A recently surfaced video clip from 1989 shows former President Gerald Ford forecasting the likelihood of America’s first female president. In a Q&A session with an elementary school student, Ford outlined a scenario in which a woman would first become vice president and then assume the presidency after the sitting president’s passing. Ford’s prophetic response suggested that once a woman breaks the presidential glass ceiling, it may become challenging for men to secure party nominations in future elections. In the exchange, Ford advises a young girl aspiring to become president, saying, “I hope we do have a young lady at some point become President of the United States… I think it will happen [with a woman becoming vice president first], and then the President will die, and the woman will become President… And once that barrier is broken, from then on, men better be careful, because they’ll have a hard, hard time ever even getting a nomination in the future.” Ford’s remarks, made over three decades ago, appear remarkably prescient today. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
Vice President Kamala Harris is zeroing in on four potential candidates as she races to choose a running mate for her fledgling campaign, fast-tracking a process that usually takes months but must be finalized in only a few weeks. Eric Holder, the former U.S. attorney general, and a team of lawyers at his firm Covington & Burling are taking the lead on vetting potential choices, according to two people with knowledge of the matter who requested anonymity because the process is being closely held. The political conversation has centered on an assortment of white men — Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper — who would provide demographic balance for the first major party ticket that would be topped by a woman of color. Three of them are from battleground states. The list of possibilities could expand or shift. But Harris, who has locked up the delegates she will need to be the Democratic nominee, hopes to finish the process in time for delegates to also vote on her running mate when they hold a virtual roll call vote in the first few days of August, ahead of the Democratic National Convention. The goal, according to one of the people with knowledge of the matter, is to keep the process drama-free, as Harris and Democrats try to project confidence after an extraordinarily tumultuous few weeks for the party. Choosing a vice president is among the first major tests for Harris, and few people know the importance of the choice better than her. Four years ago, after Harris’ own presidential campaign imploded, Joe Biden revived her political career by selecting her as his running mate. Now that Biden has abruptly ended his bid for a second term less than four months before Election Day, Harris has swiftly established herself as his successor with the help of the president’s endorsement. If Democrats formally nominate Harris, she would face off with Republican candidate Donald Trump in a race that’s viewed by both parties as an existential battle over the country’s future. California Sen. Laphonza Butler, a longtime Harris ally, said the vice president views the choice as an “urgent but deliberate decision,” and said Harris’ own experience as a running mate would be a “grounding force.” Harris has seen “the importance of the working relationship, the trust, the energy and connection, as well as the shared values,” Butler said. Paul Begala, a longtime Democratic strategist, said Harris is lucky that the party has the “best bench I’ve ever seen in my entire career,” providing an array of options for running mates. He said there should only be one consideration for the choice. “Forget the electoral college. Forget the polls,” Begala said. “Pick the person that, if something happens, they can step into the job.” Begala recalled disagreeing with Bill Clinton’s choice of Al Gore as vice president in 1992, arguing that the decision did nothing to expand the appeal of the ticket by pairing one moderate white man from a southern state with another. Clinton rejected the advice, Begala said, by saying “I might die.” The message was clear — Clinton thought that Gore could do the job if necessary and voters needed that assurance. Dan Pfeiffer, a former adviser to President Barack […]
The Republican Party’s organizing effort in Israel is leaving nothing to chance, especially given the record of Kamala Harris, the U.S. vice president whom U.S. President Joe Biden has endorsed and whose record suggests she is to the left of Biden on policies toward Israel.
Marc Zell, chairman of Republicans Overseas Israel, told JNS that about 500,000 of the estimated 750,000 U.S. citizens living in Israel—per the U.S. State Department count—are of voting age and eligible to vote in U.S. elections.
“Our task is to reach out to them. The party calls them low-propensity voters,” Zell told JNS. “If we can get them to vote, then they’ll vote Republican by a large majority, which is unusual for Jews, as you know, here in the United States.”
U.S. Jews historically vote heavily Democratic, although those figures have shifted in the past two election cycles.
“In Israel, they’ve already understood where their fate lies in terms of American politics, and it lies with the Republican Party,” Zell told JNS.
Half a million low-propensity voters sounds like a small number, given Biden defeated Trump in 2020 by 7,060,347 votes. But Zell cites the 2000 presidential election, in which George W. Bush defeated Al Gore in Florida by 537 votes. With that margin, the Republican took the Electoral College and the presidency.
In that election, 1,200 U.S. voters with Florida residency voted from Israel, almost certainly swinging the election to Bush, according to Zell.
“Had they not done so, the election would have changed and history would have changed as a result,” Zell told JNS. “This election cycle looks like it will be close in many of the swing states, particularly large states where there are significant Jewish populations,” such as Pennsylvania and Michigan.
In recent weeks, Zell’s organization found about 100 Americans living in Israel with Minnesota residency, many of whom were unaware that they had the right to vote. The North Star State is considered to be a swing state this cycle.
Even if the Israeli-American vote doesn’t decide the Electoral College, Zell thinks it is important for two other reasons. The popular vote doesn’t decide the presidency but still carries weight in terms of legitimacy, and every vote has equal value, he said.
And it is important for party officials and politicians to take the Israel-based vote seriously, Zell told JNS.
“Five-hundred thousand people is a lot. It’s a lot more than many states in the union,” he said. “So it’s important that they understand that Israel is on the electoral map, along with the jurisdictions in the United States.”
Zell, who also serves as general counsel for the larger Republicans Overseas operation, is making do with what he describes as limited resources.
Speaking to JNS from last week’s Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, he said Republicans Overseas Israel has a database of several thousand self-identified Republican voters in Israel.
“We can do much better, and that’s one of the things we’re trying to do,” he said. “We’re doing a crowdfunding campaign and a private donation campaign to provide us with resources, because the Republican Party does not support expat voting anywhere in the world, including Israel.”
{Matzav.com}
Education Minister Yoav Kisch attended a meeting at the Mateh Asher Regional Council in the western Galil in northern Israel on Tuesday amid another day of Hezbollah rocket fire at the area. In his remarks to the heads of the local councils, Kisch admitted that the security situation in the north will not allow the reopening of schools in the area on September 1, meaning that over 16,000 children evacuated from their homes will continue to attend schools at various locations around Israel. “This is an unfortunate decision forced on us and made with a heavy heart,” Kisch said. “I reiterate and call on the prime minister and heads of the defense echelon to act now and forcefully against Lebanon. There is escaping the decision to launch a massive war against Lebanon in order to restore quiet and stability to the residents of northern Israel and for the future of the State of Israel. Hezbollah has launched over 6,800 missiles, rockets, and drones at Israel since October 8, 2023. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
Tomorrow, July 24th, is the day we unite to save the future of Klal Yisroel. Gedolei Eretz Yisroel traveled to the United States recently and raised $84,000,000 to replace the budgets which the Israeli government took away from the yeshivos. Those numbers are staggering, but we still need to raise $23,000,000 to complete the shortfall. The emergency campaign initiated by the gedolim, Keren Olam HaTorah, has marked tomorrow as the day to launch the unprecedented fundraising mission of raising this deficit. Together with askanim from around the world, we’re inviting you to come and join us for a historic raiser’s event in Bell Works NJ, where we will join together to raise the funds needed to reach our goal. The Historic Raiser’s Event When: Tomorrow, July 24 from 5:00-10:00pm Where: Bell Works in Holmdel, NJ During the event, you will enjoy a lavish buffet, hear from guest speakers, and above all — hear from Gedolei Yisroel who are giving brachos to all involved. CLICK HERE You Can Join By donating/raising $2,736 to sponsor an avreich (or committing to $228/month), you’re invited to join in this event. Just email rayzeit@kerenolamhatorah.org or call 732.941.1000 to become a raiser. OR click here If There Was Ever A Time, It’s Now The Olam HaTorah is in danger. We can’t save it without you. Our gedolim have implored all of Klal Yisroel to give beyond their usual contributions. “This is a request to go above and beyond your normal giving,” Hagaon Harav Moshe Hillel Hirsch urged. Because this is not just another fundraising campaign; it is the very survival of Klal Yisroel. In recognition of the generosity, Rav Landau benched anyone who helps with good health, nachas, parnassah, and all the brochos one could wish for. Tomorrow, We Will Make History Every donation counts now, more than ever. We need your support to ensure that the doors of Torah learning remain open. Although the numbers are unprecedented, your support today can turn the tide. Join thousands for an unprecedented gathering to raise $23,000,000 to save the Yeshivos in Eretz Yisroel. Become a raiser today and save the future of Klal Yisroel. KerenOlamHaTorah.org rayzeit@kerenolamhatorah.org 732.941.1000.
The suicide drones fired by the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen at Tel Aviv last week were manufactured primarily with US components, highlighting violations of US sanctions on Tehran, Republican Sen. Ted Curz says, as reported by the Washington Free Beacon. Not only was the drone manufactured with US parts, it was funded by over $100 billion in sanctions relief granted by the Biden administration, Cruz wrote in a letter sent to the White House on Monday. “The construction of the drones is enabled by the regime’s access to American components, and indeed the drones are built almost entirely from components produced by U.S. companies,” Cruz wrote. “Military production of the drones is financed by funds available to the Iranian regime, including roughly 100 billion dollars that the Biden administration has allowed to flow to the Ayatollah.” Cruz’s letter was written only days after the Biden administration renewed a sanctions waiver for the Islamic Republic, releasing over $10 billion which Tehran uses to produce drones exported to Israel’s enemies as well as to Russia for its war against Ukraine. “These drones are made almost entirely of American components, including ones cannibalized from other machines or transferred through third or fourth-party distributors using convoluted routes to move tiny electronics,” Cruz wrote. “U.S. export and trade restrictions are aimed in part to prevent the acquisition of such components by rogue regimes such as Iran; their failure suggests either a lack of will or ability by the Biden administration.” “The Iranian regime has engaged in the use and mass proliferation of loitering munitions—so-called suicide drones—by its own forces, Russia, and its terrorist proxies across the Middle East for decades. Those munitions are being used to attack U.S. service members and our allies, including Israel and Ukraine, and more broadly to undermine American national security interests.” The White House is aware of the issue and in 2022, formed an “expansive task force” to explore how Iran is obtaining US-made components and using them to manufacture drones. However, two years later, “there has not been a single published update, report, or announcement,” Cruz wrote. Cruz requested that the Biden administration “detail the task force’s activities to date” and disclose whether it has “engaged American companies whose components have been found in Iranian-made drones.” Read the full letter here. The drone used in the Houthi attack on Tel Aviv was identified by the IDF as an Iranian-manufactured Samad-3 drone that was revamped to have a further range. On Tuesday, the Houthis released a video of what it claims is the launch of the drone at Tel Aviv: (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has, for the first time, openly held the Biden administration responsible for what he describes as being “forced to take a bullet for democracy.”
“The Biden/Harris Administration did not properly protect me, and I was forced to take a bullet for Democracy,” Trump stated on Truth Social on Tuesday. “IT WAS MY GREAT HONOR TO DO SO!”
These remarks were made shortly after the resignation of U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle on Tuesday. Cheatle stepped down after failing to immediately address the incident where an assailant managed to shoot at the White House’s political opponent on the eve of the Republican National Convention.
Trump was slated to officially accept the GOP nomination just hours following the assassination attempt, which he now attributes to the negligence of his political adversaries in safeguarding him during the campaign. This incident follows a series of legal challenges and prosecution attempts in Democrat-led jurisdictions, including New York City, Washington, and Atlanta.
Trump’s phrase “took a bullet for democracy” has become a significant rallying cry for his campaign post-assassination attempt. It first emerged in an unscripted moment during a rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where Trump reappeared on stage “one week ago today, almost to the hour, even to the minute” after narrowly escaping an assassination attempt.
“Last week, I took a bullet for democracy,” Trump declared at the Michigan rally, broadcast live on Newsmax and Newsmax2 streaming platform. He criticized Democrats for allegedly undermining their primary results to stage a political coup against Biden, who had labeled Trump as a “threat to democracy.”
President Biden had previously referred to Trump as an existential danger to America. The assailant, a heavily armed 20-year-old, attended Trump’s Pennsylvania rally, meticulously planning his attack. Identified as a person of “suspicion” for nearly an hour, the shooter ascended an unguarded roof outside the Secret Service’s secure perimeter, approximately 145 yards away, and managed to fire multiple shots at Trump. One bullet grazed Trump’s right ear after he slightly turned his head, averting a potentially fatal headshot.
The shooter was swiftly neutralized by a countersniper, but footage revealed that his high-powered rifle had been aimed at Trump long before he was able to fire the shot that almost hit its target. One bullet fatally struck Corey Comperatore, a 50-year-old rally attendee and online Biden critic, while two other individuals between the shooter and Trump were also wounded.
Trump mentioned that the two other victims are expected to recover from their injuries.
{Matzav.com}
A Wisconsin man fled to Ireland and sought asylum to avoid a prison sentence for joining a mob’s attack on the U.S. Capitol over three years ago, federal authorities allege in a court filing Tuesday. The filing charges Paul Kovacik with defying a court order to surrender and serve three months behind bars for participating in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the Capitol. Kovacik, 56, was arrested last month after he voluntarily returned to the U.S. from Ireland. Kovacik is serving his sentence at a federal prison in Chicago and is scheduled to be released from prison on Sept. 8. But a conviction on the new misdemeanor charge could lead to more time behind bars. Kovacik told authorities that he decided to withdraw his asylum claim and return to the U.S. because he felt homesick, according to a U.S. Marshals Service deputy’s affidavit. The FBI initially arrested Kovacik in June 2022. A year later, U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton sentenced Kovacik after he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. Kovacik took videos of rioters’ damage as he moved through the Capitol on Jan. 6. He later uploaded his footage onto his YouTube channel, with titles such as “Treason Against the United States is about to be committed,” according to prosecutors. They said Kovacik’s criminal record included 24 prior convictions. Walton initially ordered Kovacik to report to prison on Aug. 22, 2023, but the judge agreed to extend that deadline to Nov. 1, 2023, after Kovacik requested more time for his seasonal employment at a theme park in Georgia. The court issued a warrant for Kovacik’s arrest after he flew to Dublin, Ireland, through Germany on the day that he was supposed to report to prison in Chicago. Kovacik called himself a “political prisoner” when investigators questioned him after his arrest last month at an arrival gate at Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport, according to the deputy’s affidavit. Inside his luggage, authorities found documents related to his asylum request, which cited a fear of political persecution, the deputy wrote. The affidavit doesn’t say whether the Irish government acted on Kovacik’s request. An attorney who represented Kovacik in his Capitol riot case declined to comment on the new charge. More than 1,400 people have been charged with federal crimes related to the Jan. 6 attack. Several other Capitol riot defendants have become fugitives at different stages of their prosecutions. (AP)
The United Arab Emirates hosted Israel and the United States in the capital Abu Dhabi last Thursday for a secret meeting to discuss plans for the Gaza Strip after the war with Hamas ends.
According to a report in Axios, citing two Israeli officials, Yerushalayim dispatched Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer to the meeting, while Washington sent White House special envoy Brett McGurk and State Department counselor Tom Sullivan. UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah Bin Zayed hosted the gathering.
In addition, two senior Israeli defense officials who have been working on the “day after” scenario in the Strip, traveled with Dermer.
Axios reporter Barak Ravid noted that a day before the secret summit, Emirati diplomat Lana Zaki Nusseibeh laid out proposals for a post-war Gaza in an op-ed in the Financial Times. The UAE’s permanent representative to the United Nations called for the establishment of a “temporary international mission” in Gaza “that responds to the humanitarian crisis, establishes law and order, lays the groundwork for governance and paves the way to reuniting Gaza and the occupied West Bank under a single, legitimate Palestinian Authority.”
In an interview with FT published alongside her op-ed, Nusseibeh said that the UAE would consider boots on the ground in Gaza.
“The UAE could consider being part of the stabilization forces alongside Arab and international partners … at the invitation of a reformed Palestinian Authority, or a P.A. led by an empowered prime minister,” she said.
{Matzav.com}
A surprise eruption that shot steam, water and dark-colored rock and dirt dozens of feet into the sky Tuesday sent people running for safety in Yellowstone National Park. The hydrothermal explosion happened around 10 a.m. in Biscuit Basin, a collection of hot springs a couple miles (3.2 kilometers) north of the famous Old Faithful Geyser. Video posted online showed a couple dozen people watching from a boardwalk as the eruption sprayed and grew in front of them. As water and debris began to fall, they ran to keep clear, some yelling “Back up!” and “Holy cow!” People then turned to watch the spectacle under a huge cloud of steam. The eruption damaged the boardwalk, an elevated wooden walkway that keeps people off Yellowstone’s fragile and often dangerous geothermal areas. Photos and video of the aftermath showed damaged guardrails and boards covered in rock and silt near muddy pools. No injuries were reported, but the Biscuit Basin area was closed for visitor safety, according to a U.S. Geological Survey statement. The explosion happened in or near Black Diamond Pool, a 120-foot-long (37-meter-long) hot pool that is the basin’s widest thermal feature. A National Park Service aerial photo taken afterward showed the pool somewhat enlarged near the boardwalk compared to recent satellite images and its water turned a muddy beige. The deep Sapphire Pool about 100 yards (91 meters) away retained its usual blue hues. A hydrothermal explosion happens when water suddenly flashes to steam underground. Such blasts are relatively common in Yellowstone. Park geologists were investigating what specifically happened in this case. Similar blasts have happened in Biscuit Basin in 2009, 1991 and after the magnitude 7.2 Hebgen Lake earthquake 40 miles (64 kilometers) away in 1959. Dramatic as it was, the latest was on the small side, according to the statement. Scientists theorize that a series of hydrothermal explosions created Mary Bay on the northeastern side of Yellowstone Lake thousands of years ago. At 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers) wide, Mary Bay is the world’s largest known hydrothermal explosion crater. Yellowstone is centered on a huge, dormant volcano. The hydrothermal explosion did not indicate new activity within the volcanic system, which remains at normal levels, according to the Geological Survey. Though no one was hurt, that’s not always the case with Yellowstone’s thermal features. At least 22 people are known to have died from injuries related to thermal features in and around the 3,471-square-mile (9,000-square-kilometer) national park since 1890. Visitors are warned to stay on the boardwalks and trails in thermal areas, where some of the pools and springs have a thin, breakable crust covering the scalding and sometimes acidic water. (AP)
Comments Donald Trump’s running mate JD Vance made in 2021 questioning Vice President Kamala Harris’ leadership because she did not have biological children have resurfaced, testing the young conservative senator in his early days campaigning as part of the Republicans’ presidential ticket. During Vance’s bid for the Senate from Ohio, he said in a Fox News interview that “we are effectively run in this country via the Democrats,” and referred to them as “a bunch of childless cat ladies who are miserable at their own lives and the choices that they’ve made and so they want to make the rest of the country miserable, too.” He said that included Harris, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a New York Democrat. “How does it make any sense that we’ve turned our country over to people who don’t really have a direct stake in it?” Vance asked. Harris became stepmother to two teenagers when she married entertainment lawyer Douglas Emhoff in 2014. And Buttigieg announced he and his partner adopted infant twins in September 2021, more than a month before Vance made those comments. The clip has started to spread online, with Hillary Clinton sharing it in a Tuesday post on X and adding sarcastically “what a normal, relatable guy who certainly doesn’t hate women having freedoms.” The Harris campaign contested Vance’s stance, saying “every single American has a stake in this country’s future.” “Ugly, personal attacks from JD Vance and Donald Trump are in line with their dangerous Project 2025 agenda to ban abortion, decimate our democracy, and gut Social Security,” said James Singer, a Harris campaign spokesman, referring to a policy and personnel plan for a second Trump term that was crafted by a host of former administration officials. Trump has been trying to distance himself from it. Project 2025 says the Department of Health and Human Services should “pursue a robust agenda” to protect “the fundamental right to life.” However, the document contains no proposals to cut Social Security, though the Heritage Foundation that oversaw it has long pushed for changes to the entitlement. The plan outlines a dramatic expansion of presidential power and a plan to fire as many as 50,000 government workers. Vance’s spokesperson said the Harris campaign is lying about Vance’s views, noting her record is “littered with countless failures and disasters. “It’s well known that Senator Vance found success in life due in large part to the influence of strong female role models like his grandmother,” spokesperson Taylor Van Kirk said. The recirculated comment may be a sign of the ticket’s troubles appealing to women voters, and on the issue of reproductive rights. It follows the explosive entrance in the race of Harris, who secured the support of enough delegates to become the official nominee in less than 32 hours after President Joe Biden ended his reelection bid. It also lays out some of the fears expressed by strategists that Trump took a political risk in picking a running mate who has been in Congress less than two years and is largely untested on a bigger stage. Trump liked Vance’s telegenic qualities and said he reminded him of “a young Abraham Lincoln.” Vance, 39, is a former Marine and businessman who was first elected to public office in 2022. He wrote […]
Senior Hamas terrorist Musa Abu Marzouk announced on Tuesday the signing of a Palestinian unity agreement that includes Mahmoud Abbas’s Fatah faction, which rules areas of Judea and Samaria.
“Today, we sign an agreement, and we say that the path to completing this journey is national unity. We are committed to national unity, and we call for it,” said Abu Marzouk.
The “Beijing declaration” was signed by 14 Palestinian factions that took part in negotiations hosted by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
Fatah, based in Ramallah, and Hamas have been split since 2007 following the latter’s violent takeover of Gaza. There have been many failed attempts to bring the two factions together.
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said in a statement on Tuesday that “instead of rejecting terrorism, Mahmoud Abbas embraces the murderers and rapists of Hamas, revealing his true face.
“In reality, this won’t happen because Hamas’s rule will be crushed, and Abbas will be watching Gaza from afar. Israel’s security will remain solely in Israel’s hands,” Jerusalem’s top diplomat added.
In February, Abbas traveled to Doha to discuss ways to incorporate Hamas into a P.A.-led government for Judea, Samaria and Gaza.
The same month, sources in Ramallah told Sky News Arabia that Hamas had approved a three-phase plan leading to “complete reconciliation [with Fatah]” and the Gaza-based terror group joining the Palestine Liberation Organization, which controls the Palestinian Authority, under a “unified Palestinian-Arab vision.”
Also in February, Fatah and Hamas officials converged on Moscow for a two-day “national dialogue” on forming a unity government under the auspices of the Russian Foreign Ministry. Other rounds of talks were held in the past in Egypt, Turkey and Algeria.
The Islamist group reportedly also gave its blessing to P.A. chief Abbas’s proposal to establish a “government of technocrats” whose primary purpose would be the reconstruction of Gaza after the war prompted by Hamas’s murder of some 1,200 people in Israel on Oct. 7.
Hamas is an “essential part of the Palestinian political mosaic,” then-P.A. Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh told world leaders gathered in Qatar in December.
“We want a situation in which Palestinians are united. … I think it is time that Hamas call the Palestinian president and tell him we’re all united behind you, and you are the legitimate authority of the Palestinian people and we are ready to engage,” Shtayyeh stated at the Doha Forum.
Amid the unity talks, Shtayyeh submitted the collective resignation of his government last month. Abbas then appointed Fatah loyalist Mohammad Mustafa to fill the prime minister’s role.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has insisted that an “effective and revitalized Palestinian Authority” should ultimately govern Gaza.
During a Jan. 10 meeting in Ramallah, Blinken pressed Abbas on “administrative reforms, which, if implemented, would benefit the Palestinian people.” Sky News Arabia described the tête-à-tête as “tense” and marked by “arguments.”
The Biden administration wants the P.A. to assume control of the Strip after Israel’s war against Hamas ends, a move that Jerusalem rejects because of Ramallah’s overt support for terrorism.
On Jan. 27, Abbas’s spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh told Al Arabiya that the P.A. is prepared to hand over the reins to Hamas if it won a general election. Ramallah is “prepared to hold general elections, and if Hamas wins, the president will hand over the Authority,” he said.
The U.S. State Department has refused to rule out Hamas retaining power in Gaza or even joining a P.A.-led governing body that would also have jurisdiction in Judea and Samaria.
According to recent polls, 89% of Palestinians support establishing a government that includes or is led by Hamas. Only around 8.5% said they favor one controlled exclusively by Fatah.
Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu has repeatedly emphasized his opposition to the P.A. taking over Gaza in a post-Hamas world.
“There will not be any element that educates for terrorism, finances terrorism and dispatches terrorism” in the Strip, said Netanyahu.
“I will not allow us to replace Hamastan with Fatahstan, that we replace Khan Yunis with Jenin,” he continued. “I will not allow the State of Israel to repeat the fateful mistake of Oslo, which brought to the heart of our country and to Gaza the most extreme elements in the Arab world, which are committed to the destruction of the State of Israel and who educate their children to this end.” JNS
A roaring crowd of battleground state voters greeted Vice President Kamala Harris Tuesday as she opened her Democratic political case against Republican former President Donald Trump. In the November election, she said, “it’s a choice between freedom and chaos.” “In this campaign, I promise you, I will proudly put my record against his any day of the week,” Harris said. “We believe in a future where every person has the opportunity not just to get by, but to get ahead.” Harris arrived in the Milwaukee area having locked up nomination support from Democratic delegates after President Joe Biden dropped his reelection bid on Sunday. It was her first campaign rally since she launched her campaign just two days ago with Biden’s endorsement. The event reflected a vibrancy that had been lacking among Democrats in recent weeks, adding to the evidence along with $100 million in donations since Sunday afternoon, that Harris looks to project a sense of steady confidence about the November election. The vice president has also scored the backing of Democratic officials and political groups, including congressional leaders Charles Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries. By stopping in Wisconsin, Harris was going to one of the “blue wall” states along with Michigan and Pennsylvania that Democrats see as essential for securing a presidential victory. The visit comes a week after the Republican National Convention wrapped up in the city and as Harris works to sharpen her message against the GOP nominee with just over 100 days until Election Day. Harris’ trip to the state was a sharp contrast to Biden’s July 6 visit when he was trying to reassure Democrats who were wary after his troubling performance in the June 27 debate against Donald Trump. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, who is up for reelection this year, skipped the Biden event, but she spoke before Harris on Tuesday. Harris is leaning into her resume as a former district attorney and California attorney general, seeking to draw a contrast with Trump who is the first former president to be convicted of felony crimes. “She’s prepared to meet this moment because she was professionally trained to prosecute a criminal, and unfortunately that’s who the Republicans have put forward,” said Sen. Laphonza Butler, D-Calif. Harris strode onto the stage Tuesday to the anthem “Freedom” from Beyonce’s Lemonade album. She opened by contrasting herself with Trump. “I took on perpetrators of all kinds. Predators who abused women. Fraudsters who ripped off consumers. Cheaters who broke the rules for their own gain. So hear me when I say, I know Donald Trump’s type,” she said. Harris also cast her campaign as “people first,” again aiming to draw a contrast with Trump who she said represented special interests and corporations. She also portrayed her rival’s policies as being antiquated and backward looking. “We are not going back,′ she said. “And I’ll tell you why we are not going back. Ours is a fight for the future.” That echoed Barack Obama who frequently deployed the refrain during his 2012 reelection fight to argue against Republican ideas. Harris’ swift ascent over the past few days has required her to vet possible running mates, a process being led by Eric Holder, who was attorney general during Barack Obama’s presidency. But her key impact so far has been galvanizing Democrats. Before the […]
U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez will resign Aug. 20 following his conviction for taking bribes for corrupt acts including acting as an agent of the Egyptian government, he wrote in a letter to New Jersey’s governor obtained by The Associated Press. Menendez had insisted after the July 16 verdict that he was innocent and on Tuesday in his letter promised to appeal “all the way,” including to the Supreme Court, he wrote to fellow Democrat, Gov. Phil Murphy. The roughly monthlong delay in leaving gives his staff time for an orderly transition, Menendez wrote. The date also coincides with a Senate payday. He did not mention the federal conviction in the letter but cited his work helping Superstorm Sandy victims and getting transit funding, among other items and addressed the governor directly, reminding him that he had once praised Menendez — before calling for his resignation. “These successes led you, Governor, to call me the ‘Indispensable Senator,'” he wrote. The Senate received a copy of Menendez’s resignation letter, according to Sen. Peter Welch of Vermont, who was presiding in the chamber on Tuesday. The resignation gives Murphy the ability to appoint someone to the Senate for the remainder of Menendez’s term, which expires on Jan. 3. Murphy said in a statement Tuesday that he planned to exercise his power to appoint a temporary senator to fill Menendez’s seat. He didn’t say who that would be. The seat was already up for election on Nov. 5. Democrats have nominated U.S. Rep. Andy Kim, who’s in a strong position in the Democratic-leaning state. He faces Republican Curtis Bashaw. Menendez, 70, was convicted of charges that he sold the power of his office to three New Jersey businessmen who sought a variety of favors. Prosecutors said Menendez used his influence to meddle in three different state and federal criminal investigations to protect his associates. They said he helped one bribe-paying friend get a multimillion-dollar deal with a Qatari investment fund and another keep a contract to provide religious certification for meat bound for Egypt. He was also convicted of taking actions that benefited Egypt’s government in exchange for bribes, including providing details on personnel at the U.S. embassy in Cairo, ghostwriting a letter to fellow senators regarding lifting a hold on military aid to Egypt. FBI agents found stacks of gold bars and $480,000 in cash hidden in Menendez’s house. After his conviction, Menendez denied all of those allegations, saying “I have never been anything but a patriot of my country and for my country. I have never, ever been a foreign agent.” But numerous fellow Democrats had urged him to resign, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. Murphy had urged the Senate to expel Menendez if he didn’t quit. Only 15 senators have ever been expelled. Sen. William Blount, of Tennessee, was ousted in 1797 for treason. The other 14 were expelled in 1861 and 1862 for supporting Confederates during the Civil War. Menendez faces the possibility of decades in prison. A judge scheduled his sentencing on Oct. 29, a week before the election. His resignation bookends a career spent in politics that started with him getting elected to his local school board just a couple of years after high school graduation. He’s held office at every level in his home state and […]
[COMMUNICATED]
Tomorrow, July 24th, is the day we unite to save the future of Klal Yisroel.
Gedolei Eretz Yisroel traveled to the United States recently and raised $84,000,000 to replace the budgets which the Israeli government took away from the yeshivos.
Those numbers are staggering, but we still need to raise $23,000,000 to complete the shortfall.
The emergency campaign initiated by the gedolim, Keren Olam HaTorah, has marked tomorrow as the day to launch the unprecedented fundraising mission of raising this deficit.
Together with askanim from around the world, we’re inviting you to come and join us for a historic raiser’s event in Bell Works NJ, where we will join together to raise the funds needed to reach our goal.
The Historic Raiser’s Event
When: Tomorrow, July 24 from 5:00-10:00pm
Where: Bell Works in Holmdel, NJ
During the event, you will enjoy a lavish buffet, hear from guest speakers, and above all — hear from Gedolei Yisroel who are giving brachos to all involved.
CLICK HERE
You Can Join
By donating/raising $2,736 to sponsor an avreich (or committing to $228/month), you’re invited to join in this event.
Just email rayzeit@kerenolamhatorah.org or call 732.941.1000 to become a raiser. OR click here
If There Was Ever A Time, It’s Now
The Olam HaTorah is in danger. We can’t save it without you.
Our gedolim have implored all of Klal Yisroel to give beyond their usual contributions. “This is a request to go above and beyond your normal giving,” Hagaon Harav Moshe Hillel Hirsch urged.
Because this is not just another fundraising campaign; it is the very survival of Klal Yisroel.
In recognition of the generosity, Rav Landau benched anyone who helps with good health, nachas, parnassah, and all the brochos one could wish for.
Tomorrow, We Will Make History
Every donation counts now, more than ever. We need your support to ensure that the doors of Torah learning remain open.
Although the numbers are unprecedented, your support today can turn the tide.
Join thousands for an unprecedented gathering to raise $23,000,000 to save the Yeshivos in Eretz Yisroel.
Become a raiser today and save the future of Klal Yisroel.
KerenOlamHaTorah.org
rayzeit@kerenolamhatorah.org
732.941.1000.
In the ever-evolving world of cryptocurrency, ASICRUN, a Hong Kong-based technology company, has recently launched a game-changing series of plug-and-play miners, promising to simplify and amplify the crypto mining experience. The AR1, AR2, and EliteAR miners mark a significant stride as the first-ever series of plug-and-play mining hardware to hit the market. Unleashing Unprecedented Hash Power ASICRUN‘s miners have garnered attention not just for their simplicity but also for their extraordinary hash rates, setting them apart in the competitive mining hardware landscape. Users and industry experts alike acknowledge that the hash powers of the AR series surpass any other mining rig to date: AR1 Miner: Bitcoin 1050 TH/s, Litecoin/Doge 400 GH/s, Dash 20 TH/s AR2 Miner: Bitcoin 2200 TH/s, Litecoin/Doge 900 GH/s, Dash 45 TH/s EliteAR Miner: Bitcoin 4900 TH/s, Litecoin/Doge 2200 GH/s, Dash 100 TH/s This potent combination of user-friendliness and unparalleled hash power propels ASICRUN miners into a league of their own. Striking the Balance: Power Consumption and Profitability Beyond impressive hash rates, ASICRUN miners redefine efficiency with modest power consumption. The AR1, AR2, and EliteAR consume only 650W, 1300W, and 2800W, respectively. This balance of power and cost-effectiveness positions ASICRUN miners as formidable processing engines capable of maximizing profitability. Maximizing Profitability with ASICRUN Miners ASICRUN miners not only stand out for their hash rates but also for their profitability. Capable of processing numerous transactions simultaneously, these miners boast a monthly power cost ranging from a nominal $50 to $250. This cost-effectiveness, coupled with their high hash rates, results in substantial monthly profits: Projected Monthly Profits: AR1: Bitcoin $1,897, Litecoin $3,474, Dash $3,591 AR2: Bitcoin $3,974, Litecoin $7,813, Dash $8,011 EliteAR: Bitcoin $8,853, Litecoin $19,700, Dash $17,400 Democratizing Mining: User-Friendly Design ASICRUN has taken a bold step toward democratizing crypto mining with a design that caters to both seasoned miners and enthusiasts without prior experience. These plug-and-play miners come preconfigured with a Linux-based system, allowing users to start mining simply by connecting to a power socket. Operating at a minimum internet speed of just 10 KB/s, users can also opt for free access to ASICRUN‘s mining pool, enhancing their potential for profits. Global Reach, Covered Costs, and Confidence Assurance To ensure a seamless experience for users worldwide, ASICRUN covers delivery and custom fees entirely. Products are delivered globally within a swift 7 business days. Backed by comprehensive warranties for both hardware and software issues, users can mine with confidence, knowing ASICRUN has them covered. Unlocking the Future of Mining with ASICRUN Explore the full potential of ASICRUN’s plug-and-play miners at https://asicrun.com/. ASICRUN, headquartered in Hong Kong with a global presence, is led by a team of industry experts committed to advancing the cryptocurrency mining space through cutting-edge ASIC technology. In a rapidly evolving crypto landscape, ASICRUN’s plug-and-play miners stand as a beacon of simplicity, power, and profitability. Whether you’re a seasoned miner or a newcomer to the crypto world, ASICRUN opens the doors to a future of mining that is both accessible and lucrative.
Axios reports that a secret trilateral meeting was held in Abu Dhabi last Thursday, attended by representatives from the US, Israel, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), to discuss plans for Gaza’s governance after the Israel-Hamas war. The meeting suggests Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is beginning to recognize the need for a realistic plan for Gaza’s future. The UAE’s Foreign Minister Abdullah Bin Zayed hosted the meeting, which was attended by President Biden’s top Middle East adviser Brett McGurk, State Department counselor Tom Sullivan, Israeli Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer, and two senior Israeli defense officials. The UAE has proposed deploying a temporary international mission to Gaza, led by the Palestinian Authority, to address the humanitarian crisis, establish law and order, and lay the groundwork for governance. However, this proposal comes with conditions, including the Palestinian Authority conducting meaningful reforms and agreeing to a political process based on the two-state solution. The US has been pressing Netanyahu to seriously discuss a day-after plan, and President Biden is expected to discuss this with Netanyahu during their meeting in Washington this week. The Biden administration wants to ensure a plan is in place to prevent a power vacuum in Gaza that could be filled by Hamas or lawlessness. Netanyahu has previously rejected proposals for a day-after plan, but Israeli officials say he is now showing more willingness to support a plan similar to the Emirati proposal. However, friction points remain, including Netanyahu’s reluctance to end the war and his rejection of an official role for the Palestinian Authority in Gaza. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
In his address to a joint session of the U.S. Congress on Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu intends to present a “new way” of dealing with the threat that Iran’s axis of evil presents, according to an Israeli official familiar with the prime minister’s plans.
Netanyahu plans to address the threats that Iran poses both to the Jewish state and to other countries in the region, the member of the Israeli premier’s delegation said on Tuesday.
The prime minister’s address is also expected to focus on Israel’s efforts to achieve a complete victory over Hamas and liberate the remaining 120 hostages held in the Gaza Strip and to emphasize the justness of the war on Hamas and the bravery of Israeli troops.
In Washington, Netanyahu is seeking to solidify bipartisan support amid ongoing conflicts on the Jewish state’s borders and following Biden’s decision, on Sunday, to drop out of the 2024 U.S. presidential election.
The Israeli leader is scheduled to meet with evangelical Christian leaders on Tuesday afternoon and to attend an event with members of the U.S. Jewish community, his office announced.
Prior to his speech at the Capitol on Wednesday, Netanyahu is scheduled to attend a memorial service for Joe Lieberman. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) are among the other leaders expected to attend the service for the late Jewish senator.
Netanyahu’s address to the joint session of Congress is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.
Schumer, Johnson, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) collectively invited Netanyahu to deliver the address, which “symbolizes the U.S. and Israel’s enduring relationship,” the four stated in June.
They added that the speech “will offer Prime Minister Netanyahu the opportunity to share the Israeli government’s vision for defending their democracy, combating terror and establishing just and lasting peace in the region.”
Netanyahu’s speech will mark the fourth time the Israeli premier has addressed the legislatures—a record for any foreign leader.
Later this week, Netanyahu is expected to meet with U.S. President Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, the U.S. vice president whom Biden has endorsed for the Democratic nomination for president.
The longtime Israeli leader plans to focus during his visit primarily on the threat posed by Iranian-backed terrorist organizations, according to Michael Herzog, the Israeli ambassador in Washington.
“There is a whole world of issues on the agenda on the bilateral level between Israel and the United States, which will not wait and cannot wait,” Herzog told Israel’s Ynet news outlet on Tuesday. “These issues will be discussed during the prime minister’s visit here.”
“The prime minister is coming here at a time when Israel has been in a difficult war already for more than nine months,” Herzog added. “However, the strategic focus of the visit will be on the Iranian axis.”
Israel has been engaged in combat with Iran-backed terrorist proxies—including Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Lebanon-based Hezbollah and Yemen’s Houthi rebels—since Hamas-led terrorists murdered about 1,200 Israelis and took some 250 others hostage on Oct. 7.
The Israeli Air Force struck Houthi terror targets in the western Yemen port city of Hodeidah on Shabbos following a deadly suicide drone attack by the Iran-backed organization in Tel Aviv the prior day.
“Like Hamas and Hezbollah, the Houthis are an integral part of Iran’s axis of evil,” Netanyahu stated. “This axis operates not only against Israel, it threatens the peace of the entire world.”
{Matzav.com}
Senators demanded in a Monday letter that OpenAI turn over data about its efforts to build safe and secure artificial intelligence, following employee warnings that the company rushed through safety-testing of its latest AI model, which were detailed in The Washington Post earlier this month.
Led by Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), the five lawmakers asked OpenAI’s chief executive Sam Altman to outline how the ChatGPT-maker plans to meet “public commitments” to ensure its AI does not cause harm, such as teaching users to build bioweapons or helping hackers develop new kinds of cyberattacks, in the letter obtained exclusively by The Post.
The senators – a group of Democrats and an independent – also asked the company for information about employee agreements, which could have muzzled workers who wished to alert regulators to risks. In a July letter to the Securities and Exchange Commission, OpenAI whistleblowers said they had filed a complaint with the agency alleging the company illegally issued restrictive severance, nondisclosure and employee agreements, potentially penalizing workers who wished to raise concerns to federal regulators.
In a statement to The Post earlier this month, OpenAI spokesperson Hannah Wong said the company has “made important changes to our departure process to remove nondisparagement terms” from staff agreements.
The letter comes amid employee concerns that OpenAI is putting profit before safety in creating its technology. It cites a July report in The Post detailing how OpenAI rushed out its latest AI model, GPT-4 Omni, to meet a May release date. Company leaders moved ahead with the launch, despite employee concerns about the time frame, and sped through comprehensive safety testing, undermining a July 2023 safety pledge to the White House.
“Given OpenAI’s position as a leading AI company, it is important that the public can trust in the safety and security of its systems,” the senators wrote. “This includes the integrity of the company’s governance structure and safety testing, its employment practices, its fidelity to its public promises and mission, and its cybersecurity policies.”
“Artificial intelligence is a transformative new technology and we appreciate the importance it holds for U.S. competitiveness and national security,” OpenAI spokesperson Liz Bourgeois said in a statement. “We take our role in developing safe and secure AI very seriously and continue to work alongside policymakers to establish the appropriate safeguards going forward.”
Lawmakers, including Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), have said employees at AI companies need to be able to offer Congress a clear understanding of the technology as it attempts to regulate it – including concerns and risks.
Senators in the letter asked OpenAI to commit to not enforcing nondisparagement agreements and “removing any other provisions” from employee agreements that could be used to punish those who raise concerns about company practices.
Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) and a bipartisan working group of senators released recommendations earlier this year to infuse $32 billion into AI research and development, but critics have said the plan is vague and has stymied other efforts in Congress to craft legislation. The chances of passing comprehensive legislation this year are dwindling as attention in Washington shifts to the 2024 election.
In the absence of new laws from Congress, the White House has largely relied on voluntary commitments from the companies to create safe and trustworthy AI systems. The Biden administration also passed a sweeping AI executive order requiring companies to share testing results about the most powerful models.
The letter also asked Altman whether OpenAI will dedicate 20 percent of its computing resources to research on AI safety, a commitment the company made last July when announcing a team dedicated to preventing existential risks. That group, the “Superalignment team,” has since been disbanded and its staff redistributed to other parts of the company.
The senators asked OpenAI if it will allow independent experts to assess the safety and security of its systems before release, and to make its next foundational AI model available to government agencies for predeployment testing. Legislators also asked OpenAI to outline what misuse and safety risks its staff have observed after releasing its most recent large language models.
Stephen Kohn, a lawyer representing OpenAI whistleblowers, said the senators’ requests are “not sufficient” to cure the chilling effect of preventing employees from speaking about company practices. “What steps are they taking to cure that cultural message,” he said, “to make OpenAI an organization that welcomes oversight.”
The senators also asked OpenAI to fulfill the requests by Aug. 13, including documentation on how it plans to meet its voluntary pledge to the Biden administration to protect the public from abuses of generative AI.
Kohn added that Congress must hold hearings and an investigation into OpenAI’s practices.
“Congressional oversight on this is badly needed,” Kohn said. “It’s essential that when you have a technology that has the potential risks of artificial intelligence that the government get in front of it.”
(c) Washington Post
U.S. regulators are investigating how Delta Air Lines is treating passengers affected by canceled and delayed flights as the airline struggles to recover from a global technology outage. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced the Delta investigation on the X social media platform Tuesday “to ensure the airline is following the law and taking care of its passengers during continued widespread disruptions.” “All airline passengers have the right to be treated fairly, and I will make sure that right is upheld,” Buttigieg said. Delta and its Delta Connection partners canceled about 500 flights on Tuesday by midday on the East Coast, accounting for about two-thirds of all cancellations in the United States, according to trackng platform FlightAware. The outage began Thursday night into Friday morning, after a faulty software upgrade from cybersecurity company CrowdStrike to more than 8 million Microsoft computers around the world. The Atlanta-based carrier has canceled more than 6,600 flights since the outage started, far more than any other airline, according to figures from FlightAware and travel-data provider Cirium. Delta said it was cooperating with the investigation. “We remain entirely focused on restoring our operation after cybersecurity vendor CrowdStrike’s faulty Windows update rendered IT systems across the globe inoperable,” an airline spokesperson said in a statement. “Across our operation, Delta teams are working tirelessly to care for and make it right for customers impacted by delays and cancellations as we work to restore the reliable, on-time service they have come to expect from Delta.” Delta has said upward of half its technology systems run on Microsoft Windows, including a tool the airline uses to schedule pilots and flight attendants. The systems could not keep up with the high number of changes triggered by the outage. The collapse at Delta is stunning for an outfit that was widely viewed as the best big U.S. airline – the most profitable before and after the pandemic, and the best-run operation. Delta has almost always ranked near the top among all U.S. carriers for on-time performance. The Transportation Department said it launched the investigation after seeing Delta’s continued widespread flight disruptions “and reports of concerning customer service failures.” The department said the investigation will evolve as it “processes the high volume of consumer complaints we have already received against Delta.” Investigators are likely to focus on whether Delta is complying with federal rules and offering prompt refunds to passengers whose flights are canceled or significantly delayed. In a text provided to The Associated Press, a Delta passenger whose flight was canceled Saturday was told, “If you prefer not to rebook your trip, your ticket value will automatically be available as an eCredit that can be used towards a future Delta ticket.” In Washington, lawmakers are beginning to weigh in. Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., chair of the Senate committee that oversees airlines, said in a letter to Delta CEO Ed Bastian that she is “concerned” that Delta is not complying with passenger rights contained in a law that Congress passed in May. “While the technology outage was clearly not caused by Delta or any airline, I am nevertheless concerned that Delta is failing to meet the moment and adequately protect the needs of passengers,” Cantwell wrote. Delta’s meltdown mirrors that of Southwest Airlines, which canceled nearly 17,000 flights over 15 days in December […]
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