SAN DIEGO (SDJW) — Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz announced he has instructed the IDF to establish in southern Syria “a defense zone free of weapons and terrorist threats … without a permanent Israeli presence in order to prevent terrorism in Syria from taking root and organizing.”
Meanwhile, Israel conducted approximately 200 air raids against Syrian military installations.
At the United Nations, Stephane Dujarric, a spokesperson for Secretary General Antonio Guterres, said “We’re against these types of attacks. I think this is a turning point for Syria. It should not be used by its neighbors to encroach on the territory of Syria.”
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Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that during the early days of Barack Obama’s administration the U.S. President wanted Israel to return to its pre-1967 lines to make way for a Palestinian state. He quoted Obama as saying, “Not even one brick will you build over the Green Line” and said he told Obama “Half of Jerusalem is over the Green Line; for instance, the Gilo neighborhood.” To which, he said Obama replied, “Gilo too.” Netanyahu recounted this episode during his trial Tuesday on corruption charges.
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Israel’s former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant’s scheduled speech on Monday to Congregation Adas Israel in Washington, D.C. was cancelled “due to specific security concerns,” according to the congregation’s president Beth Heifetz, who denied “the event’s subject matter” prompted the cancellation The speech had been advertised as a discussion of Israel’s multifront security challenges. Michael Oren, Israel’s former ambassador to the U.S. commented that “the Adas leadership should be deeply ashamed of this ungrateful decision and reverse it immediately.”
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Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum responded to truck drivers blocking major highways in Central Mexico to protest lack of payment by government contractors. “The payments to the companies have started, so that they, in turn, can pay the truck drivers.” … Concerning U.S. – Mexico relations, U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-Louisiana) said on Fox Business News that the leadership in Mexico “is a mess” and that Mexico under Sheinbaum “ has turned very anti-America.” He said that Sheinbaum and her predecessor Andrés Manuel López-Obrador are in the pockets of the drug cartels.
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Vice President Kamala Harris administered the oath of office to U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-California) on Monday. His wife, Eve Schiff, held a copy of the Mishneh Torah by Moses Maimonides upon which Schiff took the oath. In a statement, Schiff commented: “I will work with Democrats, Republicans, and Independents to help our state and our families succeed. At the same time, I will not shrink from my duty to defend our democracy and will vigorously protect the rights and freedoms of the American people and the people of California.”
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Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said Monday that online praise for Luigi Mangione, the alleged killer of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson, has been “deeply disturbing.” Even if people are critical of medical insurance companies, the alleged killer should not be considered a hero. Instead the McDonald’s employee in Altoona, Pennsylvania who telephoned 9-1-1 should be hailed as a hero.
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Compiled by San Diego Jewish World staff