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Will Jill allow Joe to do what is best for the nation or will she continue to shame him so she can retain perks of the Oval Office? Stay tuned.

https://townhall.com/tipsheet/mattvespa/2024/07/02/reports-obama-told-joe-that-its-over-and-he-cant-win-n2641233

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Do We Have Sufficiently Competent Leadership?

By Sherwin Pomerantz

Israel’s top generals want to arrange a cease-fire in Gaza even if it keeps Hamas in power for the time being, widening a rift between the military and Prime Minister Netanyahu, who has opposed a truce that would allow Hamas to survive the war according to a report in today’s New York Times.

The generals think that a truce would be the best way of freeing the roughly 120 Israelis still held in Gaza, both dead and alive, according to interviews with six current and former security officials.

Perhaps underequipped for further fighting after Israel’s longest war in decades, the generals also think their forces need time to recuperate in case a land war breaks out against Hezbollah, the Lebanese militia that has been locked in a low-level fight with Israel since October, multiple officials said.

A truce with Hamas could also make it easier to reach a deal with Hezbollah, according to the officials, most of whom spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive security matters. Hezbollah has said it will continue to strike northern Israel until Israel stops fighting in the Gaza Strip.

Known collectively as the General Staff Forum, Israel’s military leadership is composed of roughly 30 senior generals, including the military chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, the commanders of the army, air force and navy, and the head of military intelligence.

The military’s attitude to a cease-fire reflects a major shift in its thinking over the past months as it became clearer that PM Netanyahu was refusing to articulate or commit to a postwar plan. That decision has essentially created a power vacuum in the enclave that has forced the military to go back and fight in parts of Gaza it had previously cleared of Hamas fighters.

“The military is in full support of a hostage deal and a cease-fire,” said Eyal Hulata, who served as Israel’s national security adviser until early last year, and who speaks regularly with senior military officials.

“They believe that they can always go back and engage Hamas militarily in the future,” Mr. Hulata said. “They understand that a pause in Gaza makes de-escalation more likely in Lebanon. And they have less munitions, less spare parts, less energy than they did before — so they also think a pause in Gaza gives us more time to prepare in case a bigger war does break out with Hezbollah.”

Netanyahu’s office declined to comment for the article. In a statement after the article was published online, Netanyahu pushed back and said Israel would end the war “only after we have achieved all of its objectives, including the elimination of Hamas and the release of all of our hostages.”

Meanwhile, Lebanon has passed on to Israel through a third party a message stating that it has no interest in hostilities with the Jewish state, Channel 12 reported Tuesday. “We are interested in peace, we do not want war,” was the message Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdullah Bou Habib gave to the foreign minister of Azerbaijan, Jeyhun Bayramov. Bayramov then faithfully passed on the communication to Israeli Foreign Minister Yisrael Katz on Tuesday. Katz sent a message back, stating, “We must return our residents safely their homes. If it is not through a diplomatic solution, it will be through war.”

As Hezbollah is part of the Lebanese government, and has repeatedly stated that it will not stop attacking Israel until there is a ceasefire in Gaza, there are mixed messages coming out of Beirut. With Hezbollah being first and foremost an Iranian proxy, doing what its masters order rather than what is good for Lebanon, the chance of a diplomatic solution that would push the terrorist organization out of firing range of northern Israel are also considered extremely slim.

Habib’s message stems from Lebanon’s knowledge that the chances are growing exponentially of an IDF confrontation with Hezbollah that goes well beyond its current policy of retaliatory, pinpoint airstrikes. There is a very real fear in Lebanon that a war on its territory would destroy the country, considering its already very precarious economic state.

All of this makes one wonder whether we have the leadership here in Israel to manage this existential fight for our survival as a country. While the spirit of the population is high and the young men and women who are fighting seem committed to getting the job done, there is also serious concern that the almost 325 IDF troops who have given their lives in this war will not have done so in vain. All of this is making a lot of people uneasy and, in many cases, ready for some type of conclusion to the fighting. Let’s hope that our leadership is up to the task of managing this long war.

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Operational Updates

Central Gaza Strip

In the area of Shejaiya, IDF troops eliminated terrorists, located weapons, and dismantled terror infrastructure sites. Over the past day, the IAF struck and dismantled over 50 terror infrastructure sites. Moreover, during targeted raids, IDF troops located operational tunnel shafts and weaponry, including AK-47 rifles, grenades, magazines, and additional military equipment.

Southern Gaza Strip

The IDF is continuing a targeted, intelligence-based operational activity in the Rafah area. In cooperation with IDF ground troops, the IAF dismantled several terror infrastructure sites and eliminated terrorists in the area.

Palestinian Terrorist Murders Off-Duty IDF Soldier in Stabbing Attack

Today, the Israel Police reported that a Palestinian terrorist murdered an off-duty IDF soldier and injured another Israeli in a stabbing attack at a shopping mall in Karmeil, northern Israel. The murdered victim, IDF SGT. Aleksander Iakiminskyi, heroically neutralized the terrorist before succumbing to his wounds. Footage of the terrorist's attack and his subsequent neutralization by SGT. Iakiminskyi can be viewed HERE (viewer discretion is advised).

May SGT. Iakiminskyi's memory be a blessing for eternity.

IDF Chief Provides Update on Rafah Operation

IDF Chief of the General Staff, LTG. Herzi Halevi, with IDF troops near Kerem Shalom.

Yesterday (July 2), the Chief of the General Staff of the IDF, LTG. Herzi Halevi, provided the following update on the IDF's operational activity in Rafah (southern Gaza Strip):

"In the Rafah Brigade, what we’ve seen with our own eyes, and I don't want to say something out of thin air, we count over 900 terrorists killed, including commanders, at least one battalion commander, many company commanders and many operatives.

The current effort, and the reason we are working here week after week, is now focused on the destruction of the terrorist infrastructure and the destruction of the underground infrastructure, which takes time. Therefore, this is a long campaign, because we do not want to leave Rafah with the terrorist infrastructure intact.

There are those we eliminated underground, and some that tried to emerge above ground, and we eliminated them. And this ongoing effort of ours, this pursuit, is very, very important. They should feel exhausted, while we feel energized and determined.

When we move to the next phase, we will adopt appropriate measures for that phase, bring new tactics, provide logistical support in a different way that fits that phase, and all these things ultimately are focused by our determination, perseverance, and patience, wearing down the other side and accomplishing our missions. A lot of willpower, a lot of patience and perseverance, and the results will speak for themselves going forward."

IDF Eliminates Senior Hezbollah Commander

Today, the IDF eliminated Muhammad Neamah Naser, the Commander of the Hezbollah terror organization's Aziz Unit, in a precision strike in southern Lebanon.

Naser entered his position in 2016. Since then, he directed rocket and anti-tank missile attacks from southwestern Lebanon toward Israeli civilians, communities and security forces. He also directed a large number of terrorist attacks toward Israel both during, and before the Swords of Iron war. He previously held several other central roles within the Hezbollah terror organization.

Naser was the counterpart of Sami Taleb Abdullah, the commander of Hezbollah's Nasser Unit, who was eliminated last month. Together, they served as two of the most significant Hezbollah terrorists in southern Lebanon.

Security Forces Foil Palestinian Terror Attack in Judea & Samaria

Last night (July 2), during a joint IDF and ISA operation in Nur Shams (Judea & Samaria), four Palestinian terrorists were identified attempting to plant explosive devices in proximity to a site at which an explosive was detonated two days prior (Jul 1). The planting of the explosive devices was designed to attack IDF soldiers operating in the area.

Following the identification, an IDF aircraft carried out a precise strike on the terrorist cell, eliminating all four terror operatives: Muhammad Shehade, Muhammad Kanouah, Yazid Shafa, and Namer Ibrahim. Below is footage of the strikes:

Recent Iran-Backed Terror Activities in Lebanon and Syria

The Secretaries General of the Hezbollah and al-Jama’ah al-Islamiyya terror organizations meeting in Lebanon (June 28, 2024)

THIS REPORT from the Israel-based Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center provides an overview of recent Iran-backed terror activities in Lebanon and Syria.

North Carolina Adopts IHRA Definition of Antisemitism Into Law

The North Carolina State Legislative Building

This week, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper signed the Shalom Act into law, officially adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's (IHRA) definition of antisemitism. The bill passed both chambers of the state's General Assembly with overwhelming bipartisan support. North Carolina now joins the growing list of U.S. states taking a clear stance against antisemitism by adopting the IHRA definition of antisemitism into law.