"I'm from Dorot," one woman in the audience told the minister, recalling her Gaza-area community horrific experience during and after the October massacre and kidnapping incidents. "Members of my community are being held captive. Minister, look at me," she continued, with cheers from supporters.
He pointed to the war's start when "Israelis from different sectors put aside October 6 disputes and mobilized – together! – for countless vital missions." But he warned "as time passes, we seem to be gradually returning to the realms of polarization and partisanship."
Among the participants will be President Isaac Herzog, Ministers Benny Gantz, Yoav Kish and Bezalel Smotrich, and members of Knesset. Dr. Miriam Adelson, who is Israel Hayom's publisher, delivered a speech at the plenary session and told the audience that Israelis will prevail together over the challenges posed by the war in Gaza. "All of Israel is Israel Hayom – the Israel of post Oct. 7," Adelson said, stressing that "we are a nation of revival" that knows how to spring right back up after moments of crisis.
The assault gives Israel leverage to pressure the US to get concessions that will make things difficult for Iran. In any case, Israel need not rush to respond. It would be wise to keep Iranian nerves in tense anticipation, allowing the Iranian rial to continue plummeting and enabling internal criticism of the regime to intensify.
US and Western officials anticipate that Israel will quickly respond to Iran’s weekend drone and missile offensive, officials told the US outlet. But the officials said they hoped both countries could come away with a sense of victory, giving them an off-ramp that would limit escalatory moves.
