By Donald H. Harrison in San Diego
INTERNATIONAL
The Jerusalem Post noted that U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters on Wednesday that Phase Two of his Gaza peace plan “is moving along; it’s going to happen pretty soon.” Phase One included getting Hamas and Israel to agree to a cease fire and to the swap of hostages, both dead and alive, with Palestinian prisoners held in Israel. Phase Two involves a withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, which then would be policed by an International Stabilization Force.
*
The Times of Israel reports a hospital to treat Jordanian patients is proposed to be built in the Emek HaMaayanot region, on the Israeli-Jordanian border, as one feature of the neighboring nations’ joint industrial park.
*
Haaretz reports that Uri Resnick, the senior director for foreign policy of Israel’s National Security Council, met in Lebanon for a “bilateral meeting with government, military and economic officials.” The office of Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the meeting, saying the talks were held in a positive atmosphere and will be followed up with additional talks to “promote economic cooperation between Israel and Lebanon.”
*
Israel Hayom, which held its first global summit in New York this week, reports that a speech by former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton created quite a buzz. In it, she accused TikTok, which many American youth read and watch, of so distorting news from the Middle East that it creates anti-Israel sentiment.
*
Jewish Telegraphic Agency reports that over 300 rabbis and Jewish leaders have called for the United Nations to remove Reem Alsalem, its special rapporteur on violence against women, for her denial that rapes and gang rapes occurred on Oct 7, 2023, when Gazans crossed the Israeli border and murdered about 1,200 Israelis and took another 250 hostage.
*
Jewish News Syndicate reports that the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations on Wednesday approved President Trump’s nomination of Chabad Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun to serve as special envoy to monitor and combat antisemitism. The measure, which now goes to the full Senate for a confirmation vote, found Jewish members of the committee split. Jacky Rosen of Nevada voted for Kaploun, Brian Schatz of Hawaii was one of eight Democrats who voted in opposition.
*
Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum picked and the Senate confirmed her longtime ally Ernestina Godoy as Mexico’s attorney general, the Associated Press reports.
*
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s former press secretary Iuliia Mendel described Andrii Yermak, the former negotiator and chief of staff of Zelenskyy’s Presidential Office, as “a very dangerous person” in an interview on Radio Liberty, it was reported by Ukrainska Pravda and msn.com.
*
NATIONAL
“Utter bullshit!” was how Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro described a passage in former Vice President Kamala Harris’s memoir, 107 Days, in an interview with The Atlantic, Fox News reports. Shapiro was on the short list to be Harris’ vice presidential nominee, a selection that went to Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.
She also accused him of wanting to be involved in every decision and said she reminded him, “a vice president is not a co-president.”
“She wrote that in her book? That’s complete and utter bull—-,” Shapiro said in response. “I can tell you that her accounts are just blatant lies.”
*
Jewish Insider reports a bill by U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) to ban dual citizenship has raised alarm bells at the Anti-Defamation League. Dan Granot. ADL’s senior director of government relations, told the influential newsletter, “Accusations of ‘dual loyalty’ have historically been used against Jews to exclude them from public life and even justify violence…”
*
STATE & LOCAL
Attorney Isaac Blumberg, commenting on a Superior Court Judge Sara Kirby’s decision to order Encinitas Councilman Luke Shaffer to a misdemeanor diversion program – in a case that at one time had Shaffer facing a felony assault charge and possible prison time – said, “We’re pleased the court recognized what this case always was,” The San Diego Union-Tribune reported Wednesday.
“Councilman Shaffer looks forward to the case being fully dismissed and is grateful for the opportunity to return his full attention to serving the people of Encinitas without further distraction.”
In July, Shaffer and a homeowner got into a dispute after Shaffer tried to park his car where a homeowner had placed two trash bins on trash pick-up day. Shaffer backed his car into the homeowner, who was pushed back but remained standing.
The diversion program provides that Shaffer should take eight hours of anger management classes, and complete 60 hours of non-sports volunteer service. When completed, Shaffer can apply to have his case dismissed.
*
Donald H. Harrison is publisher and editor of San Diego Jewish World.