As I wrote yesterday, I am not postig on our actions on Iran. Most of the news is being covered by all the international news services. I am posting on what is happening in Israel as a result of this war with Iran.
(from a twitter post) While missiles rain down on Israeli cities and hostages are abandoned, the studio pundits chatter about "achievements" and count centrifuges—but remain silent about one thing: Hamas's Sugar Daddy! The dementia-riddled man who remembers nothing in court, the man who brought us the Netanyahu Massacre, the man whose associates worked for the Muslim Brotherhood during the war, exploiting bloodshed to cling to his chair.
We keep running to bomb shelters, but the mobilized media spews empty slogans like "The people shall rise like a lion." Fake euphoria, a prosthetic erection for the prostate-less. While our citizens suffer—both in Israel and Gaza—he delivers dramatic statements. While he hides in a strategic nuclear bunker with his band of draft-dodgers and their families in five-star conditions, Israeli children sleep in musty parking lots. Remember how just this week they built him a 3-million-shekel safe room for a wedding? Wouldn’t it be better to build 30 safe rooms for 30 Holocaust survivors?
Do you realize that Hamas’s Sugar Daddy started this war to end a coalition crisis? That’s how he convinced Deri and the rabbis not to quit—they’re not even ashamed to admit it!
Do you realize that Likud Central Committee members got early warnings to flee their homes? Don’t believe me? Go check where coalition members are—most aren’t home!
Has anyone seen Smotrich and Ben Gvir at the attack sites? The cowards are hiding, just like the deranged family.
We’re being conned! No one explains the plan—not security, not economics, not politics. Not in Gaza, not in Iran, not in the territories. Why? Because it’s all about keeping the senile old man and Madame Champagne in power!
The ones leading this country are criminal defendants, war criminals on the run, felons, racists, and terrorists —those who failed to stage a coup through protests are now trying to do it through wars. There’s no better way to confuse the public. The greatest dictators used this tactic.
They don’t care about the hostages in Gaza.
They don’t care about the pilots in Iran.
They don’t care about the reservists who rushed to the front while they pass draft-dodging laws.
They only care about preserving power at any cost.
Don’t be fooled. It’s good that we chopped off the Iranian snake’s head, but remember: you don’t dismantle Iran’s nuclear program from 2,000 km away. Not in a day, not in a month. They’re selling us a mesmerizing fireworks show while the thieves pick our pockets. We’re all victims of the "Hamas is an asset" government, whose sole goal is staying in power—while we, on the home front and battlefield, pay the price , and they, the draft-dodgers, celebrate another day in their taxpayer-funded nuclear bunker!
Fake Churchill—he’s not even a Churchill from AliExpress. He’s a Chamberlain who sold us out to Hamas.
In short:
Respect to the warriors fighting in Gaza and Iran.
Respect to Mossad, Shin Bet, and Military Intelligence.
Respect to the reservists—men and women.
But also, massive contempt.
Contempt for the mobilized media.
Contempt for the draft-dodgers.
Contempt for the thieves—we won’t let them destroy Israel!
Oh, and one more thing—this time, as an educator:
Your children see you with their eyes and hearts. It’s crucial to connect them to reality in the most honest way possible, to tell them everything , but calmly. Your words matter far less than how you deliver them. So take a breath, explain everything with extreme calm. Nine minutes is a lot of time. Everything gently. Everything with a smile. Get outside, play, laugh— protect your children’s mental health.
We will win.
Just as the warriors reached Natanz, so too will they win the elections. With determination, a smile, and no fear!
— Ami Dror Father of three, Tech entrepreneur, Aspen Institute moderator, Author, Fighting for the Israeli democracy
Red Alerts - Missile, Rocket, Drone (UAV - unmanned aerial vehicles), and Terror Attacks and Death Announcements
*11:15pm yesterday- country wide alert - ballistic missiles from Iran - about 45 missiles focused on Haifa and surrounding areas, most likely targets are military bases and civilian infrastructure in the area such as the refineries and Haifa port. - Shrapnel or missile hit reported in area outside of Haifa and a fire. 5 members of the same family were killed in the village of Tamra including a 13 year old girl and 20 year old woman from a direct missile hit in their home, 14 wounded in the Western Galilee - video of missile attack on Haifa
*1:05am- Eilat- drone intrusion *2:20am - Beit Shean Valley - drone intrusion *2:20am - country wide alert - Ballistic missile barrage to the north and central Israel. *2:45am - north - drone intrusion *2:50am - Tel Aviv area - Ballistic missile from Yemen- successfully intercepted *3:00am - Gilboa and Galilee - drone intrusion *3:20am - Galilee and northern west bank - drone intrusion *4:25am - south western Negev - drone intrusion *6:50am - Galilee, Beit Shean area - drone intrusion *7:20am - Gilboa and Galilee - drone intrusion *7:45am -Galilee and Emek Yizreel - Drone intrusion *10:55am - Arava - Drone intrusion
IDF says it downed 7 drones apparently launched from Iran
building near Tel Aviv
Etti Cohen Angel, a resident of Ramat Gan who was critically injured by a missile strike in the city, was pronounced dead overnight. The timing of her funeral, as well as the identity of the third victim—also a resident of Rishon LeZion—has not yet been announced.
Etti Cohen Angel z"l
Additional fatality in Rishon LeZion: Resident Yevgenia Blinder The woman killed by a direct hit in Rishon LeZion early morning is city resident Yevgenia Blinder, in her 60s. Besides her, Israel Aloni, 73, was also killed in the Iranian missile strike.
The army announced the death of a soldier killed in battle in Gaza
Staff Sergeant Noam Shemesh,21 from Jerusalem was killed by an RPG in Khan Yunis
MAY THEIR MEMORIES BE A REVOLUTION
Hostage Updates
Until the last hostage
Unfortunately, this cartoon is too true. We have a leader who plays with the lives of the hostages
Another day that the hostages have no place in the news - disgraceful. Even with the war with Iran in full force, the hostages must be on the front pages every day until they are all brought home. We cannot let the hostages be forgotten, not for a day, a minute, a second!
Hostage’s mother worries for fate of captives as focus shifts to Iran war
A poster in support of the hostages held in Gaza is damaged in an Iranian missile strike on Rehovot, June 15, 2025. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
Viki Cohen, whose son, Nimrod Cohen, is a soldier who was taken captive on October 7, 2023, says she wrote to Gal Hirsch, the government’s hostage point man, as Israel’s attack on Iran began, asking what this meant for the hostages still held in Gaza.
“It took him time to reply, and when he did, he wrote that they’re always looking for a way to negotiate,” says Cohen. “It was just a very generic statement that didn’t say anything. What can I gather from that?”
Cohen’s husband, Yehuda Cohen, is currently in New York, while her son, Yotam, is in Washington, DC, where they were both meeting with elected officials and community leaders as part of their ongoing efforts to bring Nimrod home. Both are now stuck in the US, as Israel’s airspace is closed due to the Iranian missile barrages.
“I’m here with my daughter,” said Cohen, referring to Nimrod’s twin sister. “We’re running to the safe room in the middle of the night, but it’s nothing compared to the worry I feel for Nimrod, held hostage for the last 618 days.”
Cohen said that it’s frustrating to be unable to go out and protest or rally, the things that are such a vital part of the hostages’ families’ struggle.
Vicky and Yehuda Cohen, the parents of 20-year-old Hamas captive Nimrod Cohen, speak near the Gaza border at a hostage families demonstration on April 20, 2025 (Erik Marmor/Flash90)
“Netanyahu has this achievement with Iran, but it’s time to finish the war in Gaza in order to put all the focus on Iran,” she says. “The war in Gaza isn’t accomplishing anything. If he puts an end to it, it will make the Israeli public more supportive of him. How much longer is he going to extend this nightmare of war and hostages in Gaza?
Israel and Iran
It was just announced on the news that the war cabinet that decided on this war approximated several thousand killed in retaliatory strikes from Iran. For perspective, if we are talking about 3000 dead in Israel, this equals 90,000 in the US. At present, we have almost 20 known killed in Iranian missile strikes and massive damage that has never been seen in Israel before, ever. It is unfathomable to me that our 'leaders' of a failed and corrupt government could make this decision to attack Iran with an estimate of several thousand people who could potentially be killed in retaliation. This is one of the most irresponsible and absolutely criminal decisions that they could have made. It is almost universally known and understood that the timing of this attack was purely part of 'Netanyahu's War for Political Survival'. With 53 hostages still in Gaza, with the Haredi parties almost bringing down the government in order to continue their unconscionable army exemptions during the worst period in our history, with soldiers being killed in Gaza and more reserves being called up, with the economy collapsing, and so many other nationally critical issues, Netanyahu does what he does best - diversion and calling it necessary for Israel's immediate survival. Yes, the attacks on Iran and incredibly impressive. Yes, much of the world is quietly hoping that this war will bring about a total paradigm shift regarding the Axis of Evil led by Iran and potentially bring down the regime of the Ayatollahs, but the timing of this war is so very wrong. This should never have been only an Israeli war, there should have been an alignment of allied powers fighting this war with us; the war in Gaza should have ended with the return of all of the hostages first and foremost. The hostages once again have been pushed, not to the back burner but off of the stove altogether, and not by accident. Netanyahu wanted the pressure of ending the war and the hostages removed from his table. Trump was once again turning up the heat and an attack on Iran was coordinated with him. Trump loves strong men and strong, harsh actions taken against his enemies and Netanyahu was in line with Trump's strong man ideal and the pressure of Gaza immediately disappeared. Netanyahu fulfilled so many of his dreams in this attack and had no consideration for the fall out. His family is fully protected in bunkers and catered to like a royal family. He is going to fully use the successes of the Mossad and Air Force as his personal successes and use them in his narrative to rewrite and erase October 7 as much as possible. Almost no one is talking about the hostages or Gaza or humanitarian aid or what happens when the war in Gaza does finally end. He prevented the fall of his government over the military exemptions. The Knesset will go on summer recess very soon and when they come back in the fall, the holidays will follow shortly after bringing us to the beginning of 2026. The elections are officially scheduled for October 2026 but most already recognize that we will go to early elections sometime in the first quarter of 2026 which totally fits Netanyahu's schedule. I have no doubt that his PR people are already hard at work putting together his personal election package which will be filled with Iran, Lebanon and Syria and October 7 will be no more than a tiny footnote, if anything at all. Netanyahu and his people have no restraints and no low is too low if it serves Netanyahu's personal political survival and rebuilding of his legacy. Never have we had such a dangerous fully self serving person as Prime Minister.
Analysis | Euphoria, Assassinations, Secret Drones: But Will Israel's War Actually Stop Iran Going Nuclear? The brilliance of the Mossad and IDF's planning and execution of the operation to target Iran's nuclear chain-of-command is undeniable. But, as a senior Mossad operative put it, 'A war is measured by how it ends
Israel's euphoric mood lasted barely 12 hours. Early reports of IDF and Mossad's strikes against Iran triggered jubilation as it became clear several senior Iranian generals and nuclear scientists had been killed. The Israeli public felt justified revenge for 46 years of the Islamic Republic's calls for Israel's destruction.
But very quickly, as in past wars in Lebanon and Gaza, joy turned to sorrow and anxiety. Iran responded with a massive five-wave barrage, launching around 200 heavy ballistic missiles at Israel's home front.
Most were intercepted by Israeli, U.S. and Jordanian air defenses. Unlike during earlier Iranian attacks, in April and October 2024, Britain and other Western allies withheld support. Ten Israelis were killed, over 100 wounded, and two dozen buildings damaged, including in central Tel Aviv.
Though Israel is used to rocket and missile fire on its cities, the barrages riled the Netanyahu government. Defense Minister Israel Katz said Iran had "crossed red lines" – a claim critics called hypocritical, as Israel had struck civilian sites in Tehran. Iran says 50 civilians, including children, were killed.
However, there was no doubt that the combination of accurate intelligence by the Mossad and Israel's Military Intelligence and brilliant execution by the Israeli Air Force proved Israel's strategic and technical superiority.
The preparations for this operation lasted more than a year. Mossad agents infiltrated Iran and created a network of agents, assistants, safe houses, workshops, vehicles, forged documents and cover stories – alongside advanced technologies. They also smuggled drone components into Iran, before assembling and hiding them there.
These drones took part in the attack. In some ways, the attack was reminiscent of the sophisticated Ukrainian drone attack deep inside Russia targeting air bases and destroying aircraft two weeks ago.
However, the Mossad has been deploying similar tactics for nearly three years now. In 2022, its operatives launched drones from inside Iran, which destroyed over 100 of Tehran's own drones. Mossad proved once again that, for its operatives, Iran is almost like an open book.
For more than a decade and a half, the Mossad, with the help of IDF intelligence, has repeatedly succeeded in penetrating Iran and exposing its weaknesses. This has enabled past assassinations of nuclear scientists, missile force commanders and Revolutionary Guards officers, and led to the sabotage of nuclear and missile sites.
What also contributed to Israel's success so far was the fact that, in April 2024 and again last October, the Israeli Air Force destroyed much of Iran's air defense network. This left it exposed, allowing Israeli warplanes to fly almost freely across Iranian skies.
No less important was the fact that Israeli intelligence designed a deception ploy that fooled Iran's military leadership. They were lured to believe that the Israeli attack would take place only next week, after another round of talks on a nuclear deal scheduled for Sunday between U.S. and Iranian envoys in Oman.
Several of the key commanders gathered on Thursday night in an underground command center. They stayed there until 3 A.M. on Friday without knowing that that was the moment Israel launched its attack. The leadership of IRGC's aerospace arm, including its charismatic commander, General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, was wiped out.
U.S. President Donald Trump seems to have also played a role in deceiving the Iranians. He gave Iran the impression that he was committed to the stalled nuclear negotiations, while already being informed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the timing of Israel's attack.
Among the most significant achievements of Israel's attack were the assassinations of Mohammad Bagheri, chief of staff of Iran's armed forces, and Hossein Salami, head of the Revolutionary Guards Corps. Their deaths are a major blow to Iran – morally, psychologically, and operationally – at least until their replacements, quickly appointed to signal defiance and continuity, assume their roles.
The Israel Air Force, since the start of the operation, has flown several hundred sorties, dropping tens of thousands of bombs and missiles and hitting many military targets, including air bases, missiles, missile launchers and depots.
But the main aim of the operation is to destroy as much as possible of Iran's nuclear sites and to kill Iranian scientists who have participated in its nuclear program, especially in the weaponization phase.
Several significant sites were hit, including the uranium enrichment facility at Natanz, 300 kilometers (186 miles) south of Tehran. Natanz housed nearly 20,000 centrifuges. Also hit was the Parchin base, where Iran conducted tests emulating a nuclear explosion. Targeted too was the industrial scientific complex near Isfahan, where Iran has a uranium conversion plant and stockpiles of enriched uranium.
Iran also has a second uranium enrichment facility in Fordow, which is heavily fortified, built 40 meters underground, and contains much more advanced centrifuges.
Iranian media confirmed that two explosions occurred in Fordow. While reports from Iran acknowledged that only limited damage was done there, no information was provided regarding Natanz, Isfahan, or other nuclear sites that Iran has intentionally dispersed across the country. There is also no public information so far on whether Israel managed to strike the secret laboratories involved in the nuclear weaponization project.
Regardless of the damage caused, "The opening strike of the attack doesn't excite me, and the euphoria feels completely foreign to me," a former senior Mossad operative, whose agents spied in the past on some of the Iranian nuclear sites that were attacked, told me.
"Iran is a nuclear threshold state with uranium enriched to 60 percent, and it needs only the motivation of its Supreme Leader to make the decision whether to build a bomb," he added.
"The 'credit' for bringing us to this situation lies primarily with Netanyahu, due to his role in leading the effort to cancel the 2015 nuclear deal," negotiated by the Obama administration, and signed between the six big powers and Iran. Trump, pushed by Netanyahu, withdrew from the deal.
"Now," the senior operative stresses, "given that the Iranians possess a large quantity of highly enriched fissile material, the primary objective is no longer the destruction of a particular centrifuge or the assassination of a specific scientist. The goal must be: A decision by the Supreme Leader to abandon the military nuclear program.
"But he looks east to his Pakistani and Indian neighbors, west to Israel, and sees no reason to give up his country's nuclear program. Israel is a 'lightweight' in terms of influencing the outcome of whether Iran will decide to build the bomb."
For nearly 30 years, Iran has built a significant and advanced nuclear program and, step by step, achieved the status of a threshold nuclear state. Yet still, it has so far hesitated to assemble its first bomb, as far as is known.
Iran's Supreme Leader now faces a huge dilemma. One option for him is to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, as North Korea once did. Another is to enrich uranium to 90 percent – weapons-grade. He could go further by declaring that Iran is actively assembling a nuclear bomb and preparing to arm it as a missile warhead, a process that could take several months to a year.
"A war is measured by how it ends," another senior Mossad operative told me, "not by how successful the first strike is, however impressive it may be.
"I hope," he added, "there will be an agreement with the U.S. on how this war ends, because unlike Israel, the rest of the world expects negotiations after a war. And in those negotiations, I hope we won't be forced to pay with our strategic capabilities," referring to the rare possibility that, as part of a possible deal with Iran, there will also be international pressure to reduce the nuclear program attributed to Israel.
Nevertheless, Iran can also decide to return to the negotiating table with the U.S., which is Trump's overarching plan. He is using Israel as a whip to do the dirty work of striking Iran to force Tehran to reach a deal. If that happens, it would completely undermine Netanyahu's goal of stopping Iran from having any nuclear program at all. link
Mother and her two daughters and their relative killed by missile The family's home took a direct hit from an Iranian ballistic missile in a strike in the Arab town of Tamra near Haifa; neighboring buildings were also damaged and 20 people were taken to area hospitals
A mother and her two daughters and another relative were killed late on Saturday when an Iranian missile made a direct hit on a building in the town of Tamra near Haifa as Iran launched dozens of ballistic missiles at Israel's north. Three were pulled out of the rubble and a fourth was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Adnan, a paramedic, was among the first to arrive at the scene. "We heard a loud explosion and I rushed to the scene," he said. "I saw the destruction of a three-story building and damage to nearby homes."
He said people gathered outside. "I first pulled out a woman in her 20s who was unconscious, and we had to soon declare her dead. Meanwhile, others emerged from the neighboring buildings, some suffering injuries. We treated them and transported them to the hospital in Haifa."
"We were in the living room watching television when the missile hit. Everything fell, furniture, the entire house. We were saved by some miracle," Hamoudi, a resident of the Arab town told Ynet from his hospital bed.
Mahmoud, whose son was among those injured in the missile strike, said it felt like the missile hit inside their home. The boy was over at a friend's house. "We started looking for him and were told he was taken to the hospital in Haifa," he said. "He's fine. He was hurt in his back and leg. This is a serious situation."
The Magen David Adom (MDA) emergency service said that in total, 20 additional people were treated. 10 suffered physical injuries and 10 were in a state of anxiety and all were transported to Haifa city and the Nahariya hospitals, but even hours after the attack, searches continue for survivors or victims.
Others were evacuated from two other impact sites in the Galilee and taken for treatment to area hospitals, MDA said.
Death toll from overnight Iran missile strike on Bat Yam rises to 7 as search continues for survivors
Dozens remain missing and more than 200 wounded in Bat Yam, Rehovot and northern Israel, marking one of the deadliest days since the start of the war Seven people, including two children, were killed in Bat Yam after an overnight missile strike from Iran struck residential buildings in the coastal city. Emergency teams continued searching Sunday morning for dozens still unaccounted for, as the attack marked one of the deadliest days since the war began.
Magen David Adom said seven bodies have been recovered so far in Bat Yam. The victims include a woman in her 80s, a woman in her 60s, a woman in her 50s, an 18-year-old man, a 10-year-old boy and an 8-year-old girl. The ages are based on initial assessments and not formal identification.
The Home Front Command reported that some people remain missing in Bat Yam, where a direct hit caused a partial building collapse and widespread destruction. In Rehovot, rescue crews are working to free a person still believed to be trapped under debris after a similar strike on a residential building.
In total, approximately 35 people are reported missing across both cities. Officials said 61 buildings in Bat Yam were damaged, six of which are beyond repair and slated for demolition
More than 200 people have been wounded in the latest wave of attacks. Around 170 were treated in the central regions of Gush Dan and the Shfela alone, including at least six in serious condition. Hospitals in Tel Aviv, Holon, Rehovot, Ashdod and Be’er Ya’akov reported steady streams of casualties overnight, many arriving independently amid the chaos.
The confirmed dead in Bat Yam include a 9-year-old girl, a 10-year-old boy, a 69-year-old woman, an 80-year-old woman, and two others whose identities have not yet been released. In the northern city of Tamra, a missile struck a home earlier in the evening, killing four members of the same family—women ranging in age from teens to forties—and injuring 20 others lightly.
One woman who survived the Bat Yam strike described the moment the ceiling collapsed on her as she took shelter in her home. “I thought I was going to die,” she said. She managed to crawl out barefoot and has since been searching for her missing dog.
The overnight barrage marks one of the most lethal escalations since hostilities began. Military and emergency officials said rescue and recovery efforts would continue throughout the day, with structural assessments and humanitarian aid being deployed across the affected zones.
IDF says rescue efforts in Bat Yam could take at least a day
The IDF Home Front Command estimates that it will take at least a day to complete scans at the scene of the Iranian ballistic missile impact in Bat Yam.
The Home Front Command search and rescue forces are continuing to search the area for those possibly trapped under the rubble, it says.
IDF says all residents of Bat Yam building who were in shelters survived strike that killed at least 7
Civilians who were inside bomb shelters in the building in Bat Yam that was struck by an Iranian ballistic missile this morning were unharmed, a Home Front Command search and rescue official says.
Each floor in the apartment building has a shared safe room for the use of residents of that floor, and the building also has an underground shelter.
The missile, which carried a warhead of hundreds of kilograms, struck the building directly, killing at least six people and wounding nearly 200. Seven people are still feared missing. Part of the building collapsed.
According to the Home Front Command official, everyone who was in shelters was unharmed, while all of the casualties were outside of the shelters.
The military has routinely emphasized that, as good as Israel’s multi-layered air defenses are, they are not hermetic. It has urged Israelis to heed Home Front Command instructions to take shelter in safe rooms and bomb shelters when incoming missile warnings are received.
Operator says oil refinery in Haifa sustained localized damage in Iran missile barrage
File: View of Haifa's oil refineries and other industrial areas, on May 5, 2017. (Yaniv Nadav/Flash90/File)
Pipelines and transmission lines between facilities in the Bazan oil refinery complex in the northern city of Haifa sustained localized damage during the night’s missile attack from Iran, the company reports to the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange.
There are no reports of casualties.
The company says refining activities continue, although other facilities on the site have shut down. It adds that it is examining the impact on its operations and the return of the shuttered facilities to activity.
It makes no mention of a possible environmental impact on Haifa residents.
The greater Haifa area was targeted with some 40 missiles overnight, and one projectile struck a home in the nearby town of Tamra, killing four civilians. linkThe Iranian missile attacks are specifically targeting Military installations such as the Kirya (IDF headquarters in the middle of Tel Aviv) which sustained a hit 2 nights ago, and civilian infrastructure such as the oil refineries in Haifa. They have had some successes, although they have been minor so far. I have no doubt that other army facilities have been hit but purposely not publicized. All of our air force bases and Ben Gurion are clear targets. We can expect more nights of missile attacks as Iran still has at least another 1500 ballistic missiles with large war heads and the ability to launch them despite all of the damages that we have and still are inflicting on them.
"It will take weeks before all Israelis abroad can return to the country"
A quick return for those stranded abroad? It won't happen. According to the director of the Civil Aviation Authority, it "won't take days." The Ministry of Transportation confirmed: "This will be a long and gradual process lasting several weeks, and only during windows when there are no missile threats." And from where will they likely be flown back to Israel? Tens of thousands of Israelis are stranded abroad—and their hopes for a swift return home have likely been dashed following statements by the director of the Civil Aviation Authority. In an interview with Channel 12 News, Shmuel Zakai said, "It will take weeks, not days, before all citizens currently abroad can return home." Ben Gurion Airport at the start of Operation "With the Strength of a Lion" A deserted Ben Gurion Airport. Airspace remains closed at least until Tuesday. The Ministry of Transportation confirmed that the repatriation of stranded Israelis will be a lengthy and gradual process lasting at least several weeks, and only during periods when there is no missile fire from Iran—certainly not within a matter of days. "Even the Home Front Command cannot give us a time estimate. Even once we receive approval to reopen the skies, it won’t happen in just a day or two," said ministry spokesman Dudu Sassi. "A situation assessment meeting is expected tonight to ensure there are no gaps and that Israeli airlines are kept in the loop," the spokesman added. "Pilots and flight attendants are already in countries with large concentrations of Israelis, but since airspace remains closed at least until Tuesday, this means the process of bringing home those stranded abroad will be gradual and take several weeks." "We are prepared and ready, but even the military currently has no answers for us regarding when flight windows might open," the Transportation Ministry further stated. "It will take time because, in the initial phase, there will be limitations on ground crews, flight personnel, etc. Once we receive approval—subject to aviation and passenger safety—we are prepared to fly tens of thousands of passengers from 'hub' locations, as was done in the past—from Paphos, Larnaca, and Athens." While Israelis have been repatriated from Paphos before, it remains unclear whether this will be possible this time. In January, the Shin Bet banned Israeli airlines from landing in the Cypriot city due to "various security concerns" —a prohibition that has remained in effect throughout recent months. LINK
Israelis stranded abroad left in limbo as airspace remains shut and no alternative in sight
More than 100,000 Israelis remain stranded abroad as Israel’s airspace stays closed following a strike on Iran; authorities warn that return flights will be limited and gradual, with no immediate solution for those hoping to get home Tens of thousands of Israelis remain stranded abroad with little clarity on when they might return, as Israeli airspace stays closed following the country’s military strike on Iran.
Israel’s Airports Authority on Sunday warned citizens overseas not to travel to regional hubs such as Larnaca, Cyprus, or Athens, Greece, hoping to catch a flight home. “There is no recommendation for Israelis abroad to travel to these destinations at this stage,” the authority said in a statement titled “Important Clarification.”
“Even once flights resume, operations will be limited to minimize risks and ensure safety,” the statement added. “Travelers should expect delays of several days before they can return.” full article
From Paris to Cyprus, to Jordan and Sinai: the Israelis who did not wait for the skies to open
Tens of thousands of Israelis are stuck across the world since the strike on Iran, and some of them are losing hope to return in the near future. Among the many stories of waiting, there are also those who did not wait – like an Israeli couple who set out on a creative and globe-spanning journey. But for most of the passengers, this is a time of uncertainty, nights in hotels, and expenses it is unclear who will cover.
Tens of thousands of Israelis have been stuck abroad since the night between Thursday and Friday, when Israel launched an attack against Iran – and Ben Gurion Airport was shut down immediately, along with Israel's airspace. The overwhelming majority of those stuck moved themselves into hotels, but there are those who decided to return to Israel at any price and in a creative way.
Empty Ben Gurion Airport after the attack
The couple D', for example, flew from Los Angeles to Paris, and from there continued by flight to Cyprus. From Larnaca, they took a flight to Aqaba in Jordan, from there they continued by boat to the Sinai Peninsula, and from there they continued by land until the Taba Crossing, where they crossed into Israel. Security officials estimated yesterday that Ben Gurion Airport would remain closed for at least three to four days, and the two were concerned that once the airspace opened, there would be huge demand for flights through one of the hubs, like Cyprus or Athens – especially in light of the decision by many foreign companies to extend the cancellation of flights to Ben Gurion Airport.
Taxi in the Sinai Peninsula, illustration (Photo: shutterstock)
Another alternative route that came up was through destinations in Europe and from there to Jordan, but then it is not certain that it will be possible to cross through the Allenby Crossing. In addition, one must take into account that quite a few foreign airlines have stopped their flights, not only to Israel, but also to Jordan, due to the tension in the region.
Gali, who is stuck in Thailand, said in a conversation with ynet: “I was already about 40 minutes away from landing in the country, but then the first barrage from Iran began, which caused my El Al flight to turn back. We passed through Mumbai for a refueling stop, and from there returned to Bangkok. Since then I am stuck here. I must return to Israel, mainly because I received an emergency reserve call-up order within my role, and I do not see how I get out of here or when.
“My biggest fear is the moment the skies open again, but then the rush for flights will be insane and the seats will be snatched up like sunflower seeds, because like me, there are tens of thousands of other Israelis trying to get home. Something in this government needs to wake up and build a contingency plan for the moment after the skies open.
“And who will even pay for all the nights I am stuck here in a hotel? They told me to sue El Al later, to keep receipts, but up to what amount? For taxis, food, and everything around. Who will return to us all these losses? Simply a nightmare.”
Bracha and her husband are stuck in Budapest. “We were supposed to take off tomorrow on an El Al flight home,” she said. “But it looks like there will not be a flight tomorrow either. From El Al we received a message with two options – a refund for the canceled flight or a credit voucher. We did not really understand who was supposed to take care of our hotel accommodation until the flights return.”
According to her, this is exactly the reason they chose – even in the reality of war – to pay for an expensive ticket on El Al: “We wanted to know that we have ‘a father and mother’ in the moment of trouble. And here, in practice, we are paying from our pocket already for two nights in a hotel and everything around, and who knows how many more nights we will have to stay here.” She adds: “Even the hotel we found for temporary lodging we have to vacate tomorrow, because it is full. Now we are again looking for another hotel – or maybe we will move to an Airbnb apartment.”
Another couple, stuck in Prague and supposed to return to Israel on a flight by the airline Fly Lily, is also at a loss. Miri says: “We booked a deal through Chuliyo, and we have no idea when we will return to Israel because the flight was canceled. In the first message we received it was written that flights are canceled until June 14th, so we hoped that on Sunday we would be put on a flight back home. But in the afternoon we received another update – the flights are also canceled until June 15th.”
According to her, “Every day we receive a message that the flights are canceled for the next day. And in the meantime? We continue to pay from our pocket for hotel lodging, night after night. Until when?”
Also for Ron, his wife and their son, who are stuck in Budapest following the cancellation of an Arkia flight, there is the same complaint: “Every day we receive a message that also tomorrow the flight is canceled. Maybe it would be better if they already wrote in the message ‘Flights are canceled until further notice,’ instead of driving us crazy. Surely they are doing it carefully in order not to have to pay refunds for canceled tickets, when they still do not know how many days the skies will remain closed.”
According to them, “It is simply not fair. Someone should already tell us, take in advance 4 nights in a hotel, or a week, instead of confusing us again and again. Nothing is clear and no one is even talking to us.” link
Gaza and the South
There is the war of Netanyahu's war of political survival going on in Gaza with soldiers being killed and injured every single day but all focus is on Iran and there are no news reports about Gaza in any of the Israeli press except for the soldier who was killed. Netanyahu again has succeeded in diverting everyone's attention from the swamp he is keeping us in in Gaza.
Northern Israel, Lebanon and Syria
Israel is monitoring: the neighbors tighten relations and mark a common enemy
After more than a decade of disconnection, Jordan and Syria are drawing closer again, and the turbulent border between the countries is becoming a platform for cooperation. Fear of a resurgence of ISIS, drug smuggling, and also economic matters are in focus, while the Americans want to see Syria integrated into the region and are pressing for regulation of relations with Israel.
After being disconnected since the outbreak of the civil war in Syria in 2011, accelerated steps are currently being taken toward renewing diplomatic relations between Jordan and Syria. The rapprochement comes following the end of Assad’s rule at the end of last year and the establishment of a new transitional government in Damascus, and is being expressed not only on the political level – but also in practical agreements in a variety of areas.
Jordan is interested in integrating into the new situation in Syria, and alongside that, easing of sanctions by Western countries and the United States enables the renewal of trade between the countries. Additionally, they have matters of security, borders, and a shared concern over a terrorist organization that might rise again.
First visit and tightening of ties
Last week, first steps were carried out on the ground: the Jordanian foreign minister, Ayman al-Safadi, arrived in Damascus at the head of a professional delegation that included ministers from several areas. A short time afterward, a telephone conversation was held between King Abdullah and the new Syrian president, Ahmad al-Shara (al-Julani). According to diplomatic sources, the conversation was meant to solve technical obstacles that arose during the discussions.
The challenge of drugs and the border
But not everything is rosy. For years, Jordan coped alone with drug and weapons smuggling along the border with Syria. According to reports, militias affiliated with Iran and Hezbollah, with support from the 4th Division of Maher al-Assad, the brother of the deposed ruler, operated drug factories in southern Syria.
The Jordanian army has more than once conducted battles against smugglers, and even carried out airstrikes against targets in Syria. Despite a rise in the number of smuggling attempts – in Jordan they note a decrease in the quantity of drugs being seized, which may indicate damage to the smuggling infrastructure.
Jordanian soldiers observing the border with Syria | Photo: KHALIL MAZRAAWI / AFP / GettyImages
Fear that ISIS will raise its head
Security sources have recently expressed concern over a renewal of ISIS activity in Syria. According to estimates, the organization is trying to reestablish itself, recruit fighters – not necessarily those identified with it – and undermine the new Syrian regime. As a result, security cooperation between Jordan and Syria is becoming a real necessity on the ground, with the potential for integrating Jordanian intelligence capabilities in an effort to stop the expanding threat.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently warned that Syria is "on the verge of collapse," which could again turn it into fertile ground for ISIS. At the same time, Secretary of State Rubio expressed support for Trump’s approach to lift sanctions from Syria and claimed this is a historic opportunity: “If we succeed in stabilizing Syria – it will radiate stability to the entire region, including Lebanon, Jordan, and Israel.”
Crossings and funding
The cooperation stems from the shared interests of the two countries. Jordan produces surplus electricity and is interested in supplying it to Syria – an initiative that could also help Lebanon via connecting regional power grids. On the other hand, Jordan depends on Syria for water supply from the shared dams – something that was not implemented by the previous regime despite existing agreements. Also the field of transportation came up for discussion – with the aim of improving border crossings and reducing transportation costs, which could significantly contribute to the economy of both countries.
Some of the American demands from the new Syrian government also include regulation of relations with Israel, whether integration into the “Abraham Accords” or in another format. The regime is also required to expel hostile foreign forces from the country and prevent extremist activity from Syrian territory, and indeed, recently it was reported that militia fighters were expelled from Syria and that weapons of various factions were handed over to the authorities. link
West Bank, Jerusalem, Israel and Terror Attacks
Politics and the War and General News
The Region and the World
Personal Stories
Druze women leaders carry on legacy of revered IDF officer
New scholarship honoring fallen IDF officer Lt. Col. Salman Habaka empowers Druze students—especially women—through full academic support, leadership training and shared vision of equality and opportunity in Israeli society The blood pact with the Druze community, which Israelis came to know intimately during the war, is now transforming into a covenant of life, future and equality through a new leadership program for Arab Druze students named after the late Lt. Col. Salman Habaka.
Habaka, a resident of the Druze town of Yanuh-Jat and a battalion commander in the Barak Brigade, fell in battle in northern Gaza on November 2. He was 33 years old and left behind his wife Arin and their two-year-old son.
Lt. Colonel Salman Habka
Habaka was one of the heroes of the battle at Kibbutz Be’eri. On October 7, he left his family and drove south, where he led a fierce fight against terrorists and saved dozens of kibbutz residents. Shortly before his death, he recorded a message to the people of Israel: “I want all of us in Israeli society to be united.”
His story stands as a model of heroic bravery, patriotism and personal sacrifice for the nation.
Arin, Salman’s widow, completed a master’s degree in education and began working in the local municipality of Yanuh-Jat, where she now serves as a model of female leadership in the Druze community.
The leadership program aims to enable young Druze, especially women, to access fully funded higher education and build their future in the heart of Israeli society. The initiative was inspired by Habaka’s life and legacy; he believed that female leadership and higher education are foundational values and tools for change.
“Salman wasn’t just a wonderful father; he was the one who pushed me to study, believe in myself and always aim high,” Arin shares. “Thanks to his values, the leadership program was born. The Idan and Batia Ofer Family Foundation and Edmond de Rothschild Partnerships joined together in a moving show of support to establish the scholarship fund and commemorate his path, and ours."
“I’m proud to see that the program includes trailblazing women who are realizing Salman’s vision in practice.”
Full scholarships and personal support
This past November, 10 Druze students, both men and women, began their studies at higher education institutions across Israel as part of the program. They receive full-ride scholarships, personal mentoring, workshops on excellence and leadership, empowerment meetings, private tutoring, exam prep and direct support in engaging with faculty. Their fields of study include law, political science, architecture and dentistry.
In a moving meeting with Arin, the female students shared that they plan to take part in efforts to memorialize Salman. Later, a meeting was held at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem with President Isaac Herzog, First Lady Michal Herzog and Batia and Idan Ofer. “I’ve been following the Druze community since my military service," Idan Ofer said. "I hope the State of Israel fulfills its commitments to help Druze in Syria. I’m proud of the leadership program named after Lt. Col. Salman Habaka and hope many more will join.”
The students meet with President Isaac Herzog, First Lady Michal Herzog and Batia and Idan Ofer at the President's Residence
Batia Ofer said that: “This is a leadership scholarship designed to prepare the next generation of leaders in the region. The dear Habaka family paid the ultimate price, and there is no consolation. We hope to carry on his legacy and commemorate him through scholarships for Druze women and men.”
Being the first female dentist in the village
Sivan Halabi, 24, from Daliyat al-Karmel, is a fourth-year dental student at Tel Aviv University. From a young age, she aspired to break barriers, for herself, her family and for Druze girls who would come after her.
“When I began thinking about the future, I didn’t know a single Druze female dentist—certainly not from my village,” she says. “I wanted to talk to a woman who juggles a demanding career with family life, but there was no one to turn to. So, I decided to be the one others can turn to.”
As part of the leadership program, Halabi manages the Tel Aviv branch of the Generation to Generation organization, which combats loneliness among isolated elderly people through human connection. She manages a network of dozens of elderly individuals and young volunteers, ensuring personalized matches, maintaining relationships and organizing events to foster a sense of belonging. For Halabi, this mission serves as a reminder that every hug, word or smile holds the power to heal.
Her parents supported her, and today she’s on her way to becoming the first Druze female dentist in her village. “I want to be proof that it’s possible—to be a woman, a future mother and a successful doctor. And if another girl looks at me and says, ‘If she did it—so can I,’ then I’ve fulfilled another dream.”
Breaking barriers in high-tech
Sara Ibrahim, 22, from the village of Sajur, is a second-year student in the PPE program (Philosophy, Politics and Economics) at Tel Aviv University.
She is one of only two Arab women to ever enroll in this program since its founding, and her choice sparked mixed reactions in her community: “People didn’t understand why PPE. ‘What are you going to do with that? Why not electrical engineering?’ It’s not common for a woman to study something like this. I heard all those comments.”
But Ibrahim wasn’t deterred and views her studies as a mission. “I’m here to open doors for Druze women. My friend is studying law, I’ll pave the way for her to reach the Supreme Court. We’re beginning to write a new reality.”
From right: Sivan Halabi, Lana Tarif, Sara Ibrahim and Nur Ghabish
Through the Habaka Leadership Program, she leads efforts to remove employment barriers for Arab, and especially Druze, women seeking to enter the high-tech sector. She leads and supports training courses, provides personalized assistance, offers schedule flexibility and connects students to teaching staff. Each student’s challenge is an opportunity for her to intervene, encourage and create solutions.
Sara already knows what her next leadership initiative will be. She was accepted into the Women’s Lobby and received a role in its government affairs department: “I turn every action I take into a bridge toward a more equal future. I’m here to pave the way—even when I’m told it’s not meant for women like me. At the Women’s Lobby, I’ll promote policies that bring Druze women’s voices to decision-making spaces.”
Improving residents’ quality of life
Nur Ghabish, 22, from the village of Yarka, is a second-year law student at the University of Haifa. She always dreamed of pursuing higher education but wasn’t sure which field to choose. Encouraged by her father, she chose law: “I discovered it’s exactly where I can connect my values and aspirations. I want to become a judge—not for the power, but for the responsibility to bring change.
“The mission, the sense of belonging and my desire to help and promote the Druze community and lead change stem from a complex process of identity crisis, conflicting opinions and stereotypes. I feel we’re still confined by the framework society has defined for us, and that’s where my drive to make change comes from.”
As part of the leadership program, Ghabish leads an analysis of local authority performance indicators aimed at improving residents’ quality of life, in collaboration with Prof. Itai Beeri, who researches living standards across Israel’s municipalities.
She has encountered many data points and says the situation in Druze towns is often worse: “It’s exactly this gap that created my deep commitment to lead real change from within the community and for it.”
In addition to her work in the program, Nur also undertakes unique initiatives for the Druze community, including compiling and submitting clemency applications to the President’s Residence and reducing fines, in collaboration with Druze local councils.
Helping student mothers
Lana Tarif, 21, from Daliyat al-Karmel, is a second-year law and economics student at Tel Aviv University: “Law combines for me philosophy, human rights—something I’m deeply passionate about—and it can especially help improve the status of the Druze community in Israel.”
As part of her social engagement in the leadership program, Lana leads initiatives to raise awareness and promote action on sexual harassment in leading academic institutions in Israel. “This role allows me to have broad influence on academic policy surrounding various student issues,” she explains.
Through her work with the National Student Union, Tarif initiated a first-of-its-kind mapping of officials responsible for addressing sexual harassment in higher education institutions.
She also works to improve conditions for student mothers, such as allocating nursing rooms or ensuring accessible parking after childbirth. “We’re almost invisible, and I want to change that. Feminism and social activism are part of who I am—and now it’s exciting to see it taking shape at Israel’s top academic institutions,” she said.
Beyond her academic work and activism for human rights, Tarif also took part in protests to bring back the hostages and gave a speech at Paris Square in Jerusalem. link
Acronyms and Glossary
COGAT - Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories
ICC - International Criminal Court in the Hague
IJC - International Court of Justice in the Hague
IPS - Israel Prison System
MDA - Magen David Adom - Israel Ambulance Corp
PA - Palestinian Authority - President Mahmud Abbas, aka Abu Mazen
PMO- Prime Minister's Office
UAV - Unmanned Aerial vehicle, Drone. Could be used for surveillance and reconnaissance, or be weaponized with missiles or contain explosives for 'suicide' explosion mission
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The students meet with President Isaac Herzog, First Lady Michal Herzog and Batia and Idan Ofer at the President's Residence
From right: Sivan Halabi, Lana Tarif, Sara Ibrahim and Nur Ghabish
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