Hugh Fitzgerald

The government of Ireland has just announced that it has adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism. Here is that definition: “Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.” Most of those adopting that definition also point to various examples of different ways in which that antisemitism is expressed.

Despite being the whipping-dog for decades at the UN, the government of Israel is willing to give the organization the opportunity to show that it can, indeed, not dismiss, but rather, treat with respect Jerusalem's report on the “torture and atrocities” experienced by its hostages at the hands of Hamas. More on the report's contents can be found here: “Herzog: UN ‘morally obliged' to help free Hamas hostages,”

Syria was until a month ago a loyal and useful ally of the Islamic Republic. It was the conduit for weapons that went from Iran through Syria to then be delivered to Hezbollah in Lebanon. But the sudden overthrow of Assad, and the takeover of the country by Sunni Muslims who despise Shi'a Iran and will never forgive the Islamic Republic for its support for Assad, has left the Iranian rulers confused and alarmed. More on their distress can be found here: “Khamenei's empty promises: Iran's Syria ambitions stagger under domestic unrest, expert says,” by Maya Cohen,

The ceasefire that is now in force between Israel and Hamas has left many supporters of Israel aghast. For It was the IDF that had battered Hamas, not the other way round, yet Israel found itself having to sue for peace, granting Hamas concession after concession and leaving the terror group able to claim that it is still standing. Israel has agreed in this first phase to pull the IDF forces from Gaza's main cities, including Rafah, Khan Younis, and Gaza City, thus allowing Hamas operatives inside those cities to reappear from their hideouts, both above and below ground, to regroup, rearm, and also to recruit new members. Israel has agreed to give up the east-west Netzarim Corridor, which allowed the IDF to prevent Hamas operatives moving from south to the north, or north to south of the Strip, in attempts to evade IDF attacks that focus now on one, and now on another part of Gaza. Israel will also withdraw its forces from the Philadelphi Corridor, along the Egypt-Gaza border, which has allowed the IDF to prevent weapons from being smuggled from the Sinai into Gaza.

The IDF learned a lesson during the Gaza War, when even its close ally the United States withheld — that is, slowed down delivery — of weapons, mainly heavy bombs, in an attempt to make Israel refrain from taking certain actions in the Strip, such as entering Rafah. The threat did not work; Israel did not change its plans to satisfy the Americans. But it is determined never to be in that situation again. The Israeli government has just signed two contracts with the private defense contractor Elbit Systems, the first to manufacture thousands of heavy bombs, and the second to produce raw materials used in the manufacture of munitions. Until now, Israel has relied on the Americans for both. More on this declaration of greater military independence can be found here: “Israel to locally produce heavy bombs, reducing reliance on US after shipment holdup,” by Emanuel Fabian,

As President Trump gave his inaugural address in Washington, former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, who now has his own podcast after having been fired by Fox News, chose to remain seated while all around him stood up when the President — while mentioning that the Israeli hostages are “coming back home to their families”— pointed to family members of hostages, and hostages who had previously been released, standing near the podium. No one should have been surprised at seeing Carlson remain seated, for he has a long history of anti-Israel animus. He has criticized Christian leaders in the United States, arguing that they are “not being more critical of the destruction in Gaza.”

During his years on Fox News, the one word that was almost never mentioned on his 8-9 p.m. show was “Israel.” Carlson knew that many conservatives In his audience were Israel supporters, and he didn't wish to alienate them. But after he was let go by Fox, and started his podcast on X, he began to unmask himself as an antisemite — for only an antisemite would provide a platform for such beyond-the-pale antisemites as Darryl Cooper, Candace Owens, and Munther Isaac. In recognition of Carlson's happily providing a platform for such people to spread their nonsense and lies, Amichai Chikli, the Israeli Minister for Diaspora Affairs, tweeted his own message. “Tucker Carlson Giving ‘Leading Platform' to Jew-Hatred, Chikli Says,” by Joseph Feldman,

The three young Israeli women, the hostages who are the first to have been freed in this new ceasefire, were driven through a frenzied mob of Palestinians, then escorted out of the vehicle — where they had been instructed to smile for the cameras or things would go hard with them, and to hold up the “gift bags” given to them, grotesque souvenirs, with retouched photographs of them in captivity and a map of Gaza. This was intended to show the world how kind those Hamas gun-toting allah-akbaring men had been, as the young women — still with chanting gun-toting allahu-akbaring Hamas operatives on every side of them — were transferred to Red Cross ambulances and driven back to civilization. And now Melanie Phillips has set down the thoughts provoked by that spectacle. “An obscene spectacle,” by

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Free speech for me, but not for Jews. Click here to sign up .] Amnesty International (AI) claims to be a stout defender of free speech.