Sen Graham to 'Post': Senate won't pass US-Saudi pact without Israeli normalization

The United States cannot move forward on a defense pact with Saudi Arabia unless the deal also includes a normalization agreement with Israel, US Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) told The Jerusalem Post.

“There will not be 67 votes in the United States Senate for a defense agreement between Saudi Arabia and the United States that doesn’t have an Israeli component,” he said in a telephone interview late Thursday. “That’s been true from day one and remains true.”

Graham has worked to promote a normalization agreement between Saudi Arabia and Israel from across the aisle, even though it would give a boost to US President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign. He has shuttled between Washington, Riyadh, and Jerusalem to push the matter forward.

The Israel part of the agreement has always been viewed as necessary to sway Republicans to support the deal. The approval of 67 out of 100 senators is needed because the defense pact between Washington and Riyadh is at the level of a treaty. Being that there are 48 Democratic senators, 49 Republicans, and three independents, the only way to move forward is with bipartisan support.

The US has hit an important goal post by finishing this important pillar of the deal, which is the defense pact, Graham said. READ MORE

Qatar anticipating US request to expel Hamas leaders, is open to doing so — source

Qatar is prepared to accept a request from the US for it to expel Hamas’s leaders from Doha and is anticipating one could be made soon, a source familiar with the matter told The Times of Israel.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told Qatar’s Prime Minister Mohammed Al-Thani last month that Doha should expel Hamas’s leaders if the terror group continues to reject hostage deal proposals, a US official said, confirming reporting in the Washington Post.

Negotiations appeared poised to reach an inflection point over the weekend, with CIA chief Bill Burns arriving in Cairo on Friday and a Hamas delegation landing later on Saturday, as the sides await the terror group’s response to the latest hostage deal proposal crafted by Egyptian, Qatari and American mediators and green-lit by Israel.

The US has blamed Hamas for refusing to accept previous offers and says Hamas is the only obstacle to a deal that would see dozens of the most vulnerable Israel hostages released in exchange for an immediate ceasefire of at least six weeks.

The source familiar with the matter indicated that a US request for Doha to expel Hamas’s leadership could come if the terror group rejects the latest offer on the table. READ MORE

Diplomatic source: 'A deal will mean the end of the war'

A diplomatic source has said that the US' willingness to provide Hamas with guarantees that Israel will not resume the war following a ceasefire-prisoner swap deal will lead to Israel losing the war, Israel Hayom reported.

The statements were made following a Thursday night Cabinet meeting, and following Arab media reports that the US is willing to provide such a guarantee.

Meanwhile, the Israeli War Cabinet has promised that it will not agree to commit to ending the war, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has promised that there will be a military operation in Rafah, regardless of whether or not there is also a hostage deal.

However, the diplomatic source warned that from the moment the US provides Hamas with such a promise, "Israel will be on a path to clash with the US, in a fashion which has not been seen before."

"Already today, we are having a hard time pushing off the American pressure. If as part of the deal the US makes a promise in our name, to Egypt and the international community, that the war will not renew, the significance of that is that we will be clashing diplomatically with Washington in order to carry out a battle in Rafah. Anyone with eyes in his head sees that."

Earlier on Friday, Al Akhbar reported that following Hamas' failure to respond on Thursday night to the Egyptian proposal for a ceasefire-prisoner swap deal, the Egyptian and Qatari brokers requested additional time before a final answer is received.

According to the report, the brokers received clear signs that Hamas' response will almost certainly be negative, and that the terror group will not accept the existing plan.

The newspaper also said that an additional Hamas delegation, led by Khalil al-Hayya, will arrive in Cairo with proposals for amendments to the current agreement. Sources also told Al Akhbar that "Hamas wants confirmation regarding the full withdrawal of IDF forces from all areas in Gaza, and especially from Wadi Gaza or the area of Netzarim - and this withdrawal must be undertaken, from its perspective, as soon as possible, with the promise of full freedom of movement between the northern and southern Strip."

Hamas is also demanding a comprehensive ceasefire, and that Turkey be a guarantor to the agreement, along with the US, Egypt, and Qatar.

The Enduring Legacy of the Entente Cordiale

On April 8, 2024, UK Foreign Minister David Cameron and French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne co-wrote an op-ed for the Daily Telegraph celebrating the historic 120^th anniversary of the French-English Entente Cordiale signed as a secret mutual security pact on April 8, 1904.

The clown duo wrote of the 21^st century entente as integral to defeating Russia: “It is not for France and Britain alone to solve these challenges. But, together, we can rally others to join us in overcoming them… We must do even more to ensure we defeat Russia. The world is watching – and will judge us if we fail.”

French President Emmanuel Macron chimed in delivering a speech, saying: “Our Entente Cordiale remains as relevant as ever. Faced with the resurgence of war in Europe, we stand together to defend the values we share and to support Ukraine as it defends itself against its aggressor.”

Not only was the entente celebrated in words, but for the first time in history, French troops participated in the changing of the guards at Buckingham palace, and British troops joined a military parade at the Presidential Elysee Palace, marching alongside French troops to the melodies of ‘God Save the King’ and ‘La Marseilles’.

Since the Entente Cordiale’s anniversary is exerting such an influence on current geopolitical thinking, I wanted to take a moment to leap back into a bit of history to see what this secret military pact was originally, and how ALL world wars of the 20^th century would have been impossible without it. READ MORE

Biden Suddenly Goes Silent on 1 Critical Issue – This Could Lead the Globe into WWIII

Since Joe Biden entered office, conflict and war have exploded around the world. Critics, including Donald Trump, claim this is because of Biden’s apparent weakness on the global stage.

Biden appears to be trying to repair his image by throwing billions at overseas conflicts. He wants Americans bankrolling Ukraine’s war with Russia—despite providing no plan on how to end the bloodshed.

Despite all the spending, global conflict is getting worse. In the vacuum of leadership created by the Biden White House, other countries are being forced to step up and lead. And this one world leader just announced that the Ukraine war could get much worse, very soon.

From Breitbart:
French President Emmanuel Macron restated a previous commitment of making troops available for Ukraine, using an interview published Thursday to detail the issue would “legitimately” arise if Russia broke through Ukrainian front lines and Kyiv made such a request…

“I’m not ruling anything out, because we are facing someone who is not ruling anything out,” said Macron when asked if he stood by comments earlier this year not excluding the sending of Western troops that sent shockwaves around Europe.

President Macron of France could pull all of Europe, and the world, into the war in Ukraine. He said that France might send troops into Ukraine. He had said that Europe could “die” if the threat of Russia against Ukraine isn’t opposed.

He said he isn’t “ruling anything out.” Macron appears to be blaming Putin’s antics for the reason he’d consider sending French troops into Ukraine. Should the French president do that, it could obligate NATO members to send in troops of their own.

Given Putin’s desire for greater conflict, that could only mean a global war. Under Donald Trump, we weren’t even close to considering a worldwide war. Trump used American military strength to keep Russia, Iran, North Korea, and others at bay.

But Biden’s constant capitulation to foreign entities, like Iran, has only emboldened the world’s enemies. He was accused of “greenlighting” Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, only to throw fuel on that fire. He seems unwilling to confront Iran, despite it recently attacking Israel. And should China invade Taiwan, it is likely Biden will do nothing as well.

US transfers fighter jets to Qatar in move to prevent Iran escalation - WSJ

The United States is expected to transfer fighter jets, armed drones, and other aircraft to Qatar in a move that will supposedly allow for its forces to be repositioned, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on Friday morning.

According to the report, repositioning forces will allow the US to avoid restrictions on conducting airstrikes from an air base used by the US in the United Arab Emirates. 

A decision of this kind highlights the existing tensions between the US and the Persian Gulf countries, the WSJ report noted. Many of these countries have allowed US forces to be based in their territory while also being wary of being drawn into the existing conflict in the Middle East as the Israel-Hamas war continues.

Fears of escalation in the Middle East 

The UAE also fears that with the escalation of tensions in the region,  Iranian proxies could choose to target it for publically aiding US military operations, officials said. READ MORE

Antisemitism expert: Qatari billions used as soft power to influence campus, culture

Dr. Charles Asher Small, the founder and director of the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy, spoke to Arutz Sheva-Israel National News about the recent rise in antisemitic incidents around the world following the Hamas massacre of October 7, 2023.

"We're not surprised, and we're shocked at the same time," Dr. Small said of the outbreak of antisemitic incidents. "The exponential growth, and the speed of it, and how it seems to be growing faster and faster is surprising and troubling."

He stated that "this is really a crisis. As you know, antisemitism is really an early warning system for deeper societal problems. We see the radical left, the radical right, and political Islam using antisemitism as a core element of their ideology as they attack the democratic center."

Dr. Small noted the seeming irrationality of the alliance between the radical left and radical Islam, such as when left-wing intellectual Judith Butler defended and supported the Hamas and Hezbollah terrorist organizations. READ MORE

In conversation with US Defense Sec.: Defense Min. Gallant notes Hezbollah aggression

On Wednesday night, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant spoke with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, focusing on operational developments in the southern and northern arenas, as well as the shared commitment of both countries to ensuring the release of the hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.

Minister Gallant briefed the Secretary on the IDF’s ongoing activities and preparation for future operations in Gaza. He also discussed the humanitarian effort, including the opening of new land crossings and the significant increase in volume of aid over the past month - doubling the number of aid trucks entering Gaza.

Earlier, the Pentagon said in a readout of the meeting that Austin insisted that there be a credible plan to evacuate Gazan civilians before a Rafah operation can take place.

During their nighttime conversation, Gallant also discussed ongoing aggression by Hezbollah and emphasized Israel’s commitment to returning Israel’s northern communities to their homes, whether it be via agreement or military action.

In addition, the two discussed Iranian threats to regional stability and to Israel’s security. Gallant emphasized the importance of maintaining a united front and joint regional effort to counter Iran’s proxy attacks and nuclear ambitions.

The Minister also expressed his appreciation to the Secretary for his steadfast commitment to Israel’s security and long- lasting partnership.

Normalization with Saudi Arabia to include five-year 'pathway' to Palestinian state

Though Saudi Arabia and Israel are the US' two most important allies in the Middle East, US President Joe Biden's efforts to forge a normalization deal between the two are up against a seeming dead end.

Currently, the US and Saudi Arabia are finalizing a bilateral security deal which aims to limit China's influence on the Middle East and isolate Iran.

However, despite Israel's aspirations to normalize relations with Saudi Arabia, and pressure from the US to turn the bilateral agreement into a trilateral agreement, the normalization efforts have stalled, mainly due to Saudi Arabia's insistence on tying a Palestinian state into any such deal, and Israel's refusal to do so.

The New York Times detailed Saudi Arabia's demands as the IDF's complete withdrawal from Gaza - despite Hamas' promises to carry out multiple future "October 7ths" -as well as freezing construction in Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria, and embarking on a three- to five-year "pathway" to establish a Palestinian state in Judea and Samaria. Under such a deal, the Palestinian Authority would undertake reforms "to make it a governing body that Palestinians trust and see as legitimate and Israelis see as effective."

According to the Times, US and Saudi officials understand that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not agree to such terms, and are considering finalizing the deal without Israel, while including a proviso that Saudi Arabia will normalize relations with Israel the moment Israel has a government willing to cave to the US and Saudi Arabia's demands.

At the same time, no decision has been made yet.

The Times also noted that the Arab states which helped Israel fend off a massive Iranian attack last month "cannot afford to appear to be defending Israel indefinitely" if Israel is not willing to withdraw from Gaza, Judea, and Samaria.

Arab reports: Egypt extracted promise to delay Rafah operation

Hamas was expected to respond on Thursday night to the Egyptian proposal for a ceasefire-prisoner swap deal, but the Egyptian and Qatari brokers requested additional time before a final answer is received, Al Akhbar reported.

According to the report, the brokers received clear signs that Hamas' response will almost certainly be negative, and that the terror group will not accept the existing plan.

Egyptian sources told Al Akhbar that over the past two days, Egypt, the US, and Israel have held negotiations in order to prevent the negotiations from collapsing, and attempt to reach an agreement which will be acceptable to Hamas. In light of this, the sources reported that "Cairo extracted an Israeli promise to delay the beginning of any Rafah operation, at least until the end of the week."

The newspaper also said that an additional Hamas delegation, led by Khalil al-Hayya, will arrive in Cairo with proposals for amendments to the current agreement. Sources also told Al Akhbar that "Hamas wants confirmation regarding the full withdrawal of IDF forces from all areas in Gaza, and especially from Wadi Gaza or the area of Netzarim - and this withdrawal must be undertaken, from its perspective, as soon as possible, with the promise of full freedom of movement between the northern and southern Strip."

Hamas is also demanding to cancel the paragraph which discusses civilians and military personnel, insisting that no non-Palestinian Arab body be present in any part of the Gaza Strip - and that the withdrawal be complete - including near the border with Israel, and in the near future, at the end of the first stage.

Hamas' other condition pertains to the demand for a comprehensive ceasefire. Hamas sources have said that Hamas demands clear discussion of this condition.

According to the Al Akhbar report, Hamas is demanding that Turkey be a guarantor to the agreement, along with the US, Egypt, and Qatar. This is because the US has refused to allow Russia to be a guarantor.

The sources said that the Egyptians are currently managing the pressure placed on Hamas, claiming that the US position is worthy, and that Washington is very interested in reaching a deal and is pressuring the Israeli government. According to those sources, one of the reasons the US is trying to prevent a Rafah operation stems from the fact that it is interested in ending the violence on US campuses.

"The coming hours will be decisive, since the US is discussing guarantees to not return to the war if Hamas agrees to a ceasefire. You cannot pressure Israel more than what is happening now," the Egyptian sources said.

At the same time, the gist of what was passed to the brokers by Hamas leadership in Gaza (Yahya Sinwar) was that the conditions for a guarantee for a cessation of the war, complete withdrawal, and assurance of freedom of movement, are "basic and cannot be deviated from."

House GOP Passes Controversial Bill Labeling Certain Christian Scriptures as ‘Antisemitic,’ Sparking Fears of Criminalizing Religious Beliefs

The House of Representatives passed the “Antisemitism Awareness Act” (H.R. 6090) on Wednesday, which has sparked significant debate over the interpretation of religious texts and the definition of hate speech.

The bill, aimed at curbing hate speech amid heightened tensions on college campuses concerning Israel, has seen a significant majority of Republicans in support, while a coalition of Democrats and Republicans opposed it, citing free speech concerns.

It passed with a vote of 320-91, seeing opposition from 70 Democrats and 21 Republicans. The bill was introduced by Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., and supported by 15 Democratic co-sponsors.

“I’m proud that my bill, the Antisemitism Awareness Act, just passed the House of Representatives 320 to 91. This bill has broad, bipartisan support and will begin the process of cracking down on the antisemitism we’ve seen run rampant on college campuses across America,” Rep. Lawler wrote.

The bill defines antisemitism broadly, incorporating definitions provided by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), including traditional antisemitic actions and accusations such as those against the state of Israel. Critically, the bill makes it an offense to “apply double standards” to Israel or to accuse it of genocide, categorizing such actions as hate speech.

Among the dissenting voices is Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who expressed concern that the bill’s definition of antisemitism could potentially criminalize Christians for their religious beliefs, particularly narratives in the Gospel regarding the death of Jesus Christ.

“Antisemitism is wrong, but I will not be voting for the Antisemitism Awareness Act of 2023 (H.R. 6090) today that could convict Christians of antisemitism for believing the Gospel that says Jesus was handed over to Herod to be crucified by the Jews,” Greene wrote.

Antisemitism is wrong, but I will not be voting for the Antisemitism Awareness Act of 2023 (H.R. 6090) today that could convict Christians of antisemitism for believing the Gospel that says Jesus was handed over to Herod to be crucified by the Jews.

Read the bill text and… pic.twitter.com/Y0eeOiVfnw

— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (@RepMTG) May 1, 2024

Definition and examples adopted by the bill based on IHRA:

“Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.”
Contemporary examples of antisemitism in public life, the media, schools, the workplace, and in the religious sphere could, taking into account the overall context, include, but are not limited to:

1. Calling for, aiding, or justifying the killing or harming of Jews in the name of a radical ideology or an extremist view of religion.

2. Making mendacious, dehumanizing, demonizing, or stereotypical allegations about Jews as such or the power of Jews as collective – such as, especially but not exclusively, the myth about a world Jewish conspiracy or of Jews controlling the media, economy, government or other societal institutions.

3. Accusing Jews as a people of being responsible for real or imagined wrongdoing committed by a single Jewish person or group, or even for acts committed by non-Jews.

4. Denying the fact, scope, mechanisms (e.g. gas chambers) or intentionality of the genocide of the Jewish people at the hands of National Socialist Germany and its supporters and accomplices during World War II (the Holocaust).

5. Accusing the Jews as a people, or Israel as a state, of inventing or exaggerating the Holocaust.

6. Accusing Jewish citizens of being more loyal to Israel, or to the alleged priorities of Jews worldwide, than to the interests of their own nations.

7. Denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination, e.g., by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor.

8. Applying double standards by requiring of it a behavior not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation.

9. Using the symbols and images associated with classic antisemitism (e.g., claims of Jews killing Jesus or blood libel) to characterize Israel or Israelis.

10. Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis.

11. Holding Jews collectively responsible for actions of the state of Israel.

Rep. Matt Gaetz also criticized the bill, stating that it disregards the Constitution and the common understanding of words.

“This evening, I will vote AGAINST the ridiculous hate speech bill called the “Antisemitism Awareness Act.” Antisemitism is wrong, but this legislation is written without regard for the Constitution, common sense, or even the common understanding of the meaning of words,” Gaetz wrote.

“The Gospel itself would meet the definition of antisemitism under the terms of this bill! The bill says the definition of antisemitism includes “contemporary examples of antisemitism” identified by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA). One of those examples includes: “…claims of Jews killing Jesus…” The Bible is clear. There is no myth or controversy on this. Therefore, I will not support this bill.”

Gaetz cited scriptural passages to underscore his argument that the bill’s broad definition of antisemitism could encompass fundamental Christian beliefs.

“Acts 4:10 Be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by him this man is standing before you well.

“1 Thessalonians 2:14-16 For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus which are in Judea; for you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews, who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all men by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they may be saved—so as always to fill up the measure of their sins.

“Acts 3:14-15 You denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.”

This evening, I will vote AGAINST the ridiculous hate speech bill called the “Antisemitism Awareness Act.”

Antisemitism is wrong, but this legislation is written without regard for the Constitution, common sense, or even the common understanding of the meaning of words. The… pic.twitter.com/HYg2LJDLAI

— Rep. Matt Gaetz (@RepMattGaetz) May 1, 2024

Adding to the chorus of concern, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) criticized the bill for its vague definitions and potential constitutional conflicts.

“The definition of antisemitism appears nowhere in the bill! Should people in America be prosecuted for saying these things in all contexts? I think not. This is a poorly conceived unconstitutional bill, and I will vote no,” Massie wrote.

Do you agree with all of these examples of antisemitism? Should people in America be prosecuted for saying these things in all contexts? I think not. This is a poorly conceived unconstitutional bill and I will vote no. pic.twitter.com/L3AI5MCFGw

— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) May 1, 2024

The bill now moves to the Senate, where it is expected to face heated discussions and scrutiny as lawmakers and the public weigh the balance between combating hate speech and preserving free speech rights.

'Israel pulls back on this offensive in Rafah': French foreign minister said at a visit in Egypt

The French foreign minister said on Wednesday diplomats were still working to secure a truce in the war between Israel and Hamas and the release of hostages held in Gaza.

The mediation efforts were intensifying following a renewed push led by Egypt to revive the stalled negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian terrorist group.

Egyptian officials updated Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne on the negotiations when he made an unscheduled stop in Cairo after a five-day tour of the region.

"We came to coordinate our efforts for a truce. The message given by France and its Arab partners in the region is that Israel pulls back on this offensive in Rafah," Sejourne said after meeting his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shukri.

He declined to say how optimistic he was about a deal being concluded or give details about the negotiation's progress. READ MORE

IDF chief warns Israel ‘preparing offensive in north,’ as Hezbollah attacks persist

During a visit to the Lebanon border, Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi said the military was preparing for an offensive against the Hezbollah terror group, which continued to carry out attacks on northern Israel on Wednesday.

“You are doing an excellent job of operational defense in the north, and we are preparing for an offensive in the north,” Halevi said to reservists of the Etzioni Brigade at an undisclosed location on the border with Lebanon, in remarks published by the military.

The remarks were made following an assessment Halevi held with the chief of the Northern Command, Maj. Gen. Ori Gordin, the commander of the 146th Division, Brig. Gen. Yisrael Shomer, and other officers, the IDF said.

Speaking with the reservists, Halevi also said the IDF’s campaign in the Gaza Strip would continue “with strength.”

“Its objectives are both to restore security to the communities near the Gaza Strip and to bring the hostages back home securely,” he said. READ MORE

Trump backs down from two-state solution

Former President and 2024 presidential candidate Donald Trump says he has changed his mind regarding a two-state solution for the Israel-Palestinian conflict.

"There was a time when I thought two states could work. Now I think two states is going to be very, very tough. I think it's going to be much tougher to get. I also think you have fewer people that liked the idea. You had a lot of people that liked the idea four years ago. Today, you have far fewer people that like that idea," Trump said in an interview with TIME Magazine.

The former President explained: "Children grow up and they're taught to hate Jewish people at a level that nobody thought was possible. And I had a friend, a very good friend, Sheldon Adelson, who felt that it was impossible to make a deal because the level of hatred was so great. And I think it was much more so on one side than the other, but the level of hatred of Jewish people was so great and taught from the time they were in kindergarten and before."

He adds that he disagreed with what Adelson told him, "but so far, he hasn’t been wrong."

When asked if he thinks it would be better if National Unity Chairman Minister Benny Gantz would be Prime Minister during his second term instead of Netanyahu, Trump answered: "I think Benny Gantz is good, but I'm not prepared to say that. I haven't spoken to him about it. But you have some very good people that I've gotten to know in Israel that could do a good job."

Asked if he would join Israel in a war against Iran he said: "I have been very loyal to Israel, more loyal than any other president. I've done more for Israel than any other president. Yeah, I will protect Israel."

Netanyahu to Blinken: 'We will not accept a deal that ends war'

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met on Wednesday with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and discussed negotiations for a hostage deal and a possible operation in Rafah.

The Prime Minister's Office stated that Netanyahu made clear to Blinken that he "would not accept a deal that includes an agreement to end the war in the Gaza Strip." In addition, Netanyahu said that Israel sees the importance of an operation in Rafah.

On his part, Blinken made clear that the US objects to an operation without an executable plan to protect the civilian population and evacuate civilians.

Two Israeli and US officials said that Netanyahu told Blinken in their closed conversation that Israel would move forward with an invasion of Rafah if Hamas continued to condition a hostage deal on ending the war.

The US Secretary of State also met with Opposition Leader Yair Lapid, who told him: "Netanyahu has no political excuse not to accept a hostage deal. He has a majority in the nation, he has a majority in the Knesset, and if he needs, I will make sure he has a majority in the cabinet.

"We have to bring them home. Every hour is critical," he added.

Saudis warned Israel: Rafah op will harm chances of normalization

Saudi Arabia has sent a warning to Israel via the Americans that a military operation in Rafah would be a great mistake and would further delay the normalization of ties between the two nations, Kan Reshet Bet reported this morning, citing a source in the Saudi royal family.

The source stated that such an operation would only serve Iran, which does not want the situation in Gaza to calm down.

According to the Saudi source, Israel must make sacrifices for peace to create a regional alliance with the Arab nations based on the already existing partnership in order to fight Iran and Hezbollah.

The Saudi source further stated that if there will not be a Palestinian state, Israel will not be able to establish ties with its nation. Saudis see themselves as the leaders of the Muslim and Arab worlds and therefore feel that they must advocate for the Palestinians. Agreeing to normalization with Israel without the foundation of a Palestinian state would damage that status.

Earlier in the week US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Riyadh where he continued to promote the American initiative for a normalization agreement between Saudi Arabia and Israel. He stated that an agreement is close to completion, but emphasized that Israel will be required to agree to promote the two-state solution.

Addressing the World Economic Forum he stated: "There really are two paths forward for the region as a whole. One – riven with division, with destruction, with violence, with permanent insecurity; the other – greater integration, greater security, greater peace. I think the meeting today shows that many more of us want to pursue that affirmative path, and I’m grateful to our colleagues from the GCC for working in partnership to advance in that direction."

Saudi Arabia takes action against Israel defamers online

Saudi Arabia initiated a wave of arrests of citizens who incited against Israel on social networks amid the Gaza war, according to Bloomberg.

According to the report, this marks another step by the kingdom, indicating readiness to agree to normalization between the states. However, such a normalization move will be contingent upon Israel's agreement to commit to promoting the establishment of a Palestinian state.

Arrests for expressions on the internet are not rare in Saudi, but the current wave of arrests is exceptional, as it directs many efforts to prevent incitement against Israel.

A security official in the country noted that the Saudis are concerned about rebellions in their territory in the context of increased incitement against Israel while discussions on normalization are underway.

American officials claimed that the Saudi arrests are related to the discussions between Riyadh and Washington regarding a significant move involving a defense alliance and also the approval for Saudi Arabia to operate a civilian nuclear program - part of which includes normalization with Israel.

Big Development: Fractal Technology Uncovers the Central Nervous System of the Left – NGO Funding

3 years ago, Sheriff Clarke of Wisconsin asked the Fractal team to review the Wisconsin voter rolls – and the result was the Fractal Election Management application finding anomalies that cannot be found with current relational database.

The Fractal team is not a political activist organization – we are high tech guys – who saw a problem and offered a solution.

The team, and the 26 state groups with whom we worked, recognized cleaning voter rolls was a losing proposition for 2024 – not enough time, too few phantoms taken off, massive government resistance, RNC inaction.

Cleaning voter rolls is a fundraising technique for national “non-partisan” voter integrity groups.  It’s perfect – almost nobody is taken off, the problem remains, dopey donors write checks.

Fractal shows, in multiple videos on the Omega4America site – vast voter roll anomalies in place for over 20 years!  Fractal showed thousands of voters at illegitimate addresses – FOR DECADES!

The Fractal ecosystem recognized delivering free, fair, transparent elections – is a fight against a multi-headed – hydra monster.

That monster includes contribution fraud groups and Dark Money NGOs operating under the cover of massive, interconnected financial networks – hidden in plain sight.

Harnessing the power of Fractal quantum technology, the team delivered the FEC Contribution System – identifying every contribution, from every person or group to every Federal level candidate – for the last 50 years.

With one click, there is total transparency – across 680,000,000 (six hundred eighty million) records.

For the first time, any contribution in the FEC database is visible, from a phone.  State databases followed.

When we delivered the FEC database, we recognized many “contributions in kind” flowed in a river – below the surface with NGOs (non-governmental orgs), 501 Cs, grants, foundations – funding lawfare, voter drives, even making illegal contributions.

Working with insightful voter integrity groups in California, Wisconsin, Texas – we delivered the Fractal Dark Money Tracking System.

The system, as the short demo below shows, connects NGOs, 501Cs, hundreds of thousands of other organizations who are the central nervous system of the Left.

The first week the system was available, we hit paydirt in a major swing state.

Working with the election integrity team, we identified one of their largest “voter registration” organizations, is directly financed by a Chinese NGO.

Following that success, we downloaded the information for most of the major Leftist NGOs in the state, and within minutes we were able to make hundreds of connections.

The system connects an NGO Dark Money entity – through any common attribute – employee, director, money flow out, money flow in, common address, near address, phone, and other attributes.

The results are so interconnected, artificial intelligence queries were brought in to trace money across connections.

The intricacy of these networks is simply breathtaking.

In the video below, one click shows the second level connections from just one NGO. 

The numbers of connections run into the hundreds of thousands – most delivering Leftist money to Leftist causes – in every state.

Because every fractal in the Fractal quantum system can communicate with every other fractal, the Fractal Election Management applications are fully integrated with the Dark Money system – immediately.

Teams using the Fractal Election Management app will now have access to the Dark Money Tracking System.

Several election integrity groups are actively using the system to challenge the tax status of some of these groups where their records show they are receiving money from illegitimate sources or in other cases where they are spending money on prohibited activities.

The video is of ONE organization – when you see how large its network is – just imagine what we are finding looking at hundreds of thousands of such Dark Money groups.

You can watch the video HERE or scroll down below: WATCH

Pres. Herzog to Diaspora Jews: We hear you, we support you

Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Thursday issued an urgent message of support to Jewish communities around the world in light of the dramatic resurgence in antisemitism and following the hostilities and intimidation against Jewish students on campuses across the US in particular.

In his special broadcast, President Herzog said: "To our sisters and brothers, to our friends on campuses and in Jewish communities across the United States and all over the world, to those who stand by and defend the Jewish people and the state of Israel, to all people of good will: from Jerusalem, the capital of the State of Israel, I say to you: The people of Israel are with you. We hear you. We see the shameless hostility and threats. We feel the insult, the breach of faith and breach of friendship. We share the apprehension and concern."

"We see prominent academic institutions, halls of history, culture, and education contaminated by hatred and antisemitism fueled by arrogance and ignorance, and driven by moral failings and disinformation. We watch in horror as the atrocities of October 7th against Israel are celebrated and justified."

Herzog stressed, "We hear you. We recognize your heroic efforts. We are with you, and we are here for you."

"In the face of violence, harassment and intimidation, as masked cowards smash windows and barricade doors, as they assault the truth and manipulate history, together we stand strong. Together we will continue building a flourishing, life-affirming nation.

"As they chant for intifada and genocide, we will work – together– to free our hostages held by Hamas, and fight for civil liberties and our right to believe and belong, for the right to live proudly, peacefully and securely, as Jews, as Israelis – anywhere."

Noting the timing, the President added, "Next week the Jewish people will mark Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Memorial Day. We will speak of the dark times of the past, and we will remember the miracle of our rebirth: in our ancient homeland, the Jewish, democratic State of Israel, and throughout the Jewish world."

"Together, we shall overcome.

"In the face of this terrifying resurgence of antisemitism: Do not fear. Stand proud. Stand strong for your freedom. Israel stands with you. Israel cares for you. We care for you. We are here for you.

"We will know better times ahead. And together we will say: Am Yisrael Chai."