Sunday, December 28, 2025

12/28 Links: The Global War on the Jews; All eyes on Florida as Trump, Netanyahu face Gaza ceasefire test; How Western ‘charity’ bought Hamas’s rockets; Starmer welcomes ‘extremist’ to Britain

From Ian:

The Global War on the Jews
Jews everywhere are confronting a period of danger and moral testing. Antisemitism no longer hides at the margins. It organizes, radicalizes, and kills. The global surge in antisemitism does not arise organically. States and terrorist organizations deliberately export violence, incitement, and ideology far beyond Israel's borders. The same actors who target Israel actively work to destabilize Jewish life worldwide. What begins in Israel never ends there.

During Israel's campaign against Hamas, calls for a "ceasefire" from anti-Israel activists exposed their true intent. They demanded that Israel should halt its defense. Hamas and its allies, it seemed, could continue attacking Israeli civilians without consequence. That same moral inversion now fuels violence across the Diaspora. Selective outrage and the erasure of Jewish vulnerability have moved from protest rhetoric to physical attack.

Since the truce between Israel and Hamas took effect in early October, violence against Jews worldwide has intensified. When the world delegitimizes Jewish self-defense, Jewish life everywhere becomes more vulnerable.

In Israel, a deeper clarity is evident. Israeli society understands that security cannot be subcontracted, that moral clarity cannot be outsourced, and that Jewish continuity demands courage. The festival of Hanukkah rejects the idea that Jews must justify their existence on terms set by others. Israel embodies that refusal.

Only in Israel do Judaism, Christianity, and Islam coexist freely and openly under the protection of law. That reality stands in sharp contrast to the regions controlled by the forces whose narratives dominate much of today's international discourse.
College Middle Eastern studies departments are broken — shut them down to end campus radicalism
Shut down the Middle Eastern studies departments in our universities. I was a student in one of these programs, and I say it plainly: shut them down.

A majority are corrupted and compromised. Through these departments, dozens of American college students have at best been indoctrinated to despise this country and whitewash the crimes of terrorists, and at worst pushed toward genuine radicalization and extremist plots.

These programs have been the soft underbelly through which universities quietly accept foreign money and, with it, foreign influence that dictates curriculum, hiring, admissions, scholarships and more. They serve as conduits that funnel cash into extracurricular groups, adding an extra layer of protection and plausible deniability while financing the encampments and harassment campaigns that have erupted on campus in recent years.

Anti-Israel protesters demonstrate outside Columbia University on Sept. 3, in New York City. (Yuki Iwamura/AP)

This influence has been seeping into our institutions for more than two decades, but it has become brazen precisely because there have been few, if any, consequences. As someone who has had a front‑row seat to the jihadification of American academia, this is where much of it begins. Shut it down.

The rot is no longer theoretical. It has names, funding streams and institutional addresses. At Columbia University, Mahmood Mamdani, father of New York City’s mayor-elect, has been criticized for presenting Israel as a purely colonial project while downplaying the terrorism of groups such as Hamas, shaping how students in African and Middle Eastern studies understand the region.

At Oberlin College, Mohammad Jafar Mahallati, a former Iranian diplomat, has faced allegations that he helped cover up the Iran regime’s mass executions in the 1980s and has spoken of Hamas "resistance" in ways that minimize its terrorism.

And at Princeton University, Seyed Hossein Mousavian, another former Iran regime official, has been accused of echoing the talking points of Tehran while appearing to legitimize Hamas and Hezbollah in public remarks, all under the banner of Middle East security studies.

When the person shaping course offerings, speakers and graduate funding openly aligns with a brutal authoritarian regime, why should anyone be surprised when students emerge hostile to Israel, sympathetic to designated terror groups and convinced America is the villain of the story?

The money behind this intellectual capture is staggering. Saudi Arabia has poured tens of millions into specific Middle East and Islamic studies hubs, from the King Fahd Center in Arkansas to Alwaleed-bin-Talal–branded programs at Harvard and Georgetown that fund chairs, research and student programming focused on Islam and the Middle East.

According to a 2022 report by the National Association of Scholars, a higher education think tank, Qatar has become one of the largest foreign donors to U.S. higher education since 2001, with several billion dollars routed through branch campuses and partnerships that shape what is taught about the Middle East on both Doha and U.S. soil.

This is not philanthropy in the abstract; it is targeted influence over who gets hired, what gets researched, and which narratives about Israel, Jews and the West are elevated or suppressed.
Book Review: “Be A Refusenik: A Jewish Student’s Survival Guide”
A delightful lithograph hangs in the Berkeley Jewish Art Museum, a block west of the University of California’s rattled flagship campus. It shows its creator, originally a Soviet underground artist, Eugene Abeshous, dressed as a Fiddler on the Roof extra, disembarking at Eretz Yisrael. The work is called Jonah and the Whale in Haifa Port because instead of a cruise liner, its protagonist exits the gaping mouth of a sea monster. Abeshous tells the story that was once on the front pages of American newspapers, but is now nearly forgotten—that of Soviet Jews leaving the belly of the beast.

In her recently released Be A Refusenik: A Jewish Student’s Survival Guide, historian of Soviet Jewry Izabella Tabarovsky used the struggle of the Soviet Jews in the 1970s and 80s as an inspiration for the young Americans facing antisemitism on college campuses. Tabarovsky put the half-century-old experiences of my and her parents’ generation side-by-side with the conflicts defining the lives of our children. Even if we are “separated by decades, borders, and ideologies,” she showed how the mindset of refuseniks can—and does—inspire the students today.

Refuseniks were the Soviet Jewish dissidents who were denied permission to make aliya. My maternal uncle, for instance, applied for his exit visa in 1980, lost his scientist job, had many unfortunate encounters with the sadistic Soviet bureaucracy, and was finally granted passage in 1987, after he made it on the Ronald Reagan list of 100 refuseniks.

My uncle was perhaps luckier than most, but this was a fairly typical refusenik fate. Yet when Tabarovsky tells American students to be refuseniks, she highlights another meaning of the word—the one who refuses to surrender to the forces of evil. Her book teaches how to dive into Jewish history to find the inner strength to resist.

In one key respect, Soviet antisemitism was similar to the contemporary American antisemitism—it sells itself as antizionism. In fact—and this is something Tabarovsky discussed in her Legal Insurrection lecture—our antizionism was invented by the Soviets; it was a product of the virtual freakout over the 1967 defeat of its Arab clients. The Antizionist tropes animating the vocabulary of American college professors are traceable to Brezhnev-era Soviet propaganda.

Antizionism, Tabarovsky shows, was something that Soviet Jews, like their contemporary American counterparts, experienced on a personal level—the hysteria whipped up in the media and echoed in local Communist meetings made Jewish existence unsafe. But the defiant Zionists inverted fear and responded with pride. For instance, when his bosses brought out Nathan Sharansky for a Soviet humiliation ritual before his entire institute and started drilling him about his Jewish ideological leanings, Sharansky responded by giving a brief lecture on modern Israeli history—and found an “intrigued” audience in his co-workers, many of whom, I’m sure, found it liberating to hear Soviet propaganda exposed.


Seth Frantzman: All eyes on Florida as Trump, Netanyahu face Gaza ceasefire test
When the ceasefire began, numerous US officials flew in after October 13 and sought to make sure that it held, and that the CMCC kept moving forward. When Israeli officials said they would cut off aid in response to an incident in Gaza, the US made it clear that the days of cutting off aid to two million civilians in order to punish a Hamas cell were not going to continue.

Reports appear to indicate some US officials are frustrated with the pace of developments in Gaza. Some want to see more progress. It’s unclear if these reports represent leaks or infighting or are signaling to Jerusalem that Israel needs to be more flexible. With cold winter weather and rain pounding Gaza, its civilians continue to suffer.

The question is whether the US can find a way to make the complex ceasefire work.

There are obviously expectations in the Middle East that the ceasefire is about more than just talk. Egyptian and Turkish media are covering the story of how Gaza may move to the next phase of the deal. “Netanyahu to meet Trump for Gaza Phase 2 talks amid US frustration over delays,” Daily News Egypt says.

“The Gaza ceasefire and the transition to the second phase of the deal are expected to dominate the agenda of the Netanyahu-Trump meeting, according to media reports,” Turkey’s Anadolu Agency noted.

Many are focused on the ceasefire in the meeting. There are likely to be many other subjects discussed, as Israel also has tensions with Hezbollah and Iran. Jerusalem may prefer the new status quo in Gaza and assume it can just wait things out. The Trump administration, focused on Ukraine and Gaza, may want to see progress or may feel that pushing too hard could create a crisis.
Netanyahu to Seek Understandings with Trump on Gaza War, Syria
Prime Minister Netanyahu will meet President Trump in Florida on Monday for discussions on a range of diplomatic and security issues. From Israel's perspective, the demilitarization of Gaza and the disarmament of Hamas are foundational issues for any progress on reconstruction and governance in Gaza. Netanyahu wants to understand how the international stabilization force (ISF) the U.S. is assembling would carry this out.

During a recent meeting of Israel's security cabinet, it was reported that the U.S. has secured commitments from three countries to send troops to Gaza. From Israel's perspective, countries such as Turkey and Pakistan cannot be part of the stabilization force. Israel is conditioning the transition to the second phase on the return of the body of killed hostage First Sgt. Ran Gviliy. There is hope that a focused effort will yield results in the coming days.

Israel wants to ensure that the plan guarantees genuine disarmament of Hamas, not symbolic gestures or maneuvers, and the same applies to the demilitarization of Gaza. Israel seeks to ensure a complete break from Hamas and minimal ties to the Palestinian Authority.

A senior Israeli official said after Thursday's cabinet meeting: "In Israel there is significant doubt whether the international force will succeed in disarming Hamas, but it must be given the opportunity. As for Hamas, intelligence assessments show it is still active, rearming and rebuilding."

Regarding Syria, the army of Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa was seen chanting "To Jerusalem" and "We are coming to Gaza" during the anniversary of Assad's fall, and fighters were seen wearing ISIS patches. In such a situation, Israel cannot rely on or view al-Sharaa as a stable partner.

Israel wants a demilitarized zone in southern Syria that does not threaten Israel, to protect the Druze population to prevent another massacre, and to prevent Damascus from becoming a depot for advanced weapons systems. On the possibility of reaching a security arrangement with Syria, the official said: "We thought it could happen faster, but they are unstable."
Three Months after the Ceasefire in the Hamas-Israel War -
The near miraculous release of all live hostages and return of the remains of all the dead hostages except one was an objective few independent observers thought possible. Yet only two of the five war aims endorsed by the Israeli government have been implemented: the return of the hostages and establishment of a significant Israel Defense Forces (IDF) security perimeter within Gaza to prevent an October 7–style recurrence.

Despite considerable diplomatic activity, none of the other three aims has been achieved and none seems even to be on the horizon: the disarmament of Hamas, the demilitarization of Gaza, and the creation of a peaceful Palestinian-led civilian administration led by neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority.

Instead, the most likely scenario is an ad hoc postwar status quo in which Gaza is effectively divided between an Israel-controlled zone, covering 53% of the territory and 15% of the population, and a Hamas-controlled zone covering 47% of the territory and 85 percent of the population.

Israel is likely to limit its Gaza activities to defending its zone of control and preventing illicit Hamas resupply efforts and hit-and-run attacks. Launching a major operation soon to disarm Hamas would appear unlikely since Israel is reluctant to take action that would indicate the collapse of President Trump's achievement.

On the international front, Israel can count among its successes the ability to sequence its conflicts with regional adversaries, made possible through U.S. military and diplomatic support, thus preventing Iran and its proxies from realizing the full potential of their "ring of fire" to overwhelm Israeli defenses. Moreover, none of Israel's five Arab peace partners - Egypt, Jordan, the UAE, Bahrain, and Morocco - suspended their treaties or broke relations during the war.
WSJ Editorial: Hamas Is Loving Its Revival
Is U.S. policy legitimizing Hamas? Three months after the October ceasefire, the terrorists show no sign of disarming. Instead Hamas negotiates with White House envoys and regional powers as it settles in for the long haul. The Administration dignifies Hamas as a continuing negotiating partner.

President Trump's peace plan says, "Gaza will be a deradicalized terror-free zone that does not pose a threat to its neighbors." So far, no progress. "Hamas and other factions agree to not have any role in the governance of Gaza....There will be a process of demilitarization of Gaza under the supervision of independent monitors, which will include placing weapons permanently beyond use." Hamas governs half of Gaza and has not surrendered a single weapon.

In the face of these violations, the Trump Administration pressures Israel to sit on its hands. When the Israelis occasionally strike senior Hamas terrorists, including those responsible for the Oct. 7 massacre, the White House scolds Jerusalem for threatening the peace.

Every day Hamas fails to disarm and surrender power is a ceasefire violation. Accepting it legitimizes Hamas's presence. Trump's comments throughout the war suggest he understands that there can be no peace so long as Hamas is in power. But his envoys seem willing to trust that economic development alone will save Gaza. This has been tried and failed. Whatever gets built is knocked down in the next war that Hamas starts. Will the Trump envoys be remembered as the team that saved the hostages or the team that saved Hamas?
Israel's Mossad Accuses Qatar of Incitement and Spreading Disinformation
The Mossad on Thursday openly accused Qatar not only of backing Al Jazeera, which it said "encourages hatred, antisemitism and terror," but also of responsibility for "spreading false narratives and incitement against the State of Israel worldwide across multiple platforms."

The agency sought to correct what it viewed as a false impression that it had effectively "defended" Qatar over the years or served as its advocate. Mossad officials stressed that the agency was well aware of Qatar's negative role and viewed it as an enemy state that hosts terrorists and funds antisemitic activity on campuses under the banner of the Muslim Brotherhood.

The Mossad was the Israeli intelligence body responsible for maintaining contacts with Qatar due to the absence of formal diplomatic relations and these focused on the hostages. Officials said Qatar was seen by the Mossad as the most effective mediator in hostage negotiations. "The country that held the switch to the hostages' lives was Qatar," officials said.
The Role of Qatar in Promoting Jihad through the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas
Over two decades, Qatar has provided Hamas with political sanctuary, legitimacy, funding channels, and diplomatic cover, hosting its leadership and enabling strategic planning despite public denials of supporting terrorism. From at least 2014 onward, Hamas leadership developed a long-term, genocidal strategy aimed at eliminating Israel, expanding military capabilities, and planning a multi-front assault that closely resembled the Oct. 7, 2023, attack.

Qatar-hosted and Qatar-supported clerical networks linked to the Muslim Brotherhood framed jihad against Israel as a religious obligation, endorsed mass violence against Jewish civilians, and later issued charters justifying Oct. 7 and calling for global mobilization. Qatari-funded charities, cash assistance, and support for UNRWA in Gaza simultaneously provide humanitarian aid while reinforcing Hamas's governance, military infrastructure, and control over civilian institutions.
IDF video rebuts Hamas Oct. 7 claims
The Israel Defense Forces released graphic video footage Saturday showing Hamas attacks on civilians during the Oct. 7, 2023, massacre, directly challenging a newly published Hamas report that denies targeting civilians.

The IDF post on X accompanied 10 minutes of previously released footage showing acts of violence against civilians.

The military said the 11-minute video represents “a fraction” of documented events from the Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist attack that killed more than 1,200 people in Israel, including 348 young found murdered at the Supernova music festival site. Another 251 people were kidnapped to Gaza.

The response came after Hamas released a 42-page document on Dec. 24 rejecting allegations that its fighters intentionally targeted civilians, hospitals or schools during the cross-border assault. The Hamas report, shared by the head of Euro‑Med Human Rights Monitor, Ramy Abdu, claims terrorists were instructed to avoid civilian targets, and calls for International Criminal Court or independent investigation of casualty claims.

“These are not allegations. These are documented events,” the IDF stated in its post.

The Hamas document accuses Israel of spreading disinformation about the Oct. 7 attack, which triggered the Gaza war.


IDF Commander in Gaza: "The Enemy Has Not Abandoned Its Ambitions"
From the Ridge 70 observation point in the Sheikh Zayed neighborhood of northern Gaza, the view stretches clearly to the buildings of Sderot, the chimneys of the Rotenberg power station in Ashkelon, the large Israeli flag erected in Netiv HaAsara after the Oct. 7 massacre, and additional Israeli communities just a few kilometers away. No buildings remain standing between Ridge 70 and Israeli communities.

Col. Omri Mashiach, commander of the IDF's Northern Brigade in the Gaza Division, said, "The enemy is weak, but it has not abandoned its ambitions. There are still attempts to create friction, such as sniper fire, explosive charges and anti-tank missiles, but instead of this happening along the border with the communities, it happens at the 'yellow line.'...If I were a resident of the border communities, I would understand that the situation has fundamentally changed. The efforts visible here can truly provide a strong sense of security. Our role is not to sleep, so residents can."

As a result of IDF activity, several security-related changes have been implemented in the western Negev, including reopening Zikim Beach, resuming rail service between Sderot and Ashkelon, and removing the concrete barrier along the access road to Kibbutz Nahal Oz.

Northern Brigade forces have been operating for months along the "yellow line" in northern Gaza, destroying terrorist infrastructure above and below ground in Jabaliya, Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahia, and eliminating any immediate threat to Israeli forces and the State of Israel. During operations, dozens of terrorists who crossed the "yellow line" and posed an immediate threat were killed. IDF combat engineers destroyed more than four km. of underground tunnel routes used by Hamas.
Israel said to detain Islamic Jihad operative during search for final hostage’s body
Covert Israeli forces on the Hamas-controlled side of the Gaza ceasefire line have reportedly detained a Palestinian Islamic Jihad operative linked to the abduction of slain police Master Sgt. Ran Gvili, the last Israeli hostage still being held in the Strip.

According to the Saudi-owned outlet Asharq al-Awsat, the unnamed operative is part of the al-Quds Brigades, PIJ’s armed wing, and was active in Gaza City’s eastern Zeitoun neighborhood, which is bisected by the ceasefire line.

Citing local sources and sources from Hamas and Islamic Jihad, the Sunday report said that the operative was detained a few days ago about a kilometer (0.6 miles) west of the “Yellow Line,” in the Hamas-held part of Gaza.

The Israel Defense Forces did not respond to a request for comment.

According to Asharq, the detained PIJ member’s name appeared in a document Israel gave to mediators in Cairo last month that listed operatives thought to be responsible for capturing and holding Gvili’s body. The precise nature of the operative’s alleged involvement in the abduction was unclear from the report.

Israeli officials cited by Hebrew media outlets have accused Islamic Jihad of holding on to Gvili’s remains, and have charged Hamas with failing to pressure its fellow terror group to release the body. Islamic Jihad claimed earlier this month that it had returned all the hostages in its possession, a statement rejected by Israel.

Islamic Jihad sources cited by Asharq al-Awsat claimed the group did originally hold the body in several locations in Gaza City, but then handed it over early in the war to Hamas’s armed wing, the al-Qassam Brigades.

Hamas sources cited by the outlet said Hamas held Gvili’s remains for an extended period, but denied that the group currently possesses the body. They claimed that Israeli operations in the area where the body was last held have made searches for it more difficult.

Under a ceasefire deal signed in October, Hamas released the 20 remaining living hostages in its possession, and was obligated to also return the remains of the 28 deceased captives it held at the time within 72 hours.
Hamas manual reveals strategy to mask Jew-hatred in global PR
The Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center on Sunday released a Hamas document seized in the Gaza Strip during ground operations in the war.

“During persuasive dialogue or in an effort to recruit support—it is correct to base on shared values and avoid mixing sensitive points,” and “it is not appropriate to use stereotypical expressions like ‘the Jewish conspiracy,'” the booklet states.

The document is a training booklet from 2022 titled “Guide for the Palestinian Spokesman in the World,” which instructs the terrorist organization’s spokesmen to avoid using antisemitic expressions so these will not harm persuasion attempts in Western countries. The document was presented as part of research by Uri Roost from the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center.

‘Islamic religious references’
For example, page 7 of the booklet states: “During persuasive dialogue or in an effort to recruit solidarity and support, it is correct to base on shared values and avoid mixing sensitive points among the target audience. It is not appropriate to incorporate Islamic religious references when addressing an audience that is not mostly Muslim. Similarly, one must be aware of the great sensitivity and heavy burden accompanying certain concepts in the Western world, such as references to Nazi practices and ‘the Holocaust’” [quotation marks in the original Hamas source].

The booklet further stated that “one must avoid incorrect or stereotypical use of terms such as the label ‘the Jews’ or ‘the Jewish lobby,’ since our defined problem is with the colonial forces and their supporters. It is important to avoid using expressions with sharp negative connotations in persuasive discourse, such as ‘conspiracy,’ and it is not appropriate to use stereotypical expressions like ‘the Jewish conspiracy.’

“Use of fabricated or offensive texts, such as ‘The Protocols of the Elders of Zion,’ harms Palestinian discourse, presents it as racist and extremist, and gives it a weak image that does not match the justice and clarity of the issue.”
Hamas Is Proud of Its "Achievements" but Hasn't Convinced the Gazans Who Pay the Price
Hamas has just published an assessment of its Oct. 7 attack and the aftermath. Yet the people of Gaza can't be partners to the picture of achievements and resilience described in the document released Wednesday.

In conversations with friends and family, even loyal Hamas supporters in the enclave have questions about the attack and the considerations behind it. They aren't getting answers.

One Gazan wrote that the text shows "disdain for their blood and suffering...a blatant ignoring of reality, an attempt to convince people that the biggest tragedy in the modern history of Palestine and Gaza was a 'national necessity' and a historic achievement."

A woman who left Gaza at the beginning of the war read Hamas's document and concludes that "these people will never admit their fatal mistakes and will never feel the suffering and tragedies of our people, since they are insensitive and have no conscience."

These two writers were never supporters of the rival organization, Fatah, and cannot be suspected of being pro-Israel. But they are also among the not-so-few people in Gaza demanding that Hamas take some responsibility and not just bask on its self-congratulatory laurels for the "glorious crossing" of the border.

Continuing the long tradition of exaggerating the number of dead Israelis in military clashes with Hamas, Hamas claims that 5,942 Israeli soldiers were killed in Gaza.

Overall, they claim that Israel suffered 13,000 fatalities on all fronts (Lebanon, the West Bank and Gaza).
IDF gets first combat-ready laser interception system
The first operational high-power laser interception system, dubbed “Iron Beam,” has been delivered to the Israel Defense Forces from Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, the Israeli Defense Ministry announced on Sunday.

The system, which has successfully intercepted rockets, mortar shells, and drones during extensive testing, will be integrated into the Israeli Air Force and incorporated into Israel’s multi-layered air-defense array alongside the Iron Dome, David’s Sling and Arrow systems.

“Certain events truly merit the designation ‘historic milestone’ in the most precise sense,” Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said. “For the first time globally, a high-power laser interception system has achieved full operational maturity. … This monumental achievement changes the rules of engagement and delivers a critical message to our enemies, near and far: Do not challenge us, or face severe consequences.”

Israeli Defense Ministry Director General Amir Baram said that the newest system “represents only the beginning of a technological revolution,” noting it is expected to “significantly improve both Israel’s defensive capabilities and the cost balance between interception and threat.”

“We remain committed to advancing the world’s most cutting-edge developments to operational deployment, further strengthening Israel’s qualitative edge and technological superiority,” said Brig. Gen. (Res.) Daniel Gold, head of the Ministry of Defense’s Directorate of Defense Research and Development.

“We take great pride in serving as a central pillar of Israel’s national security, built on a powerful combination of values, exceptional human capital, and breakthrough innovation,” said Yoav Tourgeman, CEO of Rafael.


Why Israel's Recognition of Somaliland Matters
When dictator Siad Barre, the former President of Somalia, unleashed genocide against the people of Somaliland in the 1980s - a systematic campaign of extermination that would claim over 200,000 lives and reduce our cities to rubble - the international community remained silent as our people were slaughtered.

But one country refused to be complicit in that silence. Israel stood alone in bringing Barre's atrocities before the UN Security Council. That act of moral courage in our darkest hour is seared into Somaliland's collective memory.

The UN, predictably, did nothing. For 34 years since, it has denied Somaliland's right to exist while propping up the failed state of Somalia - more concerned with preserving colonial borders than protecting human lives or honoring democratic will. Israel and Somaliland have both fought for every inch of their existence, built democracy where others predicted chaos, and refuse to apologize for their right to exist.

The writer is the founder and editor of the Somaliland Chronicle.
Here’s a nation which actually exists which Britain should recognise
Unlike with the recent recognition of Palestine there is a good legal case for recognising Somaliland as a nation. British Somaliland was actually a UK protectorate from 1884 until 1960. During that time this East African territory was garrisoned by the British from Aden and was considered by our Colonial Office to be part of British India.

In 1960 British Somaliland was granted independence by the UK. It was then only a few days later their new independent government voluntarily decided to join in union with the territory to their south, which had been an Italian colony and which had just become Somalia. Thirty years later, in the early 1990s, Somalia was the basket case it still is today and since then Somaliland has wanted to discontinue its voluntary union with its southern neighbour.

A further thirty years on and today Somaliland is effectively autonomous but has struggled to gain formal legal recognition, partly because the West has been obsessing about Gaza to the exclusion of much else, but mostly because states hostile to the West in the region have made it clear they do not support a pro-West Muslim democracy in their region.

When I visited Somaliland last year I saw first hand the political and strategic value in granting their wish for international recognition. Their port at Berbera is becoming a key trading hub and could clearly develop much further. It is also very clear that they will soon be another Muslim country that will join the UAE, Bahrain and Morocco in signing up to the Abraham Accords as more countries around the world look towards normalisation with Israel and reject the Muslim Brotherhood hatreds sadly tolerated weekly on the streets of London.

The British Government should follow Israel and recognise Somaliland.

Formal recognition would cost the West nothing – and yet would prove powerfully rewarding for both the West and the Somalilanders.

Will the British Government do the right thing? Under Labour the UK jumped to recognise a Palestinian state that does not actually exist, that is hostile to the West, that pays money to its terrorists as reward for killing as many Jews as possible, and at a time when this sent a signal of reward to Hamas for the murderous pogrom of 7th October.

Doubtless this same UK Government will decline to recognise Somaliland despite that country likely soon to become an economic powerhouse, a pro-Western oasis and a gold standard partner in a key strategic location.


Experts: Rich Palestinian ‘whataboutism’ for Turkey, Somalia to decry Israel for recognizing Somaliland
After Israel recognized Somaliland as an independent state on Friday, Turkey and Somalia were among those to affirm their support for a Palestinian state while denouncing the Jewish state’s recognition of the new country.

An official Ankara spokesman stated in Turkish that the Jewish state is “creating instability at both regional and global levels” and trying its best to curb recognition of a Palestinian state. And the Somalia government stated that the move was a “deliberate attack” on its sovereignty and that it “further reiterates its principled and unwavering support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to self-determination.” It added that “Somalia will never accept to make the Palestinian people stateless.”

Jonathan Ruhe, fellow for American strategy at Jewish Institute for National Security of America, told JNS that Turkey’s and Somalia’s criticism “is part of their predictable and knee-jerk, anti-Israel lens for viewing regional events.”

“Turkey’s Palestinian whataboutism is particularly rich,” he said. “Israel is forging diplomatic ties with a willing partner in Somaliland, whereas Ankara actively undermines sovereignty and stability with military threats and intervention in Syria, Nagorno-Karabakh and the Eastern Mediterranean.”

Ankara never consults with Jerusalem “when it supports Hamas or otherwise interferes in Palestinian affairs, but instead threatens Israel rather undiplomatically with destruction,” he said. “The same goes for Mogadishu.”

The latter has “no problem with strengthening economic and security ties with the Emirates, even as the United Arab Emirates’s investment in Somaliland has done more concretely to enable the region’s autonomy than any Israeli diplomacy,” according to Ruhe.

“Mogadishu only shows interest in the issue when Hargeisa,” the Somaliland capital, “tries to free itself from the consequences of the Somali government’s general indifference to Somaliland’s well-being in the first place,” he added.


Not what I used to call home: Bondi attack shocks Australian Jews, tests national values
The Jewish community, already dismayed by the less-than-friendly stance to Israel of the current Labor government, was seeing a dim and grim Australia it had not known. On the streets, on campus, in workplaces, in artistic endeavors, on public transport – anywhere and everywhere. The Jewish community warned those in positions of power that worse might happen, yet their calls were not heeded.

They should have been, for Bondi Beach is the place of Australia’s second-largest mass shooting ever, specifically targeting Jews at a Hanukkah celebration, but aiming rifles indiscriminately and in the process snuffing out 15 precious lives and threatening all law-abiding Australians.

Whether it’s Sydney, Toulouse, Pittsburgh, or Manchester, the pointed weapon of malevolent antisemitism, of jihadist terrorism, of pure evil, knows no national boundaries. The “never again,” which after October 7 became “ever again,” points to the same unlearned lessons from history haunting us today.

In 1941, and for most of the following war years, Hillel Kook (aka Peter Bergson, the nephew of the famed Chief Rabbi Avraham Kook) and fellow young students failed to penetrate the blind indifference of American leaders to take action to save European Jewry. The leaders’ failure to intervene was later implicitly described by Elie Wiesel as rendering them accomplices.

Tackling the global tsunami of terror against Jews and Israel is a gigantic task, almost too big to grasp. But as with any weighty, complex challenge, it looks different once broken down to what’s within each person’s purview, power, and ability, ranging from tasked leaders and decision-makers to ordinary citizens.

What happened to Australia's values?
Although the writing may have been on the wall in Australia, and the tragedy of the Sydney terror rampage not a surprise to those who read the import of the dramatically escalating acts of antisemitism over the last two and a half years, nevertheless it is deeply and viscerally shocking that the recent terror attack occurred in a country that used to pride itself on true-blue Aussie values of tolerance and a fair-go for everyone.

Australia’s treasurer from 2018 to 2022 in a former Liberal government, Josh Frydenberg, a Jew, paid an emotional visit to Bondi Beach to pay his respects to those grieving in the wake of the terror attack, and spoke to journalists present. Ban the hate preachers in the mosques and the pervasive radicalism being taught and promulgated, he pointedly urged Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Ban protests that are not peaceful marches or rallies but are incubators of hate. Ban incitement, tighten immigration checks, and deport those who undermine Australian laws and values. Enact whatever laws are necessary to effect such changes. A big list, but largely doable, step by step, starting right now.

Relatively few people are politicians -- elected officials expected to stand up for universal and basic rights, and be voted out in democracies if they don’t -- nor do they have the wherewithal to be major change-makers. Yet everyone has a circle of influence, starting from the home, and can model the right values and behavior, radiating them to their extended family, friends, community, and in some cases, to the city, nation, and even globally. Every citizen needs to understand that silence and inaction cannot rule over what all good people intuitively and instinctively recognize as evil.

A collective pain
Just as our Diaspora brethren stand at our side, especially throughout the last two years, so we unite with them in shared peoplehood, feeling the pain right now of grieving Australian families, a collective pain of our people, unaffected by distance and borders.

May the families bereaved at Bondi Beach be comforted by the builders of Jerusalem; may the many wounded, including policemen, recover as well as possible from their injuries; and may Australia once again be the bonza (awesome) nation which fair-dinkum (genuine) Aussies can proudly call home.
Jewish group warned police of terror plot at Hanukkah event before Bondi Beach attack
A Jewish security organization warned police there was a high risk of a terror attack during the Chanukah by the Sea event in Bondi, just weeks before their fears became a reality, a leaked document reveals.

The confidential document produced by the Community Security Group NSW (CSG NSW) raised the alarm about the threat of Islamic extremism and Jihadist-inspired lone-actor attacks, the ABC reports.

In the notice, CSG NSW specifically told authorities the Chanukah by the Sea event at Bondi Beach on December 14 carried a high risk of being the target of violent antisemitism.

“The NSW Jewish Community is currently experiencing unprecedented levels of vilification and a significant increase in incidents impacting the Community,” the document titled Jewish Festival Calendar Notification and dated November 26 states.

“Hostile actors have historically targeted Jewish and Israeli interests in retaliation for developments in the ongoing Middle East conflict and to intimidate local entities perceived as affiliated with Israel.”

The assessment pointed to ASIO’s 2025 Annual Threat Assessment and highlighted the risk of “lone-actor attacks inspired by global jihadist propaganda.”

“While Islamic State and al-Qaeda have lost territorial control, their ideology persists and resonates with individuals online,” it read.

The document singled out “Sunni violent extremism” as the greatest religiously motivated threat to Australia and warned of the threat of both left-wing and far-right extremism, referencing a neo-Nazi rally outside the NSW parliament in November and citing ASIO’s risk assessment.

NSW Police would not confirm or deny receiving the document when contacted by news.com.au, citing the ongoing critical incident investigation, criminal investigation and upcoming inquest, saying it was imperative any comment did not prejudice court proceedings.

It comes as they face criticisms that there were not enough police officers on hand at the December 14 event where two armed men, wearing black, started shooting at beachgoers and revellers shortly after 6.40pm.

Fifteen people were murdered and 40 injured when father and son Sajid and Naveed Akram allegedly opened fire from a footbridge during a Chanukah by the Sea event at Bondi Beach.
Families of Bondi victims call for federal royal commission
The families of those killed and injured in the Bondi Beach terror attack are demanding the prime minister urgently establish a national royal commission, saying they need "strong action" and "leadership now" to save more lives from being lost.

Seventeen families of those injured and killed in the attack have signed a powerfully worded plea calling for a commission.

It calls on Anthony Albanese to "immediately establish a Commonwealth Royal Commission into the rapid rise of antisemitism in Australia" in the wake of Hamas's attack on October 7, 2023, and to examine "the law enforcement, intelligence, and policy failures" that led to the Bondi Beach massacre.

"We demand answers and solutions," their statement reads.

"We need to know why clear warning signs were ignored, how antisemitic hatred and Islamic extremism were allowed to dangerously grow unchecked, and what changes must be made to protect all Australians going forward.

"As proud Australians and proud Jews, we have endured more than two and a half years of relentless attacks.

"Our children feel unsafe at school and university. Our homes, workplaces, sporting fields, and public spaces no longer feel secure. It is an intolerable situation that no Australian should have to endure.

"Announcements made so far by the federal government in response to the Bondi massacre are not nearly enough.

"Prime Minister how can you not support a Royal Commission into the deadliest terrorist attack on Australian soil? Royal Commissions have been established for banks and aged care.

"We have lost parents, spouses, children and grandparents.

"You owe us answers. You owe us accountability. And you owe Australians the truth," the statement said.


From disturbing 'guns and ammo' store encounter to idyllic beach resort swim: Inside the Philippines trip of the alleged Bondi Beach gunmen as fresh details emerge
New details have emerged about Sajid and Naveed Akram's month-long trip to the Philippines weeks before the Bondi Beach terrorist attack.

Naveed Akram, 24, travelled to the archipelago nation in November with his father Sajid, 50, one month before they allegedly opened fire at a Hanukkah by the Sea event at Bondi Beach, killing 15 and injuring dozens more.

While it has been reported that the Akrams stayed at the budget GV Hotel in Davao City on the Mindanao island for their 27-day stay, it was previously thought they barely left their tiny, cramped $24-a-night room.

It has since emerged that the alleged gunmen visited a popular beach resort and a nearby gun shop, along with an Islamic prayer house near Davao City in the nation's south, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

A ping from one of their mobiles suggests they could have journeyed even further afield, to the village of Dungoan, which has a history of Islamic state extremism.

According to sightings of the pair, Naveed took a morning dip at the picturesque Seagull White Sand Beach Resort, known for its clear blue waters and party reputation.

His father Sajid inspected bullet-proof vests at a small weapons retailer, Shooters Guns & Ammo Corporation, located 150m away, where he refused to acknowledge a female staffer's offer of assistance.
Extraordinary plan to shut down radical Islamic prayer halls as Premier considers calling in the ARMY to protect Jewish people after Bondi Beach terror massacre: 'Nothing's off the table'
NSW Premier Chris Minns has announced sweeping new powers to shut down prayer halls accused of spreading hate, including cutting off water and electricity to sites found in breach of the law.

Speaking in Sydney on Sunday, Minns said the government would act swiftly against any venue hosting hate preachers or operating without council or state approval.

His hard-line position comes after the Al Madina Dawah Centre in Bankstown, which was shut down over its alleged link to the Bondi Beach massacre, revealed that it had 'paused' its operations temporarily.

Minns is also considering deploying army troops to protect Sydney's Jewish community in the aftermath of the December 14 terror attack that claimed 15 innocent lives.

'We're in discussions about it,' he confirmed, when asked about the possibility of calling in national armed forces to guard Jewish schools and synagogues.

'I'm not prepared to front-run it, because obviously that's a change for us, but I'm just flagging with everyone, I'm not going to rule anything out.'

He further emphasised, 'nothing's off the table' when it comes to restoring confidence and safeguarding the community.

'Anyone who is found to have preached hate or put hate in the hearts of anyone in our community should have their prayer halls shut down as soon as possible,' Minns added.


The euro in the collection box: How Western ‘charity’ bought Hamas’s rockets
It starts with a coin dropped into a collection box in a bustling piazza in Genoa, or perhaps a digital transfer from a well-meaning donor in Amsterdam who believes they are buying milk for orphans. It ends in a damp tunnel in Khan Yunis, handing a wad of cash to the family of a suicide bomber.

For decades, the West has deluded itself with the dangerous, comforting fiction that we can distinguish between the “political” and “military” wings of Islamist movements, and that “humanitarian aid” sent to Gaza somehow bypasses Hamas’s iron grip. We have convinced ourselves that if we just write the check to the right NGO, our money will feed the hungry rather than the war machine.

On December 27, Italian anti-mafia prosecutors arrested nine individuals, centering on an architectural office in Genoa run by Mohammad Hannoun, the president of the “Charitable Association of Solidarity with the Palestinian People” (ABSPP). He has long been a fixture of the pro-Palestinian scene in Europe. He is a man who wears suits, meets politicians, and speaks the language of human rights. But according to investigators, he is also the architect of a massive terror-financing ring that funneled millions of euros directly into the hands of Hamas warlords.

‘Triangulation,’ the architecture of deceit
The brilliance of the Islamist funding machine lies in its ability to exploit the open borders and open banking systems of the free world. The Italian investigation revealed a laundering method prosecutors call “triangulation.”

The scheme works by exploiting the gaps between European jurisdictions. If Hannoun were to wire €500,000 directly from a Genoa charity account to a known Hamas entity in Gaza, red flags would fly instantly in the global banking system. The transaction would be blocked and the accounts frozen.

Instead, the network played a shell game. Funds collected in Italy were not sent south to Gaza; they were sent laterally across Europe. The money would hop from the ABSPP in Italy to partner organizations in the Netherlands, France, or the UK. To a compliance officer at a bank, these looked like routine intra-NGO transfers between European non-profits – boring, legitimate, and safe.

Once the money was “washed” through this European spin cycle, obscuring its original source, it was funneled into Gaza. By the time the cash resurfaced, it was clean enough to enter the local economy, often handed over in cash or through hawala [informal] networks to organizations Israel has long outlawed, such as the Al-Salah Society.
Italian charities ‘smuggle £6m to Hamas inside medical equipment’
Italian police have arrested nine people on suspicion of financing Hamas through aid charities.

Cash allegedly intended for the terror group was found among medical supplies destined for Gaza.

The detained individuals are accused of diverting around €7m (£6.1m), raised over the last two years for ostensibly humanitarian purposes, to Hamas-linked entities, prosecutors said.

Police seized assets worth more than €8m, according to law enforcement.

Among those arrested was Mohammad Hannoun, the president of the Palestinian Association of Italy, who was recently photographed at a rally alongside Greta Thunberg.

According to reports in the Italian press, police recorded suspects discussing how to use aid shipments to smuggle cash to the Gaza Strip, access to which is controlled by Israel. They also allegedly plotted measures to avoid detection, such as destroying their computers.

Kalil Abu Delah, an alleged conspirator, is reported as saying: “The path of dialogue is for traitors. Thank God that Hamas was born.”

Giorgia Meloni, the prime minister, thanked the Italian authorities for a “particularly complex and important operation”, which had uncovered financing for Hamas through “so-called charity organisations”.

Gaza’s approximately two million civilians face a challenging humanitarian situation following two years of war, which has pulverised most buildings and infrastructure in the enclave.

However, Israel has long accused Hamas of exploiting the aid system to smuggle in cash and goods that can be intercepted and sold to boost the terror group’s funds.


Starmer welcomes ‘extremist’ to Britain
However, Jewish campaigners said it “beggars belief” that Cabinet ministers were “celebrating” Mr Fattah’s return.

Alex Hearn, the co-director of the campaign group Labour Against Anti-Semitism, said: “It is reckless at best to openly state that getting him into Britain was their ‘top priority’ which they were ‘delighted’ to achieve, especially following deadly attacks on Jews.

“There is absolutely a case for revoking his citizenship. He should have been arrested on arrival in the UK, not welcomed.”

Gideon Falter, the chief executive of the Campaign Against Anti-Semitism, said: “Either the Government did not carry out a basic search, or they knew about this and considered it insufficiently important to warrant saying anything.

“In the wake of lethal terrorist attacks on Jews from Manchester to Bondi, the UK now has yet one more resident who wants to see ‘Zionists’ murdered, unless of course the passage of time and a long spell in Egypt have led to a radical rethink by Alaa Abd el-Fattah.”

Mr Falter urged ministers to review how Mr Fattah was granted citizenship and consider “whether it might now be revoked”.

Gary Mond, the chairman of the National Jewish Assembly, said “the fact that the establishment is kowtowing to such a person is a horrendous indictment on our Government and what its priorities are”. Stop the Hate, an anti-racism charity, condemned ministers for appearing to have “implicitly legitimised” Mr Fattah’s views.

Andrew Fox, a senior fellow at the Henry Jackson Society, said the welcoming of Mr Fattah by Cabinet ministers was “utterly misplaced”, adding: “At the very least, ministers should condemn his statements and Mr El-Fattah must offer an apology and a public retraction, or he deserves no place in UK society.”

Mr Fattah has been approached for comment.

A Government spokesman said: “Mr El-Fattah is a British citizen. It has been a long-standing priority under successive governments to work for his release from detention, and to see him reunited with his family in the UK.”

A Labour source pointed out that the previous Conservative government had lobbied for Mr Fattah’s release, and had granted him British citizenship in 2021.


“Israel SAVES American Lives!” Mike Pompeo Sounds Off On Tucker, Netanyahu, and Europe’s Rearmament
In this landmark 100th episode of "Standpoint", host Gabe Groisman sits down with former Secretary of State and CIA Director Mike Pompeo for a no-holds-barred conversation on U.S. foreign policy, Israel, antisemitism and the future of the Republican Party. Pompeo explains why America’s alliance with Israel is not just moral, it’s essential to national security, regional stability and the survival of Western values. He reveals behind-the-scenes insights into military deterrence, Iranian threats, the Abraham Accords and the tragic lessons of October 7. In a bold defense of the “Pompeo Doctrine” affirming the legality of Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria, Pompeo underscores how truth, strength and biblical history must guide America’s stance on Israel.


Erin Molan: He Fought Terror at 18, 28… and Refuses to Do It Again at 38
Israeli Special Forces soldier (Reservist) Stav Cohen explains why Western thinking repeatedly fails when confronting terror — and why truth matters more than comfort.

In this Weekend Edition of The Erin Molan Show, Stav shares firsthand experience from nearly two decades of confronting violent extremism, from his early service at 18, to returning again years later, and the personal toll that reality carries.

This conversation is not about politics. It is about clarity, responsibility, and understanding the world as it actually is — not as we wish it to be.

CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction
01:05 First reaction to Bondi
02:10 Why Western thinking keeps failing
04:30 Consequences vs words
06:20 “We hear the price, not the leaders”
07:05 Fighting at 18, 28 — and why he won’t again
09:40 Connecting the dots early
11:45 “There is no happy ending unless we make it”
13:55 October 7: going back in
16:05 What strength actually means
18:00 Why language and understanding matter
19:40 Following Stav’s journey




Newest member of Mamdani's inaugural committee praised people tearing Israeli hostage posters
The newest member of New York mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s inaugural committee, Alvaro Lopez, a Democratic Socialists of America activist, previously praised women who tore down posters of Israeli hostages, the New York Post reported on Saturday.

In a now-deleted X/Twitter post, Lopez responded to a video of two women caught tearing down hostage posters, writing “All I see are heroes.”

“It’s possible I was talking about the people on the posters,” Lopez told the New York Post, claiming he “didn’t remember” writing the post.

“It was a really chaotic time,” he added.

Shortly after the October 7 massacre, Lopez accused US Rep. Ritchie Torres of having the blood of Palestinian children on his hands in another deleted post. Lopez is the latest pro-Palestinian voice to join Mamdani’s committee, which includes children’s video educator Rachel Griffin Accurso, known to child viewers as Ms. Rachel, and Cynthia Nixon.


‘Full-fledged war’ with US, Israel, Europe, Iranian president says
Masoud Pezeshkian, the Iranian president, told an official publication of the Islamic Republic that his country is at war against the West.

“In my opinion, we are in a full-fledged war with America, Israel and Europe. They do not want our country to stand on its feet,” he told the publication. “This war is worse than Iraq’s war against us.”

“If one understands it well, this war is far more complex and difficult than that war. In the war with Iraq, the situation was clear. They fired missiles, and I also knew where to hit,” he said. “Here, they are besieging us from every aspect. They are putting us in difficulty and constraint, creating problems—in terms of livelihood, culturally, politically and security-wise—while raising society’s expectations.”

“On one side, they block our sales, our exchanges, our trade and on the other side, expectations in society have risen,” he said.


Iranian hackers claim breach of Netanyahu chief of staff’s phone
The pro-Iranian hacking group Handala, which recently released sensitive material allegedly taken from the smartphone of former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, said Sunday that it had obtained data from the device of Tzachi Braverman, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s chief of staff and Israel’s ambassador-designate to the U.K.

Overnight, the group hinted that it was in possession of sensitive information about the prime minister, which it said it would publish soon.

“On this day, those who guard the skies may find that the unexpected travels with them, and not every hidden truth remains grounded. And Bibi, it seems you’re carrying some rather interesting souvenirs with you this time,” the group wrote on X, ending the post with “Tik Tok…Tik Tok.”

In a statement published on Sunday morning, the group wrote:
“To every official still clutching the illusion of secrecy You feel it now: the tightening chest, the cold sweat, the gnawing dread. That’s not just fear, it’s the knowledge that every layer of your security, every secret entrusted to Tzachi Braverman, Netanyahu’s Chief of Staff, gatekeeper, and vault of all forbidden truths, is now wide open.”

In response, the Prime Minister’s Office said: “As of now, no breach has been identified. The matter is under review.”

On Wednesday, Bennett’s office confirmed in a statement that his Telegram account was hacked, along with his contact list, photos and chats.


How 3D bioprinting is restoring sight – interview with CEO of Israel's Precise Bio
In a conversation with Christian journalist Paul Calvert, Aryeh Batt, co-founder and CEO of Precise Bio, explains how his team is using 3D bioprinting to address corneal blindness – and why a recent transplant in Israel is a milestone in regenerative medicine.

Batt says Precise Bio is doing something far more significant than simply showing that a 3D printer can print tissue, explaining, “It’s not science fiction, that you can biofabricate a tissue, transplant it, and it will function.”

The company combines cell biology, biomaterials, engineering and stringent quality systems to produce living tissue from human cells and natural materials.

Founded in 2015, Precise Bio has spent a decade developing and refining this platform, moving from laboratory research to regulated clinical application. The cornea can be produced rapidly, he said, while emphasizing that the reliable fabrication of transplantable tissue into patients’ eyes is an ever greater achievement.

When Calvert asked whether the technology can restore sight for people who are totally blind, Batt explained that Precise Bio’s first product targets corneal blindness. He described their first patient as a legally blind young woman whose cornea was damaged in a previous, unrelated procedure. After receiving the new, printed cornea, she was able to see again. Unlike traditional treatment, which relies on cadaver donor tissue and often involves long wait periods, Precise Bio’s approach allows corneas to be produced on demand. Batt said, “We do ‘Control-P’ and two minutes later a cornea comes out.”

The team will continue to follow up with the same transplant patient to monitor how the printed cornea performs over time, with a primary endpoint set at six months in coordination with regulators, including the FDA and Israeli authorities.

Batt said the printed tissue behaves similarly to natural cornea, with expected “ups and downs,” while surgeons report that the procedure requires less surgical time and is simpler to implant than cadaver tissue.

Looking ahead, Batt said he expects the same approach will extend to other eye tissues, including the retina in cases of age-related macular degeneration, and eventually beyond ophthalmology. He called the transplant tangible proof that bio-fabricated tissue can function inside the human body, saying, “It’s really proving to the world that in a non-professional way, I would say that we can fabricate spare parts for the body.”
Tel Aviv shares break record highs in 2025 despite war, outpacing global markets
Bucking the odds, Israel’s main stock indexes this year broke through multiple record highs despite raging multifront wars, outperforming global peers as local and foreign investors doubled down on investment in Tel Aviv-listed companies.

Already in 2024, the TASE was the world’s fastest-rising stock market — after taking a big plunge at the outbreak of war with the Hamas terror group in October 2023.

Israel’s main stock indexes continued to climb this year, and gains accelerated following the conflict with Iran in June and a ceasefire agreement with Hamas in October.

In 2025, the TA-35 index of blue-chip companies soared 53 percent, the benchmark TA-125 index jumped 52%, and the TA-90 index jumped by about 46% as of the end of trading on December 19, according to the Tel Aviv bourse annual report published on Sunday. During the same period, the S&P 500 and NASDAQ-100 indices in the US increased by 18% and 22%, respectively, and the UK’s FTSE 100 index was up 25%.

“2025 was characterized by the continuation of geopolitical challenges, alongside a gradual economic recovery from the repercussions of the longest war Israel has ever known,” said Sarit Berman, head of research at the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange. “Military superiority and capabilities that Israel demonstrated during the war, as well as the ceasefire agreement with Hamas, were significant factors strengthening investor confidence in the local market and added an element of optimism.”

Berman noted that among the key events were Israel’s military achievements against Iran’s nuclear program — alongside the already weakened Iranian proxies in Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza — and the ceasefire agreement in October, which put a halt to the two-year Israel-Hamas war.




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This blog may be a labor of love for me, but it takes a lot of effort, time and money. For 20 years and 40,000 articles I have been providing accurate, original news that would have remained unnoticed. I've written hundreds of scoops and sometimes my reporting ends up making a real difference. I appreciate any donations you can give to keep this blog going.

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