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Michael Segal's avatar

On voluntary emigration from Gaza:

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/katz-appoints-col-res-yaakov-blitstein-as-head-of-gaza-voluntary-relocation-directorate/

"Defense Minister Israel Katz appoints the deputy director-general of the Defense Ministry, Col. (res.) Yaakov Blitstein, as head of the Gaza voluntary relocation directorate, according to a statement put out by Katz’s office."

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Ira Stoll's avatar

Good development though unfortunate how the Times of Israel puts “voluntarily” in scare quotes.

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Michael Segal's avatar

Given the brutality of Hamas towards its own people, with the recent brutal murder of an anti-Hamas demonstrator, it will not be easy for Gazans to overthrow Hamas: https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/22-year-old-palestinian-tortured-killed-by-hamas-after-joining-gaza-protests-against-terror-group/

I don't plan to mention this when I lead a seder in 2 weeks, but there is something of a "let my people go" theme here, though it is far from a perfect analogy.

When Tal Becker was in the Boston area 3 weeks ago I asked why allowing emigration of Gazans was taking so long. Becker said it was complicated, but it is good that some progress is being made.

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Ben's avatar

Do many tipped workers both itemize and accurately report?

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Michael Segal's avatar

Trump saying "if these companies don't make their products here, then they will pay a very stiff tariff when they send their products into the United States" sounds very much like "Trump told voters he’d be increasing the price of imported Toyotas and Volkswagens and Hondas".

Many hoped that this would not apply to Canada, where some American brand cars are bought and some are assembled, but so far there is no such deal to revive an arrangement that has been in place since the 1965 Canada-US Auto Pact: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada%E2%80%93United_States_Automotive_Products_Agreement

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