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Dear A.,
This evening marks Israel's transition from mourning to celebration, as Yom HaZikaron concludes and Yom Haatzmaut begins.
Throughout the day, memorial events were held across the country honoring fallen soldiers and those killed in terrorist attacks.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
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spoke at a state ceremony at Mt. Herzl, saying, "The ayatollah regime in Iran planned another Holocaust. It sought to destroy us with nuclear weapons and thousands of ballistic missiles... together with our great ally, the United States, we dismantled that machinery of destruction in advance. We removed an immediate existential threat."
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Tonight, Israelis began celebrating 78 years of independence.
Israelis this evening began the celebration of Israel's Independence Day, recognizing 78 years since the reestablishment of the Jewish state in the land of Israel.
At the annual torch-lighting ceremony at Mt. Herzl, Israeli Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana
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said :
"The State of Israel has demonstrated superpower-level capabilities, reserved for only a few countries on earth. What does victory look like? This is what victory looks like.
"When all the names that threatened Israeli citizens for many years have been eliminated and replaced once, twice, and three times, that is what victory looks like.
"When Israeli ingenuity turned imaginary scenarios into bold reality deep within enemy territory, that is what victory looks like.
"When, over the past year, in the midst of war, 20,000 Jews chose to immigrate to Israel, that is what victory looks like."
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Tomorrow, Israelis will celebrate their freedom and the extraordinary determination that turned the dream of Israel into reality.
Below are more key news updates from the past 24 hours. Continue to follow our
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social media channels to stay informed in real-time.
Jake Braunstein
Senior Director, Policy Communications
President Trump: Ceasefire, blockade extended until regime can produce new proposal
President Trump
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announced today that the ceasefire with Iran will be extended, as will the U.S. blockade on the Strait of Hormuz, until the regime can produce a new proposal for a nuclear agreement.
Based on the fact that the Government of Iran is seriously fractured...we have been asked to hold our Attack on the Country of Iran until such time as their leaders and representatives can come up with a unified proposal," Trump wrote.
The ceasefire will last "until such time as their proposal is submitted, and discussions are concluded, one way or the other."
Trump added that he directed the U.S. military to continue the naval blockade on Iran's ports and "remain ready and able" to resume the war if needed.
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Contact Senators Following their Votes on Arms Sales to Israel
Last week, the Senate defeated two resolutions to block arms sales to Israel. The votes were
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40-59 and
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36-63 .
It’s critical that senators hear from pro-Israel constituents, expressing appreciation for those who voted to stand with Israel and disappointment to those who voted to block arms to our ally fighting a multi-front war.
TAKE 45 SECONDS: Thank those who voted NO on Sanders' dangerous resolutions and express your disappointment in those who voted YES.
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MUST WATCH
Happy Independence Day, Israel!
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UDP launches campaign anti-Israel Rep. Tom Massie
United Democracy Project (UDP) is launching a new ad campaign targeting anti-Israel Rep. Tom Massie (R-KY). Watch the first ad below.
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Massie is one of the leading anti-Israel detractors in Congress, who has called to "end all U.S. military aid to Israel," voted against Iron Dome funding, and repeatedly attacked AIPAC.
Rep. Massie is being challenged in the May 19 primary for Kentucky's 4th Congressional District by pro-Israel candidate Ed Gallrein, a former Navy SEAL endorsed by President Trump.
Hezbollah violates ceasefire, IDF strikes terror targets
Hezbollah today repeatedly
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violated the ceasefire agreement by firing several rockets at Israeli troops and launching a drone at Israel, triggering sirens in Israeli border communities.
The IDF
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struck several Hezbollah terrorists who violated the ceasefire and posed a threat to Israeli troops operating in southern Lebanon.
Meanwhile, ahead of the next round of U.S.-mediated Israel-Lebanon talks on Thursday, the U.S. is reportedly urging Lebanon to repeal a law that makes contacts with Israelis illegal. "We regard all such anti-normalization laws as outdated and counterproductive," a State Department official
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said .
MUST LISTEN
The Untold Story of Hannah Senesh - with Matti Friedman
Dan Senor
Call Me Back Podcast
Dan Senor sits down with journalist Matti Friedman to talk about one of the most iconic and least understood stories in Israeli history: the parachutists of 1944, a small group of young Jews from British‑mandate Palestine who volunteered to parachute into Nazi‑occupied Europe to assist Jews and Allied forces. At the center is 23‑year‑old Hungarian poet Hannah Senesh, whose mission ended in capture and execution, yet his name became synonymous with courage in Israel.
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Iran continues executions of civilians involved in January protests
Iran today executed a man for his involvement in the January mass protests against the regime.
He is the
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eighth man to be executed over the protests, following the massacre of upwards of 30,000 Iranians in the streets during the regime's suppression of the protest movement.
In a statement directed at Iran today, President Trump called for the release of eight women who also may be executed by the regime,
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saying , "I would greatly appreciate the release of these women... Please do them no harm!"
PHOTO OF THE DAY
IDF restores religious statue in Lebanon
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The IDF restored a religious statue in Lebanon today, after it had been damaged by a soldier whose "conduct completely deviated from IDF orders and values."
"From the moment the report of the incident was received, the IDF has been working to assist the local community in replacing the statue," the IDF said.
The IDF
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announced that all soldiers who participated have been removed from combat duty and will receive 30 days of military detention.
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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