Friday, May 23, 2025

By: Simon Fenn ~ Bridges for Peace

Monday, 19 May 2025 | On Saturday night 24-year-old Yuval Raphael took the Eurovision stage; her radiant performance a melody of hope that silenced a gale of opposition. Her song, “New Day Will Rise,” carried Israel to a stunning second-place finish, but it was her journey—from surviving the October 7, 2023, Hamas massacre at the Supernova music festival to facing down protests at Eurovision—that showed the world the indomitable spirit of Israel. Despite a concerted and orchestrated effort to have Israel disqualified from competing at Eurovision, the attention-grabbing protests outside the arena and attempts by protesters to rush Yuval on stage inside the venue, Raphael’s public vote victory—297 points, the highest among 26 finalists—unveiled a huge swell of public support across Europe and beyond, providing evidence that support for Israel runs much deeper than mainstream narratives would have us believe. 

Yuval’s story is one of remarkable fortitude. During the Nova festival attack, she hid beneath bodies in a roadside bomb shelter. Only 11 of the 50 Israelis hiding in the shelter came out alive. Rather than let trauma define her, she pursued her musical dreams, winning Israel’s HaKokhav HaBa televised competition in early 2025 to earn her Eurovision spot. In Basel, her performance was a masterclass of grace and defiance, weaving her brave spirit with rich vocal depth into a universal message of strength, survival and renewal. As she concluded with a bold declaration “Am Yisrael Chai” (The People of Israel Live)—the crowd’s response was mixed, with cheers undermined by boos (reportedly), a reflection of the polarized atmosphere. Yet, the public vote told a different story, awarding her top marks from 13 countries, including Belgium, UK, Spain, and Luxembourg, and the highest total points overall, revealing an unexpected tidal wave of appreciation and support. 

This triumph came against fierce opposition. Palestinian activists, including over 70 former Eurovision contestants, campaigned to ban Israel, accusing it of “genocide” in Gaza. Outside Basel’s St. Jakobshalle arena, hundreds protested, waving Palestinian flags and burning Israeli and American ones, with some clashes requiring police to use tear gas. Inside, two pro-Palestinian protesters attempted to rush the stage during Raphael’s performance, throwing paint at a crew member, though security swiftly intervened and they were arrested. Earlier, during the May 11 opening ceremony, a protester made a throat-slitting gesture toward the Israeli delegation, prompting a police complaint from Israel’s Kan broadcaster. Yuval’s dress rehearsal was disrupted by six activists with Palestinian flags and whistles, who were ejected. 

Mainstream media often magnified these protests, framing Israel’s participation as “contentious” and “controversial”. Broadcasts (like Graham Norton’s BBC presentation) and news reports highlighted the alleged boos during Raphael’s introduction, with some claiming Eurovision used “audio sweetening” to mute the sounds of dissent. Outlets like Spain’s RTVE aired pro-Palestinian messages, with commentators citing Gaza’s death toll live on air, prompting European Broadcasting Union (EBU) warnings. This focus on pro-Palestinian messaging painted Israel as isolated, yet the public vote demonstrated a completely different reality. Raphael’s 297 points, which equates to 15-20 million plus votes, dwarfed competitors. Even Ireland—often critical of Israel—awarded 10 public points and seven jury points to Israel. Yuval’s success echoed 2024, when Eden Golan’s “Hurricane” earned the second-highest public vote, landing fifth overall despite many similar protests and controversy that surrounded Israel’s entry to Eurovision. 

Eurovision’s voting offers a rare glimpse into unfiltered public sentiment, and perhaps, is more indicative than political rhetoric or polls. Analysts argue it reflects cultural affinities over, against and despite media narratives. Yuval’s top scores from European nations, including Germany, as well the UK (which awarded her the full public vote of 12 points), suggest a silent majority that either are supportive of Israel in its war against Hamas or, at least, are objective enough to put political opinion aside and acknowledge Yuval’s mesmerizing performance. Either way, it appears to be evident that millions of common-sense people across Europe, and other diverse nations, rejected the vilification of Israel peddled by pro-Palestinian activists that are continually amplified by the media. While some voters will, undoubtedly, have been swayed purely by Yuval’s artistry, the consistent support over the past two years strongly hints at a broader consensus of goodwill toward Israel, challenging perceptions of the nation as a pariah amid Gaza’s conflict. 

Yuval’s resilience is a shining reflection of Israel’s. She prepared for the “boos”, even rehearsing with simulated crowd noise so she could remain focused; her courage a product of her survival as well as a testament to her resolve. Her song was a plea for hope—for the hostages and for Israel, carrying the reverberations of her remarkable story that resonated with audiences, who saw behind her a nation still standing, despite such prolonged adversity. The jury’s 14th-place ranking, with only Azerbaijan awarding 12 points, underscored a disconnect with the public’s fervor—like a glaring metaphor of the disconnect between the mainstream press and ordinary people—but it did not dim her impact. In Israel, a nation that longs for, without needing, global acceptance, her victory was a lifeline of encouragement and proof that its story still strikes a resounding chord across the world.

By: Itamar Eichner ~ Ynetnews

Thursday, 22 May 2025 | France is ramping up diplomatic efforts to persuade Western nations to recognize a Palestinian state, with plans to make a coordinated announcement during a peace summit at the United Nations next month. 

French President Emmanuel Macron is organizing the June 17 conference in partnership with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Paris hopes a number of European countries, including Belgium, Portugal and Luxembourg, will back the initiative and publicly endorse Palestinian statehood at the event. 

A senior Israeli official accused Macron of attempting to “generate an anti-Israel atmosphere to convince as many countries as possible to recognize a Palestinian state.” 

Diplomatic tensions are mounting as Israel and its allies, led by Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon, work with the United States to block the French initiative. Danon is actively lobbying other countries to reject the recognition effort. 

Belgium poses a particular challenge to France’s plan. The country’s right-wing prime minister has expressed reservations, prompting French officials to apply heavy pressure in an attempt to win support. 

Separately, Israel is preparing for a UN Security Council session scheduled for May 28, where several European states are expected to call for an end to the war in Gaza and the immediate entry of humanitarian aid. Israel is again working with Washington and hopes the US will exercise its veto power if necessary. 

Diplomatic sources described growing international backlash as a “tsunami” that began at a recent meeting of the European Union’s Foreign Affairs Council. During that session, multiple countries pushed to suspend EU trade agreements with Israel. 

Dutch media reported this week that the Netherlands had secured backing from at least 17 member states to initiate a formal debate within the EU on canceling its partnership agreement with Israel. 

European Commission Vice President Kaja Kallas said the move remains reversible and rests on Israel’s actions. “There was a strong majority for the decision,” Kallas said. “Countries see the situation in Gaza as unsustainable and believe humanitarian aid must be allowed in immediately.” 

Kallas also confirmed that there were discussions on sanctioning Israeli government ministers and settlers—reportedly proposed by Sweden’s foreign minister—but the proposal was blocked by at least one opposing member state. 

On Tuesday, the United Kingdom escalated pressure by halting talks on a future free trade agreement with Israel, summoning Israeli Ambassador Tzipi Hotovely for a formal reprimand, and imposing sanctions on several Israeli settlers. The move followed similar threats from Canada and France. 

These developments could have serious economic consequences for Israel. The UK is one of Israel’s largest trading partners, with bilateral trade worth an estimated £9 billion (US $11.4 billion). The proposed agreement, seen as crucial to Israel’s tech industry, was expected to cover additional sectors. 

A senior Israeli Foreign Ministry official warned Tuesday that the diplomatic crisis is deepening. “We’re facing a real tsunami that’s only going to intensify,” the official told Israeli news outlet Ynet. “This is the worst situation we’ve ever been in. Since November 2023, the world has been seeing only dead Palestinian children and flattened homes. They’ve had enough.” 

The official added, “Israel isn’t offering any solutions, any vision for the day after, any hope—just death and destruction. The quiet boycott was already here, and it will grow. We cannot take this lightly. No one wants to be associated with Israel right now.”

By: JNS

Wednesday, 21 May 2025 | Israel’s negotiators are returning to Jerusalem for consultations after a week of “intensive contacts” in Qatar aimed at securing a hostage deal with Hamas, the Prime Minister’s Office announced on Tuesday night. 

“The senior members of the negotiating team will return to Israel for consultations; the working echelon will, at present, remain in Doha,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said in the statement. 

The Prime Minister’s Office noted that while Jerusalem has agreed to a new proposal based on a previous outline by US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, the terrorist group “is continuing to cling to its refusal.” 

The Israeli negotiating team in Doha had been working to exhaust every opportunity to reach an agreement, the Prime Minister’s Office said on Sunday, adding that talks were being held under multiple frameworks. 

The Witkoff outline reportedly envisions a multi-stage deal, beginning with a temporary ceasefire and the release of Israeli hostages, followed by reciprocal steps such as the release of Palestinian terrorist prisoners and further negotiations aimed at a permanent cessation of hostilities. 

The renewed diplomatic efforts coincided with the launch of Phase 1 of “Operation Gideon’s Chariots,” the next stage in the IDF’s campaign to destroy Hamas’s governing and military capabilities in the Gaza Strip. 

The IDF reported on Monday that it had carried out more than 160 strikes across the Gaza Strip over the past 24 hours, and had expanded its ground activity targeting Hamas infrastructure. 

Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said earlier on Tuesday that the ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas had stalled, with “deep divisions” preventing possible progress.

 Speaking at the Qatar Economic Forum in Doha, Al Thani declared that “the talks are going nowhere,” confirming that weeks of mediation efforts have failed to bridge critical gaps between the two sides. 

Jerusalem reportedly already considered withdrawing its delegation from Doha on Monday due to the lack of progress, but subsequently decided to keep the team in place until now.

By: JNS

Thursday, 22 May 2025 | The Israel Defense Forces eliminated the Palestinian terrorist who murdered Israeli mother Tzeela Gez, 30, as she was on her way to deliver her fourth son, the Samaria Regional Council announced. 

Samaria Regional Council head Yossi Dagan informed Gez’s widower on Wednesday after the terrorist’s identity was confirmed, the council said. 

Terrorist Nael Samara was killed on Saturday during an IDF counter-terrorism operation in the Palestinian village of Bruqin. According to Israel’s Ynet, he was shot after he approached troops while carrying a suspicious bag and shouting Allahu Akbar (“God is great” in Arabic). 

“We certainly do not find solace in the killing of this vile terrorist. That is only a small comfort,” said Dagan in a statement. “The true remedy is restoring deterrence and preventing the next attack.” 

Bruqin “has become a breeding ground for terror,” he continued. “The entire people of Israel are united in the demand for a strong response.” 

Dagan concluded: “The appropriate and true response is strengthening settlement in Samaria—establishing new communities now, in Tzeela’s path and in her memory.” 

Israeli security forces apprehended several other suspects in the search for the terrorists who murdered Tzeela Gez and injured her husband in the May 14 shooting attack outside the couple’s community of Bruchin. 

“As part of the IDF and Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) manhunt for the terrorist who carried out the shooting attack, IDF soldiers, guided by the Shin Bet, carried out targeted searches in the village of Bruqin, near the scene of the attack,” the Israeli military stated on Saturday. 

Gez’s baby was delivered after the shooting. The newborn remains in serious but stable condition. Gez’s sister told local media on Sunday that the boy was sedated at Schneider Children’s Medical Center. 

“He was without oxygen for a long time—some 50 minutes—from the moment Tzeela was murdered until he was delivered,” Lotem Sasson told Arutz 7. “Some of the breathing tubes have already been removed, but he is still sedated. I am really hoping to hear better news today.” 

“Tzeela has four children who will grow up without a mother, who was so amazing,” Sasson said. “I was always trying to learn from her how to be a mother. No one can take her place.” 

Palestinian terrorists targeted Israeli Jews in Judea and Samaria at least 6,343 times in 2024, according to figures published by the Rescuers Without Borders (Hatzalah Judea and Samaria) NGO on February 17. 

Twenty-seven Israelis were murdered in Judea and Samaria in 2024, and more than 300 others were wounded, the group said in its annual report.

By: Ron Ben-Yishai ~ Ynetnews

Tuesday, 20 May 2025 | The first thing that catches your eye when you travel through the Syrian Golan Heights is the destruction caused during the [Syrian] civil war. Although the buildings there have not been leveled as in Gaza, they are riddled with holes from bullets and shells and in some, the remnants of positions taken by local residents, in their fight against the Assad forces, are still visible. 

There is no longer any agriculture there but for a few sheep, goats and the random herder walking between the giant boulders. The houses, though still standing, appear unsuitable for human inhabitants, but still, as we near, children run out to greet us. 

"I didn't bring anything with me to give the kids," my companion, a Lt. Col. in the IDF, says. We've been driving alone and while I occasionally think that the quiet and calm around us is temporary, it appears that the IDF has succeeded in bringing a sort of normalcy to the area in a joint effort of engineering, military and diplomatic efforts. 

It is based on the IDF's new border protection doctrine devised after the Hamas massacre of October 7. It states simply that defense of the Israeli communities would not begin on the border. Any future enemy would encounter the IDF before approaching the frontier, which would be defended by a land barrier. 

The Syrian Golan does not seem ominous, but the military commanders there remind me that Al-Sharaa's rebel forces, like ISIS, arrived in civilian pickups and took over vast areas. Therefore, any vehicle able to travel faster than 30 km/h. (18.5 mph) is considered a threat and the IDF outposts, the border's first line of defense, would identify its passengers and open fire, first to warn them away and later, they would shoot to kill. 

The frontline outposts are not the only means now used by the IDF. There is intelligence gathering, surveillance by drones that can launch attacks and if necessary, use of the Air Force. 

There are 10 frontline outposts inside Syrian territory, running along the Israel-Syria border from Mt. Hermon in the north to the convergence of Israel, Syria and Jordan borders, in El Hama in the south. They are capable of housing a brigade of forces along with heavy Armor Corps machinery. Unlike the past IDF deployment along the border with Gaza, these outposts are built for a long stay and as a base for attack. 

Here and there, along the drive, we see old Syrian military positions that explain how al-Sharaa's forces were so successful in overtaking the country. The positions are unfit and did not protect the troops inside. But that is all in the past.  

In front of the new IDF outposts, the military controls the high ground. After diplomatic and military efforts, the other side agreed to avoid friction with the troops and to keep their distance. 

West of the outposts runs the old barrier along the purple line, which is the internationally recognized border. It was meant to prevent tanks and heavy armor from crossing toward Israel. The new barrier would block any vehicle from overrunning Israeli communities. It is made up of boulders and ditches dug deep into the ground. The engineering effort to complete the entire length of the border continues and would ultimately force any traffic on the Syrian side to use existing roads and not open terrain. 

The Israeli Druze are the first to benefit from the construction of the barrier because they own the heavy machinery used. They stand to make a fortune. 

The Druze community is transforming in its attitude toward Israel. In the 1980s, they refused to accept Israeli citizenship, but after the October 7 massacre and after 12 children were murdered in a Hezbollah missile strike on Majdal Shams, they changed course. They now want Israeli identity cards and even demand to join the IDF. For those who do, financial benefits are ensured. 

There is a shift in the Druze community on the other side of the border as well. Since historically, Druze communities cooperate with the ruling forces around them, some were operatives of Hezbollah. But since the Shiite terror group was pushed away and the IDF is in control, they are no longer operating against Israel.

The only area that could pose problems is in the south of the Golan Heights, between where the three borders converge to the west, and the road to Damascus to the east. It is home to Sunni Bedouin tribes, some of whom are Islamists and still work with ISIS. After clashes there resulted in the killing of jihadist [Muslims who “struggle” in a holy war with unbelievers] fighters, things calmed down. 

Israel operates two medical clinics inside Syria, acting as a frontline emergency room, to deal with any injured locals and the IDF troops try to avoid direct friction with the local community on the Syrian Golan Heights, but act forcefully to block any armed groups from nearing them or the border.

By: Etgar Lefkovits ~JNS

Tuesday, 20 May 2025 | Delta Air Lines is resuming flights to Tel Aviv on Tuesday, becoming the first US carrier to restart service following the Houthi missile attack on Israel’s Ben-Gurion International Airport earlier this month. 

The Atlanta-based airline confirmed to JNS that it will restart daily nonstop service between New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport and Tel Aviv. The first flight to Israel is scheduled to depart on Tuesday afternoon, with the return flight to New York set for Wednesday morning. 

Delta’s decision to lead the return of US carriers to Israel puts it ahead of its main rival, United Airlines. The Chicago-based airline has postponed the resumption of its twice-daily Newark-to-Tel Aviv service until mid-June, following an extension of its temporary suspension. 

It remains unclear whether Delta’s move will prompt United to accelerate its return to the Israeli market. 

“We continue to closely monitor the situation, and will make decisions on resuming service with a focus on the safety of our customers and crew,” United said in a statement. 

A Delta spokesperson told JNS on Monday that all flights to Israel were fully booked through next week, underscoring strong demand despite ongoing regional tensions. 

Meanwhile, Dallas-based American Airlines has yet to resume service to Israel and has remained absent from the market since suspending operations following the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which sparked the ongoing conflict in Gaza. 

The May 4 Houthi missile attack, which breached both US and Israeli missile defense systems and landed near Ben-Gurion Airport, triggered a wave of cancellations by international airlines. The disruption came just as major foreign carriers had begun resuming service to Israel this spring.

By: Canaan Lidor ~ JNS

Monday, 19 May 2025 | Amid efforts to isolate Israel in Europe, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, a prominent critic of radical Islam, on Sunday defended the Jewish state in a speech in Amsterdam, where she noted that the Jewish state has many supporters among minority groups. 

Hirsi Ali, a Somalia-born writer and Dutch former lawmaker, made the remarks during a symposium in tThe Hague celebrating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Center for Information and Documentation in Israel (CIDI,) the main pro-Israel advocacy group and antisemitism watchdog in the Netherlands. 

The day before she spoke, anti-Israel activists poured red paint on the venue, the KIT building in the city’s east. Dozens of them protested outside the symposium on Sunday, which also featured author Douglas Murray, former Israeli lawmaker Einat Wilf and Amos Yadlin, a former director of Israel’s military intelligence directorate. 

“Beyond the Palestinians, there are minorities seeking self-rule that are not negative at all vis-à-vis Israel,” said Hirsi Ali. Part of the reason is that “Islamism isn’t only an enemy of Israel but of the whole Muslim world and the West,” she added. 

Yadlin was the first speaker, following an introduction by CIDI Director Naomi Mestrum. He assessed the geopolitical situation following October. 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked Israel, murdering some 1,200 people and abducting 251. The attack prompted Israel to invade Gaza and launch an ongoing military campaign to dismantle the terrorist group. Hezbollah in Lebanon attacked Israel the following day, leading to fighting that ended in November with a ceasefire. 

The terror group’s heavy losses had a knock-on effect on Syria, where rebels toppled the regime of former president Bashar Assad, leading neighboring Turkey to take up positions in Syria to solidify its allies among the rebels, and to curtail the activity of some Kurdish groups. 

Hamas’s surprise attack was a “failure in policy, operative preparedness and of intelligence,” said Yadlin, whereas Israel had improved its position dramatically as a result, he added, calling it one of three winners from the war, together with the United States and Turkey. 

In his speech, counterterrorism expert Matt Levitt warned against complacency following Israel’s achievements. 

“Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis and Iran are already preparing for a new chance to destroy Israel. They are patient and have time. They look at the concept of time differently than we do. The fact that it is quiet now does not mean that nothing is happening beneath the surface,” he said.

By: Meir Turgeman ~ Ynetnews

Wednesday, 21 May 2025 | Exactly 60 years after Israeli spy Eli Cohen was hanged in Syria’s Damascus, his widow Nadia was informed on Sunday that thousands of his personal documents and belongings had been brought to Israel in a complex operation. 

“They took my mother to a meeting with the prime minister and the Mossad chief and told her the news,” said Sophie Ben-Dor, 65, one of Cohen’s three children. “She still dreams of fulfilling what she’s fought for all her life—bringing Eli Cohen to burial in Israel.” 

Ben-Dor, who was around five years old when her father was executed, recalled slowly uncovering his story over the years. “To this day, I collect bits and pieces of information about my private father—who’s also a national figure in Israel,” she said. 

“There are a lot of myths and misinformation. Now we have another source of knowledge that was brought here. I’ll read it eagerly to learn more.” 

According to Ben-Dor, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Mossad Director David Barnea revealed the materials to Nadia Cohen on Sunday. The archive includes original documents and personal items, such as Cohen’s handwritten will—penned just hours before his execution—which until now had only been available as a copy. 

“It was only when she left the meeting and was on her way back from Jerusalem that she told us about the materials that had been brought over in this complicated operation,” said Ben-Dor. “I’ll read them with reverence to understand what my father went through. I’ll absorb every detail I can.” 

She stressed Eli Cohen’s dual legacy: “There’s the personal side—Eli as a father, husband and family man—and the national level: his contribution to Israel’s security and his work for the state. For me, these documents are another piece of reality about my father.” 

Brig. Gen. (res.) Franco Gonen, chairman of the Eli Cohen Foundation and founder of the Eli Cohen Museum in Herzliya, welcomed the development. “There was a sense in the air that something was happening,” he said. 

“We’re glad that, on the 60th anniversary of his hanging, they brought the documents that tell his story. We felt something was going on with Eli Cohen, but we didn’t know what exactly.” 

He recounted how Nadia Cohen had asked Barnea for permission to mark the 60th anniversary of her husband’s death at the museum but Barnea asked her to postpone. “Between the lines, she sensed something was brewing,” Gonen said. 

“Today we got the news that the documents have arrived, and Nadia still holds out hope that her husband will be brought to burial in Israel. We hope she lives to see the day when the remains of Cohen, a hero of Israel, are finally laid to rest.” 

The archive includes around 2,500 items—documents, photographs, and personal belongings—most of which are being made public for the first time. These materials were collected by Syrian intelligence after Cohen was captured in January 1965. 

They include audio recordings and investigation files, letters written in his own hand to family in Israel, photos from his time operating undercover in Syria, and items seized from his home after his arrest. 

Among the many files uncovered was a thick orange folder labeled “Nadia Cohen.” It appears Syrian intelligence tracked her efforts to secure her husband’s release, including numerous letters she sent to world leaders and to the Syrian president pleading for his freedom. 

Also among the documents were personal letters Cohen wrote to his family. In one letter to his wife, written in Arabic after his capture and during his trial, he addressed her and their children: 

“To my wife Nadia and my beloved family, I write to you these final words and ask that you always stay in touch with one another. Nadia, I ask your forgiveness. Take care of yourself and the children. Make sure they receive a full education. Don’t deny yourself or them anything, and stay in contact with my family. 

“You are free to marry another man so the children don’t grow up without a father. You have full freedom to do so. Please, don’t waste your time crying over the past. Always look to the future,” he wrote. 

“These are the last kisses I send to you, to Sophie, to Iris, to Shaul, and to the entire family—especially to my mother Odette and her family, to Maurice and his family, to Ezra and his family, and to Albert and his family. 

“Don’t forget your beloved family—send them my final blessings and longing. And don’t forget to pray for the souls of my father and myself. To all of you, my final kisses and farewell.”