Netanyahu rival Benny Gantz says he’ll quit Israel’s war Cabinet on June 8 unless new Gaza plan devise

 https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/netanyahu-rival-benny-gantz-says-ll-quit-israels-war-cabinet-june-8-un-rcna152916

Benny Gantz, a member of Israel’s three-man war Cabinet, has threatened to resign from the government if it doesn’t adopt a new plan for the war in Gaza, a move that would leave Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu more reliant on his far-right allies.

His announcement on Saturday escalates a divide within Israel’s leadership more than seven months into a war in which it has yet to accomplish its stated goals of dismantling Hamas and returning scores of hostages abducted in the Oct. 7 attack.

Gantz spelled out a six-point plan that includes the return of scores of hostages, ending Hamas’ rule, demilitarizing the strip and establishing an international administration of civilian affairs. It also supports efforts to normalize relations with Saudi Arabia.

Left-wing organization to compensate farmer

 https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/390175

The Beit Shemesh Magistrate's Court ordered the left-wing organization 'Kerem Navot' to compensate Tzvi Bar-Yosef, an owner of an agricultural farm near Neve Tzuf, after claiming that he is a "violent person".

In the verdict, it was determined that there is no evidence that Bar Yosef acted in physical violence himself, and it was even hinted that the international sanctions imposed on him were based on 'hearsay evidence' received from Israeli left-wing activists.

Gantz's ultimatum for the Prime Minister

 https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/390157

Minister Benny Gantz made a statement to the press Saturday evening in Kfar Maccabiah.

"The unity brought great achievements, we gave our soldiers on the front a sense of partnership in our fate, but recently something went wrong. Vital decisions were not made. Leadership actions required to ensure victory were not taken," he said.

"A small minority took control of the ship that is Israel and is sailing it towards the rocks. I am here today to tell the truth. And the truth is hard: while Israeli soldiers exhibit supreme bravery on the front - some of the people who sent them to battle act in cowardice and irresponsibility."

Iran’s regime slated to execute innocent young Jew on Monday

9https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/irans-regime-slated-to-execute-innocent-young-jew-on-monday-801589

The Islamic Republic of Iran’s opaque judicial system is expected to execute a young Iranian Jew on Monday for an altercation involving his self-defense that led to the death of a Muslim man, the Jerusalem Post has confirmed.

Gantz to Netanyahu: If you don't change course by June 8 we will withdraw from the government

 https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-801652

Minister-without-portfolio Benny Gantz gave Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a deadline until June 8 to come up with a more clear war program or Gantz will withdraw from the government.

Gantz listed six objectives that Netanyahu must adopt or face his withdrawal from government:

Benjamin Netanyahu Confronted With Ultimatum and Deadline

 https://www.newsweek.com/benjamin-netanyahu-confronted-ultimatum-deadline-1902219

Benny Gantz, a member of Israel's war cabinet, threatened to resign his centrist party from the government if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu does not give him a plan on how to deal with the conflict in Gaza by June 8.

A mystery illness stole their kids’ personalities. These moms fought for answers.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2024/05/12/down-syndrome-regression-disorder-mothers-support/

But because people with Down syndrome have an extra chromosome 21, they have extra copies of these immune genes — which appear to dysregulate and ramp up the immune system’s response. The result, Espinosa said, is a body that acts like it’s “constantly trying to fight a virus that is not there.”

How Far Trump Would Go

https://time.com/6972021/donald-trump-2024-election-interview/ 

What emerged in two interviews with Trump, and conversations with more than a dozen of his closest advisers and confidants, were the outlines of an imperial presidency that would reshape America and its role in the world. To carry out a deportation operation designed to remove more than 11 million people from the country, Trump told me, he would be willing to build migrant detention camps and deploy the U.S. military, both at the border and inland. He would let red states monitor women’s pregnancies and prosecute those who violate abortion bans. He would, at his personal discretion, withhold funds appropriated by Congress, according to top advisers. He would be willing to fire a U.S. Attorney who doesn’t carry out his order to prosecute someone, breaking with a tradition of independent law enforcement that dates from America’s founding. He is weighing pardons for every one of his supporters accused of attacking the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, more than 800 of whom have pleaded guilty or been convicted by a jury. He might not come to the aid of an attacked ally in Europe or Asia if he felt that country wasn’t paying enough for its own defense. He would gut the U.S. civil service, deploy the National Guard to American cities as he sees fit, close the White House pandemic-preparedness office, and staff his Administration with acolytes who back his false assertion that the 2020 election was stolen.

Another outrageous statement: UN chief equates October 7 and Gaza situation

 https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/390098

In a post on social media, Guterres wrote, “Nothing can justify the 7 Oct terror attacks by Hamas” but then added, “Nothing can justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people.”

He then added, “It’s high time for a humanitarian ceasefire, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and unimpeded humanitarian access throughout Gaza.”

Guterres has long been criticized for his attempts to create a moral equivalence between Israel and the Hamas terrorist organization.

What Would a U.S.-Iran War Look Like? One Word: Bloody.

 https://www.cato.org/commentary/what-would-us-iran-war-look-one-word-bloody

Going to war against Iran would be no minor matter, and President Trump is irresponsible to act in such a flippant manner. Attacking Iran could trigger a prolonged, costly nightmare in both treasure and blood. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D‑HI), a Democratic presidential candidate, likely is prophetic that a war against Iran would make the Iraq War look like a cakewalk. Tehran certainly has a multitude of ways to retaliate for U.S. aggression and to escalate the bilateral confrontation. U.S. leaders would be wise not to venture farther down that perilous path.

Why Iran and Israel Stepped Back From the Brink

 https://www.foreignaffairs.com/israel/why-iran-and-israel-stepped-back-brink

The diplomatic surge succeeded in keeping the crisis contained. It also made clear that the United States’ highest priority is to prevent the war in Gaza from igniting a regional conflagration and dragging the United States into another costly war in the Middle East. A fact working in Washington’s favor is that neither Iran nor Israel is keen on direct conflict, their recent show of force notwithstanding. Iran understands that Israel is a nuclear state with superior conventional capabilities and that war with Israel would ultimately mean war with the United States. Israel, for its part, knows that a larger conflict with Iran would compel Hezbollah to fire many more missiles at Israeli cities and military facilities. Still, if the tenuous truce between Iran and Israel is to hold, Washington must remain deeply engaged. It must work closely with Israel to address the country’s security concerns, and it should build on the diplomatic progress it has made with Iran in recent weeks.

‘Delusional’: Bolton blasts Trump for saying Iranian attacks wouldn’t have happened on his watch

 https://www.politico.com/news/2024/04/14/bolton-trump-israel-iran-attacks-00152132

Former President Donald Trump told supporters Saturday that Iran’s attack on Israel over the weekend “would not have happened if we were in office.” His former national security adviser says it was a ridiculous statement.

“I just think Trump is delusional on this point,” John Bolton said during an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday. “It’s a point that nobody can refute or confirm one way or the other. He doesn’t have any idea what to do in the Middle East in this situation.”

Trump’s rhetoric on thwarting Iran vs. his record

 https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/04/15/trumps-rhetoric-thwarting-iran-vs-his-record/

 But at least one Trump aide who was around in the months leading up to the early 2020 clash with Iran says Trump’s talking point is nonsense.

“I just think Trump is delusional on this point,” former Trump national security adviser John Bolton said Sunday on CNN. “It’s a point that nobody can refute or confirm one way or the other. He doesn’t have any idea what to do in the Middle East in this situation.”

Netanyahu urged Trump to attack Iran after he lost the presidency

 https://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-urged-us-to-attack-iran-after-trumps-election-loss-report/

“In the months after the election, with Trump seemingly willing to do anything to stay in power, the subject of Iran was repeatedly raised in White House meetings with the President, and Milley repeatedly argued against a strike,” the New Yorker piece reported. Milley “was worried that Trump might set in motion a full-scale conflict that was not justified. Trump had a circle of Iran hawks around him,” it said, and Netanyahu “was also urging the Administration to act against Iran after it was clear that Trump had lost the election. 

Stealing from G-d

 Medrash Shmuel (Avos (02:11) One who steals from others is like one who steals from G-d since G-d makes restitution

Learning from nature

 Devarim Rabbah (05:02) Solomon said, ‘Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. ‘ So do you, too, Israel prepare for yourselves religious deeds in this world for the World to Come. And what is the meaning of, ’Consider her ways, and be wise’? The Rabbis say: Consider her good conduct, how she keeps away from robbery.

Abbott pardons man who fatally shot Black Lives Matter protester

 https://www.politico.com/news/2024/05/16/abbott-pardon-man-fatally-shot-black-lives-matter-protester-00158549

The former soldier said he acted in self-defense, claiming he fired his pistol when Foster, who was legally carrying an AK-47, pointed the rifle at him. Witnesses testified that they did not see Foster raise his weapon, and prosecutors argued that Perry could have driven away without shooting.

Weapons shipment delayed by US arrives in Israel

 https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/390097

Despite the US administration's threat to freeze arms shipments to Israel, due to the IDF's ground maneuver in Rafah, the arms shipment that had recently been delayed has arrived in Israel, Kan 11 News reported on Thursday.

A US official said that the decision to resume the transfer of weapons was made after Israel undertook to inform the United States in advance before expanding the ground maneuver in Rafah.

U.S. Fixation on Nuclear Deal Let Iran Loose on the Middle East

 https://foreignpolicy.com/2024/04/25/us-iran-israel-hamas-war-nuclear-deal-biden-trump-obama/

But even the administration of former President Donald Trump did not deviate much from the path set by Obama and now followed by President Joe Biden. In 2018, Trump withdrew the United States from the JCPOA and announced the start of a so-called maximum pressure campaign toward Iran. Yet his administration did not come up with any plan for dealing with the ballistic missile program or regional interventions—despite Iran’s activities in Syria having become more extensive than they were during Obama’s time in office.

Trump’s Iran Failures Left Biden With No Choice But to Make a Deal

 https://time.com/6146540/trumps-iran-failures-biden-deal/

Once President, Trump’s closest national security advisors begged him not to tear up the deal. They told him the deal was working. Iran had lived up to its promises, shut down major parts of its nuclear program, and allowed the inspectors in. And that unlikely coalition Obama had constructed on Iran policy—America, Europe, China and Russia—was now assembled and ready to get to work on Iran’s other malevolent behavior, like its support for terrorist groups in the region. America was safer with the deal in place, they told him.

Iran: Background and U.S. Policy

 https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R47321#:~:text=The%20U.S.%20government%20has%20used,Iranian%20threats%20to%20U.S.%20interests.

Since the 1979 Iranian Revolution that ushered in the Islamic Republic, Iran has presented a major foreign policy challenge for the United States, with successive U.S. Administrations identifying Iran and its activities as a threat to the United States and its interests. Of particular concern are the Iranian government’s nuclear program, its military capabilities, its support for armed factions and terrorist groups, and its partnerships with Russia and China. The U.S. government has condemned the Iranian government’s human rights violations and detention of U.S. citizens and others, and has wrestled with how to support protest movements in Iran. The U.S. government has used a range of policy tools intended to reduce the threat posed by Iran, including sanctions, limited military action, and diplomatic engagement. Despite these efforts, Iran’s regional influence and strategic capabilities remain considerable and have arguably increased.

Biden Admin. denies withholding Hamas leaders' locations from Israel

 https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/389891

A National Security Council official told the New York Post today (Monday), “We have already been helping Israel target Hamas’ leaders, and that work continues on an ongoing basis."

“We’re not holding anything back,’’ the official said. “We believe Sinwar should and indeed must be held accountable for the horrors of the October 7 attack.”

Last week, the Washington Post reported that the Biden Administration was using the intelligence on the locations of Hamas leaders as leverage to stop Israel's operation in Gaza.

House GOP pushes bill to force Biden to continue weapons transfers to Israel

 https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/house-gop-pushes-israel-weapons-bill/story?id=110228315

New York Rep. Dan Goldman, a pro-Israel Jewish Democrat, called it a "misleading" measure brought by Republicans he said were seeking to score election-year political points.

Goldman said the "Republicans' latest messaging bill does nothing to materially help Israel's security, fundamentally mischaracterizes the President's statements and steadfast support for Israel since October 7, and simply requires commitments that the Administration has repeatedly made."

"As an American Jew, I am offended by the politicization and partisan manipulation of these very serious issues," Goldman said.

Lawrence: Sleeping 'old man' Trump made trial look like it was in a nursing home

Stealing from Students

 Sanhedrin (91b) Whoever witholdeth a halachah from his disciple is as though he had robbed him of his ancestral heritage, as it is written, Moses commanded us a law, even the inheritance of the congregation of Jacob: it is an inheritance destined for all Israel from the six days of Creation. R. Hanah b. Bizna said in the name of R. Simeon the Pious: Whoever withholds a halachah from a disciple, even the embryo in its mother's womb curses him.

Most people steal!

 Bava Basra (165a) Most people are guilty of robbery, a minority of lewdness, and all of slander. Of slander? How could one imagine such a thing!  But implied slander is meant.

Johnson’s ‘intuition’ clashes with data on illegal voting

 https://thehill.com/policy/national-security/4657038-mike-johnson-illegal-voting-voter-fraud/

The GOP unveiled a bill last week to bar noncitizens from voting in federal elections — prohibiting something that’s already illegal to address a problem lawmakers can’t prove exists.

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) was candid last week in telling reporters that Republicans are motivated by intuition in seeking another law that would limit voting to U.S. citizens.

“We all know, intuitively, that a lot of illegals are voting in federal elections. But it’s not been something that is easily provable. We don’t have that number. This legislation will allow us to do exactly that — it will prevent that from happening. And if someone tries to do it, it will now be unlawful within the states,” Johnson said in a Wednesday press conference on the Capitol steps.

UN cuts by more than half the number of women, children ‘identified’ as killed in Gaza

 https://www.timesofisrael.com/un-drastically-revises-downward-number-of-identified-women-children-killed-in-gaza/

Having previously reported that 9,500 women and 14,500 children had died during the war (some 69% of all fatalities), OCHA is now reporting far lower numbers, stating that among “identified” deaths, 4,959 women have died, along with 7,797 children (or 52% of the total number of identified deaths in the war).

Trump’s Lawyers Are Making Major Mistakes

 https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2024/05/14/trump-trial-lawyers-mistakes-00157734

These decisions are so obviously wrong as a strategic matter that it is frankly hard to believe that Trump’s defense team all agreed with them. These lawyers are not a bunch of hacks, and they aren’t dumb either. We may never know what went on within Trump’s legal team headed into this trial — most if not all of that information is likely to remain shielded from public view — but they almost certainly tried and failed to talk Trump down from some of these approaches.

Biden Moves Forward on $1 Billion in New Arms for Israel

 https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/biden-moves-forward-on-1-billion-in-new-arms-for-israel-844b761c?mod=hp_lead_pos1

The latest weapons package includes the potential transfer of $700 million in tank ammunition, $500 million in tactical vehicles and $60 million in mortar rounds, the officials said. There are still additional steps before the weapons would be approved and delivered.

The decision to proceed with the approval process underscored the Biden administration’s reluctance to deepen its rift with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the Rafah operation by restricting longer-term weapons deals with its closest Middle East ally.

After pausing bomb shipment: Biden moving forward with new weapons deal for Israel

 https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/389958

The Biden administration notified Congress on Tuesday that it is moving forward with more than $1 billion in new weapons deals for Israel, US and congressional officials told The Wall Street Journal.

The latest weapons package includes the potential transfer of $700 million in tank ammunition, $500 million in tactical vehicles and $60 million in mortar rounds, the officials said.

The munitions are intended to replenish stocks used during the war against Hamas, according to the report.

The news comes less than a week after the White House paused a shipment of bombs to Israel due to US opposition to a planned Israeli attack on the Gazan city of Rafah.

Biden administration denies holding intel on Hamas leaders' locations

 https://www.jpost.com/israel-hamas-war/article-801074

While the White House recently leveraged intelligence information in hopes of stalling an IDF operation in Rafah,  it has now begun denying withholding information from its ally, the New York Post reported on Monday. 

The initial report that the US attempted to leverage information came from four anonymous sources speaking to the Washington Post.

Stealing with Complications

 Tosefta (Bava Kama 10) If one steals from the public he is obligated to make restitution to the public. Stealing from the public is harsher than stealing from an individual. That is because one who stole from an individual is able to placate his victim and return that which he stole. In contrast one who stole from the public can not readily placate the victim and return what was stolen. 

Tosefta (Bava Kama 10) One who stole from a non-Jew must return it to the owner. In addition the sin is more serious than stealing from a Jew because it entails chillul HaShem