Free Republic

The ceasefire and hostage release deal announced Wednesday between Israel and Hamas marks a major political and personal victory for President Joe Biden in his final days in office. "I laid out the precise contours of this plan on May 31, 2024, after which it was endorsed unanimously by the UN Security Council," Biden wrote in a statement. "It is the result not only of the extreme pressure that Hamas has been under and the changed regional equation after a ceasefire in Lebanon and weakening of Iran -- but also of dogged and painstaking American diplomacy." "My diplomacy never ceased...

Increasing Threats from the Iranian Regime and Rising Military Confrontation Risks in the Region Two days after the assassination of Haniyeh in Tehran, the rhetoric and threats from various Iranian officials continue unabated. Shariatmadari, the head of the Kayhan newspaper affiliated with Khamenei, stated, “Our severe retaliation must be crippling and immediate, without any delay. Dozens of strategic locations and American military and intelligence centers are within easy reach. Ain al-Asad, the Fifth Fleet’s base in Bahrain, and American fuel and goods carriers in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman can all be targeted.” One of the regime’s...

Only 47 percent of Democrats approve of President Joe Biden’s handing of the Hamas-Israel war, a recent Gallup poll found, down 13 points since October, underscoring a major problem for Biden’s reelection chances. “&$$- Joe Biden!” pro-Hamas protestors shouted Thursday outside Biden’s high-dollar fundraising event. “Genocide Joe has got to go!” “War pig,” one sign held by a protester inside the event read. “Shame on you, Joe Biden,” another shouted. Others yelled, “Blood on your hands.”

A growing number of young, progressive Western women are converting to Islam, citing the Israel-Hamas war as motivation for the conversion – and they're documenting their journey on social media. Hoover Institution research fellow Ayaan Hirsi Ali issued a warning on the new trend during "America's Newsroom," arguing young women are "throwing away" their freedom with the decision. "You are converting to throwing away your freedoms as a woman," Ali told Dana Perino on Monday. "Islamic scripture, Islamic law, Sharia law and Islamic practice is crystal clear about the position of women, and it's inferior to men. Your testimony is...

As the IDF’s Operation Pillar of Defense in Gaza continues, Hamas has made several totally false claims about damages it has supposedly done to Israeli cities and soldiers. This is done in order to give the public in Gaza a false image as though Hamas is defeating Israel. In response, the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit has put together and distributed several videos which present the truth and disproves the Hamas lies. Among other claims, Hamas said its missiles directly hit Tel Aviv. In fact, despite sirens having been sounded in Tel Aviv in recent days, there were no direct hits on...

Gilad Shalit and a World Full of Crazy By Norma Zager “We are especially not going to tolerate these attacks from outlaw states run by the strangest collection of misfits, Looney Tunes and squalid criminals since the advent of the Third Reich.” President Ronald Reagan Opportunity knocks. At times it is at a moment when it can be used for great advantage. The release of Gilad Shalit is one such moment. What most fail to realize is there are two great lessons to be learned from this so-called exchange of prisoners. First and foremost the Gazans wouldn’t dare show the...

The Turkish IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation announced that a fleet of 20 ships would be sent to break Israel’s embargo on Hamas-run Gaza two months from now. Five of the ships will be under the auspices of IHH; the support of charitable businessmen in Turkey is being sought for funding to purchase them....The ships were said to be planning to set sail for Gaza in March, in a convoy initiated by Hamas terror activist Muhammad Sualha, currently in Britain.(emphasis added)

A review of statements made by former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert since kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit was kidnapped thee years ago today reveal that the government eroded its own position. Olmert vowed not to negotiate with Hamas and then gradually offered to free hundreds of terrorists, an action security and military officials prevented by warning that the entire country would be endangered.

In embracing Hamas last week in direct defiance of the wishes of Congress and the President, ex-President Jimmy Carter raised the question of why he was granting precious prestige and credibility to an organization the U.S. government has designated a "foreign terrorist organization" since 1995. If he was hoping to rekindle a flagging peace process, Carter's trip was doomed to failure; Hamas remains committed to the destruction of the state of Israel. So does this trip merely reflect a tremendous lack of judgment on Carter's part? Perhaps the answer is more complicated. You see, the Carter Center, the ex-President's not-for-profit...