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Updated: Eye to Eye Chronology on Fiona and Ian - September 14 - September 30, 2022

By William Koenig

•        Amid wave of Palestinian terror, leading US diplomat reaffirms commitment to two-state solution, September 14, 2022

•       Tropical Depression 7 begins, September 14, 2022 at 11:00 am EDT (becomes Hurricane Fiona) 

•         Seeking full membership, Abbas says it's UN's 'last chance' to salvage peace role, September 20, 2022

•         Joe Biden speaks of two-states to the UN General Assembly, September 21, 2022 at 11:08 am ET

•        Yair Lapid stated commitment to two-states in UN speech, September 22, 2022

•         With call for Palestinian state at UN, Lapid has defined Israel's upcoming fifth election, September 22, 2022

•         Biden commended Lapid's two-state commitment on Twitter, September 22, 2022 at 3:15 pm EDT 

•         Biden lauds 'courageous' Lapid call for two-states as US groups push for peace talks, September 22, 2022

•         Justin Trudeau tweets approval of Lapid's two-state comments in UN speech, September 22, 2022 at 6:07 pm ET

•         Hurricane Fiona could be 'most intense storm on record' to slam into Atlantic Canada, September 22, 2022

•         Tropical Depression 9 began, September 23, 2022 at 5:00 am ET (becomes Ian) 

•         US Ambassador to the UN reiterates Biden Admin's support for two-state solution during Security Council briefing on Middle East conflict, September 28.

•         Category 4 Hurricane Ian comes ashore at 150 mph in Southern Florida, September 28, 2022 at 1:00 pm ET

•         Ian was on the ground in Florida for 18 hours before exiting into the Atlantic Ocean, on September 29 at 7:00 am ET.

•         Damage estimate from Ian to total $180 billion to $210 billion, September 30, 2022

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Thursday, September 14, 2022

Amid wave of Palestinian terror, leading US diplomat reaffirms commitment to two-state solution, September 14, 2022

Source: JNS

United States Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Barbara Leaf on Wednesday, September 14, 2022 reaffirmed President Joe Biden's support for the two-state solution despite rising Palestinian violence in Judea and Samaria.

Leaf, speaking at a press conference regarding her recent trip to the Middle East and North Africa, stressed the administration's commitment to the creation of a Palestinian state side-by-side with Israel "so that Israelis and Palestinians can live safely and securely and enjoy equal measures of freedom, security and prosperity."

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Tropical Depression 7 begins, September 14, 2022 at 11:00 am EDT (becomes Hurricane Fiona) 
https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2022/al07/al072022.public.001.shtml?

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The Major Storms: Fiona– September 19, 2022 

Puerto Rico: Hurricane Fiona dumps nearly 30 inches of rain on island - KHOU

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Tuesday, September 20, 2022

Seeking full membership, Abbas says it's UN's 'last chance' to salvage peace role

Source: Times of Israel

"It is time to work together to ensure the State of Palestine's rightful place among the community of nations, including as a full member of the UN, without further delay," he added.

Asked how he expected the US to respond, Mansour said, "It would be hard to explain that in addition to being reluctant to hold Israel accountable for destroying the two-state solution before our eyes, you would also oppose a positive way that contributes to saving the two-state solution, which is the official policy of the United States."

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Wednesday, September 21, 2022

Joe Biden's speech to the UN General Assembly, September 21, 2022 at 11:08 am EDT

Link: White House transcript

Biden stated this:

And we will continue to advocate for lasting negotiating peace between the Jewish and democratic state of Israel and the Palestinian people. The United States is committed to Israel's security, full stop. And a negotiated two-state solution remains, in our view, the best way to ensure Israel's security and prosperity for the future and give the Palestinians the state which — to which they are entitled — both sides to fully respect the equal rights of their citizens; both people enjoying equal measure of freedom and dignity.

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Thursday, September 22, 2012

Yair Lapid stated commitment to two-states in UN speech September 22, 2022 at 2:42 pm EDT

Link: Haaretz

"An agreement with the Palestinians, based on two states for two peoples, is the right thing for Israel's security, for Israel's economy and for the future of our children," he declared.

Lapid said Israel had only a single condition to Palestinian statehood: "That a future Palestinian state will be a peaceful one. That it will not become another terror base from which to threaten the well-being and the very existence of Israel. That we will have the ability to protect the security of all the citizens of Israel, at all times."

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With call for Palestinian state at UN, Lapid has defined Israel's upcoming fifth election, September 22, 2022

Source: JNS

(JNS) With just 29 words, from the stage at the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday, temporary caretaker Prime Minister Yair Lapid may have completely changed Israel's fifth election landscape from the first four election cycles over the past two-and-a-half years.

From the podium of one of the world's largest international diplomatic forums, Lapid stated, "An agreement with the Palestinians, based on two states for two peoples, is the right thing for Israel's security, for Israel's economy and for the future of our children."

To understand the impact of this statement on the Israeli political landscape, it is important to review how Lapid, who has never—yet—come even close to winning an Israeli election as a candidate for prime minister, came to be the one representing Israel on the world stage to begin with.

Israel is soon set to go to its fifth election cycle in less than three years. The first four inconclusive elections all focused on one issue and one issue alone: whether then-reigning Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was fit to continue serving as Israel's premier, amidst a slew of corruption charges that likely would not hold weight in American or other Western courtrooms.

Koenig: Excellent insight from my friend Alex Traiman who is CEO and Jerusalem Bureau Chief of Jewish News Syndicate. - For Alex's full article: JNS 

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Biden commending Lapid on Twitter September 22, 2022 at 3:15 pm EDT

Link: Twitter

"I welcome @IsraeliPM Lapid's courageous statement at the U.N. General Assembly: 'An agreement with the Palestinians, based on two states for two peoples, is the right thing for Israel's security, for Israel's economy, and for the future of our children.' I could not agree more.

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Biden lauds 'courageous' Lapid call for two-states as US groups push for peace talks

September 22-23, 2022 - Times of Israel

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Justin Trudeau tweets approval of Lapid's two-state comments in UN speech September 22, 2022 at 6:07 pm EDT

Link: Twitter

"Canada is supportive of Prime Minister Lapid's speech today, and we will continue to promote lasting peace and security in the region," Trudeau wrote.

On Twitter: "A two-state solution—with Israelis and Palestinians living in peace, security, and dignity—is in everyone's best interest. Canada is supportive of Prime Minister @YairLapid's speech today, and we will continue to promote lasting peace and security in the region."

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Friday, September 23, 2012

Tropical Depression 9 began Friday, Saturday 23, 2022 at 5:00 am EDT (soon to become Ian) 
https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2022/al09/al092022.public.001.shtml?

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Hurricane Fiona could be 'most intense storm on record' to slam into Atlantic Canada - September 23, 2022

Source: Accuweather

Fiona collided with Atlantic Canada, becoming one of the strongest storms on record to impact the easternmost portions of Canada, according to AccuWeather forecasters and weather data from the region.

On Friday, Fiona began bombarding Prince Edward Island, eastern Nova Scotia, western Newfoundland and southeastern Labrador with life-threatening flooding, damaging hurricane-force wind gusts and dangerous storm surges. One dispatcher stated that the conditions facing Prince Edward Island were "like nothing we've ever seen," with reports made of downed trees and wires across the area.

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Wednesday, September 28, 2012

US Ambassador to the UN reiterates Biden Admin's support for Two-State Solution during Security Council briefing on Middle East conflict - Wednesday, Sept. 28.

Source: Israel National News

US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield addressed the UN Security Council Briefing on the Situation in the Middle East Wednesday, during which she reiterated the Biden Administration's support for the Two-State Solution.

"From day one, the Biden Administration has been unequivocal in our support for a two-state solution. That has not changed. As President Biden made clear to the UN General Assembly last week, "A negotiated two-state solution remains... the best way to ensure Israel's security and prosperity for the future and give the Palestinians the state...to which they are entitled," Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield said.

She praised both Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid and Palestinian Authority chairman Mahmoud Abbas for endorsing the Two-State Solution during their speeches at the UN General Assembly last week: "And we are not alone in pushing for such a peace. In fact, the hall of the General Assembly was filled with calls for a two-state solution during High-Level WeekPrime Minister Lapid made a courageous and impassioned speech that articulated his vision of "two states for two peoples." The significance of his appeal for peace between Israelis and Palestinians should not be underestimated. "

"And I also want to acknowledge President Abbas's stated commitment to non-violence and reaffirmation of his support for a two-state solution.," she said/

"Now, it is time to turn these words into action. To make real, sustained progress. It is incumbent on both parties to work in good faith toward two states for two peoples. There are no short-cuts to statehood. In this vein, we strongly oppose unilateral actions that exacerbate tensions and move us further away from a two-state solution - that move us further away from peace.

For the full article: Israel National News

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Category 4 Hurricane Ian comes ashore at 150 mph in Southern Florida, September 28, 2022 at 2:24 pm EDT 

At around 2:24 p.m. EDT, AccuWeather forecasters said the eye of Hurricane Ian roared ashore on North Captiva Island, a barrier island just west of Fort Myers, Florida -- the first hurricane to make landfall in the contiguous U.S. this season. Maximum sustained winds were 150 mph, just shy of Category 5 status. For a storm to reach the highest classification of hurricane intensity, sustained winds must be at least 157 mph. A second landfall will be possible over the weekend after Ian traverses Florida and takes a turn toward Georgia and South Carolina.
 

Accuweather: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis updated residents on the devastation Hurricane Ian has wrought across his state, noting that Ian will likely go down as one of the largest storms to ever hit the Sunshine State. “It’s going to rank as one of the top five hurricanes to ever hit the Florida Peninsula,” DeSantis said of the storm, comparing Ian to the likes of 1992’s Hurricane Andrew and 2018’s Hurricane Michael. “The fact is, there’s going to be damage throughout the entire state.”

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Damage estimate from Ian to total $180B to $210B - September 30, 2022

Source: Accuweather

The devastation caused by Hurricane Ian across southwestern Florida, one of the strongest storms ever to hit the United States, continued coming into sharper focus on Friday as rescue crews reached the hardest-hit areas. The total damage and economic loss of Hurricane Ian will be between $180 billion and $210 billion according to AccuWeather Founder and CEO Dr. Joel N. Myers. The death toll, meanwhile, is mounting. On Friday, Florida Division of Emergency Management director Kevin Guthrie said the confirmed death toll was at least 21, Reuters reported. 

Hurricane Ian has likely caused “well over $100 billion’’ in damage, including $63 billion in privately insured losses, according to the disaster modeling firm Karen Clark & Co., which regularly issues flash catastrophe estimates. If those numbers are borne out, that would make Ian at least the fourth costliest hurricane in U.S. history.