11/30 – www.israelhayom.com https://www.israelhayom.com israelhayom english website Mon, 01 Dec 2025 13:37:33 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.2 https://www.israelhayom.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/cropped-G_rTskDu_400x400-32x32.jpg 11/30 – www.israelhayom.com https://www.israelhayom.com 32 32 Netanyahu's opportunities and what it means for Iran's regime https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/12/01/netanyahu-opportunities-iran-regime-saudi-deal/ https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/12/01/netanyahu-opportunities-iran-regime-saudi-deal/#respond Mon, 01 Dec 2025 04:23:19 +0000 https://www.israelhayom.com/?p=1106593 Israel faces historic chances to reshape the Middle East as Netanyahu points to extraordinary developments ahead.

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Israel faces golden opportunities to fundamentally reshape the entire Middle East, next to dangers, threats and challenges. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stressed this in the pardon request from President Isaac Herzog and added, "In the coming months, extraordinary developments are expected in the Middle East."

Some are unfolding right now. Understandings solidifying between the United States, Israel, Arab states and others demand serious preparation, diplomatic and security work, and nonstop attention. Right now, Israel is pushing with the United States an international deal to end the Gaza war by stripping Hamas of weapons, demilitarizing the Gaza Strip, and ultimately expanding peace deals.

Nothing far-fetched here, over two years since the war started with the October 7 massacre. The Middle East braces for dramatic shifts, with Israel driving most directly or indirectly – backed or trailed by the US.

Challenges versus opportunities

Top challenge: Iran, chief source of chaos, terror and war against Israel and the region. Last June's 12-Day War exposed Tehran's radical regime as weak and exposed, unable to shield facilities or top officials. It also opened a rare shot at toppling the Islamist dictatorship.

Iran's economy crumbles day after day, poverty surges, educated masses flee, water is running out – yes, literally. Reservoirs shut one by one, taps run dry across vast areas, and unrest builds. The regime cracks down brutally, cuts internet to contain it.

A billboard depicting Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is displayed in the centre of Tehran's Valiasr Square on July 13, 2025 (AFP)

Israeli and Washington sources see regime collapse as viable amid civilian strife. That could transform Israel's security and strategic situation, removing its top existential threat. Plus, it would gut funding for Hezbollah, Houthis, Hamas and other Iran-backed terror groups.

Opportunities include Saudi Arabia, among others. Israel Hayom reported Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's White House meeting with President Donald Trump fell short of normalization kickoff hopes. Still, everyone knows the process starts soon – likely post-war. Contacts already run direct and indirect on specifics like overflights via Saudi airspace, trade deals, security and cyber business with Saudis, and beyond.

Supporters of Lebanon's Hezbollah group block the streets with burning tires as they rally in cars and motorbikes to protest the government's endorsement of a plan to disarm it, in Beirut's southern suburbs early on August 8, 2025 (Ibrahim AMRO / AFP)

Netanyahu hinting at under-the-radar progress? Entirely plausible – maybe crafting a deal letting bin Salman claim victory on demands, netting F-35s or even a US nuclear reactor in trade.

A Saudi deal or normalization talks would mark a huge win for Israel and Netanyahu, pulling more nations into Abraham Accords – ties with Israel, trade pacts, and real Palestinian conflict progress.

The implicit statement in Netanyahu's letter is that he can bring about the strategic achievements, or more precisely, only he can.

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Hostage survivor Yosef-Chaim Ohana returns home after 2 years https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/11/30/yosef-haim-ohana-freed-hostage-returns-home-738-days/ https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/11/30/yosef-haim-ohana-freed-hostage-returns-home-738-days/#respond Sun, 30 Nov 2025 13:00:56 +0000 https://www.israelhayom.com/?p=1106515 Yosef-Haim Ohana (25), kidnapped from the Nova Festival and held 738 days in Hamas captivity, returned home Sunday to Kiryat Malakhi. Hundreds gathered with Israeli flags and shofar blasts as he shared, "We have a reason to celebrate." His father called it "our private parting of the Red Sea."

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Yosef-Haim Ohana (25), who was kidnapped from the Nova Festival and held for 738 days in Hamas captivity, returned home on Sunday to Kiryat Malakhi.

Yosef-Haim was welcomed in the city, accompanied by hundreds of people who blew shofars. He shared in the emotional ceremony, "We have a reason to celebrate after these two years. We need to live with great gratitude and remember that nothing is taken for granted. Keep smiling and being happy." He thanked the city's residents. "The residents of Kiryat Malakhi don't call it that for nothing. For me, each of you is like an angel welcoming me back home and doing good for me."

Avi Ohana, Yosef-Haim's father, said through tears, "After millions of prayers from the people of Israel who cried out, there wasn't one percent chance he would return home – this is our own parting of the Red Sea." His mother Miriam thanked emotionally, "I want to thank Bibi Netanyahu, the soldiers, and everyone who took part in his return. With God's help, may everyone return until the last hostage."

The city mayor shared about Yosef, "How much insight, wisdom, and pure modesty you have, Yosef-Haim." At the ceremony, they planted an etrog tree after his father shared about the miracle of the Four Species (Arba'at HaMinim – lulav, etrog, hadass, and aravah) that allegedly brought his son home. "A few days before October 7, you blessed over the Four Species, and I told you that blessing would keep you alive. I didn't know about the festival and what would happen a few days later."

Yosef-Haim was welcomed in the city, accompanied by hundreds of people who blew shofars (Photo: Municipality of Kiryat Malakhi )

A few days before Yosef returned, the father bought a set of Four Species, hoping they would bless him. "We merited that you blessed on the last day of the holiday over the Four Species in addition to the Shehecheyanu (blessing of gratitude for reaching a new occasion) night."

Ohana is the son of a single mother. On October 7, he went out to celebrate at the party in Re'im but was kidnapped from there by the terrorists after he helped evacuate the wounded to medics and ambulances along with his friend. For two weeks, he was defined as missing, and the family didn't know what happened to him. "I was happy he was alive, but before that, there was uncertainty about what was happening with him," said Miri Ben Ami, his mother.

Ohana shared in an interview after his return on Channel 12 that his captors used to put the hostages in difficult and jarring situations. "They sat us down and told us, 'Your country did such and such, now we're taking revenge.' They made us choose who to kill and who only to injure. They ran a lottery on us," he recounted.

He described how, at first, the hostages hoped to see their captors – perhaps to receive a bit of water or tea – but very quickly that light in the tunnel became a symbol of fear. "Every time we saw flashlights, we had an anxiety attack. We would have preferred they not come for a week, a month, that they leave us alone," he said. According to him, on one occasion, "They came in, we greeted them with peace, and suddenly they started beating us. They stood us against the wall, pulled off shirts, and began hitting."

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$20B shipwreck: Legal war erupts over legendary treasure https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/11/30/san-jose-shipwreck-colombia-treasure-legal-battle/ https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/11/30/san-jose-shipwreck-colombia-treasure-legal-battle/#respond Sun, 30 Nov 2025 08:00:20 +0000 https://www.israelhayom.com/?p=1106503 Colombia brought up the first artifacts from the Spanish galleon San José, which sank in 1708 carrying 11 million gold coins worth an estimated $20 billion. Colombia, Spain and the US are locked in a legal battle over ownership of the legendary shipwreck.

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Deep beneath the Caribbean Sea lies one of history's greatest sunken treasures – and three nations are fighting over who gets to claim it.

Off the coast of Colombia, the first archaeological artifacts have been recovered from the Spanish galleon San José, one of the world's most famous shipwrecks, which sank in 1708 near the port of Cartagena during the War of the Spanish Succession.

The ship, which carried approximately 11 million gold and silver coins, was estimated by Sky News to be worth about $20 billion and earned the nickname "the Holy Grail of shipwrecks."

A woman takes pictures of a bottle of beer that was retrieved from a shipwreck in the AAland archipelago in the summer of 2010 is seen at the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland in Espoo on February 8, 2011 (Photo: AFP / Antti Aimo-Koivisto) AFP

A Colombian expedition brought up, for the first time, a cannon, three ancient coins, pottery, and porcelain items from the ship's remains at a depth of approximately 600 meters (1,970 feet) in the Caribbean Sea. The ship's exact location has been kept a state secret, and the debate over ownership of the treasure continues between Colombia, Spain, and the US.

An American investment group called Sea Search Armada claims it located the ship in 1982 and is demanding $10 billion from the treasure on board, but the Colombian government rejects its claims and views the San José as a cultural archaeological asset rather than a commercial treasure. Meanwhile, Spain claims the ship sailed under the Spanish flag.

According to Colombia's Ministry of Culture, the discovered artifacts underwent "emergency treatment" on a military vessel before being transferred to the Caribbean Oceanographic and Hydrographic Research Center for preservation and scientific analysis.

According to Elena Casedo, head of the Colombian Institute of Anthropology and History, the scientific analysis expected to be conducted following the collection of the items may finally confirm that the ship's remains are indeed those of the San José, and shed light on the origin of the objects, the technologies used to manufacture them, and the trade route that enabled Chinese porcelain vessels to reach the Caribbean in the 18th century.

At the same time, the Colombian government is re-investigating the circumstances of the sinking. Alongside the known possibility – an explosion in the gunpowder armament – additional theories are also being examined, including external damage to the ship's hull.

The discovered artifacts join a catalog that already includes approximately 1,138 items that have been documented since the ship was rediscovered in 2015, including nearly intact porcelain vessels, gold ingots, hundreds of coins, cannons from Spain from 1665, weapons, suitcases, and additional pottery.

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