Analyzing approximately 15,000 opinion columns in the widely read newspapers Sabah and Hürriyet, JPPI found that descriptions of Hamas often rely on the “resistance movement” narrative, which describes the terrorists as “martyrs” for the Palestinian cause.

(read more at jpost.com)

Three arrested: Attack on Israeli embassy in Azerbaijan foiled

Police in the Azerbaijani capital of Baku arrested three suspects who allegedly planned an attack on the Israeli Embassy in the city.

An official statement by the State Security Service that three Azerbaijani citizens in their 20s were suspected of preparing to commit a terrorist attack on the embassy “on the grounds of religious hostility.”

According to the statement, the individuals entered into criminal relations with members of the ISIS terrorist organization’s “Vilayati-Khorasan” armed group, and as a group of conspiring individuals, obtained items used as weapons to carry out a terrorist attack on the embassy of a foreign state in the Republic of Azerbaijan and were detained by the employees of the SSS while approaching the area where the embassy was located.

The three were charged with preparation for terrorism on the basis of religious hostility by a conspiring group of individuals, using objects used as weapons, and a preventive measure of arrest was chosen for them by a court decision.

Currently, investigative and operational measures on the criminal case are continuing.

The news comes just one day after Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar visited the Azerbaijani capital.

(read more at israelnationalnews.com)

Rafah crossing set to reopen after return of final Israeli hostage

Moves to reopen the Rafah border crossing are gaining momentum following the retrieval of the remains of Master Sgt. Ran Gvili, the final Israeli hostage held in Gaza, according to multiple Arab and Israeli media reports.

Senior official sources cited by the pro-Qatar newspaper Al-Arabi Al-Jadeed said the crossing is expected to open on Wednesday in a preliminary phase to prepare for the movement of people in both directions.

A senior source said a full reopening would follow once outstanding issues are resolved, including access arrangements from the Palestinian side and final approval of passenger lists.

Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya also reported that American, Egyptian, and Israeli coordination has already begun, with preparations accelerating after the completion of the first phase of the Gaza agreement.

The outlet said a European monitoring force has arrived on the Palestinian side of the crossing, while a U.S. official confirmed the reopening would be carried out in coordination with Egypt and Israel.

According to Walla, Israeli security officials expect the crossing to open initially to pedestrian traffic only, in both directions.

(read more at worldisraelnews.com)

The Holocaust isn’t a weapon for your argument — Commentary by  Zina Rakhamilova

Today is Holocaust Remembrance Day, commemorated internationally on January 27, to mark the liberation of Auschwitz in 1945.

What I have learned over the past two years, however, is that the international community has no clue what the true gravity of the Holocaust was, nor do they care unless they can use it for their own political agenda.

I’m not an American, so I feel irresponsible commenting on domestic issues in a country of which I am not a citizen. I can appreciate, however, the emotions running high over these ICE raids, and the deaths that followed in the clashes are truly devastating. Yet to hear Minnesota governor Tim Walz, someone who ran for vice president no less, compare the incident to Anne Frank is simply unacceptable. He attempted to draw parallels between Anne Frank hiding from Nazi forces and immigrants hiding in their homes from ICE officers.

Alex Pretti, who was shot and killed by Department of Homeland Security officers, no matter the exact circumstances leading to his death, is a real tragedy on its own. There is no reason to exploit the Holocaust or latch onto Jewish trauma when discussing these issues. Internal discord in the United States over how to handle illegal immigration is not the same thing as “The Final Solution,” the Nazi regime’s plan to systematically murder all Jews in Europe during World War II.

It is not even remotely the same thing.

(read more at israelhayom.com)