NEW YORK NEWS
Mourners leaving a memorial service for Henry Kissinger on the Upper East Side were harassed by a group of radicals, as shown in video footage. Six individuals trailed a couple who had paid their respects at Temple Emanu-El, waving signs and verbally abusing them. The protesters, including pro-Palestine demonstrators, disrupted attendees, shouted insults, and threw water at them. Far-left protesters gathered across the street, cheering Kissinger’s death and engaging in violent confrontations, including one involving an individual with an Israeli flag pin. The incidents prompted criticism, with one observer calling the actions “cowardice” and a “new low.” Henry Kissinger, a significant figure in US foreign policy, passed away at the age of 100 on November 29, 2023.
Brothers Andrew Hatziagelis, 39, and Angelo Hatziagelis, 51, were arrested and indicted on 130 counts after authorities discovered a cache of weapons, including homemade bombs and ghost guns, in their family’s Queens apartment. The brothers, who allegedly maintained a “human sacrifice” hit list targeting law enforcement, judges, politicians, celebrities, and “banker scum,” were arrested following a joint operation involving the Queens District Attorney’s Office, the NYPD, and the US Department of Homeland Security. The indictment revealed the presence of improvised explosive devices, body armor, AR-15-style and 9mm ghost guns, as well as a disturbing note detailing a “hit list” and advocating for “human sacrifices” limited to corrupt individuals. The brothers operated a ghost gun manufacturing setup in their Astoria apartment and were arrested after a search warrant execution on January 17. If convicted, each brother faces up to 25 years in prison, with their court appearance scheduled for February 15. Authorities emphasized the potential harm the weapons cache could have caused, praising the operation for making the city safer.
Brooklyn public school teachers at PS 705 are accused of using anti-Israel propaganda in lessons for eight-year-olds, drawing from materials that distort the classic “Wheels on the Bus” song into an anti-Israel version. The teachers, Giuseppe Rebaudengo and Anna Battaglia, allegedly utilized resources from the ultra-left website Woke Kindergarten, which criticizes Israel. The questionable lessons include drawings of watermelons, a symbol of anti-Israel activism. Critics argue that such teaching amounts to indoctrination and bias, while others emphasize the importance of presenting balanced perspectives. The teachers face criticism for fostering a one-sided narrative and promoting a social justice agenda. The NYC Public Schools Alliance highlights concerns about potential bias affecting Jewish and Israeli students. The incident raises questions about the supervision and vetting of educational materials. The teachers have not responded to inquiries.
A bomb threat at a West Hempstead yeshiva on Shabbos morning was determined to be a hoax by Nassau County police. Officers, responding to the Hebrew Academy of Nassau County, conducted a thorough search with police dogs, extending to the nearby Young Israel of West Hempstead synagogue. After finding no evidence of a bomb, additional searches were carried out in nearby places of worship as a precaution, all yielding negative results. Residents were shaken by the threat, which disrupted services and led to the rescheduling of a private event.
Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), who was recently censured by the House of Representatives for pulling a fire alarm during a House session, faced scrutiny after reports revealed he promoted 9/11 conspiracy theories in a blog while serving as a high school principal in 2011. The blog post suggested the collapse of Building 7 was a controlled demolition and referenced films like Loose Change and Zeitgeist. In response, Bowman stated that this occurred over a decade ago during a phase of exploring various perspectives, emphasizing that he does not endorse conspiracy theories. He expressed regret over the post and highlighted his subsequent efforts as a congressman to condemn conspiracy theories and confront far-right extremism. The incident comes amid criticism and a call for a Department of Justice investigation into Bowman’s false fire alarm activation in the House building, with surveillance footage contradicting his claim of mistakenly triggering the alarm.
Paul Vallone, former city councilmember and deputy commissioner of the city’s Department of Veterans’ Services, has passed away at 56. Vallone, who represented northeast Queens in the City Council from 2014 to 2021, hailed from a political family, with his father, Peter Vallone Sr., being the City Council’s first speaker. Survived by his wife and three children, Vallone is remembered as a passionate public servant and advocate for military veterans. Queens Borough President Donovan Richards and Councilmember Bob Holden expressed condolences, praising Vallone as a great leader and a positive presence in City Hall.
US NEWS
Iranian-backed terrorists carried out a drone attack in the Middle East, resulting in the deaths of three U.S. soldiers and injuries to dozens more. This marks the 159th attack on U.S. forces since mid-October. The attack occurred in northeast Jordan near the Syria border. President Joe Biden attributed the attack to “radical Iran-backed militant groups operating in Syria and Iraq.” At least 34 soldiers are being evaluated for possible traumatic brain injuries. Critics, including foreign policy experts, blamed Biden’s perceived weakness in responding to adversaries, arguing that the strategy of using half measures out of fear of escalation is ineffective and endangers American lives.
In December, U.S. Customs and Border Protection recorded 302,034 illegal alien encounters, marking the highest level ever recorded and surpassing the previous record set in September 2023. The Biden administration released this information late on a Friday evening. The surge in illegal alien numbers under Biden has led to a situation where December’s figures almost match the total apprehensions for the entire 2017 fiscal year (303,916). The crisis at the southern border is described as intentional by some critics, including former Acting DHS Secretary Chad Wolf, who believes the administration is not using its existing authority to secure the border. Texas Governor Greg Abbott is facing legal challenges from the Biden administration for attempting to address the crisis, and House Speaker Mike Johnson expressed support for impeachment efforts against DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. 25 Republican governors expressed support for Abbott’s actions at the border.
A jury has ordered former President Donald Trump to pay writer E. Jean Carroll $83.3 million in damages in a defamation trial. Carroll accused Trump of rape in the 1990s, which he denied. The jury found Trump owed Carroll $11 million for the costs of a campaign to repair her reputation and $7.3 million for emotional harm. Additionally, $65 million in punitive damages was awarded. Carroll had initially requested $10 million in her lawsuit, and her legal team asked for $24 million in closing arguments. Trump vowed to appeal the decision, calling it a “Biden Directed Witch Hunt.”
A judge ruled there is enough evidence for the case against Michael Jackson-Bolanos, accused of fatally stabbing Jewish leader Samantha Woll, to proceed to trial court with an added first-degree murder charge. The judge found both options, the prosecution’s argument based on surveillance video and cellphone tower data and the defense’s argument of circumstantial evidence, to be plausible. Jackson-Bolanos is accused of stabbing Woll eight times during a home invasion in Detroit. The prosecution presented surveillance videos showing Jackson-Bolanos in the area of Woll’s home around the time of her murder, while the defense argued there was not enough time for him to commit the crime.
Georgia lawmakers passed a bill defining anti-Semitism in state law, adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition. The bill aims to help identify hate crimes and illegal discrimination targeting Jewish people, with sponsors emphasizing its role after a crime has been committed. Critics expressed concerns about potential impacts on free speech, while supporters argued it was about safeguarding the dignity and safety of the Jewish community. The bill passed the Senate 44-6 and the House 129-5, with Republican Gov. Brian Kemp indicating he would sign it. The definition focuses on the perception of Jews and manifestations of anti-Semitism.
Anti-Israel protesters gathered outside Senator John Fetterman’s home in Braddock, Pennsylvania, waving Palestinian flags. In response, Fetterman went to his roof and waved an Israeli flag. Video footage captured the scene, with protesters accusing Fetterman of supporting genocide. Some expressed support for Fetterman’s actions and criticized the protest at his home. Fetterman, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, has stirred controversy within his party’s progressive wing due to his support for Israel and his stance on border issues. He gained attention for displaying missing posters of Israelis kidnapped during the October 7 attacks by Hamas in his Senate office. Fetterman also defended Israel against accusations of genocide, challenging critics, particularly South Africa, to reconsider their stance.
The IRS contractor who pleaded guilty to leaking the federal tax records of former President Donald Trump and some of the nation’s wealthiest individuals was sentenced Monday to 5 years in prison, 3 years supervised release and a $5,000 fine. The sentence brings to an end to a criminal case that exposed the source of a number of high-profile tax information leaks in recent years.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin returned to work at the Pentagon for the first time since being hospitalized for complications following a prostate cancer treatment procedure. Austin, 70, briefly addressed his health situation during a meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, expressing gratitude for good wishes. He also commented on the recent drone attack on a base in Jordan, vowing not to tolerate attacks on U.S. forces and pledging necessary actions to defend the U.S. and troops. Austin had been conducting duties from home since his release from the hospital on January 15, and his return followed scrutiny over the lack of disclosure about his health. The White House released new guidelines for Cabinet secretaries to enhance transparency.
Alabama executed Kenneth Eugene Smith, 58, using nitrogen gas, a method never before attempted in the United States. Smith, convicted of a 1988 murder-for-hire slaying, was pronounced dead at an Alabama prison. The execution, designed to cause oxygen deprivation through pure nitrogen gas administered with a face mask, took about 22 minutes. Critics deemed it cruel and experimental, while supporters argued it was effective and humane. Smith’s attorneys contended the untested method violated the constitutional ban on cruel and unusual punishment. Alabama had previously attempted to execute Smith in 2022, but the lethal injection was halted.
Israel NEWS
Hamas has seemingly rejected a proposed framework for a hostage release deal with Israel, insisting on a complete and comprehensive ceasefire, withdrawal of all Israeli troops from Gaza, and an end to Israeli “aggression” before any agreement. The proposed deal reportedly includes phased pauses in the conflict, the release of Israeli hostages, increased aid to Gaza, and the release of Palestinian prisoners. While there are reports of progress, both sides acknowledge significant gaps, and Israel emphasizes that no deal has been finalized. The situation remains complex, and negotiations are ongoing.
Israeli forces conducted an overnight operation to eliminate three members of a Hamas terror cell in the Ibn Sina hospital in Jenin. The cell was reportedly planning imminent attacks inspired by Hamas’s October 7 massacre. The IDF carried out the operation dressed as doctors, nurses, and Palestinian women, targeting the terrorists with silenced weapons in a safe room. One of the terrorists, Muhammad Jalamneh, had connections with Hamas leaders abroad, procured weapons, and was previously involved in plotting a car bombing. The IDF noted the cynical use of civilian spaces like hospitals by terror groups. Earlier, a tunnel shaft rigged with explosives was uncovered in the Jenin refugee camp, and 19 Palestinians were arrested in counterterror operations across Judea and Samaria.
El Al has decided to discontinue its Tel Aviv to Johannesburg route, citing a significant decline in demand by Israeli travelers since the war with Hamas and South Africa’s ongoing genocide case against Israel in the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The airline mentioned that Israelis are canceling flights to South Africa, leading to empty planes. This decision comes amid a broader reduction in air travel to and from Israel since October 7, following terrorist attacks, with several major airlines canceling flights.
WORLD NEWS
Several countries, including the United States, Germany, UK, Australia, Italy, Canada, Finland, and the Netherlands, have paused future funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) amid allegations that some of its workers participated in the Oct. 7 attack on Israel. The pause in funding follows Israel’s accusations that UNRWA serves as the “civilian arm of Hamas.” The agency is responsible for delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza, and the funding pause may worsen the humanitarian crisis in the region. UNRWA has terminated the contracts of nine employees implicated in the attacks, and an investigation by the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services is underway. The funding pause affects a significant portion of UNRWA’s budget.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) rejected a request from South Africa to order a halt to Israel’s defensive war against Hamas in Gaza. In its provisional ruling, the ICJ insisted that Israel take necessary measures to prevent actions leading to genocide, dismissing South Africa’s demand for immediate return of residents to northern Gaza. The court ordered Israel to prevent genocide, ensure IDF troops avoid such acts, punish incitement, and preserve evidence. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the claim of committing genocide, vowing to continue the war until victory. The ruling is binding but lacks enforcement.
In Vicenza, Italy, anti-Israel protesters attacked police during demonstrations against the inclusion of an Israeli stand in a jewelry fair. The clashes resulted in injuries to ten police officers, with the crowd firing flares and smoke bombs. Protesters, many from the city’s social centers, carried signs reading “Stop global war,” “Free Palestine,” and “Block Israel.” The mayor of Vicenza, Giacomo Possamai, condemned the violence, stating that the right to demonstrate is sacred but engaging in violent acts contradicts the cause of peace and diverts attention from the situation in Israel and Palestine.
A knife-wielding attacker targeted Kay’s Local, a kosher supermarket in Golders Green, London, demanding to know the owners’ stance on “Israel or Palestine.” The attacker was arrested on suspicion of racially-aggravated affray. The incident involved a physical struggle outside the store, with no reported injuries. Shopkeepers and shoppers fought off the attacker, who was arrested by police. The incident is not being treated as terror-related. The incident occurred amid heightened tension and antisemitic incidents in London since Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel. The Community Security Trust urged vigilance in the community.
A military transport plane, reportedly carrying Ukrainian prisoners of war, crashed in Russia’s Belgorod region, near the border with Ukraine. Russia claims that Ukrainian forces shot down the plane with two missiles, while Ukraine casts doubt on the presence of POWs and suggests other theories. The crash triggered accusations and counterclaims in the ongoing information war between the two sides. Both Russia and Ukraine have used accusations to influence public opinion domestically and internationally. The crash further complicates the already tense situation, with the war in its second year and an increased focus on long-range strikes.
