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(June 17, 2024 / JNS) Americans have seen this movie before. Politically motivated masked thugs who gather to intimidate, silence and sometimes inflict violence on the objects of their hate are nothing new in this country. Yet the ubiquitous use of masks—whether in the form of bandannas or Palestinian-style keffiyehs worn by supporters of the Hamas terrorist group to conceal their identity—has become a disturbing staple of contemporary American life.

On June 27, 1976, an Air France flight en route from Tel Aviv to Paris was hijacked by Palestinian terrorists. The hijackers diverted the plane to Entebbe, Uganda, where they were joined by additional terrorists and received support from Ugandan dictator Idi Amin. After several attempts at a diplomatic release of hostages, Israel decided that a more direct approach was necessary. This led to the Raid on Entebbe, a daring rescue mission by Israeli commandos on July 4, 1976, which has gone down in history as a stunning example of military precision and bravery.

Like many residents throughout the five boroughs and across the New York Metro area, I was pleasantly surprised by Governor Kathy Hochul’s decision to “indefinitely pause” the implementation of Congestion Pricing. Rather than seeing this as a cynical calculation, as some have alleged, I see the Governor’s decision as a deeply pragmatic response to the crescendo of public concerns that I and many others have raised for years. As the countdown to June 30 implementation date neared, everyday New Yorkers did what we do best: We spoke up for ourselves and said we won’t accept a bad deal! I applaud Governor Hochul for having the courage, not just to listen to us, but to take a tough stand against this misguided policy.

(June 11, 2024 / JNS) This is a perilous time to be a Jew. The world responded to the greatest mass slaughter of Jews since the Holocaust with a surge of antisemitism and sympathy for those who committed the atrocities of Oct. 7, rather than its victims. Israel’s efforts to eradicate the genocidal terrorists of Hamas who launched that attack have not just been opposed but demonized in a way that enlightened liberal opinion did not condemn the orgy of murder, rape, torture, kidnapping and wanton destruction that occurred on that day.

In the “good old days” of protesters in the immediate aftermath of October 7, those who demanded the destruction of the Jewish state at least had the decency to do so under the guise of separating their support for the Palestinian people from their support for the genocidal terrorists that committed those atrocities.  At that time, most of the people on the streets had their faces uncovered, assuming they’d be out there for only a short while.  These people were accustomed to getting their way after a tantrum.  As the war drags on, these people are elevating their rhetoric, and their tactics, and are doing so under the cover of anonymity.  The physical masks went on, so the rhetorical masks are now off.

In the final week of session for the New York State Legislature, I was proud to pass my bill A10105 – “Gittel’s Law.” In 2000, lawmakers passed a law where mental healthcare providers could face criminal penalties for certain sex offenses committed during a treatment session, consultation, interview, or examination. Mental healthcare providers can have a great amount of influence over their emotionally vulnerable patients and abuse of that influence in such an egregious way must not be tolerated. But the law has become outdated.