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Friday, October 13, 2023

Iran Attempts to Unite Arab World to Exterminate Israel

Washington Examiner: Iran wants “all Arab and Islamic countries” to unite against Israel in the wake of the Hamas terrorist attack that ignited a war in Gaza. “Today, the most obvious issue before us is that all Arab and Islamic countries should agree on a single and clear position to support the rights of the Palestinian nation and the oppressed people of Gaza,” Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi told Syrian dictator Bashar Assad. U.S. and British forces are moving into the eastern Mediterranean in a bid to deter Iran and its proxies. Iran has launched a diplomatic campaign by phone and in person to rally Middle East leaders against Israel, while Iran-backed terrorist organizations threaten to expand the conflict (Washington Examiner). Times of Israel: During his call with Assad, Raisi also lashed out at Arab countries that have recently normalized or are in discussion to establish ties with Israel. Iran is a key ally of Syria and has backed the Damascus regime with military assistance as it put down a dragging civil war estimated to have cost the lives of over 300,000 civilians (Times of Israel).

Skepticism Over Biden Claim That $6 Billion to Iran Is Now Frozen

Washington Post: U.S. officials and the Qatari government have agreed to stop Iran from accessing a $6 billion account for humanitarian assistance in light of Hamas’s attack on Israel, Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo told House Democrats on Thursday. The deal, financed by Iranian oil sales, allowed Iranian entities — not the Iranian government — to access the funds, and only if they provided extensive documentation showing the money will be used for humanitarian purposes. U.S. officials would have to approve each transaction under the agreement. The money had been transferred to Qatar from banks in South Korea to facilitate the arrangement (Washington Post). National Review: The Post’s report does not say that Qatar is refusing to disburse the funds to third parties at Iran’s direction, or that the transfer of the $6 billion is otherwise rescinded. Unless that happens, this announced agreement with Qatar would just be a feint. The issue has never been Iran’s direct access to the funds. It is whether Iran can benefit from them. Obviously, whether Iran possesses the funds or can decide to whom Qatar can disburse the funds, it would have the capacity to spend them on its governmental needs. Money being fungible, Iran could repurpose what it has already allocated to those governmental needs — i.e., use it to support terrorist operations by Hamas, Hezbollah, and its other jihadist proxies (National Review).

Secretary of State Antony Blinken Visits Israel

ABC: Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday described gruesome photos and videos he reviewed depicting victims of Hamas’ terrorist attack on Israeli civilians. Blinken said that the photos, shown to him behind closed doors by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli government, would ultimately show exactly the horrors its people have confronted and serve to unify through “moral clarity.” The secretary of state told Israel earlier on Thursday that the United States will “always be there” for the nation as it continues to grapple with the attack by Hamas terrorists (ABC). Hill: Antony Blinken announced that at least 25 Americans were confirmed to be killed in the attacks on Israel by Hamas (Hill).

Republicans Introduce Resolution to Censure Rep. Rashida Tlaib Over Her Comments on Israel

Daily Wire: A pair of House Republicans announced a resolution to censure Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) this week following her controversial response to the deadly attack on Israel by Hamas. Rep. Jack Bergman (R-MI), who introduced the measure with another GOP colleague, said Tlaib’s “longstanding history of antisemitic and racist rhetoric toward Israel cannot go unchecked.” The two-page resolution cites a number of comments and actions by Tlaib over the years, including, most recently, her statement on Sunday calling for an end to an “apartheid system” on Palestinians backed by the United States that she said can lead to “resistance” (Daily Wire). Fox News: In addition to censuring Tlaib, the resolution would reaffirm the House of Representative’s support for Israel and reject the notion that it is an “apartheid” state. Tlaib also came under fire this week for flying a Palestinian flag outside her Capitol Hill office. The flag has been there since at least January, but observers were outraged the flag remained following Saturday’s attack (Fox News).

Rep. Steve Scalise Backs Out of Speaker Race

CNN: Rep. Steve Scalise announced he was dropping out of the speaker’s race Thursday after House Republicans failed to coalesce behind him in the aftermath of Kevin McCarthy’s historic ouster. “I just shared with my colleagues that I’m withdrawing my name as a candidate for the speaker designee,” the Louisiana Republican told reporters. The move deepens the House GOP leadership crisis and it is not clear whether there is any viable candidate who could win the 217 votes needed to win the gavel. Republicans will now have to scramble to find a path forward (CNN). Axios: Scalise won the nomination on Wednesday by a 113-99 margin, but on Thursday it became clear he wasn’t making the progress needed to risk a vote on the House floor (Axios).

Hedge Fund Boss Will Refuse Jobs to Anti-Israel Harvard Students

New York Post: Bill Ackman has doubled down on his push to have companies refuse employment opportunities to the Harvard students who signed a letter blaming Israel for Hamas’ violent attack that killed more than 1,200 people over the weekend. The hedge fund billionaire who founded Pershing Square Capital Management held his ground after a Harvard law student slammed him for “harassment” in response to a social media post on X in which he demanded a list of the signatories of the controversial letter (New York Post). He offered some free advice. Bill Ackman: Some advice for students: If an organization of which you are a member puts out a public statement you disagree with, you have a few choices. You can: Stay silent and have the entire world conclude that you stand by the statement. Convince the other members of the group to withdraw or otherwise modify the statement so that it can reflect the views of all members. Or you can resign in protest (X). Fox News: The Harvard Palestine Solidary Committee’s letter was initially signed by more than 30 student groups. Though the committee’s website states that it is “dedicated to supporting the Palestinian struggle for self-determination, justice, and equality through raising awareness, advocacy, and non-violent resistance,” the controversial letter neither condemned the violence of Hamas’ terror attacks nor offered any expression of remorse for the murder of scores of civilians. Some of those groups have since withdrawn from the letter, with members stating that they hadn’t been consulted before their groups signed it (Fox News).

Biden Looking to Create Welfare System for 5.7 Million Illegal Immigrants

New York Post: Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is overseeing 5.7 million migrants in the US — who could soon be provided free medical services, food and even housing by the Biden administration, The Post has learned. The record number of non-detained migrants being monitored by the federal agency — 2.4 million more than before Biden became president — was buried in paperwork detailing its “Release and Reporting Management” (RRM) program. The plan is for vendors to join ICE’s monitoring of migrants through ankle monitors, phone apps and in-person check-ins. However, the initiative also aims to provide a range of other perks to the non-citizens on the taxpayers’ dime. The program would cost “billions” and effectively be a “welfare” program for non-detained migrants awaiting court dates, former ICE director Tom Homan said (New York Post).

Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) Charged with Conspiracy

Just the News: Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., was charged with conspiracy to act as a foreign agent on behalf of the Egyptian government. His wife, Nadine Menendez, as well as Egyptian-American businessman Wael Hana, were also charged with conspiracy to act as a foreign agent. Under the Foreign Agents Registration Act, foreign government actors need to register with the U.S. Justice Department. Public officials, including members of Congress, are prohibited under U.S. law from acting as a foreign agent in a manner that would require them to register as one under the act. Menendez did not register under FARA, nor did his wife or Hana (Just the News). CNN: Prosecutors had alleged the bribes included gold, cash, home mortgage payments, compensation for a “low-or-no-show job” and a luxury vehicle. Both Menendez and his wife have pleaded not guilty. A trial date has been set for May. Menendez has refused calls from his fellow Democrats to resign. The new charge carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. Menendez and his wife are now facing as much as 50 years in prison if convicted (CNN).

Dylan Mulvaney Awarded Woman of the Year Award for U.K. LGBT Magazine

Washington Examiner: Transgender activist Dylan Mulvaney, a biological man who identifies as a woman, was awarded Woman of the Year at an awards show in the United Kingdom. The awards show Mulvaney attended was the Virgin Atlantic Attitude Awards, a ceremony for an LGBT magazine for the U.K. and Europe. Mulvaney is perhaps best known for a partnership announced between the influencer and Bud Light, in which Mulvaney received a can to celebrate a full 365 days as a trans woman. The video, shared on Mulvaney’s social media, received major pushback from conservatives, who called for a boycott of the drink. In the wake of the video’s posting, Anheuser-Busch, the company that owns Bud Light, saw its revenue go down by almost $400 million in August (Washington Examiner). Oli London: Dylan Mulvaney honored with ‘WOMAN OF THE YEAR AWARD.’ “I only publicly came out online 560 days ago” (X).

10.

Consumer Price Index Keeps Rising

CNBC: Prices that consumers pay for a wide variety of goods and services increased at a slightly faster-than-expected pace in September, keeping inflation in the spotlight for policymakers. The consumer price index, a closely followed inflation gauge, increased 0.4% on the month and 3.7% from a year ago (CNBC). HotAir: Those of us inhabiting the wilderness out here known as “The Real World” have been continually telling the powers that be what’s going on. Housing and gasoline were the prime drivers of the increase – who knew, huh? Only everybody who works for a living and has to keep a roof over their family’s head (HotAir). RNC Research: REPORTER: But costs are not coming down for Americans…? KARINE JEAN-PIERRE: “People are still dealing with a lot!” Under Biden, prices are up by 17.7% while real wages are down by 3.2% (X).