First Time Here? Readers suggest starting with the expanded Gaza Explainer in #133 and #120.
Tags: 7 Min Read; Vids; Relief
Know what Israelis want? Whatever deal it takes to bring back the hostages and end the war.
Know what the "Likud Cabal" wants?
War.
"U.S. President Donald Trump has grown tired of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's stalling in the negotiations with Hamas. First, the Trump administration cut out the Israeli government from the talks and spoke directly with Hamas. Now, they are also trying to cut out the middleman and speak directly to the Israeli public. U.S. special envoy for the hostages, Adam Boehler, presented to the Israeli public on Sunday what Netanyahu refuses to say – that there have been positive developments in negotiations, and more hostages are set to return home" – Chaim Levinson, Ha'aretz
Want to know more about Adam Boehler, the previously unknown White House representative with zero diplomatic corps experience who speaks directly to Hamas? The Times of Israel has a write up. (It isn't pretty.)
Ron Dermer’s House
The Baka neighborhood in Jerusalem this week:
(Ron Dermer, special aid to Bibi aka “Minister of Strategic Affairs,” lives across the street.)
I hate the smell of war, and that is what I smell. Standoff and escalation in Gaza (Hamas caught smuggling and planting IEDs, daily IDF drone strikes in Gaza, and now Israel has cut off electricity). New waves of IDF airstrikes on Hezbollah sites in Lebanon and on Syrian military positions. Horrible flareup of violence in Syria including self-professed ethnic cleansing of Alawites by the new Sunni army.
Above: Former IDF Spokesperson Hagari meeting an IDF soldier recovering from shrapnel to the brain eight months ago. The soldier has relearned how to walk and talk.
On Antisemitism Wrapped As Anti-Israel Agit-Prop
Below: Ali Shaaban, an Arab-Israeli music producer, explains, with Hebrew and English translations, his feelings as an Arab-Israeli and the gap between his situation and the situation of the Palestinians under the PA and Hamas rule. (2 Min, Arabic w/English subs)
Mail
About that Himmelman essay you posted in #168: I've heard you take a very different tack vis-a-vis films like No Other Land... What is going on?
Films like No Other Land and Five Broken Cameras are one sided perspectives that vilify Israel and particularly the IDF. The question is where to come down:
Saying, in Himmelman's words: I don’t want anyone, anywhere, to live in fear; or,
The IDF would rather stay home. If they are taking action there is a reason.
Himmelman says 'a' and lands on 'b.'
My perspective: The IDF can do 'b' if it also tells the world why.
When IDF soldiers are sent into danger, they are often given an intelligence briefing that justifies the mission. I have heard more than one soldier speak of their clear conscience because they know what they did was appropriate and necessary.
About the events in those films, I want the IDF to make such information public. I ask that Spokesperson Hagari[1] make a clip telling the world why the events in those films occurred. Tell the story.
Anything done in broad daylight should be explained. Responsible leadership has clarity.
Oh. That.[2]
[1] Yes, I know that General Hagari was just pushed into retirement by Bibi's crowd. It's only been three days and I already miss him.
[2] Political leadership in Israel is far from responsible. The opposite, in fact. The latest scandal is below.
Dept of The Invisible
Items invisible in the Western media. (Now combined with the Postmark concept, to help consolidate topics by locale.)
Syria
In the context of clashes between the "new" Free Syria (under al-Julani) and Assad loyalists (many of whom are Alawite, the ethnic minority of the Assad family), some material from social media:
Above: Operatives of the new Syrian regime, loyal to Abu Mohammad al-Julani: Clearly visible are the ISIS patches alongside patches of the new Syrian flag on their uniforms.
ISIS and Julani’s forces, all mixed together… There’s only so much a tie and a trimmed beard can hide.
Below: The new regime smiles at Israel and the US, while butchering Syrian civilians...
There have been massacres of Alawites by al-Julani's forces: There are numerous gruesome mass execution videos being uploaded to social media - a ruthless mob preying on the civilian population. Reports as of Saturday evening indicate 600-1200 Alawites and Christians killed and Alawite and Christian women kidnapped. Mass graves have been dug (and filled) for Alawites in Masyaf and Tartus.
Above: One of Abu Muhammad al-Julani's men addresses his comrades via his vehicle's PA system:
"Do not leave any of the Alawites alive.
You must slaughter all the pigs.
The most respected person among the Alawite community - slaughter him too.
Don't leave any one of them alive, young and old...
Slaughter everyone.
None of them have the right to live in safety.
Where is their safety? Take them to the middle of the sea, where they will be safe, among the fish...
Forward!"One observer: ISIS, Hamas, Al-Qaeda - same agenda, same doctrine, same ideological foundation.
And this all new development:
Russian soldiers at the "Hmeimim" airbase, located south of Latakia on the Syrian coast, opened their gates to receive thousands of Syrians (Alawites and Christians) who feared for their lives from Abu Mohammad al-Julani's men.
Meanwhile, Lebanese channels report a significant increase in the number of people fleeing from Syrian territory into Lebanon.
This comes just a couple of months after the E.U. lifted sanctions on Syria and said that the new Syrian regime would be evaluated based on their treatment of minorities.
Iran
An Iranian citizen filmed in the posh malls of Tehran, where only the top 1% can shop, and sent the footage to Israeli TV! Such an act is punishable by death. Excerpt:
“It’s funny, many Iranian women fell in love with the Israeli soldiers that were so handsome. They hoped Israel would attack Iran.”
Full article (in English). Channel 12 page (in Hebrew, includes the 19 minute broadcast)
Gaza
Social Media: An interpretation by a Palestinian
حماس كتجربة حكم وعسكرة انتهت، وهي عارفة إنها إنتهت والشعب في غزة بعرف إنها انتهت وهي عارفة إنه الشعب عارف، بس عاملة حالها مش عارفة.
"Hamas, as a governing and military experiment, is over. It knows it's over. The people in Gaza know it's over. And Hamas knows that the people know - yet it pretends not to know."
FAFO, Part n
Above: The famous Gazan journalist, clown, digital beggar, and uniformed member of Hamas, Saleh Al-Jafarawi (known as FAFO), yesterday began a campaign on YouTube to donate $10 million for the renovation of the "Nasser" Children's Hospital in Gaza City.
As of March 10, Al-Jafarawi has managed to raise, with the help of the Palestinian Ministry of Health logo, nearly $2.7 million from about 24,000 donors online. Everyone donates digitally (credit card, etc.). How will the money get into Gaza?
Good question. Especially when there are cash liquidity difficulties in the Strip and the cash withdrawal fee can reach 30% of the amount.
Another possibility raised by Gazans online: The money will remain in the accounts of Al-Jafarawi, who has already siphoned off millions of dollars through social media throughout the war.
Israel
"Qatargate"
Because everything in the Office of the Prime Minister is so squeaky clean….
Above: Demonstration against the Qatari corruption of the office of Israel's Prime Minister. "The government against the people."
Above: On duty in the north - peace and hugs to my brother Binyamin, a reserve battalion commander.
He is in the reserves again. After 300 days, they were called up for another 70 days.
Even on Purim and Passover, they will be on the border and not with their families.
2% of the people of Israel who carry the defense of the land on their backs.
Thank you, reservists!
The resilience of this country is incredible.
Yair Golan
Below: Yair Golan (Hebrew: יאיר גולן; born 14 May 1962): In mid 2024, Yair announced that he refused to serve in the reserves until there is a change in the governing coalition. The Bibi poison machine attacked him in force.
(Yair is an Israeli politician, leader of the Democrats party and a senior military officer. He served as the Deputy Minister of Economy in the Thirty-sixth Israeli government and served as a Member of the Knesset representing Meretz from 2019–2022.)
2 Min. Hebrew w/English subs:
Relief Area
Alef
Suitcases of cash sent to Hamas (and used for arms to attack Israel) -- [authorized and supported by Bibi for years]
Letting Trump and Putin lead negotiations with Iran on its nuclear arms program.
Bet: Prank Calls in 2025: What Do They Look Like?
From an Israeli TikTok feed:
(Teens + Phones = Prank Calls. A thing since phones were put in homes.)
Gimmel: Syria
(Uncovering the "New Syria" to find Turkey and Isis.)
Dalet
Minister Miri Regev
Heroes returned from captivity in Gaza
Miri: Here is 500 shekels (about US$140)
Hey
Or, with translation:
I often say… folks elected this government. How mad can you get at it?
Vav
Reserve soldier who just got home: Receiving a call up notice to report for combat. Saying: Again?!
Ultra religious getting a check: Again!!
The hand: The Israeli government
The headline: They stole 1,000 shekels a month from Holocaust survivors to give to those who pretend to be victims. (Read: How the just passed budget is kleptocratic and that nothing is holy.)
Zayin
Qatar, in an exceptional attack against the ShinBet (aka Shabak, aka Israeli FBI): You are making us scapegoats!
Israeli Prime Minister's Office Attacks: ShinBet Head failed completely. The internal ShinBet investigation answered nothing.
Chet: Iran: Persepolis - For Archaeology & Linked to upcoming Purim Holiday
Yesterday, the Iranian news agency Tasnim published updated photos of the UNESCO World Heritage site, Persepolis, located in the Fars Province near Shiraz, Iran.
Persepolis, meaning "City of the Persians," was the official capital of the Persian Empire. Construction began under Cyrus the Great in 560 BCE and was completed during the reign of Xerxes I, identified with King Ahasuerus from the Book of Esther.
Tet: Gaza City
Ramadan Entertainment
Yod: Crafters of the World, Unite!
Menorah made out of pieces of Hamas’s missiles
Vav: Israel's 2025 Eurovision Entry: Yuval Raphael - New Day Will Rise
(in English)
Chaf: Driving in Israel:
At the register at my local 24 hour grocery:
Those Emiratis/Dubaites are everywhere?
In Jerusalem, Purim festivities started yesterday:
(In Jerusalem, Purim falls on Thursday eve.)
Everyone is looking for some air. Purim is a great escape valve (that said, many don't feel like hosting parties in the current mood).
To Peace,
Raf
(Thank you A.K., M.T., M.R.)