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Israeli security experts say Biden’s Palestinian state push is an ’existential threat’

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Israeli security experts say Biden’s Palestinian state push is an ’existential threat’

JERUSALEM—A who’s who of Israel’s defense, security and diplomatic establishment sent a pressing letter to President Biden, urging him not to recognize a Palestinian state because it threatens the existence of the Jewish state and rewards regimes like the Islamic Republic of Iran and Russia that sponsor terrorism and promote jingoism. 

The Israel Defense and Security Forum (IDSF) letter, exclusively obtained by Fox News Digital, dated Feb. 19, states “The recognition of a Palestinian state in the immediate aftermath of the October 7th massacre will be interpreted by Hamas, global terrorist organizations, Iran and other rogue states as a reward for violence, and will encourage them to view terrorism as an effective mechanism to achieve political goals.” 

Hamas massacred 1,200 people on Oct. 7 in southern Israel, including over 30 Americans. The U.S.-designated terrorist organization Hamas currently holds over 100 people hostage in the Gaza Strip. 

Brigadier General (Res.) Amir Avivi, founder and chairman of the IDSF, told Fox News Digital, “Now is the time for the U.S. to support its most important ally in the Middle East and promote U.S. interests in the region. Israel is not against a peaceful solution to the conflict, but the administration’s plan would be a reward to extremist terror organizations and would embolden the Iranian-Russian axis of violence in the region and the world.”  

ISRAELI PARLIAMENT BACKS NETANYAHU, REJECTS PUSH FOR ‘UNILATERAL’ RECOGNITION OF PALESTINIAN STATE

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Avivi added “The implementation of such a plan would pose an existential threat to Israeli security and is not viable. A better approach would be to focus U.S. diplomatic efforts on forging an alliance with Saudi Arabia and additional positive forces in the region to promote stability, prosperity and peace in the region.” 

Israel’s Knesset (parliament) on Wednesday, in a rare show of near unanimity, rejected foreign dictates to unilaterally recognize a Palestinian state. Israel’s government policy over the last 15 years has been a bi-lateral negotiation with the Palestinians to secure an agreement for a two-state solution. 

Fox News Digital sent press queries to the White House and the National Security Council. 

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The Israel Defense and Security Forum’s letter addresses concerns over the safety of Israel if President Biden recognizes a Palestinian state. (Adobe Stock)

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The IDSF describes its organization as a “20,000 member-strong Israeli grassroots movement led by retired and reserve senior military, intelligence and security officers.” 

Some of the signatories to the letter are international recognized Iran expert, Brigadier General (Res.) Yossi Kuperwasser, and former Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Danny Ayalon. 

The letter to President Biden states, “While we appreciate that your motivations are focused on achieving a lasting peace, IDSF believes that this approach will unfortunately achieve exactly the opposite.” 

Israelis have long complained that their efforts to secure peace with the Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank (known in Israel by its biblical names Judea and Samaria) have been met with terrorism and missiles launched into the Jewish state. 

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Biden with hand up to lips sitting in front of Israel flag

President Biden faces criticism for not dealing with Palestinian terrorism in the West Bank. (Getty Images)

“Israel has followed this reckless dynamic in the past, by agreeing to the Oslo Accords following the First Intifada and carrying out the Disengagement from Gaza following the Second Intifada. We learned how the appetite only grows with concessions, and how this threatens Israel and the rest of the free world,” the Israelis wrote. 

The military and security experts see no evidence that the Palestinian Authority (PA), which rules over the West Bank, is engaged in reforms. The IDSF said the PA has continued its “Pay to Slay” policy, that has seen $370 million annually given to convicted terrorists and their families in the form of a stipend. 

The IDSF said the PA ignores the U.S. Taylor Force Act via its continued support for violence against Israelis. Congress passed the Taylor Force Act, named after West Point graduate Taylor Force, who served in Afghanistan and Iraq. 

A Palestinian terrorist stabbed Force in 2016. The act aims to stop economic aid to the PA until it ends its monetary subsidy system to Palestinians convicted of terrorism and their family members.  

Biden has faced criticism for ignoring Palestinian terrorism in the West Bank and singling out Israeli residents in the region for sanctions. 

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‘I WILL BE HAUNTED FOREVER’: ISRAEL’S HORRIFIC VIDEO OF HAMAS ATROCITIES LEAVES VIEWERS SHOCKED AND SICKENED 

Hamas

Terrorists from Hamas, during an anti-Israel military march in Gaza City. (Yousef Masoud/Majority World/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

The IDSF claimed the PA refused to condemn the Oct. 7 mass murder and that the PA will pay $2.7 million monthly to the terrorists who participated in the Oct. 7 attack. 

A Fox News Digital press query sent to the assistant for Nabil Abu Rudeineh, who serves as the spokesperson for PA President Mahmoud Abbas, was not immediately returned. 

The PA has showed no appetite to rope in terrorism in the West Bank or classify Hamas as a terrorist organization, according to the IDSF. 

“Since October 7th the IDF has arrested more than 3,000 terrorists, and has uncovered immense military infrastructure in areas controlled by the P.A. whose purpose was to attack Israel. The P.A. allowed this to happen under its watch,” the letter stated.

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In January, former U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman told Fox News Digital, “I do not think a two-state solution is possible, and, even if possible, it is not advisable. For more than 50 years, hundreds of self-proclaimed ‘peacemakers,’ led by the United States, have attempted to coerce Israel and the Palestinians into a two-state solution.” 

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Celine Dion Makes Triumphant Comeback at Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony — Watch Full Performance

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Celine Dion Makes Triumphant Comeback at Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony — Watch Full Performance


Watch Celine Dion’s Olympics Opening Ceremony Performance [VIDEO]



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95 Libyan nationals arrested in South Africa at suspected secret military training camp

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95 Libyan nationals arrested in South Africa at suspected secret military training camp

South African police arrested 95 Libyan nationals in a raid on a suspected secret military training camp on Friday and authorities said they were investigating whether there were more illegal bases in other parts of the country.

The camp was discovered at a farm in White River in the Mpumalanga province, about 360 kilometers (220 miles) northeast of Johannesburg, police said.

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National police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe said in a post on the social media site X that the Libyans stated they had entered the country on study visas to train as security guards, but police investigations suggest they have received military training.

The Newzroom Afrika TV news channel broadcast pictures of the site of the arrests, showing a military-style camp with large green and khaki tents set up in a row. Dozens of men were seen lining up as they were arrested. They were wearing civilian clothing.

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Local government official Jackie Macie said investigations were ongoing and the owner of the farm would be questioned. He said authorities received information that there were similar secret camps near two other towns in Mpumalanga province.

A camp where 95 Libyan nationals were arrested on suspicion of running an illegal military camp are seen lining up after their arrest on Friday, July 26, 2024 in White River, South Africa. Police say that 95 Libyan nationals were arrested on suspicion of receiving training at a secret military camp in the north of the country. (AP Photo/Bulelwa Maphanga)

The province borders neighboring countries Mozambique and Swaziland and is an area of concern for South African authorities with regards to illegal immigration.

Police and authorities have not said whether the camps are suspected of being connected to a particular group or conflict.

Macie said investigations would establish if there was a network of camps in South Africa and show “why they are here doing military training in our country.”

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Police said the men may be linked to crimes reported in communities close to the farm in recent months.

“We have serious cases which have been opened with the police, including cases of rape and armed robberies, which complainants claim were committed by unknown foreigners who seem to be of Asian descent,” said police spokesman Donald Mdhluli.

“We take what we have found here today very seriously because we don’t know who was training them, what were they being trained for and why that training is happening here in South Africa. It may be a threat not only to South Africa but also to the entire southern Africa region.”

Police said the operation to arrest the Libyans and close down the camp began two days ago. Macie said the Libyan nationals had been in the country since at least April.

“The 95 individuals taken into custody are all Libyan nationals and are currently being questioned by the relevant authorities,” Mpumalanga acting provincial police commissioner Maj. Gen. Zeph Mkhwanazi said in a statement.

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Mdhluli, the police spokesman, said the country’s security regulator had confirmed that the kind of training that appears to have been taking place at the camp was well beyond the scope of training for security guards.

“The kind of equipment we found here shows that there was intense military training taking place here. This was basically a military base.”

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Passengers face long, uncertain wait at stations amid rail disruption

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Passengers face long, uncertain wait at stations amid rail disruption

A deliberate fire in a signal box about 60 km south of Lille caused the disruption on the northern high-speed line, with traffic halted around 5 a.m. local time on Friday.

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Travel was severely disrupted in Lille on Friday, one of the stations affected by the sabotage that hit major French rail lines ahead of the Paris Olympics opening ceremony.

Many passengers waited with hope that soon turned to resignation.

“We’ve been waiting since 10:38 a.m. for the 11:38 a.m. train, and now we’re just waiting for it to arrive at 2:08 p.m.,” said Delphine, one of the stranded passengers.

“It’s still quite a delay, and we’ll be even later since we’re on a secondary route. I work in Avignon at 9 p.m., so it’s going to be very, very tight. We have a concert tonight — will it even happen? This is all very confusing, and we don’t understand what’s going on.”

For one traveller, this was a rough start to the holidays. “The worst case would be if the train is cancelled entirely and we have to buy new tickets for next week. It would shorten our already brief vacation. That would be a huge problem,” said Hippolyte.

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When asked if he had been informed of the delays, Hippolyte said he received the notification just before departure.

“At around 10 a.m. this morning, we were told we were an hour late and would be leaving at 1 p.m.”

“It just keeps getting later as the day goes on. Every time we approach the new departure time, it gets pushed back another hour and a half, or half an hour each time.”

A deliberate fire in a signal box about 60 km south of Lille caused the disruption on the northern high-speed line. Traffic was halted around 5 a.m. on Friday.

The recent acts of sabotage on the rail network highlight that the Olympic Games are turning France into a prime target.

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The attack disrupted the transport system on the opening day of the Games, causing delays of up to two hours or even cancellations that affected hundreds of thousands of passengers nationwide.

Authorities in Paris have said they are deploying substantial human resources to counter any threats and to ensure the safety of the events.

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