News of the World

[kyonides]

USA

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Trump on NATO

Trump: U.S. Will ‘100%’ Stay in NATO if Other Nations Pay Their ‘Fair Share’

Former President Donald Trump said Tuesday in an exclusive interview with GB News host Nigel Farage that if he is reelected, the United States will stay in NATO if other nations pay their “fair share.”

Farage said, “You said this back in 2017 and 18 when you were president, you visited Brussels, and you commented that the Russians can do whatever they want if these countries don’t pay. You said it again recently. That’s now being used.”

Trump said, “They can use it, I don’t care if they use it. Because what I’m saying is a form of negotiation. Why should we guard these countries that have a lot of money, and the United States was paying for most of NATO? When I went there, I had already had it out with them. They then stopped paying again. But now they’re paying because of those comments that you saw two, three weeks ago. I don’t know if you know, but a lot of money’s come in since those comments were made.”

He continued, “NATO was not paying. I went to the first meeting early in my administration, and I saw what was going on, and I said, ‘You’re going to have to pay your bills, everybody.’ Then, at the second meeting, I hit them hard. The question was then asked by the head of a major country in front of everyone else: ‘So if we don’t pay our bills, are you going to protect us from Russia?’ I said, ‘You mean you’re delinquent? You’re not paying the bills? Then no, I’m not going to pay you. We’re not going to do it. We’re not going to defend you if you’re not paying your bills.’ It’s very simple. And hundreds of billions of dollars came flowing in.”

Trump added, “NATO became strong because of me. Now, NATO has to treat the U.S. fairly because if it wasn’t for the United States, NATO wouldn’t even exist. They took advantage of us like most countries do.”

Farage asked, “If they start to pay their bills properly and the club is fair, are places like Poland going to be defended? Will America be there?”

Trump said, “Yes. But the United States should pay its fair share, not everybody else’s fair share.”

Farage said, “Fair enough.”

Trump said, “I believe that the United States was paying 90% of NATO, that could be 100%. It was the most unfair thing, and don’t forget, it’s more important to them than it is to us. We have an ocean between some problems. They will take advantage. They took advantage of us on trade. They took advantage on the military.”

Farage asked, “So if they start to play fair, America’s there?”

Trump said, “Yes. 100%.”

Biden on Trump

Biden Jokes About Trump Struggling to Pay Massive New York Fine

The Democrat judge, Arthur Engoron, delivered a summary judgment against Trump that denied him the opportunity to mount a defense. Now, Trump is scrambling to find a way to pay the $464 million judgment — including interest.

The former president was able to obtain financing for a bond for the more than $90 million he was ordered to pay writer E. Jean Carroll in a separate New York case, over claims of sexual assault and defamation, pending his appeal.

But Trump has been unable to find insurance companies willing to underwrite the massive bond necessary for the bond in the fraud case, meaning that he may have to sell some of his real estate holdings at discounted “fire sale” prices.

Biden — or his speechwriters — thought this was good fodder for a joke at the Gridiron Dinner, despite the fact that his son faces criminal (not civil) charges for his own financial dealings, which allegedly also benefited Biden himself.

Biden said:

Our big plan to cancel student debt doesn’t apply to everyone. Just yesterday, a defeated-looking man came up to me and said, “I’m being crushed by debt. I’m completely wiped out.” I said, “Sorry, Donald, I can’t help you.” (Laughter and applause.)

Trump must pay the bond even if he wins on appeal, meaning he could suffer financial losses despite being innocent. Fox News’ Charlie Gasparino told Neil Cavuto on Your World on Tuesday afternoon that forcing Trump to sell a large portion of his real estate portfolio to pay the bond could have an effect on the commercial real estate market in New York City, which is already struggling to recover from the pandemic, crime, and high-tax policies.

Biden's Health?

Biden Spotted Wearing Stability Shoes After Series of Stumbles

President Joe Biden, who is 81 years old and diagnosed with sensory peripheral neuropathy in his feet, has been spotted wearing special sneakers to assist him with stability when walking, according to a report.

Inside Edition ran a segment on February 29 on how the octogenarian has been seen recently wearing sneakers with “a wide sole that is no doubt great for stability.”

“And the president does have a history of stumbling,” Inside Edition‘s Les Trent said.

Trent tried on the shoe at a store, and asked an employee, “Why might a shoe like this be good for the president or someone elderly?”

The employee responded, “Yeah, well, it’s going to be really supportive. This outsole traction here is going to be how you really stick to the ground when you’re walking.”

The shoe was identified by Inside Edition as Hoka’s Transport shoe in all black. The shoes also have a “quick-toggle lace” for “easy on and off,” according to the product description.

A White House spokesperson claimed the shoes were for exercising.

“I know y’all aren’t partial to presidents who exercise, but don’t worry — you’ll get used to it,” White House deputy press secretary Andrew Bates told Fox News Digital.

However, Biden was shown in Inside Edition‘s report wearing the shoes with a suit jacket and pants, not exercise wear.

The apparent change in footwear is occurring as Biden — the oldest president in U.S. history — is gearing up to run for another term amid questions about his age.

Judiciary Section

Federal appeals court puts Texas immigration law again back on hold hours after Supreme Court approved it

A Texas law that empowers local police to arrest and deport migrants accused of entering the U.S. illegally has again been put on hold, just hours after the U.S. Supreme Court allowed its enforcement.

The Supreme Court’s divided decision to allow Texas to assume border security duties marked a significant win for the state's efforts to control illegal immigration from Mexico. It was short-lived, however, as hours later, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a 2-1 order preventing the law, known as Senate Bill 4, from taking effect.

The appeals court panel’s decision comes ahead of arguments before the court on Wednesday.

SB 4 has remained in legal limbo since Gov. Greg Abbott controversially signed it into law in December. The Biden administration has sued to strike down the measure, arguing that the law would usurp federal authority on matters related to immigration enforcement.
On Tuesday, the U.S. Supreme Court lifted an early stay the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals issued on SB 4 in February.

The ruling was not focused on the merits of the case.
The court also did not explain its reasoning for ending the stay, but Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Brett Kavanaugh suggested it could rule differently on the merits itself.

"Before this Court intervenes on the emergency docket, the Fifth Circuit should be the first mover," Barrett wrote.
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Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson issued a scathing dissent, accusing their conservative counterparts of inviting "further chaos and crisis in immigration enforcement."

CANADA

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Trudeau & Israel

Trudeau Government Cuts off Arms Sales to Israel

The Canadian government of Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Tuesday that it is ending arms sales — such as they are — to Israel, bowing to pressure from left-wing radicals as Israel fights against genocidal Palestinian terrorists.

According to Al Jazeera, Canada’s arms exports to Israel are minuscule, amounting to less than $90 million over the past nine years. “The vast majority of Canada’s military exports to Israel come in the form of parts and components.”

Israel’s foreign minister, Israel Katz, reacted angrily, according to the Times of Israel:

“I am sorry that the government of Canada is taking this step that undermines Israel’s right to self-defense in the face of Hamas murderers who carried out terrible crimes against humanity and against innocent Israelis, including the elderly, women and children,” he says in a statement.

“History will judge the current acts of Canada harshly,” he says.

Trudeau has adopted a posture toward Israel in the war against Hamas that has been inconsistent at best. Canada sided with Israel after opening arguments at the International Court of Justice at The Hague in a case brought by South Africa accusing Israel of “genocide.” But Canada also restored funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) after staff at the organization were accused of participating in the October 7 terror attacks against Israel.

Earlier this week, the Canadian parliament adopted a resolution calling for a two-state solution to the conflict, after left-wing politicians wanted an even stronger resolution, calling for the recognition of a Palestinian state.

EUROPE

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Putin's Plan

Putin Suggests ‘Buffer Zone’ Between Ukraine and Russia
While Germany Debates ‘Freeze’ of Conflict

Upon securing another six years in power, Vladimir Putin suggested that Russia may seek to extend a buffer zone into Ukrainian territory to prevent drones and other long-range weapons from being able to strike Russian territory.

Potentially signalling his end goal for the war, Putin said that Russia may seek to create a “cordon sanitaire” between Russia and Ukraine, which he said per state media that it would make it “quite difficult for the adversary to overcome with its weapons, primarily of foreign origin.”

While Russia currently controls around 20 per cent of Ukrainian territory, this is concentrated almost entirely in the southeast of the country in the Donbas and Crimea, leaving no so-called buffer zone along around four hundred kilometres of border with Ukraine. Likely buttressing Putin’s rhetoric on this domestically is Ukraine’s recent land attacks against some Russian border areas, amounting to an attempted counter-invasion with paramilitary forces.

Further, Kyiv has taken towards launching drones and artillery strikes at targets, such as oil refineries and other infrastructure in the Russian mainland, as well as using Western-supplied Storm Shadow, ATACMS, GLSDB and Himars missiles to strike targets in Russian-controlled territories.

With the much-heralded counter-offensive from the Ukrainians failing to recapture any meaningful amount of its territory and in light of widespread reports of ammunition shortages, Moscow may use the opportunity this Spring to seize more territory in the northeast of the country in order to seal off access to Russian targets like Belgorod, Kursk, and Bryansk.

Speaking on Monday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Moscow “would take measures to safeguard [its] territories” from Ukrainian artillery strikes and drone strikes.

With Ukraine apparently on the back foot, there have growing debates in the West surrounding the on strategy and preferred outcomes. Last week, Rolph Mützenich, the head of the Social Democrats Party (SPD) — the same party as German Chancellor Olaf Scholz — in the Bundestag parliament suggested that the West should seek a “freeze” of the conflict to avoid further bloodshed and more losses to Russia.

During a debate on sending long-range missiles to Ukraine, Rolph Mützenich said: “Isn’t it time that we not only talk about how to fight a war but also think about how we can freeze a war and end it later? Aren’t these questions also politically important?”

European Council

Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum:
Continent Must Prepare For War, Says European Council

“If we want peace, we must prepare for war”, says top European Union figure saying the bloc needs to not just speak the language of diplomacy, “but also the language of power” to Russia.

The world is changing and becoming less secure, and the European Union needs to “shift to a ‘war economy’ mode” to survive, President of the European Council Charles Michel says. Writing an op-ed published on Monday the Belgian, who runs the convening body of the European Union’s leaders, Michel said if Russia was not stopped in its invasion of Ukraine, then Europe would be the next target.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has already caused the European Union to become a “geopolitical” entity in a new way as it has moved to order large quantities of ammunition to be delivered to Ukraine, the Council leader said, remarking that the continent has under-spent on defence for years. The remarks echo closely those of European military leaders who have argued in recent months that the post-Cold War era is now over, along with its ‘peace dividend’ of low military spending, freeing up resources for the rest of the economy.

Michel said: “For decades, Europe has not invested enough in our security and defence.  Today we face the biggest security challenge since the Second World War, so we must build our defence readiness. This will take a radical and irreversible shift in our thinking, towards a strategic security mindset… If we want peace, we must prepare for war.”

Russia is already trying to “destabilise” other European states and poses a “serious military threat” to Europe if left unchecked, he said. Dissent on this view by those who may argue “Ukraine does not concern us, that it is draining our budgets and dividing us” are speaking “blatant lies” argued Michel, dismissing them as “Kremlin propaganda”.

While the language of preparing for war to guarantee peace closely aligns with actual NATO doctrine, the strident words underline a rapid shift in European attitudes. While in recent years — even after Russia’s first invasion of Ukraine in 2014 — many European states including the big players like Germany were content to spend as little on their militaries as possible and leave America to pick up the tab, that is now rapidly changing as they foresee a deteriorating security picture.

Latvia Wants War

NATO Ally Latvia Backs Macron’s Boots on the Ground in Ukraine Calls

Emmanuel Macron’s explosive talk of deploying NATO troops to Ukraine, saying “We need to make sure that Ukraine wins in this war.”

While NATO in general, and particularly its more Western members remain very concerned about the repeated, almost daily, exhortations from French President Emmanuel Macron that the time for ‘boots on the ground’ in Ukraine may be coming, he is finding some support from the Eastern European states. These countries which have a land border with Russia and Belarus, or would do if Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continued unabated, feel directly threatened by Moscow expansionist sentiment and clearly wish to see a definite outcome for Russia’s invasion, discouraging it trying the same with others.

Latvian Foreign Minister Krisjanis Karins has been touring European allies, and calling for European states to be ready for war, and is one of those voicing his support for President Macron’s pro-involvement stance for Ukraine. Speaking to Britain’s The Times, Karins said President Macron’s words are valuable because he is “encouraging allies to think outside the box”, and remarked ruling out sending troops to Ukraine is wrong.

Hitting similar talking points to Macron himself, who has cited tanks or cruise missiles as examples of support to Kyiv that were once said to be unthinkable but which are now supplied in great quantities by NATO partners, Karins continued said time and time again, the West had been paralysed by the fear of Russia reacting badly to them giving support. He claimed that every time, concern of Russian anger proved to be unsubstantiated.

The Latvian foreign minister said:

We have not individually but collectively been rather hesitant on supplying all kinds of aid… There has always been talk of escalation: ‘What will the Russians think? We don’t want to anger them.’ And Russia each time tries to frighten us.

Then we take the decision and nothing actually changes. So it shows there’s not much to fear because we already have a very widespread war in Europe. We need to make sure that Ukraine wins in this war.

Obama in London

Barack Obama Calls at Downing Street for Mystery Meeting

Former U.S. President Barack Obama called in at the British Prime Minister’s official residence on Monday, but the office is keeping tight-lipped about the purpose of the one-hour meeting.

Barack Obama surprised when he turned up at Rishi Sunak’s front door on Monday, going inside the historic Downing Street residence for an hour and meeting with the Prime Minister. Former President Obama walked up to the famous black door alone but later emerged alongside the U.S. Ambassador to London Jane Hartley.
While Obama and Sunak clearly had enough to be talking about, the reason for the visit and what was discussed was not immediately disclosed, the mystery talk being described by an official to British government-adjacent newspaper The Daily Telegraph as “informal” and private. The Times notes shortly before Obama entered Downing Street, the British finance minister also arrived at the Prime Minister’s official office and residence by the front door. That arrival may be seen as a pointed statement given it is thought to be possible to get to the Prime Minister’s office from the Chancellor’s through internal passageways without going onto the street to be seen by the press.

Barack Obama’s visits to Downing Street may not have the happiest associations for some: his meetings there in 2016 ended in him telling the British people not to vote for Brexit, and if they did the country would go “to the back of the queue” for a trade deal with the U.S., which was seen as a potential benefit of leaving the European Union. This hectoring position, of telling sovereign people how to vote was not perceived to have been well received at the time, and the UK subsequently voted against Obama’s wishes.

While President Obama was out of the White House shortly after, he threat was made actual by eventual successor Joe Biden, who has stalled on trade with the UK since, leaving the country seeking deals with individual states instead.

German Police Arrests Afghans

German Police Detain Two Afghans Accused of Plotting Quran Burning Revenge Attack

German police detained on Tuesday two Afghan citizens accused of planning to attack police near the Swedish parliament in response to the burning of copies of the Quran...
The suspects, identified only as Afghan citizens Ibrahim M.G. and Ramin N., were detained in the eastern city of Gera, the federal prosecutor’s office said in a statement. The men were only identified by their first names and initial, according to German privacy laws.

The prosecutors said the Islamic State group´s affiliate in Afghanistan tasked the suspects in mid-2023 with carrying out an attack in Europe in response to Quran burnings in Sweden and other countries.

The pair made preparations for an attack on police and other people near the parliament in the Swedish capital, Stockholm, “in close coordination” with IS members, including doing online research of the location and tried unsuccessfully to procure weapons, the statement said. The attack never materialized.

Anti-Islam activists have carried out a string of public desecrations of the Quran in Sweden, sparking outrage among Muslims around the world and threats from Islamic extremists. In October, a gunman killed two Swedish soccer fans before a match in Brussels.
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Prosecutors said Ibrahim M. G. joined the IS affiliate in August 2023. Together with Ramin N., he had raised 2,000 euros ($2,170 ) in donations for the Islamic State group to help a member jailed in northern Syria.

The Afghans are suspected of crimes including providing support to a terrorist organization, conspiracy to commit a crime, and infringements against trade laws.

London & Attempted Murders

London Police Arrest Man on Suspicion of Crossbow Attack Attempted Murders

London police said Monday they have arrested a man on suspicion of attempted murder after two people were wounded with crossbow bolts in two separate attacks in the capital.

A manhunt was launched after a 44-year-old woman was hit in the head with a crossbow bolt in a residential part of Shoreditch, east London, on March 4. In a separate incident on March 14, a 20-year-old man was wounded in the neck by the same weapon in the same area.

The Metropolitan Police said their injuries were not life-threatening.

The force said a 47-year-old man was arrested late Sunday in Shoreditch, and that officers searching his home found a crossbow, knives and other weapons.

Detective Chief Superintendent James Conway said the arrest was “a significant development” but he added that the investigation was complex and ongoing. The suspect is in custody at an east London police station.

Britain’s government is considering tightening regulations on crossbows so that they are restricted like firearms.

Currently anyone over 18 can legally buy a crossbow, but carrying it in public without a reasonable excuse could be punishable by up to four years in prison.

Sweden & Iraq

Iraq’s Former Defence Minister Arrested in Sweden

Iraq´s former defense minister, who holds dual Iraqi-Swedish citizenship, has been arrested in Sweden, authorities said Tuesday. He is suspected of illegally receiving benefits in the Scandinavian country.

Prosecutor Jens Nilsson told Swedish broadcaster SVT that Najah al-Shammari has been wanted for almost a year and a half. The prosecutor told broadcaster TV4 that al-Shammari was arrested on Monday at the Stockholm airport by upon arrival in Sweden.

Swedish media earlier have said that al-Shammari claimed child and housing support for years – despite living in Baghdad.

In 2019, Swedish news agency TT said al-Shammari, is registered as living in a Stockholm suburb.

Swedish newspaper Expressen had reported that he moved to Sweden in 2011, received citizenship in 2015 and was reported to authorities, along with his wife, for suspected benefits fraud. He allegedly continued to claim social payments years after returning to Iraq.

Sweden and its Nordic neighbors are known for providing generous social benefits.

Paris 2024

IOC Excludes Russian and Belarusian Athletes from Taking Part in the Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony

Russian and Belarusian athletes will not be allowed to take part in the traditional parade at the opening ceremony at the Paris Olympics, the IOC said Tuesday.

The opening ceremony on July 26 will see thousands of athletes travel on boats down the River Seine for several miles (kilometers) toward the Eiffel Tower, instead of the normal parade of teams inside a stadium.

The International Olympic Committee said athletes from Russia and Belarus who are approved to compete at the Olympics as neutrals will have a chance only “to experience the event” — likely watching from near the river.

The IOC decision follows the International Paralympic Committee which two weeks ago announced a ban for its Paris opening ceremony on Aug. 28.

Russia and Belarus are barred from team sports at the Olympics because of the war in Ukraine and the IOC has laid out a two-step vetting procedure for individual athletes from those countries to be granted neutral status. Those athletes must first be approved by the governing body of their individual sport and then by an an IOC-appointed review panel.

Neutral athletes must not have publicly supported the invasion of Ukraine, or be affiliated with military or state security agencies. It is unclear if membership of a Russian military sports club, such as CSKA, will be a reason for denying neutral status.

The IOC said Tuesday it expects about 36 neutral athletes with Russian passports and 22 with Belarusian passports to qualify for the Paris Games.

A decision on whether those athletes will be allowed to take part in the Aug. 11 closing ceremony will be taken “at a later stage,” the IOC said.
Any medals won by neutral athletes will not be counted as a collective group in the overall medals table.

The IOC also revealed details of the replacement flag in jade green that will be used for neutral athletes at medal ceremonies, where a specially written anthem without lyrics will be played.

I do think that it's insulting to play an anthem that has no real meaning. It'd be way better to just play nothing than doing such a ridiculous thing, IMHO.

ASIA

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The Two Koreas

North Korea Fires Ballistic Missiles as Antony Blinken Lands in Seoul

The communist regime of North Korea reportedly fired several ballistic missiles on Monday, an apparent gesture of “welcome” to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who landed in Seoul, South Korea, on Sunday to attend President Joe Biden’s “Summit for Democracy.”

The “Summit for Democracy” is an event Biden founded virtually in 2021, ostensibly to bring together the leaders of the free world to discuss ways to protect the integrity of free states and combat authoritarianism. The “Summit for Democracy” has been met with ridicule and alarm in prior iterations, as the inaugural summit featured the State Department causing a “technical error” that censored a map of Taiwan that did not conform to the Chinese Communist Party’s false borders. Last year, the most prominent headlines on the Summit for Democracy were mocking statements from China and Russia declaring the event as unserious.

The missiles fired on Monday did not hit any targets or cause any damage, the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) told reporters, but were nonetheless a threat intended to respond to both the presence of America’s top diplomat on Korean soil and the recent culmination of joint American-South Korean military exercises. The missile attack followed another apparent response to the joint exercises, a propaganda display last week in which communist dictator Kim Jong-un appeared in photos alongside North Korean “new-type” tanks, and purportedly drove one himself.

Kim warned in North Korean state media on Thursday that his country boasts the “most powerful tanks in the world.”

“North Korea fired at least three missiles, and their trajectories were similar to those of KN-24,” an unnamed South Korean official told the newswire service Yonhap. The JCS described them as short-range ballistic missiles and reported that they flew out of Pyongyang and landed in the East Sea (or Sea of Japan).

“The KN-24 is a solid-fuel ballistic missile with a range of up to 410 km and a payload of 400-500 kg,” Yonhap clarified.

The Korea JoongAng Daily observed that the ballistic missile launch was the first of its kind since January 14 and appeared to be of solid-fuel missiles, which take longer to load and fire than liquid-fuel models. In January, North Korea claimed to debut both new missile models and an alleged underwater nuclear weapon system.

“Our army’s underwater nuke-based countering posture is being further rounded off and its various maritime and underwater responsive actions will continue to deter the hostile military maneuvers of the navies of the U.S. and its allies,” the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), North Korea’s flagship state propaganda outlet, reported at the time.

The South Korean Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Monday stating that both Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and his American counterpart, Blinken, condemned the incident.

MIDDLE EAST

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Hezbollah & Uncommitted Voters in US

Hezbollah Terrorist Leader ‘Salutes’ Anti-Israel Protests in U.S.
Boasts of ‘Uncommitted’ Voters Influencing Biden on Gaza

Anti-Israel demonstrations throughout the United States should be “saluted,” according to Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah, who boasted of the power of “uncommitted” voters to pressure President Joe Biden and “lead him to lose the presidential elections.”

The Lebanese terrorist group leader’s remarks were made in a Wednesday speech that was streamed live on Al-Mumahdun’s YouTube channel, as reported by the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI).

“Today, what many people demonstrating in America are doing… we should salute them and be grateful to them,” he said. “The Arabs, the Muslims, and the non-Muslims, from among the other free Americans — Christians and others — in the Democratic Party who wrote to Biden: ‘We are uncommitted to vote for you.’ These people are very influential at this stage.”

Calling such efforts “the most important means of pressure on the Biden administration,” Nasrallah maintained that the 81-year-old president is “not afraid of the world, the international community, God, history, or anything.”

“Biden now is afraid of one thing only: that his policy and actions in Gaza will lead him to lose the presidential elections,” he states. “This is why he keeps debating, denying, and playing games.”

According to Nasrallah, if the current pressure and opposition to Israel in the U.S. continues, it may “open a door for hope.”

“Of course, there are countries that boycotted Israel, denounced Israel, and accused it of committing genocide, like Brazil, Venezuela, Cuba, South Africa, and so on,” he explained, stating that such positions “are appreciated” and help “mount the pressure” on the Jewish state.

“But at the end of the day,” he added, “it is the American position that is decisive.”

Last month, Biden administration officials met with Arab- and Muslim-American leaders in Michigan, a key swing state in the 2024 presidential election. At least one official with whom they met is an openly pro-terror leader in the area.

The New Gazan Port

Biden to Allow Hamas-linked Contractor to Participate in Gaza Pier

In an additional irony, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) troops who will be providing onshore security for the building of the pier would, essentially, be protecting a Hamas asset and allowing a Hamas-linked contractor to make millions.

Journalist Caroline Glick translated an interview with Yedid on Monday:

Host Shimon Riklin: You’re bringing an initial report that the pier that is being built in the Gaza Strip will be owned by Qatar/Hamas.

Arab Affairs Correspondent Baruch Yedid: Yes. Yes. The Americans asked the Qataris to take on the financing and management and the operation as we reported last Wednesday based on Arab sources. A few days ago the Americans conferred in Cyprus with several parties including the Emiratis and the Qataris. I can report that the only one who so far has agreed to finance this port, this pier is Qatar. Qatar has an interest in this port. Qatar wants to preserve Hamas. It wants control over a central artery of life in the Gaza Strip. It also wants a leverage point over Hamas. That’s why it’s clear why Qatar is involved.

Riklin: What about the State of Israel?

Yedid: Israel is not involved in this issue.

Crosstalk.

Yedid: Israel is not being included in the discussions. I’ll get to Israel shortly. Why is this good for Hamas? Hamas views this as a sort of aspirin, that’s what people in Gaza are telling us. Hamas is concerned about this pier which they fear will legitimize continuous Israeli presence in Gaza for the long run. Israel you asked about? Israel, from our diplomatic sources, Israel opposed. The Americans ignored us and assigned the Qataris to run the project. The Qataris didn’t only say yes, the Qataris came with an additional demand. The Qataris wanted this port to be built by a company named Al Hissi from Gaza. A bit about the Al Hissi Company. Today, contractors in Gaza are very angry at this company, the Al Hissi Company that is owned by Yasser al Hissi. This company is the primary supplier for engineering, electricity and infrastructure for Hamas, a lot of the municipalities, local governing councils, transportation infrastructure in Sejaeeya, Gaza City, Khan Yunis and other locales. It’s controlled by Palestinian officers. It also transfers, according to contractors in Gaza…

Riklin: Wait, wait Baruch, you’re bringing a lot of information. I want to make this clear to our audience. Can you say that this company Al Hissi is a Hamas company, that it’s controlled by Hamas?

Yedid: It is controlled and a subsidiary of Hamas. It wins massive contracts.

Noam Amir (military correspondent): And what will it do with the concrete for the port?

Riklin: I don’t understand what is going on here. I don’t understand. This pier will be controlled by Hamas and Qatari control. We have IDF soldiers guarding the area. I don’t understand how this … works.

Yedid: This company also carried out most of Qatar’s projects [in Gaza]. Here you see on the screen the heads of the company with the ambassador Amadi. This is the man who brought the suitcases of cash into Gaza. This is the Qatari ambassador. Here is the company on the right, signing the contracts. This company is registered in the Palestinian Authority. Who is bringing it in, the same “cabinet” of American foreign charity [USAID] which assigns this body to coordinate the entire project. This is the body that is bringing in the Al Hissi Company. So here we’ve arrived at a point where the Qataris will have control because they’re the financiers. This is good for Hamas because their company is operating it. When the original idea was to isolate Hamas. Here we have another instance – and not a lone instance – of Qatari-American cooperation. Yesterday, a senior Jordanian officer spoke to one of the Arab media outlets and said, “If Hamas is there, I’m concerned.”

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is run by Samantha Power, a Biden Administration official with a long history of hostility toward Israel — one that she has continued into the present conflict against Hamas.