Mideast War blowback

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SUNY Purchase College students cheered as the activist platform Raise the Consciousness (RTC) announced that the school’s administration had agreed to “every single demand” on Monday, following five days of protests urging divestment from Israel.

In a later Instagram story, RTC clarified that Purchase had “not divested from Israel,” but had met the group’s demands “to disclose and cut ties with war crimes and genocide.”

“We are very sorry for the confusion. NY has very strict anti-BDS [boycott, divestment, and sanctions] laws unfortunately, and we are a public college so our resolution had to be worded very specifically,” the organization wrote.

At least 70 students were arrested for protesting at the campus on Thursday, reports said.

Seen reports on the bird site that students picketing outside the home of a Columbia University trustee were the targets of a car ramming attack. One protester was injured and is in hospital and under arrest, the driver was also detained and has been identified on social media as Reuven Kahane.

Reuven Kahane is apparently the cousin of Rabbi Meir Kahane, founder and namesake of the fascist Kahanist ideology. Doesn't look like any mainstream sources have picked this up yet, might turn out to be mistaken identity.

I'm looking for confirmation of the attack and the perp.

After a group claimed responsibility on Monday for setting fire to at least 15 police cars at the PPB’s training facility, Portland officials along with the FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office spoke Wednesday about last week’s protest-related vandalism in the city.

The group is called “Rachel Corrie’s Ghost Brigade” and they claim that they set fire to the police cars because they knew officers were going to sweep the Portland State University library to clear out protesters who were occupying the building.

The group posted their claims on social media, saying they cut through a fence at the training facility and set 10 fires, which spread to 15 police cars.

Along with the destruction of police cruisers and vandalism at the PSU library, several businesses on Southwest Broadway Street were also damaged.

Chief Day showed a flyer titled “May Day Scavenger Hunt” that he said was put up just before the protest at PSU began with a list of businesses that should be targeted.

“I find this to be very troubling, the bold statement of violence,” Day said. “People are in those buildings - that was five o’clock in the afternoon. People were in that Starbucks, etc.”

Day pointed out cartoon characters on the poster who are holding examples of explosives

“At one of the local establishments, we did find commercial-grade firework left next to the building,” Day said. “I believe that these social media posts, and some of these actions we’re seeing around anger and hatred, are crippling our city.”

Portland Fire & Rescue and Portland police officers responded to the fires last week early Thursday morning. It was the same morning police moved into the Millar Library to clear out protesters at PSU.

The fires were to police training vehicles that are only used for training purposes. Police say after the arson, other neighboring agencies have offered their vehicles for the department to use.

The self-proclaimed Anarchist group claiming responsibility is named after Rachel Corrie, who was a 23-year-old activist from Olympia, Washington. Corrie died in 2003 when an Israeli bulldozer crushed her while she was trying to block it from demolishing Palestinian homes in Gaza.

Police in Amsterdam warned people to avoid a canal and thoroughfare in the city’s center as an effort to remove a pro-Palestinian encampment there turned violent on Wednesday.

Rioters tossed ammonia, an irritant that could cause permanent sight damage, at police moving into the encampment, Amsterdam’s police said Wednesday in a tweet, adding, “Police call on everyone to go home. We are acting to stop this violence.”

Video streaming on Dutch news sites showed police in riot gear pushing back against protesters wearing Palestinian scarves. At one point, three police pulled a woman off of an earth mover clearing away the encampment.

The clashes came a day after police raided an encampment at the University of Amsterdam, one of a growing number of European universities to replicate the pro-Palestinian demonstrations that have rippled across U.S. campuses for the last several weeks. The protesters want the universities to cut ties with Israel and its institutions.

Video has circulated of the pro-Palestinian protesters striking pro-Israel counter-protesters with planks of wood at the university.

A former Republican congressman in Indiana who is a longtime critic of Israel failed in his bid to return to the House of Representatives after the Republican Jewish Coalition and AIPAC mounted an effort to support his opponent.

Election returns in Indiana’s 8th district on Tuesday night showed state Senator Mark Messmer, the RJC’s favored candidate, soundly defeating John Hostettler, who represented the district in Congress from 1995-2007.

“Tonight, we succeeded in keeping a vocal anti-Israel candidate out of the Republican conference,” the RJC said Tuesday evening. “This is a major victory for the RJC, the Jewish community, for all pro-Israel Americans, and for common sense.”

The RJC had spent $1 million on ads in the district mostly promoting Messmer, said Sam Markstein, a spokesman for the group.

“The results last night make it very clear that our efforts were very effective in ensuring that a vocal anti Israel voice would not be joining the republican conference,” he said. The District leans Republican and Messmer is seen as a shoo-in in November.

Hostettler during his time in Congress was an isolationist who wrote a book after he left office blaming Jews for for the Iraq War. “Hostettler’s claim of ‘dual loyalty’ by prominent Jews repeats age-old slanders of Jewish disloyalty to their countries and outlandish notions of secret Jewish cabals pulling international strings,” Abraham Foxman, then the national director of the Anti-Defamation League, wrote at the time.

The Republican and Democratic Jewish organizations have traditionally focused on attacking candidates from the other side, but as politics related to Israel have tectonically shifted in recent years, pro-Israel affiliates of both parties are aiming fire inward. The RJC recently announced plans to target Virginia Rep. Bob Good, the chairman of the Freedom Caucus, because he led a group of 21 Republicans who opposed emergency defense funding for Israel.

The Democratic Majority for Israel has in recent years taken on Israel’s sharpest critics in the party, and was recently joined by the Jewish Democratic Council of America, which recently endorsed two opponents of members of the progressive “Squad” who have advocated cutting off aid to Israel, Reps. Jamaal Bowman of New York and Cori Bush of St. Louis.

The RJC previously worked to oust Iowa Republican Rep. Steve King, who had a history of condoning white supremacists. He lost his primary in 2020.

United Democracy Project, a political action committee affiliated with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, also opposed Hostettler, spending about $1.5 million on negative ads. “What kind of Republican votes against supporting Israel?” one ad said.

The U.N. General Assembly voted by a wide margin on Friday to grant new “rights and privileges” to Palestine and called on the Security Council to reconsider Palestine's request to become the 194th member of the United Nations.

The world body approved the Arab and Palestinian-sponsored resolution by a vote of 143-9 with 25 abstentions. The United States voted against it, along with Israel, Argentina, Czechia, Hungary, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau and Papua New Guinea.

The vote reflected the wide global support for full membership of Palestine in the United Nations, with many countries expressing outrage at the escalating death toll in Gaza and fears of a major Israeli offensive in Rafah, a southern city where about 1.3 million Palestinians have sought refuge.

It also demonstrated growing support for the Palestinians.

While Friday’s resolution gives Palestine some new rights and privileges, it reaffirms that it remains a non-member observer state without full U.N. membership and the right to vote in the General Assembly or at any of its conferences. And the United States has made clear that it will block Palestinian membership and statehood until direct negotiations with Israel resolve key issues, including security, boundaries and the future of Jerusalem, and lead to a two-state solution.

U.S. deputy ambassador Robert Wood said Friday that for the U.S. to support Palestinian statehood, direct negotiations must guarantee Israel’s security and future as a democratic Jewish state and that Palestinians can live in peace in a state of their own.

Under the U.N. Charter, prospective members of the United Nations must be “peace-loving” and the Security Council must recommend their admission to the General Assembly for final approval. Palestine became a U.N. non-member observer state in 2012.

The United States considers Friday’s resolution an attempt to get around the Charter’s provisions, Wood reiterated Thursday.

Unlike resolutions in the Security Council, there are no vetoes in the 193-member General Assembly. Friday’s resolution required a two-thirds majority of members voting and got significantly more than the 118 vote minimum.

U.S. allies supported the resolution, including France, Japan, South Korea, Spain, Australia, Estonia and Norway. But European countries were very divided.

The resolution “determines” that a state of Palestine is qualified for membership — dropping the original language that in the General Assembly’s judgment it is “a peace-loving state.” It therefore recommends that the Security Council reconsider its request “favorably.”

Before the vote, Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian U.N. ambassador, told the assembly in an emotional speech that “No words can capture what such loss and trauma signifies for Palestinians, their families, communities and for our nation as a whole.”

He said Palestinians in Gaza “have been pushed to the very edge of the strip, to the very brink of life” with Israel besieging Rafah.

Mansour accused Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of preparing “to kill thousands to ensure his political survival” and aiming to destroy the Palestinian people.

Israel’s U.N. Ambassador Gilad Erdan vehemently opposed the resolution, accusing U.N. member nations of not mentioning Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack and seeking “to reward modern-day Nazis with rights and privileges.”

He said if an election were held today, Hamas would win, and warned U.N. members that they were "about to grant privileges and rights to the future terror state of Hamas.” He held up a photo of Yehya Sinwar, the mastermind of the Hamas attack on Israel, saying a terrorist “whose stated goal is Jewish genocide” would be a future Palestinian leader.

Erdan also accused the assembly of trampling on the U.N. Charter, putting two pages that said “U.N. Charter" in a small shredder he held up. .

The original draft of the resolution was changed significantly to address concerns not only by the U.S. but also by Russia and China, three Western diplomats said, speaking on condition of anonymity because negotiations were private.

The first draft would have conferred on Palestine “the rights and privileges necessary to ensure its full and effective participation” in the assembly’s sessions and U.N. conferences “on equal footing with member states.” It also made no reference to whether Palestine could vote in the General Assembly.

According to the diplomats, Russia and China, which are strong supporters of Palestine’s U.N. membership, were concerned that granting the rights and privileges listed in an annex could set a precedent for other would-be U.N. members — with Russia concerned about Kosovo and China about Taiwan.

Under longstanding legislation by the U.S. Congress, the United States is required to cut off funding to U.N. agencies that give full membership to a Palestinian state, which could mean a cutoff in dues and voluntary contributions to the U.N. from its largest contributor.

The final draft that was voted on dropped the language that would put Palestine “on equal footing with member states.” And to address Chinese and Russian concerns, it decided “on an exceptional basis and without setting a precedent” to adopt the rights and privileges in the annex.

It also added a provision in the annex clarifying that it does not give Palestine the right to vote in the General Assembly or put forward candidates for U.N. agencies.

What the resolution does give Palestine are the rights to speak on all issues not just those related to the Palestinians and Middle East, to propose agenda items and reply in debates, and to serve on the assembly's main committees. It also allows Palestinians to participate in U.N. and international conferences convened by the United Nations, but without the right to vote.

Demonstrations continued and new encampments were erected at universities across the country as commencement ceremonies took place Saturday following weeks of pro-Palestinian protests that have led to nearly 3,000 arrests, according to an NBC News tally.

Dozens of students walked out of the Virginia Commonwealth University ceremony Saturday morning as Gov. Glenn Youngkin delivered the commencement address, video posted on X showed.

After several people were arrested last week at the school as police dismantled encampments on college campuses, VCU said on its website ahead of commencement that disruptions at the ceremony were strictly prohibited.

But student groups, including the VCU chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine, moved forward with a “silent walkout” to protest Youngkin’s policies and his role in the arrests of pro-Palestinian student protesters in April.

On Saturday, students dressed in caps and gowns quietly marched toward the back of the Greater Richmond Convention Center, prompting some people in the crowd to erupt in cheers.

The Commonwealth Times, the university’s student newspaper, said in a post on X that the walkout was “in protest of Gov. Glenn Youngkin appearing as the keynote speaker.”

Other footage posted on X showed a group of people, including some graduates, outside the convention center chanting and holding signs, including one that read, “No graduation as usual.”

Attendees who left the convention center after the ceremony began would not be allowed to re-enter, the school said.

Protests disrupted commencement ceremonies on Friday and Saturday at the University of California, Berkeley. As Sydney Roberts, the school's student body president, addressed her fellow graduates Saturday, a group of people in the crowd began chanting.

The San Francisco Chronicle reported that soon after, about 20 students stood up and waved signs and Palestinian flags while chanting “Free Palestine!” Security guards escorted them to the back of the venue, according to the news outlet.

About 300 other graduates then got up and moved to a section of the venue and began chanting, prompting some people to counter-chant “Kick them out,” the Chronicle reported.

During Friday’s ceremony, there was a similar disruption when students removed their gowns to reveal white shirts with “UC Divest” written on them at UC Berkeley’s law school graduation, according to the Chronicle. The university responded Friday, saying in a statement that the interruption "did not impact the proceedings, prevent us from honoring the hard work and accomplishments of our students, or necessitate the premature conclusion of our ceremony.”

The University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton Executive MBA Program, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University of Texas at Austin will hold ceremonies throughout Saturday.

Officers in riot gear descended on the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia at dawn on Friday to arrest and remove demonstrators who defied earlier orders to disperse. Police said nine of those arrested were students while the other 24 had no affiliation with the school.

Like other universities, the schools implemented additional safety measures and said disruptions would not be tolerated. Officials at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill said graduates had to present their student ID card to enter Kenan Stadium and reminded students of free speech laws and policies that include a range of disciplinary actions for those who substantially interfere with another person’s protected free speech.

“This includes protests that limit the ability of others to hear a speaker,” the school said on its website. “The University respects the rights of peaceful protesters. While anyone — including students, faculty and staff — may gather and exercise their rights to free speech, state law and the Board of Governors policy prohibit significant disruption of University operations.”

The school — which has seen several campus protests and subsequent arrests — warned that anyone who does not comply “will be subject to arrest.”

Hours before Saturday evening's graduation ceremony, some pro-Palestinian demonstrators defaced a campus building with red paint and chalk amid a protest, WRAL reported. Protesters left red handprints with messages that said "UNC has blood on its hands" and covered the South Building's steps in red paint.

A new encampment was also erected Saturday on UNC's campus, WRAL reported, featuring tents and protesters holding signs that said "Stop Genocide" and "End the Siege."

Earlier Saturday, protesters held a "people's graduation" for students who were suspended following a different protest two weeks ago, according to WRAL.

American Jews are historically supporters of the Democratic Party. Even as the years go on and Orthodox Jews become more supportive of the Republican Party, the vast majority of the millions of US Jews voted for any Democratic candidate, even those who weren’t in good relationships with Israel.

Since being elected as president, Joe Biden has enjoyed endless support from American Jews, especially immediately after the October 7 massacre, when the president was extremely supportive of the terror-struck Jewish state - in a way that reminded many of old-school classic American Zionism.

But something finally happened last week: American Jews publicly criticized Biden for the first time since his election – in a manner they had never before criticized a Democratic president.
Biden’s decision to halt ammunition aid to Israel signified a watershed moment in the historical relationship between American Jews and the Democratic Party. This policy shift, articulated in a recent CNN interview in which Biden defended his stance, is not merely a logistical recalibration but a dramatic pivot that might redefine the political landscape in the US, particularly concerning the American Jewish community.


A chorus of prominent Jewish organizations in the US have articulated their dismay and concern, each adding a unique perspective to the unfolding drama. The Jewish Federations of North America expressed alarm, stating, “This move emboldens Hamas and other Iran-backed forces in the region, encourages their delay tactics, and endangers the hostages by weakening Israel’s negotiating hand at a critical juncture.”

Similarly, the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations argued, “Withholding security assistance and support from Israel sends a dangerous message to Iran and all its regional proxies and undermines the confidence our allies place in commitments by the United States.”

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) was unequivocal in its criticism: “At a time when Hamas still holds American hostages, Biden’s decision undermines Israel at the negotiating table, is a gift to Iran and their terrorist proxies, and sends a terrible message to our allies.”

On the more conservative spectrum, the Republican Jewish Coalition labeled the decision “an unprecedented, shameful, and despicable betrayal of a key ally and vital security partner at the worst possible time.”

Even organizations typically more moderate or supportive of Democratic policies voiced their concerns. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) stated, “The move undermined the US’s ally while energizing Hezbollah and Iran, who specialize in toxic antisemitism and rabid anti-Zionism.”

The American Jewish Committee’s CEO, Ted Deutch, a former Democratic congressman, highlighted the peril to both Israeli and Palestinian civilians, emphasizing, “The US must continue working with Israel to protect these civilians.”

Each of these statements highlighted the extent of the betrayal felt by these organizations and signaled a potential recalibration of their longstanding allegiance to the Democratic Party, marking a critical and historic shift in their political and international advocacy.
This critical juncture could potentially erode the longstanding alliance between American Jews and the Democratic Party. While it does not necessarily mean a direct shift of allegiance to the Republican Party or an endorsement of figures like Donald Trump in the upcoming 2024 elections, there is a discernible distancing in political and financial support. This cooling of relations marks a significant and possibly irreversible shift in political dynamics.

Moreover, this policy shift comes at a time when the symbolism cannot be more poignant. Recollections of Biden’s visit to the Yad Vashem Holocaust Remembrance Center in Jerusalem in 2022, when he reiterated the holy nature of US support for Israel, starkly contrast with his current policy stance.

This dichotomy between past assurances and present actions has not only deepened the sense of betrayal but also raised critical questions about the reliability and consistency of US foreign policy.

The implications of this shift are profound and multifaceted. On a domestic level, it may influence the future political behavior of one of the most politically active communities in the US. Internationally, it could recalibrate US alliances and its strategic posture in one of the world’s most volatile regions.