The U.S. Stands Firm at the U.N.

On Wednesday, U.S. Ambassador Robert Wood vetoed a resolution backed by Algeria and others that called for an "immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire" in Gaza. The draft failed to mention Hamas, the terrorist group responsible for the massacre of 1,200 Israelis on October 7, 2023, nor did it demand the release of over 100 hostages—including seven Americans—still held captive.

“The United States will never accept Hamas retaining power in Gaza,” Wood declared. He denounced the resolution as "cynical" and a dangerous precedent that would embolden terrorists. “This resolution would have sent a message to Hamas that their strategy of using human shields and targeting civilians works,” he added.

Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon criticized the resolution further, warning that it prioritizes Hamas’ agenda over justice for the hostages. “We will not stop fighting until we bring all the kidnapped men and...

The Dead Sea Scrolls Monument  
By Shelley Neese 
 

In 1946 or 1947—no one knows for certain—a Bedouin goatherd nicknamed Muhammad the Wolf led his flock around the cliffs lining the northwest edge of the Dead Sea. As the livestock grazed on sparse vegetation, Muhammad wandered around the boulders. According to one of several variants of the account, he hurled a stone into a cave to startle a stray goat and heard pottery shatter. Too frightened to lower himself into the cave alone, he returned several days later with at least two relatives from his Ta’amireh tribe. Though they fantasized about finding gold and silver, instead they stumbled upon a cache of oddly shaped clay vessels with bowl shaped lids. Inside one jar, they discovered three ancient leather scrolls, intact and wrapped in linen. 

The Bedouin carted their scrolls back to their camp. The tribesmen stored the bundle in a goat skin bag and hung it from a tent pole....