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Israel moves defense headquarters to Jerusalem in major strategic shift

adin — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 16:10:56 +0000

Under a framework agreement signed Monday between the Israeli Defense Ministry and the Jerusalem Municipality, officials approved a series of significant measures aimed at transforming the capital into a comprehensive military hub in the coming years. The initiative is part of a broader development plan for the city's entrance district that has advanced in recent years.

The agreement established plans for creating a "defense establishment branch" based in a 30-story tower that will house all Israeli defense bodies. The building will include dedicated offices for Israeli defense ministers and IDF chiefs of staff, alongside accommodation for additional security agencies.

The structure will also contain a complex for the Directorate of Defense Research & Development, which project officials hope will attract young high-tech professionals to Jerusalem, thereby contributing to the city's economy.

Beyond this, the bodies agreed to relocate the recruitment office currently known to Jerusalemites on Rashi Street to an "alternative location" to conduct a "facelift" and adapt it to current and future needs. In practice, sources familiar with the matter indicate the Jerusalem office will be moved to Givat HaTahmoshet, where recruits board buses to the induction chain at Tel Hashomer Base on their recruitment day.

The Kirya base and Azrieli Towers in Tel Aviv, Israel (Photo: Yehoshua Yosef)

The current Jerusalem office is located near the headquarters of extremist groups that occasionally demonstrate outside it, and it will be interesting to see whether demonstrations will also take place at the new location.

Officials also decided to transfer military colleges to the capital and to establish housing projects for career soldiers who will serve in the ambitious tower, which will serve them and their family members. Alongside this, construction of an IDF museum will begin in the near future, adjacent to Jerusalem's botanical garden.

"The defense establishment is declaring today in the clearest way that Jerusalem is becoming home to central areas of our activity," Defense Minister Israel Katz stated. Following him, Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion hinted at projects on the agenda in the capital, which he called part of a "defense hub."

"This is a significant moment that will strengthen Jerusalem and position it at the forefront of national security. Jerusalem will be a pillar and central anchor for the State of Israel's defense establishment. The crown jewel is in the business district at the city entrance, where an advanced defense hub will be established that will concentrate the headquarters of all defense establishment bodies in the State of Israel," Lion said.

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Last Hamas hostage marks 800 days in captivity as family battles for his return

adin — Sun, 14 Dec 2025 07:00:13 +0000

800 days. That's how long it has been since Staff Sgt. Ran Gvili was kidnapped in Gaza. He remains the last combat hostage held by Hamas, and his family in Meitar has not lost hope for even a moment. "The faith in Rani's return hasn't faded," his parents, Talik and Itzik, said. "We're certain he'll still come back."

Ran's story of heroism began on the morning of October 7. He was at his home in Mitar on medical leave, with a broken shoulder and scheduled for surgery two days later, but he didn't hesitate for a moment when the attack began. "He left the house on his own initiative, dressed in uniform and a vest," his father, Itzik, said. "He wouldn't let his friends fight alone."

Ran drove out, equipped himself, and continued to the Gaza border region. He joined Lt. Col. Guy Madar, and together they operated near Kibbutz Alumim. The two stopped at the gas station at Sa'ad Junction, where they helped evacuate and rescue dozens of survivors from the Nova Festival, under fire and mortal danger.

Eliminated 14 terrorists, and was kidnapped

On his way to Alumim, Ran encountered a heavy ambush that included RPG fire. He was seriously wounded in his hand and leg, but continued fighting despite the injury. He treated himself using a tourniquet and took cover near a tree. Despite his condition, he engaged in close combat and eliminated 14 terrorists. Ran sent his friends warning messages with his location, and the last message was received around 11:00 AM. After his ammunition ran out, he was kidnapped while seriously wounded.

His friends from the Yasam (Israel Police Special Patrol Unit) who fought with him that day in Alumim continue to come to the family's rallies. "These are the guys who fought with Rani," Itzik said with pride. "They don't abandon him."

Two weeks later, the family received official confirmation of the kidnapping, along with a difficult photo showing Ran lying on a motorcycle in Gaza, wounded and captive in the hands of terrorists. "There's no other indication," the parents said. "Not from other hostages, not from stories. Rani was kidnapped alone."

The last picture Ran Gvili took on Oct. 7, 2023 (Photo: Courtesy)

Ran's heroism didn't begin on October 7. It started years earlier, at age 18, with an injury that defied all medical logic. In a fall during a training accident, he broke his femur – "one of the hardest bones to break," Talik said – but simply got up and walked out on his feet. At the hospital, he told his father it was "a small sprain." After a long surgery, the doctor announced that rehabilitation would take more than a year, and Ran would never return to being a combat soldier.

"Itzik and I breathed a sigh of relief," Talik admitted. But then Ran opened his eyes. "Listen very carefully," he told the doctor, "I'm returning to the same place I left off within four months, and you're going to sign off on it." The doctor didn't believe him. But four months later, after hours upon hours of physical therapy, he returned to service. And the doctor approved.

A chilling detail has emerged in recent months. In the months before his kidnapping, Ran watched a series about the Syrian captives. "He knew them by name," his mother described. His brother asked why he was watching something so sad, and Ran answered, "What do you understand? These are Israel's heroes!" That sentence now takes on an almost prophetic meaning. He knew the stories and became a hero himself, who an entire nation is waiting for.

"We were left alone, but not really"

The struggle to bring him home is being conducted almost entirely by the family alone. "There's no money," they said. "The Hostages and Missing Families Forum couldn't continue raising funds to continue the rally at the square, so we opened a crowdfunding campaign. It's not our thing. It's purely to continue the public struggle." The change in protest format, the move to Saturday night rallies in Meitar and at the Kashtot Junction – all of these didn't stem from choice but from necessity.

"We were left alone as we understand it, but not alone really – alone with you," Itzik said at the rally. "It's not so alone, it's together. I wish this were the last Saturday."

"Bringing Rani back is a consensus; everyone knows he needs to come home," the family said. "We need you now more than ever to make it clear to the world that we're not moving to any phase until Rani returns."

And the next phase is what frightens them more than anything – the transition to "phase 2" of the deal, whether under American pressure or for security reasons. "There's concern," Talik admitted. "We understand that the Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Hamas are working with us, and the Americans too. Working on Donald Trump. They're dragging out time. That's their interest. And the world must wake up."

"He wouldn't let his friends fight alone." Ran Gvili (Photo: Courtesy)

The family doesn't hide the fear of the scenario that has hovered over them since day one. They hear the comparison to Ron Arad or Hadar Goldin a lot. "It's something we're afraid of without wanting to be," Talik said. "It's automatic; it's a fear that exists. We know the history."

At the same time, they emphasize that Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad organizations' claim that they "don't know where he is" simply doesn't make sense. "What, did they kidnap a cat and throw it to the bottom of a garbage bin?" they asked. "He's a soldier in uniform, he fought in the middle of a battle. It doesn't make sense that they don't know where he is. We know they're hiding him, and hiding him well."

And facing the doubt that settles in, they repeat their faith. "We haven't received a sign that he's alive from the IDF, and also no sign that he's not. He didn't disappear."

Ran, in the last Hanukkah he spent with the family, was himself, his smile, his altruism, his historical knowledge, and his good heart. "He's someone who loves people, someone who goes out first to protect and comes out last, the gatherer of everyone," the parents said.

"Rani is my son, but he's everyone's child," Itzik said. And now, they said, it's our turn to be his gatherer. "We need to unite in this message. We won't be able to recover – not us as a family and not the state – until this circle is closed. He went out to protect us, and now it's our turn to protect him. May we have a great miracle."

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'When we said 'everyone,' we meant every single one'

adin — Tue, 09 Dec 2025 16:00:13 +0000

When Adam Boehler, one of the figures closest to the decision-making circles in the current Trump administration and a member of the small team that helped advance the Abraham Accords, returned to administration at the beginning of the year, he knew he was assuming a heavy responsibility. His role – the president's special envoy for hostage affairs – is a title that might suggest diplomacy and formal meetings, but in practice, it is one of the few positions in Washington where the title is not a metaphor, but a mission that can determine life or death. Every word, every decision, every conversation can affect the fate of a person held in a prison or a dark basement somewhere in the world. The role took on an even more personal and complex meaning for him after October 7, the day Israel and he, as an American Jew, entered an entirely new reality.

According to Boehler, his path to this role was not planned. It began years earlier, during a meeting between the first Trump administration and Chinese President Xi Jinping. "I was sitting next to Robert O'Brien," Boehler recalls, "and I watched him ask the president of China to deliver two Bibles to two Chinese-American citizens being held captive in the country. I asked what this was about." O'Brien, who at the time served as the hostage envoy before becoming National Security Advisor, told him about the job. "Here was something that could have a real impact on people's lives, make a huge difference. It left an impression on me," Boehler says.

After four years in which, in his words, "US foreign policy, built painstakingly during the first Trump administration, steadily deteriorated under the Biden administration," the moment arrived when Trump again won the presidency. "It was a moment of great relief," he recounts. Shortly before the election, he found himself on a flight to the Republican National Convention (RNC). Sitting next to him was Morgan Ortagus, the former State Department spokesperson and now the deputy presidential envoy for the Middle East. "Morgan asked me what I wanted to do in the second term. I told her honestly that I hadn't thought about it. Then she said: 'Have you ever considered SPEHA?' I didn't even know that was the official name of O'Brien's job."

President Donald Trump's Special Envoy for Hostage Response, Adam Boehler, at Hostage Square in Tel Aviv, Israel, on May 13, 2025 (Photo: Yehoshua Yosef)

When the plane landed, he ran into O'Brien himself. "I asked him what he thought of me for such a role. He looked at me and said: 'That's a great idea. You already have the relationships – it's perfect for you.' As if it was something that was simply meant to be." Not long after, he sat with President Trump. "The president asked: 'What do you think about doing something broad in the Middle East, or something like that?'" Boehler recalls. "I answered that we already have excellent people working on the Middle East, and that the hostage issue is one of the most meaningful we have, because there are many Americans, many allies, and in this case Israelis as well, in captivity." The president liked the response. "'If that's what you want, no problem, I also think it's really important,' he said. And that was that."

He describes October 7 as a formative moment for him. "For some reason, I was awake late that night and saw the initial reports before anyone understood how terrible it was. I stayed up all night as things unfolded. Seeing October 7 as an American, as a Jew, it was devastating," he says plainly. "I felt frustrated, because I didn't think – and still don't think – that this would have happened under President Trump. When he won again, I couldn't sleep because I was so happy. I felt that finally we were going to do something about this. I didn't feel we were aggressive enough under the previous administration."

Boehler noted that during his meetings with the president, it was made clear that his mission would be far broader than the formal job description, which focuses on recovering Americans. "The president told me that all Israelis are included in my mandate," he says. "When I arrived for my first visit, I met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Each time I promised him that we would not stop until everyone was home." He adds: "This was deeply important to me, because for us, in the broad sense, as Jews – seeing what happened, growing up with the memory of what happened to us in the Shoah [the Holocaust], and then seeing a second Shoah… we must ensure that we act, that we don't forget the first, and now the second, and that from this pain some good may ultimately emerge," he says, referring to the regional changes underway in the Middle East as a result of the war, a region he describes as "completely transformed."

Former hostage Edan Alexander (C), along with his mother (L) and US President Donald Trump (R) at the White House (Photo: White House)

Several months into his role, one move he took triggered a major storm: a direct meeting with Hamas' negotiating team. In Israel, the step drew sharp criticism. "There was concern that we would offer something or make a deal without the Israelis," Boehler says, but insists on setting the record straight. "It's important to understand: nothing like this happens on my own authority," he emphasizes. "These things were widely coordinated with the White House." As for any possibility of bypassing Israel, he is unequivocal: "That is something we would never do. I don't make deals with currency. It was an Israeli decision what to offer." Asked what led him to take such a bold, unusual step, he answers without hesitation: "Time is a killer for hostages. When you operate only through intermediaries, it can take longer. While I'm sitting here, I'm thinking about hostages trapped somewhere, and it weighs on you. Talking to anyone, even Hamas, speeds up things."

It is worth mentioning that in later rounds of negotiations with Hamas, particularly the most recent one that produced a ceasefire and the return of the living and deceased hostages, both the President's Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff and the president's close confidant and son-in-law Jared Kushner also engaged in direct contacts with the terror group's representatives.

When asked how he felt as a Jew meeting with Hamas operatives, Boehler said: "In my meetings with Hamas, or any other terrorist organization, I always remember that I am not there in a personal capacity, but representing my country. I try to stay focused on the goal, which is to secure the release of the hostages as soon as possible and ensure that they are never taken again. It also helps me emotionally to separate myself a bit; otherwise, I think I would be angry and upset all the time."

Hamas terrorists stand guard during the handover of three Israeli hostages to Red Cross representatives in Al Nuseirat refugee camp, central Gaza Strip, February 22, 2025 (Photo: Mohammed Saber/EPA)

Boehler recounts how he kept a photo of one hostage, Edan Alexander, inside his notebook. "For me, it was a reminder that something could happen any day." He says the meeting with Hamas revealed something essential: "We wanted to understand what Hamas really wanted. And then it became clear in the talks that there was a possibility of a broad 'all-for-all' deal. People said it was impossible. But they weren't doing the math based on the reality that the president meant what he said. They weren't doing the math of the president and Bibi [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu] having a strong view."

Regarding media claims at the time that the Gaza portfolio was taken away from him after the controversy, Boehler rejects them outright. "Those reports are wrong for two reasons: first, I never held the 'Gaza file' to begin with. Second, my portfolio is across the board, hostage affairs, and I continue working on bringing American and allied hostages home."

But Boehler prefers to focus on the results: first and foremost, the release of Edan Alexander. "It was a joint achievement of many: myself, Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, and other administration officials. And I was proud to be there, because when someone is freed, it is deeply moving." He describes the moments of a hostage's release as unlike anything else. He recalls being on the helicopter that brought Alexander back to Israel and describes a phenomenon he saw with him and with others who emerged from captivity: at first, their faces "do not look good," but within minutes of being in American hands, they suddenly come back to life." Boehler explains that this pattern repeated itself again and again: "We brought home 160 Americans and allies, and it's almost always the same. It's like a drug. You feel the presence of God in those moments."

He shares other experiences as well. "On Trump's inauguration day, we brought two people home from Afghanistan. I stood with the family of one of them at the inauguration ceremony; they were right behind the president," he says. "Later, around 11:30 p.m., we drove to their house. We woke up the wife and kids. I told them their father was in American hands, and then I connected them by phone. Seeing that moment, that gives you faith."

Another story he shares with emotion is that of Elizabeth Tsurkov, the Israeli-Russian researcher kidnapped and held for two and a half years by Kataib Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed terror group in Iraq. Unlike other cases, Boehler chose a completely different approach: a public, sharp, and rare confrontation with the Iraqi prime minister. "In my first conversation with him, I received niceties and diplomatic talk, but no real commitment," he says. "I don't accept that on behalf of the president of the United States. It's insulting to the president. So I told him that directly."

Israeli-Russian academic Elizabeth Tsurkov reunited with her family after her release from captivity on Sept. 11, 2025 (Photo: Yuval Yosef/GPO)

The Iraqi response was swift. "It was as if they said: 'Okay, we didn't realize you were this serious.' And then they began to act." Boehler stresses that in return for Tsurkov's release, "I gave them nothing. We told Iraq: 'Let's work together, this is a burden for you. Fix that burden and let us help you.' And to their credit, the Iraqis responded. Some countries don't, and then, as the United States, we decide how to act. Holding Americans and allies hostage is a tremendous burden. And for those who choose this path, there are real consequences."

As a result of the efforts, Iraq released not only Tsurkov but also the remains of another American held there for years. "Just like in Israel, it is deeply important for families that if a family member has died, they can receive their loved one's remains; it means a lot."

When asked how many Americans are still held hostage abroad, Boehler answers: "Dozens. In Afghanistan, Russia, Iran." But he remains ambitious: "We will bring them all home. We will continue applying pressure until every American is home."

The conversation returns to the Israeli hostages. Of the 251 kidnapped on October 7, one Israeli hostage remains: Ran Gvili, recognized as deceased, who has not yet been returned to Israel. Boehler is asked how optimistic he is about bringing him home. "When we said 'everyone,' we meant every single one," he says. "We are committed to that."

Regarding the day after in Gaza, Boehler expresses cautious optimism. "I don't think you could ask for anyone better than Kushner, Witkoff, and the team working there. The president is committed, and that gives me great confidence." He adds, "It's incredibly hard, but no one knows how to navigate difficult situations like Jared Kushner. Everyone said the Abraham Accords were impossible. He proved otherwise. When everybody always reverts back to all the history, he looks at situations with original eyes."

In closing, Boehler offers an introspective reflection on the meaning of the role he has taken on. "I've heard every story, and these are things that are hard to hear. I see the worst of humanity." Yet alongside the pain, he emphasizes the light he sees as well: "But I also see the best of humanity. It reminds you that there is good in the world. I have never seen anything like it."

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Al-Sharaa's Syria: Can Israel trust a former Jihadist leader?

adin — Mon, 08 Dec 2025 07:00:17 +0000

"I'm leaving for Europe next week," G., a resident of western Syria, revealed to Israel Hayom. The announcement devastated his father, though even he conceded there was little alternative. These remain perilous times, G. understands, with conditions capable of collapsing at any moment. Ordinary life continues – people work, maintain routines, and the security climate has improved somewhat. Yet danger pervades the atmosphere.

G. has spent recent days arranging his departure. Family members already established in his destination country have secured his entry. From his father's rural home, he transmits images of breathtaking terrain: verdant valleys, encircling peaks, rushing streams, dense woodlands, and modest Alawite sanctuaries crowned with pale stone domes. "These memorialize the pre-Ottoman Levant, before the 16th century," he explained. That ancient world has vanished irrevocably. Turkish influence, however, has returned. During an earlier conversation, he detailed how Turkish investors are acquiring Alawite properties, exploiting the community's vulnerable position.

The massacre of Alawites in Syria

Weeks ago, the Alawite population rallied behind Sheikh Razzal Razzal, a religious authority previously aligned with Assad's apparatus. Today, Syrian contacts inform Israel Hayom that he advocates normalizing ties with Israel. When times grow harsh, it seems no one enjoys the luxury of selective partnerships.

Demonstrations against Ahmed al-Sharaa centered on demands for Syrian federalization – greater regional autonomy. Unlike previous crackdowns, regime forces initially refrained from violent suppression of protesters. The violence came later, after darkness fell, delivered by neighborhood enforcers.

Reaping the PR harvest

"Regime operatives instructed Sunni Muslims to assault Alawite districts in Latakia," G. detailed. "They hurled stones, attempted arson against residences and automobiles. Palestinian militants living in Syria participated in these raids. The Palestinian quarter teems with criminals and gangs. Assad's government routinely deployed them against opponents. The current administration employs identical tactics. They shattered storefronts, ransacked shops, torched vehicles."

Fabricated social media profiles emerged during the unrest, alleging Iranian backing for Sheikh Razzal Razzal. Competing narratives link him instead to Israel and the United Arab Emirates. None of these assertions has been verified – pure speculation at this stage – though Reuters documented how former Assad cronies are channeling millions from Russian sanctuary to destabilize Syria and compete for Alawite leadership. Billionaire Rami Makhlouf leads this faction, a onetime Assad intimate who broke with the regime in recent years. According to Reuters, he envisions himself as a redemptive figure for the community.

Al-Sharaa (previously Abu Mohammad al-Julani), meanwhile, capitalizes on Qatar's public relations offensive. His White House visit – unprecedented for any Syrian head of state – delivered the primary objective: eliminating the majority of sanctions choking his country. Trump went further, presenting him a personal commendation declaring he will prove "a great leader."

Simultaneously, he commands near-universal Sunni endorsement. Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and additional powers have staked everything on his success. Minority massacres? Compromised al-Qaida connections? Such inconveniences disappear beneath the diplomatic carpet, dismissed as trivial aberrations.

President Donald Trump (L) shakes hands with Syria's President Ahmad al-Sharaa, at the White House in Washington, Monday, Nov. 10, 2025 (Photo: AP)

Does al-Sharaa benefit Jews?

Internal regime tensions have nonetheless surfaced regarding al-Sharaa's trajectory. Hardline Islamist factions oppose any Israeli accommodation, including territorial concessions in southern Syria occupied since December. From their theological perspective, Jews and other religious communities constitute apostates.

Furthermore, his security architecture remains fragile. A former Syrian military officer told the Syrian Center for Human Rights: "Syria's defensive capabilities are profoundly inadequate. No functioning regular forces exist, nor advanced armaments. The previous government neglected this dimension entirely – Syria lacks even a single operational helicopter. HTS (Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham) perpetuated this decay, dismantling what remained of the military. The justification claimed reconstruction was necessary to attract investment and shelter Syrians exhausted by warfare and Israeli bombardment."

This backdrop fuels widespread skepticism about long-term agreements with al-Sharaa's administration. "Jihadist doctrine includes 'tamkin,'" G. told Israel Hayom. "It permits concessions during vulnerability – but as strength accumulates, aggression follows. Consequently, when negotiating with Islamists without comprehending their strategic framework, refrain entirely."

"Al-Sharaa craves power retention," he elaborated. "Regarding his personal interests, he's profoundly cynical. He covets authority, wealth, and dominion over Muslims. He'll sacrifice any principle to maintain control. Yet this transcends individual character – it's systemic. It's embedded in educational curricula, ingrained in transformed thinking patterns. They've grown increasingly radical, increasingly rigid.

"The fundamental question persists: Can future arrangements with a Jihadist government provide security? What about extended timelines? I harbor serious doubts. I lived in Damascus before relocating to the coastal region. Their ideology cannot accommodate Jewish sovereignty in Jerusalem. They demand its liberation from Jews. I comprehend Israel might pursue security arrangements driven by strategic imperatives. But what about the future?"

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Adams urges Netanyahu to attend New York inauguration

omrif — Sun, 16 Nov 2025 17:21:04 +0000

New York City's outgoing mayor, Eric Adams, is urging Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to come to the city despite Zohran Mamdani's intention to arrest him.

Speaking while visiting Israel in recent days, Adams said in a special interview with Israel Hayom: "I believe the prime minister should visit the city. I think he should start with the inauguration ceremony of Mamdani in the presence of the City Council on January 1 to send a strong message to the largest Jewish community outside Israel. He needs to make clear to the entire community that he will continue visiting the city as often as possible, and he should begin on January 1."

Adams arrived in Israel for a farewell visit after leaving an office he had held since January 2022. He did not run directly against Zohran Mamdani, withdrawing from the race earlier in order to bolster Andrew Cuomo's chances. That move failed and Mamdani, who took explicit antisemitic positions, ultimately won. Adams, who strengthened ties between New York and Israel during his four years in office and enjoyed strong support from the Jewish community, made clear in the phone interview that he intends to continue along the same path.

Anti-Israel demonstration in New York City. Photo: GettyImages

What future do you see for ties between New York and Israel in the coming years?

"I think many of us are disappointed by the election results," Adams said. "But we must not in any way allow the energy coming from the victory of the Democratic Socialists of America and Zohran to do anything that damages the atmosphere for Jewish New Yorkers or the relationship between Israel and the city. Mamdani has already declared that he intends to advance several initiatives such as canceling the IRA definition of antisemitism as well as the possibility that he will shut down our Office for the Prevention of Antisemitism."

Zohran Mamdani. Photo: AFP

Adams added: "In response, we will call on New Yorkers to stand up and declare clearly that hatred has no place in our city. We will remain vigilant. I will no longer be mayor, but I am not going anywhere. I intend to continue the work I have done for many years surrounding issues of hate in general and antisemitism in particular."

How will New York be affected if he does what he says he will do, such as severing all ties with Israel and with Israeli institutions like the Technion, which has a branch in New York?

"Mayor, not emperor", Adams said. "He must work with additional government authorities to implement many of the decisions and policies he has announced. As far as I understand, the investment comptroller has made clear he does not intend to withdraw our pension funds from Israeli companies or funds. Other members of Mamdani's administration do not support these moves. He will therefore have to navigate the role of mayor while coordinating with other layers of government.

Pro-Israel demonstration in New York City. Photo: AFP

What concerns Adams even more is the atmosphere Mamdani may create as mayor. "Does a mayor create an environment where one group is treated differently from others? Will he ignore the annual Israel Parade? Will he treat certain New Yorkers, or their way of life, differently? To that I say no. That is not New York. We must stand up and ensure that does not happen."

In this context, what should Israel and the Jewish community in New York do in response to Mamdani? Some Jews say they will leave the city. Some are buying weapons. Should the Jewish community consider leaving?

"History has not been kind when it comes to attacks on the Jewish people, from the days of Moses to what we saw in Spain under Christopher Columbus, to the ghettos in Rome and Nazi Germany", Adams said, delivering a pointed message. "I think the time has come to say we are not going to run. We are going to fight. This must be a generation that confronts hatred. I am asking New Yorkers to join me as I take a firm stand and declare that we will not surrender to hate. And I am asking all Jewish New Yorkers to do the same."

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Boris Johnson slams British gov: 'They changed direction because of Muslim voters'

omrif — Fri, 07 Nov 2025 08:35:29 +0000

Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who led the Conservative Party from 2019 to 2022, has never been afraid to speak his mind. So it's no surprise that at a time when many European leaders are steering clear of pro-Israel events for fear of political backlash, Johnson is entirely unfazed.

On Monday, he received the King David Award from the European Jewish Association (EJA), led by Rabbi Menachem Margolin, during a conference in Krakow titled "Securing a Future Against Hate and Incitement." In an interview with Israel Hayom, Johnson did not hold back his criticism of the British government, attacked the BBC for its anti-Israel coverage, and explained why the UK's recognition of a Palestinian state is "a gift to Hamas."

Though not Jewish, Johnson takes pride in his partial Jewish heritage—his great-grandfather was Jewish—and said he is deeply troubled by the antisemitism spreading through London. "When I was mayor, I didn't allow national politics to spill into the local arena, into our streets," he said. "It's tragic that Jews now have to worry about their safety. The police should be the ones ensuring that, not the Jewish community itself."

The King David Award presented by the European Jewish Association (EJA) and Rabbi Menachem Margolin. Photo: Yoav Dudkevitch

He added, "I remember protests against Israel during my time as mayor, but it's disheartening to see middle-class professionals and intellectuals marching through London chanting 'From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free', a clear call for Israel's destruction. The antisemitic virus that has always existed in Europe is surfacing again."

Johnson said the situation could still be turned around but requires decisive leadership. "London's politicians must understand that this decline has to stop. The police need more authority and must act as effectively as they did when I was mayor."

He accused the current government of moral inconsistency: "Britain says it stands with Israel and is a close ally, yet it boycotts Israel by halting weapons transfers when Israel needs them most, and recognizes a Palestinian state unconditionally. I would never have done that. The government must choose a clear moral line when Israel is under threat and antisemitism is surging again."

Asked if he was affected by criticism over his outspoken support for Israel, Johnson said, "I don't care. I don't follow that criticism." He attributed his sympathy for Israel to personal experience. "I volunteered at a kibbutz in the 1980s when I was 18. It was tough, they worked me hard. I washed dishes, picked apples at four in the morning. I'm not surprised the kibbutz model failed economically, it was a kind of communism, but that experience deepened my love for Israel."

Johnson with Israel Hayom reporter Nissan Shtrauchler during the interview

While Johnson still supports the two-state solution, he voiced skepticism about its feasibility after Hamas's October 7 massacre. "I want the Palestinians to achieve what they desire eventually, but I feel sorry for them, they have been led catastrophically. Peace is possible, but they must first stop wanting to destroy Israel. Perhaps a kind of unarmed federal authority under international supervision could work, though that too may take time. Sadly, too many people profit from this conflict."

Johnson was especially critical of British media. "I don't understand why certain outlets, especially the BBC, have adopted such a hostile tone toward Israel. We all saw Hamas executing Palestinians right after the cease-fire began, so why isn't the BBC reporting that non-stop? We were told there was famine in Gaza, it wasn't true. We were told Israel deliberately targeted hospitals, that wasn't true either. Some of this anti-Israel sentiment is rooted in antisemitism."

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer against the backdrop of explosions in Gaza. Photo: Reuters, AP Reuters, AP

He added, "In the past, Israel had support from the political Left, including in Britain. It's sad that the Left has withdrawn its backing from Israel, the only democracy in the region. But today, the Labour Party depends on Muslim voters, and out of fear of offending them, it has changed direction."

Asked whether the government's stance contributes to the rise in antisemitism, Johnson replied, "Yes, I think it does. It creates a false moral equivalence. Recognizing a Palestinian state now is a reward to Hamas. They committed the worst atrocities against the Jewish people since the Holocaust, and then Britain, which claims to stand with Israel, unconditionally recognizes a Palestinian state."

"I still believe in two states for two peoples," he said, "but why recognize one now, when we don't even know its borders? The answer is that it's not about Palestinians or peace, it's about Labour's domestic politics. That's a mistake."

The company's logo at the entrance of the British Broadcasting Company BBC's headquarters in London, Britain, August 1, 2024 | Photo: Andy Rain/EPA EPA

Although Johnson continues to speak about politics, he said he has no intention of returning to public office. "I don't miss politics," said the former London mayor, foreign secretary, and prime minister. "I'm writing books and articles, I have four children under six, and I'm happy about the new kitchen we're building at home."

As the left-wing government's popularity collapses in the polls in favor of Nigel Farage's right-wing Reform UK Party, Johnson's own Conservative Party is also struggling. Still, he remains optimistic: "Absolutely. The Conservatives are Britain's oldest party, nearly 200 years old. We'll be back in the center of the stage. The party needs to reconnect with ordinary voters. I've always been a Conservative, and I always will be."

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UN excludes UNRWA from Gaza plan for cooperating with terrorism

miriw — Thu, 06 Nov 2025 15:00:04 +0000

The UN Security Council is expected to vote in the coming days on the resolution text that would formally end the war and shape Gaza's future. The complete and precise text has been obtained exclusively by Israel Hayom.

Article 7, the most critical from Israel's perspective, details for the first time the procedure for disarming Hamas and how this will be carried out. According to the text, the work will be done by Palestinian forces in coordination with Israel and Egypt, together with the ISF.

"The International Stabilization Force (ISF) will work with Israel and Egypt, without prejudice to existing agreements between them, alongside the recently trained and vetted Palestinian police force, to assist in securing border areas; to stabilize the security environment in Gaza by ensuring the disarmament of the Gaza Strip, including the destruction of military, terrorist and offensive infrastructure and preventing rehabilitation, as well as permanent disarmament of non-state armed groups," it said.

Israel's Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Danny Danon speaks during a Security Council meeting at the United Nations headquarters, Friday, Jan. 17, 2025 (Photo: AP /Yuki Iwamura) AP

Article 6 of the resolution emphasizes that Palestinian governance will be established in Gaza but will not include national or political components. "Establishment of transitional governance, including oversight and support of a non-political technocratic Palestinian committee of qualified Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, under the auspices of the Arab League, responsible for the day-to-day operation of civil service and administration in Gaza."

The resolution dedicates several articles to international support for Gaza and even calls on world nations to support the Strip's rehabilitation financially. However, UNRWA is not included among the organizations meant to rehabilitate Gaza, and the resolution makes clear that any organization whose personnel cooperate with terrorism will be removed.

"In cooperation with the Peace Council, through cooperating organizations, including the United Nations, the International Committee of the Red Cross and Red Crescent... such assistance shall be used solely for peaceful purposes and not diverted by armed groups, with any organization found to have misused it deemed ineligible to assist, whether now or in the future," Article 3 states.

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IDF launches war inquiry 2 years after ground operations start

ErezL — Tue, 28 Oct 2025 05:32:41 +0000

Two years after ground operations in the Gaza Strip began, the IDF has started examining the ground battles in both the south and north, Israel Hayom has learned. Chief of General Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir established a committee and teams to investigate the numerous battles fought over the past two years in Gaza and Lebanon, after the military lacked the opportunity to examine them during the war, particularly not in depth.

Maj. Gen. Dan Noiman, commander of the military colleges, will coordinate the investigations in a secondary appointment as head of the Training Division, the military's training branch. This body was once a General Staff unit of the IDF, later becoming the Torah, Assessment and Training Brigade in the Operations Division. Now this body is being reestablished under Maj. Gen. Noiman, who will coordinate investigations of the numerous battles from the past two years, working with the Torah, Assessment and Training Brigade and the Operations Division.

IDF troops in the Gaza Strip om September 2025 (IDF Spokesperson's Unit)

The military is currently building the roadmap for conducting battle investigations, with plans to establish investigation teams. Sources involved in the details told Israel Hayom this investigation process will last at least several months, given the many battles IDF forces fought over the past two years.

The IDF plans to identify the main and primary battles, focusing primarily on those, and ultimately distributing the investigations and their conclusions across the organization to build the force according to the findings and learn from the key lessons for the future.

Since the IDF spent the past two years primarily on the fighting itself, preparations for combat and force refreshment, the battles have not been investigated in an organized and in-depth manner until now. However, immediate and clear lessons were extracted on the spot and distributed among forces to improve fighting methods in real time and protect troops.

Maj. Gen. (res.) Sami Turgeman is expected to present the findings Tuesday to the Chief of General Staff from the committee reviewing the October 7 investigations and the preceding period. The committee team comprised senior reserve officers, including Maj. Gen. (res.) Eli Sharvit, former Navy commander, Maj. Gen. (res.) Amikam Norkin, former Air Force commander, Lt. Col. (res.) Talia Lankri, and Brig. Gen. (res.) Yuval Bazak, who lost his son, Sgt. Guy Bazak, on October 7.

IDF Chiefof Staff Eyal Zamir (background: Gaza Strip)

Lt. Gen. Zamir appointed Turgeman on his first day in the position to review war investigations conducted during the previous Chief of General Staff Herzi Halevi's tenure, aiming to classify investigations into three categories: sufficient investigations to be accepted, investigations requiring completions, and investigations to be opened and conducted anew.

After presenting the team's findings to the Chief of General Staff today, its conclusions will likely be presented to IDF General Staff members later this week, and subsequently to the public. It's important to note that Turgeman's team and Turgeman himself have no mandate to draw personal conclusions regarding officers – that exclusive mandate belongs to Lt. Gen. Zamir. However, the Chief of General Staff will likely consult with Turgeman regarding personal conclusions about officers.

Another committee Chief of General Staff Zamir has already announced establishing is a decorations committee. Currently, its members and head have not been appointed, and its operational mode has not been finalized, but it will be authorized to recommend to the Chief of General Staff and Minister of Defense on awarding decorations and citations – the Medal of Valor, the Medal of Courage, and the Medal of Distinguished Service. Since the state's establishment until today, only 40 courage citations have been awarded, the most recent given after the Yom Kippur War.

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Hamas uses underground prisons to crush rivals in Gaza

omrif — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 19:24:21 +0000

Not content with abusing Gazans and carrying out executions above ground, the terrorist organization Hamas has stepped up efforts to suppress internal opposition in Gaza by secretly detaining its rivals in underground prison facilities, Israel Hayom has learned.

Sources reveal that Gazans suspected of disloyalty or subversion are being taken to subterranean detention centers where they are held in inhumane conditions and are denied food, water, and sunlight. These Gazans are often arrested without notice or due process.

Since the current ceasefire began, Hamas has intensified its crackdown on dissent. Much of this campaign is being carried out by the recently established Sahem ("Arrow") Unit, which consists of around 1,000 armed terrorists. Many of these were transferred from the Nukhba forces of Hamas's military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades.

Hamas terrorists. Photo: EPA EPA

Earlier this week, according to a report in the Saudi-owned newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat, several Hamas field commanders operating in the central refugee camps were eliminated. These commanders had received orders to pursue members of rival clans in northern Gaza.

The Sahem Unit has also recruited members from Hamas's existing police apparatus and from the broader Gazan population, especially from Jabaliya, many of whom had no prior affiliation with Hamas. These recruits are used to assert control on the streets and crush domestic resistance, often through violent means, including executions and arrests.

On occasion, members of the Sahem Unit have carried out targeted assassinations of protest leaders from opposition circles in Gaza. In other instances, as shown in footage from Hamas-affiliated media, they have carried out public executions as a form of intimidation.

Officially, the Sahem Unit is tasked with tracking, monitoring, and neutralizing alleged collaborators and undercover agents in the Gaza Strip. It also plays a central role in quelling civil unrest and suppressing Hamas's political rivals.

Recently, Hamas-linked media reported operations against the militia of Yasser Abu Shabab. One such report included footage of armed operatives riding a black ATV, said to belong to the so-called "Popular Forces" militia.

Yasser Abu Shabab and Hamas terrorists. Photo: Reuters Reuters

On Tuesday, Hamas announced that members of the Popular Forces had been arrested and their military equipment confiscated. The militia has yet to issue a response.

The Sahem Unit was established in 2024 at the height of the ongoing war, by order of Hamas's "Interior Ministry." It was set up under the pretext of enhancing "internal security and stability" in Gaza. The unit was formed by pooling personnel from across the terrorist organization, including members of its various police branches, fighters from the military wing, individuals involved in its political framework, and ordinary Gazans.

In June, the IDF conducted an airstrike in the Sabra neighborhood, killing the unit's founder and commander, Zakr Ahmad Fuad Talib. Over the course of the war, Israel has eliminated more than 30 senior Hamas police and security figures.

Despite these losses, Hamas continues to fill leadership positions. On Sunday, Israel Hayom reported that the group recently appointed a new "interior minister" to oversee police operations and hunt down suspected collaborators. According to Palestinian sources, the role was given to Tayseer al-Batsh, a former Hamas police chief who was injured in an Israeli airstrike in 2014. His first mission: to lead a crackdown on the Doghmush clan in Gaza City.

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The Trump effect: US diplomat reveals timeline of Saudi-Israel deal

ErezL — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 12:22:14 +0000

"Contacts between Israel and Saudi Arabia regarding normalization have never ceased, though the process remains gradual and deliberate." This assessment comes from Dr. Nirit Ofir, a Middle East expert and lecturer at Reichman University.

Ofir understands the Saudis perhaps better than any other Israeli. She has facilitated numerous achievements, including bringing Israeli teams to Saudi Arabia's Dakar Rally in 2021, brokering various deals between Israeli and Saudi companies, and becoming the first Israeli to lecture at a public Saudi conference in September 2023, when normalization appeared imminent.

Here is another assessment: Within the coming year, likely before Israel's elections, substantial rapprochement between Israel and Saudi Arabia will occur – perhaps not full Abraham Accords membership, but at minimum a significant political-economic development. A senior US diplomat estimates and assures in conversation with Israel Hayom, "This isn't a matter of gambling [on it happening], it's geopolitics and economic interests – what should have happened long ago will occur shortly."

What drives Saudi interest? Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's Vision 2030 fulfillment integrates closely with business, technological, and security relationships with Israel. The vision incorporates technological development and advancement in which Israel already participates in areas including cyber defense, fintech, and additional sectors.

Furthermore, bin Salman, who favors mega-projects involving enormous monetary figures, strongly identifies with President Donald Trump's mega deal, the grand Middle East plan, and intends to integrate thoroughly into what should transpire here. The project focuses extensively on shortening commercial routes from the East, Indo-China to Europe, and potentially oil and gas pipelines en route. Regarding security, MBS seeks an agreement constituting a defense alliance with the US and through it with Israel, protecting his nation from Iran and its proxies, including the Houthis.

US President Donald Trump (L) speaks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, in Jerusalem on October 13, 2025 (Evelyn Hockstein / POOL / AFP)

The security dimension was demonstrated conversely through Saudi assistance to Israel during the June war with Iran. As we revealed in our Israel Hayom report, Saudi military helicopters intercepted Iranian drones en route to Israel.

This represents exactly what Iran and its proxies, including Hamas, attempt to prevent. An intelligence-exposed document from Hamas leadership revealed this was one of Hamas' declared objectives in launching the October 7 massacre.

Among Hamas' (and Iran's) declared war objectives was torpedoing Saudi Arabia's Abraham Accords entry and normalization with Israel. This objective was essentially achieved while a Democratic administration unable to handle the situation's complexity.

Long and complicated, yet possible

With Donald Trump's re-entry as the Abraham Accords' architect into the White House, this possibility returned to consideration, though the road remains lengthy and complex. Recently, the American president reiterated hearing willingness and desire from senior Saudis to join the Abraham Accords. Trump characteristically adds, correctly, that Saudi entry will pave the way for additional Arab and Muslim nations.

Throughout 2023, direct contacts occurred between Saudi Arabia and Israel, including conversations between Prime Minister Netanyahu and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. In September, contacts reached near maturation, and Netanyahu's UN General Assembly speech discussing the vision for the developing Middle East and building alliances was broadcast initially on Saudi television.

The war delayed the process, although beneath the surface contacts have been maintained and continue at multiple levels. The Saudis expressed shock at the massacre while, consistent with Middle Eastern Arab society sentiment, sharpened discourse toward Israel during the war, and their political process demands intensified. Trump's plan addresses this and removes obstacles to progress in this direction.

The car carrying US President Donald Trump is pictured between Saudi honor guards on horses carrying U.S. and Saudi flags, during a welcoming ceremony at the Royal Court in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, May 13, 2025 (Saudi Press Agency/Reuters)

"The United Arab Emirates is Israel's genuine Arab friend, demonstrated during the most difficult time, wartime," a senior Israeli official maintaining contact with the Gulf country for many years tells us.

The official recalls that the sole international companies that continued flights to Israel throughout the war were Emirati ones, and the UAE's sharp condemnation of the October 7 massacre and Hamas generally. The UAE, alongside Saudi Arabia, maintain a firm position against Hamas, arguing that Gaza rehabilitation is impossible while it exists. Nevertheless, they finance numerous aid operations to Gazans, effectively since the war's beginning.

The Emiratis leveraged positive connections in Israel to introduce aid into displaced persons camps, establishing clinics and field hospitals. Now they constitute the dominant state in establishing humanitarian spaces in IDF-controlled territories, including constructing clinic buildings, schools, and electricity, water, and sewage infrastructure. They initiated and funded establishing a water pipeline from the Egyptian side to southern Strip residents.

The Iranian Foreign Minister shows Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud (R) greeting Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi during their meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, 10 May 2025 (EPA/IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER)

Like the Saudis, they also perceive the promising business horizon in a peaceful Middle East recovering from wars, the enormous commercial potential for their ports on routes from the East to Europe, and the tremendous advantages of cooperation with Israel. For instance, the Dubai diamond exchange, established merely twenty years ago, became the world's largest with Israeli assistance.

The security dimension against the Iranian and Houthi threat also matters, and the war's end will bring genuine expansion of weapons and military technology agreements with Israel.

An important aspect involving both countries is the Palestinian de-radicalization process. In both nations, such processes occurred in educational systems, media, and cultural and political discourse. Educational programs from both are already implemented in temporary Strip schools, at minimum in IDF-controlled territories.

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