Mark Balch

Building new things at home and at work. Having fun @GoogleCloud. Enjoy @modelaircraft, @AYSO_Soccer, @FIRSTweets.

[Mark Balch @markbalch]

Your manager wants your help, so it's time to learn to be the boss. The topic of my latest product management blog post. Let me know if you agree. https://t.co/gHJtRr2ENk

[American Jewish Committee @AJCGlobal]

Huge thanks to @StreamOnMax for creating a section of curated content with Jewish characters and themes for Jewish American Heritage Month. AJC LA was honored to work with them on this important project.

Throughout May, the selection will rotate and include films and shows featuring Mel Brooks, Garry Shandling, Leonard Bernstein, and more — along with documentaries on the Holocaust and antisemitism from Max's outstanding content library.

We encourage all streaming platforms to celebrate JAHM with similar initiatives.

[OpenGov @OpenGovInc]

We are thrilled to share that we have secured a majority investment from our long-time investor @CoxEnterprises! State and local governments across the country are facing more complex challenges than ever and OpenGov intends to meet the moment!

https://t.co/F6AdqV8qLk

[Israel ישראל @Israel]

To the presidents of @Columbia, @nyuniversity, @Harvard and other universities who have stood SILENT as terror supporters have marched through campus and celebrated raping women, executing children and kidnapping grandmothers, you are cowards.

Listen to Columbia Professor and father @ShaiDavidai’s heartbreaking speech:

[Sen. Stewart-Cousins @AndreaSCousins]

Today’s planned rally is completely inappropriate in the wake of the terrorist attack by Hamas. We should never celebrate terrorism and hatred. Now is the time to strive for healing and peace.

[Aviva Klompas @AvivaKlompas]

This is 84-year-old Ditza Heiman. Her family asked that the following be shared:

Our beloved mom, Ditza Heiman, 84 years old, is missing. Terrorists kidnapped her to Gaza from her home in Kibbutz Nir Oz.
Her neighbor heard her calling for help, went out, but understood he couldn’t help her since there were many terrorists outside.
We haven’t heard from her since yesterday (Saturday) around 10 am, and when we tried to call her, someone from the Hamas answered in Arabic.
We are helpless and torn from worry, and no one has contacted us yet to provide information.
Please spread this photo, holding one of her great grandchildren - she loves babies so much - for the whole world to see, and maybe someone will be able to help us.

[Nuseir Yassin @nasdaily]

Personal Thoughts:
(not for everyone, feel free to skip)

For the longest time, I struggled with my identity.

A Palestinian kid born inside Israel. Like…wtf.

Many of my friends refuse to this day to say the word “Israel” and call themselves “Palestinian” only.

But since I was 12, that did not make sense to me.

So I decided to mix the two and become a “Palestinian-Israeli”

I thought this term reflected who I was.
Palestinian first. Israeli second.

But after recent events, I started to think.
And think.
And think.
And then my thoughts turned to anger.

I realized that if Israel were to be “invaded” like that again, we would not be safe. To a terrorist invading Israel, all citizens are targets.

900 Israelis died so far. More than 40 of them are Arabs. Killed by other Arabs. And even 2 Thai people died too.

And I do not want to live under a Palestinian government.

Which means I only have one home, even if I’m not Jewish:

Israel.

That’s where all my family lives. That’s where I grew up. That’s the country I want to see continue to exist so I can exist.

Palestine should exist too as an independent state. And I hope to see the country thrive and become less extreme and more prosperous. I love Palestine and have invested in Palestine.

But it’s not my home.

So from today forward,
I view myself as an “Israeli-Palestinian”.

Israeli first.
Palestinian second.

Sometimes it takes a shock like this to see so clearly.

[Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani @NYCMayor]

At a moment when innocent people are being slaughtered and children kidnapped in Israel, it is disgusting that this group of extremists would show support for terrorism. I reject this. New York City rejects this.

Do not use our streets to spread your hate.

[Governor Kathy Hochul @GovKathyHochul]

The people of Israel are facing violent terrorist attacks and civilian kidnappings. I condemn plans to rally in Times Square tomorrow in support of the perpetrators of these horrific actions. The planned rally is abhorrent and morally repugnant.

[The Mossad: Satirical and Awesome @TheMossadIL]

To most of the world.

Including those who voted against us at the @UN consistently for years.

Including those who told us to "exercise restraint".

Including those who blamed "both sides".

Including those who drew a moral equivalence between the terrorists and those who are required to stop the terrorists.

Thanks for supporting us now, but more than 600 of our civilians, including entire families, men, women, children, and senior citizens had to die before you believed us.

You should have been there for us before.

[Israel ישראל @Israel]

We debated whether or not to share these horrific images, but the world needs to know what we are up against.

These aren’t “freedom fighters”. They are Hamas terrorists, but no different than ISIS terrorists.

Same tactics, different names.

Butchering families, kidnapping grandmothers. Desecrating bodies.

Help us get this message out.

[Israel ישראל @Israel]

This is one of those videos we wish we didn’t have to share.

An Israeli child is executed in front of her siblings and parents who are currently being held hostage by Hamas.

If this isn’t pure evil, nothing is.

Please help us make sure the world knows what is happening.

[Israel ישראל @Israel]

Please keep us in your prayers 🇮🇱

[Italy in Israel @ItalyinIsrael]

Tonight in Rome, the facade of @Palazzo_Chigi, the Italian Prime Minister Office.

Standing with #Israel.

🇮🇹 🇮🇱

@IsraelMFA
@IsraeliPM

[Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani @NYCMayor]

New York City has the largest Jewish population in the world outside of Israel, and we stand side by side with Israel every day — but we do so with extra resolve tonight.

[Adui Wa Yanga @Aduiwayanga]

@Israel Heart broken💔💔 we are with you

[Israel Foreign Ministry @IsraelMFA]

Thank you to all of the governments, foreign ministries and friends around the world who have expressed their solidarity and support for Israel.

Please keep us in your prayers.

[Israel ישראל @Israel]

Thank you 🇮🇱🇬🇧

[Israel ישראל @Israel]

Thank you @EmpireStateBldg ❤️🇮🇱

[Israel Foreign Ministry @IsraelMFA]

Thank you to the people of Berlin for this moving display of support.

We are experiencing a dark day here in Israel and we appreciate all of your support and solidarity.

📸 Brandenburg Gate in Berlin lit up in blue and white

[Joe Biden @JoeBiden]

Let there be no mistake: the United States stands with the State of Israel.