On Jewish worship, mourning, and celebration on the Temple Mount. It is time for establishment of a synagogue to solidify Jewish/Israeli rights on Har HaBayit.

In this race against time, and faced with negative predictions about his own political future, Netanyahu has unfortunately not changed his behavior. If he hopes to win these new elections and meet with the American president for the ninth time, he will have to prove his statesmanship.

Israel has raised its alert level to its highest point amid concerns that fighting with Iran could resume, although the security establishment would prefer to maintain US military pressure and the blockade on Tehran. Alongside preparations for another possible campaign, fears are also mounting that an Iranian miscalculation could trigger a sudden regional escalation.

For now, events in the Gulf are being treated as “foreign news,” with Israelis chiefly concerned about the impact on flights, but that appears likely to change soon. And there is no denying it: Something is amiss in relations with the White House. 

Israel’s security cabinet will convene Friday, reflecting the country’s heightened vigilance ahead of the United States’ next moves against Iran: “Trump will decide whether Israel enters the campaign, which could escalate at any moment.” Iran has also reportedly raised its alert level to the highest degree.