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Rockets Strike Kiryat Shmona Without Warning [VIDEO]
Judge Rules Against RFK Jr. In Fight To Be On New York’s Ballot, Says He Is Not A State Resident
UCLA Opposes Judge’s Ruling To Close Campus If Jews Are Barred By Pro-Hamas Rioters
WATCH: Erdan at UN on Tisha B’Av: ‘You Convened For These Terrorists, But Not for the Children of Majdal Shams’
The UN Security Council gathered for an emergency meeting on Tisha B’Av, prompted by Algeria, to discuss the IDF’s attack on the Al-Taba’een school in Gaza. Israel’s UN ambassador, Gilad Erdan, shared photos with the Council showing the Hamas terrorists who were killed at the school. In a scathing critique of the Council, he said, “You convened for these terrorists who used a school as their terror base, but for the children of Majdal Shams, murdered by Hezbollah’s rocket fire, you couldn’t find the time for an urgent session! Shame on you!”
Ambassador Erdan displayed the images of the Hamas operatives targeted in the Gaza strike, as well as those of the Israeli children killed in Majdal Shams, expressing strong disapproval of the Security Council: “The Council convened today to discuss Hamas’ false claims. Shockingly, it seems that you have decided to dedicate your time to listen to the terrorists’ lies while no real concern has been shown when Israeli children were murdered recently by Hezbollah.”
Erdan then presented a board showcasing the faces of the terrorists who were neutralized in the strike: “These are terrorists eliminated in Gaza on Saturday. Terrorists, exploiting Al-Taba’een school as a base for their murderous objectives. These are the people you called an emergency session for!”
He also revealed a board displaying the faces of the children who were victims of a Hezbollah missile in Majdal Shams: “While those terrorists used a school as their terror base, these children will never see their school again. But for them, you couldn’t find the time for an urgent session! Shame on you!”
Erdan further condemned the Council for ignoring the looming threat of an Iranian attack on Israel: “The most unbelievable thing is your inaction to condemn and stop the biggest danger and threat to the entire region: Iran.”
“Right now, millions of Israelis are preparing for a direct Iranian attack, just as they did in April. Iran’s aggression threatens the entire region with war. Yet, you are here wasting time on falsehoods spread by the words of terrorists.”
{Matzav.com}
Biden: Iran Expected To Push Off Attacking Israel If Gaza Ceasefire Deal Clinched
Iran’s much-anticipated retaliation against Israel for the killings of key terror leaders might be postponed if Israel and Hamas can reach a long-sought ceasefire agreement in Gaza during upcoming talks, U.S. President Joe Biden stated on Tuesday.
Biden’s remarks followed reports from Iranian officials who told Reuters that a planned retaliatory strike could be put on hold to allow negotiations to proceed, even as Hamas signaled it would not participate in the discussions. A member of the Israeli delegation also expressed skepticism about the talks’ success unless Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu broadens the team’s scope.
Ceasefire and hostage release negotiations are set to resume in either Egypt or Qatar on Thursday, with U.S. mediators highlighting the summit as a potential last chance to free hostages taken by Hamas on October 7, end the 10-month conflict in Gaza, and prevent a regional war involving Iran.
During a visit to New Orleans on Tuesday, Biden was asked if he expected Iran to delay a retaliatory strike if a deal was reached.
“That’s my expectation,” the president responded.
However, Biden also cautioned that securing a ceasefire agreement was becoming increasingly difficult while reiterating his determination to end the conflict.
“We’ll see what Iran does and we’ll see what happens if there is any attack. But I’m not giving up,” Biden said.
The U.S. State Department announced on Tuesday that efforts were underway to ensure Hamas representatives would attend the upcoming negotiations.
State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel confirmed that Doha had assured Washington it would “work to Hamas represented” at the talks.
On Monday, Hamas issued a statement declaring it would not attend the meeting unless mediators could persuade Israel to accept the updated proposal the group submitted in early July in response to the U.S.-supported plan.
The proposal involved Hamas retracting its core demand for Israel to commit upfront to a permanent ceasefire. Israel’s response included Netanyahu’s revised demands, which Hamas subsequently rejected.
While the location for Thursday’s summit remains unconfirmed, an Arab official told the Times of Israel that Doha is currently expected to host the meeting.
Despite uncertainty about Hamas’s participation, Patel stated that the U.S. “fully expects these talks to move forward.”
As efforts to finalize the long-awaited deal continued, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre informed reporters aboard Air Force One that Brett McGurk, the White House Middle East coordinator, would be traveling to Cairo and Doha in the coming days, while special envoy Amos Hochstein would visit Lebanon to prevent further regional escalation.
After Iranian officials hinted earlier on Tuesday that a successful hostage deal might prevent them from directly retaliating against Israel, Jean-Pierre emphasized that the U.S. believes “getting a ceasefire deal is the best way to de-escalate the tensions we’re seeing.”
The U.S. has been heavily involved in diplomatic efforts to dissuade Iran from launching an attack on Israel following the July 31 assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, which Iran blames on Israel. Jerusalem has neither confirmed nor denied any involvement in his death.
Hezbollah, the powerful Iranian-backed terror group in Lebanon, has also vowed revenge for the assassination of its top military commander Fuad Shukr near Beirut on the same day, in a strike claimed by the IDF.
With the risk of a broader Middle East war increasing, Iran has engaged in intense discussions with Western countries and the U.S. in recent days on how to calibrate its retaliation, according to three Iranian sources who spoke to Reuters under the condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the issue.
Recent reports suggest that Israel believes Iran plans to attack before Thursday’s renewed talks for a deal. The new statements seem to indicate that any attack would occur only after the talks and only if they fail to produce results satisfactory to Iran.
However, a senior Iranian security official stated that Iran and its allies, including Hezbollah, would launch a direct attack if the talks between Israel and Hamas collapse or if Israel is perceived as stalling the negotiations. The sources did not specify how long Iran would wait for the talks to progress before taking action.
Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s office quickly announced last week that Israel would send negotiators to the August 15 talks “to finalize the details of the implementation of the agreement framework” after the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt issued a joint statement demanding that a deal be finalized and implemented without further delay.
A member of the negotiation team told Israel’s Channel 12 on Tuesday evening that there was no point in attending the talks unless Netanyahu expanded the team’s mandate.
The scope within which the Israeli team will be expected to negotiate has not yet been determined and will be established in a meeting with the prime minister later this week, according to the report.
Earlier this month, the Israeli delegation warned Netanyahu that it would be impossible to reach a deal with the new demands he issued in late July.
The widely reported demands—which Netanyahu insists are not new additions—include a requirement that IDF forces remain in control of the Philadelphi Corridor between Israel and Egypt and added restrictions on those displaced persons allowed to return to northern Gaza once the fighting ceases.
Netanyahu’s office has repeatedly denied these reports, asserting that the prime minister had not altered any part of the U.S.-endorsed May 27 proposal that has been stalled in negotiations for several months. Instead, his office claimed, he was merely providing “essential clarifications” to implement the original framework.
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said on Tuesday evening that Israel was closely monitoring its enemies in anticipation of a potential attack.
“I am aware of the tensions and the great burden placed on the citizens of Israel. We are following what is happening, in Beirut, in Tehran, and in other places,” Gallant said during a visit to an IDF intelligence base in northern Israel.
“We are engaged both in removing the threats and preparing all possibilities, in order to be able to attack wherever we decide,” he added, according to remarks provided by his office.
Later, the Mehr news agency reported that Iran was conducting a military drill in the north of the country, though it did not clarify whether this was related to its plans to strike Israel.
Some speculated that an attack could occur on Monday night or Tuesday, when Jewish communities in Israel and worldwide observed the Ninth of Av, a day of mourning and tragedy in the Jewish calendar.
While the day did not witness any major attacks, Hamas terrorists attempted to launch two rockets at Tel Aviv for the first time in months, and on Tuesday night, approximately 40 rockets were fired from Lebanon at northern Israel. No injuries were reported.
{Matzav.com}
FTC Ban On Noncompete Agreements Comes Under Legal Attack
TIES WITH EVIL: Video Shows Walz Praising Controversial Muslim Cleric Harris Campaign Said He Had No ‘Relationship With’
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is currently facing renewed criticism due to a resurfaced video from 2018 in which he is seen commending a Muslim cleric who has shared pro-Hitler propaganda and expressed support for the events of October 7th. In the video, shown above, Walz praises Imam Asad Zaman, referring to him as a “master teacher.”
In recent years, Imam Asad Zaman has used his Facebook platform to distribute official statements from Hamas, content from antisemitic blogs, and in 2015, he shared a link to a pro-Hitler film titled “The Greatest Story Never Told.” On October 7th, Zaman also posted his support for Palestinians, declaring that he and his organization “stand in solidarity with Palestinians against Israeli attacks.”
Mike Tobin, a correspondent for Fox News based in Chicago, covered the story on the show “Outnumbered.” He discussed how The Washington Examiner uncovered a video of Governor Walz speaking at an event organized by the Muslim American Society of Minnesota on February 16, 2018, where Walz offered high praise for Zaman.
During the event, then-candidate Walz remarked, “I am a teacher, so when I see a master teacher, I know it. Over the time we’ve spent together, one of the things I’ve had the privilege of is seeing the things in life through the eye of a master teacher, to try and get the understanding.”
As Walz runs for Vice President alongside Kamala Harris in the 2024 election, his connections with the controversial Muslim leader have come under increased scrutiny. Despite Walz’s previous remarks about spending time with Zaman, the Harris-Walz campaign issued a statement to Tobin asserting, “Gov. Walz does not have a relationship with [Zaman],” and emphasized that he “strongly condemns Hamas terrorism.”
This was not the only instance where Walz and Zaman appeared together in public.
“We observed more joint appearances between Zaman and Gov. Walz in 2019, specifically in January, April, and May. At one event, Zaman even delivered an invocation during the state of the state address,” Tobin reported. “They also appeared together in May of 2020, advocating for peace during the George Floyd riots, and again in 2023 following a series of mosque vandalism incidents.”
Sam Westrop from The Middle East Forum commented on the situation, stating that Governor Walz has turned a blind eye to Zaman’s extremist views due to his reliance on support from the Arab and Muslim communities, avoiding actions that could be perceived as Islamophobic.
Westrop remarked, “This is a serious problem. Under a Walz-Harris ticket, given Walz’s ability to embrace really just the worst kind of radicals within the Muslim community, one can only imagine this will be replicated at the White House level. Walz clearly doesn’t want to know about the extremists he embraces.”
Additionally, the Walz administration has allocated more than $100,000 in funding to Zaman’s organization, as indicated by state records examined by the Washington Examiner.
The Minnesota Muslim American Society, the organization connected to Zaman, is part of the larger Muslim American Society (MAS). In 2014, the United Arab Emirates labeled MAS as a terrorist organization. MAS has also faced backlash, particularly in 2019, when a video surfaced of children at a Philadelphia chapter event advocating for the killing of Jewish people.
According to federal prosecutors, the MAS was established as “the overt arm of the Muslim Brotherhood in the U.S.,” a detail first reported by the Washington Examiner.
{Matzav.com}
NOT SO FAST: CNN Polling Analyst Warns Democrats That Trump Can Easily Win Despite Harris Surge [VIDEO]
מי כעמך ישראל: Thousands Attend Levaya Of US Ex-Lone Soldier [Moving Videos]
Mars, Maker Of M&M’s And Snickers, To Buy Pringles Owner Kellanova For Nearly $30 Billion
US ‘Strongly Opposes’ Ben-Gvir’s Visit to the Har Habayis on Tisha B’Av
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s visit to the Har Habayis on Tuesday “demonstrated blatant disregard for the historic status quo with respect to the holy sites in Jerusalem,” according to Antony Blinken, the U.S. secretary of state.
“These provocative actions only exacerbate tensions at a pivotal moment when all focus should be on the ongoing diplomatic efforts to achieve a ceasefire agreement and secure the release of all hostages and create the conditions for broader regional stability,” Blinken said.
The U.S. secretary’s statement referred to “Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount.”
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu “has made clear that the actions of Minister Ben Gvir are inconsistent with Israeli policy,” Blinken said. “We will look to the government of Israel to prevent similar incidents in the future.”
“The United States reaffirms our commitment to the preservation of the historic status quo and will continue to oppose unilateral steps that are counterproductive to achieving peace and stability and undermine Israel’s security,” he added. JNS
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s ‘Antisemitism In America’ To Be Published Next Winter
Watch: The Annual Motzoei Tisha B’Av Seder at Bais Medrash Govoha in Lakewood, NJ
At Bais Medrash Govoha in Lakewood, NJ, the Annual Motzoei Tisha B’Av Seder at Bais Yitzchok-Binyan Herzka l’illui nishmas the mashgiach Rav Matisyahu Salomon zt”l.
WATCH:
1st IDF Airstrike In Jordan Valley During Counterterrorism Op Near Jenin
Antisemitic Anti-Israel Rep. Ilhan Omar Wins Minnesota Primary
Blinken Reportedly Delaying Middle East Trip Due To ‘Uncertainty About The Situation’
First Axios reported that Antony Blinken, the U.S. secretary of state, was slated to depart on Tuesday for a trip to Israel, Egypt and Qatar. Then, Axios said, citing two unnamed sources, the trip was scrapped.
“Secretary of State Blinken has delayed his trip to the Middle East and won’t travel to the region tonight as planned due to the uncertainty about the situation, per two sources,” wrote Barack Ravid, a political reporter at the online outlet.
President Joe Biden, who was asked about the Middle East on Tuesday, “said he saw some linkage between the ceasefire effort in Gaza and Iran’s threat to retaliate,” per the pool report. “He said he’s not giving up on reaching a ceasefire deal.”
“It’s getting harder,” Biden said of the deal, according to the pool report. “I’m not giving up.”
“We’ll see what Iran does,” Biden added, per the pool. “We’ll see what happens.” The pool reporter asked the president if he expects Iran to hold off on attacking Israel—as it said it will—until a deal is reached. “That’s my expectation,” Biden said, per the pool.
‘Continuing to echo the same message’
Vedant Patel, principal deputy spokesman at the U.S. State Department, was also asked about Blinken’s trip during the department’s press briefing on Tuesday. “What does he hope to achieve this time around that he was not able to achieve in the past eight trips?” Patel was asked.
“I don’t have any travel for Secretary Blinken to preview at the moment,” Patel replied. “What I can say is that as it relates to the Middle East region, the secretary is laserly focused and engaged on the region through calls with his counterparts, through calls with other leaders.”
“He has been working the phones for the past number of weeks, continuing to echo the same message, which is we are close to getting this ceasefire deal across the finish line, and it is vital for the release of the remaining hostages, including American citizens,” Patel said.
“It is vital for a surge in humanitarian assistance, which we believe will help alleviate the suffering that we’re seeing in Gaza, and it is vital for—to help get this region out of this endless cycle of violence,” Patel said. “He made that clear to a number of counterparts that he’s spoken to in the past few days, and I expect those kinds of conversations and diplomacy to continue.” JNS
{Matzav.com Israel}
Yemen’s Houthis Seized UN Rights Office In Sanaa, UN Official Says
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