Connect with us

Arizona

Arizona congressman introduces bill to bolster Israel’s defense

Published

on

Arizona congressman introduces bill to bolster Israel’s defense


PHOENIX — U.S. Rep. David Schweikert of Arizona introduced a bill this week to support Israel by diverting assets confiscated from Iran, a known backer of Hamas.

The Fortify Israel Act would freeze the $6 billion in funds that were unblocked recently as part of a prisoner swap and repurpose it to bolster Israel’s defenses in the wake of last weekend’s deadly attacks by Hamas.

It would also apply to other assets seized from Iran, Schweikert told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s The Mike Broomhead Show on Friday.

Advertisement

“The legislation is designed much broader than the 6 million. The 6 million was functionally the extortion fee we paid to get some hostages back,” the Republican said.

“There’s a hell of a lot more resources and Western accounts of Iran that are frozen.”

Who is Rep. Schweikert working with on Fortify Israel Act?

Schweikert, whose congressional district includes parts of north Phoenix, Scottsdale and other northeast Valley suburbs, said he’s working with Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee) and a couple of Democrats he didn’t name on a Senate companion version of his bill.

The version introduced in the House on Wednesday had 12 cosponsors as of Friday morning, all Republicans, according to Congress.gov.

Schweikert said he wants the bill, which is based on what the U.S. did with funds seized from Saddam Hussein and the 9/11 terrorists, to have flexibility so Israel could use the assets in a variety of ways.

Advertisement

“We specifically are trying to design it so it has optionality, whether it needed to be used to fund defense forces or reconstruction or just humanitarian aid. And I think that’s appropriate,” the seven-term Arizona congressman said.

Schweikert added that the mechanism might be expanded to include diverting Russian assets to support Ukraine.

Has Iran been able to use the $6 billion from prisoner exchange?

Schweikert said the legislation can’t go anywhere until the House chooses a new speaker.

In the meantime, Iran won’t have access to the $6 billion under an agreement reached this week between the U.S. and Qatar. The arrangement stops short of a full refreezing of the assets, which are in Qatar’s banking system.

The Biden administration’s deal last month with Iran to unfreeze funds as part of a prisoner exchange has drawn scrutiny in the wake of Hamas’ attack on Israel. Some critics say the release of the assets could have been a factor in the attacks because Iran is the principal financial and military sponsor of Hamas.

Advertisement

However, U.S. officials have said their intelligence does not show a direct role by Iran. The also say the money has yet to be spent by Iran and can only be used for humanitarian needs.

“Funds from that account are overseen by the Treasury Department, can only be dispensed for humanitarian goods — food, medicine, medical equipment — and never touch Iranian hands,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters in Israel on Thursday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Pass it along to the KTAR News team here.

Advertisement





Source link

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Arizona

Cardinals Confident in Paris Johnson’s Position Change

Published

on

Cardinals Confident in Paris Johnson’s Position Change


ARIZONA — Change is coming to the Arizona Cardinals.

After debate all offseason of where tackles Paris Johnson Jr. and Jonah Williams would play moving into 2024, we finally have an answer.

“Jonah [Williams] is going to go right. Paris [Johnson] is going to go left. We’ll see how that looks,” Gannon told reporters yesterday as OTA’s began.

“I think it’s going to be good – Paris obviously playing both – Jonah playing both. We’ll start there and see how it goes. … That’s what they’re both comfortable with right now. We’ll see how it looks.”

Advertisement

Gannon said he ultimately has “veto” power over the move, citing things can be flipped back at any point.

Johnson – the No. 6 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft – spent his rookie season at right tackle after playing left tackle at Ohio State the year prior.

Many believe left tackle is Johnson’s natural position, and with D.J. Humphries now out of the picture, he can anchor Murray’s blindside for years to come.

Even if it means switching sides from BFF and Cardinals right guard Will Hernandez.

“We’ve made eye contact a couple of times where we kind of just look at each other… and we kind of just snap back into it,” Hernandez joked after Monday’s practice.

Advertisement

“But at the end of the day, we all are here to do what’s best for the team. Nobody here is thinking about themselves or where they want to play. So we’re all good with whatever the coaches want to do. Either way, I know he’s gonna thrive out there on the left side, and he’s gonna do a hell of a job. I’m excited to see it.”

Center Hjalte Froholdt agreed.

“All I know is Paris has taken responsibility on being the left tackle and kind of the guy on the left side. He looks smooth, looks natural. He’s played there before,” said Froholdt.

“He’s at a different level too. I think for him heading into year two compared to rookie year where it’s like, ‘OK, now I’m taking an extra step. I want to be even better than what I was’. He’s like, ‘I know what is expected of me. The game, the tempo and everything’. So it’s really cool to see where Paris is at even with a little caveat of switching positions.”

The switch also signals Williams will stay at right tackle for a second straight year after making the switch for the Cincinnati Bengals last season. Williams requested a trade after Cincinnati signed left tackle Orlando Brown (which kicked Williams to the other side).

Advertisement

Williams eventually rescinded the request and played at RT in 2023 for the Bengals, a position he also played at for Alabama at the beginning of his college career. Williams inked a two-year, $30 million deal with the Cardinals this offseason.

Hernandez isn’t worried about developing a rapport with his new running mate on the right side.

“It’ll be easy. These guys aren’t bringing in just regular Joe’s – Jonah’s a dog. I really like him,” Hernandez said.

“Same thing [happened] with Paris. We’re clicking quick. He’s also a vet. He knows what it is and how it’s supposed to look and what you’re supposed to do. I really like it. I like his mindset. And I think we’re gonna do big things get on the right side.”



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Arizona

Wildcat fire in Arizona grows to more than 14,000 acres – KYMA

Published

on

Wildcat fire in Arizona grows to more than 14,000 acres – KYMA


MARICOPA COUNTY, Ariz. (CNN, KYMA/KECY) – A 14,000 acre wildfire, named the Wildcat Fire, was 0% contained on Monday.

It sparked in the Tonto National Forest on Saturday, and high winds stopped firefighters efforts from the air.

One gate is closed for travel as a major fire burns through short grass and brush within Tonto National Forest.

“I mean, it was concerning, I guess the first night that we saw it just because we could see it right over the top of this house right here,” said Lucas Raymond, an Arizona resident.

Advertisement

Clearing the lot

Raymond and his family live in nearby Rio Verde. They’re ready to go in case the fire makes an unexpected turn.

They protected their home by clearing the lot around their neighborhood.

“Yeah, I mean, we have a three year old so I mean, we, we stay mobile as much as we possibly can, but we definitely have a plan if we need to get out of here. We can get out of here,” Raymond spoke.

Other residents nearby taking the risks in stride.

Hopeful

Hoping the weather and the universe will corporative, Nina Devries moved here just about a year ago and she’s feeling hopeful.

Advertisement

“We have hoses around the building. Several of them and they are connected so we would pick them up and try to keep things dry. But, basically just say positive and know that it’s going to be taken care of,” Devries expressed.

Those strong winds with around 40 mile per hour gusts forcing crews to ground their air units for a few hours.

On Monday, they’ll send them back up once the weather gets better, and around 300 fire personnel are battling the blaze right now and a lot of work lies ahead to contain this fire.

Good news

But there’s good news, humidity is up and temperatures are down.

There was also a little rain for the neighbors on Monday. It’s anything that will keep their homes fire free.

Advertisement

“Oh, it would be devastating. People love this area out here. I mean, the the residents out here fight for, fight for it out here. It’s not the easiest place to live,” Raymond added.

On Sunday afternoon, officials confirmed another wildfire, named the Basin Fire. It is burning southeast of the Wildcat Fire, but forward progress for this fire has reportedly been stopped.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Arizona

Baseball: Dodgers' potent offense helps Yamamoto get win over Arizona

Published

on

Baseball: Dodgers' potent offense helps Yamamoto get win over Arizona


Yoshinobu Yamamoto threw 6-1/3 innings of two-run ball and Freddie Freeman delivered a grand slam among three home runs for the Los Angeles Dodgers in a 6-4 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday.

With plenty of backing from the powerful Dodger lineup, Yamamoto (5-1) struck out eight while allowing seven hits and one walk in another solid start for the National League West leaders, who extended their winning streak to four.

The Japanese right-hander surrendered a 1-0 lead when Joc Pederson hit a line-drive single with two out and two on in the top of the third at Dodger Stadium.

Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitches against the Arizona Diamondbacks in a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on May 20, 2024. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Advertisement

Los Angeles quickly turned things around, however, racking up six runs against right-hander Slade Cecconi (1-4) in the home half of the inning.

Enrique Hernandez tied it with his solo homer and Shohei Ohtani drew a walk to load the bases before Freeman put the Dodgers up 5-1 with his fifth long bomb of the season. Will Smith extended the lead with a solo blast.

Yamamoto exited after giving up an RBI single to Kevin Newman in the seventh, while Ohtani finished 1-for-3 with a run scored.

“I allowed the first run but was able to reset myself (mentally),” Yamamoto said.

The three-time MVP of Japan’s Pacific League threw an MLB career-high 100 pitches, including 69 strikes.

Advertisement

“My number of good pitches increased as the second half of the game progressed,” he said. “I felt like I was throwing with a good tempo.”


Related coverage:

Baseball: Yamamoto gets 4th win after longest MLB start

Baseball: Shohei Ohtani’s walk-off single lifts Dodgers past Reds

Baseball: Cubs’ Shota Imanaga gets 5th win with gem against Mets

Advertisement





Source link

Continue Reading

Trending