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.

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Ayayu Belete, a City of David worker who discovered the pendant, described the moment of finding it. "One day while I was digging inside an ancient structure, I suddenly saw something different, gray, among the stones," Belete recounted, according to the Israel Antiquities Authority. "I picked up the object out and saw that it was a pendant with a menorah on it. I immediately showed the find to Esther Rakow-Mellet, the area director, and she said it was an especially rare find. I was deeply moved and excited!"

Historical records indicate Jews faced prohibitions against entering Jerusalem during Byzantine rule, complicating the interpretation of menorah-decorated artifacts found in the city. Researchers question whether such finds represent random occurrences or belonged to Jews who came to Jerusalem for commerce, administrative purposes, or clandestine pilgrimages under unofficial circumstances, according to the report.

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An Israeli official told Israel Hayom that the visit took place but played down its importance. According to the Israeli official, Wu met with two Knesset members from the Opposition and the Coalition. However, the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem boycotted the visit as part of its policy of non-confrontation with Beijing on the sensitive issue of Taiwan.

China's embassy in Israel issued the following statement in response to the visit: "The one-China principle is the consensus of the international community and a basic norm of international relations. It is also the prerequisite and foundation for establishing and developing diplomatic ties between China and countries around the world, including Israel. The China-Israel Joint Communiqué on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations clearly states that 'the Government of the State of Israel recognizes that the Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of the territory of the People's Republic of China.' The Taiwan question concerns China's sovereignty and territorial integrity and constitutes an inviolable red line at the very core of China's core interests. The Chinese side firmly objects to any form of official exchanges with the Taiwan authorities, which seriously violate the one-China principle. We once again urge the Israeli side to faithfully abide by the one-China principle, correct the erroneous actions and stop sending any wrong signals to separatist forces advocating Taiwan independence, so as to uphold the overall interests of China-Israel relations through concrete actions."

Beijing's pressure campaign severely restricts Taiwan's official diplomatic connections. The Chinese government treats the island as its provincial territory rather than a sovereign nation. Jerusalem, mirroring most countries globally, extends formal recognition exclusively to Beijing while withholding it from Taipei – making trips by high-ranking Taiwanese diplomats to states like Israel exceedingly rare. Several MKs have visited Taipei in recent months and also participated in an event hosted by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office to celebrate what it calls Taiwan's national day. But Israel does not recognize the government in Taipei and has stuck to its One China Policy in which it considers the mainland as the sole representative of the Chinese people, despite the ties it has at lower levels with the island.

Taiwan nevertheless regards Israel as a vital democratic partner and demonstrated strong solidarity with Jerusalem after Hamas terrorists attacked southern Israel in October 2023, triggering the subsequent Gaza war that intensified bilateral engagement, according to Reuters.

Speaking on anonymity terms given the issue's sensitivity, the sources informed Reuters that Wu's Israel journey occurred in recent weeks, with two sources specifying this month. The sources withheld specifics about Wu's meeting schedule or agenda items, including potential discussions about Taiwan's newly unveiled T-Dome multilayered air defense network – which President Lai Ching-te presented in October and partially emulates Israeli air defense technology – Reuters reported.

Taiwan's Foreign Ministry declined commenting on Wu's Israel visit. The ministry issued a statement declaring "Taiwan and Israel share the values of freedom and democracy, and will continue to pragmatically ⁠promote mutually beneficial exchanges and cooperation" in trade, technology, culture and other domains while embracing additional "mutually beneficial forms of cooperation", the report concluded.

During an interview with Israel Hayom earlier this year China's ambassador to Israel, Xiao Junzheng, was asked what his country's response would be if the island declared independence. He made it clear Beijing would not let it slide, saying this will inevitably lead to "war".

"When our two countries established diplomatic ties in 1992, the Israeli government acknowledged that there's one China in the world, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China. The government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legitimate representative of the whole of China," he said, adding with particular emphasis: "The Chinese government has already passed the Anti-Secession National Law. According to this law, if the so-called Taiwan government announced or declared independence, wow, the war will be unavoidable. The war is unavoidable. If they declare independence, yes."

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According to the hospital's announcement, the partnership aims to "transform St. Joseph Hospital-Jerusalem into an academic medical institution and provide clinical training for students in various health professions." The statement further noted that the project is "funded and supported by four partners: the French Development Agency (AFD), the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD), the European Union, and St. Joseph Hospital."

The signing ceremony for the agreement took place in Doha, Qatar, on December 8, 2025. Jamil Kusa, the hospital's director general, said, "We are deeply grateful for the generous support of the Qatar Fund for Development. This partnership is not just a financial agreement; it is a lifeline for thousands of patients who rely on our services. This cooperation will enable us to renovate our facilities, and most importantly – expand our reach to those who need it most."

Ran Ichay, head of research at the Jerusalem Center for Applied Policy (JCAP), responded by saying that "Qatar, the major supporter of Hamas alongside Turkey's Erdogan, continues to buy its way into Jerusalem with substantial funding. Its consistent ally is France, which throughout the war has demonstrated an almost consistently anti-Israel policy."

Ichay, former Israeli ambassador to Kazakhstan and former director general of the Ministry of Jerusalem, added, "France, in its foolishness and inherent anti-Israel stance, joins Qatar, and not for the first time, including support for radical Islam, incitement, and terrorism. Now the consistent channel is the French St. Joseph Hospital in Jerusalem, located near the National Headquarters and the National Security Minister's office on one side, and the Turkish consulate, which is another hub for subversion in the city, on the other."

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Whether these launchers were deployed as part of Hezbollah's broader effort to restore military capabilities or as preparation for shorter-term retaliation to potential IDF-initiated operations remains unclear. Recent weeks brought reports that Israel prepares for extensive operations in southern Lebanon, given the Lebanese Armed Forces' failure (or refusal) to secure the territory.

Yesterday, Lebanese Armed Forces chief Rodolphe Haykal stated operations advance as planned, yet Israeli sources note Hezbollah rebuilds infrastructure faster than expected, forcing Israel to act independently. Israeli activity seems designed partly to pressure Lebanon's government – via the United States and France – while threatening war renewal.

In the Gaza front, IDF forces leverage Hamas ceasefire violations to impose costs on the organization. Initial responses targeted specific violations – operatives crossing the yellow line faced elimination – but now each incident triggers broader strikes (yesterday brought elimination of mid-level Hamas military wing operatives). Palestinian accusations that Israel seeks to destroy the agreement sound exaggerated currently, as Israel apparently pushes the organization toward full agreement compliance, while three deceased hostages remain in Gaza.

Israel won't risk combat resumption without explicit American approval. President Donald Trump currently embraces the agreement – he hosted released living hostages at his office last week – and actively promotes subsequent phases, including unprecedented economic deals with Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey, some carrying significant Israeli implications. Jerusalem exploits this to pressure Hamas and its Doha and Ankara sponsors, though unlike the Lebanese model, Israeli operational latitude appears limited.

The Judea and Samaria front currently appears most volatile, amid sharply increased Palestinian terror activity and violent incidents – some constituting actual terror – by Jewish extremists. IDF and Shin Bet forces must allocate greater attention to this theater, whose impact exceeds its geographic boundaries: developments there could affect all other theaters and ignite them, carrying extensive political consequences. Last week, the prime minister and defense minister vowed forceful action against Jewish violence, yet senior officials report field measures remain "insufficient and weak." They describe this as "playing with fire" risking loss of control.

Behind activity across these three fronts, Israeli concern about Iranian developments grows. Various international media reports suggest that five months after the first Iran war concluded, parties edge toward a second Iran conflict. Israel particularly worries about accelerated Iranian missile production (reports indicate Iran already possesses missile quantities matching pre-war levels), plus continued refusal to cooperate with the Atomic Energy Committee on its nuclear program.

This intense security activity won't diminish significantly soon. Intensity levels may shift, but challenges persist, requiring defense forces to maintain extensive, complex deployments. Against this backdrop, government efforts advancing the draft evasion law become more conspicuous, directly opposing IDF requirements and Israeli society's needs while spotlighting government preference for immediate interests over long-term state and citizen welfare.

A survey by the Israel Democracy Institute, highlighted by Lilach Shoval, reflects this dynamic. Results underpin low public government trust, with officials perceived as evading October 7 accountability. This contrasts with the IDF, maintaining high public confidence despite troubling declines in commander trust and investigation credibility. The Israeli public views the IDF as a protected institution: preserving this status demands internal reform plus insisting government halt efforts weakening military strength.

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Pollard confirmed the meeting to the newspaper and noted this was the first time an American official hosted him in an office since his release. "It was a friendly meeting," he was quoted as saying. It should be noted that after being released from prison, Pollard is prevented from returning to the US, so the meeting with Huckabee could only take place in Israel.

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Ayoub wore an oriental-inspired look, including a white tank top and white pants adorned with brown and white embellishments. Over this outfit, she wore a white robe with a long train featuring paintings of the Dome of the Rock and Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, alongside olive branches.

As a reminder, Ayoub has received considerable criticism for living in luxury towers in Dubai while representing the Palestinians, and it has now been revealed that the designer she chose is actually an Emirati designer named Navin al-Qadi, based in Abu Dhabi.

Meanwhile, Miss Israel Melanie Shiraz wore a yellow dress to recall the fallen hostages still held in Hamas captivity and the survivors of captivity who were held for two years. A Star of David appeared on her chest area, and red flowers were visible at the bottom of the dress as a tribute to the red anemones in the south. The dress was maxi-length and featured a scarf and a head covering.

The national costume segment takes place every year as part of the Miss Universe competition, during which representatives of different countries take the stage wearing clothing items inspired by their local traditions. This year, the segment became more explosive.

Social media reactions came quickly. "It's not enough that she represents a country that doesn't exist, she has no connection to this country and the symbols she's wearing," one social media user wrote. "That's Jerusalem anyway, it shouldn't appear on their national costume. Simply an infuriating look," another user wrote.

A reminder that Transportation Minister Miri Regev also wore a dress featuring the Dome of the Rock in the past, at the Cannes Film Festival opening during her tenure as culture minister. The dress was designed by Aviad Arik Herman.

This isn't the first time Miss Palestine Nadine Ayoub has sparked controversy since being chosen to represent the Palestinians at the world's biggest beauty pageant. Last month, Ayoub published a series of posts about the war on social media, with one of them inflating the number of Palestinian casualties and another presenting Kfir and Ariel Bibas, the Israeli children murdered in Hamas captivity, as Palestinian victims of the war.

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The rally

The "Torah Cry" rally comes amid the efforts by MK Boaz Bismuth, from Likud, to introduce new legislation that would end the blanket exemption Haredim have on joining the IDF as part of the mandatory service that applies to virtually all Jews and Druze in Israel. The protest, nicknamed the "Million Man Rally" because organizers planned to gather roughly one million people at the event, was scheduled to start Thursday at 2:30 p.m. at Jerusalem's entrance and continue approximately two hours, according to event organizers.

Organizers urged the public intending to reach the capital to do so during early morning hours. Large national transportation groups reported strong response to arrive at these times.

The rally, whose concept had been abandoned multiple times because of disagreements about its character, was expected to draw participation from Litvaks, Hasidim and Sephardim, unlike most highway demonstrations which primarily include members of the extremist Jerusalem Peleg faction.

Traffic arrangements

Route 1 will close to traffic beginning at 12:00 p.m. until the rally concludes – in both directions – from the Latrun region until Jerusalem's entrance. Police stressed that city entry will be permitted only for pre-organized buses. Route 443 will stay open to traffic.

Area community residents, such as Shoresh, Mevasseret Zion, Beit Meir, Neve Ilan, etc., along with those employed in these communities, will be permitted to pass.

These streets will close to traffic within Jerusalem:

Givat Shaul Street will close to vehicle traffic in both directions. Jaffa Street will close from HaTurim Street to Jeremiah Street in both directions. Givat Shaul-Ramot interchange will close in all directions. Ben Zvi/Rabbi Shmuel Baruch Street will close toward the city entrance. Shazar Boulevard will close toward the Givat Shaul interchange. Herzl Boulevard will close from Rabin Junction toward the String Bridge. Malchei Yisrael-Sarei Yisrael junction will close toward Nordau Circle and Jeremiah Street.

Additionally, access roads and further closures on surrounding streets leading to gathering locations, the city entrance zone and central Jerusalem are expected to close for varying time periods as needed.

Yitzhak Navon Railway Station at Jerusalem's entrance will close from 2:00 p.m. until operations resume after the rally ends. Israel Railways stated that "all train lines and stations except Yitzhak Navon will function as usual."

Initially, the railway station was supposed to shut at 12:30 p.m., but after pressure applied on police and the Ministry of National Security, the closing time was pushed to 1:30 p.m. Ultimately, officials announced the final train to Jerusalem would arrive Thursday at 2:00 p.m. at Navon Station.

Earlier, Shas chairman Aryeh Machluf Deri contacted railway management to get answers about the decision to shut Yitzhak Navon Station. "Such a decision will cause tens of thousands to get stranded throughout the country and block intersections. This is an illegitimate decision that will block a huge public from arriving and praying. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir pledged to work to find a solution immediately."

Sources in the rally leadership who spoke with Israel Hayom voiced frustration regarding the railway matter – which seems not to be reaching resolution. "We expect the arbitrary decision to shut the railway station in Jerusalem to be reversed," they said. "This is a decision that will trigger complete chaos. If the crowds who planned to arrive in Jerusalem stay in the cities, they will simply head out for spontaneous protests on the main routes throughout the country. We hope the railway crisis will be resolved – and if not, we'll examine splitting the protest."

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Members of the media raise their hands to ask U.S. Vice President JD Vance questions, in Kiryat Gat, Israel, October 21, 2025. REUTERS/Ammar Awad

He said his vice presidential responsibilities stem from Trump's trust, with the role being "very dependent on the president of the United States" and his accomplishments possible "because the president trusts me and he's empowered me with a lot of responsibilities." Vance praised Trump as someone who "is such a unique person unbelievably people have no idea," noting he "really sleeps less and still has more energy than anybody that I know that's 40 years younger than he is" – "trust me I've seen it from the inside he has unbelievable energy." Trump "has unbelievable instincts" and "automatically understands when somebody is trying to get one over on him," Vance explained.

Trump privately discussed a 2028 "dream ticket" pairing Vance with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, his "best friend in the administration." Vance considers this "premature," maintaining focus on current work with the belief that "if we take care of business the politics will take care of itself."

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According to the source, Qatar and the US presented the sharp Israeli responses to the two incidents in recent days, in which IDF soldiers were killed, as a warning to Hamas that if it is not willing to give up its weapons, no one will prevent Israel from continuing the attacks. The source rejected the criticism from the right regarding the scale of the responses and said that dozens of dead Hamas commanders, including commanders at various levels of the organization, are the greatest means of pressure on the terror organization.

It appears that in the weeks before the ceasefire, Hamas members were particularly afraid of these types of attacks, in which family members of senior Hamas officials – those involved in terror or uninvolved – are also killed. It is possible that these attacks led to appeals from senior officials in the organization to the negotiation managers to bring about a ceasefire.

Hamas claimed that the perpetrators of the attacks against IDF soldiers were not subject to their authority and not in contact with the headquarters. Israel presented the Americans with information contradicting Hamas' claims and accused the organization of carrying out deliberate attacks to accelerate the IDF's withdrawal from the Strip.

An Israeli source said, "Hamas has a perception that it is possible to make the soldiers' lives miserable, to cause casualties, and thus create pressure on the government to speed up the withdrawal, as happened in the Disengagement and in Lebanon. With that, it will not take responsibility and will claim it is adhering to the ceasefire." In contacts with Hamas, the organization was required by the mediators to impose authority on the terrorists carrying out the attacks and to stop the delays in handing over the deceased hostages' bodies.

The Qatari PM said, "The situation in Rafah is disappointing; it is clear to us that Hamas is ready to give up rule in Gaza." Israel has conditioned the continuation of negotiations on the second stage upon the completion of the handover of hostage bodies, and the assessment is that pressure from the mediators and the Americans, as well as Israel's attacks, will lead to the handover of at least eight more bodies in the coming days.

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