Biden says he won’t supply weapons for major Rafah op; Israel bitter, defiant * Op-ed: Devastating blow * 450 Jewish Columbia students extol their Zionism * Canada crisis

[Times of Israel]( [The daily edition]( Thursday, May 9, 2024 Presented by [Masa Israel Journey: Yom HaZikaron Event]( [Biden: I won’t give Israel offensive weapons to attack in populated parts of Rafah]( By Jacob Magid Unprecedentedly blunt threat marks stunning shift from president, who long rejected conditioning aid to Israel; official says US still committed to freeing hostages [Explaining arms hold up, US defense chief says Israel must account for Rafah civilians]( By Jacob Magid [Biden accused of helping Hamas as Israel fumes at threatened weapons freeze]( By Joshua Davidovich, Michael Bachner and Sam Sokol Trump: ‘Crooked Joe’ siding with the terrorists; FM Katz: Fight against Hamas won’t halt; envoy to UN: Biden could suffer in Nov.; US Jewish groups, GOP, some Dems denounce move [Ben Gvir hammered by president, opposition over ‘Hamas]( By ToI Staff [‘Dangerous for Israel’: Critics slam government’s handling of US ties amid arms row]( By Sam Sokol Live updates [LIVE: Netanyahu, Gallant issue messages of defiance, without responding directly to Biden]( By Michael Bachner and ToI Staff ‘Fateful’ cabinet meetings Thursday to reportedly determine how Israel will deal with threatened US weapons freeze * Ahead of Independence Day, Israel’s population at 9.9 million Promoted Content [Masa Israel Journey to Host the Largest English-Language Yom HaZikaron Ceremony]( The ceremony will unite Jews and supporters of Israel from across the globe in remembrance of the victims of terror and the fallen Israeli soldiers who sacrificed their lives to protect the State of Israel. Op-ed: Day 216 of the war David Horovitz [Biden’s partial weapons freeze deepens existential threat Israel has faced since Oct. 7]( The president’s words and planned action were focused on a highly significant planned IDF offensive in Rafah; the diplomatic and practical implications resonate even more widely [ToI podcast / Daily Briefing May 9, Day 216 – Biden drops bombshell, Hamas’s duplicitous ‘deal’]( By ToI Staff [A dark year: 760 soldiers, 834 civilians killed since last Memorial Day]( By Emanuel Fabian Numbers take total casualties of war, terror to 30,134; in addition, 61 disabled veterans succumbed to injuries sustained during service; numbers published ahead of commemorations [Israel’s population ticks toward 10 million milestone as it marks 76 years]( By ToI Staff [Nova party escapees reunite with Holocaust survivor who sheltered them]( By Canaan Lidor Three women who lived through the Nazi genocide offer advice and inspiration to partygoers who escaped deadliest massacre of October 7, urging them to focus on future [Israeli strike on car in south Lebanon said to kill four Hezbollah members]( By Emanuel Fabian and Agencies Syrian media also reports alleged IDF strike near Damascus overnight; no comment from military on incidents [IDF announces soldier killed in Hezbollah attack on army post in north]( By Emanuel Fabian [Gallant warns of potential ‘hot summer’ in north, as Hezbollah attacks IDF post]( By Emanuel Fabian Top Ops Saul Singer [My brother’s death was not in vain]( Imbuing our incalculable loss with meaning means fulfilling this moment’s greatest imperative: to not tear ourselves apart Gerald Strober [Bibi, it’s time for you to go]( The office of prime minister needs a person of vision, competence and integrity, qualities you do not possess [Iran says it will change nuclear doctrine and build bombs if existence threatened]( By Agencies and ToI Staff Top Khamenei adviser Kamal Kharrazi says country will have ‘no choice’ in those circumstances, warns deterrence policy will change if Israel strikes nuclear facilities [Jewish groups decry visit of Iran’s Ahmadinejad to Hungarian university]( By AFP [Visiting CIA chief said to tell Netanyahu he still sees chance for deal with Hamas]( By ToI Staff Report says Israeli leaders responded that Hamas’s hostages-for-truce proposal ‘crosses all red lines’; senior member of terror group clarifies Hamas won’t budge from its terms [Tens of thousands flee Rafah, leaving parts of city looking like ‘ghost town’]( By Agencies and ToI Staff [Those We Have Lost]( [Those We Have Lost]( [Civilians and soldiers who have fallen since Oct. 7]( [Read Here]( [In viral letter, 450 Jewish Columbia students say Zionism is core to their identity]( By Jackie Hajdenberg Authors decry those trying to ‘speak in our name,’ from anti-Zionist Jewish students leading protests to Israel supporters from outside the campus [Congress grills US public school heads on their handling of antisemitism since Oct. 7]( By Andrew Lapin [Cops clear anti-Israel encampment, arrest 33 at DC campus as mayor’s hearing canceled]( By AP and ToI Staff [Dublin campus protest ends as college vows to divest from Israeli settlements]( By Agencies and ToI Staff Interview [Canada’s antisemitism envoy says Jew-hatred is at a high — and may get even worse]( By Robert Sarner Six months into her role, Deborah Lyons sees an already dire situation exacerbated by the October 7 atrocities, saying the problem must be confronted at all levels [CRM]( [Smotrich warns establishment of Palestinian state is a looming ‘tangible danger’]( By Jeremy Sharon Finance minister says ‘international involvement’ is pushing for the establishment of a Palestinian state and ‘the time to act is now’ [Ireland, Spain could recognize Palestinian statehood later this month — report]( By Reuters [Eden Golan booed at Eurovision dress rehearsal, vows not to be deterred]( By Amy Spiro Israeli contestant also gets cheers and applause as she performs ‘Hurricane;’ Kan broadcaster, which coordinates Israel’s entry to competition, says protests ‘did not silence her’ [Those We Are Missing]( [The hostages and victims whose fate is still unknown]( [Read Here]( [Study seeks to explain why Sephardi Jews more likely to get early-onset Alzheimer’s]( By Renee Ghert-Zand NIH grants $13 million for genetic research after 2018 research showed Jews with roots in Spain, Middle East and North Africa see far more cases of early cognitive decline [Teen musician gets national platform to perform song she wrote for teacher killed Oct. 7]( By Jessica Steinberg Yaara Cohen will sing ‘Grapefruit Tree’ at a pre-Memorial Day event at the National Library, in memory of Shlomi Mathias, killed with his wife at Kibbutz Holit [Tel Aviv cancels annual Pride Parade out of respect for hostage situation]( By ToI Staff [Authorities level 47 illegal homes in Bedouin village, leaving hundreds homeless]( By Michael Horovitz Government yet to start construction on alternative housing, and residents object to moving to new neighborhood due to threats from rival families [Cop hailed by Ben Gvir after throwing stun grenade at protesters set for promotion]( By ToI Staff [Day 216 – Biden drops bombshell, Hamas’s duplicitous ‘deal’]( [listen to the podcast]( More Headlines [Netanyahu’s motorcade said to include ambulance since his pacemaker was installed]( By ToI Staff [State witness in PM’s trial sentenced to 6-months community service]( By Jeremy Sharon [Longtime Israel critic loses Indiana Republican House primary]( By Ron Kampeas [Israeli developer of VR drone system used by IDF in Hamas war raises $40m]( By Sharon Wrobel [Environment laws becoming harder to pass, outgoing ministry legal adviser says]( By Sue Surkes [Woman found dead after apparent fall in Ramon crater in south]( By ToI Staff [The daily edition]( [facebook]( [twitter]( [instagram]( [View in browser]( [Contact support](mailto:support@timesofisrael.com) [Advertise with us](mailto:advertise@timesofisrael.com) Were you forwarded this email? 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