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Tag: Israel

  • Trump, Netanyahu to Discuss Next Phase of Gaza Plan

    JERUSALEM/PALM BEACH, Florida, Dec 28 – U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to push ‌for ​progress in the stalled ceasefire in Gaza when ‌he meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday for talks that will include Israel’s concerns ​over Hezbollah in Lebanon and Iran.

    Netanyahu said this month that Trump had invited him for talks, as Washington pushes to establish transitional governance and an international security ‍force for the Palestinian enclave. 

    Trump has said he ​could meet with the Israeli leader soon, but the White House has not confirmed details. The White House did not respond to a request for ​comment about the ⁠meeting.

    Netanyahu, who is expected to visit Trump’s Mar-a-Lago beach club, said on December 22 that discussions were expected to cover the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire, as well as Iran and Lebanon. 

    Washington brokered ceasefires on all three fronts, but Israel is wary of its foes rebuilding their forces after they were considerably weakened in the war.

    NEXT STEPS IN GAZA CEASEFIRE PLAN 

    All sides agreed in October to Trump’s ceasefire plan, which ‌calls for Israel to withdraw from Gaza and Hamas to give up its weapons and forgo a governing role in the enclave.

    U.S. Secretary ​of ‌State Marco Rubio said last week ‍that Washington wants the transitional ⁠administration envisioned in Trump’s plan – a Board of Peace and a body made up of Palestinian technocrats – to be in place soon to govern Gaza, ahead of the deployment of the international security force that was mandated by a November 17 U.N. Security Council resolution.

    But Israel and Hamas have accused each other of major breaches of the deal and look no closer to accepting the much more difficult steps envisaged for the next phase.

    Hamas, which has refused to disarm and has not returned the remains of the last Israeli hostage, has been reasserting its control, as Israeli troops remain entrenched in about half the territory.

    Israel has indicated that ​if Hamas is not disarmed peacefully, it will resume military action to make it do so.

    While the fighting has abated, it has not stopped entirely. Although the ceasefire officially began in October, Israeli strikes have killed more than 400 Palestinians — most of them civilians, according to Gaza health officials — and Palestinian militants have killed three Israeli soldiers.

    LEBANON CEASEFIRE ALSO TESTED

    In Lebanon, a U.S.-backed ceasefire that was agreed to in November 2024 ended more than a year of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah and required the disarmament of the powerful Iran-backed Shiite group, beginning in areas south of the river adjacent to Israel.

    While Lebanon has said it is close to completing the mission within the year-end deadline of disarming Hezbollah, the group has resisted calls to lay down its weapons.

    Israel says progress is partial and slow and has been carrying out near-daily strikes in Lebanon, which it says are meant to stop ​Hezbollah from rebuilding. 

    Iran, which fought a 12-day war with Israel in June, said last week that it had conducted missile exercises for the second time this month. Netanyahu said Israel is not seeking a confrontation with Iran, but was aware of the reports, and said he would raise Tehran’s activities with Trump.

    Trump in June ordered U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites but has since then broached ​a potential deal with Tehran.  

    (Reporting by Andrea Shalal in Palm Beach, Maayan Lubell in Jerusalem; Additional reporting by Trevor Hunnicut; Writing by Simon Lewis; Editing by Sergio Non, Rod Nickel)

    Copyright 2025 Thomson Reuters.

    Reuters

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  • African regional bodies reject Israel’s recognition of Somaliland

    Africa’s regional governance bodies on Saturday rejected Israel’s recognition of Somalia’s breakaway region of Somaliland as an independent nation, a day earlier.

    Somaliland, a territory of more than 3 million people in the Horn of Africa, declared independence from Somalia in 1991 amid a descent into conflict. Despite having its own government and currency, it had never been recognized by any nation in the world until Friday.

    The African Union Chairperson, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, said any attempt to undermine Somalia’s sovereignty risks peace and stability on the continent.

    He said that the commission “firmly rejects any initiative or action aimed at recognizing Somaliland as an independent entity, recalling that Somaliland remains an integral part of the Federal Republic of Somalia.”

    Somalia’s federal government on Friday strongly rejected what it described as an unlawful move by Israel to recognize Somaliland, reaffirming that the northern region remains an integral part of Somalia’s sovereign territory.

    It was not known why Israel made the declaration at this time or whether it was expecting something in return.

    Earlier this year, U.S. and Israeli officials told The Associated Press that Israel had approached Somaliland about taking in Palestinians from Gaza as part of U.S. President Trump’s plan at the time to resettle the territory’s population. The United States has since abandoned that plan.

    Netanyahu’s office said on Friday that he, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, and Somaliland’s president, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, signed a joint declaration “in the spirit of the Abraham Accords.”

    That initiative, which started in 2020, established commercial and diplomatic ties between Israel and several Arab and Muslim-majority countries. Mr. Trump sees it as key to his plan for bringing long-term stability to the Middle East.

    “I’ll communicate to President Trump your willingness and desire to join the Abraham Accords,” Netanyahu told Abdullahi in a video call celebrating the diplomatic breakthrough.

    However, Mr. Trump was less willing to join ally Israel in recognizing the independence of Somaliland, telling the New York Post that he has to “study” it.

    “We’ll study it. I study a lot of things and always make great decisions and they turn out to be correct,” he said.

    The foreign ministry of Egypt — a major mediator in the Israel-Hamas war — said on social media that it rejects Israel’s recognition of Somaliland and stressed full support for Somalia’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity.

    East African governing body IGAD, in a statement on Saturday, said Somalia’s sovereignty was recognized under international law.

    “Any unilateral recognition runs contrary to the Charter of the United Nations, the Constitutive Act of the African Union, and the Agreement establishing IGAD,” the statement read in part.

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  • Two killed in terrorist attack in northern Israel

    Two people have been killed and several others injured in a terrorist attack in northern Israel, Israeli media reported on Friday, citing police sources.

    A Palestinian attacker drove his car into a group of pedestrians near Beit She’an, killing a 68-year-old man and injuring at least two other people, including a 16-year-old boy, officials were quoted as saying.

    The attacker then killed an 18-year-old woman with a knife at the entrance to the Ein Harod kibbutz near the town of Afula. A security guard who happened to be present then shot and wounded the attacker.

    Police later went into a hospital to arrest the 37-year-old suspect, who they said is a Palestinian from the nearby occupied West Bank.

    According to the military, the man had been in Israel illegally for several days. Hospital doctors described his injuries as serious but not life-threatening.

    Despite an overall increase in violence since the start of the Gaza war in October 2023, such fatal incidents are less common in northern Israel than in the West Bank, where around 700,000 Israeli settlers live among 3 million Palestinians in settlements considered illegal under international law.

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  • Israel Recognises Somaliland, Somalia’s Breakaway Region, as Independent State

    (Fixes ‌spelling ​in “breakaway” in ‌headline)

    Dec 26 (Reuters) – ​Israel ‍has ​recognised ​Somaliland, a ⁠breakaway region of Somalia, ‌as an “independent and ​sovereign state,” ‌Israeli ‍Prime Minister ⁠Benjamin Netanyahu said on ​Friday, making Israel the first country to do so.

    (Reporting by Maayan Lubell ​and George Obulutsa, Editing ​by Louise Heavens)

    Copyright 2025 Thomson Reuters.

    Photos You Should See – December 2025

    Reuters

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  • Mohammad Bakri, renowned and controversial Palestinian actor and filmmaker, dies at 72

    Mohammad Bakri, a Palestinian director and actor who sought to share the complexities of Palestinian identity and culture through a variety of works in both Arabic and Hebrew, has died, his family announced. He was 72.Related video above: Remembering those we lost in 2025Bakri was best known for “Jenin, Jenin,” a 2003 documentary he directed about an Israeli military operation in the northern West Bank city the previous year during the second Palestinian intifada, or uprising. The film, focusing on the heavy destruction and heartbreak of its Palestinian residents, was banned by Israel.Bakri also acted in the 2025 film “All That’s Left of You,” a drama about a Palestinian family over more than 76 years, alongside his sons, Adam and Saleh Bakri, who are also actors. The film has been shortlisted by the Academy Awards for the best international feature film.Over the years, he made several films that spanned the spectrum of Palestinian experiences. He also acted in Hebrew, including at Israel’s national theater in Tel Aviv, and appeared in a number of famous Israeli films in the 1980s and 1990s. He studied at Tel Aviv University.Bakri, who was born in northern Israel and held Israeli citizenship, dabbled in both film and theater. His best-known one-man show from 1986, “The Pessoptimist,” based on the writings of Palestinian author Emile Habiby, focused on the intricacies and emotions of someone who has both Israeli and Palestinian identities.During the 1980s, Bakri played characters in mainstream Israeli films that humanized the Palestinian identity, including “Beyond the Walls,” a seminal film about incarcerated Israelis and Palestinians, said Raya Morag, a professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem who specializes in cinema and trauma.“He broke stereotypes about how Israelis looked at Palestinians, and allowing someone Palestinian to be regarded as a hero in Israeli society,” she said.“He was a very brave person, and he was brave by standing to his ideals, choosing not to be conformist in any way, and paying the price in both societies,” said Morag.Bakri faced some pushback within Palestinian society for his cooperation with Israelis. After “Jenin, Jenin,” he was plagued by almost two decades of court cases in Israel, where the film was seen as unbalanced and inciting.In 2022, Israel’s Supreme Court upheld a ban on the documentary, saying it defamed Israeli soldiers, and ordered Bakri to pay tens of thousands of dollars in damages to an Israeli military officer for defamation.“Jenin, Jenin” was a turning point in Bakri’s career. In Israel, he became a polarizing figure, and he never worked with mainstream Israeli cinema again, Morag said. “He was loyal to himself despite all the pressures from inside and outside,” she added. “He was a firm voice that did not change during the years.”Local media quoted Bakri’s family as saying he died Wednesday after suffering from heart and lung problems. His cousin, Rafic, told the Arabic news site Al-Jarmaq that Bakri was a tenacious advocate of the Palestinians who used his works to express support for his people.“I am certain that Abu Saleh will remain in the memory of Palestinian people everywhere and all people of the free world,” he said, using Mohammad Bakri’s nickname.___AP correspondent Kareem Chehayeb in Beirut contributed to this report.

    TEL AVIV, Israel —

    Mohammad Bakri, a Palestinian director and actor who sought to share the complexities of Palestinian identity and culture through a variety of works in both Arabic and Hebrew, has died, his family announced. He was 72.

    Related video above: Remembering those we lost in 2025

    Bakri was best known for “Jenin, Jenin,” a 2003 documentary he directed about an Israeli military operation in the northern West Bank city the previous year during the second Palestinian intifada, or uprising. The film, focusing on the heavy destruction and heartbreak of its Palestinian residents, was banned by Israel.

    Bakri also acted in the 2025 film “All That’s Left of You,” a drama about a Palestinian family over more than 76 years, alongside his sons, Adam and Saleh Bakri, who are also actors. The film has been shortlisted by the Academy Awards for the best international feature film.

    Over the years, he made several films that spanned the spectrum of Palestinian experiences. He also acted in Hebrew, including at Israel’s national theater in Tel Aviv, and appeared in a number of famous Israeli films in the 1980s and 1990s. He studied at Tel Aviv University.

    Bakri, who was born in northern Israel and held Israeli citizenship, dabbled in both film and theater. His best-known one-man show from 1986, “The Pessoptimist,” based on the writings of Palestinian author Emile Habiby, focused on the intricacies and emotions of someone who has both Israeli and Palestinian identities.

    During the 1980s, Bakri played characters in mainstream Israeli films that humanized the Palestinian identity, including “Beyond the Walls,” a seminal film about incarcerated Israelis and Palestinians, said Raya Morag, a professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem who specializes in cinema and trauma.

    “He broke stereotypes about how Israelis looked at Palestinians, and allowing someone Palestinian to be regarded as a hero in Israeli society,” she said.

    “He was a very brave person, and he was brave by standing to his ideals, choosing not to be conformist in any way, and paying the price in both societies,” said Morag.

    Bakri faced some pushback within Palestinian society for his cooperation with Israelis. After “Jenin, Jenin,” he was plagued by almost two decades of court cases in Israel, where the film was seen as unbalanced and inciting.

    In 2022, Israel’s Supreme Court upheld a ban on the documentary, saying it defamed Israeli soldiers, and ordered Bakri to pay tens of thousands of dollars in damages to an Israeli military officer for defamation.

    “Jenin, Jenin” was a turning point in Bakri’s career. In Israel, he became a polarizing figure, and he never worked with mainstream Israeli cinema again, Morag said. “He was loyal to himself despite all the pressures from inside and outside,” she added. “He was a firm voice that did not change during the years.”

    Local media quoted Bakri’s family as saying he died Wednesday after suffering from heart and lung problems. His cousin, Rafic, told the Arabic news site Al-Jarmaq that Bakri was a tenacious advocate of the Palestinians who used his works to express support for his people.

    “I am certain that Abu Saleh will remain in the memory of Palestinian people everywhere and all people of the free world,” he said, using Mohammad Bakri’s nickname.

    ___

    AP correspondent Kareem Chehayeb in Beirut contributed to this report.

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  • Pope Leo XIV urges faithful on Christmas to shed indifference in the face of suffering

    We’re holding *** few activities for the children to help with their mental health. We just want to relieve the children from the shock that they have experienced in the last two years of war and the conditions that completely swallowed them. They couldn’t control it, but those were our conditions. They have suffered *** lot, so we’re trying *** different touch this holiday season, different activities, so that they can feel some amount of joy. It is true that we always have hoped that it will get better and Gaza will become better, that we go back to our homes, celebrate, go back to the same way we were before the war, go to pray and celebrate, that we would reunited again as *** family around the table tomorrow or at dinner on Christmas Day, and we would talk, relax, and laugh. Every time I remember those moments, I feel sad of what our lives have become.

    During his first Christmas Day message Thursday, Pope Leo XIV urged the faithful to shed indifference in the face of those who have lost everything, like in Gaza, those who are in impoverished, like in Yemen, and the many migrants who cross the Mediterranean Sea and the American continent for a better future.Related video above: Gaza’s tiny Christian community tries to revive holiday spirit during ceasefireThe first U.S. pontiff addressed some 26,000 people from the loggia overlooking St. Peter’s Square for the traditional papal “Urbi et Orbi” address, Latin for “To the City and to the World,” which serves as a summary of the woes facing the world.While the crowd gathered under a steady downpour during the papal Mass inside St. Peter’s Basilica, the rain had subsided by the time Leo took a brief tour of the square in the popemobile, then spoke to the crowd from the loggia.Leo revived the tradition of offering Christmas greetings in multiple languages that was abandoned by his predecessor, Pope Francis. He received especially warm cheers when he made his greetings in his native English and Spanish, the language of his adopted country of Peru, where he served first as a missionary and then as archbishop.Someone in the crowd shouted out, “Viva il papa!” or “Long live the pope!” before he retreated into the basilica. Leo took off his glasses for a final wave.Leo surveys the world’s distressDuring the traditional address, the pope emphasized that everyone can contribute to peace by acting with humility and responsibility.“If he would truly enter into the suffering of others and stand in solidarity with the weak and the oppressed, then the world would change,” the pope said.Leo called for “justice, peace and stability” in Lebanon, Palestine, Israel and Syria, prayers for “the tormented people of Ukraine,” and “peace and consolation” for victims of wars, injustice, political stability, religious persecution and terrorism, citing Sudan, South Sudan, Mali, Burkina Faso and Congo.The pope also urged dialogue to address “numerous challenges” in Latin America, reconciliation in Myanmar, the restoration of “the ancient friendship between Thailand and Cambodia,” and assistance for the suffering of those hit by natural disasters in South Asia and Oceania.“In becoming man, Jesus took upon himself our fragility, identifying with each one of us: with those who have nothing left and have lost everything, like the inhabitants of Gaza; with those who are prey to hunger and poverty, like the Yemeni people; with those who are fleeing their homeland to seek a future elsewhere, like the many refugees and migrants who cross the Mediterranean or traverse the American continent,” the pontiff said.He also remembered those who have lost their jobs or are seeking work, especially young people, underpaid workers and those in prison.Peace through dialogueEarlier, Leo led the Christmas Day Mass from the central altar beneath the balustrade of St. Peter’s Basilica, adorned with floral garlands and clusters of red poinsettias. White flowers were set at the feet of a statue of Mary, mother of Jesus, whose birth is celebrated on Christmas Day.In his homily, Leo underlined that peace can emerge only through dialogue.“There will be peace when our monologues are interrupted and, enriched by listening, we fall to our knees before the humanity of the other,” he said.He remembered the people of Gaza, “exposed for weeks to rain, wind and cold” and the fragility of “defenseless populations, tried by so many wars,’’ and of “young people forced to take up arms, who on the front lines feel the senselessness of what is asked of them, and the falsehoods that fill the pompous speeches of those who send them to their deaths.’’Thousands of people packed the basilica for the pope’s first Christmas Day Mass, holding their smartphones aloft to capture images of the opening procession.This Christmas season marks the winding down of the Holy Year celebrations, which will close on Jan. 6, the Catholic Epiphany holiday marking the visit of the three wise men to the baby Jesus in Bethlehem.___Barry reported from Milan.

    VATICAN CITY —

    During his first Christmas Day message Thursday, Pope Leo XIV urged the faithful to shed indifference in the face of those who have lost everything, like in Gaza, those who are in impoverished, like in Yemen, and the many migrants who cross the Mediterranean Sea and the American continent for a better future.

    Related video above: Gaza’s tiny Christian community tries to revive holiday spirit during ceasefire

    The first U.S. pontiff addressed some 26,000 people from the loggia overlooking St. Peter’s Square for the traditional papal “Urbi et Orbi” address, Latin for “To the City and to the World,” which serves as a summary of the woes facing the world.

    While the crowd gathered under a steady downpour during the papal Mass inside St. Peter’s Basilica, the rain had subsided by the time Leo took a brief tour of the square in the popemobile, then spoke to the crowd from the loggia.

    Leo revived the tradition of offering Christmas greetings in multiple languages that was abandoned by his predecessor, Pope Francis. He received especially warm cheers when he made his greetings in his native English and Spanish, the language of his adopted country of Peru, where he served first as a missionary and then as archbishop.

    Someone in the crowd shouted out, “Viva il papa!” or “Long live the pope!” before he retreated into the basilica. Leo took off his glasses for a final wave.

    Leo surveys the world’s distress

    During the traditional address, the pope emphasized that everyone can contribute to peace by acting with humility and responsibility.

    “If he would truly enter into the suffering of others and stand in solidarity with the weak and the oppressed, then the world would change,” the pope said.

    Leo called for “justice, peace and stability” in Lebanon, Palestine, Israel and Syria, prayers for “the tormented people of Ukraine,” and “peace and consolation” for victims of wars, injustice, political stability, religious persecution and terrorism, citing Sudan, South Sudan, Mali, Burkina Faso and Congo.

    The pope also urged dialogue to address “numerous challenges” in Latin America, reconciliation in Myanmar, the restoration of “the ancient friendship between Thailand and Cambodia,” and assistance for the suffering of those hit by natural disasters in South Asia and Oceania.

    “In becoming man, Jesus took upon himself our fragility, identifying with each one of us: with those who have nothing left and have lost everything, like the inhabitants of Gaza; with those who are prey to hunger and poverty, like the Yemeni people; with those who are fleeing their homeland to seek a future elsewhere, like the many refugees and migrants who cross the Mediterranean or traverse the American continent,” the pontiff said.

    He also remembered those who have lost their jobs or are seeking work, especially young people, underpaid workers and those in prison.

    Peace through dialogue

    Earlier, Leo led the Christmas Day Mass from the central altar beneath the balustrade of St. Peter’s Basilica, adorned with floral garlands and clusters of red poinsettias. White flowers were set at the feet of a statue of Mary, mother of Jesus, whose birth is celebrated on Christmas Day.

    In his homily, Leo underlined that peace can emerge only through dialogue.

    “There will be peace when our monologues are interrupted and, enriched by listening, we fall to our knees before the humanity of the other,” he said.

    He remembered the people of Gaza, “exposed for weeks to rain, wind and cold” and the fragility of “defenseless populations, tried by so many wars,’’ and of “young people forced to take up arms, who on the front lines feel the senselessness of what is asked of them, and the falsehoods that fill the pompous speeches of those who send them to their deaths.’’

    Thousands of people packed the basilica for the pope’s first Christmas Day Mass, holding their smartphones aloft to capture images of the opening procession.

    This Christmas season marks the winding down of the Holy Year celebrations, which will close on Jan. 6, the Catholic Epiphany holiday marking the visit of the three wise men to the baby Jesus in Bethlehem.

    ___

    Barry reported from Milan.


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  • Thousands attend Christmas tree lighting ceremony in Bethlehem, the first since war in Gaza began

    Thousands of people traveled from nearby towns and villages to attend Bethlehem’s annual Christmas Eve tree lighting ceremony in the city’s historic Manger Square. Historically an event filled with joy and wonder, it was the first such ceremony since the war in Gaza began in 2023. But hardly any tourists were in attendance.

    For more than two years, international tourists and Christian pilgrims have largely stayed away following Hamas’ deadly terrorist attacks on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. As the war in Gaza raged, church leaders canceled Bethlehem’s public Christmas celebrations. 

    But this year, for Bethlehem Mayor Maher Canawati, the Trump administration-brokered ceasefire was reason enough to try to bring the faithful back to where the Christmas story began.

    “Bethlehem, you know, we are living from tourists, from tourism and from pilgrims who come to stay in our hotels, to eat in our restaurants, to buy our souvenirs that we’re producing here,” Canawati said. “And there was a complete halt on tourism for the past two years.”

    Members of the clergy take part in the yearly Christmas procession outside the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem on Dec. 24, 2025. 

    Ilia Yefimovich /AFP via Getty Images


    Inside the 4th-century Church of the Nativity, one of the world’s oldest and most sacred Christian sites, around 15,000 visitors would arrive every day in times of peace. The absence of tourists has devastated Bethlehem’s tourism industry, and nearly its entire economy, driving unemployment up to 70%. Hotel vacancies have been at record highs.

    Muhammad Abu Jurah’s family has run a souvenir shop in Bethlehem for generations. But over the last two years, he’s been forced to lay off all six of his staff members.

    “We don’t have a lot of tourists because, you know, the war,” he said. “So, this is why they have a big problem in Bethlehem without tourists.”

    Matthew Qasis, who has worked as a tour guide in Bethlehem all of his adult life, says he’s never seen the area so quiet. 

    His message to Christians around the world: “Come back, because Bethlehem belongs to everyone, and Bethlehem is a message of love and peace. A message needed now more than ever, and a prayer of hope that the faithful return to the place where it’s believed Christmas began.” 

    Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, leads the yearly Christmas procession outside the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem

    The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, leads the yearly Christmas procession outside the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem on Dec. 24, 2025. 

    ilia yefimovich /AFP via Getty Images


    Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Catholic Church’s top leader in the Holy Land and the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, commenced the holiday celebrations Wednesday during a traditional procession from Jerusalem to Bethlehem, the Associated Press reported. Pizzaballa called for “a Christmas full of light.”

    “After two years of darkness, we need light,” Pizzaballa said to the crowd in Manger Square, to whom the cardinal brought greetings from the small Christian community in Gaza, where he had held an early Christmas mass on Sunday, AP reported. “We, all together, we decide to be the light, and the light of Bethlehem is the light of the world.”

    The Associated Press

    contributed to this report.

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  • Christmas celebrations slowly return to Bethlehem amid tourism slump


    Christmas celebrations slowly return to Bethlehem amid tourism slump – CBS News









































    Watch CBS News



    Thousands traveled from nearby towns and villages to attend Bethlehem’s annual tree lighting ceremony in Manger Square — the first such celebration since 2023. As Imtiaz Tyab reports, there’s hope for a brighter future and lasting peace.

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  • ARCCI urges appeal in Kachura case after nurse sentenced to seven years for death of teen patient

    The Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israel argued that the verdict and sentence fail to reflect a prolonged pattern of exploitation rooted in power imbalances between caregiver and patient.

    The Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israel (ARCCI) on Wednesday urged the State Attorney’s Office to appeal both the convictions and the sentence imposed on Edward Kachura, a psychiatric nurse sentenced last week to seven years in prison over the death of teenage patient Lital Yael Melnik.

    Kachura was convicted at the Haifa District Court of causing death by negligence and of committing sexual offenses against Melnik, who was hospitalized at a psychiatric ward for adolescents at Haifa’s Carmel Medical Center. He was acquitted of murder. The court ruled that while prosecutors had not proven intent to cause death beyond a reasonable doubt, Kachura bore criminal responsibility for the fatal chain of events.

    Kachura demonstrated ‘a prolonged pattern of exploitation’

    In a letter sent Tuesday to State Attorney Amit Aisman, the ARCCI argued that the verdict and sentence fail to reflect the gravity and sustained nature of Kachura’s conduct, which it described as a prolonged pattern of exploitation rooted in extreme power imbalances between caregiver and patient.

    In its request, the organization argues that Kachura abused his position as a psychiatric nurse while fully aware of Melnik’s impaired judgment and inability to provide informed consent. The organization contended that he manipulated the concept of her “free will” to justify repeated sexual offenses and later relied on the same distortion in the circumstances that led to her death.

    “Despite the extreme and severe circumstances of this case, the offenses of which Kachura was convicted – and certainly the sentence imposed – do not reflect the seriousness or the systematic nature of his actions,” the letter stated, adding that the ruling cannot stand as is.

    Israel Police vehicles; illustrative. (credit: Tal Gal/Flash90)

    Attorney Hila Neubach, who heads the legal department at the ARCCI, said the case represents a profound failure to protect one of society’s most vulnerable populations: “This is a case marked by severe circumstances and extreme power disparities.”

    She continued, “It is unacceptable that someone entrusted with the care of a minor hospitalized in a psychiatric institution exploited her condition, committed sexual offenses over a prolonged period, and ultimately brought about her death – and was sentenced to only seven years in prison.”

    Neubach said the justice system bears a responsibility to safeguard those at greatest risk and called on the prosecution to issue a clear normative statement by filing an appeal. “We cannot accept the verdict as it stands,” she said.

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  • Netanyahu Coalition Pushes Contentious Oct. 7 Attack Probe, Families Call for Justice

    JERUSALEM, Dec 24 (Reuters) – Israel’s parliament gave the initial go-ahead ‌on ​Wednesday for a government-empowered inquiry into ‌the surprise October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas on southern Israel rather than the expected ​independent investigation demanded by families of the victims.

    Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has resisted calls to establish a state commission to investigate Israel’s ‍failures in the run-up to its deadliest ​day and has taken no responsibility for the attack that sparked the two-year Gaza war.

    His ruling coalition voted on Wednesday ​to advance a ⁠bill which grants parliament members the authority to pick panel members for an inquiry and gives Netanyahu’s cabinet the power to set its mandate.

    Critics say the move circumvents Israel’s 1968 Commissions of Inquiry Law, under which the president of the Supreme Court appoints an independent panel to investigate major state failures such as those which preceded the 1973 Yom Kippur ‌war.

    Survivors and relatives of those hurt in the Hamas attack have launched a campaign against the proposed probe, ​saying only ‌a state commission can bring ‍those accountable to justice.

    “This ⁠is a day of disaster for us all,” said Eyal Eshel, who lost his daughter when Hamas militants overran the army base where she served. “Justice must be done and justice will be done,” he said at the Knesset, before the vote.

    Surveys have shown wide public support for the establishment of a state commission into the country’s biggest security lapse in decades.

    Netanyahu said on Monday that a panel appointed in line with the new bill, by elected officials from both the opposition and the coalition, would be independent and ​win broad public trust.

    But Israel’s opposition has already said it will not cooperate with what it describes as an attempt by Netanyahu’s coalition to cover up the truth rather than reveal it, arguing that the investigation would ultimately be controlled by Netanyahu and his coalition.

    The new bill says that if the politicians fail to agree on the panel, its make-up will be decided by the head of parliament, who is allied with Netanyahu and is a member of his Likud party.

    Jon Polin, whose son Hersh Goldberg-Polin was taken hostage and found slain by his captors with five other hostages in a Hamas tunnel in August 2024, said only a trusted commission could restore security and unite a nation still traumatized.

    “I support a state commission, not to ​see anyone punished and not because it will bring back my only son, no. I support a state commission so that nothing like what happened to my son, can ever happen to your son, or your daughter, or your parents,” Polin said on Sunday at a news conference with other families.

    Hersh Goldberg-Polin was among dozens ​of hostages taken in the 2023 attack from the site of the Nova music festival.

    (Reporting by Maayan Lubell and Dedi Hayun; editing by Philippa Fletcher)

    Copyright 2025 Thomson Reuters.

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  • UK Police Drop Probe Into Bob Vylan Comments About Israeli Military

    LONDON, Dec ‌23 (Reuters) – ​British police ‌said on ​Tuesday they would ‍take no further ​action ​over ⁠comments made about the Israeli military during a performance ‌by punk duo Bob ​Vylan ‌at the ‍Glastonbury music ⁠festival in June.

    “We have concluded, after reviewing all the ​evidence, that it does not meet the criminal threshold outlined by the CPS (Crown Prosecution Service) for any person to be ​prosecuted,” Avon and Somerset Police said.

    (Reporting by Sam ​TabahritiEditing by William Schomberg)

    Copyright 2025 Thomson Reuters.

    Photos You Should See – December 2025

    Reuters

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  • ARCCI marks 35 years amid legal gains, renewed scrutiny of sexual violence

    The Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israel marked the anniversary by awarding the Sexual Violence Prevention Award to those whose work has advanced the rights and protection of survivors.

    The Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israel (ARCCI) marked its 35th anniversary on Wednesday, celebrating hard-won milestones and a measurable shift in public discourse around sexual violence, although advocates stressed systemic gaps remain and there is still much progress to be made.

    “There has been a profound change in awareness,” ARCCI executive director Orit Sulitzeanu told The Jerusalem Post. “Not because sexual violence has disappeared – it hasn’t – but because survivors are increasingly willing to step forward, publicly, with names and faces.”

    The ARCCI marked the anniversary with a ceremony at which it awarded the Sexual Violence Prevention Award to people whose work has advanced the rights and protection of survivors, exposed injustices, and driven change in law enforcement, public institutions, and societal norms.

    The award recognized individuals who have influenced public discourse and helped reshape the way Israeli society confronts sexual violence and sexual offenders as well.

    Sulitzeanu, who has led ARCCI for more than a decade following years in feminist advocacy and communications, said the most significant shift she had witnessed was not in the prevalence of sexual violence, but in how it is spoken about.

    ARCCI CEO Orit Sulitzeanu at the Jerusalem Post 2025 Women Leaders Summit. (credit: Mark Israel Salem)

    “For years, the focus was on victims,” she said. “Today, the language is about survivors.”

    Legal, cultural struggles surrounding survivors

    That shift, she said, is inseparable from legal and cultural struggles still unfolding, particularly around notions of accountability and access to justice.

    Those tensions were underscored late last week when a new sexual assault complaint was filed against Israeli pop singer Eyal Golan – separate from the earlier, widely known case involving Taisia Zamolowski and other women who were minors at the time.

    The new complaint was submitted by a woman who alleges that roughly a decade ago, during a facial treatment at her clinic, Golan exposed himself to her without consent and later pressured her to send nude photos.

    This complaint was filed several months ago and is now under police investigation, including an examination of whether the statute of limitations applies. Golan has denied the allegations, stating they are part of an attempted extortion and that he possesses messages and recordings that refute them.

    The question of limitations is central not only to the new complaint but to Israel’s broader reckoning with sexual violence.

    Among this year’s award recipients were Zamolowski and “N,” two of the women whose testimonies brought renewed public attention to what has been dubbed “the social games affair.”

    The case refers to the 2013-2014 investigation into allegations that teenage girls were sexually exploited by powerful men in the entertainment industry, including Golan, through intermediaries who arranged for paid sexual encounters.

    While Golan was ultimately not indicted due to evidentiary difficulties, the case left a lasting public imprint after his father, Danny Biton, was convicted of offenses related to prostitution involving minors.

    Years later, the affair forcefully returned to the public sphere in 2022 when Zamolowski and N gave televised interviews describing their experiences, the power dynamics involved, and the long-term harm they say they suffered.

    Their testimonies helped catalyze Israel’s #MeToo-era conversation around celebrity, silence, and accountability – even in the absence of criminal convictions against the central public figure.

    At Wednesday’s ceremony, Zamolowski said, “I am not just fighting against him, but against the fan base and public that defends him. I knew the price of going public, but I also know that secrets don’t stay in the dark.”

    N said, “I believe this fight is beyond personal. I am here not only as someone who was violated, but as someone who chose to use that experience as a tool for change.”

    “When we filed the complaint,” she added, “I knew we were going up against an ancient power system designed to quiet us. But our fight was about truth, justice, and a society that refuses to turn a blind eye.”

    Sulitzeanu said watching the two women take the stage was emblematic of the shift she has witnessed over the years. “When the investigation began, I didn’t know them personally,” she said. “Today, you see them on stage – coherent, intelligent, strong. That’s the change.”

    Advancing legislative initiatives for survivors’ rights

    Despite the upheaval of Hamas’s October 7 massacre and the war that ensued, Sulitzeanu said the ARCCI continued to work quietly with lawmakers, contributing to or advancing 10 legislative initiatives aimed at strengthening survivors’ rights.

    Among the most significant was a recent amendment to the Legal Aid Law, approved by the Knesset, which allows survivors of sexual assault and violence to receive free, state-funded legal representation from the moment they file a police complaint. Previously, legal aid was generally available only at later stages of criminal proceedings.

    Under the reform, survivors can now be accompanied by an attorney already during the investigation phase, regardless of income – a move the Justice Ministry described as strengthening access to justice and improving the handling of sexual violence complaints.

    Still, Sulitzeanu said, the legal framework remains incomplete.

    Under current Israeli law, most sexual offenses are subject to a statute of limitations, with time limits varying based on offense severity and the victim’s age. In cases involving minors, the clock begins only once the survivor reaches adulthood, but limitations still apply.

    In recent years, survivors’ organizations, the Justice Ministry, and members of Knesset have pushed to abolish the statute of limitations entirely for sexual offenses, arguing that trauma, fear, and power imbalances often delay reporting for years or even decades.

    In June, a Knesset committee advanced legislation that would eliminate or significantly extend limitation periods for sexual crimes against minors. This marks a major policy shift acknowledged in official Knesset protocols. However, the bill has not yet completed the legislative process, and no final law has been enacted.

    “Any gain is good,” Sulitzeanu said. “Even extending limitations matters. But the fight is far from over. We will continue it wherever we can.”

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  • A Middle Eastern lifeline built on family, faith and fear

    JULIS, Israel  — Nestled in a quiet corner of a quaint village in Israel’s north, the building appears, at the outset, to house an elegant meeting salon with giant chandeliers, ornate but uncomfortable chairs and trays of sweets.

    But past an improvised divider made of plywood and a stern attendant who places stickers over smartphone cameras, sits a team of volunteers working amid large screens and laptops: The nerve center of an all-hands-on-deck humanitarian operation to aid the Druze religious minority in Syria.

    Druze in Israel have long sent donations to their coreligionists in the southwestern Syrian province of Sweida, but since July — when around 1,000 Druze civilians were slaughtered in a sectarian killing rampage — a complex aid operation has emerged to serve tens of thousands of people more than 40 miles of hostile territory away.

    “What were we supposed to do? Watch them get slaughtered and be silent?” said Muwaffaq Tarif, the spiritual chieftain of the 150,000-strong Druze community in Israel.

    Marshaling family ties in Syria and links to Israel’s military and government, the operation headquartered in the salon now provides funds, humanitarian and medical aid, along with logistical and intelligence support — this despite a months-long blockade on Sweida by Syrian forces.

    The assistance has become part of a vital lifeline for the province, and has empowered Druze militias and spiritual leaders calling for secession from Syria and an alliance with Israel.

    Demonstrators dance with the Druze flag as they gather in front of the Berlin Cathedral to voice solidarity for Druze communities in Syria on Aug. 30 in Berlin.

    (Omer Messinger / Getty Images)

    The needs are vast. As Tarif sat with volunteers at the salon, his phones racked up calls and messages — the grand majority from Druze in Syria.

    “I’m getting 500, 800, sometimes even a thousand people, every day. All need my help. It makes you cry,” Tarif said.

    The Druze — a sect that combines elements of Islam and other religious traditions — constitute 1 million people worldwide; some 500,000 live in Syria, or roughly 3% of the population. Hard-line Muslims consider them infidels.

    During Syria’s 14-year civil war, the dictatorial President Bashar Assad let them establish their own militias in Sweida and run affairs in the Druze-majority province, so long as they didn’t fight government troops or allow opposition rebels to enter. But they had little love for Assad or the Islamist-dominated opposition.

    After Assad’s much-reviled regime fell last December, the new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, tried to mollify concerns about the new government’s jihadist roots; Al-Sharaa was once an Al Qaeda-affiliated rebel leader but renounced the group years ago.

    A poster of Ahmed al-Sharaa, Syrian politician, is seen on a windshield, as Syrians crowd the streets.

    A poster of Ahmed al-Sharaa, Syria’s interim president, graces a windshield in Damascus as Syrians mark the first anniversary of the fall of the Assad regime.

    (John Wreford / LightRocket via Getty Images)

    Al-Sharaa promised to protect Syria’s minorities and excise extremists among his allies. That won him support from the U.S., Europe and his Arab neighbors, but Israel took an adversarial stance, occupying swaths of Syria’s south and launching thousands of airstrikes to destroy the fallen government’s arsenal.

    Meanwhile, Al-Sharaa urged Druze leadership to dissolve their militias and surrender arms. Some wanted to cooperate, but Syria’s top Druze cleric, Hikmat al-Hijri, refused, saying his groups would disarm only when Al-Sharaa formed an inclusive government.

    Syria is home to a diverse collection of religions, and as the new government sought to establish itself, sectarian unrest broke out. In March, government-linked gunmen massacred some 1,500 people, mostly Alawites. In May, clashes erupted in Druze-majority areas near Damascus.

    Then came the massacres in Sweida.

    They started in early July as tit-for-tat kidnappings between Druze militias and Bedouin tribes but soon devolved into street fighting. The government negotiated a ceasefire and sent security personnel, but rather than restoring order, they joined the Bedouins in a blood-soaked rampage.

    They systematically burned and looted some 32 villages, executed civilians, then mutilated their bodies and abused men by cutting off their mustaches, which among Druze are considered a sign of spiritual maturity. And they filmed themselves doing so, proudly posting trophy videos to social media.

    Families are evacuated by the United Nations at the buffer zone in Syria's southern Daraa province.

    Families are evacuated by the United Nations in southern Syria in July after violent clashes between Bedouin fighters and members of the Druze community.

    (Bakr Alkasem / AFP via Getty Images)

    By the rampage’s end, nearly 200,000 people were forced to flee their homes. More than 100 women and girls were abducted. Dozens remain missing.

    Al-Hijri urged President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to save Sweida, adding that “we can no longer coexist with a regime that knows only iron and fire.”

    Once word reached Tarif of what happened, he raced to action.

    “We called everyone, the [Israeli] army, the government, the prime minister, the defense minister, the chief of staff, to stop the massacres. The Syrian government was entering with tanks, drones, artillery. It was an army versus against civilians with a pistol or rifle,” Tarif said.

    Israel, which has made overtures to Syria’s Druze, mobilized. Netanyahu ordered airstrikes on Syrian personnel blitzing through Sweida’s provincial capital, along with the Damascus headquarters of the Syrian army and the presidential palace.

    Al-Sharaa accused Israel of fomenting internal divisions and said Al-Hijri’s call for international intervention was unacceptable. He formed a committee to investigate atrocities against the Druze and others, and vowed in a speech to the United Nations General Assembly in September “to bring every hand stained with the blood of innocents to justice.”

    Al-Hijri and many Druze previously conciliatory toward Al-Sharaa were unconvinced and demanded to secede.

    At the same time, a tense standoff ensued: Syrian government forces surrounded the province, ostensibly to keep Bedouins and Druze separated, though critics accused them of replicating Assad’s surrender-or-starve tactics to force Sweida into submission.

    Many among Israel’s Druze wanted to help.

    “The world was ignoring what happened, so we have to do this. Our women sold their gold, people sold property, others took loans to raise money,” Tarif said, adding that some $2.5 million was collected.

    With no land link between Sweida and areas Israel occupied in southern Syria, the only way to deliver aid was via the Israeli air force. But the amounts proved inadequate. That was the spark for the operations room.

    Standing amid an array of workstations, a volunteer explained how his team identified sympathetic individuals to buy medicine and food from Damascus, and middlemen who bribed supplies past government checkpoints into Sweida. They also smuggled in equipment and paid workmen to rehabilitate water and electricity infrastructure. Some convoys entered with the Syrian Red Crescent with Damascus’ knowledge, Tarif said.

    “If we use $10,000 here, it’s nothing. But in Syria, they go a long way, and buy plenty of supplies,” the volunteer said.

    The center funded converting a judiciary building in Sweida into a displacement center housing 130 families, complete with a workshop where women could sew clothing, including uniforms for Druze militias.

    Other volunteers brought their specialties to bear: With Sweida’s medical facilities ravaged, the center managed four hospitals in the province.

    Programmers built an app-based humanitarian ecosystem, enabling Sweida residents to register for medical care, while doctors used WhatsApp messages to consult specialists in Israel and elsewhere.

    Other programs coordinated aid requests and deliveries, or helped residents document atrocities.

    “We took advantage of our skills to defend ourselves,” said one 28-year-old activist with the operations room technical team, taking out his phone to demo some apps. One for medical procedures included drop-down menus and a simple interface he said has been used by thousands.

    Some assistance veered into intelligence. Because Sweida was still under threat, the team, some of whose members retired from military service, tracked events on the ground. They deployed bots to monitor posts on social media that could indicate an attack, hacked phones of commanders in the area, and relayed the information to the Israeli military and Druze militias.

    Meanwhile, the Israeli military supplied the militias with limited amounts of weapons and ammunition, activists in Sweida say, and maintain drone surveillance over the area.

    Members of the Druze community in the Israel-annexed Golan Heights rally in July to show solidarity with Druze in Syria.

    Members of the Druze community in the Israel-annexed Golan Heights gather for a rally in July to show solidarity with Druze in Syria.

    (Jalaa Marey / AFP via Getty Images)

    All that has made the Sweida militias more effective. But it has also strengthened Al-Hijri’s plan to secede and ally the province — which is some 60 miles southeast of Damascus — to Israel. In recent speeches, he refers to Sweida as Bashan, its Hebrew biblical name, and forces under his control have raised the Israeli flag along the Druze banner. Last week, Al-Hijri-affiliated forces revealed new uniforms and logos that critics point out incorporate the Star of David in their design.

    For his part, Tarif, who says he is in daily contact with Al-Hijri as well as intermediaries to Al-Sharaa, insists “the ball is in Jolani’s court,” employing Al-Sharaa’s nom de guerre.

    “Do this tomorrow. Open an international humanitarian corridor to Sweida. Bring people back to their homes. Return the kidnapped. Simple,” Tarif said.

    At the same time, local opposition to Al-Hijri is intensifying after his forces tortured and killed two Druze clerics he accused of “treason” for contacting state authorities.

    “He’s gathering thugs around him, silencing any voice seeking a solution with the state,” said one activist in Sweida who refused to be named for fear of reprisals. Many in Sweida feel trapped between Al-Hijri and a government in Damascus they’ve learned to fear.

    “As a Druze, if I want to stand against Al-Hijri and his gangs, who can I go to?” the activist asked. “The state that committed massacres against my people? How can we trust them?”

    Nabih Bulos

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  • Lebanon Close to Completing Disarmament of Hezbollah South of Litani River, Says PM

    Dec 20 (Reuters) – Lebanon is close to completing ‌the ​disarmament of Hezbollah south of ‌the Litani River, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said on Saturday, ​as the country races to fulfil a key demand of its ceasefire with Israel before ‍a year-end deadline.

    The U.S.-backed ceasefire, ​agreed in November 2024, ended more than a year of fighting between Israel ​and Hezbollah ⁠and required the disarmament of the Iran-aligned militant group, starting in areas south of the river adjacent to Israel.

    Lebanese authorities, led by President Joseph Aoun and Salam, tasked the U.S.-backed Lebanese army on August 5 with devising a plan to ‌establish a state monopoly on arms by the end of the year.

    “Prime Minister ​Salam affirmed ‌that the first phase ‍of the ⁠weapons consolidation plan related to the area south of the Litani River is only days away from completion,” a statement from his office said.

    “The state is ready to move on to the second phase – namely (confiscating weapons) north of the Litani River – based on the plan prepared by the Lebanese army pursuant to a mandate from the government,” Salam added.

    The ​statement came after Salam held talks with Simon Karam, Lebanon’s top civilian negotiator on a committee overseeing the Hezbollah-Israel truce.

    Since the ceasefire, the sides have regularly accused each other of violations, with Israel questioning the Lebanese army’s efforts to disarm Hezbollah. Israeli warplanes have increasingly targeted Hezbollah in southern Lebanon and even in the capital.

    Hezbollah, a Shi’ite Muslim group, has tried to resist the pressure – from its mainly Christian and Sunni Muslim opponents in Lebanon as well as from the U.S. and Saudi Arabia – to ​disarm, saying it would be a mistake while Israel continues its air strikes on the country.

    Israel has publicly urged Lebanese authorities to fulfil the conditions of the truce, saying it will act “as necessary” if Lebanon fails to ​take steps against Hezbollah.

    (Reporting by Laila Bassam; Writing by Ahmed Tolba;Editing by Alison Williams and Gareth Jones)

    Copyright 2025 Thomson Reuters.

    Photos You Should See – December 2025

    Reuters

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  • Lion of Persia: The online warrior fighting for Iran’s future – and Israeli coexistance

    Comparing Israel and Gaza before the war, Sadaghiani noted, ‘So much investment, so much real estate and innovation [in Israel], and the other side is building tunnels.’

    In the fierce battle againstantisemitism and the anti-Israel blood-libel mob, Younes Sadaghiani stands out boldly, defiantly, and fearlessly. A true “lion of Persia,” he is an online warrior, fighting for the future and the freedom of Iran, as well as of the United Kingdom, alongside Israel’s right to exist. He calls antisemites by their name.

    Catching up with Sadaghiani on one of his many visits to Israel, I spoke to him in my home in Jaffa, the city famous for the biblical Jonah’s – aka Younes – journey to sea. Five minutes into our conversation, the picture hanging on the wall behind him crashed to the floor, and the glass of the frame shattered. His response was, “Mazal tov; the energy of the universe is too strong.”

    In that reaction, he provided some insight into the man behind the viral Instagram and YouTube videos.

    From oppression to a voice for freedom

    Born under the harsh regime of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Sadaghiani journeyed from young immigrant boy in the UK to prominent political analyst and content creator. His is a story of resilience and courage. Here is a man who risks it all to stand up for the Jewish people and who should be known in every Jewish home in Israel and around the world.

    Arriving in Britain at the age of 13, with barely a word of English, Sadaghiani faced immediate hostility, specifically from young jihadis in his class who attempted to bully him for refusing to join their prayers.

    Younes Sadaghiani in the Knesset. (credit: Courtesy @younessrocks)

    “It made me a fighter and tough,” he recalled. “They couldn’t handle me, as I was already bigger and stronger then.”

    Two of those classmates were later convicted of participating in terror plots in the UK linked to ISIS, highlighting the very real threat he faced. These experiences reflect a struggle reminiscent of many Jewish youths facing antisemitism growing up.

    Confronting Islamism with truth

    Sadaghiani said, “They tried to stick the label of ex-Muslim to me, but in reality I never chose Islam. I came from a very liberal family to begin with.”

    His break with Islam wasn’t a rebellion but a realization: “Even if I don’t have a problem with Islam, Islam has a problem with me, so I need to question it and stand up to it.”

    His stance is grounded in lived reality, seeing firsthand how radical preachers infiltrated his school, spreading dangerous ideologies that he now calls “the Islamic Brotherhood fooling the UK education system.”

    Sadaghiani didn’t just fight the tide; he went against it on every front.

    Learning English and later studying politics at the prestigious London School of Economics (LSE), he forged his voice as a fearless warrior for justice and truth.

    Commitment to support Israel

    Sadaghiani’s support for Israel arises from deep conviction. “Israelis want to live in peace, but the jihadi culture around them will not allow them.” He explained that “90% of Iranians want the IRGC [Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps] gone,” highlighting the vast opposition within Iran to the regime’s funding terrorism worldwide.

    Personal evolution is never smooth, Sadaghiani clarified. “I am not religious, but I do believe in the ‘One God,’ who I view as energy, frequency, and vibration.”

    This perspective sits right next to a sharp critique of radical Islamism, which he contrasts against the peaceful majority of Muslims: “Ninety-five percent are lovely, peaceful, good, normal people who just want to party and have a good time. But they are like the grass that hides the snake, the snake being the radicals within; therefore, they fail in their moral duty.”

    He is blunt and urges more Muslims to “stand up, speak up, and call out the extremists within them.”

    He knows, however, that most have no choice. “Many, if not most, are labeled ‘Muslim’ from birth, and if they try to leave they are apostates, which is punishable by death.” He said that he never wanted controversy for its own sake but has seen how societies decline when wrong ideas take hold.

    Support of Israel and the Jewish people

    Sadaghiani’s online beginnings were humble. “When I started, I had 10 views and one like, but I had a burning passion. I wasn’t doing it for views, and still am not,” he asserted.

    Within months, he found himself on TV and traveling the world, meeting politicians, diplomats, and business leaders. His journey took him to Israel, the Gaza border, the Knesset, and IDF bases. For years, the media tried to brainwash him into believing that Israel would be hostile to someone like him, but when he saw it for himself, it was different.

    “It’s the other side that hates life, that worships death,” he said.

    Comparing Israel and Gaza before the war, Sadaghiani noted, “So much investment, so much real estate and innovation [in Israel], and the other side is building tunnels. That shows there is a problem in the mentality.”
    His message to Iranians is clear: “Israel isn’t your enemy. The so-called ‘scary Zionist regime’ has been unfairly demonized.”

    He is sickened that Zionism has become a dirty word among Westerners.

    “Israelis don’t want to be bombed and killed, and they don’t want to kill innocent civilians, as is claimed by the haters. Israel is just defending itself.”

    Sadaghiani believes that Israel “won the war outstandingly,” and he pays tribute to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, despite the criticism the premier faces.

    “Momentum is with Israel, and you are very lucky to have someone like Netanyahu at the top. Without that kind of leader, Israel could have collapsed as a state,” he said. However, he noted that although Israel secured victory on the military front, it lost the information war, a fight that has been ongoing for decades.

    Sadaghiani highlighted Iran’s IRGC and Qatar as sources funding anti-Israel propaganda, but said he recognizes that historically, “Jews have always lost the propaganda battle, even when winning militarily. Israel does a good job on the military front, but not on the information front,” he reiterated.

    That is where he sees his own battle. “When you lose the information war, you lose the real war or aren’t allowed to win or finish the job.”

    Sadaghiani deals with threats and abuse but never wavers.

    “Tell the truth. When you tell the truth, amazing things start to happen. If you have something to say, silence is a lie.”

    To Israelis and Jews everywhere, Sadaghiani’s message is urgent: “Don’t be afraid, be brave. Iranian people are your friends. Stand up for yourselves; you are on the right side of history. The other side tried to commit genocide and failed. Israel took two years to fight the war to minimize casualties.

    “The fight needs to be improved from all areas. Debate harder and don’t be afraid. I would be willing to train young Israelis and Jews on media and debate.”

    The Cyrus Accords: Iranian-Israeli reconciliation

    For Sadaghiani, embracing the truth is a historical duty. He recognizes that while Iranians are against the IRGC, many are suspicious of Israel and its motives, and that is something he aims to help clarify. He wants the real Israel to be seen for what it is – a place of life, growth, and energy, not the caricature sold by haters. He is not blind. “Israel has its flaws, but the overwhelming majority of Israelis just want peace and to live in peace.”

    He wants to be part of building a “golden bridge” between Iranians and Israelis, reminding both communities of their ancient ties.

    “King Cyrus and Queen Esther – our histories are intertwined. This 40-something years with the IRGC is just a blip in our vast timeline.”

    Sadaghiani believes that Iran’s future freedom is bound to Israel’s security. “A prosperous Middle East will only be possible with a strong Persia. The one who funds all the madness is the IRGC. The Abraham Accords are a start, but without the IRGC there would have been no need for them to begin with. I want to see the Cyrus Accords next, normalizing relations between Israel and Iran.”

    He sees himself as part of this historic transformation.

    “The Islamic Republic will collapse, not if, but when.” He is extremely grateful for the 12-Day War and its outcomes, where Iranians “saw their oppressors shaking in their boots.”

    He calls out Western hypocrisy, too. “So many people in the West, on both the Left and the Right, parrot these antisemitic libels. The fight is hard.” But he wants everyone to see the truth and stand up for it.

    In a world obsessed with demonizing Israel and staying silent in the face of antisemitism, Sadaghiani’s voice is important and extremely comforting in moments when Jews and Israelis can feel alone.

    Sadaghiani holds out hope. We are witnessing “history in motion,” he said.

    “Be part of this era that will define the future. It is like a football game: It is halftime now, advantage Israel, with the second half still to be played.” 

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  • No Evidence Alleged Bondi Gunmen Received Military Training in the Philippines, Says Security Adviser

    MANILA, Dec 17 (Reuters) – There is no evidence indicating ‌that ​the two suspects involved in ‌the Bondi Beach attack received any form of military training ​while in the Philippines, the Philippines’ National Security Adviser said on Wednesday.   

    In a statement, Eduardo Año ‍said that a mere visit ​to the country does not substantiate allegations of terrorist training, and the duration ​of their ⁠stay would not have permitted any meaningful or structured training.

    The alleged father-and-son gunmen opened fire on a Hanukkah celebration at Sydney’s Bondi Beach on Sunday, killing 15 in an attack that shocked Australia and heightened fears of antisemitism and violent extremism.

    Año said the ‌government was investigating the two men’s travel from November 1 to 28 and coordinating ​with ‌Australian authorities to determine ‍the purpose ⁠of the visit, dismissing media reports portraying the southern Philippines as a hotspot for violent extremism as “outdated” and “misleading”.

    Immigration records show the pair landed in Manila and travelled to Davao City in Mindanao, a region long-plagued by Islamist militancy, before the attack that Australian police say appeared to have been inspired by Islamic State.

    The men stayed mostly in their rooms for almost a ​month at a budget hotel in Davao, MindaNews reported. 

    The father and son checked in at noon on November 1 and rarely went out for more than an hour, a hotel staffer told the online news outlet, which is based in Mindanao.  Hotel staff said the two kept to themselves, never spoke to other guests, or had visitors. They were only seen walking nearby and never taking rides or getting picked up in front of the hotel.

    Reuters could not immediately verify the report. Calls to a hotel officer and Davao police went unanswered.

    Since ​the 2017 Marawi siege, a five-month battle in which the Islamic State-inspired Maute group seized the southern city and fought government forces, Philippine troops have significantly degraded ISIS-affiliated groups, Año said.

    “The remnants of these groups have been fragmented, ​deprived of leadership, and operationally degraded,” he added.

    (Reporting by Karen Lema; Editing by David Stanway and Sharon Singleton)

    Copyright 2025 Thomson Reuters.

    Reuters

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  • Antisemitism Allowed to Fester in Australia, Says Daughter of Wounded Holocaust Survivor

    By Christine Chen and Tom Bateman

    SYDNEY, Dec 16 (Reuters) – Government authorities have not ‌done ​enough to stamp out hatred of Jews ‌in Australia, which has allowed it to fester in the aftermath of October 7, said ​the daughter of a Holocaust survivor who was wounded at the Bondi shootings on Sunday.

    Victoria Teplitsky, 53, a retired childcare centre owner, said that ‍the father and son who allegedly went ​on a 10-minute shooting spree that killed 15 people had been “taught to hate,” which was a bigger factor in the attack than access ​to guns.

    “It’s not ⁠the fact that those two people had a gun. It’s the fact that hatred has been allowed to fester against the Jewish minority in Australia,” she told Reuters in an interview.

    “We are angry at our government because it comes from the top, and they should have stood up for our community with strength. And they should have squashed the hatred rather than kind of ‌letting it slide,” she said.

    “We’ve been ignored. We feel like, are we not Australian enough? Do we not matter to ​our ‌government?”

    The attackers fired upon hundreds of ‍people at a Jewish ⁠festival during a roughly 10-minute killing spree, forcing people to flee and take shelter before both were shot by police.

    RISING ANTISEMITIC ATTACKS

    Antisemitic incidents have been rising in Australia since the war in Gaza erupted after Palestinian militant group Hamas killed 1,200 Israelis in an attack on October 7, 2023. Israel’s bombardment of Gaza has since killed over 70,000 people, according to the enclave’s health ministry.

    A rise in such incidents in the past sixteen months prompted the head of the nation’s main intelligence agency to declare that antisemitism was his top priority in terms of threat.

    “This ​was not a surprise to the Jewish community. We warned the government of this many, many times over,” Teplitsky said.

    “We’ve had synagogues that have been graffitied, graffiti everywhere, and we’ve had synagogues that have been bombed,” she added, referring to a 2024 arson attack in Melbourne in which no one was killed.

    Teplitsky’s father Semyon, 86, bled heavily after being shot in the leg, and now is facing several operations as doctors piece bone back together with cement, then remove the cement from the leg, which he still may lose, she said.

    “He’s in good spirits, but he’s also very angry. Angry that this happened, that this was allowed to happen in Australia, the country that he took his children to, to be safe, to be away from antisemitism, to be away from Jew hatred.”

    Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin ​Netanyahu said on Monday that Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese “did nothing” to curb antisemitism.

    Albanese repeated on Tuesday Australia’s support for a two-state solution. Pro-Palestinian protests have been common in Australia since Israel launched its offensive.

    At a press briefing on Monday, Albanese read through a list of actions his government had taken, including criminalising hate speech and incitement to violence ​and a ban on the Nazi salute. He also pledged to extend funding for physical security for Jewish community groups.

    (Writing by Melanie Burton; Editing by Saad Sayeed)

    Copyright 2025 Thomson Reuters.

    Photos You Should See – December 2025

    Reuters

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  • Video released of dead Israeli hostages marking Hanukkah in captivity

    Haley Ott reports on a newly released video showing six Israeli hostages, months before their deaths in Gaza, marking Hanukkah in captivity.

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  • A Timeline of Rising Antisemitism in Australia

    A police detective walks near houses vandalized with anti-Israel slogans in the Sydney suburb of Woollahra, Australia, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. Credit – Mark Baker—Associated Press

    Two gunmen shot at a crowd of beachgoers in Sydney, Australia, killing at least 12 people and wounding at least 30 during a Jewish holiday event at Bondi Beach on Sunday, in what Australian authorities are calling a terrorist attack.

    ​​The attack, which targeted an event marking the first day of Hanukkah at the popular tourist destination, is the latest and most deadly in a string of antisemitic incidents that have blighted Australia since the onset of the war in Gaza in October 2023.

    The subsequent sixteen months were sullied by firebombing, arson, graffiti, and hate speech incidents that prompted Mike Burgess, the Director-General of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), to proclaim that his top priority in terms of threat to life is antisemitism.

    Read more: Bondi Beach Terror Attack: At Least 12 Killed as Gunmen Target Jewish Holiday Event

    Figures from the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) show that antisemitic incidents in Australia have reached historically high levels, at “almost five times the average annual number before October 7, 2023.” The group documented 1,654 anti‑Jewish incidents across Australia between Oct. 1, 2024, and Sept. 30, 2025, in addition to 2,062 incidents nationwide the year before.

    Yad Vashem, Israel’s official Holocaust memorial center, has repeatedly raised concerns about a dangerous rise in antisemitic attacks in Australia, including in personal meetings with the premiers of Victoria and New South Wales.

    Following an arson attack on a synagogue in Melbourne in July, the center said that “not enough is being done.” It called on Australian authorities to “implement robust educational initiatives to combat hatred and to teach about the dire dangers of unchecked antisemitism.”

    Jewish leaders from the world’s seven largest diaspora communities convened in Sydney earlier this month to call for action against antisemitism in Australia.

    Speaking in the wake of the deadly attack on Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he had warned his Australian counterpart that the country’s policies were fueling antisemitism.

    “Three months ago I wrote to the Australian prime minister that your policy is pouring oil on the fire of antisemitism,” he said, referring to a letter he sent to Anthony Albanese in August following Canberra’s announcement that it would recognise Palestinian statehood.

    “Antisemitism is a cancer that spreads when leaders are silent and do not act,” Netanyahu added during a televised public address at an event in southern Israel.

    Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the Bondi Beach attack on Sunday, calling it “evil” that was “beyond comprehension,” and convened a meeting of the country’s national security council.

    “This is a targeted attack on Jewish Australians on the first day of Hanukkah, which should be a day of joy,” Albanese said, adding, “An attack on Jewish Australians is an attack on every Australian.”

    Below is a timeline of antisemitic incidents in Australia over the last two years.

    May 25, 2024: Antisemitic graffiti at Jewish school

    Mount Scopus Memorial College, one of Australia’s largest and oldest Jewish schools in Melbourne’s east, was targeted in an antisemitic vandalism attack when the phrase “Jew die” was spray‑painted on the exterior fence of the school’s Burwood campus.

    Police in Victoria launched an investigation and appealed for public assistance, releasing CCTV footage of a person of interest riding a bicycle near the scene. The graffiti was widely condemned by politicians and community leaders as a deeply troubling act of hatred that has no place in Australian society, and raised concerns about rising antisemitism and student safety.

    Oct. 13, 2024: Jewish-owned bakery defaced

    A popular Jewish‑owned bakery in Sydney’s inner‑city suburb of Surry Hills was defaced with antisemitic graffiti and a threatening note, heightening concerns about rising hate incidents. Avner’s Bakery, owned by local TV chef Ed Halmagyi, had an inverted red triangle—a symbol associated with both Nazi persecution and used by some extremists to mark Jewish targets— spray‑painted on its window.

    Police said the offensive graffiti was reported at the Bourke Street premises, and a handwritten note reading “Be careful” was found slipped under the door. Halmagyi shared the note on social media, calling the incident “Being Jewish in Sydney, 2024 edition,” and NSW Police launched an investigation. Community leaders condemned the attack as a troubling expression of antisemitic intimidation.

    Oct. 17, 2024: Brewery arson

    The front door of the Curly Lewis Brewing Company, a popular brewery near Bondi Beach in Sydney’s east, was deliberately set on fire in the early hours of the morning. CCTV and court documents show two men poured accelerant underneath the front door and ignited it before fleeing; the blaze self‑extinguished after a short time thanks to the building’s sprinkler system, but caused significant damage to the entrance.

    Police later linked the arson to a broader investigation into antisemitic attacks in Sydney, although authorities say the brewery was likely mistakenly targeted instead of a nearby kosher deli, Lewis’ Continental Kitchen. Two men — Guy Finnegan and Craig Bantoft — later pleaded guilty to the fire charge, with officers investigating whether they were acting on instructions from an unknown figure.

    Oct. 20, 2024: Kosher deli attack

    The kosher deli Lewis’ Continental Kitchen in Sydney’s Bondi suburb was deliberately set alight in an antisemitic arson attack, causing extensive damage. As part of a broader task force investigation into a series of antisemitic incidents, police charged former biker gang member Sayed Moosawi in March 2025 with allegedly directing two men to torch both Lewis’ Continental Kitchen and nearby Curly Lewis Brewing Company to distract police resources; Moosawi denied the charges and was released on bail.

    Australian authorities later said intelligence from the national security agency found credible evidence that Iran’s government played a role in the Oct. 20 attack on the kosher deli, a claim that led Canberra to expel Iran’s ambassador and accuse Tehran of undermining social cohesion through antisemitic violence.

    Nov. 21, 2024: Rampage in Jewish community 

    In a brazen antisemitic attack in Woollahra, a leafy eastern suburb of Sydney that has a significant Jewish community, a car was set on fire, and multiple vehicles and buildings were vandalised with anti‑Israel and antisemitic graffiti in the early hours of the morning. Police said about 10 cars, including one torched vehicle, were spray‑painted with slogans such as “f*** Israel,” while properties and a nearby restaurant were also defaced. Fire crews extinguished the blaze, and authorities estimated more than $100,000 in damage.

    The incident drew condemnation from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, NSW Premier Chris Minns and local leaders. Albanese called it a “deeply troubling” and “disgusting” act of hate and vowed police would investigate. The attack was investigated under a strike force handling a string of antisemitic incidents in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

    Dec. 6, 2024: Synagogue arson

    In the early hours before dawn, masked men broke into the Adass Israel Synagogue in the Ripponlea suburb of Melbourne and firebombed the place of worship, pouring accelerant inside and setting it alight, causing extensive damage to the building and its interior. The blaze, which drew dozens of firefighters, was later treated by police as a suspected terror attack and became a central focus of a Joint Counter‑Terrorism Team investigation involving Victoria Police, the Australian Federal Police, and national security agencies. Community members inside at the time fled as flames spread, and Jewish leaders described the attack as a shocking escalation of antisemitic violence in Australia.

    Prime Minister Albanese condemned the attack as an “outrage” and pledged support for the Jewish community. In August 2025, authorities charged two men in connection with the synagogue firebombing as part of the broader terrorism‑linked probe. Days later, Albanese said intelligence assessments showed the Iranian government had directed the attack, prompting diplomatic action and highlighting growing concerns about foreign influence behind some antisemitic incidents on Australian soil.

    Dec. 7, 2024: Netanyahu blames Australian government

    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly linked the recent wave of antisemitic attacks in Australia to what he described as the Australian government’s “anti‑Israel” stance at the United Nations, including Canberra’s vote for a resolution critical of Israel’s policies. Netanyahu said that support for such U.N. positions made it “impossible to separate” antisemitic violence, such as the firebombing of a Melbourne synagogue, from Australia’s diplomatic position on the Israel‑Palestine conflict. His comments drew criticism from Australian officials, who rejected the suggestion that government policy was to blame for the attacks.

    Dec. 9, 2024: Antisemitism task force launched

    The Australian Federal Police (AFP) announced the launch of a dedicated antisemitism task force, known as Special Operation Avalite, to investigate a spate of antisemitic threats, violence and hate incidents across the country. The unit, established in the wake of the Dec. 6 firebombing of the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne and other attacks, is staffed with counterterrorism investigators and works with state and territory police to target high‑harm antisemitism against Jewish communities and public figures. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the task force would enhance national efforts to hold perpetrators accountable.

    Dec. 11, 2024: Jewish neighborhood attacked again 

    The eastern Sydney suburb of Woollahra, which has a large Jewish community, was attacked for the second time in as many months as police found a car set on fire and multiple homes and buildings vandalised with antisemitic and anti‑Israel graffiti, including a misspelled slogan reading “Kill Israiel.” Officers established a crime scene on Magney Street and were seeking two male suspects seen fleeing the area. New South Wales Premier Chris Minns and Prime Minister Albanese condemned the attack as a “hate crime” and “outrage,” with police pledging increased patrols and investigation under a broader antisemitism task force.

    Jan. 7, 2025: Worshippers threatened 

    A 20‑year‑old man was charged after allegedly making threatening gestures toward worshippers near the Chabad North Shore synagogue and Kehillat Masada synagogue in Sydney’s north‑west suburb of St Ives. Police allege the man made a gun‑like hand gesture at pedestrians exiting the synagogues on Link Road on Jan. 4, prompting reports to police and a subsequent arrest at a home in North Turramurra. He was charged with stalking or intimidating with intent to cause fear of physical harm and was granted conditional bail to appear in Hornsby Local Court later in January. The alleged threat came amid a broader wave of reported antisemitic incidents across Sydney.

    Jan. 10, 2025: Hitler graffiti 

    The Allawah Synagogue in southern Sydney was vandalised early Friday with multiple swastikas and other antisemitic graffiti, including the words “Hitler on top,” sprayed on the exterior walls of the place of worship. NSW Police said the incident occurred around 3:55 a.m. and released CCTV footage showing two people in dark clothing near the synagogue. State Premier Chris Minns condemned the act as a “monstrous” hate crime, and police launched a hate‑crime investigation under Operation Shelter. Jewish community leaders called for swift arrests, saying the attack was deeply troubling and had no place in Australia’s multicultural society.

    Jan. 11, 2025: Synagogue vandalized 

    Newtown Synagogue in Sydney’s inner west was vandalised with red swastikas and other Nazi‑linked graffiti, and police said vandals attempted to set the building on fire by pouring an accelerant that burned briefly before going out. Officers released CCTV images showing two people of interest and counterterrorism detectives took over the investigation, calling it an escalation in antisemitic crime. On the same day, a house in Sydney’s east was also defaced with antisemitic graffiti, prompting a broader police response. New South Wales Premier Chris Minns condemned the incidents as unacceptable and heightened police scrutiny under a broader antisemitism probe.

    Jan. 16, 2025: Task force makes first arrest

    The Australian Federal Police’s (AFP) Special Operation Avalite made its first arrest in Sydney when a 44‑year‑old man from Blacktown was charged with allegedly posting death threats to members of a Jewish organisation on social media. He was charged with using a carriage service to make a threat to kill and to menace, harass or cause offence — offences that carry up to 10 and five years’ imprisonment, respectively — and was granted watch‑house bail ahead of a Downing Centre Local Court appearance later in February. The AFP seized electronic devices and documents during a search of his home as part of the ongoing investigation into high‑harm antisemitic conduct.

    Jan. 17, 2025: Cars set alight

    Two cars were set on fire, and four vehicles in total were damaged, while a house was vandalised with red paint in the Sydney suburb of Dover Heights in an antisemitic attack. The property was formerly owned by Alex Ryvchin, the co-CEO of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ).

    Jan. 19, 2025: Hate crime laws announced

    New South Wales Premier Chris Minns announced a suite of tougher hate‑crime and anti‑protest laws aimed at strengthening protections against antisemitism and racial hatred. The legislative package included new offences targeting harassment, intimidation or blocking of people entering or leaving places of worship, penalties for displaying Nazi symbols near sacred sites, and expanded police powers to give “move‑on” directions to protesters in or near places of worship. Minns said the measures were necessary to ensure people of faith can practise their religion free from intimidation and to address a recent spate of antisemitic attacks in the state.

    Jan. 21, 2025: Childcare center defaced

    A childcare centre in Sydney’s east was set alight and sprayed with antisemitic graffiti early Tuesday, causing extensive damage to the unoccupied building less than 200 metres from the Maroubra Synagogue. The words “F*** the Jews” were found amid the vandalism, and police established a crime scene as part of an ongoing hate‑crime investigation. NSW and federal leaders condemned the attack as “despicable” and “horrifying,” and authorities continued efforts to identify and arrest suspects. Police also charged a woman in connection with a Dec. 11 antisemitic vandalism incident in Sydney’s east. In response to the escalation of antisemitic attacks, Prime Minister Albanese convened a national cabinet meeting to coordinate a whole‑of‑government response to the rising wave of antisemitism.

    Jan. 29, 2025: Potential terror threat

    New South Wales police confirmed that a caravan found in Dural, in Sydney’s northwest, containing a significant quantity of explosives and antisemitic‑linked material was under investigation as a potential terror threat after it was reported to authorities earlier in January. Officers from state and federal counter‑terrorism units, including the Australian Federal Police and ASIO, treated the discovery as an escalation amid a wave of antisemitic incidents targeting Jewish sites. Police said the caravan was first noticed on Jan. 19, with the explosive material capable of a large blast radius, and included a note referencing Jewish targets. Authorities later determined the plot was likely a fabricated plan orchestrated by organised crime figures to distract police resources rather than a credible terror attack, with investigators calling it a “fake terrorism plot.”

    Feb. 12, 2025: Threats to Jewish patients

    Two nurses at Bankstown‑Lidcombe Hospital in Sydney’s west were suspended and their nursing registrations barred nationwide after a video circulating on TikTok and other social platforms appeared to show them threatening to kill Jewish or Israeli patients and saying they would refuse to treat them if they presented for care. The clip, which unfolded during an online conversation with an Israeli social media user, drew widespread condemnation from political and health leaders, with New South Wales officials calling the remarks “vile, disgusting and unacceptable.” NSW Police and health authorities launched a criminal investigation into possible offences, including using a carriage service to menace, harass or threaten to kill, and both nurses were stood down pending that probe.

    July 4, 2025: Arson attack on Shabbat

    About 20 worshippers attending a Shabbat dinner at the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation were forced to evacuate through a rear exit after a man poured flammable liquid on the front door and set it alight, prompting firefighters to extinguish the blaze. No one was injured, and police later arrested a 34‑year‑old Sydney man, Angelo Loras, charging him with arson, reckless conduct endangering life, criminal damage by fire, and possession of a controlled weapon; he was remanded in custody. Authorities were also investigating whether the synagogue arson was linked to a separate disturbance that night at an Israeli‑owned restaurant in the city’s central business district, where protesters clashed with patrons and police. The incident was condemned by federal and state leaders as a targeted act of violence amid a broader pattern of antisemitic attacks in Australia.

    Dec. 14, 2025: Bondi Beach terror attack 

    Sunday’s attack at Bondi Beach, Sydney, on the first day of Hanukkah killed at least 12 and injured 30 people, including two police officers.

    Contact us at letters@time.com.

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  • Israeli Supreme Court Rules Against Government’s Dismissal of Attorney General

    JERUSALEM, Dec 14 (Reuters) – Israel’s Supreme Court ruled on ‌Sunday ​against a government push ‌to oust the attorney general, who has sparred with Prime Minister ​Benjamin Netanyahu’s nationalist-religious coalition over the legality of its policies, court documents showed.

    In March, the ‍cabinet held a no-confidence vote ​against Gali Baharav-Miara, citing substantial differences between the government and the attorney general, ​who was ⁠appointed by the previous government.

    But a panel of seven Supreme Court judges said on Sunday the established mechanism for terminating the term of office of an attorney general could not be changed, ruling that as a result the cabinet’s no-confidence vote ‌was null and void.

    Under the established mechanism to dismiss an attorney general, governments ​must first ‌consult a professional-public committee, ‍the documents ⁠showed.

    The judges also cited numerous procedural defects in the government’s dismissal of Baharav-Miara that meant it was invalid, saying she continues to hold office lawfully.

    There was no immediate response to the ruling from the government or the attorney general’s office.

    Prior to the war in Gaza, Netanyahu’s government launched an overhaul of the Israeli judicial system.

    Netanyahu, who has been battling a ​trial on corruption charges that he denies, said at the time the overhaul was needed to rein in judicial overreach that was intruding on the authority of parliament. Protesters have said it was an attempt to weaken one of the pillars of Israeli democracy.

    The overhaul plan was largely halted after Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack that sparked the war. But the cabinet has since revived some parts of its plan to change the justice system.

    Baharav-Miara was celebrated by the opposition as a gatekeeper of democracy in 2023 ​when the judicial overhaul plan that would give elected politicians more power over the Supreme Court was announced.

    Differences with Baharav-Miara that have had a direct impact on the governing coalition’s stability include an ongoing issue of exemptions ​granted to ultra-Orthodox Jewish seminary students from military conscription.

    (Reporting by Steven Scheer and Maayan Lubell;Editing by Helen Popper)

    Copyright 2025 Thomson Reuters.

    Reuters

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