Analysis

Accompanied by a large delegation of top US business leaders, President Donald Trump arrived in China for a historic visit. On the agenda are all the explosive issues between the two giants. The key question: Will this visit pave the way to reopening the Strait of Hormuz and ending the war with Iran?

In recent years, Israel has grown accustomed to mediators such as Qatar, Oman, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. So how did Pakistan suddenly find itself at center stage, influencing the war in Iran? And who is really pulling the strings in the giant Muslim state?

The Victory Day parade scheduled for this weekend has been scaled back over fears of a drone attack. Oil depots are burning at an unprecedented rate. Problems are piling up on the front, while on the home front, citizens are no longer afraid to criticize him openly. The skies are darkening over the Russian president, who appears to be losing his grip while also stepping up his security.

For China, the Middle East is merely background noise on the way to its main goal: Taiwan. In less than two weeks, Trump and Xi are set to meet in Beijing. What will China demand in exchange for help on Iran?

Erdogan is trying to establish himself as a mediator in a series of conflicts, including between Iran and the US, Pakistan and Afghanistan, as a means of projecting power. Now, he is now trying to replicate his success in the Gaza Strip in Lebanon. Ankara’s assistance to the Iranian regime is reflected not only in diplomatic initiatives, but also in economic aid through financial institutions.

Did Netanyahu persuade Trump to attack Iran? “That narrative rests on a mistaken assumption.” Did the Mossad assess that the regime could be toppled? In fact, it was the US war secretary who believed that more than anyone. Diplomatic and security sources tell Israel Hayom, in an exclusive investigation, what really happened in these decisive meetings. 

With Trump's return to the White House, the world understood: Everyone needs to look after themselves. In Europe, against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine and the Russian threat, defense spending has jumped at the fastest pace since 1953. In the Far East, Japan is moving away from pacifism and China is flexing its muscles. Israel, meanwhile, ranks third in the world in defense spending as a share of gross domestic product.

FPV drones have transformed warfare in Europe, bled the Russian military and turned entire cities into apocalyptic hunting grounds. The use of fiber-optic cables for navigation has made the “buzzing bomb” immune to electronic warfare. Hezbollah relied for years on its anti-tank missile array, but attrition in the war and the blocking of smuggling routes have led it to adopt the new weapon.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun may be willing to reach an agreement with Israel, but not for the reasons Israelis assume. Like other actors in the region, he understands that Israel cannot be defeated on the battlefield. But on the diplomatic front, Israel suffers from inconsistency and often ends up accepting US dictations. If Israel wants real peace, it must insist on addressing the roots of the conflict: Hezbollah's weapons, reforming the Lebanese army and dismantling the Palestinian camps in Lebanon.

Since Oct. 7, two opposing forces have been at work in Jordan. On one side: the strengthening of the Muslim Brotherhood and calls to scrap the peace treaty with Israel. On the other: criticism of Iran and growing suspicion toward Gazans. How does the royal court plan to resolve the paradox?