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Dear A.,
Israeli forensic analysis
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confirmed that the body handed over by terrorists in Gaza to Israel yesterday belonged to Sudthisak Rinthalak, a 42-year-old agricultural worker from Thailand who had been employed at Kibbutz Be'eri.
Sudthisak was murdered on October 7, and his body was taken into Gaza by Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) for 789 days.
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Hamas still holds the body of Ran Gvili hostage in blatant violation of the ceasefire deal. Outrageously, Hamas apologists and anti-Israel voices are giving Hamas a free pass and refusing to call out the terror group for refusing to fulfill its obligations under the deal.
Ran, a police officer, was on medical leave awaiting surgery when he heard about Hamas' attack on October 7 and immediately went to fight, saving many lives at the Nova Music Festival.
Meanwhile, President Trump
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said yesterday that the next phase of the peace plan is "going to happen pretty soon." Phase one cannot be completed until Hamas returns all of the murdered hostage bodies. In the second phase of the deal, Hamas must relinquish governing authority in Gaza and begin disarming – under the oversight of the Board of Peace and the enforcement of an International Stabilization Force.
A senior U.S. official said today that, "in the coming weeks, we will reach the moment of truth. Hamas will have to decide whether to give up its rule and begin disarming in exchange for an IDF withdrawal, or refuse and face the consequences."
Continue to
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follow AIPAC on social media for the latest updates.
Jake Braunstein
Senior Director, Policy Communications
Guinness World Records boycotts Israel, rejects record kidney donation
In an outrageous discriminatory action against Israel,
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Guinness World Records has stopped taking submissions from the Jewish state.
Israel's "Gift of Life" charity planned to gather 2,000 volunteer kidney donors to document the largest-ever donation, only to be told that the group refuses to accept entries from Israel.
"The fact that Guinness refuses to include the Israeli achievement that astonished the entire medical world is unacceptable," charity president Rachel Heber said.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar added, "2,000 Israeli kidney donors are making the largest donation ever, yet they are being denied the Guinness World Record simply because they are from Israel. We expect and demand that this twisted decision be revoked immediately."
American-Israeli hostage survivor Edan Alexander vows to 'give hell' to Hamas
Freed American-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander spoke to a U.S. delegation at the Nova Music Festival site yesterday, reflecting on his time in captivity and decision to rejoin the IDF upon his release.
"I wanted [Hamas] to see I’ll never break, and that I’ll return the favor. You gave me hell? I’ll give you hell," Alexander
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said .
He added that during his time in captivity, he gathered knowledge about Hamas. "I know the language, I know the culture, I know a lot about these demons. I have to use all of that and come back. And now I’m here in uniform."
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U.S., Israel negotiating new trade deal
The United States and Israel are in advanced negotiations on a new trade agreement, which would see a cut in the 15% tariff on Israeli goods that was imposed in August.
Yifat Alon Perel, the head of Israel's negotiating team,
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said , "We are in intense negotiations... We hope that very soon we will have news for Israeli industry, about tariff cuts in the U.S."
Meanwhile, Lockheed Martin and Israel's Industrial Cooperation Authority (ICA) announced yesterday that they will be extending their partnership for another four years, through 2029.
Israeli Economy and Industry Minister Nir Barkat
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said , "This collaboration strengthens Israel’s security, creates new engines of economic growth, and brings investments that provide significant opportunities for local industries to expand and increase exports."
The U.S.-Israel economic partnership boosts the American economy and supports American jobs.
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Lebanon PM says country is 'far from' diplomatic normalization with Israel
Prime Minister of Lebanon Nawaf Salem
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said yesterday that his country is "far from" diplomatic normalization or economic relations with Israel, despite the two countries sending civilian representatives for talks for the first time in decades.
The Lebanese government is required to fully disarm Hezbollah under the ceasefire agreement reached last year.
As the terror group works to rebuild and rearm with help from Iran, the
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IDF carried out another series of airstrikes against Hezbollah weapons depots, deliberately stored among civilian areas in southern Lebanon.
"This is yet another example of Hezbollah's cynical use of Lebanese civilians as human shields, and continued operations from within civilian areas," the IDF said.
The United States must continue to increase the pressure on Lebanon to fulfill its stated commitment to fully disarm Hezbollah.
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Israel to compete in Eurovision, despite attempt to exclude Jewish state
The Eurovision Song Contest announced today that Israel, which finished second in last year's competition, will be
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allowed to compete this year, despite efforts by some countries to block the Jewish state from participating.
Following the
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decision , Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Spain announced that they would be boycotting the competition.
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Israeli President Isaac Herzog said, "Israel deserves to be represented on every stage in the world... I congratulate Kan, the public broadcasting corporation, and CEO Golan Yochpaz and his team, who stood with courage and talent at the forefront of the fight against attempts to prevent Israel from participating in the competition."
"This decision is an appreciated gesture of solidarity, brotherhood, and cooperation, symbolizing a victory over those who seek to silence Israel and spread hatred," Herzog added.
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The mission of AIPAC is to encourage and persuade the U.S. government to enact specific policies that create a strong, enduring and mutually beneficial relationship with our ally Israel.
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