Tennessee teachers step closer to carrying firearms in classroom after state lawmakers pass GOP-backed bill
Tennessee lawmakers overwhelmingly passed a GOP-backed bill on Tuesday that will allow schoolteachers to carry firearms on school grounds, though the names of the armed instructors would not be published to the public. Earlier this month, Republican lawmakers in Tennessee joined together to approve Senate Bill 1325 with a 26-5 vote. The bill allows a teacher or faculty member who meets certain requirements, to possess and carry a firearm on school grounds. In order to carry a handgun, teachers must have a handgun carry permit, have written authorization from both the school’s principal and local law enforcement and undergo 40 hours of handgun training. The worker must also not be prohibited from purchasing, possessing and carrying a handgun under Tennessee or federal law, as determined by a background check. On Tuesday, the House in the state Legislature continued to push the bill closer to becoming law by passing the sister bill by a 68-28 vote. It now heads to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk to be signed into law. TENNESSEE LAWMAKERS PASS BILL ALLOWING TEACHERS TO CARRY GUNS AT SCHOOL 1 YEAR AFTER DEADLY NASHVILLE SHOOTING Last year, a fatal shooting at The Covenant School, a private Christian elementary school in Nashville, left three children and three adults dead. The state Senate’s approval of the bill sparked outcries from teachers, students, Democratic lawmakers and even Covenant School parents. On Tuesday, protesters screamed, “Blood on your hands,” before House speaker Cameron Sexton called for state troopers to remove them from the balcony, FOX 17 in Nashville reported. NASHVILLE SCHOOL SHOOTER MANIFESTO: POLICE GROUP SIDES WITH SCHOOL IN LAWSUIT OVER RELEASE Rep. Justin Jones, D-Nashville, called the bill “morally insane.” “Republicans continue to hold our state hostage,” he reportedly said. “God have mercy on you that you do not hear the pain of these mothers saying to protect kids, not guns.” One of the sponsors of the bill, Sen. Paul Bailey, said the bill allows staff and faculty to carry arms if they choose to, but in order to carry a gun, they must go through 40 hours of training and undergo a psychological evaluation. Rep. Ryan Williams, another sponsor of the bill, said the standards teachers must meet in order to carry in a Tennessee school will be “very high.” The law is considered “100% permissive,” according to Williams, and is up to school districts to implement. Approval also falls on law enforcement and school administrators. BILL LETTING TRAINED TEACHERS CARRY GUNS PASSES WEST VIRGINIA HOUSE Williams also said the bill is intended to be a deterrent, adding the identities of teachers carrying guns would not be released. Still, Rep. Jason Powell, a Democrat from Nashville, said the law “makes me sick to my stomach,” adding it is dangerous. “It’s going to have dangerous impacts around the world,” Powell reportedly said. “Think about law enforcement. It’s going to delay responses. It’s going to put law enforcement in danger. How will they know who’s the assailant and who’s the teacher with the gun?” NASHVILLE EASTER BRUNCH SHOOTING SUSPECT IS ARRESTED IN KENTUCKY Lee did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment on the matter. Before its passage, the bill’s proponents argued teachers and faculty could serve as a more immediate response force to a shooting situation. They said it could be particularly helpful in rural counties with limited law enforcement resources. The contentious bill comes approximately a year after a deadly shooting last March at The Covenant School. The shooter, who was killed at the scene by police, killed three children and three adults during the rampage. The bill also comes amid a larger push from Tennessee Republicans to loosen gun laws, including signing off on permitless carry for handguns in 2021. The push includes an effort to expand the state’s permitless carry law to include long guns. The original law allowed residents 21 and older to carry handguns in public without a permit. Two years later, Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti then allowed 18- to 20-year-olds to carry handguns publicly. Lawmakers also approved a bill that would allow private schools with pre-kindergarten classes to have guns on campus. The governor has not yet signed it into law. Fox News Digital’s Lawrence Richard and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Five takeaways from day two of Trump’s New York hush money trial testimony
The second day of arguments in former United States President Donald Trump’s New York hush money trial has concluded with the prosecution’s questioning of former tabloid publisher David Pecker dominating much of the proceedings. Trump has been charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business documents in connection to payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels. The 2024 Republican presidential candidate is accused of mislabelling reimbursements made to his lawyer Michael Cohen, who paid Daniels $130,000 in exchange for her silence over an alleged affair. Trump has denied that affair took place. For the felony charges to hold, prosecutors must persuade a jury that the falsifications were done with the intent to commit another crime. They have so far focused on alleged malfeasance to influence the 2016 presidential election, which Trump eventually won. Trump’s defence has maintained he did nothing wrong. On Tuesday, prosecutors focused on a “catch and kill” agreement between Pecker and Trump, in which the publisher would buy negative stories about Trump but not publish them in the National Enquirer. Here are five takeaways from the trial: Pecker says he agreed to be “eyes and ears” of Trump campaign While describing a relationship with Trump that dated back to the 1980s, Pecker told prosecutors that Trump and Cohen pressured him to “help the campaign” at an August 2015 meeting, roughly 15 months before the 2016 presidential election. Pecker said he agreed to be the campaign’s “eyes and ears” and to notify Cohen when people were trying to sell unflattering stories about Trump to the National Enquirer. Cohen, in turn, would regularly call Pecker to ask him to run negative stories on Trump’s challengers for the Republican nomination, including primary opponents Senators Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio. Pecker initially said stopping negative stories about Trump from running benefitted both the tabloid and Trump’s campaign but later acknowledged that the strategy only benefitted the Trump campaign. ‘Catch and kill’ scheme detailed Much of Tuesday’s proceedings involved Pecker elaborating on the process that he, Trump and Cohen called “catch and kill”. He described how American Media, which owns the National Enquirer, paid a doorman $30,000 for his story alleging that Trump had fathered a child out of wedlock. The agreement included a clause that said the doorman would be liable for $1m if he still went public with the claim. Pecker called it “basically a lever” over the doorman to assure his compliance. He also described how model Karen McDougal had approached the National Enquirer about her alleged affair with Trump. The information prompted a call from Trump directly and several subsequent calls from Cohen, who seemed to be under “a lot of pressure”, Pecker said. The National Enquirer ended up buying the story for $150,000 to kill it. Pecker describes decades-long relationship with Trump Prosecutors may have focussed on the run-up to the 2016 presidential election, but Pecker’s testimony was a reminder that Trump had been a tabloid darling long before he was a political candidate. Pecker said he met Trump in the 1980s when he worked on the Trump Style magazine. He said the two men enjoyed “a great relationship” and he considered him a friend until 2017. When Trump was the host of The Apprentice reality show, Trump would tip him off to events on the show before they aired, Pecker said. Prosecutors accuse Trump of violating gag order Judge Juan Merchan prohibited Trump from making public comments about witnesses involved in the trial, but prosecutors began Tuesday’s proceeding by accusing the former president of “willful violations” of that gag order. They pushed Merchan to hold Trump in contempt of court. In sometimes tense exchanges, Trump’s lawyer Todd Blanche argued that the social media posts in question were not direct attacks, but responses to comments made about Trump. Merchan seemed sceptical about the argument with particular focus on Trump’s liability for images and sentiments he reposts on social media. At one point, Merchan warned Blanche, “You’re losing all credibility.” However, he did not make any determination regarding the gag order on Tuesday. Trump remains defiant on social media Even with the hearing on the gag order, Trump took to his Truth Social platform to criticise Merchan and the trial. During a break, he wrote: “Everybody is allowed to talk and lie about me, but I am not allowed to defend myself? This is a kangaroo court; the judge should recuse himself.” Speaking to reporters after the day’s proceedings ended, he again called the gag order “unconstitutional”. Adblock test (Why?)
US universities crackdown on pro-Palestine protests
NewsFeed Pro-Palestine protests are growing in momentum, while also being accused of threatening the safety of students at US university campuses. Published On 23 Apr 202423 Apr 2024 Adblock test (Why?)
Will Israeli army intelligence chief’s resignation lead to accountability?
Major General Aharon Haliva acknowledged failure to warn of the October 7 attack. More than six months after Hamas carried out an assault on southern Israel, the Israeli military intelligence chief has resigned. In his resignation letter, Major General Aharon Haliva noted that authority comes with responsibility – and acknowledged the military intelligence directorate under his command had failed to warn of the October 7 attack. It comes as public outrage against perceived Israeli government and military failures gains momentum. What message does this send while the war on Gaza continues? Presenter: Mohammed Jamjoom Guests: Daniel Levy – President of the US/Middle East Project. Antony Loewenstein – Author, The Palestine Laboratory Gideon Levy – Columnist for Haaretz newspaper Adblock test (Why?)
Trump says he’ll ‘fire the radical left’ from colleges, focus on ‘defending’ American ‘tradition’ if elected
Former President Trump said he plans to “fire” the “radical left” individuals that “have allowed our colleges to become dominated by Marxist maniacs and lunatics” and ensure higher education is focused on “defending the American tradition” if elected to a second term. The 2024 Republican presumptive presidential nominee posted an education policy video to his Truth Social Tuesday night amid violent antisemitic anti-Israel protests on college campuses across the nation. TRUMP SLAMS COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY FOR CLOSING CAMPUS AMID ANTI-ISRAEL PROTESTS: ‘MEANS THE OTHER SIDE WINS’ “For many years, tuition costs at colleges and universities have been exploding and I mean absolutely exploding,” Trump said. “While academics have been obsessed with indoctrinating America’s youth, the time has come to reclaim our once great educational institutions from the radical left. And we will do that.” Trump said his “secret weapon” will be the “college accreditation system,” which he says is called “accreditation for a reason.” “The accreditors are supposed to ensure that schools are not ripping off students and taxpayers, but they have failed totally,” Trump said. Accreditation is a third-party review process to review whether education programs meet defined standards of quality. “When I return to the White House, I will fire the radical left, accreditors that have allowed our colleges to become dominated by Marxist maniacs and lunatics,” the former president continued. “We will then accept applications for new accreditors who will impose real standards on colleges once again, and once and for all.” Trump said the standards would include “defending the American tradition and Western civilization, protecting free speech, eliminating wasteful administrative positions that drive up costs, incredibly, removing all Marxist diversity, equity and inclusion bureaucrats, offering options for accelerated and low cost degrees, providing meaningful job placement and career services, and implementing college entrance and exit exams to prove that students are actually learning and getting their money’s worth.” Trump also said, if elected, he would direct the Justice Department to “pursue federal civil rights cases against schools that continue to engage in racial discrimination.” Trump added that schools “that persist in explicit, unlawful discrimination under the guise of equity will not only have their endowments taxed, but through budget reconciliation.” Trump said he would advance a measure to have universities “fined up to the entire amount of their endowment.” “A portion of the seized funds will then be used for restitution for victims of these illegal and unjust policies–policies that hurt our country so badly,” he said. COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY MOVES TO HYBRID LEARNING ON MAIN CAMPUS AMID ANTISEMITIC PROTESTS “Colleges have gotten hundreds of billions of dollars from hardworking taxpayers, and now we are going to get this anti-American insanity out of our institutions once and for all,” he continued. “We are going to have real education in America.” The former president’s policy video was posted to Truth Social Tuesday afternoon, shortly before he blasted Columbia University for moving its classes virtual amid days and days of massive pro-Gaza protests on campus. “They’re closing Columbia now? I mean, it’s just crazy,” Trump said. “Columbia should gain a little strength, a little courage and keep their school open.” Trump’s comments came after students at Columbia University were instructed that classes had shifted to virtual or hybrid amid ongoing safety concerns stemming from the anti-Israel protests filling the campus. “It’s crazy because that means the other side wins,” Trump said Tuesday. “When you start closing down colleges and universities—that means the other side [wins.]” “The people running Columbia have made a grave mistake,” Trump said. Columbia University’s updated guidelines, as of Tuesday morning, said all courses on the Morningside main campus have moved to hybrid learning “until the end of each school’s Spring 2024 semester.” “Safety is our highest priority as we strive to support our students’ learning and all the required academic operations,” the school’s Provost Angela Olinto wrote in a statement released early Tuesday morning. “It’s vital that teaching and learning continue during this time.”
Columbia University protests: Rep. Elise Stefanik calls on Biden admin to deport terrorist supporters on visas
House GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., sent a scathing letter to top Biden officials about the ongoing anti-Israel protests at Columbia University, demanding federal intervention to protect Jewish students. In a letter dated Tuesday, Stefanik wrote to Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Attorney General Merrick Garland. The New York congresswoman did not mince words when describing the disarray caused by the anti-Israel protests at the New York City Ivy League institution, threatening Jewish students and faculty. Classes at Columbia will be entirely virtual for the rest of the semester due to the protesters “taking over” the campus. New York City Mayor Eric Adams blamed “outside agitators” for fanning the flames during a press conference Tuesday. Stefanik called attention to the antisemitic sentiment among protesters in her letter. COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY ANTI-ISRAEL PROTESTERS: 5 DRAMATIC MOMENTS FROM A WEEK OF CHAOS “Over the past few days, anarchy has engulfed the campus of Columbia University and created an environment that is unsafe for Jewish students and faculty,” she wrote. “You have the ability and authority to put a stop to this and take concrete steps to hold accountable those responsible.” The House Republican described the protesters as an “unsanctioned mob of students and agitators permitted to continue to target Jewish students” and cited antisemitic incidents that have occurred as a result of their activity. “Consequences are needed for those who are calling for terrorism and violent attacks,” she wrote. Stefanik cited the Immigration and Nationality Act, which states that anyone who endorses terrorism can become ineligible for American residency, and noted that protesters are “brazenly endorsing Hamas and other terrorist organizations.” COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT ORDERS VIRTUAL CLASSES AS ANTI-ISRAEL PROTESTS TAKE OVER: ‘WE NEED A RESET’ “By allowing this support for terror to continue, this wicked ideology is able to spread,” Stefanik argued. “I demand that you enforce existing law to revoke the visas and deport students here on visas who are suspended for their antisemitic actions.” The Republican also called for the Department of Education to hold Columbia accountable by revoking any federal funding that the Ivy League school receives. “It is past time for the Department of Education to publish the findings of [President’s Biden’s Title VI] investigation and hold the university accountable,” she wrote. “Furthermore, the Department must take action to revoke any federal funding flowing to Columbia and similar institutions so taxpayers are not funding the ongoing discrimination.” Fox News Digital reached out to the offices of Secretary Mayorkas and Attorney General Garland for comment. Fox News Digital’s Danielle Wallace contributed to this report.
Trump slams Columbia University for closing campus amid anti-Israel protests: ‘Means the other side wins’
Former President Trump slammed Columbia University for closing its campus amid violent anti-Israel, pro-Gaza protests, urging the college to “gain a little strength” and “courage,” while saying the move “means the other side wins.” Trump took reporter questions in Trump Tower on Tuesday evening before a meeting with former Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso, who is the current vice president of the Japanese Liberal Democratic Party. COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY MOVES TO HYBRID LEARNING ON MAIN CAMPUS AMID ANTISEMITIC PROTESTS The former president and presumptive 2024 Republican presidential nominee was asked if he would visit with Jewish students this week amid protests, following the news that House Speaker Mike Johnson plans to visit Columbia University’s campus Wednesday. “Well, we have a lot of different things, but what’s going on with the colleges—and, they’re closing Columbia now? I mean, it’s just crazy,” Trump said. “Columbia should gain a little strength, a little courage and keep their school open.” Trump’s comments came after students at Columbia University were instructed that classes had shifted to virtual or hybrid amid ongoing safety concerns stemming from the anti-Israel protests filling the campus. “It’s crazy because that means the other side wins,” Trump said Tuesday. “When you start closing down colleges and universities—that means the other side [wins.]” The former president, pointing to Aso and Japan said “in Japan, they don’t know about that. They don’t close. They keep it open. They make it work.” “The people running Columbia have made a grave mistake,” Trump said. COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY ANTI-ISRAEL PROTESTERS: 5 DRAMATIC MOMENTS FROM A WEEK OF CHAOS Columbia University’s updated guidelines, as of Tuesday morning, said all courses on the Morningside main campus have moved to hybrid learning “until the end of each school’s Spring 2024 semester.” “Safety is our highest priority as we strive to support our students’ learning and all the required academic operations,” the school’s Provost Angela Olinto wrote in a statement released early Tuesday morning. “It’s vital that teaching and learning continue during this time.” IVY LEAGUE ANTI-ISRAEL AGITATORS’ PROTESTS SPIRAL INTO ‘ACTUAL TERROR ORGANIZATION,’ PROFESSOR WARNS The announcement comes amid continued antisemitic protests on the New York City campus and just a day after classes were made virtual on Monday. The guidance, signed in tandem with Chief Operating Officer Cas Holloway, also affects faculty and staff. The guidance comes amid days of protests at Columbia, where anti-Israel agitators initially formed an encampment — setting up tents and refusing to leave— on the campus last week. The protesters have marched in and around the campus demanding the school lose affiliations with groups that support Israel amid its war with Hamas in Gaza, which has resulted in tens of thousands of civilian deaths. COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT ORDERS VIRTUAL CLASSES AS ANTI-ISRAEL PROTESTS TAKE OVER: ‘WE NEED A RESET’ Columbia University President Dr. Nemat “Minouche” Shafik said in a statement posted in the early hours Monday morning, that she was “deeply saddened” by certain actions of the agitators and called for a “reset.” “I am deeply saddened by what is happening on our campus,” Shafik wrote. “Our bonds as a community have been severely tested in ways that will take a great deal of time and effort to reaffirm. Students across an array of communities have conveyed fears for their safety and we have announced additional actions we are taking to address security concerns. The decibel of our disagreements has only increased in recent days. These tensions have been exploited and amplified by individuals who are not affiliated with Columbia who have come to campus to pursue their own agendas.” DEMOCRATIC REP GOTTHEIMER SAYS HE WOULD BE WORRIED TO SEND CHILDREN TO COLUMBIA AFTER VISITING PROTESTS Shafik, on Monday, said the university needs “a reset.” More than 100 of the protesters were arrested last week amid the unrest. Antisemitic protests have broken out at colleges and universities across the nation including New York University in New York City and Yale University in New Haven, Ct. Fox News’ Lawrence Richard contributed to this report.
Watchdog CEO confronts anti-Israel protesters at Columbia: ‘Which is your favorite terrorist group?’
FIRST ON FOX: A watchdog organization with a focus on higher education released footage exposing the chaos occurring at the epicenter of the anti-Israel protests plaguing one of America’s most prestigious Ivy League universities. Adam Guillette, President of Accuracy In Media, went to the campus of Columbia University in New York to speak with the individuals behind the anti-Israel protests that have erupted at the school, filming his encounters in a video shared with Fox News Digital. Guillette, who is Jewish, confronted several individuals at the protest, but did not receive a warm welcome when he asked them questions about Hamas, the safety of Jewish students, and why they are protesting Israel. One individual claimed students are not being threatened on the campus – despite the Morningside main campus switching to hybrid or remote learning for the remainder of the spring semester due to safety concerns. COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY MOVES TO HYBRID LEARNING ON MAIN CAMPUS AMID ANTISEMITIC PROTESTS When asked who their favorite terrorist group was, one activist said “IDF” – which stands for the Israel Defense Force, the military of Israel. Others cursed at Guillette or told him to “shut up” when asked if Hamas should remain in charge of “Palestine.” Another individual flipped off Guillette and told him to “f— off.’ DEMOCRATIC REP. GOTTHEIMER SAYS HE WOULD BE WORRIED TO SEND CHILDREN TO COLUMBIA AFTER VISITING PROTESTS The footage also captured a crowd that was reciting a chant shockingly comparing the New York Police Department to the KKK. Asked what the best way to deal with Hamas would be, one individual said “to dissolve the Israeli state.” The watchdog group also brought “moving trucks” to the protest that called for Columbia University President Minouche Shafik to resign, as she faces calls from congress to step down. The cameraman filming for Accuracy In Media was reportedly assaulted while filming the agitators, according to the video. “One thing that is abundantly clear is that this campus is out of control,” Guillete said in the video. “These are radicals, they need to be held accountable.” More than 100 anti-Israel protesters were arrested at New York University (NYU) Monday, as similar protests erupt on college campuses across the country.
Fox News Politics: Trump’s other crime, revealed
Welcome to Fox News’ Politics newsletter with the latest political news from Washington D.C. and updates from the 2024 campaign trail. What’s happening? -Biden’s response to antisemitic protests angers social media -Schumer to take up $95B aid package despite bipartisan opposition -Judge hammers Trump attorneys over gag order New York prosecutors on Tuesday revealed the other crime they claim former President Trump was trying to conceal when he allegedly falsified his business records. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg charged Trump with 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree. In order for prosecutors to secure a criminal conviction, they must convince the jury that Trump allegedly committed the crime of falsifying business records in “furtherance of another crime.” The supposed “other crime” has been speculated about among legal scholars and pundits, but on Tuesday New York prosecutor Joshua Steinglass on Tuesday identified the legal code: Trump allegedly ran afoul of a New York law called “conspiracy to promote or prevent election.” New York Law 17-152 states: “Any two or more persons who conspire to promote or prevent the election of any person to a public office by unlawful means and which conspiracy is acted upon by one or more of the parties thereto, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.” ‘BOTH SIDES’ ANSWER: Biden’s response to antisemitic protests angers social media users …Read more COMMITMENT ISSUES: Biden could be denied pivotal state by growing movement …Read more SILENT LEADER: Education secretary silent on protections for Jewish students as Ivy League campus descends into antisemitic chaos …Read more ‘FINISH LINE’: Schumer to take up $95 billion Israel, Ukraine aid package despite bipartisan opposition …Read more ‘A LAME DUCK’: Speaker Johnson dodges ouster vote amid heated MTG rhetoric …Read more ‘HE’S TRYING VERY HARD’: Trump defends Johnson as Marjorie Taylor Greene pushes to oust speaker …Read more POISON IVY: NY House Republicans band together to demand Columbia president step down …Read more ‘CESSPOOL OF PARTISANSHIP’: GOP lawmaker demands answers on former Biden official joining Trump’s prosecution team …Read more BOTCHED PROBE: Bombshell House report bashes CIA handling of internal sexual assault cases …Read more ‘PRO-HAMAS RHETORIC’: Republicans demand Biden officials address Columbia University ‘pro-terrorist mobs’ …Read more ELECTION INTERFERENCE: Study finds Facebook has ‘interfered’ with elections in the US at least 39 times since 2008 …Read more ‘A DISGRACE’: Trump blames Biden for college anti-Israel protests …Read more LOSING IT: Judge hammers Trump attorneys over gag order …Read more NOT A PEEP: Columbia alum Obama silent as Jewish students face antisemitic harassment …Read more SENATOR IN SLAMMER: Democratic Minnesota state lawmaker arrested on suspicion of burglary …Read more PROMOTING MISERY: Climate activists have new target in mind for major summer protest …Read more NEW DOCUMENTS: Judge unseals FBI files in Trump’s Florida case, including detailed timeline of Mar-a-Lago raid …Read more Subscribe now to get Fox News Politics newsletter in your inbox. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.
State Department contradicts claim of ‘same standard’ for Israeli, Hamas conduct
The U.S. State Department appears to have contradicted itself on whether Israel is held to a different moral standard than Hamas. Yesterday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters that there was no “double standard” of expectations for either side of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. “Do we have a double standard? The answer is ‘no,’” Blinken said Monday while discussing the department’s report on human rights violations in the region. BIDEN ADMIN NOTES ‘URGENT’ CONCERN OVER ISRAEL IN GAZA HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT He continued, “As this report makes clear, in general, as we’re looking at human rights and the condition of human rights around the world, we apply the same standard to everyone.” Ambassador David Satterfield, the State Department’s special envoy for Middle East humanitarian issues, however, seemed to directly contradict this assertion on Tuesday, saying that there is indeed a different standard of behavior expected from Israel in the conflict. “Now with respect to Israel, we require from Israel — because it is the right and moral thing to do — a very different standard of conduct,” Satterfield told reporters during a press conference. FETTERMAN HAMMERS ‘A–HOLE’ ANTI-ISRAEL PROTESTERS, SLAMS OWN PARTY FOR RESPONSE TO IRANIAN ATTACK: ‘CRAZY’ He continued, “And as I noted in my remarks, the president made clear on his visit to Israel shortly after Oct. 7, it’s not just strategically important for you to do this. It’s the morally right thing to do. It is the reflection of what Israel is — a democracy with values.” The State Department’s annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices highlighted Israel prominently, featuring concerns over the country’s precautions to minimize the civilian toll of Palestinians on the first page, which is normally reserved for the most egregious of human rights abusers. In the report’s preface, Blinken addressed human rights concerns about the war between Israel and terrorist group Hamas prior to either Iran or the Taliban in Afghanistan. The secretary of state explained that the U.S. has “made clear” that Israel needs to follow international law “and take every feasible precaution to protect civilians.” Blinken emphasized that the department is still “urgently” raising concerns about civilian deaths in Gaza during the war. The U.S. also “repeatedly” brought up concerns about humanitarian aid access in Gaza, civilian displacement and “unprecedented” journalist deaths, the report noted. Israel was mentioned before the Biden administration’s State Department addressed “ongoing and brutal human rights abuses in Iran” or “the Taliban’s systemic mistreatment of and discrimination against Afghanistan’s women and girls.” Fox News Digital’s Julia Johnson contributed to this report.