A plea to the prime minister: Heed the lessons of our history in this land, and pull back from the brink

You may consider this appeal itself divisive and unjustified, but do internalize that many fine, patriotic and responsible Israelis feel this way.

By David Horovitz

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (center) attends the graduation ceremony of an IDF officers’ course in southern Israel, June 25, 2026. (Flash90)

Hear this, you rulers of the House of Jacob, You chiefs of the House of Israel, Who detest justice And make crooked all that is straight, Who build Zion with crime, Jerusalem with iniquity!

Her rulers judge for gifts, Her priests give rulings for a fee, And her prophets divine for pay; Yet they rely upon GOD, saying, “GOD is in our midst; No calamity shall overtake us.”

Assuredly, because of you Zion shall be plowed as a field, Jerusalem shall become heaps of ruins And the Temple Mount a shrine in the woods.

Fragmentos de misiles de Irán impactan cerca de la Knéset, la oficina de Netanyahu y el Monte del Templo en Jerusalén

Fragmentos de misiles interceptados de un ataque de Irán impactaron este lunes en varias zonas de Jerusalén, incluyendo las inmediaciones de la Oficina del Primer Ministro, a solo unos metros de distancia.

También se registraron impactos en la plaza del Monte del Templo, el complejo de la Iglesia del Santo Sepulcro y el Barrio Judío. También se observaron impactos cerca del Knéset, en la Ciudad Vieja y en Jerusalén Este.

Modi en la Knéset: India apoya a Israel

El primer ministro indio, Narendra Modi, llegó a la Knéset este miércoles, acompañado del primer ministro israelí, Benjamin Netanyahu.

El primer ministro indio escribió en el libro de visitas de la Knéset: «Me siento honrado de ser el primer primer ministro indio en dirigirse a la Knéset. India e Israel comparten un profundo compromiso con la libertad, el pluralismo y el Estado de derecho. Nuestros valores compartidos son la base de una sólida y profunda alianza entre ambos pueblos. Seguiremos trabajando juntos para promover la paz, la innovación y la prosperidad, y contribuir a un mundo justo, equitativo y sostenible».

El primer ministro Netanyahu señaló en su discurso: «Israel es más fuerte que nunca, e India es más fuerte que nunca. O el eje yihadista del mal nos derribará o lo derribaremos. Y lo estamos derribando y lo derribaremos, gracias al heroísmo de nuestros combatientes». Destacó el fuerte vínculo entre ambos países y entre él y Narendra Modi, y mencionó cómo el líder indio fue uno de los

Israeli leaders express outrage and alarm over inclusion of Turkey, Qatar into Gaza Executive Board

‘The entry of Turkey and Qatar endangers Israeli citizens’ – opposition politicians criticize Netanyahu.

World leaders including U.S. President Donald Trump, Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani pose for a family photo, at a world leaders' summit on ending the Gaza war, amid a U.S.-brokered prisoner-hostage swap and ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, October 13, 2025. (Photo: REUTERS/Suzanne Plunkett/Pool)

Israeli politicians strongly rejected the inclusion of Turkey and Qatar in the future administration of the Gaza Strip, with many criticizing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for ostensibly allowing this to happen, despite the premier expressing rare public criticism of the American plan.

Trump ‘unequivocal’ that Hamas must disarm for Gaza truce to proceed, Netanyahu says

"This is a necessary and fundamental condition for the implementation of his 20-point plan," said the Israeli premier.

JNS Staff, Amelie Botbol

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses a Cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, Jan. 4, 2025. Photo by Maayan Toaf/GPO.

(Jan. 4, 2026 / JNS)  President Donald Trump has been “unequivocal,” both in private and in public, that Hamas needs to disarm as a condition for his 20-point peace plan to proceed, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday.

“This is a necessary and fundamental condition for the implementation of his 20-point plan. He made no concessions on this and showed no flexibility on this matter,” Netanyahu stated, addressing journalists ahead of the weekly Cabinet meeting in Jerusalem on Sunday.

Mansour Abbas says Ra'am will split from Shura Council, Muslim Brotherhood

Ra'am chair Mansour Abbas said his party will separate from the Shura Council and the Muslim Brotherhood, following US moves against the Islamist organization.

Ra'am party head MK Mansour Abbas leads a faction meeting, at the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, on November 24, 2025.(photo credit: CHAIM GOLDBERG/FLASH90)

Ra'am (United Arab List) chair MK Mansour Abbas announced that his party would separate from the Shura Council and Muslim Brotherhood during a Saturday interview with Channel 12's Meet the Press.

The United Arab List would establish independent institutions to fill any gaps left by the proposed split.

Netanyahu reconoce por primera vez el Genocidio Armenio

Por primera vez, el primer ministro Benjamín Netanyahu reconoció públicamente este martes el Genocidio Armenio.

Netanyahu hizo estos comentarios en una entrevista en el podcast PBD, presentado por Patrick Bet-David.

Bet-David inició el debate contrastando el reconocimiento casi universal del Holocausto con la falta de un reconocimiento más amplio de los genocidios armenio y asirio.

“Para cualquiera que no reconozca el genocidio armenio–asirio, si hubiera un país que yo hubiera esperado que estuviera en la lista de países que reconocieran el genocidio armenio, asirio y griego, ese sería Israel“, dijo Bet–David.

Ashdod man indicted for surveilling Bennett for Iran

Moshe Atias, 18, was indicted for spying for Iran and aiding the enemy during the Israel-Hamas war.

By SARAH BEN-NUN

Former prime minister Naftali Bennett in August 2022 against the background of the silhouette of a man, seen over the flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran (illustrative).(photo credit: Flash90/Avshalom Sassoni, Canva/Akyurt from Pexels, GDJ from pixabay)

Moshe Atias, 18, from Ashdod, was indicted on Thursday for committing severe security crimes on behalf of the Iranian regime during the Israel-Hamas War.

Atias contacted the Iranian intelligence spies through the Telegram app, under the username “Yosi Atias.” From them, he received various instructions, including gathering sensitive information and surveiling public sites. The three agents he was in contact with identified as “Sagi,” “Sam,” and “Sol Allison.”

VOICE OF THE JN: State of delusion – performative gestures won’t bring about peace

The sad fact is that the UK’s ultimatum of recognising Palestine in September only shows the severe decline in our country’s influence on the world stage.

By Voice of the Jewish News

Last week, Keir Starmer insisted that he was “unequivocal” about the need for a Palestinian state, but stressed that it needed to be part of a “wider plan which ultimately results in a two-state solution and lasting security for Palestinians and Israelis”.

Just 72 hours later, a release out from Tuesday’s cabinet meeting attributed the following sentiment to the Prime Minister: “Because of the increasingly intolerable situation in Gaza and the diminishing prospect of a peace process towards a two state solution, now was the right time to move this position forward.”

La Knéset aprueba moción a favor de la anexión de Judea y Samaria

El pleno de la Knéset votó este miércoles una resolución que da el respaldo de la mayoría legislativa a la anexión de Judea y Samaria a Israel.

El texto afirma el derecho natural, histórico y legal del Estado de Israel a todas las partes de la Tierra de Israel, con especial énfasis en Judea, Samaria y el Valle del Jordán.

La resolución fue aprobada por una mayoría de 71 miembros de la Knéset, con solo 13 votos en contra de los partidos árabes y del partido Hademokratim, liderado por Yair Golan, mientras que los partidos Kajol Lavan y Yesh Atid estuvieron ausentes en la votación.

La resolución declara que estos territorios son parte inseparable de la patria histórica, cultural y espiritual del pueblo judío, y que ciudades como Hebrón, Nablus, Silo y Beit El reflejan la continuidad histórica de la existencia judía en la Tierra de Israel.

Shas también planea abandonar a Netanyahu

El partido ultraortodoxo Shas planea unirse a Yahadut Hatorá y abandonar la coalición gobernante en medio de la agitación política en torno a la exención del servicio militar para ultraortodoxos, informó Haaretz.

Funcionarios ultraortodoxos señalaron que la dimisión está prevista para el jueves, pero que podría cambiar según la decisión del Consejo de Sabios de la Torá de Shas, el principal órgano rabínico que dicta la política del partido. Si el consejo se reúne antes, Shas podría salir del gobierno el miércoles.

Otras fuentes indicaron que los principales partidos sefaradíes y mizrajíes se abstuvieron de abandonar la coalición para garantizar que sus miembros fueran nombrados para cargos gubernamentales.

Piden a Netanyahu anexar Judea y Samaria antes de fin de mes

Todos los ministros del Likud y el presidente de la Knéset, también del partido, urgieron a Netanyahu a anexar Judea y Samaria a Israel antes de fin de mes.

“Nosotros, ministros y diputados de la Knéset, exigimos la aplicación inmediata de la soberanía y la ley israelíes sobre Judea y Samaria. Ahora es el momento de aprobar una decisión gubernamental sobre la aplicación de la soberanía, antes del final del periodo de sesiones de verano de la Knéset”, se lee en una misiva dirigida a Netanyahu por sus copartidarios.

“Tras los logros históricos del Estado de Israel, bajo el liderazgo del primer ministro Benjamín Netanyahu, al enfrentarse al eje del mal liderado por Irán y sus aliados, es hora de completar la tarea, eliminar la amenaza existencial desde dentro y evitar otra masacre en el corazón del país”.

Argentina will move embassy to Jerusalem, Milei announces at Israel's Knesset

Argentinian President Javier Milei criticized what he called a “corruption” of Western values, arguing that the global Left has lost its moral compass and was “siding with Hamas.”

By ELIAV BREUER

Argentinian President Javier Milei and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Knesset plenum in Jerusalem on June 11, 2025.(photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST)

Argentina will move its embassy to Jerusalem in 2026, Argentinian President Javier Milei announced in a ceremonial speech in the Knesset plenum on Wednesday evening.

Milei began his speech by saying that the “cancer” of antisemitism is spreading once again despite the lessons of the Holocaust. He criticized what he called a “corruption” of Western values, arguing that the global Left has lost its moral compass and was “siding with Hamas.”

Lapid teme por un posible magnicidio en Israel

El líder de la oposición, Yair Lapid (Yesh Atid), pronunció un discurso ante la prensa este domingo en el que afirmó que, según la información de inteligencia que posee, existe el temor de un magnicidio.

“Quiero advertir, basándome en información de inteligencia inequívoca: nos encaminamos hacia otra tragedia. Esta vez, vendrá desde dentro. Los niveles de incitación y demencia no tienen precedentes. Habrá un magnicidio. Judíos matarán judíos“, advirtió Lapid.

Añadió: “Las principales amenazas son contra el director del Shin Bet, Ronen Bar. El partido gobernante israelí, el Likud, publicó un comunicado oficial en el que afirmaba: ‘Ronen Bar convirtió a partes del Shin Bet en milicias privadas del Estado profundo’. Tal declaración tiene consecuencias. Saben exactamente lo que les hace a algunos de sus partidarios”.

Former prime minister Naftali Bennett admitted to hospital

Bennett underwent a catheterization, according to the reports. 

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF

Former prime minister Naftali Bennett in Tel Aviv. August 1, 2022.(photo credit: Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)

Former prime minister Naftali Bennett was admitted to the Meir Medical Center in Kfar Saba after feeling unwell on Saturday, Israeli media reported on Sunday.

Bennett underwent a catheterization, according to the reports.

Netanyahu is right about Israel’s ‘deep state’

Like the anti-Trump “resistance,” the country’s liberal establishment is waging a war against the prime minister as a bid to hold on to power, not an effort to save democracy.

Jonathan S. Tobin

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives at the Tel Aviv District Court, Dec. 10, 2024. Photo by Chaim Goldberg/Flash90.

(March 21, 2025 / JNS)  For liberal and leftist critics of Israel’s government, it was just the latest example of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s effort to follow the same playbook as President Donald Trump. When the former spoke recently of the efforts on the part of Israel’s “deep state” to derail his government, both Israelis who voted for Netanyahu’s political opponents in the last election and Democrats who backed former Vice President Kamala Harris tuned out everything that followed. As far as they are concerned, talk of a “deep state” in either country is just a right-wing conspiracy theory that is part of an attempt by both leaders to overturn or seriously undermine democracy.

GOP lawmakers urge Trump to back Israeli sovereignty over Judea and Samaria

"This region is the heart of our shared Judeo-Christian heritage and recognition of the right of Israel to declare sovereignty over this region would build upon your previous recognition of the importance of this heritage," the letter reads.

Then-US ambassador to Israel, David Friedman with Head of Efrat regional council Oded Revivi and heads of local councils in Judea and Samaria during a visit in the Jewish community of Efrat, in Gush Etzion, Feb. 20, 2020. Photo by Gershon Elinson/Flash90.

(Feb. 26, 2025 / JNS)  A group of Republican lawmakers, led by Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-N.Y.), is urging President Donald Trump to recognize Judea and Samaria as Israeli territory.

In a letter sent to the president on Tuesday and published by Fox News, members of the Friends of Judea and Samaria Caucus on Capitol Hill stressed the region’s significance to the “shared Judeo-Christian heritage” and expressed strong support for Jerusalem applying sovereignty over the area.

Why the law banning UNRWA might wind up benefiting Hamas

90 days after legislation was passed to outlaw an agency complicit in terror, and 2 days before it takes effect, Israel has not taken steps to insure it plays out as MKs intended.

By Tal Schneider

Israelis protest against the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) outside the organization's offices in Jerusalem, March 13, 2024. (Arie Leib Abrams/Flash90)

The law prohibiting contact with UNRWA, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, which was approved in the Knesset 90 days ago, will come into effect on Thursday.

‘A Palestinian state is like committing suicide’

"Prior to Oct. 7, 2023, Gaza was a Palestinian state, and we know what the result was for southern Israel," said Knesset member Ariel Kallner.

Charles Bybelezer, Amelie Botbol

Palestinian Authority chief Mahmoud Abbas delivers a speech at P.A. headquarters in the Samaria city of Ramallah, Jan. 28, 2020. Credit: Flash90.

(Jan. 9, 2025 / JNS)  For Israel to allow the creation of a Palestinian state would be tantamount to national suicide, Knesset member Ariel Kallner (Likud) told JNS on Thursday.

“And we are finished with committing suicide,” he added.

Kallner’s remarks came shortly after a poll found that for the first time in nearly 18 years, a majority of Israeli Jews oppose the two-state solution.

When Netanyahu’s own hitmen came gunning for him

The PM placed Itamar Ben Gvir and Yitzhak Goldknopf at the heart of his government, and has indulged their reckless activities for two years. They rewarded him with an act of spectacular ruthlessness, showing utter contempt for his health

By David Horovitz

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (left) with National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir (right) in the Knesset on December 31, 2024 (Chaim Goldberg / Flash 90)

This Editor’s Note was sent out earlier Wednesday in ToI’s weekly update email to members of the Times of Israel Community. To receive these Editor’s Notes as they’re released, join the ToI Community here.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu survived an assassination attempt on Tuesday.