This story was originally published by the WND News Center.

Few would argue that no one should face discrimination for being, or not being, white or black or Hispanic, or young or old, or male or female, or for having ancestors from England or Japan, or for being born in Texas or North Dakota.

But amid the new leftist schemes to provide special protections based on gender ideology and such, there's one state lawmaker going even further.

Washington State Rep. Mia Gregerson, a Democrat, has a plan pending that would make being homeless a protected status.

That would be so they are protected from "discrimination based on housing status."

It is the Post Millennial that is reporting that Gregerson's plan proposes, "[M]any communities within Washington are enacting and enforcing laws that disproportionately impact homelessness or make living in public a crime. These laws are potentially unconstitutional, make it harder for people to exit homelessness, do not solve the underlying problem of homelessness, and waste precious public funds."

Her agenda apparently is in response to a U.S. Supreme Court decision that said the Constitution allows a city to enforce public camping ordinances, such as bans on camping on public property in some locations and at some times.

One Washington town, Burien, that started enforcing its ban on camping in public places, a move that the county had tried to halt.

"Other municipalities, including, Everett, Washington, began enacting similar policies such as its new Service Facility Buffer Zone, also known as a No Sit, No Lie Zone in its downtown near a local children's museum," the report said.

This story was originally published by the WND News Center.

I thought everyone knew this story, but it seems I'm wrong. Most of us are products of the public school system, after all, so I'm not surprised it isn't better known. So let's have a little history lesson, shall we?

Thanksgiving, we've all been taught, came about because the Pilgrims had a bumper harvest after a couple of bad years. Overcome with gratitude toward "the universe," they participated in "diversity" by inviting the Native Americans to share several days of feasting.

This is all most of us learned about the origins of Thanksgiving. But that, to paraphrase Paul Harvey, is nowhere near the rest of the story.

What was the reason behind the disastrous harvests that nearly wiped out the fledgling Plymouth colony? Was it climate change? Student loan debt? Lack of universal health care?

No, it was socialism.

Disillusioned by the greed and materialistic lifestyles of the English upper class – and persecuted unmercifully for their religious convictions – a group of Separatists departed England for Holland in 1607 and spent 12 years in that gentle and welcoming land. However, the younger generation of Separatist children began drifting away from the strict ideals of their elders toward the more worldly and relaxed Dutch lifestyle. Desperate to escape the contaminating influence of their adopted country, and fearful for the state of their children's souls, once more the group packed up and left. This time they aimed to colonize the New World.

After weeks at sea, these Pilgrims arrived at a bad time of year – December – so all they could do was brace themselves and hunker down. It was a winter of great hardship and hunger, but also a time to dream about the possibilities incumbent in this new land. When spring came, they had a chance to put into practice the pure ideals they envisioned while in England and Holland.

"Their vision of the New World," noted Matthew Burke, "was to build a society constructed on a new foundation of communal sharing and social altruism. Their aim was based on the communism of Plato's 'Republic,' in which there would be no private property and all work, and the harvest thereof, would be shared in common."

Things did not – to put it mildly – go according to plan. As Gov. William Bradford noted in his diary, the result was famine and starvation "both physically and spiritually."

But why? What could interfere with such lofty and idealistic goals? After all, the Pilgrims were striving "to move to a point where people can work in common for the common good and get back what they need to live a life worthy of human beings," to quote Carl Dix of the Revolutionary Communist Party USA.

The answer is simple: human nature.

The young and healthy men resented working uncompensated for other people. The strong reaped nothing from any extra work they did, and so had the same amount as those less fit for work. "This was thought injustice," according to Bradford. The women, called upon to provide "service for other men, as dressing their meat, washing their clothes, etc. they deemed it a kind of slavery, neither could their husbands brook it."

In other words, this happy little experiment in socialism failed miserably. It did more than fail: It led the colony toward horrible starvation in a land of plenty.

So the Pilgrims scrapped the whole communal shebang and started from scratch. Everyone was issued a parcel of land. It was up to each family to work that land. They were not responsible for their neighbor's failures; nor could they claim any of their neighbor's successes. In other words, they quite literally reaped what they sowed. "The women now went willingly into the field and took their little ones with them to set corn, which before would [allege] weakness, and inability. …" related Bto radford's diary.

The harsh lesson was that socialism is "antithetical with the human nature and spirit. It results in shortages, poverty, resentment, and slavery," notes Burke. It also results in laziness, an entitlement mentality, and an unwillingness to get off one's butt. After all, what's the motivation to work harder if the fruits of your labor are forcibly removed and given to someone who will not work?

The result of this practical expression of 2 Thessalonians 3:10 was an unprecedented harvest and a spiritual swelling of gratitude. The Pilgrims were moved by compassion to voluntarily share with those less fortunate. Thus everyone prospered.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the foundation for our modern Thanksgiving: an utter rejection of socialism, and embracing the natural desire to keep what you've worked for.

You see, no matter how many times socialism has been tried and has failed – over and over and over again – there are elements in our modern society who are sure this time it will be different. This time people will give up their evil, selfish, materialistic ways and embrace each other in love and harmony. We'll sing Kumbaya while holding hands around a communal fire. What's mine is yours and what's yours is mine. Golly, that sounds swell.

But humans are not like that. Those who believe socialism will transform us into mindless happy Kumbaya-singing drones cannot understand that people aren't interested in being eternally "caring" and "compassionate" if it's done without freedom, liberty, or choice. Only by giving people the chance to succeed or fail on their own – and to keep the fruits of their labor – will prosperity and generosity occur.

The first Thanksgiving happened because people were allowed to be "selfish." The irony today is the Democrats want to regulate or even make illegal the very things that pulled the Pilgrims out of their desolate, starving mess: individual initiative, "selfish" behavior, and strong faith in God.

Thanksgiving is not just about giving thanks for our bounty. It's also about celebrating the fact that only by embracing individual freedom did that bounty come about.

A happy and "selfish" Thanksgiving to you all.

This story was originally published by the WND News Center.

In Rod Serling's famous television series, "The Twilight Zone," there was a fascinating episode called "What You Need" (Season 1, Episode 12, Dec. 25, 1959), based on a 1945 short story of the same name by Lewis Padgett. It told the story of a kind, elderly neighborhood street peddler, Mr. Pedott, who had the uncanny ability to provide his customers with just what they needed shortly before it was needed.

Pedott enters a nearby bar, where he first gives a woman at the counter a small bottle of cleaning fluid from his case. Then he gives an unemployed former Chicago Cubs pitcher a bus ticket to Scranton, Pennsylvania. Moments later, the baseball player receives a call on the bar's pay phone offering a coaching position for a minor league team in Scranton. His excitement is diminished when he notices a spot on his jacket. He wished he could remove it so that he might look his best when he met his new employers in Scranton. The woman offers to use the cleaning fluid she received from Pedott to scrub it out. Later in the episode, Pedott was provided with what he needed to save his life from the murderous intent of a small-time crook seeking to exploit him.

Pedott's gift of providing people with what they need at the proper time is a reminder of God's timely provision for the needs of His children for their benefit. This is true at all times, but especially in trying times.

After the death of his father, Omri, Ahab (874–853 B.C.) became king of Israel and followed his evil example. Encouraged by his Phoenician wife Jezebel, he led Israel more than all the kings before him into rebellion against God through the worship of Baal (1 Kings 16:28-33).

Because of the unfaithfulness of the leadership and the nation, God sent the prophet Elijah to tell King Ahab that rain would not fall. For more than three years, severe famine plagued the land, and an angry and desperate Ahab sought to find Elijah, even earnestly seeking him in other nations (1 Kings 18:1-18).

During this terrible time, God protected Elijah and provided him with what he needed at the proper time (1 Kings 17). He told him to hide east of the Jordan River by a small brook called Cherith, where he would have water to drink. The Lord also sent ravens in the morning and evening to bring him bread and meat.

When the brook dried up due to the drought, God sent Elijah to stay at a widow's home in the Phoenician city of Zerephath, where he lodged in the room on the roof accessible from outside the house. When he arrived, he asked her for some water and bread, but she revealed her desperate poverty. She told him that all she had was a handful of flour and a little oil that she was going to prepare, along with a few sticks, for herself and her son as their last meal.

Elijah told her to make a bread cake for him first, then make one for herself and her son, prophesying that as long as the drought and famine continued, the Lord would make sure that neither the flour nor the oil ran out. On another occasion, when her son became sick and died, the Lord, through Elijah, restored his life. So God provided the widow and her son with what they needed at the proper time: sustenance and life, which strengthened their faith in the God of Israel.

A man encouraged by this biblical account was Christian evangelist and pastor George Müller (1805–1898), who, with his wife, established orphanages in Bristol, England.

Müller was in continual prayer and dependent on God's provision through donors for food, clothing, and money. One of many documented examples of this was a time when the children were sitting around the breakfast table, though there was nothing to eat in the house. As they finished thanking God for His provision, the baker knocked on the door with enough fresh bread to feed everyone, and the milkman gave them plenty of fresh milk because his cart had broken down in front of the orphanage.

Throughout his ministry, the Lord provided Müller with what he needed when he needed it to care for and educate more than 10,000 orphans. He never solicited financial support, nor did he go into debt. Every morning after breakfast, there was a time for Bible reading and prayer. The children were well nourished, dressed,d and educated, preparing them for a godly, productive life.

As many of us struggle to make ends meet in this environment of increasing costs for food, fuel, clothing, health care, and other essentials, we may be tempted to forget God's ability to provide for our needs and lose hope.

The Lord Jesus said these words in a country ruled by the Roman Empire, which imposed oppressive taxes that impoverished most of its people:

"Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?' For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." (Matthew 6:31-33, emphasis added.)

The prophet Elijah, the widow of Zerephath and her son, George Müller, and countless other faithful through the centuries who lived through challenging and dreadful times found their trust in the Lord justified and strengthened in His timely provision for their needs (Philippians 4:6-19).

Have faith in God through His Son Jesus Christ, and seek His righteousness, not your own, to be reconciled with Him. Famine, financial hardship, oppressive rulers, war, or any other severe circumstances cannot prevent Him from providing what you need when you need it and taking you home to His kingdom, where want is no more (Revelation 7:9-17).

This story was originally published by the WND News Center.

A university administration, facing accusations of religious discrimination and intolerance, has suspended plans for the sale of an unused school building to a local organization.

It's because a church, Calvary Chapel Belfast, had submitted the best bid for the structure, which it previously had rented, but lost the opportunity to purchase when the school reneged.

Officials with Liberty Counsel say the University of Maine System now has agreed to pause "the discriminatory sale" of the Hutchinson Center building.

This story was originally published by the WND News Center.

And U.S. speaks out on United Nation's scheme for a Gaza ceasefire

Middle East/Israel:

5 International court issues arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant over alleged 'war crimes'

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes committed during the ongoing Gaza war, the court said in a statement Thursday.

U.S. Treasury sanctions six Hamas leaders, some based in Turkey

The U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on six of the few remaining leaders of the Iran-backed terrorist group Hamas on November 19 — Abd al-Rahman Ismail abd al-Rahman Ghanimat, Basem Naim, Mohammad Nazzal, Ghazi Hamad, Salama Mari, and Musa Daud Muhammad al-Akari.

The United States vetoed a U.N. Nations Security Council resolution calling for an Israel-Hamas ceasefire on Wednesday morning, citing its failure to condition a halt in hostilities directly to the release of the hostages, whom Hamas continues to hold in the Gaza Strip.

"We could not support an unconditional ceasefire that failed to release the hostages," Robert Wood, deputy U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, told the council.

Sen. Sanders backs resolution to suspend U.S. arms transfers to Israel; Senate overwhelmingly blocks move

The U.S. Senate decisively rejected overnight Thursday three proposals introduced by Senator Bernie Sanders, a progressive leader within the Democratic Party and outspoken critic of Israel, to halt arms transfers to Israel amid its war in Gaza.

U.S. ambassador-designate slams Biden's Israel policy as 'schizophrenic'

"We've put far more pressure, with Joe Biden, on Israel than we have on Hamas, Hezbollah, and most importantly, the people who write those checks—the Iranians," Huckabee told Fox News in an interview, describing the White House's policy toward Israel as "schizophrenic."

IAF pounds Palmyra, sites close to Damascus; Syrian general thought to be among dozens of casualties

Syrian state media says Israeli warplanes targeted the central city of Palmyra on Wednesday, reporting an unspecified number of wounded in the attack.

An "Israeli attack… targeted residential buildings and the industrial area" of the city, says state news agency SANA, while state television reported unspecified "\wounded due to the Israeli attack that targeted the city of Palmyra."

Israeli archeology giant killed in Hezbollah ambush in southern Lebanon

The family of Ze'ev 'Jabo' Erlich, a renowned historian killed in a Hezbollah ambush, disputes IDF's claim he entered as a civilian, asserting he was formally enlisted and had military approval for his entry; "Instead of mourning, I'm busy correcting the damage caused by the IDF spokesperson tarnishing his name," brother says.

UNRWA chiefs met Hamas, and PIJ leaders at the 2017 Beirut meeting, exclaiming 'We are one'

According to a UN Watch expose, UNRWA chiefs secretly met top terrorists, telling them: "We are united, no one can separate us." In Feb. 2017, UNRWA's Pierre Kraehenbuehl met Hamas' Ali Baraka & Islamic Jihad's Abu Imad al-Rifai, who sent suicide bombers to kill troops in Iraq.

"For any organization to be deemed a terrorist organization under New Zealand legislation, we have to have evidence, and we go through several tests under our legislation, that organization has knowingly undertaken terrorist activity," Christopher Luxon, the New Zealand prime minister, said. "This is the case before the four that I've designated today."

Israel's former justice minister Ayelet Shaked, who was part of the government which included Members of the Knesset from Arab parties, has been denied an entry visa to Australia to take part in a pro-Israel event.

"The issue here is not that I didn't get a visa," said Shaked. "The issue here is that the current Australian government has become anti-Semitic."

This story was originally published by the WND News Center.

A federal program in which Drug Enforcement Administration agents unconstitutionally demanded to search travelers' luggage, without any probable cause a crime had been committed, has been suspended after the scheme was caught on video.

It is the Institute for Justice, which is fighting on behalf of victims of the program, that confirmed the government's abrupt flip-flop.

The institute confirmed, "Today, the Department of Justice suspended the Drug Enforcement Administration's controversial practice of having agents intercept travelers, interrogate them, and insist on searching their bags in what the agency calls 'consensual encounters.'"

The encounters are anything but consensual, as the video reveals one agent insisting that he is "the government" and can confiscate a traveler's backpack and take it away – to some unknown location – for a search.

The victim in this case explained on video that he was very concerned that the agent would take the backpack, and then plant evidence in it.

The institute said the suspension "comes on the heels of an Office of the Inspector General report, also issued today, that criticizes the practice and refers to the shocking footage of one traveler's experience, which the Institute for Justice (IJ) released on YouTube in July."

"Today's OIG report confirms what we've been saying for years about predatory DEA practices at airports, and the allegations in our nationwide class-action lawsuit against DEA over these abuses," said IJ lawyer Dan Alban.

"We welcome DOJ's suspension of this program as a first step, but policy directives can be changed at any time, under this or future administrations. We call on Congress to pass the FAIR Act to permanently reform federal civil forfeiture laws to end the profit incentive, close the equitable sharing loophole, and guarantee every property owner receives their day in court by ending so-called administrative forfeitures."

The institute said it currently is suing the DEA and the Transportation Security Administration over the airport seizure and confiscation programs they operate.

The case is on behalf of several travelers and a class of people who have had their property seized, and it currently is in the discovery phase gathering evidence.

The IG report cited the evidence that the DEA was refusing to comply with even its policies on consensual encounters at airports.

That failure, the IG confirmed, was creating "potentially significant operational and legal risks."

Among the failings was that the DEA operatives were refusing to complete required documentation about their actions, and had failed to obtain the proper training.

The OG continued with criticism of DEA's "absence of critical controls, such as adequate policies, guidance, training, and data collection," because that creates "substantial risks" that officers "will conduct these activities improperly, impose unwarranted burdens on, and violate the legal rights of innocent travelers."

The IG noted that when the report was given to a deputy attorney general, a directive was issued to the DEA to halt its practices.

Further, the IG noted that concerns about complaints about such activities date back decades.

This story was originally published by the WND News Center.

Denver is a far-left city in a far-left state, so its mayor, Mike Johnston, is a far-left politician.

As such he routinely makes his far-left opinions known, including on national matters.

But he may have threatened a little too much with his recent announcement that he's essentially at war with President-elect Donald Trump's plans to secure the national border and deport some, maybe many, of the illegal aliens essentially invited into the country under the Joe Biden-Kamala Harris regime in Washington.

It could even be that if he acts on his threats, charges could follow.

This story was originally published by the WND News Center.

'Under the final months of the Biden administration, they will continue to grow in numbers and continue to expand around the country and Americans will unfortunately be targeted'

As the chaos caused at the southern border by the Biden administration spills over into small-town America, a growing threat is emerging from foreign-born prison gangs which some experts say will intentionally target Americans.

During an interview with Fox News, Former Department of Homeland Security adviser Charles Marino said American citizens should be worried about the Venezuelan prison gang Tren de Aragua, which is beginning to take hold all over America.

"As Tren de Aragua becomes a greater portion of the population, so will the reports of violent interactions with this violent gang based out of Venezuela," Marino told Fox News Host Carley Shimkus, "Look, under the final months of the Biden administration, they will continue to grow in numbers and continue to expand around the country and Americans will, unfortunately, be targeted. So we will hear many more stories."

"It's simply astonishing to me… that here you have an administration under Biden that allowed, designed, and created all the conditions for this crisis to occur… and what will change is on day one, the Trump administration will change that narrative. They will have those in the country illegally, those that are committing crimes, on the run and looking over their shoulders."

Marino noted sanctuary states and cities will also experience a greater presence from federal agencies like ICE, which will be rooting out these gang members and other undocumented criminals for deportation.

"What I can tell you is ICE is also going to be focusing on where these violent gangs and criminals are going to protect them, and that will be in sanctuary cities. So what these sanctuary cities will find since they're not going to cooperate with ICE and other federal agencies, is they will see a greater representation of federal law enforcement," Marino said.

According to an internal DHS memo, originally obtained by the New York Post, Tren de Aragua, known for its violence – has swiftly expanded into 16 states across the nation during President Joe Biden's time in office, and warned the likelihood of violent gang-affiliated migrants coming across the border was "highly possible."

The gang has been identified as operating in Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Illinois, New York, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Nevada, California, and Washington D.C.

Incoming Trump administration "Border Czar" and former ICE Director Tom Homan, told Newsmax Tren de Aragua and other violent gangs like MS-13 are on notice, and called out elected officials who have threatened to throw up roadblocks to prevent the gang members' removal.

"President Trump has made it clear, we're gonna prioritize public safety threats and national security threats first… You don't want us to take national security threats out of your community? To me that's ridiculous, but the thing that amazes me… those who enforce the law, all of a sudden we're the bad guys," Homan said.

Homan noted he is very concerned for the safety of law enforcement when it comes time to remove dangerous gang members, which could end up in a gunfight.

"I'm very concerned, I've carried a badge and gun for 34 years, and I've buried Border Patrol agents, I've buried ICE agents which is the worst part of the job in the world… These are dangerous people, but we've got a job to do and we're gonna do it." Homan said.

U.S. Rep. Tom Nehls, R-Texas, told Sebastian Gorka during an interview the borders must be secured and Americans put first.

"I still believe that the border may have been the number one issue for America because it's killing our young, innocent people here in this country, they're terrorizing our communities. Tren de Aragua… that very violent gang out of Venezuela, just hurting people," Nehls said.

Nehls then pointed to the murder of 22-year-old nursing student Laken Riley, who was savagely beaten and strangled to death by an undocumented migrant who was affiliated with Tren de Aragua while she was jogging at the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia.

Riley's murderer, Jose Ibarra, was found guilty on all charges related to her murder and was sentenced to life in prison Wednesday for his crimes.

Ibarra showed no remorse during his trial, even while the prosecution described the horrific details of her death.

Another illegal migrant and Tren de Aragua associate, Alejandro Santiago, was sentenced to 5 years in prison with 3 years of his sentence suspended. Santiago was accused of drug trafficking and sex trafficking, with at least 5 victims being rescued in February.

Brandon Simosa, a gang member and illegal migrant, was also arrested in New York City after he attacked and robbed an assistant district attorney in the hallway of her building. Samosa had at least 6 prior arrests in five months.

Lawmakers are demanding action from the Biden administration and noted its refusal to hold the Venezuelan government accountable for the timely removal of these violent criminals.

This story was originally published by the WND News Center.

JERUSALEM – The International Criminal Court (ICC) took the unprecedented legal step Thursday of issuing arrest warrants for Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. This is the first time it has ever issued such warrants against leaders of a democratic country.

Under the terms of the warrants, Netanyahu and Gallant risk arrest if they travel to any of the more than 120 countries that are members of the court.

The court did not release the content of the full warrants, although an ICC statement said it "found reasonable grounds to believe" from Oct. 8, 2023, until May 20, 2024, at least, Netanyahu and Gallant "each bear criminal responsibility for the following crimes as co-perpetrators for committing the acts jointly with others: the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare; and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts" as well as "the war crime of intentionally directing an attack against the civilian population."

Both Netanyahu and Gallant are accused of a laundry list of alleged crimes, much of which seems to stem from the nature of the war, with Hamas being not just embedded but rather rooted within a civilian population. The court claimed both Israeli politicians failed to "prevent or repress the commission of crimes or ensure the submittal of the matter to the competent authorities," despite having the means to do so. It should be noted there is significant documentary evidence to show the lengthy process through which the IDF is subject to, which in many instances results in aborted missions because of the presence of the civilian population.

In the Pre-Trial Chamber's released statement, the judges highlight many areas of concern, which relate to humanitarian aid.

"The Chamber considered that there are reasonable grounds to believe that both individuals intentionally and knowingly deprived the civilian population in Gaza of objects indispensable to their survival, including food, water, and medicine and medical supplies, as well as fuel and electricity, from at least 8 October 2023 to 20 May 2024," the ICC statement read. It further alleges, "cutting off electricity and reducing fuel supply also had a severe impact on the availability of water in Gaza and the ability of hospitals to provide medical care." It added these issues were only addressed when the United States threatened to withdraw aid, rather than fulfilling its obligations under "international humanitarian law."

Ultimately, the Chamber accused Netanyahu and Gallant of bearing "criminal responsibility for the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare."

Netanyahu and Gallant were also charged with "intentionally limiting or preventing medical supplies and medicine from getting into Gaza, in particular anesthetics and anesthesia machines." It claims doctors were forced to perform amputations, including on children, which without the requisite drugs, caused "extreme pain and suffering."

The chamber rejected Israel's petition against the warrants, which argued that the ICC does not have jurisdiction because Israel is not a party to the Rome Statute establishing the court. The pre-trial chamber ruled that "the court can exercise its jurisdiction on the basis of territorial jurisdiction of Palestine," which it recognizes as a state and considers to include Gaza, the West Bank (Judea and Samaria) and east Jerusalem.

The Prime Minister's Office released a statement which rejected the "baseless and outrageous" accusations leveled against Israel. It further argued the nature of the charges, emanating from a corrupt prosecutor who is facing sexual misconduct charges over allegations of groping a female colleague, is antisemitic.

Members of Netanyahu's ruling coalition reacted with anger to the ruling. The court has "once again shown that it is antisemitic through and through," declared National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, while Transportation Minister Miri Regev called the warrants "a legal absurdity." Israel's former prime minister Naftali Bennett said the arrest warrants were not a "mark of shame on Israel's leaders, rather on the ICC itself." Another former prime minister and an individual who has been part of the decision-making process regarding the conduct of the war, Benny Gantz, wrote on X decrying the ICC decision as "moral blindness and [a] shameful stain of historic proportion[s] that will never be forgotten."

U.S. lawmakers fiercely condemned the ICC's decision to issue arrest warrants to the two Israeli leaders. Sen. Lindsey Graham labeled the move "absurd and irresponsible," adding, "The Court is a dangerous joke." Congressman Mike Waltz from Florida posted on X: "The ICC has no credibility and these allegations have been refuted by the U.S. government.

"Israel has lawfully defended its people & borders from genocidal terrorists. You can expect a strong response to the antisemitic bias of the ICC & U.N. come January."

This story was originally published by the WND News Center.

A new research study has found surprising results – if the People's Republic of China is unable to persuade its Southeast Asian neighbors to allow it to lead the region, global dominance will be a much harder task for China to achieve.

Researchers Selina Ho and Terence Lee from the National University of Singapore conducted a survey of elites spread throughout Southeast Asian nations who were "least likely to acquiesce" to a China-led regional order. The survey gauged how they perceive China, its influence, and whether or not it has the authority to govern.

Results indicated that while China is viewed as influential by elites in the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia, most felt China did not have the authority to preside over the region, with the difference in political values being one of the biggest points of contention.

According to the study, China has often thought of Southeast Asia as its "periphery," but has over time attempted to use its influence to shape the Sino-centric identity in the region – which would allow China to establish itself as a leading power in a hierarchy of its own making.

China wants to be a great power and has ambitions of bringing the region to heel by shaping the foundations of regional identity, which researchers explain is similar to the U.S. in Latin America, Russia in Eastern Europe, and India in South Asia.

"They build their material capabilities and attempt to expel rival great powers, using institutions, culture, norms, and ideas to entrench their dominance. They are also likely to interfere in the domestic affairs and external policies of their neighbors to prevent rival powers from gaining a foothold in the region," the study states.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, commonly known as ASEAN, includes the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Laos, Cambodia, Brunei, Myanmar, and Malaysia. All have different cultural practices, religious views, and political discourse. Because of this, researchers state China will struggle to establish regional order without their backing.

In order to get the full support of the region, researchers suggest China must prove its ambitions are beneficial and legitimate because China cannot be installed as a regional hegemon by force, it must be granted through negotiation.

China has already laid the foundation for its dominance around the globe through its various programs like the Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative. These programs are mostly set up in developing countries, and don't always benefit those receiving China's "help."

An example of this would be the recent inauguration of a new mega port built and owned by China and located in Lima, Peru. Locals say they have been squeezed out of their fishing grounds by China, while the majority of the city doesn't have running water or sanitation.

Overall, 50.4% of ASEAN elites said ASEAN nations were the most influential in Southeast Asia, while 36.2% said China is the most influential, while only 9.6% see the U.S. as influential. The U.S. was unsurprisingly influential on Filipino elites, as the Philippines is a U.S. ally, and is currently at odds with China over territory in the South China Sea.

A report from the Council on Foreign Relations warned China's aggressive posturing and U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's policies on China could force some smaller nations in Southeast Asia and South Asia to choose between the two most powerful economies in the world.

The report states a survey by the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, a think tank based in Singapore, showed the majority of respondents from Southeast Asia preferred China over the U.S., thanks in part to President Joe Biden missing the East Asia Summit two years in a row, and not focusing on the region. This has forced smaller Asian nations to seek alliances outside of their region for defense and investment.