Associated Press: A Look At The Terms — And Tensions — In The Israel-Hamas Draft Ceasefire Deal
“If the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal goes according to the current draft, then fighting will stop in Gaza for 42 days, and dozens of Israeli hostages and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners will be freed. In this first phase Israeli troops will pull back to the edges of Gaza, and many Palestinians will be able to return to what remains of their homes as stepped-up aid flows in. The question is if the ceasefire will survive beyond that first phase. That will depend on even more negotiations meant to begin within weeks. In those talks, Israel, Hamas, and the U.S, Egyptian and Qatari mediators will have to tackle the tough issue of how Gaza will be governed, with Israel demanding the elimination of Hamas.”
The New York Times: Biden Will Remove Cuba From List Of State Sponsors Of Terrorism
“President Biden will remove Cuba from a list of state sponsors of terrorism, U.S. officials announced on Tuesday, as a part of a deal that is expected to free protesters jailed during a sweeping 2021 crackdown on dissent by the Communist government. Removing Cuba from the list would typically raise expectations of improved relations between Washington and Havana and renewed hope for economic investment in Cuba. But Mr. Biden’s decision is only the latest in a series of conflicting U.S. approaches to Cuba by different administrations. The Obama administration made the decision to remove the terrorism designation for Cuba as part of a broader effort to normalize relations with the nation.”
The New York Times: A House At Auschwitz Opens Its Doors To A Chilling Past
“... Last summer, Ms. Jurczak agreed to sell the home to the Counter Extremism Project, a New York-based group that wants to open the house to visitors. She moved out in August, and in October the New York group completed its acquisition of the home and an adjacent house built after the war. “I had to get out of there,” Ms. Jurczak said at her new home in a modern apartment block in Oswiecim, a mile from her former house. She declined to say how much the house was sold for, but indicated that it was somewhat more than the property’s estimated value of around $120,000.”
The Long Journal: Analysis: The Role Of Iraqi Shia Militias As Proxies In Iran’s Axis Of Resistance
“Iran’s 45-year trajectory from the Khomeini revolution to its current challenge to Israel, the West, and the Rules-Based International System (RBIS) led to developing and solidifying its “Axis of Resistance.” Tehran supports and coordinates this group of regional proxies, including Yemen’s Houthis, Hamas, and Lebanese Hezbollah, to challenge its enemies in various theaters. A key Iranian proxy is found among the Iraqi Shia, who have a history with Iran that goes back to the Saddam Hussein era but whose full value to Tehran only started to be realized after the 2003 US invasion made Iraq’s largest community dominant in that nation’s politics… Edmund Fitton-Brown is a senior advisor to the Counter Extremism Project.”
The Jerusalem Post: 'Place Of Incredible Evil': House Of Auschwitz Commander To Open To Visitors
“A three-story house overlooking an Auschwitz gas chamber, formerly owned by the camp's commander, Rudolf Hoss, has been purchased by the Counter Extremism Project (CEP) with the aim of opening it up to visitors, the New York Times revealed on Wednesday. In addition to its historical significance, the house is famous for its prominence in the Oscar-winning 2023 film Zone of Interest. CEP bought the house from Garzyna Jurczak, who raised her children there but who found living in it too challenging when people began peering into her windows following the release of the film.”
Rivista Studio: Rudolf Höss's House In Auschwitz Can Be Visited
“Rudolf Höss's house in Auschwitz, or rather, in Oswiecim, has become famous throughout the world thanks to Jonathan Glazer's film The Zone of Interest , winner of two Oscars. The camp commander lived right next to the camp: from the upstairs window the view opened onto the ovens, as Glazer shows, but on the ground floor there was a flowery and well-kept garden, a path leading to a river for the summer, and an ice rink for the winter. The house, in recent years, was inhabited by Grazyna Jurczak, a 62-year-old widow, who raised two children there. After several years, the woman decided to sell the house to a New York-based organization called Counter Extremism Project. Among the reasons for the sale, Jurczak said, was the excessive attention of visitors to Auschwitz to the house following the success of Glazer's film.”
Firstpost: Who Is The Other Sinwar Trying To Rebuild Hamas In Gaza?
“Hamas is down in the Gaza Strip but not out. Hamas has been traying rebuild itself in Gaza under a new leader. The new leader is Mohammed Sinwar, a senior Hamas commander the younger brother of slain former Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar… Before the war elevated him to his current role, Mohammed was the Hamas’ head of logistics and manpower and one of the top commanders of Hamas’s military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, according to the think tank Counter Extremism Project (CEP).”
Axios: Growing Number Of Military Veterans Committing Extremist Crimes, Research Shows
“Pete Hegseth, President-elect Trump's pick for Defense secretary, on Tuesday called the problem of extremism in the military "fake," but researchers warn there's a growing trend of military-linked terrorism. The big picture: The rising number of people with military backgrounds engaging in domestic terrorism over the past three decades can partially be attributed to the difficulty transitioning from active duty to veteran status and a lack of community or purpose, experts say. Driving the news: In the most recent high-profile cases, the New Year's Day attacks in New Orleans and Las Vegas were both carried out by Army veterans.”
“The FBI has released a new image of New Orleans terrorist attacker Shamsud-Din Jabbar along with new details about his internet search history as the investigation into the New Year's attack continues. In a press release, the FBI said the Bourbon Street terrorist’s internet history showed he was looking into Bourbon Street balcony access, information on Mardi Gras and shootings that happened in the city, as late as mid-November. Investigators also revealed that Jabbar researched the Christmas market ramming attack in Germany just hours before the attack on Bourbon Street. On Nov. 10, officials said, Jabbar took a train from Houston, Texas to New Orleans and returned to Texas that evening on a bus.”
The Washington Examiner: Hegseth Defends Christian Tattoos In Senate Hearing
“President-elect Donald Trump‘s proposed secretary of defense, Pete Hegseth, used his Senate confirmation hearing to address questions over his Christian tattoos, which critics say represent an “extremist” ideology. Hegseth clashed with Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) at his Tuesday hearing when the lawmaker accused the defense secretary nominee of advocating a prohibition against personnel who hold left-wing and liberal viewpoints opposed to his own. “The statements you said about people who have views differently than you — that we’re the enemy. Are you saying that 50% of the DOD, if they hold liberal views or leftist views or are democrats, are not welcome in the military?” Gillibrand asked.”
“Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday urged all countries to "take their hands off" Syria and said Turkey had the capacity and ability to crush all terrorist organisations in the country, including Kurdish militia and Islamic State. Speaking in parliament, Erdogan said the Kurdish YPG militia was the biggest problem in Syria now after the ousting of former President Bashar al-Assad, and added that the group would not be able to escape its inevitable end unless it lays down its arms.”
Reuters: PM-Designate Salam Extends Hand To Hezbollah, Aims To Rebuild Lebanon
“Lebanon's Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam said on Tuesday his hands were "extended to everyone", in a gesture to the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group that accused opponents of seeking to exclude it by nominating him for the post. President Joseph Aoun formally designated Salam, who has been serving as presiding judge at the International Court of Justice, to form the next government on Tuesday, after he won the backing of a majority of lawmakers the previous day. Salam's nomination has reflected a dramatic shift in the power balance in Lebanon, a result of the heavy blows dealt to Hezbollah in last year's war with Israel, compounded by the ousting last month of its Syrian ally Bashar al-Assad.”
Voice Of America: Negotiators Push To Finalize Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Deal
“Mediators pushed Wednesday to finalize a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, while Israel’s military reported carrying out airstrikes overnight in northern, central and southern Gaza. The Israel Defense Forces said it struck Hamas targets in Gaza City, Khan Younis and Deir al-Balah. U.S. and Qatari officials expressed optimism Tuesday that Israel and Hamas were close to a deal, while cautioning that some details remained to be worked out. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a Washington speech, "I believe we will get a ceasefire," but added that it was up to Hamas to give its final assent. "It's right on the brink. It's closer than it's ever been before."”
Reuters: Barrick Confirms Suspension Of Mali Operations, Seizure Of Gold
“Canada's Barrick Gold (ABX.TO), opens new tab on Tuesday confirmed it had suspended operations in Mali and that the government had moved gold stock from the miner's Loulo-Gounkoto site to a bank. Reuters reported on Monday that the authorities had seized gold worth $245 million in an escalation of their long-running dispute with the company. "As a result, Barrick has regrettably initiated the temporary suspension of operations while it continues to work towards a resolution," it said in a statement. Barrick did not say what amount of gold had been seized. Malian officials did not reply to requests for immediate comment.”
BBC: Why India Is Reaching Out To The Taliban Now
“India's latest diplomatic outreach to Afghanistan's Taliban government signals a marked shift in how it sees the geopolitical reality in the region. This comes more than three years after India suffered a major strategic and diplomatic blow when Kabul fell to the Taliban. Two decades of investment in Afghanistan's democracy - through military training, scholarships and landmark projects like building its new parliament - were swiftly undone. The collapse also paved the way for greater influence from regional rivals, particularly Pakistan and China, eroding India's strategic foothold and raising new security concerns.”
Extremists: Their Words. Their Actions.
Fact:
On October 7, 2023, Hamas invaded southern Israel where, in the space of eight hours, hundreds of armed terrorists perpetrated mass crimes of brutality, rape, and torture against men, women and children. In the biggest attack on Jewish life in a single day since the Holocaust, 1,200 were killed, and 251 were taken hostage into Gaza—where 101 remain. One year on, antisemitic incidents have increased by record numbers.
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