Briana: Tonight on NJ Spotlight News.

Israel declares war after a surprise terror attack from Hamas.

The death toll is rising on both sides, Americans among the dead.

Security years in New Jersey and nationwide are mosques and synagogues are growing.

>> It was not provoked, but still a war crime and deeply unjust.

Briana: The fight for the speakership of the house becomes more urgent as the U.S. sends military aid in support of Israel.

>> This was a terrorist act on the part of Hamas, an act of war against innocent people.

Briana: Segregated schools in New Jersey.

>> New Jersey schools are historically and dramatically segregated.

Briana: Judge finds statewide systemic failures to address racial segregation in our schools.

And going on a bear hunt.

The season begins after passage of a extension but animal rights activists continue to fight the fight.

>> There is no reason for it.

Briana: NJ Spotlight News begins now.

>> Funding is provided by NJM insurance group.

Blue Cross Blue Shield -- Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.

And by the PSEG foundation.

♪ >> From NJPBS, this is NJ Spotlight News from -- with Briana Vannozzi.

Briana: Thanks for joining us.

Israel is at war with Hamas following an unprecedented attack of rocket and ground assaults by Hamas militants who broke out of the Gaza Strip Saturday morning, striking five Israeli cities including Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.

At least 900 people have been killed in Israel including at least America -- 11 Americans.

Over 550 Palestinians have died.

Hamas has claimed over 100 civilian hostages.

Benjamin Netanyahu responded immediately, declaring war, ordering a full siege of the Gaza Strip and vowing to turn parts of Gaza, quote, into rubble.

Israel is pounding Gaza with airstrikes.

The United Nations says Palestinian civilians are trapped and helpless.

The White House authorized military aid to support Israel and deployed aircraft carriers to the Mediterranean to stabilize the region.

New Jersey Senator Cory Booker was in Jerusalem for official meetings.

He posted a video to social media that he departed safely.

New Jersey is home to some of the largest Jewish and Palestinian communities in the U.S., with deep economic ties and direct government relations.

Organizers from both sides of the conflict are planning rallies throughout New Jersey.

Governor Murphy and other leaders are pledging their solidarity with Israel.

A journalist in Tel Aviv who has long reported on the conflict joins me now with the latest.

I want to thank you for taking a few minutes to speak with me.

Talk about what you have been witnessing in the last 48 hours, the sights and sounds.

Are you safe?

>> I live in Tel Aviv, which means we have had some sirens and explosions, some direct hits from rockets not too far from here.

Thankfully I and my family are safe right now.

The worst of what has been happening has happened down south, where we are hearing over 800 Israelis have been killed.

Many of them in massacres in their homes or at a music festival.

And about 100 of.

Also in Gaza, where Since middle of the day yesterday, ongoing bombardment has killed over 500 Palestinians.

Briana: This by and large is being described as a surprise attack, but was it unprovoked?

>> I think it was surprising indeed.

There was no leadup in the sense of a direct warning, as we have seen in previous incidents.

At the same time, it would be wrong to call it unilateral and unprovoked in the sense that Israel has maintained a siege of the Gaza Strip for many years, almost 20 years now, and ongoing occupation in the West Bank with apartheid policies across the country.

That reality, where Palestinians are regularly exposed to violence from Israel where Palestinian families are also massacred by Israel, occasionally especially in Gaza, these things have happened to Palestinians on a regular basis.

In that sense, it was not unprovoked, although still a war crime and deeply unjust.

Briana: You have written extensively about the terror that you and your colleagues and family are feeling is a sliver of what Palestinians have been living under for decades now.

>> Like I said, it is a reality we are in within this very bleeding conflict that has taken a toll.

Israelis, the toll on Palestinians from the day-to-day of living under a siege, it is a huge toll over the entire society.

On top of that, the death toll on the Palestinian side is exponentially larger than on the Israeli side, specifically in the context of Gaza.

In the previous wars we have seen the casualty ratio of about one to 100, 1 to 200 or more, attacks on the iron domes and mechanisms Israel has.

Rockets fired from Gaza are rarely as lethal as the aerial bombardments Israel initiates within Gaza.

Today, or the past couple days have been the exception to that, a very painful, terrible, dreadful exception to that.

For the first time in years we have been feeling what it is like to be exposed, to have absolutely no defenses facing these massacres.

Briana: It feels different these -- this time.

Prime Minister Netanyahu came out right away and declared war.

Does it feel different from your perspective, this conflict?

>> It feels very different.

The experience of being defenseless is something that Israelis are not used to.

We are used to the occasional death as part of the resistance to apartheid.

It does a reality we live with, but we feel like there are people there defending us.

That feeling, that sense of security has been obliterated over the past few days.

The understanding that hundreds, some say thousands of people from Gaza could swarm into Israel and kill people in their homes and abduct people is a sense of defenselessness that Israelis haven't felt.

Briana: The White House has said it will send military aid, aid and a number of ways.

What is the sense there?

Is there frustration about that, rather than the White House setting up peace talks or negotiations?

>> For the vast majority of Israelis now, the focus is on a military response, and not to say there will be revenge, that is strong motivation for many people.

You can hear it in TV studios.

The thing people are talking about is, we need to Latin Gaza, because this direction.

Netanyahu's promise was to cause more harm and pain in Gaza than any of the previous wars.

Some of those have had thousands of casualties on the Palestinian side so Netanyahu, his promise is terrifying.

That is unfortunately where most Israelis are at right now.

In that sense, the U.S. has been complicit in all these wars by offering that support throughout the years.

I think right now with the U.S. sending support, there is the angle of defense and stopping the attack on is really communities.

I hope we can quickly turn away from the path of violence that solves nothing, as we have seen from these recurring rounds of brutality, and turn to first of all, releasing the captives and prisoner exchanges between the sides.

That will hopefully lead to a shift in consciousness and realization that only through negotiations and peace can we offer ourselves and our neighbors justice and security.

Briana: You are a board member of the Union of journalists in Israel and the executive director of 972 magazine.

Thank you so much.

You are in our thoughts.

>> Thank you for having me.

Briana: The war is adding urgency to the U.S. House Speaker fight as the lower chamber remains paralyzed in its work, since the ousting of former Republican Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

The GOP's fight is even more critical after the attack on one of America's closest allies.

Without a speaker the house can't pass emergency military aid for Israel or a spending bill to avert a government shutdown.

Congress is scheduled to return to D.C. tomorrow to tackle the vote.

So far, only Republican representative Jeff Andrew has taken a stance, saying he will back conservative Congressman Jim Jordan in the race.

The other GOP members, Tom Kane Junior and Chris, have not declared who they back.

It is unclear how quickly a new leader will be elected.

I'm joined by Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman.

Thank you for joining me.

We talk about this fight over the next speaker under more difficult circumstances, the situation in Israel.

Can you tell us where you stand on that and obviously toxic Congress about sending military -- talks in Congress about sending military aid.

>> Congress is suspended in crazy animation right here.

Briana: But you continue conversations while you are in -- while you are at home.

>> Israel has a right to protect itself.

This was a terrorist act on the part of Hamas.

This was an act of war against innocent people, non-military installations to taking up hostages is barbaric and horrific and we need to stand with Israel as we stop this moment.

We need to understand there is innocent loss of life on the others as well.

We need to look at the long-term issues here that need to be addressed.

There is never going to be safety and security and peace and harmony until there is an understanding that Israelis and Palestinians will need to live together in proximity with one another, with dignity and respect.

I'm praying mightily.

I know people who are there now.

I had a long text conversation with someone who lives there now, thank God he and his family are safe and I stand with Israel as we make sure it can secure its communities and its people.

Briana: How is this affecting discussions about the next speaker?

The house is obviously unable to do work in terms of passing military aid or any type of emergency expenditures to send to Israel without someone in the speaker seat.

>> This is the worst time we could have had this Israel as well as with Ukraine.

We are not in a position to be led by the majority.

That is a blemish, a stain on our institution and our ability to govern.

Republicans have decided that they would rather hold onto loyalties to a former president who has done nothing to help anybody in this country, then to do the business for which they were elected.

We have a lot of things that need to be done, not the least of which is to see that both Israel sees -- has what it needs, and security in Ukraine.

I don't know what is happening in right now -- in Washington right now because those discussions are behind Republican closed doors.

At the end of the day, somebody has to have 217 votes.

We have 211 or 212 for a person that we think should be the speaker and that would be Hakeem Jeffries.

We would only need 3, 4, 5 may be reasonable thinking moderate Republicans who want the government to get back to work.

Briana: Let me ask you about that.

It appears that a good number of the GOP caucus are leaning towards Jim Jordan as the next speaker.

Do you see him as someone who could carry out the mission of the house and the agenda that is before you?

>> No.

Jim Jordan is not a leader, he is a divider.

He is a contentious individual.

He ignored the institution that he wants to lead now when he was subpoenaed to come talk about his shenanigans during the January 6 the insurrection.

Absolutely not.

He has no integrity and no capacity to lead.

Briana: You are back tomorrow on the hill.

What can we expect in terms of a vote?

Do you have any idea about the schedule for the next couple days?

>> I have no idea.

I'm not sure Republicans know what they are going to do as a majority in the House of Representatives right now.

But I strongly suspect we are not going to have any kind of business on the floor until they are assured they have whatever votes they need, a minimum of 217.

We may be in for another rough patch like we had the first time we voted for McCarthy.

Briana: Not to mention the clock is ticking to avert a government shutdown.

Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman, thank you for joining me.

On Friday a state Superior Court judge ruled in a highly anticipated case regarding the high rates of segregation in New Jersey schools.

They found the state failed to address the racial imbalance or remedy the situation.

The judge also rejected plaintiff's claims of statewide segregation and the argument that New Jersey needs to fix segregation based on student poverty.

The lawsuit was filed in 2018 by a group of students, school districts and education advocates arguing that the state policy requiring students to attend school where they live violates their student rights.

A political correspondent reports that the judge's ruling doesn't answer what the state is supposed to do next.

>> For a decision that took over a year to get to and was released late on Friday afternoon of a three day weekend, the much-anticipated ruling in the school segregation lawsuit, did little to move the case along.

The plaintiff's lawyers said there was much to his liking in the 99 pages.

>> I think he ruled on a lot.

His ruling reinforces that segregation is a significant problem in New Jersey public schools.

It reinforces that it is the state's obligation to address that.

It makes clear that home rule is no excuse for it.

And it finds a tremendous number of fact in our favor.

>> They say the judge didn't rule on either side's request for summary judgment and has both sides wandering their next move or even if there is a next move.

>> An unusual situation when the judge finds all the facts in your favor, then doesn't ultimately find in your favor with regard to the ultimate question.

We have to consider carefully what that means in terms of next steps.

Does mean there is a trial?

Does it mean there is an appeal?

Does it mean we begin a negotiation process?

>> Governor Murphy stayed away from weighing in.

Friday's ruling didn't change that either.

The statement says, our administration remains committed to creating equitable and inclusive learning environments that reflect the diversity of our state.

Which is pretty much what the governor has been saying literally for years.

NJ Spotlight education reporter Hannah Gross says regardless of what comes next, the case has just begun.

>> It's a lot to sort through in the 99-page decision, and the judge did not grant summary judgment in many of the places where both parties wanted it, so there could be a protracted did trial but it is hard to say.

This lawsuit was filed five years ago.

It has been about a year since the oral arguments so we can see it has taken a really long time, so if there is an appeal, which would be determined within the next 20 days, it is likely that will take a long time to be sorted out as well.

In the meantime, does not seem like there would be action on these districts where there is a high level of segregation.

>> The truth is that the timing of this ruling caught most stakeholders flat-footed.

Lawmakers we did reach hadn't even read the ruling today.

The plaintiffs deferred to their lawyer.

This is how this case ends, it will be eight with a whimper, where it seems everyone involved believes a bang is what is needed.

David Cruz, NJ Spotlight News.

Briana: In our spotlight on business report, Wall Street is reacting to the Israeli-Hamas war.

Stocks hovered around a flat line as investors tried to shake off pressures of the conflict.

Here is how the markets closed.

♪ Today marks the start of Black bear hunting season in New Jersey, the iteration of the first controversial hunt after it was extended five years.

Governor Murphy campaigned on ending it and took steps to limit the practice, but the administration changed course last year after agreeing with environmental officials about a surge in the reported bear population and the need for the hunt as part of the bear management plan.

Opponents point to bear activity being down and arguing nonlethal measures could allow people and bears to coexist.

Joanna Gagis reports.

>> Today is opening day of our October bear season.

The first day of the hunt.

Joanna: The bear hunt is back this year.

There was a partial hunt last year but new rules just adopted by New Jersey Fish and game counsel have only restored the hunt for the next five years.

It kicks off today through Saturday and could have another round in December on both private and state land.

>> The bear hunt is part of our comprehensive black bear management policy, an integrated approach to managing black bears in New Jersey.

Joanna: It is contentious, with conservationists insisting nonlethal methods of controlling the population are effective and more humane.

>> It is purely a trophy hunt.

>> Trophy hunts do nothing to manage bears.

We have dozens of ways, practical ways of reducing bear complaints and population.

Key is keeping them away from humans.

Joanna: By removing food sources, you remove the ability to reproduce.

David Goldman refutes that that he has the support of Governor Murphy, who once promised to end the hunt for good.

>> What we have found over time where there has been extensive work on trying to reduce human derived food sources in New Jersey, we find that is not effective to manage the bear population.

Joanna: The hunt will end as soon as it reaches 30% of the total estimated number of bears in the state.

If they don't reach that, they will extend it but how they get to the total estimates is where this gets complicated.

>> When we have had a full hunt, we are able to estimate the population.

The way we estimate population is through a technique called mark and capture.

Biologists Mark bears ahead of the bear season and when they come into the check stations we calculate the number of tagged bears that were marked earlier against untagged or unmarked bears.

That allows us to estimate the population.

>> In 2022 the division of Fish and wildlife claimed there were 3500 to 4000 bears in New Jersey.

Their own data shows that was less than half.

>> The fish and game counsel is cooking the numbers.

They say there are 4000 when last year's hunt proved there were 2000.

Joanna: The DEP says last year's incomplete hunt contributed to the ability to get an inaccurate count.

State Senator Ray Lesniak filed a lawsuit challenging the composition of the fish and game counsel.

>> Six out of the 11 members of the fish and game counsel are appointed on recommendation by the sportsmen's club.

The sportsmen's club is in favor of hunting.

That is why they exist basically.

Articles three and four of the New Jersey Constitution say public policy is made by the judiciary, the legislature and the executive branch of government.

It doesn't include the sportsmen's club.

Which is a private organization of sportsmen basically, hunters.

Joanna: Lesniak lost his challenge in Superior Court but he is appealing before the same judge.

He believes anybody appointed to the Council should have a background in conservation and wildlife preservation.

I'm Joanna Gagis, NJ Spotlight News.

Briana: That will do it for us tonight but don't forget to download the NJ Spotlight News podcast so you can listen anytime.

I'm Briana Vannozzi.

For the entire NJ Spotlight News team, have a great evening and we will see you back here tomorrow.

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