A shift in Tehran's tone toward Israel during the recent days of calm, with fewer verbal attacks on Jerusalem. Israel is seen as a more central and determined enemy, and in Tehran's eyes, this could affect the regime's calculations in a future confrontation.
A fierce debate ensues at the White House with the president approving continued talks with Iran despite opposition from senior officials. Vice President Vance and the envoys pushed for an initial deal, while the defense and foreign secretaries demanded pressure and a strike. At the same time, Prime Minister Netanyahu and the Emirati leadership backed a hard line, while Saudi Arabia and Qatar prefer to avoid escalation.
As the literary elite boycotts Israel, Erri De Luca insists on returning to the origins of the word “Zionist” and is set to appear at the International Writers Festival in Jerusalem. In a special interview to Israel Hayom, the Neapolitan writer makes clear that he refuses to serve as decoration for Israel-haters, explains why he sent a DNA sample for ancestry testing, and reveals the one word in the Bible that, in his view, cannot be translated.
The national security minister's flag-waving appearance over handcuffed activists at Ashdod port ignited one of the sharpest intra-government confrontations in recent memory.
Major Jewish organizations refused to attend the mayor's celebration over a Nakba video, but other Jewish guests showed up anyway – exposing a widening rift in the city's Jewish community.
