JEWISH KING JESUS IS COMING AT THE RAPTURE FOR US IN THE CLOUDS-DON'T MISS IT FOR THE WORLD.THE BIBLE TAKEN LITERALLY- WHEN THE PLAIN SENSE MAKES GOOD SENSE-SEEK NO OTHER SENSE-LEST YOU END UP IN NONSENSE.GET SAVED NOW- CALL ON JESUS TODAY.THE ONLY SAVIOR OF THE WHOLE EARTH - NO OTHER. 1 COR 15:23-JESUS THE FIRST FRUITS-CHRISTIANS RAPTURED TO JESUS-FIRST FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT-23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.ROMANS 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.(THE PRE-TRIB RAPTURE)
WAR WITH IRAN - DAY 99 JUNE 06,26 - POPE IN SPAIN AND MEETS WITH KING FILIPE AND THE QUEEN.
THE NEXT US-ISRAEL HIT ON IRAN SHOULD BE VERSE 37. ALL OFFENSIVE NUKE SITES MISSLES,DRONES,AND OF COURSE KHEMENI AND THE IRGC GUARDS.THEN AFTER IRANS REGIME CHANGE. MUSLIMS COME TO JESUS BY THE MILLIONS.
JEREMEIAH 49:32-39 (IN IRAN AT THE BUSHEHR OR ARAK NUKE SITES AND ALL OFENSIVE WEAPONS DESTROYED IN IRAN)
Jeremiah 49:32-39
32 Their camels shall be a booty, and the multitude of their cattle a spoil: and I will scatter to all winds those who have the corners [of their hair] cut off; and I will bring their calamity from every side of them, says Yahweh.
33 Hazor shall be a dwelling-place of jackals, a desolation forever: no man shall dwell there, neither shall any son of man sojourn therein.(Location & Size: It was strategically located along the Via Maris (Way of the Sea), a major trade route connecting Egypt with Syria and Mesopotamia.)
34 The word of Yahweh that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning Elam,(IRAN) in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, saying,
35 Thus says Yahweh of Hosts: Behold, I will break the bow of Elam,(IRANS OFFENSIVE WEAPONS) the chief of their might.(MISSLES AND NUKE SITES)
36 On Elam (IRAN) will I bring the four winds from the four quarters of the sky, and will scatter them toward all those winds; and there shall be no nation where the outcasts of Elam shall not come.(SINCE 1979 IRANIANS HAVE GOTTIN OUT OF IRAN BECAUSE OF KHEMENI AND HIS APOCOPOLIPTIC DEATH CULT BELIEF-BLACK HATER 12ERS)
37 I will cause Elam (IRAN) to be dismayed before their enemies, and before those who seek their life;(ISRAEL THE LITTLE SATAN AND THE U.S THE BIG SATAN) and I will bring evil on them, (MISSLES) even my fierce anger,(FIRE) says Yahweh; and I will send the sword after them,(IRANS OFFENSIVE WEAPONS) until I have consumed them; (DESTROYED THEM ALL NUKE SITES,MISSLES ETC)
38 and I will set my throne in Elam,(IRAN WILL BECOME A CHRISTIAN NATION) and will destroy from there king (KHEMENI, ISLAM) and princes, says Yahweh.(IRANIAN ARMY GUARDS)
39 But it shall happen in the latter days, that I will bring back the captivity of Elam,(IRAN) says Yahweh.(WERE IN THE LATTER DAYS NOW)
WHEN ARE THE 500 MILLION MIGRATING BIRDS IN ISRAEL IN THE SPRING TIME.(GET READY ISLAM TO BE BIRD SEED FOR THESE BIRDS)
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/m0bXU5Xqc5M
The 500 million migratory birds in Israel during the spring arrive from Africa and head toward Europe and Asia, with the peak migration occurring in March and April. While migration starts in late February, the most intense movements, particularly of birds of prey, storks, and pelicans, occur during the third week of March and continue into April.
Key Details on the Spring Migration
Peak Period: Mid-March through April.
Main Migration Route: The birds use the Great Rift Valley, which includes the Hula Valley and Eilat, acting as a "bottleneck" where millions of birds fly through the narrow land bridge.
Best Spots: The Hula Lake Park (Northern Israel) and the Eilat Birding Center (Southern Israel) are primary locations for observing the migration.
Key Species: Hundreds of thousands of white storks, along with black kites, raptors, and pelicans, pass through over these months.
uration: The spring migration runs from late February and continues into June, though the heaviest traffic is in March/April.
The 500 million migratory birds fly over Israel in the fall between late August and mid-December. The peak migration period for the autumn, when the highest volume of bird traffic occurs, is typically October and November.
Key Fall Migration Details
Location: The Hula Valley (Agamon Hula Park) in northern Israel is the premier spot to witness this phenomenon.
Timing: Migration starts as early as late June with some waders, but intensifies from mid-August through November.
Peak Festival: The "Annual Hula Valley Bird Festival" is usually held in November to align with the peak migration traffic.
Key Species: Many birds of prey (raptors), including honey buzzards and steppe eagles, cross during this time, along with massive flocks of storks and cranes.
While roughly 500 million birds pass through in the autumn on their way to Africa, the same number crosses again in the spring (mid-February to May) on their way back to Europe and Asia.
JEREMEIAH 49:23-27
23 Concerning Damascus.(SYRIA) Hamath is confounded, and Arpad: for they have heard evil tidings: they are fainthearted; there is sorrow on the sea;(WAR SHIPS WITH NUKES COMING ON SYRIA) it cannot be quiet.
24 Damascus is waxed feeble, and turneth herself to flee, and fear hath seized on her: anguish and sorrows have taken her, as a woman in travail.
25 How is the city of praise not left, the city of my joy!
26 Therefore her young men shall fall in her streets, and all the men of war shall be cut off in that day, saith the LORD of hosts.
27 And I will kindle a fire (NUKES OR BOMBS) in the wall of Damascus, and it shall consume the palaces of Benhadad.(ASSADS PALACES POSSIBLY IN DAMASCUS)
Iran targets Bahrain and Kuwait after renewed US strikes.
Tehran, June 6 (AFP) Jun 06, 2026-Iran fired missiles at US allies Bahrain and Kuwait on Saturday, after renewed American strikes against it, drawing a furious response from the Gulf monarchies and further undermining a fragile truce.Weeks of complex talks marked by threats and flare-ups of violence have failed to secure a deal to end the Middle East war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a global trade route and chokepoint for Gulf oil and gas shipments.On Saturday the island kingdom of Bahrain, which hosts the headquarters of the US Fifth Fleet, denounced the latest attacks against its territory and Kuwait. US Central Command (CENTCOM) said Iran launched seven ballistic missiles towards Kuwait and Bahrain.Manama described the attacks, the second against both nations in three days, as "blatant aggression" and "a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of both countries".In the Bahrain capital, an AFP journalist heard three explosions as air raid sirens sounded. In Kuwait, another AFP journalist heard repeated blasts near the country's international airport, which had been struck on Wednesday in an attack blamed on Iran that killed one person.- 'Enemy bases' -"We woke up to a huge explosion. The explosions were very loud," Reem, an Egyptian mother of two, told AFP, after the latest blasts. "My children were terrified, and I couldn't calm them down."Formally, a ceasefire in the war -- which was triggered almost 100 days ago by US and Israeli strikes that wiped out Iran's top leadership -- has been in place since April 8.But tensions rose on Friday, when the US military said it struck radar sites in Iran after downing drones headed towards the strait.Iran's Revolutionary Guards said early Saturday they had targeted "enemy bases in the area" with missiles in response to a US operation targeting the country's Sirik and Qeshm islands."There are currently no reports of harm to US personnel, and Iranian claims of damaging US 5th fleet headquarters in Bahrain are false," CENTCOM said in a statement.The latest flare-up came despite the United States moving ahead with allowing Iran's national football team to travel to the FIFA World Cup it is co-hosting with Canada and Mexico.US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack confirmed the visa issuances, saying that "sports transcends borders, and we look forward to welcoming competitors and fans from around the world".However, Iran's Fars news agency reported that visas had yet to be issued for some members of the team's "technical and executive staff". The country's embassy in Turkey called their treatment "discriminatory" in a post on X.An unnamed US administration official said in a statement: "We will not allow the Iranian team to abuse this system to sneak terrorists into the United States under false pretenses."The team is due to fly from Turkey to Spain on Saturday before travelling on to their base camp in Mexico, where they will arrive on Sunday.- Trading strikes -Kuwait's military said early Saturday it was responding to "hostile" missile and drone attacks, days after a strike on the country's international airport killed one and wounded dozens.US President Donald Trump told NBC News on Friday that Iran still retained roughly "21, 22 percent" of its missile stockpile despite Washington's repeated insistence that Tehran's military capacity had been crippled.That figure was higher than the 18 percent Trump gave in May.Efforts to turn the truce into a lasting settlement have repeatedly stalled, while the conflict has rattled global markets and increased political pressure on Trump at home ahead of midterm elections."The negotiations are at a deadlock and Trump must break this deadlock," Mohsen Rezaei, military adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, told CNN in an interview on Friday, as he called for the release of frozen Iranian assets to the tune of "$24 billion".Lebanon -- which was drawn into the Middle East war when Iran-backed Hezbollah attacked Israel on March 2 -- called Friday for Iran to stop interfering in its affairs.On Saturday, Lebanon complained that an Israeli strike in the south of the country had killed several of its soldiers.Israel and Hezbollah have traded attacks after a new truce deal was flatly rejected by the militant group. Iran, in its peace negotiations with Washington, has insisted that the fighting in Lebanon and the war in the Gulf are inextricably linked.bur/dc/axn
Iran says frozen funds key to progress in US talks.
Tehran, June 6 (AFP) Jun 06, 2026-The release of frozen Iranian funds has become a key issue in negotiations between Tehran and Washington aimed at ending their war, a senior Iranian official said.Iran has been subject to asset freezes and sweeping sanctions by the United States and other Western countries since its 1979 Islamic revolution that toppled the US-backed Shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.In an interview broadcast on Friday, Mohsen Rezaei, a former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and an adviser to Iran's supreme leader, said the talks were failing over the release of Iranian assets."If he (Trump) wants to reach an agreement with Iran, this $24 billion is a test of trust that Iran wants to have with Trump," he told CNN, according to an English translation of his remarks provided by the channel."This is a test that America must pass and the path will be opened," he said, adding that "this is our own money, not America's money".While there is no official figure for the total amount of frozen Iranian assets, media reports have estimated the sum at between $100 billion and $123 billion.Iran has conditioned an agreement to end the war on several demands, including the release of the frozen funds.Fighting broke out on February 28 when the United States, backed by Israel, attacked Iran, killing former supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several senior military commanders.The attacks prompted Iran to launch retaliatory missile and drone strikes against Israel and US allies in the Gulf.A ceasefire took effect on April 8 but diplomatic efforts to permanently end the war have yet to produce a settlement.Among its conditions, Iran has also called for an end to hostilities on all fronts, including in Lebanon, where Tehran-backed Hezbollah fighters have been battling Israel.Despite their ceasefire, tensions remain high between Tehran and Washington.Rezaei warned that Iran would "drag the war" beyond the Gulf if the United States resumed hostilities, bringing "another dimension to the war".But he added that "the possibility of war is low".
US, Iran trade strikes despite visas for World Cup footballers.
Washington, United States, June 6 (AFP) Jun 06, 2026-New attacks in the Middle East on Friday threatened to unravel an already fragile US-Iran ceasefire, even as American officials confirmed that Tehran's football players had received visas for the World Cup.Weeks of complex talks marked by threats and flare-ups of violence have failed to secure a deal to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a key conduit for global energy flows.A ceasefire in the Middle East war, triggered nearly 100 days ago by US and Israeli strikes that wiped out Iran's top leadership, has been in place since April 8.But tensions surged again Friday when the US military said it struck radar sites in Iran after downing drones headed toward the strait.Shortly after, air raid sirens sounded in neighboring Gulf nations Kuwait and Bahrain -- both US allies -- and AFP correspondents in both countries heard explosions.Iran's Revolutionary Guards said early Saturday they had targeted "enemy bases in the area" with missiles in response to a US "invasion" of the country's Sirik and Qeshm islands.US Central Command (CENTCOM) said Iran launched seven ballistic missiles toward Kuwait and Bahrain.CENTCOM said six of the missiles were downed while the seventh "did not reach its intended target.""There are currently no reports of harm to US personnel, and Iranian claims of damaging US 5th fleet headquarters in Bahrain are false," the command said in a statement.The latest flare-up came despite the United States moving ahead with allowing Iran's national football team to travel to the FIFA World Cup it is co-hosting with Canada and Mexico.US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack confirmed the visa issuances, saying that "sports transcends borders, and we look forward to welcoming competitors and fans from around the world."However, Iran's Fars news agency reported that visas had yet to be issued for some members of the team's "technical and executive staff."An unnamed US administration official said in a statement: "We will not allow the Iranian team to abuse this system to sneak terrorists into the United States under false pretenses."The team is due to fly from Turkey to Spain on Saturday before traveling on to their base camp in Mexico, where they will arrive on Sunday.- Trading strikes -Earlier Friday, CENTCOM said its forces also downed four Iranian drones headed toward the Strait of Hormuz before striking Iranian coastal radar installations in Goruk and on Qeshm Island."The attack drones posed an immediate threat to regional maritime traffic," while the strikes on radar installations "defend against further attacks," CENTCOM said in a statement.Iranian state television IRIB reported early Saturday, local time, that "several explosions were heard" in Sirik in southern Iran at around 2:30 am (2300 GMT Friday)."Following the invasion of the child-killing and terrorist US army into Sirik and Qeshm Island, enemy bases in the region were hit by aerial missiles," IRIB reported, quoting the Guards after the US strikes on Iran.Kuwait's military said early Saturday it was responding to "hostile" missile and drone attacks, days after a strike on the country's international airport killed one and wounded dozens."Kuwaiti air defenses are currently responding to hostile missile and drone attacks," the military said on X, without specifying their origin.US President Donald Trump told NBC News on Friday that Iran still retained roughly "21, 22 percent" of its missile stockpile despite repeated claims from US officials that Tehran's military capacity had been crippled.That figure was higher than the 18 percent Trump gave in May.- Lebanon asks for 'mercy' -Efforts to turn the truce into a lasting settlement have repeatedly stalled, while the conflict has rattled global markets and increased political pressure on Trump at home ahead of midterm elections."The negotiations are at a deadlock and Trump must break this deadlock," Mohsen Rezaei, military adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, told CNN in an interview on Friday, as he called for the release of frozen Iranian assets to the tune of "$24 billion".Lebanon -- which was drawn into the Middle East war when Iran-backed Hezbollah attacked Israel on March 2 -- called Friday for Iran to stop interfering in its affairs.Israel and Tehran-backed Hezbollah traded attacks after a new truce deal was flatly rejected by the group.Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam addressed Iran's leaders in frank terms during a press conference, saying: "Have mercy on our south, stop treating it and its people as merely a bargaining chip.""We are the people of a sovereign nation that refuses to serve as... an open battlefield for their wars."Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi took aim at similar criticism from Lebanese President Joseph Aoun early Saturday, calling on him to save Lebanon from its "real foe."Iran, in peace negotiations with Washington, has insisted that the fighting in Lebanon and the war in the Gulf are inextricably linked.
US sanctions Iranian LPG export and 'shadow banking' networks.
Washington, United States, June 5 (AFP) Jun 05, 2026-The United States on Friday imposed sanctions on a network allegedly exporting Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) from Iran to South and Eastern Asia by falsely flagging it as originating in Oman, the Treasury said.The network used front companies in the United Arab Emirates and China and a "shadow fleet" of vessels, according to a Treasury statement.The system, designed to evade existing US sanctions, moved LPG worth hundreds of millions of dollars, it added.The United States has tightened sanctions on Iran since it jointly launched its war on the country with Israel in late February.In addition, Washington on Friday also sanctioned an Iranian currency exchange house and individuals associated with it for allegedly helping Iran facilitate billions in financial transactions."These sanctions are part of the Administration's Economic Fury campaign, which maintains maximum pressure on the Iranian regime and disrupts its ability to generate revenue for weapons development, support for terrorist proxies, and regional aggression," said US State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott.
Iran denounces 'political pressure' from UN nuclear watchdog.
Tehran, June 6 (AFP) Jun 06, 2026-Iran on Saturday denounced as a "tool of political pressure" a report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) expressing concern over its lack of access to Iranian nuclear sites.Tehran was engaged in discussions with Washington about its nuclear programme when the United States and Israel attacked it on February 28, sparking war in the region.Israel had previously struck Iran in June 2025, also while Washington and Tehran were engaged in nuclear negotiations, with Washington joining with later strikes before a ceasefire was declared.During both conflicts, Iranian nuclear sites were bombed repeatedly."If the agency wants to be part of a diplomatic solution, it must refrain from turning a technical report into a tool of political pressure," Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi wrote on X.In a confidential report seen by AFP on Thursday, the IAEA stated that the lack of access to nuclear sites in Iran constitutes a "proliferation concern"."While the agency acknowledged that the military attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities and sites have created an unprecedented situation, it is critical for the agency to conduct verification activities in Iran without delay," the IAEA said in the report.The IAEA has never condemned the Israeli-American strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.Gharibabadi on Saturday said the Israeli-American strikes are "not only a violation of Iran's sovereignty", but also "a direct blow to nuclear safety"."One cannot bomb safeguarded facilities, destroy the access and safety necessary for inspections, and then use the consequences of that very attack as a grievance against Iran," he argued.Western countries, led by the US and Israel -- Iran's sworn enemy and considered by experts to be the only nuclear power in the Middle East -- accuse Tehran of seeking to acquire nuclear weapons.Iran denies having any such ambitions.In June 2025, the United States bombed three nuclear sites in Iran, which, according to US President Donald Trump, made it possible to "annihilate" the country's nuclear programme.The exact extent of the damage is not known, however, and Iran cites security concerns to justify refusing access to the sites.Prior to US strikes in June 2025, the IAEA calculated that Iran was in possession of approximately 440 kilogrammes of highly enriched uranium.Since June 2025, the fate of this stockpile, last seen by IAEA inspectors on June 10, 2025, has remained uncertain.sbr/apz/ris/jsa
Trump says Iran has '22 percent' of missiles left.
Washington, United States, June 6 (AFP) Jun 06, 2026-Iran still has "21, 22 percent" of its missiles left, US President Donald Trump said on Friday, after Tehran fired dozens across the region during a week marked by repeated violations of a fragile ceasefire."They still have capacity. They have some missiles, they have some drones. I would say, percentage wise, maybe 21, 22 percent of their missiles," Trump told NBC News in an interview.That estimate for Iran's remaining missile stockpile is higher than the 18 percent Trump gave in May. He has often claimed to have completely destroyed Iran's war-fighting capacity.Iran's military said Friday it had fired "warning missiles" at two US destroyers in the Gulf of Oman -- a claim promptly denied by the US military.Two days earlier, Kuwait said it had intercepted 30 ballistic missiles fired as part of "heinous Iranian aggression."Weeks of complex talks marked by threats and flare-ups of violence have failed to secure a deal to end the war.But Trump said Iran has "got no choice" except to reach an agreement."They're strong, they're proud, there are things they never thought they'd be doing that they're going to have to do," he told NBC.
UN nuclear watchdog raises 'proliferation' fears over Iran sites.
Vienna, June 4 (AFP) Jun 04, 2026-The UN nuclear agency reaffirmed in a confidential report seen by AFP on Thursday that a lack of access to Iran's nuclear material posed a "proliferation concern" and called on Teheran to act "constructively".The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has not seen any activity at key nuclear sites, judging from satellite images, since the start of the Middle East war, a diplomatic source said.But the IAEA has not had access to some key nuclear facilities in Iran since Israel, joined by the United States, launched a 12-day conflict in June 2025 that included strikes on nuclear sites.Nuclear facilities have also been hit in the war that erupted on February 28. The IAEA has repeatedly urged access.According to a CNN report on Sunday, satellite images show that Iran has unblocked 50 out of the 69 tunnel entrances bombed by the US and Israel at 18 underground missile facilities.A diplomatic source said the IAEA had detected "no more movement" at key sites, such as Isfahan and Natanz, since the start of the war.In its report, the IAEA said it conducted an inspection this week at the Bushehr nuclear power plant, but not other sites.The Bushehr plant was built and operated with Russian assistance for civilian purposes but was targeted in the war.- 'Without delay' -"While the agency acknowledged that the military attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities and sites have created an unprecedented situation, it is critical for the agency to conduct verification activities in Iran without delay," the IAEA said in the report.The report is to be discussed at an IAEA board of governors' meeting next week.Prior to US strikes in June 2025, the IAEA calculated that Iran possessed approximately 440 kilogrammes of uranium enriched to 60 percent, which is close to the 90 percent needed to make a bomb and well above the 3.67-percent limit set by a 2015 now-defunct agreement with Iran.Since June 2025, the fate of this stockpile has remained uncertain."The agency's lack of access to verify the previously declared highly enriched uranium and low enriched uranium for nearly a year -- which is long overdue according to standard safeguard practices -- is a matter of proliferation concern," it added.IAEA head Rafael Grossi "calls on Iran to engage the agency constructively in order to facilitate the full and effective implementation of safeguards in Iran," it added, evoking the "utmost urgency".Israel and the United States have long accused Iran of wanting to build a nuclear weapon, with President Donald Trump claiming that threat as justification for attacking Iran.Trump has insisted that Iran must accept in any deal to end the war that it will not have a nuclear weapon and that the uranium is destroyed.Tehran has repeatedly denied having any military ambitions, insisting on its right to the technology for civilian purposes.
'It's not your country, it's our country,' he tells Tehran-Lebanese president says Iran using his country as ‘bargaining chip’ in talks with US-Aoun asks, ‘Aren’t you fed up with war since 1948?’; Beirut parliament speaker backs pullout of both ally Hezbollah and IDF from south Lebanon; IDF chief Zamir reportedly tells ministers: Better a Lebanon ceasefire now, than in a month under same terms-By ToI Staff and Agencies 5 June 2026, 8:21 pm
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun accused Iran Friday of using Lebanon as a “bargaining chip” in negotiations with the United States, and called on both Hezbollah and Israel to embrace diplomacy in a bid to end the fighting between them.His comments in an interview with CNN came after Israel and Lebanon agreed on Wednesday to renew a truce in the conflict. Hezbollah has rejected the ceasefire deal, but on Friday, Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, an ally of the Iran-backed terror group, said he agreed to its withdrawal from southern Lebanon as long as the IDF also pulls out of the area.Israel and the Lebanese government both support efforts to disarm Hezbollah and remove it from southern Lebanon. But Iran has rebuffed those calls and has sought to tie a ceasefire in Lebanon to its own peace talks with the US.Aoun has repeatedly sought to distance Lebanon from regional conflicts and has said decisions concerning the country’s sovereignty and security must be made by the Lebanese state alone. Speaking to CNN, he slammed the Islamic Republic’s interference in Lebanon, noting that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps opposed the truce deal.“It’s not your country, it’s our country,” he said, referring to Iran. “It’s our obligation. It’s not your job to interfere in our country… Our people [are] being killed, our people, our house is being destroyed.”He added, “They are using Lebanon as a bargaining chip in their negotiation with the United States. It’s unacceptable.”In Wednesday’s ceasefire agreement, following Israeli-Lebanese talks in Washington DC, the countries pledged to create a number of “pilot” security zones inside Lebanon from which Hezbollah terrorists would be banned.A joint statement said the truce “is contingent on a complete cessation of Hezbollah fire and the evacuation of all Hezbollah operatives” from areas south of the Litani River, and said the deal would “enable progress towards a comprehensive peace and security agreement.”But Hezbollah’s chief, Naim Qassem, rejected the deal as “surrender.” Qassem said that his group would keep bombarding northern Israel as long as strikes continue in Lebanon. Qassem also urged the Lebanese government to quit the “farce” of direct talks with Israel.Berri also criticized the agreement in written comments distributed by his office, calling it unfair and saying it should have included an “unconditional ceasefire by land, sea and air.”But he added that he “agrees to… Hezbollah’s withdrawal from south of the Litani River, in parallel with the Israeli withdrawal from the areas it occupied.”Berri is the senior-most Shiite politician in Lebanon, and his Amal Movement has historically had close ties to Hezbollah.In Israel, meanwhile, a report said some government ministers were unhappy with the ceasefire and had unsuccessfully demanded a cabinet vote on it. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu answered that he wouldn’t call a vote on the latest iteration of the US-brokered truce until Hezbollah has accepted its terms, the Ynet news site reported.Netanyahu told cabinet ministers that there was no final agreement yet, and that the ceasefire had not been completely formulated, Kan news reported.He also said that he preferred a diplomatic solution to the conflict, and that the government needed to allow the continuation of negotiations as desired by Trump, since the US president is a strategic partner for Israel, Kan reported.IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir also reportedly told ministers that if a ceasefire with Lebanon is reached, it is better that it happen now than in the near future under similar terms.“If we have to reach a ceasefire now on the terms agreed in Washington, better that it is now and not in a few months,” Zamir told cabinet members, according to Channel 12 and Kan.Additionally, Channel 12 reported that at a meeting with mayors and leaders of local councils on the northern border on Thursday, Zamir said that “Hezbollah has not been destroyed but is weaker now than ever,” and told the officials that the threat of invasion from Lebanon had been removed.“Having accomplished very significant military achievements, I very much hope this will lead to political achievements,” Zamir reportedly said. “This is a time for leadership, determination and perseverance.”Defending the deal on Friday, a US official said that Wednesday’s agreement was the first step in a process that must end with the demilitarization of Hezbollah, full security control south of the Litani River by the Lebanese Armed Forces, and the restoration of complete sovereignty to the Lebanese government.The official, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity, claimed that Iran had wanted to prolong the conflict and “claim credit for saving the day” by trying to undermine the talks, but that the June 3 agreement had “exposed that cynical strategy.”Aoun, for his part, touted the negotiations and called on both Hezbollah and Israel to choose diplomacy over fighting.“Hezbollah must understand that [there is] no other way but to sit and talk, no other way to solve this problem and to save what’s left except through negotiation and diplomacy,” he told CNN.He also urged Israel to stop fighting in Lebanon, and suggested his country was ready to consider a peace deal.“Aren’t you fed up with war since 1948?” he said. “Do you want, really, to live in peace? Let’s sit and talk. For the Israeli government, it’s a time for the power of reason to prevail over the reason of power. Military activities or [a] military solution will never provide you with security and safety to the northern people [in Israel]. We are ready to sit and talk.”The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah reignited in March, days after the beginning of the US-Israeli war with Iran, as the terror group began launching rockets and drones at Israel. Israel responded with heavy airstrikes and by expanding its ground troops’ presence in southern Lebanon.Israel and Lebanon have held successive rounds of negotiations since then, but efforts at a ceasefire have unraveled. Israel has expressed skepticism at the Lebanese government’s capacity to disarm Hezbollah or uproot it from the border area, despite its stated commitment to doing so.In the CNN interview, Aoun said he was “committed to save the country.”“I’ll do whatever it takes,” he said. “When there is a will, there is always a way. I’m not saying that it’s very easy… Have you ever seen a 40-year conflict or a 50-year conflict end in one day or overnight? But we have to struggle in order to save what’s left of the country.”Lebanon sentences activists for inciting Israeli attacks-In parallel with those pledges, Lebanon’s judiciary charged two anti-Hezbollah activists in absentia with inciting Israeli attacks against the terror group, and sentenced them to 15 years in prison, a judicial official told AFP on Friday.It was the harshest sentence yet against activists expressing support for Israel. Lebanon has previously arrested people accused of spying for Israel.The official, who requested anonymity, said the two individuals, Ahmed Yassine and Joumana Gebara, both living outside Lebanon, were charged with “collaborating with Israel and inciting it to continue its military operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon” by the military tribunal, in a trial that began in November 2024.Yassine, a Paris-based university professor, is accused of “inciting the Israeli army to bomb the historic Baalbek Citadel by disseminating information claiming that the citadel housed Hezbollah weapons depots.”Yassine also has a YouTube channel where he shares political commentary to more than 140,000 subscribers.Gebara is accused of “praising Israeli army spokesman Avichay Adraee and thanking him for the bombings of Lebanon, as well as calling for normalization with Israel” during the Israel-Hezbollah conflict in 2024, the official said.
PROOF HALF ON EARTH DIE DURING THE 7 YR TRIBULATION PERIOD (8 BILLION ON EARTH) (DO NOT EVER LISTEN TO ANYBODY THAT SAYS THE WORLD IS ENDING.ITS NEVER GONNA HAPPEN-4 BILLION WILL BE LEFT ON EARTH TO GO INTO JESUS" 1000 YEAR RULE)(THAT DOES NOT SOUND LIKE THE END OF THE WORLD TO ANY ONE, DOES IT-NOT ME.THE EARTH IS JUST RENOVATED.NEVER ENDED.
REVELATION 6:7-8 (8 BILLION- 2 BILLION = 6 BILLION)
7 And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.
8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse:(CHLORES GREEN) and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth,(2 BILLION) to kill with sword,(WEAPONS) and with hunger,(FAMINE) and with death,(INCURABLE DISEASES) and with the beasts of the earth.(ANIMAL TO HUMAN DISEASE).
REVELATION 9:15,18 (6 BILLION - 2 BILLION = 4 BILLION)
15 And the four(DEMONIC WAR) angels were loosed,
18 By these three was the third part of men killed,(2 BILLION) by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths.(NUCLEAR ATOMIC BOMBS)
HALF OF EARTHS POPULATION DIE DURING THE 7 YR TRIBULATION.(THESE VERSES ARE JUDGEMENT SCRIPTURES NOT RAPTURE SCRIPTURES)
LUKE 17:34-37 (8 TOTAL BILLION - 4 BILLION DEAD IN TRIB = 4 BILLION TO JESUS KINGDOM) (HALF DIE DURING THE 7 YR TRIBULATION PERIOD JUST LIKE THE BIBLE SAYS)(GOD DOES NOT LIE)(AND NOTICE MOST DIE IN WAR AND DISEASES-NOT COMETS-ASTEROIDS-QUAKES OR TSUNAMIS)
34 I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken,(IN WW3 JUDGEMENT) and the other shall be left.(half earths population 4 billion die in the 7 yr trib)
35 Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken,(IN WW3 JUDGEMENT) and the other left.
36 Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken,(IN WW3 JUDGEMENT) and the other left.
37 And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.(Christians have new bodies,this is the people against Jerusalem during the 7 yr treaty)(Christians bodies are not being eaten by the birds).THESE ARE JUDGEMENT SCRIPTURES-NOT RAPTURE SCRIPTURES.BECAUSE NOT HALF OF PEOPLE ON EARTH ARE CHRISTIANS.AND THE CONTEXT IN LUKE 17 IS THE 7 YEAR TRIBULATION OR 7 YR TREATY PERIOD.WHICH IS JUDGEMENT ON THE EARTH.NOT 50% RAPTURED TO HEAVEN.
MATTHEW 24:37-42 (THESE ARE JUDGEMENT SCRIPTURES-SURE NOT RAPTURE SCRIPTURES)
37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken,(IN WW3 JUDGEMENT) and the other left.
41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken,(IN WW3 JUDGEMENT) and the other left.
42 Watch therefore:(FOR THE LAST DAYS SIGNS HAPPENING) for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
WORLD TERRORISM
GENESIS 6:11-13
11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.(WORLD TERRORISM,MURDERS)(HAMAS IN HEBREW IS VIOLENCE)
12 And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.
13 And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence (TERRORISM)(HAMAS) through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.(CAN YOU SAY TORNADOES,HURRICANES,VOLCANOES,EARTH QUAKES,LANDSLIDES,FLASH FLOODING,EXPLOSIONS,SNOW STORMS,THEN FINALLY NUKESAND ANY OTHER JUDGEMENTS THE EARTH CAN VOMIT THE SINNERS OFF THE FACE OF THE EARTH WITH.
MARK 13:8
8 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:(ETHNIC GROUP AGAINST ETHNIC GROUP) and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.
LUKE 21:11
11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places,(DIFFERNT PLACES AT THE SAME TIME) and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.
2 Peter 3:6-7 Amplified Bible (AMP) (HOT SUN, NUKES ETC)
6 By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed.
7 By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.
LUKE 21:25-26
25 And there shall be signs in the sun,(HEATING UP-SOLAR ECLIPSES) and in the moon,(MAN ON THE MOON-LUNAR ECLIPSES) and in the stars;(ASTEROIDS-PROPHECY SIGNS) and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity;(MASS CONFUSION) the sea and the waves roaring;(FIERCE WINDS)
26 Men’s hearts failing them for fear,(TORNADOES,HURRICANES,STORMS) and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth:(DESTRUCTION) for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.(FROM QUAKES,NUKES ETC)
GENESIS 16:11-12
11 And the angel of the LORD said unto her,(HAGAR) Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael;(FATHER OF THE ARAB/MUSLIMS) because the LORD hath heard thy affliction.
12 And he (ISHMAEL-FATHER OF THE ARAB-MUSLIMS) will be a wild (DONKEY-JACKASS) man;(ISLAM IS A FAKE AND DANGEROUS SEX FOR MURDER CULT) his hand will be against every man,(ISLAM HATES EVERYONE) and every man's hand against him;(PROTECTING THEMSELVES FROM BEING BEHEADED) and he (ISHMAEL ARAB/MUSLIM) shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.(LITERAL-THE ARABS LIVE WITH THEIR BRETHERN JEWS)
ISAIAH 14:12-14
12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer,(SATAN) son of the morning!(HEBREW-CRECENT MOON-ISLAM) how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
14 I (SATAN HAS EYE TROUBLES) will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.(AND 1/3RD OF THE ANGELS OF HEAVEN FELL WITH SATAN AND BECAME DEMONS)
JOHN 16:2
2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.(ISLAM MURDERS IN THE NAME OF MOON GOD ALLAH OF ISLAM)
And here are the bounderies of the land that Israel will inherit either through war or peace or God in the future. God says its Israels land and only Israels land. They will have every inch God promised them of this land in the future.
Egypt east of the Nile River, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, The southern part of Turkey and the Western Half of Iraq west of the Euphrates. Gen 13:14-15, Psm 105:9,11, Gen 15:18, Exe 23:31, Num 34:1-12, Josh 1:4.ALL THIS LAND ISRAEL WILL DEFINATELY OWN IN THE FUTURE, ITS ISRAELS NOT ISHMAELS LAND.12 TRIBES INHERIT LAND IN THE FUTURE.
Joel 3:2-King James Version (YOU DIVIDE JERUSALEM IN HALF - YOUR POKING GOD IN THE EYE - GOD SAYS AN EYE FOR AN EYE AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH- YOU WANNA DIVIDE JERUSALEM IN HALF - HALF OF EARTHS POPULATION 4 BILLION DIE ON EARTH.
2 I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.
And here are the bounderies of the land that Israel will inherit either through war or peace or God in the future. God says its Israels land and only Israels land. They will have every inch God promised them of this land in the future.
Egypt east of the Nile River, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, The southern part of Turkey and the Western Half of Iraq west of the Euphrates. Gen 13:14-15, Psm 105:9,11, Gen 15:18, Exe 23:31, Num 34:1-12, Josh 1:4.ALL THIS LAND ISRAEL WILL DEFINATELY OWN IN THE FUTURE, ITS ISRAELS NOT ISHMAELS LAND.12 TRIBES INHERIT LAND IN THE FUTURE.
LUKE 19:40
40 And He answered and said unto them, “I tell you that if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.”
North Korea's Kim stresses stronger naval nuclear deterrent.
Seoul, June 6 (AFP) Jun 06, 2026-North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited the naval destroyer Kang Kon to oversee a navigation test, state media said Saturday, stressing the need to enhance the navy's capability to deter a nuclear war.The Saturday report came as Beijing and Pyongyang announced Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit North Korea from June 8 to 9, after Xi hosted back-to-back summits with US President Donald Trump and Russia's Vladimir Putin last month.Kim has in recent years vowed to strengthen North Korea's naval capabilities, and in May last year oversaw the botched launch of the destroyer Kang Kon, which was later repaired and relaunched a month later.During the trip on Thursday, Kim stressed the importance of rapidly developing the naval force into a force "capable of reliably taking charge of a part of the nuclear war deterrent", Pyongyang's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.Building a navy capable of delivering a "deadly blow" to enemies above and below the water is a core goal of the ruling party's current five-year defence development plan, Kim said.The North Korean leader visited the vessel with top officials and his daughter, Ju Ae, images released by Pyongyang's state media showed.Since North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's 2019 summit with Trump collapsed over the scope of denuclearisation and sanctions relief, Pyongyang has repeatedly declared itself an "irreversible" nuclear state.Kim has since been emboldened by the war in Ukraine, securing critical support from Moscow after sending thousands of troops to fight alongside Russian forces.Last year, Kim appeared alongside China's Xi and Russia's Putin at an elaborate military parade in Beijing -- a striking display of his new, elevated status in global politics.
Russia says downed hundreds of drones from Ukraine.
Moscow, June 6 (AFP) Jun 06, 2026-Russia said Saturday it intercepted hundreds of Ukrainian drones including near Saint Petersburg, where Moscow is hosting a major economic forum, as Ukraine reported at least three people killed by Russian strikes.Moscow and Kyiv have intensified drone strikes on each other in recent months as US-led diplomatic efforts to end the war, now in its fifth year, remain stalled over the conflict in the Middle East.The Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) -- once dubbed "Russia's Davos" -- ends on Saturday, a day after the event featured a speech by Russian President Vladimir Putin."Eighty-six UAVs have been shot down over Leningrad region. Combat operations continue," said Aleksandr Drozdenko, governor of the region whose major city is Saint Petersburg and which also includes key Baltic ports.On the first day of the summit, Ukrainian drones hit an oil complex and military base in Saint Petersburg, which is also Putin's home city.Overnight, Russia's defence ministry said its air defence downed a total of 376 Ukrainian drones "over Belgorod, Bryansk, Kaluga, Kursk, Leningrad, Novgorod, Oryol, Pskov, Rostov, Ryazan, Smolensk, Tver, and Tula regions, Moscow region, Crimea Republic, Abkhazia Republic, and over the waters of the Azov and Black Seas".In southern Ukraine, authorities found the bodies of two men who had been unaccounted for following an attack on Zaporizhzhia, according to regional governor Ivan Fedorov.One person was killed and three wounded in Russian drone and artillery attacks in Dnipropetrovsk, regional governor Oleksandr Ganzha wrote on Telegram.A fire broke out at an oil depot in the city of Ust-Labinsk in southern Russia following a drone attack, according to local authorities, with no reports of wounded.Russian forces also downed nine Ukrainian drones headed for Moscow on Saturday, according to earlier updates by the city's mayor Sergei Sobyanin.
Lebanese soldiers killed in Israeli strike, army says.
Beirut, Lebanon, June 6 (AFP) Jun 06, 2026-Several soldiers have been killed in an Israeli strike on a vehicle in south Lebanon, Beirut's military said Saturday, days after the two countries announced a conditional truce following talks in the United States."A number of military personnel, including an officer, were martyred in a barbaric Israeli raid targeting a military vehicle on the Khardali-Nabatieh road," the Lebanese army said in a statement posted to X.A ceasefire that was supposed to end the fighting in Lebanon between Israel and Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah took effect on April 17, but has not been respected.Hezbollah and Israel have frequently exchanged accusations of violating the truce, with each side justifying its attacks with alleged violations committed by the other side.A further conditional truce was announced by Lebanese and Israeli envoys this week in Washington.It would require Hezbollah to stop firing, withdraw from near the Israeli border and would see Lebanon's army deploy to new "pilot zones" in the area, where it will exercise exclusive control.But Hezbollah has rejected the agreement, calling for a full Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory.On Saturday, Israel renewed evacuation orders for five villages in Lebanon's south and east, telling residents to move north of the Zahrani River."In light of the terrorist Hezbollah's violation of the ceasefire agreement, the IDF is forced to act against it with force," the Israeli military's Arabic-language spokesman Avichay Adraee posted on Telegram.Lebanon was drawn into the wider Middle East war when Hezbollah attacked Israel on March 2 to avenge the February 28 killing of Iran's supreme leader.Israel responded with an extensive campaign of airstrikes in Lebanon and a ground invasion.Iran insists Lebanon be included in any agreement with the United States to end their wider war.Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said in an interview with CNN that aired on Friday that Iran must stop interfering in Lebanon."It's not your country, it's our country," he said. "It's not your job to interfere into our country.""They are using Lebanon as a bargaining chip in their negotiation with the United States. It's unacceptable," he added."Hezbollah must understand that (there is) no other way but to sit and talk, no other way to solve this problem and to save what's left except through negotiation and diplomacy," Aoun added."The majority of the Lebanese people are fed up with war."lk/axn/dc
Russia, US and nuclear: What to expect from Xi-Kim summit.
Beijing, June 5 (AFP) Jun 05, 2026-China's President Xi Jinping will visit North Korea on Monday as he seeks to cement Beijing's influence in its own backyard, following summits with US counterpart Donald Trump and Russia's Vladimir Putin.Here's what to expect during Xi's summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un:- What happened during past meetings? -In 2019, Xi became the first Chinese leader to visit North Korea in 14 years.Thousands waved flags as the two leaders drove through Pyongyang in an open-topped limousine, and watched performances depicting Chinese and Korean soldiers fighting together in the Korean War.Xi hailed the two countries' "unbreakable friendship", and analysts will be watching for similar pageantry next week.Kim had said a year prior that North Korea and China were "like family", keen for close ties to the Asian giant his country relies on economically.But Kim has sought to balance that dependency in recent years by growing ties with Russia.China-North Korea exchanges shuddered to a halt when Pyongyang shuttered its borders during the Covid-19 pandemic.Direct air and rail travel between the two countries is only gradually re-opening from March this year.The two leaders last met in Beijing in September, when Kim attended China's huge military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.- Why now? -After hosting meetings with Trump and Putin, Xi is "moving swiftly to establish a 'mediator's veto' on the Korean peninsula", according to Seong-Hyon Lee of the George H. W. Bush Foundation for US-China Relations.Trump has said he is open to meeting again with Kim, who he met three times during his first term."By inserting himself into Pyongyang now, Xi is ensuring that any resurrected Washington-Pyongyang diplomatic track cannot bypass Beijing's core interests or alter the region's security architecture without his concurrence," Lee told AFP.Beijing also wants "balance by keeping the increasingly close relationship between North Korea and Russia in check", said Hong Min of the Korea Institute for National Unification in Seoul.Pyongyang's recent touting of new nuclear facilities and missile tests may also worry Beijing.Kim vowed on Wednesday an "exponential" increase in nuclear military capabilities, Pyongyang's state news agency KCNA said.Diplomatically isolated North Korea is already under heavy international sanctions over its nuclear activity."Beijing recognises an urgent need to manage this friction before Kim's actions force an irreversible, automated expansion of US, South Korean, and Japanese military assets into China's immediate periphery," Lee said.- What do Xi and Kim want? -Xi's visit will be his first foreign trip this year, after hosting dozens of world leaders in recent months.Visiting North Korea is "a deliberate visual rebuttal to the prevailing read in Western capitals that Pyongyang had quietly migrated into Moscow's orbit", according to Lee.Xi will seek to assert China's central role in the region, while for Kim, just the "visual deference of a visit on North Korean soil" is a win, Lee said.The visit is also part of a wider effort by China, Russia and North Korea "to present a united front against the US and Japan", according to Lim Eul-chul, a North Korea expert at the South's Kyungnam University.Nevertheless, North Korea has "few options to turn to for diplomatic recognition by a major power", and may seek more development aid from China, according to James Char of Singapore's Nanyang Technological University.- What could it mean for the region? -"This summit represents Beijing's tacit endorsement of Kim's nuclear status," Lee said."China is increasingly willing to absorb the rising 'cost of tolerance' for North Korea's nuclear advancements because an assertive Pyongyang effectively ties down American and allied military resources."But Beijing is still keen to limit Pyongyang's potentially destabilising actions in the region."If North Korea acts in a provocative and belligerent manner, it could trigger regional conflict, which could run counter to China's interests," said Hong Min.South Korea has said it hopes exchanges between North Korea and China contribute to peace and stability."We can expect future ties to be highly transactional," Lee said."North Korea will provide geopolitical friction against the US and its allies, and in exchange, China will provide the structural, economic lifeline necessary for regime survival."
Chinese spies pose as recruiters to glean state secrets: western agencies.
London, June 4 (AFP) Jun 04, 2026-Chinese spies are posing as job recruiters to trick staff in western governments into disclosing sensitive information, the Five Eyes alliance of security agencies has warned.China's military intelligence services advertise false jobs such as foreign policy or defence analysts on platforms including LinkedIn, the spy agencies of Britain, the United States, Australia, Canada and New Zealand said jointly late Wednesday.The agents pretend to be HR consultants or employees of "legitimate-looking" private consultancies or think-tanks that claim to be located outside of China.They pressurise candidates into revealing "non-public" information during the interview process, including by writing a report, the intelligence agencies said.People with security clearance, military personnel, journalists and academics are among those targeted, the Five Eyes added.Military staff may be asked about their roles and unit activities, home base or naval vessel.Recruits receive anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand dollars per report, and may be offered more money in return for increasingly sensitive information, the agencies said.They warned that "while applicants often have no direct access to classified information, even unclassified information" can be helpful to the Chinese government."Certain types of data can place the lives of frontline military or other personnel at risk, can weaken our economic prosperity, and enable interference in our democratic processes," the agencies wrote.They said they had identified people who had been duped by the scam, "leading to criminal prosecutions, job losses, and security-clearance revocation".Western spy agencies have repeatedly warned of the threat of espionage from China, as well as from Russia and Iran, in recent years.Last month, two Chinese-British dual nationals were convicted by a jury in London of spying on Hong Kong dissidents on Beijing's behalf. They are awaiting sentencing.pdh/jkb/phz
US nuclear start-up marks mini-reactor breakthrough.
New York, June 5 (AFP) Jun 05, 2026-A nuclear start-up working on mini-reactors for the US military has announced a crucial first step in producing a model that could be deployed at bases and other strategic sites within a few years.Antares said Thursday that it had achieved initial criticality for its Mark-0 prototype, meaning it triggered a controlled, self-sustaining fission chain reaction for producing electricity.It said it was the first private company to achieve the breakthrough for smaller reactors, which countries are increasing considering to supplement their shifts to low-carbon energy grids.The Mark-0 is one of 11 microreactor projects selected by the US Energy Department as part of an initiative to bring several models to criticality by this year's July 4 celebrations marking the country's 250th anniversary.US Energy Secretary Chris Wright hailed an "important milestone."The "achievement is proof that the United States still leads the world in innovation -and that America's nuclear renaissance is well underway," Wright wrote on X.Antares said it conducted the test at the Idaho National Laboratory research and testing facility.The Mark-0 does not use water to cool the reactor cool like most US commercial power plants, but rather liquid sodium.That improves efficiency and avoids the risk of overpressure and steam explosions like that seen in the 1986 Chernobyl disaster.Sodium does require specific safety measures, however, because it ignites on contact with air and explodes on contact with water.Antares said it planned to have operational reactors ready for US military sites by September 2028."We went from concept to a critical reactor, safely, in less than 12 months," Antares CEO Jordan Bramble said.To be commercially viable, the Antares reactor, which currently has a special authorization from the Energy Department, requires approval from the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission.Only one reactor design, by the start-up NuScale, has been given that green light so far.The Energy Department said it expected other companies to reach criticality by July 4.tu/gmo/cms/js
Japan aims to replace 14 ageing nuclear reactors by 2050s.
Tokyo, June 5 (AFP) Jun 05, 2026-Japan's industry ministry said on Friday the nation needs to replace up to 14 ageing nuclear reactors by the 2050s, as Tokyo turns back towards atomic energy more than 15 years after the Fukushima meltdown.The proposal comes as Japan rushes to secure enough power generation capacity to meet surging electricity demand, especially for new technologies such as artificial intelligence, data centres and semiconductor factories.Under the draft plan, as introduced to a panel of experts, the ministry stressed that Japan needs to replace up to five nuclear reactors by the 2040s and a total of around 14 by the 2050s.The scenario assumes that nuclear would meet about 20 percent of Japan's energy demand during those periods, compared with just under 10 percent now, the ministry said."We will promote this initiative with a view to replacing at least this number (of reactors) in order to ensure a stable supply" of electricity, the proposal said.This is the first time that the government has outlined specific targets for reactor replacement, Kyodo News reported.Relevant ministers will review the draft at another time, according to local media.Japan's power industry estimates that by the 2040s, the nation will see a shortfall of 5.5 million kilowatts, roughly equivalent to the power generated by five reactors, Kyodo said.Japan pulled the plug on all nuclear power after a colossal earthquake and tsunami sent three reactors at the Fukushima atomic plant into meltdown in 2011.But it now wants to revive atomic energy to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels, achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and meet growing energy needs from AI.Before the Fukushima crisis, nuclear used to cover around a third of Japan's electricity needs.
'Being anti-Israel in today’s GOP is not a path to success'Tucker Carlson is down, say some Jewish Republicans; others warn he’s not out-Antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment in party spark debate at RJC gala as Rep. Randy Fine says biggest threat now comes from the left; watchdogs fear toxic rhetoric still being normalized-By Joseph Strauss Today, 4:59 pm-JUN 6,26
JTA — At the Republican Jewish Coalition’s annual gala last November, much of the discussion centered around right-wing antisemitism. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz warned that there was “an existential crisis in our party” as figures such as Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens and Nick Fuentes built their online audiences, while right-wing firebrand Rep. Randy Fine of Florida slammed Carlson as an antisemite.At the RJC’s “America 250” gala six months later, the mood was cheerier, and the cautionary words gave way to declarations that emerging antisemitism on the right was being dealt with properly.Fine reminded the audience at the RJC event held in Manhattan on Sunday that in his speech to the RJC in November, he’d called Carlson “the most dangerous antisemite in America.” Now, he said, “I don’t know that that’s true anymore.”Fine and other Republicans at the RJC gala told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that enough Republicans — most significantly, US President Donald Trump — had spoken out against Carlson and his ilk to damage their image and dampen the threat they might pose. They also pointed to major GOP critics of Israel who had lost their seats in recent months.But others have warned that it’s a mistake to celebrate too soon, or to think Carlson’s star has really faded, especially amid speculation that he might launch a presidential run as a Republican.Fine told JTA in a text that he now believes the country’s “most dangerous antisemite” is Zohran Mamdani, New York City’s anti-Zionist mayor. In contrast, he said, Carlson’s impact had only plummeted in the past half-year.“I think that brand has been destroyed [in] the last six months,” he wrote, attributing the change to politicians like himself calling Carlson out, as well as “the damage he has done to himself.”A number of speakers at the RJC who lauded Republicans’ response to antisemitism in the party also pointed to the recent primary defeat of outspoken Israel critic Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie. Brooks said to loud applause that the group spent $5 million in that race, and called the effort “a fight worth having and a victory worth celebrating.”Speakers also recounted the resignation from Congress of Marjorie Taylor Greene in January, maintaining that the Republican Party is squashing its anti-Israel voices, while the Democratic Party is electing them.“Being anti-Israel in today’s Republican Party is not — unlike the Democratic Party — a path to success,” said RJC CEO Matt Brooks during his remarks. Brooks later told JTA that Carlson, Owens and Fuentes’ “influence and credibility is less than it’s ever been” and that “they don’t represent” the mainstream of the MAGA movement.But the Anti-Defamation League warned that it would be a mistake not to see the audience and impact of Carlson in particular as worthy of continued concern.Oren Segal, the ADL’s vice president of counterextremism and intelligence, said in an interview with JTA that his organization’s biggest worry regarding Carlson is “not merely his relationship with any conservative or elected officials” but also the “normalization” of his views.Segal pointed to the accusation that an Israeli attack on an American spy ship during the 1967 Six-Day War was intentional — used by conspiracy theorists as proof that the Jewish state cannot be trusted — despite US investigations determining that it was a mistake.“No one’s been a bigger boon to the USS Liberty Conspiracy of late than Tucker Carlson,” he said.Segal added that it would be “absurd” to count out anyone as a potential presidential contender, while several political observers have speculated that Carlson may be weighing a run.New York University professor Scott Galloway recently said on his New York Magazine podcast “Pivot” that the former Fox News host could be a serious contender. There is an “enormous lane,” he assessed, for a candidate who, like Carlson, has “very conservative values, an enormous media platform, an enormous army of acolytes that he could weaponize right away, and is anti-Trump and anti-the war on Iran.”Some of Carlson’s allies are gunning for a campaign. Speaking Thursday on Russian state television during a trip to St. Petersburg, Owens said she personally did not plan to run for office but said Carlson would be a great candidate for president.“I would love for him to run,” she said, adding, “I would gratefully get behind someone like Tucker Carlson.”Back in March, TV host Piers Morgan asked Carlson whether he has White House ambitions. Carlson said that politics is “not what I do,” adding, “The whole idea of, ‘I’ve been a successful cable news host, I should be president!’ — that whole way of thinking is disgusting to me.”Asked about the possibility of Carlson running for president, Brooks told JTA in a statement that the RJC would continue to push back against Carlson and similar anti-Israel figures.“There is only one party where American Jews can be proudly pro-Israel, and it is the Republican Party — and those who imperil that will have to come through the RJC first,” Brooks said.Others who attended Sunday’s RJC gathering felt the possibility of a Carlson candidacy was overblown. Shabbos Kestenbaum, a prominent Jewish conservative activist who sued Harvard University over alleged antisemitism, dismissed concerns that Carlson could be a serious presidential candidate.In an interview, he pointed out that Carlson’s support of Massie and Ohio gubernatorial candidate Casey Putsch did not yield electoral success. Putsch, who has a history of dog whistling to neo-Nazis, received 17.5% of the vote in Ohio’s Republican gubernatorial primary. Unlike Massie, Carlson did not issue an endorsement for Putsch, but he did host Putsch on his podcast last year.“His endorsements mean absolutely nothing, and outside of the ‘Podcastistan’ universe, his words carry very little weight,” Kestenbaum said of Carlson.Brooks said in an interview with JTA that he feels “very pleased” with how the party has responded to voices like Carlson’s. Trump has publicly cast Carlson aside since his former ally sharpened his objections to the administration’s war in Iran.“It’s been marginalized,” Brooks said of the party’s anti-Israel wing. “They tried to hijack the term MAGA. Groups like ours, but equally important, the president, has made it clear they are not MAGA.”Asked about Vice President JD Vance, who has not offered a condemnation of Carlson to some Jewish Republicans’ chagrin, Brooks said, “When you have the president speaking, that’s the voice that matters right now.”
Lebanon considers its largest amnesty in 35 years but some are protesting-Measure would release over 3,000 prisoners and reduce thousands of sentences amid prison overcrowding while reopening debate over fate of former Israeli-backed militia members-By BASSEM MROUE Today, 9:45 am-JUN 6,26
BEIRUT (AP) — Samira Bou Saab had hoped to see the execution of the man who was sentenced to death for killing her son. Instead, he eventually could be released under a sweeping draft amnesty law in Lebanon that is revealing the country’s complex history of loyalties and conflict.Lebanon’s largest amnesty since the end of its devastating 1975-90 civil war is expected to occur in the coming weeks, once parliament approves it and the president signs it.The law would replace death sentences, reduce life sentences and eventually lead to the release of convicted militants and drug dealers while excluding crimes such as rape, human trafficking, corruption, funding acts of terrorism and premeditated murder. Those convicted of killing Lebanese troops could see reduced prison terms.Even as Israel’s latest invasion of Lebanon in pursuit of the Iranian-backed Hezbollah terror group has delayed parliamentary elections, lawmakers have said they are pressing ahead with the amnesty law because of overcrowding in jails.Over 3,000 of nearly 8,600 detainees would be freed, including those in jail without trial for at least 14 years.But some in Lebanon oppose the amnesty. Recently, families of fallen soldiers protested by placing dozens of empty military boots outside parliament in Beirut.The proposal again exposes sectarian tensions-Bou Saab’s son, George, an army first lieutenant, was one of 18 military members killed in clashes with followers of radical Sunni Muslim cleric Ahmed al-Assir in the southern city of Sidon in 2013.Bou Saab asked whether al-Assir, who has served 11 years under a death sentence, would have the right under the amnesty to see his children and family, “while my son is buried under the sand and his children don’t know him.” If the law is approved, the death sentence would be gone, and he would have 10 more years to serve.Al-Assir’s wife, meanwhile, blasted the amnesty, saying her husband is an innocent victim of a conspiracy orchestrated by the Shiite Muslim Hezbollah, which she said ignited battles between the cleric’s supporters and the Lebanese army.“He is being executed slowly,” Amal Shamseddine said of her husband’s sentence, adding, “Had there been justice in our country, they (detainees) would have been released and gone home a long time ago.”Lebanon’s last major amnesty was in 1991, with the aim of facilitating reconciliation after the civil war left 150,000 people dead. The conflict drew in multiple militias, many of them sectarian, plus Palestinian factions. Syria’s military intervened, and an Israeli invasion in 1982 reached Beirut.After that amnesty, most militia leaders became part of Lebanon’s ruling class, which was later blamed for decades of corruption and mismanagement, leading to an economic meltdown in 2019.As the current amnesty law was drafted, the country’s deep sectarian divisions were clear in the legislature. Sunni lawmakers demanded the release of Islamists, Shiite ones sought the release of drug dealers, mostly from Lebanon’s eastern, cannabis-planting Baalbek region.Christian legislators demanded amnesty for hundreds of citizens who fled to Israel after its forces withdrew from Lebanon in 2000. Many have links to the Israeli-backed South Lebanon Army militia that was dissolved when Israel withdrew.“The draft law has entered the road of political bargains,” said lawmaker Nabil Badr, a strong supporter of the amnesty, adding that many legislators are using it to make political gains.New fighting with Israel has created a challenge-Maryam Younnes was 5 when she fled with her family to Israel in 2000. She hopes the amnesty will allow her to return to Lebanon, where she can meet her grandmother again and visit her father’s grave. He had been an SLA commander and his body was brought to his hometown for burial after he died in 2013.But political considerations remain.-“We will return once Lebanon is cleared of (Hezbollah), illegal weapons, and once there is peace between Lebanon and Israel,” Younnes said. Hezbollah, which emerged in southern Lebanon in 1982 in response to Israel’s invasion, was allowed to keep its weapons after the civil war to fight Israeli forces.After Israel withdrew, hundreds of SLA members stayed in Lebanon and received jail sentences, with some later released.The draft amnesty law says Lebanese citizens living in Israel would be treated in accordance with a 2011 law saying members of the pro-Israel militia will be detained upon their arrival in Lebanon and given “a fair trial.”But Younnes declared: “Our people are not criminals.”As Lebanon and Israel hold their first direct talks in more than three decades, while a new conflict grows, Younnes hopes for an eventual peace treaty with open borders.“I am confident the situation will change, and I want to return to my country,” she said.
Lebanon inaugurates a second international airport amid Israel-Hezbollah war-Qlayaat airport near Syrian border to be converted from airbase to passenger hub as government looks to shift traffic from the Beirut airport, near Hezbollah’s Dahiyeh stronghold-By AFP and ToI Staff Today, 4:58 pm-JUN 6,26
QLAYAAT, Lebanon — Lebanon launched the rehabilitation of its second airport on Saturday, in preparation for an opening within months, at a time when the country faces constant fighting between Hezbollah and Israel.Lebanon currently has one international airport, in south Beirut next to Dahiyeh, a Hezbollah stronghold that has been subjected to heavy Israeli bombardment during successive wars.The new airport, in the town of Qlayaat in Lebanon’s northernmost province of Akkar, near the border with Syria, has been used as a military base by the Lebanese army for decades.Lebanese Minister of Transport and Public Works Fayez Rasamny inaugurated the airport on Saturday “after more than fifty years of promises, delays and waiting.”“Today we are moving from promise to execution,” Rasamny said, adding that the goal is for the airport to be “operational in a few weeks” to serve travelers to Mersin, Istanbul and Dubai, adding there are plans to expand the destinations to Saudi Arabia, Cairo and Athens at a later stage.Lebanon is also in contact with low-cost airlines, such as Ryanair and Pegasus, he said.Rehabilitation is due to begin next week and will take at least three months, going through a pilot phase before the airport is put into full service in November 2026, according to local media.The work is being carried out by the Lebanese company Sky Lounge, which on Saturday posted on its Instagram page a video of a test flight between Beirut airport and Qlayaat airport.In a speech during the opening ceremony, the company’s chairman, Ziad Munla, said the passenger terminal will be completed “within 90 days after completing the required approvals and licenses.”The airport will be able to handle about 114,000 passengers in its first year, rising to more than 600,000 by its fourth year, he said.The opening of the airport aims to create jobs in Akkar, one of Lebanon’s poorest governorates with a high unemployment rate.Rene Mouawad Airport, named after a former Lebanese president who was elected in the 1980s, was built by the French army as an airstrip in the 1930s.It was used for civilian purposes in the 1960s and was bombed by Israel during an earlier war between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006.Beirut airport has continued to operate during the several wars that have struck the country since 2023, only closing briefly during periods of major escalation.Lebanon has been forced to repeatedly pursue international guarantees that Israel will not target Beirut airport, which it has previously accused Hezbollah of using to transport money and weapons.Lebanese authorities have repeatedly denied the Israeli allegations, though Beirut has reportedly conducted a large-scale purge of Hezbollah’s presence at the airport, doing enough to even satisfy Israel and the US, according to US and Lebanese officials.The latest round of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah began on March 2, when Hezbollah fired rockets into northern Israel two days after the US and Israel attacked its main backer, Iran. Since then, 26 IDF soldiers and one Defense Ministry civilian contractor have been killed in southern Lebanon, 14 of them since a ceasefire was introduced on April 16. Two civilians were also killed by Hezbollah rockets, and an Israeli civilian was mistakenly killed in the north by Israeli artillery shelling.Israel has thus far refrained from striking Beirut during the current conflict at the request of the White House, which fears it would harm Washington’s efforts to secure a ceasefire extension with Iran — which is conditioning a deal on a truce in Lebanon.
Canadian Jews divided by PM Carney’s new council tasked with addressing antisemitism-Critics say council’s general targeting of ‘hate’ is too broad, object to some of its members and call on Canada ‘to recognize anti-Zionist extremism as a driver of hostility’By Shira Li Bartov Today, 6:42 am-JUN 6,26
JTA — Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced a plan to fight antisemitism, but Canadian Jews are debating whether it’s enough.Carney said on Monday that the country was “failing Jewish Canadians” as antisemitic hate crimes rose to the highest levels seen in Canada since World War II. In a speech at Toronto’s Holy Blossom Synagogue, he announced a new Ministerial Advisory Council on Rights, Equality, and Inclusion to guide the government in combating all forms of hate and racism, with the “first responsibility” of addressing antisemitism.Pressure was mounting on Carney to stem the tide of attacks since 2023, which have included gunfire at Jewish schools and synagogues and attacks on Jewish businesses and community centers.Carney’s response has exposed faultlines among Canadian Jews over what tackling antisemitism should look like. Carney, the leader of Canada’s Liberal Party who recognized a Palestinian state last year, joins a growing number of left-leaning world leaders to grapple with fighting antisemitism while preserving room for Israel critics in their political tents.Some Jewish groups are criticizing the council’s bureaucratic mandate and Carney’s general targeting of “hate,” saying his proposal is too broad and ineffective for Jews in need of urgent protection. Some Conservative politicians and Jewish leaders also targeted the makeup of the council, whose seven members include one prominent Jewish politician alongside a lawyer representing pro-Palestinian campus activists and a former Liberal Party lawmaker and ex-chair of the Canadian Arab Federation. The last especially has been criticized by some pro-Israel voices.Other Jewish groups support Carney’s move to unite efforts against antisemitism, Islamophobia and other forms of racism under one umbrella. Liberal and progressive leaders including Maytal Kowalski, head of the group JSpaceCanada, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that attacks on the council’s Arab member were “rooted in racism.”Carney said the new council will assess the nature, scale and drivers of antisemitism, align federal policies and public safety programs to confront hate, and improve data collection on hate incidents.Those measures did not satisfy B’nai Brith Canada, the country’s oldest Jewish advocacy group, which called for stronger enforcement and prosecution.“Absent was a clear commitment to mobilize all levels of government, law enforcement, prosecutors, security agencies, educational institutions, and civil society around a coordinated national response,” the group said in a statement.Melissa Lantsman, a Jewish Conservative MP, said Carney showed Canadian Jews “he thinks you are stupid.”“‘Canada’s civic compact is failing Jewish Canadians’ is an extraordinary admission,” Lantsman said on X. “It should have been followed by concrete actions and concrete consequences for those doing the failing. Didn’t happen.”Some Jewish groups also objected to how Carney defined antisemitism. B’nai Brith Canada, which promotes Zionism and Israel, pressed him to condemn anti-Zionism as a root of the crisis.“Anti-Zionist manifestations of antisemitism have become increasingly legitimized and normalized,” said CEO Simon Wolle. “A government cannot successfully fight antisemitism while refusing to confront one of its most prevalent contemporary forms.”The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, an advocacy arm of the Jewish Federations of Canada, similarly said that Canadians “needed to hear” Carney address anti-Zionism. “It is essential to recognize anti-Zionist extremism as a driver of hostility toward Canadian Jews since the Hamas-led October 7 terrorist attacks,” the group said in a statement.Carney acknowledged the shadow of Israel in his speech, though he never explicitly named the country. He urged Canadians not to “transpose foreign conflicts onto each other” and ensure that “no Canadian child goes to school being seen as a representative of any foreign state.”Attacks on Canadian Jews have surged since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, and the ensuing war in Gaza, which has deeply soured Canadian views of Israel.Rather than identifying political ideologies, Carney pointed to a broader threat of hatred spreading “when conspiracy becomes discourse.”That statement was applauded by Jewish leaders like Kowalski, who said that conspiratorial thinking and polarization lay at the root of dangers not only against Jews, but all minority groups.“I think that it is a mistake to say that it is Israel or anti-Zionism, or the war in Gaza, or what is happening now in Lebanon or Iran, that is causing the rise of antisemitism,” said Kowalski, whose liberal Zionist organization, JSpaceCanada, advocates for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. “I think, quite frankly, that’s giving antisemites too much credit. It’s saying once these things end, they will cease to be antisemitic, and that is simply not true.”Independent Jewish Voices, a progressive group, also told JTA that it welcomed the government’s decision to “bring together the fights against antisemitism, Islamophobia and other forms of organized hate.”The council’s makeup has been closely scrutinized by Conservative politicians and Jewish leaders.Carney announced the appointment of Marc Gold, a lawyer and Jewish community leader who retired last year from the Senate of Canada, to join the body. The council will be chaired by Marc Miller, the minister of Canadian identity and culture. It also includes former Liberal MP Omar Alghabra, the first Syrian-born Canadian elected to the House of Commons and previous chair of the Canadian Arab Federation, and Avnish Nanda, a lawyer who is representing pro-Palestinian activists in a lawsuit against the University of Alberta.Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre singled out Alghabra, telling reporters on Tuesday, “I’m not sure he’s the right guy to combat antisemitism.” He accused Alghabra of “lobbying me before he was in politics to keep Hezbollah legal.” Poilievre did not respond to a request for more information about his allegation and Alghabra did not respond to a JTA request for comment.During a parliamentary debate in 2016, Alghabra said that Hamas was a “terrorist organization” and called for “peaceful dialogue and consultations to reach a peaceful resolution to the two-state outcome that we would like to achieve.”Alghabra’s appointment was also decried by Rabbi Zolly Claman of Montreal’s Tifereth Beth David Jerusalem Congregation. Claman told Fox News on Thursday that he was “truly shocked” because Alghabra “publicly mourned the death of Yasser Arafat and remained silent when asked to condemn the attacks of October 7.”Alghabra condemned the attacks on October 13, 2023, saying on X, “The terror attacks committed by Hamas against Israelis are horrific and unjustifiable.” He added, “The images of mass destruction of Gaza are horrifying. Civilians in Gaza are defenseless and Israel has obligations under international law.”The Fox piece linked a video recorded by a member of the far-right website Rebel News, in which a videographer followed Alghabra while he walked on a street and asked whether he condemned the attack. Alghabra did not answer or acknowledge the videographer’s questions.After the 2004 death of Arafat, the first president of the Palestinian Authority who both oversaw terror campaigns against Israel and negotiated a framework for peace with it, Alghabra told the Globe and Mail that Arafat “played a tremendous role in highlighting the Palestinian struggle for independence and making it visible in the international arena.”Kowalski said many critics of Alghabra’s appointment were “writing someone off because they are Arab.” She worked with Alghabra on a panel hosted by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz last year, during which she said that he contributed a “great voice” to discussions about Canada’s relationship with Israel.“It’s very upsetting to me, because he is someone who has always been a great ally to the Jewish community,” said Kowalski, who told JTA that Alghabra was not doing interviews after he did not respond to a request for comment.Nanda is currently representing two Palestinian Canadian alumni and a Jewish American professor in a lawsuit against the University of Alberta. They allege that the school violated their freedom of expression, assembly and association by directing police to forcibly remove a pro-Palestinian encampment in May 2024, according to the CBC.B’nai Brith has not explicitly addressed the claims made about members of the council, but has said the group “lacks the mandate and expertise to lead the fight against antisemitism in Canada.”Kowalski argued that the stakes of combating hatred called for a diverse coalition. “If such a council were to be built for anti-Palestinian racism, I would equally hope that they would have Jews on that council,” she said.
Suspect arrested for arson at Montreal synagogue, amid surging antisemitism in Canada-Window smashed, minor burn damage caused to Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom, which was targeted last year with swastika graffiti. ‘We are unfortunately not surprised,’ says rabbi-By ToI Staff Today, 5:34 am-JUN 6,26
Canadian police arrested a suspect Friday morning after an overnight arson attack on a synagogue in Montreal, the latest act of violence targeting the Jewish community as antisemitism surges in Canada.There were no injuries in the attack on Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom, which suffered minor burn damage before the fire was extinguished. A window was also smashed, with the apparent aim of setting a blaze inside the synagogue.The CBC public broadcaster identified the suspect as Steven Luu, 38. Among the charges he faces are arson and possession of incendiary and explosive materials, but is not currently suspected of a hate crime, though police said the investigation was continuing.The synagogue was also targeted last year when a swastika was spray-painted on the building.In an email to Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom congregants, Rabbi Lisa Grushcow decried “the scourge of antisemitism” and called for law enforcement to do more, saying that “responding requires being proactive, not reactive.”“Naming the ways in which external conflicts are being imported. Recognizing that while criticism of Israel can be legitimate, when the Jewish state and those who love it are libeled, violence against Jews is the result,” she said. “Politicians need courage. Law enforcement needs support. Neighborhoods need good neighbors.”. @bnaibrithcanada is horrified after an arsonist targeted Montréal's beloved @templemontreal , one of the city's oldest synagogues, in the heart of Westmount. We are in touch with community leaders and our partners in law enforcement. We have urged them to investigate the… pic.twitter.com/HzJwGGy42z Advertisement — Paola Samuel (@PaolaSamuel) June 5, 2026-Speaking with the Canadian Jewish News, Grushcow added that “we are unfortunately not surprised” by the attack.“We cannot ignore the broader issues and the unmistakable rise of antisemitism in our city and our country. We also know that we are seeing an escalation: a swastika spray-painted on our building last spring, and now, an arson attack,” she said.The incident at Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom came the same week Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canada was failing its Jews and the community is being brutally targeted by hate, as he announced a new Ministerial Advisory Council on Rights, Equality and Inclusion that will examine the nature, scale and drivers of antisemitism. It will measure its impacts and investments in education, prevention and community safety will follow, his office said.Carney noted that last year over two-thirds of all religion-motivated hate crimes were directed at Jewish Canadians. Jews make up only one percent of the population.In an email Friday to the Canadian Jewish News following the synagogue attack in Montreal, the CEO of the local Federation CJA Yair Szlak said “our community does not need another study to tell us what we already know and live every day,” calling for the government to take on “radical extremism. A failure to name it and deal with it will destroy the Canada we know today.”His group also released a joint statement with the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs linking the arson to “a toxic antisemitic climate” while warning the Jewish community “cannot wait for a ‘Bondi Beach’ in Montreal,” referring to the terrorist attack in December when killed 15 were shot dead at a Hanukkah celebration in Sydney, Australia.
THE FALSE VATICAN POPE LEO 14TH
ISAIAH 23:15-17
15 And it shall come to pass in that day, that Tyre shall be forgotten seventy years, according to the days of one king: after the end of seventy years shall Tyre sing as an harlot.
16 Take an harp, go about the city, thou harlot that hast been forgotten; make sweet melody, sing many songs, that thou mayest be remembered.
17 And it shall come to pass after the end of seventy years, that the LORD will visit Tyre, and she shall turn to her hire, and shall commit fornication with all the kingdoms of the world upon the face of the earth.(COULD THIS BE 70 YEARS AFTER ISRAEL BECAME A NATION IN 1948)(IF SO THIS SATANIC ONE WORLD WHORE CHURCH WILL MINGLE TOGETHER BY 2018)(AND NOW ISLAM AND CHRISTIANITY AND ALL RELIGIONS ARE MINGLING AS ONE PEACE-LOVE-JOY-GET ALONG RELIGION LEAD BY THE VATICAN RIGHT NOW 4 YEARS FROM THE 70 YEAR TIME WHEN ISRAEL BECAME A NATION).AND IN CONTROL OF JERUSALEM.
REVELATION 13:11-18
11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth;(FALSE VATICAN POPE) and he had two horns like a lamb,(JESUS IS THE LAMB OF GOD) and he spake as a dragon.(HES SATANICALLY INSPIRED,HES A CHRISTIAN DEFECTOR FROM THE FAITH)
12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him,(WORLD DICTATOR) and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.(THE WORLD DICTATOR CREATES A FALSE RESURRECTION AND IS CROWNED LEADER OF THE NEW WORLD ORDER).
13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
16 And he(FALSE POPE) causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:(CHIP IMPLANT)
17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.(6-6-6) A NUMBER SYSTEM
REVELATION 17:1-18
1 And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:(VATICAN)
2 With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication,(VATICAN IN POLITICS) and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.(THATS PEDOPHELIA-FORNICATION IS SINGLES HAVING SEX OUT SIDE OF MARRIAGE)(AND SINCE PREISTS CAN NOT MARRY IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THIS FALSE CHURCH GOES AGAINST THE BIBLE.THE CATHOLIC CHURCH BECOMES A HOMOSEXUAL HAVEN OF PEDOPHILIAS FACTORY).
3 So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
4 And the woman (FALSE CHURCH) was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour,(VATICAN COLOURS)(ANOTHER REASON WE KNOW THE FALSE POPE COMES FROM THE VATICAN) and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:(THE VATICAN GOES AGAINST A PRIEST MARRING A WOMAN-LIKE THE BIBLE SAYS-AND WHATS AN ABOMINATION AGAINST GOD-HOMOSEXUALITY AND PEDOPHILIA JUST LIKE THIS SCRIPTURE SAYS-FORNICATION IS THE SINGLE HOMOSEXUAL PRIESTS IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH HAVING UNMARRIED FORNICATION OR SEX WITH SINGLES-IN THIS CASE ITS SEX WITH CHILDREN OR PEDOPHILIA)
5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.
7 And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.
8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
9 And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.(THE VATICAN IS BUILT ON 7 HILLS OR MOUNTAINS)
10 And there are seven kings: five are fallen,(1-ASSYRIA,2-EGYPT,3-BABYLON,4-MEDO-PERSIA,5-GREECE) and one is,(IN POWER IN JOHNS AND JESUS DAY-6-ROME) and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.(7TH-REVIVED ROMAN EMPIRE OR THE EUROPEAN UNION TODAY AND THE SHORT SPACE IS-THE EUROPEAN UNION WILL HAVE WORLD CONTROL FOR THE LAST 3 1/2 YEARS.BUT WILL HAVE ITS MIGHTY WORLD POWER FOR THE FULL 7 YEARS OF THE 7 YEAR TRIBULATION PERIOD.AND THE WORLD DICTATOR WILL BE THE BEAST FROM THE EU.AND THE VATICAN POPE WILL BE THE WHORE THAT RIDES THE EUROPEAN UNION TO POWER.AND THE 2 EUROPEAN UNION POWER FREAKS WILL CONTROL AND DECIEVE THE WHOLE EARTH INTO THEIR DESTRUCTION.IF YOU ARE NOT SAVED BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS.YOU WILL BE DECIEVED BY THESE TWO.THE WORLD POLITICIAN-THE EUROPEAN UNION DICTATOR.AND THE FALSE PROPHET THAT DEFECTS CHRISTIANITY-THE FALSE VATICAN POPE.
11 And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.
12 And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.
13 These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.
14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.
15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.(VATICAN-CATHOLICS ALL AROUND THE WORLD OVER 1 BILLION)
16 And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast,(WORLD DICTATOR) these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.(GOD HIMSELF GIVES THE OK TO NUKE THE VATICAN)
17 For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.
18 And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.(VATICAN)
HOW THE FALSE POPE IS ELECTED
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nj3Qnr_30Z4
POPE FRANCIS SISTER (PEDOPHILIA WAY WORSE THEN THOUGHT) (CARDINAL MATEO TERESCO-THE NEXT COVERUP POPE OF PEDOPHILIA)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usFshfmBPmY
FALSE POPE LEO 14TH 2012 INTERVIEW
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXVkJ5TQi1s
POPE 14TH WILL BE WORSE THAN FRANCIS.
https://banned.video/watch?id=681cf97a22a2c8ae0e09b5d0
VISIT TO KING,QUEEN SPAIN
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2026-06/pope-leo-xiv-addresses-authorities-in-madrid-spain.html
Pope in Spain: 'I come to affirm and renew fidelity to the Gospel'Addressing authorities and the diplomatic corps in Madrid, Pope Leo XIV says he traveled to Spain to encourage faith in the Gospel among believers, and reiterates that religious freedom and freedom of conscience must be protected.By Deborah Castellano Lubov
"I come among you to affirm, encourage and instill a renewed fidelity to the Gospel among believers, as well as a deeper reconciliation and collaboration among the various elements of this nation."Pope Leo XIV expressed this when addressing authorities and the diplomatic corps on Saturday at the Royal Palace in Madrid, Spain, where he is making a week-long Apostolic Journey to the European nation.A great country that has welcomed the Gospel for nearly two millennia-In his address, the Pope thanked Spain "for its faithful adherence to international law and multilateralism," which he said "is reflected in an active commitment to peace and solidarity among peoples.""At the same time," the Holy Father also encouraged the nation "to cultivate dialogue and civic friendship within your own country, to take into account the perspectives of the poor and the young when envisioning the future, to harmonize the claims for autonomy and unity, and to advance the cause of unity in Europe — not in opposition to other powers, but as a gift to the entire human family."The Pope expressed his gratitude to Spain for inviting him and for being present among them for this Journey to "a great country that, for nearly two millennia, has welcomed the Gospel. Tradition has always linked the initial evangelization of the Iberian Peninsula to the preaching of the Apostle James the Greater."Popular piety brings people of Spain in contact with Jesus-The Pope said that this connection is of considerable theological importance, for it expresses the local Church’s awareness of its continuity with the apostolic mission that began at Pentecost.He also noted that the ancient bond between the Christian faith and this land has profoundly shaped their culture and represents a source of hope and direction amid the challenges we must face together as a human family today."I think of the expressions of popular piety that stand as an authentic dramatization of salvation in every city and town, in step with the rhythm of the year and life’s various contexts."Along with the artistic and musical heritage, as well as the many confraternities and charitable associations, Pope Leo said they "bear witness to the fruitful encounter between Jesus Christ and your people, a passionate people who love life and express it!"The Pope said he has come to encourage this faith among believers.Must protect religious freedom and conscience-The Holy Father also noted he wishes to call the nation to a "deeper reconciliation and collaboration" among Spain's various elements, noting Spain's history suggests "that a culture of encounter, not confrontation, is what fosters stability and prosperity."In this respect, the Pope recalled St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa of Ávila, whose passion for the divine Mystery brought them together as friends. He recalled that the two prominent figures from Spain enriched the life of the Church and the spiritual journey of many for five centuries, even beyond the borders of Spain. The Pope also reflected on St. Ignatius of Loyola.As the Pope reflected on the saints, Pope Leo observed, "Our age, seemingly shaken by terrible imbalances and conflicts, cries out from its depths for peace, for a new understanding of the human person and its inviolable dignity, for a civilization of love.""Saint Teresa describes this same process using the image of the interior castle. As one moves from room to room toward the innermost chamber — that is, toward one’s own heart, the sanctuary of truth — the space enlarges, the mind opens, challenges are overcome, tensions dissipate, others find their place, and the universe becomes a home. This is not an escape into the self, but a radical openness to the Totus Alius et Semper Novus achieved when we return to ourselves.""This dimension of the human person," Pope Leo said, "is the reason why religious freedom and freedom of conscience must be protected."Need to confront growing polarization-Today, Pope Leo lamented, the temptation to gain popularity by fanning the flames of polarization seems to have grown rather than diminished, and human dignity continues to be violated."This is why we need culture, interiority, and free quality education; we need transcendence. And yet, even in these dark nights, men and women who are faithful to the truth have been driven to advance from one room to another until justice and peace embrace in their conscience. It is through their freedom," he said, "that we learn to be free."Pope Leo told those before him that the Catholic Church is at the service of the thirst of the human heart."It is a service not marked by imposition," he said, "but rather the Gospel witness attested to by a multitude of martyrs and saints. Today the Church is ready to place herself at the service of the future of a people in search of reconciliation and peace."For the love of truth, Pope Leo said, he invites everyone "to set aside the divisive and polarizing narratives of your societal reality and history, so as to overcome sterile simplifications through the fruitful appreciation of complexity." Here, he said he sees a vocation particularly suited to Europe, "in which Spain plays a unique and fundamental role."Qualitative leap forward required-He called on the nation to appreciate and study complexity, learning not to deny it but to embrace it as a blessing.The Pope went on to observe that new technologies "have created an artificial environment where our fundamental choices are put to the test, prejudices are magnified, critical thinking is weakened and dominating interests spread death wishes," but said that nevertheless, "goodness can prevail and spread.""It is essential, particularly on the part of those with economic, political and institutional responsibilities," he insisted, "to make a qualitative leap forward — a change of direction in investment in schools, universities and research, as well as in local communities and civil society as a nurturing ground for participation and cultural mediation."The Pope reflected on the need for Spain to contribute to peace and harmony."Security, which we all too often expect to find in weapons and walls," Pope Leo argued, "is in fact best achieved by learning to move forward alongside one another, growing together, side by side."Grateful for commitment to peace, multilateralism, and international law-"Your own history," he said, "bears witness to this."As the Holy Father acknowledged that the presence of Islam on the Iberian Peninsula has constituted "a long-standing political, cultural, and religious reality," he encouraged the country to move forward in peaceful coexistence and dialogue among religions.The Holy Father went on to thank Spain for its commitment to peace, multilateralism, and international law, and encouraged the nation to promote peace and harmony within and beyond their country."God bless Spain!" Pope Leo said.
Cardinal Parolin: Pope in Spain to foster communion and encounter-The Cardinal Secretary of State talks to Vatican News about Pope Leo XIV’s fourth Apostolic Journey, explaining that as Pastor of the Church, he wishes to meet his flock, but also all people of good will, inviting everyone to walk together toward a common destination.By Massimiliano Menichetti
Pope Leo XIV has arrived in Spain for his fourth international journey, taking him to Madrid, Barcelona, Montserrat and the Canary Islands. Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin explains its significance to Vatican News.Your Eminence, what is the principal message that the Holy Father wishes to bring to Spain during his fourth international Apostolic Journey?The logo of the Apostolic Journey to Spain—an open circle formed by human figures united with one another and oriented upwards—already reveals the Holy Father’s intention. As the Pastor of the Catholic Church, he wishes to meet his flock, but also all people of goodwill. With everyone, he seeks to encourage, promote and strengthen, ever more deeply, communion and encounter. This unfolds in a twofold movement: within the Church and within society.It is not simply a matter of being together, but of walking together toward a common destination. We should also emphasise the unique gift that the Church longs to offer humanity: the invitation to welcome the answers that Jesus Christ gives to the profound questions every human being asks about the meaning of life, death and suffering. Christ offers us the possibility of attaining that fullness of humanity which we Christians call eternal life. This, in turn, becomes the source of the hope and joy with which the Holy Father seeks to serve humanity and encourage Christians.Pope Leo XIV will meet with the Spanish Parliament. What are the Holy See’s diplomatic priorities today in its dialogue with Mediterranean Europe? Lawmakers should always take as their fundamental point of reference the dignity of the human person and the common good when drafting legislation and shaping the kind of society they wish to build. The Mediterranean region, with its millennial tradition of culture, art and values, also represents an important point of reference for Christianity.In its dialogue with Mediterranean Europe, the Holy See supports a compassionate and coordinated approach to migration, emphasising the inherent dignity of every migrant. Its position is grounded in four fundamental principles: welcoming, protecting, promoting and integrating migrants and refugees.As for demographic trends, the northern shore of the Mediterranean, unlike the southern shore, is experiencing a dramatic decline in birth rates. Addressing this crisis requires placing at the centre the fundamental dignity of every person and the role of the family within society.The question of regional independence movements has also had repercussions within local ecclesial communities. How can the Church—and what message might the Pope bring during his visit to Spain—avoid polarisation and promote communion? As Catholics, we believe that “the Church is in Christ like a sacrament or as a sign and instrument both of a very closely knit union with God and of the unity of the whole human race” (Lumen Gentium, 1), and that the Pope, “as the successor of Peter, is the perpetual and visible principle and foundation of unity both of the bishops and of the faithful” (Lumen Gentium, 23). It therefore belongs to his very nature to promote the unity of the Church and unity within the Church.As Father and Shepherd, he is concerned for the unity of his children and of his flock. At the same time, he promotes the mission entrusted to the whole Church, the Mystical Body of Christ, namely, to foster communion and unity in diversity among the peoples of the earth.While the Holy Father’s message can never depart from his mission of unity and therefore of peace, neither does it seek to replace the responsibilities that belong to States in governing their citizens. From this principle it follows that, although the Pope’s message may have political implications—precisely because the Catholic Church is composed of the citizens of nations—the Successor of Peter proclaims the Gospel and seeks, from that perspective, to illuminate every aspect of human life without intervening in the internal politics of countries.The prayer vigil with young people in Madrid is one of the central events of the journey. In a country experiencing growing secularization, what change can younger generations bring, and how? To answer this question, I would like to recall what the Holy Father told the many young people gathered for the Jubilee Vigil at Tor Vergata, in Rome, on 2 August. He encouraged them to be passionate in seeking the truth, courageous in allowing themselves to encounter Christ, and generous in living the Gospel concretely.The world in which we live pushes them to do many things, often in a hyperactive and fragmented way. At the same time, it tempts them to entrust thinking, evaluating and deciding—according to an outdated scientistic mindset—to artificial tools that can at times be easily manipulated.Young people can respond by choosing and promoting a different and freer way of living. By making room for silence, reflection, meditation and prayer, they can use with enthusiasm, wisdom and rightly ordered charity the many tools at their disposal, and which they know how to use so well, for the good of every person and of the whole person.Young people are capable of this; indeed, they are especially inclined toward it. It is important to help them, through faith, to deepen and live these values, so they become prophets of peace, justice and authentic love for their future and ours.In Barcelona, the Mass at the Sagrada Família and the inauguration of the Tower of Jesus Christ will be among the most symbolically significant moments. Can this event be seen as an encouragement to reveal the beauty of the Gospel to Spain and beyond? Certainly. By blessing the Tower of Jesus Christ, the Holy Father will mark an important milestone in the construction of the Basilica of the Sagrada Família. This architectural element demonstrates that the Church is a living construction site of “living stones,” continually growing throughout history.The height of the tower invites everyone to lift their eyes toward God, who in the sign of the Cross reveals His love for humanity. As a beacon of redemption and hope, this structure is therefore itself an act of evangelisation. Its beauty reflects the centrality of Christ in the life of the Church.The new tower brings to completion the vision of Gaudí, its architect, who was profoundly inspired by faith. He understood art above all as a form of proclaiming the Gospel and as a privileged language of the Church’s mission. In this work, Spain finds not only a magnificent monument that enriches its cultural heritage, but also a testimony to the faith that united the nation for centuries.The Canary Islands leg of the journey focuses particularly on migration and integration. In your view, is the world moving toward greater welcome, or is it increasingly “looking the other way”?The vast majority of people do not migrate across borders; a much larger number migrate within their own countries. Moreover, international migration is not uniform throughout the world, but is influenced by economic, geographical and demographic factors.Migration supports labour markets and helps address skills shortages. Through remittances, migrants also remain a fundamental source of support for their countries of origin.Concerning welcome, there is a widespread tendency today to focus solely on the interests of limited communities. As Pope Leo XIV has emphasised, this represents a serious threat to the sharing of responsibility, multilateral cooperation, the pursuit of the common good and global solidarity for the benefit of the entire human family.In this context, the Holy See consistently upholds the inalienable dignity of every person. It is important to remember that every migrant is a human being and, as such, possesses inalienable rights that must be respected in all circumstances, both in his or her homeland and wherever he or she may move.Such a complex phenomenon must be addressed with political will, generosity and a spirit of solidarity. The hope is for a renewed, firm commitment to fraternity, grounded in empathy and cooperation, which opens the path to encounter and mutual enrichment.In your view, what face does Spain present today, and what role could it play in Europe? Spain today bears the face of a people that still preserves deep Christian roots, demonstrating a strong bond and sincere affection for the Successor of Peter. Despite the challenges of contemporary society, it is home to a living and dynamic Church, capable of bearing witness to the Gospel and making a significant contribution to the spiritual and social life of the country.Spanish society is experiencing profound tensions and transformations, yet it continues to seek paths of encounter, reconciliation and the common good. It needs to rediscover the centrality of the human person, social dialogue and reconciliation as foundations of democratic coexistence.As for the contribution Spain can make to Europe and the wider world, I would highlight its support for multilateralism and its promotion of human rights, peace and international security. It can also serve as a bridge for dialogue with the countries of Latin America and North Africa.
'Construction in E1 is annexation in its clearest form'85 House Dems urge Trump to back up anti-annexation rhetoric with action against E1 settlements-In letter to Rubio obtained by ToI, US lawmakers warn ‘window for meaningful intervention’ against project, which cuts off Palestinian contiguity in the West Bank, is rapidly closing By Jacob Magid-5 June 2026, 6:39 pm
Eighty-five Democrats in the US House of Representatives signed onto a letter urging President Donald Trump’s administration to back up its rhetoric against Israeli annexation of the West Bank with action in order to prevent the rapidly approaching construction of the controversial E1 project that would severely undermine Palestinian territorial contiguity beyond the Green Line.“We write to strongly urge the administration to use every available diplomatic tool to halt the advancement of settlement construction in the E1 area of the West Bank,” reads the letter, obtained by The Times of Israel, which was organized by progressive Reps. Mark Pocan and Jan Schakowsky, and which was sent to Rubio on Friday.Trump last year declared that he wouldn’t allow Israel to annex the West Bank, the letter recalls. It argues that “construction in E1 is annexation in its clearest form.”Construction of a settlement in the 12-square-kilometer corridor east of Jerusalem would bisect the West Bank and cut off Palestinian communities in Ramallah from those in Bethlehem, while completing an unbroken band of Israeli-controlled territory from Jerusalem through E1 to the Ma’ale Adumim city settlement.“In doing so, it would cement Israeli sovereignty over the geographic heart of the West Bank,” the letter states.Given that the Democrats don’t currently control Congress or the White House, the letter is likely to be ignored. However, the party could take over at least one body of Congress after the November midterms, giving it more power to influence foreign policy.Moreover, Pocan and Schakowsky’s ability to secure the support of both progressive and more moderate lawmakers in the party highlights the consensus among Democrats against Israeli settlement expansion. This could further complicate US ties with Jerusalem if the party returns to the White House in two and a half years.The number of Democrats who signed onto the letter was still short of a majority of the 212 members in the House, with some of the most centrist members holding off on joining, along with the most hardline progressives, for whom the letter may not have gone far enough.Those who did sign on included prominent progressive Reps. Rosa DeLauro, Pramila Jayapal, Ro Khanna, Greg Casar and Jamie Raskin. Joining them were several more moderate Democrats who are less known for harshly criticizing Israel, such as Reps. Seth Moulton, Mike Levin and Jason CrowArguing that the E1 project “has reached a critical and final inflection point,” the Democratic lawmakers note that Israeli authorities have in recent months granted final approval for the construction of 3,401 homes in the area, and this past Monday were supposed to open the project for contractor bids.To date, the tender has not yet been opened, leaving open the possibility that the government will issue an official postponement notice.The delay in the plan’s advancement came weeks after a warning issued by Italy, France, Britain and Germany last month that businesses that bid for construction tenders in E1 or other settlement developments face “legal and reputational consequences… including the risk of involving themselves in serious breaches of international law.”In addition to the advancement of E1, the Democratic lawmakers also called out the Israeli government’s advancement of plans to pave what it dubs a “Sovereignty Road” that would permanently divert all Palestinian vehicle traffic away from E1, effectively sealing off roughly 3 percent of the West Bank to Palestinian access, and potentially enabling the displacement of dozens of Palestinian Bedouin communities living in the area.Those hamlets include Khan al-Ahmar, which has long been under threat of demolition by Israeli authorities due to its location adjacent to the E1 community. Far-right minister Bezalel Smotrich last month ordered authorities to begin preparations to demolish Khan al-Ahmar, in response to a report that the prosecutor’s office of the International Criminal Court had requested an arrest warrant be issued against him.The planned construction in E1, the paving of the Sovereignty Road and the order to demolish Khan al-Ahmar “are mutually reinforcing and are being advanced concurrently and urgently, a coordinated effort to establish irreversible facts on the ground,” the letter to Rubio states.“We strongly urge the State Department to communicate clearly — and at the highest levels — that the United States views the acceptance of these construction bids as a direct contradiction of the president’s stated policy, and that you use every diplomatic tool at your disposal to halt this process before any bids are awarded,” the lawmakers add.The West Bank settlement movement recorded an unprecedented year of advancement in 2025, with records broken — and in some cases surpassed by wide margins — across multiple measures of expansion in the contested territory, according to figures from an anti-settlement watchdog.An annual review by the Peace Now organization earlier this year found that a record number of legal settlements were either approved or retroactively legalized in 2025; a record number of illegal settlement outposts were established; a record number of housing units were approved in the planning process; and tenders for the construction of a record number of housing units were published.
