Listen with your ears.

J.E. Dyer, a retired Naval Intelligence officer, blogs as The Optimistic Conservative | Jan 14, 2025

See UPDATE at the bottom. – J.E.

There’s been perturbation from many in the last couple of days, as news media retail a narrative that Trump – and Netanyahu’s delegation to hostage talks – are agreeing to a comprehensive “deal,” nominally to get hostages released, by Trump’s inauguration day, 20 January 2025.

Within the last hour, as this goes to post, AP has reported that a draft agreement has been OK’ed by Hamas – previously a hold-out – and final details are being concluded.  The terms are not advantageous for Israel, in the draft AP has been given.  A key point is that even in full execution, they would not meet Trump’s demand.  Only 33 of 50 hostages believed to still be held would be released.

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Hussain Abdul-Hussain | Jan 14, 2025

Israel is perhaps the most muscular and influential power in the Middle East today. When Israel changes its defense ideology, as per the Nagel Committee Report released last week, the region must take notice.

Under the new doctrine, Israel will not wait for its enemies to build lethal capabilities but will preemptively deny them the pathway to becoming a threat. Islamist Iran and what is left of its proxies remain the top threat to the Jewish State. Turkey is on its watch list. Moderate Arab countries face similar threats from Iran and Turkey, and have an interest in making common cause with Israel.

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Peloni:  Fascinating!  Revelations about ancient practices which were recognized to be ancient at the time, back in ancient Israel.

?????? ?"???? ???????" ???? ?????? ?????: *"????? ?????? ?? ???? ???"*. ??? ??????? ????? ???? ????? . pic.twitter.com/O2NJ8PoYe5

— ??? ??? Edy Cohen (@DREDYCOHEN) January 15, 2025

Translation:

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Peloni:  This is a very important conversation.  The first half of the video includes a bit of a squabble between Doran and Taub over land confiscation by Israel as part of the solution to war in Gaza, even as they each agree that Israel must ultimately be responsible for conducting any reforms put in place in post war Gaza, ie Israeli occupation.  Also, Taub correctly notes that the denazification process in Gaza will be far more difficult than it was in Germany.  To this, Doran challenges him with the example of Saudi Arabia, which turned its society from being an Islamist swamp to being a moderate Sunni nation following the decision of MBS, ie the people accepted the fiat decision of their national leadership without revolution or public outrage.  What Doran misses on this point was that the success of MBS’ conversion process in SA was a result of the severity with which his reforms were instituted.  In fact, while we all applaud MBS’ success in moderating his nation’s previous Islamist nature, he has been universally condemned for the harsh measures which have been taken to free itself of these Islamists, including mass executions, and questionable judicial tactics.  Recall that it was just two years ago in which scores of Islamists were publicly executed in SA, as MBS’ reforms continue.  So, while Doran is correct that only Israel can be trusted to act in Israel’s interests regarding reforms in Gaza and elsewhere, there is no likely possibility that Israel will follow the severe measures employed by MBS in Gaza.  where the death penalty is not employed against anyone, not even against those who were recorded raping, murdering and enslaving Israelis on their own trophy videos.  Gadi is right, and Doran is wrong – Gaza will take an incredibly long time to reform.  Facilitated emigration would be a better solution to the degree that it is instituted, but whatever fraction  remains will be psychopaths who have been weaponized to murder Jews & Israelis their entire lives.

Europe Could Face an Economic Nightmare

Stephen Bryen | Weapons & Strategy | Jan 13, 2025

The Ukrainians sent nine drones to attack a natural gas compressor station in the Krasnodar region of southern Russia. The compressor station was part of the TurkStream pipeline. All the drones were shot down. There was some minor damage, but the compressor station is operating normally.

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By Michael Ordman, VGNI

In the 12th Jan 25 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:

• Massive increase in Israel’s PR budget.
• Life-saving Israeli treatments for the brain, heart, and traumatic stress.
• Golan Druze rush to become Israeli citizens.
• Two innovative Israeli laser systems perform valuable non-military functions.
• Israeli sustainable device for keeping farm produce fresh is so cool.
• A dozen Israeli companies doubled their US market value in 2024.
• Light one candle for Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul & Mary, who “Puffed” magic songs.

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Jordanian Parliament Speaker Ahmad al-Safadi said maps of ancient Israel “express a criminal mentality and malicious ambitions that cannot be tolerated.”

Moshe Phillips | Jan 14, 2025

A map of ancient Israel and Judea. Credit: Richardprins via Wikimedia Commons.

Enemies of the Jewish state hate cartology—the study of mapmaking—as the world was reminded again last week in the commotion over a map of biblical Israel.

Some Israel-hater noticed that the X (Twitter) account of the Israeli Foreign Ministry included a map showing the biblical borders of the ancient kingdoms of Judea and Israel, including the parts that extended eastward across the Jordan River.

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By Hugh Fitzgerald | Jan 14, 2025

The curious choice of pro-Hezbollah Imam Husham al-Husainy to offer a prayer at Trump’s inauguration has brought new attention to Massad Boulos, whom Trump has appointed to be his senior adviser on Arab and Middle Eastern affairs. Massad Boulos is a Lebanese-American billionaire businessman who campaigned for Trump among Arab voters in Michigan, and helped to persuade enough of them to vote Republican so that Trump won that state. Boulos also happens to be the father of Michael Boulos, who is the husband of Trump’s daughter Tiffany. Now he has been rewarded for his help in Michigan, and for his status as Tiffany Trump’s father-in-law, with this appointment to serve as Trump’s senior adviser on Arab and Middle Eastern affairs. It’s a bit worrisome because Boulos, though Greek Orthodox, has ties to a Christian Lebanese named Franjieh, who happens to be a political ally of Hezbollah.

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Peloni:  This surrender deal looks worse and worse should reports prove to be accurate.

A moral and strategic abomination that sells out America and Israel.

Daniel Greenfield | Jan 14, 2025

After a Pearl Harbor or an Oct 7, the only ‘deal’ that could be considered with the perpetrators is their absolute surrender. Hamas however took hostages to force an Israeli retreat.

That’s what a ‘ceasefire’ always was.

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Kelleigh Nelson 

We are told that there are conservatives, liberals and independents in America. We wish this were true, so that our task would not be so great. The truth is that 99% of Americans are liberals. They do not know it and they cannot help it, until they relearn what conservatism is and what it is not. -The Don Bell Report

If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude than the animated contest of freedom, go from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains sit lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen –Samuel Adams

Thus sayeth the Lord of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the Lord.  Jeremiah 23:17

The GOP establishment is toothless and most of them favor the unconstitutional rot promoted by the Democrat Party. You know who they are! I wrote about these false friends in a 23-part series in 2014.  Other writers received complaints about my work because they felt I was disparaging conservative leaders.  Nevertheless, many politicians with an “R” behind their names are false friends.  Look at the 12 Republicans who voted for the Respect for Marriage Act.

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by Rafael Medoff 

The Biden administration has confirmed that Arab militias are committing genocide against black Africans in Sudan. So how will those who are falsely accusing Israel of genocide respond to the news that real genocide is underway?

It seems unlikely there will be much of a response. After all, the evidence of genocide in Sudan has been reported for many months, yet there have been no noticeable protests. 

New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof reported last year that “Some of the same Arab forces responsible for the genocide in [the Sudanese region of Darfur] in the 2000s are picking up where they left off…massacring, torturing, raping and mutilating members of non-Arab ethnic groups—the same victims as before—while burning or bulldozing their villages…”

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Arthur A. Flower | January 12, 2025

Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Bechara Boutros Al-Rahi meeting Joseph Aoun in January 2024. (Photo: The Maronite Patriarchate)

In a significant political breakthrough, Lebanon’s parliament elected army commander Joseph Aoun as the country’s 14th president in January 2025, ending a presidential vacuum that had lasted more than two years. The 61-year-old Maronite Christian military leader ascended to the presidency with broad domestic support and international backing, particularly from the United States and Saudi Arabia.

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By Seth Frantzman | January 13, 2025

IDF troops from the Nahal Brigade operating in northern Gaza. (IDF)

Seven Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers have been killed in two recent incidents in northern Gaza, illustrating the continued challenges Israeli troops face from terrorist cells and improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The IDF has been clearing the areas of Jabaliya, Beit Lahiya, and Beit Hanoun over the last three months. Operations recently shifted toward Beit Hanoun, where Israeli troops have encountered terrorists and booby traps.

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