State of Israel

2024-05-09

In the wake of U.S. President Joe Biden's announcement regarding the potential withholding of offensive weapons to Israel if an extensive operation in Rafah ensues, Israeli political figures butt heads.  Minister Itamar Ben Gvir's incendiary tweet, alleging Hamas's affinity for President Biden, added fuel to the fire, drawing swift condemnation from opposition leader Yair Lapid. Minister Itamar Ben Gvir responded to Biden's decision to withhold aid from Israel with a short and provocative tweet, "Hamas loves Biden." This post can't be displayed because social networks cookies have been deactivated. You can activate them by clicking manage preferences. Lapid criticized both the minister's tweet and the government's handling of the situation, highlighting concerns about national security and the government's effectiveness in combating Hamas. MK Vladimir Blayak, a member of Lapid's faction, also weighed in, labeling the government as incompetent. Lapid took to X, saying "If Netanyahu does not fire Ben Gvir today, he is endangering every soldier in the IDF and every citizen in the State of Israel." This post can't be displayed because social networks cookies have been deactivated. You can activate them by clicking manage preferences. Earlier, Biden emphasized that if Israel were to invade Rafah, the United States would halt the shipment of weapons to Israel, specifically those used in past operations in similar urban areas. ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-05-09

Our story of grief and joy The Angel of Death and Elijah • By KENNETH BRANDER The transition from mourning to celebrating Independence Day is always jarring. But this year, it will be especially challenging, with some 1,200 people killed on October 7, 250 kidnapped, and the country at war on multiple fronts. Here in Israel, the painful memory of October 7 isn’t merely a shared national story, but an ongoing personal grief carried by the countless friends and relatives of all the murdered, the wounded, the hostages, and the fallen soldiers and security personnel. Almost everyone, at least to some extent, knows someone who has been killed or injured. Every lost individual is a lost world, causing the wave of their hopes and dreams to crash against the banks of the present. On the other hand, we also experience, on a daily basis, the benefits and blessings of living in the modern State of Israel. Each and every one of us will have to navigate the transition from Remembrance Day to Independence Day, bringing into sharp focus the juxtaposition we face daily. AS WE live through this moment in Jewish history, I feel haunted – and comforted – by the words of a group of teachers in the Warsaw Ghetto. On Passover of 1942, they gathered together to conduct the Seder, even amid chaos, death, and destruction. To help put the holiday in perspective, they wrote a brief introduction to the Haggadah, describing how, on that Passover, they “feel that knocking at their door, simultaneously, are both the angel of death and Elijah the prophet.” This pairing of Elijah – always recalled at the Seder and seen throughout the Jewish tradition as a sign of hope, resolution, and the forerunner of the Messiah – with the angel of death, an obvious sign of doom, is what we are again experiencing today. Jews awaiting deportation at the Umschlagplatz in the Warsaw Ghetto. (credit: PUBLIC DOMAIN) I have experienced and heard countless moments of this horror phenomenon existing alongside hope and bravery, especially involving the 13 students and alumni we have lost from our network of schools and educational programs. During a shiva mourning period, I heard a father speak about his son who fell in battle and how they had long enjoyed a shared havruta (small study group), then mention that the last Mishna they learned focused on the prophet Elijah. Then there was 24-year-old IDF Captain Itai Seif, whose sister Shachar, a teacher in our school system, gave birth a month early. Itai was able to leave Gaza to carry his newborn nephew to Eliyahu Hanavi’s chair at the brit milah, only to fall in battle a month later, on Shachar’s due date. There was also paramedic Amit Mann, shot dead by Hamas terrorists on October 7 as she was treating injured people in a clinic on Kibbutz Be’eri. Surrounded by victims in the clinic under siege, she was aware her final moments were approaching, even as she worked to save lives. She texted her sister, “I don’t think I’ll get out of this. I love you.” I still think daily of , who fell in battle only for the army to later find a letter in his pocket requesting that his organs be donated – an echo of how Elijah, throughout Jewish tradition, gives new life to many. I hold especially dear the memory of , packed into a roadside shelter with dozens who had fled the Nova festival on October 7 as terrorists attacked them with grenades and gunfire. Aner stood up to the Angel of Death as he caught one grenade after another, valiantly tossing them back at the terrorists trying to kill them. While he emulated Elijah himself in defense of the Jewish people, the Angel of Death was also there, as Aner died when one of the grenades he could not pick up quickly enough exploded on him. This week, especially, we are a nation of survivors who cannot yet make sense of these tragic occurrences. But in our darkest moments, there is some consolation in the knowledge that, even while facing the Angel of Death, countless stories of redemption have emerged – one Elijah after another. As we prepare to mourn even more deeply on Remembrance Day and struggle to even think of how we can celebrate Independence Day at a time like this, it is imperative that we remember that it is not just that the Angel of Death can sometimes come at the same time as Elijah, but, as the rabbis of Warsaw wrote, Elijah can come alongside that Angel of Death. This should provide us with the perseverance to which we all aspire. Even in our moment of grief, we mustn’t lose sight of Independence Day, the redemption on the horizon, and what we are collectively building. In Israel, modern statecraft and the prayer for the Messianic age are one and the same. We must continue the work of Itai, Amit, Yehonatan, Aner, and all the others. This is the work we were chosen to do. IN A well-known Talmudic story, Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi asked Elijah: When will the Messiah come? Elijah said to him: Go ask him. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi asked: And where is he sitting? Elijah said to him: At the entrance of the city of Rome. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi asked Elijah: And what is his identifying sign by means of which I can recognize him? Elijah answered: He sits among the poor who suffer from illnesses. And all of them untie their bandages and tie them all at once, but the Messiah unties one bandage and ties one at a time… Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi went to see the Messiah. He said to the Messiah, “Greetings to you, my rabbi, and my teacher.” The Messiah said to him, “Greetings to you, ben Levi.” Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi asked him, “When will the master come?” The Messiah said to him, “Today.” Sometime later, Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi came to Elijah: The Messiah lied to me, saying, “I am coming today, and he did not come.” Elijah told him that this is what he said to you: He said that he would come “today, if you would listen to his voice” (Psalms 95:7). Today, listening to the voice of God means having faith in the redemptive process that God has set into motion. We continue to build the country through tears that we pray turn from sorrow to laughter and joy. The writer is president and rosh yeshiva of the Ohr Torah Stone network. ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-05-09

Former Israeli Chief of Staff has opened up about the ongoing security challenges and strategic priorities facing Israel, mainly focusing on the Gaza Strip and Iran in a candid revelation at a conference in the United States. In his first extensive public remarks since leaving office, disclosed while speaking with American Jews and leaked exclusively by N12's Yuna Leibzon, discussed the implications of military decisions and strategic focus shaping Israel's recent security policies. He articulated the conflicting nature of military goals involving Gaza, particularly the difficulty in managing hostage situations amid continuous military operations. notably stated, "We did not perceive Gaza as an existential threat; Iran was our top priority," underscoring the shift in strategic military focus. He expressed concern about the current objectives, "Today, the goals of the fighting are contradictory; there is no way to return the captives without stopping the war." This highlights the complex nature of Israel's security dilemmas where military actions to secure one goal may undermine another. In reference to the tactics used against Hamas, Kochavi revealed, "We never promised that Hamas would be deterred for the coming years, not even the upcoming months." He elaborated on the challenges faced in densely populated areas, "We tried, and it's difficult. In populated, dense areas, it is tough." Discussing the potential for future conflicts, Kochavi predicted, "I believe finding a pretext for 'War 2.0' would not be difficult. Achieving absolute victory within months is unrealistic. It will take many years." He also commented on the political influence on military strategy, saying, "We know that [political dynamics] influenced Sinwar's decision to attack the State of Israel," pointing out how internal Israeli politics might be perceived as opportunities by adversaries.  ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-05-08

Herzi Halevi is one of the most disappointing chiefs of staff since the establishment of the State of Israel. His failure is evident in the military's preparatio for war, in the conduct of the war, and in the fatal damage to the values and morals and the ethical code of the army on which generations of fighters were raised. Halevi's method of choosing the next generation of commanders to follow him is neither moral nor ethical. It also causes irreparable damage to the IDF and the country as a whole by the public losing confidence in IDF commanders and the entire army. Halevi was appointed chief of staff by his close associate Benny Gantz and brought upon Israel a terrible disgrace and disaster, the likes of which had not been seen since the establishment of the state. Thousands were murdered, thousands of wounded are trying to recover, hundreds were kidnapped by Hamas into tunnels, and more than a hundred thousand were displaced from their homes. These facts cannot be debated, and yet Halevi continues to hold his title, thanks to his accomplices, PM Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. This group could bring us total destruction. It is simply unimaginable how this group that should have stood trial continues to manage the country and the war for us. These three and all their followers should resign from their jobs, sit in their homes until the end of their days, and atone for their sins. Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi (credit: IDF SPOKESMAN’S UNIT) When Halevi was the head of the military intelligence, at the beginning of March 2017, he estimated that Hamas or Hezbollah were not interested in a military conflict 'in the near term'. He argued that Israeli deterrence reduces the likelihood of an initiated war. When Halevi was the commander of the Southern Command, an internal IDF document was published in August 2021. The document describes the defense system and reveals the depth of the failure and the destructive concept that dominated military thinking in recent years. In the three years from 2018 to 2021, Herzi Halevi served as commander of the Southern Command. During this time, the defense plans against Hamas deteriorated without measures to deal with the hundreds of kilometers of Hamas tunnels. The operational discipline on the border with the Gaza Strip also deteriorated. Halevi advocated that Hamas was deterred and, therefore, did not come across as a threat to Israel. Aviv Kochavi and Hatzi Halevi at the exchange of chiefs of staff ceremony in January 2023 (credit: TOMER NEUBERG/FLASH90) One of the reasons that the IDF did not enter Rafah at the same time as Gaza City at the beginning of the war when the world was still with us and the attack was still possible was that there were no concrete attack plans. These plans require years of preparation, training the forces, studying the area in detail, and allocating forces to tasks within the cities and villages in Gaza. The study of land-air-sea combined with combat was not done at all. This is the reason the IDF planned its entry in an attack on Gaza City only while moving at the same time to mobilize the forces. Halevi must take direct responsibility for the lack of war plans neither in defense nor in attack. In February 2020, during Halevi's tenure as commander of the Southern Command, he joined the former director of the Mossad, Yossi Cohen, on a secret trip to Doha, the capital of Qatar. There, the two met with Mohammad bin Ahmad Al-Musnad, the national security adviser of the Emirate of Qatar, and with Mohammad al-Emadi, Qatari businessman. In response to this meeting, MK Avigdor Liberman stated on Channel 12, "The head of the Mossad together with the commander of the Southern Command on Netanyahu's behalf, begged the Qataris to continue pouring money into Hamas after March 30." During the days of Halevi as commander of the Southern Command, the process of tightening the instructions to open fire on the border of the Gaza Strip that began in early 2018 continued. The depth of the perimeter near the border where Gazans are not allowed to enter was reduced from 300 meters to 100 meters, and severe restrictions were imposed on shooting at unarmed Gazans. The IDF refrained from shooting Gazans who crossed the fence and those throwing Molotov cocktails. In mid-2019, restrictions were even imposed on shooting at armed men approaching the fence for fear of harming Hamas fighters who are controlling the riots, according to the understanding of Halevi. Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi at the Northern Command (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON UNIT) During the years of Halevi's tenure as chief of staff, the IDF's broken organizational aspects deepened: lack of discipline, failure to verify orders, failure to control and follow up on decisions made, failure to learn lessons, and unreliable investigations. The culture of lying rose to monstrous proportions, and the standards of performance fell below all criticism. In most army units, routine practices and orders were not followed. One of the many examples is the failure of the units in operational employment on the border lines to be on alert at dawn. Anyone who did not carry out this order in the past was dismissed, and it was in our hands on the morning of the Hamas attack on the settlements surrounding Gaza on October 7, 2023.  The conduct of Halevi, at three o'clock in the morning and the decisions he made were disastrous for the people of Israel. He remained complacent despite all the warnings that were before his eyes. This was not an error in judgment, but a concept deeply embedded in his personality. This is how he conducted himself as commander of the Southern Command, and this is how he acted as chief of staff and instilled in his subordinates this severe pattern of action. The failed management of the war by Halevi is a huge failure that Israel has not experienced since the establishment of the state. Instead of starting the war on the Gaza Strip with full force in both Gaza City and Rafah, Halevi acted only in a column in the Gaza Strip. The war has been going on for a very long time to such an extent that forces have lost their strength both in terms of resources and in terms of mental strength. After half a year of war with hundreds of dead and thousands of wounded, many seriously, the IDF captured 80% of the Gaza Strip. Within a short time, Hamas returned through the tunnels and retook control of all the territories abandoned by the IDF. In other words, we lost the war. The IDF's raids will not lead to a victory over Hamas but to a war of attrition that could last for years. The fighting forces will wear out because they have no replacements due to the cutting of six divisions in the last twenty years by the chiefs of staff who decided that the big wars have all passed, and it is possible to be satisfied with a small, technological, and smart army. The situation has reached such a point that our forces cannot eradicate Hamas and not even stop its re-establishment. The same is true for Hezbollah. As long as we fight a war with Hamas that no longer has a purpose, Hezbollah will continue to exhaust us in the North. This fighting will bring Israel to the collapse of the army, the economy, international relations, and society. The slogans of Bibi, Gallant, and Halevi that the IDF will not stop fighting until it achieves all the war's goals are empty slogans and massive deception to the public. Their only goal is to continue the fighting at any cost. Again, this is a war in which we have already been defeated.  Halevi's attack on the "spirit of the IDF" and the values of the IDF and the norms upon which generations of fighters were raised. Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi and Golani commanders in the north (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON UNIT) Considering these grave failures, why doesn't Halevi resign now and appoint a replacement? Halevi will go down in history for his failure to prepare the army for war and the terrible failure on October 7. Additionally, he will be remembered worldwide for his failure to conduct the war without achieving its goals, in which he, Bibi, and Gallant are responsible This chief of staff has failed at immoral and unethical levels that we have not known before. I am receiving very difficult testimonies from senior officers in the army who have lost complete trust in their commander, the Halevi, who does not set a personal or ethical example. Herzi Halevi receives backing for his nefarious actions from his fellow retired generals who were an integral part of the reasons for the disintegration of the army and the failure that occurred. One of the retired generals who had a significant part in wearing down the army has become one of the spokesmen for the army. They should be in prison for criminal negligence. In conclusion, has only one way to stop itself on the slippery slope toward the abyss, and that is to end the war, take a time-out, and release the hostages. We must restore the army, the economy, international relations, and society. The officials responsible for the terrible disaster we experienced must be fired.  ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-05-08

National Missions Minister Orit Struk spoke this Sunday on 104.5FM radio about the two choices facing the Israeli government: or . In Strock's remarks, she sharply criticized the US, claiming that it is "not worthy to be called a friend of Israel." At the beginning of the conversation, Strock stated, "I am very worried this morning, thinking that things were almost put on the table and that the US is committed to stopping the war. And I mean in the most explicit and clear way; the first stage from the US perspective is a ceasefire." Palestinians react after Hamas accepted a ceasefire proposal from Egypt and Qatar, in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, May 6, 2024. In Israel, protesters block a highway demanding the immediate release of hostages. (credit: REUTERS, REUTERS/SHANNON STAPLETON) Strock continued, "The State of Israel is not another star in the flag of the US. It can and must stand on its own. is not worthy of being called a friend of the State of Israel." Strock stirred controversy last week when she said, "A government that sends hundreds of thousands of people to fight for a specific goal and actually throws the goals of the war into the trash in order to release 22 or 33, while most of the captives remain in Gaza with no chance of release except by stopping the war, has no right to exist." ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-05-08

It’s a tale of two Joe Bidens that has some Jews and Israel supporters scratching their heads, marveling at apparent inconsistencies. There is the tale of Biden marking on Tuesday in the White House, exuding empathy toward Jews and Israel in a speech decrying swirling antisemitism on campuses and elsewhere. “No one should have to hide or be brave just to be themselves,” he said in one poignant sentence, after earlier in the speech referencing Jews forced to “hide their kippahs under baseball hats, tuck their Jewish stars into their shirts.” The president’s empathy was not reserved only for the Jews but also for the Jewish state, which he said saw the “ancient hatred of Jews” reenacted with horrific savagery on October 7. “Now, here we are, not 75 years later [after the Holocaust] but just seven and a half months later [after October 7], and people are already forgetting. They’re already forgetting that Hamas unleashed this terror, that it was Hamas that brutalized Israelis, that it was Hamas who took and continues to hold hostages. I have not forgotten, nor have you, and we will not forget.” US president Joe Biden released four-year-old hostage Abigail Idan. April 25, 2024. (credit: Screenshot/Instagram via potus) That is one tale of Biden, the tale of a US president with a deep sympathy for the State of Israel born of what he heard of the Holocaust around his father’s table in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and strong friendships with Jews he established over the years such as late congressman Tom Lantos, a Holocaust survivor. Yet on the same day that Biden delivered this heartfelt speech, The Wall Street Journal reported that for the first time since the Gaza war began, the US is delaying sending precision weapons to Israel. The Washington Post quoted a US official saying this should be seen as a shot across Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bow to underscore the seriousness of US concerns about a Rafah invasion. That, too, is a tale of Biden. How to reconcile the two? The first Biden, strongly supportive of Israel and fully aware that for the current war, with the second Biden, the one delaying weapons to Israel, a move that – if extended – could curtail efforts to defeat Hamas and harm Israel if a wider war erupts in Lebanon. Biden said that he had not forgotten Hamas’s atrocities. But that is not the only thing he has not forgotten. He has also not forgotten, in his telling and the telling of his spokespersons, the civilian fatality rate in this war. And he has also not forgotten that his administration is coming under intense pressure from protestors on college campuses and the progressive wing of his party to pressure Israel to stop the war and to distance itself from the Jewish State. In short, Biden is walking a tightrope, balancing his instinctive support for Israel and the Jews with genuine concerns about civilian casualties and the fear of how those casualties will impact his reelection chances, which right now can be categorized as “iffy.” A MURAL in Tel Aviv depicts US President Joe Biden as a superhero defending Israel against the Iranian attack. On the strategic level, Israel suffered a whopping loss as Iran pierced American and Israeli deterrence frameworks with apparent impunity, the writer maintains. (credit: MIRIAM ALSTER/FLASH90) One of the basic political assumptions in the US in recent months – an assumption that has gained ground during the highly publicized anti-Israel protests on dozens of campuses around the country – is that Biden’s policies on Israel will alienate Arab voters and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez-style progressives, a demographic he will need to win in crucial swing states like Michigan. But there is a flip side to that coin. If Biden is not seen as supportive enough of Israel, or if moderate Democrats get spooked by the protests, sometimes violent, filling their television screens night after night, that could push them out of the Democratic camp in November. It’s not as if Biden only wins votes by turning on Israel, and everything else stays static. Being seen as too tough on Israel could cost him dearly among Jewish and pro-Israel supporters in a close election, and there are states out there beyond Michigan, with its large bloc of Arab voters, that he needs to win – swing states – in which the shift of a few percentages among Jewish or pro-Israel Democrats could make a huge difference. For instance, polls show that Biden is significantly behind Trump in the battleground states of Arizona, Pennsylvania, and Georgia, which all have substantial Jewish populations. But there is more to the story than that. While the media’s focus on the Gaza war makes it seem as though this is the main issue driving the conversation in the US and will be the central issue of importance for American voters in November, that is far from the truth. In American elections, foreign policy issues are traditionally way down the list of the problems that the electorate prioritizes, with the top issues generally being issues such as the economy, abortion, immigration, and gun control. Even among the country’s youth, the “conflict in the Middle East” is a low-priority issue, something that runs counter to the impression one might walk away with having watched campuses all over the country explode over the issue. Axios reported this week on a Generation Lab poll of 1,250 US college students that found that only 13% of them ranked the Middle East as their most important issue, ninth on a list of nine that was topped by healthcare reform, educational funding and access, and economic fairness and opportunity. Even among the country’s youth, the “conflict in the Middle East” is a low-priority issue, something that runs counter to the impression one might walk away with having watched campuses all over the country explode over the issue. Axios reported this week on a Generation Lab poll of 1,250 US college students that found that only 13% of them ranked the Middle East as their most important issue, ninth on a list of nine that was topped by healthcare reform, educational funding, and access, and economic fairness and opportunity. Speaking of the college protests, it is worth noting that the last time the campuses were in such an upheaval was some 56 years ago when students protested, marched, and conducted sit-ins against the Vietnam War in colleges across the country. Like 2024, 1968 was an election year. In that election, Richard Nixon, running on a law and order ticket that resonated loudly for many reasons – including because of the anti-war protests – defeated the Democratic candidate Hubert Humphrey. Four years later, Nixon defeated another Democratic candidate, George McGovern. One lesson from that period was that the “silent majority” – middle America – was turned off and frightened by the rebelliousness and lawlessness that they saw in the campus protests and in race riots that plagued that era. Will history repeat itself, and Biden get hurt in the upcoming election because of scenes of chaos and lawlessness on some campuses? Jonathan Chait wrote an article this week in New York Magazine headlined “Biden is Losing the Election in the Center, Not the Left.” According to Chait’s argument, the more significant threat to the president's reelection chances is moderate voters defecting from Biden rather than Arab American or youthful progressives. The protests on campus, he argued, are “contributing to the sense of chaos and failure that is harming Biden and helping Trump.” The reason the is close, and Biden is trailing in the polls, is not because he is hemorrhaging far-left voters, but rather moderate ones who, among other problems, they have with Biden’s domestic agenda, are frightened by the chaos and anarchy the protests represent. “The people he needs to win back are not occupying college campuses,” Chait wrote. This helps to explain the tale of two Bidens: a president who has to appeal to all sides. He needs to retain Jewish and pro-Israel voters, as well as Arab voters and anti-Israeli progressives. He also has to ensure that the Democratic middle holds. In the process, he often sends mixed signals and contradictory messages: threatening to reassess policy toward Gaza if Israel does not alter its course in the war on the one hand, helping Israel shoot down hundreds of Iranian missiles and drones on the other; holding up arms sales to Israel on one day and passionately expressing support for Israel and Jews the next. ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-05-08

Tamar Uriel-Beeri, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the Jerusalem Post, speaks with Ilan Sinelnikov, founder and president of (SSI), the pro-Israel international campus movement. Sinelnikov founded the organization twelve years ago while a student at the University of Minnesota, when he experienced Israel Apartheid Week on campus. Today, the organization is registered and active on over 200 college campuses throughout North America and three countries. Sinelnikov explains that students who say that they are anti-Zionists are, in reality, expressing antisemitic sentiments. “They traffic antisemitism under every word they say and under every action they practice,” he says, adding that it is one of the biggest challenges is to ensure that those who hate Israel cannot be allowed to define what Zionism means. “They try to take the word Zionism, smear it, and define it for Jewish students, not knowing that the majority of the Jewish students at the university level are Zionists. Even if they’re not the most vocal or the most visible Zionists, they do have a connection to the State of Israel. It’s part of their identity.” The progression of anti-Israel feelings and antisemitism on college campuses, notes Sinelnikov, did not happen overnight and is not only due to misinformation. Instead, he says, it is a process that has been happening for decades. Many Middle Eastern countries have invested significant funds in academic departments on American college campuses, and their influence has been felt in the re-education of American college students. Misinformation is spread through social media, he says. Most college students learn about world events from social media sources such as TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram, and Sinelnikov points out that there is a vast amount of misinformation and lies about Israel that is transmitted over social media. “If I’m eighteen or nineteen years old, and that is what I see for two or three hours a day, of course, I will be misinformed about Israel.” Antisemitism is the oldest virus in the history of the world, he says, noting that it has been present as long as the Jewish people have been in existence. SSI cannot solve the issue of antisemitism, he explains, but it can empower students – both Jewish and non-Jewish – to get together as a group and promote Israel. Sinelnikov notes that the largely anti-Israel slant of student governments must also be overcome and suggests that pro-Israel Zionist students run for student government, both to counter anti-Israel student resolutions and to propose pro-Israel ones instead. ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-05-08

Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai announced the cancellation of the LGBTQ Pride parade in , according to Israeli media reports. "This is not the time for celebrations," he wrote. "132 of our sons and daughters are still kidnapped in Gaza, the circle of bereavement is expanding every day, and we are in one of the most difficult periods of the State of Israel. See you at the in June 2025." Instead of the parade, there will be a rally, which he says will be "a sign of pride, hope and freedom." "The decision to cancel the parade, similar to the reduction of events on Purim and Independence Day, was made after a thorough examination of the issue, in which we listened to the public mood and as a sign of solidarity with the evacuees and the families of the hostages along with the pain of bereaved families," Mako quoted the municipality's announcement. "However, out of the municipality's deep commitment to the LGBTQ+ community and the fact that Tel Aviv-Jaffa is the warm home of community in all its shades, Pride Week will be celebrated in June with local events for the community's target audience." The last time it was decided to hold a rally instead of a parade was in 2020 due to restrictions, Ynet reported. Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai speaks during a protest march as part of International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women in Tel Aviv, November 24, 2022. (credit: TOMER NEUBERG/FLASH90) Huldai's decision came after decisions were made to moderate Independence Day celebrations and other ceremonies. Local authorities are also seriously considering how to hold the Remembrance Day and Independence Day events this year, according to the report. ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-05-08

Earlier this week, a Telegraph report exposed how BBC’s was forced to correct its reporting roughly 80 times in the first five months following the October 7 massacre. Many of these instances include referring to Jewish citizens of Israel as “settlers,” regarding as “resistance” groups, erroneously describing Tel Aviv as Israel’s capital, and deeming Israeli hostages as “prisoners.” The Jerusalem Post reached out to the group responsible for demanding accountability from this and other mainstream public-funded media outlets, CAMERA, to hear more about their efforts and endeavors.  Founded in 1982 during , the Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting and Analysis (CAMERA) presents itself as “the world’s oldest and largest international media monitoring, research and educational organization,” focusing on Middle East reporting. CAMERA claims to boast 300,000 members and supporters worldwide, aiming to “educate the public on the multifaceted issues surrounding Jewish history and the State of Israel,” as they phrase it. The committee describes itself as aspiring to promote “accurate and balanced coverage of Israel and the Middle East” in the face of what they deem “deteriorating journalistic standards and deeply ingrained anti-Israel biases which are becoming increasingly mainstreamed.” (credit: shahar berdichevsky) The multilanguage effort led by CAMERA includes several departments operating in English Arabic, Spanish and Hebrew, with its primary department focusing on media monitoring, where members scrutinize and counter any accounts of false news coverage across mainstream media platforms worldwide.  On the current events, CAMERA has reported that, since Oct. 7, there has been an uptick in antisemitism, which in turn made them intensify their efforts, aiming to effect institutional change within influential media outlets and schools to ensure "accurate portrayal of Israel and the Jewish people,” as portrayed by the committee. “Our record of 303 media corrections in 2023, for example, serves as a benchmark for our ongoing efforts. We also solicit feedback from external partners and conduct formal surveys to evaluate our work and campaigns. For instance, after we hold workshops to assist college students, we conduct surveys to help us analyze what tactics are working on college campuses,” added Tamar Sternthal, director of Camera's Israel office. When asked about salient examples of success stories, Sternthal pointed at the unprecedented scrutiny which BBC Arabic is currently undergoing due to a series of CAMERA exposés revealing biased coverage of the war, including the aforementioned Telegraph expose. “CAMERA Arabic’s research has elicited a wave of mainstream British media coverage since the beginning of the war with 14 articles examining the poor quality of BBC’s Arabic servicecoverage. Several UK MPs have publicly addressed the issue, including in parliamentary debates slamming the conduct of BBC Arabic, which is funded by the British public’s license fees,” explained Sternthal. “A series of BBC interviews with Khan Younis doctors gained particular prominence after we showed - together with antisemitism researcher David Collier - that many interviewees, as well as the BBC journalists themselves, supported the murderof Israel’s Jewish civilians and expressed antisemitic views on social media,” added Sternthal. Another separate example happened on France24 channel, in which Beirut correspondent in Arabic was fired for praising Hitler in March 2023, after CAMERA’s Arabic team revealed her pro-Nazi sympathies. As of the last decade or so, Arabic-language services at Western media outlets have begun to surface more and more recurringly. Outlets such as BBC, CNN, Deutsche Welle, France24, Sky News, Independent, Reuters, Agence France Presse and more all attempt to influence public opinion among a growing Arabic-speaking population in the Arab world, Europe, the Americas and beyond, launching their own Arabic speaking platforms.  From their part, this also led to CAMERA’s increasing their professional fact checking capacity in Arabic. “Journalists reporting in Arabic for Western media outlets are often deeply influenced by how news works in the Arab world’s non-democracies,” explained Sternthal. “Under these regimes, news practitioners are quickly schooled in what Arabic media deems ‘journalism in the service of the revolution,’ meaning fully biased partisan coverage, favorable to the ‘Palestinian cause’ and willfully blind to other perspectives. “As a result, Arabic coverage even in Western media outlets often diverges from content in English-language news,” Sternthal added. “This disparity is at times apparent even within a single Western news outlet which publishes in both Arabic and English. Moreover, Arabic news coverage in Western media outlets frequently falls far below professional news standards, thereby misinforming millions of Arabic-speaking news consumers about Jews and Israel.” Biased reporting is especially pronounced at allegedly“Western” outlets owned and operated from the Gulf in whole or in part, as is the case with Sky News Arabia and Independent Arabia. Hampered by a language barrier, the leadership atWestern media outlets is often unaware of the misinformation disseminated by their own Arabic-language departments. For these reasons, CAMERA’s Arabic team dedicates its work especially to such Western channels with Arabic-speaking outlets, which must adhere by law to fact-based unbiased reporting, instead of focusing their activities on Arabic speaking channels from the Arab world who owe no such accountability. “On Oct. 11, after BBC English’s Jeremy Bowen had already visited the site of the Kfar Aza massacre, a BBC Arabic video item was uploaded questioning whether it had even happened - presenting the entire story as a matter of ‘competing narratives.’Though the video has been taken down since, the BBC never apologized for having produced it in the first place. “Several BBC Arabic employees have liked and shared social media posts celebrating the Oct. 7 atrocities, and after a brief suspension were back covering the war. For instance, BBC Arabic repeatedly interviewed “military expert” Wasef Eriqat, who denied time and again that any civilians were targeted on Oct. 7. At no point did BBC disclose that Wasef Eriqat is the father of BBC Arabic Ramallah correspondent Eman Eriqat. “Another example from France24 features the Arabic channel’s Jerusalem correspondent Laila Odeh, herself a supporter of terrorists who targeted civilians, who spread a rumor that the killer of a Palestinian child in Chicago in mid-October was Jewish and Israeli, of which he was neither. “Finally, in late January, Independent Arabia ran a story about “Jewish pressure groups and their influence on global decision making,” citing a Jewish plan for world takeover. This led to an extremely rare intervention of the English Independent’s management for the Arabic website to review and amend the content,” Sternthal concluded. “The public can play a critical role in helping ensure more accurate news media coverage of Israel and the Middle East by becoming critical news consumers armed with the facts and a solid understanding of the principles of ethical journalism. Not only should news consumers read a variety of sources and learn to identify discrepancies between them, but they can also familiarize themselves with essential journalistic practices such as those outlined in the Code of Ethics of Society for Professional Journalists,” elaborated Sternthal. “Concerned news consumers can join CAMERA’s letter-writing group (write to [email protected]) and receive regular updates about misinformation in media reports, along with relevant contact information to publish letters and to communicate with relevant officials at the various media outlets. CAMERA also holds webinars regularly for the public, featuring practical techniques for becoming activists within the organization’s media response team. Those active on social media can follow the various CAMERA-affiliated accounts and can reach out to journalists directly on these platforms,” she added. “Despite the degraded standards of journalism in recent years and even the wholesale rejection of traditional journalistic values on the part of some media practitioners, CAMERA’s record proves that advocating for the facts and pushing for enforcement of ethical journalism guidelines has deep, meaningful impact. Ultimately, the truth is bound to prevail. As Winston Churchill noted, ‘Truth is incontrovertible. Panic may resent it. Ignorance may deride it. Malice may distort it. But there it is,’” concluded Sternthal. ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-05-08

During my stay in Israel over the last few years, I’ve learned that each year, and Independence Day are complex and painful days for the State of Israel. There is no doubt that this year, more than ever, these days will be difficult and painful.  As someone who represents the , who have experienced a painful and cruel war over the last two years, I deeply understand the sadness and deep pain. More than 10,000 civilians killed in the war so far and 25,000 civilians injured, including over 500 children killed and more than 1,100 injured. Unfortunately, the continues to act against us with all its might to destroy everything that stands in its way, even if they are innocent civilians.  In these difficult moments, I cannot avoid reflecting on the deep-rooted partnership of fate between the Israeli and Ukrainian people. In these turbulent times, our nations are united in a shared destiny not only by common values and aspirations, but also by common cruel enemies: the “axis of evil” consisting of Russia and Iran. Throughout history, both Israel and Ukraine have suffered enormous sacrifices and struggles in their quests for sovereignty, security and prosperity. The resilience shown by the two nations in the face of adversity serves as evidence of the inseparable partnership of fate that binds us together. It is necessary to recognize, precisely in these complex days, the parallels between our journeys. Soldiers walk to see destroyed Russian military vehicles, amid Russia's invasion on Ukraine in Bucha, in Kyiv region, Ukraine April 2, 2022. (credit: REUTERS/ZOHRA BENSEMRA) Just as Israel faces existential threats, so too does Ukraine face ongoing challenges to its territorial integrity and sovereignty. Moreover, both Israel and Ukraine find themselves facing the menacing specter of the Russia-Iran axis, which poses a serious threat to regional stability and security.  The evil alliance between Moscow and Tehran, which is manifested in the use of means of warfare – including drones and UAVs made in Iran – against the residents of Ukraine and more recently against the citizens of Israel, undermines the efforts for peace, exacerbates tensions throughout the Middle East and Eastern Europe, and may lead to an aggressive conflict, including in other places in the world as well. IN THE FACE of such enormous challenges, it is imperative for Israel and Ukraine to deepen their strategic partnership and cooperate closely to deal with common threats. By leveraging our shared strengths in defense, intelligence and technology, we can strengthen our collective resilience and deterrence capabilities, thereby safeguarding our national interests and maintaining peace and stability in our regions. Only recently, the United States, the leader of the free world, decided to provide aid to Ukraine and Israel, the two countries at the forefront of the war against the axis of evil. The American House of Representatives approved by a large majority the $17 billion security aid budget for Israel alongside the $60 billion aid package for Ukraine. This is an important decision that will help the free world to be much freer. At the heart of our partnership lies a shared commitment to freedom, democracy and human rights. Both Israel and Ukraine cherish the principles of freedom and justice and reject the forces of tyranny and oppression. It is this shared dedication to democratic values that binds us together and fosters a sense of kinship and brotherhood.  And now, as we commemorate the fallen heroes who gave their lives in defense of our nations, it is critical that we honor their memory by confronting the forces of evil so that together we can overcome the expected challenges and build a brighter future for future generations in both countries and the entire world. On this complex day of remembrance, let us stand shoulder to shoulder, united in our commitment to freedom, democracy and peace. May the friendly relationship between the Israeli people and Ukraine continue to exist, and serve as a beacon of hope and inspiration for all who cherish the values of freedom and justice. How long will we continue to bury our children, women and men? We must put an end to the axis of evil. We must unite against terrorism. The writer is Ukraine’s ambassador to Israel. ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-05-07

Simcha Rothman, the chair of the Knesset's Constitution, Law and Justice Committee, and member of Knesset from the Religious Zionist Party, spoke in a Holocaust ceremony at Columbia University in New York. "We are standing on at Columbia University, and the antisemitism is on the rise here and in many places around the world," said Rothman. He spoke to listeners about the ongoing demonstrations at American colleges, stressing the importance of separating protest from hate speech. "In a demonstration where people simply want to convey a message, this this is freedom of speech, this is legitimately possible. What we see here on campus is not a demonstration; what we see here is support for terrorism and antisemitism," he added. In recent weeks, across the US have faced occupation and aggressive protest by activists in a bid to force the adoption of anti-Israel policies since the original April 17 Columbia University tent settlement. Many and exam seasons have been disrupted, and there have been incidents of violence and antisemitism towards Jewish and Israeli students and staff. Yariv Levin, Simcha Rothman in the Constitution, Law and Justice Committee (credit: Mark Israel Salem) Rothman addressed this by questioning why protests, under the guise of being critical of Israel, choose to discriminate against or harass Jewish students. He asked, “If you are protesting a policy, why would you prevent students from entering campus? Why would you block a lecturer from entering the university if he looks Jewish?” He spoke to the existential threat facing the State of Israel, which he says is fighting “not only to protect the safety of our citizens, but also to preserve the lives of Jews around the world”. He correlated the struggles faced by Jews today with that of , saying that there was a similarity “between what happened in Germany before the war and what is happening today on the streets of the USA.” He finished with a message of strength, encouraging unity between diaspora and Israeli Jews: “All of us together, unified, we should fight against terrorism and antisemitism in every possible way”. Michael Starr contributed to this report. ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-05-07

Knesset Christian Allies Caucus, MK Matan Kahana, in collaboration with the Israel Allies Foundation, joined the March of Life movement in Stuttgart on Holocaust Remembrance Day on May 6. Kahana also participated in the last year. “As Jewish people around the world feel threatened and left alone, the question is, ? After all, indifference and silence have been the hallmarks of antisemitism and hatred of Jews for more than 2000 years. Now is the time to take a clear and unequivocal stand on behalf of the Jewish people and the State of Israel!” stated Jobst Bittner, founder and president of the March of Life movement. This year’s Remembrance Day fell just over half a year after over 1200 people were killed by Hamas, the largest numbers of Jews to be killed on a single day since the Holocaust. In collaboration with the local Jewish community and the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, the March of Life event featured Kahana as the keynote speaker.  Kahana was later joined by Mina Gampel and survivor of the October 7 attack, Daniel Zellner from Moshav Ein Habshor at the Gaza border as well as Israel Allies Foundation President, Josh Reinstein.A visitor looks at pictures of Holocaust victims at Yad Vashem's Holocaust History Museum in Jerusalem (credit: REUTERS/NIR ELIAS) Kahana’s participation was said to have highlighted the ongoing critical need for Holocaust Remembrance Day amid the growing surge of global antisemitism. During his trip, MK Kahana engaged in meetings at the Parliament of Baden-Württemberg in Stuttgart where he discussed efforts needed to combat antisemitism. "As history has shown us time and again, the insidious spread of antisemitism serves as a precursor to unspeakable atrocities. It is not merely a threat to the Jewish people, but to the very fabric of humanity itself. Ignoring or tolerating its presence is a grave mistake we cannot afford to make. We must stand united in unequivocal condemnation, for when antisemitism is allowed to flourish unchecked, it paves the way for the darkest chapters of human history to repeat themselves." Kahana. “We are honored to join forces with the March of Life and the ICEJ to remember the atrocities of the Holocaust and commit to standing with the Jewish State of Israel. As the forces of evil once again gather against the Jewish people, our Christian allies have made it clear, that this time, we are not alone, said IAF President, Josh Reinstein  The Israel Allies Foundation, founded in 2007,  works to educate and empower pro-Israel, faith-based legislators worldwide.  The IAF coordinates the work of 53 Israel Allies Caucuses internationally. This network includes the Knesset Christian Allies Caucus, the Congressional Israel Allies Caucus, and the European Union Parliamentary Israel Allies Caucus. ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-05-07

In the shadow of the , the traditional ‘Run in Remembrance’ will take place on the evening of Remembrance Day for the fallen soldiers of the IDF and victims of terrorism. The race, which will take place at the same time across the country and around the world, does not have a starting point or podium, and therefore can take place anywhere and in any format, whether, running, walking, or biking. Registration through the “Run in Remembrance” website is necessary in order to participate in the race. Each registrant randomly receives the name of a fallen soldier to run in memory of, from a database of tens of thousands of soldiers who have fallen since the establishment of the State of Israel, until now. Boaz Yaakov, the visionary and director of “Run in Remembrance”, who was drafted into the Reserves on and fought in different arenas, is a lover of running, who lost several close friends during his army service. He founded “Run in Remembrance” with the goal of turning running into a national activity for Remembrance Day, which will have a stronger impact this year. It is important to run with the right clothes (credit: PR) “The race crosses all sectors, denominations, opinions, oceans and continents and its goal is to allow us, as a nation and as , to remember all of our fallen soldiers,” said Yaakov. The race is open to anyone who is interested in running in memory of a loved one or in memory of a fallen soldier whose name is taken from our database that has names of the tens of thousands of soldiers who have fallen since the establishment of the State of Israel. For a nominal fee of 10 shekels, you register on the “Run in Remembrance” website and the system randomly locates the name of a fallen soldier from Israel’s wars in whose memory the participants will run. Each registrant will be sent a link with detailed information about the person who they will run in memory of. Those who wish can add the name of another fallen person to run in memory of and both names are printed on top of the numbered race bib that is attached to the shirt for the race. It is also possible to order a white running shirt with the race symbol for 40 shekels, which can be picked up at Mashbir branches throughout the country in Israel. For more information or to register, please visit www.memorun.org ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-05-06

The Holocaust Remembrance Day siren was activated on Monday by Malka Herman and her grandson Captain Maor Herman, an officer in the Home Front Command, the military said on Monday.  The IDF shared Herman's story on the occasion. She was born in Hrubieszów, Poland, in 1932. In 1939, she fled with her family to the Ukraine, and they were subsequently exiled to a work camp in Siberia. In 1941, the family was released and moved , after which Herman, who was nine years old at the time, along with her 11-year-old brother, were transferred to Teheran. From there, they made the difficult journey to Israel via India and the Suez Canal and arrived in the Jewish State in 1943.  Holocaust survivor Malka Herman and her grandson Maor Herman activate the Holocaust Remembrance Day siren. May 6, 2024. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT) Today, Herman has three children, nine grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.  Herman said on Monday, "At a time when we are witnessing the many threats to the State of Israel and the Jewish people, I was given the privilege to take part in commemorating the memory and heroism of our brothers and sisters who were murdered in . "Being here, next to my grandson, brings tremendous excitement that reminds me of the road I went through to get here and the pride in the family which I established thanks to and despite everything," she added.  Her grandson stated, "In my role, both routinely and in an emergency, I have direct responsibility for the safety and security of the citizens of the State of Israel. In recent months, our work has been more challenging than ever. In addition to the responsibility given to me, it is a privilege to activate the siren together with my grandmother on this Remembrance Day, and to honor the memory of my people who perished in the Holocaust and to be part of the next generation." ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-05-06

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir stood before the cameras yesterday as he exited the prime minister's office and declared firmly without mincing words: "I warned the prime minister that if God forbid, Israel will not enter a ceasefire, if God forbid we end the war, or if God forbid there be a careless deal. The prime minister heard these words, promised that , that the war would not end, and promised that there will be no irresponsible deal." These words and tone of speech left no doubt in anyone's mind: there is a new prime minister in the State of Israel. In practice, Benjamin Netanyahu has become the executor of his 'master's' will, Itamar Ben-Gvir. This raises the inevitable question: how far has Netanyahu fallen? He has sunk so low that even a basic response from a prime minister, to protect his honor, he cannot manage. This led me to yearn for the leadership of David Ben-Gurion, who knew to say in tough times, "I do not presume to say that the people are in my pocket. I don't know what the people want and what they don't want. I know what is desirable for the people and that is what I fight for." , despite a thousand differences, knows what most people want - the release of the hostages. He also knows what is important and good for the people of Israel. However, he is obeying Ben-Gvir and Betzalel Smotrich, because that is what is good for Netanyahu for clear reasons - and not for the people of Israel. Do not be confused: the fact that most of the Israeli people, according to most surveys, want above all to see the hostages come home, does not indicate that the people of Israel do not want to see the end of Hamas. If it is necessary to enter the lion's den to complete the mission, the people are in favor of that as well. Demonstrators protest for the release of Israeli hostages held hostage by Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip, in Jerusalem. April 27, 2024. (credit: Chaim Goldberg/Flash90) However, the problem for most of the people of Israel after seven months of fighting is that they do not believe in this government and its conduct, do not believe in their prime minister who changes his mind according to his political needs, and do not believe in figures like Orit Struck.  Currently, the slogan of this government's war is entering Rafah. However, no one in the government is considering the fact that Rafah could also be a defeat with many casualties and injuries as a result of traps set by Hamas, hostages killed as a result of attacks, and mistakes in identifying or mistakenly hitting hundreds of innocent civilians during the fighting. The horror images that will be circulated will create a strong sense of war crimes and murder. And we ask, with Rafah in our hands, what next? Will this solve the Gaza problem? Will redemption finally come and terrorism disappear? IDF finds 900-meter-long terror tunnel in the Gaza Strip. April 7, 2024. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT) Some will say that this is just the beginning and that in order to complete the task, a pragmatic government is required, one that operates with reason and discretion. Certainly not this government, ruled by unfit ministers, with a list of uncovered promises whose main concern is to survive and ensure the survival of Netanyahu. No matter how we look at the reality created here and a half of the right-wing government's term, it turns out that this has become a valuable asset to our enemies. The economic, political, and social damage caused by this government to the State of Israel during such a short period of time did not manage to achieve what all the Arab countries around us, including over the 76 years of the country's existence, succeeded in. This government, which began its path with the sin of judicial corruption proved that it is incapable of controlling and managing the country. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu holds a press conference at the Ministry of Defense in Tel Aviv on February 29, 2024. (credit: NIMROD KLIKMAN/POOL) This became very clear after October 7 and is even more evident today in everything related to dealing with the northern settlements and their residents. In these difficult times, it seems that precisely the right-wing government, known for its opposition to the Palestinian state, is pushing us towards both states for both nations, under international pressure that will force the Palestinian state upon us. ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-05-06

Full disclosure: I once served as a guest lecturer at one of the major public universities in . One of the courses I taught was the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and international media. Additionally, I gave various lectures about Israel within the community, where I met many American youths who were very curious about Israel.  However, one lecture stands out, particularly when, in the beginning, a participant approached me, claiming that as an Israeli, I was biased and, therefore, he did not expect me to present the facts impartially. This statement, which has stayed with me since those days, has gained even more significance as the stormy protests against Israel, some involving acts of violence and antisemitism against Israeli and Jewish students on US college campuses, began. Indeed, being Israeli, having a Jewish identity, and every other component of our personality create cognitive biases in information processing and our perception of reality. Such biases exist in everyone.  However, as researchers who educate the next generation, we are expected to reflect the complexity of reality. That is especially true given the generational gap with Generation Z, who are now experiencing their first years at university and were born after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.  A person stands watch at an entrance to the encampment on the university grounds as protests continue at Columbia University, during the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in New York City, US, April 25, 2024. (credit: REUTERS/DAVID 'DEE' DELGADO) According to studies, this generation primarily consumes information and news through social networks, with Instagram and TikTok at the forefront, the latter of which was found by The Wall Street Journal to promote more. In other words, for Generation Z, the reality reflected on social networks is also the reality they subjectively perceive without neutral information sources or prior personal familiarity with the subject, with many of them having never visited Israel.  Thus, the importance of facts also loses its significance in favor of extensive use of extreme negative emotions, accompanied by the spread of false information. Indeed, discussing government policy in war and conflict management is possible and necessary. Still, such discussion should not allow for denying the existence of the State of Israel or harming the sense of security of Israeli and Jewish students and students at large .  The right to free speech, manifested in the protests, is vital, yet it is not a substitute for supporting or promoting terror and conduct that disrupts public order. As students from Iraq and Syria who attended my class claimed, although they were taught from childhood to hate Israel, their first encounter with an Israeli and the ability to have a dialogue and conversation even when disagreeing is a critical component that may influence extreme positions on both sides. In the coming years, the younger generation will take on decision-making roles, overseeing the relationship between Israel and the United States. Therefore, Israel would do well to prioritize its relationship with them through the establishment of a technological intelligence unit in the service of facts and digital accessibility, using, for example, artificial intelligence influencers and digital communities across various fields to spread information on a long and complex conflict that indeed cannot be summarized in a single digital post or story.  Thus, we can offer an alternative to those who have not decided and strengthen those concerned; perhaps we are unlikely to convince the extremists otherwise. The writer is a researcher, lecturer, and consultant in persuasion and behavioral design at Reichman University, and a member of the Devorah Forum. ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-05-06

On January 27, 1945, the gates of the opened, and multitudes of Jews faced a shattered world. They stood at the lowest point in history. Millions of families were destroyed, entire communities had become extinct, and extensive Jewish property was stolen and plundered. The survivors had every reason to lose hope, give up, and flee. But they did exactly the opposite. At this lowest point they found the best opportunity for rebirth – the establishment of the State of Israel. Survivors rebuilt their families and communities, and established the Jewish state. Once again, they accumulated assets by developing businesses and thriving companies. The question “Can we rise from destruction?” is not a historical question. It is still valid now and is directed to each of us today as well. More than seven months ago Israel suffered a barbaric attack when Hamas terrorists invaded Israel’s southern communities. For one day we experienced destruction unlike anything which has occurred in the last 80 years. Since October 7, the Jewish people have been shaken by a bloody war, in their country, their homeland.The former concentration camp Auschwitz (credit: KACPER PEMPEL / REUTERS) The Hamas terrorists from Gaza wanted to transform Kibbutz Be’eri into Babyn Yar, Ofakim into Birkenau, and Kfar Aza into Kishinev. They were armed not only with weapons, but with cameras as well. For what purpose? To preserve the moment in which Jews are once again defenseless. To show the whole world the antisemitic caricature of the helpless Jew. They wanted to prove that Jews in their country are no different than the Jews during 2,000 years of exile – persecuted, weak, begging for their lives. We suffered a drastic blow, seared in blood and fire in our personal and national memories. But despite the fear and shock, we recovered and rose up again. We are in our country. Our soldiers are fighting valiantly to protect us. THIS YEAR’S March of the Living at Auschwitz-Birkenau includes several major events in Zionist history. We are commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Holocaust of the Hungarian Jews, together with the 120th anniversary of the death of , who envisioned the establishment of the Jewish state – all this during this last terrible year for the Jewish people. What, in fact, was Herzl’s vision? What did he foresee? He saw the antisemitism sweeping over France and Europe in his times. A dark wave of Jew-hatred of which we are painfully reminded by the growing antisemitism on campuses in the United States, Europe, and many other parts of the world, where Jews are once again feeling the bitter taste of antisemitism. Herzl foresaw the pogroms, but also realized that a national homeland for the Jewish people is the only assurance against persecution. Our future in the Diaspora is unclear, but our future in a country of our own is ensured. And now, we have the choice of which story to tell: the story of pogroms or the story of rebirth. Whether we remain in what we were or move on to what we can become. I am sure of the answer. The fathers of Zionism knew the answer. Herzl knew the answer. With this vision he founded the Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund at the Fifth Zionist Congress in 1901. He knew we must build a strong national home for the Jewish People. He understood that our rebirth is based on sovereignty over the Land of Israel. That the security of Jews the world over depends on our rebirth. KKL-JNF is a partner in the every year and waves the flag of rebirth. It reminds all of us that the Jewish story is also a story of rebirth, of rebuilding the Jewish national homeland after the pogroms and the Holocaust. In the face of growing antisemitism, in the face of murderous terrorism, we are the response to evil. Jewish history is replete with suffering and terror: the destruction of the Temple, the expulsion of the Jews from Spain, the Crusades, and the Holocaust. But our history is not the history of the pogroms, it is the history of the rebirths. The history of the Jewish people is not a series of expulsions and terror, it is a succession of rebirths following these events, it is rising from the ashes, being able to see the present, and hope for a better future. The Jewish Zionist story is a story of rebirth. The writer is the KKL-JNF world chairwoman. ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-05-05

The State of Israel must make a critical decision - whether to move forward with a prisoner swap deal with Hamas or enter a . The military commentator of Yediot Aharonot, Avi Issacharoff, discussed the topic this morning with Udi Segal and Tal Shalev on 103FM radio. Issacharoff stated, "I can't be too optimistic. There are all sorts of considerations for why Sinwar might say yes. I think, ultimately, the fact that Hamas's leadership is constantly wavering in demands for a complete cessation of hostilities is a constant obstacle. Sinwar is no longer acting entirely based on known rational considerations but rather as a historical leader who believes that he will save not only the Palestinians but the entire Muslim world. Therefore, despite the great temptation here, I don't see him rushing to end this conflict. He understands the implications for Netanyahu's government." Issacharoff further clarified that "on the other hand, Sinwar still has his considerations. He's looking not only at the Israeli scene but also at the Arab, Palestinian, Muslim scene. He said himself that he wants to see the Israelis say they surrender. Therefore, he may not rush to jump into this deal. There is a process here that we expect to end within a few days or weeks; it's natural, and if I were one of the f, I would want it within a few hours. But we must remember that the Shalit deal was closed after five years, and here we talk about seven months." Avi Yisascharoff (credit: PRIVATE PICTURE) "We need some time because the has taken command of the event. The Qatari mediator stepped back, and the Egyptian one entered the picture and brought a deal, and now both sides are discussing it. There is no doubt that the entrance of the Egyptian mediator has changed something here. For months, we heard propaganda from all directions that only the Qataris can mediate, and now we see that the Egyptians also can," Issacharoff emphasized. In conclusion, Issacharoff said that "the Qataris are invested in Hamas too much. The Egyptians, of course, can escalate the tone, and they can tell Israel to enter Rafah. This is currently the big ordeal allegedly threatening Hamas, and it's not even that big. They are waving Rafah around as if it's the tool that will end the war and bring absolute victory - let's be honest, it won't end the war. If we don't come in with a plan for the day after Hamas is completely eliminated, nothing will change, even after Rafah." ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-05-05

Some would say that have never been as complex as they are currently. This past Wednesday, the Turkish Foreign Minister announced that his country has decided to join South Africa's lawsuit at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, which accuses Israel of genocide. Also, the current chairman of Hamas’s political bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, left Qatar and has been staying in Turkey for the past 12 days. Some believe that the leaders of Hamas are interested in establishing their new home base in Turkey. Further, on Tuesday, an attack was carried out in Jerusalem in which a security guard was injured by a Turkish tourist and later that day Esra Erdogan, the daughter of the President of Turkey, posted a tweet in which she welcomed the attack. There is no longer any doubt that Turkey has a hand in the conflict between Israel and Hamas. Dr. Hay Eytan Cohen Yanarocak, born and raised in Turkey, is an expert in politics and foreign relations of Turkey and Turkey-Israel relations and a researcher and activist at the Dayan Center at Tel Aviv University and explained this complicated situation in depth.  He explained that since the beginning of the war, we have seen unprecedented incitement in Turkey against the State of Israel. It has gone beyond any scale we have known to date and it has crossed the boundaries of legitimate criticism against any country. Unfortunately, it has also reached Dr. Yanarocak draws attention to the fact that the Turkish terrorist who arrived in Jerusalem is not "just a tourist", but came here on a religious mission. He points out that this is a person who served as an imam, a prayer leader of a mosque, in a settlement in the Turkish periphery. "Thanks to this delegation, he arrived here and obtained an entry visa from the Israeli embassy, probably in Ankara or from the Israeli consulate in Istanbul. I saw the photo of his passport, it was an ordinary tourist's passport," Dr. Yanarocak stated. Haniyeh and Erdogan (credit: Arab networks) In his eyes, this means that the terrorist enjoys the patronage of the Turkish Religious Affairs Authority which sent the delegation to Israel. Dr. Yanarocak explains that "they do it every year, they call it 'Umrah', the visit of the holy places outside of the Hajj season. They first arrive in Jerusalem, they continue to several other countries, including Mecca."  Additional information about the terrorist gathered from Turkish media sources reveals that he is an introvert, unlikable, and married with children. According to Dr. Yanarocak, the Turkish media apparently reported the incident in a balanced way. He explained, "At first they wrote that the Israeli police killed a Turkish citizen in Jerusalem. Then, as soon as the security camera footage was revealed, they simply changed the narrative and reported that the Turkish attacker was hit and killed by police officers." Erdogan's speech against Israel and the war in Gaza (credit: REUTERS) Dr. Yanarocak further explains that there were those on the Turkish streets who handed out sweets after the attack and that the Islamic media tried to make the terrorist a martyr. However, , he was criticized for attacking from behind and not trying to challenge the Israeli policeman properly, and that he therefore does not deserve to be considered a martyr. In response, Dr. Yanarocak stated that Israel is in the process of deterioration, because "for the first time, a Turkish tourist in the State of Israel is stabbed". Dr. Yanarocak clarifies that the group that received an entry visa is a group of clerics, civil servants on behalf of the Turkish state. "Ultimately, they are not considered problematic people. If Israel prevents clerics from entering Jerusalem, a new diplomatic crisis may occur. Turkey is in such a gray area. It's not the friendliest country in the world to Israel, nor is it openly hostile. The gray area, something in between, causes a headache for Israel." ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-05-05

Fifty-two Holocaust survivors have made aliyah throughout the past year, the Aliyah and Absorption Ministry revealed on Sunday on the eve Of the 52, four made aliya despite the country being launched into Russian aliyah saw a record 26 Holocaust survivors come to Israel throughout the past year, while ten were from Ukraine, five from France, four from the US, three from Germany, and a handful from Venezuela, Brazil, Italy, and Canada. The four Holocaust survivors who made aliyah since October 7 were from either Russia or the US. Since 1989, 73,816 Holocaust survivors have arrived in Israel from around the world, according to Aliyah and Absorption Minister Ofir Sofer. ALIYAH AND INTEGRATION Minister Ofir Sofer (credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST) "We welcome the fact that precisely in these years, despite the difficulty and because of their age, they choose to come to our national home," he said. "I see their arrival in Israel as a 'closed circle' and a victory for them and for the Jewish people." The aliyah of Holocaust survivors is no ordinary occurrence in the State of Israel, and the Aliyah and Absorption Ministry handles such cases accordingly. As such, Holocaust survivors who make aliyah - or immigrate to Israel - receive special support, including eligibility for a one-year advancement in the waiting list for public housing, financial grants, and assistance. Sofer said that this year when highlighting Holocaust Remembrance Day amid the Israel-Hamas War, we have seen proof that "Even 79 years after the end of the terrible Holocaust, there are many who wish to destroy us." He continued, "During the commemoration of the memory of our brothers and sisters - the six million who were murdered on European soil just for being Jews - we remember what is incumbent upon us: To secure the future of the Jewish people, to protect our country and to quickly return the hostages to their homes." ...قراءة المزيد

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