HEADLINES - **Arab Politician Ahmad Tibi Decries Rising Anti-Arab Hostility in Israel Amid Gaza Conflict** - **Baltimore Sees Surge in Hate Crimes: Jewish Home Vandalized with Swastikas** - **Pennsylvania Senate Advances Bill to Halt Funding for Universities Boycotting Israel** The time is now 09:00 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report. In a poignant reflection of the escalating tensions within Israel, Ahmad Tibi, one of the nation's most prominent Arab politicians, has highlighted the increasingly hostile environment faced by Israel's Arab minority. Following the deadly October 7 attack by Hamas, which claimed the lives of 1,195 people in Israel, Tibi has observed a marked increase in hate crimes and police actions against Arab citizens. This attack, which resulted in a significant civilian toll, has been met with a fierce Israeli military response in Gaza, leading to the deaths of at least 37,765 people, predominantly civilians, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry. Tibi, the leader of an Arab-majority party, has reported that hundreds of Arab citizens have been targeted for expressing empathy for Gazan civilians or opposing the war. Between October 7 and March 27, Israeli police arrested 401 individuals, mostly Arabs, for speech-related offenses deemed as "incitement to terrorism." This figure stands in stark contrast to the 13 Jewish Israeli citizens arrested for similar offenses during the same period. Despite Tibi's condemnation of the October 7 attack and his stance against targeting civilians, he notes a pervasive anti-Arab rhetoric that has not been similarly addressed by Israeli authorities. He points out that right-wing Israelis who have called for extreme measures against Arab citizens have largely faced no repercussions. This disparity underscores the deep-seated inequalities that persist within Israeli society, exacerbated by recent legislative actions such as the 2018 nation-state law, which Tibi argues further marginalizes Arab citizens. Tibi himself has faced numerous threats and remains cautious, attributing the rise in hostile actions and rhetoric to the policies of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir. Ben Gvir, a controversial figure with a history of incitement to racism, has called for Tibi's removal from parliament. Yet, Tibi remains resolute, advocating for democracy and full rights for Palestinians as the path forward. In a related development, the city of Baltimore has been grappling with a surge in hate crimes. Swastikas and offensive language were recently spray-painted in front of a Jewish home, prompting strong reactions from local politicians and community leaders. Baltimore City Councilman Isaac Yitzy Schleifer and Mayor Brandon Scott have both condemned the incident, emphasizing that such acts of hate will not be tolerated. Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley acknowledged an alarming rise in hate crimes against the Jewish community since October 7, vowing to hold perpetrators accountable. On a legislative front in the United States, Pennsylvania's state Senate has advanced a bill to bar funding for universities that divest from Israel. The measure, passed with bipartisan support, aims to combat antisemitism and protect Jewish students from threats and bullying. The bill also seeks to prevent state treasurers and public pension systems from boycotting or divesting from Israeli entities. However, the bill has faced opposition from some legislators who argue it may infringe on free speech rights. Meanwhile, in the United Kingdom, the mother of an 11-year-old Jewish boy attacked at a London Underground station has expressed fears for her family's safety, drawing parallels to the persecution Jews faced in 1936 Berlin. The violent incident, which targeted students from an...