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DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Wednesday, November 20, 2019
West Wing Reads
Sickening Survey: Smartphones Covered In Bacteria, Yet 1 in 4 NEVER Clean Theirs
Tens of millions of people carry their smartphone with them everywhere they go, including the bathroom. Our phones are always within our grasp, which means they are also constantly being exposed to whatever bacteria we may have accumulated on our hands. Unfortunately, a new survey of 1,200 Americans and their cleaning habits finds that one in four (23%) have never cleaned their phone.
Broken down by the gender, more than one in four men have never cleaned their phone (26%), and one in five women admit to the same hygienic oversight (20%). To put in perspective just how dirty most phones become, researchers estimate that a regularly used smartphone that has never been cleaned may hold more bacteria than an entire household bathroom.
According to the survey, conducted by antibacterial white light company Vital Vio, it’s common for smartphones to come into contact with various forms of bacteria and disease, including strep, staph, and E.coli.
If that isn’t enough to give you pause, consider this:
Broken down by the gender, more than one in four men have never cleaned their phone (26%), and one in five women admit to the same hygienic oversight (20%). To put in perspective just how dirty most phones become, researchers estimate that a regularly used smartphone that has never been cleaned may hold more bacteria than an entire household bathroom.
According to the survey, conducted by antibacterial white light company Vital Vio, it’s common for smartphones to come into contact with various forms of bacteria and disease, including strep, staph, and E.coli.
If that isn’t enough to give you pause, consider this:
3 Steps To Cut the Cord and Cancel Cable TV
It's a good time to cut the cord. It's easy to cancel your cable subscription, continue to watch (almost) all of your favorite shows, your sports games, and still save some money off your monthly bill.
In fact, with internet television offering the same features as traditional cable at cheaper monthly subscription, you can cut the physical cord and get away from two-year contracts with expensive equipment rental fees. You do need internet access, of course, to take advantage of a variety of streaming services. Some people choose to pay for that access while others prefer to take advantage of free internet.
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In fact, with internet television offering the same features as traditional cable at cheaper monthly subscription, you can cut the physical cord and get away from two-year contracts with expensive equipment rental fees. You do need internet access, of course, to take advantage of a variety of streaming services. Some people choose to pay for that access while others prefer to take advantage of free internet.
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New York Times Ripped for Spreading Fake News About Vindman
Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-NY), as well as a number of users on Twitter, ripped the New York Times on Tuesday for spreading fake news regarding the actions of the Democrats’ star impeachment witness Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman.
“Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman became so concerned during a July 25 phone call in which President Trump asked Ukraine’s president for help with political investigations that he reported his alarm to a superior,” the New York Times tweeted on Tuesday.
However, the Times’ summary is grossly inaccurate, as Vindman “never raised his concerns with his immediate supervisor,” as Breitbart News reported:
"Vindman never raised his concerns with his immediate supervisor. He also contradicted the commander-in-chief: while Trump had made a request of the Ukrainian president, Vindman admitted — proudly, it seems — that he had advised the Ukrainians to ignore it as an unwelcome intrusion into U.S. politics."
More here
“Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman became so concerned during a July 25 phone call in which President Trump asked Ukraine’s president for help with political investigations that he reported his alarm to a superior,” the New York Times tweeted on Tuesday.
However, the Times’ summary is grossly inaccurate, as Vindman “never raised his concerns with his immediate supervisor,” as Breitbart News reported:
"Vindman never raised his concerns with his immediate supervisor. He also contradicted the commander-in-chief: while Trump had made a request of the Ukrainian president, Vindman admitted — proudly, it seems — that he had advised the Ukrainians to ignore it as an unwelcome intrusion into U.S. politics."
More here
'This is immoral': Bernie Sanders tweets retracted Reuters story claiming US has 100,000 detained children
Bernie Sanders tweeted out a Reuters story that linked to a story that had been retracted by the news organization because it cited statistics from almost five years ago.
The independent Vermont senator and 2020 presidential candidate sent out the article titled “U.S. has the world’s highest rate of children in detention: U.N. study” to his 8.8 million followers with the caption, “Under Trump, America leads the world in locking up little kids—including 100,000 children at the border. This is immoral.”
The data was actually from 2015 when Barack Obama was president.
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The independent Vermont senator and 2020 presidential candidate sent out the article titled “U.S. has the world’s highest rate of children in detention: U.N. study” to his 8.8 million followers with the caption, “Under Trump, America leads the world in locking up little kids—including 100,000 children at the border. This is immoral.”
The data was actually from 2015 when Barack Obama was president.
More
How This Bill Could Free Workers From Forced Union Representation
Imagine that a charge was brought against you and you had to appear in court. Now, imagine that instead of having the choices of representing yourself, hiring an attorney of your choice, or being represented by a public defender, you were required to use an appointed public defender.
And now, imagine that the public defender assigned to you had polar-opposite political views than yours and that your voting and opinions were fully disclosed to that public defender.
That’s the case today for employees in unionized workplaces.
Even if the workers have the option not to join the union (because they live in a right-to-work state or are a public employee), they nevertheless cannot be represented by anyone other than the union—including by themselves—in employee-employer relations. And their choice not to join the union is well-known to the union that is supposed to represent them.
The Worker’s Choice Act—introduced by Republican Reps. Dusty Johnson of South Dakota, Greg Murphy of North Carolina, and Phil Roe of Tennessee—would change that by ending unions’ government-granted monopoly over employee-employer negotiations, otherwise known as exclusive representation.
More here
And now, imagine that the public defender assigned to you had polar-opposite political views than yours and that your voting and opinions were fully disclosed to that public defender.
That’s the case today for employees in unionized workplaces.
Even if the workers have the option not to join the union (because they live in a right-to-work state or are a public employee), they nevertheless cannot be represented by anyone other than the union—including by themselves—in employee-employer relations. And their choice not to join the union is well-known to the union that is supposed to represent them.
The Worker’s Choice Act—introduced by Republican Reps. Dusty Johnson of South Dakota, Greg Murphy of North Carolina, and Phil Roe of Tennessee—would change that by ending unions’ government-granted monopoly over employee-employer negotiations, otherwise known as exclusive representation.
More here
Trump flips third appeals court to majority GOP appointed judges
The Tuesday confirmation of Judge Robert J. Luck created a majority for Republican-appointed judges on the 11th US Circuit Court of Appeals, the third such party flip in a federal court of appeals during the Trump presidency.
President Trump has also created GOP majority courts in the Third Circuit, which flipped in March, and the Second Circuit, which flipped last week with the confirmation of Steven Menashi. Since Trump assumed office in 2017, 163 title III judges have been confirmed to the bench, including Supreme Court Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh.
The confirmation of Barbara Lagoa to the 11th Circuit is also expected in the coming days after Luck was easily confirmed by the Senate with a 64 to 31 vote. The change to a GOP-fortified 11th Circuit could mean a significant shift in the outcome of several election law disputes, primarily from Georgia and Florida, which the court is currently involved in.
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President Trump has also created GOP majority courts in the Third Circuit, which flipped in March, and the Second Circuit, which flipped last week with the confirmation of Steven Menashi. Since Trump assumed office in 2017, 163 title III judges have been confirmed to the bench, including Supreme Court Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh.
The confirmation of Barbara Lagoa to the 11th Circuit is also expected in the coming days after Luck was easily confirmed by the Senate with a 64 to 31 vote. The change to a GOP-fortified 11th Circuit could mean a significant shift in the outcome of several election law disputes, primarily from Georgia and Florida, which the court is currently involved in.
More
Troopers Arrest Milton Woman for Child Abuse- Milton
Milton– The Delaware State Police have arrested 35-year-old Christina R. Morris on multiple counts of child abuse and related charges.
The investigation began on November 14, 2019 at approximately 1:06 a.m., when Troopers were dispatched to the Beebe Medical Center in reference to a child abuse case. Upon arrival, Troopers learned that a 12-year-old female had been brought to the hospital by her father with significant injuries to her face. It was determined that the female victim had escaped her residence where she was being held by her mother, Christina Morris and physically abused.
Further investigation revealed that two other children were being held in the residence, a 14-year-old male and a 4-year-old female. Troopers responded to the residence on W Circle Drive, Milton where Morris was taken into custody without incident. The two children were also located in the residence and taken into custody.
It was learned that the 12-year-old female and 14-year old male had been physically abused by Morris on several occasions, in which Morris utilized a high heel shoe, baseball bat and belts. Morris had also handcuffed the 12-year-old and threatened to kill her. Morris prevented all of the children from leaving the residence. All three children were transported to the A.I Dupont Hospital for further treatment.
Troopers obtained a search warrant for the residence and located the baseball bat, belts and handcuffs. It was also discovered that the windows of the residence were frosted and there were blocks in the windows to prevent them from being opened.
Governor Hogan Announces Judicial Appointments
“The appointment of qualified individuals to serve across our state’s justice system is paramount to upholding our responsibilities to the people of Maryland and maintaining the highest standards of the rule of law,” said Governor Hogan. “I have confidence that Ms. Marsh and Mr. Martz will be strong advocates for the law and will serve the citizens of Wicomico County admirably.”
Abigail Marsh is the executive director of the Life Crisis Center, a non-profit legal services and advocacy center. Prior to joining the center, she served as the Deputy State’s Attorney for Worcester County in the circuit court division under State’s Attorney Beau Oglesby. She also worked in private practice for three years, where she handled insurance defense and municipal matters. Ms. Marsh received her B.A. from Ursinus College in Collegeville, Pa. and her J.D. from the University of Richmond School of Law. She clerked for the Honorable Alfred T. Truitt, Jr., Circuit Court for Wicomico County.
David Martz has spent almost his entire career as a prosecutor with the Wicomico County State’s Attorney’s Office. Previously, Martz was employed by Robert A. Eaton, P.A., where he focused on legal issues related to municipal government and local legislation. He also served as a law clerk for the Honorable Daniel M. Long, Circuit Court for Somerset County. He obtained his B.A. from Salisbury University and his J.D. from the University of Louisville School of Law.
‘Now I Know What Freedom Is’: One Young Man’s Escape From North Korea
Observers first see Ilhyeok Kim’s joyful, room-lighting smile before they notice he is relatively short—because he is North Korean defector short.
“For me, freedom means that when I want to do something, I’ll do it, and if I don’t want to do something, I don’t have to do it,” Kim told The Daily Signal last month at an event in Washington hosted by the group Liberty in North Korea.
“Now I know what freedom is,” he added.
When he escaped communist North Korea at 17 years old and made his way to South Korea, Kim weighed less than 88 pounds and stood 4-foot-11. The average 17-year-old male in South Korea weighs 138 pounds and stands 5-foot-8.
Most North Koreans are 5 inches shorter and 15 pounds lighter than South Koreans because they grow up knowing hunger and hard labor under the communist regime.
“In North Korea, whatever you harvest on your farm is the government’s to take,” Kim, now 24, said. “The regime didn’t care if its citizens died from starvation. Usually, we were only given enough rations to survive for two months. Then the hunger would set in.”
Kim was born into punishment under North Korean law for a crime he didn’t commit.
“My father stole [military] food and grains from a general food storage area,” he told The Daily Signal.
Barely any food was available in his hometown of Saebyul from February to June each year, Kim said, and his father and his father’s friends stole food from the government in 1991 because they were starving.
More here
“For me, freedom means that when I want to do something, I’ll do it, and if I don’t want to do something, I don’t have to do it,” Kim told The Daily Signal last month at an event in Washington hosted by the group Liberty in North Korea.
“Now I know what freedom is,” he added.
When he escaped communist North Korea at 17 years old and made his way to South Korea, Kim weighed less than 88 pounds and stood 4-foot-11. The average 17-year-old male in South Korea weighs 138 pounds and stands 5-foot-8.
Most North Koreans are 5 inches shorter and 15 pounds lighter than South Koreans because they grow up knowing hunger and hard labor under the communist regime.
“In North Korea, whatever you harvest on your farm is the government’s to take,” Kim, now 24, said. “The regime didn’t care if its citizens died from starvation. Usually, we were only given enough rations to survive for two months. Then the hunger would set in.”
Kim was born into punishment under North Korean law for a crime he didn’t commit.
“My father stole [military] food and grains from a general food storage area,” he told The Daily Signal.
Barely any food was available in his hometown of Saebyul from February to June each year, Kim said, and his father and his father’s friends stole food from the government in 1991 because they were starving.
More here
City of District Heights Mayor Convicted of Misconduct in Office
Acting State Prosecutor Kelly B. Madigan announced today that District Heights Mayor Eddie Martin was convicted of Misconduct in Office after a two day jury trial before Prince George’s County Circuit Court Judge Tiffany H. Anderson earlier this week.
In June 2019, Martin was charged via a Criminal Information with one count of misconduct in office. That Criminal Information alleged that on June 8, 2017, Martin signed a letter on City of District Heights’ letterhead authorizing the unlawful purchase of approximately fifty-thousand dollars worth of Class B and Class C fireworks from Wayne’s World Fireworks and represented that these fireworks were to be used on behalf of the City of District Heights. Martin, however, was aware that he was authorizing the purchase for an acquaintance for his own benefit.
Sentencing is scheduled for December 10, 2019.
Misconduct in office is a common law misdemeanor that carries any potential sentence that is not cruel and unusual.
This matter was jointly investigated by the Office of the State Prosecutor, the Prince George’s County Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Attorneys’ Office for the District of Maryland.
Poll: Opposition to Trump impeachment jumps 10% among independents
More independents oppose the impeachment proceedings against President Trump than support them, according to a recent poll conducted after the beginning of public testimony.
A Morning Consult- Politico poll released Tuesday said 47% of independents "oppose the current impeachment inquiry," while only 40% of independents support impeachment. The poll represents a 10% drop in support among independents for the impeachment.
Overall, opposition increased to 45%, while support for impeachment dropped from 50% to 48%. The decrease in support follows the start of the second week of testimony by impeachment witnesses.
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A Morning Consult- Politico poll released Tuesday said 47% of independents "oppose the current impeachment inquiry," while only 40% of independents support impeachment. The poll represents a 10% drop in support among independents for the impeachment.
Overall, opposition increased to 45%, while support for impeachment dropped from 50% to 48%. The decrease in support follows the start of the second week of testimony by impeachment witnesses.
More
Impeachment backlash fuels record GOP fundraising, massive $61M in bank
The Republican National Committee fundraising juggernaut, fueled by a GOP backlash to the House impeachment effort to force President Trump from office, scored another record in October and pushed the bank account past $61 million.
The debt-free RNC told Secrets exclusively that it brought in $25.3 million in October and has $61.4 million cash on hand.
For perspective, that is nearly triple what it raised in October 2017, the last nonelection October, and the money on hand is the most since 2012.
RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel has been setting fundraising records month after month, and when the Trump 2020 campaign effort is included, the GOP team has raised nearly $400 million. In September, it raised over $27 million, another record.
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The debt-free RNC told Secrets exclusively that it brought in $25.3 million in October and has $61.4 million cash on hand.
For perspective, that is nearly triple what it raised in October 2017, the last nonelection October, and the money on hand is the most since 2012.
RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel has been setting fundraising records month after month, and when the Trump 2020 campaign effort is included, the GOP team has raised nearly $400 million. In September, it raised over $27 million, another record.
More
Ohio GOP introduces bill charging mothers who have abortions with murder
Republicans in Ohio have introduced legislation that would make women who receive abortions subject to murder charges.
House Bill 413, introduced by State Reps. Candice Keller and Ron Hood, would "regard the unborn child victim of an aggravated abortion murder or abortion murder as a person who is less than thirteen years of age.”
Under the law, women who receive abortions as part of a lifesaving medical procedure would not be prosecuted as long as they could prove that they took “all possible steps to preserve the life of the unborn child, while preserving the life of the woman.”
Doctors who perform abortion procedures would not be subject to prosecution under the law.
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House Bill 413, introduced by State Reps. Candice Keller and Ron Hood, would "regard the unborn child victim of an aggravated abortion murder or abortion murder as a person who is less than thirteen years of age.”
Under the law, women who receive abortions as part of a lifesaving medical procedure would not be prosecuted as long as they could prove that they took “all possible steps to preserve the life of the unborn child, while preserving the life of the woman.”
Doctors who perform abortion procedures would not be subject to prosecution under the law.
More
Witness: Aid to Lebanon Withheld at Same Time, and Same Way, as Ukraine
Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale testified to the House Intelligence Committee earlier this month that aid to Lebanon had been withheld at roughly the same time, and in the same way, as aid to Ukraine.
The transcript of Hale’s closed-door deposition was released Monday evening, on the eve of a slew of new hearings.
Hale, a career diplomat, testified that the suspension of aid to various countries was part of a context in which the Trump administration had “embarked on a foreign assistance review in which we are trying to reestablish the norms that guide the assistance that we provide overseas.” Hale called the review of U.S. foreign aid “long overdue.”
He added that aid to Lebanon had been withheld by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in the White House– as had aid to the “Northern Triangle” of countries in Central America from which many of the migrants flocking to the U.S. border had come.
More here
The transcript of Hale’s closed-door deposition was released Monday evening, on the eve of a slew of new hearings.
Hale, a career diplomat, testified that the suspension of aid to various countries was part of a context in which the Trump administration had “embarked on a foreign assistance review in which we are trying to reestablish the norms that guide the assistance that we provide overseas.” Hale called the review of U.S. foreign aid “long overdue.”
He added that aid to Lebanon had been withheld by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in the White House– as had aid to the “Northern Triangle” of countries in Central America from which many of the migrants flocking to the U.S. border had come.
More here
Governor Hogan Announces Judicial Appointments
Fills Vacancies in Wicomico County District Court
ANNAPOLIS, MD—Governor Larry Hogan today announced he has selected Abigail Marsh and David Martz as judicial appointees for the Wicomico County District Court. The governor made the appointments after interviewing nominees submitted by the judicial nominating commission for Wicomico County.
“The appointment of qualified individuals to serve across our state’s justice system is paramount to upholding our responsibilities to the people of Maryland and maintaining the highest standards of the rule of law,” said Governor Hogan. “I have confidence that Ms. Marsh and Mr. Martz will be strong advocates for the law and will serve the citizens of Wicomico County admirably.”
Abigail Marsh is the executive director of the Life Crisis Center, a non-profit legal services and advocacy center. Prior to joining the center, she served as the Deputy State’s Attorney for Worcester County in the circuit court division under State’s Attorney Beau Oglesby. She also worked in private practice for three years, where she handled insurance defense and municipal matters. Ms. Marsh received her B.A. from Ursinus College in Collegeville, Pa. and her J.D. from the University of Richmond School of Law. She clerked for the Honorable Alfred T. Truitt, Jr., Circuit Court for Wicomico County.
David Martz has spent almost his entire career as a prosecutor with the Wicomico County State’s Attorney’s Office. Previously, Martz was employed by Robert A. Eaton, P.A., where he focused on legal issues related to municipal government and local legislation. He also served as a law clerk for the Honorable Daniel M. Long, Circuit Court for Somerset County. He obtained his B.A. from Salisbury University and his J.D. from the University of Louisville School of Law.
“The appointment of qualified individuals to serve across our state’s justice system is paramount to upholding our responsibilities to the people of Maryland and maintaining the highest standards of the rule of law,” said Governor Hogan. “I have confidence that Ms. Marsh and Mr. Martz will be strong advocates for the law and will serve the citizens of Wicomico County admirably.”
Abigail Marsh is the executive director of the Life Crisis Center, a non-profit legal services and advocacy center. Prior to joining the center, she served as the Deputy State’s Attorney for Worcester County in the circuit court division under State’s Attorney Beau Oglesby. She also worked in private practice for three years, where she handled insurance defense and municipal matters. Ms. Marsh received her B.A. from Ursinus College in Collegeville, Pa. and her J.D. from the University of Richmond School of Law. She clerked for the Honorable Alfred T. Truitt, Jr., Circuit Court for Wicomico County.
David Martz has spent almost his entire career as a prosecutor with the Wicomico County State’s Attorney’s Office. Previously, Martz was employed by Robert A. Eaton, P.A., where he focused on legal issues related to municipal government and local legislation. He also served as a law clerk for the Honorable Daniel M. Long, Circuit Court for Somerset County. He obtained his B.A. from Salisbury University and his J.D. from the University of Louisville School of Law.
#RedforEd Teachers Shut Down Public Schools in Indiana
The #RedforEd movement shut down a number of K-12 public schools in Indiana on Tuesday as school teachers skipped class to protest at the State Capitol.
“Thousands of students in Indiana will be out of school on Tuesday while teachers plan to head to the statehouse to demand better pay,” Fox 59 reported.
The Indianapolis Star reported 145 school districts around the state will close for what the state’s teachers union is calling “Red for Ed Action Day”:
So far, 145 school districts have canceled class or moved to an “e-learning day” Tuesday to accommodate teachers who want to attend the Indiana State Teachers Association’s Red for Ed Action Day at the Statehouse. The state’s largest teacher’s union called on its members to take a personal day to lobby state lawmakers for better pay, among other things.
As Breitbart News first reported in February:
A well-funded and subversive leftist movement of teachers in the United States threatens to tilt the political balance nationwide in the direction of Democrats across the country as Republicans barely hang on in key states that they need to hold for President Donald Trump to win re-election and for Republicans to have a shot at retaking the House and holding onto their Senate majority.
This teachers union effort, called #RedforEd, has its roots in the very same socialism that President Trump vowed in his 2019 State of the Union address to stop, and it began in its current form in early 2018 in a far-flung corner of the country before spreading nationally. Its stated goals–higher teacher pay and better education conditions–are overshadowed by a more malevolent political agenda: a leftist Democrat uprising designed to flip purple or red states to blue, using the might of a significant part of the education system as its lever.
More
“Thousands of students in Indiana will be out of school on Tuesday while teachers plan to head to the statehouse to demand better pay,” Fox 59 reported.
The Indianapolis Star reported 145 school districts around the state will close for what the state’s teachers union is calling “Red for Ed Action Day”:
So far, 145 school districts have canceled class or moved to an “e-learning day” Tuesday to accommodate teachers who want to attend the Indiana State Teachers Association’s Red for Ed Action Day at the Statehouse. The state’s largest teacher’s union called on its members to take a personal day to lobby state lawmakers for better pay, among other things.
As Breitbart News first reported in February:
A well-funded and subversive leftist movement of teachers in the United States threatens to tilt the political balance nationwide in the direction of Democrats across the country as Republicans barely hang on in key states that they need to hold for President Donald Trump to win re-election and for Republicans to have a shot at retaking the House and holding onto their Senate majority.
This teachers union effort, called #RedforEd, has its roots in the very same socialism that President Trump vowed in his 2019 State of the Union address to stop, and it began in its current form in early 2018 in a far-flung corner of the country before spreading nationally. Its stated goals–higher teacher pay and better education conditions–are overshadowed by a more malevolent political agenda: a leftist Democrat uprising designed to flip purple or red states to blue, using the might of a significant part of the education system as its lever.
More
Israel Intercepts Four Terror Rockets Fired from Syria
The Times of Israel reports: Four projectiles were fired at northern Israel from Syria in the predawn hours of Tuesday morning, the Israel Defense Forces said. All four were intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defense system.
The Israeli military believes the rockets were fired by Iran or one of its proxies. “Four launches were seen from Syrian territory toward Israeli territory that were shot down by soldiers operating the Iron Dome missile defense system,” the military said in a statement.
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The Israeli military believes the rockets were fired by Iran or one of its proxies. “Four launches were seen from Syrian territory toward Israeli territory that were shot down by soldiers operating the Iron Dome missile defense system,” the military said in a statement.
More
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