The last I heard from Meyer was when he had just returned from Gaza. That was January 5. They were actually inside Gaza, but he returned home for a bit. I'm sure he's fine. They're fighting, not browsing lol
But you had to play it cool, had to do it your way Had to be a fool, had to throw it all away
First on CNN: Three US troops killed in drone attack in Jordan, at least two dozen injured
Three US Army soldiers were killed and at least two dozen service members were injured in a drone attack overnight on a small US outpost in Jordan, US officials told CNN, marking the first time US troops have been killed by enemy fire in the Middle East since the beginning of the Gaza war.
The killing of three Americans at Tower 22 in Jordan near the border with Syria is a significant escalation of an already-precarious situation in the Middle East. Officials said the drone was fired by Iran-backed militants and appeared to come from Syria.
US Central Command confirmed in a statement on Sunday that three service members were killed and 25 injured in a one-way drone attack that “impacted at a base in northeast Jordan.”
f Friday, there had been more than 158 attacks on US and coalition forces in Iraq and Syria, though officials have described the constant volley of drones, rockets, and missiles as unsuccessful as they have frequently not caused serious injury or damage to infrastructure.
It’s unclear why air defenses failed to intercept the drone, which appears to be the first known attack on Tower 22 since attacks on US and coalition forces began on October 17. US forces at the outpost are there as part of an advise-and-assist mission with Jordan.
US officials have repeatedly said they do not want to see the increasingly high tensions across the Middle East broaden into a regional war. Asked last week whether the Pentagon assessed that Iranian proxies were stepping up their attacks on US forces, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said, “Not necessarily, no.”
In a previously recorded interview with ABC News that aired Sunday morning, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. CQ Brown said part of the US’ work is to “make sure as things have happened in the Middle East is not to have the conflict broaden.”
“The goal is to deter them and we don’t want to go down a path of greater escalation that drives to a much broader conflict within the region,” he said.
There have been dozens of injuries since the attacks began — a senior military official told reporters last week there were roughly 70 — but the Pentagon has classified most of them as minor, aside from one US soldier who was critically injured in an attack in Iraq on Christmas Day.
Chief Warrant Officer 4 Garrett Illerbrunn from the 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade was set to be sent back to the US for further treatment after he critically injured in a drone attack on Erbil Airbase.
The US has taken several retaliatory actions against the Iran-backed groups in Iraq and Syria, one as recently as last week, when the US struck three facilities in Iraq used by Kataib Hezbollah and other Iran-affiliated groups.
The officers of a special undercover unit were dressed as Palestinians and medical staff, including fake beards, surveillance camera footage showed. They went to the third floor where the officers shot the three with pistols fitted with a silencer. It could have been a scene from the popular Netflix series Fauda.
Israel has several undercover units that mingle with the local population in the West Bank, such as the Mista'avrim. However, this operation is said to have been the work of Yamam, a special anti-terrorist unit. According to eyewitnesses, they were dressed as doctors, nurses and Palestinian women. The action at Ibn Sina Hospital, on the outskirts of Jenin, started at 6:30 am and lasted just ten minutes. No one was injured.
Stronghold According to Israel, the trio was planning an attack on a settlement. Two of them are said to be members of Hams, the third of Islamic Jihad. Israel arrested another Palestinian suspect hiding in an ambulance. Jenin is known as an extremist stronghold, where the Israeli army has carried out several major operations in recent months.
One of the victims is 27-year-old Mohammed Jalamneh, who Israel says was in contact with the Hamas leadership abroad. He is said to have supplied weapons and ammunition to terrorists to carry out an attack. There were plans for an attack like on October 7, this time against a settlement.
"Jalamneh was planning a terrorist attack in the near future and used the hospital as a hideout and therefore he was neutralized," an army statement said. “Israeli security forces will continue to act against any threat that endangers the safety of Israeli citizens.”
The other two victims were brothers Mohammed and Basel Ghazawi, who were allegedly involved in attacks on Israeli soldiers in the past.
Abroad Israel has also eliminated several Hamas terrorists abroad in recent months, including in Lebanon the man responsible for the West Bank terror movement. It does not shy away from possible consequences, such as a war with Hezbollah.
The situation on the West Bank also remains tense. The army leadership has been warning for weeks about a major explosion of violence. Hamas says it will take revenge for the deaths of the trio.
The images of the operation will undoubtedly lead to criticism, such as disguising themselves as medical personnel. However, Israel says that Hamas and other terror groups use medical facilities as bases in both Gaza and the West Bank, and that it must intervene there.
Israel claims it has now killed a quarter of Hamas' military wing in Gaza. Another quarter would be so injured that they could no longer be deployed on the battlefield. Nevertheless, victory is still far from within reach. Hamas's leadership remains largely intact as the movement tries to regain power in northern Gaza. Israel had partly withdrawn its troops there, but now reinforcements will be sent again.
"The king is dead, long live the king!"
Re: Israel: 'State of war'
[Re: Hollander]
#1081915 02/01/2401:42 AM02/01/2401:42 AM
A document warning of an extreme war scenario in the North and recommending preparations for several days of electricity blackout circulated among Justice Ministry employees on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the National Emergency Authority urged all government ministries to develop plans for a week-long blackout, anticipating a large-scale exercise said to occur in mid-February. Similar letters were also sent to directors of geriatric institutions.
NOS News • Today, 5:44 PM US announces series of retaliation after death of three soldiers in Jordan
As expected, the US will carry out a series of retaliatory strikes following the deaths of three soldiers in Jordan. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced in a press conference that there will be a "multi-pronged response," but did not provide further details.
According to the BBC, a plan has been approved for multi-day air strikes on militias in Iraq and Syria. The British broadcaster relies on anonymous officials. Minister Austin was not asked about this information, but made it clear to journalists that counteractions are underway. “We have the ability to strike multiple times.”
According to Austin, the death of the American trio has hit Defense hard:
1:02 US Defense Minister responds to death of three soldiers: 'We are furious'
'Axis of Resistance' The US has also carried out air strikes in retaliation in Iraq and Syria several times in recent months. Almost every day, American soldiers or bases come under fire on a small scale with drones or missiles. These actions have been claimed by the self-declared 'Axis of Resistance'.
Tehran has always denied that it had anything to do with these attacks. But according to Washington, Iran is indeed behind it and supports the militias that together form the Axis of Resistance. Iran has gained increasing influence in the region in the aftermath of the 2003 US invasion of Iraq.
US: Iranian drone used One of the pro-Iranian fighting groups is held directly responsible by the US for the drone attack that killed three American soldiers last weekend. Dozens of others were injured in the attack on an army base in Jordan, according to the US. According to Washington, the kamikaze drone used was Iranian-made.
It is still unclear when the US will take action, but pro-Iranian fighting groups will be targeted. “This is a dangerous moment in the Middle East,” Austin said. The superpower is trying to find a balance between hitting back hard, but not allowing tensions in the region to rise further. Therefore, it is unlikely that targets in Iran will be targeted.
In addition to bombings, cyber attacks are also being considered, NBC News reported yesterday. This channel also based itself on officials in Washington.
CENTCOM Statement on U.S. Strikes in Iraq and Syria
At 4:00 p.m. (EST) Feb. 02, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces conducted airstrikes in Iraq and Syria against Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Quds Force and affiliated militia groups. U.S. military forces struck more than 85 targets, with numerous aircraft to include long-range bombers flown from United States. The airstrikes employed more than 125 precision munitions. The facilities that were struck included command and control operations centers, intelligence centers, rockets, and missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicle storages, and logistics and munition supply chain facilities of militia groups and their IRGC sponsors who facilitated attacks against U.S. and Coalition forces.
Authorities name 561 soldiers, 61 police officers killed in Gaza war Five colonels among the dead, the most senior officers killed in combat in recent memory; 224 troops killed in ground offensive
Authorities name 561 soldiers, 61 police officers killed in Gaza war Five colonels among the dead, the most senior officers killed in combat in recent memory; 224 troops killed in ground offensive
I'm sure he's fine. They're fighting nonstop over there. Horrible that any human has to witness such horror, and those scars will never leave him, but there is no other option. I say this as a man of peace and love
But you had to play it cool, had to do it your way Had to be a fool, had to throw it all away
A ship attacked by Yemen’s Houthi rebels has sunk in the Red Sea after days of taking on water, officials said Saturday, the first vessel to be fully destroyed as part of their campaign over Israel’s war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
The sinking of the Rubymar, which carried a cargo of fertilizer and previously leaked fuel, could cause ecological damage to the Red Sea.
Persistent Houthi attacks have already disrupted traffic in the crucial waterway for cargo and energy shipments moving from Asia and the Middle East to Europe. Already, many ships have turned away from the route.
The sinking could see further detours and higher insurance rates put on vessels plying the waterway — potentially driving up global inflation and affecting aid shipments to the region.
Ashka Jhaveri, Johanna Moore, Ahmad Omid Arman, Alexandra Braverman, and Brian Carter
Information Cutoff: 2:00 pm ET
The Iran Update provides insights into Iranian and Iranian-sponsored activities abroad that undermine regional stability and threaten US forces and interests. It also covers events and trends that affect the stability and decision-making of the Iranian regime. The Critical Threats Project (CTP) at the American Enterprise Institute and the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) provides these updates regularly based on regional events. For more on developments in Iran and the region, see our interactive map of Iran and the Middle East.
Note: CTP and ISW have refocused the update to cover the Israel-Hamas war. The new sections address developments in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, Lebanon, and Syria, as well as noteworthy activity from Iran’s Axis of Resistance. We do not report in detail on war crimes because these activities are well-covered in Western media and do not directly affect the military operations we are assessing and forecasting. We utterly condemn violations of the laws of armed conflict and the Geneva Conventions and crimes against humanity even though we do not describe them in these reports.
Click here to see CTP and ISW’s interactive map of Israeli ground operations. This map is updated daily alongside the static maps present in this report.
The United States will construct a temporary pier on the coast of the Gaza Strip to facilitate the arrival and distribution of humanitarian aid. US President Joe Biden said during the State of the Union address on March 7 that he ordered the US military to lead an “emergency mission” to establish the pier.[1] Biden stressed that US servicemembers would not operate on the ground in the Gaza Strip. The United States will conduct a Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore (JLOTS). A JLOTS involves creating a floating pier for ship-to-shore operations.[2] The Pentagon press secretary said that the pier will be able to receive two million meals per day.[3] The secretary also noted that the pier facilities could take two months to become fully operational and will require up to 1,000 US military personnel to complete it.[4] Biden told reporters on March 8 that Israel would secure the temporary pier.[5] Thousands of Palestinians have surrounded aid shipments in the past, which underscores the need for security to ensure the fair, safe, and organized distribution of aid.[6]
The European Union announced on March 8 that it is planning to open an emergency maritime aid corridor from Cyprus to the Gaza Strip sometime between March 8 and 10 as part of a joint effort with its allies, including the United States.[7] The EU and the Cypriot Government said that all the efforts to open a maritime corridor will be “closely coordinated with Israel.”[8] The Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesperson welcomed the maritime corridor plan, noting that the aid must go through "security checks...in accordance with Israeli standards."[9] An anonymous Israeli official said that under the latest plan, UAE-donated aid would first go to Cyprus. Unspecified authorities would then inspect the aid before ships transport it to the Gaza Strip coast.[10]
CENTCOM commander Gen. Michael Kurilla said that US forces have not deterred the Houthis during a Senate Armed Services Committee Hearing on March 7.[11] Kurilla added that in his estimation, the United States will need to impose a "cost” on Iran to stop the Houthis from continuing attacks.[12] Kurilla highlighted the importance of targeting Iran’s ability to resupply the Houthis.
Kurilla also said that US airstrikes on February 2 and February 7 deterred Iran or its proxies and partners from continuing attacks on US forces in Iraq and Syria. Kurilla reported that there has not been an attack on US forces in Iraq or Syria in 32 days.[13] US forces struck 85 Iranian-backed targets in Iraq and Syria on February 2 and killed a senior Kataib Hezbollah commander in Baghdad on February 7 who was responsible for the deaths of US servicemembers. Kurilla emphasized that deterrence is temporary.[14] Iranian-backed militias have conducted attacks targeting US service members prior to October 7. Iranian-backed militias in Iraq can resume attacks at a time, place, and for reasons of their choosing, as CTP-ISW has previously noted.[15] ran has continued to send arms and funds to its militias despite the pause in attacks.
Kurilla also said that Iran continues to support Hamas, Lebanese Hezbollah, and armed groups in the West Bank.
Key Takeaways:
Gaza Strip: The United States will construct a temporary pier on the coast of the Gaza Strip to facilitate the arrival and distribution of humanitarian aid.
• The European Union announced that it is planning to open an emergency maritime aid corridor from Cyprus to the Gaza Strip sometime between March 8 and 10 as part of a joint effort with its allies, including the United States. • US Military Operations in the Middle East: CENTCOM commander Gen. Michael Kurilla said that US forces have not deterred the Houthis during a Senate Armed Services Committee Hearing. Kurilla also said that US airstrikes on February 2 and February 7 deterred Iran or its proxies and partners from continuing attacks on US forces in Iraq and Syria. Kurilla emphasized that deterrence is temporary. • Northern Gaza Strip: The Israel Defense Forces conducted a clearing operation to reclear Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip. • Iran: Iranian Foreign Affairs Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian discussed the Israel-Hamas war with Omani Foreign Affairs Minister Badr al Busaidi. • Southern Lebanon and Golan Heights: Israeli news reported that the IDF ordered Brig. Gen. Moshe Tamir to draft plans for a possible Israeli ground operation into southern Lebanon. • Yemen: US CENTCOM intercepted three drones that the Houthis launched toward the Gulf of Aden.
Gaza Strip
Axis of Resistance campaign objectives:
• Erode the will of the Israeli political establishment and public to launch and sustain a major ground operation into the Gaza Strip • Degrade IDF material and morale around the Gaza Strip.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) conducted a clearing operation to reclear Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip. The IDF Kfir Brigade’s Netzah Yuhda Battalion (143rd Division) operated in Beit Hanoun during the last week, engaging Palestinian fighters and destroying military infrastructure, including tunnel shafts.[16] The Kfir Brigade previously operated in the Gaza Strip but withdrew in January 2024.[17] The IDF said on December 18, 2023, that it had destroyed Hamas’ Beit Hanoun Battalion after conducting a nearly two-month-long clearing operation in the area.[18] Hamas exploited Israeli withdrawals in late December 2023 to infiltrate areas that Israeli forces had previously cleared and reconstitute some of its militia units. CTP-ISW has observed Palestinian fighters active in Beit Hanoun four times in March. CTP-ISW only observed Palestinian fighter activity once in February.[19] Palestinian fighters in Beit Hanoun have operated a drone near Israeli forces, attempted to establish a reconnaissance position, and shot at Israeli forces since February.[20]
The IDF Nahal Brigade (162nd Division) continued to conduct clearing operations in the central Gaza Strip on March 8.[21] Israeli forces killed 15 Palestinian fighters with sniper fire, tanks, and airstrikes.
Israeli forces continued to conduct clearing operations in some areas of northern Khan Younis on March 8. Three IDF brigades engaged Palestinian fighters in Hamad neighborhood, northwestern Khan Younis.[22] Palestinian fighters have been conducting a deliberate defense of Hamad since Israeli forces advanced into the neighborhood on March 3.[23] The IDF had intelligence that Palestinian fighters retreated from other areas in Khan Younis to hide in Hamad.[24] Palestinian fighters claimed most of their attacks in the Gaza Strip on March 8 in Hamad.[25] The IDF Bislamach Brigade continued offensive operations in Qarara, northern Khan Younis, and located tunnel shafts.[26] Hamas’ Qarara Battalion, which is in the Khan Younis Brigade, remains combat effective.
Israeli media reported on March 8 that Israeli officials have discussed arming civilians in the Gaza Strip to provide security for aid convoys.[28] Local police are refusing to provide security for the convoys because of Israeli airstrikes targeting members of Hamas’ police force. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu postponed a decision on arming civilians. The United States has warned Israel that a “total breakdown of law and order” is exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the strip.[29] The absence of a local security force contributes to this issue.[30]
A Palestinian journalist reported on March 8 that local tribal committees in the Gaza Strip agreed to ensure the safe passage of aid trucks in eastern Rafah after “local authorities” requested them to do so.[31] These ”local authorities“ are very likely Hamas. Hamas relies on its local police system to maintain social control. The IDF has targeted Hamas’ police and internal security apparatus to disrupt Hamas’ attempts to rebuild its governing authority in the Strip.[32] The Civil Police and the Hamas-controlled Interior Ministry's Internal Security Forces in the Gaza Strip both employ fighters from the Hamas military wing.[33]
Palestinian fighters have conducted one indirect fire attack from the Gaza Strip into southern Israel since CTP-ISW's last data cut-off on March 7.[34] PIJ claimed responsibility for the rocket attack.[35] The IDF 215th Artillery Brigade (162nd Division), which has been targeting Palestinian militia positions and assets in the northern Gaza Strip, shelled the areas from which Palestinian fighters fired rockets targeting southern Israel on March 7.[36] The IDF destroyed a weapons depot, tunnels, and a rocket launcher.
West Bank
Axis of Resistance campaign objectives:
• Draw IDF assets and resources toward the West Bank and fix them there
Israeli forces have clashed with Palestinian fighters at least four times across the West Bank since CTP-ISW's last data cut-off on March 7.[37] The al Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades conducted a complex attack targeting Israeli forces near Homesh, south of Jenin.[38] Al Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades fighters first fired at an IDF outpost. The fighters then ambushed IDF reinforcements responding to the attack with small arms and rudimentary improvised explosive devices. A complex attack uses more than one type of weapon, such as IEDs and direct-fire weapons, to target opposing forces.
Hamas claimed that attacks targeting Israeli forces and Israeli settlers in the West Bank will intensify during Ramadan.[39]
Southern Lebanon and Golan Heights
Axis of Resistance campaign objectives:
• Draw IDF assets and resources toward northern Israel and fix them there • Set conditions for successive campaigns into northern Israel.
Iranian-backed militias, including Lebanese Hezbollah, have conducted at least six attacks from southern Lebanon into northern Israel since CTP-ISW's last data cutoff on March 7.[40] Hezbollah claimed six total attacks.[41] The IDF said it intercepted a Hezbollah one-way attack drone that entered Israeli airspace on March 7.[42]
Israeli news reported that the IDF ordered Brig. Gen. Moshe Tamir to draft plans for a possible Israeli ground operation into southern Lebanon.[43] Israeli forces will reportedly use multiple entry points during a ground operation and seek to push Hezbollah forces 10 kilometers north of the Israel-Lebanon border. An operation that only pushes Hezbollah forces 10 kilometers from the Israeli border does not reach the Litani River. UNSC Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 Lebanon War, stipulates that Hezbollah cannot maintain military positions south of the Litani River.[44] Tamir formerly served as the commander of the Golani Brigade (36th Division) and drafted the IDF’s clearing operation plans for the Gaza Strip.
Iran and Axis of Resistance
Axis of Resistance campaign objectives:
• Demonstrate the capability and willingness of Iran and the Axis of Resistance to escalate against the United States and Israel on multiple fronts • Set conditions to fight a regional war on multiple fronts
Iranian Foreign Affairs Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian discussed the Israel-Hamas war with Omani Foreign Affairs Minister Badr al Busaidi in a telephone call on March 8.[45] Abdollahian and Busaidi discussed the need for Muslim countries to pressure Israel to end the war. Abdollahian accused the United States of acting in “bad faith” during negotiations aimed at lifting unspecified sanctions on Iran. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said in September 2023 that Oman would facilitate future nuclear negotiations between Iran and the West.[46]
US CENTCOM intercepted three drones that the Houthis launched toward the Gulf of Aden on March 7.[47] CENTCOM confirmed that its forces separately conducted preemptive strikes targeting four mobile anti-ship cruise missiles and one drone in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen on March 7. Houthi-affiliated media confirmed that the strikes on March 7 struck areas in Hudaydah.[48] https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/iran-update-march-8-2024
Re: Israel: 'State of war'
[Re: Hollander]
#1085150 03/10/2402:25 AM03/10/2402:25 AM
Inauguration of the Holocaust Museum in Amsterdam, clashes and 13 arrests at Waterlooplein The inauguration of the Holocaust Museum took place in a locked Amsterdam, with several demonstrations and protests due to the presence of the president of Israel, Herzog. According to AT5, the whistles and screams were loud enough to be heard even inside the museum.
Authorities present, including King Willem Alexander. The mayor Halsema was next to the gate of the courtyard of the Portuguese Synagogue to welcome the guests while on the street, armored and with a massive presence of anti-riot squads, slogans for a free Palestine could be heard. Further on, on Waterlooplein, demonstrators protest against the presence of one of yesterday's most important guests: Yitzhak Herzog. The president of Israel stopped by at the opening of the Holocaust Museum and took the opportunity to plead his country's case in the war against Hamas.
Many protesters find Herzog's presence yesterday inconceivable. The presence of protesters peaked at 1,500 and there were tensions and brief clashes. In total, police arrested 13 protesters.
An interesting simulation of a 200 unit drone swarm of Shahed 167 drones launched by Iran and Syria in an attempt to overwhelm the Iron Dome anti missile system.
Choppy times in U.S.-Israeli relations Reuters Thu, March 14, 2024 at 2:43 PM GMT+1·5 min read
FILE PHOTO: File picture of US president Reagan meeting Israeli delegation including Israeli PM Begin and Defence Minister Sharon in Washington (Reuters) - A rift between President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over Gaza red lines has set up a potential showdown between the two leaders, raising questions about whether the U.S. might restrict military aid if Israel goes ahead with a ground offensive in the south of the enclave.
The United States has been a staunch ally of Israel since President Harry Truman became the first world leader to recognize the newly established state in 1948.
But strains have emerged in the normally solid ties over the decades. Here are milestones:
1948
President Harry Truman becomes the first world leader to recognize the newly-established Israel.
1956
Furious at Israel's capture of the Sinai Peninsula and Gaza Strip from Egypt in a campaign with France and Britain, the administration of President Dwight Eisenhower insists on unconditional Israeli withdrawal and threatens to suspend vital U.S. financial aid to Israel unless it withdraws.
1967
The U.S. stands behind Israel in a war with surrounding Arab states. But relations are jolted by Israel's attack in international waters on the Liberty, a U.S. spy ship. Thirty-four American seamen are killed and 174 wounded.
1973
President Richard Nixon rushes to Israel's aid with an airlift of military hardware after Egypt and Syria, which lost territory in the 1967 conflict, launch the 1973 war.
1975
The U.S. administration of President Gerald Ford threatens to reappraise U.S. ties with Israel unless it signs a "disengagement" treaty with Egypt to pull back from the Sinai peninsula, captured in 1967.
1979
President Jimmy Carter hosts signing of peace treaty between Israel and Egypt, concluded in talks at Camp David.
1981
The U.S. condemns Israel's bombing of Iraq's Osirak nuclear reactor.
1982
In a telephone call to Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin, President Ronald Reagan expresses what a spokesman calls "outrage" over Israeli bombing raids in Beirut during a war in Lebanon, and pressures him into a ceasefire.
1990
Secretary of State James Baker says U.S. growing weary of Israeli foot-dragging over peace negotiations with the Palestinians and recites White House telephone number, urging both sides "to call us when you are serious about peace".
1991
President George Bush Sr. pressures Israel to stay out of first Gulf War, concerned that an Israeli attack on Iraq would cause a U.S.-led coalition to disintegrate.
Washington withholds $10 billion in loan guarantees sought by Israel to absorb the immigration of Soviet Jews, piling pressure on Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir to attend the Madrid peace conference. Bush cites the best interests of the peace process in justifying the postponement, and says he will not grant the guarantees unless Israel freezes settlement building.
1992
Bush approves Israel's loan guarantees request after Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin offers a limited curtailment of settlement building.
1993
President Bill Clinton hosts a handshake between Rabin and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat at the signing of a Declaration of Principles on interim Palestinian self-government.
1998
Clinton hosts summit between Arafat and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Wye River, Maryland. Netanyahu agrees to hand over more occupied land to Palestinian control.
2003
President George W. Bush announces "road map" peace plan, three years after start of Palestinian uprising, setting an outline for an end to violence and return to statehood talks.
2004
Bush tells Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon "existing major Israeli population centers" -- an indirect reference to Jewish settlement enclaves in the West Bank -- make it "unrealistic" to expect Israel to return to armistice lines drawn in 1949.
2009
Bush tells Israel's parliament the unbreakable bond between Israel and the U.S. runs deeper than any treaty and is grounded in the shared link to the Bible.
2010
The administration of President Barack Obama is furious with Israel for announcing the building of more settler homes around Jerusalem during a visit by Vice President Joe Biden. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton calls the move "insulting".
2011
Netanyahu lectures Obama in the White House Oval Office days after Obama stated publicly that "the borders between Israel and Palestine should be based on the 1967 lines".
2015
Obama says the international community does not believe that Israel is serious about a two-state solution.
2016
Obama, in the final weeks of his presidency, allowed a U.N. Security Council resolution condemning Israeli settlement building to be adopted by withholding the U.S. veto. It breaks with a history of U.S. shielding Israel at the U.N.
2017
Reversing decades of U.S. policy, President Donald Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. The new U.S. embassy opens in 2018.
2019
The Trump administration recognizes Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, territory captured from Syria in the 1967 war. The U.S. is the only country to do this.
2023
Oct. 7 - U.S. President Joe Biden offers Israel "all appropriate means of support" after the Palestinian militant group Hamas launches its Oct. 7 attack on Israel, and warns "any party hostile to Israel" not to seek advantage.
Dec. 12 - Biden warns Israel it was losing international support because of its "indiscriminate" bombing of civilians in its war against Hamas militants.
2024
Feb. 8 - Biden says he seeks a "sustained pause in the fighting".
Feb. 11 - Biden tells Netanyahu Israel should not launch a military operation in Rafah without a credible plan to ensure the safety of the roughly 1 million people sheltering there.
Feb. 27 - Netanyahu says he has consistently resisted pressure to end the war prematurely and this stand has popular U.S. support.
March 9 - Biden says Israel’s threatened invasion of Rafah would be his “red line” for Netanyahu but then backtracks, saying there is no red line and "I’m never going to leave Israel." Biden says his message to Netanyahu about civilian casualties is that he is "hurting Israel more than helping" by acting in a way "contrary to what Israel stands for."
March 12 - Netanyahu says that Israel would press forward with its military campaign into Rafah.
Russia, China and Iran Finish Drills in Gulf of Oman DZIRHAN MAHADZIR MARCH 14, 2024 5:28 PM
Russia, China and Iran completed the at-sea phase of the Sea Security Belt 2024 exercise on Thursday near the Gulf of Oman and carried out a shore phase along with a debriefing in the Iranian city of Chabahar, with the drills scheduled to end on Friday.
The drills formally began on Monday with the arrival of Russian and Chinese ships to Chabahar. The ships then departed on Tuesday to begin the at-sea phase of the exercise.
The exercise is the sixth iteration of one that began in 2018. This year’s iteration is the first to allow observers from other countries, namely Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Oman, India and South Africa.
Iran state news agency IRNA reported that, according to a statement from the media headquarters of the joint drills, the purpose of the exercise is to expand multilateral cooperation among the participating countries to show their ability to jointly support world peace, maritime security, and to create a maritime group in the future.
More than 20 ships are participating in the exercise, with two warships from the Russian Navy Pacific Fleet, cruiser and fleet flagship RFS Varyag (011) and destroyer RFS Marshal Shaposhnikov (543). Both ships left their home port of Vladivostok on Jan. 22 for a scheduled deployment to the Indo-Pacific and Middle East. Previously, both ships took part in the Indian Navy-hosted multinational naval exercise Milan 2024, held in late February.
For the drills, the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) deployed the 45th China Naval Escort Task Force, – which includes destroyer CNS Urumqi (118), frigate CNS Linyi (547) and fleet oiler CNS Dongpinghu (902) – after handing over its anti-piracy duty on March 4 to the 46th Task Force. The 46th Task Force consists of destroyer CNS Jiaozuo (163), frigate CNS Xuchang (536) and fleet oiler Honghu (906).
As in previous exercises, Iran’s participation consisted of both the Iranian Navy and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN). Among the Iranian Navy ships taking part in the drills were frigates IRIS Alvand (71), IRIS Dena (75) and IRIS Jamaran (76), while IRGC ships include corvettes Shahid Soleimani (FS313-01) and Shahid Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis (PC313-01), fast-attack craft Shahid Tavassoli (P313-4) and auxiliary ship Shahid Mahmoudi.
On Tuesday, ships from the three countries conducted tactical maneuvering drills and subsequently carried out live firing against surface targets and aerial targets simulating unmanned air vehicles, according to a Russian Ministry of Defense news release. The firing drills also included nighttime firing.
On Wednesday, the ships were divided into two task groups – one composed of Russian and Iranian ships and the other composed of Chinese and Iranian ships – to carry out a hostage rescue drill, with two Iranian ships playing the role of hijacked merchant ships. https://news.usni.org/2024/03/14/russia-china-and-iran-finish-drills-in-gulf-of-oman
In other developments, Japan’s Joint Staff Office (JSO) reported on Tuesday that a Chinese Y-9 electronic intelligence aircraft and two H-6 bombers flew in from the East China Sea, flying through the Miyako Strait to enter the Philippine Sea, circling over it before turning back and returning to the East China Sea through the Miyako Strait. The JSO release also stated that a suspected Chinese unmanned air vehicle was observed operating in the same area at the same time. In response, fighter aircraft from the Japan Air Self-Defense Force Southwest Air District scrambled, according to the release.
US puts pressure on Israel with Gaza ceasefire resolution as Qatar talks continue March 22, 202412:58 AM GMT+1Updated 2 hours ago
CAIRO/WASHINGTON, March 22 (Reuters) - Israel's spy chief was due to travel to Qatar on Friday for ceasefire negotiations while the U.S. planned to put a resolution calling for an immediate truce in Gaza to a vote of the U.N. Security Council, intensifying pressure on its ally. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Thursday in Cairo he believed talks mediated by the U.S., Qatar and Egypt could still reach a ceasefire deal between the Palestinian militant group Hamas and Israel.
"The king is dead, long live the king!"
Re: Israel: 'State of war'
[Re: Hollander]
#1086112 03/23/2408:46 AM03/23/2408:46 AM
AFRICA FILE SPECIAL EDITION: NIGER CUTS THE UNITED STATES FOR RUSSIA AND IRAN Mar 21, 2024 - ISW Press
Editor's Note: The Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute publishes these updates with support from the Institute for the Study of War.
Africa File Special Edition: Niger Cuts the United States for Russia and Iran
Russian mercenary bases in northern Niger would create an opportunity for the Kremlin to deploy drones in the area to threaten NATO’s southern flank in the future.
Authors: Liam Karr
Data Cutoff: March 21, 2024, at 10:00am ET
The Africa File provides regular analysis and assessments of major developments regarding state and nonstate actors’ activities in Africa that undermine regional stability and threaten US personnel and interests.
CTP rebranded the Salafi-Jihadi Movement Weekly Update and its related special updates to be named the Africa File on February 23, 2024. The name “Africa File” better reflects the updates’ Africa-centric nature in recent months. “Africa File” also better reflects CTP’s efforts in recent months to cover a wider range of national security interests on the African continent in addition to the Salafi-jihadi movement
Key Takeaway: Niger’s junta annulled defense cooperation agreements with the United States, underscoring its prioritization of growing partnerships with like-minded authoritarian regimes such as Russia and Iran over maintaining cooperation with the United States. Russian mercenaries will likely backfill US positions if US forces withdraw from Niger, which would increase the conventional military and irregular migration threats Russia poses to NATO’s southern flank and consolidate Russian logistics in Africa. Decreased US influence in Niger will also create opportunities for expanded Russian and Iranian cooperation with Niger by degrading America’s ability to dissuade or incentivize Niger from cooperating with these alternative partners. The end of American-Nigerien defense cooperation will also harm both countries’ counterterrorism goals.
Assessment:
Niger’s junta annulled its defense agreements with the United States days after tense meetings with a high-level US delegation. US Assistant Secretary of State Molly Phee and US Africa Command Commander Gen. Michael Langley led a US delegation that met with top Nigerien officials on March 12 and 13.[1] Nigerien junta head Gen. Abdourahamane Tiani refused to meet with the American delegation despite the delegation extending its stay through March 14.[2] US officials expressed concerns about the junta’s growing ties with Iran and Russia during meetings that US officials described as “direct and frank.”[3]
The junta annulled military cooperation agreements with the United States on March 16.[4] The spokesperson labeled the deals as lopsided and accused the United States of failing to adequately share intelligence gathered using its drone fleet and forcing Niger to pay billions of dollars to maintain donated American aircraft.[5] The spokesperson also scolded the US delegation’s “condescending attitude” and threats during the March 12–13 meetings.[6] US defense and diplomatic officials reacted to the announcement by saying that communication channels with the junta remained open and that the United States is seeking clarification and alternative paths forward to continue the partnership.[7]
The junta’s decision puts the future of the remaining active US drone base and 700 US military personnel in Agadez, northern Niger, in question.[8] The United States uses the base to monitor and support security forces operating against al Qaeda and Islamic State–affiliated militants in northwest Africa, including the Lake Chad Basin, Libya, and the Sahel.
Niger is unlikely to compromise on its efforts to grow ties with Iran and Russia to maintain its partnership with the United States. The United States has tried to take a more pragmatic and nonconfrontational approach to the junta after the junta took power in July 2023. The United States initially broke from its French partners in its approach to the coup. France supported a more aggressive approach, including supporting a regional military intervention to restore democratic rule, while the United States dispatched an envoy to engage the junta.[10] The United States waited over two months to formally declare the unconstitutional government change a coup.[11] The United States also recognized the junta’s legitimacy but called for a short transition in the last quarter of 2024. The US ambassador to Niger presented her credentials to the junta in December.[12] Niger’s decision to maintain ties with the United States while growing ties with Iran and Russia up to March 16 indicates that it was trying to balance these partnerships under these conditions.
The United States has taken a tougher stance toward Niger since January 2024, given Niger’s growing ties with Iran and Russia, contributing to the current impasse. The France-based, Africa-focused investigative outlet Jeune Afrique reported on March 19 that sources close to the Nigerien junta and Western diplomats said the United States opposed Niger sliding toward Iran and Russia and the potential of a Russian mercenary deployment to Niger.[13] The Wall Street Journal reported on March 17 that US officials accused Niger of secretly exploring a deal to allow Iran access to its uranium reserves during the March 12–13 meetings.[14] Jeune Afrique also reported that US suspicions that one of the already-signed Iran-Niger energy agreements involved uranium provision became a redline for future US cooperation with Niger.[15] The junta explicitly rejected this hardened stance and cited it as a cause for annulling the US defense deals in its statement that denied the US delegation’s “false accusation” of a secret uranium agreement with Iran and lambasted the US delegation’s “threats.”[16]
The Nigerien junta has signaled from its inception that it wanted to grow cooperation with like-minded authoritarian regimes, such as Russia and Iran, even at the expense of effective partnerships with Western states. The Nigerien junta has staked its popular legitimacy and internal military support on maximizing national sovereignty, cutting ties with its former colonizer and US partner France and diversifying partnerships with authoritarian countries, such as Russia and Iran.[17] These alternative partners are better suited to help the junta boost regime security and enable a more aggressive and militarized counterterrorism strategy. The junta quickly forced French troops out of the country and grew ties with Russia throughout 2023.[18] The junta has been interested in deploying Russian mercenaries since it gained power in July and continued pursuing closer military cooperation with Russia.[19] The junta also signed agreements on energy, health, and finance with Iran in January 2024.[20]
The deterioration and rupture of France’s relationship with Mali from 2020 to 2022 foreshadowed the likely trajectory of the Niger-US partnership. The Malian junta—like the Burkinabe and Nigerien juntas since—pursued a closer relationship with Russia because it offers a more attractive partnership that addresses their broader needs for authoritarian regime security while aligning with their anti-Western and aggressively militarized counterinsurgency outlooks.[21] France also initially took a conciliatory stance toward the Malian junta, but ties eventually ruptured as Malian officials adopted anti-French stances, consolidated power with a second coup, and uncompromisingly sought to grow relations with Russia.[22] The Malian junta continued to pursue this new relationship beyond France’s “redline” of deploying Wagner Group mercenaries in 2021.[23] The move ended the strained relationship and showed that the Malian junta was willing to risk its decade-long military partnership with France to pursue an unrestrained new partnership with Russia.
Russian mercenaries could backfill abandoned US positions in northern Niger within months of US forces leaving the country, which would pose various threats to NATO’s southern flank and consolidate Russian logistics networks in Africa. CTP continues to assess that Niger will likely contract Russian mercenaries to help fill the capacity gaps left by the departure of French and potentially US forces and address the deteriorating security situation in the country.[25] The Nigerien junta initially showed interest in a Wagner Group deployment in its first days in power, although this was when it faced a potential regional invasion to restore democratic rule.[26] The junta has since continued meeting with Russian defense officials linked to Russian mercenary activity and signing additional defense agreements.[27]
Russia has also demonstrated its interest in expanding its military footprint in the Sahel. There are already 1,000–2,000 Kremlin-funded Wagner Group mercenaries that have been in neighboring Mali since 2021.[28] Numerous open-source intelligence organizations have also assessed that the Russian Ministry of Defense began ramping up recruitment in the fourth quarter of 2023 for its new private military company, called “Africa Corps.” Russia’s Africa Corps aims to establish footholds in Burkina Faso and Niger and subsume preexisting Wagner operations in other countries such as Libya and Mali.[29] At least 100 Russian Africa Corps mercenaries deployed to Burkina Faso in January 2024.[30] Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger are part of an alliance, which creates further opportunities for multilateral cooperation between the juntas and Russia.
Russian mercenaries would likely backfill the inactive US bases in Niamey and the northern Nigerien city Agadez as they did French positions in Mali. Wagner Group mercenaries quickly began operating out of former French bases in Mali immediately after French forces withdrew in 2022.[32] Wagner Group and Malian army forces also assumed control over several vacated UN bases in northern Mali as UN forces withdrew throughout 2023.
Russia would be unlikely to base drones with its mercenaries in Niger in the immediate term. However, the presence of Russian mercenary bases in northern Niger would create an opportunity for the Kremlin to deploy drones in the area to threaten NATO’s southern flank in the future. Russian mercenaries in Mali have not deployed or indicated they plan to deploy Russian drones in Africa. Wagner auxiliaries in Mali have relied on Malian forces’ use of Turkish TB2 drones.[34] Niger also has its own TB2 drones.[35] Russia has supported its Wagner mercenaries in Libya with conventional Russian aircraft but no drones.[36] The rapid increase in Iranian and Russian production of Shahed-style drones for Russia’s war in Ukraine increases the risk that the Kremlin leverages some of this production capacity to equip mercenaries in Africa with drones in the future.[37]
Shahed 136 drones based near Agadez would be within range of key US and NATO installations and parts of the Mediterranean Sea. The Shahed 136, also known as Geranium s in Russia, has a maximum range of 1,553 miles (2,500 kilometers).[38] Agadez is 1,523 miles from Sicily and the southern tip of the Italian mainland, 1,555 miles from Gibraltar, and roughly 1,600 miles from the US-Spanish air and naval bases in southern Spain. The Kremlin has not armed its mercenaries in Africa with drones, including in places closer to Europe, such as Libya or Mali. Russian doctrine indicates that the Kremlin is likely interested in such opportunities in the event of a conflict with NATO, however. Russian strategy and doctrine emphasize the importance of quickly attacking “critically important ground-based facilities” on short notice to destroy an enemy’s military and economic potential.[39] This illustrates the Kremlin’s likely intent in securing such drone placements in the future to prepare for a conflict with NATO. Locations like Libya and Mali are more comfortably within range of the Mediterranean and Europe; this would make Libya and Mali more likely base locations should the Kremlin decide to base drones in Africa in the future.
Russia would also likely use positions in northern Niger to exploit trans-Saharan migrant-smuggling routes to increase irregular migration flows to Europe and enrich its mercenaries. Russia has repeatedly and systematically weaponized migrant crises in Europe. The Russian and Belarussian governments have flooded the borders of Finland, Lithuania, and Poland with refugees since 2021.[40] Their tactics included luring refugees from the Middle East and Africa on flights to Europe based on false promises before dropping them at the border.[41] Russia’s attacks on agricultural facilities in Ukraine and scrapping of the Black Sea grain deal in July 2023 indirectly targets food availability in Africa, creating another cause for mass migration.[42] The Kremlin also foments prolonged instability in theaters where it is active, such as Syria, Ukraine, and now the Sahel, which creates long-term refugee crises.[43]
Russia is now active along many of the trans-Saharan migrant routes, increasing its opportunities to facilitate mass migration. Russian mercenaries in the Sahel have contributed to a massive spike in human rights abuses since 2021, helping fuel record-high levels of trans-Saharan migration to Europe.[44] Russian security assistance has simultaneously failed to slow the Salafi-jihadi insurgency, creating conditions for worsening instability that continues to prompt migration.[45] Russia’s partners in the Nigerien junta also annulled an EU-backed migration law that aimed to stem these flows in December 2023, benefiting both parties but directly increasing migrant flows to North Africa and Europe.[46] Russia’s growing footprint in sub-Saharan Africa also increases opportunities for Russian personnel to directly lure more migrants to Europe to drop at NATO’s borders.
Russian mercenaries in Niger can insert themselves into the local migrant-smuggling economy to further increase profits and migrant flows. Facilitating migration to North Africa is a major local economy in northern Niger, and Agadez is a primary staging point.[47] Thousands of people gather in convoys to travel across the desert to Libya, where they seek to reach the Mediterranean coast and take a boat to mainland Europe.[48] Nigerien security forces are already involved in the migrant-smuggling economy by charging migrant smugglers at security checkpoints and escorting migrant convoys.[49] Russian mercenaries have shown adept at inserting themselves in other informal African economies by cultivating ties with civilian and military power brokers and would do the same in Niger.[50] This would allow them to both profit off migration and directly facilitate migration by helping convoys reach the Mediterranean.
The EU border patrol agency and numerous European officials have warned in 2024 that Russian President Vladimir Putin is attempting to foment greater refugee flows from Africa to destabilize Europe, influence elections, and undermine support for Ukraine.[51] The EU has repeatedly identified migration as a critical issue after the 2010s Syrian refugee crisis destabilized the continent by overwhelming the EU asylum system and amplifying racial tensions, giving rise to ethno-nationalist right-wing political movements.[52] Putin has repeatedly generated refugee crises to exploit this weakness by prolonging military conflicts and humanitarian emergencies that increase migration flows and then either decreasing local migration enforcement measures or directly supporting migrants and smugglers.[53] The EU border patrol agency noted that 380,000 migrants attempted to cross into Europe from Libya in 2023, the highest number of irregular crossings since 2016.
Russian basing in northern Niger would also strengthen Russia’s logistical network in Africa. Russian basing in Agadez would help bridge the gap in the Russian Ministry of Defense’s air-supply network between positions in Libya and sub-Saharan Africa.[55] Agadez is 1,100 miles or less from the Wagner-controlled airbases in Libya and just over 1,100 miles from major Russian bases in Bamako to the west and Bangui—the capital of the Central African Republic—to the southeast.
A US withdrawal from Niger would undermine America’s counterterrorism posture in West and North Africa despite potential fallback options, which could increase the transnational threat risk to Europe and the United States. US Africa Command head Gen. Langley warned that the loss of US basing in the Sahel will “degrade our ability to do active watching and warning, including for homeland defense.”[57]
The United States is exploring alternative basing options in the Gulf of Guinea and Chad. The Wall Street Journal reported on January 3 that the United States held preliminary talks for US reconnaissance drones to use airfields in Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, and Benin.[58] French newspaper Le Monde reported in January that the US was considering joint bases with France on the continent.[59] The most likely destination for such a base would be Chad, where French forces relocated after departing Niger at the end of 2023.[60]
These alternative options have practical drawbacks, however. The relocation of US reconnaissance drones at least 500 miles south, to the Gulf of Guinea, would significantly restrain US reconnaissance in North Africa and potentially the Lake Chad Basin. American forces at the Agadez Air Base use MQ9 reaper drones, which have a range of 1,150 miles.[61] Relocation into any of the three countries will remove Africa-based surveillance of Islamic State cells in Libya and most of Algeria. Relocation to the farthest West option—Côte d’Ivoire—would also eliminate eyes on the Lake Chad Basin, where the Islamic State’s West Africa Province and regional administrative node is based. Relocation to Chad would eliminate coverage of the western halves of Burkina Faso and Mali, where al Qaeda’s Sahelian affiliate is firmly entrenched. https://www.understandingwar.org/ba...niger-cuts-united-states-russia-and-iran
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday canceled a planned trip to Washington by his top aides to discuss plans for an offensive in the Gaza city of Rafah, taking the step after the United States refrained from using a veto to block a United Nations Security Council resolution, backed by Russia and China, that called for a ceasefire ***without conditioning it on the release of hostages.***
Thirteen of the fifteen parties in the House of Representatives ask in a joint statement to "stand up" against hatred of Jews. The parties say they see "with horror" that hatred of Jews is returning in places "where everyone should be able to gather safely and freely".
"Jewish hatred is flaring up again. This is not demonstrating, this is intimidating," the thirteen party leaders write. Only Denk and Forum for Democracy have not signed the statement.
The politicians refer to last weekend , when pro-Palestinian activists in Waalwijk disrupted a performance by Lenny Kuhr. They came on stage and shouted, among other things, that the Jewish Kuhr is a murderer and a terrorist.
According to the thirteen faction leaders, this is not an incident. "A line has been crossed here. A line that we hoped would never be crossed again in our country." According to them, the safety and freedom of Jewish Dutch people is at stake. "The freedom to come together, to commemorate, to celebrate, to express yourself culturally - to live."
Earlier today, the House of Representatives called on the cabinet to speak out strongly against the increasing expressions of anti-Semitism in society, and especially in the cultural sector.
The disruption of the concert is "exemplary of the rising hatred of Jews," said BBB MP Van Zanten. “The stage should never be taken away from Jewish artists.” Like many other MPs, she wanted to know what the government will do about it.
Outgoing State Secretary Gräper promised that she will discuss the matter in the Council of Ministers on Thursday. It only concerns the cultural sector, but it also concerns, for example, public order, which is what the Minister of Justice is responsible for. She expects the cabinet to issue a statement against anti-Semitism on Thursday.
'Weak response Gräper' Many MPs thought that was a weak response. "You condemn it, but you don't get any further. I hear very little action," said NSC MP Van Vroonhoven. The State Secretary is in discussions with the sector, but wondered what she can do beyond helping theaters with better security, as GroenLinks-PvdA suggested. "It is not possible to prevent these types of incidents."
"Should I close theaters? That is not the answer either," said Gräper. According to her, it is an important achievement that we have an 'open' cultural sector where dialogue takes place. "There is no possibility for dialogue with anti-Semites, State Secretary," responded VVD MP Ellian. He believes that the government must guarantee that all performances with Jewish artists can continue at all times.
March of Civilization? "Speak out loudly," said Christian Union faction leader Bikker. She addressed not only the cabinet, but also the cultural sector itself. According to her, it is "terrifyingly quiet" there. Many parties agreed with her.
BBB member Van Zanten referred to the so-called March of Civilization that the sector organized in 2011 when cuts threatened. "Where is that march now?". She thought that Gräper should address the sector about this. According to the State Secretary, it is more powerful if such a signal is organized by the sector itself.
Denk MP Ergin wanted to know how Gräper came to the conclusion that Kuhr was the victim of anti-Semitism. The people who disrupted the concert have said they did so not because of her Jewishness, but because of her support for Israeli action in Gaza.
But according to the State Secretary, the consequence of the disruption may be that performances by Jewish artists such as Lenny Kuhr are canceled for fear of disturbances. Ticket sales for her other concerts have already been halted. "Then she is limited in her artistry because of her Jewishness and that is anti-Semitism."
"Since October 7, I have the feeling that the bear is loose," Kuhr said yesterday about her disrupted concert.
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