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☆ Families of dead American hostages plead for the return of their bodies: ‘We can’t even mourn’
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( Mj Lee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Weinstein Haggai and her three siblings did not participate but watched the recordings of the Zoom gatherings afterward. Three American hostages have been confirmed dead so far: Judi Weinstein Haggai, Gadi Haggai and Itay Chen, all dual Israel-American citizens. I need to make sure that they have a respectful burial; they’re laid to rest,” Weinstein Haggai said. After receiving the devastating news, the Chen family opened up their home for several days for family and friends to stop by. Like Chen, Weinstein Haggai is sickened by the idea of her parents’ bodies being stuck somewhere in Gaza.

Persons: Washington CNN — Iris Weinstein Haggai, Gadi, Judi, Weinstein Haggai, Weinstein, Gadi’s, –, peaceniks ”, ” Weinstein Haggai, “, ” Andrea Weinstein, Judi’s, ” Weinstein, Judi Weinstein Haggai, Itay Chen, they’re, I’m, ”, Chen, ‘, Ruby Chen, Kamala Harris, Joe Biden’s, Jake Sullivan, Sullivan, Itay, Harris, ” Chen, ” “, Harris “, Gadi Haggai, haikus –, Andrea Weinstein, Ruby, Hagit Chen, ” Hagit Chen, Jake Tapper, “ That’s, Yom Organizations: Washington CNN, CNN, Biden, US, White Locations: Toronto, Connecticut, Israel, Washington ,, Qatar, Egypt, Gaza

☆ Biden administration officials believe Netanyahu’s claim a Rafah invasion date has been set is bluster
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-09 | by ( Mj Lee | Alex Marquardt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —The Biden administration is dismissing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s pronouncement that a date has been set for a ground offensive into Rafah as bluster that is in no small part fueled by the Israeli prime minister’s tenuous political standing at home, senior administration officials told CNN. Privately, multiple senior administration officials chalked up Netanyahu’s pronouncement – which was followed Tuesday by a declaration that that“no force in the world” will stop Israeli troops from entering Rafah – to bravado. Israeli officials argue that four Hamas battalions remain in Rafah that must be taken out. Israeli officials did not provide comprehensive answers to the questions in the meeting, the sources said. Hamas would rebuild from the remaining battalions there, the officials told their US counterparts.

Persons: CNN —, Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Netanyahu’s, Israel, chalked, Netanyahu, Antony Blinken, ”, Joe Biden’s, Jake Sullivan, Defense Lloyd Austin, Yoav Gallant, Austin, –, ” Biden, Ron Dermer, Tzachi Hanegbi, Blinken, CNN’s Natasha Bertrand, Oren Liebermann Organizations: CNN, Israeli, Biden, Defense, “, Israel Defense Forces, US Locations: Rafah, Gaza, Israel, Washington

☆ US preparing for significant Iran attack on US or Israeli assets in the region as soon as next week
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-05 | by ( Mj Lee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Washington CNN —The US is on high alert and actively preparing for a “significant” attack that could come as soon as within the next week by Iran targeting Israeli or American assets in the region in response to Monday’s Israeli strike in Damascus that killed top Iranian commanders, a senior administration official tells CNN. Senior US officials currently believe that an attack by Iran is “inevitable” – a view shared by their Israeli counterparts, that official said. A forthcoming Iranian attack was a major topic of discussion on President Joe Biden’s phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday. As of Friday, the two governments did not know when or how Iran planned to strike back, the official said. At least six Syrian citizens were also killed, Iranian state television reported on Tuesday.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden, Mohammed Reza Zahedi, Mohammad Hadi Haji Rahimi, Zahedi, Donald Trump, IRGC, Qassem Soleimani, ”, Sabrina Singh, Israel, it’s, ” Singh, Israel’s, CNN’s Helen Regan, Hamdi Alkhshali, Tamara Qiblawi Organizations: Washington CNN, CNN, Senior, Israeli, Revolutionary Guards, Foreign Ministry, US, National Security, United, US State Department, Hamas, Ministry of Health Locations: Iran, Damascus, Israel, Syria, Baghdad, United States, Tehran, Gaza

The 30-minute conversation was the two leaders’ first phone call since an Israeli strike killed seven aid workers from the World Central Kitchen in Gaza. The killings have set off a furor inside the White House and Biden has been described as reaching a new level of frustration with Israel’s campaign. “President Biden emphasized that the strikes on humanitarian workers and the overall humanitarian situation are unacceptable,” the White House said in a statement shortly after the call wrapped. Blinken said Israel should not stoop to the level of Hamas in its response to the group’s October 7 attacks. Blinken acknowledged the World Central Kitchen strike was not the first time Israel has killed aid workers in the conflict.

Persons: Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s, ’, Biden, “, ” Biden, Israel, Antony Blinken, ”, John Kirby, Kirby, Blinken, ” Blinken, haven’t, ” Kirby, Biden’s, Democratic Sen, Chris Coons –, CNN’s Sara Sidner, Netanyahu, Jennifer Hansler, Donald Judd Organizations: Washington CNN, Israeli, National Security, White House, Central Kitchen, Capitol Hill, Democratic, CNN, Israel, Hamas Locations: Gaza, Israel, Brussels, Blinken, United States, Rafah

CNN —When President Joe Biden met with a group of Muslim community leaders this week, he recounted a recent conversation he had with first lady Jill Biden relating to the conflict in Gaza. Another participant, who declined to be named, told CNN they remembered the president saying that the first lady had used these words: “Stop it. “Just like the President, the First Lady is heartbroken over the attacks on aid workers and the on-going loss of innocent lives in Gaza,” said Elizabeth Alexander, communications director for the first lady. The president and first lady have both appeared with Andres on trips abroad and highlighted World Central Kitchen’s work. “When Hamas attacked Israel, Joe knew what to do,” she told donors at event in Atherton, California, in November.

Persons: Joe Biden, Jill Biden, Biden, “ It’s, ”, Nahreen Ahmed, Ahmed, she’s, Elizabeth Alexander, “, Jose Andres, Andres, Joe, “ wouldn’t Organizations: CNN, White, Israel, The New York Times, Kitchen, Hamas Locations: Gaza, Israel, Canadian, Atherton , California, Tucson , Arizona

☆ Deaths of World Central Kitchen workers touches off fury inside Biden White House
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-02 | by ( Mj Lee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Biden’s statement Tuesday evening that mourned the deaths of the seven workers included some of the most fiery and blunt language from the president since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in October. He explicitly blamed Israel for failing to protect aid workers and civilians, and he said, “Incidents like yesterday’s simply should not happen.”The strike on the World Central Kitchen workers has been a “standout incident” as far as the Biden White House is concerned, the official said, prompting serious consternation and concern in what had already been a moment of high tensions between the US and Israel. The president discussed the deaths of the workers with a small group of Muslim community leaders at the White House Tuesday, according to one of the attendees. Some of the participants were doctors who have spent time in Gaza and have seen first-hand the plight of the Palestinian civilians there. One of them, CNN reported, walked out of the meeting early in a show of protest.

Persons: Joe Biden, “, ”, –, Biden, Israel, Salima Suswell Organizations: CNN, Central, Biden White, White, Black Muslim Leadership Council Locations: Israeli, Gaza, Israel

☆ Biden and Xi speak for first time since November summit amid global tensions
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-02 | by ( Mj Lee | Donald Judd | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

It is about verifying, as the president says,” the official told CNN when asked about Xi’s pledge that Beijing will not interfere in the US’ 2024 election. The Biden administration plans to continue stressing to Beijing the US’ grave concerns about Chinese efforts to hack US critical infrastructure, the official said. “We would hope there would be a chance for another in-person meeting” in the near future, the senior administration official said. A Treasury official told reporters Monday she planned to have frank discussions on what the administration considers “unfair” trade practices from China. In January, Sullivan met with the Chinese foreign minister in Bangkok, and Blinken met with the Chinese official in Munich in February.

Persons: Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Biden, ”, Antony Blinken, Xi, Xi –, Jake Sullivan, Vladimir Putin, “, Yellen, Janet Yellen, Sullivan, Blinken, Lloyd Austin, CNN’s Sam Fossum, Arlette Saenz Organizations: Washington CNN, White, Biden, CNN, Treasury, Defense Locations: Gaza, Ukraine, Washington, Beijing, Taiwan, South, Taiwan Strait, China, Woodside , California, California, ”, Russia, Guangzhou, Bangkok, Munich

Still, officials from both countries described the meeting as “constructive” in a joint statement and said another, in-person meeting could take place as early as next week. The Israeli delegation included national security adviser Tzachi Hanegbi and minister of strategic affairs Ron Dermer, who chaired the meeting. Pentagon officials shared some of their alternatives for Rafah with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant when he was in town last week. Netanyahu has said he is undeterred by the Biden administration’s opposition to an invasion of Rafah. Vice President Kamala Harris left the door open last week for unspecified consequences for Israel if it decides to proceed.

Persons: Biden, Monday’s, Jake Sullivan, Antony Blinken, Jon, Brett McGurk, Jack Lew, Tzachi Hanegbi, Ron Dermer, “ It’s, Lloyd Austin, Yoav Gallant, Austin, Israel “, ”, Karine Jean, Pierre, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, ” Netanyahu, Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, “, ” Still, Kamala Harris, Kevin Liptak, Donald Judd Organizations: Washington CNN —, CNN, White, White House, State Department and Department of Defense, Biden, Pentagon, Israeli, United Nations Security, Netanyahu’s Locations: United States, Israel, Rafah, Gazan, Gaza, “, ”, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, New York

☆ Where is former child actor Brandi from 'Quiet on Set' now?
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-29 | by ( Olivia Singh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

ID's docuseries "Quiet on Set" reveals predatory behavior behind the scenes at Nickelodeon. AdvertisementInvestigation Discovery's docuseries " Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV " digs deep into the disturbing and predatory behavior that happened behind the scenes at Nickelodeon. Although Brandi didn't appear in "Quiet on Set," her mom, who goes by MJ, shared her daughter's story in episode two of the docuseries. Brandi made an appearance on 'The Amanda Show' when she was 11 years oldBrandi in a photo seen in episode two of the docuseries "Quiet on Set." AdvertisementBrandi quit the entertainment industry after her experienceMJ in episode two of the docuseries "Quiet on Set."

Persons: ID's, Jason Handy, Brandi, —, Brandi didn't, MJ, Trudy, Brandi wasn't, Amanda, Amanda Bynes, weren't, Handy, Brandi's, she'd, Brandi Carlile, doesn't, Kate Taylor, Taylor, She's, she's, Dan Schneider Organizations: Nickelodeon, Service, Hollywood, Disney Channel, Los Angeles Police Department, Business Locations: Glendale , California, LA , Michigan, North Carolina

☆ Biden hosts fundraiser with his two-term Democratic presidential predecessors, striving to join their ranks
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-28 | by ( Michael Williams | Mj Lee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Washington CNN —President Joe Biden on Thursday will join Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, the only living two-term Democratic presidents, aiming to use their star power to woo big-pocketed donors as Biden tries to join their ranks. The fundraiser is being held off-camera, though pool reporters will be able to report on the three presidents’ remarks. The Biden campaign said ahead of the fundraiser it had raised more than $25 million – making it the most successful single political fundraiser ever in terms of dollars raised. The fundraiser on Thursday is expected to be just the beginning of Obama’s involvement in Biden’s campaign. He is expected to take a larger role in Biden’s campaign – including traveling to college campuses and crucial battleground stakes – closer to November.

Persons: Joe Biden, Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Biden, Clinton, Stephen Colbert, Annie Leibovitz, Queen Latifah, Lizzo, Ben Platt, Cynthia Erivo, Lea Michele, ’, Jimmy Carter, Donald Trump, Trump, Jonathan Diller, Diller, ” Trump, “, ”, Julie Chávez Rodriguez, Obama, who’ve, Jeff Zeleny, Donald Judd, Brian Rokus, Kristen Holmes, Fredreka Schouten Organizations: Washington CNN, Obama, Radio City Music Hall, Biden, CNN, Hamas Locations: New York, America, Queens, Midtown Manhattan, Israel, Gaza, North Carolina

☆ Trump is a ringmaster of multiple sideshows as Biden cranks up pace of reelection bid
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-28 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

That’s a sharp contrast to Biden, who this week wrapped up his post State of the Union tour in North Carolina. The state was in Trump’s column in 2020 and 2016, but Democrats think they can seriously put it back in play. Trump was back in his former home state on Thursday, attending a wake for a fallen police officer on Long Island. It’s too early to say whether unseen work that the Trump campaign is doing to build organizations in key states is paving the way for a successful run back to the Oval Office. Biden tries to build on State of the Union performanceUnlike Trump, Biden has been campaigning in a way that leaves no doubt about the stakes of the coming election.

Persons: Donald Trump, –, Joe Biden, That’s, Biden, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, ” Biden, Roe, Wade, Trump, ”, It’s, There’s, Nikki Haley, Jonathan Diller, Juan Merchan, Letitia James, can’t, MAGA, Kamala Harris, White, – Biden, “, Donald, Democrats –, Clinton, Obama, CNN’s MJ Lee, Donald Judd Organizations: CNN, America, Union, Trump, Republican, South Carolina Gov, Republican National Committee, RNC, Washington, Democratic, New York, Nasdaq, Intel, Democrats, Radio City Music, Israel, Hamas, Arab Locations: New York, Trump’s, North Carolina, Long, Michigan, “, Arizona, Raleigh, Biden’s, Gaza

☆ Three presidents and one mission: Beat Trump
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-27 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

CNN’s MJ Lee and Jeff Zeleny reported Wednesday that Obama was in the White House for a working visit just last week. Two Democratic presidents who won second terms are uniting to try to usher a successor, who is older than both of them, into the same rarified political air. And Clinton has been out of the White House for nearly a quarter of a century. But Biden was also a valuable ally for Clinton after the president’s impeachment over an affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky. And after he became vice president, Biden developed a friendly and cordial relationship with Hillary Clinton, maintained by regular breakfasts at the vice president’s official residence in Washington.

Persons: –, Joe Biden’s, he’s, Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Donald Trump, Obama, CNN’s MJ Lee, Jeff Zeleny, Biden, Clinton, Trump, Jonathan Diller, Jimmy Carter, George W, Bush, it’s, Leon Panetta, “, ” Panetta, Joe Biden, ”, Biden’s, ” Clinton, Mitt Romney, Hillary Clinton, Gabriel Debenedetti, irked Obama’s, Beau, ” Biden, Robert Hur, “ I’m, Clinton’s, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Monica Lewinsky Organizations: CNN, Trump, White, Radio City Music, Democratic, ’, New York, Police, White House, African, Central, Democratic National Convention, Republican, Obama, Democratic Party, Alliance ”, Biden, Black, African American Democratic Locations: New York, Washington, America, Delaware, Illinois, Yugoslavia, Ukraine, Iraq, South Carolina

☆ Obama jumps in to help Biden defeat Trump again
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-27 | by ( Mj Lee | Jeff Zeleny | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Washington CNN —Barack Obama spent several hours last Friday in the family dining room of the White House, visiting his former vice president, Joe Biden. Obama’s biggest embrace of Biden’s reelection effort comes Thursday at a star-studded Manhattan fundraiser featuring Biden, Obama and former President Bill Clinton. As president, Biden has also been in frequent touch with Clinton, sources familiar say. “President Obama once said to me that every president is a reflection of the previous president, and he’s right,” Messina said. “Trump was the complete opposite of Obama, and Biden is the complete opposite of Trump.

Persons: Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Obama, Biden’s, Donald Trump, Biden, Nancy Pelosi, Joe, Kamala, ” Obama, we’ve, Jeff Zients, Bill Clinton, Stephen Colbert, Clinton, “, ”, Queen Latifah, Lizzo, Cynthia Erivo, Mindy Kaling, Ben Platt, Lea Michele, Jordan Roth, Alex Timbers, Annie Leibovitz, Steve Ricchetti, –, Jim Messina, Messina, ” Messina, “ Trump Organizations: Washington CNN, White House, House, CNN, Affordable, Biden, Biden’s, Presidents Club, Radio City Music Hall, Democrats, White, Republican, Trump Locations: White, president’s State, Manhattan, , Gaza, Obama’s, United States

☆ Netanyahu’s decision to cancel Rafah meetings causes new rupture with Biden
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-25 | by ( Kevin Liptak | Mj Lee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Those alternatives will still be shared, American officials said, including in talks early this week between top Biden advisers and Israel’s defense minister. Hours after the delegation was canceled, Israeli minister Gideon Sa’ar submitted his resignation from the current government after not being included in the war cabinet. That led American officials to view Netanyahu’s statements Monday that the US had changed its position as peculiar and strange, the official said. Indeed, Biden’s advisers have been weighing various options for how to respond should the Rafah operation proceed. “We have no way to defeat Hamas without entering Rafah,” Netanyahu said after meetings at the end of last week with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Joe Biden, Netanyahu, Biden, Gideon Sa’ar, Donald Trump, “, hadn’t, Biden’s, Israel, –, Ramadan, “ I’ve, I’ve, Kamala Harris, Harris, ”, ” Biden, “ We’ll, ” Netanyahu, Antony Blinken, ” Blinken Organizations: Washington CNN, Israeli, United Nations Security, United Nations Security Council, UN, White, ABC, Democratic, Netanyahu Biden Locations: Washington, Gaza, Rafah, Israel, United States, American, Egypt

☆ Israel slams Hamas’ latest Gaza ceasefire proposal as ‘ridiculous’ but says it will send negotiators to latest talks
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-15 | by ( Alex Marquardt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The response from Hamas was long-awaited after discussions over a proposed six-week pause in the fighting appeared to stall. Hamas communicated their latest proposal via mediators Qatar and Egypt on Thursday, two sources familiar with the negotiations told CNN. On Friday, the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that “Hamas is continuing to hold to unrealistic demands” but announced that an Israeli team would soon be traveling to Doha to further talks. The Hamas proposal included 100 prisoners serving life sentences in Israeli prisons, the diplomat said. Even if both Hamas and Israel are participating in the talks, the two sides would not be in the same room.

Persons: CNN —, Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, “, ”, Antony Blinken, Israel, ” Blinken, Bill Burns, David Barnea, John Kirby, we’ve, ” Kirby, CNN’s MJ Lee, Ireland’s, Biden nodded, ” Basem Naim, CNN’s Amir Tal, MJ Lee, Betsy Klein, Abeer Salman Organizations: CNN, Qatar, Hamas, Reuters, CIA, Biden, National Security, White House Locations: CNN — Israel, Gaza, Israel, Egypt, Israeli, Doha, Rafah, Qatar, Jordan

☆ The Capital One-Discover Deal Won’t Fix Our Broken Credit Card System - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-15 | by ( Aaron Klein | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +5 min

This is a story about you and your favorite credit card, the one that earns you points. So this rewards card, it’s really a screw-over-poor- people card. Why are swipe fees in the U.S. nine times higher than they are in Europe? But these two companies control over 80 percent of the credit card market. Dick Durbin, the senator who helped crack down on swipe fees for debit cards, has authored a bipartisan bill that would use competition to drive down credit card swipe fees.

Persons: Marty, let’s, you’ll, you’re, It’s, MJ, Dick Durbin, you’ve Organizations: Visa, Mastercard, Federal Reserve Locations: Europe, Congress

☆ Democratic senators have privately warned White House that votes aren’t there to confirm Biden’s Muslim judicial nominee
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-14 | by ( Mj Lee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

But some allies of the White House on Capitol Hill have made clear that there is not enough support – including among Democrats – to confirm Mangi in the full Senate, those sources said. The controversy surrounding Mangi’s nomination comes at a moment of heightened political tensions across the country since Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel. The White House and Democratic lawmakers have pushed back, accusing Republicans of Islamophobic attacks that are based on Mangi’s ethnic background and touting support from Jewish groups. The White House has also called on senators such as Cruz to apologize to Mangi. “Treatment of this highly qualified nominee has sometimes reached an all-time low.”CNN has reached out to Durbin’s office for additional comment.

Persons: Adeel Mangi, Joe Biden’s, Biden, Mangi, –, Texas Republican Sen, Ted Cruz, Rutgers University –, Cruz, ” Cruz, ” Mangi, “, ”, Jeff Zientz, Shuwanza Goff, White, Ed Siskel, Andrew Bates, ’ ” Bates, “ Mr, Dick Durbin, ” Durbin Organizations: Washington CNN —, Democratic, CNN, US, Appeals, White, Capitol, Texas Republican, Center for Security, Rights, Rutgers University, White House, Defamation League, Senate, Committee, House Locations: New York, Israel

The sun rises through the North Portico of the White House in Washington, DC, on March 11. Jim Watson/AFP/Getty ImagesWhite House officials are planning a real-time, rapid-response and fact-checking operation for Robert Hur’s testimony on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, according to a White House official. Hur’s highly anticipated appearance comes weeks after he released a controversial report on his investigation into Biden’s handling of classified materials. The White House has pushed back forcefully on Hur’s report, both in its substance and its motivation. “We are preparing to make clear yet again that the conclusion of the investigation was that there was no case here,” the White House official said.

Persons: Jim Watson, Robert Hur’s, Hur’s, Hur, Biden, ”, Beau, “ Organizations: White, Getty, Capitol, White House Locations: Portico, Washington ,, AFP

☆ Audience Snapshot: Four Years After Shutdown, a Mixed Recovery
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-12 | by ( ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The pandemic brought live events and big gatherings to a halt, silencing orchestras, shutting museums and movie theaters and leaving sports teams playing to empty stadiums dotted with cardboard cutouts. Now, four years later, audiences are coming back, but the recovery has been uneven. Here is a snapshot of where things stand now:Broadway audiences are still down 17 percent from prepandemic levels. Box office grosses are down, too: Broadway shows have grossed $1.2 billion so far this season, 14 percent below the level in early March of 2020. The industry is looking with some trepidation toward next month, when a large crop of new shows is set to open.

Persons: King Henry VIII, “, Michael Jackson, — Organizations: Broadway

☆ Analysis: Biden has shelved the age issue – for now
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-12 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

A treasure trove for Biden watchers and historiansIn the interview, Biden speaks at length and fluently, easily recalling in-depth details about his vice presidency, family life and lore. One good week does not make a campaignOne person not ready to let the age issue go is Trump, who himself is 77. The former president’s focus on Biden’s age reflects the fact that one good week will not change a harsh reality of the coming eight months. Outside Washington and the self-contained world of politics and campaigns, concerns about Biden’s age will be hard to shift. The age issue was rumbling long before it became a major campaign issue.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Robert Hur’s, Donald Trump, Beau, Hur, Trump, He’s, Jill Biden, there’s, Scott Fitzgerald, Mr, ” Hur, “, – Biden, Alabama Sen, Katie Britt, “ I’m, ” Biden’s, president’s, ”, CNN’s MJ Lee, – it’s, who’s Organizations: CNN, Republican, Democratic, Wisconsin, GOP, Mar, Biden, Alabama, Trump, Air Force, New York Times, Siena College, Union, White House Locations: Mexico, Egypt, Maryland, Delaware, Mongolia, Scranton, Pennsylvania, Thursday’s, Washington, Siena, State

☆ US not anticipating Israeli forces to enter Rafah at the start of Ramadan
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-10 | by ( Mj Lee | Alex Marquardt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —The Biden administration is not anticipating that Israeli forces will imminently expand their military operations into Rafah, two US officials told CNN, with the holy month of Ramadan set to begin Monday for most Muslims. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that regardless of a deal, he plans to send the military into Rafah. “Once we begin the intense action of eradicating the Hamas terrorist battalions in Rafah, it’s a matter of weeks, if not months. Families are already living with severe shortages of food, water, medicine and shelter, and the daily risk of being killed. CIA Director Bill Burns, who has led US efforts, was back in the Middle East last week meeting with Qatari, Egyptian and Israeli counterparts.

Persons: CNN —, Biden, Benny Gantz, Ramadan, Benjamin Netanyahu, “ We’ll, We’re, ” Netanyahu, Axel Springer, “, Joe Biden, ” Biden, Netanyahu, ”, Bill Burns, –, John Kirby, CNN’s Mitchell McCluskey, Michelle Shen Organizations: CNN, Hamas, MSNBC, Politico, United Nations, CIA, Biden White, National Security, House Locations: Rafah, Washington, Gaza, “, it’s, Israel

☆ Biden takes on Trump as he brings reelection pitch to Pennsylvania in his first post-SOTU speech
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-08 | by ( Michael Williams | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

“Donald Trump with the MAGA Republicans are trying to take away our freedoms,” Biden told the crowd on Friday. “He thinks Putin is a strong — basically, he’s a decent guy,” Biden said of Trump. “Orbán of Hungary, who stated flatly he doesn’t think democracy works — he’s looking for dictatorship.”“That’s who he’s meeting with,” Biden added. Toward the beginning of his speech, Biden referenced the raucous exchange he had the previous night with GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. “If you’re tired, you probably watched my address last night,” Biden told the crowd.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, “ Donald Trump, MAGA, ” Biden, “ That’s, lambasting, Wade, Vladimir Putin, “, Putin, Trump, Viktor Orbán, ” “, Marjorie Taylor Greene, ”, Laken Riley, Greene, flub, Donald Trump, —, Riley, he’s, Benjamin Netanyahu, he’d, GOP Sen, Katie Britt’s, ” CNN’s Donald Judd, MJ Lee Organizations: Washington CNN, Union, MAGA Republicans, NATO, Mar, GOP, Georgia Republican, Chamber, Pennsylvania, Israeli Locations: Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Roe, Mar, Hungary, night’s, “, Gaza

☆ How a brief exchange in a call explains the strained Biden-Netanyahu relationship
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-08 | by ( Mj Lee | Kevin Liptak | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Netanyahu bristled at recent media coverage citing anonymous Biden administration officials who said that the US was actively making plans for a post-Netanyahu government. When asked for comment on the exchange, an official in the prime minister’s office rejected the characterization of the call. Still, they insisted, the Biden-Netanyahu relationship remains more or less the same – precisely because their divergent worldviews were never a secret. That will continue.”Even if their relationship remains in many ways consistent, the backdrop is drastically changed and the stakes dramatically higher. Still, Netanyahu’s political standing was a subtext to the visit to Washington this week of Benny Gantz, a member of the Israeli war cabinet and Netanyahu’s chief political rival.

Persons: Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu bristled, Netanyahu, Biden swatted, Israel, Biden, ” Biden, ”, “, Bibi, it’s, Benny Gantz, Gantz, Kamala Harris, Jake Sullivan, Netanyahu’s, Harris, John Kirby, Privately, Ramadan, isn’t Organizations: Washington CNN, CNN, Democratic, Netanyahu, Biden, Air Force One, National Security, White House, State Department, Pentagon, Netanyahu’s, White, Camp David Locations: Gaza, Israel, Netanyahu Israeli, United States, Washington, Pennsylvania, East Jerusalem

CNN —When top Biden administration officials conveyed their frustrations over the “unacceptable and unsustainable” situation in Gaza to Benny Gantz, they were delivering their message to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin’s Netanyahu’s chief political foe. According to an Israeli official, Gantz emerged from those meetings with deep concerns and some surprise about the state of US-Israeli relations over the war in Gaza. Gantz was surprised by how critical the White House was about the humanitarian situation in Gaza and a potential military offensive into Rafah, an Israeli official said. “Help us help you,” was the message, according to an Israeli official. “We’ve raised these things before, but there’s greater urgency now on the humanitarian front,” the administration official said.

Persons: Benny Gantz, Benjamin’s Netanyahu’s, Kamala Harris, Antony Blinken, Gantz, Netanyahu, Biden, Netanyahu government’s, Joe Biden, ”, Harris, Jake Sullivan, ‘, “ We’ve, Blinken, “, we’re, Matthew Miller, Gantz “ Organizations: CNN, Biden, Israel, State Department, Government, ” Locations: Gaza, Washington, Israel, US, Rafah

CNN —The Israelis have “basically accepted” a six-week ceasefire proposal in Gaza, a senior Biden administration official told reporters Saturday. On Thursday, a Hamas official warned, however, that the negotiations could be affected. Negotiators from the US, Israel, Egypt and Hamas are expected to attend, a diplomatic source familiar with the discussions said. Discussions between Israel and Hamas would be indirect, in separate rooms. Israel has asked Hamas for a list of the hostages, including who is living and who is dead.

Persons: “, Ramadan –, –, Joe Biden, ” Biden, Giorgia Meloni, It’s, Kamala Harris, Benny Gantz, Harris, Gantz, Jake Sullivan, Biden, there’d, it’s, CNN’s MJ Lee, Oren Liebermann Organizations: CNN, Biden, Hamas, White, Italian, Gaza, Command Locations: Gaza, Israel, Gaza City, Paris, Doha, Qatar, Egypt, Cairo, Qatari

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