Biden made a pledge of solidarity in Israel
What Israel Has Learned about the Hamas Attacks in Israel and the Implications It Had for the United States Two Decades After 9/11
Each survivor or relative of a victims of the Hamas attacks in Israel told the president their story of loss or defiance as he walked around the conference room. He gave each of them a hug and talked about how he had dealt with loss.
Later in a speech to the Israeli nation, Vice President Biden said, “Shock, pain, rage, an all- consuming rage.” “I understand and many Americans understand. What has happened to you, your parents, grandparents, sons, daughters, children, even babies is not something you want to look at. Justice needs to be done. But I caution this — while you feel that rage, don’t be consumed by it. After 9/11, we were enraged in the United States. While we sought justice and got justice, we also made mistakes.”
Mr. Biden did not elaborate, but he presumably was referring to the invasion of Iraq, which he voted for as a senator and later came to regret. He did not explain what he was talking about, but the meaning was clear. In order to destroy Hamas, Israel must not give into excesses that will cause needless loss of innocent life, as happened in the United States two decades ago.
The Up First Podcast: How Rep. Jordan lost his Democratic Congressional seat to win the House Democrat nomination for the 2020 House District Attorney General
Good morning. You are reading a newsletter. If you subscribe, you will get the news in your inbox and be able to start your day by listening to the Up First podcast.
Yesterday, in discussions with the leaders of Israel and Egypt, I secured an agreement for the first shipment of humanitarian assistance from the United Nations to Palestinian civilians in Gaza. If Hamas does not divert or steal this shipment, these shipments, we’re going to provide an opening for sustained delivery of lifesaving humanitarian assistance for the Palestinians.
In a second vote, House Republicans again rejected Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, as the new speaker. From 20 GOPs to 22 defections, the opposition to his nomination grew.
The average American family’s net worth jumped 37% between 2019 and 2022, according to a new Federal Reserve survey. It’s the biggest jump the agency has seen since the surveys began. The wealth gap between rich and poor also narrowed slightly. The gains could be tied to the government’s temporary COVID relief measures.
How to Protect Your Car: Joran van der Sloot, Bethe Holloway, and the Gaza Aid Deal Preventing Catalytic Converter Theft
After eighteen years, the family of Natalee Holloway has finally learned what happened to her. Joran van der Sloot admits to her death. In exchange for his guilty plea, he agreed to tell Beth where her daughter’s body was stashed.
Catalytic converter theft has risen 1,215% since 2019, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau. They are underneath cars and help them clean exhaust. They’re made of expensive precious metals so they’re the target of thieves. It can cost thousands to replace one. Here’s how to protect your car:
Source: Up First briefing: Gaza aid deal; preventing catalytic converter theft
Barber’s Last Adventures in the Iron Man’s War with Israel: A Contribution from an NPR Scientist Retired from Star Trek: The Next Generation
In rural towns, NPR scientist in residenceRegina G. Barber used TV as an escape. Star Trek: The Next Generation was one of her favorite shows. Her dad, also a Trekkie, pointed out the morals in each episode and taught her to value diversity. This helped build the foundation of her sense of social justice as an astronomer of color.
What are you really into? Fill out this form or leave us a voice note at 800-329-4273, and part of your submission may be featured online or on the radio.
In the wake of a visit by President Biden, Israelis on Thursday praised his courage in coming at a time of war and for his full-throated support, as he pledged “we will not let you ever be alone” after attacks from Hamas killed at least 1,400 Israelis.
This degree of consultation, even in a relationship of this close, is rare. It has risks if it has benefits for Mr. Netanyahu. It may offer him political cover for an extended war, but it may also limit how he conducts it.
Satellite images showed that Israel had already deployed hundreds of tanks and armored vehicles north of Gaza as it prepared to send tens of thousands of soldiers into the enclave.
The Rise and Fall of Israel: The Rise of the United States as a Nation in the Era of War and the Crisis in the Middle East
According to Nadav Eyal, an Israeli analyst, the late Sharon used to say “We will defend ourselves by ourselves.” The values Netanyahu has been projecting are not what these are. He really wants to be the United States’ 51st state. This comes with a price as well as symbolic.
The more right-wing analysts who have supported the government in the past voiced their criticism more strongly. Nechama Duek, writing in Israel Hayom, said that Mr. Biden has spoken softly and empathically, “but with his words, he has bound and shackled Netanyahu and his government.”
Biden will deliver a prime-time televised speech at 8 p.m. Eastern time Thursday from the Oval Office, where he’s expected to outline the gravity of the situation in the Middle East and make a direct appeal to the public for continued aid to both Israel and Ukraine.
The Oval Office backdrop is a signal of the gravity that Biden places on these national security matters. The speech is only the second time he has spoken to the nation from behind the Resolute Desk; the first was in June, after the debt ceiling crisis was averted.
“My administration has been in close touch with your leadership from the first moments of this attack, and we are going to make sure we have — you have what you need to protect your people, to defend your nation,” Biden said in Tel Aviv.
The White House faces two hurdles on Ukraine aid: waning public support — primarily among Republicans — and a still-unfilled role of speaker of the House. Without a speaker, it’s unlikely the Republican-controlled lower chamber can pass spending bills.
He said that the United States of America was the most powerful nation in history and not in the world.
Mr. Biden often tells people that he has trained for his entire political career since he was a teenager. In the past eight months, he has visited two countries in the midst of active wars. He has married his public embraces with private cautions, and kept American troops out of both conflicts — so far. He seems determined to prove that the US is the only nation in the world that can mold events in a world of unpredictable chaos because of the criticism that the US is a divided, declining power.
Michael Beschloss, the historian and author of the book “Presidents of War”, said that he heard about it in the past few weeks and that when a president gets into their sweet spot you usually see and hear it.
It is more uncertain than ever if Mr. Biden can bring the American population along during his presidency, and it happened just as he was about to deliver his Oval Office address. In the last 18 months he has talked about democracy, autocracy and protecting free people from invasion and terrorism in order to reestablish a global order that is fast unraveling.
I know these conflicts can seem far away, and it’s natural to ask: Why does this matter to America? So let me share with you why making sure Israel and Ukraine succeed is vital for America’s national security.
“This is … almost the equivalent of trips to American disaster areas,” says Thomas Schwartz, a historian at Vanderbilt University. He says that it was symbolic, and that it was meant to let the American public know that there is concern for Israel in the political system.
It also inevitably ties the administration to whatever comes next, analysts say — including more deadly Israeli airstrikes in the densely populated Gaza Strip, targeting Hamas, and the possibility of a bloody ground campaign, where civilian casualties could quickly mount, further inflaming anger among Israel’s Arab neighbors. Over 3,400 Palestinians have died in Gaza, according to the health ministry.
The visit nearly didn’t happen. The team of Biden’s was weighing whether it should even take place. The secretary of state traveled to the Middle East last week, where he had 7 hours of talks with Netanyahu and his war cabinet.
Biden’s trip reassured Israel that the U.S. needs to engage in the question rather than step back from it, says a Middle East Institute vice president.
While the message of engagement was not only directed at Israel, it was also directed to the rest of the Middle East, with particular emphasis on Iran and Hezbollah.
Biden’s visit reinforced his earlier warnings, in addition to the hard-power signals sent by U.S. deployment of carrier task groups to the eastern Mediterranean.
“The main threat right now is the prospect of Iran and their proxy in Lebanon joining in,” says Itamar Rabinovich, a former Israeli ambassador to the U.S.
This was an important contribution by the Biden administration to consolidate the status quo, and they warned Iran and Hezbollah very clearly.
But a planned meeting between Biden and regional leaders fell apart after a catastrophic explosion at a hospital in Gaza killed hundreds of Palestinians just hours before the president landed in Israel.
The door is not shut between the Biden administration and the key Arab countries just because of the cancellation of the meeting in Amman.
There’s a genuine concern about how civilian casualties can impact the mission itself and the desired goals that Israel has stated.
Finally, among the estimated 200 hostages taken by Hamas during its Oct. 7 attacks on Israel, as many as 13 are believed to be U.S. citizens. A White House readout of discussions between Biden and Netanyahu said the two “discussed ongoing efforts to secure the release of hostages taken by Hamas – including Americans.”
President Biden talked to some of the families of the hostages, and there’s hope that he was the one who prioritized this. He says there is an open question about the fate of those American captives.
We’re facing an inflection point in history. One of those moments where the decisions we make today are going to determine the future for decades to come. That’s what I’d like to talk with you about tonight.
I came back from Israel earlier this morning. They tell me I’m the first American president to travel there during a war. I met with the prime minister and members of his cabinet, and most movingly, I met with Israelis who had personally lived through the horrific horror of the attack by Hamas on the 7th of October. More than 1,300 people slaughtered in Israel, including at least 32 American citizens. There were scores of innocents from infants to the elderly taken hostage. As I told the families of Americans being held captive by Hamas, we’re pursuing every avenue to bring their loved ones home. The safety of Americans held hostage is one of my top priorities as president.
On Oct. 7, terror attacks have triggered deep scars and terrible memories in the Jewish community. Jewish families are worried about being targeted at school, or walking down the street carrying symbols of their faith. Many of you in the Muslim American community, Arab American community, Palestinian American community, and so many other people are angry and distrustful of each other because of what happened on 9/11.
The critical need for Israel to operate by the laws of war was the topic of discussion yesterday between President Netanyahu and I. That means that civilians are protected as best as they can. The people of Gaza are in desperate need of food, water and medicine.
You know, the assault on Israel echoes nearly 20 months of war, tragedy and brutality inflicted on the people of Ukraine, people that were very badly hurt since Putin launched his all-out invasion.
In the past we have forgotten the mass graves, the rapes used as a weapon by the Russians, and the thousands of Ukrainian children taken into Russia and stolen from their parents.
Hamas and Putin are both threatening, but they share a common threat. They both want to completely annihilate a neighboring democracy — completely annihilate it. Hamas’ stated purpose for existing is the destruction of the state of Israel and the murder of Jewish people. The Palestinian people are not represented by Hamas. innocent Palestinian families are suffering greatly because of Hamas, which uses them as human shields.
So if we don’t stop Putin’s appetite for power and control in Ukraine, he won’t limit himself just to Ukraine. He’s — The western land of Poland was a gift from Russia. A former president of Russia called the Baltic provinces ofLithuania,Latvia andRussia.
The War Between Israel-Hamas and Russia-Ukraine Wars (Biden’s Speech on the World’s Largest Terrorists)
You know, history has taught us that when terrorists don’t pay a price for their terror, when dictators don’t pay a price for their aggression, they cause more chaos and death and more destruction. They keep going. The threat to America and the world continues to rise.
All of them are NATO allies. For 75 years, NATO has kept peace in Europe. And has been the cornerstone of American security. And if Putin attacks a NATO ally, we will defend every inch of NATO, which a treaty requires and calls for.
We don’t seek something that we have. Make it clear — we do not seek — we do not seek to have American troops fighting in Russia or fighting against Russia.
We know that our allies and competitors are watching us. They’re watching our response in Ukraine as well. And if we walk away and let Putin erase Ukraine’s independence, would-be aggressors around the world would be emboldened to try the same. The risk of conflict and chaos could spread in other parts of the world, especially in the Middle East. Iran is supporting Hamas and other groups in the region, in addition to supporting Russia in Ukraine. We are going to continue to hold them accountable.
Damning Antisemitism in the Middle East: Biden’s Speech on Israel-Hamas and Russia-Ukraine Wars
The United States and our partners across the region are working to build a better future for the Middle East. One where the Middle East is more stable, better connected to its neighbors, and more predictable markets because of innovative projects like the India, Middle East and Europe rail corridor I announced this month at the summit of the world’s biggest economies. It benefits the people. The people of the Middle East would benefit from it.
American leadership is what holds the world together. American alliances are what keep us, America, safe. American values are what make us a partner that other nations want to work with. It is just not worth it if we walk away from Ukraine, since it will put all that at risk.
That’s why tomorrow I’m going to send to Congress an urgent budget request to fund America’s national security needs, to support our critical partners, including Israel and Ukraine. It is a smart investment that will help us keep our troops out of harms way and help build a safer world for our children and grandchildren.
You know, and here at home we have to be honest with ourselves. In recent years too much hate has given too much oxygen, making racism, antisemitism, and Islamic-phobia worse in America.
We can’t stand by and stand silent when this happens. We need to repudiate antisemitism without equivocation. We need not equivocation in condemning Islamophobia.
Source: Full Transcript: Biden’s Speech on Israel-Hamas and Russia-Ukraine Wars
America: I’m All America, I Am America. Israel-Hamas & Russia-Ukraine Wars is a Great Nation
I want you to know that I’m there for you. You are part of this world. And I want to say this to you: You’re all America. You’re all America.
We have to work harder than ever to hold onto the values of who we are in this moment, when fear and suspicion are running high. We’re a nation of religious freedom, freedom of expression. We have a right to argue without fear in our schools, communities or places of business.
And here in America, let us not forget who we are. We reject all forms, all forms of hate, whether against Muslims, Jews, or anyone. Great nations do that. We are a great nation.
Source: Full Transcript: Biden’s Speech on Israel-Hamas and Russia-Ukraine Wars
Defending America in Ukraine: A Million Years After the First U.S. Air Force One Flight to Kiev During the First Battle of Ukraine
They are succeeding. When Putin invaded Ukraine, he thought he would take Kyiv and all of Ukraine in a matter of days. Putin has failed over the course of a year.
Kyiv still stands because the bravery of the Ukrainian people. More than half of Russia’s territory has been regained by the Ukrainians. All around the world, a coalition of more than fifty countries is doing it’s part to support Kyiv.
From the outset, I have said I will not send American troops to fight in Ukraine. All Ukraine is asking for is help, for the weapons, munitions, the capacity, the capability to push invading Russian forces off their land. And the air defense systems to shoot down Russian missiles before they destroy Ukrainian cities.
We send Ukraine equipment sitting in our stockpiles. And when we use the money allocated by Congress, we use it to replenish our own stores, our own stockpiles, with new equipment. Equipment that defends America and is made in America. Patriot missiles for air defense batteries, made in Arizona. Artillery shells manufactured in 12 states across the country, in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas. So much more.
Earlier this year, I boarded Air Force One for a secret flight to Poland. There I boarded a train, with blacked-out windows for a 10-hour ride each way to Kyiv to stand with the people of Ukraine ahead of the one-year anniversary of their brave fight against Putin. I was the first American to enter a war area that wasn’t controlled by the United States military.
With me was just a small group of security personnel and a few advisers. But when I exited that train and met Zelensky, President Zelensky, I didn’t feel alone. I was bringing the idea of America, the promise of America, to the people who were fighting for the very same things we fought for 25 years ago. I felt something that I have never felt before: America is still a beacon to the world.
Tonight, there are innocent people all over the world who hope because of us. Who believe in a better life because of us. Who are desperate not to be forgotten by us. And who are waiting for us.
I know we have our divisions at home. We need to get past them. We can’t let politics interfere with our responsibilities as a nation. Hamas and Putin will not be allowed to win. I don’t want that to happen.
In moments like these, we have to remind — we have to remember who we are. We are the United States of America. The United States of America. And there is nothing, nothing beyond our capacity, if we do it together.
