Netanyahu is digging in his heels in the face of growing criticism from the Biden administration.

Tuesday, December 12, 2023
BY JULIA CLAIRE & CROOKED MEDIA

- Rep. Guy Reschenthaler ([link removed]) (R-PA), immediately before refusing to release impeachment inquiry interview transcripts to the public :)

The Biden administration has been rock-solid in its public support for Israel since the latest conflict began on October 7, but cracks are starting to emerge.

* On Tuesday, President Biden offered some of his sharpest criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government since the war began. Biden called Netanyahu’s coalition government “the most conservative” in Israel’s history (publicly acknowledging a view that has been widely held since it was formed last December ([link removed]) ), and urged the country to change its approach in Gaza, saying that its “indiscriminate bombing” campaign has led to declining support around the world. Also on Tuesday, the United Nations General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to demand a ceasefire in Gaza ([link removed]) in a nonbinding resolution. Only 10 members opposed the measure, including the United States and Israel, while 153 supported it.

* Biden noted that some members of Netanyahu’s cabinet and coalition “don’t want anything remotely approaching a two-state solution,” a path that Biden has vocally supported. Nor does Netanyahu himself, based on all available evidence, despite his past refusal to be pinned down clearly in public on the issue ([link removed]) . As President Obama’s former National Security official and co-host of Pod Save the World Ben Rhodes said recently on Pod Save the UK ([link removed]) , “...not only does this Israeli government not support a Palestinian state, their objective is to prevent a Palestinian state.” He continued, “My experience in eight years with Bibi Netanyahu is he did not want a Palestinian state, and actually, he’s moved further to the right than even when I was in government.”

* Netanyahu has voiced strident opposition to many U.S. proposals related to Gaza since the war began, and on Tuesday, was equally as explicit. He rebuffed calls from U.S. officials to allow the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority to resume control of Gaza after the war, saying that the enclave will remain under “Israeli military control,” and that the civilian government will be “rehabilitated under [Persian] Gulf countries’ leadership.” ([link removed]) He concluded, “We won’t give in to international pressure.” Well okay then!

With that defiant mentality, Israel’s deadly counteroffensive continues.

* The Israeli military began pumping seawater into Hamas’s network of tunnels in Gaza ([link removed]) according to U.S. officials briefed on the operations who spoke to The Wall Street Journal. The strategy to flood the tunnels with water from the Mediterranean Sea is one of several approaches the Israel Defense Forces have pursued to try and destroy them. The country’s defense ministry declined to comment, saying that such operations are classified. Israel believes Hamas is holding some of the remaining hostages from its initial attack in the tunnels. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, Israel’s assault on Gaza has killed 18,205 Palestinians and wounded almost 50,000 more since October 7. Israeli airstrikes in southern Gaza and the city of Rafah ([link removed]) , which borders Egypt, continued
with full force on Tuesday night.

* The World Health Organization reported on Tuesday that a medical convoy was stopped twice and then came under gunfire during a mission to al-Ahli Hospital ([link removed]) in Gaza City last week. Health workers were detained and interrogated as the convoy was en route to deliver trauma and surgical supplies to treat 1,500 patients. The convoy was also transferring 19 critically-ill patients along with 14 companions to another hospital in Southern Gaza, according to the WHO. Staff reportedly “saw one [health worker] being made to kneel at gunpoint and then taken out of sight, where he was reportedly harassed, beaten, stripped and searched.” According to the WHO and the Palestine Red Crescent Society, which was part of the mission, one of the injured patients died as a result of untreated wounds because of the delay from the stoppage. The WHO did not identify who carried out the
shooting.

A Doctors Without Borders surgeon was also shot and injured inside a North Gaza hospital on Tuesday, according to the organization ([link removed]) . More than 250 medical workers have been killed in Gaza ([link removed]) since the war began.

Catch Pod Save America’s FINAL live show of the year in San Jose on December 13. The guys will be joined by co-host Addisu Demissie and special guest Zoe Schiffer. Don't miss out on the best night of your life! And if we're wrong about the whole “best night of your life” thing? Good luck proving it in court! Tickets are going fast, so get yours now at crooked.com/events ([link removed]) .
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A congressional investigation found that the United States’ largest pharmacy chains have handed over data about people’s prescription records to police and government investigators without a warrant ([link removed]) . Happy holidays! CVS, Kroger, and Rite Aid, which have a combined total of over 60,000 locations nationwide, said they allow pharmacy staff to provide customer medical records in the store without having the company’s lawyers review law enforcement requests. Members of Congress began investigating the practice after the 2022 Supreme Court Dobbs decision ended the constitutional right to abortion, prompting many GOP-run states to move to criminalize the procedure as well as drugs related to reproductive health. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulates how health information is transmitted and exchanged among medical professionals in “covered entities” like hospitals
and doctors offices, but pharmacies have more leeway.


America’s eight largest pharmacy giants—Walgreens, CVS, Walmart, Kroger, Rite Aid, Cigna, Optum Rx and Amazon Pharmacy—told congressional investigators that they require only a subpoena, not a warrant, to share pharmaceutical information. A subpoena, unlike a warrant, does not require a judge's approval. A spokesperson for CVS, the nation’s largest pharmacy by prescription revenue, said in a statement, “We have suggested a warrant or judge-issued subpoena requirement be considered and we look forward to working cooperatively with Congress to strengthen patient privacy protections.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with members of Congress on Tuesday in a final plea to maintain military support for his country ([link removed]) as it continues to battle Russia.


Congressional leaders may try to keep Congress in session next week in order to hash out a deal on Ukraine funding and border security measures ([link removed]) sought by Republicans, but it’s doubtful that two such massive issues could be resolved before the holidays.


A group of current and former imprisoned men sued the state of Alabama on Tuesday ([link removed]) , accusing the state of using a prison labor system that they claim is a “modern-day form of slavery.” The system is based on forced inmate labor for little or no pay for the benefit of government agencies and private companies. All 10 plaintiffs are Black.


Trump critic Gov. Chris Sununu (R-NH) endorsed Nikki Haley ([link removed]) ahead of the New Hampshire primary in January.


A new Reuters poll found that 31 percent of Republican respondents would not vote for disgraced former president Trump if he receives a felony conviction ([link removed]) . An extremely low number all things considered, yet one that is still probably significantly higher than the reality come 2024!


The state of Florida fined Broward County High School $16,000 for allowing a transgender girl to play on the school’s volleyball team ([link removed]) .

Consumer prices in the U.S. unexpectedly increased in November as continued rises in rent more than offset declining gasoline prices ([link removed]) .
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The U.S. will produce more power ([link removed]) from solar and wind next year than it will from coal for the first time ever.

New York’s highest court ordered the Empire State to redraw its congressional map on Tuesday ([link removed]) , which could be good for Democrats if the New York State Democratic Party doesn’t fumble the ball again ([link removed]) !

Disgraced former president Trump is selling pieces of the suit he wore during his mugshot photo ([link removed]) as part of a promotion for a new set of his NFT “digital trading cards.” This guy was the PRESIDENT! He could be the president AGAIN!
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