The main reception was held Monday at the ambassador's residence, attracting a high-profile gathering of senior US government officials, members of Congress and the Senate, foreign ambassadors, Jewish community leaders, media representatives, heads of leading organizations, and senior figures from civilian, security, and academic sectors.

During the evening, wounded soldier Ari Spitz participated in the event. Spitz, who lost both his legs and his hand during combat operations in Gaza and spent approximately six weeks hospitalized, moved the audience when he shared his injury story. His account particularly affected Special Envoy Witkoff, who embraced him warmly for an extended moment.

Witkoff began his remarks by sharing his powerful encounter with Spitz. "I just met a young man here, his name is Ari Spitz. He gave to the country of Israel both of his legs, his right arm, his thumb, and I just say I wish you blessings. He's not a victim. It was really my great honor to meet you tonight," Witkoff said.

British police believe the five detainees arrested on Monday, all of Iranian origin, were behind a plot that was about to be executed imminently against anti-regime entities.

In his formal address, Witkoff expressed warm sentiments, saying, "Ambassador Leiter, my dear friend, distinguished guests, and friends of Israel, of course Independence Day is a time to pause, reflect on the past year, and envision the future. On behalf of my dear friend President Donald J. Trump, a great friend of Israel, and the American people, I extend heartfelt congratulations to the state of Israel on this special day. Israel has been and always will be the cherished friend of the United States of America."

WATCH: US envoy Steve Witkoff offers a moving greeting to heroic IDF soldier Ari Spitz and promises a significant expansion of the Abraham Accords "very soon." Witkoff spoke tonight at the Israeli Embassy in Washington's Independence Day party. https://t.co/n6JobReSn2 pic.twitter.com/OadJHgT3fF

— Raylan Givens (@JewishWarrior13) May 6, 2025

Adopting a more somber tone, Witkoff acknowledged the current reality facing Israel. "This year has been challenging, and our celebration is bittersweet. While 59 hostages remain cruelly held by Hamas, I remember being in the hospital in Israel when we got the female IDF soldiers out, and I sang the song 'Am Israel Chai' with them and their families. And I thought to myself, this could be the most joyous moment in my life."

Making a firm commitment on behalf of the administration, Witkoff pledged, "On behalf of President Trump, I pledge that we will work tirelessly this year so that next year's Independence Day is not just a wish for happiness but a reality of peace, prosperity, and for Israel, unity."

The envoy outlined several diplomatic initiatives currently in progress, including on expanding the normalization agreements between Israel and its Arab neighbors from Trump's first term, known as the Abraham Accords. "There are many efforts underway – humanitarian aid initiatives for Gaza, which we applaud, the expansion of the Abraham Peace Accords, which we think will have some or a lot of announcements very, very shortly, which we hope will yield great progress by next year, and discussions on regional challenges in the Middle East like Syria, Lebanon, and of course Iran, and we agree that they shall never get a nuclear weapon." The Abraham Accords currently include Sudan, the UAE, Bahrain and Morocco, all of which agreed to normalize relations with Israel following Trump's mediation in 2020, resulting in new ties between Israel and those countries, including tourism and trade.

In his concluding remarks, Witkoff delivered a passionate message about Israel's resilience and the importance of national unity. "Israel is an extraordinary nation. From its founding, it has faced external threats with creativity, resilience, and triumph, and we will always be their strongest ally. Yet Israel's strength lies in its unity. Over the past 20 months, countless Israelis have sacrificed so much, like Ari Spitz right here. In their honor, I urge the Israeli people to choose unity over division, vision over disagreement, and hope over despair. When you do, Israel's future will shine brighter than ever."

The evening concluded with a moving rendition of the national anthems of Israel and the United States performed by the winner of the 17th season of American Idol, and Israeli singer and reserve soldier Noam Buskila.

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The Trump administration has frozen $2.2 billion in federal grants along with an additional $60 million given to Columbia University in response to Harvard University's rejection of the administration's demands.

In a statement released yesterday, Harvard announced it is rejecting the administration's requirements to implement comprehensive changes to the university's admission policy and recruitment procedures. Harvard President Alan Garber wrote, "Although some of the demands outlined by the government are aimed at combating antisemitism, the majority represent direct governmental regulation of the 'intellectual conditions' at Harvard."

The government antisemitism task force operating under the US Department of Justice criticized the university in response: "Harvard's statement today reinforces the troubling entitlement mindset that is endemic in our nation's most prestigious universities and colleges – that federal investment does not come with the responsibility to uphold civil rights laws."

"The disruption of learning that has plagued campuses in recent years is unacceptable. The harassment of Jewish students is intolerable. It is time for elite universities to take the problem seriously and commit to meaningful change if they wish to continue receiving taxpayer support," added members of the special task force established immediately upon Donald Trump's return to the White House.

Unlike Columbia University, which complied with the administration's demands after it threatened to cut hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding, Harvard refused to act similarly and implement comprehensive changes to the university's admission policy and recruitment procedures.

In a letter sent by lawyers representing the university, it was written that Harvard will continue to fight antisemitism and "remains open to dialogue about what the university has done, and is planning to do, to improve the experience of every member of its community...Neither Harvard nor any other private university can allow itself to be taken over by the federal government," the lawsuit stated.

Harvard has set an example for other higher-ed institutions – rejecting an unlawful and ham-handed attempt to stifle academic freedom, while taking concrete steps to make sure all students at Harvard can benefit from an environment of intellectual inquiry, rigorous debate and… https://t.co/gAu9UUqgjF

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) April 15, 2025

The confrontation between the administration and Harvard included a lengthy saga that developed a few days ago after the university filed a lawsuit against the administration intended to issue a temporary restraining order against the freezing of federal funding. According to the university, the Trump administration's actions violate the First Amendment and sections of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination in federally assisted programs on the basis of race, color, or national origin under federal law.

Harvard's decision marks a turning point in the administration's battle with elite universities where an unprecedented wave of pro-Palestinian protests occurred following the outbreak of Israel's war with Hamas. In recent months, the administration began conducting a comprehensive investigation of dozens of universities, aiming to examine whether they violated civil rights laws by failing to provide protection to Jewish students and staff during the violent wave of protests. Simultaneously, leading educational institutions were required to implement reforms to continue receiving federal funding. As mentioned, Harvard was the first to refuse and now faces extensive cuts that could affect its financial stability, research conducted on its campus, and its ongoing operations.

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Dr. Sharona Nazarian shattered barriers by becoming the first Iranian Jewish woman to serve as mayor of Beverly Hills, marking a significant milestone for the prominent Jewish-Persian community in Southern California.

Dr. Nazarian comes from a prominent and wealthy Jewish-Iranian family in the US, well-known for their steadfast support of Israel. She was appointed by the city council as part of a rotating mayorship.

With deep pride and admiration, I congratulate my relative, Dr. Sharona Nazarian, on her historic appointment as the first Jewish Iranian American woman to serve as Mayor of Beverly Hills.

I watched her rise with integrity and compassion which fills me with immense pride. pic.twitter.com/9hLfecNpM4

— Adelle Nazarian (@AdelleNaz) April 2, 2025

 Media personality and relative of Nazarian, Adele Nazarian, shared Wednesday night on her X account, "With deep pride and admiration, I congratulate my relative, Dr. Sharona Nazarian, on her historic appointment as the first Jewish Iranian American woman to serve as Mayor of Beverly Hills. I watched her rise with integrity and compassion which fills me with immense pride."

This appointment marks a significant milestone for the substantial Persian Jewish community in Southern California, where Beverly Hills has become home to many Iranian Jews who immigrated to the United States following the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran. The appointment reflects the growing influence and integration of this community in American politics and civic leadership.

The Nazarian family has established itself as one of the most influential Jewish-Iranian families in the United States, known for their philanthropy and business success. Their support for Israel has been consistent over the years, maintaining strong ties with Jewish communities worldwide.

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More than a week after the US government released tens of thousands of documents related to President John F. Kennedy's assassination, historians and online platforms have begun publishing significant findings from these declassified records. President Donald Trump ordered the release of over 60,000 documents via presidential executive order, prompting researchers to meticulously examine them in search of meaningful information that might illuminate the circumstances surrounding the American president's death.

The majority of the revealed information failed to deliver breakthrough discoveries about Kennedy's assassination, particularly considering that similar document releases in the past did not successfully confirm or refute existing conspiracy theories. Most revelations instead offer insights into the operational methods of American intelligence agencies during critical Cold War years.

Kennedy was fatally shot in the head while riding in an open convertible and waving to crowds during his Dallas visit on November 22, 1963. Lee Harvey Oswald, a Marine who defected to the Soviet Union for ideological reasons and married there before eventually returning to the United States, was identified as the assassin. According to the official account, Oswald fired a sniper rifle from the sixth floor of the Texas School Book Depository. Two days later, nightclub owner Jack Ruby shot and killed Oswald during his jail transfer – an event broadcast live on television across America.

The assassination and its surrounding conspiracy theories have become an enduring fixture in American discourse: theories range from the possibility of a second shooter to potential involvement by Soviet intelligence, American intelligence agencies, the Mafia, Fidel Castro's Cuban regime – and even Israel – with countless variations explaining who was truly responsible for Kennedy's death.

Several investigative committees were established over the decades to investigate or debunk these conspiracy theories, but they apparently failed to convince the American public. According to a 2023 Gallup poll, 65% of Americans believe Kennedy's assassination involved a conspiracy, with 20% specifically believing the US government participated in it. Democratic Party voters and those with higher education tend to be less likely to believe in such theories, according to the survey.

A report published in The Washington Post revealed that the documents illuminate espionage activities against Cuba, field agents who planted surveillance devices in Chinese agencies, and operatives who extracted valuable intelligence from Soviet sources. One document from January 1962 details a highly classified initiative called "Operation Mongoose" or "The Cuban Project" – a series of covert operations led by the CIA against Cuba that was authorized by President Kennedy in 1961 with the objective of overthrowing the Cuban regime.

Another document examining the aftermath of the "Bay of Pigs invasion" – the failed April 1961 US attempt to overthrow Castro's regime by landing trained Cuban exiles on the island – contained remarkable criticism of the CIA. The document stated Kennedy was warned by one of his advisors that the American intelligence agency was accumulating excessive power. In a memorandum titled "Reorganization of the CIA," presidential special advisor and prominent historian Arthur Schlesinger Jr. expressed serious concerns about the autonomy and influence of the intelligence agency, stating it possessed "many of the characteristics of a state within a state."

Schlesinger Jr. proposed transferring control of "all covert activities" to the State Department and dismantling the agency – a plan that never materialized. He further claimed that approximately 1,500 State Department employees were allegedly covert CIA officers. According to Schlesinger, almost half of the political officers in US embassies, responsible for analyzing and advising on host country politics, actually worked for the CIA. This "Schlesinger memo" provided perfect fodder for those who believe American intelligence agencies were involved in the president's assassination.

Philip Shenon, author of a 2013 book on the assassination, emphasized in an interview with ABC the significance of Oswald's visit to Mexico City in September 1963, two months before the assassination: "The CIA tracked Oswald quite aggressively during his stay there. There is reason to believe he spoke openly about killing Kennedy in Mexico City, and people heard him say it." Shenon added: "Nothing points to a second shooter. I haven't seen any major breakthroughs that rewrite the basic history of the assassination, but it's still very early."

The new documents reveal how the CIA conducted telephone surveillance in Mexico City between December 1962 and January 1963, including specific instructions to agents regarding conversation monitoring and using specialized chemicals to mark telephone devices. These files also uncover new information about intelligence cooperation between the US and Mexico: the CIA's security contact regarding Oswald in Mexico was Luis Echeverría Álvarez, who later became president of Mexico.

Among the documents in the latest release was an official confirmation detailing how the CIA employed Robert A. Maheu, a former FBI agent turned agency contractor, for a particularly sensitive assignment in October 1959. The document, previously partially redacted, reveals that Maheu's security clearance request indicated he might be employed by the Kingdom of Jordan for public relations work in the United States. The document references an appendix describing "his involvement in acquiring female escort services for King Hussein during his later official visit to the US." While previously disclosed, this document has now been published without redacting the king's name.

Another document relates to Israel: an October 1961 analysis of the Communist Party in Israel (Maki). During this Cold War period, the United States was deeply concerned about the potential rise of communist regimes in additional countries worldwide and the expansion of Soviet influence. This document, titled "Summary of Communist Activity in Israel," provides a detailed profile of the party, noting that Maki had 2,950 members (2,500 Jews and 450 Arabs).

The report analyzes the party based on cultural-ethnic backgrounds, ideological positions, and members' attitudes toward the Soviet Union. It identifies key factions including "the Arabs led by Tawfik Toubi and Emile Habibi," alongside "Russian Jews led by Shmuel Mikunis and David Khenin, Lithuanian Jews led by Esther Vilenska and Meir Vilner, and Polish Jews led by Moshe Sneh and Yehoshua Irgun."

The document further describes how party members were divided in their attitudes toward Zionism, the Soviet Union in general, and Stalin in particular. It also examines the party's connections with communist entities worldwide and references other left-wing parties. Even US public service employees found themselves mentioned within these various records.

The newly released files contained Social Security numbers of dozens of congressional staff members from the late 1970s, some of whom are still alive today. While processing and analyzing these new documents is expected to require considerable time, researchers estimate that 3,000 to 3,500 files remain unpublished, either fully or partially.

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When an antisemitic tsunami engulfed America's elite educational institutions, most university presidents cowered in fear of the violent anti-Israel minority. In extreme cases, they managed to stammer a few condemnatory sentences attempting to cleanse themselves of moral failure.

Even at the height of the protest wave, when campus lawns transformed into centers for anti-Israel activism, prestigious institutions deliberately ignored Jewish students and staff who were forced to conceal their kippot and remove mezuzahs from their homes, or who fled to their parents fearing for their lives. This horror story, however, had an expiration date – January 2025.

Columbia's punishment

Days after returning to the White House, President Donald Trump implemented what should have been done on Oct. 8, 2023: he signed a series of executive orders, supported by the creation of a special Justice Department team to combat antisemitism, tasked with investigating and holding accountable those who enabled the wave of anti-Israel protests across numerous universities.

The impact of these signed orders resonated strongly from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington DC to 116th Street in northern Manhattan, home to Columbia University – the first institution to pay the price for the moral decay that had become emblematic of this elite institution. Recently, the administration announced a $400 million reduction in federal funding to the university, which had become a symbol of anti-Israel protests and served largely as inspiration for other institutions throughout the US and globally.

"And this is just the beginning," a senior advisor on the team said. "This is the strongest step we have taken thus far to demonstrate that the federal government will not financially support an institution like Columbia, which fails to protect Jewish students and staff."

The Free Press website reported in November that a group of alumni and former professors from the university conducted an analysis concluding that the institution could lose up to $3.5 billion in federal funding – more than half of its operating budget. "This represents an existential crisis," the report's authors asserted, urging the university to avoid "becoming the focus of public outrage."

Despite these warnings, the university administration apparently failed to learn from or seriously consider the report's findings. In recent weeks, anti-Israel demonstrations resumed, particularly in the Barnard College area. Though smaller in scale, protesters barricading themselves in the library forced its closure.

Cuts and boycotts

Columbia won't be the only institution paying for its failures. The US Department of Education has sent letters to 60 of America's largest universities, informing them they are under investigation for discrimination and harassment on antisemitic grounds. The letters serve as warnings that the administration will take action against institutions failing to protect Jewish students.

The anxiety about Washington's new approach extends beyond these institutions' bank accounts to their daily operations. Uncertainty and instability have pushed some universities to cut employment contracts, reduce medical research funding, and decrease student enrollment. Universities including California and Pennsylvania have decided to reduce admissions for advanced degree programs, including doctoral studies, due to uncertainty regarding future federal funding. Harvard has temporarily frozen hiring of both staff and faculty.

Compounding fears of federal funding cuts is an ongoing boycott by numerous donors, primarily Jewish, who withdrew financial support from prestigious institutions when the war began. Reports indicate that during 2024, donations to Harvard dropped by 15%, while one of Columbia's major donation days saw a 29% decline compared to 2023.

The masked, keffiyeh-wearing "protest stars" and advocates of "from the river to the sea" operated with inexplicable confidence as they shattered campus windows, burned flags, wore Hamas ribbons, and called for an intifada on American soil. The current administration is settling accounts with them as well.

Order and justice

One may disagree with President Trump – but any person, Jewish or not, whose heart isn't filled with hatred for others, cannot remain indifferent to Western educational institutions being transformed into battlegrounds against Israel, the nation single-handedly leading the entire West's war. To prevent such scenes from recurring, order must be established and justice ensured. And that appears to be precisely what's happening these days.

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A delegation of captivity survivors, including Doron Steinbrecher, Eli Sharabi, Naama Levi, Yair Horn, Omer Shem Tov, and Keith and Aviva Siegel, met on Wednesday (Israel time) with President Donald Trump at the White House. The delegation, currently visiting Washington, is expected to hold additional meetings with members of Trump's administration.

During the meeting, Omer Shem Tov told Trump: "My family and I, myself, we believe you've been sent by God to release us. You can really help. You have the power to do this. We heard you want to do everything possible to secure a deal as quickly as possible. You've given us hope." Trump responded: "Well, we said 'you better let us have those people back. You better let them out.' We did say that, and something happened. Now we've got to get the rest out."

The delegation arrived in Washington as negotiations for a new hostage release deal remain at a standstill. They are emphasizing to senior officials the urgent need to secure the immediate release of all remaining hostages in one coordinated effort.

Earlier in the day, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum stated that the delegation "is coming to thank the Trump administration for its commitment to securing the release of all the hostages and to share firsthand accounts of the horrors of Hamas' tunnels." During their meetings, the forum added, "they will stress the necessity of bringing all the hostages home immediately and at once."

Among those present during Trump's address to both chambers of Congress earlier that night were captivity survivors Noa Argamani, Yair Horn, and Aviva and Keith Siegel, as well as relatives of American hostages - Naotrah, Alexander, Chen, and Hagai - who attended as guests of members of Congress. Despite their presence in the chamber, Trump did not mention them by name, referring to the hostages only briefly and in general terms.

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Argamani began her remarks by recounting her abduction. "I was kidnapped by Hamas terrorists on October 7 from the Nova Festival along with my boyfriend, Avinatan Or. We were taken by force, separated, and entered hell on earth. I held Avinatan's hand as long as I could, but in one moment of terror – we were torn apart from each other and dragged into the unknown."

Video: Noa Argamani speaks the UN

Argamani emphasized the critical time remaining for the hostages still in captivity. "We have no more time! I am here today because it's a miracle, but there are still 63 hostages living this nightmare. They are in complete darkness, not knowing if they will live or die in the next moment. Every moment that passes is an eternity of suffering. We are talking about innocent people who were kidnapped from their beds, from a dance party, from their simple lives – and taken to a world of torture and humiliation. Hamas treated us like pieces in a cruel game, driven by sheer cruelty."

"You don't need me to tell you about a 9-month-old baby, Kfir, and his 4-year-old brother, Ariel Bibas, and their mother Shiri. A mother and her infants – brutally murdered in captivity. They didn't die in battle. They weren't fighters. They were tender children, whose blood was spilled with unimaginable brutality. This is Hamas – an organization that crushes babies with its hands and celebrates death."

During her remarks, she also described her period in captivity. In Gaza, she was held with several different hostages. "During my time in Gaza, I was held with two young girls – Hila Rotem and Emily Hand. At that time, Emily was 8 years old, and Hila was 12. I saw the fear in their eyes, the trembling in their bodies. I had to be strong for them, to hide the horrors so they could survive another day." Hand and Hila were returned as part of the hostage deal in November 2023, Argamani was with Yossi Sharabi and Itai Svirsky, whose bodies are still being held in Gaza.

"One evening, the house where we were being held was bombed, and we found ourselves buried under the rubble. Itai managed to get up, but Yossi and I were trapped beneath piles of concrete. I couldn't move. I couldn't breathe. I was drawn into darkness and thought this was it, these were the last seconds of my life. I screamed with all my might for someone to hear me, and I also heard Yossi's screams. Screams of pain, of pleading, of a person trapped between life and death. And then, after a few seconds, I heard only silence. Yossi died next to me, alone, helpless."

Two days after Yossi's death, the terrorists killed Itai. "He was brutally murdered by our captors," she recounts. "He was with me from the first day of captivity. We talked about our families, about the lives we left behind. He was a pure soul. And now he is gone."

Argamani again emphasized the necessity for the international community to understand the suffering of the hostages. "The international community must understand: Our hostages are living in hell on earth. They have no time! They have no hope without action. They must return home now! What kept me alive in captivity and until now, is something my mother always told me: Always be good, always hold onto the light. So here, in this forum, I will end with these words: Be good. But more than that, be just. Act now. Bring them – all of them – home now."

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With the decline of pro-Palestinian demonstrations across US campuses, Jewish students report that Donald Trump's return to the White House has created a more secure environment and an increased sense of personal safety. They also note a marked decrease in pro-Palestinian protesters' willingness to engage in extreme actions.

"Today, students think twice before wearing Hamas headbands because they understand the consequences – arrest and deportation from the US. We don't want these people in our country anymore," Gideon Escovitz (22), an undergraduate at Hunter College in Manhattan, a previous epicenter of pro-Palestinian protests in New York, said. He currently heads "Jewish Students for America," an organization combating foreign funding in American educational institutions, primarily from China and Qatar. "The protest momentum has diminished since last semester. Protesters have lost their drive, and wearing a keffiyeh while confronting local law enforcement is not trendy anymore."

According to Escovitz, Jewish students experience enhanced security. "The Trump administration, along with Congressional Republicans, works alongside us, respecting our status as citizens, voters, and contributing Americans. They're committed to supporting us. This is my homeland – my great-grandfather served as a US Air Force officer, and no 'schmuck' will exclude me or threaten my existence."

"Protests dramatically reduced"

Shortly after his White House return, Trump addressed the protests, stating they had unleashed an "unprecedented wave of vile antisemitic discrimination, vandalism, and violence against our citizens, especially in our schools and on our campuses." He promptly signed executive orders mandating the investigation and punishment of protest participants who violated laws, including Hamas supporters, given Hamas' designation as a terrorist organization in the US. Trump further announced visa revocation for pro-Hamas students on campuses.

Lilian Ross (20), studying psychology at Rutgers University in New Jersey, observed: "The protests are still happening, but have dramatically reduced, primarily because pro-Palestinian organizations are postponing activities, fearing potential consequences." However, Ross noted persistent anti-Israel sentiment. "Our student union still sees attempts to pass anti-Israel resolutions and anti-Zionist declarations."

The protest reduction at Rutgers can be partially attributed to the suspension of 'Students for Palestine' from campus activities until mid-2025, following their involvement in last year's unrest.

Ross experienced "genuine fear" during the protest wave. "Antisemitic graffiti appeared on student residences, our events faced disruption, we were pursued by Palestinian flag-bearing protesters, hostage posters were destroyed – ultimately forcing my return to my parents' home." Regarding campus Jewish organizations, she stated: "The issue isn't with Jewish organizations but with administration-student communication breakdowns, which persist. Those responsible remain unidentified." She currently collaborates with fellow Jewish students on policy papers documenting Jewish students' situations at Rutgers, intended for government and Congressional review.

"The White House now has leadership that won't tolerate campus chaos"

Eyal Yacobi (22), who attended the University of Pennsylvania during last year's protests and is currently a prominent advocate, welcomes Trump's election and initial administrative actions. "The White House now has leadership that won't tolerate campus chaos. Biden's era saw unchecked behavior from pro-Palestinian students. Despite the brief time since inauguration, Trump has established an inter-agency investigation team, implemented student deportations for legal violations, and launched comprehensive investigations. These actions should have commenced Oct. 8, and it's refreshing to see leadership committed to protecting Americans."

He sees "an opportunity for proactive measures" against students who targeted Jewish peers. "The administration begins addressing campus antisemitism at its root, inspiring considerable hope."

Yacobi criticized campus Jewish organizations' failure to anticipate or manage the unprecedented unrest. "As Israel must investigate Oct. 7, organizations must examine Oct. 8. They grew complacent, focusing on broader issues like civil rights, LGBTQ concerns, and African American matters – all important, but Jewish organizations must prioritize Jewish student protection and crisis preparedness."

A key voice during the protests, Yacobi addressed Congress near the university presidents' hearing, calling it the "Super Bowl for Jewish students." "The real-time accountability exposed clear antisemitism and campus moral ambiguity." Regarding protest participants, he noted, "The Trump administration and multi-agency task force clearly intend to address law violators."

Reformed administrative response

Professor Ran Kivetz, a 24-year Columbia Business School faculty member, noted tangible changes. "Last year's forceful campus takeovers have virtually disappeared. The new president maintains stricter standards than her predecessor. While isolated incidents persist – like masked protesters disrupting an Israeli professor's class with antisemitic materials – the intensity differs significantly from peak unrest periods."

Kivetz observed "surface-level improvements," attributing changes to both protest fatigue and revised administrative approaches. "The previous president showed either incompetence or misalignment – labeling them 'protesters,' entertaining BDS compromises, displaying weakness. Trump promised university investigations during his campaign and since election. The Israeli professor classroom incident drew immediate, severe condemnation and perpetrator accountability – unprecedented under previous leadership."

He noted, "Federal funding freezes for Columbia's medical school, decreased donations, and reduced revenue have pressured administration toward reform." However, Kivetz acknowledged persistent concerns among Jewish faculty about publicly addressing campus antisemitism. "Fear remains prevalent, especially in undergraduate humanities, where faculty members openly challenge Israel's legitimacy. These academics show increased coordination and boldness, integrating anti-Israel sentiment into curricula – a worsening trend."

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On one of Malibu's highest ridges stands an isolated house. An imposing gate welcomes visitors. I pass through it and continue climbing in a taxi to the peak, which seems to almost touch the sky. This is where Caitlyn Jenner's home is located. "I chose this place mainly for its location, and also because I wanted quiet," she said. "The kids come here with the grandchildren and play in the yard, and I also enjoy the privacy. No one can see us from here."

She greeted me with a broad smile, led me to her luxurious living room, and sat beside me. "You can start recording," she said with a smile. "How much time do we have for the interview?" I asked nervously. "Until I kick you out of here," she replied.

Bruce Almighty

Caitlyn Jenner grew up in New York as Bruce Jenner, and in 1972 participated for the first time in the Olympic decathlon, an event that includes contests of strength and speed. After breaking an Olympic record at the 1976 Montreal Olympics, Bruce became an American hero.

Jenner has six biological children and four stepchildren. She was married three times and had four children with her former partners, but in 1991 the big bang occurred in her life: Jenner married Kris, the mother of Kim, Kourtney, Khloe, and Rob Kardashian. This marriage transformed Bruce from a superathlete known in every US home to one of the world's most recognizable faces as the stepfather of the "Kardashians".

Jenner raised them and was a father figure, after Robert Kardashian, their biological father, passed away. Jenner and Kris had two more daughters, Kendall and Kylie Jenner, who went on to build empires in modeling and cosmetics, respectively.

"I helped raise ten children, only two of them graduated college," Caitlyn said. "Of those who didn't, two are on the Forbes billionaires list, and the other is the highest-paid model in the world. Kim never graduated from college, and she's by far the most successful of all of the girls. She is a wonderful human being, extraordinarily nice and generous. It's been great, her being part of my life."

Jenner speaks about her children with great pride and emphasizes the upbringing she provided alongside their mother. "I don't want to pat myself on the back, but that comes from parenting. Too many young people are growing up and without good guidance and stability." Jenner goes on to praise Jewish parenting, saying "I think the Jewish family is just wonderful."

She emphasized her affection for Jewish family values many times during our conversation, and stressed the importance of traditional values, those that have been lost in the US according to her. "You can talk to your kids and give them good advice, but the most important thing is, you have to lead by example, the type of person you are. How you treat other people is extremely important, if you're kind and understanding and nice to other people. This is the person that the kids see since they grew up."

Roots of support

In the Hollywood stronghold of superstars, it's hard to find many who will openly speak about their support for Israel. While many prefer to stay silent or act behind the scenes, Jenner is one of the prominent voices heard in the City of Angels in favor of Israel. The root of this broad support can be found in her life story, which is largely intertwined with the story of Israel and its revival.

"My father was in World War II, in the Fifth Ranger Battalion. They were the first troops into Buchenwald [death camp]," she recounted. "Only he never would talk about it, the only time he ever did [was when he showed me] some pictures – the Germans had left two hours earlier, and my dad walked in there and took the pictures. My dad said the smell was so bad, people like zombies walking around, dead bodies all over the place. Here you are, 23 years old, and you're seeing this.

"I couldn't believe that a human being could do such things to another human being. It really, really affected him and it affected me as a young kid – because of that I think I've always been on the side of the Israelis and the Jewish faith. I've always been a Christian but I've just always had this feeling for the Jewish people and what they've gone through because I just don't think they deserve it."

A few decades later, Jenner herself witnessed one of the historic events that impacted the State of Israel and the Jewish people, again on German soil. "The first time my father went back to Germany was in 1972 when I made it on my first Olympic team. It was very difficult for him, just to be at a restaurant and hearing the people next to him, they were all obviously speaking German. He told me 'My stomach would turn, I just want to walk over and slap him'.

"And then in the [Olympic] village, in the building right next to me, the terrorists came in and we lost 11 Israeli athletes. I saw one of the terrorists, [the one from] the very famous picture of that guy standing with the gun. It was traumatizing.

"It just upset me so much that these terrorists would come in and use the games – which I think is the greatest gathering of countries in the world, all for good and peace. It's all for great competition between athletes, between countries – for their political purposes. It was the first time everybody in America was really glued to what was happening around the world. It was devastating that we lost those athletes," she paused for a moment, and her voice trembled slightly. "So because of things like that, I've always been very sympathetic to the Jews and their journey. And honestly, it just hasn't stopped. It just hasn't stopped."

A wide smile spread across her face when she talked about her experiences from her previous visits to Israel. "I went twice, and to be honest with you had an absolutely wonderful time both times I was there. The people were so friendly and so nice, I felt right at home. People probably don't know, but the second biggest pride parade in the world is in Jerusalem, and people are shocked when they hear that. It is a mix of people that you probably wouldn't think would be there until you go and see it. When you think about religion or faith, this is where it all started. You're looking at buildings and walls and they're thousands of years old. It's an amazing place.

While reminiscing about her past visits to Israel, Jenner pointed out "Caitlyn hasn't had a chance to go there yet," acknowledging that her previous trips were all before her transition.

Social media, beware

Oct. 7, 2023, brought Jenner back to the childhood stories she heard from her father. "When I saw what happened on Oct. 7 I thought to myself: 'Here it goes again'. Again, the brutality of the other side is… I can't even fathom how one human being can do that to another… it doesn't register in my head. That's why immediately I came out in support of Israel."

Jenner also serves as a commentator on Fox News, in addition to maintaining social media accounts with millions of followers. "Almost on a daily basis, I have somebody come up to me and say 'thank you for supporting Israel', and my answer to them is: 'Do you know why I do it? Because you're worth it.' And I firmly believe that the Jewish people are worth it. Good, honest people who just want to live their lives."

Last April, Jenner posted a video on social media of her leaving a pro-Israel conference while being attacked by masses of Palestinian activists. Along with the video, she added the caption "I am a lifelong champion of Israel and fearless of these HAMAS terrorist sympathizing cowards! The only thing to protest is Hamas! Make no mistake, these are not peaceful protestors."

"I can take any criticism you throw at me," she said "I'll listen to you – but I really don't care. I'm trans and a Trump supporter, and will continue to be. He's a good friend. But I get so criticized, especially from the transgender community. So I'm very used to criticism and I can handle that."

However, she didn't foresee the intensity of hatred and antisemitism on US campuses. "I was totally surprised," she said. "That's why I speak up. America could learn a lot from the Jewish people and Jewish family values. The Jewish family is solid, it's strong. They have a commitment to their faith and a commitment to the family.

"I think we are losing that in the United States. I go to the bar mitzvahs, and the whole family is always so close. The father is the father's image, the mother is the mother's image. Faith, no matter what religion it is, is good. Patriotism is good. That's why this last election I was so extraordinarily happy. [Though] it's not going to be easy, our country has a chance to bring back our traditional values."

When discussing the LGBTQ people in the US who protested against Israel, Jenner is quick to respond and say that she "feels sorry for them" because they are "uneducated." In a post she published, she wrote that they should be deported to Iran or Gaza. "They just don't know how the world works. When I was growing up, I had the luxury of being naive.

"But today with technology, there's so much information that you don't have to get from your parents. Everything is out there, putting very mature thoughts into very immature minds. There's a lot of hatred towards Israel on the internet. They don't know anything. That's why when I say the second largest gay pride parade is in Jerusalem, they're going, 'It is?'"

Together we'll win

Caitlyn is one of Trump's most prominent and famous supporters in the US. With a close friendship with the president, frequent visits to Mar-a-Lago, and appearances on Fox News, she maintains her senior position in the Republican Party and is very proud of it. Trump's sweeping victory reflects the change in mood in the US, one that is also largely related to Israel, she claimed.

"A year ago, if you were a Trump supporter you had to be really quiet [about it]. I wasn't quiet, but now all of a sudden, with him winning decisively, that attitude has kind of changed and people can talk about it. It's the same thing when it comes to Israel – people are more open now to being able to voice their opinions in a positive way towards Israel, and that's a good thing.

"The biggest mistake Biden's administration has made was when Oct. 7 happened – they didn't stand behind Israel 100%. Donald Trump would never allow that, he would have had absolute support for Israel, no questions asked. Biden didn't do that. He shouldn't have gotten this job in the first place. America wasn't a country of strength because Joe Biden wasn't a leader of strength, and I think that's the bottom line to the whole thing."

Jenner explained how she thinks the US can rely on Israel and improve with its help. "I think Israel probably has the best intel in the world. The most brilliant thing they did was the pagers [attack on Hezbollah]," she said, bursting into loud laughter. "That is great intel! I've got to give it to them. Israel knows very well what's going on in the Middle East.

"Our intel is not like it used to be, but we've got some very good people going into office, so I think that will change. But we need Israel as a partner, and together we can really make a difference. I wouldn't want the IDF coming after me," she laughed and added, "They know everything."

She spent Trump's victory night at Mar-a-Lago with many fears. "I was scared to death," she shared. "I remember four years earlier, on that night, it looked like Trump was in pretty good shape, and I said, 'I'm going to bed,' then woke up the next morning, and Biden was president. And so, that's still in my head. When it first started Kamala Harris was doing really well, and I started panicking. At this point, I must have given hundreds of selfies and I said 'I'm out of here' and went back to my sister's house who lives nearby. A couple hours later, my sister woke me up [saying] 'He won! He won!'

"The guy is amazing and we're lucky to have him in our country, especially now as our president again. The Democrats went too far. For the last couple of years, what have we had? One indictment after the next indictment, all of them just bogus. People started realizing this was election interference by our government to the extreme. I said on Fox 'I commend Trump, but the real heroes are the American voters'.

"For the first time in our country's history, they saw through all of the BS that was out there. The Democrats couldn't talk about Harris because she's horrible, she doesn't know anything, and the voting public said 'We've had enough'. People tend to forget, but Trump was already president and there was a peaceful world during that period. The Abraham Accords for instance, what he did with Israel... he doesn't want to see more people die."

To the Democrats, she said: "You need to change your way because it's not working. These elections also showed that it was the end of mainstream media. They presented Harris as leading, and it also worked in Trump's favor because it brought out the voters to the polls."

It's (not) just sports

When we talk about the emerging administration, it's hard not to wonder if she would like to see herself integrating into it, especially given the close relationship with the president-elect. "Look, I'm 75, do I really want to spend the next few years I have going back to Washington, doing this and doing that? I kind of enjoy my life the way it is now, but I still want to help."

One of those issues is the integration of transgender people in sports competitions. Jenner expresses her anger at the policy led by the Biden administration in recent years, which she claims has harmed the status of women in sports.

The reference is to the decision to update "Title IX" from 1972, which focuses on prohibiting discrimination based on sex in educational institutions and allowing transgender people and any man who identifies as a woman to compete in women's races in various sports.

"How stupid can you be?" she said about Biden. "And it's not just for what's happening right now, but also for the coming decades, you would discourage young women from getting into sports because they would have to compete against guys. It would just slowly taper off over time. It's about bringing back Title IX to the way it was written originally, and I've already talked to Trump about it.

"Today I would never compete in women's competitions, because it's ridiculous and it's not fair. I obviously have a huge advantage over biological women. I want a clear, straightforward policy, without 'ifs' or 'buts'. If you get into definitions of 'non-binary' and all that, the path gets complicated. There needs to be a clear division – men there and women there."

The rise of the progressive "woke" movement within educational institutions is also at the center of Jenner's public agenda. "We need to get rid of this 'woke,' DEI world that we're living in. It got out of control. We have gender ideology being taught in our schools to young kids. That has to stop.

"Our school system has to teach reading, writing, arithmetic, math, American history, science, you name it. When I grew up in the 50s and 60s, there wasn't even a word for it. I kept my mouth shut and never told anybody. I found sports. It's for the parents to work with it, not the school, or maybe a doctor or a psychologist. I am 100% obviously against schools that do this, and I want to work with the government about it."

Q: What reactions do you get from transgender people?

"They hate me!" she said, then laughed loudly. "I'm the enemy. First of all, you're the enemy because you're a Trump supporter, and then you're the enemy because you're calling out something that they believe should be continued. I'm not on their side."

For a conservative party, it's not easy to accept a senior figure who is openly transgender, but Jenner describes a different experience. "To my face, nobody's ever said anything. I heard little rumors about somebody, but I don't care. I'm going to treat that person with kindness, as someone who is fighting with them for common goals. People always come to me and thank me for what I'm doing."

While Caitlyn has chosen to be politically active, she's careful to keep the Kardashians out of the political fray. "My advice to my kids is: Stay out of politics. Kim is probably a little bit more political, Kris too, the other ones don't do anything. In the last election, I told Kendall and Kylie 'Don't do anything.' First of all, they're all in the retail business, and whatever they'll say is going to piss off half the country. I told them 'If anyone asks for your opinion, say that you follow politics, but your vote is your vote, and don't talk about it.'"

"Coming out freed my soul"

Jenner's coming out story came after years of rumors and speculation. Behind it were decades of keeping a secret within one of the most publicized families in the world. "I was lucky I found sports at a young age. I was better at sports because I needed it more than the next person. But I never thought I would go as far as I did, I kept working at it and it became a part of my life, I was obsessed with it.

"In fact, the day after the games, I walked into the bathroom the next morning. The medal was sitting on the counter. I picked it up and put it on, I didn't have a stitch of clothes on. I looked in the mirror and said 'What the hell did you just do?' Did I build this character up so big that I'm stuck with it for the rest of my life?"

In 2015, Jenner publicly came out in a series of media events that shook the world of global entertainment. Jenner was photographed for the cover of Vanity Fair magazine and presented her image as a woman to the world for the first time.

"It was the first time actually had somebody do my hair and makeup. Photographer Annie Leibovitz did an absolutely great job, and the cover won the most influential cover of the past decade. I remember getting a phone call from my daughter Kendall saying 'It's out, the cover is out!'

"Coming out freed my soul. Every time I ever told anybody, it was like somebody had lifted all this weight off my shoulders, and I didn't have to sneak around or lie to anybody anymore. You're going to get a few haters out there, but through these 10 years I have grown a lot, I'm in a good place, more peaceful, but I'm still the same person with the same values.

"At first they gave the Woman of the Year award from Glamour magazine, and then ESPN called about ESPY and the Arthur Ashe Award. As years went by, I saw how the left was kind of using me when really my thoughts are conservative. I'm a Republican, a Trump supporter, and I can't just be that person, a liberal fighter for trans rights and all that.

"If you suffer from gender dysphoria [a mismatch between a person's biological gender and their gender identity] and you think it's the right thing in your life to do – I support what you're doing 100%."

"See you in Tel Aviv"

"So how are you getting back from here?" Jenner asked me at the end of the interview. I told her I'd order an Uber to the hotel. "No Uber will come here, you'll have to go down for the taxi to pick you up." When she saw I was having trouble ordering an Uber, she said: "Well, I'm going out for some errands so I'll give you a ride down." She quickly got ready, changed clothes, but kept on the tight cap that gathered her curly hair, and asked if I'd like to take something to snack on the way. I politely refused. On the way back to civilization, there's silence in the car, quite natural after hours of long conversation.

"So how many siblings do you have?" she inquired, and we started talking about my family in Israel. When we move on to talk about Christmas plans, she talked about the traditional and famous holiday event of "that side of the Kardashian family", as she calls it, but shared that this year it won't be held in the usual format, therefore she will spend an intimate evening with her partner at her daughter Kendall's house.

After a drive of about 20 minutes, we arrive at the neighborhood cafe. "Hey Caitlyn," greetings are heard from all around. "Do me justice, don't make me look bad," she asked me, telling me about difficult experiences she had in the past with the media. We part with a big hug and promise each other that the next time we meet will be at the Pride parade in Tel Aviv, this coming June. "I'm in, Dor, let's do it," she told me and waved goodbye.

The post Transatlantic support: Why Caitlyn Jenner is so pro-Israel – and so anti-progressive appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

Judith Raanan, who became the first hostage to be freed from Hamas captivity, held talks Monday with President-elect Donald Trump in Florida. During their meeting, Raanan presented Trump with her own artwork and recounted the traumatic moments of her capture and subsequent captivity in Gaza.

In her appeal to Trump, Raanan expressed her trust in him and requested his full support in securing the return of all hostages, both the living who need rehabilitation and those who did not survive, so they may be laid to rest in their homeland.

Judith and her daughter Natalie, who hold dual American-Israeli citizenship, were taken captive from their family residence in Nahal Oz during Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack and were released on Oct. 20, 2023. Within seven minutes of crossing back into Israeli territory, US President Joe Biden personally called Judith to congratulate her on reuniting with her family. Judith's response was resolute: "The work has just begun, we must bring everyone home immediately."

The post Former Hamas hostage appeals to Trump for help in freeing remaining captives appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.