NEW YORK NEWS
Anti-Israel protesters targeted Congregation Charm Circle in Kew Gardens Hills Sunday, despite the synagogue relocating a planned sale of Israeli real estate to avoid conflict. The protest was organized by the Palestinian Assembly for Liberation and Al-Awda, who had called for action against such sales, claiming they involved stolen Palestinian property.
Despite the change of venue, protesters still gathered at the original location, chanting for an intifada and displaying Hezbollah flags. Counter-protesters responded with Israeli flags, leading to tensions and minor skirmishes, which were managed by the NYPD. Local politicians condemned the protest, emphasizing the unacceptability of targeting religious sites. This incident mirrors a violent anti-Israel demonstration at Adas Torah synagogue in Los Angeles a month earlier, which also involved physical confrontations and was widely condemned, including by President Joe Biden. Since Hamas' attacks on Israel in October, antisemitic incidents have surged globally, reaching record levels in the U.S. according to the Anti-Defamation League.
A suspect was caught on camera attempting to set fire to a Hatzalah ambulance in Manhattan, an incident police are investigating as a potential hate crime. The video, released by the NYPD on Thursday, shows the suspect walking along the sidewalk with what appears to be a can before igniting the rear area of the ambulance, which was parked on Grand Street near Madison Street around 11 p.m. on Saturday. Hatzalah ambulances, which serve predominantly Jewish communities globally, are now under the scrutiny of the city’s Hate Crime Task Force following this arson attempt.
Rep. Anthony D’Esposito’s Garden City office received a bomb threat via a phone call, as reported by Communications Director Matt Capp. The staff promptly followed protocol, notifying local law enforcement and the Capitol Police. Both the Garden City and Washington, D.C. offices were evacuated, though no threats were found. D’Esposito, who represents New York’s 4th Congressional District, was moved to a secure location. He expressed gratitude to the Garden City, Nassau County, and Capitol Police for their swift response. An investigation into the threat is ongoing.
The Nassau County legislature plans to enact a law banning demonstrators from wearing masks to combat rising antisemitism and hate crimes, making it the first local government to do so. Legislator Mazi Pilip, an Ethiopian-born Jew from Great Neck, expressed frustration over the lack of accountability for those terrorizing the Jewish community and urged for decisive action. The proposed law, expected to pass in two weeks, would prohibit individuals over 16 from wearing masks in public spaces, with exceptions for health, safety, and religious reasons, and impose fines or jail time for violators. The move aims to pressure state and city officials to implement similar measures. The New York Civil Liberties Union opposed the ban, citing concerns over stifling protest rights and questioning its legality. Jewish community leaders and civil rights organizations support the initiative, hoping it will prompt a statewide ban to protect against masked intimidation.
Hempstead Town Councilman and former NYPD officer Christopher Carini died suddenly at 49, with no cause of death announced. Carini represented the 5th District and had a 22-year career in law enforcement, serving with the NYPD, MTA Police, and Port Authority Police. Known for his dedication to public service, he was vice president of the Wantagh-Seaford Homeowners’ Association and active in the community, particularly in the cleanup efforts after Superstorm Sandy. Carini, a Republican, won his council seat in 2019 and was re-elected in 2023. His death was mourned across party lines, with colleagues highlighting his commitment to community safety and youth programs. He is survived by his wife, Danielle, and their children, Ava and Joey.
US NEWS
A new report reveals that during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump involved the shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, infiltrating a building with three Secret Service snipers stationed inside. Crooks fired a shot that grazed Trump's right ear, narrowly missing his head, before Secret Service agents fatally shot him. The attack resulted in the death of Corey Comparatore, a 50-year-old Trump supporter, and left two others critically injured. The snipers, who had observed Crooks' suspicious behavior, including taking photos of him, saw him return multiple times before he accessed the building's roof, likely using an air conditioning unit. Despite the snipers' alerts and a call for backup, Crooks managed to position himself above and behind them, eventually being neutralized by a Secret Service sniper. Crooks was found with an IED in his pocket and explosive materials in his car, raising questions about security lapses despite prior observations and reports of his suspicious actions.
Special counsel Jack Smith's classified documents case against former President Donald Trump was dismissed by District Court Judge Aileen Cannon in Florida on Monday. Cannon, appointed by Trump, ruled that Smith’s appointment as special counsel was unconstitutional, violating the Appointments Clause of the U.S. Constitution. She also noted that Smith’s use of a permanent indefinite appropriation breached the Appropriations Clause, but did not address this further due to the primary dismissal grounds. Trump celebrated the dismissal on Truth Social, calling for the end of all investigations against him. However, Peter Carr, a spokesman for Smith, announced plans to appeal, arguing that the Attorney General is authorized to appoint a Special Counsel. Smith remains involved in another case against Trump related to the 2020 election in Washington, D.C., while Trump faces additional legal challenges, including a New York hush-money case.
Donald Trump announced on Monday that Ohio Senator J.D. Vance will be his running mate for the 2024 presidential election. Vance, a former Marine and author of Hillbilly Elegy, has become a staunch ally of Trump despite his earlier criticisms, emphasizing issues like reducing U.S. aid to Ukraine and opposing DEI programs. The announcement follows an assassination attempt on Trump during a rally in Pennsylvania. Vance’s selection is seen as a strategic move to consolidate support from Trump’s base and leverage Vance’s Rust Belt credentials for the campaign. If elected, Vance’s Senate seat would be filled by an appointee from Ohio Governor Mike DeWine until a special election is held.
House Democrats overwhelmingly opposed the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, which requires proof of U.S. citizenship for federal election registration and aims to remove non-citizens from voter rolls. The bill passed with 216 Republican votes and five Democratic votes, despite objections from 198 Democrats who argued it would create burdens for voters and election officials. Republicans, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, framed the bill as a measure to combat the border crisis and ensure election integrity, while the Biden administration criticized it as unnecessary and potentially harmful to eligible voters. The SAVE Act faces challenges in the Senate but underscores the ongoing debate over election security and voter eligibility in the U.S.
The Biden administration will unfreeze a shipment of 500-pound bombs to Israel, which was part of a larger arms package delayed due to concerns over their use in Gaza. While the 500-pound bombs are set to be delivered soon, the 2,000-pound bombs in the same shipment remain embargoed. The decision comes amid tensions between the U.S. and Israel over military aid during the ongoing conflict with Hamas, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticizing the U.S. for withholding weapons. The administration had previously paused the transfer of certain weapon systems, citing concerns over the use of these bombs in densely populated areas, but Secretary of State Antony Blinken assured that overall support for Israel’s defense remains steadfast.
The United States announced $100 million in new aid for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank on Thursday, aimed at supporting the U.N. World Food Program and ensuring the safe delivery of humanitarian aid in Gaza amid escalating violence and lawlessness. This decision comes as Israel intensifies its bombardment of Gaza, targeting Hamas in response to the October 7 attack, which resulted in significant casualties and widespread displacement. The conflict has led to a severe humanitarian crisis, with growing concerns of famine and ongoing negotiations for a cease-fire involving U.S., Egyptian, and Qatari mediators.
On Thursday, President Joe Biden announced a new $225 million aid package for Ukraine, which includes a Patriot missile system to strengthen its air defenses against Russian airstrikes, as well as Stinger missiles, HIMARS ammunition, and additional artillery rounds. This announcement came during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who also requested U.S. permission to use long-range missiles against targets in Russia. The aid package is part of a broader international effort to support Ukraine, with additional commitments from NATO allies for various air defense systems and munitions. This new package follows previous pledges, including $150 million in weapons and $2.2 billion for future security assistance.
Ariel Golfeyz, a 31-year-old Jewish man from Baltimore, was assaulted outside the Foggy Bottom metro station in Washington, DC, in what police are investigating as a hate crime. Golfeyz, who was wearing a kippah, was attacked by a man who allegedly targeted him because of his Jewish identity and expressed antisemitic views during the assault. The attacker, Walter James, 38, was arrested for simple assault and a hate bias crime. The incident occurred amid a significant rise in antisemitic hate crimes across the US, particularly following the recent Israel-Hamas conflict. Golfeyz criticized the police response time and said he may now conceal his religious symbols in public for safety.
Israel NEWS
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that Rafa’a Salameh, the commander of Hamas’s Khan Younis Brigade, was killed in a targeted airstrike on terrorist infrastructure in southern Gaza. Salameh, a prominent Hamas leader since the 1990s and a key figure in the October 7 massacre and the 2006 kidnapping of IDF soldier Gilad Shalit, was struck along with other Hamas targets. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had earlier stated that while the deaths of Salameh and Hamas military leader Mohammed Deif were not confirmed, efforts to eliminate Hamas’s leadership would continue. Hamas sources confirmed Salameh’s death but denied Deif’s death, though there were reports of injuries. The IDF’s strike also resulted in numerous casualties, complicating the identification of the bodies involved.
Three Israelis were lightly wounded in a terrorist shooting near Shavei Shomron in Samaria. The attack, which left the victims with glass shard injuries, occurred as they traveled from Avnei Hefetz to Har Bracha. In response, the IDF launched a manhunt for the attackers, while also addressing recent incidents including a terrorist being shot after attacking a Border Police officer, and a friendly-fire incident wounding three Israelis. The attack highlighted ongoing security challenges in Judea and Samaria amidst broader regional conflicts, including the recent killing of Hamas leader Rafa’a Salameh in Gaza and increased international aid efforts for both Ukraine and Palestinians.
Israel's Prime Minister's Office condemned the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), following the Foreign Ministry's revelation that 108 of its employees are also Hamas terrorists. The Foreign Ministry's letter to UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini claimed that this is only a small part of a larger list of hundreds of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) members working within the agency. Israel accused UNRWA of collaborating with Hamas and cited evidence such as a Hamas server farm under UNRWA headquarters and Hamas tunnels beneath UNRWA schools. Israeli government spokesman David Mencer criticized UNRWA's role in Gaza and called for the end of the agency's operations there, accusing it of failing in its humanitarian mission and promoting violence against Jews.
The Tower of David Jerusalem Museum opened a unique art exhibition last Tuesday evening at the Kishle, a historic former Ottoman and British prison located just inside Jaffa Gate in Jerusalem’s Old City. The Kishle, built in the 1800s by the Ottoman Turks and later used by the British in the 1940s to detain Jewish militia members, was extensively excavated from 1999-2000 under the direction of Dr. Amit Re’em from the Israel Antiquities Authority. This site, which includes layers of Jerusalem’s history from the First Temple period to the British Mandate, now serves as the backdrop for the contemporary art exhibition “Umbilicus,” curated by Dr. Adina Kamien and Malu Zayon. The exhibition, which features works by artists such as Hannan Abu-Hussein and Sharon Balaban, blends modern art with the ancient remains of Jewish, Hasmonean, and Ottoman Jerusalem. The museum, recently reopened after a major renovation, invites visitors to explore its ten galleries that depict Jerusalem’s historical significance for Jews, Christians, and Muslims.
WORLD NEWS
China will host senior officials from Hamas and Fatah for talks next week aimed at bridging the longstanding divide between the rival Palestinian factions. The meeting, set for July 21 and 23, will feature Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of Hamas, and Mahmoud al-Aloul, the deputy chairman of Fatah, and will be led by China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi. This diplomatic effort comes as a cease-fire deal in Gaza seems within reach, with experts emphasizing the need for Hamas and Fatah to collaborate on Gaza’s reconstruction. Previous mediation attempts, including a similar Beijing-hosted meeting in April, failed to produce results, but China remains committed to its role as a global peace broker. Beijing’s involvement reflects its broader strategy to increase influence in the Middle East and contrasts with Western criticism of Hamas.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre announced that Norway will donate six F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine to bolster its defense against Russian attacks. The donation, set to begin in 2024, comes as part of Norway's ongoing support for Ukraine amid the Russian invasion. Gahr Støre emphasized that the F-16s will be crucial for Ukraine's air defense capabilities. Norway, which retired its F-16 fleet in 2021 in favor of new F-35A Joint Strike Fighters, joins the Netherlands and Denmark as European countries providing these advanced jets to Ukraine. This move reinforces Norway’s position as a leading global donor to Ukraine's war effort.
Russian authorities escalated their crackdown on opposition figures by adding Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of deceased opposition leader Alexei Navalny, to their list of “terrorists and extremists.” This designation follows a Moscow court’s recent arrest warrant for Navalnaya, who lives abroad, on unsubstantiated charges of involvement with an extremist group, threatening her with arrest should she return to Russia. Navalny, a vocal critic of President Vladimir Putin, died in February 2023 under suspicious circumstances while imprisoned on politically motivated extremism charges. Navalnaya, who has accused Putin of being behind her husband’s poisoning and death, remains a prominent opposition figure. The Kremlin’s actions against her are part of a broader, intensified crackdown on dissent since the start of the Ukraine war, which has led to widespread persecution of activists, journalists, and critics.
