The "Middle East and Terrorism" Blog was created in order to supply information about the implication of Arab countries and Iran in terrorism all over the world. Most of the articles in the blog are the result of objective scientific research or articles written by senior journalists.
From the Ethics of the Fathers: "He [Rabbi Tarfon] used to say, it is not incumbent upon you to complete the task, but you are not exempt from undertaking it."
Iran expert says US must track, isolate and sanction Iran to stop any effort to rebuild its nuclear program
A top expert on the Iran nuclear program believes
the regime's atomic program has been obliterated by Saturday night’s
strikes by the United States.
"The nuclear
program is no longer," Jonathan Schanzer, Executive Director of the
Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a "national security and foreign
policy" think tank, told Fox News Digital.
"Sources in Israel
report with high confidence that this chapter is over. Responsible
parties must still remove nuclear materials from the facility in
Isfahan. But that appears to be the final page to turn," he continued.
President
Donald Trump said during his address on Saturday night that "Iran’s key
nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally
obliterated."
Fox News reported earlier on that Isfahan was "the hardest target," according to a senior U.S. official.
"Everyone
was talking about and focused on Fordow, but Isfahan was actually the
hardest target," the official said on background. The U.S. used B-2
bombers to carry out the mission.
A senior U.S. official also told Fox News that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu communicated after the strikes and that Israel had been informed ahead of time.
A map shows where Iran's most important nuclear facilities are situated.(Fox News/FDD)
Lisa
Daftari, Iran expert and Editor-in-Chief of The Foreign Desk, told Fox
News Digital, "Both Israeli and U.S. officials understand that anything
less than total destruction of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure will only
result in a temporary pause, not a permanent end. But to truly end
Iran’s nuclear ambitions, the U.S. and its allies must commit to a
campaign—beyond these targeted strikes—backed by sustained pressure,
intelligence, and the credible threat of further action if Iran attempts
to rebuild.
"To ensure the eradication of the regime’s nuclear
weapons capability, the U.S. must maintain persistent intelligence,
surveillance, and reconnaissance to detect any attempts by Iran’s regime
to disperse, hide or rebuild its nuclear infrastructure. This would be
coupled with continued diplomatic isolation and strict multilateral
sanctions blocking the regime’s access to nuclear technology, materials
and financing," she said.
Trump announced that the U.S. had struck
nuclear sites in Iran – a major development amid rising tensions in the
region, as Israel and Iran continued to launch airstrikes against each
other.
Vice
President JD Vance, from left, President Donald Trump, Marco Rubio, US
secretary of state, and Pete Hegseth, secretary of defense, during an
address to the nation in the East Room of the White House in Washington,
D.C., on Saturday, June 21, 2025. Trump said the U.S. military had
struck three sites in Iran on Saturday, marking the first American
involvement in direct attacks against Iranian nuclear assets in its
conflict with Israel. (Carlos Barria/Reuters/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
"We
have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in
Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan. All planes are now outside
of Iran air space. A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary
site, Fordow," Trump posted to Truth Social on Saturday night.
"All
planes are safely on their way home. Congratulations to our great
American Warriors. There is not another military in the World that could
have done this. NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE! Thank you for your attention
to this matter," he continued.
Fox News' Sean Hannity said on Saturday night that President Donald Trump had given him details on the U.S. strikes in Iran.
According to the "Hannity" host, the U.S. used six bunker-buster bombs —
each of which weighs 15 tons — in its strikes on Iran's Fordow nuclear
facility. The bombs were dropped from American B-2 stealth bombers.
During
a press conference on Sunday morning, the number of bunker busters used
was updated to 14 by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Lt. Gen. Dan
Caine.
"President
Trump took decisive leadership and action to eliminate the last
vestiges of Iran's nuclear weapons program, after Israel’s sustained
strikes, which seriously damaged the atomic weapons supply chain from
uranium conversion to enrichment, and all the way to weaponization,"
Andrea Stricker, FDD's Director of Nonproliferation and Biological
Weapons told Fox News Digital.
"While Tehran's program is likely
set back by years, the United States and Israel need to ensure the
regime's highly enriched uranium stockpiles and all secret advanced
centrifuges are fully recovered and destroyed — which means more work
ahead," she added.
In
this picture released by an official website of the office of the
Iranian supreme leader, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, right,
reviews armed forces. (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP)
Fordow
had two entrances and one ventilation shaft, which likely served as the
entrance points for the Massive Ordnance Penetrators (MOPs).
Additionally, 30 Tomahawk missiles
launched from U.S. submarines were used in the attacks on the Nanatz
and Isfahan facilities. There is speculation that the missiles were shot
from an Ohio Class Submarine, but there has been no confirmation.
Fox News’ Jennifer Griffin contributed to this report.
is a politics writer at Fox News Digital in Washington D.C. Story tips
can be sent to Cameron.Arcand@Fox.com and on Twitter: @cameron_arcand
Pennsylvania senator salutes US as 'finest military in the world' following major operation targeting Iran's underground nuclear facilities
Sen. John Fetterman,
D-Pa, backed President Donald Trump's decision to have the United
States attack three of Iran’s most fortified underground nuclear sites
amid rapidly escalating tensions in the Middle East and intensifying
Israeli and U.S. military operations against Iranian targets.
Fetterman called the move "correct" in a post on X just minutes after Trump shared the news on Truth Social.
"As
I’ve long maintained, this was the correct move by @POTUS," Fetterman
said. "Iran is the world’s leading sponsor of terrorism and cannot have
nuclear capabilities. I’m grateful for and salute the finest military in
the world."
U.S.
Senator John Fetterman expressed support following President Donald
Trump's announcement that the U.S. struck Iran's nuclear infrastructure
Saturday evening.(Scott Eisen/Getty Images)
Trump declared the operation a "very successful attack" targeting Iran’s key nuclear sites at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan.
"We
have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in
Iran, incluidng Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan," Trump wrote in the
announcement. "All planes are now outside of Iran air space. A full
payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow. All planes are
safely on their way home. Congratulations to our great American
Warriors. There is not another military in the World that could have
done this."
President Donald Trump called the operation against Iran's nuclear facilities a "very successful attack" Saturday evening. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc)
He
concluded his statement with a call for de-escalation: "NOW IS THE TIME
FOR PEACE! Thank you for your attention to this matter."
The overnight strike against Iran’s Fordow nuclear facility
involved six bunker buster bombs, Trump told Fox News’ Sean Hannity
Saturday night. Additionally, 30 Tomahawk missiles were launched from
U.S. submarines in the attacks on Natanz and Isfahan facilities.
The
strike, marking a major escalation in an already volatile landscape,
comes after more than a week of strikes by Israel to eradicate Iran's
offensive missile capabilities.
Smoke
rises from a building in Iran following an Israeli strike in Tehran,
Iran, on June 16, 2025. The United States has joined Israel in attacking
Iran Saturday by striking three key nuclear facilities.(AP Photo)
The extent of the damage caused to Iran’s nuclear infrastructure so far remains unclear.
Fox News' Jasmine Baehr contributed to this report.
Ronn Blitzer is an editor for Fox News Digital covering politics and breaking news.
Sanders interrupted mid-speech as crowd chants, 'No more wars,' after successful U.S. strike on Iran's nuclear facilities
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., was delivering remarks
at a "Fighting Oligarchy" rally in Tusla, Okla., on Saturday night when
President Donald Trump announced the United States had successfully attacked three nuclear sites in Iran.
An aide interrupted Sanders' remarks to deliver the message Trump had just blasted off on Truth Social.
"We
have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in
Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan," Trump said in the post.
Sanders
read the piece of paper with Trump's Truth Social post to his
supporters, shaking his head as the socialist senator processed what the
president had just announced. "No more wars!" the crowd chanted.
Sen.
Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., speaks during a "Fighting Oligarchy" tour event
at Arizona State University, Thursday, Mar. 20, 2025, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Trump
added in the post: "All planes are now outside of Iran air space. A
full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow. All
planes are safely on their way home. Congratulations to our great
American Warriors. There is not another military in the World that could
have done this. NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE! Thank you for your attention
to this matter."
Sanders nodded along as the crowd continued to chant, "No more wars!" before responding to the news in real time.
He said the news was not only "alarming," but "so grossly unconstitutional."
"All
of you know that the only entity that can take this country to war is
the U.S. Congress. The president does not have the right," Sanders
shouted.
Sanders joins the bipartisan coalition in Congress who
have called out the "unconstitutionality" of Trump striking Iran without
congressional approval.
A bipartisan War Powers Resolution
was introduced in the House of Representatives this week as strikes
between Israel and Iran raged on, and the world stood by to see if Trump
would strike. Congress has the sole power to declare war under Article I of the Constitution.
U.S.
President-elect Donald Trump speaks at a news conference at Trump's
Mar-a-Lago resort on December 16, 2024 in Palm Beach, Florida.(Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
The
War Powers Resolution seeks to "remove United States Armed Forces from
unauthorized hostilities in the Islamic State of Iran" and directs Trump
to "terminate" the deployment of American troops against Iran without
an "authorized declaration of war or specific authorization for use of
military forces against Iran."
"The American people do not want
more war, more death!" Sanders said. "It might be a good idea if we
concentrated on the problems that exist in Oklahoma and Vermont rather
than getting involved in another war that the American people do not
want."
But Sanders told the crowd not to give up on their vision for America's future.
"In
this moment in American history, what we have got to do in Vermont and
Oklahoma, in Texas, all over this country, is stand up and fight back,
and tell them this is our country!" Sanders said.
Sanders has been a vocal opponent of the United States joining Israel in its war against Iran as Trump weighed striking its nuclear facilities.
Israeli
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Israel Katz and
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich attend a Plenum session of the
Knesset, Israel's Parliament, in Jerusalem, June 11, 2025.(REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun)
"Netanyahu is not the President of the United States," Sanders said on social media earlier this week.
"He
should not be determining U.S. foreign and military policy. If the
people of Israel support his decision to start a war with Iran, that is
their business and their war. The United States must not be a part of
it," he added.
The democratic socialist has been a vocal opponent
of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's war against Gaza since Israel
retaliated following Hamas' terrorist attacks on Oct. 7, 2023.
After Israel launched preemptive strikes against Iran's nuclear facilities last week, Sanders said it was "just his latest violation of international law," likening Netanyahu to a "war criminal."
The
Vermont senator was speaking at his second rally of the day, part of
his southern swing of the "Fighting Oligarchy" tour that Sanders started
in response to Trump's sweeping second-term agenda.
Rep. Greg
Casar, D-Tx., and former Rep. Beto O'Rourke, D-Tx., are slated to join
the Vermont senator at his rallies in Texas on Sunday.
And Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., joined Sanders on his Western swing of the tour earlier this year.
The
tour targets deep red districts currently held by Republicans, a
strategy picked up by Gov. Tim Walz, D-Minn., who hosted town halls in
Republican congressional districts, and the Democratic National
Committee (DNC) through their "People's Town Halls" across the United
States.
Sanders also held a rally in House Speaker Mike Johnson's hometown of Shreveport, La., on Saturday.
Deirdre Heavey is a politics writer for Fox News Digital.
Zuheir Mohsen in an interview for the Dutch Newspaper Trouw: "The Palestinian people does not exist. The creation of a Palestinian state is only a means for continuing our struggle against the state of Israel for our Arab unity. In reality today there is no difference between Jordanians, Palestinians, Syrians and Lebanese. Only for political and tactical reasons do we speak today about the existence of a Palestinian people, since Arab national interests demand that we posit the existence of a distinct "Palestinian people" to oppose Zionism.
The fiction of a "Palestinian
people" was admitted by a late Palestine Liberation Organization senior
official Zuheir Mohsen in an interview for the Dutch Newspaper Trouw:
"The Palestinian people does not exist. The creation of a Palestinian
state is only a means for continuing our struggle against the state of
Israel for our Arab unity. In reality today there is no difference
between Jordanians, Palestinians, Syrians and Lebanese. Only for
political and tactical reasons do we speak today about the existence of a
Palestinian people, since Arab national interests demand that we posit
the existence of a distinct "Palestinian people" to oppose Zionism. Yes,
the existence of a separate Palestinian identity exists only for
tactical reasons...." — Zuheir Mohsen to James Dorsey, "Wij zijn alleen
Palestijn om politieke reden", Trouw, March 31, 1977.
None of the nations that vehemently supported the irrationality
of a Palestinian state ever mentioned the slaughter by Hamas of Israel's
innocents; the 54-59 hostages still held by Hamas, only 21 of whom are
believed to remain alive, or that Hamas, not Israel, had started the
war, or that the war could end immediately if Hamas returned the
hostages, which they had no business kidnapping in the first place, and
laid down its arms.
The short reply of the US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee to Macron was: "No Palestinian state likely in our lifetime."
"Britain is choosing to appease its own Islamists, while treating
as an enemy the country that is not only fighting the same existential
foe but is vital to help the United Kingdom defend itself against it." —
Melanie Phillips, JNS, June 5, 2025.
It is a choice: the West is allowing its hard-won freedoms,
primacy of individual rights and freedom of expression to be
compromised.
France's President Emmanuel Macron, true to his predictable
outlook, declared that "[t]he existence of a Palestinian state 'is not
just simply a moral duty but also a political necessity,'" The short
reply of the US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee to Macron was: "No
Palestinian state likely in our lifetime." Pictured: Huckabee at his
Senate Foreign Relations Committee confirmation hearing on March 25,
2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
The mass campaign to "Globalize the intifada" essentially means "Globalize Jew-hate" -- a short step to the stated intent of some Islamists to ultimately eradicate Jews globally.
This outcome is what many demonstrators seem to seek when they use
supporting the cause of the so-called Palestinian people as a
subterfuge, a Trojan horse, to hide their homicidal aims against the
Jews, starting with Israel.
Problematically, the Palestinian people do not actually exist. They
are ordinary Arabs who happened to be on the land called Israel, who
decided to flee during the 1948 war, but then, after the five Arab
armies lost, were not allowed back. Israel considered them disloyal
fifth-columnists who had left of their own free will and a potential
risk, in contrast to the Arabs who remained in Israel during the war.
The fiction of a "Palestinian people" was admitted by a late Palestine
Liberation Organization senior official Zuheir Mohsen in an interview for the Dutch Newspaper Trouw:
"The Palestinian people does not exist. The creation of a
Palestinian state is only a means for continuing our struggle against
the state of Israel for our Arab unity. In reality today there is no
difference between Jordanians, Palestinians, Syrians and Lebanese. Only
for political and tactical reasons do we speak today about the existence
of a Palestinian people, since Arab national interests demand that we
posit the existence of a distinct "Palestinian people" to oppose
Zionism. Yes, the existence of a separate Palestinian identity exists
only for tactical reasons....."
— Zuheir Mohsen to James Dorsey, "Wij zijn alleen Palestijn om politieke reden", Trouw, March 31, 1977.
In plain words, the suffering Palestinian civilians are being used as
a front, a 'human face', for a far deeper aim which is, ultimately, the
overthrow first of Israel, then of America, the West, its civilization and Judeo-Christian values.
Due to the substantial success of jihadist mass propaganda, Jews, Israelis and their supporters are frequently assaulted in Europe and elsewhere, or denied defending their views, and explaining their views in the public arena. They seem to be silenced at every possible turn by mass hysteria and so blocked from opportunities to address the countless defamatory charges of "blood-libel" so frequently made against Israel and the Jews.
The recent turn of events should be not surprising when one realizes, for instance, that Qatar – the ideological home of the Muslim Brotherhood Islamist movement (which supports Hamas and other jihadists) -- has donated some one billion dollars in the last few decades to the Georgetown University in the US.
Georgetown
has "long held a reputation for academic excellence and elite political
access. Its School of Foreign Service has educated U.S. presidents,
senators, diplomats and global leaders." Qatar, amongst other foreign agents, thus has an agenda to sow seeds of anti-Western discord in favour of Islamism in other influential US universities as well (see Appendix).
Certain nations -- all apparently freedom loving, democratic, and
which fall within the Western tradition -- have either sanctioned Israel
(often possibly meaning Jews) or called for the immediate establishment
of a Palestinian State within Israel's borders (such as the West Bank)
or on its boundary, as with Gaza, ruled by the Iranian-backed terrorist
group, Hamas. The primary opponents, apart from the United Nations and
other unelected untransparent unaccountable transnational entities such
as the European Union, can be identified as France, Canada, Spain,
Ireland and Norway presumably in attempts to appease their Muslim
electorate. By so doing, they undermine not just Israel's international
rights of security and existence, .but sadly and ironically, their own.
It is one thing when random individuals or groups call to "globalize the intifada," but when leaders of Western nations effectively call for the same thing against Israel (again, possibly Jews), then that can develops into a movement that snowballs.
In early June, Britain and four other nations including Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Norway sanctioned two Israeli cabinet ministers: Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.
"The ministers," a joint statement by all five nations explained, "were targeted for 'inciting violence against Palestinians'" to which Ben-Gvir retorted,
"Continue putting your head in the sand." He had apparently already
posted an "AI-generated picture of London's Big Ben under a Palestinian
keffiyeh headgear."
The insanity of a new move for sanctions against Israel is
particularly grotesque in view of the fact that Hamas was the entity
that initiated violence on October 7, 2023, and that continues its
violence against Israel, the hostages, and the Palestinians themselves.
Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong also sanctioned the Israeli ministers (but no Hamas or Hezbollah members) with no successful
resistance from the opposition political parties. This is the same Wong
who previously invited thousands of Palestinians from Gaza to settle in
Australia without meaningful background checks.
US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio "urged reversal of the sanctions [against Israel] and said the US stands 'shoulder-to-shoulder with Israel.'" He elaborated:
"We reject any notion of equivalence: Hamas is a
terrorist organisation that committed unspeakable atrocities, continues
to hold innocent civilians hostage, and prevents the people of Gaza from
living in peace."
On the same theme, also in June, France and Saudi Arabia planned a UN conference on Palestinian statehood. The US responded
by issuing a caution to participating nations which emphasized that the
conference was contrary to U.S. foreign-policy interests. Washington a
published statement which read in part:
"The United States opposes any steps that would
unilaterally recognise a conjectural Palestinian state, which adds
significant legal and political obstacles to the eventual resolution of
the conflict and could coerce Israel during a war, thereby supporting
its enemies."
France's President Emmanuel Macron, true to his predictable outlook,
declared that "[t]he existence of a Palestinian state 'is not just
simply a moral duty but also a political necessity,'" according
to Reuters. None of the nations that vehemently supported the
irrationality of a Palestinian state ever mentioned the slaughter by
Hamas of Israel's innocents; the 54-59 hostages still held by Hamas, only 21
of whom are believed to remain alive, or that Hamas, not Israel, had
started the war, or that the war could end immediately if Hamas returned
the hostages, which they had no business kidnapping in the first place,
and laid down its arms.
The short reply of the US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee to Macron was: "No Palestinian state likely in our lifetime."
"We've never seen anything like this onslaught before.," wrote
the British columnist Melanie Phillips. "And this lunacy is now
gripping various Western governments formerly considered to be Israel's
allies."
The distressing fact of the matter is that the "West has turned against Israel." The reason seems clear. with The UK is a pertinent example:
"Britain is choosing to appease its own Islamists, while
treating as an enemy the country that is not only fighting the same
existential foe but is vital to help the United Kingdom defend itself
against it."
The same contention applies to most of Western Europe.
These Western European nations, with an ever increasing number of
Muslim newcomers , are on the brink of becoming Islamist havens within
the foreseeable future. Western civilization, which was founded in
Europe, and has endured for centuries, will soon be replaced by Sharia
law – values antithetical to those of the Bible, the Magna Carta and
the Enlightenment. It is a choice: the West is allowing its hard-won
freedoms, primacy of individual rights and freedom of expression to be
compromised.
Jew-hatred, now carried to extremes, reveals a mass movement not seen
since Nazi Germany. This movement has enveloped the hitherto allies of
Israel in Western Europe. Some Europeans, while under Nazi occupation
were, frankly, complicit to various degrees in the deportation and
execution of war-time Jews.
Dark times appear to lie ahead for Europe. Its future might be even
more dire than that of Israel. Their leaders remain in denial of the
lethal threats to their nation and its traditional culture. Civil war
possibly awaits them in the near future as recent events in Northern Ireland, and Dublin, Ireland, indicate.
Israel, on the other hand, has always been prepared for war and
terror, to various degrees, and is well able to recognise and defeat its
enemies, as history confirms. Perhaps the escalation of Jew-hatred in
the diaspora will serve as a wake-up call to those sowing division in
Israel's society and seeking the downfall of most the most competent and
courageous prime minister, Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu, in recent
decades,
The age-old adage remains pertinent, "United we stand, divided we
fall." Israel's political agitators should take note, this is no longer a
trivial matter but one that questions the viability of the future
existence of the West.
Nils A. Haug is an author and columnist. A Lawyer by
profession, he is member of the International Bar Association, the
National Association of Scholars, the Academy of Philosophy and Letters.
Dr. Haug holds a Ph.D. in Apologetical Theology and is author of
'Politics, Law, and Disorder in the Garden of Eden – the Quest for
Identity'; and 'Enemies of the Innocent – Life, Truth, and Meaning in a
Dark Age.' His work has been published by First Things Journal, The
American Mind, Quadrant, Minding the Campus, Gatestone Institute,
National Association of Scholars, Jewish Journal, James Wilson Institute
(Anchoring Truths), Jewish News Syndicate, Tribune Juive, Document
Danmark, and many others.
Appendix (Generated by Perplexity AI)
US Universities Funded by Qatar
Qatar has become the largest foreign donor to US universities, with
contributions totaling between $4.7 billion and $6.3 billion since the
1980s, and donations accelerating in recent years. Much of this funding
is channeled through the Qatar Foundation and is linked to the
establishment and ongoing support of US university branch campuses in
Doha's Education City, as well as research grants and institutional
partnerships.
Major US Universities Receiving Qatari Funding
Cornell University
Cornell has received over $1.95 billion directly from Qatar
between 2001 and 2023, primarily to support its Weill Cornell
Medicine–Qatar campus and related projects.
Additional Qatari funding has supported Sidra Hospital in Doha, which is partly operated by Cornell.
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M's Qatar campus (TAMUQ) has received over $1
billion from the Qatar Foundation, funding more than 500 research
projects, including some in sensitive fields such as nuclear research,
biotechnology, and cybersecurity.
The Qatar Foundation retains ownership of intellectual property from
these projects, raising concerns about national security and dual-use
research.
Georgetown University
Georgetown's School of Foreign Service in Qatar has received over $760 million in funding from Qatar.
Between 2015 and 2023, Georgetown received $210 million from Qatar, according to federal records.
Northwestern University
Northwestern University established a journalism school in Qatar
(NU-Q) in 2008 and has received over $600 million in funding from
Qatar.
The university's Education Department reported that funding began
with donations and expanded to support scholarships and research.
Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon's Qatar campus has received over $740 million in funding from Qatar.
The main campus in Pittsburgh received $301 million between 2020 and 2023.
Virginia Commonwealth University
VCU's Qatar campus has received between $100 million and $125 million from Qatar in recent years.
Yale University
Yale has received at least $15.9 million from Qatar since 2012, though only a small portion was officially declared.
Evidence suggests more extensive institutional collaboration and funding than publicly reported.
Harvard University
Harvard has accepted over $8 million from Qatar since 2020.
Other Universities
At least 63 US universities have received donations from Qatar,
but only a small fraction have fully disclosed these funds as required
by law.
The list includes other institutions with smaller or less publicized Qatari partnerships.
Methods and Concerns
Most of the funding is funneled through the Qatar Foundation, a
state-linked entity, and is often tied to the operation of branch
campuses in Doha or research collaborations.
There are significant concerns about transparency, as many
universities have not fully disclosed the extent of their Qatari
funding, in violation of federal reporting requirements.
Some agreements grant the Qatari state access to intellectual
property and sensitive research, raising national security and academic
freedom concerns.
Critics argue that this funding is part of a broader Qatari strategy
to buy influence in Western academia and shape discourse, though Qatari
officials deny these allegations.
Ex-Mossad chief says U.S. strikes dealt major blow to Iran's nuclear ambitions, urges Israeli leadership to pursue regime change in Tehran.
Fmr. Mossad Director Yossi Cohen Flash 90
Former Mossad Director Yossi Cohen estimated in an interview on Sunday with Channel 12 that the US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities "totally halted the nuclear program."
"Over
the years, we significantly delayed the nuclear program. They didn't
get there because of actions we took. At this stage, at least three
components have met - one, the extraordinary readiness of the IDF, which
was equipped with additional capabilities. The second is the
intelligence and the International Atomic Energy Commission, which
clearly stated that Iran is avoiding supervision. The third, a different
president in the White House, more seasoned, experienced, and
determined, who gives extraordinary backing to the Prime Minister, and
thankfully so," Cohen stated.
In Cohen's opinion, the next step
must be a regime change in Iran. "We wasted many years when we could
have attacked. The Biden administration didn't go in that direction. I
recommend that the Prime Minister seize the opportunity and cause the
Iranian regime to fall. I don't rule out the elimination of Khamenei."
None of the 12 full generals -- active or in retirement -- that the regime still has, have adopted Khamenei's end-of-times posture.
I think the overall mood in
Iran, including in the ruling circles, is against Khamenei's "to the
last drop of blood" posturing, if only because people know this is
posturing from a leader who is personally secure in his hideout.
None of the 12 full generals -- active or in retirement -- that
the regime still has, have adopted Khamenei's end-of-times posture.
Nor is there any sign of the countless number of pot-bellied
one-star generals whose boastful presence polluted Iranian airwaves and
screens for decades.
After a week in purdah, "Supreme Guide" Ali Khamenei broke
his silence on Wednesday with a brief and enigmatic message (pictured)
recorded in his current secret location. (Photo by Iranian Supreme
Leader's Press Office via Getty Images)
After a week in purdah, "Supreme Guide" Ali Khamenei broke his
silence on Wednesday with a brief and enigmatic message recorded in his
current secret location.
Well, the location may be secret to most of us but not to Israel and
its US ally, who claim they know where the "Guide" is hiding.
This was a strange message.
At no point did the "Guide" admit that Iran was facing a major crisis.
He spoke of "an imposed war" without specifying who imposed it and
how, while implicitly claiming that Iran had no part in provoking it.
In other words, if he doesn't know why the war was imposed, he can't
pretend to have any idea how to end it. Instead, he seemed to wish the
war to continue ad infinitum by pretending that the US was demanding
Iran's "unconditional surrender," something that, he boasted, the
Iranian nation shall never accept.
By making the US the principal target of his real or fake ire,
Khamenei hoped to minimize the humiliation of having suffered a bad
beating at the hands of what he likes to describe as a "midget" with
dreams of grandeur.
The fact, however, is that the US has not declared war on Iran and
thus cannot see "unconditional surrender" as its goal. True, President
Donald Trump put the phrase UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER on his social media
account (in capital letters) like the "think of" notes one posts on the
refrigerator in the kitchen.
To treat it as a formal position of the United States in the absence
of a declaration of war by Washington requires a leap that only the
Guide's poetical imagination may conjure.
Khamenei avoided any mention of Islam and shied away from his usual
claim that Iran was part of a broader Islamic ummah rather than an
independent nation. "The Iranian nation shall never surrender," he
drummed up.
He forgot that if and when a call for "unconditional surrender"
comes, it won't be addressed to the Iranian nation only because friend
and foe know that the Iranian nation had no say in policies that
triggered this tragic conflict and no power to even consider it as an
option unless there is a new regime in Tehran. And in case there is a
new regime, you may be sure that no one would demand an unconditional
surrender from a nation that has never been an enemy either of Israel or
the United States.
If the "Supreme Guide" isn't talking on behalf of the Iranian nation at this juncture, whom does he represent?
Can it be the Islamic Republic regime's governing instances? That isn't certain either.
Iran's High Council of National Security, which, under the current
constitution, has the mission to decide matters related to war and
peace, issued a brief statement just before the "Leader" taped the
message in his hideout. In it, the council does not drag in the US.
Nor does it echo Khamenei's bitter-endism.
Instead, it expresses a wish for an end to the bloodshed and insists that it shall retaliate only if attacks continue.
To be sure, that double game may be a repeat of the trick the mullahs
have often used to hoodwink the Western powers and beg for sympathy in
leftist and "progressive" circles in Paris, London and Washington.
Nevertheless, I think the overall mood in Iran, including in the
ruling circles, is against Khamenei's "to the last drop of blood"
posturing, if only because people know this is posturing from a leader
who is personally secure in his hideout.
Khamenei's faux defiance does not reflect the mood of the inner
circles of influence in Tehran, who may see him as a down-market version
of the Wizard of Oz, who, though he may be a good man, is a hopeless
wizard.
None of the 12 full generals -- active or in retirement -- that the
regime still has, have adopted Khamenei's end-of-times posture. Of the
commanders-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps still
alive, only one, Mohsen Rezai Mir-Qaed, has spewed fire and brimstone
against Israel and the US. But then he is generally regarded as
something of a stand-up comedian, often grandstanding while barely
standing.
Nor is there any sign of the countless number of pot-bellied one-star
generals whose boastful presence polluted Iranian airwaves and screens
for decades.
From the big mullahs, only one, marketed as Grand Ayatollah Nuri
Hamadani, has said that Khamenei's "gahzis" are on their way to
Jerusalem (Quds) via Karbala while, in fact, the movement is in opposite
direction.
Finally, Khamenei's message tries to cast him as a well-wishing
adviser to Trump. "America's entry into this problem will be 100 percent
against US interest," he says. "The US will be hit and suffer more than
Iran will suffer."
Gatestone Institute would like to thank the author for his kind
permission to reprint this article in slightly different form from Asharq Al-Awsat. He graciously serves as Chairman of Gatestone Europe.
Amir Taheri was the executive editor-in-chief of the daily Kayhan
in Iran from 1972 to 1979. He has worked at or written for innumerable
publications, published eleven books, and has been a columnist for Asharq Al-Awsat since 1987.
Kraft Heinz is one of the latest food companies to announce the removal of synthetic dyes from products, amid a demand from Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Food company Kraft Heinz is the
latest food giant to announce it will be removing artificial dyes from
its food products and will not release any new products with artificial
dyes.
“The vast majority of our products use natural or no colors, and
we’ve been on a journey to reduce our use of (artificial) colors across
the remainder of our portfolio,” Kraft Heinz’s North America president
Pedro Navio said late last week.
Kraft Heinz's decision comes amid pressure from Health and Human
Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who reportedly met with
executives from Kraft Heinz and General Mills, telling them to remove
the dyes before the end of his term, according to CNN.
The FDA under the Biden administration banned Red Dye No. 3, which some studies have linked to health problems, before President Donald Trump took office and Kennedy was sworn in as HHS secretary.
The Food and Drug Administration currently allows the use of multiple
synthetic dyes in food. Kennedy has been an outspoken critic of dyes in
foods, arguing that they are linked to health issues.
The "Make America Healthy Again" movement has also been critical pesticides and toxic ingredients in American food.
The CEO of Tyson Foods announced in May that the company has been working to remove petroleum-based synthetic dyes in food products.
Food and Beverage Corp. PepsiCo is expected to phase out artificial
ingredients from their products by the end of 2025, according to CEO
Ramon Laguarta.
"We've been leading the transformation of the industry now for a long
time on sodium reduction, sugar reduction and better fats," Laguarta
said in April, according to Fox News.
Other companies making progress with removing dyes include Danone North America and TreeHouse Foods.
Earlier this month, Florida GOP Rep. Anna Paulina Luna introduced legislation titled the "Do or Dye Act of 2025," which would codify Kennedy's directive to remove the eight artificial dyes linked to health issues.
“For too long, the FDA has turned a blind eye while toxic,
petroleum-based dyes like Red 40 and Yellow 5 have flooded our grocery
shelves—often in foods marketed directly to kids,” Luna said in a statement.
"The Do or Dye Act puts an end to this insanity and takes real action
to protect American families. It’s time we stop feeding our children
chemicals that are banned in other countries. Let’s Make America Healthy
Again."
The Trump Administration’s “trade, not aid” Africa strategy confronts China’s influence by empowering U.S. businesses and promoting fair, rules-based economic partnerships.
In another welcome sign of the Trump Administration’s focused
prioritization of American interests in foreign policy, the State
Department’s Senior Bureau Official for African Affairs recently rolled out a
clear-eyed approach to U.S. engagement in Africa. As part of a
long-overdue restructuring of the State Department, the Trump
Administration articulated a directive to U.S. diplomats that puts
enhanced trade and commercial diplomacy at the forefront of advancing
U.S. interests, with the American private sector squarely in the lead as
the engine of mutual prosperity and expansive growth. As highlighted
throughout a hearing by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee recently, threats
from Chinese activities across Africa, especially commercial
activities, directly undermine U.S. interests across the continent.
Subcommittee Chairman Ted Cruz (R-TX) laid out the challenge
directly, calling China “the most significant long-term strategic threat
to the United States” and highlighting that throughout Africa, “China
is exercising its military, economic, and political power and advancing
its authoritarian agenda, all while undermining the sovereignty of
African nations and the strategic interests of the United States.” To
help confront this harmful influence directly, the Trump
Administration’s updated strategy prioritizes the need to reduce
barriers to entry for U.S. companies and level the playing field for
American businesses. Fair, clear, and equal rules of doing business,
coupled with strengthened institutions and the rule of law to uphold
those standards, are the opportunity the private sector seeks as it
evaluates prospective markets. Coupled with broader Trump Administration
reforms at trade promotion and enhanced prioritization ensuring
American competitiveness in Africa, this strategic focus on “trade, not
aid” is what both our African partners and the American people want.
The success of this strategy goes beyond the ongoing reorganization
and strategic restructuring of the state. As Senate Foreign Relations
Committee Chairman Jim Risch (R-ID) noted during another recent hearing focused
on issues in East Africa, “There are countries where meaningful
engagement is possible—but only with sober judgment and clear-eyed
realism. We must stop building U.S. policy in Africa around individual
leaders and instead focus on strengthening institutions, expanding
private sector ties, and empowering the region’s young and dynamic
populations.” That clear focus requires careful analysis of the various
ways China’s coercive activities have been successful in the past to
help inform what is needed to expand commercial relationships in Africa.
Today, China’s operations in Africa are financed by state-backed banks supported by the Chinese government. The use of shell companies to
mask Chinese controlling interests is commonplace. In particular, China
is heavily involved in mineral and fossil fuel extraction, including
critical minerals, which in turn have accelerated China’s controlling position in
mineral processing and critical mineral supply chains. The impact of
such behavior is well known; in 2021, then-Senator Marco Rubio
introduced legislation highlighting that the “Chinese Communist Party
employs a wide range of political, informational, and economic measures
to influence, coerce, intimidate, and undermine the United States’
interests and the interests of United States partners and allies.”
As Congress continues to assess U.S. policy and Chinese activities in
Africa, continued support for private sector engagement will be
critical. U.S. companies seek access and the ability to partner with
businesses that follow the rules. We should consider the full scope of
Chinese activities, from expanding ownership stakes in mining operations in Zambia to outright corruption
from Chinese telecommunications firms and bribery scandals in Chad and
Uganda, to ensure agile policy responses and comprehensive support for
rules-based private sector growth. As the Senior Bureau Official for African Affairs testified,
“China exploits Africa’s natural resources in its play for dominance
and control over global critical mineral supply chains. This is a clear
example of the economic, political, and national security threats that
China’s influence in Africa poses to the United States’ and Africa’s
safety, strength, and prosperity.” That reality is playing out in places
like Liberia, where Chinese-backed companies are
seeking to displace existing companies through political influence,
thereby providing China with access to strategically critical iron ore,
to the detriment of Western democracies.
With a clearly defined vision for engagement in Africa outlined early
and with continued engagement from congressional leaders in monitoring
and mitigating China’s malign activities, the Trump Administration is
well-positioned to drive increased U.S. engagement with Africa and
promote mutually beneficial growth and prosperity.
***
Peter Mihalick is former legislative director and counsel to
former Reps. Barbara Comstock, Virginia Republican, and Rodney Blum,
Iowa Republican.
Israel’s Operation Rising Lion has sent a powerful message: Israel is strong and will not wait to be attacked. But this strength comes at a steep cost.
This is the reality for families across Israel(photo credit: Courtesy)
As
Israel defends itself from an existential threat, the global Jewish
community and allies worldwide have an urgent role to play. Israel’s
Operation Rising Lion—a preemptive strike on Iranian nuclear and
military targets—has sent a powerful message: Israel is strong and will
not wait to be attacked. But this strength comes at a steep cost.
Last night, this war became deeply personal for Israel Bonds
President & CEO Dani Naveh when a missile struck his family’s home
while his three children were inside. Miraculously, they made it to the
shelter in time. The house was destroyed — but their lives were spared.
“As
always, my three children ran to the shelter while my wife Tzili and I
stayed with them over FaceTime. But this time it was different. Just two
minutes later, we heard a deafening explosion. When my children emerged
from the shelter, they found our home destroyed — part of it engulfed
in flames. Thank God, they were safe. The shelter saved their lives. The
damage is severe, but our spirits are strong and resilient. We will
prevail,” Mr. Naveh courageously stated.
This is the reality for families across Israel.
One
Iranian ballistic missile can destroy entire neighborhoods, displacing
thousands. Already, considerable damage has been incurred as Israel
shields its people from these devastating attacks. The human toll is
heartbreaking. The economic toll is staggering.
But
even in the face of on-going war since October 7 and current conflict
with Iran, Israel’s economy continues to demonstrate resilience, as
noted by Israel’s Accountant General Yali Rothenberg: “As reflected in
economic data, the Israeli economy continues to demonstrate resilience
and strength, even in the face of significant security challenges.”
Yet
resilience alone isn't enough. This is a moment that demands bold
action—from all who believe in Israel’s right to live in peace and
security.
“This
is the moment to act by investing in Israel through Israel bonds. Every
Israel bond purchased sends a message to Israel’s enemies and allies
alike: Israel is not alone,” stated Mr. Naveh.
Buying
an Israel bond is more than an act of solidarity—it’s a smart, stable
financial investment in a democracy on the front lines of the free
world.
Israel
Bonds offers a wide range of fixed-income securities issued by the
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held in IRAs, given as gifts, or donated to charitable organizations.
Your
investment is more than financial—it’s a declaration of shared values:
freedom and unwavering support for the people of Israel.
In
times of great challenge, true support is measured by action. Investing
in Israel bonds is a decisive way to stand with Israel—not just in
word, but in commitment. Let the world see where you stand: Israel is not alone.
Development Corporation for Israel/Israel Bonds (“DCI”) is a broker-dealer that sells Israel bonds.
The content in this article was prepared by DCI and the Jerusalem Post
as part of a paid advertising campaign for DCI. This is not an offering
which can be made only by prospectus. Read the prospectus carefully
before investing to fully evaluate the risks associated with investing
in Israel Bonds. Member FINRA. Israelbonds.com
