Islamic Jihad leader warns of escalation if Israel doesn’t meet understandings

Khaled al-Batsh says his terror group can ‘obligate’ Israel to fulfill its side of a truce agreement brokered by UN, Egypt and Qatar

By TOI STAFF

A senior official with the Iran-backed Gaza-based Islamic Jihad terrorist group on Saturday warned there would be another escalation of violence if Israel didn’t implement understandings reportedly reached between Israel and Hamas, the Ynet news site reported.

“If Israel does not fulfill its side of the agreement, we have the means to obligate it to fulfill it,” Khaled al-Batsh warned.

“We will continue to defend our people until the implementation of the understandings,” he added.

Batsh also called on the Egyptians to pressure Israel to fulfill its obligations.
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PINNACLE DIGEST

Nothing has quite the effect like a Trump-Twitter rampage. The Tweeter in Chief can pump up the U.S. stock market or deflate the price of oil with a few quick punches into his phone. That said, not all of Trump’s tweets are created equal; in fact, Trump’s errs on Twitter can have an devastating effect on the global economy. Just ask China…

On Sunday, May 5^th, President Trump tweeted that $200 billion worth of Chinese goods would see tariffs rise from 10% to 25%. While Trump claims China ‘broke the deal,’ Chinese officials were caught off-guard by the tweet and acted quickly to limit market damage.

“Just ahead of Shanghai’s open, China’s central bank made a move to stimulate the economy by cutting reserve requirement ratios (RRRs) for 1,000 rural commercial banks, which will make it easier for small and micro companies to borrow.”

It wasn’t enough. The Shanghai Composite fell about 5.6%, its worst one-day loss since February of 2016. The smaller-cap Shenzhen Composite plummeted 7.4%. These losses occurred in just one single day, after one Trump tweet.

Make no mistake: this is economic warfare. Take a look at Trump’s tweet threats on a larger timeline. It is amazing to see the impact of Trump’s tweets on the CSI 300 Index in real-time.

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T. Belman. I am surprised that the M.E. is not mentioned in this list. Trump’s efforts have been focussed on creating a new alliance of Israel, the Gulf States , Jordan and Egypt. Related to that is the Deal of the Century soon to be tabled.

U.S. ambitions under pressure by crises in China, North Korea, Iran and Venezuela

By Michael R. Gordon, WSJ

President Trump’s “America First” foreign policy is being challenged on four fronts at once, creating an extraordinary test of the White House’s ability to manage multiple crises and deliver on its ambitious agenda.

In the Middle East, Iran is threatening to ramp up its nuclear program and, according to U.S. intelligence, has prepared to attack American forces. In Latin America, Venezuela has thwarted a U.S.-backed change of government campaign, with Russian and Cuban support.
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By NAHAL TOOSI and WESLEY MORGAN, POLITICO

The Syria Study Group’s key findings in an interim report to Congress run against President Donald Trump’s stated desire to pull U.S. troops out of the war-torn Arab state, and contradict his boasts that the Islamic State’s territorial defeat is complete.

Trump ordered — and then partially halted — a withdrawal of 2,000 U.S. troops from the country late last year, and by some reports intends to keep a few hundred American personnel there.

Mark Levin Just REVEALED ALL WE’VE BEEN WAITING! MUELLER IN HOT WATER!

YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS THIS!!!

T. Belman.  It would have been helpful if these results were broken down between Reform, Conservative, Orthodox and unafiliated.

For Immediate Release
May 9, 2019

Contact: Jason Edelstein, 510-239-1102

Largest Study Ever on American Jewish Teens Depicts Cohort Wrestling with Modern Challenges While Embracing Family and Culture

Responses from More than 17,000 Teens Reveal Ambitions and Fears, Positive Influence of Jewish Youth Organizations

New York, NY — The largest study ever on American Jewish teens paints a picture of a cohort that simultaneously embraces family, Jewish culture, and friends, while also grappling with anxiety and pressure to succeed—in a world permeated by social media and constant communication. Researched and written by The Jewish Education Project and Rosov Consulting, GenZ Now: Understanding and Connecting With Jewish Teens Today shares survey results and interview responses from a total of 17,576 teens to reveal data and insights about their interests, challenges, and passions in all facets of life, in unprecedented depth and scope.

The report is filled with findings covering a range of areas:
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It’s impeaching Donald Trump

BY: Matthew Continetti, FREE BEACON

And you thought Democrats won the House out of fear Republicans would drop coverage of preexisting conditions. That they wanted to spend this Congress addressing the cost of prescription drugs, building roads and bridges, resolving the legal status of DACA recipients, expanding gun background checks. Don’t be silly! Rashida Tlaib let spill the real Democratic agenda back in January, when she said they were going to “impeach the motherf—er.”

Democrats have a problem. The base wants to impeach President Trump, ASAP, but the public does not. Indeed, Trump’s approval rating is the highest it’s been in the Gallup survey, right around Obama’s at this point in his term. The brute facts of public opinion suggest that the impeachment of Trump would look more like Bill Clinton’s trial than Richard Nixon’s. Not only would Trump remain in office; the backlash might deprive the Democrats of their 17-seat House majority.
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Tehran’s threat to ramp up its nuclear program leaves Europe with stark choice: keep trade flowing with Iran or kill deal by re-imposing sanctions

By Laurence Norman, WASH POST

That means Europe may soon face a stark choice. If its leaders can’t free up enough economic benefits to persuade Iran to abide by its commitments, they will have to decide whether to kill the agreement by reimposing European sanctions suspended as part of the deal.

Still, European diplomats believe they have a window of opportunity to rescue the pact, with some saying they don’t expect a crunch point to come for months.

On Wednesday, President Hassan Rouhani warned that Iran will abandon limits on stockpiling low-enriched uranium and heavy water, two materials that can be used to make atomic weapons. He warned that Tehran may take bigger steps to ramp up its nuclear program in 60 days if key European countries don’t find ways to aid its flailing economy.
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By Josh Rogin, WASH POST

There is little that can stop the brutal assault underway in northwest Syria, where Russian, Iranian and Assad regime forces have launched a major military offensive as millions of civilians flee for their lives. But the record shows that if President Trump acts to try to halt the slaughter, it will have real impact on the ground. Even a presidential tweet could save lives. Time is of the essence.

There’s a lot going on right now in U.S.?foreign policy. The Trump administration is dealing with an escalating Iran crisis, North Korea missile firings, a shaky China trade negotiation and an attempt to oust the Venezuelan regime. It’s no mere coincidence that Bashar al-Assad and Moscow chose this moment to retake the last rebel-held area of Syria using scorched-earth tactics, committing atrocities along the way.
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Better late than never.

By Valerie Sobel  MAY 9/19

A country only 71 years young?

A nation of a tiny 6 Million Jews, which was just awarded the status of the second most creative/innovative country on earth, second only to the USA of 329 Million (incidentally, comprised of 5.7 Million Jews – make your own deductions).

She took her first breath after a 2000-year coma (a.k.a. the exile of her indigenous people when she was known as Judea) at the 1920s-1930s arrival of dirt-poor pioneers like Golda Meir and Ben Gurion.  Pioneers with nothing but shovels in their hands, post their escape from horrendous persecution of Jews in Bolshevik Russia and pogroming Poland.
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Around the time of Independence Day every year, the Pew Research Center conducts a survey that reveals good news for Israel.

BY MARTIN OLINER, JPOST

round the time of Independence Day every year, the Pew Research Center conducts a survey that reveals good news for Israel.

The annual survey asks Americans what they think about the people of Israel. As in years past, this year’s poll of 10,523 American adults had very positive results.

Sixty-four percent of Americans view the Israeli people favorably, and only 28% view them unfavorably. This would be a cause for celebration were it not for the survey’s follow-up question about the Israeli government.
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T. Belman. Whenever Greenblatt or Kushner talk about the plan they emphasize that it will entail “compromises on both sides”. I have no idea what compromises are expected of Israel. But not to worry. Whatever the compromises we are expected to make, the PA will reject the deal. When that happens the US will find another way to skin the cat. The other way will not require the compromises.

The US cannot blatantly violate international law by recognizing Jerusalem as the “so called capital of Israel” and pretend that it has no implications on peace,” Maliki said.

BY TOVAH LAZAROFF, JPOST

US President Donald Trump’s peace plan is a document of surrender and no amount of money will sway the Palestinian Authority to support it, PA Foreign Minister Riyad Maliki told an informal gathering of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Thursday.

“We cannot afford not to engage with any peace efforts. But the US administration efforts cannot be characterized, nor can qualify as peace efforts,” Maliki told an UNSC Arria-Formula meeting that was organized by Indonesia.
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A look at the history of ethnic cleansing of Jews.

By Daniel Pinner, INN

It is a sad reflection on humanity that genocide and ethnic cleansing have been around for almost as long as human societies have. And Jewish history is replete with massacres great and small, expulsions great and small:

But in 4,000 years of Jewish history, eight instances of ethnic cleansing of Jews stand out above all others:

The conquest and destruction of the Kingdom of Israel (the Northern Kingdom) by the Assyrian Empire, circa 720 B.C.E., and the subsequent expulsion of almost all the Ten Tribes who lived therein;

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Israel has taken root in very hostile conditions, putting down roots of freedom, modernity, democracy and tolerance in a region that has never known them.

By Giulio Meotti,, INN

I once tried to plant a bougainvillea in my garden. It was beautiful in spring and summer, but when a heavy winter arrived my lovely plant dried and died, since it was not suitable for the climate in central Italy.

Israel that celebrates 71 years of existence and resistance is like that bougainvillea: It has taken root in very hostile conditions, literally sprung from nothing, putting down roots of freedom, modernity, democracy, rights, culture and tolerance in a region that had never known these and where these roots had always died.

Melanie Phillips, Europe’s most brave supporter of Israel, once said: “The issue of Israel sits at the very apex of the fight to defend civilization. Those who want to destroy Western civilization need to destroy the Jews, whose moral precepts formed its foundation stones”.
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Over the weekend, Palestinian terrorists bombarded southern Israel with more than 600 rockets aimed at millions of innocent civilians, just two weeks after three former Israeli security officials once again proposed convincing Egypt to cede land to Hamas to mollify their appetite for violence.

By BY GREGG ROMAN AND CYNTHIA FARAHAT, THE HILL

In April 2016, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi announced that he was ceding two small Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia, apparently as quid pro quo for a $16 billion investment deal. In Egypt, the move caused an uproar. In Israel, it led some ancillary security wonks to revive a scheme for solving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Seven months later, prominent Israeli veterans campaigner Benjamin Anthony unveiled the “New State Solution” (NSS), which would establish an independent Palestinian state spanning Gaza and a much larger adjoining coastal tract in the Sinai Peninsula to be donated by Egypt’s Sisi. The idea has been endorsed by a slew of former Israel Defense Forces (IDF) officers, notably Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Amir Avivi.
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By Peter Skurkiss, AMERICAN THINKER

Diversity is defined a something being composed of different elements. In sociological and political terms, it means the inclusion of people of different races, cultures, religions, and economic background into a group or organization. The politically correct party line is that this inclusion, often forced by quotas and government mandates, makes the organization stronger. But does it? Is diversity strength?

It depends. It depends upon the degree in which it is done and whether or not brute force is used to make it happen.

An analogy can be drawn from Eco 101, If labor is used to make a product, when a unit of capital is added to the process, the output increases. As you add successive units of capital, the output increases but at a lower rate. Eventually a point of maximum output is reached after which the addition of more capital leads to lower output. This is the area of diminishing returns or lower output. Read more…

The move could not have come without the Trump administration’s agreement, or at least its blind eye, senior Palestinian officials say

Jack Khoury, HAARETZ

Khalifa al-Kuwari, director of the Qatar Fund for Development, cuts the ribbon during the opening ceremony of a new hospital in Gaza City, April 22, 2019. AP

Palestinian Authority officials said Tuesday they were taken by surprise by Qatar’s pledge to give $480 million to the Palestinians.

Officials in Ramallah noted that the decision to appeal to Qatar for financial support marks a change in approach from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, whose ties with Saudi Arabia are tighter.

The Qatari funds to the PA and Gaza are slated for education, health and humanitarian support.
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Independence Day celebrations across the country see hundreds of thousands turn out to enjoy nature, watch Air Force flybys, and cook up a BBQ

By TOI STAFFToday, 3:20 pm

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