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‘When Israel Is Strong, America Is Strong’: US Politicians Mark Israel’s 77th Independence Day

US Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) addressing the Israeli parliament on May 24, 2024. Photo: Office of Congresswoman Elise Stefanik.

US politicians across the political aisle congratulated Israel as the Jewish state celebrated the 77th anniversary of its independence, noting the importance of the relationship between the two allies.

On Tuesday night, Israel began observing Yom HaZikaron, its annual Memorial Day which commemorates soldiers killed in battle and victims of terrorism since the state’s founding in 1948. Then on Wednesday night, Israel began celebrating Yom HaAtzmaut, its Independence Day. However, many celebrations were canceled or postponed throughout the country as massive wildfires continued to engulf the Jewish state.

This year’s observance comes at a time of heightened political debate and security concerns amid the war in Gaza escalating tensions with Iran, prompting renewed dialogue on unity and national direction. 

US Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) acknowledged Israel’s Independence Day, stating that the holiday represents a testament to the Jewish state’s “strength, spirit, and resilience.”

Stefanik has established herself as a strong ally of the Jewish community. While serving on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, she has lambasted administrators of elite universities for their allegedly mealy-mouthed condemnations of antisemitism and tolerance of anti-Jewish discrimination at their schools. In December 2023, Stefanik engaged in a fiery back-and-forth with the presidents of Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology over their handling of a surge in antisemitism on campus.

“As the sun sets and Yom HaZikaron comes to a close, Israel transitions from mourning to joy —honoring the cost of freedom and celebrating its independence and honoring 76 years of strength, spirit, and resilience,” Stefanik said in a statement.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) also issued a statement celebrating Israel’s Independence Day, vowing to continue to use his platform to support the Jewish community.

“Tonight, NYC City Hall shines blue & white as we honor Israel’s 77th Independence Day. We illuminate in celebration of Yom Ha’atzmaut and stand with Israel and our Jewish community today and always,” Adams said.

In recent weeks, Adams has attempted to salvage his fledging mayoral reelection campaign by underscoring the importance of combatting antisemitism. Last week, reports surfaced that he plans on running on an “EndAntiSemitism” ballot line. Adams, who secured his 2021 mayoral victory with a significant amount of Orthodox Jewish support, has repeatedly spoken out about antisemitism in the aftermath of the Oct. 7, 2023, terror attacks throughout Israel.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) also commemorated Israel’s Independence Day, stating that a strong Israel benefits the United States, and that he will always be a supporter of the Jewish state.

“When Israel is strong, America and the world are strong. I will always stand unequivocally and unapologetically with Israel, our friend and ally,” Cruz said.

Cruz has long been a vocal supporter of Israel, emphasizing the nation’s right to self-defense and sovereignty. In a 2025 address to the Sovereignty Conference in Jerusalem, Cruz affirmed that Israel’s presence in the West Bank is rooted in biblical history and modern legal rights. During a 2021 visit to Israel, he met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stating that Israel not only has the right but a responsibility to defend itself, particularly against threats from Iran and Hamas. Additionally, Cruz has been vocal in criticizing US policies he perceives as undermining Israel’s security, including the administration’s financial dealings with Iran, which he argues have indirectly funded terrorist activities.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) expressed pride in New York’s substantial Jewish community, adding that she stands “in solidarity” with Israel.

“Tonight, we celebrate Yom Ha’atzmaut and Israel’s 77th Independence Day! New York is proud to be the home of the largest Jewish population outside of Israel, and we’re proud to stand in solidarity with the Israeli people,” Hochul wrote. 

Hochul has demonstrated strong support for Israel, particularly in the wake of the Oct. 7 Hamas-led attacks. She led a bipartisan coalition of 17 governors in condemning the massacre and expressing solidarity with Israel, emphasizing the unbreakable bond between the US and the Jewish state. Hochul also visited Israel during the conflict, meeting with victims and officials to reaffirm New York’s commitment. Domestically, she has taken steps to honor victims, such as directing state landmarks to be lit in Israel’s colors and ordering flags at half-staff.

Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, also marked Israel’s Independence Day with a statement on X/Twitter.

“Seventy-seven years ago, the Jewish people declared sovereignty over their ancestral homeland. Happy Independence Day to Israel — our greatest ally in the Middle East,” Mast posted.

Mast has established himself as one of Israel’s most vocal supporters in Congress, intertwining personal experience with legislative advocacy. Mast, a US Army veteran who lost both legs during a tour in Afghanistan, volunteered with the Israel Defense Forces in 2015. Following the October 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel, Mast donned his IDF uniform on Capitol Hill to express support with the Jewish state. As chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, he has championed measures to bolster US-Israel ties, including legislation to prevent US funds from supporting antisemitic education in Gaza.

The post ‘When Israel Is Strong, America Is Strong’: US Politicians Mark Israel’s 77th Independence Day first appeared on Algemeiner.com.

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Belgian Premier Rejects Genocide Allegations Against Israel, Says Not the Time for ‘Palestinian State’ Recognition

Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever speaks at a press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy (not pictured) in Kyiv, Ukraine, April 8, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Thomas Peter

Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever rejected a journalist’s claim that Israel is committing “genocide” in Gaza and argued it is premature to recognize a “Palestinian state” at this time, marking a notable departure from the previous administration’s anti-Israel stance.

During an interview on Wednesday with VRT, the Flemish public broadcaster, journalist Goedele Devroy questioned the Belgian leader about the parliament’s position on the ongoing war in Gaza and a possible shift in its approach toward Israel, following his assertions that the Jewish state is committing genocide in the war-torn enclave.

“On recognizing Palestine, I hear that the majority [in parliament] is working on a resolution to sharpen the tone against the genocide that’s happening there by Israel,” Devroy said.

De Wever rejected the premise of the question, which dismissed Israel’s defensive actions against the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas in Gaza.

“Your line of questioning is extremely dubious,” the Belgian premier said. “You’re already operating under the assumption of genocide — that is something for the International Court of Justice to determine.”

When asked about the possibility of recognizing a “Palestinian state,” De Wever dismissed the idea, stating that it is not the right time, as there are still many unresolved issues that need to be addressed.

“What territory are we recognizing? Which authority? Is it democratic, legitimate? Is it committed to recognizing Israel, to the demilitarization of Hamas and to providing security guarantees, with broader implications for the Arab world?” the Belgian leader said.

Under Belgium’s previous Socialist-led government, the country had been one of Israel’s most vocal critics within the European Union.

For example, Belgium joined South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Since December 2023, South Africa has been pursuing its case at the ICJ, accusing Jerusalem of committing “state-led genocide” in its defensive military campaign that followed the Hamas-led invasion of and massacre across southern Israel.

The previous government also committed to honoring an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over alleged war crimes in Gaza.

In November, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu, his former defense minister, Yoav Gallant, and now-deceased Hamas terror leader Ibrahim al-Masri (better known as Mohammed Deif) for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza war.

The ICC said there were reasonable grounds to believe Netanyahu and Gallant were criminally responsible for starvation in Gaza and the persecution of Palestinians — charges vehemently denied by Israel, which until a recently imposed blockade had provided significant humanitarian aid into the enclave throughout the war.

Israel also says it has gone to unprecedented lengths to try and avoid civilian casualties, despite Hamas’s widely acknowledged military strategy of embedding its terrorists within Gaza’s civilian population and commandeering civilian facilities like hospitals, schools, and mosques to run operations and direct attacks.

However, since taking office, De Wever has shifted Belgium’s foreign policy toward a more pro-Israel stance. His center-right government, led by the National Flemish Alliance party, took power this year after winning the largest share of votes in Belgium’s 2024 general election.

Last month, De Wever said that Belgium would not enforce the ICC arrest warrant against Netanyahu if he were to visit the country.

“There is such a thing as realpolitik,” he said in an interview with VRT. “I don’t think any European country would arrest Netanyahu if he were on their territory. France wouldn’t do it, and I don’t think we would either.”

The post Belgian Premier Rejects Genocide Allegations Against Israel, Says Not the Time for ‘Palestinian State’ Recognition first appeared on Algemeiner.com.

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Trump Says Fewer Than 24 Hostages Still Alive in Gaza, Offers Sympathies to Family of Edan Alexander

US President Donald Trump speaks at the White House, in Washington, DC, Feb. 3, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz

US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he has become aware that fewer than 24 hostages are still alive in Gaza, heightening urgency to rescue the remaining survivors in the war-torn enclave. 

“Out of 59, you had 24 that were living, and now I understand that it’s not even that number,” Trump said during a National Day of Prayer event at the White House.

For several months, Israeli officials have stated that 24 of the 59 hostages who remain in captivity were believed to still be alive in Gaza. However, during a public appearance earlier this week, Sara Netanyahu, wife of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, claimed the actual number was lower than the official count. 

During his remarks on the White House lawn acknowledging the National Day of Prayer, Trump extended sympathies to the family of Edan Alexander, the final American hostage still believed to be alive in Gaza. Alexander’s parents, Adi and Yael, were seated in the audience during Trump’s speech.

“We don’t know how he’s doing, really…. We think we know, and hopefully [it’s] positive,” Trump said, referencing Alexander’s uncertain condition. “Two months ago, we were pretty sure. It looked like he was getting out. But they’ve toughened up a little bit. And it’s a terrible thing, I know, what you’re going through.”

Trump expressed support for the families of the remaining hostages still in Gaza, acknowledging their emotional turmoil.

“We’re working very, very hard to save your son,” he continues. “We have news coming out — both good and bad.”

Alexander, a 21-year-old New Jersey native and soldier in the Israeli army, was taken hostage by Hamas during the Palestinian terrorist group’s Oct. 7, 2023, invasion of and massacre across southern Israel. More than 250 people were kidnapped as hostages during the onslaught.

Alexander’s unknown fate has drawn a great deal of attention in both the US and Israel due to his American citizenship. 

In April, Hamas released a video of Alexander showing the IDF solider alive. However, days later, the terrorist group claimed to lack knowledge of Alexander’s fate, saying that they lost contact with the guards holding him hostage after the location was allegedly hit in an Israeli airstrike.

The post Trump Says Fewer Than 24 Hostages Still Alive in Gaza, Offers Sympathies to Family of Edan Alexander first appeared on Algemeiner.com.

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US-Iran Nuclear Talks Postponed Amid Rising Tensions

USA and Iranian flags are seen in this illustration taken, Sept. 8, 2022. Photo: REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration

The fourth round of nuclear talks between the United States and Iran, which were set to take place in Rome this weekend, have been postponed, with a new date yet to be announced amid rising tensions between Washington and Tehran.

On Thursday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei announced that the fourth round of indirect nuclear talks with US officials, originally scheduled for May 3, had been postponed at the suggestion of the Omani Foreign Minister, who mediated previous negotiations between the two adversaries.

In a post on X, the top Omani diplomat, Badr Albusaidi, confirmed that the upcoming talks had been delayed, stating that new dates will be announced once both sides reach a mutual agreement.

“For logistical reasons, we are rescheduling the US-Iran meeting provisionally planned for Saturday, May 3rd,” Albusaidi said.

Earlier on Thursday, Iran accused Washington of “contradictory behavior and provocative statements” following remarks by US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, who warned Tehran of severe consequences for supporting Yemen’s Houthi militia, an internationally designated terrorist group.

The Iran-backed group, which controls northern Yemen, has been targeting ships in the Red Sea since November 2023, disrupting global trade, while justifying the attacks as acts of solidarity with the Palestinians.

Iran’s accusation against Washington also comes after the US imposed new oil-related sanctions on Tehran this week, as US President Donald Trump continued pursing negotiations over the Iranian nuclear program.

As part of the Trump administration’s “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran — which aims to cut the country’s crude exports to zero and prevent it from obtaining a nuclear weapon — Washington has been targeting Tehran’s oil industry with mounting sanctions.

“US sanctions on Iran during the nuclear talks are not helping the sides to resolve the nuclear dispute through diplomacy,” a senior Iranian official told Reuters. “Depending on the US approach, the date of the next round of talks will be announced.”

Last month, the two adversaries held their first official nuclear negotiation since the US withdrew from a now-defunct 2015 nuclear deal that had imposed temporary limits on Tehran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanction relief.

The first and third rounds of talks were held in Oman, while the second round took place in Rome at the residence of the Omani ambassador.

Tehran has previously rejected halting its uranium enrichment program, insisting that the country’s right to enrich uranium is non-negotiable, despite Washington’s threats of military action, additional sanctions, and tariffs if an agreement is not reached to curb Iran’s nuclear activities.

However, US special envoy Steve Witkoff said that any deal with Iran must require the complete dismantling of its “nuclear enrichment and weaponization program.” Witkoff’s comments came after he received criticism for suggesting the Islamic Republic would be allowed to maintain its nuclear program in a limited capacity.

Despite Iran’s claims that its nuclear program is solely for civilian purposes rather than weapon development, Western states have said there is no “credible civilian justification” for the country’s recent nuclear activity, arguing it “gives Iran the capability to rapidly produce sufficient fissile material for multiple nuclear weapons.”

The post US-Iran Nuclear Talks Postponed Amid Rising Tensions first appeared on Algemeiner.com.

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