Monday, April 27, 2026

04/26 Links: Israel is no longer a European villa in the desert; Trump's "Anaconda Plan" to Strangle Iran into Signing a Deal; Israel sent Iron Dome and IDF soldiers to UAE during Iran war

From Ian:

Jake Wallis Simons: Israel is no longer a European villa in the desert
Picture the scene. At a happy press conference in Luxembourg, Israel’s foreign minister and European officials announce they will “upgrade the relations between Israel and the EU” and “usher in a new era in Israeli-European relations”.

Ties, they add, will be strengthened in the economy, scientific research, trade, environmental technology, culture, academia and higher education, as well as youth exchange schemes.

Is that a pie floating past that window? This week, Spain – whose leader recently regretted not having nuclear weapons to “stop” Israel – led demands for Europe to cast Israel out completely. Even Italy has ended its defence and scientific cooperation, and Germany is growing increasingly critical.

But that happy press conference did indeed take place, in June 2008, when the world was saner. What went wrong? Demographics form part of the explanation with the growth of more Israelophobic domestic populations carrying mounting political strength.

Universities and schools have been radicalised, social media has provided a powerful forum for disinformation, and October 7 unleashed forces of propaganda that would have made Stalin or Goebbels doff their hats.

In Israel, too, things have changed. In September 2008, prime minister Ehud Olmert tabled a peace offer that satisfied all Ramallah’s main demands, including 94 per cent of the West Bank (plus 6 per cent of Israeli land), the return of some Palestinian refugees, an international Old City and a shared Jerusalem.

Mahmoud Abbas turned it down. That December saw Operation Cast Lead against Hamas in Gaza, from where Israel had withdrawn three years before. In 2009, Benjamin Netanyahu returned to office. As Hamas gained strength, further wars erupted in 2012 and 2014, and a disillusioned Israeli public moved decisively to the Right.

Europe couldn’t cope. Then came October 7, and today we see a depraved race to eject Jews from polite society. Tensions over next month’s Eurovision are symbolic; Israel has gone from being an outpost of Western culture in the Middle East – a “villa in the jungle”, as former prime minister Ehud Barak provocatively put it – to a despised Caliban.
Germans face five years in jail for denying Israel’s right to exist
A German state wants to criminalise denying Israel’s “right to exist”, with pro-Palestinian slogans or even maps with Israel removed punishable by up to five years in prison.

The state of Hesse has announced an initiative to change the law on May 8, the anniversary of the Nazi surrender on VE Day, citing a rise in anti-Semitism since Hamas’s attack on Israel on Oct 7, 2023.

The draft law would criminalise slogans such as “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”, and its Arabic equivalent, as well as “there is only one state, Palestine ’48”. Any representations of Israel being a Palestinian state or even crossing out an Israel flag or putting it in a bin would be illegal.

Boris Rhein, the state leader, said: “The protection of Jewish life is more than just a declaration; it is Germany’s Staatsräson,” referring to the idea that Germany is responsible for Israel’s security because of its Nazi history, during which six million Jews were killed.

The Staatsräson, or “reason of state”, was popularised by Angela Merkel, the former chancellor, in the first speech to the Israeli parliament by a German leader in 2008. Though not mentioned in Germany’s constitution, it is seen by many politicians as a guiding political principle and a way to atone for the past.

Mr Rhein invoked this history, seemingly linking the pro-Palestine movement to the Nazis, saying: “It is unbearable that slogans are being shouted that we never thought would ever be uttered on German streets again.”
IDF soldier killed, six wounded in Hezbollah drone strike in Southern Lebanon
An Israel Defense Forces soldier was killed and six others were wounded in a Hezbollah explosive drone strike in Southern Lebanon on Sunday, the military said.

The fallen soldier was identified as Sgt. Idan Fooks, 19, of the 7th Armored Brigade’s 77th Battalion, from Petach Tikvah.

In the same incident, an officer and three soldiers were seriously wounded, one soldier sustained moderate injuries and another was lightly hurt, the IDF said, adding that the wounded were evacuated to the hospital for treatment, and their families had been informed.

Fooks is the third Israeli soldier to be killed in Southern Lebanon since a ceasefire came into effect on April 17, and the first to be killed in a direct Hezbollah attack during the truce, according to the IDF.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement Sunday evening mourning the fallen soldier.

“Our hearts grieve over fallen soldier, Sergeant Idan Fooks, of blessed memory, in battle in Southern Lebanon,” Netanyahu said. “My wife and I, along with all citizens of Israel, send our deepest heartfelt condolences to Idan’s family and share in their heavy loss. We wish a speedy and full recovery to our soldiers who were wounded in this difficult incident.

“Idan fought with bravery and courage alongside his comrades to restore security to the residents of the North, and this is what we shall continue to do. May his memory be blessed and cherished forever.”

Netanyahu accused Hezbollah of repeatedly violating the fragile truce, while the Iran-backed terrorist organization denied responsibility and blamed Israel for ceasefire breaches.


Netanyahu: Relieved Trump ‘safe and strong’ following attack at White House Correspondents’ Dinner
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday expressed his relief that U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were “safe and strong” following the attack at the previous evening’s White House Correspondents Dinner in Washington.

“We send our wishes for a full and speedy recovery to the wounded police officer and salute the U.S. Secret Service for their swift and decisive action,” Netanyahu tweeted.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog earlier on Sunday said the Jewish state was praying for the “safety and security of the United States of America and its leaders” following the “heinous attack.”

Herzog in a social media post said he was “relieved to hear that President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance, American leaders, and guests at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner were unharmed by the gunman who opened fire outside the event hall.”

The Israeli head of state added, “We are thankful that the law enforcement officer shot during the attack is safe and on the path of recovery.”

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar on Sunday condemned the shooting “in the strongest possible terms.”

“Israel stands shoulder to shoulder with the United States and Trump,” Sa’ar posted on X, commending Secret Service agents for “their swift action in neutralizing the attacker.”

“Zero tolerance for political violence,” Jerusalem’s top diplomat added.
Commentary Podcast: Emergency Pod: Another Attempt on Trump
We are joined this Sunday by contributing editor Eli Lake, who attended the White House Correspondents Dinner, to discuss the latest assassination attempt on President Trump.
Normally Podcast: White House Correspondents’ Dinner Chaos: Trump Security Scare, Secret Service & Political Fallout
On this special emergency episode of Normally, Mary Katharine Ham and Karol Markowicz break down the shocking security scare that unfolded at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, where an alleged armed intruder attempted to breach the security perimeter while President Donald Trump was inside.

Mary Katharine shares her firsthand account from inside the ballroom as Secret Service rushed in, VIPs were evacuated, and confusion spread through one of Washington’s highest-profile political events. The hosts analyze how security responded, whether the event’s setup created vulnerabilities, and why this incident could permanently change how presidential events are handled.

They also discuss Trump’s post-incident press conference, the growing normalization of political violence in America, media reaction, and the conspiracy theories already taking over social media.

What really happened inside the White House Correspondents’ Dinner? How close was the threat? And what does it say about America’s political climate?
Family of Correspondants' Dinner shooting suspect alerted police before attempted attack
Family members of the White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooter had alerted the police regarding anti-Trump, anti-Christian rhetoric shared on the suspect’s social media accounts prior to the attempted attack, according to a CBS News report on Sunday.

California resident Cole Tomas Allen was identified as the suspected perpetrator of the shooting by law enforcement and was taken into custody shortly after the incident.

According to the report, 31-year-old Allen had previously shared writings with family members, leading one relative to alert law enforcement regarding their contents. Suspect called himself 'Friendly Federal Assassin,' mocked security efforts

A law enforcement official told Reuters that Allen had written an anti-Christian manifesto, in which he called himself the “Friendly Federal Assassin.”

"Turning the other cheek when *someone else* is oppressed is not Christian behavior; it is complicity in the oppressor’s crimes," the manifesto read, according to the official.

The manifesto included a list of targets, Trump administration officials, prioritized from highest-ranking to lowest, the official said.

The manifesto mocked the “insane” lack of security at the Washington Hilton, where the dinner was held, the official added.

"Like, the one thing that I immediately noticed walking into the hotel is the sense of arrogance," the manifesto's author reportedly wrote. "I walk in with multiple weapons and not a single person there considers the possibility that I could be a threat.”

Family members of Allen’s who were interviewed by investigators after the attack stated that Allen frequently made radical statements, referencing a vague plan to do "something" to fix issues in the world.

Allen’s family also told law enforcement that he frequently trained with firearms at a local shooting range.


Trump's "Anaconda Plan" to Strangle Iran into Signing a Deal
In Lebanon, fighting is effectively ongoing. But under limits imposed by President Trump, Israel cannot operate throughout Lebanon or against every target it says it needs to strike.

The current ceasefire resembles the ceasefire declared in late 2024 between Israel and Lebanon, during which Israel continued systematically targeting Hizbullah's attempts to rebuild and rearm.

Israel has decided to cooperate with a U.S.-Saudi framework aimed at weakening Hizbullah and stripping it of legitimacy to continue fighting.

In Iran, the U.S. and Tehran are now waging an economic and psychological war, each seeking to force the other to accept minimum demands in diplomatic talks aimed at ending the war.

Trump is using a broad and systematic economic campaign to choke the Iranian regime.

Washington chose economic pressure because the U.S. military and the IDF have largely exhausted what they can do from the air and sea against Iran's military and nuclear capabilities.

The task now is to preserve those gains and prevent Iran from rebuilding for years.

Israel is largely watching from the sidelines while preparing for the possibility that fire resumes.

Alongside the naval blockade, Washington is applying economic pressure through every available channel. CNN reported that the U.S. Treasury recently froze $334 million in cryptocurrency accounts used by the Revolutionary Guards.

CNN also reported that hackers, apparently acting for Israel, stole $90 million last year from cryptocurrency accounts linked to the Revolutionary Guards.

Time may be working against Iran. The naval blockade could cause lasting damage to Iran's oil industry.

The oil storage tanks on Kharg Island and at oil fields are already full. As a result, Iran is being forced to reduce production and may soon have to stop pumping altogether.

The situation in Gaza is effectively frozen. Hamas refuses to disarm, leaving no progress on Trump's 21-point plan.

But Hamas is using the deadlock to reassert its rule and rebuild militarily. Israeli officials say there may be no choice but to resume fighting to remove Hamas from Gaza and disarm it.
Tehran demands US lift blockade before talks resume
The Islamic Republic refuses to resume talks with the United States so long as the latter continues its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, senior Iranian leadership said on Sunday.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in a call that the U.S. “must first remove operational obstacles, including the blockade,” as a condition for “resolving issues.”

The U.S. Navy has redirected 37 vessels since April 13, the day its blockade of Iranian ports went into effect. On Saturday, a U.S. Navy helicopter from the guided-missile destroyer USS Pinckney intercepted the M/V Sevan in the Arabian Sea. The Panama-flagged LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) tanker is among 19 “shadow fleet” vessels sanctioned by the U.S. Department of Treasury, U.S. Central Command said.

Pezeshkian said American maritime restrictions on Iran were a “clear breach of the ceasefire understandings.” Such measures, along with “threatening rhetoric” from the U.S. administration, have increased Iran’s doubts regarding America’s commitment to the diplomatic process, he said, according to Iran’s semi-official Mehr News Agency.

The U.S. put its blockade in place in response to Iran’s own blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. President Donald Trump explained on April 13: “We can’t let a country extort the world, because that’s what they’re doing.” He said the blockade would bring Tehran to the negotiating table.

Iran said it has no intention of lifting its blockade as long as the American blockade remained in place. On April 22, Iran fired on three ships in the strait. The attacks were carried out by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, according to Iranian media, AP reported.
Ghalibaf said to step down as Iran’s top negotiator amid internal rifts
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has stepped down as Tehran’s lead negotiator with the United States amid internal divisions, Iranian opposition and Israeli media outlets reported over the weekend.

According to Israel’s Channel 12 News, Ghalibaf cited growing interference from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in his decision to resign from his role.

Meanwhile, opposition outlet Iran International quoted unnamed sources as saying Ghalibaf was forced to resign after being reprimanded for seeking to include the nuclear issue in the talks.

The report said Saeed Jalili—a hardline politician who was reportedly denounced by Ghalibaf as “extremist” for his criticism of the talks—was being considered as Tehran’s new top negotiator.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was also seeking to take over the role, sources told Iran International.

According to the outlet, Iran’s delegation was ready to leave for Islamabad last week when a message from Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei’s inner circle ruled out discussing the nuclear program and reprimanded the foreign minister over having raised the issue in previous negotiations.

Araghchi reportedly responded by saying that traveling to Pakistan would serve no purpose, as excluding the nuclear issue would effectively doom any possibility of progress in the peace talks.
Blood diamonds, crypto: Hezbollah’s financial operations in Europe serve as major terror lifeline
Hezbollah runs financial operations across the European continent, including drug smuggling and blood diamond trading, Austria’s Documentation Center on Political Islam (DPI) revealed in its new report.

For context, the US Government estimates that Hezbollah’s yearly budget exceeds $1 billion, 30% of which is obtained from global illicit activities. Hezbollah’s financial operations span multiple continents and include money laundering schemes in Europe, drug trafficking in Latin America, Africa, and Europe, trade in blood diamonds in Africa, and oil smuggling in the Middle East.

DPI found that Hezbollah’s financial operations span the European continent, with particular focus on wealthier, larger nations like France and Germany.

The operations in Europe span multiple trade sectors and blur the line between licit and illicit commerce, linking the group directly to criminal networks.

These activities are largely coordinated through Hezbollah’s External Security Organization, specifically its Business Affairs Component (BAC), which has longstanding ties to Latin American drug cartels. The group facilitates drug sales in Europe and the United States, and then launders the proceeds through complex trade-based schemes, mixing illicit funds with legitimate business transactions before transferring money, often via cash couriers, back to Lebanon.

One notable example is the “Cedar Network,” uncovered in 2016, which handled cocaine shipments from South America to Europe, laundered profits through luxury goods like cars and watches, and funneled funds through Africa and into Lebanon, where they were used in part to finance weapons purchases. This infrastructure was capable of laundering millions of euros weekly.

Another method Hezbollah uses is the art market. This provides the group with discretion, because privacy in this field is protected. Hezbollah can buy and sell high-value works to conceal the origins of illicit funds. Additionally, the subjective nature of the value of art allows prices to be easily inflated or deflated as such. Art can then be sold across national borders without alerting the authorities.


Israel sent Iron Dome system, dozens of IDF soldiers to UAE during Iran war
Israel sent an Iron Dome system and dozens of IDF troops to the United Arab Emirates during Operation Roaring Lion, its recent war with Iran, according to foreign sources.

Multiple Israeli officials have stated that the decision to send the Iron Dome battery and interceptors was made after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a phone call with UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed (MBZ).

Dozens of Iranian missiles fired towards the Gulf state were intercepted by the system, according to foreign sources.

This is the first instance of the Iron Dome being utilized operationally outside of the United States or Israel, though Singapore has previously reportedly purchased and received Iron Dome, and Romania is expected to do so as well.

Military, security, and intelligence cooperation between Israel and the UAE has been on the rise since the countries signed the Abraham Accords in September 2020, but reached new heights during the recent Iran war.

Iran fired around 560 ballistic and cruise missiles and more than 2,250 drones at the UAE during the war.

Although the vast majority of missiles and drones were shot down, some penetrated the defense shield and struck a mix of military and civilian targets in the country.


Netanyahu orders attacks on Hezbollah after truce violations
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the Israel Defense Forces to “vigorously” attack the Iranian-backed Hezbollah terrorist group, his office announced on Saturday night.

The announcement followed the launch of several rockets and UAVs from Lebanon toward northern Israeli communities earlier in the day, in violation of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire with Beirut.

The IDF announced the interception of one rocket after air-raid sirens were activated in Kibbutz Manara, Kibbutz Misgav Am and Moshav Margaliot on Saturday afternoon. A second rocket struck in an open area in the north, it said. “There are no casualties; this is a blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement by the Hezbollah terrorist organization,” the military stated.

Approximately an hour later, alerts were activated in several areas in the north due to a drone infiltration.

“The air force successfully intercepted a suspicious aerial target launched from the direction of Lebanon into Israeli territory. Contact was lost with another suspicious aerial target,” the IDF announced.

In response, the military struck Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure in Southern Lebanon, including “military” structures used by its Radwan Force, which functions as Hezbollah’s special operations unit and for years trained to invade northern Israel and seize communities there.

The structures, located in IDF-controlled territory south of the ceasefire line, were struck to remove threats “following Hezbollah’s use of these buildings to advance terrorist activities against IDF soldiers and the State of Israel,” it said.

Some two hours after the army announced the renewed airstrikes, more air-raid sirens blared in the area of Malkia, a kibbutz in the Galilee Panhandle, warning of a suspected UAV infiltration.

“A suspicious aerial target was identified, and contact with it was lost. The incident has concluded,” the IDF stated.

The IDF continued its campaign against Iran’s Lebanese proxy over the weekend, eliminating more than 15 Hezbollah terrorists, including three it said were killed while transporting weapons.

Air-raid sirens continued to blare in Israel’s north on Sunday afternoon, with alarms activated in a number of communities in the Western Galilee. The IDF subsequently announced it intercepted three UAVs before they crossed into the Jewish state from Lebanon.


Maniac in Iranian flag T-shirt pummels three Jewish men in NYC hate crime: sources
An antisemitic maniac wearing a shirt with the flag of Iran on it assaulted three Jewish men in Brooklyn on Friday while screaming hateful words at the victims, according to police and sources.

The brute, Andrzej Wnuk, 41, allegedly pummeled three men – a 48-year-old, 38-year-old, and 21-year-old – in the vicinity of Throop Avenue and Gerry Street in Williamsburg around 6:45 p.m. on Friday, cops said.

All three victims of Wnuk’s attack were Jewish, sources said.

The three men were walking separately when Wnuk unleashed on them — punching one man in the back, another man in the shoulder, and another in the side of the head – all while screaming “f–king Jews,” according to sources.

All three victims complained of pain to their faces, but refused medical attention, according to authorities.

Video taken of the immediate aftermath of the attack shows cops hauling away Wnuk – who’s seen sporting a black T-shirt with an image of the Iranian flag in the middle.

Wnuk was arraigned in Brooklyn Criminal Court on the same day, where he was remanded with bail set at $5,000 cash, records show.


IAF strike eliminates Hamas cell in central Gaza
The Israeli Air Force on Thursday eliminated several members of a Hamas terrorist cell that was planning an imminent attack in the central Gaza Strip, the military said on Sunday.

Among those killed in the airstrike was Hazem Rami Ali Aidi, identified by the IDF as a Hamas commander who infiltrated Israeli territory during the Oct. 7, 2023, massacre.

Also killed were Ibrahim Mansour, described as a platoon commander involved in attacks on Israeli troops throughout the war, and Maher Tantawi, an operative in Hamas’s military intelligence unit.

“Prior to the strike, steps were taken to mitigate the risk of harm to civilians, including the use of precise munitions and aerial surveillance,” the military said.

Soldiers remain deployed in the Strip in accordance with the U.S.-brokered Oct. 10, 2025, ceasefire agreement “and will continue to operate to remove any immediate threat,” it added.

The current ceasefire ended the two-year war that began when Hamas, other Palestinian terrorist groups and Gazan “civilians” invaded the northwestern Negev on Oct. 7, 2023.

Also on Thursday, the IDF struck terrorists transporting weapons “in a manner that posed a threat” in the southern Gaza Strip, eliminating one,” it said last week.

On Wednesday night, ground troops stationed in northern Gaza encountered several armed Hamas terrorists who approached the truce-instituted Yellow Line, the IDF said in the same statement.


US reportedly denying green cards over anti-Israel social media posts
Immigrants seeking a path to United States citizenship could now reportedly have their green card applications rejected for expressing anti-Israel sentiment on social media or participating in pro-Palestinian demonstrations, along with other behavior deemed anti-American.

A New York Times report published Saturday, citing internal US Department of Homeland Security documents, says new training materials tell immigration officers to vet applicants for “endorsing, promoting or supporting anti-American views” or “antisemitic terrorism, ideologies or groups.” Desecrating the American flag is another example of such activity, according to the report.

Officers are instructed to view such activity as “overwhelmingly negative,” and to refer cases involving “potential anti-American and/or antisemitic conduct or ideology” to their superiors.

One example cited as potential grounds to reject an application was a mock-up of a social media post demanding to “Stop Israeli Terror in Palestine,” the Times reported. Another showed a map of Israel with the country’s name crossed out and replaced with “Palestine,” while another said Israelis should “taste what people in Gaza are tasting.”

DHS also told immigration officers to pay particular attention to anyone who took part in the pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel campus protests in the wake of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel and subsequent war in Gaza, the report said. The agents were told to examine whether applicants promoted antisemitism “through rhetorical or physical actions.”

“If you hate America, you have no business demanding to live in America,” Zach Kahler, a spokesman for US Citizenship and Immigration Services, which handles green card applications, told the Times. Green card holders are allowed to legally reside in the US and have a path to citizenship.

Abigail Jackson, a White House spokeswoman, told the Times that the Trump administration’s restrictions had “nothing to do with free speech.” She said they aimed to protect “American institutions, the safety of citizens, national security and the freedoms of the United States.”
Ask Haviv Anything: 110: Van Jones on what broke the Black-Jewish alliance
A century-long alliance between America's Black and Jewish communities was one of the most important drivers of American democratic reforms. But that relationship has not stood the test of time. The two communities seem more divided than ever.

In this honest and unflinching conversation, Haviv sits down with activist, journalist and entrepreneur Van Jones to confront that unraveling, the mistrust, the misunderstandings and the widening gap between two communities that once changed history together. From civil rights to October 7, DEI to Gaza, we ask what happened, why the two communities don't understand each other, and whether that old, consequential alliance can be rebuilt.

Chapters
00:00 The Historic Alliance: Black and Jewish Americans
11:26 Personal Stories: The Impact of Affirmative Action
19:39 Current Challenges: Structural Issues and DEI Programs
28:30 The Future of DEI: Finding Common Ground
34:39 The Aftermath of George Floyd: A Moral Reckoning
43:39 Barriers to Progress: The Reality for Black Americans
48:48 Bridging the Divide: Conversations Between Communities
01:04:11 The Future: Optimism and Determination for Change


Aaron Machbitz: Exposing the Pure Propaganda Destabilizing the West
Christian Zionism, Islam, and global politics are at the center of one of the most controversial debates today. In this eye-opening episode, we explore the bold claim that “Jew hate is demonic” and analyze whether Tucker Carlson’s views on Islam are being misunderstood or misrepresented.

Tinashe Peter joins Something For Everybody (Episode 479) to share his powerful journey of faith renewal, personal transformation, and political awakening. This deep conversation covers Zionism, Jewish history, Israel’s right to exist, and the complex geopolitical tensions shaping the Middle East today.

We also break down media narratives, religious ideologies, and the reality of religious conflict—offering a thought-provoking and balanced perspective that challenges mainstream opinions.

If you're interested in Zionism explained, Israel vs Palestine, Islam debates, Tucker Carlson controversy, or faith and politics, this episode is a must-watch.

📌 TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Introduction and Personal Reflections
03:06 Marriage and Relationships
05:55 Faith and Personal Transformation
08:45 Political Awakening and Identity
12:07 Cultural Commentary and History
14:51 Personal Development & Agency
25:48 Victim Mentality and Belonging
28:40 Equal Opportunities Debate
30:35 What is Zionism?
37:02 Israel and Its Right to Exist
43:27 Tucker Carlson & Islam Debate
50:26 Jesus: Indifference vs Hate
52:20 Religious Violence Reality
55:02 The Value of Freedom
56:26 Israel’s Role in Western Civilization
01:01:17 “Jew Hate Is Demonic” Discussion




Gaza families say their children have been 'raped by Hamas-affiliated clerics', with the parents then intimidated into silence
Children in Gaza are being raped and then blackmailed into joining Hamas or having their sexual abuse made public, investigators in the enclave say.

The Daily Mail has obtained filmed testimony from Jusoor News in Gaza showing the children's disturbing allegations.

In the video, two boys aged just nine and ten anonymously describe every parent's worst nightmare.

'I went to pray at the mosque that day, it was before the 'asr prayer, I was studying the Quran,' says the nine-year-old before naming the Sheikh that was there.

'We were studying the Qur'an together. He said to me, "come with me, I want to give you something nice".

'He took me to the restrooms and undressed me, took off my pants and had his way with me. I started to scream and then I cried.'

The man then warned him not to tell his father.

In another testimony, a ten-year-old described how he used to be the first child to arrive at the mosque until one day a Sheikh asked to follow him upstairs.

'So I went upstairs, he pulled down my pants and started to do filthy things to me,' the boy said.

The abuse allegedly only ended when one of the mosque attendants came in and disturbed them.

'He got scared. So I pulled my pants up and ran away,' the child said, adding: 'I stopped going to the mosque but I heard he was doing filthy things with lots of kids.'

A 42-year-old father of a third victim who was raped in a Mosque in Khan Younes, recalls how his hysterical wife called him at work to say: 'Your son is bleeding and has bruises all over his body.'

He rushed home and asked his son where the injuries had come from, and was told that the head Imam at the mosque had caused them.

'I was shocked, I went crazy. I lost it,' he said, describing how he went to the mosque to confront the paedophile.

'How could you do this to my son?' he asked the Imam, who immediately denied the claim despite the child identifying him as the perpetrator.


Ireland joins Spain and Slovenia in refusing to broadcast Eurovision
This year, the luck of the Irish has run out for the Emerald Isle’s Eurovision fans, because in addition to boycotting the song contest in Vienna next month, Ireland’s state broadcaster, RTÉ, announced that it will not even broadcast the event, due to Israel’s inclusion.

Ireland has joined two other countries – Spain and Slovenia – which previously announced that their public broadcasters will not air the contest. Slovenia’s public broadcaster, RTV Slovenia, said that in place of Eurovision, it would broadcast Voices of Palestine, a collection of feature films and documentaries about Palestine. The website for Voices of Palestine offered no details about the content as of Sunday afternoon.

Iceland and the Netherlands are also boycotting Eurovision but will broadcast Eurovision.

Ireland’s 2024 representative, Bambie Thug, a Goth-style singer, painted themselves with the words for "Ceasefire" and "Saoirse Don Phalistin" (Freedom for Palestine) on their face and legs in the medieval Irish alphabet Ogham. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) made them remove these words before performing. They also said that they cried when Israel’s Eden Golan was voted into the final.

Bambie Thug also said in the summer of 2025 that they would not perform their Eurovision song, “Doomsday Blue” until Israel was kicked out of Eurovision.

Ireland has won Eurovision a record seven times, but its last victory was in 1996, while Israel has won four times, most recently Netta Barzilai in 2018 with “Toy.”
‘You’re lucky you’re not soap bars’: Jews forced to leave rally marking WWII end in Italy
Several Jews attending a rally in Milan celebrating the anniversary of Italy’s liberation from the Nazis and fascists at the end of World War II were insulted and prevented from continuing along the event’s itinerary on Saturday. Eventually, police urged Jewish participants, marching under the banners of the WWII Jewish Brigade and other Jewish organizations, to leave the event for safety reasons.

“[Yesterday] marked my 50th year joining the April 25 national rally,” Emanuele Fiano, a former MP for the center-left Democratic Party and the son of an Auschwitz survivor, told the Italian daily Corriere della Sera on Sunday. (In Italy, the war ended a few weeks before the official Victory Day celebrated across Europe on May 8).

“We were kicked out, I can’t describe it in any other way,” he added. “The Jewish Brigade that fought alongside the partisans against the Nazi-fascists, the ‘Left for Israel — two states for two peoples [organization]’, members of the Jewish community, members of the socialist Jewish scout group [Hashomer Hatzair], were all kicked out of a rally that was supposed to celebrate freedom.”

The Jewish Brigade was a group of about 5,000 Jewish soldiers, mostly from Mandatory Palestine, who volunteered to join the British Army to fight against the Nazis. The Brigade fought in Italy in the last few months of the war.

For several years, some members of the Jewish community have joined the rally under the banner of the Jewish Brigade (two vertical light blue stripes separated by a white stripe in the middle covered by a yellow Star of David).

Those marching under the Jewish Brigade symbols have regularly been targeted by pro-Palestinian activists over the years.
Outrage after man dressed as Hitler, standing on Israeli flag, salutes Boston Marathon runners
After reports by Boston Marathon participants that they were saluted by a man dressed as Nazi leader Adolf Hitler standing on an Israeli flag, the Boston Athletic Association and Anti-Defamation (BAA) League New England denounced the incident on Friday.

A video of the incident uploaded by marathon runner Michal Yalovski showed a man raising his arm in a Nazi salute while stating, “Happy 4/20,” the date of the marathon and the coinciding birth date of Hitler. Yalovski told The Jerusalem Post that every marathon she ran, she found herself searching the crowds for Israeli flags, something that gave her “strength and a sense of connection.”

“I was genuinely happy when I spotted one – until my mind fully processed what I was seeing, and that feeling quickly turned into shock and horror,” said Yalovski. “I was in complete disbelief – frozen, struggling to understand how something like this could be happening. How is it possible to witness such open hatred and antisemitism in 2026, in the United States?”

Yalovski filmed the incident because she wanted to document it and didn’t want to remain silent, but was troubled by the inaction of others.

“Hundreds of police officers and security personnel were deployed along the course, yet no one stopped him or made him put an end to his actions. Even among the runners nearby, no one spoke up or confronted what was happening. I couldn’t stop thinking about that silence,” she said.

The runner’s video was broadcast on American news channels, and while the BAA didn’t explicitly address the antisemitism, Yalovski said that the footage prompted the organizers not to ignore what happened.

The BAA said in response to the “hateful actions by a spectator” that the marathon had “no place for hatred of any kind” and instead was meant to bring “together athletes, volunteers, spectators, and community members from around the world.”


Israel at the center of Intel’s AI push as turnaround gains traction
As Intel pushes to reestablish itself in the artificial intelligence era, much of the effort is being driven not from Silicon Valley but from its operations in Israel.

The chipmaker reported first-quarter results that exceeded expectations, extending a streak of six consecutive quarters of outperformance. Shares rose sharply in after-hours trading, capping a rally of nearly 70% since the start of the year. Yet as CEO Lip-Bu Tan framed it on the earnings call, the shift at Intel runs deeper than financial momentum.

“Intel is a fundamentally different company today,” Tan said. “We have taken and continue to take deliberate steps to rebuild Intel into a more competitive and more profitable company.” That transformation is increasingly being driven by teams far from the company’s historic U.S. base, most notably in Israel.

At the center of that effort is Karin Eibschitz Segal, who now holds one of the most influential engineering roles in the company. In addition to leading Intel’s operations in Israel, she oversees engineering for the entire Data Center Group, including AI-related products. Her responsibilities span the full stack, from architecture and hardware development to integration and final delivery, placing Israel at the core of Intel’s push into AI infrastructure.

The scale of that responsibility is significant. Intel’s data center and AI businesses are now key growth engines, with roughly 60% of revenue tied to AI-related products in the latest quarter. Demand for server processors, particularly Xeon chips, has accelerated as the industry shifts from training large AI models to deploying them at scale.




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Elder of Ziyon - حـكـيـم صـهـيـون



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

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