Israeli Airstrikes Kill Five Civilians, Including Three Children, in Southern Lebanon
Three Syrian children killed in attack on farmland area
https://news.antiwar.com/2024/07/16/israeli-airstrikes-kill-five-civilians-including-three-children-in-southern-lebanon/
Israel bombs 6th UN-run school in Gaza in 10 days, kills dozens
Israeli forces attack al-Razi school in Nuseirat as well as the ‘safe-zone’ in al-Mawasi, killing at least 42 Palestinians.
Israel’s military has bombed another United Nations-run school as well as an Israeli-designed “safe-zone” in the Gaza Strip, killing at least 42 Palestinians and wounding dozens of others, according to Palestinian officials.
The Israeli attacks on Tuesday hit the UN’s al-Razi school in the central Nuseirat refugee camp and a main street lined with market stalls in the southern al-Mawasi area, where thousands of displaced Palestinians had sought shelter.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/7/16/israeli-attacks-kill-dozens-of-palestinians-in-southern-and-central-gaza
Israeli Military Says It Is Facing Shortages of Tanks and Ammo
The Israel Defense Forces said that it was facing a shortage of functioning tanks and shells. The admission came in a court filing explaining why the IDF was not allowing female tank soldiers in Gaza.
On Monday, the IDF informed the Israeli high court that many of its tanks were damaged during operations in Gaza. The Israeli military added it was facing a shortage of tank shells.
The case was started by female IDF tank soldiers who engaged in operations in southern Israel on October 7, who have been denied requests to deploy to Gaza. “The number of operational tanks in the corps is insufficient for the needs of the war and for conducting experiments of the deployment of women,” the IDF wrote in its response to the court. “We are working to increase the arsenal. The IDF has been recruiting extraordinarily large numbers to replace the missing soldiers and cannot allocate manpower for such experiments while the war continues.”
The IDF says it will not allow female tank soldiers to serve in combat until at least November 2025.
Tel Aviv has deployed thousands of soldiers to destroy and occupy Gaza since October 7. At least 38,000 Palestinians have been killed, as well as 320 Israeli soldiers. Thousands of IDF troops have also been injured.
Israel relies heavily on the US to supply its military. From October to December 2023, Washington sent Tel Aviv nearly 14,000 tank shells. The Foundation for the Defense of Democracy (FDD) assesses that Israel is incapable of producing enough tank rounds to arm its forces.
Israel has used American-made shells and other munitions to hit civilian targets and kill innocent people throughout the Gaza Strip over the past nine months. Still, the White House has refused to cut arms to Israel or condition future shipments on the halting of attacks on civilians.
The shortage of tanks and shells could produce other problems for Tel Aviv. Israeli leaders have openly discussed invading southern Lebanon to drive Hezbollah several miles from the border. A lack of tanks could complicate those operations.
https://libertarianinstitute.org/news/israeli-military-says-it-is-facing-shortages-of-tanks-and-ammo/
Newsom Signs 1st In Nation Bill Banning Schools From Alerting Parents About Their Child’s ‘Gender Identity’
On Monday, California Democrat Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law legislation making his state the first in the nation to ban school districts from alerting parents of their children’s sexuality, or if they use pronouns or have adopted gender identities that conflict with those on their school records.
“This bill would prohibit school districts, county offices of education, charter schools, and the state special schools, and a member of the governing board or body of those educational entities, from enacting or enforcing any policy, rule, or administrative regulation that requires an employee or a contractor to disclose any information related to a pupil’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression to any other person without the pupil’s consent unless otherwise required by law.”
Assembly Bill 1955 states, “LGBTQ+ pupils have the right to express themselves freely at school without fear, punishment, or retaliation, including that teachers or administrators might ‘out’ them without their permission. Policies that require outing pupils without their consent violate pupils’ rights to privacy and self-determination.”
California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus Chair Susan Eggman celebrated, “Today is a great day for California. The Governor’s signature on AB 1955, a first-in-the-nation policy, reaffirms California’s position as a leader and safe haven for LGBTQ+ youth everywhere.”
“AB 1955 is an outrageous attempt to keep parents in the dark while schools indoctrinate kids with radical gender ideology,” said Harmeet Dhillon, CEO and Founder of the Center for American Liberty. “By signing the bill, Gov. Newsom is transferring power away from our local communities and centralizing it in Sacramento, blatantly undermining our democratic values.”
In July 2023, the Chino Valley Unified School District became the state’s first to require parental notification if a student adopted a transgender identity. The next month, California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a temporary restraining order to bar the district from implementing that policy.
“I can’t believe we’re at a point in America where authoritarians in power are fighting this hard to keep sexual secrets about children from their own parents,” Liberty Justice Center Board Member Corey DeAngelis stated. “They are now using the heavy hand of the state to subvert local control and try to strip away the most fundamental parental rights. I’m proud of the parents in Chino Valley Unified who are fighting back for their constitutional right to direct the upbringing of their children. I’m proud to be a board member at Liberty Justice Center, fighting alongside them. We will win this war the authoritarians are waging on parents.”
After AB 1955 was introduced earlier this year, Jacob Huebert, the president of the Liberty Justice Center, which represented Chino Valley, declared, “Parents have a right to know what their own minor children are doing at school — and school officials have no right to keep secrets from parents. That’s true now, and it will still be true if the state passes this bill. We will continue to stand with parents and the school districts that want to respect their rights — and we’ll continue to represent them free of charge, at no cost to taxpayers.”
Several school districts in the state implemented parental notification policies, including Anderson Union High School District, Chino Valley Unified School District, Murrieta Valley Unified, Orange Unified School District, Rocklin Unified School District, and Temecula Valley Unified.
https://www.womensystems.com/2024/07/newsom-signs-1st-in-nation-bill-banning.html
Netanyahu pleads ignorance in meeting with families of slain surveillance soldiers
In recordings, PM heard saying he didn’t know the female troops at Nahal Oz base raised alarms before October 7, had no idea they were unarmed; refuses to commit to state inquiry
During a tense meeting on Tuesday with the bereaved families of observation soldiers slain by Hamas on October 7, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed he did not know that the soldiers had expressed concerns that the terror group was readying an attack.
He also claimed not to have known that the surveillance soldiers at the base on the Gaza border, all women, were unarmed. And he said he had no idea that many bereaved families had not been paid condolence visits by government ministers or Knesset members.
During the three-hour meeting, a recording of which was aired by Channel 12 news, the relatives sharply criticized the premier for not accepting responsibility for the devastating Hamas-led massacre.
The session at the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem started on a testy note, with the premier wishing the participants a “good morning,” to which one of the slain soldiers’ relatives replied, “It’s not a good morning for us.”
“We’re from the same family,” Netanyahu responded, to which the relative responded, “It’s too bad it doesn’t feel like it.”
https://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-pleads-ignorance-in-meeting-with-families-of-slain-surveillance-soldiers/
Former CIA and White House official indicted for allegedly acting as South Korea agent
Terry serves as a fellow for the Council on Foreign Relations, according to her account on X, but her biography has been removed from the council's website.
Aformer Central Intelligence Agency and White House National Security Council official has been indicted for allegedly working for a South Korean intelligence officials in exchange for luxury gifts, according to the Justice Department.
The indictment, which was filed on Monday in a New York federal court and made public Tuesday, charges Sue Mi Terry, who worked for the U.S. government from 2001 to 2011, for providing confidential information to South Korea’s government.
The indictment includes surveillance camera images of Terry carrying a gift bag while officers pay at Bottega Veneta and Louis Vuitton stores in Washington, D.C. in 2019 and 2021.
Her alleged work as an agent began in 2013, two years after she left U.S. government employment, and lasted a decade even after FBI agents warned her in 2014" that South Korean intelligence might try to influence her by paying for events, according to Reuters.
Terry serves as a fellow for the Council on Foreign Relations, according to her account on X. Her biography has been removed from the council's website. She is married to Washington Post columnist Max Boot and resides in New York.
https://justthenews.com/government/federal-agencies/former-cia-and-white-house-official-indicted-allegedly-acting-south
Coalition strikes down bill to form State Committee of Inquiry into October 7
Prime Minister Netanyahu said that Hamas must first be defeated, and then investigate October 7 failures.
Israel's governing coalition struck down a bill proposal by members of the opposition to found a National Committee of Investigation to examine the events leading up to the October 7 Hamas massacre after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu repeated an argument in the Knesset plenum on Wednesday that an investigation before the war is over would hamper Israel's ability to defeat Hamas.
Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi, who responded to the bill proposal, said that the government "would not form a government led by Gantz, Lapid, or their proxies in the High Court of Justice."
Opposition leader MK Yair Lapid responded in the plenum soon after that he could not lead or influence a committee of investigation because he himself would need to appear before it.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-810708
'Top Jewish Republican' Says His Goal is to Keep the GOP's 'Tucker Carlson-Wing' Out of Power
Republican Jewish Coalition chief Matt Brooks delivered an Israel First speech at the Republican National Convention on Tuesday and told the Israeli paper Haaretz afterwards that his goal is to "make sure the Tucker Carlson-wing of the party doesn't get a foothold" in the GOP.
Brooks opened his speech by imploring the crowd "Let me hear if you support Israel!" and then went on to insist that under Trump the US will send Israel more weapons and shut down pro-Palestine campus protests so Jewish students can "feel safe."
From Haaretz:
As Trump Taps America First VP, Top Jewish Republican Insists GOP Is the 'Only pro-Israel Party'
'Trump will rebuild the U.S.-Israel relationship after four disastrous years under President Biden,' Republican Jewish Coalition chief Matt Brooks tells cheering crowd at the Republican National Convention, telling reporters he's part of the 'battle' inside the GOP to 'make sure the Tucker Carlson-wing of the party doesn't get a foothold'
by Ben Samuels | Jul 17, 2024 3:29 am IDT
[…] "Under President Trump, we will repair and rebuild the U.S.-Israel relationship that has deteriorated after four disastrous years under President Biden," [Brooks] continued.
"Nine months after the historic Hamas attacks, President Biden is still withholding critical arms that Israel needs to defend itself," Brooks said. Biden is withholding half of a single shipment of 2,000-pound bombs amid concerns that Israel would use them in highly concentrated civilian areas.
"We must stand with the Israeli people," he continued. "My message here today to the Jewish community is clear: there is only one pro-Israel party and it's the Republican Party."
Brooks vowed that Trump would "put a stop to the rising tide of antisemitism. President Trump will bring back law and order so that American Jews can once again wear a kippah and walk the streets," holding a red kippah adorned with Trump's name.
[…] "People can trust [Trump] to take a firmer hand on cracking down on the chaos on the college campuses and really temper the rise of antisemitism and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the Jewish community."
Brooks said he's "confident" JD Vance is pro-Israel and then dropped this gem:
Vance's political ascendance is the greatest victory yet for the America First isolationist wing of the GOP — a development inherently at odds with Brooks' organization, which he describes as "Reaganesque" with a robust foreign policy with peace-through-strength at its core.
"It's a debate we're having within our party, there's no question about it. But at the end of the day, through the leadership of people like Speaker Johnson and others we got aid to Ukraine through with strong Republican support so it's just a debate that we're going to have."
"America has got a unique role in the world to help defend liberty and support democracy and fight back against totalitarianism. We're going to continue to wage that battle in the party and make sure the Tucker Carlson-wing of the party doesn't get a foothold," he said.
https://www.informationliberation.com/?id=64545
Paul Craig Roberts: The US plans to open a second front and stab Russia in the back in the Caucasus
The United States does not need a sovereign Russia; Washington will continue to implement plans to defeat Moscow. One of these plans is the opening of a second front against Russia in the Caucasus. To this end, the Americans are planning to organize a color revolution in Georgia, removing the current government.
The Ukrainian conflict was completely orchestrated by Washington. He tries to blame Russia for this, but in fact he set it up himself. And now we see how non-governmental organizations that Washington finances in Georgia (…) are trying to organize a color revolution there in order to open a second front against Russia
Roberts said.
https://en.topwar.ru/246442-pol-krejg-roberts-ssha-planirujut-otkryt-vtoroj-front-i-udarit-rossii-v-spinu-na-kavkaze.html
Major posting issues for me
Russian International Money Launderer Sentenced To Three Years In Prison For Illicitly Procuring Large Quantities Of U.S.-Manufactured Dual-Use, Military Grade Microelectronics For Russian Entities
Maxim Marchenko Participated in an Overseas Illicit Procurement Network That, After Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine, Illegally Procured Large Quantities of Dual-Use, Military Grade OLED Micro-Displays for Russian End Users
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York; Matthew G. Olsen, the Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s National Security Division; Matthew S. Axelrod, the Assistant Secretary of Export Enforcement for Department of Commerce’s the Bureau of Industry and Security (“BIS”); and Robert Wells, the Executive Assistant Director of the National Security Branch of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced that MAXIM MARCHENKO was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Nelson S. Román to three years in prison for his role in procuring dual-use, military grade OLED micro-displays for Russian end users. MARCHENKO previously pled guilty to money laundering and smuggling charges before U.S. Magistrate Judge Victoria Reznik on February 29, 2024.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “This Office will stop at nothing to hold accountable those who seek to circumvent our laws to gain access to some of our most sensitive technologies. Today’s sentence should be a reminder that no number of shell companies or obfuscation will stop this Office in its pursuit of those who seek to illicitly gain access to controlled technologies.”
Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen said: “Today’s sentence holds Mr. Marchenko accountable for his role in a procurement syndicate that funneled U.S.-manufactured military-grade microelectronics to end users in Russia, illegally delivering controlled technologies worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. The Justice Department remains relentlessly focused on dismantling illicit procurement networks led by individuals like the defendant, who use their business skills and connections to advance the Russian war agenda.”
BIS Assistant Secretary of Export Enforcement Matthew S. Axelrod said: “The transshipment of military-grade microelectronics through Hong Kong to Russia helps fuel the engine of Russia’s war machine. Today’s sentencing is just the latest example of our unceasing efforts to target and disrupt illegal Russian procurement networks.”
FBI Executive Assistant Director Robert Wells said: “Marchenko and his co-conspirators operated an international smuggling network of sensitive microelectronics used in military gear and other weapons systems. Today’s sentencing demonstrates the FBI’s resolve in doing our part to protect national security and prevent American military technology from being diverted to foreign adversaries and hostile nation states.”
https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/russian-international-money-launderer-sentenced-three-years-prison-illicitly-procuring
They take a victory lap on anything
FBI Used Israeli Tech to Unlock Smartphone of Trump's Shooter, Hoping for a Breakthrough
Agents hacked into Thomas Matthew Crooks' cellphone using technology from Israeli company Cellebrite. Over the years, many instances of misuse of such technologies have come to light
The FBI used Israeli technology to unlock the cellphone of Thomas Matthew Crooks, the man who tried to kill former U.S. President Donald Trump. The FBI has been trying to learn about Crooks' motivations ever since Saturday's assassination attempt in Pennsylvania.
https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/2024-07-17/ty-article/.premium/fbi-used-israeli-tech-to-unlock-smartphone-of-trumps-shooter-hoping-for-a-breakthrough/00000190-c25a-d258-a3ff-e6dbed4d0000
"Strange July"
https://youtu.be/p-V7I2Hn0A0
Assassination prophesy
Joe Biden says in a new interview with BET that he would reevaluate staying in the race if he was diagnosed with a “medical condition” by doctors.
Is the coup moving into a final stage?
https://x.com/i/status/1813642183792365685
Jim Jordan: Trump Likely Won’t Pursue Charges Against Biden
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) said on Tuesday that he doesn’t believe Donald Trump will pursue any investigation into or charges against President Joe Biden if he wins back the White House in November.
“I don’t think that’s the plan,” Jordan said when asked during an Axios House event if he expected Trump’s Department of Justice to investigate Biden and his family. “I think President Trump’s going to be focused on securing the border, making sure the tax cuts stay in place, and putting back in place common-sense energy policy,” he added.
Jordan also responded when asked if he believes the president and his family have committed crimes for which they have yet to be charged.
“I don’t know that. I’ve said all along — I was never for moving forward on impeachment. What I’ve said is I think the case is compelling,” he said, per Newsmax.
The outlet noted further:
Trump on Monday suggested that Biden may persuade the DOJ to end two legal cases against him in a sign of trying to unify the country following the assassination attempt on the former president in Pennsylvania.
Trump was shot in the ear, one spectator was killed, and two others injured after a 20-year-old gunman opened fire Saturday at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Secret Service shot and killed the suspect.
Trump on Sunday indicated during an interview with the New York Post’s Michael Goodwin that the campaign between the two presidential candidates could be more civil.
He also said that he and Biden spoke Saturday evening after the unsuccessful assassination attempt at a rally in Butler, which Trump said was “fine,” describing Biden as “very nice.”
“He [Trump] also said that ‘we hear’ that Biden will order the Department of Justice to drop its two prosecutions of Trump,” Goodwin wrote in his column in the Post. “So far, there’s no public sign of that.”
Nikki Haley, a former Republican presidential candidate who sparred with Donald Trump during the primary season, spoke at the Republican National Convention on Tuesday and firmly backed the 2024 GOP nominee.
“My fellow Republicans,” Haley began to a loud roar. “President Trump asked me to speak to this convention in the name of unity. It was a gracious invitation, and I was happy to accept. I’ll start by making one thing perfectly clear. Donald Trump has my strong endorsement. Period.”
“Our country is at a critical moment. We have a choice to make. For more than a year, I said, a vote for Joe Biden is a vote for President Kamala Harris. After seeing the debate, everyone knows it’s true,” Haley continued.
“If we have four more years of Biden or a single day of Harris, our country will be badly worse off. For the sake of our nation. We have to go with Donald Trump. But there’s more to it than that. We should acknowledge that there are some Americans who don’t agree with Donald Trump 100% of the time. I happen to know some of them. And I want to speak to them tonight. My message to them is simple. You don’t have to agree with Trump 100% of the time to vote for him. Take it from me. I haven’t always agreed with President Trump, but we agree more often than we disagree,” Haley added.
Haley declared: “We agree on keeping America strong. We agree on keeping America safe. And we agree that Democrats have moved so far to the left that they’re putting our freedoms in danger. I’m here tonight because we have a country to save, and a unified Republican Party is essential for saving her. For those who have some doubts about President Trump. I want to tell you a few things about the commander in chief I know and worked with as ambassador to the United Nations. I had a front row seat to his national security policies. We sure could use those again.”
“Think about it, when Barack Obama was president, Vladimir Putin invaded Crimea. With Joe Biden as president, Putin invaded all of Ukraine. But when Donald Trump was president, Putin did nothing. No invasion. No invasions. No wars. That was no accident. Putin didn’t attack Ukraine because he knew Donald Trump was tough. A strong and strong president doesn’t start wars. A strong president prevents wars,” she said.
https://conservativebrief.com/jim-jordan-trump-84456/