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The Ukrainian president condemned his Russian counterpart after Putin had said his friends told him Zelensky was a “disgrace” to the Jewish people.

By Batya Jerenberg, World Israel News

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told a BBC interviewer Wednesday that Russian leader Vladimir Putin was one of the most terrible antisemites in history.

“It’s like he doesn’t fully understand his words,” Zelensky said. “Apologies, but it’s like he is the second king of antisemitism after Hitler. This is a president speaking. A civilized world cannot speak that way. But it was important for me to hear the reaction of the world and I am grateful for the support.”

Zelensky also made a point of mentioning that Israel was not one of the countries that condemned Putin’s statement. The silence was criticized by various senior Ukrainian officials, including the head of the president’s office, Andriy Yermak, who said Tuesday that he “expected” Israel’s top political echelon to respond to the “insulting words.”

Speaking at an economic forum in St. Petersburg Friday, Putin had said that “a lot” of his Jewish friends had told him that his Ukrainian foe “is not Jewish, that he is a disgrace to the Jewish people.” He then reiterated one of his major claims for having begun the war, that the country promoted Nazism, saying Kyiv puts “neo-Nazis” on “a pedestal belonging to Ukrainian heroes, who continued Adolf Hitler’s work.”

Among others who criticized Putin’s statements, Deborah Lipstadt, the Biden administration’s antisemitism monitor, had tweeted in response, “President Zelensky’s Jewishness has nothing to do with the situation in Ukraine and Putin’s continued focus on this topic and ‘denazification’ narrative is clearly intended to distract from Russia’s war of aggression against the Ukrainian people.”

First Lady Olena Zelenska told The Jerusalem Post in her own interview Tuesday that Putin’s words were “very disgraceful. I don’t know how, in the political context, you can discuss someone’s ethnicity at all.”

The Ukrainian president is in fact fully Jewish, having been born to two Jewish parents. He takes particular offense at the Nazi comparisons, since his grandfather was the only survivor of the Holocaust out of his immediate family. His grandfather’s three brothers and parents were all murdered by the Germans during World War II.

Zelenska is in Israel on a week-long trip after being invited by President Isaac Herzog’s wife, Michal. The two are working together to help Ukrainians who suffer from mental health problems stemming from the 16-month-old Russian invasion of its southern neighbor. Israel has trained more than 2,000 Ukrainian mental health personnel so far, and Zelenska visited several mental health centers as well as physically wounded Ukrainian soldiers recovering in Israeli hospitals.

The post Zelensky: Putin is the ‘second king of antisemitism after Hitler’ appeared first on World Israel News.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said that the global Muslim community supports Palestinian terror groups, including Hamas.

By World Israel News Staff

Hamas politburo head Ismail Haniyeh praised young Palestinians who are embracing jihad against Israel, saying that their enthusiasm for anti-Israel causes signals a “bright future” ahead for terror groups during a diplomatic visit to Iran.

Haniyeh has been in Tehran for several days, meeting with senior officials from the Islamic Republic.

During a meeting on Wednesday with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s highest religious authority, Haniyeh discussed escalating terror in Judea and Samaria.

“The recent clashes are clear evidence of the younger generation entering the arena of conflict,” Haniyeh said, Hebrew-language media reported.

“The entry of the young people into the struggle is a positive sign for a bright future,” he continued, adding that “the resistance is making unprecedented progress against the occupation [Israel].”

Khameini said that the global Muslim community supports Palestinian terror groups, including Hamas.

“The land of Palestine belongs to all Muslims, so all Muslims [throughout the Islamic world] must enter the [struggle] in order to liberate it,” Khameini said, according to Hebrew-language news.

During a meeting earlier this week, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Akbar Ahmadian told Haniyeh that “Palestinian resistance is the best way to overthrow Israel,” according to Iranian state-run media outlet Fars.

Iran and Hamas have long shared close ties, with Haniyeh thanking the Islamic Republic in 2017 for its financial and military support.

Tehran “did not hold back with money, weapons, and technical support,” he said.

On a similar diplomatic visit in April 2022, a delegation composed of high-ranking Hamas officials received a warm welcome in Iran.

At the time, Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said late Iranian leader Imam Khomeini “considered Palestine as the main issue of the Islamic world.” He emphasized that “the Islamic Republic will continue its support for the Palestinians and Al-Quds [Jerusalem.]”

The post Young terrorists creating ‘bright future,’ says Hamas head visiting Iran appeared first on World Israel News.

Last week in Norwalk, Ohio, a two-year-old boy is thought to have caused the death of his pregnant mother by accident.

He had allegedly gotten ahold of his father’s gun, stored in the bedroom drawer, and fired the weapon while playing. Laura Ilg, 31, called 911 after being hit in the back, and was found with her son in an upstairs bedroom.

Emergency medical service members rushed her to the Fisher-Titus Medical Center, where doctors attempted to save the unborn child, but were unsuccessful. Ilg later died from her injuries.

It was shared that the gun was usually kept in a nightstand next to the couple’s bed, and that there were baby gates set up throughout the home to prevent the toddler from straying unattended, but one of them had been left open. Ilg had told police that her son had gotten into the room while she was doing laundry and started playing with the gun, not realizing he had it until she was struck.

Her husband Alek Ilg, who was at work at the time, posted a tribute to his wife and son on Facebook. Their surviving son is being cared for by his father. The police are investigating the function of the firearm and how the toddler was able to activate it.

Ukrainian president blasts those who think war “is a Hollywood movie”.

After nearly a full day of chaotic protests and rioting, Netanyahu agreed to temporarily freeze the construction.

By World Israel News Staff

Senior leaders from Israel’s Druze community sent an open letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, warning him that if work on a controversial wind turbine farm in the Golan Heights isn’t stopped, they will be unable to control rioting and violent resistance from members of the sector.

“The heads of the community consider it appropriate to order an immediate freeze on the work and the withdrawal of the police forces from the area where the construction is being carried out until after the end of the Druze community’s Eid Al-Adha holiday,” they wrote.

“We expect that the Israeli government will respond positively to this request and allow the community members to celebrate the holiday period in peace and tranquility.”

Sheikh Muafek Tarif, the highest religious authority for Druze in Israel, added in a media statement that “the continuation of the existing situation will lead to severe consequences that no one has control over.”

He added that “we do not want violence or confrontations… we demanded to freeze the works in the Golan Heights and enter into dialogue immediately.”

On Wednesday, thousands of Druze blocked major highways and intersections throughout northern Israel, in protest of the construction. Traffic came to a standstill for hours, with some motorists reporting that they had been stuck on the road for up to six hours.

The demonstrations eventually turned violent, with police and protesters repeatedly engaging in physical clashes. At least four Druze men were seriously hurt, with one of them being shot by a police officer and airlifted to Rambam Hospital in Haifa for emergency treatment.

Security forces said that 12 police officers were injured.

After nearly a full day of chaotic protests and rioting, Netanyahu agreed to temporarily freeze the construction.

Several years ago, an Israeli energy company won a tender to construct a massive wind turbine farm in the Golan Heights, which would stretch over hundreds of acres of land and feature windmills that are 220 meters (720 feet) tall, permanently altering the landscape of the area.

Environmental protection groups and residents of the Golan Heights are vehemently opposed to the plan, arguing that it will endanger local migrating birds and negatively impact quality of life for those in the region.

The amount of green energy potentially generated by the project is negligible. Watchdog groups and the company behind the project have estimated that it could provide, at maximum, 0.5 percent of the electricity needed by the Jewish state.

Construction on the turbine farm was originally slated to begin in 2020, but the project has been repeatedly delayed due to intense public backlash.

The post Stop wind turbine farm or face more violent rioting, Druze leaders warn Netanyahu appeared first on World Israel News.

Doing so would “significantly increase the potential for both tourism and business travel,” they say.

By JNS

Allowing Israel to join the U.S. Visa Waiver Program would “significantly increase the potential for both tourism and business travel,” according to a letter penned by 65 senators to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

The move would allow Israelis, like citizens of countries already in the program, to be exempt from needing a travel visa for visits of up to 90 days.

“Approximately 450,000 Israelis travel annually to the U.S., and that number has been increasing each year. With 93 weekly direct flights from Israel to U.S. airports, there is already significant demand for travel,” the senators wrote. “As such, Israel’s participation in VWP would significantly increase the potential for both tourism and business travel.”

“In pursuit of these benefits for both countries, the Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security – particularly Ambassador Nides and the entire staff at the U.S. Embassy in Israel – and the Government of Israel have all worked diligently to enable Israel’s eligibility for VWP.”

“In January, Israel’s non-immigrant visa refusal rate fell below 3%, satisfying one key requirement of eligibility for the program, and since that time the Government of Israel has been working to implement the necessary
technical requirements for inclusion.”

“Finally, Israel’s parliament has passed all of the legislation to facilitate requisite data sharing, which underscores Israel’s commitment to meeting the necessary benchmarks and gaining admission into VWP.”

Sens. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) led the bipartisan group of legislators.

“Israel is a key U.S. ally and trading partner. Waiving the visa requirement for Israelis visiting America reflects these strong ties and will only deepen the relationship to the mutual benefit of both countries,” said AIPAC, which applauded the letter.

The post 65 senators call to add Israel to US Visa Waiver Program appeared first on World Israel News.

Engaging survivors in NGO work should be standard practice, as should respecting each person’s individual complexity

The unspoken truth is that the novel coronavirus provides a pretext to powerful financial interests and corrupt politicians to precipitate the entire World into a spiral of mass unemployment, bankruptcy, extreme poverty and despair.

The post Video: #Yes, It’s a “Killer Vaccine”: Michel Chossudovsky appeared first on Global Research.

Israeli security forces followed the squad and informed the soldiers on the spot about the expected gunfire, after which an IDF drone eliminated the terrorists in time.

By World Israel News Staff

In a highly unusual move on Wednesday evening, the Israel Defense Forces killed a terrorist cell in a drone strike in Jenin.

The three cell members had just carried out a shooting in the town of Jalamah, located about 5 km. north of Jenin in Samaria.

“Following ISA [Israel Security Agency/Shin Bet] intelligence, IDF soldiers identified a terrorist cell inside a suspicious vehicle a short while ago, after the cell carried out a shooting adjacent to the town of Jalamah, “the IDF tweeted after the attack.

“The terrorist cell has carried out a number of shooting attacks toward communities in Judea and Samaria lately. Following the identification of the terrorist cell, an IDF UAV fired toward the cell and thwarted them,” the IDF said.

The terrorist cell has carried out a number of shooting attacks toward communities in Judea and Samaria lately. Following the identification of the terrorist cell, an IDF UAV fired toward the cell and thwarted them. 2/2

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) June 21, 2023

The airstrike was carried out by an Elbit Hermes 450 drone, operated by the Artillery Corps, IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari said.

Three terrorists were killed – Suhaib al-Ghoul, 27, Muhammad Awais, 28, and Ashraf a-Saadi, 17. They had managed to escape after carrying out previous shootings, Hagari said.

Several Israeli officials have been calling for a strong military response due to the significant rise in deadly Palestinian terror attacks over the last few months.

“I praise the security forces who a short time ago carried out a targeted elimination of a terrorist squad that fired towards Israeli territory, and had previously carried out several shooting attacks,” Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stated.

Because it was an unusual event that hadn’t been carried out in 17 years, Gallant gave his approval in advance.

“We will take an offensive and proactive approach to combat terrorism, we will use all the means at our disposal and we will exact the heaviest price from every terrorist or terrorist emissary,” the defense minister said.

The eliminated terrorists hailed from both Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Both groups vowed that this incident will not go “unpunished.”

“The use of planes by the Zionist army to assassinate our people is a grave escalation,” Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem stated.

Telegram blogger Abu Ali Express reported that following the unusual drone strike, Palestinian channels have published the following guidelines for terrorists:

– Don’t travel by car.

– Don’t travel by motorcycle.

– Don’t carry a mobile phone.

– Remain completely concealed from aerial surveillance and avoid any exposure.

–  Use coded language when discussing military matters.

– Utilize messengers to relay messages through notes on paper.

–  Enhance and fortify existing hiding places for militants.

Jenin is a hotbed of Palestinian terror. In an IDF counterterrorism raid in the town on Monday, five terrorists were killed and dozens were injured. Seven Israeli soldiers were wounded as well.

The post Taking off the gloves: IDF airstrike eliminates Jenin terror cell, thwarts attack appeared first on World Israel News.

On Wednesday afternoon, an immense gas blast rocked a private school located in Paris’ Left Bank, leaving 29 people wounded, seven of whom were in critical condition.

The force of the explosion completely destroyed the building on Place Alphonse-Laveran in the 5th arrondissement, creating a plume of smoke that could be seen from the historic dome of the nearby Val de Grace military hospital. The Paris American Academy, a school that prepares students for a career in the arts, was the center of the blast and up to two people were initially reported missing.

Windows throughout the area were shattered and some local residents stated that the power of the explosion was so powerful that it caused their doors to be slammed shut. “It felt like an earthquake, the windows banged against each other,” one woman, who was located a little under a quarter mile away from the explosion, told CNN. In response to the fire, nearly 300 firefighters were deployed to the scene, although Police Chief Laurent Nunez reported that the blaze was contained yet still burning.

Florence Berthout, the mayor of the 5th arrondissement, declared that the blast was “extremely violent,” and noted that pieces of debris were still being flung from nearby buildings onto the street below. The neighborhood was blocked off, and Paris’ prosecutor opened an investigation into whether or not there were any violations of safety codes that may have been involved in the incident.

Achille, a student who was located about 100 yards from the school during the explosion, spoke to BFM television about his experience. “I was sitting on the windowsill, and we moved 2 meters away from the window, carried by a small blast [from the explosion] and huge fear,” he said. “We came down [from the building] and saw the flames. The police gave us great support and we evacuated quickly.”

Gas explosions in Paris, a consequence of the city’s elderly infrastructure, are not rare occurrences. In 2019, four people were killed and several others were wounded after an explosion in the 9th district.