Who are the "Rebels"
Damascus and Assad now in Syrian rebels' sights — BBC News
The sudden offensive could become the biggest threat to Syria's president in 13 years of civil war.apple.news
?Hamas attacks Israel
- Thread starter Serryah
- Start date
?
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (=HTS in acronym speak). Believe it or not they are an Islamist group, & I believe they are supported by the Mormons, & perhaps the Jehovah witnesses. HTS was set up under a different name, Jabhat al-Nusra, in 2011 as a direct affiliate of Al Qaeda at the time.
Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement - Wikipedia
It was regarded as one of the most effective and deadly of the groups ranged against President Assad.
But its jihadist ideology appeared to be its driving force rather than revolutionary zeal - and it was seen at the time as at odds with the main rebel coalition under the banner of Free Syria.
And in 2016, the group’s leader, Abu Mohammed al-Jawlani, publicly broke ranks with Al Qaeda, dissolved Jabhat al-Nusra and set up a new organisation, which took the name Hayat Tahrir al-Sham when it merged with several other similar groups a year later.
Rebel Alliance - Wikipedia
It has also been involved in some bitter infighting with other groups.
Its ambitions beyond Idlib had become unclear.
Since breaking with Al Qaeda, its goal has been limited to trying to establish fundamentalist Islamic rule in Syria rather than a wider caliphate, as IS tried and failed to do.
It had shown little sign of attempting to reignite the Syrian conflict on a major scale and renew its challenge to Assad’s rule over much of the country - until now.
Damascus and Assad now in Syrian rebels' sights — BBC News
The sudden offensive could become the biggest threat to Syria's president in 13 years of civil war.
All members of the terrorist Hodge Podge Lodge #33?Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (=HTS in acronym speak). Believe it or not they are an Islamist group, & I believe they are supported by the Mormons, & perhaps the Jehovah witnesses. HTS was set up under a different name, Jabhat al-Nusra, in 2011 as a direct affiliate of Al Qaeda at the time.
The leader of the self-styled Islamic State (IS) group, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, was also involved in its formation.Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
It was regarded as one of the most effective and deadly of the groups ranged against President Assad.
But its jihadist ideology appeared to be its driving force rather than revolutionary zeal - and it was seen at the time as at odds with the main rebel coalition under the banner of Free Syria.
And in 2016, the group’s leader, Abu Mohammed al-Jawlani, publicly broke ranks with Al Qaeda, dissolved Jabhat al-Nusra and set up a new organisation, which took the name Hayat Tahrir al-Sham when it merged with several other similar groups a year later.
For some time now, HTS has established its power base in the north-western province of Idlib where it is the de facto local administration, although its efforts towards legitimacy have been tarnished by alleged human rights abuses.Rebel Alliance - Wikipedia
It has also been involved in some bitter infighting with other groups.
Its ambitions beyond Idlib had become unclear.
Since breaking with Al Qaeda, its goal has been limited to trying to establish fundamentalist Islamic rule in Syria rather than a wider caliphate, as IS tried and failed to do.
It had shown little sign of attempting to reignite the Syrian conflict on a major scale and renew its challenge to Assad’s rule over much of the country - until now.
Damascus and Assad now in Syrian rebels' sights — BBC News
The sudden offensive could become the biggest threat to Syria's president in 13 years of civil war.
Mayor Chow got emails about Oct. 7 vigil, documents show
Author of the article:Justin Holmes
Published Dec 06, 2024 • 4 minute read
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow received at least two emails about the UJA vigil on Oct. 7, documents show. Photo by Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press files
Mayor Olivia Chow says she never got the emails — but the Toronto Sun got ’em.
Dozens of pages worth of emails, released to the Sun after a freedom-of-information request, appear to show at least two messages about the Oct. 7 vigil were delivered to Chow’s inbox well before the event took place.
The vigil, hosted by the United Jewish Appeal Federation in North York, was held one year after the attack on Israel by Hamas to honour the 1,200 people who were slain. Several politicians attended, including city councillors and Premier Doug Ford, but not Chow.
Arianne Robinson, who until recently was Chow’s press secretary, told the Sun’s Joe Warmington shortly after the vigil that the mayor’s office “didn’t receive an invitation.”
The documents released to the Sun tell a different story.
On Sept. 6, the Jewish humanitarian group Ve’ahavta sent its newsletter to a list of email addresses that included Chow. That email ended with a link to register for the UJA vigil.
An invitation to the UJA vigil, at the end of an email from the group Ve'ahavta
An invitation to the UJA vigil, at the end of an email from the group Ve’ahavta, apparently received by Mayor Olivia Chow Photo by City of Toronto
On Oct. 1, Marni Blustein, director of strategic community initiatives and engagement with the UJA, was more personal — and direct.
“Enough is enough!” Blustein began the email. “On Oct. 7, my community has organized a peaceful vigil in honour of the victims. Countless counter-protests are already been (sic) organized — what are you going to do to keep us safe? Whose side are you on?”
Chow does not appear to have replied to either message.
However, other emails lend credence to Chow’s story that an invitation, sent Sept. 23, was lost to the digital ether.
Michelle Stock is a vice-president with the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, which worked with the UJA on the invitations for the vigil. In October, she shared with the Sun an email sent to the mayor’s office on Sept. 23 that invited Chow to the event. She said that message followed emails to Chow on Sept. 3 and 10.
A series of emails show that Sara King, Chow’s executive assistant, was in touch with the city clerk’s office’s IT department on Oct. 8 and 9 regarding that invitation.
“I’m still having issues with this email that supposedly was sent to me. The sender insists I would have received it,” King wrote. “Could you do whatever is in your IT power to check if any incoming mail was rejected (or) bounced back from my inbox on Sept. 23 at 14:24?”
That evening, King was told: “The results indicate that the email did not reach the city servers. The messaging team will look into this further, and will report back to me tomorrow. I’ll keep you posted.”
It’s unclear if anything else came of the matter, and the Sun can’t rule out that Chow’s office did receive the CIJA emails. That’s because of the 135 pages of emails disclosed to the Sun, all but 44 are fully redacted — nothing but blank grey pages. “An unjustified invasion of privacy” was cited as the reason. (Bradley Hammond, Chow’s new director of communications, referred a question about these pages back to the office of the city clerk, which made the redactions.)
Blustein’s email wasn’t the only one from the UJA that Chow received over the time span — all of September and the first 10 days of October — covered by the Sun’s freedom-of-information request. About an hour before Blustein’s message, Florence Glickman, a donor relations representative for the UJA, urged Chow to do more about “hate” — presumably referring to anti-Israel protests.
“I am asking for your help in ensuring that the city of Toronto be a safe place. Hate has no place in Toronto. We implore you to have the appropriate steps to ensure police monitor these events for incitement and hate speech,” Glickman wrote. (Chow also did not appear to respond to this email.)
In a statement, Chow told the Sun she “should have been at the Oct. 7 vigil hosted by UJA.”
“My lack of attendance hurt members of the Jewish community,” Chow added, “and I have offered my deepest apologies. I am very sorry and take full responsibility for missing such an important event.
“As mayor, I should have been there to show the Jewish community how much I care about their safety and well-being in this city, especially during this time of rising antisemitism and hate. Antisemitism and acts of hate have no place in Toronto.”
Councillor James Pasternak has said he personally asked Chow before the vigil if she would attend. In a statement to the Sun, he acknowledged that feelings were hurt, but “the mayor has apologized and it’s time to move on.”
“That being said,” he added, “when a part of our mosaic in Toronto, in this case the Jewish community, is in grief and under siege it is vital that the mayor remain a source of healing, unity and collective safety no matter what the blowback is in social media or on the streets. These hateful mobs do not represent the vast majority of Torontonians.”
Representatives with the UJA and CIJA declined to get into specifics about the emails, echoing Pasternak’s comment about the mayor having already apologized.
jholmes@postmedia.com
torontosun.com
Author of the article:Justin Holmes
Published Dec 06, 2024 • 4 minute read
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow received at least two emails about the UJA vigil on Oct. 7, documents show. Photo by Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press files
Mayor Olivia Chow says she never got the emails — but the Toronto Sun got ’em.
Dozens of pages worth of emails, released to the Sun after a freedom-of-information request, appear to show at least two messages about the Oct. 7 vigil were delivered to Chow’s inbox well before the event took place.
The vigil, hosted by the United Jewish Appeal Federation in North York, was held one year after the attack on Israel by Hamas to honour the 1,200 people who were slain. Several politicians attended, including city councillors and Premier Doug Ford, but not Chow.
Arianne Robinson, who until recently was Chow’s press secretary, told the Sun’s Joe Warmington shortly after the vigil that the mayor’s office “didn’t receive an invitation.”
The documents released to the Sun tell a different story.
On Sept. 6, the Jewish humanitarian group Ve’ahavta sent its newsletter to a list of email addresses that included Chow. That email ended with a link to register for the UJA vigil.
An invitation to the UJA vigil, at the end of an email from the group Ve'ahavta
An invitation to the UJA vigil, at the end of an email from the group Ve’ahavta, apparently received by Mayor Olivia Chow Photo by City of Toronto
On Oct. 1, Marni Blustein, director of strategic community initiatives and engagement with the UJA, was more personal — and direct.
“Enough is enough!” Blustein began the email. “On Oct. 7, my community has organized a peaceful vigil in honour of the victims. Countless counter-protests are already been (sic) organized — what are you going to do to keep us safe? Whose side are you on?”
Chow does not appear to have replied to either message.
However, other emails lend credence to Chow’s story that an invitation, sent Sept. 23, was lost to the digital ether.
Michelle Stock is a vice-president with the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, which worked with the UJA on the invitations for the vigil. In October, she shared with the Sun an email sent to the mayor’s office on Sept. 23 that invited Chow to the event. She said that message followed emails to Chow on Sept. 3 and 10.
A series of emails show that Sara King, Chow’s executive assistant, was in touch with the city clerk’s office’s IT department on Oct. 8 and 9 regarding that invitation.
“I’m still having issues with this email that supposedly was sent to me. The sender insists I would have received it,” King wrote. “Could you do whatever is in your IT power to check if any incoming mail was rejected (or) bounced back from my inbox on Sept. 23 at 14:24?”
That evening, King was told: “The results indicate that the email did not reach the city servers. The messaging team will look into this further, and will report back to me tomorrow. I’ll keep you posted.”
It’s unclear if anything else came of the matter, and the Sun can’t rule out that Chow’s office did receive the CIJA emails. That’s because of the 135 pages of emails disclosed to the Sun, all but 44 are fully redacted — nothing but blank grey pages. “An unjustified invasion of privacy” was cited as the reason. (Bradley Hammond, Chow’s new director of communications, referred a question about these pages back to the office of the city clerk, which made the redactions.)
Blustein’s email wasn’t the only one from the UJA that Chow received over the time span — all of September and the first 10 days of October — covered by the Sun’s freedom-of-information request. About an hour before Blustein’s message, Florence Glickman, a donor relations representative for the UJA, urged Chow to do more about “hate” — presumably referring to anti-Israel protests.
“I am asking for your help in ensuring that the city of Toronto be a safe place. Hate has no place in Toronto. We implore you to have the appropriate steps to ensure police monitor these events for incitement and hate speech,” Glickman wrote. (Chow also did not appear to respond to this email.)
In a statement, Chow told the Sun she “should have been at the Oct. 7 vigil hosted by UJA.”
“My lack of attendance hurt members of the Jewish community,” Chow added, “and I have offered my deepest apologies. I am very sorry and take full responsibility for missing such an important event.
“As mayor, I should have been there to show the Jewish community how much I care about their safety and well-being in this city, especially during this time of rising antisemitism and hate. Antisemitism and acts of hate have no place in Toronto.”
Councillor James Pasternak has said he personally asked Chow before the vigil if she would attend. In a statement to the Sun, he acknowledged that feelings were hurt, but “the mayor has apologized and it’s time to move on.”
“That being said,” he added, “when a part of our mosaic in Toronto, in this case the Jewish community, is in grief and under siege it is vital that the mayor remain a source of healing, unity and collective safety no matter what the blowback is in social media or on the streets. These hateful mobs do not represent the vast majority of Torontonians.”
Representatives with the UJA and CIJA declined to get into specifics about the emails, echoing Pasternak’s comment about the mayor having already apologized.
jholmes@postmedia.com
Mayor Chow got emails about Oct. 7 vigil, documents show
Despite claims to the contrary, emails appear to show two messages about a vigil were delivered to Mayor Olivia Chow before the event.
Complaints flooded Mayor Olivia Chow’s inbox after Oct. 7
Author of the article:Justin Holmes
Published Dec 07, 2024 • Last updated 1 day ago • 6 minute read
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow's absence from an Oct. 7 vigil was noticed by irate voters.
In the days after her absence from a vigil one year after Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack, Mayor Olivia Chow got an earful, emails released to the Toronto Sun show.
A freedom-of-information request yielded 135 pages worth of emails to and from Chow and her staff. Most of them are fully redacted – essentially just blank pages – but 44 of them contain emails regarding the Oct. 7 vigil and its organizers, the United Jewish Appeal and Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs.
Of those, most are emails from irate Torontonians sent after Chow’s absence.
Chow has since apologized and has cited fatigue, a scheduling conflict with a meeting on bike lanes, an issue with her email account and a decision to instead wear black as reasons for not attending.
In a recent emailed statement to the Sun, Chow did not address the complaints but again apologized, saying she “should have been there to show the Jewish community how much I care about their safety and well-being in this city.”
The vigil was held one year after the attack on Israel to honour the 1,200 people who were slain.
Some of the emails were sent the night of the vigil.
“You … chose not to attend the UJA memorial tonight,” one email read. “Nor have you posted a statement on social media to honour families who lost loved ones in the most horrific attack last Oct. 7… You are a disgrace and you should continue hiding until you are finally voted out of office. You owe the Toronto Jewish community an apology. Shame on you!” (Any information that could identify someone who made a complaint, such as a name or email address, was redacted by city staff.)
Another email sent Oct. 9 began: “I am a Jewish man who has lived in Toronto all of my life. Never have I, and so many other Toronto Jews, ever felt more uncomfortable and threatened in our lives.”
“There seems to be ample time for you to have press conferences in opening Woodbine toilets early, time for you to tweak at Caribana, a photo opportunity at Nuit Blanche, all of the really important and relevant things you were elected to do,” the man added.
Make that a hat-trick for Mayor Olivia Chow’s “outrageous” snubbing of Toronto’s under siege Jewish community.
A parent, who also emailed on Oct. 9, expressed “frustration” with Chow’s apparent inaction.
“My daughters who attend a Jewish high school have had three bomb threats made to their school just for being Jewish,” reads that message. “I am shocked that you have not played a more active role in combating this blatant anti-Semitism!”
Another Oct. 9 email from an “appalled” resident stated: “A meeting on bike lanes? That was more important than being there to show support for all those who were killed, raped or taken hostage? You did not get my vote in the last election and your absence and then your terrible excuse have made sure you will never get my vote. I am embarrassed to be a Torontonian because of you.”
Another person wrote on Oct. 10: “It is shocking that someone in your esteemed position could not exercise the moral clarity to prioritize standing alongside the Jewish community, but instead chose to remain at a meeting about bike lanes. Mayor Chow – only one word comes to mind: egregious.”
An Oct. 8 email accused Chow of being “conspicuously un-empathetic to the Jewish population of Toronto.”
“Please comment in a meaningful way so I am able to comprehend your absence in this matter.” (It does not appear Chow replied to this or any other of the emails from constituents.)
“Regardless of the mayor’s personal politics,” a constituent wrote on Oct. 10, “she is the mayor of all the people… The mayor should know that she can support one side and still have empathy and compassion for the other. The latter in this case sorely lacking.”
A brief Oct. 10 email, sent to both Chow and Ontario Premier Doug Ford, stated Chow “should be kicked out of Toronto” and called the Mayor a “pathetic weasel.”
On the afternoon of Oct. 9, a self-professed lifelong Jewish resident of Toronto claimed to be “astounded” that Chow wasn’t at the vigil.
“The event was attended by Premier Ford and several MPPs, former mayor John Tory and several members of Toronto council and several MPs. Prime Minister Trudeau attended the event in Ottawa. Your absence is inexcusable … I have seen you on television at several Palestinian events.”
“Are we really supposed to believe that a seasoned politician and the mayor of a world-class city like Toronto was unable to attend because of an alleged email mishap?” reads another email from Oct. 10. “This explanation is as flimsy as it is offensive. … And now, rather than acknowledging the growing fear and alienation in the Jewish community, you offer a half-hearted ‘regret’ through a statement sent to the media.”
An Oct. 8 email from a voter reads: “As a Jew in Toronto – who voted for you – I feel unseen, unheard, unacknowledged, uncared-for.”
In another email, sent Oct. 9, the writer admitted feeling “lost” since the no-show and brought up the memory of Chow’s late husband.
“You should have been fighting to be there, to stand up for those tragically slain innocents, to support your constituents who mourn. Jack would have been there,” the email said. “My disappointment stems from your lack of concern. It deepens to disgust when I imagine the reason for your non-attendance was to please that part of your constituents to whom you pander.”
An Oct. 9 email expressed “profound dissatisfaction” in the email subject line.
“You are a disgrace to the office of mayor – supposedly mayor for all the people of this diverse city. You attend street festivals and smile your way to all – except the Jewish community,” the email accused. “The Jewish community will never forget nor forgive your absence and failure to acknowledge our pain. Shame on you!”
A talk radio listener wrote on Oct. 9: “I heard you this morning on the John Moore show (on) CFRB with your incredibly ridiculous excuses, none of which will fly with anyone with even one synapse firing in their heads.”
An Oct. 10 email with “Disappointed” in the subject line accused Chow of failing to do her job.
“You know that Oct 7, 2023, was the most horrific day in the lives of humanity since the Holocaust… A resignation from you would please many,” the person wrote.
An Oct. 9 email ended: “Apology is just a word. Your actions have conveyed a hateful message to all Torontonians.”
An email from the morning of Oct. 8, with the subject line “Your silence speaks volumes,” reads: “When the Jewish community comes together they do not block streets, do not cover their faces and do not shout hate.”
Another email from that same day ended: “I will be volunteering to help anyone who will put their name forward to run against you in the next election.”
An email writer on Oct. 9 signed off: “You are a terrible and nasty mayor.”
And another email sent on the evening of Oct. 8 stated: “The mayor should be completely ashamed of herself, and is unfit to lead a diverse city like Toronto. The sooner she resigns, the better.”
jholmes@postmedia.com
torontosun.com
Author of the article:Justin Holmes
Published Dec 07, 2024 • Last updated 1 day ago • 6 minute read
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow's absence from an Oct. 7 vigil was noticed by irate voters.
In the days after her absence from a vigil one year after Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack, Mayor Olivia Chow got an earful, emails released to the Toronto Sun show.
A freedom-of-information request yielded 135 pages worth of emails to and from Chow and her staff. Most of them are fully redacted – essentially just blank pages – but 44 of them contain emails regarding the Oct. 7 vigil and its organizers, the United Jewish Appeal and Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs.
Of those, most are emails from irate Torontonians sent after Chow’s absence.
Chow has since apologized and has cited fatigue, a scheduling conflict with a meeting on bike lanes, an issue with her email account and a decision to instead wear black as reasons for not attending.
In a recent emailed statement to the Sun, Chow did not address the complaints but again apologized, saying she “should have been there to show the Jewish community how much I care about their safety and well-being in this city.”
The vigil was held one year after the attack on Israel to honour the 1,200 people who were slain.
Some of the emails were sent the night of the vigil.
“You … chose not to attend the UJA memorial tonight,” one email read. “Nor have you posted a statement on social media to honour families who lost loved ones in the most horrific attack last Oct. 7… You are a disgrace and you should continue hiding until you are finally voted out of office. You owe the Toronto Jewish community an apology. Shame on you!” (Any information that could identify someone who made a complaint, such as a name or email address, was redacted by city staff.)
Another email sent Oct. 9 began: “I am a Jewish man who has lived in Toronto all of my life. Never have I, and so many other Toronto Jews, ever felt more uncomfortable and threatened in our lives.”
“There seems to be ample time for you to have press conferences in opening Woodbine toilets early, time for you to tweak at Caribana, a photo opportunity at Nuit Blanche, all of the really important and relevant things you were elected to do,” the man added.
Make that a hat-trick for Mayor Olivia Chow’s “outrageous” snubbing of Toronto’s under siege Jewish community.
A parent, who also emailed on Oct. 9, expressed “frustration” with Chow’s apparent inaction.
“My daughters who attend a Jewish high school have had three bomb threats made to their school just for being Jewish,” reads that message. “I am shocked that you have not played a more active role in combating this blatant anti-Semitism!”
Another Oct. 9 email from an “appalled” resident stated: “A meeting on bike lanes? That was more important than being there to show support for all those who were killed, raped or taken hostage? You did not get my vote in the last election and your absence and then your terrible excuse have made sure you will never get my vote. I am embarrassed to be a Torontonian because of you.”
Another person wrote on Oct. 10: “It is shocking that someone in your esteemed position could not exercise the moral clarity to prioritize standing alongside the Jewish community, but instead chose to remain at a meeting about bike lanes. Mayor Chow – only one word comes to mind: egregious.”
An Oct. 8 email accused Chow of being “conspicuously un-empathetic to the Jewish population of Toronto.”
“Please comment in a meaningful way so I am able to comprehend your absence in this matter.” (It does not appear Chow replied to this or any other of the emails from constituents.)
“Regardless of the mayor’s personal politics,” a constituent wrote on Oct. 10, “she is the mayor of all the people… The mayor should know that she can support one side and still have empathy and compassion for the other. The latter in this case sorely lacking.”
A brief Oct. 10 email, sent to both Chow and Ontario Premier Doug Ford, stated Chow “should be kicked out of Toronto” and called the Mayor a “pathetic weasel.”
On the afternoon of Oct. 9, a self-professed lifelong Jewish resident of Toronto claimed to be “astounded” that Chow wasn’t at the vigil.
“The event was attended by Premier Ford and several MPPs, former mayor John Tory and several members of Toronto council and several MPs. Prime Minister Trudeau attended the event in Ottawa. Your absence is inexcusable … I have seen you on television at several Palestinian events.”
“Are we really supposed to believe that a seasoned politician and the mayor of a world-class city like Toronto was unable to attend because of an alleged email mishap?” reads another email from Oct. 10. “This explanation is as flimsy as it is offensive. … And now, rather than acknowledging the growing fear and alienation in the Jewish community, you offer a half-hearted ‘regret’ through a statement sent to the media.”
An Oct. 8 email from a voter reads: “As a Jew in Toronto – who voted for you – I feel unseen, unheard, unacknowledged, uncared-for.”
In another email, sent Oct. 9, the writer admitted feeling “lost” since the no-show and brought up the memory of Chow’s late husband.
“You should have been fighting to be there, to stand up for those tragically slain innocents, to support your constituents who mourn. Jack would have been there,” the email said. “My disappointment stems from your lack of concern. It deepens to disgust when I imagine the reason for your non-attendance was to please that part of your constituents to whom you pander.”
An Oct. 9 email expressed “profound dissatisfaction” in the email subject line.
“You are a disgrace to the office of mayor – supposedly mayor for all the people of this diverse city. You attend street festivals and smile your way to all – except the Jewish community,” the email accused. “The Jewish community will never forget nor forgive your absence and failure to acknowledge our pain. Shame on you!”
A talk radio listener wrote on Oct. 9: “I heard you this morning on the John Moore show (on) CFRB with your incredibly ridiculous excuses, none of which will fly with anyone with even one synapse firing in their heads.”
An Oct. 10 email with “Disappointed” in the subject line accused Chow of failing to do her job.
“You know that Oct 7, 2023, was the most horrific day in the lives of humanity since the Holocaust… A resignation from you would please many,” the person wrote.
An Oct. 9 email ended: “Apology is just a word. Your actions have conveyed a hateful message to all Torontonians.”
An email from the morning of Oct. 8, with the subject line “Your silence speaks volumes,” reads: “When the Jewish community comes together they do not block streets, do not cover their faces and do not shout hate.”
Another email from that same day ended: “I will be volunteering to help anyone who will put their name forward to run against you in the next election.”
An email writer on Oct. 9 signed off: “You are a terrible and nasty mayor.”
And another email sent on the evening of Oct. 8 stated: “The mayor should be completely ashamed of herself, and is unfit to lead a diverse city like Toronto. The sooner she resigns, the better.”
jholmes@postmedia.com
‘SHAME ON YOU’: Complaints flooded Mayor Olivia Chow’s inbox after Oct. 7
In the days after her absence from a vigil one year after Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack, Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow got an earful, emails show.
We have become disturbingly desensitized to horror and cruelty
Our capacity for outrage and empathy has been reduced to somewhere near zero
Author of the article:Warren Kinsella
Published Dec 07, 2024 • Last updated 1 day ago • 4 minute read
On Google, the listing for the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne, Australia, now says: “Temporarily closed.”
But that’s not quite true, is it? It’s closed for good.
At 4:10 a.m. on Friday, the synagogue was set on fire while some Orthodox worshippers were still inside. They got out in time, thank God, but the Adass Israel Synagogue is now gone. All that remains is some charred bits of wood, and some religious texts, reduced to nothingness.
The synagogue was at the sunny corner of Glen Eira Ave. and Oak Grove in Melbourne’s Ripponlea neighborhood. It’s a nice neighbourhood, by all accounts.
Pretty much everyone in political office swiftly offered lots of thoughts and prayers, and the police have said predictable things about the two men who destroyed the synagogue. (They were wearing masks, surprise surprise.)
What struck me, however, was something else: how much the Adams Israel Synagogue looks like other places of worship in so many other places – Synagogue Brunnenstraße in Berlin, Mordechai Navi Synagogue in Armenia, Oldenburg Synagogue in Vienna, the Rouen Synagogue in France, and on and on.
Schara Tzedeck synagogue in Vancouver, too, along with Congregation Beth Tikvah synagogue in Montreal, and quite a few in Toronto.
The synagogues are architecturally dissimilar, but they all have lots of tall fences and security cameras. All of them.
Here’s how they are similar: all of them have been firebombed, or set on fire, since Oct. 7, 2023. All of the ones named above, and too many others to list here. And, guess what? You would have needed a magnifying glass to find a mention of the Melbourne synagogue fire in Canadian media the next day.
As such, we have reached that point where actual news is no longer news. That is, something that is disturbing has become less disturbing – because it happens so often. That’s what we have observed with attacks on Jews, and Jewish places of worship, in the 428 days since Hamas slaughtered 1,200 Jews in Israel on Oct. 7: evil has become banal, per Hannah Arendt.
Why? Why has it become so difficult to rouse people from their slumber, when places dedicated to love are being set ablaze – in the above cases, literally? Why?
The reasons are myriad and multiple. It is partly because of the digital age in which we all live. We receive so much information via the palm-sized computers in our pockets, now, that we just tune it all out. It’s data smog, American writer David Shenk memorably called it. So, we just don’t pay attention like we used to.
Kittens on Facebook profiles have become way more compelling. (Mark Zuckerberg, of course, cravenly knew that first – which is why he removed news from his platform.)
That’s one possibility. Another is that we have become desensitized to horror and cruelty – again, because of the blue screens we all peer down at every single day, every hour. We see so much blood and destruction, these days, we have become immune to it. Our capacity for outrage and empathy has been reduced to somewhere near zero. Or less than zero.
The main reason, however, is likelier this: it’s the Jews. This is how it has always been for them, this is how it always will be, pass the cranberries. It’s their fight, not mine. (Also said less often, but never far from the surface with the Jew haters: they kind of bring it on themselves, don’t they? They’re so clannish. They’re always picking fights. And so on. You’ve heard it all, maybe at your own kitchen table.)
In other words, it’s antisemitism. That’s why so many people can now hear about a place of worship being reduced to cinders – a place where people were inside, praying, at the moment when they are most vulnerable – and kind of, you know, shrug. It’s antisemitism, whether it is the variety we see in our streets, or the variety found in private-club drawing rooms. It’s all the same.
But make no mistake, fellow citizens: this is not, not, not just some Jewish thing. On the same day the Melbourne synagogue was set ablaze, hundreds of masked pro-Hamas types marched at Columbia University to stop the annual lighting of a Christmas tree. JOY IS CANCELLED, one of their signs read, which is the truest thing that these scumbags have ever said.
Remember this: they come for the Saturday people first, folks. But then they always, always come for the Sunday people.
Wake up. Your house is on fire.
torontosun.com
Our capacity for outrage and empathy has been reduced to somewhere near zero
Author of the article:Warren Kinsella
Published Dec 07, 2024 • Last updated 1 day ago • 4 minute read
On Google, the listing for the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne, Australia, now says: “Temporarily closed.”
But that’s not quite true, is it? It’s closed for good.
At 4:10 a.m. on Friday, the synagogue was set on fire while some Orthodox worshippers were still inside. They got out in time, thank God, but the Adass Israel Synagogue is now gone. All that remains is some charred bits of wood, and some religious texts, reduced to nothingness.
The synagogue was at the sunny corner of Glen Eira Ave. and Oak Grove in Melbourne’s Ripponlea neighborhood. It’s a nice neighbourhood, by all accounts.
Pretty much everyone in political office swiftly offered lots of thoughts and prayers, and the police have said predictable things about the two men who destroyed the synagogue. (They were wearing masks, surprise surprise.)
What struck me, however, was something else: how much the Adams Israel Synagogue looks like other places of worship in so many other places – Synagogue Brunnenstraße in Berlin, Mordechai Navi Synagogue in Armenia, Oldenburg Synagogue in Vienna, the Rouen Synagogue in France, and on and on.
Schara Tzedeck synagogue in Vancouver, too, along with Congregation Beth Tikvah synagogue in Montreal, and quite a few in Toronto.
The synagogues are architecturally dissimilar, but they all have lots of tall fences and security cameras. All of them.
Here’s how they are similar: all of them have been firebombed, or set on fire, since Oct. 7, 2023. All of the ones named above, and too many others to list here. And, guess what? You would have needed a magnifying glass to find a mention of the Melbourne synagogue fire in Canadian media the next day.
As such, we have reached that point where actual news is no longer news. That is, something that is disturbing has become less disturbing – because it happens so often. That’s what we have observed with attacks on Jews, and Jewish places of worship, in the 428 days since Hamas slaughtered 1,200 Jews in Israel on Oct. 7: evil has become banal, per Hannah Arendt.
Why? Why has it become so difficult to rouse people from their slumber, when places dedicated to love are being set ablaze – in the above cases, literally? Why?
The reasons are myriad and multiple. It is partly because of the digital age in which we all live. We receive so much information via the palm-sized computers in our pockets, now, that we just tune it all out. It’s data smog, American writer David Shenk memorably called it. So, we just don’t pay attention like we used to.
Kittens on Facebook profiles have become way more compelling. (Mark Zuckerberg, of course, cravenly knew that first – which is why he removed news from his platform.)
That’s one possibility. Another is that we have become desensitized to horror and cruelty – again, because of the blue screens we all peer down at every single day, every hour. We see so much blood and destruction, these days, we have become immune to it. Our capacity for outrage and empathy has been reduced to somewhere near zero. Or less than zero.
The main reason, however, is likelier this: it’s the Jews. This is how it has always been for them, this is how it always will be, pass the cranberries. It’s their fight, not mine. (Also said less often, but never far from the surface with the Jew haters: they kind of bring it on themselves, don’t they? They’re so clannish. They’re always picking fights. And so on. You’ve heard it all, maybe at your own kitchen table.)
In other words, it’s antisemitism. That’s why so many people can now hear about a place of worship being reduced to cinders – a place where people were inside, praying, at the moment when they are most vulnerable – and kind of, you know, shrug. It’s antisemitism, whether it is the variety we see in our streets, or the variety found in private-club drawing rooms. It’s all the same.
But make no mistake, fellow citizens: this is not, not, not just some Jewish thing. On the same day the Melbourne synagogue was set ablaze, hundreds of masked pro-Hamas types marched at Columbia University to stop the annual lighting of a Christmas tree. JOY IS CANCELLED, one of their signs read, which is the truest thing that these scumbags have ever said.
Remember this: they come for the Saturday people first, folks. But then they always, always come for the Sunday people.
Wake up. Your house is on fire.
KINSELLA: We have become disturbingly desensitized to horror and cruelty
On Google, the listing for the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne, Australia, now says: "Temporarily closed."
What a drag.We have become disturbingly desensitized to horror and cruelty
Our capacity for outrage and empathy has been reduced to somewhere near zero
Author of the article:Warren Kinsella
Published Dec 07, 2024 • Last updated 1 day ago • 4 minute read
On Google, the listing for the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne, Australia, now says: “Temporarily closed.”
But that’s not quite true, is it? It’s closed for good.
At 4:10 a.m. on Friday, the synagogue was set on fire while some Orthodox worshippers were still inside. They got out in time, thank God, but the Adass Israel Synagogue is now gone. All that remains is some charred bits of wood, and some religious texts, reduced to nothingness.
The synagogue was at the sunny corner of Glen Eira Ave. and Oak Grove in Melbourne’s Ripponlea neighborhood. It’s a nice neighbourhood, by all accounts.
Pretty much everyone in political office swiftly offered lots of thoughts and prayers, and the police have said predictable things about the two men who destroyed the synagogue. (They were wearing masks, surprise surprise.)
What struck me, however, was something else: how much the Adams Israel Synagogue looks like other places of worship in so many other places – Synagogue Brunnenstraße in Berlin, Mordechai Navi Synagogue in Armenia, Oldenburg Synagogue in Vienna, the Rouen Synagogue in France, and on and on.
Schara Tzedeck synagogue in Vancouver, too, along with Congregation Beth Tikvah synagogue in Montreal, and quite a few in Toronto.
The synagogues are architecturally dissimilar, but they all have lots of tall fences and security cameras. All of them.
Here’s how they are similar: all of them have been firebombed, or set on fire, since Oct. 7, 2023. All of the ones named above, and too many others to list here. And, guess what? You would have needed a magnifying glass to find a mention of the Melbourne synagogue fire in Canadian media the next day.
As such, we have reached that point where actual news is no longer news. That is, something that is disturbing has become less disturbing – because it happens so often. That’s what we have observed with attacks on Jews, and Jewish places of worship, in the 428 days since Hamas slaughtered 1,200 Jews in Israel on Oct. 7: evil has become banal, per Hannah Arendt.
Why? Why has it become so difficult to rouse people from their slumber, when places dedicated to love are being set ablaze – in the above cases, literally? Why?
The reasons are myriad and multiple. It is partly because of the digital age in which we all live. We receive so much information via the palm-sized computers in our pockets, now, that we just tune it all out. It’s data smog, American writer David Shenk memorably called it. So, we just don’t pay attention like we used to.
Kittens on Facebook profiles have become way more compelling. (Mark Zuckerberg, of course, cravenly knew that first – which is why he removed news from his platform.)
That’s one possibility. Another is that we have become desensitized to horror and cruelty – again, because of the blue screens we all peer down at every single day, every hour. We see so much blood and destruction, these days, we have become immune to it. Our capacity for outrage and empathy has been reduced to somewhere near zero. Or less than zero.
The main reason, however, is likelier this: it’s the Jews. This is how it has always been for them, this is how it always will be, pass the cranberries. It’s their fight, not mine. (Also said less often, but never far from the surface with the Jew haters: they kind of bring it on themselves, don’t they? They’re so clannish. They’re always picking fights. And so on. You’ve heard it all, maybe at your own kitchen table.)
In other words, it’s antisemitism. That’s why so many people can now hear about a place of worship being reduced to cinders – a place where people were inside, praying, at the moment when they are most vulnerable – and kind of, you know, shrug. It’s antisemitism, whether it is the variety we see in our streets, or the variety found in private-club drawing rooms. It’s all the same.
But make no mistake, fellow citizens: this is not, not, not just some Jewish thing. On the same day the Melbourne synagogue was set ablaze, hundreds of masked pro-Hamas types marched at Columbia University to stop the annual lighting of a Christmas tree. JOY IS CANCELLED, one of their signs read, which is the truest thing that these scumbags have ever said.
Remember this: they come for the Saturday people first, folks. But then they always, always come for the Sunday people.
Wake up. Your house is on fire.
KINSELLA: We have become disturbingly desensitized to horror and cruelty
On Google, the listing for the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne, Australia, now says: "Temporarily closed."
Meanwhile in Canada....
UPDATE: A map of the 112 churches that have been vandalized or burned since the residential schools announcement
Dozens of Christian churches have been razed to the ground or vandalized throughout Canada in recent weeks. Navigate this interactive map to see all of the latest church fires or acts of vandalism.
tnc.news
Its tough sledding for Christians on this planet. Where is the outrage?
A New Low for Netanyahu: He Tells Israelis the Failures of Oct. 7 Will Never Be Investigated
The Israeli prime minister's fear of what a state commission of inquiry into the October 7 massacre could find out means he will never allow one to be formed, despite overwhelming public demand for an investigation
Amir Tibon
Dec 10, 2024 11:52 am IST
The massive failures of October 7, 2023 – the day on which Israel's lines of defense collapsed, the country's borders.
Well, thats not very nice.
The Israeli prime minister's fear of what a state commission of inquiry into the October 7 massacre could find out means he will never allow one to be formed, despite overwhelming public demand for an investigation
Amir Tibon
Dec 10, 2024 11:52 am IST
The massive failures of October 7, 2023 – the day on which Israel's lines of defense collapsed, the country's borders.
Well, thats not very nice.
Here's what you need to know 434 days into the war....
The 96 Ranch in Saskatchewan is bigger than Gaza.
Minutes away from the 96 Ranch in The RM of Happyland we have this.
maps.app.goo.gl
The 96 Ranch in Saskatchewan is bigger than Gaza.
Minutes away from the 96 Ranch in The RM of Happyland we have this.
Islamic Academy of Saskatchewan · Prelate, Saskatchewan
Last edited:
Air force said checking if its jets were used for sky ribbon stunt
Today, 10:11 am
An airplane contrail in the shape of a ribbon seen over the West Bank on December 16, 2024. (Times of Israel)
An airplane contrail in the shape of a ribbon seen over the West Bank on December 16, 2024. (Times of Israel)
Military investigators are reportedly probing the possibility that ribbons drawn with contrails in the skies over Israel earlier this morning were created by air force planes as part of a rogue initiative.
According to Army Radio, air force officials suspect that their planes were used for the stunt, with the ribbons generally appearing in areas where military aircraft were flying.
However, commanders never signed off on any such project, the station reports.
There have been no claims of responsibility for the sky drawings, and the widely disseminated assumption that the ribbons were meant as a gesture to hostages in Gaza has not been confirmed.
Also under investigation is the possibility that the ribbons were created by normal flight activity, combining with atmospheric conditions to create something that looks like a symbol for the hostages.
Today, 10:11 am
An airplane contrail in the shape of a ribbon seen over the West Bank on December 16, 2024. (Times of Israel)
An airplane contrail in the shape of a ribbon seen over the West Bank on December 16, 2024. (Times of Israel)
Military investigators are reportedly probing the possibility that ribbons drawn with contrails in the skies over Israel earlier this morning were created by air force planes as part of a rogue initiative.
According to Army Radio, air force officials suspect that their planes were used for the stunt, with the ribbons generally appearing in areas where military aircraft were flying.
However, commanders never signed off on any such project, the station reports.
There have been no claims of responsibility for the sky drawings, and the widely disseminated assumption that the ribbons were meant as a gesture to hostages in Gaza has not been confirmed.
Also under investigation is the possibility that the ribbons were created by normal flight activity, combining with atmospheric conditions to create something that looks like a symbol for the hostages.
Of 96 hostages still held in Gaza, 62 are “assumed” by Israel to still be alive. 2/3rds-ish…more than I’d have expected.
On 7 December, it is understood from Palestinian sources that Israel stopped aircraft movement and drone surveillance over the territory for six hours at the request of mediators, allowing Hamas to collect information about the hostages.
Pro-Qatari newspaper al-Araby al-Jadeed then reported that Hamas had handed a list of sick and elderly Israeli hostages as well as those with US citizenship to Egyptian intelligence officials. The paper said there were also the names of “Palestinian” prisoners that the group was demanding as part of the deal.
Donald Trump's victory in November's US presidential election has given a new push to diplomatic efforts.
At a news conference on Monday, he again warned that a ceasefire deal should be reached before he takes office, saying otherwise, "it's not going to be pleasant."
apple.news
On 7 December, it is understood from Palestinian sources that Israel stopped aircraft movement and drone surveillance over the territory for six hours at the request of mediators, allowing Hamas to collect information about the hostages.
Pro-Qatari newspaper al-Araby al-Jadeed then reported that Hamas had handed a list of sick and elderly Israeli hostages as well as those with US citizenship to Egyptian intelligence officials. The paper said there were also the names of “Palestinian” prisoners that the group was demanding as part of the deal.
Donald Trump's victory in November's US presidential election has given a new push to diplomatic efforts.
At a news conference on Monday, he again warned that a ceasefire deal should be reached before he takes office, saying otherwise, "it's not going to be pleasant."
Gaza ceasefire talks in final stage, Palestinian negotiator tells BBC — BBC News
The official outlines a phased plan which would see hostages freed in step with Israeli pullouts.
It’s literally a direct quote from the news story above in the link.
Hamas provided Israel through Egyptian intermediaries with the names of living hostages, according to a Washington Post report. Israel's Defense Minister Katz said Israel is currently "the closest we've been to a hostage deal since the last deal" over a year ago, sources told Haaretz. Katz also said Israel "will assume security control in Gaza" with "full freedom to act" similar to the way it operates in the West Bank. Hamas said that "in light of the serious and positive talks" in Doha, a cease-fire can be reached if Israel "refrains from imposing new conditions." Senior Israeli and Egyptian officials denied reports that PM Netanyahu was en route to Cairo to close the deal. Israel reportedly took control of the Yarmuk River in southern Syria.
Hamas discusses truce and provides list of names of living Israeli captives
17 December 2024 13:49 GMT
Hamas discusses truce and provides list of names of living Israeli captives
www.middleeasteye.net
Hamas hands hostage list to Egypt
However, all parties in the Gaza ceasefire negotiations are tempering expectations
Author of the article:Joshua Marks, Amelie Botbol, Jewish News Syndicate
Published Dec 11, 2024 • Last updated 6 days ago
Hamas hands hostage list to Egypt
However, all parties in the Gaza ceasefire negotiations are tempering expectations
Here's what you need to know 439 days into the war
Most of the contentious issues in the cease-fire/hostage deal with Israel have been resolved, a senior Hamas official said. Israel and Saudi Arabia reached a breakthrough in normalization talks that could also facilitate a truce in Gaza, sources told Haaretz. CIA chief Burns arrived in Doha ahead of his meeting with Qatar's PM on the developing deal. Germany's foreign minister said that the occupation of the Golan Heights is a violation of international law. The IDF called on residents in central Gaza to evacuate to the humanitarian zone ahead of a planned offensive in the area.
Most of the contentious issues in the cease-fire/hostage deal with Israel have been resolved, a senior Hamas official said. Israel and Saudi Arabia reached a breakthrough in normalization talks that could also facilitate a truce in Gaza, sources told Haaretz. CIA chief Burns arrived in Doha ahead of his meeting with Qatar's PM on the developing deal. Germany's foreign minister said that the occupation of the Golan Heights is a violation of international law. The IDF called on residents in central Gaza to evacuate to the humanitarian zone ahead of a planned offensive in the area.
Israel has said its fighter jets conducted a series of attacks against military targets in Yemen belonging to the Iran-backed Houthi movement.
An Israeli military spokesman said the targets included Red Sea ports and energy infrastructure in the capital Sanaa.
Houthi-run Al Masirah TV reported that seven people were killed in the port of Salif and two in the Ras Issa oil facility, which are both in Hudaydah province.
The strikes came less than two hours after a missile fired from Yemen was intercepted over central Israel. A school and several cars were damaged in Ramat Gan on the edge of Tel Aviv.
The Houthis began attacking Israel and international shipping shortly after the start of the Gaza war in October 2023, saying they were acting in solidarity with Palestinians. Link.
apple.news
An Israeli military spokesman said the targets included Red Sea ports and energy infrastructure in the capital Sanaa.
Houthi-run Al Masirah TV reported that seven people were killed in the port of Salif and two in the Ras Issa oil facility, which are both in Hudaydah province.
The strikes came less than two hours after a missile fired from Yemen was intercepted over central Israel. A school and several cars were damaged in Ramat Gan on the edge of Tel Aviv.
The Houthis began attacking Israel and international shipping shortly after the start of the Gaza war in October 2023, saying they were acting in solidarity with Palestinians. Link.
Israel strikes Houthi targets in Yemen after missile attack — BBC News
Houthi-run media say nine people were killed, hours after a Houthi missile was shot down over Israel.
Are they planning on occupying Yemen too?Israel has said its fighter jets conducted a series of attacks against military targets in Yemen belonging to the Iran-backed Houthi movement.
View attachment 26289
An Israeli military spokesman said the targets included Red Sea ports and energy infrastructure in the capital Sanaa.
Houthi-run Al Masirah TV reported that seven people were killed in the port of Salif and two in the Ras Issa oil facility, which are both in Hudaydah province.
The strikes came less than two hours after a missile fired from Yemen was intercepted over central Israel. A school and several cars were damaged in Ramat Gan on the edge of Tel Aviv.
The Houthis began attacking Israel and international shipping shortly after the start of the Gaza war in October 2023, saying they were acting in solidarity with Palestinians. Link.
Israel strikes Houthi targets in Yemen after missile attack — BBC News
Houthi-run media say nine people were killed, hours after a Houthi missile was shot down over Israel.
Sisters set to start PhD studies in Canada killed in Israeli airstrike: UWaterloo
Author of the article:Canadian Press
Canadian Press
Published Dec 18, 2024 • 1 minute read
The University of Waterloo says two twin sisters set to begin their PhD studies at the school were killed in an Israeli airstrike on Gaza earlier this month.
The University of Waterloo says two twin sisters set to begin their PhD studies at the school were killed in an Israeli airstrike on Gaza earlier this month.
The University of Waterloo says twin sisters set to begin their PhD studies at the school were killed in an Israeli airstrike on Gaza earlier this month.
The school says Dalia and Sally Ghazi Ibaid were planning to come to Waterloo, Ont., to get their doctorates in system design engineering before they died on Dec. 5.
It says both sisters were recipients of the school’s Student Relief Fellowship, and had been selected based on their “outstanding academic achievement and demonstrated research potential.”
The sisters’ family says in a statement provided to the school that the two were “full of dreams and ambitions,” and had talked about the things they wanted to do in Canada.
The family says the twins did not get a chance to realize their dreams, and is thanking the school for caring and helping their daughters.
The university says it is “deeply saddened” to share the news of the deaths and it encourages students and staff to reach out to school counselling resources.
torontosun.com
Author of the article:Canadian Press
Canadian Press
Published Dec 18, 2024 • 1 minute read
The University of Waterloo says two twin sisters set to begin their PhD studies at the school were killed in an Israeli airstrike on Gaza earlier this month.
The University of Waterloo says two twin sisters set to begin their PhD studies at the school were killed in an Israeli airstrike on Gaza earlier this month.
The University of Waterloo says twin sisters set to begin their PhD studies at the school were killed in an Israeli airstrike on Gaza earlier this month.
The school says Dalia and Sally Ghazi Ibaid were planning to come to Waterloo, Ont., to get their doctorates in system design engineering before they died on Dec. 5.
It says both sisters were recipients of the school’s Student Relief Fellowship, and had been selected based on their “outstanding academic achievement and demonstrated research potential.”
The sisters’ family says in a statement provided to the school that the two were “full of dreams and ambitions,” and had talked about the things they wanted to do in Canada.
The family says the twins did not get a chance to realize their dreams, and is thanking the school for caring and helping their daughters.
The university says it is “deeply saddened” to share the news of the deaths and it encourages students and staff to reach out to school counselling resources.
Sisters set to start PhD studies in Canada killed in Israeli airstrike: UWaterloo
The University of Waterloo says twin sisters set to begin their PhD studies at the school were killed in an Israeli airstrike on Gaza earlier this month.