The understandings between Israel and Egypt on the gas deal do not include an Egyptian commitment to withdraw prohibited forces from the Sinai Peninsula. Israel Hayom has learned that accompanying understandings include dialogue on mechanisms to address Egyptian violations. The US has promised to promote handling of the issue, but there is no clear commitment to rectify the situation.

In Israel, officials believe that once gas deliveries begin and Egypt becomes energy-dependent on Israeli gas, this dependence will serve as leverage to deter Cairo from violating the peace treaty. They also argue that had Israel not supplied Egypt with gas, its southern neighbor would have turned to Qatar. According to information gathered in recent years, Egypt has introduced forces into Sinai far beyond what is permitted under the security annex of the peace treaty. It has also built tunnels deep inside Sinai for storing weapons and has suspiciously extended runways at airfields.

A security achievement

As far as is currently known, none of these problems has been fully resolved. The excess Egyptian forces will remain in Sinai, but Egypt has given commitments to limit their activity. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hinted that Israel achieved several gains on the security front.

Despite the agreement, efforts to politically warm relations with Egypt have so far failed because of the war in Gaza, which has yet to end, and the tense atmosphere between the presidential palace in Cairo and the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem. The Americans examined the possibility of holding a summit meeting between Netanyahu and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, with US President Donald Trump participating, but the Egyptians rejected the idea.

Alongside these issues, the gas agreement enables Israel to achieve several strategic objectives. The first is Egypt's dependence on Israeli gas, which it uses both for domestic energy needs and for liquefaction and export to Europe, a vital source of foreign currency without which Egypt's economy would collapse. Egypt has gas fields of its own, but they are insufficient for these purposes. This dependence constitutes Israeli diplomatic and security leverage over its southern neighbor, though its impact is limited to major strategic issues, chiefly reducing or even eliminating concerns that Egypt might cancel its peace treaty with Israel.

An energy powerhouse?

Israel is consolidating its status as a regional power in the energy sector. It supplies gas to Egypt and also to Jordan, which uses it for a significant portion of its energy consumption. The agreement with Israel comes at Qatar's expense. Doha had been in talks with el-Sisi on building a new gas pipeline from Qatar's giant gas fields to Egypt. Laying such a pipeline would take years, and Egypt did not have the time to wait.

The agreement opens the door to additional energy projects in cooperation with Gulf states, projects that have been on the table for a long time and are expected to advance once an agreement is reached to bring Saudi Arabia into the Abraham Accords, likely not before elections and the formation of a new government in Israel.

In the energy sphere, under the agreement Israel will build an additional gas pipeline between Ramat Hovav and Nitzana, enabling further increases in exports to Egypt. The deal is expected to restart tenders for exploration of new gas fields in the eastern Mediterranean, and the Energy Ministry is set to renew preparations for those exploration bids.

Another reason for the delay in the agreement with Egypt was the Energy Ministry's demand that remaining reserves in existing fields be sufficient for Israeli domestic consumption and remain priced at the current low levels. According to the Energy Ministry, these demands were fully met.

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In a recorded statement, Netanyahu said the total value of the deal was estimated at about 112 billion shekels, roughly $34 billion, with 58 billion shekels, about $18 billion, expected to flow into state coffers.

At the same time as Netanyahu's announcement, NewMed Energy reported to the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange that it had received approval to export natural gas to Egypt. The authorization, granted by the Energy Ministry, allows the implementation of the export agreement signed in August, which is valued at approximately $35 billion.

As part of the approval, assurances were given that Israel would maintain attractive domestic natural gas prices and that gas supplies to the local market would be secured. The decision also paves the way for a final investment decision on the expansion of the Leviathan gas field, a move expected to significantly increase production capacity from the reservoir.

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The first common denominator is the transformation of Jews everywhere, simply because of who they are, into targets whose killing is seen as legitimate. Calls for annihilation that have echoed through Western capitals for more than two years have created the atmosphere. Within it, whether through spontaneous initiative or external direction, it is easy to grow active terrorist cells.

The second connecting line between the wave of attacks on Jewish communities around the world is more elusive, and less visible. It is difficult to convince someone who is not Jewish that he will be next in line. On the surface, the global surge in antisemitism is explained away as being because of the war in Gaza or because antisemitism is an ancient disease. Try convincing an American, a Briton or an Australian on the street that whoever murdered Jews today will murder him tomorrow.

And yet, no less than Israel and the Jews, the entire West is threatened by this wave of murderous violence, even if much of it does not yet realize it. Particularly blind has been, and remains, the government of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who even after the second deadliest terrorist attack in Australia's history has still failed to internalize where the problem lies. His feeble initial response to the attack illustrates just how little he understands the severity of the threat that has been built under his nose during his time in office.

Albanese has displayed an especially conciliatory line toward the violence raging in his country since the October 7 massacre. Instead of banning violent slogans such as "global intifada" and "Palestine will be free from the river to the sea," he recognized a Palestinian state. Instead of filtering out the entry of inciting terrorists, he barred senior and junior Israelis from entering Australia. In his great foolishness, Albanese failed to understand that anyone who legitimizes a massacre that took place thousands of kilometers from his country will ultimately end up with a slaughterhouse on the most famous beach of his own. That is the nature of terror. It has no borders.

This is precisely the problem of the progressive West. Paradoxically, in Arab countries, in China and in Russia, an iron fist crushes the incubator of radical Islam. There, in countries that are not democracies, there is an understanding that this current cultivates both extremist slogans and the violence itself. By contrast, in countries that call themselves liberal, the incitement and the violence that follows it run wild, with very few restraints.

An absurd spectacle

In an absurd spectacle that is hard to comprehend, radical Islamists in America openly express their aspiration to conquer the White House. They would never dare make a similar call in Morocco, Dubai, Beijing or Moscow. Or take Qatar's Al Jazeera, banned from broadcasting in much of the Arab world, yet free to incite across the West. Can there be any justification for such folly?

For now, only Jews, both in their own country and abroad, are paying with their lives for this moral feebleness. But as always in history, we are only the first. Just like the Nazis or the communists, radical Islam, both Shiite and Sunni, threatens to overtake democracies, in this case by doing so from within.

When one thinks about it, this is exactly what our Hasmonean forefathers fought against. The dominant culture of their time sought to erase their identity and values as handed down through Jewish tradition. In the end, Jewish tradition and morality endured and prevailed. So it will be this time as well, heavy as the price may be.

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President Isaac Herzog received word of the terror attack at the Chabad House Hanukkah event in Australia while presiding over the Aliyah and Integration Ministry Prize ceremony for trailblazing immigrants. The president halted the proceedings to address the audience. "At this very hour, our brothers and sisters in Sydney, Australia, are under a terror attack during the lighting of the Hanukkah candle at a Chabad event at Bondi Beach," he said.

"Many Jews who came to light the first candle of Hanukkah in one of the most magnificent communities in the world were attacked by criminal terrorists," Herzog said.

Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett was unsparing in his criticism. "The writing was on the wall. The Australian government bears responsibility," Bennett said. "A festive Jewish gathering turned into a scene of terror. A short time ago I spoke with leaders of the Jewish community. They are furious and afraid. For months, they have warned against a rise in antisemitism."

"The writing was on the wall and it was met with a blind eye from the government," Bennett added. "I demand that the Australian government act immediately to protect the Jewish communities and deal with antisemitism with full severity. Jews should not have to fear for their lives anywhere, including in Australia. I send my condolences to the families of the killed and pray for the well-being of the wounded. Your pain is our pain."

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar posted on X, "I'm appalled by the murderous shooting attack at a Hanukkah event in Sydney, Australia. These are the results of the anti-Semitic rampage in the streets of Australia over the past two years, with the anti-Semitic and inciting calls of 'Globalize the Intifada' that were realized today. The Australian government, which received countless warning signs, must come to its senses!"

Education Minister Yoav Kisch also linked the violence to policy. "I am deeply shocked by the severe antisemitic attack in Australia," Kisch said. "As a Jew, the heart breaks in the face of the stories and documentation from the murderous event. The decision of the Australian government to recognize a Palestinian state sent a terrible message, the results of which we unfortunately see today. The State of Israel embraces and will support the Jewish community in Sydney in the most difficult moments."

Economy and Industry Minister Nir Barkat said, "The Australian government failed to eradicate antisemitism and the hatred of Jews in its country."

The post 'You failed': Israel slams Australia after Hanukkah massacre appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

So far, no country has formally announced that it will join the ISF. Even states that were expected early on to take part have yet to do so. Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, whose country was considered a leading candidate to join the force, said earlier this week that "the questions we raised have not been fully answered. Therefore, there is no final decision regarding the participation of Azerbaijani military personnel."

With this vacuum, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is attempting to push his country's forces into taking part of the ISF. As Israel Hayom previously reported, Netanyahu vetoed Turkish military involvement at the outset of the process, citing Erdogan's close ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, his sympathy for Hamas, and his persistent antisemitism.

The US accepted Israel's position. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said publicly that the administration would not force Israel to accept the participation of countries it does not want involved.

Still, with more than two months having passed since the end of the war and the force still not established, Turkey is renewing its efforts. Recent reports claim Erdogan's forces are already prepared for deployment. At the same time, new messages have been conveyed to Jerusalem urging Israeli officials to reconsider Turkey's inclusion in the ISF. Netanyahu, however, continues to reject these proposals.

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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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 Let's begin with a textual analysis. If "we were in an attack," then why it "cannot be described that way"? What is the meaning of this strange sentence?

Netanyahu spoke spontaneously off the cuff, not reading from a script. His words, it seems, provided us with a glimpse into the story he tells himself about the most terrible day in the history of the Zionist enterprise. The prime minister didn't call it a "massacre" or a "catastrophic failure," not a "collapse" or a "breakdown," but rather an "attack." Or in his language – an attack "from every possible perspective," but still just an "attack."

From this terminology, it emerges that deep down, Netanyahu still refuses to acknowledge that during his watch, the foundational Zionist principle of "never again" went up in smoke along with the western Negev. Instead of admitting this, he tells himself that it was essentially just an "attack". This linguistic slip aligns with his previous claim that the Hamas invasion was merely of "terrorists in flip-flops."

As if there wasn't a strategic trap that Yahya Sinwar set for him, and he fell into it, as if Hamas' military plan wasn't sophisticated, precise, and lethal. As if female soldiers and mothers didn't scream for help for hours in inconceivable horrors. As if the terrorists didn't invade as far as Sderot and Ofakim. As if half the country didn't experience a "one-day Holocaust," as so many say, but rather just an "attack from every possible perspective."

Baseless words

This minimization of the tragedy might not have warranted criticism were it not for the second half of the speech, where Netanyahu claimed we are a "global power." As you'll recall, the prime minister cannot travel to almost any country in the world, except the US. In fact, even in New York he's not entirely safe, given the intentions of the future mayor. And what's worse, we heard the boastful talk about Israel being a "regional power" or "global power" even before October 7, 2023. They were said by Netanyahu – the same Netanyahu who in that same speech explained how Israel essentially almost collapsed.

"After all, there was a plan here to destroy Israel," Netanyahu told the ambassadors. "There was a practical plan to attack us simultaneously. You could say Sinwar jumped the gun. He didn't wait, didn't coordinate the operation that was supposed to bring a simultaneous invasion both from Gaza from the south, and from the north by the Radwan Force. The Nukhba on one side, Radwan on the other, and a tsunami of rockets and ballistic missiles on us."

In other words, the same Netanyahu who says we're a "global power" describes a few sentences later how close we actually were to a coordinated, two-front ground invasion, accompanied by a "tsunami of missiles and rockets." These descriptions don't reconcile with each other. It's impossible for a "global power" to have been one step away from annihilation. And one cannot claim that a state of existential danger is actually just an "attack." All of this simply doesn't add up.

Battle over memory

What explains the descriptions that so extremely contradict each other from the same Netanyahu about the same events in the very same speech? It seems the answer lies in the deep psychological realm. Netanyahu wanted to be remembered as "Israel's guardian." He said this, and there's no doubt this consideration guides him.

However, the massacre left no trace of this conception. No matter what the achievements of the war are – and it's worth mentioning that "absolute victory" even by his account hasn't been achieved – Netanyahu didn't guard Israel. And not just didn't guard it, but led it to an unprecedented disaster that stemmed from his policies. These are facts that cannot be denied.

But he himself is incapable of standing before this terrible truth. Therefore, he didn't take responsibility, as expected of a leader. Therefore, he reduces those horrifying days to an "attack." Therefore, he blames the security establishment for the failure. Therefore, he returns to tell him and us that Israel is a "global power." This is how he first and foremost escapes from himself.

Instead of escaping, the prime minister was expected to learn a lesson. As someone who led the "global power" into Hamas' trap, he must show more caution and less arrogance. Or as the Bible says, "Walk humbly with your God." This would only do good, for him and for us.

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The landmark deal centers on gas supplies from the Leviathan gas field to Egypt through 2040, valued at $35 billion. Until now, Prime Minister Netanyahu and Energy Minister Eli Cohen, whose signatures are essential for ratifying the agreement, have delayed its ratification to resolve related complications. According to sources, the chances of the deal being signed are now growing.

On the political-security front, Israel has demanded that Egypt cease violations of the peace treaty, primarily the introduction of military forces into Sinai. Additionally, Egypt has constructed tunnels in the peninsula and extended airfield runways. According to information received by Israel Hayom, there is no Egyptian commitment to roll back forces west of the Suez Canal or to refrain from future violations.

Sources say there is a principled American statement that it guarantees the peace agreement, but no concrete Egyptian steps will accompany the implementation of the gas deal. This difficult problem will be resolved over time through diplomatic means, they say. They note that Egypt's dependence on gas supplies from Israel will position Israel in a much stronger position to make demands of Cairo.

The United States has pressed Israel heavily to advance the agreement, primarily because of Chevron's stake in the Leviathan partnership. Netanyahu and Cohen have resisted the pressure for an extended period, but now the agreement appears to be moving toward signing. One possibility is a meeting between Netanyahu and Egyptian President el-Sisi as part of the concessions for Israeli flexibility. However, there is no certainty that such a meeting will take place, nor is it clear whether it would occur in the United States as a trilateral summit with Trump or bilaterally in the region.

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Trump intends to declare Phase 2 of the 20-point framework within days, despite Hamas withholding deceased hostage, Israeli hero Sgt. 1st Class Ran Gvili, who perished defending Kibbutz Alumim during the October 7 massacre. The original framework required the terrorist organization to repatriate all captives within 72 hours before advancing to Phase 2.

Israeli officials harbor hopes Trump will postpone the declaration until Gvili's recovery, yet even a formal Phase 2 announcement remains operationally ambiguous. The crux: Not a single nation has volunteered troops to combat Hamas. Azerbaijan Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov stated Monday that his government lacks answers to fundamental questions about the prospective force's mandate, "rendering any decision on Azerbaijani military participation premature."

A day earlier, Netanyahu assessed the nascent international force likely cannot execute its primary objective: stripping Hamas of weaponry. Given this reality, diplomatic officials anticipate Hamas disarmament will dominate the Trump-Netanyahu dialogue.

Trump and his inner circle have repeatedly pledged to prevent Hamas governance in Gaza and ensure the Strip's demilitarization. The international coordination hub in Gaza (the Kiryat Gat Civil-Military Coordination Center) has already partitioned the territory into numerous compact sectors for sequential neutralization. Implementation methodology remains nebulous, with expectations Netanyahu will advocate for IDF authorization should alternative actors fail to materialize.

Beyond Gaza, Trump and Netanyahu will architect responses to additional diplomatic and security imperatives. Paramount among these: Iran's weapons program resurgence, Hezbollah's persistent armament, and potential Syrian security arrangements.

Next phase uncertainty

Regarding the final captive soldier's repatriation, Gvili, developments remain static. A Zeitoun neighborhood sweep yielded nothing. Israel Hayom confirmed the Gvili family confronted US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz Monday, insisting Washington forestall Phase 2 advancement pending their son's recovery.

Coordinator of Hostages and Missing Persons Brig. Gen. (Res.) Gal Hirsch briefed Waltz on operational status and retrieval initiatives. The ambassador articulated American resolve and personal dedication to mission completion and the soldier's dignified burial in Israel, yet declined to guarantee Phase 2 postponement.

American officials advocate Phase 2 commencement regardless of Gvili's discovery and return, proposing announcement once Hamas demonstrably lacks precise location intelligence and exhausts search capabilities.

Waltz earlier conferred with Netanyahu, continuing his Israel itinerary today with stops including the Kiryat Gat international headquarters.

Danny Zaken contributed to this report.

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