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Netanyahu’s ‘Greater Israel’ Remarks Sets Off a Wave of Anger in Egypt

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Egypt has strongly denounced Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ‘Greater Israel’ vision, which implies expanding Israel’s territories from the Nile to the Euphrates rivers.

In a statement late on Wednesday, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said Netanyahu’s remarks undermine regional stability and reflect a policy direction opposed to peace, one that aims for escalation.

“This contradicts the aspirations of regional and international parties that crave peace and want to achieve security and stability for all regional peoples,” the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said.

“Egypt is keen on laying the foundations of peace in the Middle East,” it added.

Netanyahu stirred up major debates in Egypt after divulging his attachment to the controversial vision. During an interview with the Israeli television channel i24 late on Tuesday, the far-right premier said he feels he is on a “historic and spiritual mission” to fulfill this vision. (Read more from “Netanyahu’s ‘Greater Israel’ Remarks Sets Off a Wave of Anger in Egypt” HERE)

IDF Claims Killed Gaza Journalist Was Hamas Member as UN, EU Demand Independent Investigation

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The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said Monday that Anas al-Sharif, a veteran Al Jazeera correspondent killed in Gaza City over the weekend, was a member of Hamas’ military wing and received a salary from the group. The claim, made amid mounting global condemnation of the strike, comes as the European Union and United Nations call for an independent investigation into the killing of al-Sharif and five other journalists.

Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani, the IDF’s international spokesman, stated that “current intelligence” showed al-Sharif was “the head of a Hamas terrorist cell” and had been involved in coordinating rocket attacks on both Israeli civilians and soldiers. The IDF did not provide details on the nature of the intelligence or public evidence supporting the allegation.

The strike, which took place Sunday near Gaza City’s Shifa Hospital, also killed Al Jazeera correspondent Mohammed Qraiqea, cameramen Ibrahim Zaher, Moamen Aliwa, and Mohammed Noufal, along with freelance journalist Mohammad al-Khaldi. The IDF declined to comment on any alleged affiliations of the other reporters killed in the incident.

International reaction was swift. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas urged Israel to provide “clear evidence” for its claims about al-Sharif’s ties to Hamas. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called for an “independent and impartial investigation,” noting that at least 242 journalists have been killed in Gaza since the current war began. UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric stressed that “journalists and media workers must be respected, they must be protected, and they must be allowed to carry out their work freely, free from fear and free from harassment.”

Al Jazeera has rejected Israel’s claims outright, accusing the IDF of deliberately targeting its staff in Gaza. The network released a statement calling the killing of al-Sharif and his colleagues “a direct attack on press freedom” and “part of a systematic campaign to silence journalists.”

A posthumous message, reportedly written by al-Sharif in April in case of his death, was published on his social media account Monday morning. In it, he urged the public “not to forget Gaza” and warned of the dangers facing those reporting from the conflict zone.

The attack came just days after Israel announced plans to take full control of Gaza City and relocate approximately one million Palestinians currently sheltering there to the south of the territory. The decision, and the broader military campaign, have drawn criticism from multiple countries, including some of Israel’s closest allies.

Since the start of the war, Israel has barred most foreign journalists from independently entering Gaza, except for a limited number of press tours arranged under military supervision.

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Jeffrey Epstein IDF Sweatshirt Photo Sparks Mossad Connection Theories; Former Butler Speaks Out

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A newly surfaced photograph of Jeffrey Epstein wearing an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) sweatshirt is reigniting speculation about the disgraced financier’s alleged ties to Israeli intelligence. The image—taken just months before his arrest in 2019—shows Epstein smiling aboard his private jet, a relaxed pose that sharply contrasts with the serious questions it raises. For years, rumors have swirled that Epstein may have worked with Mossad, Israel’s intelligence agency, a claim he reportedly laughed off.

The image, shared by Epstein’s longtime Paris butler Valdson Vieira Cotrin, was reportedly taken aboard Epstein’s private jet in January 2019. In the picture, Epstein appears relaxed, smiling, and noticeably puffy-faced. Cotrin, who worked for Epstein for 18 years as butler, chauffeur, and cook, claims it may be one of the last photographs of him before his arrest on July 6, 2019.

Cotrin, speaking to The Telegraph, insisted he did not believe Epstein died by suicide, stating his former employer “loved life too much” and was confident about securing bail before his death in August 2019. The butler also expressed fear for his own safety and suggested foul play in the April 2024 death of Virginia Giuffre, who had accused Prince Andrew of sexual assault. Authorities ruled Giuffre’s death a suicide.

In the same interview, Cotrin claimed that Epstein told him in 2016 he had been offered a position in Donald Trump’s first administration but declined. There is no evidence supporting the claim, and Trump has said he severed ties with Epstein in 2004 after a business dispute.

Cotrin remains in possession of multiple photographs with Epstein’s associates, including a shot of himself with former President Bill Clinton aboard Epstein’s notorious “Lolita Express,” the private plane prosecutors say was used to traffic underage girls.

The renewed attention to the IDF sweatshirt photo comes as pressure mounts on the Trump administration to make the Epstein files public.

Trump Admin Reverses Course After Outrage Over Israel Boycott Funding Ban

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The Trump administration has rolled back a controversial policy that would have blocked federal disaster preparedness grants from cities and states engaged in boycotts against Israel. The change came just days after updated funding guidance from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) sparked widespread criticism.

On Friday, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) released guidelines for its upcoming grant cycle, which governs the distribution of over $1.9 billion in emergency preparedness funding. The guidance originally referenced a DHS provision that prohibited awarding funds to jurisdictions involved in “discriminatory prohibited boycotts”—a phrase specifically defined to include boycotts of Israeli companies or entities doing business with Israel.

The policy language, which appeared to mirror anti-boycott measures found in some state laws, quickly drew backlash—not only from critics of Israel’s policies but also from prominent voices within the MAGA movement, who accused the administration of applying political litmus tests to public safety funding.

By Monday, DHS quietly updated the guidance, removing the explicit reference to anti-Israel boycotts while retaining more general anti-discrimination provisions. The reversal came after increased public scrutiny and pressure from right-leaning commentators and media outlets.

A DHS spokesperson clarified that no state or city had been denied funding and that no new restrictions had been imposed. “FEMA grants remain governed by existing law and policy, not political viewpoints,” the spokesperson said, adding that the department enforces anti-discrimination laws, including those concerning the boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) movement.

The initial proposal could have affected more than $300 million in emergency preparedness funding and over $1 billion in anti-terrorism support for major cities. While the policy is no longer in effect, the controversy highlights ongoing tensions surrounding U.S. policy toward Israel and how domestic political positions on the issue can impact federal funding.

President Trump has maintained strong public support for Israel, but this incident shows that policies seen as punishing dissent—even perceived anti-Israel sentiment—can create political friction, even among allies.

FEMA declined to comment on the policy update or its original inclusion in the funding requirements.

Second American Citizen Allegedly Killed by Israeli Settlers in West Bank

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A U.S. citizen has died following an alleged attack by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank, marking the second American fatality linked to settler violence in less than a month.

Khamis Abdul Latif Ayyad, 41, reportedly died from smoke inhalation after fires were set to vehicles and homes in the village of Silwad, located northeast of Ramallah, late Thursday night. According to reports from the Miami Herald and Palestinian news sources, the fires were allegedly started by Israeli settlers who entered the village under cover of darkness.

“We can confirm the death of a U.S. citizen in the town of Silwad in the West Bank,” a U.S. State Department spokesperson said. “We offer condolences to the family on their loss and are providing consular assistance to them. We condemn criminal violence by any party in the West Bank.”

Ayyad’s family said the fire broke out after settlers torched several cars and homes in the neighborhood. A funeral was held Friday in Silwad. An autopsy has been scheduled to confirm his cause of death.

The attack comes amid growing unrest in the region, where violence between Israeli settlers and Palestinians has intensified throughout 2024. Ayyad is now the second American citizen confirmed dead as a result of that violence this month.

On July 11, 20-year-old Palestinian-American Sayfollah Musallet died after reportedly being beaten by settlers during clashes near the northern West Bank village of Burqa. That incident followed the hurling of rocks at Israeli civilians, which escalated into physical altercations, arson, and blockades, according to the Israeli Defense Forces. Musallet’s injuries allegedly went untreated for two hours because emergency medical crews were denied access by settlers, a friend of the victim told The Washington Post.

Ayyad had lived in the United States with his wife since 2008, but returned to the West Bank with his family during the COVID-19 pandemic. He is remembered by relatives as a devoted husband and father.

“He was loved by everyone,” his brother told reporters. “He caused no problems at all.”

Ayyad leaves behind his wife and five children, ages 6 to 15.

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REPORT: Settlers Allegedly Vandalize, Attack Palestinian Christian Village

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Israeli settlers allegedly attacked the Christian village of Taybeh in the West Bank Sunday and reportedly threw stones at houses, lit multiple cars on fire and left threatening graffiti messages on the walls.

The alleged attacks were carried out by a group called “Hilltop Youth,” Vatican News reported. The group is led by Neria ban Pazi. who previously targeted “farmland and livestock” in the West Bank, according to the outlet.

A group of settlers arrived at around 2:20 a.m., Vatican News reported.

There are no reports of arrests as of publication, according to the Times of Israel.

The reported attack occurred after multiple Palestinian Christian leaders accused Israeli settlers of setting fires near a Christian cemetery and a 5th-century Greek Orthodox Church, according to Reuters in July.

“These actions are a direct and intentional threat to our local community … but also to the historic and religious heritage,” Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos II said at a press conference in Taybeh, according to the outlet. (Read more from “REPORT: Settlers Allegedly Vandalize, Attack Palestinian Christian Village” HERE)

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UNPRECEDENTED: Ambassador Huckabee Threatens Israel over Its Visa Restrictions on Christian Groups

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In a strongly worded letter to Israeli Interior Minister Moshe Arbel, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee voiced his dissatisfaction with Israel’s refusal to grant collective entry visas to numerous Christian organizations, according to a report by N12 on Thursday.

Huckabee stated, “It would be unfortunate if we were forced to publicly disclose that Israel is engaging in harassment and displaying a negative stance toward these groups.” He concluded with a pointed warning: “Should this continue, I will have no choice but to consider implementing reciprocal measures against Israeli citizens requesting US visas.”

The letter, one of the most severe ever sent by a US ambassador to an Israeli official, was also forwarded to several high-ranking Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Isaac Herzog, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, and Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, the N12 report added.

N12 further elaborated on Huckabee’s remarks, where he noted the irony of Israel’s stance against Christian organizations despite the strong US-Israel alliance under President Trump. According to Huckabee, the Israeli Interior Ministry has been independently investigating each evangelical organization, requiring them to submit detailed forms regarding their religious beliefs, activities, and assets in Israel.

As a result, these groups have been denied new visas for religious representatives, pending the investigation’s conclusion, the report noted. (Read more from “Ambassador Huckabee Threatens Israel over Its Visa Restrictions on Christian Groups” HERE)

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Uri Geller: Israel Used Secret Group of Military Psychics, AI to Attack Iran

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In a phone interview, Geller elaborated that this reveal supports a claim made by Abdollah Ganji, former editor of the IRGC-linked newspaper Javan, that Israel utilized “occult and supernatural forces” during what the IDF dubbed Operation Rising Lion.

“In the first year of the Gaza war, news had leaked about [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu meeting with occult specialists,” Ganji said on X/Twitter.

“A few years ago, the Supreme Leader had stated that hostile countries and Western and Hebrew intelligence services use occult sciences and jinn entities for espionage.”

While the Mossad’s Farsi X account was quick to lampoon this allegation, Geller said that Ganji was “basically right.”

“The circumstances in Iran were so mysterious and so bizarre that the Iranian government realized that this cannot happen with mechanical means or cyberattacks. They cannot happen with anything known to the human mind from a scientific point of view,” he explained. (Read more from “Uri Geller: Israel Used Secret Group of Military Psychics, AI to Attack Iran” HERE)

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US Reportedly Asks Israel To Stop Bombing The Hell Out Of Its New Neighbor

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The United States has reportedly asked Israel to cease bombing the Syrian capital of Damascus as Tel Aviv claims to defend the Druze minority from sectarian violence, a senior defense official told Axios Wednesday.

U.S. Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack has reportedly made several phone calls to Israeli officials calling for deescalation of the conflict, according to Axios. The bombing began Tuesday as reports of violence against the Druze minority and Bedouin tribes in southern Syria circulated, which prompted the new Syrian government to intervene.

However, Israel began its strikes on Syria in retaliation, citing a commitment to protecting the religious and ethnic minority. Now U.S. officials are pleading with Israel to resolve things peacefully with the new Syrian government, which toppled former president Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2024.

“We told the Israelis to stand down and take a breath,” the senior official told Axios. (Read more from “US Reportedly Asks Israel To Stop Bombing The Hell Out Of Its New Neighbor” HERE)

Tucker Carlson Calls for Stripping Citizenship from Americans Who Served in the Israeli Army; Carlson Claims Jeffrey Epstein Worked for Israel to Blackmail U.S. Officials

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By The Forward. Tucker Carlson, the former Fox News host and a leader in the Republican Party’s isolationist wing, said that Americans who previously served in the Israeli Defense Forces should have their U.S. citizenship revoked over concerns of dual loyalty. At the same time, he also criticized the Trump administration for trying to deport pro-Palestinian students who engaged in anti-Israel activity on campus.

“There are a lot of Americans who’ve served in the IDF — they should lose their citizenship,” Carlson said in a 45-minute speech on Saturday at the Turning Point USA Student Action Summit in Tampa, Florida. “You can’t fight for another country and remain an American, period.” . . .

Carlson also devoted nearly half of his speech to a government memo, released last week, related to the Jeffrey Epstein scandal that has embroiled the administration and caused divisions within Trump’s base in recent days. Carlson claimed that Epstein, a disgraced Jewish financier accused of sex trafficking, was working for the Mossad, the Israeli intelligence service.

“It’s extremely obvious to anyone who watches that this guy had direct connections to a foreign government,” Carlson said. “No one is allowed to say that that foreign government is Israel, because we have been somehow cowed into thinking that that’s naughty. There is nothing wrong with saying that. There is nothing hateful about saying that. There’s nothing antisemitic about saying. There’s nothing even anti-Israel about saying that.” (Read more from “Tucker Carlson Calls for Stripping Citizenship from Americans Who Served in the Israeli Army” HERE)

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Tucker Carlson claims Jeffrey Epstein worked for Israel to blackmail US officials: ‘Every single person in DC thinks that’

By Independent UK. Tucker Carlson has claimed that deceased child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein was working for the Israeli government and that “every single person in Washington D.C.” thinks the same.

“I’ve never met anyone who doesn’t think that. I don’t know any of them that hate Israel. But no one feels they can say that,” the former Fox News host told an audience in Florida on Friday.

Carlson also suggested that the disgraced financier may have been running “a blackmail operation” as he discussed new information recently released by the Department of Justice. . .

Speaking about the development at a Turning Point USA summit in Tampa, Carlson slammed the findings of the administration.“The real question is, why was he doing this, on whose behalf, and where did the money come from?” he said.

“I think the real answer is Jeffrey Epstein was working on behalf of intel services, probably not American. And we have every right to ask, on whose behalf was he working? (Read more from “Tucker Carlson claims Jeffrey Epstein worked for Israel to blackmail US officials: ‘Every single person in DC thinks that’” HERE)

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr