Friday, July 10, 2026

07/09 Links Pt2: Rahm Emanuel and the persistent delusion of failed policies; Jerusalem voted the seventh-best city in the world; Elie Wiesel’s hidden world of letters, loss and friendship

From Ian:

Jonathan Tobin: Rahm Emanuel and the persistent delusion of failed policies
Say this for Rahm Emanuel. He may have about as much chance of being nominated for the presidency in 2028 by the Democratic Party as he does of being elected pope. But he knows how to retain the attention of the national media by manipulating contacts inside the Beltway.

That’s the only way to explain why someone who is not even being included in way-too-early polls about presidential preferences could get the kind of massive coverage he got for a speech given this week in Israel, when those far ahead of him in the contest struggle to be noticed.

On July 7, The Washington Post devoted three full articles to previewing Emanuel’s July 8 talk at Tel Aviv University. The Post, The New York Times, CNN and the rest of the corporate press then followed up with even more coverage of the speech after the fact. Those articles not only depicted it as deeply relevant to the current debate about the U.S.-Israel relationship going on in his party, but also to the reality on the ground in the Middle East.

A rerun of failed ideas
But what made this public relations coup even more remarkable is the fact that the much-ballyhooed address consisted of little more than a recycling of the conventional wisdom of his long-past political heyday. Emanuel’s speech was more or less a rerun of what passed for foreign-policy establishment canon in 1995 and 2015, put forward as a formula for peace in the second quarter of the 21st century.

Once you strip away Emanuel’s attempts to claim both the credibility and credentials to demand that Israelis discard everything their lying eyes and ears have been telling them about their nation’s struggle to survive a multifront war launched by Iran and its terrorist auxiliaries, all you’ve got is what we might term a piece of political nostalgia.

Emanuel calls his big idea the “23-state solution” because it is based on the notion that the Arab and Muslim world can cajole the Palestinian Arabs to make peace. But that’s just window dressing for what is the same two-state solution that his former bosses, Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, foolishly expended so much political capital trying to force into being. Contrary to liberal myth, that formula was thwarted not by Israeli intransigence but by the stubborn refusal of the Palestinians—enabled by much of the Muslim and Arab worlds, in addition to Western leftists—to countenance any future but one in which Israel is erased.

The context here is the fact that the former U.S. ambassador to Japan (2022-2025), mayor of Chicago (2011-2019), White House chief of staff to President Barack Obama (2009-2010), U.S. congressman from Illinois (2003-2009), investment banker (1999-2002) and senior adviser to Clinton (1993-1998) believes that his already impressive résumé ought to be rounded out by a stint as commander-in-chief. The man renowned as a serious policy wonk, albeit one with a predilection for profanity and a notorious temper, may have much to say about a lot of different topics. Yet when it comes to Israel—a subject he claims intimate knowledge of—Rahm is nothing but a blast from the discredited past.

That’s why the truly significant aspect of the speech and the massive coverage it generated isn’t what it says about the 2028 race, efforts to prevent the Democratic Party from becoming the anti-Israel party or even the one that is comfortable with antisemitism. Rather, it points toward the fact that while Israelis have absorbed the lessons of the last 33 years of history, including the Oslo Accords disaster, the Second Intifada, the fruits of the withdrawal from Gaza and the horrors of Oct. 7, 2023, supposedly smart people, including those like Emanuel who know a thing or two about Israel, have learned nothing.
Adam Louis-Klein: Rahm Emanuel’s shocking speech to fracture the bond between Israel and the diaspora
Emanuel does not share a fate with Israelis, and certainly not with the "Zionists" whose forced exodus from social networks, whose professional discrimination in the academy and elsewhere, he frames as a the natural consequence of Israel itself. He speaks from a thousand miles above, insulated from the antizionist abuse that is raging across the West.

His open attribution of collective guilt toward Jews – discriminatory in its very essence – is hardly surprising. It's increasingly treated as the common sense of liberal politics. “Netanyahu is harming Jews” is a common refrain, even though it lacks all logical sense. Netanyahu could be Hitler – as antizionists daily imagine him to be, as they mouth old Soviet slogans – yet targeting ordinary Jews as “genocidal” would still be unacceptable, and blame would lie with those who did so.

The casual rhetoric of blame reflect a deeper problem: the systematic concealment of antizionism, of Israel-hate, as something that could actually be the structural cause not only for changes in Israel's “reputation,” and not only for the violence against diaspora Jews, but for the crises in the Middle East themselves. Why, exactly, is Israel in a permanent state of war, which includes occupation and ongoing reciprocal violence? Why, exactly, does the question of whether the United States should be entangled in these wars come up in the first place? Violence against Israelis here is taken as natural and given.

While Emanuel claims to want Arab states to recognise Israel's right to exist, to integrate Israel into the region, he seems uninterested in the moral stakes of anyone seeking to annihilate a state in the first place. He seems oblivious to the social media accounts with millions of followers screaming with joy at the sight of Iranian missiles falling on Israeli civilians. Somehow none of that causes any moral outrage, since he has saved it all up for “Netanyahu” – the villain of his decadent fantasies.

The absence of any actual engagement with global antizionism is not merely a lacuna in the discourse: it is one that serves to reproduce that violence itself. By refusing to name the cause, and refusing to hold its principal actors accountable, ongoing wars are continually given justification, while blame is displaced onto Israel. This ongoing habit of evasion and non-accountability around antizionism – including refusing to say its name – causes harm to Israelis, Jews, and Palestinians alike.

Emanuel's politics does not seek peace; it seeks moral legitimacy and it exploits Israel as a tool to achieve it. His tone of superiority is not incidental. Like the old German Jews who looked down upon the traditional Eastern “Ostjuden” with contempt in the early 20th century, the liberal American Jew, insulated from antizionist abuse on the ground, now proclaims their civilisational superiority to the primitive Israeli.

I doubt that such a relationship is meant to lead to a memorandum of understanding.
Chief Rabbi urges Church of England to reject ‘genocide’ report ahead of Synod vote
The Chief Rabbi has urged the Church of England’s governing body to reject a controversial report accusing Israel of genocide, warning it threatens decades of Jewish-Christian relationship-building.

Sir Ephraim Mirvis spoke out before next week’s General Synod debate on whether the Church should formally engage with A Moment of Truth: Faith in a Time of Genocide, also known as Kairos II, as part of its efforts to better understand the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The report, produced by Palestinian Christian organisation Kairos Palestine, describes Israel’s military campaign in Gaza as a “genocidal war” and claims the Jewish state is a “colonial enterprise built on racism”. It also accuses Israel of apartheid and settler colonialism.

In a statement published on X following reporting by The Times, the Chief Rabbi said: “The content of Kairos II is deeply concerning, and I would hope the Synod will see it for what it is. While it is important to recognise the suffering of Palestinian Christians, this document does so in a way which can only harm the cause of peace.”

He added: “It presents a one-sided account of a complex conflict, downplays the historical experiences and legitimate concerns of Jewish people, and offers little more than political activism dressed up as theology.”

Mirvis continued: “It is truly shocking that a document which purports to speak in the name of truth contains so much falsehood – using extreme rhetoric to challenge the very concept of a Jewish state, and to oppose existing peace agreements in the region.”

He warned that “at a time when Christian-Jewish relations require nuance, trust and a willingness to engage with complexity, Kairos II risks undermining decades of careful relationship-building.”

The Chief Rabbi concluded: “Meaningful progress begins when the dignity, aspirations and suffering of all peoples are acknowledged. Kairos II takes us further away from that goal, not closer to it.”


2028 Democrats Who Disgraced Themselves Most for Graham Platner
Graham Platner easily won the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in Maine despite an array of scandals involving a Nazi tattoo, antisemitic horseplay, offensive online commentary, flagrant lying, serial infidelity, and domestic abuse. He ended his campaign on Wednesday after an ex-girlfriend's credible rape accusation—amid sagging poll numbers and a looming deadline to select a new candidate—finally compelled Democrats and sympathetic journalists to abandon ship.

Whereas most normal observers saw this coming, Democrats repeatedly defended Platner as the warning signs mounted. Many vouched for his character, insisting that his past "mistakes" were a testament to his "working-class" authenticity. Supporters hailed Platner's personal odyssey—from upper-middle-class boarding school washout and dirtbag leftist to unemployed oyster supplier to his mother's fine-dining restaurant—as a classic tale of American redemption.

Alas, it was not.

A number of Democratic lawmakers eyeing prominent roles in the 2028 presidential primary—whether as candidates or kingmakers—went out of their way to boost Platner's candidacy and associate themselves with his particular brand of scumbag socialism. Here are the ones who disgraced themselves the most on the road to Platner's inevitable demise.

Ro Khanna
Khanna, the most shamelessly ambitious Democrat since Barack Obama, was arguably Platner's most enthusiastic booster in Congress. A day after the New York Times reported on allegations of toxic behavior from the candidate's former girlfriends, Khanna flew to Maine for a campaign rally where he argued that electing Platner to the U.S. Senate despite his troubled past would bring much-needed "redemption" to a "broken" America.

"For this country to heal, we need to find some way of having grace. We need to find some way of having redemption," Khanna said. "We need to find some way of saying that if someone felt hurt by Graham in a past relationship, we can listen to them and we can listen to Graham, and we can have conversations as mature Americans, as fellow citizens."

Khanna urged Platner supporters not to attack the women who came forward, even though the candidate himself had already denounced them as politically motivated liars.

"By going all in on Platner, Khanna is putting up his own ambitions as collateral," Politico reported at the time, noting that if more scandal emerged that further damaged Platner's credibility, it would "raise questions about Khanna's political judgment as he eyes a larger national role."
Ro Khanna travels to Israel, West Bank during congressional recess
Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) traveled to Israel and the West Bank this week while Congress is in recess, according to two individuals with knowledge of the trip.

Khanna has not posted publicly about his trip, which is scheduled to conclude Thursday night. His office did not respond to requests for comment from JI.

The California Democrat has become increasingly critical of Israel since the onset of the Israel-Hamas war following Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, terror attacks. In September 2025, he accused Israel of having committed genocide in Gaza.

His last known trip to the country was with a bipartisan delegation in October 2024 that also included stops in Jordan and Saudi Arabia. On that trip, the delegation met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In a statement about the trip, Khanna noted that the group had also met with Jordanian King Abdullah II earlier in the day.
Who are the candidates seeking to replace Graham Platner, and where do they stand on Israel?
The mad dash to replace Graham Platner as the Democratic Senate nominee in Maine is coming together so quickly and haphazardly that one potential replacement, Nirav Shah, is taking stickers from his failed gubernatorial campaign and cutting off the “for governor” line below his name before handing them to supporters.

Much is still in flux about the process to replace Platner, who dropped out of the race on Wednesday two days after being accused of rape by a former romantic partner. His potential successors aren’t jockeying for the public’s approval — they’re angling for the support of the Maine Democratic Party, which voted on Wednesday, before Platner even announced his resignation, to hold a statewide nominating convention to tap his replacement. The MDP said it would share more in the days to come about the process, which according to state law would have to be completed by July 27.

Many of the candidates now seeking to succeed Platner on the general election ballot are commending the populist movement he built and looking to capitalize on it. Less than 24 hours into the contest, some had already made clear they will adopt a platform much like Platner’s when it comes to Israel — seeking to end U.S. weapons sales to the country and shunning donations from AIPAC — while others are remaining mum on that topic.

Shah, who served as the director of the Maine Centers for Disease Control and Prevention during the COVID-19 pandemic, said this week that he would support a full arms embargo against Israel, that he believes Israel’s actions in Gaza amount to genocide and that he would refuse AIPAC support. He finished second in the gubernatorial primary last month.

One contender who seems poised to rack up support from the party’s left flank is Troy Jackson, the former president of the Maine Senate. He placed third in last month’s gubernatorial primary, and earned the endorsement of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and the Maine chapter of Democratic Socialists of America in that race. Jackson was one of Platner’s biggest boosters and appeared with him at several campaign rallies.


Trump Admin Sends Middle Eastern Migrant Packing For Hating America
A Kuwaiti man who obtained a green card in the U.S. is being sent home after he called America “the enemy” and expressed support for terrorists.

Tareq Alkhudari entered the country on a non-immigrant student visa in 2014 to attend San Jose State University, a source familiar with the situation said. He gained lawful permanent resident status in November 2024, but is now in federal custody pending removal from the United States after Secretary of State Marco Rubio terminated his legal status.

In posts from his Instagram and Bluesky accounts, Alkhudari repeatedly expresses disdain for the United States and white people. In December 2025, he posted a cartoon of a brown-skinned individual preparing to set fire to the American-flag-cape draped over the shoulders of a woman dressed in red, white, and blue.

In another post he speaks positively of the “Al-Aqsa Flood,” the code name given by Hamas for their terror attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.

“Since Al-Aqsa Flood, we’ve witnessed an unprecedented surge in public support for Palestine,” reads a graphic that Alkhudari shared. The post questions whether Western supporters of Palestinians are genuine and whether their support is “consequential and coincidental, or has it been prepared for this inevitable time?”

He also shared a graphic stating “the compass remains Palestine” and “the enemy remains Isntreal and Amerika.”
Jewish House Democrat recalls colleague saying there is no antisemitism because 'all the Jews are rich'
Rep. Becca Balint, D-Vt., described to CNN Tuesday an instance of a fellow House Democrat appearing to dismiss antisemitism because "all the Jews are rich."

Balint was one of multiple Jewish Democratic politicians who spoke to CNN about concerns regarding a growing sense of antisemitism among grassroots campaigns that have begun affecting established political figures like California state Sen. Scott Wiener.

She told CNN she was "shaken to [her] core" after seeing Wiener heckled by anti-Israel activists for his past support for Israel and Jewish heritage.

Rep. Becca Balint, D-Vt., described concerns over antisemitism within her party despite her support for progressive causes. (Getty Images)

"She described a familiar ache," the article read. "Like, the people who tell her that homophobia doesn’t exist and then ask her what it means that she’s a lesbian. Like, the House Democratic colleague she wouldn’t name who she says came to a bipartisan antisemitism task force meeting and said, 'I didn’t really think there was any antisemitism anymore because all the Jews are rich.' Like the people who accuse Jewish politicians of having dual loyalty."

Though Balint has agreed with progressive Democrats claiming that Israel was guilty of "committing a genocide" in Gaza, she told CNN that she still fears a "day of reckoning" for her because of her support for the Jewish state.

"I know at some point there will be a day of reckoning because I still believe that Jews should have a homeland," Balint said. "There will be people — I think some of my own supporters — who will turn on me because I still believe in a two-state solution. I still do. I still believe that Israel should be safe and secure. I believe that the Palestinians have been so ill-treated for so long and deserve a safe and secure homeland. I do not believe Israel should be dismantled."

Balint told CNN she was "shaken" after seeing California state Sen. Scott Wiener being heckled by anti-Israel activists. (Sen. Scott Wiener/California Senate)

Fox News Digital reached out to Balint's office for comment.

Other Jewish Democrats expressed concerns that Israel is becoming a political "litmus test" for them despite their support for other progressive causes and criticism of the Israeli government.
Denver Socialist Melat Kiros Says America Must Address Antisemitic Attacks—By Reevaluating Its Relationship With Israel
Socialist Democrat Melat Kiros, who is set to represent Denver in Congress next year, said U.S. leaders need to "tone that temperature down" and "prevent" antisemitic violence—by "reevaluating our relationship with Israel."

Colorado Public Radio's Ryan Warner asked Kiros during a Wednesday interview if she felt it was "important to suss out the firebomber's motivations," a reference to foreign national Mohamed Soliman, who attacked peaceful Jewish demonstrators in Boulder, Colo., after yelling "Free Palestine" and endorsing "jihad for Allah's sake." Soliman injured at least seven people, including a Holocaust survivor, and killed one. Kiros said that "whatever hatred" Soliman had "for the state of Israel and their actions manifested in a way that it inflicted violence on a group of innocent people and a group of innocent Jewish people that were protesting in this way."

"And this kind of hatred for the state of Israel does manifest in a way that puts Jewish people in unique danger," Kiros continued. "And understanding that piece I think is important so that we know that what our options are in reevaluating our relationship with Israel so that we can tone that temperature down and prevent some of that violence from happening."

Kiros, who ousted a 30-year incumbent Democrat in the primary for Colorado's First Congressional District last week, has refused to label the firebombing attack antisemitic. She also said Wednesday that she wouldn't call the attack "pro-Palestinian," and she refused to say that Israel has a right to exist.

"I think states have, their right to exist derives from the consent of the governed," Kiros said after Warner asked her, "sort of straight ahead, does Israel have a right to exist?"

She continued: "And my only commitment is to democratic values. And I expect our allies to uphold those democratic values. As it exists right now, Israel is committing a genocide against the Palestinian people. They are engaging in apartheid on the Palestinian people. And our responsibility is to hold our allies accountable."

Kiros's comments echo her long history of anti-American, anti-Israel, and antisemitic remarks. She first gained attention after she was fired for denouncing the corporate law profession for refusing to embrace Hamas. On the campaign trail, she described both the Sept. 11, 2001, and Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attacks as the "inevitable" result of colonial aggression. She also enjoyed the backing of Hasan Piker, the anti-American streamer who has said that "America deserved 9/11."


A Top Mamdani Official Tried to Meet with Iran
The top official in the Zohran Mamdani administration’s Office for International Affairs made plans to meet with Iran’s ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations.

Commissioner Ana María Archila was scheduled to meet with Amir-Saeid Iravani, Iran’s permanent representative to the United Nations, at 2 United Nations Plaza, alongside two other senior officials in the Mayor’s Office for International Affairs on July 7 at 11 a.m.—this according to screenshots of a calendar invitation reviewed by City Journal and confirmed by a source connected to the international affairs community and another familiar with Archila’s office. Another official within the State Department also confirmed awareness of the Mamdani administration’s impending engagement.

The meeting between Archila and Iravani was called off after the State Department—which was not informed ahead of time—met with the Mamdani administration to clarify acceptable conduct, according to the State Department official. City Journal learned that Commissioner Archila allegedly did not inform Mayor Mamdani of the meeting; she was reprimanded for the move and directed to cancel the meeting according to the source familiar with the office.

“This meeting did not and will not take place,” a spokesperson with the Mayor’s Office for International Affairs said in a statement. The Iranian mission did not return multiple requests for comment.

The development is a continuation of Commissioner Archila and the Mamdani administration’s ongoing use of public resources to advance an agenda that extends well beyond New York City. On April 16, a message seen by City Journal was sent to staff within the Mayor’s Office for International Affairs asking them to prioritize diplomatic engagement in part based on whether foreign officials “are . . . in political alignment/leftist.” The message confirms previous reporting by El País, noting that Archila has “focused . . . on deepening relations with foreign leaders who share Mamdani’s worldview.”
'She'll F— You Up, C—': Mamdani-Supporting Doctor Who Directs Major New York Clinic Moonlights as Vile Troll Who Attacks Jews, MAGA, Defends Jasmine Crockett
A medical director for a major New York City kidney clinic with a history of multimillion-dollar city contracts and ties to the city's public health corporation has accused Israel of being behind the 9/11 terrorist attacks and called MAGA "vermin," among other offensive and often obscene remarks.

In postings, nephrologist Dr. Pravin Bhat called a black Republican lawmaker "a coon," said Indian kids were "filthy," referred to multiple female Republican lawmakers as "bitches" and "cunts," and blasted at least one critic as an "aids riddled penis."

Bhat, who serves as a medical director of Atlantic Dialysis Management Services, has spent years operating as an X troll under the handle @PravocAuteur.

The account was locked down minutes after the Washington Free Beacon emailed Bhat for comment.

"The Nephologist [sic] driving around Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx," read a profile description that also bragged about "refer[ing] to MAGA in vermin-like terms."

Bhat made no effort to hide his identity, using a photo of himself in a Knicks hat as the profile avatar—an image he has described as the "face of someone who jizzed on your mom."

"No we never forget what Israel did," Bhat said in response to an X post featuring the 9/11 terrorist attacks. In October 2025, Bhat called Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu "the jewish polish equivalent of hitler." Just weeks after Hamas's Oct 7, 2023, terrorist attacks, which killed more than 1,200 people, Bhat accused Jews of playing the "victim card."


Anti-Israel ICC Prosecutor Found to Have Engaged in Sexual Harassment
International Criminal Court Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan committed sexual harassment by engaging in a sexual relationship with a subordinate and then attempting to dissuade her from pursuing misconduct allegations, according to an internal ICC report obtained by The New York Times.

The confidential findings by the court’s 21-member executive body concluded that Khan’s denials were “devoid of credibility” after he failed to clearly deny the sexual relationship in 30 opportunities. The scandal threatens to further destabilize the highly controversial legal body.

The Findings
The Bureau of the Assembly of States Parties determined Khan engaged in coercive and nonconsensual sexual behavior with a female ICC staffer between 2023 and 2024. A UN investigation found evidence of “nonconsensual sexual contact” in Khan’s office, at his private residence, and during official missions.

According to whistleblower documents, Khan allegedly moved the woman from another ICC department into his office, made her a regular presence on trips, and engaged in repeated unwanted advances — including allegedly touching her sexually on a hotel bed and knocking on her room door at 3 a.m. for ten minutes. He also allegedly locked his office door and stuck his hand in her pocket, and repeatedly asked her to vacation with him.

Credibility Crisis
The internal report highlighted a stunning detail: Khan’s primary concern during the investigation was whether his accuser had made recordings implicating him, rather than clearly denying the misconduct. Only after the evidentiary record showed no recordings existed did Khan issue denials — which the bureau found lacked credibility.

Khan was suspended in June 2026 as member states prepare to vote on whether to remove him — an unprecedented move for the court. Through his lawyer, Khan has denied “every specific allegation of sexual interaction of any kind.”

Qatar-Linked Targeting Operation
The alleged victim became the target of a Qatar-linked covert intelligence operation aimed at discrediting her claims. Two British private intelligence firms, Highgate and Elicius Intelligence, sought her passport details, information about her child, and attempted to establish connections between her and Israel — though no such evidence was found. The operation obtained sensitive information about her private life, financial situation, and even her passwords from hacked data on the dark web. The woman, who was placed on suicide watch at one point, told The Guardian the targeting was “as incomprehensible as it is heartbreaking.”


Commentary Podcast: Platline
Matt Continetti is back to discuss Graham Platner suspending his campaign with an angry 11-minute video diatribe, and whether his cratering poll numbers played a part in democrats' willingness to cut him loose. Plus, Iran's overreach leads to a resumption of hostilities in the region, Rahm Emmanuel's hallucinatory speech in Israel and the upcoming Israeli elections, and Matt recommends Richard Brookhiser's The Hero Returns: Lafayette and the Legacy of Revolution.
The Karol Markowicz Show: Dan Senor on Israel’s Future, Finding Community & Why Human Connection Still Wins
On this episode of The Karol Markowicz Show, Karol sits down with bestselling author and Call Me Back host Dan Senor for a powerful conversation about Israel, resilience, community, and the future of human connection.

Dan discusses the story behind his bestselling books Startup Nation and The Genius of Israel, explaining how Israel became one of the world’s leading centers for innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology. He reflects on the aftermath of October 7th, rising global hostility toward Israel, and why he remains optimistic that Israel will emerge stronger economically, militarily, and culturally.

Karol and Dan also explore the importance of faith, family traditions, and building strong communities in an increasingly disconnected world. Dan shares why Shabbat became an anchor for his family, his predictions for Israel’s relationships with Arab nations, the future of the Middle East, and even his hope for the New York Jets.

Plus, Dan explains why reading books, debating ideas, and finding meaningful relationships may become even more valuable in the age of artificial intelligence.


Andy Burnham warns he may ban Israeli settlement goods
Andy Burnham has suggested he might ban goods from Israeli settlements when he takes office.

Speaking to the Guardian, the prime minister-in-waiting also apologised for Labour’s initial response to the Gaza war, saying his party “didn’t get it right” and needs to “do better” under his leadership.

“I know many people feel that at the start of Israel’s military action in Gaza my party didn’t get it right and I am sorry about that. The response has too often not been good enough. We need to do better.

“We’ve got to do more to put pressure on the Israeli government … Yes, we have taken some important steps … But let’s be honest, the UK was too slow to call for a ceasefire. And we must now do more to strengthen our approach,” he said.

Burnham acknowledged the government had already formally recognised a Palestinian state and announced sanctions on Israeli ministers and some settler leaders, and restrictions on arms licences.

He added: “There is no contradiction between a zero-tolerance approach to antisemitism and holding the Netanyahu government to account. I will always take a fair and balanced approach and stand up for what is right.”

He described the suffering of the people of Gaza as a “scar on our collective conscience” and claimed far too little aid was getting in.


Sadiq Khan says Nova exhibition is ‘humbling’ after long-awaited visit
Sadiq Khan made his long-awaited visit to the Nova Exhibition in East London on Thursday, a week after Jewish News highlighted organisers’ disappointment that he was yet to attend.

The Mayor of London toured the Shoreditch exhibition alongside London’s Victims’ Commissioner, Andrea Simon, viewing the installation that documents the Hamas-led attack on the Nova music festival on 7 October 2023.

Khan said: “It was humbling to visit the powerful and poignant Nova Festival Exhibition.

“The heinous terrorist attack of 7 October turned a peaceful festival into a horrific site of pain and suffering for innocent victims, and this exhibition is a stark demonstration of this terrible day and its long-lasting impact.

“This exhibition has played a vital role in educating more than 600,000 people of all backgrounds around the world about these atrocities, and it is a testament to the incredible fundraising efforts of London’s Jewish community that it has been brought to our capital for an extended stay.”

His visit fell on what would have been the 29th birthday of British-Israeli Jake Marlowe, the London-born musician who was murdered while working as an unarmed security guard at the festival.

Later that afternoon, Jake’s parents, Lisa and Michael Marlowe, spoke at a special event at the exhibition, sharing their son’s story and remembering his life.

Jake had taken the security job to earn extra money before planning to propose to his girlfriend. When Hamas terrorists attacked the festival, he chose to stay behind to help others escape rather than flee himself. He was later shot dead.

Last week, Jewish News revealed organisers’ frustration that, despite repeated invitations since the exhibition opened in May, the mayor had not attended.


A Tale of Two Goalkeepers
Two Goalkeepers
The FIFA World Cup is the world’s biggest sporting event. Every four years, it becomes more than a soccer tournament. It also becomes one of the largest international news platforms, where stories connected to the sport compete for worldwide attention.

This year’s tournament produced two strikingly different examples.

One involved Mohammad Rashid Mazaheri, an Iranian international goalkeeper who represented his country at the 2018 FIFA World Cup before publicly challenging the regime in Tehran.

The other involved Saleem Al-Ashqar, a Palestinian goalkeeper whose death in Gaza quickly became part of an international campaign surrounding FIFA and Israel.

Both stories carried obvious human significance.

Their journeys through the international media could scarcely have been more different.

The Story of Mohammad Rashid Mazaheri
Mohammad Rashid Mazaheri was not an obscure athlete. He spent years playing at the highest level of Iranian soccer and was selected for Iran’s squad at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, representing his country on the sport’s biggest stage.

On February 24, 2026, amid renewed unrest inside Iran, Mazaheri published an Instagram post directly challenging Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Alongside an altered image of Iran’s leader, he wrote:

“Khamenei! Know that your command over this holy land has ended.”

Security forces reportedly raided his home the following day.

The Iranian judiciary’s state-controlled news agency, Mizan, presented a different account, claiming Mazaheri had been arrested while attempting to cross the border illegally after altering his appearance.

Subsequent reporting by AFP, together with independent regional reporting confirmed through his wife, Maryam Abdollahi, indicated that the former international goalkeeper had instead been transferred to solitary confinement inside Urmia prison in northwestern Iran. His wife appealed publicly for his release, while human rights campaigners urged FIFA and the worldwide representative organization for professional soccer players, FIFPRO, to intervene.

Yet despite involving a former World Cup goalkeeper imprisoned after publicly criticizing an authoritarian regime, the story struggled to reach the international media.


Egypt blames World Cup exit on coach’s Gaza activism
An Egyptian Football Association official suggested the national team’s 2026 World Cup elimination was the result of biased officiating tied to the head coach’s Palestinian political activism, Israel’s Channel 12 News reported on Thursday.

Following a 3-2 loss to Argentina, FA board member Mustafa Abu Zahra stated that if the controversial refereeing was retaliation for coach Hossam Hassan’s vocal support for Gaza, the team still “gained by supporting the cause.”

“Palestine is the concern of every Egyptian. If what we went through in the match was because of Hossam Hassan’s support for the Palestinian cause, then we have gained by supporting the cause and sending a message to our brothers that we stand with them,” he said.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani echoed the grievances, claiming Egypt was “robbed” by referees over a disallowed Video Assistant Referee goal and uncalled fouls.

The controversy follows Hassan’s earlier decision to dedicate a tournament victory “to all the martyrs in Gaza” after bringing a Palestinian flag on the pitch as “The Pharaohs” (the Egypt national soccer team) celebrated advancing to the Round of 16.

After blowing a 2-0 lead and getting eliminated in the match against Argentina, the coach also engaged in a touchline confrontation with fans waving an Israeli flag, alleging they were hurling racist insults at him, which was not proven.
Referee’s Wikipedia page falsely claims he’s Jewish after Egypt’s World Cup exit
Football referee Francois Letexier’s Wikipedia page has been sabotaged to falsely claim he is Jewish in the wake of Egypt’s last-gasp World Cup exit.

Following Argentina’s victory over their Middle Eastern opponents, French referee Francois Letexier came under heavy scrutiny from Egyptian fans over several decisions, including ruling out an Egyptian goal after a VAR review and awarding Argentina what proved to be a decisive penalty.

Subsequently, the Egyptian Football Association launched a formal complaint to FIFA, accusing referees of applying “double standards”. Egypt manager Hossam Hassan also accused FIFA of favouring the defending champions, claiming: “They want Argentina and Messi to stay for marketing. This match was clearly rigged, and the whole world witnessed it.”

Concluding the heated match, someone changed Letexier’s Wikipedia page to portray the referee as having an Orthodox Jewish upbringing. The edit claimed he had been born into an Jewish family in Brittany. The false information was removed a few hours later.

However, before the Wikipedia edit was removed, screenshots of the page spread across social media platforms. Some Egyptian supporters shared the claims while accusing Letexier of favouring Argentina.

In Egypt’s previous World Cup victory over Australia, manager Hossam Hassan returned from the dressing room after the match to celebrate with supporters while waving a Palestinian flag. Footage circulating on social media showed Egyptian fans chanting “Free, Free Palestine” while wearing keffiyehs.


Shopify president interrupted by anti-Israel protester at Startupfest in Montreal
Harley Finkelstein, the Jewish president of Shopify, was interrupted by an anti-Israel protester while speaking at Startupfest in Montreal on Wednesday during a discussion on entrepreneurship with former UFC champion Georges St-Pierre.

The session, held at the Grand Quay of Montréal, focused on entrepreneurship and leadership. At the time of the disruption, Finkelstein and St-Pierre were discussing the parallels between fighters and entrepreneurs.

Footage of the incident shows a man identified as Yves Engler shouting, “Mr. Finkelstein, why have you supported the genocide on Gaza? How many children have been killed, Mr. Finkelstein?”

Audience members quickly drowned out the protester with boos, with one woman heard yelling, “Go away, you’re ruining it,” before security escorted the man from the venue.

Finkelstein later wrote that the protester was motivated by “antisemitism. Pure and simple. Disguised under a thin veil of advocacy, and everyone in the room saw right through it.”

“I was on stage with Georges St-Pierre talking about entrepreneurship. Not politics,” Finkelstein said. “A man burst in, screaming horrible accusations at me anyway. Third time in two years, including at the opening of a Jewish community centre. My parents were in the front row. I’ll never forget their faces.”

“When the target is always the Jew and never the topic, it’s not advocacy. It’s hate,” he added. “The room booed him down and cheered as he was walked out. I’m grateful for that. Hate got escorted out. We got right back to building.”


Norway drops case against professor who called October 7 'most beautiful thing this century'
Norwegian police have dismissed a complaint against a university professor who called the October 7 massacre “the most beautiful thing that has happened in our century,” The Jerusalem Post has learned on Thursday.

The Post previously reported on the incident in May 2026. Bassam Hussein, a project management professor at Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Trondheim, made the comments during an April 21 lecture organized by the Socialist Forum.

At the time, Vikas Thakur, dean of the Faculty of Engineering at NTNU, told the Post that NTNU has no responsibility for the event due to it being arranged at a venue outside of the university campus.

When asked whether NTNU considers Hussein’s statements to be glorification of terror, Thakur said, “We understand that the statement may be perceived that way,” but that “he spoke as an individual citizen with a background from Gaza, not on behalf of the university.”

Anti-antisemitism activist group StoppNRK then lodged a complaint against Husseein with Norwegian police.

Case dismissed because conduct is not criminal offense
On Thursday, Investigator Arild Hansen and Prosecutor Sunniva Tronvoll notified StoppNRK that the case has been dismissed because “the reported conduct is not considered a criminal offense.”
Illinois teachers offered licensing credit for course urging boycott of ADL
With summer break offering teachers a chance to level up their skills for the year ahead, Illinois educators will be able to spend three days in Chicago this month learning about “the dangers of the ADL’s influence in our schools” — and earn credit toward the professional development needed to renew their teaching licenses.

In a description for the six-hour course — held over three days — titled “Why We Need to #DropTheADL From Schools,” the Anti-Defamation League is described as a “right-wing and white supremacist organization” that perpetrates “academic repression, and the punishment of educators teaching the truth about the genocide in Palestine and Lebanon.”

Educators will leave the course “with an understanding of how to counter false accusations of antisemitism” and with “curricula and strategies to address real antisemitism in their school communities,” the description vows.

The Illinois State Board of Education mandates that all licensed educators must complete 120 hours of professional development training from state-approved providers every five years. Educators seeking professional development hours can also turn to the ADL, which offers its own courses giving professional development credit. One six-hour ADL course, offered in October, is called “Breaking Down Antisemitism.” Another is about helping teachers adopt a critical lens toward artificial intelligence so they can identify antisemitism and Holocaust inversion in AI tools.

The anti-ADL course will be facilitated by members of Chicago Educators for Palestine, Jewish Voice for Peace Chicago and the local Drop the ADL From Schools campaign. It is organized by a social justice-focused institute called Be the Change Collaborative, which is one of more than 300 organizations approved by ISBE to offer professional development credit to licensed educators in the state.

The ADL is an approved provider, as is Echoes and Reflections, a Holocaust education initiative of the ADL, Yad Vashem and the Shoah Foundation. Other Jewish organizations — including the Simon Wiesenthal Center and Solomon Schechter Day School — are on the list, too.


Board of Peace plans launch of pilot Gaza housing project, but green light elusive
Board of Peace officials have briefed reporters in recent days about their plans to establish a pilot humanitarian zone in the Rafah area of south Gaza.

The idea is to have Israel pull back its troops from the designated area and be replaced by soldiers from a yet-to-be-deployed International Stabilization Force (ISF) who would secure the borders of the humanitarian zone.

The committee of Palestinian technocrats tasked with replacing Hamas in governing the Strip would finally enter the enclave and work with the ISF to vet the tens of thousands of Palestinians coming from the Hamas-controlled “red zone” into the “green zone” that to date has been occupied by the IDF.

There, tens of thousands would have access to temporary housing, humanitarian aid and safety at levels sorely lacking in the remainder of the Strip.

The Board of Peace hopes that the pilot humanitarian zone will serve as a model that can be used to separate civilians from Hamas, thereby weakening the terror group’s grip on society.
Israel says Gaza aid deliveries are significantly exceeding international benchmarks
Israel’s Defense Ministry on Thursday released a report concluding that aid deliveries to Gaza “significantly exceeded” international standards in the nine months after the Oct. 10, 2025, truce.

The report—published by the ministry’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) unit and based on Israel Defense Forces data, figures from the United Nations and international NGOs, open-source reports and humanitarian research—covers food security, water, sanitation and hygiene, as well as healthcare conditions since the U.S.-brokered ceasefire.

According to COGAT, roughly 1.78 million metric tons of food entered Gaza between the start of the ceasefire and June 7, 2026, roughly three times the food requirements defined by the U.N. World Food Programme.

The report said that even excluding commercial imports and counting only aid shipments, food deliveries exceeded humanitarian requirements.

COGAT also said food prices in the enclave fell by about 72% between September 2025 and May 2026, with sharp declines recorded in the cost of staples including flour, rice, lentils, vegetables and eggs.

It attributed the lower prices to increased food availability, while saying the market price was still influenced by Hamas terrorists levying taxes and exerting control over distribution channels.

The report said more than 70,000 cubic meters of water are supplied to Gaza daily through pipelines, desalination facilities and other infrastructure, exceeding humanitarian standards. It added that Jerusalem continues to coordinate with international organizations on water and sanitation projects.

In the healthcare sector, COGAT said more than 18,000 metric tons of medications and supplies entered Gaza during the ceasefire, while hospital bed capacity increased by more than 55%. It noted that the IDF does not impose quantitative import restrictions on medicines, though some dual-use items remain subject to security screening.

COGAT chief Maj.-Gen. Yoram Halevi said the report was intended to counter Hamas’s efforts to “distort the humanitarian picture in the Gaza Strip.”


Convicted of attempted murder for stabbing Jewish man near synagogue, Swiss teen avoids jail
A teenager who stabbed a Jewish man in March 2024 in Zurich was sentenced on Tuesday to one year in prison — the maximum for someone of his age — but his punishment was commuted to compulsory mental care.

Aged 15 at the time of the incident, he had stabbed a 50-year-old man 17 times in the street near a synagogue. The man survived his injuries but was seriously wounded.

The district court near Zurich convicted him of “attempted murder,” emphasizing that it had deemed his act to be “particularly unscrupulous.”

The teenager, who had become radicalized online, was also found guilty of “supporting a criminal and terrorist organization,” “repeatedly disseminating depictions of violence” and “repeatedly” inciting hatred or discrimination based “on ethnic origin or religion,” the statement said.

The court also determined that he had intended to kill more people, but after finding the door to a synagogue shut, he instead attacked a man in the street who was easily identifiable as Jewish.

The teenager, who is of Tunisian descent and became a naturalized citizen in 2011, announced his plans to kill Jews at a synagogue in a video posted on social media and claimed responsibility for the attack on behalf of the jihadist group Islamic State (IS).
Philadelphia area man charged with antisemitic, terror threat against Gov. Shapiro
More than a year after an anti-Israel arsonist attacked the governor’s mansion in Harrisburg, Pa., while Gov. Josh Shapiro and his family were there on April 13, 2025, a resident of suburban Philadelphia was arrested for threatening the state’s Jewish chief executive and using antisemitic slurs in doing so.

Richard John Franklin, 65, of Delaware County in the Philadelphia area, was arrested Wednesday and charged with making threats in a state representative’s district office.

According to Pennsylvania State Police, Franklin had gone to Leanne Krueger’s office on a tax issue on July 7 and while talking to one of her aides, used an “antisemitic ethnic slur” against Shapiro while threatening to set the governor’s mansion on fire.

“It is our duty to uphold the sanctity of the law and to protect the commonwealth,” Sgt. Logan Brouse, communications director of the state police, told JNS, responding on behalf of the governor’s office.

The state police “takes threats against the lives of public officials seriously. That’s why the department has formed a dedicated unit to address the growing amount of ideologically motivated violence against elected officials,” Brouse told JNS. “PSP will continue to ensure the safety of public officials in Pennsylvania.”

When members of the state police’s political violence threat unit went to Franklin’s house on Wednesday, the accused “provided multiple, inconsistent accounts of what occurred at the district office,” including admitting “to using the ethnic slur,” per an incident report from the police.

Franklin claimed that his statements “about the governor’s mansion were sympathetic and positive in nature, because the governor and his family survived the previous arson,” per the incident report.

He was taken into custody without incident, police said.
Self-described Nazi in Pennsylvania indicted for threat to kill Congress member
A Pennsylvania man who described himself online as a Nazi and white supremacist has been indicted on federal charges for allegedly posting repeated death threats targeting a member of Congress and calling for mass shootings against Muslims, Democrats and minority groups.

According to the indictment filed in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, unsealed on Thursday, Robert Hlovchiec, of Allegheny County, was indicted on 12 counts, including transmitting threats in interstate commerce, and threatening to assault and murder a U.S. official.

The lawmaker is identified in court filings only as “Victim 1,” whose identity is “known to the grand jury.”

Prosecutors allege that between Feb. 8 and March 6, Hlovchiec used a YouTube account to post violent threats against Victim 1, a Congress member, and against Democrats, transgender people, Hispanics, African-Americans and Muslims.

The indictment states that he “occasionally referred to himself as a Nazi or a white supremacist” and described “mass shootings, assassinations and running people over with his truck.”

Among the posts cited in the indictment were, “I am a Nazi” and “I’m a real American, I will do a mass shooting against 100s of Muslims in America if I ever get the opportunity.”
Man accused over violent terrorist videos granted bail
A man accused of sharing violent videos and propaganda linked to several terrorist groups has been granted bail.

Ghassan Eltatary, 51, faced Southport Magistrates Court on the Gold Coast on Wednesday after being arrested by Australian Federal Police and Queensland Police.

The Pacific Pines man allegedly possessed and shared violent videos and propaganda messages linked to the Hamas, Hezbollah, Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Ansar Allah, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist organisations.

Police allege the material was shared with friends and family members through an encrypted social platform.

Eltatary was charged with one count of using a carriage service for violent extremist material and six counts of possessing or controlling violent extremist material.

He faces a maximum penalty of five years' imprisonment for each offence if convicted.

Eltatary was granted bail following his court appearance, with his case due to return to court on August 3.

He is the second person arrested as part of a joint investigation by Queensland Police, federal police and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation.

The investigation began after Australian Border Force officers intercepted Eltatary following his return to Australia from the United Arab Emirates in October 2025.

During an examination of Eltatary's mobile phone, officers allegedly located suspected violent extremist material, and the device was later seized for forensic examination.

Investigators executed a search warrant at a Pacific Pines home on November 13, 2025.

During the search, alleged violent extremist material was located on an electronic device and a 19-year-old man, Mohamed Ghassan Eltatary, was charged with five offences.


Rafael in talks to set up Iron Dome interceptor production line in India - report
Rafael Advanced Defense Systems is in talks with Indian defense companies to set up a production line in the country for Iron Dome interceptors, according to recent reports in India.

Rafael currently produces the system’s interceptors at one of its plants in northern Israel, and last year a missile production line also began operating in the US in partnership with Raytheon. The American plant will supply interceptors for the Marines’ new air defense system and, if necessary, can reinforce production in Israel.

India bought the Israel Aerospace Industries Barak 8 air defense system for its air force, navy and army for billions of dollars. The system was developed jointly by the two countries, but India has equipped itself with a domestic air defense system for shorter ranges.

Production in India is expected to serve Rafael in sales to additional countries, lower costs, provide extra backup when needed to the other production lines, and also strengthen the company’s standing vis-a-vis the Indian establishment, which requires foreign defense companies not only to manufacture in India as a condition for selling their products to the local military, but also to export from there and thereby strengthen its economy.

Elbit also manufactures the Hermes 900 drones, known as “Star” in the Air Force, and the Hermes 450, known as “Zik,” in India, and has supplied components from there for the additional Star squadron recently opened in the Air Force.
Vietnam defies Eurosatory ban and met with Israeli defense companies
Despite the ban imposed by France's President Emmanuel Macron on an Israel national pavilion and restricting the products that Israeli defense companies could display at the Eurosatory defense and security exhibition in Paris last month, "Intelligence Online" reports major interest in Israeli systems from Vietnam.

The senior Vietnamese officials, led by Deputy Minister Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Truong Thang, devoted a lot of time to the Israeli companies that managed to exhibit at the exhibition, as well as to those that did not.

The strong Vietnamese interest in Israeli defense industries is not new and is part of a trend that is evident in data from the Ministry of Defense international defense cooperation division (SIBAT). In 2025, as defense exports reached a peak of $19.2 billion, the growing export destination was Asia-Pacific, which jumped from 23% of total exports to 32%.

During the recent war, cooperation with Vietnam deepened as a supplier of explosives and other industrial products for the defense industries, especially in the wake of the increasing embargo from Western countries.

As part of the process, Israeli company 4Model recently signed an exclusivity agreement with Vietnam's Dong Nam for the purpose of providing solutions in the areas of precision chip processing, advanced castings, forging, electronic packaging and the production of complex components. Until now, companies in Israel have relied on supply chains and production in countries such as India, Bulgaria, and Czechia.


Jerusalem voted the seventh-best city in the world
Jerusalem was ranked as the world’s seventh-best city in the World’s Best Awards 2026 list in a survey published on Tuesday by the highly esteemed U.S. travel magazine Travel + Leisure.

Israel’s capital also topped the rankings as the best city in the Middle East and North Africa.

Running for 31 consecutive years, this year’s survey registered more than 661,000 votes by roughly 207,000 readers, across more than 10,088 total properties that include cities, hotels, cruise lines and more, according to the magazine.

San Miguel de Allende in Mexico topped the list at number one, followed by Kyoto (Japan), Chiang Mai (Thailand), Hoi An (Vietnam), Oaxaca (Mexico) and Bangkok (Thailand).

With a possible end to hostilities in the Mideast region, Israel’s tourism industry is looking to rehabilitate from the effects of almost three years of war.
Waldorf Astoria Jerusalem ranked as the region’s third-best hotel
The Waldorf Astoria Jerusalem has been ranked the third-best hotel in the Middle East and North Africa and the top hotel in Israel in the 2026 Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards, the hotel said on Thursday.

Jerusalem also topped Travel + Leisure’s rankings as “the best city in the Middle East and North Africa” and placed seventh among cities worldwide. The rankings were based on more than 661,000 votes cast by over 207,000 readers of the travel magazine.

The latest recognition follows the Waldorf Astoria Jerusalem’s selection as the Middle East’s leading hotel in 2024 and 2025 by the World Travel Awards.

“We are proud and excited to continue gaining international recognition,” said Avner On, the hotel’s general manager. “For us, this is a significant expression of confidence in the quality of our hospitality, the level of service and our uncompromising commitment to providing every guest with an exceptional experience.”

On said Jerusalem’s ranking as the region’s top tourist destination was “important news for the city and for the entire Israeli tourism industry.”

“We see this as proof that even in challenging times, Jerusalem continues to attract visitors from all over the world thanks to its unique combination of history, culture, cuisine and hospitality at the highest level,” he said. “We will continue to work to set the highest standards of luxury hospitality and to be ambassadors of Jerusalem and Israel to our guests from around the world.”
Elie Wiesel’s hidden world of letters, loss and friendship
Unpublished letters, a deep friendship with Primo Levi, conversations with Albert Camus and Allen Ginsberg’s original ‘Kaddish’ manuscript reveal a new portrait of Wiesel, the Nobel laureate who stood at the center of Jewish and world culture after the Holocaust

My first meeting with Elie Wiesel took place in November 1983. When I knocked on the door of his apartment, then on Manhattan’s West Side, the door opened and two people stood before me. I was surprised. I recognized Wiesel immediately, but who was the guest, the second man who at that moment was taking leave of his host? The answer came at once: “Meet the writer Primo Levi.”

Two in one meeting, and what two they were. I was deeply embarrassed. I did not know what one says at such a moment. I still did not know any of Primo Levi’s books in Hebrew, but I had heard of the man. In Kvutzat Yavne, where I grew up, there was a member, Yosef Hartom, a native of Turin, the same age and classmate as Primo Levi. Both studied chemistry, but Yosef’s family was Zionist and immigrated to Israel in 1938, while his friend Primo Levi remained in Italy and endured the torments of the hell of Auschwitz. Since Yosef knew of my interest in Holocaust literature, he once told me at length on a Shabbat about his good friend.

Elie Wiesel and Primo Levi met in the early 1970s and immediately became close friends. They called each other “my brother” and exchanged letters, most of which I found in the archive. When Primo Levi died, his widow wrote to Wiesel in a telegram: “We will delay the funeral until you arrive, so that you, as he wished, will eulogize him.” The funeral was not delayed, but on the 30th day more than 2,000 Italian Jews gathered for a memorial service in Turin, where Wiesel was the only speaker and eulogist. He came especially from New York.

I asked Wiesel what he and Primo Levi spoke about in their long conversations, and he replied: “We spoke about our days in the Buna camp, Auschwitz III, and about the different understanding each of us had of the meaning of those difficult days.”

They were close friends, but very different from one another. Wiesel represented a spiritual, moral and theological voice, while Primo Levi was analytical and rational. From the moment they met, they knew they had been tortured and had suffered at the same time and in the same camp, without knowing it in real time.
Huckabee, Yarden Bibas dedicate memorial olive tree
US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee and former Gaza hostage Yarden Bibas together dedicated an olive tree to murdered Gaza hostages Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir Bibas at a ceremony in the northern Israeli community of Moshav HaYogev on Thursday.

"The sacrifice that your family made for the people of Israel is one that obviously is not being forgotten," Huckabee told Yarden and Ofri during the dedication. The dedication event was done through the My Tree in Israel initiative, through which Huckabee, US President Donald Trump, and many others have trees sponsored in their names.

"With the plaque on the tree, it's a reminder that life is still coming. The olives, every year, will produce wonderful, beautiful olive oil that you'll be able to have and share, and know that it's in memory of Shiri and your two sons."

Yarden Bibas and his wife Shiri, along with their sons, four-year-old Ariel and nine-month-old Kfir, were taken hostage during the October 7 Hamas-led attacks in southern Israel. Only Yarden was returned alive.

The event also saw the dedication of a tree to Ambassador Huckabee’s daughter, Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders. The sign on Ambassador Huckabee’s tree was also updated to reflect his position as ambassador, replacing the former “Governor Mike Huckabee” sign.

Also at the event, Avi Harush, the father of Sgt. Reef Harush, a soldier who was killed in combat in southern Gaza in April 2024, presented Huckabee and his wife, Janet Huckabee, with a tree that was planted in his memory.

Harush, who was 20 years old when he fell in battle along with three older soldiers in the Oz Brigade, had been undergoing training in the commando training school.

Speaking to Harush, Huckabee commended his son’s sacrifice, saying that Sgt. Harush’s sacrifice was also made on behalf of Americans.





Buy EoZ's books  on Amazon!

Reclaiming the Covenant on America's 250th (May 2026)

"He's an Anti-Zionist Too!" cartoon book (December 2024)

PROTOCOLS: Exposing Modern Antisemitism (February 2022)

    

 

 



AddToAny

Printfriendly

EoZTV Podcast

Podcast URL

Subscribe in podnovaSubscribe with FeedlyAdd to netvibes
addtomyyahoo4Subscribe with SubToMe

search eoz

comments

Speaking

Speaking

translate

E-Book

For $18 donation








Sample Text

EoZ's Most Popular Posts in recent years

Search2

Hasbys!

Hasbys!

2019 Nobel Peace Prize nominee

Elder of Ziyon - حـكـيـم صـهـيـون



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.

Donate!

Donate to fight for Israel!

Monthly subscription:
Payment options


One time donation:

Follow EoZ on Twitter!

Interesting Blogs

Show All

Blog Archive

Copyright © Elder Of Ziyon - Israel News | Powered by Blogger
Blogger Templates