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New footage captures the destruction of a newly uncovered tunnel, extending 2.5 kilometers and reaching 39 meters deep, connecting Khan Yunis to Rafah.

Renowned mechanech Rav Yaakov Bender seen giving chizzuk to NCSY Michlelet teens awaiting their flight to Israel on Tuesday afternoon

IDF forces carried out a special operation overnight Tuesday in southern Syria and arrested a terrorist cell operated by Iran. The operation was carried out following intelligence information compiled in recent weeks during the interrogations of other terrorists who had been detained. During the arrest, weapons were also found, including several guns and grenades.

“It was a great day this spring when President Trump announced that we’re going forward with the F-47… we hope to have one flying within the next 3 years.”

A crash involving two buses at NYC’s Port Authority bus terminal this morning left 14 people injured, caused the terminal to shut down, and triggered delays at the Lincoln Tunnel.

Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, reignited his ongoing clash with Steve Bannon on Tuesday by declaring that Bannon is headed back to prison.

“Bannon is going back to prison,” Musk posted on X, replying to a user who claimed that Bannon had suggested the U.S. government should seize control of Musk’s space ventures. “This time for a long time.”

The rift between the two public figures began earlier this summer when Bannon, speaking out in June, encouraged Trump officials to investigate Musk’s immigration history. He hinted that the billionaire entrepreneur may have violated visa laws during his early years in the United States. Bannon has also accused Musk of drug abuse, citing a New York Times report from May which stated that Musk used “ketamine often, sometimes daily, and mixing it with other drugs.”

Bannon hasn’t held back in criticizing Musk’s short-lived role at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a federal task force meant to eliminate bureaucratic waste. He’s made Musk’s time there a recurring point of mockery.

Back in 2020, Bannon faced serious legal trouble when he was charged with fraud and money laundering in connection to the “We Build the Wall” initiative, which sought donations for Trump’s southern border barrier. Although Trump pardoned him in 2021, Bannon was later prosecuted and convicted in 2022 for defying a congressional subpoena related to the January 6 investigation. That conviction earned him a four-month stint in federal prison.

Musk has recently clashed with Trump over policy matters, notably the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. On Monday, Musk took to social media promising to campaign against Republicans who supported the bill, declaring he would help ensure they “lose their primary (election) next year.” Bannon, in turn, has pushed back hard.

“This was the guy that told the president he was going to cut two trillion dollars of waste, fraud and abuse, but then he backed it off to one trillion,” Bannon said Monday on his War Room podcast. “I don’t know, folks, I know some of you fanboys said we got $160 billion, but we haven’t seen the $160 billion. What we do have is a $9 billion rescission, and all of that is programmatic.”

{Matzav.com}

Sales of Tesla electric cars fell 13% in the last three months as boycotts over Elon Musk’s political views continue to keep buyers away, a significant development given expectations that anger with the company’s billionaire CEO would have faded by now. The plunging sales add to growing signs that Musk’s embrace of U.S. President Donald Trump and far-right politicians in Europe has had a deep and enduring hit to the Tesla’s brand appeal. The new figures also are a possible sign that Tesla could disappoint when it announces second quarter earnings later this month. In the first three months this year, net income fell 71%. Sales fell to 384,122 in April through June, down from 443,956 in the same period last year. During this period, Musk formally left the Trump administration as a cost-cutting czar and hopes rose that sales would recover. Sales of the Models 3 and Y totaled 373,728, above the estimate of 356,000 from Wall Street analysts. Tesla shares rose about 4% in premarket trading. (AP)

Join Rebitzen Spetner’s thousands of students from around the world who have transformed themselves, their homes, and their relationships with their children.  Rebitzen Sima Spetner is a venerable parenting and chinuch specialist from Eretz Yisroel who has been teaching chinuch classes for decades. Her warm, engaging classes are filled with Torah hashkafah and practical ideas. Rebitzen Spetner was trained directly by Rav Shlomo Wolbe, and received haskamah from leading gedolim. Seize this opportunity! Limited slots! Recordings of the classes will be given exclusively to course participants.   Course Schedule:  Monsey:July 22-July 24 (morning sessions)ADHD (Alumni) Ruchnius (Alumni)July 31 (morning session) Five Towns:Teen alumni: July 21-July 25 (evening sessions) Passaic:Fundamental July 27-July 31 (evening sessions)Topics: Discipline, siblings, ruchnius To register:  Fundamental Course:  send an email to beginner@spetner.org. You will get a bounce back email with online registration.  Teen/ alumni: send an email to alumnireg@spetner.org. You will get a bounce back email with online registration For general info: (call/ text) Esti Hirshfeld – 718-578-2128Or email: seminar@spetner.org 

A former high-level Democratic operative has come forward with explosive claims about who was really directing activity inside the Biden White House, describing the situation as “elder abuse” and claiming the president was often not the one in control.

Lindy Li, a previous fundraiser for the Democratic National Committee and member of its National Finance Committee, told Fox News Digital that behind the scenes, others were effectively calling the shots for President Joe Biden.

Her remarks came as the House Oversight Committee launched hearings into the alleged concealment of Biden’s cognitive deterioration by top members of his administration.

“‘[Biden is] definitely complicit, but there were a lot of people behind him, like puppet masters. [Former first lady Jill Biden] very much knew what she was doing. What she did was absolutely elder abuse. There is no question in my mind,’ Li said,” Fox reported.

Li, who said she witnessed the inner workings up close, pointed to senior adviser Anthony Bernal as a central figure in orchestrating day-to-day White House activity. “They deny the cover-up, but I had a front-row seat watching it happen. People like Anthony Bernal. I saw him running the White House like he was in charge, like he was a king,” she said. “It’s just so amazing now to see him dodge a subpoena and completely dodge accountability. He can run, but he can’t hide. His name is going to go down in infamy forever.”

According to Fox News Digital, Bernal was initially scheduled to appear voluntarily before the Oversight Committee on June 26 for a recorded interview. However, once the White House Counsel’s office notified him that executive privilege would not be invoked in this case, Bernal declined to show up.

Li further claimed that Bernal, who also held the role of chief of staff to the first lady, wielded considerable influence and remained close to Jill Biden at all times. “Li said Bernal, who also served as the first lady’s chief of staff, ‘followed Jill around like a dog.’ While Bernal’s apparent power grab coincided with Jill Biden’s growing role in the Biden White House, Li added that he ran the East Wing more than the West Wing.”

Fox’s report also indicated that Li identified several other top officials she said were effectively managing the presidency. Among them were deputy chief of staff Bruce Reed, counselor Steve Richetti, and senior advisors Anita Dunn and Mike Donilon.

Li also alleged that Neera Tanden, Biden’s former domestic policy advisor, played a key role in authorizing the use of the autopen for signing documents when Biden was not mentally capable of performing the functions of his office. According to Li, Tanden “played an ‘intricate’ role in using the autopen when ‘Biden was manifestly unqualified and unable to prosecute the duties of the office.'”

{Matzav.com}

Arrest statistics shared on social media by Border Czar Tom Homan reveal a dramatic drop in migrant apprehensions at the U.S. border, with just over 6,000 arrests recorded in June. This marks the lowest monthly figure in the history of modern Border Patrol tracking and shows a 41 percent drop compared to May’s numbers.

“THE TRUMP EFFECT – Total Border Patrol encounters for the entire month of June 2025 was 6,070. That is less than a single day under Biden,” Border Czar Homan posted on X on Tuesday. “Also, none of the 6,070 were released into the U.S. ZERO.”

Compared to the 10,362 people taken into custody in May, June’s numbers represent a sharp decrease. When compared to June of the previous year—when over 87,000 migrants were arrested—the decline is more than 93 percent.

“President Trump has created the most secure border in the history of the nation and the data proves it,” Homan stated. “We have never seen numbers this low.”

Before this, the lowest monthly total came earlier this year under Trump’s leadership, when 8,193 illegal crossings were recorded in March.

Last month, Border Patrol encountered an average of just over 202 individuals per day. During Biden’s tenure, the highest daily average was in May 2022, when agents were processing more than 7,500 migrants per day—a figure that exceeded the entire monthly total under Trump this June.

“The interior arrests and consequences help to drive down illegal immigration,” Trump’s border czar asserted.

When Trump took office in February, Border Patrol reported 43,878 arrests for that month. In fact, the total number of apprehensions during the first five months of Trump’s administration is still lower than any single month under Biden.

“God bless the men and women of the US Border Patrol and God bless the men and women of ICE,” Homan stated. “The TRUMP EFFECT keeps America winning.”

{Matzav.com}

In a case seen as a challenge to American free-speech principles, Paramount has agreed to pay $16 million to settle a lawsuit by President Donald Trump over the editing of CBS’ “60 Minutes” interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris in October. Paramount, which owns CBS, said the money will go to Trump’s future presidential library, not to the Republican president himself. It said the settlement did not involve an apology. Trump’s lawyer said Trump had suffered “mental anguish” over the editing of the interview by CBS News, while Paramount and CBS rejected his contention that it was edited to enhance how Harris, the Democratic nominee for president in 2024, sounded. They had called Trump’s case “completely without merit” and tried to have it dismissed, even while involved in settlement negotiations. The case was widely discussed and was being seen as a referendum on how far organizations would go to curry favor with Trump. Paramount is simultaneously seeking approval from his administration for its proposed merger with Skydance Media. A spokesman for Trump’s legal team said that with the settlement, Trump “delivers another win for the American people.” Paramount agreed that ‘60 Minutes’ transcripts will be released In early February, “60 Minutes” released a full, unedited transcript of the Harris interview. Under the settlement reached with help of a mediator, Paramount agreed that “60 Minutes” will release transcripts of future interviews of presidential candidates, “subject to redactions as required for legal and national security concerns,” CBS News cited the statement as saying. Trump, who did not agree to be interviewed by “60 Minutes” during the campaign, protested editing where Harris is seen giving two different answers to a question by the show’s Bill Whitaker in separate clips aired on “60 Minutes” and “Face the Nation” earlier in the day. CBS said each reply came within Harris’ long-winded answer to Whitaker, but was edited to be more succinct. “This settlement is a cowardly capitulation by the corporate leaders of Paramount, and a fundamental betrayal of ‘60 Minutes’ and CBS News,” said Rome Hartman, a producer of the Harris interview for the show. “The story that was the subject of this lawsuit was edited by the book and in accordance with CBS News standards.” Correspondents had worried of a settlement with ‘wrongdoing’ implications In a letter to Paramount’s leadership in early May, “60 Minutes” correspondents said they were troubled by reports that Paramount might settle the case “in a way that acknowledges some sort of wrongdoing on our part.” The correspondents, in the letter obtained by The Associated Press, said that “if our parent company caves in to his pressure and lies, it will leave a shameful stain and undermine the First Amendment.” It was signed by Whitaker, Lesley Stahl, Scott Pelley, Anderson Cooper, Sharyn Alfonsi, Jon Wertheim and Cecilia Vega. Trump’s lawyer, Edward Andrew Paltzik, said the interview caused confusion and “mental anguish,” misleading voters and causing them to pay less attention to Trump and his Truth Social online platform. Paramount and controlling shareholder Shari Redstone were seeking the settlement with Trump. CBS News President and CEO Wendy McMahon and “60 Minutes” executive producer Bill Owens, who both opposed a settlement, resigned in recent weeks. The Freedom of the Press Foundation, a media advocacy group that says it is a Paramount shareholder, has said that it would file a lawsuit […]

California Governor Gavin Newsom, facing intense scrutiny over his handling of wildfires during his time in office, unveiled a new initiative Tuesday that echoes President Donald Trump’s past advice to clean forest floors — this time under the slogan “Make America Rake Again.”

Wildfires have been a persistent and devastating issue in California throughout Newsom’s governorship, with many accusing him of inaction and empty rhetoric as destructive blazes ravaged the state under his leadership.

For years, Democrats ridiculed Trump for suggesting that California could reduce wildfires by clearing forest debris — a strategy often reduced to “raking.” Newsom himself publicly derided the concept during a 2020 appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers, dismissing the idea entirely and poking fun at residents who displayed “Make America Rake Again” signs. “We have no raking policy,” he said mockingly.

Fast forward to Tuesday, and Newsom appeared to have shifted his tone dramatically. In a speech given in Placer County, he resurrected the same slogan he once mocked — “Make America Rake Again” — in an apparent attempt to repackage the concept as his own and aim blame at federal authorities.

Seeking to redirect attention, Newsom argued that the federal government is responsible for managing the vast majority of California’s land — about 57% — while the state controls just 3%. He said that several recent wildfires began on federally managed terrain, though he overlooked the fact that some of the worst fires this year, such as those in Los Angeles, started on state land.

“The president of the United States needs to do more to back up his rhetoric with investments and resources to roll back the cuts,” Newsom said, referencing reductions in federal support. He added that California is currently engaged in 2,200 vegetation management efforts and is spending $350 million of its own budget to thin brush on federal property.

“The Trump administration needs to step up and they need to fund these efforts, not just here in California, but throughout the Western United States,” Newsom said, a day after approving a $322 billion state budget.

Newsom’s record during past crises hasn’t helped his case. When asked by CNN about the dry fire hydrants during the Palisades Fire, he deflected responsibility, saying locals should “figure that out,” offering no solution himself.

Even as he adopted Trump’s language, Newsom couldn’t resist another jab at the president. “He quite literally thinks you should just go out and rake the forest,” Newsom said, implying Trump lacked intelligence.

At the same time, Newsom is requesting $40 billion in disaster relief from Trump to address the damage from the Los Angeles fires, even while authorizing $50 million in state spending to counter what he sees as federal shortcomings.

{Matzav.com}

UPSTATE, NY – August 7, 2025 – Yamim Baim will make Jewish music history at the legendary Bethel Woods with the first ever open-air Jewish concert of this magnitude. Throughout this unforgettable evening of unity and song, Chassidic music icon Avraham Fried, the genre-blending music of Zusha, and soulful rising star Shmuel will join Ishay Ribo onstage throughout his full-length evening concert. More details A Night of Unity, Music, and Connection Making Jewish music history on the storied grounds of the 1969 Woodstock festival, this landmark event will unite New York’s Jewish community around heartfelt and joyous music of connection and prayer. “This event is a landmark achievement for Jewish music,” a producer shares. “The pristine upstate setting, the high production quality, and the powerful moments we’ll share together – there’s never been anything like this.” With tens of thousands of fans worldwide, Ishay Ribo’s music has become the soundtrack of a generation. Yamim Baim will mark his largest North American performance to date, featuring immersive sound, breathtaking visuals, and new arrangements developed exclusively for this event. The evening’s guest artists represent the diverse sounds and stories of today’s Jewish world: legendary Chassidic music icon Avraham Fried’s timeless melodies from the heart, Zusha’s lively and soul-filled innovation, and Shmuel’s soft blend of timeless Jewish song. On a grassy hillside under the open sky, these four artists will captivate an audience of thousands with songs of hope, joy, and the Jewish soul. Yamim Baim is already setting new standards for Jewish music production. From the custom lighting design to a one-of-a-kind acoustic system that preserves the raw beauty of the open air venue while delivering world-class clarity, every technical element is crafted with intention. “Nothing is recycled here,” a producer explains. “Every detail, from the flow of the night’s songs to the sound and visuals, is being custom made for maximum meaning.” Bethel Woods Built on the site of the legendary 1969 Woodstock festival, Bethel Woods stands as one of America’s most iconic venues – a natural amphitheater with world-class acoustics and sweeping outdoor views. Hosting Yamim Baim here marks the first time in history that a Jewish concert of this scale will take place at such a historic site, powerfully celebrating Jewish pride and presence on a stage that is seen as one of the world’s most prestigious. “To come here, a place that defined a whole generation, and fill it with songs of tefillah, emunah, and our unity; it’s a moment of unparalleled power,” a team member reflects. “It’s taken years to make this dream come true.” Bethel Woods offers two distinct ways to experience the concert, each with its own atmosphere: The Pavilion: WIth covered, tiered seating under a roof, excellent sightlines, and an intimate, concert-hall feel, pavilion seating is perfect for fans who want to sit back and take in every moment in comfort. The Lawn: A vast, open grassy hill where you bring your own blanket or low-back chair, enjoying the show under the stars. The lawn creates a more casual, social atmosphere, ideal for families, camp groups, or anyone who wants to relax, dance, and soak up the star-filled night. One Night. One Nation. One Song. Yamim Baim is produced by Davidson Artists Management in collaboration with Bnei Akiva of the United States and Canada, this is an exclusive, one-night-only experience. Whether you’re coming with family, friends, camp, or community, Yamim Baim promises to be the most meaningful Jewish concert event of the year. August 7, 2025, Bethel Woods, […]

Two nurses from Australia who openly stated they would not treat Israelis have now been barred from working with individuals supported by the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) for the next two years, according to a report by Jewish News on Tuesday. This move comes after the pair had already been suspended from their roles at Bankstown Hospital in Sydney.

Ahmad Rashad Nadir and Sarah Abu Lebdeh were filmed in a February conversation with TikTok user Max Veifer, during which they remarked that Israelis should be “sent to hell.”

The video led to a probe by New South Wales police. During the course of the investigation, both nurses reportedly expressed remorse, claiming that their statements were not meant to be taken literally.

Lebdeh has been formally charged with several serious crimes, including threatening violence against a group, using a carriage service to issue death threats, and using that service to intimidate, offend, or harass. She faces the possibility of a 22-year prison sentence if convicted.

Nadir, too, has been hit with federal charges. He stands accused of using a carriage service to harass, menace, or offend, and of illegal drug possession.

At present, both individuals are out on bail. Neither has entered a plea. Their next court appearance is set for July 29. As part of their release terms, they are forbidden from traveling outside Australia or using social media for the duration of the legal proceedings.

The NDIS-wide ban, which took effect on May 9, blocks both Nadir and Lebdeh from working with any NDIS clients or participating in any capacity with NDIS providers, regardless of region or jurisdiction within Australia.

{Matzav.com}

Hurricane Flossie has strengthened into a powerful Category 3 hurricane off Mexico’s southwestern Pacific coast with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph (185 kph), according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami. The hurricane center said Flossie would begin weakening later Wednesday. The center said Flossie was about 315 miles (505 kilometers) south-southeast of Cabo San Lucas and was moving west-northwest off the Mexican coast at 10 kph (17 mph). It was expected to skirt the coast for a few days while dropping rain on several Mexican states. While its center is forecast to remain offshore, rainfall up to 150 mm (6 inches) was likely for parts of the Mexican states of Guerrero, Michoacán, Colima, and Jalisco into Wednesday, with the possibility of life-threatening flooding and mudslides, especially in steep terrain. (AP)

Hamas on Wednesday cracked open the door to a potential ceasefire with Israel but rejected President Donald Trump’s latest US-backed initiative unless it guarantees a permanent end to the war in Gaza. Trump on Tuesday announced that Israel had agreed in principle to a 60-day pause in fighting, urging Hamas to seize what he called a narrowing window for a deal before conditions on the ground deteriorate even further. The president insisted the proposed truce could be the first step toward ending the war that has ravaged Gaza for nearly 21 months. Hamas, however, responded by reiterating its hardline demand: that any ceasefire must fully end the war and include a total Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. “We are ready and serious regarding reaching an agreement,” said Hamas spokesman Taher al-Nunu, adding that the group would accept only initiatives “that clearly lead to the complete end to the war.” An Egyptian official confirmed a Hamas delegation was due in Cairo Wednesday for fresh talks with Egyptian and Qatari mediators. The official, who spoke anonymously due to diplomatic sensitivities, indicated Hamas’s position had not significantly softened despite Trump’s pressure campaign. Israel, for its part, stayed silent on Trump’s announcement. Israeli leaders have repeatedly made clear that they will not end the war until Hamas is dismantled, disarmed, and effectively removed from Gaza — a demand Hamas flatly refuses. Trump, viewing the regional chaos after Israel’s recent clash with Iran as an opportunity, has stepped up efforts to push both sides into a hostage-for-ceasefire framework. Under the US plan, Hamas would initially free 10 living Israeli hostages and return the remains of 18 dead captives in exchange for a 60-day ceasefire. Negotiations during that period would aim to secure a permanent end to the war and the release of dozens more hostages, fewer than half of whom are believed to still be alive. Hamas has made clear it will not settle for anything less than a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza — a demand Israel has branded a nonstarter. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Israeli Minister for Social Equality and the Advancement of Women, May Golan, appeared in a heated exchange with British broadcaster Piers Morgan on Tuesday, strongly defending both her country’s military efforts in Gaza and her own widely debated past statements.

Addressing the issue of how Palestinian children are raised, Golan accused Gaza’s society of inciting hatred from an early age. “The fact is that we have children in Gaza today that are being raised on Mein Kampf. They are being raised [to kill] Jews from the second they are born. This is what they say. And you know what? If you don’t believe me, you can talk with the hostages that came back from captivity,” she said.

Morgan challenged Golan over a series of incendiary remarks she’s made in the past. He referenced her words at an October 24 rally where she is reported to have called for “another Nakba.” He also brought up her February 2024 declaration: “I’m personally proud of the ruins of Gaza and that every baby, even 80 years from now, will tell their grandchildren what the Jews did.” Additionally, he mentioned her December 2023 comment: “I don’t care about Gaza. I literally don’t care at all.”

When asked about her ideological association with figures such as Ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir, Golan stood her ground, firmly affirming her political stance. “I’m a right winger as well. I’m a right winger as well. Absolutely,” she confirmed. However, she clarified her position, adding, “That doesn’t mean I take any pleasure, any pleasure of an innocent Arab man or woman or child in Gaza suffering. But the fact is that you, for some reason, refuse to acknowledge is that Hamas is using them as human shields all the time.”

The interview also addressed accusations about the situation on the ground in Gaza. Morgan alleged that Israel had implemented a “three-month blockade of food” and was actively obstructing humanitarian supplies. Golan rejected the claim without hesitation, saying, “We do not. That’s a lie. That’s a complete lie.”

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

By Jonathan S. Tobin

It didn’t take long for the Democratic Party’s media cheering section to demonstrate how far the Overton Window had moved among liberals with respect to antisemitism. Centrist Democrats and the liberal Jewish establishment were genuinely shocked by Zohran Mamdani’s victory in last week’s Democratic Party mayoral primary in New York City. Within days, however, it was clear that legacy outlets reflecting mainstream opinion on the political left weren’t going to tolerate much in the way of criticism of his extremist views about Israel and the Jews.

Within days, it was clear that anyone who claimed that Mamdani should be rejected out of hand as a possible mayor of New York on the grounds of stands that were, at best, antisemitism-adjacent or, at worst, open endorsements of Jewish genocide, rather than the candidate himself, were going to be the ones under fire. Within 48 hours of Mamdani’s win, The New York Times was already using the word “Islamophobic” in headlines to describe his critics.

Legitimizing antisemitism

It is fear among Democrats about being labeled as Islamophobic that explains why so few prominent members of the party and officeholders are refusing to condemn Mamdani now that the 33-year-old New York state representative has become their party’s nominee. That’s not just smoothing his path to victory for a fellow Democrat, despite the horror that many New Yorkers feel about him. It’s also achieving something the political left has been assiduously working toward, especially since the Hamas-led Palestinian Arab attacks on southern Israeli communities on Oct. 7, 2023: the legitimization of antisemitism in the American public square.

While some of the online reaction to Mamdani was inappropriate, the attempt by Democrats and their liberal media cheerleaders to frame the narrative about the opposition to him as one primarily about Islamophobia is fundamentally dishonest.

Characterizing verbal and written criticisms of Mamdani as “racist” is not only a matter of inaccuracy or misinterpretation of those venting their anger and outrage about the prospect of him being mayor of the most Jewish city in the world outside of the State of Israel. Such arguments were the next logical step involved in legitimizing opinions about Israel and Jews, as well as those fighting to destroy it, along with other radical causes.

The issue is not whether the next mayor of New York is a Shia Muslim (he practices the faith of his mother rather than that of his Hindu father). In a city as diverse as New York, few care about Mamdani’s faith or his background as the son of immigrants (his mother was a Gujarati Indian Muslim born in Uganda, and his father an Indian-American of Hindu Punjabi descent).

What matters is the fact that he is a Socialist on economic issues and an adherent of the ideological war on the West being waged by the hard left. His extremist views may well be influenced by his faith and ethnicity. Yet they are just as much a manifestation of the fashionable ideas that label the West and America as irredeemably racist, and Israel and the Jews as “white” oppressors who must be suppressed. In this sense, the New York mayoral campaign has transcended politics. It is, instead, another manifestation of the conquest of American elite institutions of higher education by so-called “progressives” that led to mobs targeting Jews on college campuses since Oct. 7.

Mamdani has been an ardent advocate for the cause of “free Palestine,” which is to say the effort to “free” the territory—meaning, from the Jewish population—of the only Jewish state on the planet. That is an idea that ought to be rejected by all decent people everywhere not only because it singles out the Jews for deprivation of rights, such as that of living in peace and sovereignty in their ancient homeland, but also because it can only be achieved by the sort of genocidal wars that Hamas and its Iranian sponsor have long advocated and continue to pursue. This despicable cause has gained increasing support on the political left, largely on the strength of blood libels about Israel committing “genocide” against Palestinian Arabs in Gaza in its just war against Hamas, endorsed by Mamdani and other Democrats.

Suppressing criticism

If, as the Times and other liberal outlets insist, Mamdani’s views are to be accepted as legitimate stands about which we must agree to disagree when discussing them, then what we are witnessing is not a prejudiced reaction to the rise of a non-white Muslim politician. Rather, it is an attempt to suppress criticism of the mainstreaming of antisemitism and other extremist beliefs by the political left.

This tactic has been a staple of the anti-Israel movement for years and has achieved some notable successes, especially during the Biden presidency. The last Democratic administration balanced the lip service it paid to the rise of antisemitism on its watch with an attempt to treat concerns about prejudice against Muslims as being of equal concern.

While all prejudice is deplorable, the problem with virtually all of the discussion about Islamophobia in recent years is that most such attacks against Muslims aren’t actually racist ones.

To the contrary, the comments and stands that are labeled as Islamophobic are almost always attempts to call out the rabid Jew-hatred and virulent prejudicial positions and language that are mainstream discourse among American Muslims, especially on the part of those groups, like the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), which purport to represent them.

Such advocacy is based on the false assertion that Muslims are being subjected to widespread attacks and discrimination in the United States. The primary source for this claim is CAIR, a group that masquerades as a civil-rights organization but was founded as a cover for those seeking to raise funds for Hamas terrorists in the United States illegally. CAIR has a consistent record of antisemitism but also seeks to downplay or rationalize Islamist terrorism, like the Oct. 7 attacks.

Moreover, the organization’s claims about the situation of American Muslims and Arabs are simply not backed up by empirical evidence. This dates back to its false assertions that were echoed by most mainstream media about a mythical post-9/11 backlash against Muslims that was largely made out of whole cloth. Contrary to CAIR’s claims (echoed by most liberal media outlets) that it is Muslims who are under siege, FBI hate-crime statistics have shown for the last two and a half decades that American Jews have been the primary victims of acts of religious prejudice in the United States. Attacks on Jews far outnumber those on Muslims by large margins every year, and that is especially true since Oct. 7, 2023, when a surge of antisemitism began, fueled largely by the same kind of anti-Israel bigotry echoed by Mamdani.

Yet at the heart of the Islamophobia discussion is something more sinister than a group hyping something that doesn’t warrant serious concern. What is most disturbing about the attempt to sanitize Mamdani is that it dovetails with the campaign to gaslight Jews about the prejudice and violence to which they have been subjected.

While Mamdani insincerely claims to oppose antisemitism, he is part of a movement that not only endorses terrorism against Israeli Jews but is also linked to violence against Americans.

The meaning behind ‘Globalize the intifada’

In recent months, three separate incidents of anti-Jewish domestic terrorism have taken place, initiated by people claiming to act on behalf of the “free Palestine” cause that Mamdani has embraced. On Passover, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s Harrisburg residence was the target of an arson attack. In May, two employees of the Israeli embassy in Washington were gunned down by another “free Palestine” advocate as they left a Jewish museum. In June, a rally in Boulder, Colo., to draw awareness to the plight of the remaining 50 or so hostages being held by Hamas in Gaza was targeted by another “free Palestine” supporter, who said he wanted to kill all Zionists when he threw a Molotov cocktail at them. That assault resulted in injuries to 13 people, including eight who were hospitalized for burns; this week, 82-year-old Karen Diamond died as a result.

That is literally what “Globalize the intifada” means—the chant that Mamdani specifically refuses to condemn—and other catchphrases like “From the river to the sea”: support for terrorism against Jews. Mamdani supports the war against Israel. He opposes its existence as a Jewish state and couldn’t even condemn the Oct. 7 attacks without also treating the Israeli victims as morally equivalent to the Palestinian murderers, rapists and kidnappers and falsely accusing the Jewish state of “apartheid.” To point out the link between his steadfast refusal to disavow such stands and those who kill Jews in Israel or the United States is neither prejudicial nor unfair. On the contrary, it is those that, like the Times or Axios, which assert that it is wrong to link Mamdani’s position to that of global jihad that are wrong.

Moreover, the fact that he has stuck to these positions while being defended as a victim of prejudice by mainstream outlets like the Times is yet another sign of how such antisemitism is no longer a barrier to widespread support from Democrats.

Leading New York and national Democrats could have reacted to the results with across-the-board condemnations of not only Mamdani’s anti-Zionism and unwillingness to condemn the genocidal slogans of Islamist terror. While a few leading Democrats, such as House Minority Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), have asked him to alter the way he speaks about Israel and to condemn that phrase, they haven’t rejected out of hand the idea of someone who holds such views representing their party in the nation’s largest city.

In recent years, Democrats have been vocal about Republicans needing to disassociate themselves from extremists in their party. Apparently, they didn’t think the same suggestion applied to them. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), who has long claimed to be the shomer or “guardian” of Israel and the Jews in Congress, and most other members of his party, showed little sign of taking such a stand.

Jumping on the bandwagon

The most compelling evidence of how difficult that would be was not long in coming. Mainstream Democrats have shown themselves unable to draw a line in the sand against a figure who is not merely a Socialist but whose candidacy seems to have become a test case for legitimizing antisemitic views on the left. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), who is no conservative, was widely denounced for criticisms of Mamdani and forced to apologize. As Politico noted, most Democrats are now more interested in jumping on his bandwagon rather than in holding him accountable for his radicalism and anti-Zionism.

Part of this is a “no enemies on the left” attitude. It is an attitude that outlets like the Times, which has helped lead the assault on the West and America with its fallacious “1619 Project,” coupled with its biased coverage of the post-Oct. 7 war against Hamas and its Iranian sponsor, would like Democrats to adopt. The fact that it is mimicked by “woke right” antisemites like former Fox News host Tucker Carlson and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), both of whom despise socialism but identify with Mamdani’s animus for Israel, is unsurprising.

New York isn’t the only place where those who hate Israel and seek to silence or marginalize Jews are dominating the party. In North Carolina, the state’s Democratic Party endorsed smears of Israel and called for an embargo on arms to it. People like Schumer and other Democratic officeholders who may disagree with such rhetoric but understand that their party base is not only comfortable with these blood libels but starting to demand that they go along with it.

But the way this is enforced is more than just a matter of base politics. Nor is it primarily bolstered by the ideological extremism of writers like Michelle Goldberg, Peter Beinart and M. Gessen, who are platformed by the Times and falsely claim that supporting the destruction of the one Jewish state on the planet by means of blood libels and a genocidal terrorist war isn’t antisemitism. It also involves efforts to condemn those calling attention to the alarming legitimization of Jew-hatred by labeling such arguments as Islamophobic and therefore beyond the pale.

What the last few days have shown is that playing the Islamophobia card is how the hard left hopes to facilitate its takeover of the Democratic Party. More than that, it’s a means to whitewash antisemitism and silence supporters of Israel. Publications, politicians and even Jewish groups that are just as concerned about falling out of sync with mainstream liberal opinion as they are about the surge in Jew-hatred that don’t stand up against this false narrative are as much a part of the problem as the controversial candidate himself.

Jonathan S. Tobin is editor-in-chief of JNS (Jewish News Syndicate). 

{Matzav.com}

Republican leaders in the House are sprinting toward a Wednesday vote on President Donald Trump’s tax and spending cuts package, determined to seize momentum from a hard-fought vote in the Senate while essentially daring members to defy their party’s leader and vote against it. “The American people gave us a clear mandate, and after four years of Democrat failure, we intend to deliver without delay,” the top four House GOP leaders said Tuesday after the bill passed the Senate 51-50, thanks to Vice President JD Vance’s tiebreaking vote. It’s a risky gambit, one designed to meet Trump’s demand for a July 4 finish — and there’s a steep climb ahead. Since launching early this year, Republicans have struggled mightily with the bill nearly every step of the way, often succeeding by only one vote. Their House majority stands at just 220-212, leaving little room for defections. Some Republicans are likely to balk at being asked to rubber stamp the Senate bill less than 24 hours after passage, having had little time to read or absorb the changes that were made, many at the last minute to win the vote of Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski. House Republicans from competitive districts have bristled at the Senate bill’s cuts to Medicaid, while conservatives have lambasted the legislation as straying from their fiscal goals. It falls to Speaker Mike Johnson and his team to convince them that the time for negotiations is over. In a warning sign of some House Republican resistance, a resolution setting up terms for debating Trump’s bill barely cleared out of the House Rules Committee on Wednesday morning, with two GOP members — Reps. Chip Roy of Texas and Ralph Norman of South Carolina — siding with Democrats in voting against it. Trump pushes Republicans to do ‘the right thing’ The bill would extend and make permanent various individual and business tax breaks that Republicans passed in Trump’s first term, plus temporarily add new ones Trump promised during the campaign, including allowing workers to deduct tips and overtime pay, and providing a new $6,000 deduction for most older adults. In all, the legislation contains about $4.5 trillion in tax cuts over 10 years. The bill also provides about $350 billion for defense and Trump’s immigration crackdown. Republicans partially pay for it all through less spending on Medicaid and food assistance. The Congressional Budget Office projects it will add about $3.3 trillion in federal deficits over the coming decade. The House passed its version of the bill in May, despite worries about spending cuts and the overall price tag. Now, it’s being asked to give final passage to a version that, in many respects, exacerbates those concerns. The Senate bill’s projected impact on federal deficits, for example, is significantly higher. Trump praised the bill profusely in a social media post, saying, “We can have all of this right now, but only if the House GOP UNITES, ignores its occasional ‘GRANDSTANDERS’ (You know who you are!), and does the right thing, which is sending this Bill to my desk.” The high price of opposing Trump’s bill Speaker Johnson, R-La., is intent on meeting the president’s July 4 timeline. He’s also betting that hesitant Republicans won’t cross Trump because of the heavy political price they would have to pay. They need only look to Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., who announced his intention […]

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