Elder Of Ziyon - Israel News

04/07 Links Pt2: Iron Dome and the ‘America First’ Left; David Schwimmer: Wireless ‘Disgraced Itself’ by Booking Kanye, Calls Rapper a ‘Hate-Mongering Bigot’

2026-04-08T01:42:00.000-04:00

From Ian:

Seth Mandel: Iron Dome and the ‘America First’ Left

The problem is that it isn’t true that Iron Dome is none of our concern. The America First left is thus living a lie—the very same lie that America First rightists tell themselves. The Horseshoe Theory strikes again.

There are two kinds of benefits that Iron Dome funding brings to America: direct and indirect. An example of an indirect benefit: It is an immensely cost-effective way to prevent escalation in the Middle East, since it allows Israel to absorb rocket attacks that would otherwise necessitate an overwhelming military response. And preventing escalation in the Middle East saves American lives.

One theory behind funding Iron Dome, then, is: It is good to save American lives.

But the indirectness of that particular benefit opens space for naysayers to claim otherwise (though it would be surprising if they actually believed such claims). So if that were where the argument ended, AOC and Khanna and others could claim some kind of “both sides” stalemate in which two legitimate but unprovable claims must coexist.

But it does not end there. In fact, it begins there.

As one Congressional Research Service report on Iron Dome explains succinctly: “In March 2014, the United States and Israeli governments signed a coproduction agreement to enable components of the Iron Dome system to be manufactured in the United States, while also providing the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) with full access to what had been proprietary Iron Dome technology.”

Let’s take the first part first, because it’s so simple even an anti-Zionist could understand it. For about a decade, Raytheon’s plant in Arizona was the critical core of Iron Dome parts production in America. In November 2025, a new plant in Arkansas came online, moving even more of the process from Israel to America. Now, the manufacture of missile components for Iron Dome interceptors is mostly an American process. In other words, just like much of what is called “aid” to Israel, the money is spent on the U.S. economy and in fortifying American manufacturing. Along with the new Arkansas facility, Reuters reports, Raytheon received a $1.25 billion contract to supply Israel.

American jobs, American money, American manufacturing—if these are unimportant to Iron Dome’s critics, they should say so. Ignoring them entirely is an act of profound bad faith.

Meanwhile, access to the missile-defense technology is its own return-on-investment, since the U.S. gets to see data from the tech’s deployment in wartime scenarios. So: Iran fires missiles at Israel, and the U.S. sees what works and what doesn’t without its own civilians being the live targets.

Which is why, in the end, opposition to Iron Dome in the U.S. generally takes an ideological, and not a mathematical or practical, primary basis. One cannot argue that there are no benefits to the U.S.; one can only argue that those benefits—investment in the U.S. economy, job creation, a steady boost to domestic manufacturing, and of course lives saved—aren’t meaningful.

From first intercept to 10,000 combat intercepts: Iron Dome turns 15-analysis

On April 7, 2011 at 6.20PM I was in the southern city of Sderot when the incoming siren blared. Hamas had fired a Grad missile towards the city of Ashkelon. Running to the safe room, I heard a sound that was different than a rocket slamming into the ground-it was the first interception by the now famous Iron Dome missile defense system.

Air defense soldiers gave the call sign “Alpha”- the signal for a successful first intercept of a rocket toward Israel. That interception, 15 years ago today, has changed the face of active defense around the world- especially here in Israel where it fundamentally redefined Israel’s defensive doctrine and its ability to counter rocket threats.

The system has logged more than 10,000 combat intercepts and sustained success rates exceeding 90%.

“Over the past 15 years, the system has changed the face of the battlefield and shielded Israel’s civilians from relentless threats coming from multiple adversaries. Iron Dome is a first-order strategic asset and a central pillar of Israel’s national defense doctrine,” said Prof. Yuval Steinitz, Chairman, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems.

Hilla Haddad Chmelnik was on the Iron Dome’s development team during her service in the Israel Air Force and recalled her first encounter with the system.

“I met Iron Dome a year before it became operational. It was in advanced development of the first interceptor batteries. I was in the Air Force, at the test range, and Rafael and MAFAT came to the Air Force to make it operational with an acceptance test. We had to think: how do we check the system and make sure it works well?”

The primary contractor for the development of the Iron Dome is Rafael Advanced Defense System. The MMR radar is developed by ELTA, a subsidiary of the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), and the command and control system is developed by mPrest.

Its development was completed in roughly two and a half years, an exceptional engineering feat by any international standard.

“It immediately became a different kind of project, a sort of paperless project, because it was developed so fast. It was extraordinary because it required a whole new way of thinking about how an interception system works. It changed the way we test systems,” she told Defense & Tech by The Jerusalem Post.

The first test of the system took place in February 2011 and two months later the first interception took place.

“The interception happened an hour before my wedding in Herzliya,” Haddad Chmelnik recalled. “It was a double celebration. It was amazing.”

Strategies to stop antizionist abuse

The most effective and powerful analogies are always the simplest and easiest to picture.

And during an empowering 90-minute presentation at Sydney’s Dover Heights Synagogue late last month on how to identify, and fight back against, the dangerous tsunami of antizionism that’s enabling the spread of hatred against Jews, Josh Dabelstein – the Australian chapter coordinator of the Movement Against Antizionism (MAAZ) – delivered an absolute beauty.

At the event organised by the Zionist Council of NSW, Dabelstein, who has a unique and deep knowledge of antizionism because he was once an antizionist himself, relayed to the audience of more than 100 this most potent of paragraphs:

“If we think about the highway to Jew hate, one lane is antijudaism, the middle lane is antisemitism and the other lane is antizionism. We [society and the law] blocked those first two lanes. That doesn’t mean that there are still people swerving all over the road. Some people do just hate Jews, right? But the one lane that allows them through today and emboldens them, provides them a permission structure and allows society to really spread all of this stuff, is antizionism.”

To understand why Dabelstein considers antizionism the single greatest threat facing Jews in the Diaspora today, it helps to understand how MAAZ frames the history of Jew hatred as a whole. At his Dover Heights shule address, he explained how those “three lanes on a highway” are related, but also quite distinct, with each associated with different “permission structures”, meaning they utilise a system of language, beliefs and authorities that makes the harm that the protagonists cause feel justified and allows people to adopt positions they once would have vehemently rejected.

Antijudaism, the oldest form, targeted Jews through religion – which is now illegal. Antisemitism targets Jews through race and ethnicity – which is also now illegal.

But antizionism – the dominant form today – targets Jews through demonising the Jewish state – disguising the hate as political criticism, or for social justice. Josh Dabelstein speaking at the event, presented by the Zionist Council of NSW.

In each case, he argued, the hatred operates not by engaging honestly with its stated target – Judaism, Semitism or Zionism – but by inventing a phantom proxy and loading it with libels.

“They take all the things that they hate and they shove them in that word.”

In the antizionist era, today’s libels – genocide, apartheid, colonialism – are directed at the Jewish state, are repeated ad nauseam and, Dabelstein said, “are elevated to fact status through pseudo-academia and institutional adoption.”

The conspiracy theories have shifted accordingly: Israel’s President Isaac Herzog is likened to Hitler during his recent Australian visit; and stigmatising Jews is now “simply achieved through misusing the word Zionist”.

What makes all forms of Jew hatred dangerous, Dabelstein said, is precisely that each presents as fashionable in the context they arise, before eventually being revealed as violent systems that produce violent ends.

While antizionism presents itself as anti-colonial, anti-racist and humanitarian, the violence it invites is moralised the same way it was in medieval and Nazi Europe.

David Collier: The Return of the Blood Libel – and How Sky News Amplified It

Over the centuries, few accusations have proven as persistent or as dangerous as the blood libel – the claim that Jews murder children to fulfil some dark and necessary ritual.

The details have shifted to suit the times, but the underlying idea has remained remarkably consistent: that Jews, by their very nature, are capable of harming children in ways that ordinary morality cannot explain.

Today, the language has changed. The religious framing has largely disappeared, but the accusation itself has not. It reappears in modern form as claims that Jews, recast as Israelis or Zionists, deliberately target children, shooting, starving or torturing them as part of a wider project of domination and expansion.

A Version for the Modern Age
Towards the end of March, claims circulated that IDF soldiers tortured a two-year-old toddler. It is an accusation designed to provoke immediate outrage, repeated with little meaningful scrutiny.

No independently verifiable evidence has been produced to support it. Instead, the claim spreads through emotive language, detached from any reliable chain of evidence.

This is the modern repackaging of the blood libel – trading on shock and relying on audiences reacting before asking whether it is true.

In the social media age, such claims are routinely amplified by antisemitic commentators, often with the support of state-aligned outlets in Qatar, Russia, Turkey and Iran.

As seen repeatedly – including last year’s widely circulated but unsupported claims that Israel was deliberately starving children – the pattern is familiar. The claims go viral regardless of the evidence.

The outcome is also familiar: the dehumanisation of Jews – a necessary step in framing violence against them as not only legitimate, but morally justified.

What should never happen in such circumstances is for a mainstream news outlet to lend credibility to the claim.

That is precisely what makes the actions of those like Sky News so indefensible.

The Arrested Father and Return of the Child
Here is what we know:
On Thursday 19 March, a Palestinian man in Gaza approached IDF troops at the “yellow line” border area. He was repeatedly instructed to stop but continued advancing.

The man was accompanied by his twenty-one-month-old son, Karim Abu Nassar. After issuing warning shots, and possibly wounding the father, the soldiers detained them.

The IDF stated that the man was affiliated with Hamas and had participated in the attacks of 7 October, based on information obtained during questioning.

The soldiers assumed temporary responsibility for the child while arrangements were made to return him to family members. During that time, the child was reportedly given food and received medical attention.

Approximately ten hours later, the child was transferred to representatives of the Red Cross. Footage of the handover was subsequently released, and during the event, the toddler was described as “happy and healthy”.

The Red Cross did not take the child to hospital – but instead arranged for his return to family.

² The PCBS states that the Gaza population stands at 2.13M as of 2025. But whereas 254K is 10.6% of 2.4M, as implied by the report, the last PCBS report published before the Gaza War explicitly states that the population was 2.23M. https://t.co/6ZOxtMHiLZ pic.twitter.com/nL3qyEn5H1
— Strxwmxn (@strxwmxn) April 7, 2026

⁴ Even stranger is that just 2 paragraphs above the 254K decline figure, the latest report explicitly states that the population was approximately 2.2 million. The report doesn't just contradict prior estimates but itself. pic.twitter.com/OiJaCF3bD5
— Strxwmxn (@strxwmxn) April 7, 2026

⁶ If we stick to the consistent figures of 2.23M in July 2023 and 2.13M in Dec 2025 we get a decline of 100K (4-5%). It's severe, but it pokes Merkava-sized holes in the "genocide" narrative.

The 100K figure includes everything: civilians killed by the IDF, Hamas fighters (over…
— Strxwmxn (@strxwmxn) April 7, 2026

3. A famine can be declared where people are not dying of starvation.
4. A territory becomes the sovereign title of one party — even when that party never exercised sovereignty over it in the past — when a second party conquers it from a third party which attacked it.
— Shany Mor שני מור شني مور (@ShMMor) April 7, 2026

Clearly, Hamas is responsible, b/c the WHO refuses to name them and issues a weak, bland statement. If it was the IDF, they would be issuing a strongly worded, explicit and hysterical condemnation of Israel.

Your pro-tip for decoding UN reporting. https://t.co/ITQmvcfaAN
— Anne Herzberg (@AnneHerzberg14) April 7, 2026

TL;DR but does Franny go into much detail about Palestinians tortured by Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad or other Palestinians? When I say “much detail” I mean does she even mention it at all? https://t.co/k01KEQgEY3
— Joo (@JoosyJew) April 7, 2026

Nael Bin Ghazi Misran (ID 905458113 Age 45) had a YouTube channel filled with sermons and an active X account. His posts are filled with praise for Qassam fighters, lauds Sinwar, death to "Zionist entity" etc. He posted 25 minutes after 10/7 was launched. 2/ pic.twitter.com/i23OzwIYTo
— Aizenberg (@Aizenberg55) April 7, 2026

Nael was lauded on other social media channels as combatant. For example, this Facebook post lauds him as a fighter and mujahideen and that the “Jihad arena will miss you.” This was posted on the day of his death May 28, 2025. 4/ pic.twitter.com/Qr6N6cOfky
— Aizenberg (@Aizenberg55) April 7, 2026

Jewish Community of Porto adopts the word anti-Zionism instead of antisemitism

The official communications of the Jewish Community of Porto have just changed. The word antisemitism has been replaced by anti-Zionism.

The challenge accepted by the community was launched on JNS by Daniel Friedman, a renowned professor of political science at Touro University in New York.

He wrote that he is tired of seeing anti-Jewish hatred grow while its promoters simply say: “I am not an antisemite. I am anti-Zionist.” It is repeated so often, with such confidence, that it has begun to function like a shield, like a way to redirect the charge without confronting the substance.

For years, the response has been to insist that the distinction is false and to argue that anti-Zionism is simply the latest form of antisemitism. Now, Friedman says “the debate has grown tired, circular and strangely disconnected from what is actually happening in the world,” so “let us adopt their language and call it anti-Zionism.”

After all, Zion is not merely the name of a modern state. The prophet Isaiah records God’s words: “And I say to Zion: You are My people.” Zion is not just a place. Zion is a people. And so, anti-Zionist, according to the Bible, means anti-Jewish.”

Tragically, it is almost unsurprising when Jews are attacked across the globe in the name of anti-Zionism. These are Jews living their lives thousands of miles from Israel. Synagogues in the Diaspora are not Israeli embassies; nevertheless, communities have to pay fortunes for the security of their prayer rooms or their members might die while praying.

Chanukah celebrations on Australian beaches don’t take place in military installations in the Negev, but Chabad rabbis are shot as if they were in war trenches. Museums are not government offices, but in the United States and Western Europe, peaceful visitors have been brutally machine-gunned. Because Israel is destroying the terrorist movements, they attack Jewish emergency vehicles in London that are created to save lives.

Many Israelis have asked for Portuguese nationality for a variety of reasons. Then, a “Palestinian issue” from the local political mainstream imposed the end of a law in favor of Jews and the country for which they could fight. Synagogues and museums full of life, history films and art galleries were treated by the media system with the word “opulence.” The salaries that the community paid for a decade and a half to its Israeli religious leader were stolen by the state, which was not satisfied with the decisions of the competent community bodies.

Jewish philanthropists like Patrick Drahi, a French-Israeli investor with interests in media and telecoms; Uzbek-born diamond magnate Lev Leviev; and the Sephardic Kadoorie family of Iraq were treated as mere beggars desperately in need of a passport. The granddaughter of the “Portuguese Dreyfus” and daughter of a Jewish mother was treated as “non-Jewish” by the police, and her house was searched because of alleged “suitcases of money” that never existed.

To complement all this anti-Zionist shame, the Jews of Porto were listed in newspapers, the synagogue was vandalized with “apartheid” inscriptions, and the Hamas embassy in Lisbon was inaugurated with a painting of the Middle East where the Jewish state does not appear.

Dublin venue reconsidering staging Oct. 7 play

The National Concert Hall in Dublin is reconsidering a planned staged reading of the play “Oct. 7,” following objections to its inclusion in a fundraising event for Magen David Adom, Israel’s national emergency medical service.

The venue said it is “considering all aspects of this matter” after learning that the fundraiser would include the play, written by Irish writers Phelim McAleer and Ann McElhinney, based on verbatim accounts from survivors of the Hamas-led terrorist attacks in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

The reading is planned as part of a May 11 event hosted by former Irish justice minister Alan Shatter. The fundraiser was previously canceled and then reinstated after intervention by the venue’s board, according to local reporting.

McElhinney said the production has faced repeated resistance in Ireland. “We had wanted to bring you the great news that the Oct/ 7 play was finally going to Ireland. We had arranged a staged reading at the National Concert Hall, a prestigious venue for such a historic play,” she stated. “But now the NCH says they are ‘reconsidering’ the booking upon hearing it will include the Oct. 7 play, because some are calling it political. This is wrong. The play is verbatim—pure journalism.”

“It consists of Jewish voices about Israel’s darkest day, with no editorializing,” she said.

David Schwimmer Says Wireless ‘Disgraced Itself’ by Booking Ye, Calls Rapper a ‘Hate-Mongering Bigot’

David Schwimmer has some strong opinions about Ye (formerly Kanye West) and Wireless Festival, which was canceled Tuesday (April 7) after the controversial rapper was booked as this year’s headliner.

In a lengthy letter posted to Instagram on Monday (April 6), the Friends star, who is Jewish, praised Pepsi, PayPal and Diageo for pulling out as sponsors of Wireless 2026 before the entire event was canceled. “It’s great to see companies with moral clarity,” Schwimmer began. “Unlike Wireless and [promoter] Festival Republic, they decided not to platform an artist who became one of the most recognizable hate-mongering bigots in the world.”

The actor went on to slam the festival for booking Ye in the first place, even after the hip-hop star spent years championing hateful anti-Jewish rhetoric before taking out a full-page Wall Street Journal ad in January apologizing for his actions and blaming his behavior on a brain injury. As Schwimmer pointed out, “Ye’s apologized before, only to retract that apology and double down on his virulent hatred of Jewish people.”

“An apology letter is just that: Words on paper,” he continued, writing that Wireless had “disgraced itself” by inviting Ye to perform. “An advertisement, generating publicity before a concert tour. It does not erase years of abuse. I believe in forgiveness, but it takes much more than this. Then again, I do not profit from his appearing at Wireless.”

The Hollywood star also name-checked Lauryn Hill and Travis Scott, who appeared on stage at Ye’s show at SoFi Stadium, as well as CeeLo Green and Don Toliver, who are featured on Ye’s new album, Bully. Calling them “artists who seem to shrug off [Ye’s] history of rabid antisemitism,” Schwimmer went on to question why other brands such as Budweiser, Beat Box Beverages, Drip Water and Big Green Coach hadn’t pulled out of Wireless upon finding out about the 2026 headliner.

“It’s fine for his famous pals to pat him on the back and say, ‘It’s all good,'” Schwimmer wrote of Ye. “But the community he has harmed most has no reason to trust his apology is authentic. If he was sincere, he would take action to repair the damage he caused.”

The actor added, “Until Ye demonstrates a commitment to building back trust — not only with the Jewish community, but with ALL the fans he left heartbroken and disappointed by his hateful rhetoric the last several years — he should not be granted a platform to perform.”

Kanye West should meet British Jews on their terms, not his

Kanye West has spoken. In response to the growing backlash around his appearance at Wireless Festival, he has offered the following:

A desire to “present a show of change.” A call for “unity, peace, and love.” An openness to meet with members of the Jewish community. An acknowledgment that “words aren’t enough.”

On the surface, it reads well, but then come the questions. Why now? Why wait until this moment, only after the headlines, after the outrage, after the sponsors have begun to walk away and he and has enablers are being hit where it truly hurts, in their pockets.

Why was this not the position before standing in front of 170,000 people in Los Angeles? Why was there no offer then to meet with the Jewish community there, to listen, to learn, to understand?

Why only now, when the cost of silence has finally begun to rise?

Because this is the challenge with apologies that arrive on the back of consequence. They may be sincere, but they are indistinguishable from strategy. Their timing is everything, a written apology the day before the announcement of a new record deal, an offer to meet when a major festival appearance is in doubt.

So let me suggest a different course of action, one that might actually result in something meaningful. Recognise the damage you have caused. Not in broad terms, but specifically, directly, without qualification. You know, actually make reference to releasing a song called “Heil Hitler”, selling merch adorned with a swastika, threatening the lives of Jews and spreading age old antisemitic tropes.

Then pull out of Wireless.

But come to London anyway, not to perform, but to listen.

Meet with members of the Jewish community, not for optics, not for photographs, not for validation, just to listen, learn and to understand the impact of what you have said, repeatedly, publicly, and without restraint.

Muslim leaders call for Kanye West Wireless ban amid antisemitism row

Muslim community leaders have joined growing calls for the cancellation of Kanye West’s Wireless gig – and urged ministers to step in if the festival’s organisers fail to act.

The event’s promoter, Melvin Benn, last night defended the decision to host the artist currently known as Ye, despite his record of persistent antisemitic rhetoric and the fact that he released a song entitled ‘Heil Hitler’ just months ago.

But in an unprecedented expression of solidarity, three senior imams have today called for action to stop the event.

Imam Qari Asim, co-chair of the British Muslim Network, told Jewish News: “The prospect of Kanye West being given a platform at Wireless Festival is deeply troubling given his repeated antisemitic and racist remarks.

“Antisemitism in any form is abhorrent and must be confronted firmly wherever it appears. Platforming individuals associated with hateful and divisive views about any community risks normalising hate and sending a harmful message that these attitudes are tolerated.

“British Jews, along with all other minority communities, must feel safe and protected in our society. Public platforms have a responsibility to uphold these values and ensure they do not contribute to division or harm. Wireless should seriously consider removing West from the bill.”

Leicester-based imam and chaplain Asim Hafiz added: “Wireless’s decision to continue with this booking should concern us all. This is not simply about entertainment but about the moral standards we uphold in public life. Someone associated with antisemitic rhetoric and Nazi imagery should not be normalised on a major public stage. At a time when Jewish communities already feel vulnerable, this sends the wrong message.

“The relevant authorities should reflect carefully on what this decision says about the standards we are prepared to defend as a society.”

Wireless festival cancelled after Kanye West blocked from travelling to UK

The Wireless festival has announced its cancellation after the government announced it would block Kanye West from entering the country, with the Home Secretary judging his presence in the UK would not be conducive to the public good.

After major backlash following the festival’s announcement on Monday 30 March that the rapper would be headlining the event, the Home Office had confirmed the rapper made an application to travel to the UK yesterday via an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA).

Following a review, Shabana Mahmood decided to refuse permission.

The Wireless Festival subsequently announced cancellation of the entire three-day event, saying that refunds would be issued to all ticket-holders following the Home Office’s decision.

The decision was confirmed shortly after Downing Street had said “all options remain on the table” as the Home Office reviewed West’s permission to enter the UK to perform at Wireless Festival this summer.

It emerged that the rapper was initially granted a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) – a mandatory digital permission for non-visa nationals visiting the UK for up to 6 months – because the Wireless Festival is on the permit-free festival list, allowing performers to travel to the UK as visitors.

But this decision was reviewed by the Home Office on Tuesday.

Jewish News revealed there was a strong consensus among ministers to block West from entering the UK to perform at the Wireless Festival in July.

It is understood that a previous decision taken by Mayor of London Sadiq Khan’s office to block a request from West to perform at the London Stadium this summer was taken into consideration.

The Mayor’s office had reached the decision to block the request to perform at the Olympic Stadium under his control because of community concerns and reputational risk to London.

Responding to the decision, the Community Security Trust (CST) said: “Preventing Ye from performing is a sensible outcome to what has been yet another bruising episode for British Jews, and ought to be entirely separate from the question of whether the festival as a whole goes ahead.

“Anti-Jewish hatred should have no place in society and cultural leaders have a role to play in ensuring that is the case. People who show genuine and meaningful remorse for previous antisemitic behaviour will always receive a sympathetic hearing from the Jewish community, but that process must come before this kind of public rehabilitation.”

A Jewish Leadership Council spokesperson said: “The government’s blocking of Kanye West’s entry into the UK recognises the deep disgust our country feels towards expressions of support for Nazi ideology. It is now incumbent on Wireless to recognise their massive error in judgement that has led us to this point.

“West did not merely share controversial opinions, he repeatedly commercialised his vile antisemitism. He should not be given a public platform in this country.”

“Until Ye demonstrates a commitment to building back trust – not only with the Jewish community, but with ALL the fans he left heartbroken and disappointed by his hateful rhetoric the last several years – he should not be granted a platform to perform.”

Friends star David… pic.twitter.com/JOBSkJlTPu
— Hen Mazzig (@HenMazzig) April 7, 2026

Wireless Festival is cancelled. 150,000 tickets refunded. Kanye West denied entry to the UK.
But here’s what nobody is saying — every institution that should have stopped this earlier chose not to. The music industry ran the numbers and opened the door anyway.
I’ve been writing… pic.twitter.com/w4EEsKVoBG
— Hen Mazzig (@HenMazzig) April 7, 2026

📺 I heard @WirelessFest was cancelled moments before going live on air at @TalkTV.

See my reaction to the latest instalment of the Kanye West saga on @iancollinsuk show pic.twitter.com/QVfQ2R4RpR
— Alex Hearn (@hearnimator) April 7, 2026

If your commitment to the Palestinian cause extends to somehow taking issue with the government for banning a man who repeatedly said "I am a Nazi", released a song last year called "Heil Hitler", and sold swastika merchandise...maybe it's time to rethink your life choices. https://t.co/eFYMU2zDvD
— Daniel Sugarman (@Daniel_Sugarman) April 7, 2026

Here’s Zarah Sultana at the head of a supposed anti-far right march last year, holding a banner that says “stop the far right” complaining that the government has just refused a visa for a self-confessed Nazi. https://t.co/trplhojpyW pic.twitter.com/yxgllnYLrf
— Oz Katerji (@OzKaterji) April 7, 2026

John Anderson: An Unholy Alliance: Islam and Progressives Will Topple The West | Michael Youssef

In this special episode for Easter, John is joined by Michael Youssef to explore the complexities of political Islam and its impact on the West, challenging viewers to move beyond superficial secular answers and confront the deep-seated belief systems that continue to shape the contemporary political landscape. Youssef critiques the 'unholy alliance' between Islamism and progressivism, suggesting that this is a relationship of convenience that will end in betrayal and threatens to destroy the West.

The discussion examines the concept of 'third jihad', where democratic processes are being used to implement non-democratic legal codes such as Sharia law. It calls out the stark contrast between Islam and Christianity by examining their divergent views on power, the nature of God, and the foundation of human worth. Ultimately, this conversation is a call to rediscover our conviction in the Christian faith that originally gave birth to individual dignity and freedom.

Michael Youssef is a pastor, bestselling author, and internationally respected Bible teacher of 50 years, whose Middle Eastern heritage and background as a cultural anthropologist have equipped him to serve Christ through the international ministry organisation, Leading The Way. Youssef is the author of a number of books, including An Unholy Alliance: How Progressivism Brought about an Islamist Invasion and Never Give Up: Holding Fast to Biblical Truth in Times of Danger and Despair.

00:00 – Introduction
04:30 – Youssef background
09:00 – Origins democracy
13:30 – Bondi discussion
18:00 – Islam distinctions
23:00 – Strategy in West
28:00 – Feminism contradiction
33:00 – Muslim vs Islamist
38:00 – Sunni–Shia divide
43:00 – Education crisis
48:00 – Christianity vs Islam
53:00 – Rise atheism
58:00 – Progressives alliance
01:03:00 – Political vs spiritual
01:08:00 – Israel discussion
01:13:00 – Future outlook

Jeremy Boreing: They Say All Our Money Goes to Israel. The Data Says Otherwise | Ep. 6

Theo Von says "all of our f***ing money goes to Israel." Tucker Carlson says Bibi Netanyahu is "apparently in charge of the United States." And Candace Owens says Trump lives in a White House occupied by "Satanic Zionists."

The message is everywhere — on social media, on the biggest podcasts, across the right: Israel controls America. Our politicians are bought. Our military fights their wars. We are powerless.

But what if that's exactly what they want you to believe?

00:00 The "All of Our F***ing Money Goes to Israel" Narrative
01:33 The Data: How Much Has American Opinion Shifted?
04:11 The Real Message: You Are Powerless
05:48 Does Israel Actually Control America? The AIPAC Myth
09:44 Does America Fight Its Wars for Israel?
12:36 Why America Has Real Interests in the War with Iran
15:52 You'd Have to Believe Trump Is a Puppet
16:49 Tucker Carlson Is Wrong About Israel's Strategic Value
18:56 What America Actually Gets From Our Alliance
20:16 Israel Helped Save Our Downed Airman Over Easter
22:36 The Grifters Doesn't Hate Israel — They Hate America

A peek into my new book, Fighting the Hate: A Handbook for Jews Under Siege https://t.co/E2HXc1RNUr pic.twitter.com/jtBE2FIpQn
— Melanie Phillips (@MelanieLatest) April 5, 2026

A second peek into my new book, Fighting the Hate: A Handbook for Jews Under Siege. https://t.co/BQo4vLDh3P pic.twitter.com/FZFTyhsXFE
— Melanie Phillips (@MelanieLatest) April 6, 2026

A third peek into my new book, Fighting the Hate: A Handbook for Jews Under Siege. https://t.co/BQo4vLDh3P pic.twitter.com/8LV7Q7I5DB
— Melanie Phillips (@MelanieLatest) April 7, 2026

Just a hunch, but perhaps the Church might acknowledge that Israel is the only country in the Middle East where Christians have always been totally free to practise their faith; might stop regurgitating its own patented blood libels about Jewish “atrocities” committed by others;… https://t.co/Cdw5g7Kph7
— Melanie Phillips (@MelanieLatest) April 5, 2026

Zoe Strimpel: How ‘anti-Zionism’ corrupted the arts | The Brendan O’Neill Show

Writer and historian Zoe Strimpel returns to The Brendan O’Neill Show to discuss her notorious encounter with Matthew Collings’s self-described ‘anti-Semitic art show’. Plus: they discuss her new book, Good Slut, and how the left and the right turned against women’s freedom

This is sadly not surprising. Antisemitic regimes are founded on the demonization of Jews and thus they do everything they can to block anything that might humanize Jews or invoke sympathy for them.

Exposing the public to a work of art about one of the greatest pogroms to… https://t.co/fTlzYfUqHt
— Anne Herzberg (@AnneHerzberg14) April 7, 2026

“Francesca now has stomach ulcers, chronic headaches and stomach pain. I have been experiencing insomnia and anxiety—due to the cumulative emotional and financial stress that the sanctions have imposed on our family. We were both prescribed medication.”
🔗 https://t.co/GNAju8KOHF pic.twitter.com/QJZfLCANDH
— UN Watch (@UNWatch) April 7, 2026

Trump tears into Tucker Carlson over Iran war claims: ‘Low-IQ person’

President Trump on Tuesday denied Tucker Carlson’s bombastic reporting that he was considering nuclear war on Iran, blasting the controversial commentator in a phone call with The Post.

“Tucker’s a low IQ person that has absolutely no idea what’s going on,” the president said. “He calls me all the time; I don’t respond to his calls. I don’t deal with him. I like dealing with smart people, not fools.”

Carlson in a Monday night post to X claimed that President Trump’s expletive-laden Easter morning Truth Social post that the US would soon bomb Iran’s power plants and bridges was “the first step toward nuclear war.”

“Christians need to understand where Trump is taking us,” Carlson wrote.

In Trump’s Sunday morning missive, he warned Iran to “open the F—–’ Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell – JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah.”

Carlson called the language on Easter — a holy Christian holiday — “vile on every level.”

“How dare you speak that way on Easter morning to the country?” Carlson said in his podcast. “Who do you think you are? You’re tweeting out the f-word on Easter morning.”

Carlson in his podcast likened the US president to the antichrist, suggesting Trump is setting in motion nuclear war to provoke armageddon.

“Is it just a conventional escalation ladder in a badly thought out war … [or] could it be something bigger? Is it possible what you’re watching is a very stealthy yet incredibly effective attack on what, from a Christian perspective, is the true faith: belief in Jesus?” he said.

“Is it possible that the president sees this in bigger terms? Sees this as the fulfillment of something? An elevation of some higher office beyond president of the United States?”

As part of his evidence, he claimed that Trump infamously did not put his hand on the Bible when swearing into office in January 2025 because he rejects God’s authority.

“… Maybe he didn’t put his hand on the Bible because he affirmatively rejects what’s inside that book, and what’s inside that book are limits on human behavior,” he said. “Because if there’s one theme that spans all 66 books in the Christian Bible, it’s that you are not God and you cannot assume his powers.”

Hyping up his nuclear hypothesis, Carlson further urged White House and military staffers to resign if Trump directs them to launch a nuclear bomb on Iran.

The only thing consistent about Tucker Carlson is his inconsistency. pic.twitter.com/aLKs16pZYI
— Ami Kozak (@amiKozak) April 7, 2026

New York City protest gaslights who really fosters violence

Early last week, entirely by accident, I came across a group of 50 or so Arab and Muslim activists hosting a press conference just a few steps away from New York City Hall. At the conference, most of which I videotaped with my iPhone, I saw something I’ve seen at anti-Israel, pro-Islamist rallies all the time—people demanding rights for themselves that they deny to Jews.

These activists include supporters of Within Our Lifetime (WOL), a group that has called for the destruction of Israel. Astonishingly enough, they enlisted support from members of Jewish Voice for Peace, one of whom affirmed their agenda by portraying Diaspora Jews as serving as “human shields” against criticism of Israel, which he falsely accused of perpetrating “genocide” against Palestinians in Gaza.

The press conference on March 30 was organized by the New York Chapter of Muslim American Society (MAS) to publicize the March 26 arrest of Alexander Heilfer, a 26-year-old Jew from Hoboken, N.J., charged with the unlawful manufacture and possession of firearms by the FBI. The New York Times reported that Heilfer allegedly intended to use Molotov cocktails to attack Nerdeen Kiswani, the founder of WOL, a group that has also legitimized the Hamas-led massacre in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 Israelis and the kidnapping of 251 others, many of them held captive for months in Gaza tunnels.

The Jewish Community Relations Council in New York condemned Heilfer’s alleged plot in unequivocal terms, declaring on X that while it “adamantly” disagrees with Kiswani’s “inflammatory rhetoric and her organization’s tactics,” it condemns “in the strongest possible terms the reported plot against her.” The Times of Israel reported that Shai Davidai, a prominent Jewish activist and a former professor at Columbia University in New York City, said: “I despise everything that [Kiswani] stands for,” though added, “at the same time, violence is not the answer. This is completely unacceptable.”

On X, Brad Hoylman Sigal, who, according to The Forward, is “the Jewish Manhattan borough president,” praised the New York City Police Department for stopping the assassination,” saying “political violence, against anyone, for any reason, has no place in our city.”

The response of these Jewish leaders to Heilfer’s alleged crimes stands in marked contrast to the response of Muslim organizations to Islamist-perpetrated violence.

For example, getting Muslim organizations in the United States to respond critically to the atrocities of Oct. 7, which included torture and rape, for an article I wrote for Focus on Western Islamism in late 2023, was like pulling teeth. Umar Lee, a Muslim convert I had interviewed previously, unequivocally condemned the massacre, as did the anonymous person who answered the phone at a mosque in Illinois. The response from mainstream Muslim organizations like the Council on American-Islamic Relations and the United States Council of Muslim Organizations was frankly celebratory.

NOW: Mamdani Speaks at "Stop Deportations" SEDER rally in NYC Union Square

Union Square protest is organized by Jews For Racial & Economic Justice, where roughly 200 attendees gathered for a Passover-themed event calling for an end to deportations and the passage of the New… pic.twitter.com/0jxBO6aZyj
— Oliya Scootercaster 🛴 (@ScooterCasterNY) April 6, 2026

Michigan’s El-Sayed Suggests Hasan Piker’s ‘America Deserved 9/11’ Remark Must Be Viewed in ‘Context’

The left-wing Democratic candidate for Michigan’s open Senate seat, Abdul El-Sayed, defended his decision to campaign with Hasan Piker, who said "America deserved 9/11." El-Sayed argued in a televised interview that the influencer's comments need to be viewed in "context."

El-Sayed used his Tuesday morning Fox News interview to accuse critics of Piker—who has also defended Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, attacks—of attacking both individuals unfairly. The Senate candidate is scheduled to appear with Piker at two campaign events later in the day.

"It’s important to talk about context," he told Fox & Friends host Lawrence Jones. "I’m never going to agree that 9/11 was justified. It was wrong. It was a horrible day for all of us. I’m never going to be okay with the innocent murder of civilians. I condemned Hamas and I condemned that attack on day one. The issue that you're trying to do is paint me with out-of-context quotes taken out of context specifically to ask me these questions."

El-Sayed also said Piker’s critics are engaging in "cancel culture."

"Because you appear with somebody doesn't mean you agree with them on everything," he contended. "My question to you is, when did we start bending to cancel culture?"

Piker has a long history of backing terrorism against the United States and its allies. He said during a 2019 video appearance that "America deserved 9/11, dude. F— it, I’m saying it."

The streamer has also justified Hamas’s Oct. 7 attacks, called Orthodox Jews "inbred," and praised the "mujahideen" who attacked U.S. soldiers during the war on terror as "brave." He has voiced support for Hamas terrorism against Israel and said it "[d]oesn't matter if f—ing rapes happened on October 7. Like, that doesn't change the dynamic for me even this much."

Jones also pressed El-Sayed about audio from a private campaign meeting in which the candidate said he didn’t want to make a statement on the death of former Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei because many voters in Dearborn, Mich., were "sad" about the dictator’s assassination. The Washington Free Beacon first published that audio last week.

El-Sayed appeared to dodge the question, instead drawing an equivalence between the "regime" of the Islamic Republic and the "regime" of the United States.

"I'm no apologist for any regime, including our own," he said. "And at the end of the day, the question is whether or not a leader focuses on his or her people. Clearly, the ayatollah did not, and clearly Donald Trump and this administration is not either."

JUST IN: Rep. Summer Lee (D-PA) takes the stage after Hasan Piker at Abdul El-Sayed’s MSU rally and delivers a very loud speech: “We can change the rest of the world — because…we saw it in apartheid South Africa, we will see it in Palestine, we will see it again here in the… pic.twitter.com/LoTVt56xTi
— Jessica Costescu (@JessicaCostescu) April 7, 2026

‘I Have No Idea, To Be Honest’: Columbia Encampment Organizer Mahmoud Khalil Says It’s Unclear Whether Hamas Targeted Civilians on Oct 7

Columbia University encampment leader Mahmoud Khalil said in an interview that it's unclear whether Hamas targeted civilians in its Oct. 7, 2023, attack against Israel. Hamas is widely understood to have done so.

"I wouldn’t rule out that Hamas targeted civilians, but I wouldn’t confirm it either," Khalil told the Forward in a profile published Tuesday. "That’s my position on this."

Khalil, a Syrian native and Algerian national who served as a negotiator for the Columbia University Apartheid Divest movement and whom the Trump administration has long attempted to deport, spent a large portion of the interview casting doubt on the idea that the terror group sought to massacre Israeli civilians—a conclusion that generally anti-Israel organizations like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch drew in their own reports on the attack.

"I wouldn’t say Hamas were saints or angels and did not commit any crimes," Khalil said. "The fact that civilians were caught up in such violence and the killing means that there were crimes committed, and Hamas has a responsibility for that."

Asked whether it was plausible that the civilians killed on Oct. 7—upwards of 800, according to the Israeli government—were all killed incidentally, Khalil said, "I have no idea, to be honest."

In the same interview, Khalil stated that the anti-Israel movement’s celebration of the Oct. 7 attack and use of Hamas iconography does not mean that all the movement’s participants support Hamas. Instead, he told the Forward, many support the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).

"A big part of this movement is LGBTQ, and of course they don’t support Hamas," Khalil said. "That’s why you see a lot of PFLP affection in this country just because it’s the left-iest organization carrying out armed resistance."

Very poor. In the same piece, he explicitly rejects Jewish self-determination in Eretz Israel, but you elided that here. Also, your colleague failed to ask him about the massacre of Palestinians in Syria perpetrated by the Assad regime. https://t.co/2W92EEl01z
— Ben Cohen (@BenCohenOpinion) April 7, 2026

Mahmoud Khalil was shouting into his megaphone, calling for violence against Jews just 5 days after the Oct. 7th massacre.
It’s a shanda that this domestic txrrorist is still on US soil, but the bigger shanda is that any Jewish publication is even sitting down with him. https://t.co/7kb0oPyxsx pic.twitter.com/08zxVx6h2k
— Manhattan Mingle (@ManhattanMingle) April 7, 2026

Arabic fascist group Syrian Social Nationalist Party with ties to Iranian regime courts Labor figures

Education Minister Jason Clare unwittingly attended a backyard barbecue at the home of a man linked to an Arabic fascist group that has ties to the Iranian regime and celebrated… pic.twitter.com/JEOkoJrtlp
— Australian Jewish Association (@AustralianJA) April 6, 2026

Medical Practitioner Tribunal Service lets off NHS doctor over 7 October tweets

The Medical Practitioner Tribunal Service has let off an NHS doctor accused of posting objectively antisemitic and grossly offensive comments on social media on 7 October 2023, saying it “did not find that…[her]conduct constituted misconduct which was serious.”

On 7 October 2023, Dr Menatalla Elwan shared video footage of people fleeing the Nova festival, which Hamas had attacked earlier that day. Alongside the footage, Elwan wrote: “If it was ur home, u would stay and fight. U wouldn’t just run away”, alongside a blushing smiling emoji.

In a second post a few hours later, Dr Elwan said: “Israel was never a country. They illegally occupied Palestine. Would u support Russia invading Ukraine? Israel kill Palestinians everyday, didn’t see anyone caring. Also there are no civilians in Israel.”

Hamas murdered around 1,200 people on 7 October, including hundreds at the Nova music festival.

In a judgement made late last month which has now been published, an MPTS panel considered that “whilst Dr Elwan’s posts had been found to be inappropriate, insensitive in their timing and in shockingly bad taste, they were nonetheless permitted as political free speech within the boundaries of Dr Elwan’s Article 10 rights, as they were not found to be grossly offensive or antisemitic.”

It went on to state that “the Tribunal was of the view that, in the circumstances, the behaviour of Dr Elwan would not be considered deplorable by fellow professionals, morally culpable or disgraceful… the conduct did not fall short of clear expected standards at the time of events, nor did the conduct reach the threshold of seriousness for misconduct, given the heightened protection afforded to political free speech.”

The tribunal accepted a number of claims from Dr Elwan, including that she had watched the video without sound before sharing it (the audio included gunshots) . The tribunal also said it was of the view that “Dr Elwan knew that the incident was more serious than a regularly occurring fight between military forces. Further, the wording of the tweet, referring to ‘stay and fight’ suggests that she was aware that it was more than the day-to-day occurrences of a longstanding conflict, although it is accepted that she did not know the scale or extent of what was later known to have occurred on that day.”

NHS consultant filmed calling for Israel to be ‘wiped off the map’ in London protest speech

An NHS consultant has called for Israel to be “wiped off the face of the map” during a speech outside the US Embassy in London on 4 April.

Footage circulating online shows Ranjeet Brar addressing a crowd, praising Iran and its regional allies while urging action against Western governments.

In the speech, Brar says Iran is “rewriting the map of the Middle East” and “ejecting US imperialists from the whole region”. He adds that he supported the continued Iranian strikes against Israel.

He describes Israel as a “genocidal, settler colonial entity” which “has no right to existence” and says it “needs to be wiped off the face of the map”.

Brar also expresses support for groups in Lebanon and Yemen, saying he wants to see their “resistance triumph” and “thrive”.

He calls for the removal of all US troops from the UK and for both the Israeli and US embassies in London to be shut. He also urges the creation of a “resistance movement” in Britain and calls for the current government to be removed from power.

During the speech, he refers to “financiers in the City of London” as “parasites” and accuses them of controlling global wealth and driving conflict.

A spokesperson for King’s College Hospital said: “We are aware of the footage in question, and we are investigating.”

Brar was arrested in 2024 on suspicion of inciting racial hatred after distributing a pamphlet containing antisemitic conspiracy theories, including imagery combining a Star of David with a swastika. The material also promoted claims about “Zionist” control and repeated widely discredited narratives about Jewish identity and history.

SHUT THIS EVENT DOWN, AND ARREST OR DEPORT ALL JIHADISTS 🤬

A building owned by the City of Sydney is set to host an event bearing the name of what some have interpreted as a “call to violence against Jewish Australians”, sparking calls for an investigation.

Controversial… pic.twitter.com/UeEh99a9mz
— Mark Rowley (@MarkWRowley) April 7, 2026

ADL, AEN raise concerns over anti-Israel content at American Association of Geographers event

The Anti-Defamation League and Academic Engagement Network issued a joint statement on Tuesday, raising concerns about anti-Israel content held at the annual meeting of the American Association of Geographers.

According to the ADL and AEN, a group called Geographers for Justice in Palestine organized numerous sessions at the annual meeting on March 17-21, including sessions titled “No Geographic Technology for Apartheid” and “Mapping and Counter-Mapping Genocide.”

Shira Goodman, vice president of advocacy and head of the Center to Combat Antisemitism in Education at the ADL, and Miriam Elman, executive director of AEN, said some of the sessions at the annual meeting “lacked factual accuracy, intellectual openness and a commitment to civil engagement.” (JNS sought comment from the association.)

“We are especially troubled that these issues have persisted, despite concerns raised following last year’s annual meeting,” the two said. “At that time, we urged AAG leadership to review its session selection and vetting processes. The apparent lack of progress on these matters raises serious questions about the association’s commitment to maintaining academic integrity and ensuring that its convenings reflect the highest standards of scholarship and discourse.”

They added that “a continued pattern of programming that lacks civility, disregards factual complexity and promotes exclusionary academic practices risks causing reputational harm to the association and to the broader academic community it represents, while also contributing to the marginalization and alienation of many of its Jewish members.”

Gary Langham, executive director of the association, told JNS that “in a world where science and academic freedom are under attack, the AAG was honored to host more than 5,000 academics from 100 countries.” He did not speak to the complaint about unfair or untrue content.

“Participants presented research for discussion and debate in more than 1,200 sessions,” he said. “Both presenters and participants are bound by strict professional conduct rules to encourage open discourse and freedom of thought.”

Ohio University says it won’t act on student vote to divest from Israel Bonds

Ohio University does not intend to act on a measure, upon which the student body voted, to divest from Israel Bonds.

“While Ohio University values input from the student senate and the student body it serves, it is important to note that the university will neither consider, nor act upon, any resolution or referendum that proposes illegal actions or could expose the university to civil liability,” Dan Pittman, senior director of communications at the school, told JNS.

“Ohio law prohibits public universities from ‘engaging in refusals to deal, terminating business activities or other actions that are intended to limit commercial relations with persons or entities in a discriminatory manner,’” Pittman said. “More specifically, Ohio law prohibits divestment from Israeli investments.”

The spokesman added that the Ohio University Foundation publishes audited financial statements annually that “are publicly available in accordance with state law.”

Pittman told JNS about the public school’s intentions after the student government voted overwhelmingly for a referendum calling for the university to divest from Israel Bonds.

The referendum, which JNS viewed, asked students if the university should “commit to end all direct and indirect investments in Israel Bonds through the Ohio University Foundation until Israel Bonds are rated in one of the two highest categories by at least two nationally recognized statistical rating organizations.”

It also asked students if the school should publicly disclose its investments online.

The school’s Students for Justice in Palestine and Young Democratic Socialists of America chapters were among the organizations that backed the resolution.

A spokesman for the school’s student senate told JNS that 86.29% of the 1,853 students who voted, or 1,599, voted for the referendum.

According to its website, Ohio University has more than 28,000 students, including about 20,000 on its residential campus in Athens. That suggests that just about 6.5% of the student body voted on the measure.

The student senate spokesman told JNS that the referendum wasn’t about divesting from Israel but on “the phasing out of Israeli government bonds, based on the worsening credit rating by S&P Global, Fitch Ratings and Moody’s.”

“The idea is to simply let Israeli bonds, if Ohio University has any invested in, reach the maturity date,” the spokesman said. “Also, the referendum from the student body is a non-binding recommendation.”

I received this heartbreaking message from a Jewish professor at @UAntwerpen, who is leaving both the city and the university after four decades. I can hardly express how deeply this saddens and enrages me—especially in light of last week’s craven and disgraceful charade…
— Maarten Boudry (@mboudry) April 7, 2026

INSANE: Pro-Hamas students at @UW are hosting an event glorifying the October 7 massacre and violent terrorism against Israel.

They're trying to keep the location a secret from "zionist agitators."

SUPER UW was reinstated from suspension in January and is on probation until… pic.twitter.com/PQO6RvlCmi
— Israel War Room (@IsraelWarRoom) April 7, 2026

In Albania, teens at German school discover tribal code of honor that saved Jews in WWII

Sixteen-year-old Melisa Malo, a 10th-grader at Tirana’s Gjimnazi Sami Frashëri, first learned about the Holocaust four years ago when she attended an Albanian-language stage performance of “The Diary of Anne Frank.”

That evening, her parents told her how ordinary Muslims and Christians in Albania — an isolated Balkan nation with no more than 300 native Jews — risked their lives during World War II to hide nearly 2,000 foreign Jewish refugees from the country’s Nazi occupiers. They did so thanks to “besa,” a tribal code of honor that requires Albanians to protect strangers fleeing persecution.

One such Albanian was Refik Veseli, a young photographer’s apprentice who from 1942 to 1944 hid a Jewish family at his own family’s house in Krujë, a village near Tirana. In 1987, Jerusalem’s Yad Vashem honored Veseli and his parents as Righteous Gentiles, the first of 75 citizens of Albania — as well as those of neighboring Kosovo — to eventually be so honored.

Twelve years ago, students at a German high school in Berlin’s Kreuzberg district, which is home to many immigrants to Germany, voted to rename their school in his memory.

On January 27, a delegation from the Refik Veseli Schule visited Tirana for International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Among other things, they and their teenage counterparts from the local Gjimnazi Sami Frashëri spoke to around 150 people about the urgency of fighting antisemitism.

“I think this bridge we’re building between our two schools illustrates the concept of besa very well,” Malo said. “We’re promising to be united and stand up against hatred and discrimination.”

Malo and others then symbolically planted an olive tree outside Albania’s Ministry of European and Foreign Affairs, which arranged the half-day event attended by diplomats, lawmakers, local journalists and other dignitaries.

US judge rejects bid by Swiss Bank UBS to limit its liability for Nazi-linked crimes

A US judge on Tuesday rejected UBS’s bid to clarify a $1.25 billion settlement from 1999 of Holocaust-related litigation against Swiss banks by shielding it from claims based on new revelations about Nazi-linked accounts.

US District Judge Edward Korman in Brooklyn, New York, said UBS was seeking an advisory opinion protecting it from “hypothetical” lawsuits that haven’t been filed.

“Until a genuine case or controversy arises that requires judicial interpretation of its terms, the agreement will continue to speak for itself,” Korman wrote.

UBS did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The Simon Wiesenthal Center, a Jewish human rights group, had argued that UBS’s proposal would improperly expand the 1999 settlement to encompass newly uncovered facts about banks’ dealings with the Third Reich. Its lawyers did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

UBS sought Korman’s intervention after an investigation commissioned in 2020 by the former Credit Suisse uncovered additional ties between that bank, its predecessors and Nazis, including 890 accounts with potential Nazi links.

The $1.25 billion was paid by UBS and Credit Suisse, and distributed to more than 458,000 Nazi victims and their families.

UBS bought Credit Suisse in a Swiss government-arranged emergency takeover in 2023.

Rio de Janeiro sees wave of antisemitic incidents during Passover

A series of antisemitic incidents in Rio de Janeiro during the Passover holiday has prompted legal action and renewed calls for stronger national measures against antisemitism.

The incidents come amid a sharp rise in reported cases nationwide. According to figures from the Confederação Israelita do Brasil, nearly 1,000 antisemitic incidents were recorded in 2025—an increase of roughly 150% compared to 2022.

In one case, a bar in Rio’s Lapa neighborhood posted a sign reading “US & Israel citizens Are Not Welcome.” Following public outrage, Rio de Janeiro City Hall and the Brazilian Consumer Protection Agency fined the establishment about $1,850 for severe consumer discrimination. The bar now faces the potential revocation of its operating license.

A separate restaurant expressed support for the bar by posting an image of the Israeli flag marked with an “X” on social media, declaring Israelis unwelcome.

In another incident, Brazilian Jewish chef Monique Benoliel reported that a deli refused to sell her matzah for the holiday, with the owner stating he was “tired of Jews.”

“When business owners feel comfortable hanging signs stating that Israelis are not welcome or refusing to sell Passover food to a Jewish customer, it is a severe warning sign for all of society,” stated André Lajst, CEO of StandWithUs Brazil.

He added that the incidents reinforce the need to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition of antisemitism into Brazilian law. The IHRA, an intergovernmental body comprising more than 40 countries, promotes Holocaust education and remembrance. Its working definition of antisemitism has been endorsed by more than 1,200 governments and institutions worldwide.

Long Island town must pay $19M for blocking construction of Chabad synagogue

After nearly two decades of legal sparring, a town on Long Island has been ordered to pay a local Chabad center $19 million, settling claims that officials unlawfully blocked the construction of a synagogue on its rabbi’s property.

Rabbi Aaron Konikov and Lubavitch of Old Westbury sued the Village of Old Westbury in 2008, after the village passed a law in 2001 governing places of worship as Konikov sought to build a synagogue on his property.

Local officials enacted the law two years after Konikov planned a ceremony to announce a new building on the land where he already operates a synagogue. They decreed that houses of worship could be built only on plots of 12 acres or more. Konikov owns a 9-acre plot.

In October, US District Judge Gary Brown ruled that the 2001 ordinance “unconstitutionally discriminates against the free exercise of religion and is therefore facially invalid.”

Old Westbury agreed to pay the plaintiffs in the suit $19 million as part of a consent decree, which was signed by Brown on March 18, Newsday reported this week.

“This consent decree may not be modified, changed or amended except in writing signed by each of the parties approved by the court,” Brown wrote. “Each party participated fully in the negotiation and drafting of the terms of this decree, and any ambiguity shall not be construed against any party.”

Kornikov did not respond to requests for comment on Monday. But he may soon be switching into construction mode for his long-hoped-for synagogue, for which preliminary plans show a 20,875-square-foot building and an adjacent parking lot.

Stuart, FL - a 73-year-old woman was brutally stabbed to death while walking her puppy in a horrific attack that has shocked residents.

The attacker, Kersten Francilus, described his victim only as "Jewish", despite her not being Jewish.

Authorities have not classified it as a… pic.twitter.com/WszZckyVFA
— StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) April 7, 2026

UPDATE - this man has been identified as Eslam Alsaedi and is now in custody.

While inside a Harlem bodega, Alsaedi threatened to travel to Brooklyn to kill Jewish children.

He faces charges including making a terroristic threat, aggravated harassment (2nd degree), and issuing… pic.twitter.com/BjixQ1SoF4
— StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) April 7, 2026

Noga Erez to play Coachella, despite haters, war and canceled flights

It’s been clear to fans following Israeli indie musician Noga Erez that she and her life partner, bassist Ori Rousso, wouldn’t let Iranian missiles stop them from performing at music festival Coachella, which opens April 10 in Indio, California.

In an Instagram post titled “Episode 1,” or “Playing Coachella as an international artist (from a country at war),” Erez recently shared parts of the odyssey that she, Rousso, and their toddler took to reach the United States.

It clearly wasn’t easy, given the emergency flight schedule operating from Tel Aviv and the ongoing soft cultural boycott experienced by Israeli artists globally over the war in Gaza.

Erez and Rousso continued performing throughout the US and Europe with their band after the bloody Hamas-led onslaught of October 7, 2023, bringing their brand of electro-pop to an ever-growing audience.

If Erez and Rousso have endured anti-Israel hate on tour, they haven’t shared much, beyond a few social media posts.

In one such Instagram story, Erez keeps it light, as she responds to an antisemitic commenter who posted, “Hi jew you suck!” (sic) shortly after Erez and Rousso arrived in the US last week.

“I will make sure your show at Coachella will be cancel, it’s already in discussion! Go back to Israel, you are not welcome here ! P.s. Your Music is horrible,” continued the message.

In a response video, Erez dryly corrected their grammar. “It’s canceled, ‘ed’ at the end,” she deadpanned at the camera.

Despite the ongoing obstacles of being performing artists from a country at war, the two have used their unique sound as a background for their thoughts and views on Israeli and international politics, society, and feminism.

Iranian Crypto-Jewish treasures feature at National Library of Israel

A 200 year old set of tefillin, ketuba and Haggadah translated into Judeo-Persian are some of the rare items at The National Library of Israel that shed light on a dramatic chapter in the history of Iranian Jewry; the crypto-Jews of Mashhad, who were forced to live as Muslim for more than a century but continued to keep their faith in secret.

Considered one of the holiest sites for Shiite Muslims, Mashhad, like Mecca and Medina today, did not allow Jewish settlement. However, a small Jewish community was founded in the 18th century at the invitation of Emperor Nader Shah (1688/98-1747), who sought to turn Mashhad into a commercial hub and made it his capital.

However, by the time the Jews arrived, he had been assassinated, and they were permitted to settle only outside the city walls.

For nearly a century, the Jews of Mashhad lived in a state of constant friction with their Shiite neighbors. Tensions finally erupted into violence on March 26, 1839. On that day, a false accusation led to a blood libel and massacre in which dozens of Jews were murdered, young Jewish girls forcibly married to Muslims, and Jewish homes and businesses looted and burned.

The community’s seven Torah scrolls were seized by Shiite clerics, and legend has it that they remain hidden within the walls of the city’s main mosque – the Imam Reza Shrine – to this day.

The next day, members of the community were faced with a cruel choice: convert to Islam or to die. Thus, for some 120 years, these Jadid al-Islam (“new Muslims”) led a double life of prayers held in secret, clandestine kosher meat slaughter, and mitzvot — including wearing tefillin — kept away from the ever-prying eyes of authorities and neighbours.

Outwardly, they were devout Muslims, fasting during Ramadan, attending prayers at the mosque, and dressing in traditional Muslim attire. Yet from birth, each child had two names: an official Muslim name and a secret Jewish name.

To avoid intermarriage with Muslims, the crypto-Jews of Mashhad often betrothed their young children to other children from within the community — sometimes before they were even four or five years old. In this way, if a Muslim man sought a Jewish girl for marriage, her family could claim she was already engaged.

The similarities between Judaism and Islam made it easier to maintain their hidden Jewish identity. Certain practices, like circumcision, raised little suspicion due to their presence in both religions. However, keeping kosher and observing Shabbat required elaborate deception. Non-kosher meat would be purchased in public but disposed of secretly. Proprietors would open their shops on Shabbat but avoid handling money – some even bandaging their hands and claiming they were injured.

We are urged at the Passover Seder to tell the story of the Exodus in ever greater detail. There are, however, midrashim (stories) that do not appear in the Haggadah. Three of them joined our Seder this year.

The first begins with Pharaoh’s decree that every Jewish boy be cast… pic.twitter.com/cSX1g71wFt
— Elisha Wiesel (@ElishaWiesel) April 7, 2026

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04/07 Links Pt1: Trump: US To Enter Two-Week Ceasefire if Islamic Republic Allows opening of the Strait of Hormuz,’; 1 attacker killed in gun battle with police outside Israeli consulate in Istanbul

2026-04-08T01:01:00.008-04:00

From Ian:

Three Things the Consensus Gets Wrong About the Iran War

First, the war has not, despite what many claim, trashed America’s alliances. NATO was battered by Donald Trump well before the war began, and not least by his egregious threats to wrest Greenland from Denmark. No doubt, some of our European allies have bristled at this war and in some cases refused to assist with it. Not all, though: German bases are important for the air bridge to the Middle East. In a moment of candor during Israel’s 12-day war with Iran last June, Chancellor Friedrich Merz allowed that the fight against Iran was “dirty work Israel is doing for all of us.” He understood, in other words, that Iran poses a challenge to European security that Europe chooses not to address on its own. “We are also victims of this regime,” he said.

More to the point: The United States is actually working very closely with a group of allies, just not the Europeans. Israel, of course, is actively engaged in the war, employing an air force twice as large and more than twice as capable of conducting this kind of campaign than the United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force. The Gulf states are providing basing, and some Asian nations have been quietly supportive. Several hundred Ukrainian drone experts, who have behind them the most advanced military industry of its kind anywhere, are sharing what they’ve learned. If the Trump administration could only see Ukraine as a powerful partner rather than a charity case, even more could be done. A new partnership, joining Gulf finance with Ukrainian military technology, appears to be emerging from this war, to the advantage of the United States.

Second, the common claim that the war is a boon for Russia and China is exaggerated. Will it provide a short-term boost for Russian oil earnings? Probably, although it will be offset by the spectacular success the Ukrainians are having in hitting its petrochemical industry and its ability to export. Russia has profoundly deformed its backward economy, and now appears to be getting the worst of it on the battlefield. Meanwhile, the prospect that Ukrainian military innovation might be powered by Saudi and Emirati money cannot be a happy one for Moscow.

China, for its part, might indeed be licking its chops at the idea of the United States depleting its stocks of expensive interceptor missiles in this war. If governments choose to attack because they think they know exactly how many exotic munitions their opponents have in their warehouses, then China might well invade Taiwan. But, by and large, that is not how governments decide to launch global wars. Rather, they look at a host of considerations, including the nature of their opponents. In this case, the Chinese will see a president quite willing to wage an unpopular war and employ extreme violence. That president possesses a remarkably capable armed force, and is willing to spend the money ($1.5 trillion in the latest budget) to build an even larger and considerably more modernized one. Sober Chinese analysts, moreover, will have some appreciation of how the United States and its armed forces have a history of innovating and adapting when the pressure is on.

And finally, there are people who argue that Iran has been turned into a great power by this war. But being subjected to tens of thousands of precision air strikes; having your senior leadership assassinated, your air defenses almost entirely destroyed, your navy virtually annihilated; and losing crucial parts of your industrial infrastructure do not make you stronger. Can Iran keep the Strait of Hormuz closed? For now, yes. Perpetually? That is harder to believe. Ukraine has been able to keep its grain corridor in the Black Sea open despite Russian attacks; the U.S. Navy, ill-prepared as it was for the mine-clearing mission that it should have anticipated, is no doubt working full-time on solving what is essentially a tactical problem, albeit one with strategic implications.

Iran’s leaders and their sympathizers may declare that survival means that Iran wins this war, but that is, on the face of it, preposterous. The regime has profoundly alienated its neighbors by lashing out at them, brought the two most powerful air forces in the Middle East into intimate cooperation against it, and suffered new blows to its already impoverished economy. Is Iran’s new leadership—the members of whom have not fallen to Israeli bombs, that is—inclined to take an even harder line than its predecessors? Possibly. But the pictures published this week of the niece and grandniece of Qassem Soleimani—the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Force killed in Trump’s first term—who have been living the good life in the United States, should trigger the thought that the elite leadership of Iran might be less pure and hard than one might think. And even committed ideologues have their breaking point; Heinrich Himmler was as hard-core as they come, yet attempted open negotiations with Allen Dulles of the Office of Strategic Services in 1945.

There is so much that we do not know—including which targets have been hit, what damage has been done, and to what effect. But when we see things like the extraordinary rescue of the aircrew of the F-15E shot down over Iran, we need to remember that the military organizations pounding Iran are extremely formidable. That does not guarantee success. But it should make us, at the very least, thoughtful about where this war may go.

Seth Mandel: Unfrozen

Iran’s ability to open and close the strait at will is similar to its attacks on regional energy infrastructure, its demonstration of missile-firing capabilities that threaten Europe, and its use of cluster munitions against Israeli civilians. All three made the West adjust its war aims to prevent Iran from being able to hold the region and near-abroad hostage in the future. To this list we can add a pre-existing goal—the destruction of Iran’s nuclear weapons program—and the recent fixation on the Strait of Hormuz, which seems to have overtaken the others (except for the nuclear threat) in Trump’s mind.

There are two ways of looking at this, and they are not necessarily mutually exclusive. The first is that Trump backed himself into this corner by showing his sensitivity to oil prices without having put into place a strategy to preempt Iran’s ability to flip that switch. The second is that Trump’s fixation on the strait is a post-hoc realization that Iran must be divested from its leverage over the shipping lanes.

A cease-fire without a mechanism for enforcing the opening of the strait would make it what Trump seems to really want to avoid: a frozen conflict.

Take Gaza. The cease-fire between Israel and the remnants of Hamas may turn into its own new status quo, which would be less than ideal. But it is far superior to the state of the frozen conflict that was in place on October 7, 2023. If the Israel-Hamas war ends here, then Gaza’s genocidal and barbaric government has paid a permanent price for its aggression.

Likewise, Trump has been surprisingly hawkish on Lebanon, at times more so than Israel, regarding Hezbollah. As it currently stands, either Lebanon will disarm Hezbollah or much of “Hezbollahland” in South Lebanon will remain open space. Israel has proposed the following deal: If Israelis can return to their homes in the north without fear of quickly being displaced again by rocket storms from Lebanon, then the residents of South Lebanon will be welcome to return to their own homes. Lebanon has thus far rejected these terms. Trump, at the moment, is backing Israel’s position—in part, surely, because Israel has proposed a permanent peace rather than a return to the frozen conflict.

Trump’s penchant for finality can be seen in his approach to Venezuela as well. The decision to greenlight the capture of Nicolas Maduro was a bold one, but it was not done in the name of Venezuelan democracy. It was an attempt to permanently alter the relationship between Washington and Caracas. If the remnants of the Maduro regime are willing to play ball with Trump, they’ll stick around. That’ll mean the end of what Trump saw as the Venezuelan tail wagging the American dog.

This template cannot be applied at will—there will be no “Venezuelan option” in Iran, and lord knows what Trump even thinks he is accomplishing in the Russia-Ukraine war. It isn’t a doctrine, or an -ism. But the president does seem to have a preference for avoiding the “pause” button if a status quo can be radically and permanently changed in America’s favor.

Jonathan Tobin: Unlike Israel, many of America’s NATO allies aren’t really allies

Other countries will cheer or jeer from the sidelines, but Israel not only has a powerful military but is willing to use it, along with its unmatched intelligence capabilities and operations, to fight a war alongside America. And it is doing so with the knowledge that Trump could end the war before the Jewish state has achieved the objectives that Netanyahu has set.

Contrary to the largely antisemitic myth that the world’s most powerful man in charge of a superpower was dragged into a war by the prime minister of a country the size of New Jersey with a mere 10 million people, this war was America’s idea. And it is being fought to protect America’s interests as well as Israel’s. Stopping nuclear and missile threats—and the world’s largest state sponsor of terror—isn’t a favor to Israel. It’s vital for the security of the Middle East, which affects the economies of all, as has been shown in Iran’s stranglehold of the Strait of Hormuz and international shipping.

A clear look at the events of the last two months doesn’t just show Israel’s value as an ally, even though there is no pact of alliance between Washington and Jerusalem as there is with America’s 31 NATO allies, which the United States is obligated to defend under that treaty’s Article V provision. It has also done invaluable damage to what remains of American support for the belief that the alliance is vital to the country’s defense.

Israel has friendly relations with other countries, including some in Europe. And it has strong security ties with key regional nations like Saudi Arabia, even though they remain under the table rather than out in the open. But it has only one genuine ally. There are no plausible alternatives, even when Washington is run by those who are lukewarm or worse about the relationship, as under the administrations led by former Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden.

NATO may yet be revived at some point in the future. Even now, it still serves some use, if only to help ensure that Russia’s troublemaking can be contained. But the stark truth of 2026 is that it has largely become a vestige of the past that has outlived much of its usefulness.

At the same time, the idea that Washington’s affection for Israel is a hindrance to the pursuit of U.S. national interests or makes it difficult for it to make friends in the Middle East has been conclusively exploded by recent events.

It is the alliance with Israel that is the one irreplaceable asset for American foreign policy and security needs in the region. And one is hard-pressed to think of another such reliable ally elsewhere with both the military assets—and the willingness to use them in a difficult fight— and common values of democracy. It’s high time that American pundits and politicians, whether seduced by antisemitic tropes and arguments or wallowing in hatred for Trump, stop speaking of Israel as an American problem and start acknowledging this reality.

US To Enter Two-Week Ceasefire if Islamic Republic Allows ‘COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz,’ Trump Announces

President Donald Trump announced that the United States will suspend its military campaign against the Iranian regime for two weeks as long as Tehran agrees to allow commercial vessels to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.

"Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks," Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on Tuesday evening. "This will be a double sided CEASEFIRE! The reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all Military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Longterm PEACE with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East."

Iranian negotiators, Trump added, presented the U.S. team with a "10 point" counterproposal that the president deemed a "workable basis on which to negotiate."

"Almost all of the various points of past contention have been agreed to between the United States and Iran, but a two week period will allow the Agreement to be finalized and consummated," the president continued, saying the "Longterm problem" is "close to resolution."

Trump’s announcement came less than two hours before the 8 p.m. deadline he set for Iran’s leaders to accept his 15-point peace plan, which requires that the Islamic Republic fully reopen the strait and dismantle its nuclear program. Israel has also agreed to put its military campaign against the regime on hold for two weeks, CNN reported.

Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi responded to Trump’s announcement in a post on X, saying, "If attacks against Iran are halted, our Powerful Armed Forces will cease their defensive operations."

"For a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Iran’s Armed Forces and with due consideration of technical limitations," Araghchi continued.

Trump’s post follows a last-minute diplomatic bid from Pakistani prime minister Shehbaz Sharif, who attempted to convince Trump that Tehran is moving closer to accepting his terms.

"Diplomatic efforts for peaceful settlement of the ongoing war in the Middle East are progressing steadily, strongly and powerfully with the potential to lead to substantive results in near future," Sharif wrote on X less than four hours before Trump announced the temporary ceasefire. "To allow diplomacy to run its course, I earnestly request President Trump to extend the deadline for two weeks."

Sharif implored his "Iranian brothers to open [the] Strait of Hormuz for a corresponding period of two weeks as a goodwill gesture."

Sharif’s diplomatic bid was meant to keep Trump from making good on his threat to take out "the entire country" of Iran in "just one night" if the regime would not meet his terms. The president affirmed that position on Tuesday morning, writing on Truth Social that "a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again" unless Tehran capitulated.

🚨 President Donald J. Trump makes a statement on Iran: pic.twitter.com/9mqTayL0Q3
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) April 7, 2026

President Trump posted the statement by the foreign minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran as an “official statement of Iran.”

And it is indeed an official statement of Iran, but it’s also worth noting that the more authoritative statement is the one from the Islamic… pic.twitter.com/3lyCRBADWt
— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) April 8, 2026

The United States has told Israel that it is committed to achieving these goals, shares by the US, Israel and Israel's regional allies, in the upcoming negotiations.

The two-weeks ceasefire does not include Lebanon.
— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) April 8, 2026

Prime Minister’s Office:

Israel supports President Trump's decision to suspend strikes against Iran for two weeks subject to Iran immediately opening the straits and stopping all attacks on the US, Israel and countries in the region.
— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) April 8, 2026

Sirens sound across Israel as Iran launches missile barrage, despite ceasefire agreement

Iran launched a series of missile barrages towards Israel overnight Wednesday, shortly after a ceasefire agreement between the US, Israel, and Iran was announced by US President Donald Trump.

Sirens sounded across southern, central, and northern Israel, including Tel Aviv, Haifa, and the Jerusalem area.

Magen David Adom (MDA) reported three shrapnel fall sites in central and northern Israel.

Additionally, fallen missile cluster fragments were reported in the Sharon area. Central District police, Border police, and bomb disposal experts were dispatched to the scenes to investigate and conduct safety assessments.

Four people were lightly injured in the southern Bedouin town of Tel Sheva, according to MDA. 15 people were reported to be suffering from anxiety.

Additional police were dispatched to sites in the Negev region after interceptor fragments fell in the area, causing some property damage.

🚨 Nonstop red alerts sound across Israel as the Iranian regime continues firing ballistic missiles toward civilian communities. pic.twitter.com/rEWRCPGhat
— StandWithUs (@StandWithUs) April 8, 2026

🚨 BREAKING: Iran has violated the ceasefire, launching multiple barrages of missiles and drones at Israel. At least 11 people have been injured. pic.twitter.com/UHYeAeKTDh
— StandWithUs (@StandWithUs) April 8, 2026

U.S. Shouldn't Negotiate with Iran until It Realizes How Badly It's Losing

On Monday, Iran rejected an intermediate ceasefire framework and resisted any immediate move to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran's refusal should be seen as evidence that the regime still believes time, pressure on global energy markets, and outside fears of escalation can rescue it from a deteriorating position.

Iran remains dangerous, but danger is not the same thing as strength. It has demonstrated an ability to inflict pain, but not an ability to force an American or Israeli strategic retreat. Their military operations continue against Iranian targets.

Iran is outmanned, outgunned, and outclassed in any sustained contest with the U.S. and Israel combined. Yet it continues to make demands as if it is holding the cards and that the U.S. should be the one begging for concessions. If Tehran refuses to negotiate in a way that reflects the battlefield, then the U.S. and Israel should continue degrading the regime's capabilities in recognition that the current diplomacy is detached from reality.

There is no virtue in reaching an agreement that allows Iran to emerge claiming it stared down a superior force and won better terms. The correct policy is to continue the campaign until Tehran surrenders the illusion of leverage.

Why the Islamic Republic May Survive the War but Not the Peace

The war in Iran struck a regime already burdened by a series of major setbacks over the past three years. The joint U.S.-Israeli attack became possible only after those earlier setbacks changed the landscape. The Islamic Republic is now in direct confrontation with the world's most formidable military power, the U.S., and the region's strongest army, Israel. Why should the regime not survive the bombing campaign as it has survived so many earlier shocks? The Islamic Republic says it is winning the war. History will deliver its answer soon enough.

For years, the Islamic Republic spoke of control over four Arab capitals, of a Shia crescent, and of strategic depth. It presented itself as a power on the march - expanding, advancing, and shaping the region around itself. When Assad fell, when Syria was lost, and when the proxies took crippling blows, that image began to collapse. What had been presented as strategic depth looked increasingly like an expensive illusion.

Israel's attack in June 2025 exposed the gap between propaganda and reality. For years, Ali Khamenei and his IRGC commanders boasted about indigenous air-defense systems. They told Iranians that even the most sophisticated U.S. and Israeli aircraft could not operate over Iran. Billions were spent developing these systems and building an image of invulnerability. That myth collapsed on first contact with reality when the 12-day war began.

The 12-day war shattered the regime's image of competence, control, and strength for millions of Iranians. Much of the population that opposed the regime saw it humiliated and were openly pleased to see it struck so hard. At the same time, parts of the regime's own support base were stunned to see Israeli bombers operate over Iran with such ease.

The events of Jan. 8-9, 2026, marked a decisive shift in Iran's political landscape. In Tehran, an estimated 1.5 million people took to the streets, with similar scenes repeated in 400 cities, with total participation reaching 5 million. The state responded with lethal force that killed 36,500 people in 48 hours. The scale of the violence shattered the narrative that the Islamic Republic still ruled with some measure of public consent. A state that still commands genuine consent does not need to kill on such a scale to clear the streets.

The scale of the damage from the Israeli-U.S. military operation that began on Feb. 28 is now impossible to ignore. The Supreme Leader is dead, along with more than fifty senior IRGC commanders. If the war ends without the immediate fall of the regime, many will label it a defeat for the U.S. and Israel. But battlefield metrics are a poor measure of political reality. The economy is in dire condition. Sanctions will not disappear.

Political systems do not always collapse during war. Often, they collapse in the aftermath, when military failure gives way to elite fracture and a society no longer willing to live as before.

What an “Iranian Proxies” Agreement Should Encompass

Late last month, the Trump administration presented Iran with a fifteen-point plan to end the war, including a demand that Tehran cut off its support for foreign proxy and partner groups like Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Yemeni Houthis, among others. The regime appears likely to reject this proposal—unsurprising given how vital these groups have been to “exporting the revolution” and extending Tehran’s influence throughout the region. Yet it is still important to consider what such an agreement would entail, and how the United States could verify and enforce its terms—in part to bolster the international community for potential postwar scenarios in which the regime simply redoubles its terrorist proxy activities.

Composition of an Agreement
Any U.S.-Iran agreement on “proxy” support would need to be as detailed and comprehensive as possible, covering the full scope of financial, military, terrorist, and training activities in support of such groups, and tailored to reflect the nuances of Iranian assistance to each specific group. (Note: for simplicity’s sake, the term “proxy” is hereinafter used to mean any subnational terrorist group or militia that has operationally allied with the Iranian regime; this includes groups like the Houthis, whom many experts regard more as strategic partners with Tehran than fully subordinate proxies.) The aim would be to leave Tehran with minimal space to exploit any ambiguities. Policymakers also need to understand that effectively enforcing such a deal would be an incredibly complex effort, requiring the cooperation of many governments, multilateral organizations, and the private sector, not to mention top-priority U.S. attention in terms of allocating diplomatic, intelligence, and law enforcement resources.

Broadly speaking, Iran would need to agree not to provide support of any type to any terrorist or militia entities or individuals—whether defined using U.S. government terrorist designation lists or a newly agreed list formulated at the United Nations. As a starting point, the list would need to include Hezbollah, Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the Houthis, and several Iraqi Shia militias. And in either case, it must have the flexibility to include new entrants, if needed, to ensure that Tehran and its proxies cannot circumvent the process by renaming entities or creating new ones.

PM Netanyahu: “We are crushing the terrorist regime in Iran. But we are doing so with even greater vigor, and increasing force. Yesterday, we destroyed transport planes and dozens of helicopters. Today, we attacked the train tracks and bridges used by the Revolutionary Guards.” pic.twitter.com/VhlL1Ne5Ei
— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) April 7, 2026

Statement by Ambassador Mohamed Abushahab: pic.twitter.com/3ZbJ0ANt0V
— UAE Mission to the UN (@UAEMissionToUN) April 7, 2026

Israeli-Iranian TV Star Advocates for an End to Iran's Repressive Regime -

Sogand Fakheri left Iran aged six and went on to star in the hit Apple TV drama "Tehran," which focuses on the shadow war between Mossad and the IRGC.

Fakheri, 24, plays a young conservative woman loyal to the Iranian regime who falls in love with her commander in the IRGC's Basij paramilitary force and goes on to betray her family.

"It was really hard for me," she says of watching the uprising quelled by the Basij militia.

"I had to learn everything about the Basij for the role....I realized the Basij, they are everywhere. They are in your universities, in your schools, they try to have a great impact on youth. So you see how their brainwashing works."

By day she works as head of the Persian media desk at the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs, and has become a vocal influencer and online advocate - in Persian and in Hebrew - of an Iran free from the repressive regime.

"My hope is that we will make...the right conditions for the people in Iran to be able to go back to the streets, because this regime won't just fall because of our attacks. It will fall because the Iranian people want it to fall."

"So what I hear right now from Iranians is that 'it's OK, just keep the [Israeli and the U.S.] air force here so we can go out in the streets - just be with us, escort us from the sky.'"

"This war is necessary....All I have is bad words to describe the IRGC. They are just so brutal, and the only way to bring them down is by outside forces, because the Iranian people are not armed."

"They have no weapons to fight back. And when they try to fight back, they get murdered in the streets."

1 attacker killed, two hurt in gun battle with police outside unstaffed Israeli consulate in Istanbul

Three assailants opened fire at police outside a building housing the Israeli Consulate in Istanbul on Tuesday, sparking a gunfight that left one attacker dead, Turkish officials said. The two other assailants were injured and captured.

The attack took place around 12:15 pm local time (0915 GMT). Two police officers sustained slight injuries in the clash, Istanbul Governor Davut Gul told reporters. The assailants were carrying long-barreled weapons.

The consulate is located in a high-rise building in Levent, one of the city’s main business districts. It was not immediately clear if the intended target was the empty Israeli consulate.

Israel withdrew its diplomats amid security concerns and deteriorating relations with Turkey, soon after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel that triggered the Gaza war.

Turkey recalled its ambassador from Israel in November of that year. Diplomatic relations have been effectively frozen since then, while Turkey has hosted Hamas leaders, and its president frequently compares the Jewish state to Nazi Germany.

The two wounded assailants are brothers, identified as Onur C. and Enes C. The first has a criminal record related to drugs. Both are being interrogated, according to the Turkish interior ministry.

Turkey’s Justice Minister Akin Gurlek said three prosecutors, including a deputy chief prosecutor, have been assigned to lead an investigation.

Video circulating online showed one assailant carrying what appeared to be an assault rifle, wearing a brown backpack, and hiding behind a bus when exchanging fire with police. A police officer falls to the ground, apparently having been shot, and then rolls away to get behind a tree for cover.

Interior Minister Mustafa Ciftci said the brothers arrived in Istanbul by a rental vehicle from Izmit, a city about 86 kilometers (50 miles) away, and that one of the assailants was affiliated with an “organization that exploits the region.”

Istanbul attack update:

- Target: Reportedly Israeli Consulate
- Three gunmen attacked the police station outside the building
- Gunmen neutralised, two of them dead, one heavily wounded
- Two police officers wounded
- ISIS style, trained attackerspic.twitter.com/PrrvSXA8Ui
— Ragıp Soylu (@ragipsoylu) April 7, 2026

Islamist brains trust in action again… attempting an attack on an empty Israeli embassy. https://t.co/bbrYvyEiBf
— Andrew Fox (@Mr_Andrew_Fox) April 7, 2026

Not a huge surprise that there has been an attack on the Israeli Consulate in Istanbul today if this is the current discourse in Turkish on Turkish social media.

Recep Erdogan was Mesut Ozil’s best man at his wedding… https://t.co/dKg9A8Gx3v
— Ben Green (@BenGreenJeru) April 7, 2026

The secret, never-before-used CIA tool that helped find airman downed in Iran: ‘If your heart is beating, we will find you’

The CIA used a futuristic new tool called “Ghost Murmur” to find and rescue the second American airman who was shot down in southern Iran, The Post has learned.

The secret technology uses long-range quantum magnetometry to find the electromagnetic fingerprint of a human heartbeat and pairs the data with artificial intelligence software to isolate the signature from background noise, two sources close to the breakthrough said.

It was the tool’s first use in the field by the spy agency — and was alluded to Monday afternoon by President Trump and CIA Director John Ratcliffe at a White House briefing.

“It’s like hearing a voice in a stadium, except the stadium is a thousand square miles of desert,” a source briefed on the program told The Post. “In the right conditions, if your heart is beating, we will find you.”

This source and another with knowledge of Lockheed Martin intelligence collection tools told The Post that Ghost Murmur was developed by Skunk Works, the aerospace giant’s secretive advanced development division. The company declined to comment.

The technology has been successfully tested on Black Hawk helicopters for future potential use on F-35 fighter jets, the second source said.

The missing and wounded weapons systems officer — known publicly only as “Dude 44 Bravo” — was hiding in a mountain crevice after his F-15 jet was shot down late last week, surviving two days in desolate terrain as Iranian troops scoured the area for the American with a bounty on his head.

The relatively barren landscape made for “an ideal first operational use” of Ghost Murmur, the first source said.

“The name is deliberate. ‘Murmur’ is a clinical term for a heart rhythm. ‘Ghost’ refers to finding someone who, for all practical purposes, has disappeared,” the source said.

🚨 New details from the rescue of the weapons systems officer in Iran:
-As the special forces approached "go" time to get him off the mountain, several things happened. Centcom and JSOC received some messages from him. One was a four-digit number. "We said, 'What is he talking…
— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) April 7, 2026

Mojtaba Khamenei reportedly in ‘severe’ condition, unable to govern Iran

Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is unconscious and being treated for a “severe” medical issue, rendering him unable to govern the country, according to an intelligence assessment obtained by The Times British news outlet on Tuesday.

“Mojtaba Khamenei is being treated in [the Iranian city of] Qom in a severe condition, unable to be involved in any decision-making by the regime,” read a diplomatic memo, which The Times said is based on US-Israeli intelligence and shared with their Gulf allies.

It marked the first time a report has revealed Khamenei’s location publicly since the beginning of the war. He is believed to have been wounded in the opening wave of US-Israeli strikes on February 28.

The document also revealed preparations for the burial of his father and former supreme leader Ali Khamenei in Qom — considered a holy city in Shi’ite Islam — after he was killed in the same strikes that launched the fighting.

Intelligence agencies surmised preparations were underway to lay the “groundworks needed to build a large mausoleum in Qom,” south of Tehran for “more than one grave,” the memo read.

The memo apparently implied that other family members — possibly Mojtaba himself — would be buried alongside the late ayatollah.

“Iran has murdered hundreds of American diplomats, service members, and civilians. It has bombed American barracks and businesses. It has tried to bomb our cities. It has even repeatedly conspired—and failed—to assassinate the president.”
🇺🇸@USAmbUN @michaelgwaltz pic.twitter.com/Bf7pf3nTuF
— UN Watch (@UNWatch) April 7, 2026

One problem we're having in our foreign policy discourse is that DC reporters and think tankers have no idea what they're talking about and just write random words.

Here's the Pentagon's Law of War Manual: "Electric power stations are generally recognized to be of sufficient… pic.twitter.com/4BP0rgjf2e
— Omri Ceren (@omriceren) April 7, 2026

US Strikes Kharg Island Weapons Depots and Air Defense Facilities in 'Message' to Tehran Ahead of Trump's Deadline

The United States bombed dozens of weapons depots and air defense facilities on Kharg Island overnight in a "message" to Tehran about what will happen if the Islamic Republic does not accept the terms of President Donald Trump's ceasefire deal by 8 p.m. Tuesday.

U.S. airstrikes on the island—which hosts Iran's central oil hub—targeted "military bunkers and storage facilities, air defense systems and other military facilities," NBC News reported, while oil infrastructure remains unscathed for the time being. The Israeli military hit petrochemical sites at the South Pars gas field earlier this week, but Fox News reported that the Monday night attack on Kharg Island was solely a U.S. operation.

"This is a message to the Iranians," a senior U.S. official told Fox News's Jennifer Griffin.

Video posted on social media showed plumes of smoke rising from the island.

Trump warned that Tehran will face devastating consequences if it does not accept the terms of his 15-point peace plan.

"A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again," Trump wrote on Truth Social Tuesday morning. "I don't want that to happen, but it probably will. However, now that we have Complete and Total Regime Change, where different, smarter, and less radicalized minds prevail, maybe something revolutionarily wonderful can happen, WHO KNOWS? We will find out tonight, one of the most important moments in the long and complex history of the World. 47 years of extortion, corruption, and death, will finally end. God Bless the Great People of Iran!"

On Monday, after Trump threatened to take out "the entire country" in just "one night" should the regime refuse his peace offer, Tehran's leaders signaled that they are unpleased with the U.S. proposal. Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said the terms are "incompatible with ultimatums and threats to commit war crimes."

IDF admits Tehran synagogue was ‘collateral damage’ in strike on Iran commander

The Israel Defense Forces admitted late Tuesday that it was behind a strike early in the day that damaged a synagogue in Tehran, saying it was targeting a senior Iranian commander and that it regretted the “collateral damage” to the Jewish house of worship nearby.

According to Iranian media, heavy damage was caused to the Rafi Niya synagogue.

In response to a query by The Times of Israel, the IDF said that it struck a top commander from Khatam al-Anbiya, Iran’s military emergency command.

“Reports were received that a nearby synagogue was also damaged in the strike. The IDF regrets the collateral damage to the synagogue and emphasizes that the strike was directed at a senior military target within the regime’s armed forces,” the IDF said.

The army insisted that it took steps to “minimize the risk of harm to civilians” in the strike, “including the use of precise munitions and aerial surveillance.”

The results of the strike are still under review, the military added.

Multiple Iranian news sources reported on the strike that damaged the synagogue. In an internal report, Israel’s Diaspora Affairs Ministry said that visual documentation ostensibly from the scene showed rescuers working through piles of rubble and debris, with photographs capturing scattered religious books and damaged interior fixtures. The ministry’s internal report noted that the claim the synagogue was damaged is supported “by several sources, albeit all of them Iranian.”

The AP news agency reported that “video from the site showed rescuers moving around and what looked like a book of Hebrew scripture in the rubble.”

IDF says it has ‘completed deployment’ to anti-tank defensive line in south Lebanon

The Israeli military said on Tuesday it had completed deployment of ground troops along a strategic ridge in southern Lebanon from which Hezbollah could fire anti-tank guided missiles directly at Israeli communities.

The so-called anti-tank line is located several kilometers deep in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah’s anti-tank missiles have an estimated range of around 10 kilometers.

“IDF troops have now completed their deployment along the ‘anti-tank line’ and continue operating in the area to strengthen the forward defensive line and remove the threat to residents of the north,” the military said in a statement.

In recent weeks, the IDF advanced to strategic positions from which the military said Hezbollah could launch attacks on Israel, including the Ras al-Bayada headland, south of the coastal city of Tyre, located around eight kilometers (5 miles) north of Israel’s border.

In the western sector, the Israeli military has been operating near the Litani River — some four kilometers from Israel’s border. And in the central sector, troops have also pushed into villages several kilometers deep into Lebanon.

Israeli officials have said the IDF is establishing a demilitarized “security zone” in southern Lebanon up to the Litani River, and would remain deployed there until the threat of Hezbollah is removed. The buffer zone would be controlled with surveillance and firepower, as well as ground troops in areas deemed strategically necessary, the military has said. IDF troops of the 769th “Hiram” Brigade operate in southern Lebanon, in a handout photo issued by the military on April 6, 2026. (Israel Defense Forces)

According to a military official briefing reporters, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir defined three lines of defense in southern Lebanon as part of the ground operation and efforts to establish the buffer zone.

🎯STRUCK: 8 bridge segments utilized by the Iranian terror regime for transporting weapons & military equipment.

The IDF struck 8 bridge segments in several areas, including Tehran, Karaj, Tabriz, Kashan, & Qom. Prior to the strike, several steps were taken to mitigate harm to… pic.twitter.com/kDzkRhMFTD
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) April 7, 2026

🎯STRUCK: The central site for the production of sonar and underwater detection systems in Shiraz.

The site was used for the production of sonar systems used to detect submarines, vessels, divers & underwater missiles.

Additional strikes in Karaj targeted a central site of… pic.twitter.com/FYOSHXxTvt
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) April 7, 2026

IRAN:
Article 51(7):⁰“The Parties to the conflict shall not direct the movement of civilian population in order to attempt to shield military objectives from attacks or to shield, favour or impede military operations.” pic.twitter.com/ybytwWZlxj
— Bree A Dail (@breeadail) April 7, 2026

Iranian Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports Alireza Rahimi Calls on Civilians to Serve as Human Shields Protecting Power Plants, as Regime Launches “Human Chain for a Bright Tomorrow” Campaign pic.twitter.com/yBHCQN2FwM
— MEMRI (@MEMRIReports) April 7, 2026

US, IDF strikes hit Iranian rail and Kharg Island; Israel faces ongoing missile attacks

The Israeli Air Force bombed eight rail sections and bridges in Iran on Tuesday, as part of efforts to prevent the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps from moving weapon systems, the military said.

Ahead of the strikes, the Israel Defense Forces warned Iranians to stay away from trains until the evening.

In a statement, the IDF said it had struck eight rail bridges and sections of roads “used by the Iranian terror regime to transport weapons and military equipment.”

A security official told The Times of Israel that the IRGC had used the “key” rail sections and bridges to transport weapons. Israel had also warned it would strike Iranian “national infrastructure” to cause economic damage to the regime.

The strikes were carried out in several areas of Iran, including Tehran, Karaj, Tabriz, Kashan, and Qom, according to the military.

“The crossings were struck to prevent regime forces from using them to transfer equipment and weapons,” the IDF said in a statement.

In the central city of Kashan, two people were killed in an attack on a rail bridge, a regional official told state media. In Iran’s second-largest city of Mashhad, all train services were canceled until further notice after the Israeli warning, local media reported, citing the governor.

Meanwhile, the US military conducted strikes on military targets on Iran’s Kharg Island, the Axios news outlet reported on Tuesday, citing an unidentified senior US official. The island, located off Iran’s western coast, is a vital oil export terminal for the country.

The attacks occurred hours before US President Donald Trump’s ultimatum to Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz was due to expire, after which he has threatened a major escalation in strikes, including on Iran’s power plants and bridges.

🎯 STRUCK: A key crossing used by Hezbollah to move operatives and weapons south of the Litani River.

Hezbollah used the crossing to transfer rockets, rocket launchers and other weapons to advance terrorist attacks against IDF troops. pic.twitter.com/h0yOFkSMfB
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) April 7, 2026

IDF warns vessels between Tyre and Ras Naqoura to leave immediately, citing Hezbollah activity and risk of imminent naval operations.

Boats are instructed to head north of Tyre for safety. pic.twitter.com/AWWqqYhq5w
— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) April 7, 2026

🎥WATCH: The elimination of Hezbollah terrorists that posed a threat to IDF troops in southern Lebanon.

The troops eliminated ~130 terrorists and dismantled 1,000+ terror infrastructure sites. pic.twitter.com/8GP7Rg1Cxb
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) April 7, 2026

CRAZY VIDEO OF TARGETED ELIMINATION IN GAZA
A terrorist riding a motorcycle was eliminated by a drone strike in the western sector
The operation was carried out by Battalion Reconnaissance Unit 226 pic.twitter.com/xCHI897gtu
— Mossad Commentary (@MOSSADil) April 7, 2026

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun: Why Should We Wait until South Lebanon Is Destroyed Like Gaza before Turning to Negotiations? What Did This War of Yours Do for Us? pic.twitter.com/dcwQYv2nro
— MEMRI (@MEMRIReports) April 7, 2026

Shoshana Tamam, the wife of Major Boaz Tamam who was seriously injured in Lebanon last week, writes:

''On the night between Sunday and Monday (last week),
Boaz and his tank crew were hit.

Sergeant Liran Ben Zion hyd was killed, and Boaz was seriously injured.

Boaz extricated… https://t.co/FowxNNNhkX pic.twitter.com/z8dMSI3tTe
— An Israeli mother (@IsraMum) April 6, 2026

🚨 ROCKET IMPACT IN NAHARIYA
A woman in her 20s was lightly injured after a Hezbollah rocket struck Nahariya.

She was hit by flying debris from the impact.

Magen David Adom says two additional civilians are being treated for acute anxiety. pic.twitter.com/C5CXOfN1VM
— Mossad Commentary (@MOSSADil) April 7, 2026

Commentary Magazine: Threat Assessment

Contributing editor Eli Lake joins a full house today to discuss the American and Israeli attacks on Kharg Island and president Trump's escalating online threats towards Iran. Is this just bluster and negotiating tactics, or will the president follow through and attack Iranian power plants? Plus, the incredible Artemis 2 moon mission, the podcast learns about Clavicular and mogging, and Eli recommends Menachem Begin's memoir White Nights.

Comedy Cellar USA: Live from the Table: Walter Russell Mead Weighing Action vs Inaction in Iran

Live from the Table: Walter Russell Mead: Weighing Action vs Inaction in Iran

Featuring Walter Russell Mead, this conversation dives into one of the most dangerous questions in the world right now: what happens if Iran gets the bomb—and is it already too late to stop it?

From the real stakes behind the Strait of Hormuz to the risk of a global oil shock, nuclear proliferation across the Middle East, and the limits of deterrence, Mead breaks down why the situation is far more complex—and more urgent—than most people realize.

The discussion explores whether war with Iran is avoidable, how U.S. politics and leadership shape these decisions, and why history suggests the cost of inaction could be far higher than we think.

Mead addresses several important questions:
What happens the day Iran gets a nuclear bomb?
Are we already too late to stop Iran?
Would a nuclear Iran trigger World War III?
Could one chokepoint crash the entire global economy overnight?
Is doing nothing the most dangerous option of all?

Walter Russell Mead is the Ravenel B. Curry III Distinguished Fellow in Strategy and Statesmanship at Hudson Institute, the Global View Columnist at The Wall Street Journal and the Alexander Hamilton Professor of Strategy and Statecraft with the Hamilton School for Classical and Civic Education at the University of Florida.

He has authored numerous books, including the widely-recognized Special Providence: American Foreign Policy and How It Changed the World. His most recent book is titled The Arc of A Covenant: The United States, Israel, and the Fate of the Jewish People.

Quite the Community Note to Mehdi’s absurd claim that “Right now, Iran is Ukraine.” pic.twitter.com/8BgqEvWmKv
— Arsen Ostrovsky (@Ostrov_A) April 8, 2026

Khamenei (dead) described Israel as a “deep cancer,” a “lethal, dangerous, cancerous tumor,” a “malignant cancerous tumor,” and a “deadly cancerous growth” that “must be removed,” “eradicated”

Former Iranian President Ahmadinejad said Israel should be “wiped off the map.”… https://t.co/kdnuLtA4HR
— Joo (@JoosyJew) April 7, 2026

He literally didn’t comment at all against insane cluster munitions targeting civilians.

The left-Islamist, anti-west alliance has poisoned so much of our culture and tone. https://t.co/x4Pc6TQu2x
— Joe Lonsdale (@JTLonsdale) April 7, 2026

Hey Traitor... so what were you saying about how "we need to restrain ISRAEL"

Talk to your friends first... https://t.co/vcyq0G8I3Q pic.twitter.com/5jjjNkP9r4
— Nick Matau (@nick_matau) April 8, 2026

IRGC-linked channel warns of strikes on Israel but includes Gaza and Palestinian-run areas.@hey_itsmyturn pic.twitter.com/cLIvfrdcXE
— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) April 7, 2026

.@CNN: Downplays Hezbollah's activities in the area.

Also CNN: "CNN obtained permission from Hezbollah to report in these areas" pic.twitter.com/ua2K3OBSWX
— HonestReporting (@HonestReporting) April 7, 2026

American journalist reportedly freed in Iraq after abduction by Iran-backed militia

American journalist Shelly Kittleson, who was abducted in Baghdad on March 31, has been released, according to Iraqi officials and local media reports.

The Iran-backed militia Kata’ib Hezbollah said earlier this week that it would free Kittleson on the condition that she leave Iraq immediately, according to statements circulated on Telegram and cited by Al-Monitor. U.S. and Iraqi officials had previously suspected the group’s involvement, though it did not initially claim responsibility.

An Iraqi official confirmed on Tuesday that Kittleson was released after about a week in captivity, according to The Associated Press. The circumstances of her release remain unclear, though multiple reports indicate it may have involved the release of detained members of Kata’ib Hezbollah.

Kittleson, a freelance journalist based in Rome who has reported extensively from Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan, was kidnapped by gunmen in central Baghdad. Iraqi security forces launched an operation following the abduction and detained at least one suspect with alleged ties to the militia.

Neither the U.S. nor the Iraqi government has yet confirmed Kittleson’s release.

Alex Plitsas, a CNN national security analyst and designated point of contact for Kittleson, wrote that “we are still awaiting Shelley to be transferred to U.S. officials. We welcome the news of her pending release, but will save celebratory statements until she is transferred. The video that was released provided proof of life. We will have more to say when she is in U.S. hands.”

🚨 BREAKING

Iraqi Islamist group Kataib Hezbollah releases footage Shelly Kittelson (American Journalist) in captivity, her “admitting” she gathered intelligence on Shia militias for the US.

They have said they will be releasing her imminently. pic.twitter.com/1Pine3BEIa
— Kosher (@koshercockney) April 7, 2026

Government moves to shut down Palestine Declassified show over Iran links

The studio responsible for the broadcast of hardline anti- Zionist Chris Williamson’s Palestine Declassified programme is facing legal action from the Home Office and possible closure over alleged links to Iran.

Ex-MP Williamson, who presents the show alongside academic David Miller — a prominent critic of Zionism — confirmed the studio behind his programme had received a letter from the Government signalling potential legal action under the National Security Act.

In a post on X, he wrote:”I’ve been presenting a weekly programme alongside David Miller for the last four years, but the Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is now trying to shut us down.”

He also revealed he would be “finding a new studio and changing the format of the show.”

“This, unfortunately, will come with associated production issues and costs, so we will be launching an appeal soon to help ensure that Palestine Declassified continues every week.”

The Home Office confirmed to Jewish News that the recently introduced Foreign Influence Registration Scheme was one means used to “tackle threats from the Iranian regime.”

Palestine Declassified is a weekly programme aired on the Iran-backed Press TV channel, which discusses “the worldwide struggle to liberate Palestine”.

Williamson has now accused the Government of “state intimidation”, and insisted that the programme has no relationship to Press TV or Iran as it was “independently produced”.

Followed by his usual crank conspiracies that it was "definitely the Mossad" and "absurd to think it's the IGRC"...2/4 pic.twitter.com/EndmbrwEnE
— The Electronic Uprising (@uprising_1) April 7, 2026

Elegant lede.

"Drop Site News, a nonprofit outlet published by Nika Soon-Shiong, the nepo baby daughter of billionaire LA Times owner Patrick Soon-Shiong, is taking heat for pushing Iranian propaganda." https://t.co/wWNkE0Khm2
— Omri Ceren (@omriceren) April 7, 2026

SNEAKO thanked Galloway for "doing a great job destroying these zionists" and being "one of the first people to really be supportive of the Palestinian resistance".

"50 years...I could show you the scars," he responded proudly. pic.twitter.com/kOFUJnd42E
— The Electronic Uprising (@uprising_1) April 6, 2026

Then there was some fangirling of the Iranian regime, and Kim Jong-un who SNEAKO claimed is not quite the "evil dictator" western propaganda made him out to be.

Galloway nodded in agreement. pic.twitter.com/0LWUZ4X0a0
— The Electronic Uprising (@uprising_1) April 6, 2026

All of this appears to have taken place from Galloway’s self-imposed exile.

Wherever that is, it’s probably best he stays there.
— The Electronic Uprising (@uprising_1) April 6, 2026

Here are the individuals arrested on the bus, and they seem to think it is all a joke.

As y’all know by now, anyone who tries to disrupt or interfere with the F-35 in any way is going to catch my ire. pic.twitter.com/OFv1pg1Rt5
— Stu Smith (@thestustustudio) April 7, 2026

Buy EoZ's books on Amazon!

"He's an Anti-Zionist Too!" cartoon book (December 2024)

PROTOCOLS: Exposing Modern Antisemitism (February 2022)

The Great Zionist Pistachio Conspiracy Theory that a rich Jewish family told the US to bomb Iranian pistachio warehouses

2026-04-07T09:00:00.001-04:00

Drop Site News posted this week:

Iran was once the world's leading pistachio producer. Today, USDA data show the U.S., led by California, accounts for roughly 65% of global output, while Iran's share has fallen to about 18%. In the first week of the war, reports and geolocated satellite imagery indicated strikes in and around Rafsanjan, the heart of Iran's pistachio sector, including apparent damage to pistachio warehouse facilities near the airport. The Resnick family, owners of The Wonderful Company and dominant players in California's pistachio industry, have used political influence to secure vast water rights in drought-stricken regions, at the expense of local communities.

The 2025 documentary Pistachio Wars examines their longstanding backing of pro-Israel lobbying groups, arguing that hawkish policies toward Iran align with their commercial interests, as weakening a key global competitor benefits their bottom line.

The implication is clear: a rich Jewish family lobbied for hawkish Iran policy to benefit their pistachio empire, and the U.S. decided to target Iran's pistachio heartland at their behest.

This is absurd from multiple angles. U.S. sanctions on Iranian pistachios date to the 1980s — before the Resnick family built their agricultural empire. The sanctions didn't protect Resnick dominance. They created the market conditions that made Resnick dominance possible. Iranian pistachios haven't been a serious competitive threat in the U.S. for decades.

So the theory requires us to believe that the United States, in the middle of a campaign targeting nuclear sites, IRGC assets, and ballistic missile infrastructure, prioritized targeting a nut warehouse whose financial threat was neutralized forty years ago.

Let's say the warehouse really was filled with nuts. The bulk of Iran's pistachio industry is controlled by proxies of the Supreme Leader and the IRGC. Bonyad Mostazafan — which the U.S. Treasury has described as an immense conglomerate used by Khamenei to enrich his office and reward political allies — claims to own 95–96% of the pistachio collection terminals in Kerman province. IRGC-owned economic infrastructure is a legitimate military target under international law. No need to talk about rich Jews.

This is how conspiracy theories work. They start with real ingredients — the Resnicks do lobby, a warehouse in Rafsanjan was struck, the sanctions did benefit California producers — and connect them into a chain that feels tight when counter-evidence is waved away. Coherence substitutes for truth, and the absurdity that the U.S. military would prioritize the desires of a pistachio empire over other legitimate targets seems to make perfect sense when the audience is primed to believe antisemitic conspiracy theories.

Which is, in the end, what this is.

Pistachio Wars, the 2025 documentary that laid the groundwork for this framing, was made by Watermelon Pictures, a Palestinian-owned film company whose output is nearly all about Palestinians or Arabs. But this conspiracy theory has nothing to do with supporting Palestinians — it is entirely about associating a wealthy Jewish family with power and corruption. Of all the billionaire lobbying operations that shape American foreign policy — Saudi Arabia, Big Oil, the defense industry, Cuban exile groups — the Palestinian documentary filmmakers found it urgent to "expose" one Jewish family's nut business.

Without antisemitism, there would be no Watermelon Pictures. Without antisemitism, no one would imagine the U.S. military is bombing Iran to enrich a Jewish nut family. The "pro-Palestinian" label is cover. The product is the same old thing.

Buy EoZ's books on Amazon!

"He's an Anti-Zionist Too!" cartoon book (December 2024)

PROTOCOLS: Exposing Modern Antisemitism (February 2022)