The <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/european-union">European Union</a>, responding to the recent Iranian attack on Israel in which it fired roughly 350 drones and missiles, decided on Monday to tighten sanctions on Iran, barring the exportation of  EU-made components used for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and ballistic missiles.
“After Tehran&#8217;s attack on 13 April against Israel, which saw over 300 projectiles headed from different fronts towards the Jewish nation, the EU began working on an expanded raft of sanctions to cover the production of missiles and enlarge the catalogue of prohibited drone-related components,” EuroNews <a href="https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2024/04/22/eu-countries-agree-to-slap-new-sanctions-on-iran-to-curtail-drone-and-missile-production#:~:text=The%20European%20Union%20has%20reached,or%20drones%2C%20and%20ballistic%20missiles." target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>, noting of Iran that the “country has over the years developed an intricate network of operators to obtain sensitive dual-use items, which can be used for both military and civilian purposes, and evade long-standing international sanctions.”
The EU sanctions reportedly will increase restrictions to the &#8220;whole region of the Middle East and the Red Sea,&#8221; according to High Representative Josep Borrell.
On the other hand, no move was made by the EU to name the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization, although that idea has been discussed since the Iranian regime cracked down on protesters last year. “There are doubts within the EU members whether this step can be legally taken (which first requires a national decision in this regard, that is, for a court in one of the EU countries to declare it a terrorist organization) and, most importantly, whether it would be a convenient thing to do, as it would further close the already narrow channels of communication with Tehran,” El Pais <a href="https://english.elpais.com/international/2024-04-22/the-eu-is-preparing-to-expand-its-sanctions-on-iran-as-a-political-warning-after-the-attack-on-israel.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">noted</a>.
In mid-February, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/eu-warns-israel-against-catastrophic-rafah-offensive-2024-02-19/#:~:text=BRUSSELS%2C%20Feb%2019%20(Reuters),the%20southern%20edge%20of%20Gaza.">every EU country except Hungary</a> warned Israel not to attack Rafah, Hamas’ last stronghold in Gaza. In recent years, Hungary’s relations with Israel have been very warm; in May 2020, Hungarian Foreign Minister Petar Scheirto made it clear Israel could depend on Hungary for support, <a href="https://www.maariv.co.il/news/politics/Article-766829" target="_blank" rel="noopener">saying</a> Hungary would “continue to oppose anti-Israeli statements in front of the European Union, the United Nations and in international forums.” He called accusations against Israel for war crimes “absurd” while noting that both countries had been under attack in the international arena &#8220;as a result of political voting.”

EU flag

EU Tightens Sanctions On Iran After Iranian Attack On Israel

European Union

Iran

Israel

Sanctions

By now, the world has heard the news. A municipal mayor in Brussels attempted to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/brussels-police-try-to-shut-down-conference-featuring-orban-farage-other-leading-european-conservatives" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shut down</a> a peaceful gathering of conservative leaders simply because he disagreed with their message.
The resultant outcry was enormous — the very essence of free speech was at stake — culminating in a rapidly <a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://adfinternational.org/free-speech-prevails-for-nat-con__;!!PxibshUo2Yr_Ta5B!3e4hdrEyPrjSHR-Ny5IdDKSUOAzVbsFf8AQLtUj4NZNA0XwbYhe-5Frtk0Fcg7v09huGJ1hewD_pUvi8-BjlFaw$" target="_blank" rel="noopener">executed emergency court order</a> allowing the conference to resume, but not before the police had stepped in, relegating the first day of the event to abject chaos.
I was honored to lead the legal challenge against this authoritarian overstep, and in so doing, play a key part in this watershed moment for fundamental freedoms. 
It was business as usual as I prepared to attend the National Conservatism Conference in Brussels from April 16-17. Known as “NatCon,” the event presented nothing out of the ordinary in a city that regularly ebbs and flows with gatherings across the political spectrum. As the center of the European Union, discussion, dialogue, and even peaceable demonstrations across the ideological spectrum are core to the Brussels ethos.
<div id="attachment_726077" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-726077" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-726077" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/04/GettyImages-2147852060-864x576.jpg" alt="British eurosceptic populist Nigel Farage speaks during the &quot;NatCon&quot; national conservatism conference gathering hard-right politicians at the Claridge hotel in Brussesl on April 16, 2024. Brussels authorities were seeking today to shut down the controversial gathering after it was targeted by a social media protest campaign and bumped from its first two choices of venue. (Photo by Simon Wohlfahrt / AFP) (Photo by SIMON WOHLFAHRT/AFP via Getty Images)" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/04/GettyImages-2147852060-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/04/GettyImages-2147852060-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/04/GettyImages-2147852060-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/04/GettyImages-2147852060.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />SIMON WOHLFAHRT/AFP via Getty Images</div>
But cancel culture was quick to bare its teeth. The event, a mainstream gathering of conservatives representing diverse views, had <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/16/world/europe/brussels-conversative-conference-emir-kir.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">already been canceled</a> by two venues, before securing a third near Brussels’ European Quarter. It was at this point that the mayor of this district decided to step in, issuing an egregiously discriminatory order to shutter the conference due to a supposed threat to “public peace.”
The order made two facts indisputably clear: 1) There was no evidence whatsoever of a threat of violence. And 2) It was nothing more than the vision behind National Conservatism that motivated the shutdown. In essence, from the mayor’s perspective: I don’t like these people. I shall not allow them to meet.
As stated in the mayor’s order: 
<blockquote>That this vision is not only ethically conservative (e.g. hostility to the legalization of abortion, same-sex unions, etc.) but also focused on the defense of ‘national sovereignty,’ which implies, among other things, a ‘Eurosceptic’ attitude.</blockquote>
To be clear, pro-life views are not a crime. Neither is, of course, the “defense of national sovereignty.” This was a dictatorial and discriminatory abuse of power, pure and simple. And when I arrived at the conference on the morning of April 16, the effects of this abuse were evident. <a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://twitter.com/Paul_B_Coleman/status/1780242908156662188/photo/1__;!!PxibshUo2Yr_Ta5B!3e4hdrEyPrjSHR-Ny5IdDKSUOAzVbsFf8AQLtUj4NZNA0XwbYhe-5Frtk0Fcg7v09huGJ1hewD_pUvi8PBGYQFk$" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pictures</a> of a line of police in riot gear flooded X — the world was on notice that something insidious was afoot in Brussels.
Police surrounded the door, preventing participants from entering. It was only my direct line with the organizers that got me in. Never mind that expected to attend were multiple high-level participants including former U.K. Home Secretary Suella Braverman, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, and Cardinal Müller from Germany. The diplomatic ramifications of this fiasco cannot be overstated, prompting reactions from both the U.K. and Belgian Prime Ministers, and massive international outcry.
<div id="attachment_726079" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-726079" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-726079" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/04/GettyImages-2148826538-864x576.jpg" alt="BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - APRIL 16: Conservative MP Suella Braverman, former UK Secretary of State for the Home Department, gives a speech on Day 1 of The National Conservatism Conference at the Claridge on April 16, 2024 in Brussels, Belgium. The National Conservatism (NatCon) conference, attended by 500 delegates over two days, features speeches from former UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman and Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, among others. Originally slated for Concert Noble, the venue was changed due to pressure from Brussels Mayor Philippe Close. (Photo by Omar Havana/Getty Images)" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/04/GettyImages-2148826538-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/04/GettyImages-2148826538-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/04/GettyImages-2148826538-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/04/GettyImages-2148826538.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Omar Havana/Getty Images</div>
The freedoms of speech and assembly are essential for the functioning of any democratic society. In fact, without them, there cannot be said to be democracy. And yet, here we were, confronted by a line of police for exercising our right to peacefully gather and discuss the issues of our day. This kind of authoritarianism has no place in contemporary Europe — a disgrace to our continent and the values the EU espouses.
As a lawyer for ADF International, an organization dedicated to the promotion of fundamental freedoms, I found myself in the right place at the right time to rise to the defense of basic human rights.
We lead the charge alongside the NatCon organizers in mounting a legal challenge, which was decided in our favor by the Conseil d’État, Belgium’s highest administrative court, at 2:30 a.m.on April 17. The fact that the court had convened and decided overnight was a testament to the outrageous nature of what had transpired. The judgment was clear — the conference would be <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-68826578">allowed to continue</a> into its second day without police interference.
Fueled by espresso and croissants, day two of the conference proceeded with a markedly electric energy. Conference attendees previously barred from entry took on the talks and conversations with a newfound gusto, having just come face to face with the frightening reality of what it means to be a “conservative” in Europe.
While among us at the conference there would surely be disagreement and differences of opinion on a great many issues, we found ourselves enjoying a unique moment of solidarity — united in our shared commitment to protecting our basic human right to speak freely.
What happened this week depicts the state of free speech in Europe in a very poor light. This is the sad reality of European censorship. However, we remain optimistic that it also will serve as an important wake-up call, reminding us of the crucial importance of diligently defending our fundamental freedoms under the law, lest they slip away from us as they have done before in the darker moments of our continent’s history.
* * *
Jean-Paul Van De Walle is legal counsel, Europe, for ADF International in Brussels, and led the legal efforts that successfully challenged the shut-down of the National Conservatism Conference.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

National Conservatism Conference In Brussels

I Was There: Here’s What Happened When They Tried To Silence Conservatives In Brussels

Brussels

Conservatives

Leftists

Nigel Farage

Readers Pass

The Netherlands

Leaders from around the world condemned <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/iran" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Iran</a> for its attack against Israel on Saturday after the Islamic nation fired hundreds of drones and missiles at the U.S. ally.
Iran, the world&#8217;s leading state sponsor of terrorism, launched its anticipated attack against Israel, saying it was a response to Israel killing a top Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps commander in Damascus earlier this month. World leaders from Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Joe Biden to U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and the European Union harshly criticized Iran&#8217;s actions. The U.S. and U.K. also <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/u-s-u-k-shoot-down-100-iranian-drones-fired-at-israel-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">scrambled fighter jets</a> to shoot down Iranian suicide drones launched toward Israel.
&#8220;In recent years, and especially in recent weeks, Israel has been preparing for a direct attack by Iran. Our defensive systems are deployed; we are ready for any scenario, both defensively and offensively. The State of Israel is strong. The IDF is strong. The public is strong,&#8221; said Netanyahu. &#8220;We appreciate the U.S. standing alongside Israel, as well as the support of Britain, France and many other countries.&#8221;
&#8220;We have determined a clear principle: Whoever harms us, we will harm them. We will defend ourselves against any threat and will do so level-headedly and with determination,&#8221; Netanyahu added. &#8220;Citizens of Israel, I know that you are also level-headed. I call on you to follow the directives of IDF Home Front Command. Together we will stand and with G-d&#8217;s help – together we will overcome all of our enemies.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Citizens of Israel, I know that you also are also level-headed. I call on you to follow the directives of IDF Home Front Command.
Together we will stand and with G-d&#39;s help – together we will overcome all of our enemies.
&mdash; Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) <a href="https://twitter.com/IsraeliPM/status/1779242413644468544?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 13, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Iran&#8217;s Mission to the United Nations <a href="https://twitter.com/iran_un/status/1779269993043022053?s=46&amp;t=o-U3qwC25WnWaylJ0oeG7Q" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> the attack was a &#8220;response to the Zionist regime’s aggression against our diplomatic premises in Damascus&#8221; and warned the U.S. to &#8220;STAY AWAY!&#8221;
<a href="https://onelink.to/dwapp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-9096" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://onelink.to/dwapp&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1700760801843000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2PQrVSrJfhxNb4LcARqniG">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP</a>
&#8220;The matter can be deemed concluded,&#8221; Iran&#8217;s Mission to the U.N. added. &#8220;However, should the Israeli regime make another mistake, Iran’s response will be considerably more severe. It is a conflict between Iran and the rogue Israeli regime, from which the U.S. MUST STAY AWAY!&#8221;
Hours after the attack began, Biden promised that America&#8217;s support of Israel &#8220;remains strong.&#8221;
&#8220;I just met with my national security team for an update on Iran’s attacks against Israel,&#8221; the president said. &#8220;Our commitment to Israel’s security against threats from Iran and its proxies is ironclad.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
I just met with my national security team for an update on Iran’s attacks against Israel. Our commitment to Israel’s security against threats from Iran and its proxies is ironclad. <a href="https://t.co/kbywnsvmAx">pic.twitter.com/kbywnsvmAx</a>
&mdash; President Biden (@POTUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1779289588890010044?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 13, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pm-statement-on-iranian-regimes-reckless-attack-against-israel" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>, &#8220;I condemn in the strongest terms the Iranian regime’s reckless attack against Israel. These strikes risk inflaming tensions and destabilising the region. Iran has once again demonstrated that it is intent on sowing chaos in its own backyard.&#8221;
&#8220;The UK will continue to stand up for Israel’s security and that of all our regional partners, including Jordan and Iraq,&#8221; Sunak added. &#8220;Alongside our allies, we are urgently working to stabilise the situation and prevent further escalation. No one wants to see more bloodshed.”
French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne added, &#8220;France condemns in the strongest terms the attack launched by Iran against Israel. By deciding on such an unprecedented action, Iran is taking a new step in its destabilizing actions and taking the risk of a military escalation.&#8221;
The European Union also condemned Iran&#8217;s attack, calling it &#8220;an unprecedented escalation and a grave threat to regional security.&#8221;

‘A New Step In Its Destabilizing Actions’: World Leaders Harshly Condemn Iran’s Attack On Israel

Benjamin Netanyahu

France

Joe Biden

Rishi Sunak

Terrorism

U.K.

World

Pro-life activists have long believed that fetuses are deserving of human rights because of the scientific belief that human life begins at conception. Contrary to what some may think, this goal is not out of reach. States are <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/personhood-bills-ivf-restrictions-alabama-rcna140228" target="_blank" rel="noopener">working</a> to enshrine fetal rights into law, recognizing fetuses as human beings who should be given the same rights as people who have already been born. 
As of March 15, 23 pieces of legislation had been introduced in 13 states that would create fetal personhood and outlaw abortion, according to the pro-abortion <a href="https://www.guttmacher.org/state-legislation-tracker" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Guttmacher</a> Institute. With fetal personhood as the end goal for many in the pro-life movement, how these laws would impact the fertility treatment of in vitro fertilization (IVF) is now a main point of discussion. 
A recent decision by the Alabama Supreme Court essentially <a href="https://publicportal-api.alappeals.gov/courts/68f021c4-6a44-4735-9a76-5360b2e8af13/cms/case/343D203A-B13D-463A-8176-C46E3AE4F695/docketentrydocuments/E3D95592-3CBE-4384-AFA6-063D4595AA1D" target="_blank" rel="noopener">states</a> that embryos must be considered children under the letter of the law. It ruled that embryos fall under the state’s Wrongful Death of a Minor Act, which creates a way for parents to receive punitive damages over the death of a child. It found that embryos qualify as “unborn children” and stated that the Act “applies to all unborn children, regardless of their location.” The decision called into question whether or not the IVF industry will be able to continue its treatments under pro-life legislation. The pro-life movement and the practice of IVF can co-exist, but their bond would be stronger if the procedures surrounding IVF were altered because of new laws protecting unborn life.
Although fetal rights will inevitably have a major impact on the IVF industry, this does not mean that supporters of IVF should shy away from such rights being enshrined into law. Many pro-life advocates, as well as conservative Christians, view IVF as an essential means to starting a family. A Facebook group <a href="https://www.facebook.com/search/groups/?q=christian%20ivf%20support&amp;sde=Abo6mQGTwumSH8ghiQqAvvjPX7NFviMO4wSBhxr6grIQwUayjg5k0ye5FNdIS2HCiLkkJOB-TfP5YV29lVJ9zt3H" target="_blank" rel="noopener">called</a> “Christian IVF Support” has 2,000 members and conservative women have begun to speak out in favor of IVF practices. 
Hannah Nelson, a Christian mother who received IVF treatment in order to give birth to her son, responded to a post by conservative commentator Allie Beth Stuckey in late February. “There is an ethical and Christian way to do IVF,” she wrote, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2024/03/01/ivf-embryos-alabama-ruling-conservative-women/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to The Washington Post. “I am curious why you’re against that means of creating a family.”
Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life of America, told me about natural cycle IVF, a <a href="https://www.shadygrovefertility.com/article/stimulated-ivf-vs-natural-cycle-ivf/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">process</a> that <a href="https://lomalindafertility.com/is-natural-cycle-ivf-your-best-option/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">takes</a> one egg at a time from a woman during her menstrual cycle. The egg is <a href="https://www.ohioreproductivemedicine.com/2018/02/21/natural-ivf-and-mini-ivf/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fertilized</a> outside of the body, and <a href="https://www.wsj.com/health/did-i-need-to-make-extra-embryos-to-have-a-baby-a6b0c584?st=l0ewceljhfags4n&amp;reflink=article_imessage_share" target="_blank" rel="noopener">transferred</a> back into the woman, similar to traditional IVF, but without the use of drugs or multiple embryos. 
“There is natural cycle IVF which I believe only extracts a limited number of eggs and implants every embryo into the mother,” Hawkins explained over text. “I think many who are pro-life would be okay with [natural cycle IVF] as you aren’t ‘screening out’ humans or freezing them.”
There is also the process of “Minimal Stimulation IVF,” or “Mini IVF,” which <a href="https://fertilitynj.com/ivf/mini-ivf/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">incorporates</a> less medication to produce fewer eggs, resulting in fewer embryos. This could be another option for people who have concerns over the vast number of unused embryos that are frozen through the traditional IVF process, possibly to never be implanted and given a chance.
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Without <a href="https://www.theregreview.org/2022/08/13/saturday-seminar-the-regulation-of-assisted-reproduction/">cohesive</a><a href="https://www.theregreview.org/2021/08/10/verniero-wild-west-fertility-clinics/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> regulation</a>, the IVF industry as a business is not pro-life. One doesn’t have to look far to find pro-life parents who have gone through the IVF process and were forced to seek alternative clinics or received pushback when they wanted to implant all of their embryos.
The IVF industry does not promote pro-life practices in part due to clinics’ desires to have high success rates and make money. The procedure of in-vitro fertilization, however, can be completed in a way that gives value to the lives of unborn children. Laws that protect the unborn at all stages of life — whether in utero or prior to being implanted — will change the IVF industry for the better.
Legislators in the United States need only glance across the pond for a model on how to better protect human life created through fertility treatments. European countries have stricter laws on IVF and other fertility procedures. According to fertility treatment <a href="https://ivi-fertility.com/blog/regulations-legislation-assisted-reproduction-europe/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">group</a> IVI, as of January 2022, 20 of the states in the European Union <a href="https://ivi-fertility.com/blog/regulations-legislation-assisted-reproduction-europe/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">permit</a> donation of sperm and only 17 allow egg donation. The process of freezing one’s eggs or sperm is allowed in all countries in Europe if it is done because of medical reasons that could negatively impact a person’s ability to have children. In many other countries, however, it is not allowed for social reasons. The only states that permit &#8220;fertility preservation” for social purposes include Germany, Spain, Switzerland, as well as the United Kingdom. 
Even the United Kingdom, which <a href="https://www.fertilityclinicsabroad.com/ivf-abroad/ivf-united-kingdom/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">allows</a> access to IVF, has restrictions. The law does <a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/health/5360625/danielle-lloyd-gender-selection-legal-uk-early-foetus-identification/#:~:text=The%20only%20way%20you%20can,a%20technique%20which%20does%20this." target="_blank" rel="noopener">not</a> permit parents to pick which embryo they would prefer based on the child’s sex unless it is for a medical reason. In the United States, this is widely <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2018/08/04/fertility-clinics-advertise-gender-selection-ethical-wuandary.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">accepted</a>, even though several states ban sex selection for abortion, even when some of them <a href="https://www.abortionfinder.org/abortion-guides-by-state/abortion-in-kansas" target="_blank" rel="noopener">allow</a> the <a href="https://www.abortionfinder.org/abortion-guides-by-state/abortion-in-north-carolina" target="_blank" rel="noopener">procedure</a>. According to the Guttmacher Institute, as of August 2023, eleven states <a href="https://www.guttmacher.org/state-policy/explore/abortion-bans-cases-sex-or-race-selection-or-genetic-anomaly" target="_blank" rel="noopener">prohibit</a> abortion because of the sex of the baby.
No one conceived through fertility treatments — or parents who utilized these procedures — should be judged or ostracized. As Kristan Hawkins pointed out in our conversation, “those who were conceived via IVF are valuable persons who we are glad are here.”
The pro-life movement does not need to exist apart from IVF, but it can and should positively influence laws surrounding fertility treatments so that humans at all stages of life are given the rights they deserve.
* * *
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire. 
Disclosure: The author formerly worked with Students for Life of America.

High angle shot of Asian pregnant woman holding an ultrasound scan photo in front of her baby bump, sitting on bed at home. Mother-to-be. Precious moment in life. Preparation for a new family member. Expecting a new life. Baby and new life concept

How The Pro-Life Movement Can Positively Influence Laws Surrounding Fertility Treatments

Alabama

Children

Christians

Opinion

Parenting

Pro-Life Movement

The Irish government has been served the mother of all wake-up calls.
Having spent 24 million euros in taxpayer money on a virtue-signaling effort to convince the nation to remove the word “mother” from its Constitution, the Irish government was dealt a swift clip around the ear this past weekend with a <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ireland-looks-set-reject-constitutional-changes-2024-03-09/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">resounding defeat</a> of its latest “progressive” referendum.
The proposed changes would have removed provisions that recognize and honor women’s service to society in raising the next generation of responsible citizens:
<blockquote>… the State recognises that by her life within the home, woman gives to the State a support without which the common good cannot be achieved.
The State shall, therefore, endeavour to ensure that mothers shall not be obliged by economic necessity to engage in labour to the neglect of their duties in the home.</blockquote>
A “yes” result would have replaced this language with a gender neutral alternative, obliging the State more vaguely to support care within the home and the community. It might seem like a small tweak. And certainly, there are some men who play a significant role as stay-at-home dads. But the male and female experiences in the workplace, home, and society-at-large are different. Women and men are not interchangeable. The pressures placed on mothers are unique. It’s she, having birthed the child in an experience that no man can replicate, who then navigates the delicate balance of work-versus-family.
Irish mothers, it would seem, knew best — with a thundering 74% vote in favor of protecting the original wording of the constitution.
The data has always supported such an outcome — which the government might have noticed, had they not blindly assumed that they could speak for the women of Ireland. <a href="https://everymum.ie/my-family/two-thirds-of-irish-mothers-would-prefer-to-stay-home-instead-of-going-to-work" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Two-thirds</a> of Irish mums would prefer to stay at home to parent full-time, than return to work — if only they could afford it.
It’s a sentiment echoed across the West, with <a href="https://time.com/4068559/gallup-poll-stay-at-home-mothers/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">56%</a> of American mums agreeing that they’d prefer to stay home and prioritize child-raising over career advancement. Over a <a href="https://www.civitas.org.uk/2023/05/10/mothers-preferences-over-childcare-and-work/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">third</a> of their British counterparts concur. Today’s model of “boss babe” feminism typically stigmatizes this dream, requiring women regain social status by rejoining the rat race to the boardroom as soon as possible after giving birth.
But what have we gained from such a model? A plummeting birth rate, for one. The pressure on women to spend their twenties and thirties advancing through zoom calls and office cubicles has surely played a hand in the birthrate recently <a href="https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/irelands-birth-rate-drops-sharply-to-reach-lowest-level-in-decades-1598551.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">falling</a> to the lowest level on record in six decades. A generation of disillusioned women have been schooled that their value in society depends on their GDP contribution, rather than their input into raising the next generation.
Western governments have taken “maternity policy” to largely mean cheaper outsourcing of childcare, to allow women to return to work as soon as possible — rather than finding creative solutions to support women’s choices to prioritize parenting, and invest in raising the next generation. The outcome for society is yet to be fully unpacked. U.S. studies <a href="https://www.nichd.nih.gov/sites/default/files/publications/pubs/documents/seccyd_06.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">show</a> that lots of hours spent in outsourced daycare can have a link to increased aggression and disobedience in children, poorer relationships with teachers, and a higher susceptibility to risk-taking at the age of 15 — including through sex, drugs and alcohol use.
It’s not only an outdated concept of Carrie Bradshaw feminism that is downgrading the value and respect attributed to mums. The growing practice of surrogacy demands the commercialization of motherhood — downgrading the role of a pregnant mother as a mere “incubator” for a product to be passed on to a customer. An increasing trend amongst gay men growing a family through surrogacy is to announce the news on social media with their shirts off, in a hospital bed, posing as if post-birth. UK Law Commission proposals would seek to enable two dads in such a situation to be named on the birth certificate on the day, thus erasing both the legal and social role of a mother in the life of the child she carried and delivered.
There’s no question about it — dads are amazing, and are necessary in a child’s life. But a thousand excellent dads cannot replace one mum — and her unique, feminine, nurturing role. The life of a mother is an often thankless task. Ireland are miles ahead of the rest of the West in acknowledging her irreplaceable role within their constitution. It’s time now to put their words into practice — by honoring mums with better, more flexible work options, and the ability to make an empowered choice to stay absent from the workforce for the length of time she deems necessary to raise her children.
The Irish government have talked a strong game about supporting “choice” in recent years. If that’s the case, it’s long past time to support a woman’s choice to be a committed mum.
* * *
Lois McLatchie Miller is Senior Legal Communications Officer for Alliance Defending Freedom UK. Follow her: @LoisMcLatch
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

Dublin’s Grafton Street

Mum’s Still The Word: Irish Legislature Shoots Down ‘Gender Neutral’ Referendum

Mum’s Still The Word: Irish Legislature Shoots Down 'Gender Neutral' Referendum

Fathers

Gender Equality

Gender Neutral

Ireland

Mothers

Parliament

The European Commission previewed a proposal this week to create a €100 billion, or about $109 billion, defense fund to build out the bloc’s military industrial base, but earned criticism from some European leaders.
The proposal is aimed at making the European Union more self-reliant in providing arms, ammunition, and defense technology to its members. Officials backing the proposal said the fund is necessary to counter Moscow, a major concern of E.U. bloc members after Russia invaded Ukraine two years ago.
“In response to Russia&#8217;s aggression against Ukraine, the E.U. must bolster its defense capabilities,” E.U. foreign policy chief Josep Borrell <a href="https://www.politico.eu/article/peace-dividend-dead-brussels-plan-war-ukraine-eurobonds-thierry-breton/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> recently.
The plan would require unanimous approval from E.U. member countries. French President Emmanuel Macron has long supported a more centralized approach to defense from the E.U. Many of the bloc’s members have expressed skepticism at the proposal, however.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has previously <a href="https://europeanconservative.com/articles/news/eu-army-commission-floats-e100-billion-defense-fund/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">suggested</a> that a centralized E.U. defense fund would be too impractical to work. Other officials, such as Austrian MEP Harald Vilimsky, are wary of centralizing too much national security authority with the bloc.
“If the centralists have their way, we will have an E.U. army tomorrow, with an E.U. defence minister and EU headquarters, all under the umbrella of NATO,” he told <a href="https://europeanconservative.com/articles/news/pure-fantasy-eu-defence-plans-criticised-by-member-states/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The European Conservative</a>.
The plan was introduced with an initial starting pot of about $1.5 billion, a small sum relative to its goal and the cost of funding a military, generally. Officials did not propose a clear mechanism for funding the European Defence Investment Program (EDIP), as the fund has been called, though Borrell did suggest this week that some of the money could be gained from siezed Russian assets.
“If we agree that these assets can be used to support Ukraine’s reconstruction, it could also be used to avoid Ukraine’s destruction, and its means to increase military capacities or the defense technological base of Ukraine,” Borrell <a href="https://twitter.com/EU_Commission/status/1764972093416866104" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.
The EDIP, if implemented, would redirect billions of dollars away from the U.S. defense industry toward building up the continent&#8217;s own military-industrial complex. A French national security think tank, known as IRIS, found that the E.U. relies on foreign countries for the vast majority of its military manufacturing, with the United States being by far the bloc’s largest supplier.
“The value of defence acquisitions announced by EU countries from the start of the [Ukraine-Russia] war to June 2023 is of just above €100 billion. Over the 12 months from June 2022 to June 2023, they amounted to €75 billion, compared with €52 billion euros for the year 2021,” the September 2023 <a href="https://www.iris-france.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/19_ProgEuropeIndusDef_JPMaulny.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a> said. “From this total, 78% is being procured from outside the EU, including 80% from the US, 13% from South Korea, 3% each from the UK and Israel, and 1% from other countries. This leaves €21 billion for EU countries themselves. Alone, the US accounts for 63% of EU countries&#8217; acquisition plans.”
The proposed EDIP plan would redirect much of Europe’s military spending toward building up a local national security industry over the next decade. The commission’s proposed timeline aims to have half of Europe’s defense spending local by 2030, increased to 60% by 2035.

Josep Borrell

European Leaders Skeptical After E.U. Floats $109 Billion Defense Fund To Counter Russia

Conflicts

Europe

Ukraine-Russia War

Members of the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/european-union" target="_blank" rel="noopener">European Parliament</a> are calling for sanctions against Tucker Carlson after he announced an interview with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
Carlson posted a <a href="https://twitter.com/TuckerCarlson/status/1754939251257475555" target="_blank" rel="noopener">video</a> to X on Tuesday announcing that he was in Moscow to interview Putin. Carlson’s sit-down with the Russian president is the first time Putin agreed to speak with a Western newsperson since Russia invaded Ukraine two years ago.
European Parliament member Guy Verhofstadt, former prime minister of Belgium, said the bloc should consider imposing a “travel ban” on Carlson for serving as a “mouthpiece” for Putin.
“As Putin is a war criminal and the EU sanctions all who assist him in that effort, it seems logical that the External Action Service examine his case as well,” Verhofstadt told <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/tucker-carlson-sanctions-eu-putin-interview-1867655" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Newsweek</a>.
The External Action Service (EAS) oversees foreign policy for the European Union, handling such issues as diplomacy and sanctions. The EAS can choose to review a potential new addition to the E.U.’s sanction list. If the EAS finds the evidence convincing and sanctions warranted, it will present the case to the European Council, comprised of European government leaders, for approval.
Urmas Paet, a member of the European Parliament from Estonia, <a href="https://news.yahoo.com/european-parliament-proposes-ban-tucker-142022416.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">backed</a> a travel ban against Carlson in remarks made to Ukrainian news.
“Carlson wants to give a platform to someone accused of crimes of genocide — this is wrong. If Putin has something to say he needs to say it in front of the ICC. At the same time Carlson is not being a real journalist since he has clearly expressed his sympathy for the Russian regime and Putin and has constantly disparaged Ukraine, the victim of Russian aggression,” Paet said. “So, for such propaganda for a criminal regime, you can end up on the list of sanctions. This concerns primarily a travel ban to E.U. countries.”
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Carlson’s interview with Putin has taken place since the Tuesday announcement, though it has yet to be released. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed to Newsweek Wednesday that the interview had been recorded, adding, “[Carlson’s] position is different from the others.”
“It is in no way pro-Russian, it is not pro-Ukrainian, it is pro-American, but at least it contrasts with the position of the traditional Anglo-Saxon media,” Peskov said.
It’s unclear how widespread support for sanctioning Carlson is among members of the E.U. Any potential sanction or travel ban against Carlson would likely take time to litigate and approve, if an effort moves forward at all.
The threats to sanction Carlson over the interview received blowback from conservative media in the U.S.
“The idea that Tucker would be sanctioned for engaging [in] free speech and journalism is the kind of thuggish tyranny one might expect from Vladimir Putin’s regime, not from democratic western governments,” posted Daily Wire co-founder Jeremy Boreing. “Even if Tucker flies rhetorical cover for Putin, a man with hundreds of nuclear weapons trained [on] us — and I hope he is sincere when he says that is not what he is there to do — he would still be well within his rights to do so.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
The idea that Tucker would be sanctioned for engaging free speech and journalism is the kind of thuggish tyranny one might expect from Vladimir Putin’s regime, not from democratic western governments. 
Even if Tucker flies rhetorical cover for Putin, a man with hundreds of… <a href="https://t.co/8uSSBxT8QV">https://t.co/8uSSBxT8QV</a>
&mdash; Jeremy Boreing (@JeremyDBoreing) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeremyDBoreing/status/1755367810996613128?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 7, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Glenn Beck, founder of The Blaze, said: “So, you’re not allowed to interview dictators now?! Should we also expect sanctions for the New York Times, which fawned over Stalin, Mussolini, and Hitler? How about Dan Rather for interviewing Saddam Hussein? Or Megyn Kelly for also interviewing Putin? This is what journalists do. They get BOTH sides of the story.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Reports are now claiming the EU might SANCTION <a href="https://twitter.com/TuckerCarlson?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TuckerCarlson</a> for interviewing Putin. Um…WHAT?! So, you’re not allowed to interview dictators now?!
Should we also expect sanctions for the New York Times, which fawned over Stalin, Mussolini, and Hitler? 
How about Dan Rather…
&mdash; Glenn Beck (@glennbeck) <a href="https://twitter.com/glennbeck/status/1755343181929976057?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 7, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Tucker Carlson

EU Lawmakers Call For ‘Travel Ban’ On Tucker Carlson Over Putin Interview

Media

Russia

Vladimir Putin

The <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/european-union" target="_blank" rel="noopener">European Union</a> is set to launch a full naval mission to the Red Sea next month to stop Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists from launching attacks against cargo ships.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Wednesday that the fleet, which will be comprised of assets from at least seven European nations, will head toward the Red Sea within the next three weeks.
&#8220;This is the purpose: protection of the ships,&#8221; Borrell told reporters in Brussels. &#8220;Intercepting of the attacks against the ships. Not participating in any kind of action against the Houthis. Only blocking the attacks of the Houthis.&#8221;
The three nations that are reportedly vying to lead the operation are France, Italy, and Greece, according to the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/red-sea-houthis-naval-mission-trade-eu-9f779d51f6fe3ebd8df0032c92221817" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Associated Press</a>.
“Many European firms asked us to do that because their business model is suffering a lot due to the high increase in cost and having to go down to South Africa,” he said, referring to the alternative route that commercial ships are taking. “It’s affecting prices, it’s affecting inflation. So, it’s a natural endeavor for us to try to avoid this risk.”
Houthi terrorists based in Yemen have launched more than 30 missile and drone attacks against cargo ships and tankers in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since mid-November, VOA <a href="https://www.voanews.com/a/us-shoots-down-houthi-anti-ship-missile-in-latest-red-sea-attack/7464559.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. They <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/iranian-backed-houthi-terrorists-seize-cargo-ship-in-red-sea" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hijacked</a> a massive cargo ship when they first started their attacks.
The attacks have caused severe disruptions to global trade as thousands of ships have been forced to find alternative routes.
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The Houthis are just one of several major Iranian-backed terrorist groups in the region that are carrying out Iran&#8217;s agenda of killing Americans and attacking Israel.
Other major Iranian-backed terrorist groups include Hamas inside Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, Islamic Resistance in Iraq, and more.

Type 45 destroyers in port

European Union To Launch Full Naval Mission To Red Sea

Houthis

Actor William Shatner scolded members of parliament in the European Union over reports that they planned to address the &#8220;gendered language&#8221; in the iconic introduction to his science fiction fan-favorite television series: &#8220;Star Trek.&#8221;
GB News <a href="https://www.gbnews.com/politics/eu-news-gender-neutral-language#" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported on the initiative</a>, which was apparently inspired by a 61-page document — titled &#8220;Toolkit on Gender-sensitive Communication&#8221; — which was published by the European Institute for Gender Equality.
In addition to advising against the use of phrases like &#8220;no-man&#8217;s land&#8221; — suggesting &#8220;unclaimed territory&#8221; as an alternative — the document addressed the problematic goals of the Galactic Federation, namely &#8220;to boldly go where no man has gone before.&#8221;
According to the group&#8217;s findings, statements such as that one created an environment where &#8220;women may be subject to invisibility or omission.&#8221;
Shatner, who delivered the line as part of the introduction of each &#8220;Star Trek&#8221; episode, was not convinced.
&#8220;Presentism at work yet again,&#8221; Shatner began by registering his complaint about the attempt to apply today&#8217;s values to a show that was created in a very different time and culture.
&#8220;Why start at Trek?&#8221; the actor asked in his X post, suggesting that there were certainly more important historically significant documents that should be addressed first.
&#8220;Isn’t it better to start at the beginning and redo foundation material such as the Magna Carta, religious writings, works of Shakespeare before worrying about a silly TV show opening that reflects social commentary of the time?&#8221; he asked. &#8220;If people are offended by 6 seconds of dialogue recorded in 1966 without a modicum of understanding of the social issues at the time there’s bigger issues that they need to deal with first — like educating themselves.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
😳👇🏻Presentism at work yet again. Why start at Trek? 🤨Isn’t it better to start at the beginning and redo foundation material such as the Magna Carta, religious writings, works of Shakespeare before worrying about a silly TV show opening that reflects social commentary of the… <a href="https://t.co/P0okn5rYca">pic.twitter.com/P0okn5rYca</a>
&mdash; William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) <a href="https://twitter.com/WilliamShatner/status/1751999415215141282?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2024</a></blockquote>
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One person responded to Shatner by asking is the EU planned to ban the words of American astronaut Neil Armstrong next.
&#8220;Neil Armstrong must be spinning in his grave … &#8216;One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.&#8217; Will he be canceled for leaving out an &#8216;a&#8217;? Is the word &#8216;mankind&#8217; misogynous? We live in foolish times.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Neil Armstrong must be spinning in his grave… “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind”. Will he be canceled for leaving out an “a”? Is the word “mankind” misogynous? We live in foolish times.
&mdash; Ry Brooks (@RyBrooks) <a href="https://twitter.com/RyBrooks/status/1752002671521812770?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Late Night With Solomon Society

William Shatner Scolds EU Over Plan To Censor Gendered Language In Iconic ‘Star Trek’ Intro

Gender

Political Correctness

Star Trek

William Shatner

Belgian journalist and human rights activist Assita Kanko called out &#8220;Western feminists,&#8221; whom she said should answer for their silence in the face of the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-inside-the-israeli-kibbutz-where-dozens-were-murdered-by-hamas" target="_blank" rel="noopener">atrocities</a> committed against Israeli civilians — many of whom were women — by the terrorist group Hamas.
Kanko, who was <a href="https://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/197469/ASSITA_KANKO/home" target="_blank" rel="noopener">elected to serve</a> as a member of the European Union&#8217;s Parliament, addressed her peers in a speech she shared via X on Wednesday — seven weeks after Hamas terrorists breached the border into Israel, raping and slaughtering men, women, and children before taking hundreds more hostage and returning to Gaza.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Today, I have a question. A pressing question. For some Western feminists. How can you remain silent, when women and girls are raped, tortured, their bodies carried around naked and spat on by bearded men shouting Allah Akbar? 
Then you can never call yourself a feminist again.… <a href="https://t.co/JNalcrobAq">pic.twitter.com/JNalcrobAq</a>
&mdash; Assita Kanko MEP (@Assita_Kanko) <a href="https://twitter.com/Assita_Kanko/status/1727265544145911972?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 22, 2023</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;Today, I have a question. A pressing question for some Western feminists. How can you remain silent when women and girls are raped, tortured, their bodies carried around naked and spat on by bearded men shouting Allah Akbar?&#8221; she asked. &#8220;Then you can never call yourself a feminist again.&#8221;
&#8220;Every day, including today, some Western hypocritical feminists should be ashamed of their silence on the horror that Hamas men inflicted to women and girls on 7 October. And that includes big names we were once proud of,&#8221; she continued. &#8220;Why are their lips sealed and their hearts of stone when it comes to the excruciating pain of Jewish women?&#8221;
Kanko went on to reference the #MeToo movement — which had quickly spawned calls to #believeallwomen and was predicated on the idea that every victim&#8217;s voice mattered — and argued that unless the victims fit a specific narrative, the &#8220;movement&#8221; had no use for them.
&#8220;The MeToo movement and so-called intersectional feminists do not care about all women. If they remain silent, it means they have lied to us about their commitment to women&#8217;s rights. Their actions support the oppressor, not the victims,&#8221; she said, calling out directly those who were attacking Israel over its strategic response to the brutal attacks. &#8220;Also the EU money does, indirectly.&#8221;
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&#8220;Those who say nothing about these women and the hostages should not be standing here and speaking about human rights,&#8221; Kanko concluded, arguing against calls for a ceasefire and calling for the return of the Israeli hostages and &#8220;justice&#8221; to deal with Hamas. &#8220;When you are under attack by terrorists, a ceasefire is like raising your hands when you are being shot at. Perhaps it is worth considering that a real lasting ceasefire will start with bringing back all the hostages to their homes and the rapists to justice.&#8221;

POLITICS N-VA EUROPEAN LIST TOP CANDIDATES

Female Member Of European Parliament Blasts ‘Western Feminist’ Silence On Hamas’ Rape Of Israeli Women

Female Member Of European Parliament Blasts 'Western Feminist' Silence On Hamas' Rape Of Israeli Women

Feminism

Hamas

The <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/social-media" target="_blank" rel="noopener">social media</a> platform X said it removed or labeled tens of thousands of posts linked to the terrorist group Hamas after European Union officials said the communication site was being used to disseminate illegal content.
Linda Yaccarino, CEO of X, reportedly <a href="https://www.reuters.com/technology/x-ceo-says-removed-hundreds-hamas-affiliated-accounts-messaging-platform-2023-10-12/#:~:text=Oct%2012%20(Reuters)%20%2D%20The,Linda%20Yaccarino%20said%20on%20Thursday." target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> since the start of the conflict between Israel and Hamas, X has identified and removed hundreds of accounts affiliated with the terrorist group from the platform.
&#8220;X is committed to serving the public conversation, especially in critical moments like this and understands the importance of addressing any illegal content that may be disseminated through the platform,&#8221; Yaccarino wrote in an October 11 response letter to EU officials. &#8220;There is no place on X for terrorist organizations or violent extremist groups and we continue to remove such accounts in real time, including proactive efforts.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Today <a href="https://twitter.com/lindayaX?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@lindayaX</a> responded to <a href="https://twitter.com/ThierryBreton?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ThierryBreton</a>’s letter detailing our work in response to the terrorist attack on Israel. <a href="https://t.co/yZtaOVGpHG">pic.twitter.com/yZtaOVGpHG</a>
&mdash; Global Government Affairs (@GlobalAffairs) <a href="https://twitter.com/GlobalAffairs/status/1712341036872380679?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2023</a></blockquote>
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On Saturday, Hamas launched a barbaric attack on Israel that has so far killed at least 1,300 people, including 27 Americans, and injured approximately 3,000 others.
Several images and videos of the terrorist attacks have circulated on social media networks, including Elon Musk&#8217;s X platform, which has reportedly been used to spread false claims and misrepresent videos from events unrelated to the war between Israel and Hamas.
NBC News <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/misinformation/x-misinformation-israel-hamas-war-network-disinformation-rcna119696#" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> that researchers found a propaganda network of 67 X-accounts posting the content, including a manipulated video of Russian President Vladimir Putin telling the U.S. not to get involved in the war.
European Union commissioner Thierry Breton <a href="https://twitter.com/ThierryBreton" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in a letter to Musk that the 27-nation bloc&#8217;s digital rights enforcer had indications the site &#8220;was being used to disseminate illegal content and disinformation&#8221; that potentially violates the EU&#8217;s recently implemented Digital Services Act that requires social media platforms to police illegal content, such as terrorist material.
Yaccarino said the platform is &#8220;proportionately and effectively assessing and addressing identified fake and manipulated content during this constantly evolving and shifting crisis&#8221; after the EU commissioner issued a 24-hour ultimatum for X officials to take action against the material.
&#8220;Every [day] we&#8217;re reminded of our global responsibility to protect the public conversation by ensuring everyone has access to real-time information and safeguarding the platform for all our users,&#8221; Yaccarino <a href="https://twitter.com/GlobalAffairs/status/1712341036872380679" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in a letter to Breton posted on X. &#8220;In response to the recent terrorist attack on Israel by Hamas, we&#8217;ve redistributed resources and refocused internal teams who are working around the clock to address this rapidly evolving situation.&#8221;
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Everyday we&#39;re reminded of our global responsibility to protect the public conversation by ensuring everyone has access to real-time information and safeguarding the platform for all our users. In response to the recent terrorist attack on Israel by Hamas, we&#39;ve redistributed… <a href="https://t.co/VR2rsK0J9K">https://t.co/VR2rsK0J9K</a>
&mdash; Linda Yaccarino (@lindayaX) <a href="https://twitter.com/lindayaX/status/1712342353304846603?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Community Notes, a feature on the platform designed to involve users in correcting or adding additional context to false or misleading information, <a href="https://twitter.com/CommunityNotes/status/1711824156134629399?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> it identified 500 unique notes related to the conflict.
&#8220;We wish to reiterate that we welcome further engagement with you and your team, including a meeting, to address any specific questions and look forward to receiving further specifics to which we can respond,&#8221; Yaccarino wrote.
Breton also <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/eus-breton-gives-metas-zuckerberg-24-hours-detail-disinformation-response-2023-10-11/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly</a> sent a similar letter to Meta on Wednesday to counter false or misleading information about the attack on Israel, giving the company 24 hours to respond to him with a plan of action.
&#8220;I would ask you to be very vigilant to ensure strict compliance with the [Digtial Services Act] rules on terms of service, on the requirement of timely, diligent and objective action following notices of illegal content in the EU, and on the need for proportionate and effective mitigation measures,&#8221; Breton told Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg in a letter.

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X Sweeps Hamas-Linked Accounts From Platform Following Terrorist Attack On Israel

X Removes Hundreds Of Hamas-Linked Accounts Following Terrorist Attack On Israel

Elon Musk

Linda Yaccarino

Twitter

A spokesman for <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/israel" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Israel</a>’s Foreign Affairs Ministry blamed the European Union for financing the indoctrination of Palestinian children in the antisemitism at the heart of Hamas’ massacre of hundreds of Israeli civilians.
Hundreds of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/hamas" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hamas</a> terrorists, reportedly with backing from Iran, invaded Israel from Gaza on Saturday morning, killing at least 900 Israelis and wounding thousands more. Hamas terrorists are holding an estimated 150 more Israelis as captives in the Gaza Strip. Images and videos that surfaced online from the attack depict Hamas militants murdering and mutilating the bodies of civilians.
A spokesman for Israel’s Foreign Affairs Ministry said European accommodation of rampant anti-Semitism in Palestinian communities in Gaza fostered the dehumanization of Israelis.
“The European Union was financing textbooks of the Palestinian authorities that were full of antisemitism and incitement for violence and terrorism against Jews,” spokesman Lior Haiat said Monday, according to <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/defense-national-security/israel-blames-europe-hamas-attack-antisemitic-propaganda" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Washington Examiner</a>. “Those textbooks are the root of the Palestinian terror against Israelis. Young people are being taught, educated, to hate Jews and to murder Jews.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has promised an unprecedented military campaign against Hamas in response to the attack, which has been called the worst day for Jews since the Holocaust.
“To my mind, not since the Holocaust have so many Jews been killed on one day,” Israeli President Isaac Herzog said. “And not since the Holocaust have we witnessed scenes of Jewish women and children, grandparents, even Holocaust survivors, being herded into trucks and taken into captivity.”
The Israeli military is preparing for a “complete siege” of Gaza, according to Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. Over the past few days, Israel’s air force has conducted bombing runs that hit locations key to Hamas’ military operation. The Israeli government has directed civilians living in Gaza to flee the area or risk danger in the invasion.
“I have given an order – Gaza will be under complete siege,” Gallant said, according to <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/09/middleeast/israel-gaza-hamas-fighting-monday-intl-hnk/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CNN</a>. “We are fighting barbarians and will respond accordingly.”
In response, Hamas has ordered Palestinians living in Gaza to shelter in their homes, a move that has been condemned as another attempt by the terror group to use civilians as human shields against Israeli bombing runs. Hamas has also threatened to execute hostages.
“We declare that we will respond to any targeting of our people who are safe in their homes without warning, with the execution of our civilian hostages, and we will broadcast it with audio and video,” Abu Obaida, the spokesman for Hamas’ Al-Qassam Brigades, said in a post on Telegram.

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Israeli Official Says E.U. Paid For Palestinian Propaganda That Teaches ‘To Hate Jews’

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