Wednesday, May 14, 2025

05/14 Links Pt1: Trump's photo with Syrian President al-Sharaa symbolizes new world order; Spencer: A Clausewitzian Lens on Modern Urban Warfare

From Ian:

Seth Frantzman: Trump's photo with Syrian President al-Sharaa symbolizes new world order
Today, the US is focused on the Middle East and Asia. The whole world is more focused on Asia. For instance, Chinese military technology helped Pakistan against India recently.

Pakistan was a former British colony and had been closely linked to the West. Now it works with China.

Iran also collaborates with China. Countries in the Middle East are running to join economic groups such as BRICS and the SCO, which are non-Western economic blocs.

Therefore, Trump’s time in Saudi Arabia is part of the shifting global world order. The US is no longer a hegemonic power. This is a multipolar world.

Trump agrees with these changes. Although he wants to make America great at home, his “America first” approach also means the US rejects the notion of “national building.”

The American president skewered past Western efforts in the region. “The gleaming marvels of Riyadh and Abu Dhabi were not created by the so-called ‘nation builders,’ ‘neocons,’ or ‘liberal nonprofits,’ like those who spent trillions failing to develop Kabul and Baghdad,” Trump said.

“Instead, the birth of a modern Middle East has been brought about by the people of the region themselves... developing your own sovereign countries, pursuing your own unique visions, and charting your own destinies,” he continued.

”In the end, the so-called ‘nation builders’ wrecked far more nations than they built – and the interventionists were intervening in complex societies that they did not even understand themselves,” Trump said.

The meeting with Sharaa, therefore, symbolizes how the US is getting out of the business of “lecturing” others.

Trump is embracing a policy where Syria will determine its own future. He will not hold the past against Sharaa and Syria. He is ready for a new world order.
Stephen Pollard: If you want to understand how Qatar gets away with it: follow the money
There has, quite rightly, been renewed focus this week on Qatar. First, the ‘gift’ to Donald Trump of a new $400 million Air Force One, then the release of Hamas hostage Edan Alexander on Qatar’s instructions.

But here’s the ironic thing about the state which lends support to pretty much every organisation in the Middle East dedicated to suppressing or killing Jews, from the Muslim Brotherhood to Hamas: almost all the things that antisemites believe Jews do but which we don’t, the Qataris really do.

Qatari money is pretty much everywhere – from politics to culture to education to finance to construction to plain old lobbying. Qatar, one might well observe, has come up with a brilliantly simply strategy for ensuring that not too many questions are asked, let alone acted on, about its terror-related activities: buy up the West. And that includes the UK.

It’s not even hidden. If you want to understand why Qatar is able to act so duplicitously without any consequences, let me give you chapter and verse – all of it publicly available.

I’ll focus solely on the UK. Globally, this is of course far more extensive.

Let’s start with Canary Wharf, bought in 2015 by the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) in partnership with Brookfield Property Partners for £2.6 billion. The QIA is reported to manage £334 billion of investments. Qatar also owns 95 per cent of the Shard and much of the surrounding Shard Quarter, including the News Building, which houses News UK (publishers of The Times and The Sun).

After the 2012 Olympics the Olympic Village was sold to the $35 billion real estate fund Qatari Diar. In 2007 Qatar bought Chelsea Barracks from the Ministry of Defence for over £900 million; it is being redeveloped into luxury homes by Qatari Diar, which also part-owns the £3 billion redevelopment of Elephant and Castle. Qatari Diar is central to the multi-million-pound regeneration of Lewisham town centre. That sits in a Qatari property portfolio alongside the former US Embassy on Grosvenor Square, bought in 2009.
Israel Must Act Swiftly to Defeat Hamas
On Monday night, the IDF struck a group of Hamas operatives near the Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis, the main city in southern Gaza. The very fact of this attack was reassuring, as it suggested that the release of Edan Alexander didn’t come with restraints on Israeli military activity. Then, yesterday afternoon, Israeli jets carried out another, larger attack on Khan Yunis, hitting a site where it believed Mohammad Sinwar, the head of Hamas in Gaza, to be hiding. The IDF has not yet confirmed that he was present. There is some hope that the death of Sinwar—who replaced his older brother Yahya after he was killed last year—could have a debilitating effect on Hamas.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump is visiting the Persian Gulf, and it’s unclear how his diplomatic efforts there will affect Israel, its war with Hamas, and Iran. For its part, Jerusalem has committed to resume full-scale operations in Gaza after President Trump returns to the U.S. But, Gabi Simoni and Erez Winner explain, Israel does not have unlimited time to defeat Hamas:
Israel faces persistent security challenges across multiple fronts—Iran, the West Bank, Yemen, Syria, and Lebanon—all demanding significant military resources, especially during periods of escalation. . . . Failing to achieve a decisive victory not only prolongs the conflict but also drains national resources and threatens Israel’s ability to obtain its strategic goals.

Only a swift, forceful military campaign can achieve the war’s objectives: securing the hostages’ release, ensuring Israeli citizens’ safety, and preventing future kidnappings. Avoiding such action won’t just prolong the suffering of the hostages and deepen public uncertainty—it will also drain national resources and weaken Israel’s standing in the region and beyond.

We recommend launching an intense military operation in Gaza without delay, with clear, measurable objectives—crippling Hamas’s military and governance capabilities and securing the release of hostages. Such a campaign should combine military pressure with indirect negotiations, maximizing the chances of a successful outcome while minimizing risks.

Crucially, the operation must be closely coordinated with the United States and moderate Arab states to reduce international pressure and preserve the gains of regional alliances.


Trump tells Gulf leaders Iran must end support of proxies under nuclear deal
US President Donald Trump told Gulf leaders on Wednesday that he urgently wants “to make a deal” with Iran to wind down its nuclear program, but that Tehran must end its support of proxy groups throughout the region as part of any potential agreement.

Iran “must stop sponsoring terror, halt its bloody proxy wars, and permanently and verifiably cease pursuit of nuclear weapons,” Trump said in remarks at a meeting of leaders from the Gulf Cooperation Council hosted by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh. “They cannot have a nuclear weapon.”

The US and Iran have engaged in four rounds of talks since early last month, focused on Iran’s nuclear program. Trump has repeatedly said he believes brokering a deal is possible, but that the window is closing.

The president’s strongly worded push on Iran to cease support of Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the Houthis in Yemen comes after its proxy network suffered significant setbacks in the 19 months since Hamas launched its devastating October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, triggering war in the Gaza Strip.

In Iran, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called Trump’s remarks “deceitful” but did not directly address the US leader’s call on Iran to cease support of proxy groups.

“What he stated about willing of the regional nations for a progressive, flourishing path, is the same path that people of Iran decided through their revolution, indeed, for having a fully independent, democratic, free, wealthy and advanced country,” Araghchi said.
Witkoff: Hamas is afraid of Trump - and the truth is, they should be
Hamas is afraid of US President Donald Trump, and started treating hostages better after he was elected, US Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff told hostage families in a meeting earlier in the week, recordings by N12 revealed on Wednesday.

“Edan [Alexander] told me that when President Trump was elected, they started treating him better,” Witkoff said. He added that other hostages also experienced improved conditions following the 2024 election. “They’re afraid of him – and the truth is they should be.”

Witkoff stressed that securing a deal is the most effective method to bring the hostages home. “Statistically, far more hostages have been freed through diplomatic negotiations. That’s what really worked,” he said. While noting the IDF's success in certain rescue operations during the war, he emphasized that the majority of releases were ultimately secured through diplomatic channels.

He described the deteriorating circumstances for Matan Zangauker, who remains in captivity and suffers from medical issues. The two had been held together until Alexander’s release, after which Zangauker was left alone. “Edan’s release might hint at what could happen for everyone sitting in this room,” Witkoff told the families.

Once it became clear that Alexander’s release was achievable, Witkoff said, swift action followed. “We needed cooperation from the Egyptians, the Qataris, and, of course, from Hamas. We also needed strong backing from the president.”
Poll: 61% of Israelis back Saudi normalization; 69% support hostage deal, ending war
Sixty-one percent of Israelis support normalizing ties with Saudi Arabia and expanding the Abraham Accords in 2025, according to a poll published Tuesday, coinciding with US President Donald Trump’s first Middle East tour.

The survey, conducted by Ipanel on behalf of the Coalition for Regional Security, found that just 4.7% of respondents opposed Saudi normalization, while 33.9% said they neither support nor oppose such a move.

The survey measured Israeli public attitudes on regional diplomacy, the war in Gaza, and a potential US-led initiative based on a representative sample of 954 Israeli adults, including both Jews and Arabs.

The poll was released as Trump began a four-day trip to the Middle East, kicking off in Saudi Arabia before continuing to the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. Speaking at an investment summit in Riyadh, the president said Tuesday that it is his “dream” for Saudi Arabia to join the Abraham Accords, though he acknowledged that Riyadh would do so in its own time.

“It’s my fervent hope, wish and even my dream that Saudi Arabia… will soon be joining the Abraham Accords,” he said.

The poll suggests that many Israelis share that sentiment. When asked whether normalization with Saudi Arabia would strengthen Israel’s security, economy and regional standing, and weaken Iran, 67% of respondents said it would contribute significantly. Another 16% said it would contribute little or not at all, while 17.1% said they didn’t know.

Support for normalization was also consistent across political lines. Among Israelis who voted for the parties in the government coalition, 60% said they support normalization (compared to 61% of all respondents), and 65% said it would contribute significantly to Israel’s strategic interests (compared to 67% overall).


John Spencer: A Clausewitzian Lens on Modern Urban Warfare
Gaza and the Israel Defense Forces: Tactical Success, Strategic Strain
If Kyiv is a case study of Clausewitzian alignment of war and policy, Israel’s ongoing operations in Gaza provide another example of the dangers when the alignment falters.

The Israel Defense Forces are one of the most experienced militaries in urban warfare in the world. Israeli military operations are precise, intelligence-driven, and supported by technological superiority. Yet even these capabilities cannot eliminate the strategic dilemma of fighting in cities densely packed with civilians, under intense global scrutiny, and against nonstate actors that use the urban fabric—cities’ terrain and their people—as both shield and weapon.

Clausewitz emphasized that war is not an isolated act but part of a “continuous interaction”—including, notably, interaction with political objectives​. In Gaza, the Israel Defense Forces face a situation where the tactical destruction of enemy infrastructure—tunnels, command nodes, rocket sites—does not necessarily translate to strategic success of all the war’s political goals. Every collapsed apartment building and every civilian casualty reverberates globally. The moral forces Clausewitz emphasized—public opinion and will—are not abstract; they are measurable in diplomatic isolation or support, domestic cohesion, and battlefield morale.

This is not to say the Israeli military lacks clarity in its objectives, but rather that the urban environment imposes costs and constraints that can undermine strategic coherence. As I argued in Understanding Urban Warfare, a city can be the greatest ally or the worst foe, depending on how it is approached​. Clausewitz would remind any military leader that the means employed must remain proportionate and consistent with the political purpose.

Clausewitz also cautioned against rigid formulas. “Every age,” he wrote, “[has] had its own kind of war, its own limiting conditions, and its own peculiar preconceptions”.​ Urban warfare in the twenty-first century demands adaptation, and nowhere is this more evident than in the lessons derived from Gaza.

For the Israel Defense Forces operating in Gaza, every strike, pause, or maneuver is interpreted through political, humanitarian, and informational lenses. This is enhanced by the magnified friction of fighting in dense urban terrain. Streets can canalize movement, buildings and tunnels can conceal threats, and civilians can either support or sabotage operations.

Clausewitz, with his emphasis on uncertainty, chance, and moral forces, would have found urban warfare like that seen in Gaza to be the ultimate test of the statesman’s clarity and the commander’s judgment. In today’s information environment, that friction is amplified—a single video or narrative about the use (or misuse) of force, whether true or fabricated, can influence entire populations and political bodies. This aligns with Clausewitz’s trinity of wills—the people, the military, and the government, all three of which must be in balance for coherent strategy. In cities, that balance is constantly tested in real time and often in front of a global audience.


John Spencer: What It Would Mean If Israel Killed Muhammad Sinwar
The death of Sinwar—if confirmed—would be a blow to that structure. He was not just a battlefield commander; he was a lynchpin in the operational and psychological system that kept Hamas fighting from underground while hiding behind civilians.

This war has now lasted more than 18 months. And its complexity has been compounded by Israel having to simultaneously manage conflict across seven fronts—Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Judea and Samaria, Yemen, Iran, and global disinformation and lawfare. Israel has also operated under political constraints, including pressure and threats from the Biden administration. It has faced the psychological toll of hostages held in captivity, and it has had to fight an enemy that uses schools, mosques, and hospitals as human shields, knowing international scrutiny will be weaponized against the IDF.

In that context, every successful strike against Hamas’s leadership is more than tactical—it is a message. Despite every constraint, Israel retains the initiative, intelligence superiority, and strategic clarity to dismantle Hamas piece by piece.

If Sinwar is dead, it would mark the end of Hamas’s operational leadership behind the October 7 massacre. But that does not yet equal victory.

What comes next is even more decisive: Israel is poised to launch a major ground campaign to fully clear and hold key areas of Gaza. This approach, if executed with sustained momentum, has the right strategic intent: not just to kill terrorists, but to destroy Hamas’s military and political power and deny it the ability to rebuild.

That is how war is won. Not just by eliminating individuals, but by breaking the enemy’s ability to continue pursuing its strategy.

If this strike did kill Muhammad Sinwar, it would be a significant milestone. But the mission remains: return all hostages, dismantle Hamas’s military and political structure, demilitarize the Gaza Strip, and ensure that no terror regime ever again has the means, space, or time to attack the Israeli people.


Spanish PM calls Israel ‘genocidal state’
During an exchange in Spain’s Congress on Wednesday, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called Israel a “genocidal state”—an escalation in his already harsh rhetoric about the Jewish State.

Sánchez made his remark, which drew strong condemnations from Israel and Jewish groups, in response to a question about trade with Israel from a lawmaker, Gabriel Rufiá, who is to the left of Sánchez’s Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party.

“I’ll clarify one thing, Mr. Rufián. We don’t trade with a genocidal state. We don’t. I believe I explained from this platform the other day what we’re talking about, when some statements were made that weren’t true,” Sánchez said.

Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that it condemns and rejects the allegation, and that it will summon Spain’s ambassador to Israel for a dressing down.

Spain is on record as accusing Israel of genocide-related actions since it joined South Africa’s case against Israel at the International Criminal Court, along with Ireland, a fellow EU member state, and other countries. Sánchez, however, had not repeated the allegation in his own voice before Wednesday, Elías Levy Benarroch, editor-in-chief of Enfoque Judío, told JNS.

Levy Benarroch, a former executive at Spain’s leading news agency, EFE, accused Sánchez of being a “chief promoter of an antisemitic narrative” that is taking root in Spain.

Separately, Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema also made references to genocide on Wednesday. She did this in a speech in which she pleaded with the Dutch government to exercise more pressure on Israel. Halsema did not make the allegation directly, quoting instead two Holocaust scholars who recently used it against Israel.

“There’s a reason that the director of the NIOD now speaks of genocidal violence,” Halsema said, referencing an interview in NRC with Martijn Eickhoff, director of the Dutch Institute for War, Holocaust and Genocide Studies, in which he spoke of “genocidal violence.”


Terrorist shoots pregnant Israeli and her husband in Samaria as they drive to delivery room
The Israeli military is hunting for a terrorist who shot and injured two Israelis, a pregnant woman and her husband, as they drove to the deliver room near the small community of Bruchin, in Samaria, the Israel Defense Forces stated.

The baby was delivered in hospital, Ynet reported, but the baby’s condition wasn’t publicly known. The Rabin Medical Center’s Beilinson Hospital had stated on Wednesday night that its medical teams were fighting in the trauma room to save the life of the woman and the baby.

“I am deeply shocked by the horrific attack in Samaria, targeting a heavily pregnant woman and her husband as they were on their way to the delivery room,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated.

“This vile act precisely reflects the difference between us—those who cherish and bring life—and the despicable terrorists whose very purpose is to kill us and cut lives short,” the prime minister said.

“I trust that our security forces, as in previous cases, will swiftly reach the murderers and hold them and anyone who aided them accountable,” Netanyahu said.

The Yesha Council stated in Hebrew that it is “shocked and saddened by the terrible attack in Samaria and embrace the family at this difficult time.”

“The only way to prevent such serious attacks is to turn the city centers and villages, from which the murderers emerge, into ruins,” the council said. “We have been warning about this for a long time.”

“If the army continues to invest enormous efforts to capture a lone terrorist or a weapons cache and does not change the security perception on the ground, the State of Israel and its citizens will continue to be in danger,” the council added. “We are supporting the Minister of Defense in quickly changing the security perception.”


Nova hero who threw back eight grenades honoured at UK tribute
The parents of Aner Shapira, the 22-year-old killed while saving lives during the Nova festival massacre, delivered a searing tribute to their son at a high-security Israeli Independence Day celebration inside the British Museum.

“Aner signed the Declaration of Independence with his life,” they said, referencing Aner’s great-grandfather Moshe Chaim Shapiro, a signatory of Israel’s 1948 founding document.

The event, hosted by Israeli ambassador Tzipi Hotovely, marked Israel’s 77th year and drew several hundred guests, including GB News presenters, politicians, community figures and celebrities.

Aner Elyakim Shapira was on leave from the IDF on 7 October 2023 when Hamas gunmen attacked the Nova music festival. Taking shelter with around 30 strangers, he assumed leadership, instructed them to lie down, and stood alone at the entrance with a broken glass bottle.

“He fought off terrorists for over half an hour,” his parents told attendees. “He threw back eight grenades. Eventually, he was killed by an RPG. He had no orders, no uniform, no weapon. He acted freely and saved lives.”

Their son’s final words to those he protected were also revealed: “If something happens to me, you should continue what I am doing.”

The parents said Aner’s actions stemmed from his deeply held convictions. “He wrote, sang and lived these values. He opposed hatred and believed that we must fight against it every day in order to build a better world.”

The address ended with a call to carry forward his legacy. “Israel must return the hostages, support the injured, comfort the bereaved, and fight hatred with love.”
Fallen Hebrew Israelite soldier posthumously given Israeli citizenship
A member of the Hebrew-Israelite community was posthumously granted Israeli citizenship after he fell in battle in Gaza in October.

Sgt. Elishai Young fell in battle in the Gaza Strip in October 2024. Young was a member of the Hebrew Israelite community in Dimona and, despite serving as an IDF tank soldier, he did not hold Israeli citizenship.

Young was killed in northern Gaza along with 20-year-old St.-Sgt. Ofir Berkovich, who served in the 52nd Armored Battalion, 401st "Iron Tracks" Brigade.

Interior Minister Moshe Arbel presented Elishai Young’s family with an honorary citizenship certificate. The certificate was received by Elishai’s mother, Oshriya, and his brother, Avishai.

Honoring Staff Sergeant Elishai Young
“Recognizing the sacrifice of Elishai Young, who enlisted in the IDF and gave his life for the security of the State of Israel, is a moral and ethical obligation,” said Arbel during the presentation. “Granting honorary citizenship is not just symbolic—it is a clear declaration: Elishai was an inseparable part of the State of Israel, and his family will always be a part of us. This is a duty of honor, appreciation, and remembrance.”

At his funeral in Dimona, his mother eulogized him: “There is no one like Elishai. He went to the army, and whenever he had a few days or time, he would come to his family. He always said, ‘Mom, I’m coming home. I’m coming back, don’t worry. Nothing will happen to me.’ He always told me, ‘Be strong no matter what—this is war.’

“I want to say thank you to all the soldiers. What is happening in our world hurts. I want Elishai back in my arms. I want him back.”
Details emerge of Edan Alexander’s torments in Hamas captivity
U.S.-Israeli citizen Edan Alexander’s mother Yael on Tuesday revealed new details of his ordeals as a captive of Hamas in Gaza.

“Our hearts broke as Edan began to share the unimaginable hardship, the daily fear—just to survive the night. The hunger, the lack of water, the horrific sanitary conditions,” his mother said from Ichilov Hospital, where her son is recovering after his release on Monday. He is expected to stay at the hospital for four days.

Edan, 21, was freed by Hamas after 584 days in captivity. He was 19 when he was captured while serving on the Israeli border as part of the Israel Defense Forces’ Golani Brigade.

Among the torments he endured was the collapse of a tunnel in which he was being held. He only narrowly managed to escape. He lived on beans, rice and pita bread. During ceasefires, his fare improved considerably and included beef and lamb, Channel 12 reported.

His hands were cuffed for a time, and he had a sack on his head. He suffered from flea bites and bruises all over his body. At the start of his captivity, he was severely tortured and beaten. Some of his wounds from that period are still visible.

He was held by senior Hamas officials, who updated him on developments in the war. They also gave him details about Oct. 7. They called him an “asset” because of his American citizenship. They also referred to him as “the American.”

He saw his family members interviewed on television. Only on the morning of his release did his captors tell him that he was being let go. They had done this before so he didn’t believe them until the last minute, he said.

“The most terrifying sound of all—the one Edan feared most—was the sound of the war raging above their heads: deafening explosions, the whistling of rockets, sounds of collapse, crumbling and the trembling earth. Every moment could have been the last,” his mother said.

“Every minute was a battle between hope and despair,” she said.

She thanked U.S. President Donald Trump and his administration, the Israel Defense Forces, the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet), intelligence personnel and the Hostages and Missing Families Forum.


Edan Alexander’s conditions improved after Trump returned to office, says family
Freed hostage Edan Alexander’s conditions in captivity improved following the inauguration of US President Donald Trump in January, according to a family member.

Alexander’s aunt, Sharon Senyor, told the Ynet news site on Wednesday that “he said that since Trump took power his conditions improved. From the moment they started to talk about him, they gave him more food so that he would gain weight.”

Ynet also reported, citing conversations Alexander had with others since his release on Monday, that following Trump’s inauguration, the freed hostage was moved to a “VIP tunnel” with senior Hamas officials in order to both serve as a human shield and provide him with further protection due to his American citizenship.

This echoes comments Alexander reportedly made during his phone conversation with Trump on Tuesday. According to Channel 12 news, Alexander, when asked by the US president how Hamas had treated him, answered: “Since you got elected, my conditions improved dramatically. There are tons of cameras and people around me right now — I can’t share much at the moment. We’ll talk in private.”

Although reports had circulated that Alexander might fly to Doha on Wednesday to meet with Trump, his family said following his release that he required further medical treatment before leaving the country, and expects to meet the US president in Washington in the future.


‘Now you are free’: Sergeant who killed Hamas terrorists on Oct. 7 takes own life
Master Sgt. Igor Pivnev, a policeman praised for his bravery during the October 7 Hamas attack, took his own life on Tuesday, leaving behind a grieving family and community. His funeral was held Wednesday evening in Ashkelon.

Pivnev had shared his story of heroism several times over the past year and a half. But friends and family now believe he kept much of his pain to himself—until the emotional toll became too much.

Pivnev lived in Moshav Yated, near the Gaza border, with his wife Chen and their three young daughters. On the morning of the October 7 attack, he was on duty in Hebron when his wife called to tell him about rocket fire and reports of terrorists entering the area.

He asked his commander for permission to return home to protect his family. Taking a long rifle, he set out toward the fighting. Five shootouts, 13 terrorists killed

His first confrontation came at the Urim Junction, where he saw an Israeli vehicle with two dead soldiers inside. He got out of his car, took cover, and opened fire on two terrorists, killing them. Continuing down the road, he came across a white pickup truck.

“I pulled the car over, went to the field and saw that there were terrorists in the van, all with their backs to me, shooting toward the Maon Junction,” Pivnev recalled in a previous interview. “I opened fire on them, and after they fell, I continued toward the Maon Junction, where I met a team of IDF soldiers.”

By the time he reached Moshav Yated, he had been through five separate encounters and killed 13 terrorists. After briefly reuniting with his wife and daughters, he immediately joined the moshav’s emergency squad and returned to the fighting.


'Germany will not forget the hostages,' German president says in Kibbutz Be'eri visit
President Isaac Herzog and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier visited Kibbutz Be’eri on Wednesday as part of Steinmeier’s official state visit, marking 60 years of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

“Germany will not forget the hostages, and I will not forget them. Our voice will not remain silent, as long as they have not returned,” Steinmeier said.

The visit highlighted Germany’s significant contribution to rebuilding the Be’eri Gallery, destroyed during the October 7, 2023, terror attack. This is the president’s second visit since the outbreak of the war.

The two presidents met privately with kibbutz leaders and survivors of the massacre before attending a ceremony at the gallery site, where reconstruction plans were presented.

They concluded the visit by planting a tree as a symbol of renewal and hope.

Herzog called the visit “full of symbolism,” noting the historical weight of the Holocaust, the October 7 atrocities, and the ongoing resilience of the Be’eri community. “We are creating life together… proving that the spirit of human beings overcomes the worst of atrocities,” he added.


Trump’s Middle East Gamble: What does it mean for Israel? | Israel Undiplomatic
Israel, Iran, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia—this week’s episode of “Israel Undiplomatic” explores President Donald Trump’s high-stakes visit to the Middle East and what it means for Israel, U.S. foreign policy and the wider region. With a sharp eye and decades of insider experience, former Israeli Ambassador to the UK Mark Regev and veteran journalist and political commentator Ruthie Blum—both former advisers in the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office—unpack the diplomatic theater unfolding across Riyadh, Doha and Abu Dhabi.

From massive Saudi investment deals to the controversial easing of sanctions on Syria, the hosts question whether American economic priorities are being placed above regional security—especially Israel’s. Is Trump’s "America First" agenda leaving Israel out in the cold or is this all part of a long-game strategy?

The conversation explores:
Trump's economic diplomacy in Saudi Arabia
The risks of nuclear cooperation with Arab states
Qatar’s influence campaign and role in Hamas funding
The Iran deal redux: what’s at stake now
The ethics and effectiveness of hostage negotiations
Why Israel’s perceived strength matters for peace and regional alliances

Chapters
00:00 Trump's Middle East Visit: Economic Priorities
10:04 The Qatar Dilemma: Influence and Concerns
19:59 Hostage Negotiations and Military Operations
30:04 Iran and Regional Stability: A Complex Landscape




Hamas ‘celebrated as freedom fighters’ the day after October 7 attack
Director and Filmmaker Wendy Sachs discusses her documentary ‘October 8’ and the reasons behind creating it.

The October 8 documentary aims to raise awareness of growing antisemitism around the world.

Ms Sachs told Sky News host Sharri Markson that she saw Hamas being “celebrated as freedom fighters” the day after the October 7 attack on Israel.

“Rather than being condemned as terrorists.”


‘Close-minded’: Pro-Palestinian protesters ‘not willing’ to engage in conversation
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Graduate Talia Khan slams the “close-minded” students protesting against Israel on university campuses.

Ms Khan told Sky News host Chris Kenny that they were “not willing” to engage in a productive conversation.

The October 8 documentary features Ms Khan and dissects the growing antisemitism around the world and on university campuses.


travelingisrael.com: The USS Liberty, Candace Owens, and the Truth
The USS Liberty, Candace Owens, and the Truth: She Hates Israel More Than She Loves Jesus

Candace Owens claims Israel deliberately attacked the USS Liberty in 1967. In this video, I explain what really happened — a tragic case of friendly fire during the chaos of the Six-Day War — and why the conspiracy theories don’t add up.

Candace ignores context, military reality, and actual Christian persecution in the Muslim world — all to push an anti-Israel agenda.

This isn’t about one ship. It’s about truth, history, and values. No spin. No Mossad. Just facts.

0:00 Candace Owens, the USS Liberty, and a viral conspiracy
3:06 What really happened on June 8, 1967
6:08 Friendly fire happens — in every war, including this one
9:12 Candace's double standard and the missing context




Ami’s House: Did Israel Break MAGA? James Lindsay on Rogan, Candace Owens, and the Woke Right
James Lindsay has recently popularized the term "Woke Right" and has gone straight at podcasters like Dave Smith, Joe Rogan, Tucker Carlson, and many others, criticizing them for using the same tactics the Left used to silence opposition and construct their worldview. But Ami doesn't go easy on James here, either. He pushes back hard on whether James' tactics are any better.

Listen to our conversation about the fracture inside the new conservative movement — and he doesn't hold back. In this clip, James weighs in on Joe Rogan’s controversial interview with Ian Carroll, the rise of the “woke right,” how Candace Owens wants to be a cult leader, and the dangers of engaging conspiracy-driven influencers without pushback.

🔹 Why did Rogan’s interview with Carroll spark backlash?
🔹 Is the "woke right" just the alt-left in disguise?
🔹 Is Andrew Tate the Right's form of queer?
🔹 What does James think about free speech vs. propaganda?

Watch as Lindsay connects the dots between online echo chambers, MAGA’s fragile coalition, and the influence of foreign actors on American discourse.

00:00 James Lindsay on Woke, MAGA & Media Power
00:47 The Origins of “Woke” and Its Evolution
03:02 From Antifa to Groypers: The Rise of the Woke Right
07:31 Andrew Tate, “Based” Culture & Right-Wing Transgression
12:19 Did Israel Break MAGA? The Tucker Carlson-Candace Owens Divide
14:27 Candace Owens, “Christ Is King,” and Anti-Israel Sentiment
19:01 Foreign Influence? MAGA Infiltration and Bot Networks
36:30 Joe Rogan, Ian Carroll, and Engaging with Extremism
44:10 Daryl Cooper, Debate Bros & the Limits of Discourse
59:07 – Can the Right Avoid a Fascist Turn? Final Thoughts


Kanye West is a self-declared Nazi. Treat him like one
What’s more, West is, in many ways, irrelevant – or at least he should be. He does not hold elected office. He has no actual power. His musical career peaked years ago. Since then, he has done little of any note apart from post offensive things. He is influential, yes, but only because of the platform he is constantly given. In short, West is not someone whose views we need to be endlessly heard, or scrutinised or debated. He is a no more than a washed up rapper who has a hatred of Jews and a penchant for the Nazis that should see him banished from public life for good. We would do well to treat him as we would any racist conspiracy theorist we might encounter online or in real life: ignore him, deny him the attention he craves and leave him to shout into the wind for as long as he likes.

That this hasn’t happened is perhaps partly a result of the wider way in which West’s obvious Jew hatred has been dismissed. There have been endless attempts to explain or even excuse his bile. “He’s obviously just mentally unwell”, many people say, or “Oh he’s just going through some sort of breakdown.” This is apologism, pure and simple. If someone states that they are a Nazi then we should treat them as a Nazi, rather than watch millions of people trying to find a way to let them off the hook. Plenty of us have struggled with our mental health without finding ourselves expressing our adoration for Hitler.

The vast majority of people suffering mental breakdowns do not proudly themselves to be Nazis. No mental health conditions I am aware of list antisemitism as a symptom. It is dangerous to try to dismiss West’s obvious Jew-hatred as simply a medical condition for which he should not be held responsible, rather than a deeply-held opinion that he very clearly holds.

The treatment of West is a case study in how Jew hatred can be normalised. Social media companies must stop giving him the platform to promote Nazism and more traditional media outlets must treat him with the contempt he deserves.

Antisemitism is not an illness or an affliction. It is an ideology. Those who promote it do need not to be listened to and engaged with, but scorned and shut down, denied the attention they demand.

That is true regardless of someone’s musical abilities or how many social media followers they have. Now, time to update my playlist.


Ben Cohen, co-founder of Ben & Jerry's, arrested while protesting US policy on Gaza
Ben Cohen, the co-founder of Ben & Jerry's ice cream, was arrested Wednesday after interrupting a Senate hearing to protest the United States' policy on Gaza, according to American media reports.

While Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was delivering a testimony, Cohen reportedly shouted: "Congress sent the bombs that kill children in Gaza and pays for it with cuts to Medicaid."

Cohen was escorted out by Capitol Police and arrested following the interruption. He has reportedly since been charged with misdemeanor offense of Crowding, Obstructing, and Incommoding.

"I told Congress they're killing poor kids in Gaza by buying bombs, and they're paying for it by kicking poor kids off Medicaid in the US. This was the authorities' response," Cohen wrote on X with footage of the incident.

In the video, Cohen claimed Israel had starved Gaza for 79 days and the US needed to enable food to enter the enclave.

Cohen was one of seven protesters escorted from the building, according to NBC News.

Outside the meeting, Cohen held a conference with Rashida Tlaib, an American politician embroiled in numerous antisemitism controversies.




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