| Good Friday morning. In today’s Daily Kickoff, we report on President-elect Donald Trump’s selection of former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi to be attorney general, and cover the International Criminal Court’s issuance yesterday of arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. We also have the scoop on a potential plan to relocate some senior Hamas officials from Gaza to Turkey as the country takes in officials from the terror group who had been based in Qatar. Also in today’s Daily Kickoff: Sen. Lindsey Graham, Georgia state Rep. Esther Panitch and Maryland state Del. Joe Vogel. For less-distracted reading over the weekend, browse this week’s edition of The Weekly Print, a curated print-friendly PDF featuring a selection of recent Jewish Insider and eJewishPhilanthropy stories, including: Real estate mogul Witkoff is Trump’s unorthodox choice to serve as his Middle East envoy; Auchincloss: U.S. needs to focus on splitting Iran and China, not Saudi normalization with Israel; Israel Katz, the self-proclaimed Herod of Israeli politics and Israel’s new defense minister. Print the latest edition here. Spread the word! Invite your friends to sign up.👇 Share with a friend | - The Halifax International Security Forum kicks off this morning in Nova Scotia. More below.
- President-elect Donald Trump is expected to name the rest of his nominees for the Cabinet before the weekend. In particular, we’ll be watching for his choice for Treasury secretary, as Apollo Global Management CEO Marc Rowan has increasingly become the dark horse candidate for the role.
| Starting this morning, hundreds of policymakers, elected officials and foreign policy experts from more than 60 countries will gather for three days in Nova Scotia for the annual Halifax International Security Forum (HFX). Jewish Insider’s Gabby Deutch will be on the ground in Halifax — say hi if you’re there. The conference’s organizers expect the gathering to focus on Ukraine and pushing the message that President-elect Donald Trump should support Ukraine in its nearly three-year-long war with Russia. It’s the first major national security conference since Trump’s election. Expect attendees to jockey to get close to anyone there from Trump world. “We encourage President Trump to offer strong American support for Ukraine’s fight,” HFX President Peter Van Praagh said earlier this month. “Once complete unity on Ukraine among the allies is demonstrated, Iran and its terrorist proxies, North Korea and China will begin to moderate their aggressive actions.” Some of the informal, off-the-record sessions offer evidence of Western democracies’ malaise: One is called “Bye, Bye Biden Blues: Ushering in a New Era for Transatlantic Relations.” Another is titled “Elon Musk Has a Very Big Rocket: the Broligarchs’ Growing Influence.” But even the best-organized conference has to contend with current events — and now, the leaders and diplomats gathering in Halifax will be forced to confront one topic that has proven deeply divisive among democracies: the arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court on Thursday against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. The Biden administration said the U.S. “fundamentally rejects” the ICC’s decision, and Republicans have vowed to push legislation sanctioning the court. At the same time, the European Union issued a statement saying EU member nations are obligated to enforce the warrant, and Canada also said it will abide by the warrants. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) is drafting a letter asking the EU to reverse its position. Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Jim Risch (R-ID), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Mike Rounds (R-SD) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) will be on the ground in Halifax this weekend. We’ll be watching whether the ICC debate comes to a head at HFX. We’re also looking to see how America’s allies are preparing for a second Trump term — and what it means for Israel, the Middle East and the world. | boosting bondi Trump’s new AG nominee Pam Bondi called for crackdowns on pro-Hamas protesters MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images President-elect Donald Trump announced on Thursday that he intends to nominate former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi to serve as his attorney general, hours after former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) declined the nomination amid increasing scrutiny of allegations of past sexual misconduct and sex trafficking, Jewish Insider’s Marc Rod reports. Leaning in: In an October 2023 appearance on Newsmax, Bondi expressed concern about antisemitism, particularly on college campuses. She urged that those in the U.S. on visas participating in pro-Hamas rallies be deported, and U.S. citizens face FBI investigation. Former Rep. Robert Wexler (D-FL), who is Jewish, expressed high praise for Bondi, telling JI, despite their political differences, "when it comes to the interests of the Jewish community and having an attorney general that will fight for the protection of the Jewish community, we could not do better than Pam Bondi." Read the full story here. scoop Some Hamas officials in Gaza may relocate to Turkey getty images Some of the remaining Hamas leaders in Gaza may move to Turkey and at least two senior Hamas officials have left Qatar for Turkey, three Israeli sources and a senator briefed by Israeli officials told Jewish Insider’s Lahav Harkov, Marc Rod and Emily Jacobs. Exit from Gaza: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed openness to expelling Hamas leaders from Gaza in the past, as part of a comprehensive cease-fire including their surrender and the release of the hostages, and a source close to him said on Thursday that remains his position. The Israeli official did not provide further details on the circumstances under which Hamas leaders might be able to depart Gaza — departure from which Israel has tightly controlled since Oct. 7. Shin Bet head Ronen Bar traveled to Turkey to meet with Ibrahim Kalin, the country's intelligence chief. Reports in the Israeli media said they discussed a possible Turkish role in negotiations to release the Israeli hostages held in Gaza. Hill headache: The reports about that development are sparking frustration on Capitol Hill, including among lawmakers who have spent months advocating for Hamas leaders to be expelled from Qatar. In a joint statement first shared with JI, Sens. Ted Budd (R-NC), Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Joni Ernst (R-IA) said it is “disappointing that Turkey has welcomed Hamas leaders with open arms following Qatar’s eviction of these terrorists.” The senators called it “unbecoming of a NATO member to harbor foreign designated terrorists with allied blood and hostages on its hands, particularly ones who have already been criminally indicted.” They called on Turkey to abide by the U.S.’ extradition treaty with it and turn over Hamas leaders who have been indicted in the U.S. Read the full story here. legal escalation ICC arrest warrants ‘a modern Dreyfus trial’ – Netanyahu ABIR SULTAN/POOL/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES The International Criminal Court’s arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes in Gaza, announced yesterday, stem from anti-Israel bias, the Prime Minister’s Office said on Thursday. Netanyahu’s office called the warrants “a modern Dreyfus trial that will end in the same way. Israel vigorously rejects the absurd and false actions and accusations against it by the ICC, which is a biased and discriminatory political body,” Jewish Insider’s Lahav Harkov reports. Details: The ICC’s pre-trial chamber issued the warrants earlier Thursday for the arrests of Netanyahu and Gallant, accusing them of crimes related to the war in Gaza. Under their terms of the warrants, Netanyahu and Gallant risk arrest if they travel to any of the 124 countries that are members of the court. “No anti-Israel decision will stop Israel from defending its citizens,” Netanyahu’s spokesperson said. Gallant said that the decision to issue warrants is “outrageous” and “will live in infamy,” saying that it equates Israel and Hamas, and legitimizes terrorism. “It also sets a dangerous precedent for democracies around the world in their fight against terrorism,” Gallant wrote in a post on X. Real-world implications: Netanyahu and Gallant’s travel options will be much narrower after the ICC’s action, but there are unlikely to be other practical ramifications, experts said shortly after the announcement of the warrants on Thursday. Yuval Shany, a senior fellow at the Israel Democracy Institute and chair of international law at the Hebrew University, told JI that in addition to mostly grounding Netanyahu, the arrest warrant may mean that leaders will no longer visit Israel to meet with him. “It’s not a great honor to go around the world or for the world to come to you, and you have this shadow on you that you’re a fugitive from the law,” Shany said. Read the full story here. White House response: President Joe Biden issued a statement calling the ICC’s issuance of the warrants “outrageous,” adding, “whatever the ICC might imply, there is no equivalence — none — between Israel and Hamas. We will always stand with Israel against threats to its security.” washington reax Republican lawmakers vow swift action on ICC sanctions in next Congress Ricky Carioti/The Washington Post via Getty Images Following the International Criminal Court’s decision on Thursday to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, Republicans in the Senate and House are vowing that passing sanctions targeting the court and its officials — legislation that passed the House on a bipartisan basis but has been blocked in the Democratic-led Senate — will be an early priority for them in the next Congress, Jewish Insider’s Emily Jacobs and Marc Rod report. Leadership’s view: Sen. John Thune (R-SD), the incoming Senate majority leader, called the warrants “outrageous, unlawful and dangerous” and said that if Senate Democrats do not act on the sanctions bill, “the new Senate Republican majority next year will.” Sen. Jim Risch (R-ID), the incoming chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, told JI, “The ICC greatly overstepped its jurisdiction. It has no jurisdiction here.” Read more here. Scooplet: Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) is drafting a letter to the European Union warning the body and leaders of its member states against following EU guidance to enforce the orders of the ICC arrest warrants, he told JI’s Emily Jacobs. “I’m going to send out a statement that I’m obligated to sanction any organization or country that aids and abets this effort, which I think is a rogue prosecution,” Graham said. “If you help them, you’re on the wrong side of us.” Read the full story here. International lens: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he would “abide by” the ICC’s warrants, while Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán rejected the issuance of the warrants and that Budapest would welcome Netanyahu. The foreign minister of The Netherlands postponed his upcoming trip to Israel, slated for next Monday. not peachy Georgia’s only Jewish state legislator slams Ossoff, Warnock for votes against Israel aid esther for georgia Democratic Georgia state Rep. Esther Panitch, the only Jewish member of the Georgia Statehouse, said on Thursday she was “disheartened that both of our U.S. senators voted in favor” of resolutions to block U.S. aid to Israel, referring to Sens. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Jewish Insider’s Marc Rod reports. Future prospects: “In the end, the failed vote will not be felt by the Israeli forces or government, but acute feelings of abandonment by our senators are already being felt by pro-Israel and freedom-loving constituents, both Jewish and not Jewish, in Georgia,” Panitch said. Asked by JI how she thinks his votes will impact Ossoff and other Democrats’ support among Jewish voters in the 2026 election, Panitch responded, “I won’t commit a vote for an election two years from now and without knowing who else is running, but [Ossoff] should be glad the election isn’t tomorrow.” Read the full story here. on the hill House Democratic support for bill on terror-supporting nonprofits plummets Ronald Martinez/Getty Images Dozens of House Democrats withdrew their support for a bipartisan bill that would make it easier for the federal government to strip nonprofits providing material or financial support to designated terrorist groups, with just 15 House Democrats voting for the legislation on Thursday, Jewish Insider’s Marc Rod reports. Shrinking support: The declining support among Democrats followed warnings from outside liberal groups, as well as a growing number of liberal and nonpartisan Jewish organizations, that the bill could provide sweeping powers to the incoming Trump administration. An initial version of the bill saw nearly unanimous support in the House — just 10 Democrats and one Republican voted against it. When a new version of the bill came up for a vote last week, just 52 Democrats supported it with 144 opposed. The bill passed by a 219-184 vote on Thursday. Some pro-Israel Democrats who flipped against the bill in the past week cited a deluge of concerns from constituents. Read the full story here. | Keeping a Lid On: The New York Times’ Lara Jakes looks at why the conflict between Israel and Iran has played out in proxy battles and limited and calculated strikes. “Not long ago, analysts might have predicted that any direct strike by Iran on Israel, or by Israel on Iran, would have prompted an immediate conflagration. But it has not played out that way. Partly that is the result of frantic diplomacy behind the scenes by allies including the United States, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. But the calculated, limited strikes also reflect the fact that the alternative — a war of ‘shock and awe’ between Israel and Iran — could lead to dire consequences not just for the region but also much of the world. … ‘It’s “I slap, therefore you get slapped, so you understand, and so now you can decide whether you want to step down or you want to step up,”’ said Assaf Orion, a retired Israeli brigadier general and defense strategist at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. ‘The fact is that both parties are taking their time to calculate, to collaborate, to shape their own operations,’ he added.” [NYTimes] | Institute for Families and Tech is hiring: Exec Dir., Public Policy Dir., Coalitions Dir.—apply now! Be featured: Email us to inform the JI readership of your upcoming event, job opening, or other communication. | During President-elect Donald Trump’s meetings with top candidates to serve as Treasury secretary during the next administration, Trump floated the possibility of naming Kevin Warsh to the role until Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s term ends in 2026, at which time Warsh would be named as Powell’s successor… Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) conceded to Sen.-elect Dave McCormick (R-PA) as a statewide recount showed no signs of closing McCormick’s narrow advantage in the race… Sens. Peter Welch (D-VT), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) introduced a bill to restore U.S. funding for the U.N. Relief and Works Agency… Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Virginia Foxx (R-NC) announced on Friday that the House Education and the Workforce and the House Energy and Commerce committees are jointly investigating the J. David Gladstone Institutes for its handling of allegedly antisemitic incidents, Jewish Insider’s Emily Jacobs reports… The political consulting firm John Zogby Strategies, whose founder is the brother of Arab American Institute founder James Zogby, was paid more than $600,000 by Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s presidential campaign for “research consulting” done between September 2023 and August of this year; James Zogby is making a bid for Democratic National Committee vice chair… The New York Times spotlights former Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY) as the politician, who spent a year and a half in prison for sending explicit photos to a minor, mulls a return to political life and a bid for New York City Council… Dozens of anti-Israel protesters demonstrated outside the Kraft Center for Jewish Student Life at Columbia University to protest an event featuring Israeli journalist Barak Ravid… New legislation introduced in Maryland by state Del. 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The painting depicts the gallery at Kibbutz Be’eri, which was destroyed during Hamas’ Oct. 7 terror attack. The artwork was displayed, together with other paintings, some of which had prominent bullet piercings, at the Embassy of Israel’s Independence Day reception in May 2024. The painting was subsequently purchased by The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington from the Lévy Gorvy Dayan art gallery and gifted to the ambassador’s residence. Proceeds of the painting’s sale will go to fund the building of a new gallery in Kibbutz Be’eri. | courtesy Former member of Congress, secretary of agriculture and CEO of the Motion Picture Association of America, Dan Glickman turns 80 on Sunday... FRIDAY: Real estate developer and former majority owner of MLB's New York Mets for 33 years ending in 2020, he was a high school teammate of Sandy Koufax, Fred Wilpon turns 88... 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