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Mohammad Hassan Akhund

Mohammad Hassan Akhund has been named prime minister of Afghanistan. He was sanctioned by the UN after he refused to turn over Osama bin Laden, after al Qaeda carried out the August 1998 US embassy bombings.

Terrorists Run the New Afghan “Government”

Thomas Joscelyn and Bill Roggio at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies' "Long War Journal" have put together short bios for 22 of the leaders of the new Afghanistan government. Unsurprisingly, they are known terrorists:

The Taliban has announced the formation of an "interim government" to rule over Afghanistan. The Taliban’s regime will be known as the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.

… Many of the Taliban leaders discussed below have either current or historical ties to al Qaeda. Indeed, some of them worked closely with al Qaeda throughout their careers. Some of them are US-designated terrorists.

Five of the newly-appointed Taliban leaders were once held at the detention facility in Guantánamo, but were exchanged for Bowe Bergdahl in 2014.

Secretary of State Tony Blinken commented on the new Afghan government yesterday in remarks at the Ramstein Airbase in Germany. He said:

Yesterday the Taliban named a new interim government. We’re assessing the announcement, but despite professing that a new government would be inclusive, the announced list of names consists exclusively of individuals who are members of the Taliban or their close associates, and no women. We’re also concerned by the affiliations and track records of some of those individuals. We understand the Taliban has presented this as a caretaker cabinet. We will judge it, and them, by its actions. The international community has made clear its expectation that the Afghan people deserve an inclusive government.

While we agree that the lack of representation for women and minorities is a problem, isn't the fact that terrorists are running Afghanistan now the biggest worry?

US consulate in Jerusalem, 2018

US Consulate in Jerusalem in 2018, before its functions were moved to the new US Embassy.

Biden Committed to Reopening Consulate to Palestinians

Barak Ravid, writing for Axios from Tel Aviv, reports:

President Biden told Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett during their White House meeting that he will not abandon his plan to reopen the US consulate in Jerusalem, setting up a major point of contention between the administrations.

Ravid notes that reopening the consulate would be “an infringement on Israeli sovereignty in Jerusalem” and something that the Israeli government would have to approve. That makes it a political landmine for the Bennett-Lapid coalition government, one that could topple the government and bring Benjamin Netanyahu back on stage, according to Ravid’s sources.


MORE SPEAKERS HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED! Join us at the RJC National Leadership Meeting in Las Vegas to hear from these great featured guests!

Register today for a terrific weekend of politics and policy featuring top GOP leaders and outstanding VIP speakers. Watch your email for more speaker announcements coming soon!

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RJC in the News

The Washington Times has a follow up report on President Joe Biden’s claim he had visited the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh after the horrific attack there that killed 11 people. The synagogue confirmed that he had not visited the synagogue, then or since.

The White House now says that the President was referring to a phone call with the rabbi of the synagogue.

The President came under fire for implying that he visited the synagogue after the attack. The Washington Times notes:

“The ultimate irony: the person who actually did visit in 2018 with members of the Jewish community? His predecessor,” the Republican Jewish Coalition said on Twitter.

Twin Towers beams of light

September 11 – We Remember

This Saturday we will mark the 20th anniversary of 9/11. An entire generation has been born and grown to young adulthood since the day 3,000 of our fellow Americans were murdered by terrorists on US soil. We must remember the lives lost, the incredible bravery of our first responders, and how we came together as a nation in the face of that attack.

 

But now, twenty years later, we must also pass those memories and the lessons we learned to the next generation and the generations after. To help us to remember and to teach, here are photos from September 2001 as well as a fine essay by Rabbi Benjamin Blech on the lessons of the day.

Short Takes

Afghanistan’s last Jew is bound for New York

Zebulon Simentov, widely considered “Afghanistan’s last Jew,” has been rescued from Kabul and taken to an unnamed neighboring country following the Taliban’s takeover of the country last month, an American-Israeli businessman who spearheaded the evacuation confirmed to Jewish Insider on Wednesday.

Forging the American-Israeli alliance of the future

Dr. Jonathan Schanzer of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies writes: "Shared Western values have been the cornerstone of the US-Israel relationship for more than 70 years. But that relationship now needs a greater sense of common purpose… The United States and Israel must clearly identify the interests and ideas that will sustain their alliance in the future. With foreign policy challenges mounting, the sooner the better."

Palestinians: Why Biden's aid will not bring peace

Khaled Abu Toameh writes that while the Biden administration moves to increase aid to the Palestinian Authority and strengthen Mahmoud Abbas' regime, Palestinians in the West Bank are “clearly unimpressed” by the Biden administration's money or Abbas’ leadership, according to a recent public opinion poll there. A majority of Palestinians in the West Bank prefer Hamas over Abbas and want to see Israel destroyed. In fact, Abu Toameh writes: “[T]he Biden administration is deluding itself by assuming that US funds could change the hearts and minds of the Palestinians.”

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Student Grants for RJC Vegas Meeting

The Republican Jewish Coalition is once again offering grants to current college students to attend our Annual Leadership Meeting in Las Vegas the weekend of November 5-7.

If you or someone you know has shown strong support for both Republican and Jewish causes on campus, please have them apply and take advantage of this opportunity!

This program is for current undergraduate college students only. If you have any questions about the application, please contact Emma Enig at [email protected]

Events

4

Oct.

EVENT WITH JONATHAN TOBIN
in Orlando, Florida

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5

Oct.

EVENT WITH JONATHAN TOBIN
in Boca Raton, Florida

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6

Oct.

EVENT WITH JONATHAN TOBIN
in Aventura, Florida

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7

Oct.

EVENT WITH JONATHAN TOBIN
in Greater Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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5-7

Nov.

RJC ANNUAL LEADERSHIP MEETING
We will be LIVE and IN PERSON in Las Vegas!

Register Now! >>

Watch Now: Replay of Past Virtual Events

You can see recordings of many past RJC virtual events. Go to the RJC homepage and scroll down to the "RJC Live" section. There's a drop-down menu there to select the video you want to see.

RJC staff will return to their offices for in-person work starting September 13. Contact information for our offices can be found on our web site. Please visit us online for the latest RJC news, to see details of upcoming events, and to donate to the RJC.

Republican Jewish Coalition
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