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☆ Iran's stealth drones have become the new blueprint for international warfare
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Russia has become increasingly reliant on Iranian drones to fight its war in Ukraine. At least six countries have ramped up production of Iranian drones in the last two years, according to a Bloomberg report this week, bringing the total number of countries producing drones with Iran's help to at least a dozen. The issue has become of particular importance as Russia becomes more reliant on Iranian tech to produce its drones for the war in Ukraine. Meanwhile, Iran is pocketing foreign money in exchange for its much-coveted drone tech and expertise. AdvertisementEthiopia has used Iranian drones to squash rebellions in the country, while Tajikistan, Algeria, and Venezuela are also partnering with Iran, Bloomberg reported.

Persons: —, Israel —, Matthew McInnis Organizations: Service, Bloomberg, US, Washington Post, Pentagon, State Department Locations: Iran, Russia, Ukraine, Sudan, Israel, Jordan, Red, Ethiopia, Tajikistan, Algeria, Venezuela

☆ McDonald's will buy all 225 restaurants from Israel franchise following pro-Palestinian boycott fallout
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-05 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

McDonald's signed a deal to purchase all 225 of the restaurants that comprise its Israel franchise, the American fast-food chain announced, following months of dramatically lower sales due to pro-Palestinian boycott action amid the Israel-Hamas war. "An agreement to sell Alonyal to McDonald's Corporation has been signed," the McDonald's statement said Thursday. "Upon completion of the transaction, McDonald's Corporation will own Alonyal Limited's restaurants and operations, and employees will be retained on equivalent terms." "We are dismayed by the disinformation and inaccurate reports regarding our position in response to the conflict in the Middle East," McDonald's Corp. said in a November statement. "McDonald's Corporation is not funding or supporting any governments involved in this conflict, and any actions from our local Developmental Licensee business partners were made independently without McDonalds' content or approval."

Persons: McDonald's, Omri Padan, Israel —, —, Chris Kempczinski Organizations: Israel, Alonyal Ltd, McDonald's Corporation, McDonald's, Consumers, Gaza, enclave's Health Ministry, World Health Organization, McDonalds Locations: Israel, East, Malaysia, Indonesia

☆ 6 months since Oct. 7, the Israeli-Hamas war in Gaza has produced no winners
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-05 | by ( Opinion Frida Ghitis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Civilians in the southern part of the country, areas near the border with Gaza, were under a brutal, ongoing attack. Frida Ghitis CNNSix months after Hamas launched that deadly rampage, knowing that Israel’s response would be ferocious, there are only losers in this terrible war. It’s hard now to find many winners with the death toll mounting among Gazans and hunger growing in the strip. For Hamas, the fact that war continues may count as a victory, but thousands of Hamas’ fighters — the exact number is disputed — have been killed. Hamas — the Iran-allied group that rules Gaza — killed more than 1,200 Israelis and dragged back hundreds more as hostages.

Persons: Frida Ghitis, Benjamin Netanyahu, Joe Biden, José Andrés, Israel, Ahmad Gharabli, Israel —, ”, Netanyahu —, —, Netanyahu, Benny Gantz, Abraham Organizations: CNN, Washington Post, Politics, Frida Ghitis CNN, Hamas, Israeli, vise, —, Gaza, IDF, Getty, Israel, Abraham Accords Locations: Gaza, Israel, Europe, Iran, AFP, Egypt, United States

☆ Opinion: Two words that made Ramy Youssef’s ‘SNL’ monologue historic
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-31 | by ( Opinion Dean Obeidallah | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

He told the audience about one friend, Brian, who’s locked in a messy divorce and asked Youssef to pray he’ll get custody of his beloved dog. He then mentioned another friend, Ahmed, who asked Youssef to pray for his family in Gaza, telling him: “They’re suffering. Please pray for them.”The comedian continued the joke: “So that night I go to pray, and my prayers are — complicated. Please.” Youssef continued, “And please free the hostages, all the hostages, please,” which also elicited applause. Youssef, though, has been undeterred, using his comedy for months to bring attention to the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.

Persons: Dean Obeidallah, Ramy Youssef, Kenan Thompson, Rami Malik, Youssef, Youssef —, —, “, ”, Brian, who’s, he’ll, Ahmed, I’ve, ” Youssef, Bojangles, Lenny Bruce, Richard Pryor, Jon Stewart, Melissa Barrera, VII, ” Jonathan Glazer, Susan Sarandon, Taylor Swift, Megyn Kelly, Swift, ‘, Let’s, ’, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Joe Biden —, Israel —, Biden, ” Israel “ Organizations: CNN, Dean Obeidallah CNN, Globe, Hollywood Reporter, “, East Refugee, year’s, Gallup, Israel, UN Locations: Arab, New Jersey, Palestine, Gaza, ”, Palestinian, Hollywood, Brooklyn

☆ 'America's greatest gift to Israel'
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-24 | by ( David Kushner | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +35 min

As the country's founder and first prime minister, David Ben-Gurion, once declared, "America's greatest gift to Israel was Al Schwimmer." Joining the Haganah, Schwimmer discovered, wasn't as easy as just strolling through the door. "He felt he had to do his part in creating a Jewish state, so this could never happen again," Schwimmer recalled. Rather than melt down the surplus weapons for scrap, Liff told Greenspun to take as much as he wanted — free of charge. In 2001, at the urging of Brian Greenspun, Schwimmer received a presidential pardon from Bill Clinton.

Persons: Danny Schwimmer, They'd, Rina, Al —, David Ben, Gurion, Al Schwimmer, Schwimmer, Bugsy Siegel's, Meyer Lansky, Frank Sinatra, Sinatra, —, Boaz Dvir, Israel —, Danny, Al, I've, Hank Greenspun, Greenspun, Brian, Adolph, Dick Tracy, " Schwimmer, Wing Walker, America, Yehuda Arazi, Arazi, they'd, Schwimmer's, Sam Lewis, Leo Gardner, Milton, Milt, Rubenfeld, Paul Reubens, Herman, Reubens, Bugsy Siegel, Siegel, — Schwimmer, Nathan Liff, Liff, PhotoQuest, Bernarr McFadden, Pat, Ptacek, Rafael Trujillo, Teddy Kollek, Erwin Johnson, Bill Gerson, Gerson, Bud King, Gerson's, Ben, Joel Kimmel, Lewis, Lansky, hadn't, Tommy, Messerschmitts, David, Milt Rubenfeld, Israel, Charlie Winters, Winters, weren't, aren't, America's, Joseph McCarthy, John F, Kennedy, Brian Greenspun, Golda Meir, Bill Clinton Organizations: Israeli Air Force, TWA, Haganah, United Nations, Lockheed Air, Los Angeles Examiner, USC, Getty, US Naval, Schwimmer Aviation, FBI, UN, Customs Service, Palestine . Volunteers, Embassy, Israel, Service Airways, State Department, BI, Pepsi, Zionist, Nazi, Star, American, Avia, Messerschmitt, Pennsylvania State University who's, Las, Sun, Israel Aerospace Industries, IAI, they're, Israeli Locations: Tel Aviv, Israel, Connecticut, Palestine, New York, Copacabana, United States, Hungary, Auschwitz, storages, Arizona, Bridgeport, Rome, Burbank , California, Burbank, Las Vegas, Hawaii, Oahu, Santa Claus, California, Washington, Burbank ., Acapulco, Mexico, it's, Mexico City, Central, South America, Dominican Republic, China, America, Mexican, Panama, Panamanian, Corsica, Oklahoma, Detroit, Suriname, Brazil, Senegal, Casablanca, Sicily, Catania, Europe, Czechoslovakia, Czech, Egypt, Cairo, Los Angeles, American, Gaza, Iran

☆ An Arms Smugger, a Daring Heist, and the Birth of Israel
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-24 | by ( David Kushner | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +35 min

Joining the Haganah, Schwimmer discovered, wasn't as easy as just strolling through the door. "He felt he had to do his part in creating a Jewish state, so this could never happen again," Schwimmer recalled. Rather than melt down the surplus weapons for scrap, Liff told Greenspun to take as much as he wanted — free of charge. "It went against the grain to buck the same government we had fought to preserve only a few years before," Hank Greenspun recalled. In 2001, at the urging of Brian Greenspun, Schwimmer received a presidential pardon from Bill Clinton.

☆ Opinion | What Schumer and Biden Got Right About Netanyahu
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-19 | by ( Thomas L. Friedman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

One of my ironclad rules of journalism is this: When you see an elephant flying, don’t laugh, don’t doubt, don’t sneer — take notes. Something very new and important is happening and we need to understand it. Last week, I saw an elephant fly: The Senate majority leader, Chuck Schumer — an authentic, lifelong supporter of Israel — gave a speech calling on Israelis to hold an election as soon as possible in order to dump Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his far-right cabinet. And it produced predictable responses from the Jewish right (Schumer is a traitor), from Netanyahu (Israel is “not a banana republic”) and from cynics (Schumer’s just cozying up to the Democratic left). All predictable responses, and all wrong responses.

Persons: don’t, Chuck Schumer, Israel —, Benjamin Netanyahu, Schumer, Israel, “, Netanyahu, Netanyahu —, Biden Organizations: Democratic Locations: Netanyahu, cynics, U.S

☆ Netanyahu tells CNN Schumer’s call for Israel election was ‘totally inappropriate’
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-17 | by ( Radina Gigova | Sophie Tanno | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

But in his interview with CNN’s Dana Bash on “State of the Union,” Netanyahu hit back. It’s inappropriate to go to a sister democracy and try to replace the elected leadership there,” Netanyahu told CNN. Instead, efforts should be focused on “bringing down the Hamas tyranny,” Netanyahu said. The comments come after Netanyahu confirmed his plans to press on with an operation, despite mounting international concern. This will take several weeks, and it will happen,” Netanyahu said at the beginning of a government meeting.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Chuck Schumer, Schumer —, Israel —, Netanyahu, CNN’s Dana, ” Netanyahu, “, ”, Joe Biden, David Barnea, CNN’s Jeremy Diamond, Abeer Salman Organizations: CNN, Israeli, Union, Hamas, Democratic, Israel, CNN Israel, Reuters Locations: Israel, “ State, Gaza, Doha, Rafah

A day after President Biden announced plans for maritime aid delivery to the Gaza Strip, European leaders said Friday they would deliver aid by ship as early as the weekend. But aid groups and Gaza officials criticized shipments by air or sea as too cumbersome, urging that vastly more food and medicine be supplied by trucks. The complications of delivering aid to the hungry residents of Gaza were underlined on Friday when the authorities in Gaza said at least five Palestinians were killed and several others were wounded after they were struck by packages of humanitarian aid that were dropped from an aircraft. Israel insists on inspecting all supplies going into Gaza, and aid trucks have been allowed in through just two border crossings — one from Egypt and one from Israel — in southern Gaza. President Biden on Thursday night outlined a U.S. military plan to build a floating pier on Gaza’s Mediterranean coast to supply food, water, medicine and other necessities to civilians, saying the operation would “enable a massive increase” in the assistance entering the territory.

Persons: Biden, Israel Organizations: United Nations Locations: Gaza, Egypt, Israel, U.S

☆ Biden knows Israel's war in Gaza is a problem for him — and he's changing his strategy to address it
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-08 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read previewAs bodies pile up in Gaza and "uncommitted" votes pile up in primary state after primary state, President Joe Biden appears to understand that he has a problem on his hands. AdvertisementPresident Biden: "I told him, Bibi, and don't repeat this, but you and I are going to have a ‘come to Jesus’ meeting." One month ago, Biden described Israel's conduct in Gaza as "over the top." And roughly half of those who voted for Biden in 2020 believe that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, according to recent polling.

Persons: —, Joe Biden, Biden, We're, he's, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Bibi, Jesus ’, ”, KCgpbx4awf — Sawyer Hackett, Pramila Organizations: Service, State, Business, Biden, Democratic, Capitol Locations: Gaza, Israel, @SawyerHackett, Washington, State

☆ Biden is changing his Israel-Gaza strategy
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-08 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewAs bodies pile up in Gaza and "uncommitted" votes pile up in primary state after primary state, President Joe Biden appears to understand that he has a problem on his hands. "We're not waiting on the Israelis," a senior Biden administration official told reporters as they previewed the plan on Thursday, ahead of Biden's speech. AdvertisementPresident Biden: "I told him, Bibi, and don't repeat this, but you and I are going to have a ‘come to Jesus’ meeting." And roughly half of those who voted for Biden in 2020 believe that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, according to recent polling. "I say this as a lifelong supporter of Israel, my entire career," said Biden.

Layla Elabed, campaign manager for Listen to Michigan, which spearheaded the protest vote against President Biden last week in Michigan. “Elections have a certain amount of momentum,” said Keith Ellison, Minnesota’s Democratic attorney general, who voted for Mr. Biden. Uncommitted Minnesota said it spent about $20,000 on the campaign since beginning last Monday. In Washington, organizers are pushing similar efforts to vote “uncommitted” in the state’s primary next week. It was not our first choice, but we have to let President Biden know that our votes are not to be taken for granted.”Nicholas Nehamas contributed reporting from Minneapolis.

Persons: Layla Elabed, Biden, Israel —, Mr, Uncommitted, Rashida Tlaib, Donald J, Donald Trump, ”, Elianne Farhat, Kamala Harris, “, Lauren Hitt, Cole Harrison, Trump, Keith Ellison, Ellison, Biden’s, Joe Biden, Abdullah Elagha, Harrison, Ilhan Omar, Rania Masri, —, uncommitted, Rami Al, ” Nicholas Nehamas Organizations: Democratic, Democratic National Convention, Somali, Trump, Uncommitted Minnesota, Hamas, Massachusetts Peace, Mr, “, Democratic Party, Colorado Palestine Coalition, Abandon Biden, Republican Party Locations: Michigan, Israel, Gaza, Colorado, Minnesota, Massachusetts, Cambridge, Colorado , Massachusetts, North Carolina, United States, American, Uncommitted Minnesota, In Minnesota, Georgia, Washington, Bothell, Minneapolis

☆ How the ‘Uncommitted’ Effort to Protest Biden Has Spread in Super Tuesday States
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( Anjali Huynh | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Organizers in several Super Tuesday states are calling on voters to oppose President Biden at the ballot box over his stance on the war in Israel and Gaza, building on momentum that began last month in Michigan. More than 101,000 Michiganders voted “uncommitted” in the state’s Democratic primary, after a group of young Arab Americans started a campaign encouraging voters to protest Mr. Biden’s alliance with Israel — earning two delegates to the Democratic National Convention. Inspired by the campaign, pro-Palestinian groups around the country started similar efforts to push the president to call for a permanent cease-fire. In Minnesota, organizers knocked on doors and held get-out-the-vote events to promote the “uncommitted” category, with outreach to Muslim Somali Americans and young voters. And in Massachusetts, thousands of protesters at a rally in Cambridge chanted “no preference,” the similar designated protest option.

Persons: Biden, Israel — Organizations: Democratic, Democratic National Convention, Somali Locations: Israel, Gaza, Michigan, Colorado, Minnesota, Massachusetts, Cambridge

The primary season is about to shift into overdrive with Super Tuesday, when Republican voters in 15 states will cast their votes. Polls suggest that former President Donald Trump is very likely to win most, if not all, of these contests. I spoke with Nate Cohn, The New York Times’s chief political analyst, about when Trump’s nomination could become a lock. If the polls are right, there’s really only one scenario: Trump finding himself within easy striking distance of the nomination. Put it together, and Trump could easily win more than 90 percent of the delegates available on Super Tuesday.

Persons: Donald Trump, Nate Cohn, — Dean Phillips, Marianne Williamson —, Nate, It’s, Nikki Haley, Ron DeSantis, there’s, Trump, Haley, Israel’s, Haiyun Jiang, The New York Times Trump, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, you’re, You’re, ” Trump, Netanyahu, Biden, Israel —, America’s, ”, John Bolton, — Jonathan Swan, Maggie Haberman, Michael Gold Read Organizations: Republican, Trump, The, Democratic, Republican National Convention, California —, The New York Times, Univision, Republican Party, Hezbollah, Trump Republican Party, Biden, Democratic Party, “ Locations: Iowa , New Hampshire, California, Georgia, Hawaii , Mississippi, Washington, Arizona, Florida , Illinois , Kansas, Ohio, Gaza . Credit, Gaza, Israel, Lebanese, Rock Hill, S.C, Trump, Michigan

☆ Opinion | The Wars in Ukraine and Gaza Have Changed. America’s Policy Hasn’t.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-01 | by ( The Ezra Klein Show | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Joe Biden’s presidency has been dominated by two foreign policy crises: the wars in Ukraine and Gaza. The funding the United States has provided in those wars — billions to both Ukraine and Israel — has drawn backlash from both the right and the left. Richard Haass is an icon of the U.S. foreign policy establishment. He’s recently been making the case that our foreign policy is insufficiently independent — that we’ve become captured by allies that have interests that diverge from our own. His view of this moment is a signal of larger shifts that could be coming in the U.S. foreign policy consensus.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, Israel —, “, Ezra Klein, Richard Haass, He’s, we’ve Organizations: Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google, Foreign Relations, Republican, America’s Locations: Ukraine, Gaza, States, Israel, U.S

☆ Over 100,000 voters rejected Biden and chose 'uncommitted' in Michigan. Here's how that stacks up against recent Democratic primaries.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewOver 100,000 Michigan voters marked "uncommitted" on their ballots in Tuesday's Democratic primary. AdvertisementTo put Tuesday's results into perspective, it's worth considering recent Democratic primaries in the state. 2012: As President Barack Obama sought reelection, 20,833 voters chose "uncommitted," accounting for 10.7% of the vote. Officials with the Biden campaign have pointed toward this result, given that it's the last time a Democratic president faced an uncompetitive reelection. 2008: The "uncommitted" vote share was far higher this year — 238,168 votes, or 40% overall — because Obama did not appear on the ballot amid a competitive race against Hillary Clinton.

Persons: —, Joe Biden's, Marianne Williamson, Dean Phillips, Biden, Israel —, Donald Trump's, Barack Obama, uncommitted, Obama, Hillary Clinton, it's, Layla Elabed —, Rashida Tlaib — Organizations: Service, Democratic, Dean Phillips of Minnesota, Biden, Israel, Business, Democratic National Committee, Nevada and, Trump, Clinton, Democratic National Convention, Michigan Locations: Michigan, Nevada, Nevada and South Carolina, Clinton . Michigan, Israel, Chicago, Dearborn, Gaza

☆ Netanyahu's first post-war plan seeks security buffer in Gaza — in blow to U.S. diplomacy
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-23 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu looks on as the US Secretary of State gives statements to the media inside The Kirya, which houses the Israeli Defence Ministry, after their meeting in Tel Aviv on October 12, 2023. He is expected to visit Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as Washington closes ranks with its ally that has launched a withering air campaign against Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu disclosed his first official plan for the post-war future of the Gaza Strip, calling for Israel's ongoing military presence in the enclave and for the preservation of a security buffer zone — a step antithetical to the wishes of closely-allied Washington. In the intermediate term, Israel wishes to "maintain its operational freedom of action in the entire Gaza Strip, without a time limit," as well as to retain a security buffer within the besieged territory. "The security perimeter being created in the Gaza Strip on the border with Israel will remain as long as there is a security need for it," the document says.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Blinken, Netanyahu, Israel, Matt Miller, Israel — Organizations: Israeli Defence Ministry, Washington, Hamas, NBC News, Gaza, U.S . State Locations: Tel Aviv, Israel, AFP, Gaza, Washington, Palestinian, U.S, Egypt

These families argue that the price to be paid in any hostage deal — the release of large numbers of Palestinian militants held by Israel — would endanger the country in the future. Protests calling on the government to reach a deal with Hamas have grown in size and intensity as the crisis has dragged on. The Mor family and two other hostages' families founded the Tikva Forum, a loosely organized group whose public members are mostly religious and right-wing. They share the belief that military pressure, not an immediate cease-fire or hostage release deal, is the best way to bring their loved ones home. “We see that when there’s a deal, hostages return, and in between, when there isn’t, only bodies come back,” said Berman.

Persons: Israel —, ”, Tzvika Mor, Eitan, ” Mor, Mor, Benjamin Netanyahu, Alon Nimrodi, Tamir Nimrodi, “, Israel's, ” Netanyahu, Adina Moshe, Netanyahu, Gilad Shalit, Shalit, Yehya Sinwar, “ Eitan, Avinatan, Noa Argamani, Avinatan’s, Shimon, Liran Berman, Israel, Gali, Ziv Berman, there’s, Berman, ” Berman Organizations: JERUSALEM, Nova, Associated Press, Hamas, Israel’s, Tikva, West Bank, AP, “ Locations: Israel imploring, Israel, Gaza, Cairo, United States, Kiryat Arba, Hebron, Palestinian, Kfar Aza

☆ Sen. Lankford says a 'popular commentator' threatened to 'do whatever I can to destroy you' if he negotiated a border deal during a presidential election year
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Sen. James Lankford was the top GOP negotiator on the failed border security deal. AdvertisementSen. James Lankford of Oklahoma spoke on Wednesday about the political challenges he's encountered while serving as the top GOP negotiator on a bipartisan border security deal. We'll let the presidential election solve this problem." Lankford went on to say that a "popular commentator" — without naming any names — threatened to "destroy" him if he negotiated the deal during a presidential election year, regardless of what was in it. Advertisement"I will do whatever I can to destroy you, because I do not want you to solve this during the presidential election," Lankford recounted the commentator saying.

Persons: Sen, James Lankford, Lankford, —, he's, “, — Sen, pushback, Israel —, John Barrasso of Organizations: Service, GOP, Fox News Locations: Oklahoma, Ukraine, Israel, John Barrasso of Wyoming

☆ 14 House Republicans joined with Democrats to reject a $17.6 billion Israel aid bill
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The House failed to pass a $17.6 billion bill to provide aid to Israel on Tuesday. 14 House Republicans joined with Democrats to vote against it, citing the cost. Yet among the lawmakers who voted down the $17.6 billion bill were 14 Republicans, most of whom argued that the bill was fiscally irresponsible. AdvertisementThis is the second time the House has voted on an Israel aid bill since the October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attacks. That was part of an attempt to unlink Israel aid from Ukraine aid, which is far more toxic to Republicans.

Persons: Mike Johnson, —, Israel —, Alejandro Mayorkas, Thomas Massie of, Massie, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Kevin McCarthy, McCarthy, Johnson Organizations: Republicans, Democrats, Service, Republican, Twitter, Internal Revenue Service, Caucus Locations: Israel, United States, Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Ukraine, Georgia

☆ These 20 GOP senators are already opposed to the bipartisan border security proposal — and more could soon join them
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewNearly half of the Senate Republicans have announced that they will oppose a bipartisan agreement to toughen US immigration laws and enact new border security measures. John Thune of South Dakota and Joni Ernst of Iowa, both members of the Senate GOP leadership. Former President Donald Trump has forcefully come out against the agreement while also saying that changes to border policy "should not be tied to foreign aid in any way, shape, or form." Yet that's exactly what Republican senators insisted upon when President Joe Biden requested additional foreign aid from Congress in October. And while most of the GOP opposition stems from a desire for more stringent policies, some Republicans have suggested that they do not want to do anything that might help Biden politically.

Persons: —, John Thune of, Joni Ernst of Iowa, Mitch McConnell, Sen, James Lankford of, Democratic Sen, Chris Murphy, Independent Sen, Kyrsten, Israel —, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Biden Organizations: Service, Republicans, GOP, Business, Democratic, Independent, Senate, Israel Locations: Sens, John Thune of South Dakota, James Lankford of Oklahoma, Connecticut, Arizona, Ukraine

☆ The world is turning on American fast food, from McDonald's to Starbucks, amid Middle East unrest
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. "The most pronounced impact that we're seeing is in the Middle East and in Muslim countries like Indonesia and Malaysia," CEO Chris Kempczinski said on McDonald's earnings call on Monday. Sales in countries with significant Muslim minority populations, such as France, were also affected by the boycotts, Kempczinski said. McDonald's said it gave the Israel Defense Forces "tens of thousands" of free meals in the days after the conflict began. Advertisement"We do not expect to see meaningful improvement until there is a resolution in the Middle East," McDonald's CFO Ian Borden said during the call.

Persons: —, Chris Kempczinski, Kempczinski, McDonald's, Israel —, Domino's, Ian Borden Organizations: Service, McDonald's, Reuters, Business, Israel, Starbucks, Israel Defense Forces Locations: Gaza, Indonesia, Malaysia, France, Israel

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senators on Sunday raced to release a highly-anticipated bill that pairs border enforcement policy with wartime aid for Ukraine, Israel and other U.S. allies as part of a long-shot effort to push the package through heavy skepticism from Republicans, including House Speaker Mike Johnson. With Congress stalled on approving tens of billions of dollars in Ukraine aid, the U.S. has halted shipments of ammunition and missiles to Kyiv, leaving Ukrainian soldiers outgunned as they try to beat back Russia's invasion. In a bid to overcome opposition from House Republicans, McConnell had insisted last year that border policy changes be included in the national security funding package. However, in an election-year shift on immigration, Biden and many Democrats have embraced the idea of strict border enforcement, while Donald Trump and his allies have both criticized the proposed measures as insufficient. Biden, referencing the authority, has said he would use it to “shut down the border” as soon as the bill is signed into law.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Joe Biden, Sen, Chuck Schumer, Mitch McConnell, McConnell, Biden, Donald Trump, Johnson, ”, ” Johnson, —, Trump, Israel —, Kyrsten, Hakeem Jeffries, Senate appropriators Organizations: WASHINGTON, —, Sunday, Republican, House Republicans, Senate, Israel, Republicans, CBS, Border Patrol, Migrants, Capitol . House Democratic, Washington , D.C, Senators Locations: Ukraine, Israel, U.S, Kyiv, Louisiana, Arizona, Mexico, Washington ,, Gaza

☆ Senators race to release their package of border policies and aid for Ukraine and Israel
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-04 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Senators on Sunday raced to release a highly-anticipated bill that pairs border enforcement policy with wartime aid for Ukraine, Israel and other U.S. allies as part of a long-shot effort to push the package through heavy skepticism from Republicans, including House Speaker Mike Johnson. With Congress stalled on approving tens of billions of dollars in Ukraine aid, the U.S. has halted shipments of ammunition and missiles to Kyiv, leaving Ukrainian soldiers outgunned as they try to beat back Russia's invasion. However, in an election-year shift on immigration, Biden and many Democrats have embraced the idea of strict border enforcement, while Donald Trump and his allies have both criticized the proposed measures as insufficient. Johnson, a Republican of Louisiana, in an interview Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press" said he was unaware of the bill's details, but pointed to a House proposal of hardline immigration measures. The border proposal, which took months to negotiate, is aimed at gaining control of an asylum system that has been overwhelmed by historic numbers of migrants coming to the border.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Mitch McConnell, Chuck Schumer, Mike Johnson, Joe Biden, Sen, McConnell, Biden, Donald Trump, Johnson, —, Trump, Israel —, Kyrsten, Hakeem Jeffries, Senate appropriators Organizations: U.S, Senators, Capitol, Sunday, Republican, House Republicans, Senate, Israel, Republicans, CBS, Border Patrol, Migrants, Capitol . House Democratic, Washington , D.C Locations: Ky, Ukraine, Israel, U.S, Kyiv, Louisiana, Arizona, Mexico, Washington ,, Gaza

☆ Opinion: UNWRA’s day of reckoning is near
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( Opinion Michael Bociurkiw | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Editor’s Note: Michael Bociurkiw (@WorldAffairsPro) is a global affairs analyst and former UNICEF spokesperson for Gaza and the West Bank. But UNRWA funding differs from other UN agencies such as UNICEF, in that it’s mostly dependent on government funding. And that’s why countries pulling funding — as they have done this past week — is such a potentially fatal blow to its operations. Tiny Jordan already hosts at least 2 million Palestinians, including many from Gaza who arrived decades ago. Note: This op-ed has been updated to reflect the latest number of UNRWA employees Israel alleges were associated with Hamas’ October 7 attack.

Persons: Michael Bociurkiw, Read, Michael Bociurkiw Chrystia Chudczak, Khan Younis, Mohammed Talatene, Israel —, there’s, Abed Zagout, Tiny Jordan, Ashraf Amra Organizations: UNICEF, West Bank, CNN, United Nations, UNICEF —, Toyota, Cruisers, United Nations Relief, Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, Israel Defense Forces, UNRWA, West, UN, Assembly, Palestinian Authority, UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, Getty, World Health Organization Locations: Gaza, East, Children’s, West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Israel, Philadelphia, City, Canada, Germany, Rafa, Anadolu, Egypt, Qatar, Deir al Balah

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