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Top Biden adviser to Middle East to travel to Israel, Qatar to discuss freeing hostages

President Biden’s top adviser on the Middle East is set to travel to Israel, Qatar, and several other countries this week in an effort to discuss ways to free hostages held by Hamas amid Israel’s war against the militant group. 

Sources confirmed to Axios that Brett McGurk is set to travel to the region, according to Israeli and U.S. officials.

The officials told the outlet that McGurk will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and other top Israeli security officials.

The officials said that one of the ideas being discussed is the possibility of securing the release of about 80 women and children hostages in return for the release of Palestinian women and children being held in Israeli prisons, Axios reported.

Israeli officials noted that the proposed deal could also include fuel entering the Gaza Strip. 

Hamas, which has been designated as a terrorist group by the United States and the European Union (EU), is holding nearly 240 hostages.

The sources also said that McGurk is expected to travel to Saudi Arabia and Jordan.

The Hill has reached out to the White House for comment.

Go to Source: Administration News | The Hill

Sen. Tim Scott announces the end of his 2024 presidential campaign

South Carolina Senator Tim Scott announced on Sunday night that he is suspending his 2024 presidential campaign.

Scott dropped the news on an episode of “Sunday Night in America” with Trey Gowdy. The news comes two weeks after former Vice President Mike Pence dropped out of the race.

The South Carolina Republican launched his campaign back in May. He has served as a U.S. senator since 2013.

Go to Source: Latest Political News on Fox News

Ohio Jewish cemetery headstones vandalized with antisemitic graffiti

A Cleveland, Ohio Jewish cemetery was vandalized with antisemitic graffiti, amid increased anti-Jewish acts following the Oct. 7 invasion of Israel by Hamas-led terrorists.

FOX 8 in Cleveland reported that several headstones at the Chesed Shel Emeth Cemetery on Ridge Road were spray painted with red swastikas.

The swastikas were seen as the war between Israel and Hamas enters its fifth week.

HISTORIC RISE IN ANTISEMITISM HAS AMERICAN JEWS ON EDGE: ‘GENERATIONAL CHALLENGE’

The Jewish Federation of Cleveland posted to X, formerly known as Twitter, that it is “absolutely sickening” anyone would hate Jewish people so much they would desecrate a cemetery.

“This cowardly act to violate the memory of our elders only confirms what we already know: the hatred of the Jewish community here, and around the world, now is at a level not seen in generations,” the federation posted in a series of tweets. “We will support law enforcement in any way we can to see that those who are responsible face the consequences of their actions.”

The act is another show of antisemitic hate toward American Jews, which is on the rise.

CHANTS ‘CALLING FOR THE MUDER OF JEWS’ WERE SHOUTED AT ME DURING COOPER UNION PROTEST, STUDENT RECALLS  

Carolyn Normandin, the regional director of the Anti-Defamation League in Michigan, told Fox News Digital about the situation on the ground in Ohio’s neighboring state, saying they typically get two to three incidents a week, but between Oct. 7 and Oct. 21, they got 61 incidents.

Nationwide, the Anti-Defamation League reported a 388% rise in antisemitic incidents over the same period last year.

CORNELL STUDENT ACCUSED OF THREATENING TO BEHEAD JEWISH BABIES TO REMAIN IN JAIL 

As is the case around the country, most of the incidents reported in Michigan involve rallies in which protesters shouted inflammatory calls for violence, “celebrat[ed] the killing of civilians” or “question[ed] that Hamas [carried out] the attacks.”

Rep. Shontel Brown, D-Oh., turned to social media after learning about the vandalized headstones.

ANTISEMITISM EXPOSED

“Saddened and outraged that a Jewish cemetery in Brooklyn has been desecrated,” she posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Sending my thoughts to the local Jewish community-we are with you.

“Antisemitism is clearly on the rise, and we must speak out,” she added. “Antisemitism and all forms of hate have no place in NE Ohio, or anywhere.”

Beth Bailey of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.

Go to Source: Latest Political News on Fox News

Trump believed fringe conspiracy he could be reinstated as president

A new book by ABC’s Jonathan Karl reveals that former President Trump seriously took to a fringe conspiracy that he could be reinstated as president after losing the 2020 election and well after leaving the White House.

Karl’s new book, “Tired of Winning: Donald Trump and the End of the Grand Ole Party,” releasing Tuesday, includes details about how Trump came to believe the theory, which was supported by some of the former president’s staunchest allies. 

Among them was My Pillow CEO Mike Lindell, who falsely peddled the notion that Trump could return to the White House on Aug. 13, 2021 — nearly seven months after the former president left the White House on Inauguration Day.

That groundless theory was linked to QAnon, which also falsely claimed President Biden was not actually the president and that the military was in power until Trump returned to office — which he never did.

In a 2021 interview, Karl asked Trump if he really thought there was a way to have him reinstated before an election. 

“I’m not going to explain it to you, Jonathan, because you wouldn’t — you wouldn’t either understand it or write it,” Trump said, according to ABC News, citing audio of the interview.

Karl reported that Trump brought up the notion of being reinstated so often that some in his inner circle began to worry Trump actually believed he could force Biden out of the White House before the next election.

The idea, which is not rooted in any law, eventually gave other Trump supporters serious pause, including former Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.), who was booed while running for a Senate seat after suggesting Trump supporters put the 2020 election behind them.

Earlier this year, Brooks told Karl in an interview that Trump called the Alabama congressman in 2021 with several election-related asks.

“He asked me to publicly state that Donald Trump should be allowed to move back into the White House, reinstated as president,” Brooks told Karl.

Brooks went on to lose the Senate bid after Trump rescinded his endorsement for not delivering on making the claim of reinstatement. When asked if Trump truly believed he could be reinstated, Brooks said: “I sure hope not.”

“Because if he truly believed that, then he was way outside the bounds of reality.”

Alyssa Farah Griffin, who served as Trump’s White House communications director, responded to Karl’s reporting on ABC’s “This Week” on Sunday calling it “stunning.”

“But the fact that someone who is the former commander in chief very well could be again, was buying into something so absurd, so patently false, underscores how dangerous Donald Trump is,” she said.

Go to Source: Administration News | The Hill