None of this makes any sense. Not only because she is one of the most unproven and unlikeable candidates in the Democrats’ stable, but because she is a radical leftist from San Francisco whose voting record and rhetoric makes her a liability on the party’s ticket in swing states.
The internet is forever, and there’s no equivocation about her position on some matters that are of crucial importance to millions of Americans, and particularly in those precious swing states.

She has said that she supports the abolition of private insurance and a nationalized healthcare system. She supports taxpayers funding “free college,” an end to fracking and fossil fuels, defunding the police, open borders, and free healthcare for illegal aliens. Kamala Harris notably encouraged rioters in the leadup to the 2020 election and helped in fundraising for violent criminals’ and arsonists’ bail. And most importantly, she believes that it is the government’s job to achieve the equality of all Americans’ outcome.

In the words of the late, great Norm McDonald, that’s all “some commie gobbledygook.” And Americans don’t like that commie stuff. Some Democrats do, sure, but the ones they’ve liked are named Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. And they haven’t been the candidates that the Democrat establishment has been promoting.

Somehow, not only has the radical progressive standard finally become acceptable to the Democrat party, but they’ve calculatedly decided that Kamala Harris will be the standard bearer in a national election?

I’m not buying it.

— from The American Thinker on 7-29-24

A crash is coming.

We find ourselves deep into the irrational-exuberance phase of Kamala Harris’s surprise ascension to her role as presumptive Democratic presidential nominee. All of five full days have elapsed since Joe Biden was dragged unwillingly to the conclusion most Americans came to well over a year ago. Already, Harris’s political star is said by her allies to have eclipsed even Barack Obama’s.

“I covered the Clinton campaign, the Women’s March, the anti-Trump resistance, the wave of women in the 2018 midterms,” TIME Magazine correspondent Charlotte Alter asserted, “and the momentum for Harris over the last five days is basically like all of that rolled together.” MSNBC’s Cornell Belcher agreed. Not only has Democratic fundraising exploded since Biden withdrew from the race, but the “organic” outpouring of online enthusiasm is like nothing he has seen since 2008. “This could be bigger than ’08,” former RNC chairman Michael Steel replied. He later added that Harris’s performance over the last 120 hours suggests that the era of the prolonged campaign is over. “We can do this in a very short timeframe,” he insisted. “Because Kamala Harris is doing it.”

Democrats have not been energized by their party’s leader in a long time — that is no secret. The reprieve from psychological torment has provided Democratic partisans with a boost of enthusiasm, but that passion has clouded their judgment. At best, Democrats have transformed what was shaping up to be an epochal disaster for their party into a competitive race that nonetheless still favors Donald Trump.

It will take several more weeks for voters to fully digest the series of historic events that occurred in quick succession over the summer of 2024. The polling landscape is going to be unsettled for a while, and it’s unwise to put much stock in surveys before Democrats reintroduce Harris and debut her vice-presidential nominee at their party’s nominating convention. But it’s just as foolish to ignore the data we do have.

For example, we can deduce from the polling that every American voter is aware that the president will not be on the ballot in November. We also know that, based on her job-approval rating, most Americans have a fully formed opinion of Harris, and a plurality of those Americans don’t view her positively (indeed, she’s viewed less favorably than Trump since his brush with death). And with these two conditions established in voters’ minds, the race is still a dead heat. Substituting Harris for Biden has helped Democrats claw back to the position they occupied before the first presidential debate — both at the national and swing-state levels. But Democrats were losing the race for the White House even before the debate. Based only on the data we have so far, they still are. The acknowledgment by some on the left that Harris will have to “reintroduce” herself to voters is a tacit admission that the impression she’s already made is uninspiring.

Ah, but there is a long campaign ahead of us, and Harris has the opportunity to reintroduce herself to voters with the goal of erasing the negative impression so many Americans have of her. Whether the 104 days between now and Election Day is a “long” time depends on whom you ask, but, even if we grant the stipulation, Harris has shown no inclination to reinvent herself at all so far. Indeed, she has hewn closely to both Biden’s policies and his rhetoric.

Harris has continued to promulgate the notion that “democracy is on the ballot” in November — a message that resonates primarily with degree-holding Democrats who were already in the party’s camp. She has promoted herself as a skilled prosecutor who will finally litigate the case against “the felon” at the top of the GOP ticket. But fewer than half of American adults polled by AP-NORC in June said they “strongly or somewhat” approved of Trump’s conviction in the Alvin Bragg case, and the stronger cases against Trump are now in a state of limbo following the Supreme Court’s decision on the scope of presidential immunity. Going down that rabbit hole energizes Democrats, but it doesn’t seem to sway many persuadable voters. And if Harris’s press conference following her meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu is any indication, she intends to carry Biden’s foreign policy forward, too. In Israel’s case, that involves hectoring Jerusalem over its imagined human-rights abuses and berating it into accepting the terms of a cease-fire agreement that does not exist and by which Hamas would not abide.

If the Democratic theory of the case is that Joe Biden’s presidency would have been successful and beloved but for his decrepitude, this strategy makes sense. But voters soured on Biden not just because he was old but because his policies were broadly resented. Pledging to preserve conditions voters dislike is no path to victory.

Democratic ebullience has also obscured the fact that Republicans will get their bite at this apple soon enough, and Harris’s record is rich with targets. What will Harris’s rejoinder be when Republicans confront her with a lavishly funded campaign of attack ads featuring her repeatedly insisting that “an undocumented immigrant is not a criminal”? How will she neutralize the glaring liability she saddled herself with when she insisted that we must retire the phrase “radical Islamic terrorism”? Can she articulate a conversion narrative that explains why she once sidled up alongside “defund the police” activists? Can she defuse her association with those who sought to “reimagine how we are creating safety” in ways that don’t involve police because it’s “wrong” to suggest “you get more safety by putting more cops on the street”?

To assume that Harris can deftly maneuver her way out of these traps she’s set for herself is to put one’s faith in the unseen. The vice president spent years crafting a reputation as a far-left progressive with policy preferences that are not shared by the median American voter — a political problem that is mitigated only by how maladroitly she pursued her policy preferences.

Before the debate, political observers across the political spectrum knew that Harris was a bad campaigner with immoderate political tastes. She still is. All that has changed in the interim is that unenviable circumstances have forced Democrats to rationalize themselves into being excited about her candidacy, inflating her stock well beyond its natural value. A crash is coming.

Why is it not bigger news that “President Kamala” is capable of bombing Israel, by her own words?

The United States and other Israeli allies continue to warn against an assault on Rafah, where over 1 million Palestinian civilians are sheltering.

“We have been clear in multiple conversations and in every way that any major military operation in Rafah would be a huge mistake,” Harris told ABC’s This Week.

“I have studied the maps – there’s nowhere for those folks to go. And we’re looking at about a million and a half people in Rafah who are there because they were told to go there,” Harris added.

“I am ruling out nothing,” Harris said when she was asked whether there would be consequences from the US if the Israeli operation in the overcrowded city goes ahead.

She did not give details of what such consequences might entail. “We’re going to take it one step at a time, but we’ve been very clear in terms of our perspective on whether or not that should happen,” she said. [aljazeera, March 2024]

In March, Kamala implied military action AGAINST Israel BY AMERICA should not be ruled out. Unthinkable? Not if she gets elected President–or selected, as Biden was.

I wrote at the time:

The regime has sent out powder-for-brains to threaten MILITARY ACTION against Israel if it doesn’t cease fire and let Hamas decimate them.

This is yet another new low, and a really big deal. The American government is now enabling the next Holocaust, which may be worse than the original. Stupid people who keep voting Democratic do not grasp or appreciate that their party of choice is morally on par with the Nazi party. Yes, the Republicans are befuddled, inept, have very strange priorities at times and have no clue how to defeat an enemy of the kind we now face. But Democrats — and I am including you Democrat Jews in this rant — you have openly thrown your support to evil.

Will American troops bomb and attack Israel? If they don’t, I suppose they’ll get the same treatment as soldiers who refused the vax.

By the way: I am siding with Israel.

Michael J. Hurd

Barack Obama and Kamala Harris have been friends long before Obama was in the U. S. Senate. When he ran for that office, Harris campaigned for Obama vigorously and that created a bond. When Harris became the district attorney in San Francisco, Obama helped her retire some of her campaign debts. Obama has done fundraisers for Harris. So, they’ve had a connection and a relationship for a long, long time and most important — they think alike.

Joe Biden stands down . . .

A well-orchestrated coup to stop the faltering Joe Biden from seeking re-election has been underway for weeks, but Biden has been stubborn and fought it every step of the way.

Part of the elaborate strategy to remove Biden from the race was allowing him to debate Donald Trump on live TV in Atlanta. That debate was a set-up to convince Democrats that he was in no condition to run for president and win.

That was the final nail.

On Sunday, July 21st, the Democratic Party’s presumptive nominee was “deposed in a coup that was overseen by the shadow president, Barack Obama (who has been directing most things White House-related since Biden was sworn in on January 20, 2021).

It was finally over. He couldn’t hold out any more. He signed and submitted a “stand down” letter. Joe Biden quit the race on July 21, 2024.

This didn’t happen overnight. It was months in the planning and execution, but when Biden’s enemies made their move, things happened fast — 14 days start to finish — to seize total dominance and control of the Democratic Party.

Biden will remain as a ceremonial president for now. If he is unable to campaign for the office, then he is clearly unable to execute the duties as president. Whoever has been running the government will continue to do so.

Biden’s 50-year political career had come to a disastrous end and the word is that Joe didn’t have a lot of input into the decision to end it.

July 12:

A loose anti-Biden network, made up of Obama, Pelosi, Carville, Hillary and Bill Clinton staffers, were working behind the scenes to get rid of Joe Biden. The network was growing every day. They were circulating polls showing Democrats would shoot from sure losers to big winners with a new ticket.

The word was spreading fast. Axios published, “Behind the Curtain: Committee to Unelect the President.”

It began:

“President Biden beat back the initial public campaign by Democrats to oust him from the party’s presidential ticket, swiftly and decisively, but very-connected Democrats, mostly veterans of the Obama and Clinton administrations, are plotting hourly to get him to withdraw quickly.”

Former House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, added additional pressure by telling Biden that she and other Democratic lawmakers were worried that he was hurting The Party and urged him to make a decision about stepping down soon.

July 13:

Biden held a “tense” Zoom call with dozens of moderate Democrats to ease their minds and demonstrate that he had recovered and was ready to go, but one person on the call described as even worse than the debate.

“He was rambling; he’d start an answer then lose his train of thought, then would just say ‘whatever.’ He really couldn’t complete an answer. I lost a ton of respect for him.”

One hour later, Trump was shot, and for the next couple of days, the shooting occupied the news — but the gremlins were busy.

July 17:

A survey by the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research was published. It found that only about 3 in 10 Democrats were extremely or very confident that Biden had the mental capability to serve effectively as president.

very confident that Biden had the mental capability to serve effectively as president.

July 18th

Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries both asked Biden to drop out. CNN was reporting that Joe Biden was more open to the idea of quitting the race. Top Democrats were predicting that Biden would drop out that weekend.

Seymour Hersch was reporting that Obama and Harris threatened Biden with the potential invocation of the 25th Amendment if he didn’t drop out the presidential race and cede that spot to the Kamala.

July 19th

NewsMax was reporting that Joe Biden had agreed to step down and his speech had been written. The word was, he would not endorse Kamala Harris for president.

Biden’s political world was collapsing. His top allies had either publicly or privately called on him to step aside. Major donations had fallen off a cliff. Ads were produced asking Joe to, “pass the torch.”

The Obama camp was actively trying to replace Biden and the relationship between the two camps had never been worse. There was a lot of resentment building up.

July 21st

Within minutes of Joe Biden’s “stand down” announcement, all 50 of the state Democratic Party chairs held a conference call — on a Sunday morning!

Ken Martin, president of the Association of State Democratic Committees released a statement:

“Following President Biden’s announcement, our members immediately assembled to unite behind the candidate who has a track record of winning tough elections, and who is a proven leader on the issues that matter to Americans: reproductive freedom, gun violence prevention, climate protection, justice reform, and rebuilding the economy.”

In a matter of hours, all fifty state party chairs threw their weight behind Kamala Harris as their candidate to be the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee.

Kamala Selected Not Elected

There was no discussion and there were no dissenters. — meanwhile, the 15 million people who voted for Joe Biden in the primary just had their votes thrown in the trash.

replace Joe Biden.

Kamala Selected Not Elected

Democrats have been holding conventions since 1832. For two hundred years, the purpose of the convention was to select the presidential and vice-presidential candidate. This year is the first time in The Party’s history that there will be no debates, no deals, and no real vote. This year, delegates to the convention will know who their candidates are before they get to the convention.

Delegates can “vote” for Kamala — and even start approving her yet-to be-named running mate — in online voting beginning next week.

Their names will be the only two names on the ballot.

July 26th

On Friday — at 05:01 AM — Barack Obama posted this this video on X. It is Barack’s and Michelle’s official public endorsement of Kamala Harris.

“We agree with President Biden — choosing Kamala was one of the best decisions he’s made. She has the resume to prove it. As a prosecutor, she defended the Constitution and fought for folks who deserve a fair shake. As California’s Attorney General, she worked hard to ensure everyone was treated fairly, no matter who they are or who they love.”

There you have it! Coup complete. Obama approves.

In a matter of days, Kamala Harris, a candidate, born of foreign parents and raised in Canada, more Marxist than Bernie Sanders, and who was selected, not elected, will become the official Democratic Party candidate for President of the United States of America.

If we were ever looking at a “Manchurian Candidate, by God, we’re looking at one now.

Parker Shannon

“There will be no second chance after November 6th. Understand the assignment,” says a meme on social media.

November 6 is the opening of a civil war, because if Trump loses, the totalitarians will crack down; and if Trump wins, they will do the same thing. The only way there won’t be a civil war or national breakup is if millions who don’t support “Democrats” roll over and say, “enslave me.” The Commiefascists occupying our government and dominating all of American culture, business and schools are NOT backing down, not ever. They will have to be forced out of power, or they’re not going. You won’t see a peaceful transition of power back to Trump. No way.

The propaganda media has all but declared Kamala Harris the winner.

Watch out, Kamala. The people who just threw out the Bidens with the trash are the very same people elevating you now.

The Kamala jokes are too easy. America is in serious trouble for someone so utterly devoid of value to rise so far.

PROPAGANDA is not news. LIES are not truth. Highly paid ACTORS who do the government’s bidding are NOT objective professionals.

Ayn Rand said it best:

“The truly and deliberately evil men are a very small minority; it is the appeaser who unleashes them on mankind; it is the appeaser’s intellectual abdication that invites them to take over. When a culture’s dominant trend is geared to irrationality, the thugs win over the appeasers. When intellectual leaders fail to foster the best in the mixed, unformed, vacillating character of people at large, the thugs are sure to bring out the worst. When the ablest men turn into cowards, the average men turn into brutes.”

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The Democratic Party ruling class’s bloodless coup of their own democratically elected presidential nominee, who also happens to be the nominal sitting president of the United States, is one of the most astonishing political developments of my lifetime. Joe Biden, though clearly physically and mentally impaired, has sought the presidency for quite literally longer than I have been alive. Biden had been defiant ever since the June 27 presidential debate debacle that he was not going anywhere, despite overwhelming pressure from party elites and sycophantic media lapdogs demanding he do precisely that. He has a Lady Macbeth-like wife who craves power and a felonious son in desperate need of a presidential pardon.

Yet the coup succeeded. Biden became the first incumbent president to not seek reelection after his first term since Lyndon B. Johnson in 1968. Biden made the much-anticipated announcement not with a solemn Oval Office address — that came three days later, and he didn’t even explain his decision. Instead, he issued a bedridden tweet — from a personal, not even official, account. It’s the equivalent of divorcing your wife over text messages. As if that weren’t crazy enough, the announcement came smack in the middle of a five-day period in which Biden was not publicly seen and during which he apparently experienced an unspecified medical emergency. Suspicious much?

The Democrats’ decision to coup their own president is a curious one on political merits.

Hold aside the galling hypocrisy of the purported party of “democracy” trying to remove former President Donald Trump from the ballot under an outlandish constitutional theory while simultaneously attempting to bankrupt, prosecute, and incarcerate him on equally spurious grounds. Hold aside the self-proclaimed party of “democracy” feigning ignorance over how its overheated rhetoric laid the seeds for their political opponent’s recent near-assassination and it’s continuing to depict that opponent as an existential threat to the American constitutional order. And hold aside that purportedly “democratic” party deposing its own presumptive elected nominee — a stark reversal from its presidential primary, when party poobahs worked hard to shut out all viable competition. Somewhere in Minnesota, Dean Phillips would like a word.

Hold all that aside. Because even on its own terms, the coup of Biden for cackler-in-chief Kamala Harris is going to spectacularly backfire on the Democrats.

Already, Democrats and the corporate media have been working hard to “define” Harris for the American people. At times, this has included some rather dubious retconning, such as magically pretending she wasn’t the Biden administration’s appointed “border czar.” (She was.) However, the even bigger problem for Democrats is that Harris is not an unknown commodity. On the contrary, she is a very well-known commodity — one who just happens to be about as popular with the American public as venereal disease.

Harris’s current average approval rating is under 38%, and an NBC News poll last June found her to be the single least popular vice president in American history — only 32% of Americans had a positive view of her, putting her 17 points underwater. Harris’ 2020 presidential campaign was an absolute dud, self-imploding well before the first primary votes were cast. And as recently as a month or two ago, Democratic elites were openly discussing whether she could still be dropped as Biden’s 2024 running mate. It’s funny how quickly one can go from the weakest link to the great savior of “Our Democracy.”

The path to winning 270 Electoral College votes still runs through the Rust Belt states of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin. It is frankly bizarre for Democrats to swap out the man who talks ceaselessly about his hardscrabble Scranton upbringing for a Californian who boasts the most left-wing voting record of any presidential nominee in modern history. Do Democrats really think Harris’ support for the Green New Deal and a national fracking ban will play well in the Marcellus Shale of Pennsylvania or in the auto factories of Detroit? Will white working- and middle-class voters concerned about skyrocketing crime look favorably upon Harris’ enthusiastic support for the 2020 Black Lives Matter riots, which racked up $2 billion worth of property damage?

It’s not that Uncle Joe, seemingly about to keel over and die at any moment, found himself in much better political shape. But in addition to the gross hypocrisy of their coup that has dealt yet another fatal blow to their specious claim to “defend democracy,” Democrats have also set themselves up for political failure. They would have been better off trying to limp across the finish line with their grievously wounded incumbent of a nominee rather than changing horses mid-race.

The 14 million people who voted for Biden in the Democratic primaries ought to be livid. Rust Belt voters ought to be bemused. But Trump and running mate J.D. Vance ought to be ecstatic.

Josh Hammer, Townhall

One of my faithful readers here at the Delaware Wave writes that he and his wife recently retired here at the beach. But in spite of that, he’s not happy. It doesn’t have to do with anything specific; things are fine with his wife and his nice home. They are making new friends and exploring the area, but he can’t get rid of his general anxiety and sadness. He restates that he and his wife looked forward to retiring from their successful careers, but now that it’s a reality he’s having trouble making himself feel happy, though he is well aware that he should be happy at this point in his life.

Dear Reader, it sounds like you don’t know what’s causing your anxiety and sadness. You might need a professional to help coax this out of your subconscious mind, but perhaps I can get things started. The first step is to identify your exact emotions. Emotions are nothing more than thoughts that pop up automatically in response to your values and beliefs. So ask yourself, “What would my emotions say, if they could talk?”

I’m only guessing here, but those emotions might suggest that you’re feeling a lack of purpose. You described your career back home as busy and successful; could it be that you’re simply missing a specific set of reasons for getting up in the morning? This happens quite a bit when people retire early. If you think about it, who says we’re supposed to retire? It’s a concept that we take as self-evident, but if you stand back and look at it, it’s nothing more than an arbitrary number contrived by the government. But it’s at odds with the basic human need for a sense of fulfillment to make it through the day. Faulty retirement thinking is based on the premise that the ideal is to do nothing. But when one finds that he or she is in fact doing nothing, a person can often end up feeling exactly as you describe.

If you disliked your job or career, retirement can be a pleasant experience. A similar situation exists if you liked your job, but just had enough of it. It’s perfectly fine to move on – but to what? Taking the sole step of getting away from something still doesn’t tell you what your new purpose will be. No longer having one purpose is not the same as identifying what your new purpose can or should be. Just surviving comfortably is not enough. Whether it’s a job, a career, a cause or a hobby, you obviously need more than just the nice house and nice friends. In a sense, they’re just the side dishes, not the main course. What’s the main course? It sounds to me like you haven’t decided that yet. So your anxious and sad emotions are telling you, “Hey, get on with it.”

Again, all I have to go on is your email, so this is only a guess, but it’s an educated guess. I can’t overstate how often I see this happening to retired people. Sometimes they don’t fully think out their plans. For years they’ve assumed that once they retire and move to the beach that life will be bliss. But when that time arrives, that cherished belief ultimately clashes with the reality of simply having nothing constructive to do. The next step is anxiety, sadness or even depression. I see it every day.

Find something you enjoy – maybe something you’ve never done before, and pursue it. It can be anything from volunteering at a hospital to starting an Internet business. Whatever you do, your sadness is entirely fixable. I suggest finding a skilled cognitive therapist who can help align your OLD beliefs with your NEW circumstances. That will be the first step toward being as happy as you were before you retired.

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to the United States comes as negotiations to end the Israel-Hamas war and recover hostages held in Gaza inch forward — with no immediate deal in sight.

Egypt, Qatar and the United States continue to push Israel and Hamas toward a phased cease-fire agreement that would stop the fighting and free the hostages. The negotiations have repeatedly hit obstacles over disputes about the governance of post-war Gaza and how enduring the cease-fire will be.

Netanyahu’s vowing “total victory” in Gaza to thunderous congressional applause Wednesday risks inflaming tensions with Hamas at a time when talks are delicate. But he also came under increased U.S. pressure to engage sincerely in cease-fire efforts. Critics say Netanyahu is stalling during negotiations so that he can draw out the war for his own political gain.

A team of Israeli negotiators that was meant to travel to Qatar for another round of talks was held back Thursday and may be dispatched next week.

Here’s a look at how Netanyahu’s visit might impact the talks:

During the trip, Netanyahu seemed to avoid public mention of cease-fire talks, angering hostage families in Israel who felt their plight was ignored. Domestic pressure runs high for a deal that would bring home the remaining 110 hostages, but Netanyahu also faces opposition from his far-right governing partners to any agreement to end the war.

His speech to Congress Wednesday made scant mention of the hostages. His office said reaching a deal was but one of several items on his wish list to discuss with American officials.

Still, the visit opened Netanyahu up to face-to-face pressure from Israel’s top ally, on whom it counts for critical military and domestic support.

Both President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris said that in their meetings with Netanyahu in Washington on Thursday, they would prioritize closing gaps on a hostage deal.

In some of her most forceful comments, Harris said she told Netanyahu “it is time” to end the war and bring back the hostages.

But with Netanyahu keeping an eye on his coalition partners – the key to his political survival – the trip could also be part of a broader delaying tactic to avoid reaching a deal.

“While his coalition is wobbling because of the tension with the extreme-right parties, Netanyahu is deliberately delaying the negotiations for the release of the hostages,” wrote columnist Amos Harel in the liberal Israeli daily, Haaretz, adding that Netanyahu had “engineered” a long trip.

The rapidly changing political developments in the U.S., Harel said, might distract leaders there from pressing the cease-fire talks urgently.

Netanyahu’s visit and his fiery speech to Congress stoked tensions with Hamas at a time when the militant group’s negotiators are at the table.

Hamas reacted angrily to Netanyahu’s presence in the U.S., calling his vows to return the hostages insincere.

“He is the one who thwarted all efforts aimed at ending the war and concluding a deal to release the prisoners,” it said in a statement after the speech. It called Netanyahu’s talk of intensified efforts to free the hostages a “complete lie” to mislead public opinion.

Hamas spokesman Jihad Taha said Thursday the group didn’t believe the visit — during which Netanyahu received a standing ovation from Congress — would prompt enough pressure on him to impact the Israeli negotiating position.

“If the American administration is serious, it should put pressure on the prime minister of the Zionist government Benjamin Netanyahu to stop this aggression,” he said.

But Hamas stopped short of pulling out of talks over the visit, a sign the talks may resume.

Netanyahu’s U.S. trip came as the talks already faced challenges.

The cease-fire plan calls for an initial six-week phase in which Hamas would release some hostages — including women, older adults and wounded people — in exchange for an Israeli withdrawal from populated areas. Palestinian civilians would be able to return to their homes and humanitarian aid would be ramped up.

The two sides are supposed to use that six-week period to negotiate an agreement on the second phase, which would include the release of all remaining living hostages, including male soldiers, and Israel’s full withdrawal from Gaza along with an enduring halt to the war.

But the two sides appear far apart on that second phase.

Israeli leaders have suggested they aim for a one-phase deal freeing some hostages, after which they would resume their campaign to destroy Hamas and keep troops in parts of the territory long term.

Netanyahu has spoken of striking a “partial” deal. A day before coming to the U.S., he told troops in Gaza’s southernmost city Rafah that Israel demanded “a maximum number of hostages” be released in the first phase. On Tuesday, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Israel seeks a deal for the release of “dozens of hostages. And after this issue has passed, we will know how to return to fighting.”

That’s a scenario Hamas has rejected. It dropped a demand that Israel commit up front to a complete end to the war, but it has sought guarantees from mediators for that goal.

Mediators appear to be trying to sort out as much of the second phase as possible now, including a post-war rule for Gaza without Hamas.

“There are details to be worked through,” said U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan while speaking in Aspen, Colorado last week. Sullivan said those issues include what is to be Israel’s remaining military presence in Gaza, humanitarian assistance and a day-after plan for governing Gaza.

Netanyahu’s office did not say when the Israeli negotiating team would be dispatched once more for talks. At Congress, he said Israel was “actively engaged in intensive efforts” to secure the release of the hostages and was “confident these efforts could succeed.” But he also pledged “total victory” in the war with Hamas.

Taha said Hamas is waiting on an official Israeli response to amendments proposed by Hamas.

——-

AP Correspondents Ellen Knickmeyer in Washington D.C., Bassem Mroue in Beirut and Tia Goldenberg in Tel Aviv contributed to this report.