Elon Musk met with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu in his Knesset office Monday, after the owner of X tweeted anti-semitic remarks that resulted in an exodus from the social media platform by key blue-chip advertisers. (Israeli government photo.)
WEDNESDAY 11/29/23
So Long, Santos -- A Politico whip count says House Republicans have the votes to expel Rep. George Santos (R-NY) from Congress. According to the whip count, 75 Republicans say they plan to vote to oust him, while another dozen say they are likely to support his removal. A two-thirds vote is required for Santos' expulsion, which is expected before the end of the week.
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TUESDAY 11/29/23
On Capitol Hill – An Israeli major general quietly visited Capitol Hill Monday evening to reassure Senate Democrats who have been critical of the country’s military campaign against Hamas, Punchbowl News reports. Democratic senators were to discuss whether to add conditions to U.S. aid to Israel during their weekly caucus lunch Tuesday. The major general met with the Democrats in the LBJ Room just off the Senate floor.
Meanwhile, in Tel Aviv: X owner Elon Musk Monday toured an Israeli kibbutz attacked by Hamas on October 7, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as his guide, The Hill reports. Musk’s social media platform has been losing advertisers since he tweeted antisemitic remarks earlier this month. He was shown a residence where a Sha’ar Ha Negev Regional Council chair was killed the morning of the attacks during an exchange of gunfire.
--TL
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MONDAY 11/27/23
UPDATE: Israel and Hamas have agreed to a two-day extension of their cease-fire past Monday's deadline, in a deal announced on X by Majid Al Ansary, spokesman for the Qatari Foreign Ministry. the AP reports. Hamas will further exchange militants it is holding for Palestinians being held by Israel. A fourth swap was expected late Monday.
Hope for Extended Truce – Both Hamas and Israel have signaled they might extend the humanitarian pause begun 7 a.m. last Friday local time and due to end Monday, though nobody is talking about President Biden’s hope the truce will turn into a full ceasefire just yet, as his party remains split between support for Israel and for the Palestinians.
Hamas said in a statement it is “seeking to extend the truce after the end of the four-day period,” as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “was open to the idea of extending the pause by 24 hours for every 10 hostages released,” according to NPR’s Morning Edition. In return, Israel would release up to 150 Palestinians, Netanyahu said.
The White House says Biden is working with Qatar, which brokered the four-day truce scheduled to end Monday with other negotiators, Semafor reports. Nine Americans remain missing and are presumed to be held by Hamas, which on Sunday released Abigail Eden, who spent her fourth birthday held by the group. Both of Eden’s parents were killed in the October 7 Hamas attack that sparked the fighting.
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Senate Pushes Vote on Funding Ukraine, Israel – Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) plans to hold a vote as early as December 4 -- next week -- on the White House’s request for billions of dollars of aid to Ukraine and Israel, Politico reports. But Schumer’s announcement Sunday puts pressure on the Senate to come up with a border security deal to assure the necessary support by the chamber’s Republicans.
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Up on the Hill – The Senate was scheduled to be in session Monday, November 27. Both the Senate and House will be in session Tuesday through Friday, and Monday through Thursday December 4-7 and 11-14. The Senate only is in session December 8 and December 15, before holiday break through the end of the year.
--Compiled and edited by Todd Lassa