BlueStar

BlueStar is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to empowering the next generation of Israel advocates and leaders.

[Congresswoman Susie Lee @RepSusieLee]

Today, I voted against an amendment that would eliminate all U.S. aid to Israel – including funds for humanitarian aid, peacebuilding programs, and refugee resettlement. Ripping the rug out from under our ally amidst active attacks from Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah, and other sworn enemies of the U.S. and Israel would endanger not only innocent civilians and U.S. personnel in the region, but also our national security here at home.

Current U.S. funding for Israel is not, and should never be, a “blank check.” It is subject to congressional oversight, longstanding laws, and a 10-year agreement signed by then-President Obama. This agreement expires soon, and for the U.S.-Israel alliance to continue standing strong, reforms are desperately needed.

We cannot turn a blind eye to the horrors being committed by the Netanyahu government against innocent Palestinians, attempts to annex the West Bank, or violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the region. Israel must uphold international humanitarian standards and adhere to the laws of armed conflict, even when those who seek to do harm to the country and its people might ignore those principles.

The U.S. has both a moral and strategic imperative to ensure Israel can defend itself. I have been steadfast in my support for funding to protect innocent civilians – funding that this amendment would immediately end. At the same time, as Israel continues to evolve economically, the terms of U.S. aid to Israel should also evolve. To be clear: under future agreements, we must ensure Israel abides by the same terms we require of other allies purchasing U.S. arms.

As we renegotiate the terms of the agreement, the U.S. should maintain an ultimate goal of fostering long term peace in the region. That process should not fall solely on our shoulders, but also on a coalition of nations, and should include economic, diplomatic, and military support.

[Sana Ebrahimi Ledene @__Injaneb96]

Sneako,

You think Iran’s regime is some heroic force fighting America’s “evil empire.”
Cool. I actually hold Iranian citizenship, let’s swap passports.

You move to Iran and live the dream. I’ll take American citizenship.
Go fight the “good fight” over there and leave this evil empire behind.
Put your money where your mouth is.

[Mossad Customer Support @LionOfJudahX]

Israel and Colombia are restoring diplomatic relations: Colombia will open an embassy in Jerusalem

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar and incoming Colombian Foreign Minister Omar Bula Escobar have agreed to fully restore diplomatic and economic ties between the countries.

The two sides intend to exchange ambassadors immediately after the inauguration of Colombian President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella on August 7. The new government also plans to open a Colombian embassy in Jerusalem and waive visa requirements for Israel.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry has already begun preparations for the appointment of a new ambassador to Bogotá. His candidacy may be confirmed next week at a meeting of the Commission for Appointments of Heads of Diplomatic Missions, chaired by Minister Sa'ar.

Colombia has traditionally been considered one of Israel's key and long-standing allies in South America. This partnership was unilaterally terminated in May 2024 by outgoing President Gustavo Petro. In June of that year, the Israeli ambassador to Colombia was recalled, and the Colombian ambassador to Israel completed her mission and left the country.

[Saul Sadka @Saul_Sadka]

The true history of Palestine: In 1994 all Larry David wanted to do was bring peace. So two days later the Jews murdered him. Why are they so evil?

[Andrew Fox @Mr_Andrew_Fox]

You often hear “why don’t the IDF allow journalists into Gaza”. Here’s an interesting perspective.

About a month ago, the IDF offered the chance of a visit to a captured Hezbollah tunnel. Amongst those who accepted were me and a small pack of journalists from Israel, Greece, the USA and Germany.

You will notice that no major media outlets have really picked up on the story since October. There’s a reason. Hezbollah put out a statement saying that any more major outlet accepting the offer would put their colleagues in Beirut in danger from Hezbollah repercussions.

Of course, Hezbollah are a major terrorist organisation and this is what you’d expect. But there’s a serious lack of journalistic integrity in properly reporting neither the scale and sophistication of the tunnels, nor the threats themselves.

It means the world is only seeing the IDF airstrikes, and not understanding the “why”. It’s all part of the very effective media war these groups are fighting.

It also shows how journalists are not safe from these terror groups. It goes a long way to explaining how Hamas in Gaza might also treat international journalists, how those journalists react to threats, and therefore why they’re not allowed in.

https://t.co/oJbXTaf1Sj

[BlueStar @bluestarpr]

@saikatc How did your campaign go?

[DSA Watch @DSA_Watch]

DSA Member: “Just bomb parts of LA and Miami. It’d be a better planet for it.” https://t.co/N3rvC0L7BV

[Captain Allen @CptAllenHistory]

On This Day — July 14, 1927: When a natural disaster struck, the Jewish Yishuv rushed to help Arab neighbors — not just their own.

A devastating earthquake had hit three days earlier on July 11, killing hundreds & injuring nearly 1,000. By July 14, authorities reported more than 400 bodies recovered, with the total death toll climbing toward 670 and around 3,000 injured.

Nablus lay largely in ruins. Ramleh, Lod, and villages across the region were devastated. The Mosque of Omar on the Temple Mount and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre were badly damaged. Synagogues in Jerusalem and Tiberias had collapsed. Thousands slept in the open, fearing aftershocks.

Yet in the midst of the suffering, something remarkable happened.

The Jewish community didn’t turn inward. Tel Aviv “adopted” the hardest-hit Arab city of Nablus and sent truckloads of bread, medical teams, and supplies. American Jewish philanthropist Nathan Straus immediately cabled $20,000 to Hadassah for relief “regardless of race or creed.” Hadassah doctors and nurses treated the injured across the country. Zionist organizations launched appeals for funds to repair homes and help all victims — Jews and Arabs alike.

The response was so striking that one Arab journalist publicly declared he would refrain from criticizing Jews — at least for that day. Surviving Arabs in Nablus gathered to express gratitude to the Jewish relief workers who brought aid when it was needed most.

This was part of a broader pattern in the early years of Jewish return to the land: Jewish development, institutions, and initiative improved life for everyone in a region long neglected.

When tragedy struck, the Yishuv saw neighbors in need — not enemies to ignore.

Some responses to disaster reveal who people truly are.

We remember July 14, 1927, not just for the destruction — but for the humanity shown in its aftermath.

[Ora Levitt 🇮🇱 חיילת צה"ל 🇮🇱 עם ישראל חי @IDFsoldiergirl]

✡️An Israeli archaeologist discovered a mysterious 3,300-year-old structure on Mount Ebal, believed to be Joshua’s Altar.✡️
👉Around it were the bones of sheep, goats, and cattle, just as the Torah prescribed for sacrifice by the Cohanim, the Jewish priests. No bones of ritually impure animals, such as pigs or donkeys, were found. Nearby were Egyptian scarabs, seals, and jewelry dating to the biblical Exodus period.
👉As the excavation continued, the mystery deepened.
Professor Adam Zertal, of blessed memory, had been surveying the hills of Samaria with a team of volunteers when they came across the ancient structure. It was unlike anything they had expected to find.
👉The local rabbi of Shavei Shomron took an interest in the discovery. He opened a Mishnah containing a description of an ancient Israelite altar and asked Zertal whether it resembled the structure they had uncovered.
“Exactly like it,” Zertal replied.
The rabbi answered, “Then you’ve found Joshua’s Altar.”
👉The structure’s design closely matched the biblical description of an Israelite altar. The animal remains all came from species permitted for sacrifice, and radiocarbon dating placed the site in the late Bronze Age to early Iron Age, around 3,300 years ago.
👉Based on the archaeological evidence, Zertal concluded that the site was likely the altar built by Joshua after the Israelites entered the Land of Israel, as described in Joshua 8:30-35, where the nation gathered on Mount Ebal for the covenant ceremony.
Image credit: יונתן (שטובי) בלומנטל, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
🇮🇱 The Nation of Israel Lives🇮🇱 #IsraelStrong #factsoverpropaganda

[Hussain Abdul-Hussain @hahussain]

Ro has no idea who he’s debating with. Happy Haviv cut the Congressman down to size.

[Ihab Hassan @IhabHassane]

The United Nations has just issued a statement condemning the obstruction of humanitarian operations in Gaza by Hamas militias.

Give it a few hours, and the same people who spent years insisting the UN is the most credible source on everything happening in Gaza will suddenly start calling it a "Zionist organization."

It's amazing how the UN is credible only when it says something they agree with.

[Sam E. Antar @SamAntar]

Memo to @RoKhanna: You said the first thing you became aware of was “being brown.” Israel is home to millions of Sephardi and Mizrahi Jews whose families came from the Middle East and North Africa. Many, including members of my own Sephardic family, have darker complexions than you do. If race played a role in what happened, what’s the evidence? Or are you projecting a U.S. racial framework onto a very different region?
https://t.co/NrztGYaiWm

[Khaled Hassan @Khaledhzakariah]

If you are Jewish, Zionist, or you just care about Israel, please listen carefully. This is probably the most consequential moment for Israel and Jews in the diaspora since Israel was established.

Ro Khanna and Rahm Emanuel are small men but they are symptoms of a big problem.

From now on, Western politicians will be competing over who attacks Israel and Jews more.

The prize they hope to win is the Muslim and left-wing vote.

The world is changing exactly as many of us have been warning for years.

[Eitan Fischberger @EFischberger]

Here is a picture of @RoKhanna in Hebron.

The mayor of Hebron is a Palestinian named Tayseer Abu Sneineh. In 1980, he murdered 6 people, including 2 Americans.

I wonder if Ro ever brought that up.

[Marc Zell - מארק צל @GOPIsrael]

I would add a few more: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Panama, Costa Rica, Honduras, Guatemala, Dominican Republic, USA, Czech Republic, Republika Srpska, Serbia, Slovenia, Greece, Cyprus, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, Somaliland, just to name a few. That’s at least another ~500 million. Having 2 billion friends in this world is no mean achievement and the number is growing not diminishing.

[Mor Edge Insight @MorEdge_Insight]

Oh would you look at that… Hamas operatives coming out from a tunnel… in Gaza… inside a school… with lots and lots and lots and lots of… weapons.

And then they just casually move through the school and stack the weapons inside cupboards and specially concealed nooks.

And when the IDF come for those weapons that will be used to KILL Israelis, the whole Arab and western world and the UN will cry and shout and scream that Israel “targets schools and… children” while Hamas cry and pretend they are the victims.

It’s all so predictable and boring already. When the kids die, this is why. And all the fake moral outrage and condemnation at Israel for doing what the rest of the world sees but does nothing about is all too pathetic.

If the world intentionally turns a blind eye to schools and kids being used as human shields, then it is the world, NOT ISRAEL, responsible for the consequences.

[(((IsraelMatzav))) @IsraelMatzav]

*OUTRAGEOUS: Britain Debates Making It a Crime for Jews to Buy Homes in Judea, Samaria, Old City of Jerusalem*

No longer content with protesting outside synagogues, the anti-Israel crowd has moved the debate to Parliament, demanding that the governing body criminalize land purchases in Judea, Samaria, and possibly even the Jewish Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem. Several members of the House of Lords forcefully pushed back.

[BlueStar @bluestarpr]

@IsraelMatzav Bernie sure can pick 'em...

[Melanie Phillips @MelanieLatest]

Too many people still aren't connecting the dots. This is the second of three guides this week to joining them up.

[BlueStar @bluestarpr]

@pakphile @TheIranWatcher They repeatedly needed the price of oil to move in the direction of their bullish and bearish trades.