza border communities impacted by the deadly Oct. 7 terrorist attack last year, the organization announced on Monday.

“The decision responds to the urgent needs in Israel, particularly in areas near the Gaza envelope and along the Lebanon ceasefire zone,” Birthright Israel said in a released statement. “The program aims to mobilize volunteers to support community rebuilding efforts in these regions and assist with various projects in central Israel, including the Tel Aviv area.”

The program’s age range was previously set at 18-40, but starting next year, Jewish adults until the age of 50 will be able to participate in Birthright’s volunteer activities in communities around Israel. The hands-on volunteer opportunities include assisting on restoration projects at kibbutzim and other areas majorly affected by the Oct. 7 massacre and ongoing Israel-Hamas war. Volunteers can help “rebuild kibbutzim, support community re-building efforts, provide food security assistance, and participate in packing and distribution tasks.” Volunteers work for 4-6 hours per day and are provided with transportation to and from their volunteer sites.

The extended age range will also allow alumni who participated in Birthright trips up to 25 years ago to revisit Israel and reconnect with the country through volunteer work. It additionally promotes multigenerational experiences by letting young adults volunteer alongside their parents. A total of 8,000 people have already participated in Birthright Israel’s volunteer program and the organization said it anticipates 10,000 more volunteers in 2025.

“Every Birthright participant arriving in Israel will contribute by volunteering, ensuring that giving back is a cornerstone of the Birthright experience,” said Birthright Israel CEO Gidi Mark. “This initiative underscores Birthright Israel’s commitment to fostering global Jewish solidarity and strengthening ties to the land and people of Israel through meaningful action.”


Netanyahu commends Paraguayan president on response to ICC
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday commended Paraguayan president Santiago Pena on his country’s rejection of the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrants against him and former defense minister Yoav Gallant.

Peña’s visit is centered on Paraguay’s move of its embassy to Jerusalem. The move was first announced in May 2018 but was reversed in September of that year by the previous Paraguayan president. A country that understands the truth

In his speech at a special session welcoming Peña to the Knesset in Jerusalem, Netanyahu said that Paraguay was a country that understood the truth about the accusations.“I thank you for your stand in the service of truth – to refute false and slanderous allegations hurled at Israel day after day,” the prime minister said.“The latest example is the scandalous, antisemitic decision of the International Criminal Court in The Hague to issue arrest warrants against Israeli leaders, and possibly later against Israeli soldiers, who defend our country from its enemies,” Netanyahu said.

“We are the ones defending against dark forces committing war crimes – and yet we are falsely accused of such crimes. What an absurdity, what a shame.

“Fortunately, you, Santiago, bravely stand against the lies and for the truth. This stance should be expressed in all international forums. I can assure you that we will continue to fight vigorously for the truth, and at the same time, we will fight vigorously against those who rise up to destroy us.

“Israel will continue to crush the terror networks of the axis of evil led by Iran,” the prime minister added. “We will defend our existence, ensure our future, and strive to establish peace relations with all who wish to live with us in peace.”


Former hostage Judith Raanan meets with President-elect Donald Trump
Former hostage Judith Raanan met with President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday, calling on him to "do everything to return the 100 hostages home," the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said.

Raanan was the first hostage to be released from Hamas captivity in October of last year.

During their meeting, Raanan told Trump about her experience in Gaza captivity.

Raanan expressed her trust in the President-elect, asking that he do everything in his power to bring every hostage home – the living and deceased.

Judith and her daughter Natalie, both Israeli-American citizens, were kidnapped from Nahal Oz on October 7 and were released on October 20.

'Bring everyone home'
Within minutes of their return to Israel, President Joe Biden called to congratulate them on their return.

"The work has only begun,” Raanan responded, “We must bring everyone home immediately."




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