Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli General Benny Gantz: Israel’s Brother’s Keeper After the September 7 Violations

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is being pressed by his countrymen to make a cease-fire with Hamas after protests over the deaths of six hostages. Hamas killed the hostages just as Israeli troops were approaching the part of Gaza where they were. Critics of Netanyahu accuse Hamas of being responsible for the killings but they additionally accuse him of blocking a deal that could have brought the hostages home. Former general Benny Gantz demanded Netanyahu make a deal or quit.

Shalit was held in Gaza after he was captured by Hamas. He was released five years later in exchange for more than 1,000 Palestinian security prisoners. The release of Yahya Sinwar, the mastermind of Oct. 7 was included in the deal approved by Benjamin Netanyahu.

Jewish tradition places a lot of value on the redemption of captives, and it is due in part to the case of Abraham and Lot. Being one’s brother’s keeper is the fulfillment of a primary implicit commandment. It is also a source of Jewish communal cohesion over millenniums to never forsake those who have been taken, even if only to give them a proper burial.

The bombs that struck the military academy in Poltava: And Russia’s deadly missile attack: A message from N.Y. govs

He is correct that the highest justification for fighting a war, besides survival, is to prevent repetition. Hundreds of soldiers have died in the fight against Hamas. Thousands of innocent Palestinians have died and hundreds of thousands have suffered, because Hamas has held every Gazan hostage to its fanatical aims. Hamas is able to start and fight its war because of a secure border with Egypt.

I wish I had a good morning. You are reading a newsletter. If you subscribe, you will get the news when you need it delivered to your inbox, and you can listen to the Up First show to start your day.

The missiles that hit the military academy in Poltava, killed dozens and injured hundreds of others. It is one of the most terrible attacks of the war. This comes as Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy prepares a major reshuffle of his government, leading to several resignations. Kuleba, one of the most prominent cabinet members, resigned this morning. It could be the biggest shake up since the war began if parliament accepts the resignations.

Source: Ex-aide to N.Y. govs accused of working for China. And Russia’s deadly missile attack

Breaking the Co-dependency: How Imilla Skate Affairs Women’s Unconventional Skate Movement in Bolivia

Linda Sun, a long-time aide to Democratic governors in New York, is accused of secretly being an agent of the Chinese government. The FBI says she worked in secret for China as early as 2016. The Justice Department alleges that she took payments from the Chinese communist party. Sun and her husband Chris Hu pleaded not guilty yesterday at a Brooklyn courthouse.

If you value community, it is normal to lose sleep over it. But if worrying about others is negatively affecting your life, or you have an unhealthy reliance on others for self-worth, that may be a sign of a behavior called co-dependency. A deep need for approval from others can be a sign of codependency, as noted by the author of Codependent No More. If that sounds like you, here are ways to break free:

The women of Imilla Skate, an all-female skate collective from Bolivia, are widely known for their unique skateboard attire: skirts called polleras and wide-brim hats. The Indigenous garb is worn to remember their mothers and grandmothers. Since becoming an internet sensation in 2020, they have attracted over 170,000 followers on bothInstagram and TikTok and traveled the world. With the new popularity, members are working on bigger projects to make a difference.