Diplomats and state officials are preparing to meet their Middle East counterparts this week as the Thursday ceasefire negotiation deadline nears.

Negotiators are rushing to tie up any loose ends before the final round of negotiations begins Thursday. If the deal succeeds, it could signal a drastic change in the Middle East, where tensions have been steadily rising.

Officials planning to visit the region include Secretary of State Antony Blinken, diplomat Brett McGurk, and CIA Director William Burns, according to Axios. Their meetings will depend on if expected retaliatory attacks come after recent events.

The IDF conducted an airstrike overnight that targeted a compound housing a mosque and school in Gaza. Reports differ over how many were injured and killed as a result: the IDF says three dozen, mostly militants, were killed; local officials say 100 Palestinians were killed. The U.S. is also expecting retaliation against Israel from Iran for the assassination of a top Hamas leader, and from Hezbollah for the assassination of a top commander.

Leaders traveling to the region this week are expected to discuss the security of the Egypt-Gaza border, reopening the Rafah border crossing, and preventing weapons smuggling. These details will be critical to a successful hostage and ceasefire deal, according to the outlet.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

Securing a deal will go far with Biden’s legacy, and could help Vice President Kamala Harris in her bid for the White House. On recent event stops, she’s been repeatedly interrupted by pro-Palestinian protesters.

During an event in Michigan, Harris paused the rally and said, “You know what? If you want Donald Trump to win, then say that. Otherwise, I’m speaking.” After, pro-Palestinian groups criticized her for being too harsh.

2024-08-10 18:23:00, http://s.wordpress.com/mshots/v1/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonexaminer.com%2Fnews%2Fworld%2F3117589%2Fus-officials-prepare-for-final-round-of-hostage-negotiations%2F?w=600&h=450, Diplomats and state officials are preparing to meet their Middle East counterparts this week as the Thursday ceasefire negotiation deadline nears. Negotiators are rushing to tie up any loose ends before the final round of negotiations begins Thursday. If the deal succeeds, it could signal a drastic change in the Middle East, where tensions have,

Diplomats and state officials are preparing to meet their Middle East counterparts this week as the Thursday ceasefire negotiation deadline nears.

Negotiators are rushing to tie up any loose ends before the final round of negotiations begins Thursday. If the deal succeeds, it could signal a drastic change in the Middle East, where tensions have been steadily rising.

Officials planning to visit the region include Secretary of State Antony Blinken, diplomat Brett McGurk, and CIA Director William Burns, according to Axios. Their meetings will depend on if expected retaliatory attacks come after recent events.

The IDF conducted an airstrike overnight that targeted a compound housing a mosque and school in Gaza. Reports differ over how many were injured and killed as a result: the IDF says three dozen, mostly militants, were killed; local officials say 100 Palestinians were killed. The U.S. is also expecting retaliation against Israel from Iran for the assassination of a top Hamas leader, and from Hezbollah for the assassination of a top commander.

Leaders traveling to the region this week are expected to discuss the security of the Egypt-Gaza border, reopening the Rafah border crossing, and preventing weapons smuggling. These details will be critical to a successful hostage and ceasefire deal, according to the outlet.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

Securing a deal will go far with Biden’s legacy, and could help Vice President Kamala Harris in her bid for the White House. On recent event stops, she’s been repeatedly interrupted by pro-Palestinian protesters.

During an event in Michigan, Harris paused the rally and said, “You know what? If you want Donald Trump to win, then say that. Otherwise, I’m speaking.” After, pro-Palestinian groups criticized her for being too harsh.

, Diplomats and state officials are preparing to meet their Middle East counterparts this week as the Thursday ceasefire negotiation deadline nears. Negotiators are rushing to tie up any loose ends before the final round of negotiations begins Thursday. If the deal succeeds, it could signal a drastic change in the Middle East, where tensions have been steadily rising. Officials planning to visit the region include Secretary of State Antony Blinken, diplomat Brett McGurk, and CIA Director William Burns, according to Axios. Their meetings will depend on if expected retaliatory attacks come after recent events. The IDF conducted an airstrike overnight that targeted a compound housing a mosque and school in Gaza. Reports differ over how many were injured and killed as a result: the IDF says three dozen, mostly militants, were killed; local officials say 100 Palestinians were killed. The U.S. is also expecting retaliation against Israel from Iran for the assassination of a top Hamas leader, and from Hezbollah for the assassination of a top commander. Leaders traveling to the region this week are expected to discuss the security of the Egypt-Gaza border, reopening the Rafah border crossing, and preventing weapons smuggling. These details will be critical to a successful hostage and ceasefire deal, according to the outlet. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER Securing a deal will go far with Biden’s legacy, and could help Vice President Kamala Harris in her bid for the White House. On recent event stops, she’s been repeatedly interrupted by pro-Palestinian protesters. During an event in Michigan, Harris paused the rally and said, “You know what? If you want Donald Trump to win, then say that. Otherwise, I’m speaking.” After, pro-Palestinian groups criticized her for being too harsh., , , https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/biden-blinken-nato.webp, Washington Examiner, Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/cropped-favicon-32×32.png, https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/feed/, Keely Bastow,

Vice President Kamala Harris has spent her career championing progressive legislation, from the Green New Deal to Medicare for all. Now, she’s backtracking on some of that support as she tries to rally voters behind her as the Democratic nominee since President Joe Biden dropped out last month.

Here are six policies she’s walked back support for.

Support for a mandatory buyback program

A campaign official told Fox News that Harris is no longer supporting a mandatory buy-back program for AR-15s and similar guns. While running for president in 2019, she said, “We have to have a buy-back program and I support a mandatory buy-back program,” at a forum in Las Vegas

Trump has already capitalized off her previous comments, telling supporters at a Georgia rally, “She supports mandatory gun confiscation … Would anybody mind if they came into your house and took away your gun? …  She’s for taking away all of your guns.”

A ban on fracking

Despite saying during her previous presidential bid “There’s no question I’m in favor of banning fracking,” the vice president has now walked back on that position.

A campaign official told the Hill exclusively that Harris would not seek to ban fracking if elected in November. The official attempted to turn the flip-flop on Trump, focusing on his oil-friendly position.

“Trump’s false claims about fracking bans are an obvious attempt to distract from his own plans to enrich oil and gas executives at the expense of the middle class,” the spokesperson said in a statement to the outlet.

“The Biden-Harris Administration passed the largest ever climate change legislation and under their leadership, America now has the highest ever domestic energy production,” the spokesperson added.

Single-payer system

Harris campaign officials confirmed in July she has also changed her stance on her health care system policies. Previously, she supported a single-payer system — that is no longer the case.

Harris co-sponsored Medicare for All legislation with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) in 2017, which would essentially eliminate the private insurance market. During her previous presidential run, she reiterated her support for the government-run health insurance program, saying, “We need to have Medicare for all.”

Expanding the Supreme Court

In 2019, Harris was one of a handful of Democrats who said they wouldn’t “rule out” expanding the court, according to Politico. During Trump’s presidency, conservatives gained a large advantage in the court, causing concerns for liberal lawmakers.

She said then, “We are on the verge of a crisis of confidence in the Supreme Court. We have to take this challenge head-on, and everything is on the table to do that.”

Now, however, she has stated she is not in favor of expanding the Supreme Court, which currently has nine justices. Biden has proposed ethics reforms for the Supreme Court, which Harris has voiced support for, but neither of them are supportive of expansion, according to a spokesperson.

Federal jobs guarantee

Harris no longer supports a federal job guarantee, an idea championed by some on the Left and Green New Deal proponents that gained traction among Democrats during the 2020 election cycle. A spokesperson for Harris’s campaign confirmed the position change exclusively to the Washington Examiner.

A federal jobs guarantee would mean the federal government would provide a job to anyone who wants one, a massively costly proposal that harkens back to the New Deal policies of the 1930s.

The Harris spokesperson told the Washington Examiner in the context of the reversal that the campaign is trying to be forward-looking, rather than looking backward. The aide said Harris is very proud of the Biden administration’s climate record and is excited to build upon the progress of those changes.

Police funding and support

In the wake of George Floyd’s murder and the 2020 protests calling for defunding the police, Harris was supportive of redirecting funds.

“This whole movement is about rightly saying we need to take a look at these budgets and figure out whether it reflects the right priorities,” Harris said in a 2020 interview.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

However, that fall, former Harris press secretary Sabrina Singh said, “Joe Biden and Kamala Harris do not support defunding the police, and it is a lie to suggest otherwise. Throughout her career, Sen. Harris has supported increasing funding to police departments and boosting funding for community policing.”

Last month, Mitch Landrieu, national co-chair for the Biden-Harris campaign walked back her statements, saying, “Her position has always been that you can both be tough and smart on crime, and it requires funding police.”

2024-08-10 16:14:00, http://s.wordpress.com/mshots/v1/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonexaminer.com%2Fnews%2Fcampaigns%2Fpresidential%2F3117537%2Fsix-policies-harris-has-pivoted-on-since-ascending-to-top-of-democratic-ticket%2F?w=600&h=450, Vice President Kamala Harris has spent her career championing progressive legislation, from the Green New Deal to Medicare for all. Now, she’s backtracking on some of that support as she tries to rally voters behind her as the Democratic nominee since President Joe Biden dropped out last month. Here are six policies she’s walked back,

Vice President Kamala Harris has spent her career championing progressive legislation, from the Green New Deal to Medicare for all. Now, she’s backtracking on some of that support as she tries to rally voters behind her as the Democratic nominee since President Joe Biden dropped out last month.

Here are six policies she’s walked back support for.

Support for a mandatory buyback program

A campaign official told Fox News that Harris is no longer supporting a mandatory buy-back program for AR-15s and similar guns. While running for president in 2019, she said, “We have to have a buy-back program and I support a mandatory buy-back program,” at a forum in Las Vegas

Trump has already capitalized off her previous comments, telling supporters at a Georgia rally, “She supports mandatory gun confiscation … Would anybody mind if they came into your house and took away your gun? …  She’s for taking away all of your guns.”

A ban on fracking

Despite saying during her previous presidential bid “There’s no question I’m in favor of banning fracking,” the vice president has now walked back on that position.

A campaign official told the Hill exclusively that Harris would not seek to ban fracking if elected in November. The official attempted to turn the flip-flop on Trump, focusing on his oil-friendly position.

“Trump’s false claims about fracking bans are an obvious attempt to distract from his own plans to enrich oil and gas executives at the expense of the middle class,” the spokesperson said in a statement to the outlet.

“The Biden-Harris Administration passed the largest ever climate change legislation and under their leadership, America now has the highest ever domestic energy production,” the spokesperson added.

Single-payer system

Harris campaign officials confirmed in July she has also changed her stance on her health care system policies. Previously, she supported a single-payer system — that is no longer the case.

Harris co-sponsored Medicare for All legislation with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) in 2017, which would essentially eliminate the private insurance market. During her previous presidential run, she reiterated her support for the government-run health insurance program, saying, “We need to have Medicare for all.”

Expanding the Supreme Court

In 2019, Harris was one of a handful of Democrats who said they wouldn’t “rule out” expanding the court, according to Politico. During Trump’s presidency, conservatives gained a large advantage in the court, causing concerns for liberal lawmakers.

She said then, “We are on the verge of a crisis of confidence in the Supreme Court. We have to take this challenge head-on, and everything is on the table to do that.”

Now, however, she has stated she is not in favor of expanding the Supreme Court, which currently has nine justices. Biden has proposed ethics reforms for the Supreme Court, which Harris has voiced support for, but neither of them are supportive of expansion, according to a spokesperson.

Federal jobs guarantee

Harris no longer supports a federal job guarantee, an idea championed by some on the Left and Green New Deal proponents that gained traction among Democrats during the 2020 election cycle. A spokesperson for Harris’s campaign confirmed the position change exclusively to the Washington Examiner.

A federal jobs guarantee would mean the federal government would provide a job to anyone who wants one, a massively costly proposal that harkens back to the New Deal policies of the 1930s.

The Harris spokesperson told the Washington Examiner in the context of the reversal that the campaign is trying to be forward-looking, rather than looking backward. The aide said Harris is very proud of the Biden administration’s climate record and is excited to build upon the progress of those changes.

Police funding and support

In the wake of George Floyd’s murder and the 2020 protests calling for defunding the police, Harris was supportive of redirecting funds.

“This whole movement is about rightly saying we need to take a look at these budgets and figure out whether it reflects the right priorities,” Harris said in a 2020 interview.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

However, that fall, former Harris press secretary Sabrina Singh said, “Joe Biden and Kamala Harris do not support defunding the police, and it is a lie to suggest otherwise. Throughout her career, Sen. Harris has supported increasing funding to police departments and boosting funding for community policing.”

Last month, Mitch Landrieu, national co-chair for the Biden-Harris campaign walked back her statements, saying, “Her position has always been that you can both be tough and smart on crime, and it requires funding police.”

, Vice President Kamala Harris has spent her career championing progressive legislation, from the Green New Deal to Medicare for all. Now, she’s backtracking on some of that support as she tries to rally voters behind her as the Democratic nominee since President Joe Biden dropped out last month. Here are six policies she’s walked back support for. Support for a mandatory buyback program A campaign official told Fox News that Harris is no longer supporting a mandatory buy-back program for AR-15s and similar guns. While running for president in 2019, she said, “We have to have a buy-back program and I support a mandatory buy-back program,” at a forum in Las Vegas Trump has already capitalized off her previous comments, telling supporters at a Georgia rally, “She supports mandatory gun confiscation … Would anybody mind if they came into your house and took away your gun? …  She’s for taking away all of your guns.” A ban on fracking Despite saying during her previous presidential bid “There’s no question I’m in favor of banning fracking,” the vice president has now walked back on that position. A campaign official told the Hill exclusively that Harris would not seek to ban fracking if elected in November. The official attempted to turn the flip-flop on Trump, focusing on his oil-friendly position. “Trump’s false claims about fracking bans are an obvious attempt to distract from his own plans to enrich oil and gas executives at the expense of the middle class,” the spokesperson said in a statement to the outlet. “The Biden-Harris Administration passed the largest ever climate change legislation and under their leadership, America now has the highest ever domestic energy production,” the spokesperson added. Single-payer system Harris campaign officials confirmed in July she has also changed her stance on her health care system policies. Previously, she supported a single-payer system — that is no longer the case. Harris co-sponsored Medicare for All legislation with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) in 2017, which would essentially eliminate the private insurance market. During her previous presidential run, she reiterated her support for the government-run health insurance program, saying, “We need to have Medicare for all.” Expanding the Supreme Court In 2019, Harris was one of a handful of Democrats who said they wouldn’t “rule out” expanding the court, according to Politico. During Trump’s presidency, conservatives gained a large advantage in the court, causing concerns for liberal lawmakers. She said then, “We are on the verge of a crisis of confidence in the Supreme Court. We have to take this challenge head-on, and everything is on the table to do that.” Now, however, she has stated she is not in favor of expanding the Supreme Court, which currently has nine justices. Biden has proposed ethics reforms for the Supreme Court, which Harris has voiced support for, but neither of them are supportive of expansion, according to a spokesperson. Federal jobs guarantee Harris no longer supports a federal job guarantee, an idea championed by some on the Left and Green New Deal proponents that gained traction among Democrats during the 2020 election cycle. A spokesperson for Harris’s campaign confirmed the position change exclusively to the Washington Examiner. A federal jobs guarantee would mean the federal government would provide a job to anyone who wants one, a massively costly proposal that harkens back to the New Deal policies of the 1930s. The Harris spokesperson told the Washington Examiner in the context of the reversal that the campaign is trying to be forward-looking, rather than looking backward. The aide said Harris is very proud of the Biden administration’s climate record and is excited to build upon the progress of those changes. Police funding and support In the wake of George Floyd’s murder and the 2020 protests calling for defunding the police, Harris was supportive of redirecting funds. “This whole movement is about rightly saying we need to take a look at these budgets and figure out whether it reflects the right priorities,” Harris said in a 2020 interview. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER However, that fall, former Harris press secretary Sabrina Singh said, “Joe Biden and Kamala Harris do not support defunding the police, and it is a lie to suggest otherwise. Throughout her career, Sen. Harris has supported increasing funding to police departments and boosting funding for community policing.” Last month, Mitch Landrieu, national co-chair for the Biden-Harris campaign walked back her statements, saying, “Her position has always been that you can both be tough and smart on crime, and it requires funding police.”, , , https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/kamala_harris_white_suit-2.webp, Washington Examiner, Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/cropped-favicon-32×32.png, https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/feed/, Keely Bastow,

The Biden administration has lifted a weapons sale ban on Saudi Arabia, which had been in place since 2021.

The ban was originally put in place in response to Saudi Arabia’s war with the Houthis in Yemen. The administration was displaying their disapproval of Saudi Arabia targeting civilians in their attacks. Since then, officials said they are satisfied with the country’s conduct changes — and there have been no airstrikes in Yemen since 2022.

“So the Saudis have met their end of the deal, and we are prepared to meet ours, returning these cases to regular order through appropriate congressional notification and consultation,” one official told the Washington Post.

A first round of weapons has already been arranged to be sent, which will include air-to-ground munitions. Additional transfers will be considered on a case-to-case basis, according to the outlet.

The move comes as the United States is increasingly relying on its relationships with countries in the Middle East to broker a ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel. Since Oct. 7, tensions between Israel and Gaza have caused destruction and casualties, in addition to tensions between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon and Iran, and Houthis in Yemen.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

Some U.S. lawmakers are hesitant to restart weapons shipments to the kingdom, given their shoddy record on human rights abuses.

“I hope to see compelling evidence that Saudi Arabia has changed its conduct,” Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX), who serves on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said.

2024-08-10 15:47:00, http://s.wordpress.com/mshots/v1/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonexaminer.com%2Fpolicy%2Fforeign-policy%2F3117583%2Fbiden-administration-lifts-ban-on-offensive-weapons-sales-to-saudi-arabia%2F?w=600&h=450, The Biden administration has lifted a weapons sale ban on Saudi Arabia, which had been in place since 2021. The ban was originally put in place in response to Saudi Arabia’s war with the Houthis in Yemen. The administration was displaying their disapproval of Saudi Arabia targeting civilians in their attacks. Since then, officials said,

The Biden administration has lifted a weapons sale ban on Saudi Arabia, which had been in place since 2021.

The ban was originally put in place in response to Saudi Arabia’s war with the Houthis in Yemen. The administration was displaying their disapproval of Saudi Arabia targeting civilians in their attacks. Since then, officials said they are satisfied with the country’s conduct changes — and there have been no airstrikes in Yemen since 2022.

“So the Saudis have met their end of the deal, and we are prepared to meet ours, returning these cases to regular order through appropriate congressional notification and consultation,” one official told the Washington Post.

A first round of weapons has already been arranged to be sent, which will include air-to-ground munitions. Additional transfers will be considered on a case-to-case basis, according to the outlet.

The move comes as the United States is increasingly relying on its relationships with countries in the Middle East to broker a ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel. Since Oct. 7, tensions between Israel and Gaza have caused destruction and casualties, in addition to tensions between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon and Iran, and Houthis in Yemen.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

Some U.S. lawmakers are hesitant to restart weapons shipments to the kingdom, given their shoddy record on human rights abuses.

“I hope to see compelling evidence that Saudi Arabia has changed its conduct,” Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX), who serves on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said.

, The Biden administration has lifted a weapons sale ban on Saudi Arabia, which had been in place since 2021. The ban was originally put in place in response to Saudi Arabia’s war with the Houthis in Yemen. The administration was displaying their disapproval of Saudi Arabia targeting civilians in their attacks. Since then, officials said they are satisfied with the country’s conduct changes — and there have been no airstrikes in Yemen since 2022. “So the Saudis have met their end of the deal, and we are prepared to meet ours, returning these cases to regular order through appropriate congressional notification and consultation,” one official told the Washington Post. A first round of weapons has already been arranged to be sent, which will include air-to-ground munitions. Additional transfers will be considered on a case-to-case basis, according to the outlet. The move comes as the United States is increasingly relying on its relationships with countries in the Middle East to broker a ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel. Since Oct. 7, tensions between Israel and Gaza have caused destruction and casualties, in addition to tensions between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon and Iran, and Houthis in Yemen. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER Some U.S. lawmakers are hesitant to restart weapons shipments to the kingdom, given their shoddy record on human rights abuses. “I hope to see compelling evidence that Saudi Arabia has changed its conduct,” Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX), who serves on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said., , , https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/AP22305840797404-1024×683.jpg, Washington Examiner, Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/cropped-favicon-32×32.png, https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/feed/, Keely Bastow,

An Israel Defense Forces spokesman confirmed Saturday that at least 12 Israelis have died and dozens more are injured after a rocket strike hit a soccer field in Majdal Shams in Israeli-controlled Golan Heights. All of those killed are between the ages of 10 and 20.

“We share the grief of the families of the victims and embrace the entire Druze community at this difficult time,” Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said. “We send strength to those injured and wish them a speedy recovery.

“From the initial inquiry into the incident, an alert was activated, but it was an immediate alert that was too short,” he continued. “From the IAF’s inquiry, at the moment it appears that this was a single rocket. We are now looking into this in-depth and will release the details transparently to the public.”

Hagari placed the responsibility for the attack squarely on Hezbollah, though the Iranian-backed, Lebanese-based group has denied having a role in the tragedy. Shortly after Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, attack in Israel, Hezbollah began firing rockets and missiles into northern Israel. The two sides have continued to engage in cross-border fires, with an all-out war viewed as an escalating possibility.

“In the past hour, Hezbollah has been lying and denying its responsibility for the incident,” Hagari said. “Our intelligence is clear – Hezbollah is responsible for killing innocent children. Ten-year-old children. And once again, the brutality of Hezbollah as a terrorist organization was exposed. This is a very serious incident and we will act accordingly. The IDF will do everything to protect the citizens of the State of Israel.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was in the United States this week to make his case and shore up support amid his country’s war against Hamas, said Hezbollah “will pay a heavy price for this attack, one that it has not paid so far,” according to his office.

White House National Security Council officials spoke out against the attack as well, telling the Washington Examiner in a statement, “We condemn this horrific attack that reportedly killed a number of teenagers and children playing soccer on a Saturday evening in the village of Majdal Shams in northern Israel. Our hearts go out to the families of those who lost loved ones today, and we are praying for a speedy recovery for those who have been injured.

“Israel continues to face severe threats to its security, as the world saw today, and the United States will continue to support efforts to end these terrible attacks along the Blue Line, which must be a top priority,” the statement continued. “Our support for Israel’s security is iron-clad and unwavering against all Iranian backed terrorist groups, including Lebanese Hezbollah.”

The attack, the deadliest in the northern territory since the fighting started, has stoked fears of escalation.

“What happened today could be the trigger we have been worried about and tried to avoid for 10 months,” one U.S. official told Axios.

Hezbollah is believed to have a larger and more sophisticated arsenal than Hamas. An all-out war would likely include heavy casualties and damage to both sides.

“Hezbollah’s provocations threaten to drag the Israeli and Lebanese people into a war that they do not want,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said. “Such a war would be a catastrophe for Lebanon, and it would be devastating for innocent Israeli and Lebanese civilians. Another war between Israel and Hezbollah could easily become a regional war, with terrible consequences for the Middle East and so diplomacy is by far the best way to prevent more escalation.”

Israel and Hezbollah last went to war in 2006, and the conflict lasted about a month. Hezbollah is violating the United Nations Security Council resolution that ended that war, which bars the group from maintaining a presence south of the Litani River, located roughly 18 miles north of the Israel-Lebanon border.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

The Golan Heights territory has been under Israeli control since the 1967 war with Syria. It is home to around 20,000 Druze Arabs.

This is a breaking news story and may be updated. Mike Brest contributed to this reporting.

2024-07-27 20:38:00, http://s.wordpress.com/mshots/v1/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonexaminer.com%2Fnews%2Fworld%2F3101932%2Ften-israeli-youths-dead-from-hezbollah-soccer-field-strike-idf%2F?w=600&h=450, An Israel Defense Forces spokesman confirmed Saturday that at least 12 Israelis have died and dozens more are injured after a rocket strike hit a soccer field in Majdal Shams in Israeli-controlled Golan Heights. All of those killed are between the ages of 10 and 20. “We share the grief of the families of the,

An Israel Defense Forces spokesman confirmed Saturday that at least 12 Israelis have died and dozens more are injured after a rocket strike hit a soccer field in Majdal Shams in Israeli-controlled Golan Heights. All of those killed are between the ages of 10 and 20.

“We share the grief of the families of the victims and embrace the entire Druze community at this difficult time,” Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said. “We send strength to those injured and wish them a speedy recovery.

“From the initial inquiry into the incident, an alert was activated, but it was an immediate alert that was too short,” he continued. “From the IAF’s inquiry, at the moment it appears that this was a single rocket. We are now looking into this in-depth and will release the details transparently to the public.”

Hagari placed the responsibility for the attack squarely on Hezbollah, though the Iranian-backed, Lebanese-based group has denied having a role in the tragedy. Shortly after Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, attack in Israel, Hezbollah began firing rockets and missiles into northern Israel. The two sides have continued to engage in cross-border fires, with an all-out war viewed as an escalating possibility.

“In the past hour, Hezbollah has been lying and denying its responsibility for the incident,” Hagari said. “Our intelligence is clear – Hezbollah is responsible for killing innocent children. Ten-year-old children. And once again, the brutality of Hezbollah as a terrorist organization was exposed. This is a very serious incident and we will act accordingly. The IDF will do everything to protect the citizens of the State of Israel.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was in the United States this week to make his case and shore up support amid his country’s war against Hamas, said Hezbollah “will pay a heavy price for this attack, one that it has not paid so far,” according to his office.

White House National Security Council officials spoke out against the attack as well, telling the Washington Examiner in a statement, “We condemn this horrific attack that reportedly killed a number of teenagers and children playing soccer on a Saturday evening in the village of Majdal Shams in northern Israel. Our hearts go out to the families of those who lost loved ones today, and we are praying for a speedy recovery for those who have been injured.

“Israel continues to face severe threats to its security, as the world saw today, and the United States will continue to support efforts to end these terrible attacks along the Blue Line, which must be a top priority,” the statement continued. “Our support for Israel’s security is iron-clad and unwavering against all Iranian backed terrorist groups, including Lebanese Hezbollah.”

The attack, the deadliest in the northern territory since the fighting started, has stoked fears of escalation.

“What happened today could be the trigger we have been worried about and tried to avoid for 10 months,” one U.S. official told Axios.

Hezbollah is believed to have a larger and more sophisticated arsenal than Hamas. An all-out war would likely include heavy casualties and damage to both sides.

“Hezbollah’s provocations threaten to drag the Israeli and Lebanese people into a war that they do not want,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said. “Such a war would be a catastrophe for Lebanon, and it would be devastating for innocent Israeli and Lebanese civilians. Another war between Israel and Hezbollah could easily become a regional war, with terrible consequences for the Middle East and so diplomacy is by far the best way to prevent more escalation.”

Israel and Hezbollah last went to war in 2006, and the conflict lasted about a month. Hezbollah is violating the United Nations Security Council resolution that ended that war, which bars the group from maintaining a presence south of the Litani River, located roughly 18 miles north of the Israel-Lebanon border.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

The Golan Heights territory has been under Israeli control since the 1967 war with Syria. It is home to around 20,000 Druze Arabs.

This is a breaking news story and may be updated. Mike Brest contributed to this reporting.

, An Israel Defense Forces spokesman confirmed Saturday that at least 12 Israelis have died and dozens more are injured after a rocket strike hit a soccer field in Majdal Shams in Israeli-controlled Golan Heights. All of those killed are between the ages of 10 and 20. “We share the grief of the families of the victims and embrace the entire Druze community at this difficult time,” Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said. “We send strength to those injured and wish them a speedy recovery. “From the initial inquiry into the incident, an alert was activated, but it was an immediate alert that was too short,” he continued. “From the IAF’s inquiry, at the moment it appears that this was a single rocket. We are now looking into this in-depth and will release the details transparently to the public.” Hagari placed the responsibility for the attack squarely on Hezbollah, though the Iranian-backed, Lebanese-based group has denied having a role in the tragedy. Shortly after Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, attack in Israel, Hezbollah began firing rockets and missiles into northern Israel. The two sides have continued to engage in cross-border fires, with an all-out war viewed as an escalating possibility. “In the past hour, Hezbollah has been lying and denying its responsibility for the incident,” Hagari said. “Our intelligence is clear – Hezbollah is responsible for killing innocent children. Ten-year-old children. And once again, the brutality of Hezbollah as a terrorist organization was exposed. This is a very serious incident and we will act accordingly. The IDF will do everything to protect the citizens of the State of Israel.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was in the United States this week to make his case and shore up support amid his country’s war against Hamas, said Hezbollah “will pay a heavy price for this attack, one that it has not paid so far,” according to his office. White House National Security Council officials spoke out against the attack as well, telling the Washington Examiner in a statement, “We condemn this horrific attack that reportedly killed a number of teenagers and children playing soccer on a Saturday evening in the village of Majdal Shams in northern Israel. Our hearts go out to the families of those who lost loved ones today, and we are praying for a speedy recovery for those who have been injured. “Israel continues to face severe threats to its security, as the world saw today, and the United States will continue to support efforts to end these terrible attacks along the Blue Line, which must be a top priority,” the statement continued. “Our support for Israel’s security is iron-clad and unwavering against all Iranian backed terrorist groups, including Lebanese Hezbollah.” The attack, the deadliest in the northern territory since the fighting started, has stoked fears of escalation. “What happened today could be the trigger we have been worried about and tried to avoid for 10 months,” one U.S. official told Axios . Hezbollah is believed to have a larger and more sophisticated arsenal than Hamas. An all-out war would likely include heavy casualties and damage to both sides. “Hezbollah’s provocations threaten to drag the Israeli and Lebanese people into a war that they do not want,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said. “Such a war would be a catastrophe for Lebanon, and it would be devastating for innocent Israeli and Lebanese civilians. Another war between Israel and Hezbollah could easily become a regional war, with terrible consequences for the Middle East and so diplomacy is by far the best way to prevent more escalation.” Israel and Hezbollah last went to war in 2006, and the conflict lasted about a month. Hezbollah is violating the United Nations Security Council resolution that ended that war, which bars the group from maintaining a presence south of the Litani River, located roughly 18 miles north of the Israel-Lebanon border. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER The Golan Heights territory has been under Israeli control since the 1967 war with Syria. It is home to around 20,000 Druze Arabs. This is a breaking news story and may be updated. Mike Brest contributed to this reporting., , , https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/hezbollah-golan-heights.webp, Washington Examiner, Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/cropped-favicon-32×32.png, https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/feed/, Keely Bastow,

RNC Day 3: Vance takes the stage

On the third night of the Republican National Convention, themed “Make America Strong Once Again,” Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) gave his first address since becoming former President Donald Trump‘s running mate. He spoke of unity and of the working class and gave a message of hope after Saturday’s assassination attempt against Trump.

“As we meet tonight, we cannot forget that this evening could have been much different. Instead of a day of celebration, this could have been a day of heartache and mourning,” the Ohio senator said. “For the last eight years, President Trump has given everything he has to fight for the people of our country. He didn’t need politics, but the country needed him.”

Though some have been skeptical of Trump’s choice in Vance, given that he doesn’t reach out to a significantly different part of the Republican base than Trump himself, RNC delegates told the Washington Examiner they like him.

“I’m getting to know him better,” said Clint Pate, a Florida delegate from Jackson County. Pate called Vance “a real conservative, and a lot of people like him.”

Before Vance took the state, Donald Trump Jr. and his daughter Kai, who made her political debut last night, took the stage and portrayed a personal image of Trump.

“The media makes my grandpa look like such a different person, but I know who he is. He’s very caring and loving,” Kai said. 

In one of the most emotional moments of the night, Gold Star families recalled when an ISIS-K suicide bomber attacked Hamid Karzai International Airport’s Abbey Gate during the disastrous U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.

“[Biden] let my son down. He let the 13 down. He let the 45 wounded down. He let those 174 civilians down. He let our country down,” Kelly Barnett, the mother of Marine Sgt. Darin Taylor Hoover, 31, said.

“While Joe Biden has refused to recognize their sacrifice, Donald Trump spent six hours in Bedminster with us,” said Christy Shamblin, who was the mother-in-law of the late Sgt. Nicole Ghee. 

Peter Navarro also made his post-prison debut last night. He was released from a Miami correctional facility earlier in the morning, and by the evening, he was telling the crowd, “I went to prison so you won’t have to.”

Click here to read more RNC coverage from Mabinty Quarshie, David Sivak, Cami Mondeaux, Haisten Willis, and Naomi Lim.

Biden diagnosed with COVID-19

President Joe Biden tested positive for COVID-19 Wednesday afternoon in Las Vegas. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement that he is experiencing “mild symptoms.” He canceled a speech he was scheduled to give and headed to Delaware, where he will self-isolate. Within hours of announcing the diagnosis, the president used it to fundraise in a post on X.

The diagnosis comes after Biden said one of the only reasons he would drop out of the 2024 race is if doctors diagnosed him with a new condition.

“If I had some medical condition that emerged, if somebody, if doctors came to me and said, you got this problem and that problem,” the president said during an interview with BET’s Ed Gordon when asked if there is anything that could make him change his decision to run.

Biden’s expected changes to Supreme Court are dead on arrival

Biden is reportedly considering invoking changes to the Supreme Court, which include term limits for justices and a binding code of ethics. Many of these changes have been floated by Democrats since the 6-3 Republican-appointed majority on the court took shape. With Biden’s popularity taking hits, this could be more of a Hail Mary move to gain favor with his left flank than a serious policy position, reports Kaelan Deese.

“We all realize the kind of electoral nightmare Joe Biden is living right now,” said Carrie Severino, president of judicial advocacy group JCN and a former clerk to Justice Clarence Thomas. “But this is not going to solve it, and he seems to be throwing a bone to some of the top ticket items of left-wing dark money groups, maybe trying to help, hoping to reassure or reinvigorate some of his donors, who I’m sure are concerned at this point. But there’s no way this is going to happen.”

It’s not clear what kind of term limits Biden would propose, though there’s already legislation in the House from Democrats for an 18-year limit on justices. An ethics code has also been suggested by some congressional Democrats, such as Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Dick Durbin (D-IL), particularly after a ProPublica investigation last year accused Thomas and Justice Samuel Alito of violations despite there being no clear indications their decisions were connected to third parties.

If Biden chooses to go the route of passing this legislation through Congress, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) has already said these policy proposals have “no chance.” They would need to pass through the Republican-controlled House and receive 60 votes in the Senate. If he decides to issue them in an executive order, it would likely be challenged on its constitutionality.

Click here to read more on the challenges this proposal would face.

Trump’s immunity strategy takes shape

Trump’s team has been wielding the Supreme Court’s July 1 opinion that evidence of presidential acts cannot be used to prosecute presidents in his cases in Washington, D.C., and Florida and to toss out his conviction in Manhattan, Ashley Oliver reports. Conservative legal analyst Andy McCarthy told Ashley that the broad opinion “gives Trump a real opportunity.”

Trump lawyer Todd Blanche will argue that most of the evidence being brought in the Washington case about Jan. 6 and the Florida case about classified documents is inadmissible now, diminishing what the prosecution can use to prove its case.

“If the grand jury process was so tainted and was so infected with inadmissible evidence, then certainly, you can make a motion to say the whole thing has to get kicked,” Blanche said in a radio interview with Hugh Hewitt.

Judge Juan Merchan, who is set to sentence Trump on Sept. 18 in the hush money case, is reviewing the Supreme Court’s ruling and has said it is possible sentencing might not be necessary if he decides improper evidence was used.

Judge Tanya Chutkan in Washington is expected to begin striking evidence from prosecutor Jack Smith’s indictment in August.

Judge Aileen Cannon already dismissed the Florida classified documents case as a result of the Supreme Court’s ruling.

The Georgia election interference case is on pause for a few months while an appeals court determines whether Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis should be disqualified.

Click here to read more about Trump’s legal strategy

Nevada GOP Senate candidate emphasizes ‘outsider’ persona

Retired Army Capt. Sam Brown, the Republican candidate for Nevada’s Senate seat, which has been firmly held by a Democrat since 2019, is reminding voters he is not a career politician in hopes to flip the seat red. He only got into politics after his military career was cut short due to an ambush that left 30% of his body burned, Cami Mondeaux reports.

“I didn’t come up through the political system. I’m an outsider, a veteran who got wounded and came back,” Brown told the Washington Examiner in an interview. “I really thought the military was going to be my professional life. So [I’m] sort of discovering who I was supposed to be outside of the military when I couldn’t serve anymore.” 

Despite losing in the primary in 2022, Brown said the National Republican Senatorial Committee encouraged him to run again this year because of his conservative record. Republicans see a real opportunity to flip the seat, especially with Trump consistently polling above Biden in the state.

However, Democrats remain hopeful with the dominance of incumbent Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV) in the polls. They also criticized his stance on abortion, saying he has a “far-right agenda” to ban abortion even in the case of rape or incest. Brown has said his stance is in line with Trump’s, which maintains it’s an issue best left to the states.

Click here to read more about Sam Brown and the Nevada senate race.

New from us

Trump pivots on zoning, now calls it ‘a killer’ in push for more housing supply by Zach Halaschak

Biden sees Democratic groundswell turn against him as allies look to run out clock by Rachel Schilke and Ramsey Touchberry

‘Death march’: DNC delegates blast party plan to nominate Biden through virtual roll call by Samantha-Jo Roth

Left-wing billionaires behind astroturfed ‘grassroots’ operation attacking House GOP by Gabe Kaminsky

In case you missed it

‘I’m sick’: Biden uses COVID-19 diagnosis as fundraising ploy against Trump donors by Emily Hallas

Authorities give updates on two injured Trump rally victims by Ashley Oliver

Jack Smith appeals dismissal of Trump classified documents case by Kaelan Deese

Democrats hear sirens about running Biden-Harris officials by Brady Knox

On your radar

Biden’s schedule has been cleared since he was diagnosed with COVID-19 and is self-isolating in Delaware. The House and the Senate are also out. Vice President Kamala Harris will travel to Fayetteville, North Carolina, for a campaign event.

Trump will take the stage to close out the RNC’s final night, themed “Make America Great Once Again.” He’s told Salena Zito he completely rewrote his speech following the attempted assassination on Saturday.

President Joe Biden is set to host a campaign event in Detroit at 7 p.m. Eastern. The event comes on the heels of his high-stakes press conference Thursday, the first in which he took unscripted questions in eight months.

His public appearances have been under more scrutiny than ever before his disastrous debate in June. Many members of his own party have cited his verbal gaffes and confusion as a reason for him to step aside from the campaign.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) signed into law the state’s largest budget package, at $56.6 billion, boosting the tax rates for the richest corporations.

The budget will increase the tax rate from 9% to 11.5% on corporations making more than $10 million a year in revenue. Called the corporate transit fee, this money will go toward the NJ Transit system, which is staring down the barrel of their own budget difficulties. The system operates the trains and busses in the state.

“With this budget, we are going to make life more affordable for more families. We are going to create new economic opportunities for our workers and local businesses. And we are going to invest in the potential of every one of our neighbors,” Murphy said in a statement.

“The fee will make our public transit system more reliable, more dependable, and more accessible for working New Jerseyans,” Murphy said.

Originally, the legislature was considering a state sales tax hike — from 6.625% to 7% — but later disregarded that move in favor of the transit fee. NJ Transit recently upped fares 15%, which lawmakers criticized since budget negotiations discussing this corporate transit fee were still ongoing.

CLICK TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

Also included in this budget is billions for K-12 education, about $2.5 billion in property tax relief, and a 67% pay raise for lawmakers, which will go into effect in 2026. Current pay is $49,000, and this bill would raise that to $89,000.

This budget is not the first time Murphy has raised taxes since taking office in 2018. In a previous budget, he raised taxes on those making over $1 million. This is also not the first time during Murphy’s tenure that the budget has broken records — every budget in recent years has been the highest ever. This one is about 4% higher than the current budget.

Iran has issued a stark warning to Israel about what would happen if they launch a full-scale attack on Lebanon, in response to strikes from Lebanon-based Hezbollah.

“Albeit Iran deems as psychological warfare the Zionist regime’s propaganda about intending to attack Lebanon, should it embark on full-scale military aggression, an obliterating war will ensue. All options, incl. the full involvement of all Resistance Fronts, are on the table,” the Iranian mission to the U.N. said in a post on X.

Iran has a massive arsenal of weapons, including missiles that can reach up to 2,000 miles away. Hezbollah also has it’s own arsenal, including 150,000 rockets and missiles.

Since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack that ignited the most recent conflict in Gaza, Hezbollah has launched over 1,000 attacks on Israel to show solidarity with Hamas. The group was formed in 1982 as a revolt against the occupation of southern Lebanon by Israel. Iran is a major funder of Hezbollah

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

The conflict on the Lebanese border is heating up now, however, with U.S. officials weighing in to say they will not stop and Israel attack.

Diplomats are working to de-escalate the situation, as President Joe Biden met with Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant this week. Gallant said they are not seeking a war with Lebanon but will react to continued provocations. Afterward, the State Department reiterated its travel advisory to the country.