Thursday, November 06, 2025

11/06 Links Pt1: Why October 7 Strengthened Israel; Kazakhstan joining Abraham Accords; To Secure Long-Term Peace, Fix Gaza's Schools; Tanzanian hostage Joshua Mollel’s body returned to Israel

From Ian:

Why October 7 Strengthened Israel
Israel is suffering from deep PTSD. Almost one thousand soldiers were killed, forever altering the lives of their families and friends. Thousands of wounded face years of rehabilitation.

Yet there is another side to the story. Some say Oct. 7 proved that Israel's founding purpose was breached, that Jews were once again slaughtered mercilessly.

I contend the reverse: Israel's reason for being was reaffirmed. In the past, when attacked in pogroms and massacres, Jews lacked the means to fight back. Now we did.

Reservists donned their uniforms again, some returning from abroad, putting their lives and limbs on the line.

Israelis fought like lions and lionesses - with courage and with a moral compass unmatched in the history of war - proving to the world, and to ourselves, that Jewish blood would never again be cheap.

There remained a deep sense that we are not only a nation but a family.

Walking through the streets of Jerusalem these days, one senses a weight lifted from the nation's shoulders. We can finally breathe again: the living hostages are home.
Security Experts: Hamas Disarmament Unlikely but Gaza Rehabilitation Depends on It
Avi Dichter, former head of the Israel Security Agency
"I don't think Hamas will volunteer to put aside its weapons; without weapons, there is no Hamas," MK Avi Dichter, former head of the Israel Security Agency, said Wednesday during the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs conference on the future of Israel and Gaza. Therefore, it is more likely that Israel will be forced to disarm the group through military means. "In this region, what doesn't go with force, goes with extra force."

Nevertheless, Dichter predicted that "Gaza will not be dominated by the Palestinian Authority, and Gaza will not be dominated by Hamas." Moreover, Gazans will not see the inside of the State of Israel for "two generations at least, only in photos."

The rebuilding of Gaza depends on the rehabilitation of the people of Gaza, he argued. He recalled how, on Oct. 7, 2023, the third wave of people to enter Israel were "so-called uninvolved Gazan civilians, something which in normal culture we can't even imagine. They applauded when the Israeli hostages were kidnapped to Gaza," saying that the radical ideology and desire for jihad in Gaza remain strong.

"The main message of our region is if you are weak, you will disappear. If you are small and weak, you will disappear much faster. We are small, but we don't want to be weak. We don't have the option of losing."

Oded Ailam, former head of the Mossad Counterterror Division
Oded Ailam, former head of the Mossad Counterterror Division, said, "People say that to change Gaza you must change beliefs," but such statements are "useless." "Beliefs are like tattoos. You cannot erase them with speeches. You have to change the incentive environment that causes those beliefs to prevail. And if we have some lessons from the real world, it's that ideas don't kill, but capacity kills, which means the first and the only thing that we have to do is to somehow dismantle the capacity of the Palestinians in Gaza to kill."

Ailam said there were hardly any examples in the modern era of Islamic terrorist groups that were willing to disarm. More common is the situation with the Houthis in Yemen and Hizbullah in Lebanon, where agreements are reached but the terror groups keep their weapons. However, such an agreement cannot be allowed in Gaza. Otherwise, there's no chance for any entity in Gaza to replace Hamas.

Regarding disarmament, Ailam said: "I don't see any way that external forces from America, from Egypt, from the Emirates will do it....So I'm pretty much skeptical of the next phase of the Trump agreement. It's not an agreement, it's a letter of intent."

"If Israel and the United States allow Turkey and Qatar to have a major force within Gaza, you can be sure that Hamas would not be dismantled. We have a major problem right now because this American administration wants [Turkey and Qatar in Gaza] because of their important part in achieving the deal. But the payment will be paid by Israel."

"Gaza is the only place on earth where the Muslim Brotherhood has managed to take governance of a real state. However, Gaza is not their goal, it's not their aspiration. They want to be everywhere - in Madrid, Dearborn, Paris....Gaza is just their start-up."
IDF reveals Hamas ties to Iran, UNRWA, Al Jazeera, stolen aid in collection of documents
The IDF published a collection of various intelligence documents on Monday containing evidence of Hamas’s connection to Iran, to UNWRA, and Al Jazeera, as well as the terror organization’s actions at the deliberate “deepening [of] civilian suffering.”

UNRWA Hamas cooperation
The IDF released documents with details of Hamas operatives employed by UNRWA alongside documents detailing Hamas's use of UNRWA facilities.

The IDF uncovered lists of UNRWA employees shown beside a list of Hamas operatives, where the same individuals were present with both civilian and military IDs.

The list included teachers, principals, counselors, and medical staff who all had positions in Hamas's Izzadin al-Qassam Brigades, the terror organization's so-called military wing. Some were listed on Hamas paperwork as drawing pay from UNRWA.

The IDF also shared an excerpt from a document entitled "Basics of Military Engineering Level Three - Obstacles." The excerpt provides al-Qassam fighters with instructions to use civilian buildings, as they are considered "the best obstacle to defend the resistance." The document highlighted the importance of keeping the fight among the people.

UNRWA schools were listed specifically as a meeting place for Hamas in the supply plan of the South Khan Yunis Battalion in 2020.

The director of UNRWA operations in Gaza, Ashraf Mahd, was featured in several photos in which the site described him as "educating his children and indoctrinating the younger generation to follow Hamas' inhumane ideology, glorifying his war crimes."

Al Jazeera Hamas collaboration
The IDF additionally revealed detailed proof of the affiliation between the Qatari state-run Al Jazeera news organization and the Hamas and the Islamic Jihad terrorist organizations. Documents, including personnel lists of terrorist training courses, phone directories, and salary documents for terrorists, were all uncovered by the IDF.

Fifteen different Al Jazeera journalists were listed alongside their roles within the terror organizations. Ismail Al-Ghoul, a Nukhba terrorist who took part in the October 7 massacre, was listed among the journalists.

Hamas also allegedly held power over what Al Jazeera reported. In 2022, Hamas gave clear instructions on how to cover up a failed Islamic Jihad rocket launch in Jabaliya, which resulted in the death of several citizens. Al Jazeera was forbidden to criticize Hamas and was told which words to avoid.

Later that year, another document contained further instructions on avoiding any criticism of failed rocket launches. Instead, Al Jazeera was to support the "resistance" in Gaza.

A 2023 document displayed another direct connection between Hamas and Al Jazeera. According to the materials, Hamas established an "Al Jazeera Phone," a secure line that would allow the organization to communicate with the channel.
To Secure Long-Term Peace, Fix Gaza's Schools
For decades, billions have been poured into Gaza. The biggest scandal is what's been taught in Gaza's schools - in large part funded through Western largesse. Every generation in Gaza grows up memorizing the language of martyrdom. Schools, summer camps, mosques and media channels work in concert to instill an uncompromising worldview: violence is virtuous, compromise is weakness, and the annihilation of Israel is a sacred duty.

Few parents in London, Paris or Washington would tolerate their child being taught that violence is noble or that neighbors are subhuman. Yet the international community has subsidized precisely that curriculum for Palestinian children - and then has acted shocked when violence perpetuates itself.

To ensure that hate does not take root again, reconstruction aid must come with nonnegotiable conditions: independent curriculum oversight by external auditors with direct access to materials and classrooms, teacher vetting for extremist affiliations and full donor transparency.

When Western taxpayers fund schools, they have every right to insist those schools don't teach children to become terrorists. Indeed, they have every obligation to do so. We now know what failure looks like. The proper test in rebuilding a decent society for Palestinians is whether we enforce the standards we would insist upon for our own children. Gaza's children deserve schools that prepare them for life, not death.


Tanzanian hostage Joshua Mollel’s body identified in Israel
Israel on Thursday identified the remains of a hostage handed over by Hamas the previous night as Joshua Luito Mollel, 21, an agricultural student from Tanzania.

He was working in the cowshed at Kibbutz Nahal Oz on the morning of Oct. 7, 2023, when he was murdered by Hamas terrorists and his body was taken to Gaza.

Mollel is survived by his parents, three sisters and a brother.

“The Government of Israel shares in the deep sorrow of the Mollel family and all the families of the fallen hostages,” the Prime Minister’s Office said. The Israel Defense Forces also expressed its “deep condolences to the family.”

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum wrote on X that it “bows its head in sorrow and shares in the profound grief of the Mollel family.”

“Joshua, 21 years old at the time of his death, was the eldest of four siblings living in Tanzania. A student in an agricultural internship program, Joshua worked at a dairy farm on Kibbutz Nahal Oz. Joshua arrived in Israel just 19 days before the brutal Hamas attack. On Saturday morning, he worked the morning shift at the dairy farm,” the Forum said.

Israeli troops escorted the coffin carrying Mollel’s remains across the border into Israel on Wednesday night. The body was taken to the National Institute for Forensic Medicine (Abu Kabir) in Tel Aviv for identification.


Kazakhstan joining Abraham Accords in ‘major step forward,’ Trump says
Kazakhstan is joining the Abraham Accords, a set of agreements between Israel and Arab states, which U.S. President Donald Trump began brokering nearly five years ago in his first term, Trump said on Thursday evening.

“I just held a great call between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, of Israel, and President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, of Kazakhstan,” Trump stated. “Kazakhstan is the first country of my second term to join the Abraham Accords, the first of many.”

“This is a major step forward in building bridges across the world. Today, more nations are lining up to embrace peace and prosperity through my Abraham Accords,” Trump said. “We will soon announce a signing ceremony to make it official, and there are many more countries trying to join this club of strength. So much more to come in uniting countries for stability and growth. Real progress, real results.”

“Is anyone getting tired of more peace?” stated Mike Waltz, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

Mark Dubowitz, CEO of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, stated that “the stars continue to align for more Muslim countries to join the Abraham Accords.”

“President Trump will pick up at least six to 10 more before he leaves office in 2029,” he said.


Israel: International Stabilization Force Must Focus on Disarming Hamas, Not Becoming Another Ineffective UN Force
Israeli ambassador to the UN Danny Danon warned Wednesday in an interview that the International Stabilization Force (ISF) in Gaza should not become another "ineffective mechanism, like UNIFIL," referring to the UN peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon.

"We have to learn from the mistakes of the past. You want something constructive and effective, not an international presence that looks good on paper but actually destabilizes the situation....Israel's red line is effectiveness. We can't afford a symbolic force that doesn't act."

Asked about a possible Gaza role for the Palestinian Authority, Danon said: "We've seen the weakness of the PA in Judea and Samaria.... Looking purely at capabilities, they simply don't have them. They can't control large areas even in the West Bank, so expectations for them in Gaza are unrealistic today." He noted that the U.S. plan envisions a future role for the PA, conditional on significant reforms and capacity-building. "But that's a long way off."

"The ISF has to have the ability and the authority to act, to neutralize those tunnels, to remove Hamas's weapons." If Hamas is allowed to survive militarily, "it will be a failure of the entire mission."
As Trump admin pushes Gaza peace plan, history shows UN peacekeeping’s mixed record
Spencer described an "inkblot strategy" — stabilizing cleared districts while combat continues elsewhere. "You can create safe areas where a stabilization force, under the right mandate and equipped correctly, is stabilizing areas while you are also conducting operations against Hamas," he said.

He predicts that the Israel Defense Forces will continue high-intensity operations while the international force focuses on humanitarian aid, demining and restoring order in secured zones. "Part of the lesson is giving people a vision of life after Hamas," Spencer said.

During a recent visit to Gaza, Spencer said he saw "a glimmer of hope" in newly established humanitarian zones inside cleared areas. "If you start quickly, even on a small scale, success builds success," he said.

About 200 U.S. personnel are already on the ground in a civil-military coordination center managing logistics and planning for the proposed transition in Israel. Spencer said this small presence will be vital to coordinating aid, reconstruction and stabilization without engaging in combat.

He warned that the mission will face disinformation and attacks from groups opposed to peace. "There are people who do not want this to succeed," he said. "Thinking through how they’ll try to undermine it — especially online — is vital."

He added that stabilization must move alongside local capacity-building. "You have to start training a vetted Palestinian police force and governance team," he said. "That’s how you build legitimacy."
Khaled Abu Toameh: Why Gaza Does Not Need 'Peacekeepers' and 'Monitors'
Hamas is not the only terror group that opposes the presence of international forces in the Gaza Strip. On October 8, two other terror groups, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, also rejected the idea of any "foreign guardianship" over the Gaza Strip. "We are ready to benefit from Arab and international participation in the fields of reconstruction, recovery and development support," the two groups said in a joint statement with Hamas.

For them, the international community's role in the Gaza Strip should be limited to pouring billions of dollars into reconstruction and development.

When Hamas officials such as Abu Marzouk say they will not allow any force to replace the Israeli army, they are actually threatening to carry out terror attacks against members of such a force.

"Whoever comes to replace Israel will be treated as Israel." — Osama Hamdan, senior Hamas official, arabi21.com, February 15, 2025.

[T]he terror group may accept the presence of troops from some Arab and Islamic countries such as Qatar and Turkey, which are longtime sponsors of the terror group. The presence of such friendly forces will undoubtedly ensure Hamas's continued dominion over the Gaza Strip and allow the terror group to rearm, regroup and rebuild its military capabilities. It is simply unrealistic to expect Qatari or Turkish soldiers to forcibly disarm Hamas.

Notably, the Arab and Muslim ministers did not call on Hamas to cede control of the Gaza Strip or lay down its weapons.

Turkey clearly considers Hamas a legitimate and acceptable actor in any future administration of the Gaza Strip.... This position is shared by Egypt....

It is equally unrealistic, unfortunately, to think that soldiers of any outside force -- especially Arab and Muslim troops -- would risk being shot at by trying to stop any military reconstruction in Gaza by Hamas or other terrorist groups. This bad bet was made unmistakably clear by the presence of UNIFIL in Lebanon, where it took about a minute for the UNIFIL forces to support the terrorists, not confront them.

Hamas and other Palestinian terror groups -- as well as deeply fundamentalist Muslim countries, such as Turkey, Qatar and Egypt -- will simply use any international force as cover to avoid being targeted by Israel and to maintain control of the Gaza Strip.
Seth Frantzman: Hamas uses regional talks to maximize influence in Gaza ceasefire
Hamas appears to be trying to trot out its remaining leaders to urge diplomacy as a path to resolving tensions in Gaza. Over the past few days, reports have indicated Turkey’s MIT intelligence agency chief met the head of Hamas’s negotiating team, Khalil Al-Hayya, in Istanbul.

The talks took place on Wednesday and aimed for a “path to be followed in implementing the next phases of the Gaza ceasefire plan, Turkish security sources said,” Reuters reported.

In a related development, Axios reported: “The Trump administration wants to use a crisis over Hamas militants who got ‘stuck’ in tunnels behind Israeli lines in Gaza to develop a model for disarming the group, two US officials with knowledge of the issue tell Axios.”

A Bloomberg report discussed Hamas giving up some of its weapons. Hamas official Moussa Abu Marzouk was quoted as saying Hamas might be willing to relinquish rockets “with ranges beyond the buffer zone.”

The three reports clearly represent a pattern. Hamas is trying to work with Egypt and Turkey to resolve issues in Gaza.

At the same time, it is not always clear if Cairo and Ankara are on the same page. Therefore, Hamas is likely trying to send its emissaries to both countries to try to get the best of both worlds.

Hamas also knows the US is moving toward a UN plan for an international force in Gaza.


Dutch court throws out appeal to halt trade, arms exports to Israel
A Dutch court on Thursday dismissed a case brought by pro-Palestinian NGOs attempting to force the government to freeze arms exports and trade to Israel.

A total of 10 NGOs initiated the action, which demanded an all-out ban on weapons exports and on trading in Judea and Samaria, including a ban on exporting military dogs to Israel, AFP reported.

The groups charged the Netherlands with running a “clearly unlawful” foreign policy that does too little to stop Israel’s war in Gaza against Hamas, the report read.

“While it is plausible that there is a risk of genocide and serious human rights violations, it is not, in principle, up to the court to prescribe to the State what measures must be taken to prevent this,” said the court, per AFP.

The Appeals Court in The Hague rejected all the grounds for appeal made by the organizations and ordered them to pay legal costs.

Attorneys on behalf of the Dutch government said that authorities reviewed export licenses on a case-by-case method.

The court moreover noted that the government has taken steps to curb arms exports to Israel, referring to the suspension of a license to export parts for F-35 fighter jets to Israel that could be used in Gaza.
Hamas-linked weapons cache found in Vienna as terror group eyes Jewish, Israeli targets
Austrian authorities uncovered a weapons cache in Vienna linked to Hamas that was reportedly intended to be used for potential terrorist attacks in Europe.

The potential attacks intended to target Israeli or Jewish institutions in Europe, a Thursday press release from the Directorate of State Security and Intelligence said.

The authorities said that they identified a 39-year-old British citizen as a suspect. He is suspected of being closely linked to the weapons cache and of running the terror group's operations across Europe.

The suspect was arrested in London on Monday.

Weapon stockpiles, advocacy, fundraising: Hamas's web in Europe
The news of the weapons cache came just days after The Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center released a report detailing Hamas's influence campaigns throughout Europe, its weapons caches, and its fundraising efforts.

Raising funds for both their military and civilian efforts in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, some efforts by the terror group also saw early attempts to establish political movements across the continent.
New Jersey UN Official’s Son Arrested in ISIS Terror Plot
This week, federal prosecutors unsealed a case that cuts straight through the UN’s moral facade. The FBI arrested Tomas Kaan Jimenez-Guzel and Milo Sedarat, both 19-years-old. Tomas Tomas Kaan Jimenez-Guzel is the son of a senior UN official, the Milo Sedarat the son of an award-winning Iranian poet, for allegedly plotting a Boston Marathon–style ISIS attack.

According to the Justice Department, the two teens were part of an ISIS-inspired terror ring. They shared antisemitic messages, circulated videos glorifying mass murderers, and discussed carrying out an attack they called “Pumpkin” — timed for Halloween night. Their online group admired the Boston Marathon bombing, the Columbine massacre, and the Christchurch mosque shooting. Federal investigators say Jimenez-Guzel posted photos of himself standing before an ISIS flag, brandishing a knife, and discussed a “Boston bombing-like attack.”

When Acting U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced the charges, she said the complaint described “a pattern of antisemitic messages advocating violence,” alongside tactical purchases and gun range images. Her words could describe any Hamas or ISIS cell. Both draw from the same ideological reservoir — one that now flows freely through academia, culture, and the UN itself.

Tomas Kaan Jimenez-Guzel mother, Meral Guzel, heads the United Nations Women’s Entrepreneurship Program — one of the organization’s flagship initiatives. For over a decade, she has worked inside the UN system promoting “gender equality” and “women’s economic inclusion.” Her son allegedly wanted to join the world’s most violently misogynistic terrorist organization. Jimenez-Guzel’s mother built a career at the UN after years in international finance.

On Tuesday, FBI agents arrested Jimenez-Guzel at a food court inside Newark Liberty International Airport, where he was waiting for a flight to Turkey — allegedly en route to Syria to join ISIS training camps. He had reportedly advanced his travel date after FBI raids in Michigan exposed another ISIS-linked cell. Agents said his devices were filled with ISIS imagery, antisemitic propaganda, and tactical photos. He now faces up to 20 years in prison per count, a $250,000 fine, and lifetime supervised release. He is charged with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terror group.
Jonathan Sacerdoti: A Warning From London Following Mamdani’s Election Victory in New York
This perception has been shaped by moments that transcend formal policy. Public Ramadan displays in central London, including large-scale installations inaugurated by Khan, have been celebrated as signs of inclusivity, but many argue that Christian festivals have not received similar visibility. In late 2024, a halal-finance advertising campaign run across London’s transport system, ultimately regulated by Khan, featured provocative imagery and religious overtones, prompting accusations that public space was being used to promote a particular faith’s commercial ecosystem.

The truth is people might be less concerned about religious adverts from other faiths which they perceive as less aggressively set on conquest and conversion — an uncomfortable but worthwhile thought to keep in mind. London along with other major UK cities has also seen numerous intimidating street protests where Muslim men have worshipped in the street, paraded terrorist flags, and even burnt a car whilst holding a Quran aloft on top of a police van (in Leeds last week).

This current climate matters. And these perceptions, however incomplete or distorted, matter. They cannot simply be dismissed as racist or xenophobic, and doing so is counterproductive. The fear many Jews feel in New York today is not an invention either. It is not merely a media creation. It is based on real experiences, real statements, and a broader climate in which antisemitism is often recast as political critique. But nor should these concerns be weaponized with reckless rhetoric. We have seen in Britain how public discourse can descend into paranoia when criticism is expressed in conspiratorial or racially charged terms. If critics of Mamdani wish to be heard, they must be precise, restrained, and grounded. Otherwise, they will be shouted down by the very people they hope to persuade.

Khan himself has sometimes contributed to the perception of grievance politics. In April 2024, he apologized to Britain’s Chief Rabbi for implying that criticism of his position on Gaza was influenced by his Muslim-sounding name. He admitted that he felt held to a different standard due to his faith, but accepted that his comment was unfair. There is a broad unease about how religion, ethnicity, and political critique intersect in public life, and pretending otherwise will not help allay people’s fears.

What happens next in New York is impossible to predict. As in London, the city’s institutional constraints, budgetary realities, and legal frameworks will limit how much any mayor can reshape it. But politics is not just about budgets or buses. It is about the values a city embodies, the identities it elevates, and the signals it sends to its people. In electing Mamdani, New Yorkers have made a powerful statement. Whether that statement fosters solidarity or division will depend on how he governs, and how his critics respond.

London may offer some lessons, but it is not a template. The United States and the United Kingdom differ in their histories, their social structures, and their ideological battle lines. Still, both countries are wrestling with similar questions: What happens when the politics of social justice collide with the politics of ethnic identity? Can a city led by a figure deeply polarizing to one community still represent the whole?

We do not yet know how this story will unfold. But we should pay close attention. New York is not just another city. It is, in many ways, the stage on which the future of liberal democracy will be tested. And its new mayor stands at the very center of that test.
Seth Mandel: The CCP Must Be Loving Every Minute of This
Piker’s left-wing rise after October 7 mirrored several such influencer breakthroughs on the right, as well as the podcast-specific success of some already-established right-wing figures who cashed in on the explosion of anti-Semitism and the market for anti-American propaganda—Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens. What brings Piker and Carlson and others in this ideologically diverse band of lunatics together is an obsession with reducing every political question to an anti-Jewish conspiracy theory. The same pro-Beijing propaganda web that hired Khalek was also involved in funding parts of the “pro-Palestinian” conference in Detroit last year, in which Rep. Rashida Tlaib headlined an event with close ties to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, a Marxist terrorist organization.

As for the question of why anti-Zionist pro-terror propaganda continues to be the backbone of a pro-Chinese Communist Party strategy in which it allies with Moscow and elevates Marxist personalities, there are two answers. The first is that the template already exists, so it’s easy to adapt to today’s news cycles.

As Wilson Center scholar Izabella Tabarovsky has painstakingly documented for years, modern anti-Zionist discourse was developed and mass produced by the Soviets: “Designed by the KGB and overseen by chief Communist Party ideologues, the campaign had achieved numerous successes. For a significant portion of domestic and some foreign audiences, it succeeded at emptying Zionism of its meaning as a national liberation movement of the Jewish people and associating it instead with racism, fascism, Nazism, genocide, imperialism, colonialism, militarism and apartheid.”

The second answer is that because America has been more resistant to global anti-Semitism than the rest of the West, it’s the perfect subject to tear society at the seams. Such anti-Semitism is increasingly finding an audience in American institutions, so pumping it on behalf of Beijing and Moscow (and Tehran) is an easy way set those institutions and the wider, non-anti-Semitic public at each other’s throats. The pro-Hamas rallies paralyzed American higher education, for example—a perfect target for a pro-CCP agitator.

None of this bodes particularly well for U.S. politics, which has been infected with some of the same poison that has been floating around cultural institutions for some time. And that’s the point: China wants to undermine America far more than it cares what happens to Israel. It’s therefore been a fun week for Beijing.
Seth Mandel: Ritchie Torres’s Opponent Wants To Make the Primary a Referendum on Jews
Blake’s video begins with a progressive influencer who defended the man who murdered two people at the Capitol Jewish Museum. It then moves to Blake saying “Since 2021, Richie Torres has represented New York’s 15th congressional district, the poorest congressional district in America. In 2025, Richie has nearly $15 million on hand, largely from AIPAC, while many of his constituents barely have $15 to get by.”

This is a rather extreme version of an already-despicable argument: that Jewish money is a reason for non-Jewish misery. Then we see some rich white celebrities calling Torres a sellout—always a classy move. At one point, the video puts dollar signs over Torres’s eyes while playing clips of internet users complaining about Torres’s support for Israel.

We see a clip of former Rep. Jamaal Bowman, an anti-Zionist nutjob who lost his spot in Congress to a normal Democrat, calling Ritchie Torres a “wack motherf***er.” (That remark happened to be from June in response to DropSite News, the clearinghouse for Hamas talking points, begging Bowman to primary Torres.) After Bowman’s clip, it’s back to Blake saying “Ritchie Torres cares more about Bibi than he cares about the Bronx.” As this line is recited, the video puts a picture of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and a picture of Ritchie Torres next to each other. Torres’s picture has hearts superimposed over his eyes as he “looks” at Bibi, an unsubtle dig at the fact that Torres is openly gay.

And on it goes. The ad is two full minutes of cartoonish innuendo and dog whistles.

It’s worth pointing out that Torres, while certainly pro-Israel, also fights anti-Semitism within his own party. That is what makes him such a target. It also means this Torres-Bibi stuff is a red herring. (Torres has strongly criticized Netanyahu.) When Torres talks about anti-Semitism, he is fighting for his Jewish constituents in the Bronx. Torres’s critics—apparently Blake included—see Jews as foreigners even in America. So they pretend his support for Jewish civil rights is solely about Israel.

If this is how Blake is launching his campaign, I can only imagine how ugly his tactics are going to get. Buckle up.
Lefty Mamdani ally duking it out with pro-Israel pol in NYC Council speaker race
A showdown is brewing between progressive Zohran Mamdani ally Crystal Hudson and pro-Israel pol Julie Menin over who will be the next City Council speaker.

Hudson (D-Brooklyn) and Menin (D-Manhattan), were the leading contenders for the influential position, with each holding their own competing events Thursday night at the annual SOMOS retreat to court fellow councilmembers still on the fence.

“They are pushing very hard,” one moderate councilmember who was still undecided told The Post.

Menin was pushing hard for the spot, arguing she would serve as a check on the incoming socialist mayor.

Hudson, who had been actively out campaigning with Mamdani — including on Election Day — would try to create a less combative relationship between the council and City Hall after four years of clashing under Mayor Eric Adams.
Nazis Without Borders By Abe Greenwald
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In the November 2010 issue of COMMENTARY, Ruth Wisse wrote, “the doctrine of anti-Semitism arose in the 19th century not to address the realities of the Jewish situation but to meet the political needs of others and to satisfy the political ends of others.” She went on:

Anti-Semitism works through the strategy of the pointing finger. Through political prestidigitation, the accuser draws attention away from his own sins—in the case of Arab leaders, the systematic oppression and immiseration of their own people—by pointing to the Jews, whose demonically inflated image and luridly portrayed wickedness make them a plausible explanation for whatever ails his regime. The pointing finger keeps negative attention focused on the Jews—or Israelis.”

Both the “woke right” and the Mamdani-style socialists need anti-Semitism as bait because they don’t have much of anything else left to entice others to follow their particular paths. Donald Trump already mainstreamed right-wing populism and gave the MAGA faithful what they wanted: border security, the deportation of illegals, and crackdowns on DEI, transgenderism, and wokeness generally. Moreover, when he assisted Israel in destroying Iran’s nuclear program, MAGA cheered that on as well. So what’s left for an anti-establishment right to work with once the establishment right has seen to its needs? If the establishment right is as pro-Israel as Trump is, the answer is Jew-hatred.

Few were clamoring for unalloyed socialism when Mamdani decided to launch his campaign. New York City had recently had a mayor with socialist sympathies. And sober liberals were calling for the Democrats to rein in their radicals. But, after October 7, a great many on the left had been transformed into anti-Israel activists. Mamdani’s long-honed hatred of the Jewish state could suddenly be used to extraordinary political effect, and he became the Pied Piper of the anti-Semitic left.

What I’m now beginning to wonder is whether the Jew-haters of the left and right need each other. The answer from those on the right seems to be yes. With traditional conservatives slapping down the first real attempt to legitimize right-wing anti-Semitism, the groypers and their facilitators may need to start considering other sources of support. And perhaps if Mamdani is sufficiently flattered by their praise, he’ll come to view them as allies in the cause that is nearest his heart. If the day comes that he appears on Carlson’s show, I’ll have my answer.
‘Dangers to Western order’: Anti-Israel Mamdani wins NYC mayoral election
Israeli Author and Activist Noa Tishby says people are “devastated” that Zohran Mamdani was elected mayor of New York City.

“The biggest problem that he's already inserted into the conversation … the concept that Israel should not be a Jewish state,” Ms Tishby told Sky News host Sharri Markson.

“That is one of the most concerning things and the greatest dangers to Western order.”




Qatar hired intel firm to probe woman who accused ICC prosector of sexual abuse, failed to find links to Israel
A private intelligence firm targeted a woman who accused the International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, of sexual abuse, in an operation aimed to find evidence to undermine her, and potentially link her to Israel, the Guardian reports.

Private firm Highgate, based in London, worked with at least one other firm in an operation “commissioned by a high-level diplomatic unit within the Qatari state,” the report says.

The operation did not find any evidence that the accuser was linked to Israel. Khan was responsible for seeking arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and then-Defense Minister Yoav Gallant last year.

While the report could not find evidence that Khan was directly involved in the operation, people familiar with the matter say that Highgate met with the prosecutor’s representatives.

The alleged victim tells the news outlet that the operation was “disturbing.”

“The idea that private intelligence firms have been instructed to target me is as incomprehensible as it is heartbreaking,” she says.

Highgate confirmed to the Guardian it worked on an operation connected to the ICC but claimed it had not “acted against any individual” and denied links to Qatar.


Israeli forces nab terrorist in Ramallah market
A Palestinian wanted in connection with several shooting attacks against civilians and soldiers was captured in Ramallah by Israeli security forces during a daring daylight raid on Tuesday.

The suspect was shot in the leg when he resisted arrest. No injuries were reported among the Israeli forces.

The mission took place in the busy wholesale market of the Arab city, with the suspect located standing near a stall.

Forces led by Unit 33 (Gideonim), an elite undercover anti-terror unit of the Israel Police, together with soldiers from the IDF’s Binyamin Brigade and agents from the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet), identified the suspect and subdued him. They then carried him out of the marketplace.

“We will continue to act with determination and in conjunction with our forces to thwart terror attacks, arrest wanted persons and maintain the security of Israeli citizens,” the police, IDF and the Shin Bet said in a statement.


Trump admin sanctions Hezbollah operatives pulling in illicit funds from Iran
The U.S. Department of the Treasury sanctioned Hezbollah operatives, who it said exploited Lebanon’s cash economy to funnel more than $1 billion to the terror group this year, the agency announced on Thursday.

“Lebanon has an opportunity to be free, prosperous and secure, but that can only happen if Hezbollah is fully disarmed and cut off from Iran’s funding and control,” stated John Hurley, U.S. under secretary of the treasury for terrorism and financial intelligence. “We will work with our Lebanese partners to create a resilient economy that puts the interests of all Lebanese citizens front and center.”

The department said that those sanctioned on Thursday oversee the movement of funds from Iran, including selling Iranian oil and other goods and other covert business dealings, into the Lebanese financial system.

Both licensed and unlicensed money exchanges introduce the funding, which lacks adequate customer screening, allowing Hezbollah to launder money for its forces and infrastructure and for the terror group to “resist the Lebanese government’s efforts to assert sovereign control over all Lebanese territory.”
Seth Frantzman: Trust but verify? No evidence of Hezbollah disarmament, terror group can't be trusted
How can both claims be true? How can the Lebanese army be disarming Hezbollah while the group is also rearming and getting stronger?

“Lebanese authorities confirmed their readiness to negotiate as an alternative to war, but [Jerusalem] has not yet announced an official position on negotiations,” Al Arabiya reported.

Beirut is apparently in touch with Washington and Cairo in an effort to avoid a crisis, the report said.

“According to Israeli reports, US envoy Tom Barrack gave the army a deadline ending at the end of November to bring about a change in the situation regarding Hezbollah’s weapons, saying, ‘If this does not happen, Israel will be able to launch attacks and the United States will understand that,’” it added.

Al-Akhbar Accuses Israel of Mobilizing for Lebanon Attack
What does Beirut-based newspaper Al Akhbar, a pro-Hezbollah media outlet, say? Not much in terms of details.

In a report about Tony Blair on Thursday, it said Israel was leaking details about Hezbollah’s capabilities.

“For the second week in a row, the Israeli political and media machine continued its mobilization of public opinion within the entity, and of the regional and international diplomatic atmosphere, in what appears to be a prelude to launching a new aggression against Lebanon, under the pretext that Hezbollah is working to restore its military capabilities and has returned to pose a threat to Israel’s security,” the report said.

Officials in “Lebanon appear helpless and [are trying to contain any potential escalation by emphasizing the negotiating intentions that President Joseph Aoun continues to stress in his meetings, knowing that nothing is decided yet, neither in terms of form nor framework, and there is no Lebanese agreement except on the principle of general negotiation,” Al Akhbar reported

In short, there is no real evidence that Hezbollah is disarming. The notion of “trust but verify” would work here, but there is no verification. Hezbollah also cannot be trusted.


AIJAC applauds law allowing IRGC terror listing
The Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) applauds the passage of the Criminal Code Amendment (State Sponsors of Terrorism) Bill 2025 on November 6, enabling the Federal Government to list the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organisation under Australia’s Criminal Code.

AIJAC Executive Director Dr Colin Rubenstein said, “For several years, AIJAC has been calling for the listing of the IRGC as a terrorist organisation under Australia’s Criminal Code, and to amend the Criminal Code to allow the Government to do so if required.

“This week, such amendments passed both houses. While it is regrettable that it took two antisemitic attacks in 2024 – only publicly attributed to the IRGC on August 26 – to reach this point, AIJAC commends the Government for moving quickly to ensure the legislation passed both houses of Parliament in 29 days.

“AIJAC now urges the Government to move just as quickly to implement the legislation and list the IRGC as the 32nd terrorist organisation designated under the Criminal Code, joining our allies the United States and Canada.

“Hopefully, the Government’s move will inspire European Union member states and the UK to amend their respective laws, if necessary, and designate the IRGC a terrorist organisation, something called for by many of their own politicians and officials,” he concluded.




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