Day: September 9, 2025

By: Nick Carraway

A New York state judge has struck down the city’s plan to open a homeless shelter for ex-convicts and drug addicts just steps away from a Lower Manhattan elementary school, ruling that officials failed to properly consider the risks to children.

The NY Post first reported that Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron issued the decision on Aug. 25, finding that the city did not fully evaluate the “potential negative effects” of placing the 106-bed facility at 320 Pearl Street, a former Hampton Inn. The shelter’s entrance would have been only five feet from the Peck Slip School, where children as young as three attend classes. An outdoor smoking area was also planned directly beneath school windows.

“There are two, eight-hundred pound gorillas in the room,” Engoron wrote in his ruling, the NY Post first reported. “The first is the fact that the proposal would place a shelter for troubled adults adjacent to a school for three-to-eleven-year-olds. The second is the City’s cavalier attitude towards fulfilling its obligation to demonstrate that it seriously considered the siting criteria.”

The city had awarded nonprofit Breaking Ground Management a five-year, $42.3 million contract in January 2024 to run what is known as a “low-barrier” shelter — facilities that relax many traditional screening requirements, including criminal background checks. The goal, officials said, was to reduce obstacles for those struggling with homelessness.

But critics pointed out that such shelters can house individuals with drug addiction issues, criminal records, and in some cases sex offender histories. Parents at the Peck Slip School were outraged when the plan was revealed, the NY Post first reported. Many said they only learned of the shelter when the Department of Social Services disclosed the proposal on June 13, 2024, just before the start of summer break.

“They decided to place the riskiest homeless population with possible mental, drug, criminal, and sex offender issues directly next to young children, our most precious and vulnerable population,” parents argued in court papers filed in September 2024. “This is not only arbitrary, capricious and irrational — it is insane.”

Justice Engoron sharply criticized the city’s claim that it had adequately considered the school’s proximity when it said it reviewed “public facilities and institutions” within a 400-foot radius. That assertion, he said, was “whistling past the graveyard at best and disingenuous at worst.”

Under Engoron’s order, the Department of Homeless Services must conduct a new “Fair Share” analysis to evaluate how the shelter would impact the surrounding neighborhood. It remains unclear, however, whether the agency intends to redo the process or abandon the project altogether. The NY Post first reported that DHS declined to comment on the future of its $42 million contract with Breaking Ground.

“Every neighborhood deserves to have the resources required to support New Yorkers experiencing homelessness on their path to stable, permanent housing,” DHS spokesman Nicholas Jacobelli said in a statement to the NY Post first reported. “While we disagree with this court decision, we will be weighing all our options.”

Breaking Ground, the nonprofit operator, did not respond to requests for comment.

For parents at Peck Slip School, the ruling is a victory — at least for now — in their fight to keep the city from opening a shelter for troubled adults directly next to a building full of young children.

The post Judge Blocks Controversial Homeless Shelter Next to Lower Manhattan Elementary School appeared first on The Jewish Voice.

By: Fern Sidman

American hedge-fund billionaire Bill Ackman is expected in Israel this week for a visit that underscores both his financial confidence in the country and his outspoken commitment to defending the Jewish state during one of the most challenging chapters in its history. As The Jewish News Syndicate (JNS) reported on Monday, Ackman will preside over the opening bell ceremony of the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE) on Tuesday morning, a symbolic gesture underscoring his faith in Israel’s resilience amid its nearly two-year war with Hamas.

Ackman, 59, has long been one of the most prominent figures in the U. S. capital markets, but since Oct. 7, 2023 — when Hamas terrorists massacred more than 1,200 Israelis and abducted hundreds more in southern Israel — he has become an unmistakable voice of support for Israel in the financial world. According to the information provided in the JNS report, his scheduled appearance at TASE is not only a ceremonial honor but also a public affirmation of Israel’s enduring economic strength.

The Tel Aviv market has defied expectations in the wake of the ongoing war. Since the October 7 attack, TASE has risen by an extraordinary 65%, climbing to record highs. Analysts and investors alike, as cited in the JNS report, attribute this rally to a confluence of factors: investor faith in Israeli innovation, confidence in the country’s geopolitical stability despite ongoing fighting, and broader optimism about Israel’s position in the region.

The decision to honor Ackman with the bell-ringing ceremony reflects his personal financial stake in this resilience. In 2023, Ackman and his Israeli-born wife, architect and designer Neri Oxman, purchased a nearly 5% equity position in TASE for approximately $25 million. That move signaled confidence not only in Israel’s economic fundamentals but also in its institutions’ ability to withstand the turbulence of war.

Beyond the financial realm, Ackman has emerged as a powerful advocate for Jewish communities at home and abroad. JNS has chronicled his outspoken criticism of the rampant antisemitism that has plagued elite American universities in the aftermath of the October 7 atrocities. At Harvard, his alma mater, Ackman became one of the most vocal critics of the administration’s failure to respond adequately to anti-Israel and anti-Jewish rhetoric on campus. His campaign against institutional complacency was a major factor in the resignation of Harvard’s president earlier this year.

In a financial industry often hesitant to wade into political or moral disputes, Ackman’s willingness to speak so forcefully marked a departure. He has used his prominence not merely to influence markets but to shape public debate, insisting that silence in the face of antisemitism is no longer tenable. As the JNS report emphasized, this dual role — investor and activist — distinguishes Ackman as a unique ally for Israel at a moment when the Jewish state has faced both military and reputational battles.

Ackman’s visit comes at a time when Israel’s stock market, much like its society, is demonstrating remarkable resilience under pressure. The 65% surge in TASE since October 2023 is widely seen as a reflection of the nation’s ability to adapt and thrive even under existential threat. JNS noted that the market’s performance has surprised analysts who initially expected prolonged volatility and investor retreat in response to the war. Instead, Israel’s innovation-driven economy has proven an anchor of stability, attracting global investors and underscoring the long-term value of Israeli enterprise.

For Ackman, who manages billions in assets through his New York-based Pershing Square Capital Management, ringing the opening bell is both a symbolic and substantive act. It ties his personal financial investment to a broader narrative: that Israel’s markets, like its people, remain unbowed by the violence and uncertainty of war.

The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange will hold a special ceremony to mark the occasion, with TASE CEO Ittai Ben Zeev and Seffy Zinger, chairman of the Israel Securities Authority, in attendance. Their participation reflects the significance of Ackman’s presence: one of America’s most renowned financiers lending his credibility and visibility to Israel’s financial hub.

Ackman’s itinerary will also include an address at the Tech Trek conference, organized by international investment bank Jefferies. As Israel’s largest institutional investor technology gathering, the conference highlights the central role of innovation in the country’s economy. Ackman’s participation will likely amplify the message that Israel’s high-tech ecosystem remains globally attractive, even amid the strains of ongoing conflict.

In many ways, Ackman’s visit is about more than markets or ceremonies. As the JNS report observed, his decision to stand publicly with Israel reflects a deeper commitment to combating antisemitism, bolstering Jewish resilience, and ensuring that the war launched by Hamas does not isolate the Jewish state from global partners. His stake in TASE and his willingness to speak out against prejudice both underscore a broader principle: that defending Israel and defending Jewish communities are inseparable parts of the same struggle.

At a moment when international forums often highlight criticisms of Israel, Ackman’s voice carries particular weight. His actions signal that financial leaders are not only prepared to invest in Israel but also to challenge narratives that delegitimize its right to self-defense. That message, amplified in Tel Aviv this week, may reverberate well beyond the trading floor.

Bill Ackman’s upcoming visit to Israel and his symbolic ringing of the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange’s opening bell capture more than a moment of market optimism. They embody a fusion of financial acumen and moral clarity at a time when both are desperately needed. As the JNS report emphasized, Ackman’s advocacy is not simply about profits or portfolio positions. It is about resilience, justice, and the imperative to stand with Israel in both the economic and ideological arenas.

In honoring him, Israel’s financial institutions are not only recognizing an investor but embracing an ally who has consistently spoken out for the Jewish state and against the forces of hatred that threaten it. In the shadow of war, that message matters more than ever.

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By: Fern Sidman

Israel was jolted on Sunday by a startling breach of its aerial defenses when a drone launched from Yemen by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels slammed into the Ramon Airport terminal, north of Eilat. According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) carried explosives, evaded Israel’s multi-layered defense system, and detonated within the passenger terminal — raising profound questions about the vulnerabilities of Israel’s air defense apparatus.

As The Times of Israel reported on Sunday, the incident marked the first time a Houthi drone successfully penetrated Israeli defenses to strike a major civilian airport. The attack left a 63-year-old man injured by shrapnel, a woman hospitalized after falling while fleeing the scene, and several others treated for acute anxiety, according to Magen David Adom paramedics. While no lives were lost, the psychological impact — compounded by images of shattered glass, debris, and smoke billowing from the airport terminal — was unmistakable.

Perhaps most troubling for Israeli authorities was the fact that no sirens were triggered before the impact. As The Times of Israel report highlighted, a preliminary probe by the Israeli Air Force found that the UAV had not been detected on its approach to southern Israel, leaving airport staff and passengers with no warning.

Footage from the scene showed travelers scrambling for cover as thick smoke rose above the airport’s baggage-screening area. Emergency responders quickly evacuated civilians, and the Israel Airports Authority (IAA) temporarily shut down all operations at Ramon, halting takeoffs and landings.

“The details are being looked into,” the IDF acknowledged in a terse statement. For a country that prides itself on having one of the most sophisticated air defense systems in the world — with the Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and Arrow missile defense networks layered across its skies — the failure to detect and intercept the drone will likely trigger a wide-ranging internal review.

The IAA confirmed shortly after the attack that Ramon’s airspace had been temporarily closed while security checks were conducted. “Takeoffs and landings at Ramon have been halted. The airport authority is working to restore operations as soon as possible,” the authority initially stated.

Hours later, following what The Times of Israel report described as a “comprehensive security assessment” involving multiple defense and aviation agencies, Ramon resumed full operations. “Following the completion of all safety and security checks, compliance with international civil aviation standards, and receipt of final approval from the Air Force — Ramon Airport has now been reopened for both departures and arrivals,” the IAA announced.

Still, for travelers and staff, the brief shutdown underscored just how vulnerable the facility is to the growing reach of Houthi drone and missile campaigns.

Although formally designated as an international airport, Ramon handles primarily domestic traffic, functioning as a relief hub when security concerns disrupt operations at Ben-Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv. During the war in Gaza, The Times of Israel report noted, Ramon also played a humanitarian role, serving as an evacuation point for thousands of Palestinians — including the wounded and their families — sent abroad for medical treatment.

By striking Ramon, the Houthis not only disrupted an important transportation link but also symbolically demonstrated their ability to hit Israeli civilian infrastructure hundreds of miles from their bases in Yemen. Analysts quoted in The Times of Israel argued that the attack was designed to send a message: that Israeli defenses, stretched by simultaneous threats from Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran’s regional proxies, are not impenetrable.

Sunday’s drone strike did not occur in isolation. Earlier in the day, the IDF reported intercepting three other Houthi drones that triggered warning sirens in several communities along Israel’s border with Egypt. According to the information provided in The Times of Israel report, two of the drones were shot down before they crossed into Israel, while a third was intercepted after entering Israeli airspace via Egypt. Video footage circulated on social media showed an Israeli Air Force helicopter downing one of the UAVs.

The attacks were part of what officials have described as a “wave of Houthi aggression” over the past two weeks, following the targeted killing of Houthi prime minister Ahmed Ghaleb Nasser al-Rahawi and several cabinet members in Yemen. The assassination, attributed to Israeli forces, has spurred the Houthis to escalate their missile and drone barrages against Israel.

The Houthis, an Iran-aligned militia entrenched in Yemen’s civil war, adopted an explicitly anti-Israel posture after Hamas’s October 7 massacre in southern Israel. Within weeks, they began targeting Israel directly, as well as maritime traffic in the Red Sea, under the slogan: “Death to America, Death to Israel, Curse on the Jews.”

As The Times of Israel reported, the Houthis fired more than 40 ballistic missiles and dozens of drones at Israel between November 2023 and January 2025. While most were intercepted or fell short, a drone attack in Tel Aviv in July 2024 killed one civilian and injured several others, prompting Israel’s first direct military strikes on Yemeni soil.

Following a temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in January 2025, the Houthis briefly suspended their attacks. But since the IDF resumed its offensive in Gaza on March 18, the Yemeni group has launched at least 80 ballistic missiles and 31 drones toward Israel, according to military figures cited in The Times of Israel report.

Israel has responded with at least 16 strikes in Yemen, targeting Houthi launch sites, storage depots, and command centers. The long-range exchanges, covering more than 1,800 kilometers, underscore the regional dimensions of the Gaza war and the increasingly active role of Iranian proxies in challenging Israel.

The breach at Ramon Airport has set off alarms across Israel’s defense establishment. Lawmakers have demanded answers from the IDF and the Air Force about how the drone managed to evade detection.

Security commentators quoted in The Times of Israel report warned that if the Houthis can penetrate Israel’s defenses once, they may attempt similar attacks on other sensitive civilian infrastructure — including energy facilities, ports, or even Ben-Gurion Airport. The psychological impact, they argued, could prove as damaging as the physical destruction.

For the Israeli public, the incident raises uncomfortable questions about the limits of national security. After decades of investment in cutting-edge missile defense, the idea that a relatively low-cost drone could slip through and strike a major airport is deeply unsettling.

The attack has also caught the attention of international aviation authorities. Ramon Airport, though smaller than Ben-Gurion, is part of Israel’s international aviation framework. The strike has prompted discussions within global airline circles about the safety of flying into Israeli airports during periods of heightened conflict.

The Times of Israel reported that Israeli officials were quick to reassure international partners that Ramon had been cleared under global civil aviation standards before reopening. Still, the fact that an airport terminal was successfully targeted by a drone underscores how civilian air hubs have become front-line targets in modern asymmetric warfare.

Beyond the immediate damage, Sunday’s attack reflects the expanding regional influence of Iran. The Houthis, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and Shiite militias in Iraq all form part of what analysts often call Tehran’s “axis of resistance.” By coordinating strikes from different fronts, Iran seeks to stretch Israel’s defenses thin, forcing the IDF to divide resources across multiple arenas.

As The Times of Israel report noted, the latest round of Houthi attacks coincides with escalations from Hezbollah on Israel’s northern border and renewed threats from Iraqi militias. Together, these attacks serve Tehran’s broader strategy of keeping Israel under constant pressure while complicating its military calculus.

Sunday’s breach at Ramon Airport may prove to be a pivotal moment in Israel’s evolving conflict with the Houthis. It highlighted both the effectiveness of the group’s drone program and the vulnerabilities inherent in even the most advanced defense systems.

While the IDF is investigating the failure to detect the UAV, analysts cited by The Times of Israel warned that Israel must now assume that further attempts to strike civilian airports and infrastructure will follow. Enhancing radar coverage, bolstering electronic warfare capabilities, and refining detection protocols will be central to Israel’s response.

But the challenge is not purely technological. It is also strategic and political. As long as Iran’s proxies continue to operate across multiple theaters — Gaza, Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen — Israel faces the prospect of being drawn deeper into a multi-front conflict with no easy resolution.

The drone strike on Ramon Airport, while causing limited physical casualties, represents a significant escalation in the conflict between Israel and the Houthis. By slipping past Israel’s defenses and striking a civilian terminal, the rebels demonstrated both their reach and their determination to hit symbolic and strategic targets deep inside Israeli territory.

As The Times of Israel report emphasized, the incident calls attention to a sobering reality: that no defense system, however advanced, is foolproof. For Israelis, the image of black smoke rising over Ramon Airport will linger as a reminder of the shifting dynamics of warfare — where low-cost drones can threaten airports, and distant conflicts in Yemen can reverberate in the skies over Eilat.

Israel’s response will likely be twofold: immediate improvements to detection and interception systems, and continued long-range strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen. Yet the broader strategic challenge remains. The Houthis’ success in hitting Ramon Airport signals not just a tactical breach but a warning of the evolving threats Israel faces in an increasingly interconnected and volatile Middle East.

The post Houthis Finally Successful – Drone Strikes Terminal at Israel’s Ramon Airport in Eilat appeared first on The Jewish Voice.

New York City has seen its share of bizarre, bruising mayoral contests. From the days when Tammany Hall boss William M. Tweed used patronage and cash to control the levers of power, to the modern battles of celebrity candidates and insurgent outsiders, the city has long been a theater for political spectacle. Yet even by New York standards, the current mayoral race is extraordinary — both for its oddities and for the existential stakes involved.

At the center of the storm stands Zohran Mamdani, the 33-year-old state assemblyman from Queens who stunned the political establishment by winning the Democratic primary under the city’s ranked-choice system. His victory has thrown the race into disarray and sent shockwaves through political circles across the country. For Mamdani is no ordinary progressive. He is an avowed socialist with a radical agenda that would fundamentally reshape the city in ways both dangerous and destabilizing.

President Donald Trump is correct to call him what he is: a “communist lunatic” and, more importantly, a direct threat to the safety, solvency, and stability of New York City.

Mamdani’s platform reads like a left-wing wish list untethered from economic or social reality. He has supported “defund the police” efforts, openly called for legalizing prostitution, and backed decriminalizing a broad range of misdemeanors. These proposals would not only dismantle the city’s already fragile public safety apparatus but would turn New York into a magnet for crime and social disorder.

He promises steep tax hikes on high earners — the very people who fund the city’s budget and sustain its economy — alongside rent freezes on private apartments and even a city-run supermarket in every borough. Such measures may appeal to ideological purists, but they would cripple small landlords, drive businesses and taxpayers away, and saddle the city with costly new bureaucracies.

Perhaps most egregious is Mamdani’s record on Israel. In the city that is home to the largest Jewish population outside the State of Israel, his vehemently anti-Israel rhetoric makes him a disgraceful outlier. At a time when antisemitism is surging globally and Jews in New York already feel increasingly vulnerable, electing a mayor who aligns himself with radical anti-Israel movements would be an insult to history and a danger to the city’s Jewish community.

The numbers make the danger plain. Mamdani’s base of fervent supporters is more than enough to hand him victory in a fractured field. Polls consistently show him leading with 35% to 40% of the vote — far from a majority, but sufficient in a four-way contest.

Andrew Cuomo, the former governor seeking redemption after a humiliating fall from grace, is running second in most polls with around 25%. Curtis Sliwa, the Republican and longtime Guardian Angels leader, hovers at 15% to 17%. Incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, weakened by scandals and poor approval ratings, languishes in the low double digits.

The simple math is this: so long as the anti-Mamdani vote is divided among Cuomo, Sliwa, and Adams, Mamdani coasts to victory with a minority of the electorate. New York could thus elect a mayor who commands neither consensus nor broad support, but who wields immense power with a radical minority’s backing.

This is precisely why President Trump and others are working — albeit through extraordinary means — to clear the field. By coaxing Adams and Sliwa out of the race, the city can arrive at the only realistic scenario in which Mamdani can be defeated: a one-on-one showdown with Cuomo.

Cuomo remains a deeply polarizing figure. His tenure as governor ended in scandal, resignation, and disgrace. Yet, as much as many New Yorkers may bristle at his return, there is a pragmatic reality: Cuomo is the only candidate polling within striking distance of Mamdani.

In a head-to-head matchup, polls suggest Cuomo could marshal a coalition of moderates, centrists, and pragmatic progressives alarmed at Mamdani’s extremism. While Sliwa commands loyalty among conservatives and Adams still clings to the trappings of incumbency, neither has demonstrated the capacity to build a broad enough coalition to surpass Mamdani.

Critics howl that President Trump’s role in all this smacks of Boss Tweed-style machine politics — dangling federal jobs and patronage to push candidates out of the race. But such complaints ignore the broader stakes. Trump has correctly identified the central danger: a divided opposition handing victory to a radical minority.

The president’s efforts to maneuver Adams toward a diplomatic posting, or to otherwise encourage him and Sliwa to step aside, may be unusual. But unusual times demand unusual remedies. New York is not merely any city; it is America’s economic engine, cultural capital, and global symbol. Allowing it to be led by a hardline socialist with anti-police, anti-capitalist, and anti-Israel views would reverberate far beyond the five boroughs.

Moreover, Trump’s calculus is national as well as local. A Mamdani mayoralty would hand Republicans a political weapon of enormous potency. As Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Governor Kathy Hochul surely understand, a radical socialist running America’s largest city would be a gift to the GOP nationwide — proof, in the eyes of swing voters, that Democrats are captive to their most extreme factions.

It is telling that leading Democrats have withheld support for Mamdani despite his primary victory. Schumer, Hochul, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries have all refused to endorse him. Their silence is strategic: they know a Mamdani victory would haunt the party, not only in New York but across the nation.

Progressives like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, predictably, have blasted them for failing to rally around the nominee. But AOC and Mamdani live in an ideological bubble, insulated from the broader electorate’s concerns about safety, taxes, and stability. Their purity tests may thrill activist bases, but they alienate the very voters needed to govern responsibly.

This is why moderates and pragmatists must prevail. The alternative is political suicide for Democrats and economic calamity for New York.

Mayor Eric Adams remains the great unknown. Weakened by scandals and sagging approval, facing the prospect of an embarrassing last-place finish, Adams is wavering. Rumors of his resignation and potential reassignment to a federal post — even as ambassador to Saudi Arabia — have swirled.

If Adams exits, it would not only clear the path for Cuomo but also eliminate the risk of splitting the anti-Mamdani vote. Yet Adams’ unpredictability remains a liability. His contradictory statements, attacks on both Cuomo and Mamdani, and refusal to clarify his intentions have deepened the uncertainty of this race.

Adams must recognize the gravity of the moment. His personal ambitions cannot outweigh the city’s survival. Should he cling to the race out of vanity, he risks being remembered not for his achievements, but for handing City Hall to a socialist radical.

This is not a normal election. It is not about whether one prefers Republican or Democrat, Cuomo or Adams, Trump or Schumer. It is about whether New York City — the financial hub of the world, the cultural beacon of America, and the home of millions — will be governed by competence or chaos.

Zohran Mamdani represents chaos. His agenda would erode public safety, drive away investment, and deepen social divides. His hostility to Israel would disgrace a city long known as the Jewish capital of the diaspora. His disdain for the economic realities of taxation and business would cripple the city’s budget and undermine its future.

Against that backdrop, Cuomo is not perfect — far from it. But he is a known quantity, a seasoned operator who, whatever his faults, understands governance. A one-on-one race between Cuomo and Mamdani offers voters the clarity they need to avert disaster.

The post NYC Cannot Afford Mamdani: Why This Election Must Be a Two-Man Race appeared first on The Jewish Voice.

Foreign Leaders are Wrong to Believe Abbas

Dear Editor:

Recently Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese claimed that there “is an opportunity to deliver self-determination for the people of Palestine in a way that isolates Hamas, disarms it and drives it out of the region once and for all” but in reality there is no such “opportunity.” How do we know this? Fatah, the dominant faction of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) and the Palestinian Authority, reached an agreement with Hamas in Beijing in July 2024, committing to form a unity government following the Israel-Hamas war. The two groups issued a joint statement reaffirming their commitment to future cooperation.

This unity pact, publicly acknowledged by both Hamas and Mahmoud Abbas’s Fatah party, makes their true intentions undeniably clear. Since the Beijing meeting, Abbas has not distanced himself from this agreement, and there is no official indication he will abandon the pledge to work with Hamas “the day after the war.” What’s more the Palestinian National Charter to this day openly contains the phrase “liberation through armed struggle.” Finally, it must be noted that the PA’s policy of “pay-for-slay” continues and this is why on July 31, 2025, U. S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced sanctions against the PA and the PLO, which included denying visas to officials from those terrorist supporting entities.

Sincerely,
Moshe Phillips
National Chairman
Americans For A Safe Israel
New York, NY
afsi.Org

A Wink-And-Nod “Condemnation”

Dear Editor:

The statement issued by the Palestinian Authority in response to today’s massacre of Jewish bus passengers in Jerusalem has significant implications for the possibility of peace.

The brief statement begins by announcing that “the Palestinian Presidency” has “denounced all forms of violence and terrorism, regardless of their source.” Neither PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas nor any other PA official is cited by name. Also not mentioned: the very reason for issuing the statement. For even a hint of that, the reader has to scroll down to the very final sentence, which explains that the statement “came in the wake of today’s events in occupied Jerusalem.” What “events”? Who knows? The statement doesn’t mention them.

What does the phrase “all forms of violence and terrorism” mean? Well, the PA does not consider the murder of Jewish bus passengers in Jerusalem to be “violence” or “terrorism.” So what the PA is really “denouncing” here is (alleged) Israeli violence against Arabs. It makes that clear in the second paragraph, which demands an end to “the occupation,” the “genocide in the Gaza Strip,” and the “colonist terrorism.” No call for ending attacks on Jews.

The third paragraph contains a threat: only the creation of an “independent and sovereign” Palestinian Arab state “will end the cycle of violence in the region.” Thus until such a state is created, violence is inevitable and justified.

All of which means that the PA’s response to the massacre is a wink-and-nod “condemnation” that is not really a condemnation at all. It’s a piece of propaganda which enables the international news media to claim the PA condemned the attack, while quietly assuring Palestinian Arabs that the attack was fully justified.

The most dramatic demonstration of the PA’s support for the terrorists is its pay-for-slay policy. The families of the two terrorists who carried out the slaughter in Jerusalem today will immediately be rewarded with a one-time grant of $1,511, followed by payments of $353 monthly for life. If either of the terrorists was married, there’s an additional $100 monthly for their family, plus a bonus of $50 per child.

The PA currently pays out more than $300-million annually to imprisoned terrorists and the families of dead terrorists. That includes more than $2.8-million monthly to the perpetrators of the October 7 atrocities and their families. (Thanks to Palestinian Media Watch for the statistics.)

Until the Palestinian Arab leadership changes its basic attitude toward anti-Jewish terrorism—as expressed in the pay-for-slay system—Israelis will have good reason to doubt the prospects for peace.

Sincerely
Prof. Rafael Medoff

Anti-Semitic Poster Girl

Dear Editor:

When Palestinian Arab teenager Ahed Tamimi slapped an Israeli soldier in 2017, she was hailed as a “superstar” by the Associated Press and given a book deal with a major American publisher. Now Tamimi has announced that she is waging war against “Jews and Judaism, not Zionism.” Interestingly, none of her past cheerleaders have yet criticized her latest ugly tirade.

The president of Turkey gave Tamimi an award for striking that soldier eight years ago, CNN hailed her as “a fearless teen,” and she was featured in the Arabic-language edition of the fashion magazine Vogue, with a banner headline hailing her as “a lioness.”

Tamimi was quick to monetize the Vogue article. When Penguin Random House offered her a book deal, she (or her p. r. team) quickly produced an anti-Israel screed titled “They Called Me a Lioness.”

In interviews over the years, Tamimi has praised Adolf Hitler and vowed to “drink the blood” of Israeli Jews. But those remarks were not reported by the international news media.

They aren’t reporting her latest antisemitic diatribe, either.

“Judaism means occupation,” Tamimi announced on the Enlightenment Podcast on August 8, according to a transcript from the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI).

She continued: “Today, tomorrow, and a million years from now, I will continue to say that Judaism [should] be presented to the children of Palestine—children of my age and younger—as occupation, and that we are fighting the Jews, not Zionism.”

“The whole world needs to shut up when a Palestinian is talking,” Tamimi asserted. “We are superior to the entire world, because we are the only ones in the world fighting injustice, at the expense of our lives, and the expense of our humanity.”

Tamimi was not born antisemitic. She is part of a generation of Palestinian Arabs who have been educated by their schools, mosques, and parents to hate Jews and glorify violence—and who bask in the sympathy of biased journalists.

Sincerely
Prof. Rafael Medoff

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