AP The Morning Wire by Sarah Nafta - September 02, 2024 - Tens of thousands of Israelis take to the streets to demand a cease-fire deal; German far-right party wins in state elections;

 

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By Sarah Naffa September 02, 2024

In the news today: Tens of thousands of Israelis take to the streets to demand a cease-fire deal; German far-right party wins in state elections; and advocates weigh in on Biden’s promises to clean up communities. Also, how do you get a grumpy 4-ton elephant to a new home 120 miles away? Call the elephant movers. People take part in a protest in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Sunday. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit) WORLD NEWS Israelis erupt in protest to demand a cease-fire Tens of thousands of grieving and angry Israelis surged into the streets Sunday night after six more hostages were found dead in Gaza, chanting “Now! Now!” as they demanded that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reach a cease-fire with Hamas to bring the remaining captives home. Read more.

Key points: The mass outpouring appeared to be the largest such demonstration in 11 months of war and protesters said it felt like a possible turning point. Three of the six hostages found dead — including Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg-Polin — were reportedly scheduled to be released in the first phase of a cease-fire proposal discussed in July, fueling fury and frustration among the protesters. Israel’s largest trade union, the Histadrut, further pressured the government by calling a general strike for Monday, the first since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack. It aims to shut down or disrupt major sectors of the economy, including banking, health care and the country’s main airport. The army, noting the difficulty of rescue operations, has acknowledged that a deal is the only way to bring home large numbers of hostages safely. Top security officials say the intense pressure on Hamas has created favorable conditions for a cease-fire deal. But critics have accused the prime minister of putting his personal interests over those of the hostages as the war’s end will likely lead to an investigation into his government’s failures in the Oct. 7 attacks, the government’s collapse and early elections.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Who were the 6 hostages whose bodies the Israeli military recovered from Gaza? Palestinian militants kill 3 Israeli police in the West Bank Large-scale polio vaccinations begin in war-ravaged Gaza after first case in 25 years WORLD NEWS A German far-right party wins a state election for the first time post-World War II  The far-right Alternative for Germany, or AfD, won a state election in Thuringia for the first time in post-World War II Germany in the country’s east on Sunday, and looked set to finish a very close second in neighboring Saxony to mainstream conservatives in a second vote. Read more.

Key points: Other parties say they won’t put the AfD party in power by joining it in a coalition. Even so, its strength is likely to make it extremely difficult to form new state governments, forcing other parties into exotic new coalitions.  Deep discontent with a government notorious for infighting, anti-immigration sentiment and skepticism toward German military aid for Ukraine are among the factors that have contributed to support for populist parties. AfD is at its strongest in the formerly communist east, and the domestic intelligence agency has the party’s branches in both Saxony and Thuringia under official surveillance as “proven right-wing extremist” groups.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤ As the far right rises in eastern Germany, companies struggle to attract skilled foreign workers Being Black in Germany has never been easy. Elections in eastern states could make it harder still CLIMATE Advocates weigh in on Biden’s work to clean up polluted communities Just a week after taking office, President Joe Biden signed an executive order prioritizing environmental justice. Since then, the Biden administration has solicited the advice of advocates, written stricter environmental rules and steered clean energy funding towards disadvantaged communities. To review the administration’s performance, The Associated Press spoke with roughly 30 groups that advocate for environmental justice. Read more.

Why this matters: Advocates have said that Biden has done more than any previous president. Officials have also written regulations they said will drastically improve public health. Tighter air standards will reduce cancer rates, and proposed mandates to remove harmful lead pipes will prevent damage to brain development in children and lower IQ scores.  When the Inflation Reduction Act passed in 2021 it injected billions into Biden’s effort — for the first time making significant funds available for environmental justice. But, the result of the election could also derail spending and the government’s work, as presidential nominee former President Donald Trump considers much of the regulation these groups favor to be overreach. Advocates also have concerns about Biden’s work, too. Some said Biden administration policies have been too weak to drastically reduce pollution and change their lives. Officials have even favored climate technologies that make conditions worse, they said.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Humans caused climate change. Amid the suffering, now they must solve it Conservationists try to protect ecologically rich Alabama delta from development, climate change Converting cow manure to fuel is growing climate solution, but critics say communities put at risk ADVERTISEMENT IN OTHER NEWS READ Russia-Ukraine war: Russia launches a barrage of drones, cruise and ballistic missiles at Kyiv, Ukraine’s military says Identity in politics: Is Usha Vance’s Hindu identity an asset or a liability to the Trump-Vance campaign? Whale spy: A celebrity ‘Russian spy’ whale spotted with harness found dead in Norwegian waters Linda Deutsch: AP trial writer who had a front row to courtroom history, from Charles Manson to O.J. Simpson, dies at 80 Labor Day: What to know about Labor Day and its history Today in History: In 1945, Japan surrenders to end World War II WATCH Packed streets: Drone aerials show huge Tel Aviv protest The final sprint: A look ahead at key dates leading up to the November election Social media ban: Brazil’s youth react to blocking of social media platform X Spectacular parade: Floats covered in dahlias in parade through the Dutch town of Zundert 'Wolfs': George Clooney and Brad Pitt premiere their new film in Venice A CHANGE OF PACE Charley, an African elephant at the Pretoria's National Zoological Gardens, South Africa, Monday, Aug. 19. (Four Paws via AP) The niche business of moving elephants When it comes to moving elephants, Dr. Amir Khalil and his team might be the best. The Egyptian veterinarian’s résumé includes possibly the most famous elephant relocation on the planet.

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